Third-Trimester Countdown- Week 32

So, I've gained about 14 lbs since I first started out. Way better than the last time around.
Although it feels like cravings are at an all time high, and sleep is at an all time low.
I woke up at 4:30 to change my 14 month old's diaper, and couldn't fall back asleep. I tossed and turned for about an hour until finally I decided I just can't lay here. It was actually nice to be up at 6 am. The sun was peaking through our blinds, and everything seemed so calm. A sudden craving for a Panera bagel with some yummy hazelnut coffee hit me, and I was a one-track mind.

Bagel. Coffee. Bagel. Coffee. Baaaagel... you get what I mean. Rightttt?


Oh, how I miss New York bagels. People in California don't share the love of bagels as those in New York do, and there aren't that many bagels places anywhere. Anyway, I woke up my husband, and told him I'm getting a bagel. He nodded, and fell back asleep. I actually ended up driving to get that said bagel and coffee at 6:30. It was awesome!

It was like the world was waiting for me. Roads were clear. Weather was perfect. My breakfast was delicious. Pure morning bliss

I feel a little more energetic, but not enough to start working out. I stopped that completely because I was getting pelvic pressure after doing squats and lunges. It's not about motivation, I really want to work out to stay healthy but I find it hard to muster up the energy needed to do so. Hopefully it get's better

Its interesting that this pregnancy has been more painful, and tiresome. My OB was telling me this is normal the 2nd time around. The tiresome is from chasing around little miss. The funnest part of everyday.  So... mostly I feel like this all day:

Today I Cried Watching Frozen

Granted I'm in my third trimester, but really? Frozen?

It makes me laugh because the movie is not supposed to be sad or stressful by any means. It was within the first 5 minutes of the movie too.

Why couldn't Elsa come play with Anna?
 I imagined a little girl knocking on her sister's door. Feeling her sadness of being alone, and afraid, I began to cry. I wanted to scoop up little Anna, and go build a snowman with her. That's all she wanted to do... was just build a snowman. Is that so hard?

Elsa could have just used those gloves, and built a normal snowman sans magic. Ugh, poor Anna

I wanted to grieve with semi-teen Anna when her parents passed, and give her comfort when she needed somebody to go to.

"No one should have go through this!" I managed to choke out as my tears became more hysterical. Why is she alone? She needs support!"

I kid you not, this happened. I finally stopped crying when Anna met her fake prince charming. Silly right? I kind of felt embarrassed for myself afterward. It was just my 13 month old and I, but still I just couldn't understand what was getting me so worked up about this movie. Even my kid seemed alarmed, she stopped watching the movie and climbed up on the sofa to rest her head in my lap.

Lately, I've noticed this happening a lot. I cry at commercials, songs, movies, anything! I can't remember if I was this emotional with my last pregnancy. It's like I have no recollection of it. Weird, how I could forget. Some parts are still vivid, but most of the negative stuff.. morning sickness, pelvic pain, round ligament pain memory is all gone. It's like my brain just wants to associate everything good with my wittle bug. Maybe that's the magic that keeps baby fever going!

Anyway, I can chalk it up to hormones, I think. Maybe it's some sort of repressed psychological things from my childhood? or could be both!

Either way, I felt better afterwards. A sense of relief washed over me as I realized Princess Anna, and Else resolve their differences in the end. All is well in the world.



Above image from: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/364510163562749298/

Simple Cheese Burgers

Everyone in our home loves cheeseburgers! We eat them once or twice a week. Instead of going out to enjoy them, we've been cutting calories, and making them at home. This recipe is super simple, and so easy to make. You can use ground turkey to cut down the fat even more! I just like the taste of beef in these, makes it that much heartier! Are these the healthiest on the planet? Hmmm probably not. But, they're wayyy better than what we used to eat, We would do take out instead of making them at home. You can get gluten-free buns, or even quinoa buns. The options are endless! 

