I am so PROUD to announce that Jake, my hubby, has been accepted into the SFSU chapter of the International Honor Society for Psychology!!! This means he has maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher AND be within the top 35% of their class (he's currently a Junior). HOLLA!!!
I must tell you, Jake works hard. I know a lot of people say "my husband works hard", and I can appreciate that, but Jake is a beast. This is his schedule basically for the week:
Monday: Work 8:30-7pm, come home and spend most of his evening with the baby. After the baby goes to sleep, he studies for about an hour.
Tuesday: Wake up 4:30am, 2-hour BART ride into SF, go to class from 8am to 11am, ride BART back, get to work at around 12:30pm, work until 7pm, then come home and spends his evening with the baby. After the baby goes to sleep, he studies for about 1-2 hours.
Wednesday: Same as Monday.
Thursday: Same as Tuesday.
Friday: Same as Monday.
And now that it's tax season, he works EVERY Saturday from now until the weekend of the tax deadline from 10am to about 3-4pm. We also go to our WW meeting at 8:30am.
Yeah, I don't exaggerate when I say Jake works hard. He's supposed to graduate with his Bachelors next May, so it'll be awesome for him to have a break for a little bit with his degree until he goes to Graduate school...then it's a whole 'nother ball game.
Being a member of Psi Chi means he'll be able to put that honor on his resume, it'll be part of his credentials (or so I've heard), and he'll get a spiffy little something to wear with his cap and gown on graduation day. I'm so proud of you, Jake!!! Congrats!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Caramelized Onion and Gorgonzola Pizza
It's my first recipe in a looooong time, so I figured I'd try something outside my comfy box and give this one a whirl.
I love caramelized onions. There is something so...I don't know...sinful (?) about caramelized onions. It's part veggie, part candy. It's amazing to me with a little heat and some patience, the dreaded plant that makes my eyes water no matter what I do to avoid that happening while cutting it turns into something so yummy! I also love gorgonzola. It's the #2 after Bleu Cheese and before Feta. I used to HATE Bleu Cheese when I was little, but of course as I grew, so did my taste buds. So to think both of them on a pizza??? GENIUS!!! I will admit I didn't make enough onions to cover the pizza as much as I wanted too, so I'd recommend adding more onion (you can use your discretion). I also couldn't find Vidalia onions, which I'm SURE would've made this pizza's yummy-factor to be upgraded to the umpteenth degree, but such is the shopping options at my local Safeway. I used regular sweet yellow onions, which were yummy nonetheless. Next time I find some Vidalia onions (Farmers Market trip!), I'm grabbing some and making this pizza again.
Enjoy!
Caramelized Onion and Gorgonzola Pizza
Recipe by Julie of allrecipes.com
Photo by allrecipes
Prep time: 15 min, Cook time: 40 min, TOTAL: 55 min
Recipe yields 12 servings
1/8 cup butter
2 large Vidalia onions, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons sugar
1 (10 oz) package refridgerated pizza dough (you can also make your own if you like)
80z Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (the original recipe calls for 1lb, but that seems extreme for me, but again, do what you like)
1. In a large saute pan, melt butter over medium heat. Saute onions in the butter until the onions are soft and dark brown, approximately 25 minutes. Stir in sugar and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Farenheit.
3. Grease pizza pan or cookie sheet, and press out the dough to desired thickness. Spread onions evenly over the dough, and top with the crumbled Gorgonzola cheese.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until done.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I'm a C-Section Mama
A little random, but I've been thinking about this for a while, and need to get this out.
All throughout my pregnancy, there seemed to be this inadvertent pressure for me to have a natural birth. I was born via c-section, so I was aware that there was another way. I tried to go with the flow and tell everyone that I would be fine either way. Inside my head I knew I wanted a natural birth more than I could "accept" a c-section. I admit at the time I was very ignorant of what was entailed and I viewed c-sections as undesirable - mostly because I wasn't comfortable with the idea of being awake while my body is being cut open. I couldn't even handle being awake for my wisdom teeth removal.
