Stitch Fix #1

So, my friend Janice told me about Stitch Fix.

It's a super cool idea.  

1.  You go to the Stitch Fix website.

2.  Fill out a really long survey about your style.

3.  Schedule your "fix." 

4.  Pay $20 styling fee.

5.  Wait for your fix.

6.  Try on everything.  

7.  Decide what you want to keep.  Return what you don't want to keep within 3 days.  

8.  If you keep anything, your $20 styling fee goes toward the purchase of your items.  

So, here are the items I received in my first fix.

I need help! What do I keep? What do I send back?! I've got three days! 

Hildie Tie-Neck Abstract Print Blouse $44

Sedona Dot Print Shirtdress $78

Marana Carved Scroll Strand Necklace $32

Kerman Tribal Print Tab-Sleeve Blouse $58

Abrianna Longsleeve Knit Cardigan $48

Spring Break Day 2

Spring Break Day 2 was awesome!

It started with lunch with some friends I've had for a long time.  I've known Ellen and Alison since high school.  We caught up at Mellow Mushroom.  Ellen and I see each other frequently, but it had been a while since I had seen Alison.  It was a fun lunch.

Next, Presley and I met up with Michael for a quick dessert at my favorite, Jerry's Sno Cones. 

To end our day, we took the whole family to Shelby Farms.  Stella absolutely LOVES the dog park.  I wish I had time to take her every day.  I still get nervous about taking her by myself, because I'm afraid she'll run off with another dog.  She did run after a little lab puppy, but we were able to get her to come back.  Finally.  

The Fresh 20: Yum!

I really really really want to eat healthier.  I just truly do NOT have the time.  I don't know how to prepare healthy foods, I don't have time to compile a grocery list, and I sure don't have time to plan out healthy meals.

That was all before I discovered The Fresh 20.  Thanks to Lauren Lee for sharing!

The Fresh 20 is a meal planning service.  They do MOST of the hard work for you.  They help you plan and grocery shop for five meals each week.

1.  They compile your grocery list.  The list will consist of 20 fresh ingredients then several pantry staples.  (Think olive oil and spices.)  It's even listed by department.  It makes grocery shopping super easy.

2.  They give you pre-cooking instructions so you can do all your meal preps on Sunday.

3.  They then give you easy step by step recipes.

The best thing about all of this is that the meals are completely healthy and made with fresh ingredients.  No more processed foods.

I started it today.  My grocery bill was $100.  I did buy a few other things that weren't a part of The Fresh 20 recipes, so most bills for the meals will probably be cheaper.

The first meal was Spanish meatloaf, which consisted of ground turkey, red bell pepper, sweet potato, and onion.  The side was Brussels sprouts.

The meal was delicious.  I've only had Brussels sprouts a couple of times before.  These were pretty good.  It was a little bitter, but it is something I could get used to.  The meatloaf was off the chain.

The meals are supposed to feed 4.  Michael and I ate all of it though.  I was really hungry.  :)  I'm hoping I have some left overs from the other meals.

Here's all of our meals from week 1.


   

Turkey Meatloaf with Brussels Sprouts

Mahi Mahi on Kale with Sweet Potato Fries

Lamb Tacos

My kitchen sink after the first meal.  To be fair, this is actually 2 days of dishes.  

New (To Me) Restaurant: Friday Tuna

I have really been wanting to try this place in Cordova.  It's called Friday Tuna.  I first heard about it because the owner is the father of a student at my school. 

Man.  It was so good.  It's right up there with Sakura when it comes to sushi.  I had the Germantown Roll.  It's got lots of good sushi stuff in it and it's topped with spicy mayo.  So good.  

Presley did decide that she was hungry too, so I spent most of the meal breastfeeding.  Thankfully, the staff was in love with Presley and didn't say a word or make me feel uncomfortable.  I highly recommend this place.  

Bottom Line:  Great food, great atmosphere, great service.  If you love sushi, try this place!

My Lunch Dates

Germantown Roll at Friday Tuna

Spring Break Bucket List

Ahh.  Spring Break.  It's the most beautiful time of year.  

As a teacher, Spring Break not only means a week off school, it also means that summer vacation is just one teeny tiny quarter away.  This is my favorite time to be a teacher.  You FINALLY feel like you understand your students.  You feel like you are really being an effective teacher.  And, you can finally stop wearing annoying winter clothes and put on cute spring clothes.  

This year, I am staying in town.  Last year, we were in Washington DC.  It was the last time we had a vacation.  That probably has something to do with this precious girl...

Last year, we had JUST found out we were pregnant.  In fact, we were about 6 weeks pregnant when we boarded the plane.  We had such a blast...

Anywho.  Since we are staying in town this year, I want to make the most of it.  I am creating a Spring Break Bucket List. 

Here goes!

