30 Sep

Category

Menu for September 30-October 4, 2008

2

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Sorry for the delay in posting this week’s menu. Honestly, I can’t even account for my time away from here. Life just took over. So, without further adieu:

Monday
Breakfast: Hot whole grain cereal with raisins
Lunch: Pasta and a salad
Dinner: Scrambled eggs and bagels

Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with pumpkin, raisins, and walnuts
Lunch: ALTs with hummus on spelt bread and a side of green beans
Dinner: Lentil, radish, and spinach stuffed pitas

Wednesday
Breakfast: Hot whole grain cereal with raisins
Lunch: Lentil, radish, and spinach stuffed pitas
Dinner: Red bean and lager chili with whole wheat rolls

Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with pumpkin, raisins, and walnuts
Lunch: ALTs with hummus on spelt bread and a side of green beans
Dinner: Red bean and lager chili with whole wheat rolls

Friday
Breakfast: Hot whole grain cereal with raisins
Lunch: Pasta with zucchini and sun-dried tomato pesto
Dinner: Rice and beans (with salsa, corn, cheese, guac.?,)

Saturday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with pumpkin, raisins, and walnuts
Lunch: Rice and beans (with salsa, corn, cheese, guac.?,)
Dinner: Pasta with zucchini and sun-dried tomato pesto

This morning I made a batch of Cassie Young’s multigrain blueberry-orange muffins. Oh my word, people So. Freaking. Good.

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28 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Slacker

0

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. Jude and I have been keeping very, very busy, and I’ve been exhausted as of late. Keep an eye out tomorrow for this week’s menu, an update to my 31 Days to a Better Diet challenge, and some new pictures of the boy. Right now, it’s time for bed.

23 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Day 2: Task 2

0

Today is Day 2 of the Limes & Lycopene’s 31 Days to a Better Diet challenge. Today’s task is “keep a diet diary for a week.”

I stared my food log today, and for the most part, I’m eating well (except for the chocolate and the 2 pieces of pizza… but hey! I did say “for the most part.”). I’ve done food diaries before, but I never thought to write down when it is I’m eating. Hopefully by the end of this week, I’ll gain some insight as to when, and possibly why, I snack.

23 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Climbing the Walls

0

Have I mentioned that this place is really hard to baby proof? Because it is.

Josh and I had hoped that putting a large sofa in front of the stairwell would keep Jude away from the potentially (very) dangerous stairs. Well… I guess I can let the photos speak for themselves:

Step 1: Approach the couch, hammer in hand, and assess the situation.

Step 2: Find footing and begin ascent.

Step 3: Find finger hold and pull. Flex for the ladies.

Step 4: Abandon hammer.

Step 5: Make way towards the stairs.

Step 6: Success!

So, as you can see… we’ve got some rearranging to do.

22 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Letter to Jude: Month 16

0

Dear Jude,

Yesterday you turned 16 months old. I know I’m a day late in writing this letter to you, but yesterday was a busy day for us, so I took the easy way out and just wrote my weekly Sunday Drive post. I was tired and didn’t feel like I had the energy to put as much into this letter as I wanted to. Today, however, I’m more than up to the task.

This past month was much like the months before it in that you learned a ton of new stuff. I suppose that’s how things work when you’re little: you learn and learn and learn. Still, it’s awesome watching you develop and pick up new skills. Just this month you learned how to spin around (after only watching Papa do it once!)! You’ve started giving running hugs and you can (and do!) climb like it’s nobody’s business.

I’ve discovered that you (really, really) like goat’s milk cheese, smoothies, and Greek yogurt, so most days you and I indulge in at least one of these items. I love sitting on the playroom floor with you and sharing a yogurt cup. Most of the time you’ll bring a book over for me to read to you in between the spooning of the yogurt. Speaking of books, you’ve been devouring your books lately. No, really, you’ve literally been eating your books. Your papa and I have tried and tried and tried to discourage you, but you love the way your Sandra Boynton books taste.

