Happy Easter everyone!!!! I can’t believe what a great day it was today – spending some relaxing time with family and friends. And the weather over here was fantastic!!!! A truly blessed day.
So last week I started the single digits countdown of when our little darling daughter is due – this week I will be 32 weeks. I can’t believe it…how time has flown. I ALSO cannot believe how much I have been filling out my clothes. I know that it is normal and that means our little girl is healthy and growing. At the same time, the pre-pregnancy/pre-wedding clothes seem a distant memory. When I started this journey this very sweet patient told me “now don’t you let yourself go now. You make sure that you look very cute during pregnancy.” And I promised I would try my best. I’ve kept my promise…as best I could…but as time is fast approaching, it feels harder and harder….
Soon the hubby and I will have our pregnancy photo session at the end of this month – and I hope to look the best that I can, in this pregnancy state… so I have been searching online for outfits, ideas, etc. During my search I came across a really fun blog for moms-to-be and really enjoy what she writes and finds – and the pictures to go along…. The Pregnant Fashionista – http://www.pregnantfashionista.com/ and hope that I can continue looking as nice as possible while my body and feet continue to grow!
Very few people tell you what to wear and how to look cute for pregnant ladies – because each pregnancy, like all people, is different. So check out the blog and if you have any other websites or ideas that I should check out – please let me know!!!! I’d love some help!
Happy EASTER!!!!
I went to a Mommy Meet-ups group a couple weekends ago- my first time going to one of these meet-up groups It was neat to meet other moms-to-be who are going through this crazy journey but it was a little interesting as I felt like we spoke about very personal things that we are concerned about in pregnancy – some things that we might share with our closest friends – with strangers. But…I’m always trying to be open minded!
I did meet a few lovely ladies though and learned about what they are reading and resources. One that I wanted to share with you is Freecycle. http://www.freecycle.org/
Their description…from their website is: “…The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 5,031 groups with 8,882,832 members around the world. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by local volunteers… Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by entering it into the search box above or by clicking on ‘Browse Groups’ above the search box…”
SOOO after hearing about this of COURSE I had to check it out. It’s actually quite amazing. Once you are approved to join, people in the local community post things that they have, things that they want, and when its taken – they post that too. Everything is FREE and within driveable distance. So things that you don’t want (even though I donate a LOT to goodwill or the salvation army) you realize other people might need (and they might be closer than you think!)
There is that saying “it a takes village to raise a child” and it really is neat that there is a way to share amidst the local “village”, help the local community AND help reduce waste!!! Going green…YES!!! I feel just a little more responsible now!!! Check it out!!!
image courtesy of: freecycle.org
So I was at work today – on my lunch break – eating my leftovers from last night (turkey, rigatoni, basil, and broccolini…SOOO good)…and I happened to update my stumbleupon account. In doing so, I “stumbled upon” FOODIE HEAVEN!!! I wasn’t even hungry anymore and I was salivating.
Please check out Punchfork http://punchfork.com – it is AMAZING!!! I am so impressed and the list of recipes goes ON and ON!!! They have different recipes from all over – from cocktails, entrees, desserts…and what is BEST of all is that all of the recipes come with pictures!!! So it is food for the eyes AND the stomach.
image courtesy of: besttechie.net
I can’t believe it but it is almost the end of March already and I realize that Mr. Fix-It and I have been really busy “nesting.” He is busy ripping out the backyard, we are organizing closets, cleaning, etc. Articles weren’t wrong when they say that the last trimester is a “nesting phase” but since my husband and my personalities are such “planners” it seems like the nesting phase began in our FIRST trimester!!!! But while “nesting” is a necessity, so is having a little FUN. WHOO HOO!!!
So, in the name of fun – this past weekend I took a small “baby-moon” – but it was with a friend to celebrate her upcoming birthday – and not with my husband! Not your traditional baby-moon definition right??? While trying to save for the baby (as I’ll be on maternity leave) and given that I can’t travel on airplanes in the last trimester (i know i should have taken the babymoon earlier – as I’d rather be on a beach somewhere….hawaii or cancun anyone???)…I have to make do locally!