When I was in labor, my determination to have Scarlett vaginally was more intense than I anticipated. When I was told that she wasn't coming the way we had worked for and that we needed to go the c-section route, I felt like a failure. I had labored for 27 hours only to be told I "wasn't good enough" to have her naturally. I was pissed. Something was wrong with me to not be able to have Scarlett how I was determined to, because her heart rate was dropping dangerously low when I had contractions. The world was over...
Then she came. All of a sudden, it was like a movie. Everything was silent in the room, and all there was was her and I; looking at each other in the most calming wonder I've ever experienced. All of a sudden, laboring for 27 hours, the contractions, the pain, the surgery, none of it mattered. My daughter had arrived and I became a C-Section Mama.
I admit it was hard for me to accept that I hadn't had Scarlett in the generally "acceptable" way. Some moms look down upon those who have a c-section. We've copped out and took the easy road. Let me tell you that for 27 hours, life was anything but copping out and taking the easy road. Being cut open and awake for it is ANYTHING but easy. Having major surgery is not easy. Getting out of bed for the first time, standing up, and going blind for a second because your body feels like it's being ripped apart from the pain is anything but easy.
Today, I came across an article called "A Love Letter to C-Section Mamas", and it touched my heart. You can read it HERE
I have the most unimagineable love for my daughter. She was welcomed into this world in an unplanned way, but she's healthy and happy. She brings light to my days and love to my life. She makes my bad days better and snuggles more snuggly. And she's here, healthy and happy because I had a c-section to save her life. I have a scar - I call it my "battle scar". I wear it proudly because it shows the world that I gave birth to my daughter the "kangaroo way". It's something I will carry with me forever, and nothing can change that. I don't want it too.
Having a C-Section isn't a failure at all. It's nothing to thumb your nose at, or judge other moms for. Giving birth is a miracle in and of itself. It doesn't matter the method of how the baby got there. It's not a measure of how good a parent you'll be, and there is NOTHING wrong with having a C-Section.
So, I'm a C-Section Mama...and damn proud of it.
All throughout my pregnancy, there seemed to be this inadvertent pressure for me to have a natural birth. I was born via c-section, so I was aware that there was another way. I tried to go with the flow and tell everyone that I would be fine either way. Inside my head I knew I wanted a natural birth more than I could "accept" a c-section. I admit at the time I was very ignorant of what was entailed and I viewed c-sections as undesirable - mostly because I wasn't comfortable with the idea of being awake while my body is being cut open. I couldn't even handle being awake for my wisdom teeth removal.
When I was in labor, my determination to have Scarlett vaginally was more intense than I anticipated. When I was told that she wasn't coming the way we had worked for and that we needed to go the c-section route, I felt like a failure. I had labored for 27 hours only to be told I "wasn't good enough" to have her naturally. I was pissed. Something was wrong with me to not be able to have Scarlett how I was determined to, because her heart rate was dropping dangerously low when I had contractions. The world was over...
Then she came. All of a sudden, it was like a movie. Everything was silent in the room, and all there was was her and I; looking at each other in the most calming wonder I've ever experienced. All of a sudden, laboring for 27 hours, the contractions, the pain, the surgery, none of it mattered. My daughter had arrived and I became a C-Section Mama.
I admit it was hard for me to accept that I hadn't had Scarlett in the generally "acceptable" way. Some moms look down upon those who have a c-section. We've copped out and took the easy road. Let me tell you that for 27 hours, life was anything but copping out and taking the easy road. Being cut open and awake for it is ANYTHING but easy. Having major surgery is not easy. Getting out of bed for the first time, standing up, and going blind for a second because your body feels like it's being ripped apart from the pain is anything but easy.
Today, I came across an article called "A Love Letter to C-Section Mamas", and it touched my heart. You can read it HERE
I have the most unimagineable love for my daughter. She was welcomed into this world in an unplanned way, but she's healthy and happy. She brings light to my days and love to my life. She makes my bad days better and snuggles more snuggly. And she's here, healthy and happy because I had a c-section to save her life. I have a scar - I call it my "battle scar". I wear it proudly because it shows the world that I gave birth to my daughter the "kangaroo way". It's something I will carry with me forever, and nothing can change that. I don't want it too.
