Ok luvvies! As planned, I am sharing my meal plan for the month of February. This would be a great time to try this out for yourselves, it's the shortest month out of the year! Baby steps!
I'm going to provide a few links to some dishes on here that i got inspiration from. I don't follow recipes, and cooking for me is like interpretive dance. Most of the time when i dream up something to cook, i cook it in my head first, then just have at it. If you have the time, just sit down and number a piece of paper 1-28 and write as many meals as you can think of, once you have them all written down, arrange them in a way that makes sense for your weeks. Does your kid have a game on Saturday? Make sure it's something easy. Are you going to someone's house for dinner? NO cooking for you that night! It's so so so easy, and the best part is, when someone asks "what's for dinner" you know exactly what to say! Go on and try! I dare ya!! Let me know how it goes!!
Feb. 1 Turkey Burgers and roasted potatoes
Feb. 2 Gabe's Company Party- no cooking for me!!
Feb. 3 Chicken Parmesan w/ salad
Feb. 4 spaghetti squash pasta bake w/ hot dogs ( nitrite free, try them, you'll never go back!)
Feb. 5 Black Bean, spinach and cheese quesadillas and cilantro rice
Feb. 6 Veggie Burgers and homemade fries
Feb. 7 Gig at Finn's- no cooking for me!
Feb 8 real meatball sliders (yes, i said REAL meat. we often have fake meatballs, so i had to specify ;o) )
Feb. 9 crock pot bbq chicken w/ arugula
Feb.10 Flat out pizza
Feb.11 steak, au gratin potatoes, broccoli, green beans, carrots ( because we buy the nature place steak, the cuts are not usually as big so we substitute with lots of sides of veggies)
Feb.12 roasted veggie calzones
Feb.13 chicken pitas with tzatziki
Feb.14 Valentines Day!!!!!! Appetizer night!!! Still working on this one, need to make everything heart shaped though, duhhhhhhhhh :)
Feb.15 Egg rolls and garlic soba noodles
Feb. 16 Bean and cheese wraps w/ cilantro quinoa
Feb. 17 Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa
Feb. 18Chicken dagwoods
Feb. 19 Chick pea Taquitos
Feb. 20 playing a show at Sips, no cooking for me!!!
Feb. 21 hummus pasta bake, salad and cauliflower cheese sticks
Feb. 22 veggie quiche and potatoes
Feb. 23 playing at Mainely Meat on Main! No cooking for me! (this is a good week!!!!!)
Feb. 24 Homemade pizza
Feb. 25 Honey mustard chicken and roasted veggies (make extra honey mustard chicken for tomorrow night)
Feb. 26 Chicken salads and breadsticks
Feb. 27 Veggie egg sandwiches and potatoes
Feb. 28 Beef and Barley Stew
Mar. 1 pasta bake and salad
Mar. 2 loaded turkey tacos
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Aunt Peg
Anyone that knew her knows that she was honestly one of the best human beings ever to live on this earth. Really. Not just, "she was a great woman", that's not enough. She brought new meaning to the words "accepting" and "kindhearted". She left this world a year ago today, but she left it a better place...even though my world will never be the same without her. she is around though. i now understand when people say they can "feel" their loved ones around them. it's not every day, but she is around. whether it be all the hundreds of birds that spent the summer in my parents yard (NEVER in my life did i see so many birds there!) or when my beloved dog (who she ADORED) was hit in front of our house, as i approached him i felt her presence so strongly like she was there with him. It doesn't make it any easier. It is never going to be the same as when I could talk to her whenever I wanted. It just won't. But i will always remember her and always strive to be a better person like she was. I will always be exactly who i want to be because she was the one person that ALWAYS accepted me for just that, and embraced it and encouraged it. that's all anyone could ever want in a person. the best gift anyone can give is complete and total appreciation and acceptance. she gave the world that and more.
“Every heart that has beat strong and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind.“
~Robert Louis Stevenson
“Every heart that has beat strong and cheerfully has left a hopeful impulse behind it in the world, and bettered the tradition of mankind.“
~Robert Louis Stevenson
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Chocolate Almond Butter Bananas....yeah
So, i stumbled upon this crazy gorgeousness and decided i needed to try it. This is a smaller version of what i originally saw and i'm glad, if there was a whole banana smothered with almond butter and dipped in chocolate, you HAVE to consume the whole thing. you can eat just one of these and feel absolutely happy....ok, MAYBE i had more than one when i first made them.....shut up.