Ok, so on the recipe:

Ingredients:

1lb of extra lean ground beef

4 hamburger buns

4 slices of cheese- we used cheddar

1 tablespoon butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings of choice: Lettuce, tomatoes, onion 

Directions:

Heat a medium to large fry pan. Form the ground beef into patties, place onto pan. Sprinkle side with salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Flip the pattie, and again sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

Cook until desired doneness

Use another pan to warm the burger buns. Butter both sides of each bun, place down on fry ban until butter is melted into the bun, and slightly brown. 

See? so easy and simple

ENJOY!

Green with Digital Envy

Focus on Self-improvement 

Katie got into law school? Susie is taking another vacation to the Bahamas? Jeremy graduated from Pharm School? Jack got a new car?

Oh my!

And then I think to myself- What have I done recently? Everyone seems to be doing better than me.

{Cue violins, dark stormy clouds, etc }

I can't tell you how many times I have felt like this after going through all my social media accounts. I start thinking about how I'm behind in life, or how I'm not going places. I start complaining to my husband that we need to take more trips, or should have delayed having children so I could have applied to law school. Usually, he gives me a look of disdain. But, when I continue to persist, he gives me insight to things that I didn't even think of like:

Katie may have gotten into law school, but doesn't have the money to pay for it and will have to get loans and be indebted before her career even starts

Susie may have not vacationed that much earlier as a child, and has the means to do it now

Jeremy graduated from pharmacy school but may not be able to find a job immediately

Jack may have been saving to buy his new car for years

We don't really know the back stories, or what the future may entail for any scenario we think we may know. He tells me to focus on myself. Focus on self-improvement.

This conversation always makes me feel better, and every time we've had it I've learned to shift my thought pattern a different way. I've been doing that the last few times I get this way. If I think differently from the onset, I feel better at the end of my social media session. I haven't become a sage or anything but...

Here is what I've realized-

Every person is on their own path. Their unique journey. Look inside yourself, and find ways to make changes to get where you want rather than feeling jealous or upset.

Now, if I could only get myself to follow my own advice... more often that is 

There was an article published in the Wall Street Journal that mentioned that if you have such feeling of envy or want, it's better to put it to good use than getting worked up about it. It suggests to use the feelings of wanting more to good use. Instead of focusing what you could have done- turn it around to focus on you will do in the future to get your life the way you want it. Let others fuel your desire to work harder, and succeed at what you wish to do.

It's so easy to be swept into the lure of social media. It's an excellent way to keep in touch with friends, family, and co-workers but can be detrimental to overall health- BUT, only if you let it.

It is a slow process, but putting all this into perspective has helped put me be at ease with where I am in life at this very moment.

I need to let myself be my guide, and be my own benchmark for success, not someone else. I understand this can't happen in a day, But I know I can work toward it.


Have you ever felt this way? Have you overcome it?

Kadhai Paneer

I ate a dish like this at an Indian restaurant a few weeks ago, and LOVED IT! So much so that I asked the owner how she made it. Surprisingly, she shared the recipe! Not step by step, but just so I had an idea of what spices were going in. The other day I was craving Indian food, and had a block of paneer I had purchased, so decided to give this dish a whirl. OMG, it did not disappoint! This is a total keeper! Try it out tonight- Only takes a few ingredients to create a delicious dinner

Ingredients:

1 block of Paneer (any Indian store will have it)

1 green bell pepper- deseeded and cut into large pieces

1 yellow onion- cut into large pieces

2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon tandoori masala powder

1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves

1 teaspoon lime juice
2 tablespoons canola oil 

Salt to taste

Directions:

Heat oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Add yellow onion and fry lightly until onion is translucent but not brown. Now mix in ginger-garlic paste, chili powder,salt, cumin, and tandoori powder. Keep stirring while adding to avoid burning the spices. You can add splashes of water to keep the mixture from drying. Once the spices are incorporated, stir in the bell pepper. Let this cook for a few minutes before adding the paneer. The paneer doesn't need to cook for long. If it does, it will get gummy. So be sure to add the paneer after the bell peppers and onion mixture is well incorporated. Sprinkle fenugreek and lime juice, and remove from heat.

Enjoy!