Saturday, September 30, 2017

Something Saturdays (9/30/17)

Hihi everybody! How has your week been? Last weekend's wedding went well, it was super lovely but definitely a lot of work! Sunday Michael and I went to church and brunch and then just relaxed. Most of this week has been spent getting things done and relaxing, for me. I also had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday-everything is going well. And then Michael and I had his birthday dinner with his dad and stepmom at Twenty/20 Taphouse. They got a new chef and menu and we were all SUPER impressed. Everything was delicious! Today I have another wedding that I'm working and then tomorrow will probably be another day of relaxing with the hubby :) 

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Baby Update -- 28 Weeks


How far along: 28 (29 on Friday) weeks

Due Date: December 15, 2017

Baby's Size: "a large eggplant" according to my app.

Total weight gain/loss: Gained 15 lbs so far (so pretty much right on track. I'm a small person so we're hoping I don't gain more than 25 lbs. overall).

Maternity clothes: Yepp yepp yepp, just a couple really flowy non-maternity things still fit (not including pj's and leggings, I'm still wearing my pre-maternity ones of those).

Stretch marks: I'm still warily keeping an eye out, but thus far no sign.

Sleep: It's not bad, I have to wake up a couple times to pee (of course) and need to sleep with a body pillow between my legs but overall I can't complain.

Best moment of this week: I'm loving any time I get to spend with Michael and I know these moments are extra precious since soon it won't be just the two of us anymore.

Miss anything: Having more clothing options and being able to just eat and feel comfortable lol.

Movement: He's developed some patterns for sure and his movements are super evident. It's always crazy to really feel him moving and see it from the outside too!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still nothing unusual at this point!

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes lol. Although I'm told from the back you can't tell and that I'm pretty much just carrying around a beach ball belly-which I am more than ok with!

Gender: 
boy!

Labor signs: No, not yet--still some time hopefully!

Belly button in or out: Barely in lol.

Wedding rings on or off: Still on-I've been fortunate to not really have swelling.

Happy or moody most of the time: I'm a pretty happy lady :)

Looking forward to: Our childbirth classes start on October 15th and I have another baby shower on the 22nd, but aside from that just continuing to get the nursery ready and enjoying feeling him move more and more!

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Monthly Meal Plan-October (Halloween)

092417 October-main

In a little over a month, it'll be Halloween! And you need some recipes to be prepared, and the monthly meal plan crew has you covered with the best treats around!

This month's recipe round up was brought to you by:

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Something Saturdays (9/23/17)

You guys...I think I've gotten as big as I can. I think the baby is taking up all the space there is, he's definitely cramped and is starting to squish all my other organs. AND...I have 3 more months left. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME. I'm concerned.

This week was otherwise fairly boring-just running some errands and dealing with stuff at home. Last weekend was fun though-the wedding I worked was stunning and then it was nice celebrating Michael's birthday. It was laid-back but fun (plus we got a crazy delish brunch where I had cinnamon roll pancakes and he had pineapple, coconut, and banana french toast) :) I'm working another wedding today and then spending time with my boy again tomorrow so all good stuff!

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

{No Spread, No Chill} Vanilla Cutout Cookies

{No Spread, No Chill} Vanilla Cutout Cookies
People have frequently asked me if I have a favorite sugar/cutout cookie recipe. Up until now, the answer was no. Michael and I aren't huge fans and during the holidays our moms have their recipes so there's be no one to even make them for. BUT-then I had my baby shower and decided it would be cute to make elephant cookies as favors (I happened to have an elephant cookie cutter) and decided it was time to try to find a recipe.
{No Spread, No Chill} Vanilla Cutout Cookies
Allie of Baking a Moment had a recipe that appealed to me-a nice, simple, ingredient list (nothing crazy) for cookies that don't spread, have nice clean edges, and you don't need to chill the dough (heck, you don't even need to soften the butter!). It seemed simple and pretty much flawless, and I trust Allie so I felt confident that this recipe would work out well.

There are a lot of feelings associated with cutout cookie recipes-my and Michael's mom's both couldn't understand why I wouldn't want to use their recipes, and talked about how everyone in their families love theirs. And they're both fine but they weren't what I was looking for. I knew I needed to find my recipe.
{No Spread, No Chill} Vanilla Cutout Cookies
And this is totally it!! The recipe was crazy simple and yielded perfectly clean edges, no spreading, and surprisingly sturdy cookies (people kept asking if the trunks broke a lot and they really didn't! These were solid cookies). They were also pretty straightforward and easy to make. And a total bonus? Remember how Michael and I are meh on this kind of cookie? We both actually thought these were tasty-they have a really nice balance of sugar and butter and vanilla flavors. I'm kind of in love and will 100% be using this recipe from now on for any cutout cookie needs I may have. This is one of those moments where you feel like a total grownup. Just in time for us becoming parents, I guess, lol. 

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Something Saturdays (9/16/17)

I actually ended up spending all last weekend with my Michael, which was so nice! Yay! The rest of this week I was sort of lazy, except for on Tuesday (where I took a breastfeeding class our hospital offers), and Thursday (when I filmed a commercial!) Today I'm working a wedding and tomorrow is Michael's birthday! Woo!