Anyway, these are soooooo good and you can use any type of almond butter or peanut butter or whatever crazy butter they have out there. I used a caramel almond butter because... well, i love freaking caramel. this is the process:
Gather your ingredients:
bananas (i used 3, any chocolate i had left over i wanted to make some chocolate almonds, if you use all this chocolate, use 4 or 5 bananas)
almond butter
i bar dark chocolate (the darker the better, not 90% though, that's a bit too dark...unless you dig it, if you do, have at it)
dark chocolate chips
double boiler (this vintage enamel one is a prized possession in this house. this belonged to my Aunt Peg, my most favorite person to ever walk the earth, incredible things were made for many many many years in this.... more about her later this week...)
cookie sheet lined with wax paper (not shown)
so, there you have it! go make some! NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! feel free to ask questions because i'm not a good recipe follower i feel like my recipe sharing skills are lacking....muah!!!!!
much love to you all luvadoooos!
xo suz
Anyway, these are soooooo good and you can use any type of almond butter or peanut butter or whatever crazy butter they have out there. I used a caramel almond butter because... well, i love freaking caramel. this is the process:
Gather your ingredients:
bananas (i used 3, any chocolate i had left over i wanted to make some chocolate almonds, if you use all this chocolate, use 4 or 5 bananas)
almond butter
i bar dark chocolate (the darker the better, not 90% though, that's a bit too dark...unless you dig it, if you do, have at it)
dark chocolate chips
double boiler (this vintage enamel one is a prized possession in this house. this belonged to my Aunt Peg, my most favorite person to ever walk the earth, incredible things were made for many many many years in this.... more about her later this week...)
cookie sheet lined with wax paper (not shown)
 | |||
| Slice your bananas into 3rds, then slice those in half the long way. i think that next time i am actually going to slice them into discs and make a banana almond butter sandwich, they will stay together better and be a lot easier to dip into the chocolate. |
 | |
| Next, spread some almond butter onto the banana slices. This part is a little difficult because the banana want to reject the almond butter, but don't fret, they'll be happy they met, and so will you. After you do this step, place them in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to make sure they stay together. While you are waiting for them to firm up, git' cher' chocolat-ay-hay in that double boiler. important: when you take the bananas out, make sure you're ready to dip em', if you let them sit for too long, they get mushy and it's hard to dip them without them falling apart..... |
 |
| here is a lovely paper crane i decided to fold out of the giradelli wrapper. gorgeous. |
 | |||||||||
| Heeeeeeere they be! remember my important note? this is why. they fell apart without mercy, but i made it work, aaaaand they're delicious, so who cares what they look like! Put them back in the freezer for another, oh, 20 min.? before eating one. keep them in the freezer on the tray and when you want one, just leave it out for a little bit if you don't want it to be too hard, though even right out of the freezer they are ready to eat, it just depends on your preference. anyway, they are like ice cream. sweet georgia brown. |
much love to you all luvadoooos!
xo suz
Monday, January 28, 2013
Linking up with Needle and Nest Design: Momologue Monday!
We're linking up again with the lovely Mama Mel over at my most favorite (or as she writes "favourite", love it!!!) blog Needle and Nest Design. Every monday us mama's get to write our shpeel about those things no one seems to tell you about motherhood, in all senses of the word. This week : labor and delivery. oh my, are you ready? I'll try to not write a novel.... though, who am i kidding.....
In my case, my babies are always late. Oliver was 2 weeks late. there was nothing. not a twinge, not a "could this be it?" moments. nothing. so, we had to go the ol' route of that four letter word: induction. ugh, can you hear the dramatic music? dun dun DUNNNNNN. my labor started incredibly slow but quickly became very painful....
Here i am at the beginning, just before i needed to get into the tub and start hallucinating, of course later we would learn i was a mere ONE cm dilated..... (so funny, i thought i would wear that necklace the whole time.... oh suz....)
The labor took about 2 days and got really scary and intense at the end, but some how, i did it!
Oliver Lennon Wood 9lbs 6.9 oz
Then, because we somehow for get this pain, a couple years later...........
Gibbson Leo Wood 9lbs. 15.1 (i HAVE to add the 1 thank you)
His was a much different story. Unlike with Oliver, there was a lovely SEVEN day stretch of "this is it!" moments (mind you, i was very thankful to at least be feeling SOMETHING). On the 8th night, it became real. Then, before we knew it we were dropping off Oliver and the dog and heading out. Pay attention to this ladies : they make you wait until your contractions are 5-7 minutes apart before coming in. i suggest finding a friend that lives close by the hospital to hang out with the moment you feel one coming on because goodness gracious it really sucks riding in a car while having close together contractions. oy vey. anyway. with this pregnancy, we took a Mindfulness Base Childbirth Class and though i believe labor is VERY much different when not on synthetic drugs like pitocin to induce labor, these techniques that i learned were invaluable. To notice the moments AFTER contractions, the relief of it being over and having one down. NOT focusing on "oh god that hurt, when is the next one coming? what am i going to do? what if it hurts worse? etc..." but not thinking those thoughts at all. incredible. labor with oliver, my mum and Gabe went through 200 washcloths trying to sooth my head that was spinning, it was 6,000 degrees in that room and i was delirious with pain and heatstroke. Gibbsons birth? we went through ONE, i am holding it in the photo below, and frankly, the only reason i was holding it was because my poor mum didn't know what to do with herself! she was certain she would have to be on washcloth duty!
So here it is! One of the proudest moments i can recall. This is a photo taken when i was at 7 cm., approaching 8. The smile is real. i was talking in between contractions as though i was not in labor at all. MIND over MATTER.....
