Avenger Me!

Our friends David and Amanda are hosting an Avengers party today in honor of the new Captain America movie coming out. The day consists of an Avengers movie marathon then a viewing of the new movie this evening.

They asked that we bring "superhero" themed snacks - Challenge accepted!

I started checking out Pinterest but every snack idea that came up in searches were for DC superheroes and NO AVENGERS! WHAT? So I came up with my own ideas

Here what I came up with!



Hulk Jello Cups



Hulk Jello Cups

I drew the Hulk on each cup and filled them with green Jello!

Hulk Jello Cups

Thor's Meat and Cheese Hammer

I cut up Summer Sausage and Mozz Cheese and stuck a pretzel in them!



Captain America's Cupcake Shield

I made mini cupcakes and topped each one with colored icing red-white-red-blue. Captain America would be proud!

So take some inspiration - pass it on - and throw your own Avengers party!

Not Much to Go On... - Week 30

Week 31 has been 100% uneventful...

The week was mostly full of restless nights, lots of baby movements, and no projects accomplished. I think right now I'm at the point where I'm just waiting for things to calm down before we move forward on our plans.

In two weeks I will be done with Tax Season and we will be traveling to Canada for Easter weekend. My brother is getting married so we are excited to be able to go! After our trip is done it's time to 'hit the books" and get in all our maternity classes before Baby Roo comes.

Then it will be all over - and he will be here!

One thing that did stand out to me this week was my intense desire to hold our son. I was driving home from Awana's after a particularly frustrating evening and pulled over into a Laundromat parking lot to just cry for a minute (this has become a more regular happening in my life now). The only thing that kept passing through my mind was how much I desired to cuddle with our baby... that day will come soon enough!

Side note; I think this might be why expectant mothers rub their belly's so often. It's not that baby is kicking or we are in pain, but rather we're imagining holding the young one in our arms one day soon.

I do have to give a kudos to my amazing husband Eric. He has really stepped up and helped with my emotional moments of late.

So here we are, in limbo, waiting for the busy season to be over so we can crack down and get things done for baby!

eMeals-a-Million

Well I suppose it is time to update you all on my eMeals plan!

When I signed up I joined the "low calorie" plan to help balance my nutrition and portion sizes during this pregnancy. The start was a little rough as a few of the meals were, well lets just say, interesting.

Chipotle Meatballs over Rice

The first week of groceries came out to around 85$ for the ingredients listed. I found this to be a little high from their estimation of $50-$75 per week. Then I realized that this was because I had to buy several staple items that I did not have in my kitchen (ex: Canola oil, spices, etc...).

My next hurdle was that I did not have a need for all seven meals provided. This was quickly remedied by crossing out the items on the list that were numbered for the meals we weren't using. I'm finding my collection of recipes has grown enormously - it's almost overwhelming! I am, however, storing my favorites away in my personal recipe box to use at a later time.

Baked Chicken over Chickpeas and Cherry Tomatoes

My second week of groceries came out to about 65$ and this included not just eMeal ingredients, but also my other meal items as well (ex: milk, eggs, bread, etc...). This seems a lot more reasonable than the first week.

The meals have become a little more inviting and, well, normal. We've had bacon wrapped chicken, steak, pork chops, and some vegetarian varieties also. I like that this meal plan is high protein/veggies and low carb. Most meals take an average of 30-40 minutes to prepare/cook and my recipes always inform me when I need to pre-marinade or chill an item. 

Bacon Wrapped Chicken with a Chilled Pea Salad

One special thing I have noticed is when a recipe calls for a quantity that is SMALLER than the sold quantity, a recipe later in the week will use up the rest of that ingredient so I am less wasteful. Also, shopping with such a thorough list has helped me to not purchase unnecessary or larger-than-needed items. I must note that we need to take the garbage out a little less now!

eMeals is helping me to come out of my comfort zone with cooking but not to the point of being wasteful with my time. I'm enjoying trying new flavors or combinations that I never would have thought of. 

Pork Chops with Strawberry Balsamic topping

So far I would rate my eMeals experience at a 4 out of 5 stars. What would make it five star? An iPad app!

A Little Surprise! - Week 29 Part 2

Tonight at our weekly Bible Study, the group surprised us with a little baby shower for Roo! What a blessing to have such loving friends in our lives <3 p="">
I thought I would share our few pictures

 

Our gifts include a baby carrier (YAY!!), Chevron sheets, the cutest little onsie, and a Taun Taun Rocking Horse (Click Here for Model)!!!!