Having a C-Section isn't a failure at all. It's nothing to thumb your nose at, or judge other moms for. Giving birth is a miracle in and of itself. It doesn't matter the method of how the baby got there. It's not a measure of how good a parent you'll be, and there is NOTHING wrong with having a C-Section.
So, I'm a C-Section Mama...and damn proud of it.
Friday, February 3, 2012
A for Effort
Lately I have noticed that I haven't been feeling good-looking. In the mornings, it takes me a while to get out of bed and get ready. By the time I need to leave the house, I skip makeup and doing my hair - I pull it back into a bun. It was OK for a little while, but then I noticed I didn't feel professional at work. I didn't feel presentable.
I also discovered that I can curl my hair a little bit with a flat iron - it takes a bit of wrist-action. So on the days I have more time (this week was Mon, Wed and Fri), I did my hair and I've been doing my makeup every day. I feel like I can talk to anyone and not worry about that zit on my chin, or the dark circles under my eyes because it's got a bit of help.
So I'm making a pledge to do my hair and makeup almost every day. I say that now, but someone will have to remind me of that when I'm pulling my wet hair into a bun for work and not putting on my makeup.
I also discovered that I can curl my hair a little bit with a flat iron - it takes a bit of wrist-action. So on the days I have more time (this week was Mon, Wed and Fri), I did my hair and I've been doing my makeup every day. I feel like I can talk to anyone and not worry about that zit on my chin, or the dark circles under my eyes because it's got a bit of help.
So I'm making a pledge to do my hair and makeup almost every day. I say that now, but someone will have to remind me of that when I'm pulling my wet hair into a bun for work and not putting on my makeup.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
WW Weigh-In 1/28/12
Despite being tired and not in the mood to go to the meeting, Jake and I weighed in and sat through the meeting anyways. We hadn't been following the plan barely at all and knew we had gained. So here's the damage:
Gained/lost this week: +.4lbs
Total weight loss so far (starting 1/14/12): -3.8lbs.
Seeing that I had gained and I had given myself permission to fall off the wagon this week gave Jake and I new appreciation for the task we've undertaken and a renewal of determination. So we trekked right over to Trader Joe's next to the WW we go to and stocked up on yummy, wholesome snacks. I tried Greek Yogurt for the first time, and it isn't bad. I chose pomegranate as my first flavor, and it was a little overpowering. Jake says the blueberry tastes better, so I'll see. I also discovered their Super Spinach salad and had it yesterday for lunch - spinach with quinoa, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, carrots, edamame with a ginger/miso dressing. It was sooooo good.
Our next weigh in is Saturday 2/4. We've been pretty good about following the plan and have been packing all of our lunches, breakfasts and making more effort into nutritious dinners even though we're tired. We're having a Super Bowl party this weekend, and Jake is determined to have hotwings. I'm allowing myself to have a few, but not go whole hog. I'm going to stock up on the veggie tray and cracker/cheese platter.
Gained/lost this week: +.4lbs
Total weight loss so far (starting 1/14/12): -3.8lbs.
Seeing that I had gained and I had given myself permission to fall off the wagon this week gave Jake and I new appreciation for the task we've undertaken and a renewal of determination. So we trekked right over to Trader Joe's next to the WW we go to and stocked up on yummy, wholesome snacks. I tried Greek Yogurt for the first time, and it isn't bad. I chose pomegranate as my first flavor, and it was a little overpowering. Jake says the blueberry tastes better, so I'll see. I also discovered their Super Spinach salad and had it yesterday for lunch - spinach with quinoa, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, carrots, edamame with a ginger/miso dressing. It was sooooo good.
Our next weigh in is Saturday 2/4. We've been pretty good about following the plan and have been packing all of our lunches, breakfasts and making more effort into nutritious dinners even though we're tired. We're having a Super Bowl party this weekend, and Jake is determined to have hotwings. I'm allowing myself to have a few, but not go whole hog. I'm going to stock up on the veggie tray and cracker/cheese platter.
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