Posts from this week 
Croissant Doughnuts

Recipes from the blog that I made this week
Easy Whole Wheat Hoagie Rolls
French Dip Sandwiches

Recent links bookmarked (visit my Pinterest for more)

Movies/TV Talk (assume there'll be spoilers)
Younger-That finale left me super underwhelmed, not enough things actually happened!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Croissant Doughnuts

Croissant Doughnuts
When you've already started frying and have leftover oil...

and you used to live in NYC and still regret the fact that you never got to try a cronut...

you make yourself some homemade croissant doughnuts.
Croissant Doughnuts
I'm going to warn you all right now: this recipe is a process. You're essentially making a hybrid doughnut/croissant dough and croissant dough requires a lot of folding and chilling so the whole thing takes awhile (most of it is inactive time, though, while you let it chill between rolling out and folding). And then there's the whole frying deal. And honestly....after spending all day making these and then eating them I was like "Yum. But not really any more yum than a regular freshly fried doughnut. So....not worth all that time and effort." ...and then I let Michael try them.
Croissant Doughnuts
I was not expecting a big response from him. He and I both thought he'd be meh about these. WE WERE WRONG. He looooved them. He loved all the flaky fried layers that you can peel apart, he liked the powdered sugar coated on the outside, he was so into them. And when I mentioned that I'd made them once and now didn't need to again his eyes got all big and sad and he said, "...Never?"

*sigh* Well, what am I supposed to say to that? I guess these are not gonna be a one hit wonder after all!
Croissant Doughnuts
Don't get me wrong-these are not insanely difficult to make. I just thought regular fried doughnuts were just as good so why waste the effort? But they are really fun and cool and definitely worth a try. They're all flaky and buttery and crunchy on the outside while fluffy in the centers. It's a true hybrid. And they're totally customizable-you can frost them or fill them however you prefer, I'm just a powdered sugar fried treats gal. You do you. 

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Something Saturdays (9/9/17)

Well my Labor Day weekend went well! Saturday's wedding and Sunday's wedding were both busy but went really well, and looked absolutely beautiful. Monday Michael and I were able to just relax and hang out-we ordered some food and ate it on the deck and went through our baby shower gifts, but mostly we just chilled. Tuesday-Thursday I just got things done around the house. Yesterday I worked my day job doing wine tastings and tomorrow I'm doing that as well. Today I get to just hang out with my Michael again, though! Yay!

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Baby Update -- 25 Weeks


How far along: 25 (26 on Friday) weeks

Due Date: December 15, 2017

Baby's Size: Last week at the doctor's appointment he was 1 lb. and 11 ounces.

Total weight gain/loss: About 10 lbs.

Maternity clothes: Almost exclusively at this point, with the exception of some especially flowy tops/dresses

Stretch marks: So far, so good, but I'm starting to feel like I may have reached my limit so they may start popping up soon.

Sleep: It's starting to get a bit more difficult-laying on my side is starting to cause my hip to hurt but I can't sleep on my back or stomach. I've started using Michael's body pillow to put between my legs which is helping.

Best moment of this week: Last weekend having the baby shower was amazing, then having the 24 week doctor's appointment and everything being good and getting to see another ultrasound (he's so cute and silly! His butt was in the way and his feet were up by his face lol).

Miss anything: Still missing money lol. And having more clothes options. Shaving is getting more difficult, also, thanks to my expanding belly.

Movement: He is definitely making his presence known when he wants to. It's funny, sometimes when Michael rests his hand lightly on my belly all of a sudden he gets crazy active, like he knows! We can also see a lot of the movements from the outside now, which is crazy.

Food cravings: Nothing in particular.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still nothing unusual at this point!

Have you started to show yet: Yes I definitely am. Was even acknowledged as being pregnant by a stranger for the first time last week.

Gender:
boy!

Labor signs: Nope!

Belly button in or out: A much more shallow innie. Outie status may be coming soon.

Wedding rings on or off: On but I definitely can tell it's getting a little tighter.

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy!

Looking forward to: I'm starting to get really excited for him to be here so I can snuggle him and see him and see what he looks like and acts like.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Something Saturdays (9/2/17)

Ok first of all let's go back to last weekend and my baby shower. It was thrown by my boss and friend, Val (with input from me) and was held at my house. The food was all brought my moms and aunts, with the exception of the dessert table which I did all of (I made mini s'mores tarts, mini vanilla cupcakes, mini puff pastries with homemade whipped cream, mini cheesecakes, and cookie dough balls--I also made adorable little elephant cut out cookies as favors, but I'll chat more about that later.) It was a beautiful day and everything was so simple yet pretty and so many people I loved were in one room! It was such an amazing time and it FLEW BY. I wish I could've spent more time visiting with everyone!! And we got so darned many gifts, I was blown away by how generous everyone was and all the amazing stuff our little man is getting. He's very very luck to be so loved! As are we :) So it was awesome but omigosh Michael and I were WIPED OUT after it. 

(Oh and also the day prior, Saturday, I worked my tush off getting ready but before that Michael had a couple errands to run that I went along on and we tried out brunch at this place called Twisted Citrus and it was suuuper yummy!)

This whole week was crazyyy too! Monday I mostly just recovered, but Tuesday we had an ultrasound and doctor's appointment + my glucose test (everything is looking good!). Wednesday we had a childcare class at the hospital where we'll be delivering, which was actually pretty fun and very informative. Thursday we had a consultation with the baby's pediatrician (we like her!) and then I worked, and I worked Friday. And today and tomorrow I'm working weddings (yepp a double header, gotta love 3 day weekends!) 

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