1.  Run at least 30 miles this week. That starts today, Sunday.

2.  Take Presley to the zoo.  

3.  Make it to Crawfordsville, AR for some amazing bread pudding.  (Bread pudding is my fave.)

4.  Take Stella to the dog park at least 3 times.

5.  See two movies.  This is a rare occurrence AP (after Presley).  American Hustle, Non-Stop, and Frozen are at the top of my list.  Frozen really isn't, but Mom wants to see it. :)

6.  Go to Jerry's Sno Cones. 

7.  Do the 40 meals in 4 hours project.  This may have to wait until Becca and I can sync our schedules.

8.  Go to a winery.  I am thinking either the one in Millington or Jackson.

9.  Have lunch with a friend.

10.  SLEEP IN!  (I have to get up at 5:30 to pump, but if I could go back to sleep and sleep in after that, that's good enough for me.  

What's on your Spring Break Bucket List?  What did I leave off mine?

This Girl has a Problem with Breastfeeding

Before you read what I have written, read this awful blog post that I have linked.  I don't get why women have to be so hateful.  It was written by a woman who has a problem with moms breastfeeding in public.

In the South it's a Religion

Here is my comment back to her...

"I read this post while breastfeeding my baby before work. I am one of these "self righteous hippies" you described above. Oh wait. I am a registered republican married to a man who hunts and fishes. So, first, I wanted to bust open your stereotypical view of breastfeeding. 

Secondly, I want you to know that a year ago, I was just like you. I went to, yep, Target with my mom. I was a few months pregnant, so I was in the baby aisle. We saw a woman walking around nursing her child. I looked at her and did a double-take. How could this woman just walk up and down the aisle nursing her child without a cover?! I was like, I will never do that! Then, I actually had a baby. And I understood. Once you have a baby, your life is not your own. As much as you want to put your baby on a schedule where they only eat at the most opportune times, it's just not possible. In fact, the first few months of a child's life, doctors tell you to let them feed on demand. They need to eat whenever they are hungry to gain the appropriate amount of weight. So guess what, I had my first public breastfeeding inside the Collierville Barnes and Noble. No one said a thing, and I really don't think anyone noticed. It wasn't a big deal at all. If you are blessed to have a child, you will get this one day. Until then, you probably won't. 

Thirdly, I read through your bio and saw where you were raised Catholic. Do you know that the Pope encouraged mothers to breastfeed their babies in church? HE even knows that you don't interfere with breastfeeding. 

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/13/pope-tells-moms-its-ok-to-breastfeed-in-church/

As far as going into a bathroom, have you ever had dinner in a bathroom? Would you do it? Would you put someone you love through having dinner in a bathroom? I know all your germ information you said was probably true, but that doesn't make it any less gross to attempt to feed your child while someone could come in and take a crap. How awful. 

Lastly, why not be nice? We women have enough battles to face. The last one we need is one against each other. I pray you find love and empathy in your heart. And I pray when you have a child, you don't encounter someone as mean spirited as you have just been."

Any thoughts?

Breastfeeding

So, I had no idea how truly difficult breastfeeding would be.

I went into it thinking, this will be awesome!  I'll burn a bunch of extra calories each day, save a ton of money by not using formula, and it'll be fun bonding time for Presley and me.

While all those things are true, there is SOOOO much more to breastfeeding.

First, I'm dealing with a difficult supply issue.  Presley seems satisfied when she is feeding, but when I have to pump at school, it is quite the ordeal.  My school is awesome and has given me a place to pump, but I am only getting about 3-4 oz on a good pumping session.  On most sessions, my take is less than two ounces.  I can't figure out if it's a pump problem, a phalange problem, or a milk problem.

To remedy it, I'm taking an herbal supplement, switching back and forth between my insurance provided pump and a manual pump, and I'm buying expensive ingredients to make lactation foods.  I stay up late to pump after Presley goes to bed.  I'm usually pumping one breast whenever she is on the other.  I'm constantly washing various parts of my pump.

I don't want to scare anyone away from breastfeeding.  It's amazing.  You just need to know that it is hard past 6 weeks.  I'm trying to keep it up until August.  My goal was initially 6 months.  6 months will be April.  By that time, I've only got a month until school is out.  I figure I can keep it up through the summer easily since I don't really have to worry about pumping.  When school gets ready to start, I'll start weaning.  I'm usually just trying to keep my head above water in August.  If I don't have to worry about pumping, that's one more thing off my chest.  Also, my friend is getting married out of town in September, so I'll probably be away from Presley for several days.  August seems like a good date.

So, my goal is to make it until August.  I know I can do it, but I know it will be hard.  I just hope I can figure out whatever is going on with my milk supply.  If I could get that figured out, I'd be much better off.

My next step is to rent a hospital grade pump.  That's about $60 a month.  Still not as expensive as formula, but still more than I want to spend.