Word of the Day

I was out running errands yesterday with little miss in tow, and had to stop for an oil change. The man at the counter assured me that the task would be completed with the utmost of expedience. After all it was the express service. But, then he said something about me that caught me off guard. He had used the word of the day. What word do you think it is?

 Radiant? Astounding? Charming? Nope. None of those positive picker-uppers. Instead, he said " I'll make sure this goes through our express service, because you sure look exhausted, completely EXHAUSTED!" And I am positive he put an oomph on the word, every time he used it. 

At the end of the trip, he used the E word  yet again. Hello! Synonym much? This time saying, " Ok all done. I know what it's like having children. Well, not physically but they are so exhausting. Now, you can go home and get some rest."  

Here's the sad part, I wasn't exhausted. I actually dressed up. I put in an effort to put on some light makeup, and look presentable. Quite a change from the last few months. I was proud of myself for trying. How then did I look exhausted?  Was it his assumption because I was holding a baby?  Was it a lame attempt at being cordial?

 Whatever it was, it bugged me, and I couldn't figure it out why. What does it matter if some random person thinks I look exhausted. Maybe it's my pregnancy hormones, who knows? 

but.... I will admit

All I really wanted is some recognintion. Some positive reinforcement. Anything that acknowledged how I felt. Something like: 

"Wow, great job multi-tasking!" or "Saving the world before bedtime!"

Is that too much to ask?

Sigh

                                                

Monterrey excursion

Have you ever been to Monterrey? It's off the coast of central California. My husband and I took a trip there recently, and we loved it. It's this quaint little beach town, with fun shops, scenic drives, and a boardwalk. I loved taking photos with my new camera! I wanted to share some of my photos that I took. Tell me what you think!

Spicy Chicken Stir-fry

Whenever I am in the mood for Chinese style take-out, I always ask myself if I can make it healthy by making it at home. I've been trying to overcome the desires to eat out by making similar stir-fry's at home. Some items just can't be made at home... ie .. chow mein! Well, they can, but I haven't yet perfected that recipe. I have been tinkering around with this recipe to maximize flavor, and minimize calories. Here are the results...

Try it the next time you want a take-out stir-fry!

Ingredients-

2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks

1 cup broccoli

1/2 cup of red bell bepper, sliced

1 large jalapeno, sliced

1/2 tablespoon chopped garlic

1/2 teaspoon flaked chili peppers

1 tablespoon rice-bran oil 

Sauce-

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos

3 tablespoons water

1/2 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)

Marinade-

1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions-

Pour marinade over chicken pieces, and store in fridge until ready to use. This step can be omitted if in a time crunch. Add oil to fry pan or wok. Heat to medium high. Add the chicken, and cook until more than half-way cooked but not fully cooked. Add vegetables, and stir fry for a minute or two more. Now add the sauce into the mix. The mixture will thicken 

Serve over rice, or eat as is

Enjoy!

Grilled Salmon with Dill sauce

 This is a simple, and quick meal, that's both healthy, and yummy. I like to serve over vegetables (pictured), or potatoes. I really wanted a healthier option for the dill sauce, so, I tweaked it a little as it is normally made with sour cream, and mayo.This recipe was adapted from my family's restaurant. 

Ingredients-

2 large salmon fillets (4-6 oz)

Salt and Pepper to taste

Dill Sauce-

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon of dill weed (fresh or dry)

Directions- 

Heat grill on medium high. Season the fish with salt and pepper to liking. Cook salmon on grill to desired doneness. I cook about 6 minutes per side. 

Dill Sauce- combine all ingredients in a small bowl, and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. 

Serve with rice, vegetables, or potatoes

One more go on the Merry-go-round

So, we found out we are expecting baby number 2 this week. It was kind of unexpected. It's not that it happened out of the blue, but I also didn't expect it to happen so soon since took us a while with our first one. I assumed that original waiting period must be the norm. This brought up some mixed emotions. Am I ready for this? is this the right time to have another baby? ( although, it doesn't matter now) Will my housework double? What will happen to my career? It was one question after another. I fought back tears as these questions played out in my mind.

I'm just scared. Scared, of the changes that lie ahead. I felt the same type of anxiety before I got married. The feeling that things will never be the same. The feeling that I am not responsible for only myself. The feeling that I must plan out once impromptu trips.The feeling that I might lose myself in the process of becoming a Mom again.

As a point of clarification, I love being a mom. It has been an incredible experience. I am 7 months postpartum, so things are calming down a little. I am no longer operating on 3 hours of sleep. I don't miss pumping every 3 hours, even in the middle of the night. I sure as heck like having the ability to walk without some sprays of Dermoplast in my private parts. Finally, I can walk past a mirror, and not be afraid of my reflection. 

 The addition of a child into the fold is an overwhelming experience. I can't say whether having two is different than one. I don't know if there are different struggles than with one. I just know life is changing once again. 

 Then again, I couldn't expect things to stay the same forever. If they did, I would complain that nothing new happens in my life. Maybe it's human nature to be cautious of the unknown.  Who knows?

But, this is what I do know: Change is inevitable. I must embrace it, rather than be afraid.  I try to remind myself of this truth. However, these are just words. I can tell myself, but feeling them; living them is what actually matters.

I am learning through my experiences everyday. This is my chance to make the most of it. I can choose how I want to look at the situation. 

So, I have assessed: I am happy to experience pregnancy once again, and look forward to another little person entering my world.  My only hope is that I can be a good role-model, and friend. 

 Raising a child is truly a labor of love. A lot of hard work goes in, but yields so much back in unconditional love. You can trade in all of the unsavory moments for a snuggle, a tooth-less smile, and a tiny hand gripping yours. In those moments, it's pure bliss.  Those are the moments I will cherish forever. 

 

Exercise During Pregnancy

Before you embark on your fitness journey, watch this.  Here are a few tips from the March of Dimes on types of pregnancy exercises to avoid. Keep it safe ladies!