BUT do not fear…the hubby and I are still going to have our time – even in this last trimester- …To start…we are off to San Jose to see Totem this weekend…thanks to Goldstar! http://www.goldstar.com – they have fantastic events (from sports, theater, live shows, comedy) all at discounted prices!!! We paid $33 per ticket instead of more than $75!!!
For example: to support east bay sports Goldstar is having a special: Oakland A’s Opening Month Tickets (usually $26.00 are $13.00)
” Choose one of 10 games against the Seattle Mariners, the Kansas City Royals, the Cleveland Indians or the Chicago White Sox during the opening month of the 2012 season with this flexible, go-when-you-want ticket. Sit in desirable Field Level seats and enjoy a great day of baseball while you cheer on the hometown Athletics”
Or if you want a fantastic dinner with wonderful live-jazz filled evening for select dates later this week – Goldstar is hosting tickets at San Francisco’s Yoshi’s Jazz Club and Restaurant usually tickets up to $22.00 are $5.00-$11.00!!
So check out Goldstar and their events and see if they host your local/nearby city (they aren’t just in the bay area – they are nationwide)!!!! I’ll let you know how Totem is – it’s our first cirque du soleil show in a LONG time!!!!!!!
There are many things that I look forward to when it comes to parenting…I know parenting will be one of the greatest and hardest adventures I’ll ever endeavor. But one thing that I cannot wait for is to take my little girl, for the first time, to Disneyland – hopefully she’ll be at an age where she’ll remember – and enjoy – all the rides, mickey mouse, cinderella…and enjoy fantasy and make-believe.
While that time is not in the near future for me – I received in the mail a special deal by Disneyland and I’d like to share it with you!
For $199 you have three days to explore Disneyland Park and Disneyland California Adventure Park.
Advance purchase required. Go to disneyland.com/GoWild or call: 1-866-309-9705
So if you and your family would like to go to southern California for a spring getaway and go Disneyland Resort hopping – this is your chance (and you don’t have to pay separate fees, separate days…it’s a one time deal).
Ticket is valid for 3 days (limit 8 tickets per person, per day, and tickets cannot be sold or transferred). Blackout dates: 3/30/2012 – 4/15/2012
You wished upon a star….and they brought you this deal!!!
image courtesy of: alaskatravelgram.com
To celebrate a friend’s upcoming birthday and a little girl time before the baby comes – this past weekend I went on a local-cation with a friend of mine. We headed to San Francisco – and we were able to take in a little of the St. Patrick’s day parade, get our makeup done (for FREE) at nordstroms, and eat and eat some more!!!
Now that it’s Monday – and back to reality – after a hard day’s work I had a dilemma as to what to make for dinner. I was able to put together a hodge-podge of foods (thankfully there is a protein, a carbohydrate, and veggies) and I was even able to make an apple and blackberry crumble for dessert!!!! (I’m not telling you what time I finished…)
I have been trying to eat healthier, for the baby and for myself (since I am a host for this little one) – and usually I really enjoy cooking. But it truly is nice to be able to grab take-out some evenings so you don’t have to worry about what to make, it’s fast and hot, and you can get back to spending more time with your family, resting, getting ready for the next day…whatever your evenings entail.
So, if you’re in the Bay Area of SF then Groupon is having a great deal from Baja Fresh for you:
- For $9, you get a Mexican meal for two (up to a $19.17 total value) that includes the following items:
- Chips and salsa (a $2.29 value)
- Two burrito or taco entrees with chicken or pork carnitas (up to a $6.69 value each)
- Two soft drinks (a $1.75 value each)
- For $18, you get a Mexican meal for four (up to a $36.05 total value) that includes the following items:
- Chips and salsa (a $2.29 value)
- Four burrito or taco entrees with chicken or pork carnitas (up to a $6.69 value each)
- Four soft drinks (a $1.75 value
I used to really enjoy their tostada salads!!! So check it out – one of these evenings, if you don’t feel like cooking – don’t worry….Baja fresh – dinner is on them!!!
image courtesy of: meowiesfoodies.com
In honor of Sunday (official family day hence the photo on the left that I found and thought was hilarious – it is really how I wish I COULD eat but it isn’t socially acceptable for a girl in her early thirties- ahahaha) I am going to share a GREAT recipe that I tried and made for dinner AND a great and fun website/blog that I had the pleasure of reading.
