Healthy Tipping Point

Today was my sleep-in day (woo to the hoo), and when I got out of bed, this lovely breakfast was waiting for me.  It looked like something off a breakfast buffet at a fine hotel.  Not too shabby, Husband.

Once we were full and caffeinated, we went on a long walk.  I’m having some meh pregnancy symptoms this weekend – I had to bail on a friends’ dinner last night because I felt so uncomfortable, and I felt sporadically strange all day today, too.  My theory is that this baby is sitting pretty high up, squashing my lungs.  Although you wouldn’t think it, actually going on a walk makes me feel a lot better than just sitting on the couch.  So we managed to pound out 2.2 sweaty, slow, challenging miles – I think my running days are officially over.  But that’s okay with me – can’t believe I made it to 28 weeks.

And then we headed Uptown for lunch!

We wandered around until we found a new restaurant for lunch – we opted for Mexican, just like last weekend.  Apparently, we eat Mexican on Saturdays.

It was alright – it was actually one of those restaurant meals where you think, “I could make this at home for 1/3 the price,” which is always kind of disappointing.  It was a mushroom, spinach, and goat cheese enchilada plate with not nearly enough sauce. But still – Mexican is always pretty good, even when it’s lackluster.  Especially when you get to eat it outside, amidst beautiful skyscrapers and a sunny, bright blue sky.  Bring on the salsa!

Thought of the Day:

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James

Henry started “preschool” this week.  It was hard for me on Wednesday – I cried a lot after drop-off.  But then I quickly realized that – holy crap! – I can get a lot of stuff done in four hours if I really focus (plus, he survived, so – winning!). 

Baby #2 is due on December 1, so I hopefully have three months’ worth of childcare time to tackle a large, long list of To Do’s.  Most of it is work-related (like 2014 taxes – already!?), but there are some big home projects that I’d like to do, too.  Once the baby arrives, I’m looking forward to using Henry’s daycare time for newborn bonding/momma sleeping. 

That’s my long way of saying that I actually had a chance to develop and test out a yummy recipe for lunch today!  Wahoo.

I *love* this tofu glaze because it’s not too sweet but very, very flavorful, thanks to the addition of my DIY Pumpkin Spice blend!  Also, it goes from refrigerator to plate in less than 15 minutes, which is great when you’re trying to squeeze every last bit of productivity out of your time!  Hah.

Pumpkin Spice Tofu

Ingredients (for 2 servings):

• 1 block extra firm tofu, pressed and drained if necessary (depends on the brand)
• 2 tablespoons Pumpkin Spice blend
• 2 tablespoons oil (I used coconut, but vegetable works, too – you want something with minimal flavor)
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

• Grease and heat a non-stick pan.
• In a small bowl, combine spice blend, oil, and honey.
• Cut tofu into 1/2 inch thick triangles.
• When pan is hot, pour in spice mix. Wait a minute or so until it starts to bubble, and then carefully place each piece of tofu into the pan.
• Cook on one side on Medium High heat for 7 minutes, carefully flip, and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat, let stand for a minute or so to allow glaze to harden, and then plate and serve.

Enjoy!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I know that RELAXING is firmly on our agenda.  Have a good one!

Six Weeks

A month or so ago, I asked you all how long you thought it took to form a habit… The answers were so varied – I guess it really depends on the person plus the habit!  But recently, I’ve been hearing a lot about the “magical six week mark,” at least when it comes to kiddos.  “Children don’t adjust to going to preschool for up to six weeks,” warned Henry’s director.  “Remember, you need six weeks to really establish breastfeeding with the newborn,” a friend reminded me. 

Six weeks.

Six weeks sounds like a long time – but then again, it’s really not.  Just a month and a half.  Only 42 days.  Just six weeks to adjust, make a change, form a new habit – for kiddos and adults alike.  Six weeks to adjust to school, to a new baby, to a new workout plan, to a new way of eating, to a new healthy habit.  I think we often expect ourselves to adjust to major shifts too quickly, and then we feel disappointed or ashamed when it doesn’t all immediately click into place.  It’s so much better to go into something knowing it may take you that long to figure it out… or to at least start to figure it out. 

Sheets

On a less serious note, the Husband and I had this huge, very funny discussion on whether or not you can actually FEEL clean sheets.  I swear that I can tell when sheets have been washed – they feel different.  He thinks this is just physiological and that I wouldn’t be able to pick a washed bed from an unwashed bed based purely on feel.  I think it’s NUTS that he can’t tell the difference – it’s SO OBVIOUS.  What do you think??

Swim

I’m making good on my promise to swim more – in more ways than one.  I went swimming yesterday (second time this week!) and did around 750 yards.  The pool is on my schedule for tomorrow, too.  I hope to start extending my workouts to 1000 yards next week. 

Plus, I’ve taken Henry to the pool a grand total of THREE TIMES this week.  He seems to have an extra dose of energy recently and swimming is the only thing that truly wears him out.  He has figured out how to kick and float on his back (with his little life jacket on – I’d love to remove it but it’s so hard to keep him close by with the baby bump in the way). 

NutureShock

In my quest to get off the phone (which is going well; I owe you an update), I’ve been reading more.  It’s pretty awesome what you can learn when you put down your phone.  Hah.  I am LOVING this book:  NutureShock: New Thinking About Children.  Everyone who has a kid, may have a kid, or works with kids should read it.  It’s really, really eye-opening and interesting.  Each chapter is devoted to a different topic (like the inverse power of praise, why white parents don’t talk about race, why kids lie, and why some toddlers talk when others don’t) so it’s a really fast and interesting read.  I have been reading a chapter each night.  I can’t say enough awesome things about this book.

Tangerines

Earlier this summer, the Husband taught me this awesome trick.  To peel a tangerine without making it a battle, roughly roll it between your palms for about ten seconds.  The action breaks the skin away from the orange.  It comes apart afterwards!  It’s awesome.

So – that’s what I’ve been thinking about lately… issues big and small.  Hah.  What have you been thinking about?

This post is sponsored by Silk Soymilk.

At the start of spring, I always say, "Spring is my favorite season!" And then summer rolls around, I get excited for the heat, and I find myself blogging that "I love summer most of all!" But then I get over the 90-degree temps and, by the time September rolls around, I’m wishing it was fall. I adore every season for one reason or another (except winter – too cold!) – but fall really and truly is my favorite. Why?

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