Thanks guys for making us feel so loved <3 br="">

A Memory in Time - Week 29

For week 29, the highlight for me was the opportunity to stop and memorialize this chapter in our lives.

After the mis-hap with the storage card in our wedding, I've been looking forward to the next big occasion to spoil ourselves with professional-grade photos.  This occasion came this past weekend as our professional-aspiring friends offered to create a maternity photo-shoot for us.

Saturday morning came early as we tried to catch the rising sun. The weather was perfect, a slight overcast with no wind to ruin perfect moments. We set out to nature and the photographer began his work. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite moments we captured in time of our precious first, Baby Roo.

 

 

Dear son of mine, I cannot wait to meet you! You are such a precious gift from above that we are blessed to be receiving. Love Mom

For the Love of Muffins!!

Those who have been in my home for events know that I LOVE muffins!! Often I'll get inspired and bake up a whole batch of blueberry or banana or lemon muffins. The downfall is my husband doesn't eat many of them so they all end up in my tummy!

Unfortunately for this vice of mine, it doesn't fit too well in my new baby diet. So I have been on the hunt for tasty, low calorie muffins to test out and enjoy.

Wednesday for our Small Group Bible study, I decided I would use them all as guinea pigs for a new, light muffin recipe I found from Cooking Light magazine. I thought I'd share with you all.




Nutritional Information
Amount per serving (serving size: 1 muffin)

• Calories: 182
• Calories from fat: 28%     
• Protein: 2.9g
• Carbohydrate: 30.4g
• Fiber: 0.6g
• Cholesterol: 14mg
• Sodium: 176mg       

Sour Cream Coffeecake Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans (I declined on the pecans)

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup egg substitute (I used egg whites)

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 7 3/4 ounces)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Topping:

6 tablespoons powdered sugar

3 teaspoons fresh orange juice

Dash of salt

 

Preheat oven to 400°.
Combine first 3 ingredients; set aside (dark brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon).

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add egg substitute; beat 3 minutes. Beat in sour cream, water, and vanilla.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Make a well in center of mixture; add sour cream mixture. Stir just until combined.

Place 3 tablespoons brown sugar mixture in a small bowl; set aside. Sprinkle surface of batter with remaining brown sugar mixture. Gently fold batter 4 times.

Place 18 paper muffin cup liners in muffin cups; coat liners with cooking spray. Spoon batter into prepared cups. Sprinkle batter evenly with reserved brown sugar mixture. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove muffins from pan immediately; place on a wire rack. Cool 10 minutes.

Combine powdered sugar, juice, and dash of salt in a small bowl, stirring until smooth. Drizzle powdered sugar mixture evenly over muffins.

The Beginning of the End - Week 28

Well hello there third trimester; how hard it is to believe you have arrived to quickly!

I remember sitting at the start of my second trimester thinking these nine months were going to be the longest of my life! Well here we are; the beginning of the end.

Unlike any other time in my pregnancy, I feel the urgency to prepare barreling down on me. So many thoughts and doubts are crowding my mind, it's hard to find restful sleep. Or, maybe that's the large belly hanging off of me with a kicking child keeping me awake...

A friend told me this week to enjoy my first pregnancy. These words of wisdom came from her as she held her two year old on her hip and is eight months pregnant. "You'll quickly forget the little one inside you when there's another one tugging your hand for attention" she said. So this week, I've been trying to enjoy each moment; each little kick, each word of advice given, each plan made.

The most resounding thought in my mind is; what have I gotten myself into? Am I prepared for the responsibility of being a mother?

The only desire I've had since a child is to be a wife, a mother and a homemaker. However, as motherhood comes increasingly closer, I start to wonder if maybe I was a little batty to dream up such a horrifying life goal! 

But then I think of his first steps, his first day of school, graduation, marriage... It will all go by in the wink of an eye and Lord-willing he will grow up to be a wonderful husband and father to his own family.

So this week I've been trying to focus on the now; the moments I won't ever experience again. Focusing on preparing the most loving and Godly home for our Son.

I'm thankful for my life... for the journey I've been on. God knows what's next and I'm excited to experience every minute of it.