This morning, I had the rare pleasure of waking up a little late…it had been a long week (I worked yesterday also) and we all “lost” an hour with daylight savings (boo to losing an hour, yay to the days getting longer). After an hour at Home Depot (much longer than I intended, but it is truly Mr. Fix-it’s heaven and haven of choice), we finally selected some very nice closet organizing set-ups for spring cleaning and for our baby room closet (it is very small and was in DESPERATE need for space-creation).
What was unique about today was that I broke out of my usual comfort zone and went socializing!!! Gasp!!! While Mr. Fix it was busy organizing our baby closet, I went to my first local “meet-ups” – where you meet other strangers in the area that have your interests (whether it be yoga, cooking, wine, food, etc – in my case today it is pregnant women who are due in the spring/summer). It actually turned out to be pretty interesting and enjoyable and I got to meet a few very nice people that I look forward to seeing again! I am still alive thankfully, and blogging, so my excursion to meet strangers wasn’t in vain. HA!!!
Before I went out to meet these ladies however I was trying to think ahead and figure out what I wanted to make for dinner. I had been reading a few fantastic blogs online, and also parenting.com, and I am a sucker for turkey meat. Not that I don’t enjoy a wonderful sirloin burger or steak (I LOVE them actually) – but I’m trying to reduce my red meat consumption – healthy while saving a cow. Delicious and somewhat eco-friendly – I think it is just psychological on my part – but I do feel healthier and want my hubby to eat healthier as well.
SO – I cam upon a recipe by parenting.com called: Grilled Middle Eastern Turkey Links http://www.parenting.com/article/cat-cora-recipes?page=0,1
In a bowl combine:
- 2 slices white sandwich bread torn into pea-sized pieces (I used whole wheat bread without the crust)
- 1 lb ground turkey (i used just one package)
- 1 small red onion minced
- 1/3 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika (i didn’t know there was another kind of paprika)
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 and 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 and 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom, (I didn’t have any cardamom and I went to the store this afternoon looking for it and it was $10-11!!! so no)
- 2 tsp salt AND 2 tsp pepper
To make the dish family friendly and into turkey “links” it tells you to shape each into a cylinder and so it is sausage like – but I just sautee’d it in the pan (my husband doesn’t like to touch raw meat I learned today). We put it in whole wheat pita bread cut in half (my husband likes flour tortillas so he put his in a toasted flour tortilla), with fresh tomatoes and some fresh greek-style cucumber/yogurt dip (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Greek-Style-Cucumber-and-Yogurt-Dip-with-Dill-103752). It was SOOOOOOOOO good!!!! For the yogurt dip I didn’t use the full 2 cups of plain yogurt nor did I use the 1/2 cup sour cream. I just did one cup plain yogurt and 1/4 cup sour cream. I also didn’t use the English cucumber (I used just a plain crisp one cut into little pieces) and I didn’t have dill, but the lemon juice and the pepper made it taste just SOOO good! As long as everything was chilled prior (all the ingredients) I didn’t feel like it needed to be made a few hours before – we made it and then ate it. So try it out!!!!!!!
I truly love to try out new recipes and try new things – but often times we don’t get a chance to have the “easy recipes” at our fingertips. SO I was contacted by Raven (see picture to the right) -originally from the SF Bay Area and now lives in Costa Rica – who writes a fun “Easy Recipes” food blog!!! She has a variety of different recipes for various cuisines and it is a great site: http://www.cookeatdelicious.com/ So please check her out!!! – I always love to support fellow bloggers and fellow lovers of bargains and food!
images courtesy of: #1: cutenewbaby.com and #2: cookeatdelicious.com
In a photo…a thousand words….read on for a PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIAL just for YOU!
As you might have read before my husband, Mr. Fix-it, has been working SO so hard to make our backyard beautiful, useable, and ready for our little one, as he did with the side-yard. Before it had decomposing railroad ties, weathered and uneven bricks, sand, and spider-infested bushes. Now, thanks to Mr. Fix-it’s hours of back-breaking work, sweat and tears, it is reduced to a bumpy, sandy, and barren wasteland (with our patio furniture strategically scattered around the perimeter). Needless to say I don’t go out there much…But, as my hubby said – “I must have vision.”