Now, please don't be fooled, i will admit that shortly after this photo was taken i got to a full on 8 cm. When you get there, you are not on this planet. You just aren't. You are someone else. Don't worry, you'll return, but for the time being, you would probably allow a 6 year old give you an epidural. There is nothing that i will try and compare it to. it doesn't even "hurt" as much as it's just so. incredibly. intense. but, it's what gives us super powers as mentioned in last weeks link up.
And even though some of the first words i spoke after he was out were "wow. i don't ever.have.to.do.that.again........" i would. as crazy as my children make me sometimes. as scary as walking into the hospital that second time around is, knowing full well what is coming.... i would do it again.
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I feel like i need to say something that is off the topic of labor, but something that has been on my mind for some time. It's not something that i can really just say publicly in some random facebook post to get people all riled up. and maybe it won't even reach the people that this pertains to, but i just feel like this is an easier way:
some people make comments like "oh, don't you think two is enough!?" or "you shouldn't have more kids" or, "you think you're crazy now! and you want MORE????" and i know that no one is saying these things to be mean spirited. they most of the time might even be joking. but when it is said over and over and over and over, it doesn't feel as harmless. i DO want more kids. i want to look around my house at the holidays and have a lot of children in my life when i am older. i look into my future and i see more children in it. i just do. and i don't think that there is anything wrong with it. do i complain about my kids too much? yes. i admit that i do. i admit that i have a lot of things that i need to work out with ME to make me better, to allow me to have more patience and understanding. when i am told over and over again that i should not have any more children it hurts and it makes me feel like people think i'm an idiot. "why do you want more kids, are you crazy?" they don't see my future as i see it. plain and simple. so please, even if you are just joking, if you think that i shouldn't have more children, i ask you to kindly think it silently. please. much love to you all
<3 suz
In my case, my babies are always late. Oliver was 2 weeks late. there was nothing. not a twinge, not a "could this be it?" moments. nothing. so, we had to go the ol' route of that four letter word: induction. ugh, can you hear the dramatic music? dun dun DUNNNNNN. my labor started incredibly slow but quickly became very painful....
The labor took about 2 days and got really scary and intense at the end, but some how, i did it!
Then, because we somehow for get this pain, a couple years later...........
His was a much different story. Unlike with Oliver, there was a lovely SEVEN day stretch of "this is it!" moments (mind you, i was very thankful to at least be feeling SOMETHING). On the 8th night, it became real. Then, before we knew it we were dropping off Oliver and the dog and heading out. Pay attention to this ladies : they make you wait until your contractions are 5-7 minutes apart before coming in. i suggest finding a friend that lives close by the hospital to hang out with the moment you feel one coming on because goodness gracious it really sucks riding in a car while having close together contractions. oy vey. anyway. with this pregnancy, we took a Mindfulness Base Childbirth Class and though i believe labor is VERY much different when not on synthetic drugs like pitocin to induce labor, these techniques that i learned were invaluable. To notice the moments AFTER contractions, the relief of it being over and having one down. NOT focusing on "oh god that hurt, when is the next one coming? what am i going to do? what if it hurts worse? etc..." but not thinking those thoughts at all. incredible. labor with oliver, my mum and Gabe went through 200 washcloths trying to sooth my head that was spinning, it was 6,000 degrees in that room and i was delirious with pain and heatstroke. Gibbsons birth? we went through ONE, i am holding it in the photo below, and frankly, the only reason i was holding it was because my poor mum didn't know what to do with herself! she was certain she would have to be on washcloth duty!
Now, please don't be fooled, i will admit that shortly after this photo was taken i got to a full on 8 cm. When you get there, you are not on this planet. You just aren't. You are someone else. Don't worry, you'll return, but for the time being, you would probably allow a 6 year old give you an epidural. There is nothing that i will try and compare it to. it doesn't even "hurt" as much as it's just so. incredibly. intense. but, it's what gives us super powers as mentioned in last weeks link up.
And even though some of the first words i spoke after he was out were "wow. i don't ever.have.to.do.that.again........" i would. as crazy as my children make me sometimes. as scary as walking into the hospital that second time around is, knowing full well what is coming.... i would do it again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I feel like i need to say something that is off the topic of labor, but something that has been on my mind for some time. It's not something that i can really just say publicly in some random facebook post to get people all riled up. and maybe it won't even reach the people that this pertains to, but i just feel like this is an easier way:
some people make comments like "oh, don't you think two is enough!?" or "you shouldn't have more kids" or, "you think you're crazy now! and you want MORE????" and i know that no one is saying these things to be mean spirited. they most of the time might even be joking. but when it is said over and over and over and over, it doesn't feel as harmless. i DO want more kids. i want to look around my house at the holidays and have a lot of children in my life when i am older. i look into my future and i see more children in it. i just do. and i don't think that there is anything wrong with it. do i complain about my kids too much? yes. i admit that i do. i admit that i have a lot of things that i need to work out with ME to make me better, to allow me to have more patience and understanding. when i am told over and over again that i should not have any more children it hurts and it makes me feel like people think i'm an idiot. "why do you want more kids, are you crazy?" they don't see my future as i see it. plain and simple. so please, even if you are just joking, if you think that i shouldn't have more children, i ask you to kindly think it silently. please. much love to you all
<3 suz
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