In the last stages of our past yard’s demolition Mr. Fix-it happened to meet a person who not only needed bricks and sand (how fortuitous for us) but also happens to be a professional PHOTOGRAPHER!!! Isn’t that awesome??
His name is Adam Clark and we were very fortunate to meet him especially after his many travels, and after relocating from not only the state of Washington but also the Big Island of Hawaii (ALOHA!!!). He is now based out of Livermore, CA. His website is: http://www.adamjclarkphotography.com/ 
So,what is the special you ask?
Adam will give 75% off any portrait session for the first 10 people that contact him and refer to my bargain warrior site.
Additionally, he will offer FREE 2013 graduate high school senior portraits in exchange for helping him advertise.
So CONTACT HIM – he works out of the SF bay area, Kirkland Washington, and the big Island of Hawaii!!! Mention bargain warrior…and…SAY CHEESE!!!!!!!
Thanks Adam!!!
If you are free the weekend of April 14th then you need to be on a Norwegian cruise from Miami to Barcelona for only $499 + tax on board Norwegian’s new cruise ship EPIC
Today only there is a special where you get to go cross-atlantic for $499 from Miami to Barcelona, including $250 on-board credit for WHATEVER you’d like!!!!
The cruise makes stops in the Azores Islands, Portugal, and then ends in Barcelona….
That is CRAZY!!!! So check it out – and if your calendar is free then GO GO GO – it is practically a give-away!!!! (Sadly I have to work)
ALL ABOARD!!!!
Image courtesy of travelzoo.com
Lately my little girl likes to wake me up by starting to move around in my tummy at 6:22 AM- on the dot – by rolling around or kicking me – as if to say – WAKE UP WOMAN and feed me. She might be a morning person this little one….This morning was no exception.
Mr. Fix-it and I watched a bit of news this morning and saw the devastation that is occurring with the tornadoes in the midwest – beautiful homes and schools and downtown areas turned into rubble. Our prayers are with the families and children at this very hard time. It made me reflect and really appreciate our beautiful home (a home that Mr. Fix-It and I work so hard to maintain and keep), and Mr. Fix-it is currently demolitioning our backyard so that we can have a play area for our little girl soon (i’ll post more pictures later…) AND appreciate living in Californ-I-A!!!
Usually our mornings involve me making a bit of breakfast (eggs and fruit and coffee) – we seldom go out for breakfast since it is so fun and easy to make – but this morning the SUN is out, it’s going to be almost 70 degrees outside, and I wanted to go out for a bit of morning fun with the hubby. And besides, I didn’t have my lactaid mik (lactose intolerance is not only more expensive since you have to buy two kinds of milk, but it is also inconvenient since I can’t really drink my hubby’s milk…sigh*)…so out we went (Even though we were meeting friends at 10 for true breakfast…)yes….you can say it….MOOOOOOOOOOO – but I guess…today we didn’t care. We are living it up a little 
So this beautiful bright Sunday morning befor
e 8:15 AM, we went to La Boulange Bakery (laboulangebakery.com)- a local and lovely patisserie that reminds us of when we were in France. They have so many goodies – flaky and delicate pastries, little baguettes with fresh tomatoes and cheese and basil, sandwiches, quiches… We had two steaming cups of coffee and a chocolate croissant for me and a ham and cheese one for my sweetie!!! See to the left…
OMG – YUMMMMM!!!!!!!
Anyway – it was a wonderful Sunday treat.
So I promise – this will be my last post about food for a little bit (least I will TRY to promise) but in honor of my ode to foodie week I want to say I found this really cool website: Eat Drink Deals (http://www.eatdrinkdeals.com) where they have coupons, dinners for two, restaurant chain deals (like Red Robin, Chili’s, Red Lobster, Black Angus, etc). Right now there is a deal with Benihana’s Japanese steak house – a Chef”s Special dinner for two (something that they have every month). March 2012 is Filet Mignon and Hibachi Chicken for two for $48. You get the chicken, steak, soup, salad, shrimp appetizers, mushrooms, veggies, rice, and tea. Expires 3/31/2012. Check it out at the Eat Drink Deals website or on the Benihana website: http://www.benihana.com/
Happy Weekend Everyone!!!!