We spent a lot of time playing outside this past month. We visited a few new parks, shared scones and ran around together at Green City Market, and took a bunch of walks around our neighborhood. Papa led us on one or two adventures, and even got us successfully to our final destination on occasion. Now that Autumn is here, I’m looking forward to showing you the leaves as they change color and spending time with you outside, just breathing in the crisp fall air.

I’m grateful for every minute we get to spend together, Monkey. Sometimes, when you’re having a particularly tough day, I get frustrated and need a bit of a break. But I want you to know that there is nowhere I’d rather be than with you. (Oh yes, and with Papa!)

Love,

mama

22 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Day 1: Task 1

1

Today marks Day 1 of the Limes & Lycopene’s 31 Days to a Better Diet challenge. Today’s task is “make a commitment.”

So, I’m going to commit to reviewing the list of tasks each day for the next 31 days (I’m even going to set an alarm on iCal to remind me!). I’m also going to commit to blogging about my experience each day.

And, I’m going to swear off Jimmy John’s for the next 31 days. God help me.

21 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Sunday Drive: September 21, 2008

4

No time to ready my witty and enlightening commentary? Here’s a list of the sites I’m talking about today:

Veggie Meal Plans
Limes & Lycopene
Have Cake, Will Travel!

I know it’s a short list this week, but these three blogs are brimming with delicious recipes and fantastic advice on nutrition and healthy eating, so I didn’t want to overload you, my faithful reader(s).

Veggie Meal Plans is written by a woman named Cassie Young. She also does all of the photography on her site. I have never seen such beautiful looking dishes as the ones Cassie has created. Her website is stunning as well; I love it’s layout, it’s color scheme, and the way it functions. This week I’ll be trying out Cassie’s recipes for Falafels with Pitas, Veggies and Tahini Dressing (though I’m going to use garbanzo beans instead of lima beans), Penne with Zucchini and Sun-dried Tomato and Pumpkin Seed Pesto, and Breakfast/Snack Bars. I’ve been spending a bunch of my free time perusing Cassie’s archives. She has a ton of great recipes listed. You should go (right now!) and check them out… you won’t be disappointed!

Limes & Lycopene is blog that focuses on nutrition and health. It’s written by Kathryn Elliott who is a nutritionist and an herbalist. Kathryn does an excellent job of making her readers think about what they eat and why. She also does a great job of inspiring them to challenge and better themselves. During the month of August, Kathryn posted one task per day to round out her series entitled 31 Ways to a Better Diet. Since I just stumbled on Kathryn’s blog over this past week, I was unable to partake in the challenge during it’s official time line; however, there’s nothing stopping me from doing it now! Tomorrow will be Day 1 of the challenge for me. I’ll be blogging my progress each day, so stay tuned for that. You can see a list of all 31 tasks here.

Finally, Have Cake, Will Travel! is a vegan food blog. I can’t count how many yummy looking desserts I’ve seen listed on HCWT!; there are simply too many for my public school educated mind to compute. One thing I love about HCWT! is its recipes page. I love digging around on blogs to see what I can find, but sometimes having a nice list right there in front of you is helpful, too.

I hope you enjoy these sites as much as I do! Cheers!

20 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Menu for September 20-27, 2008

0

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Today got away from me and I wasn’t able to make it to the farmers’ market by closing time. I did, however, find time to meal plan. Now all we need to do tomorrow is shop. You might notice a few repeated meals from last week’s menu. Last week ended up being really hectic for Josh and I, and we (unfortunately) ended up eating out a few times. Luckily, my produce is still holding strong in the fridge, so I’ll still be able to use it. Here’s this week’s menu:

Sunday
Breakfast: Whole grain cereal (hot) with fruit
Lunch: Baked zucchini, eggplant, and tomato casserole
Dinner: Veggie tacos
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with pumpkin puree, walnuts, and raisins
Lunch: Veggie tacos
Dinner: Chili
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

Tuesday
Breakfast: Whole grain cereal (hot) with fruit
Lunch: Mexican lasagna with rice
Dinner: Falafels with pitas, veggies, and tahini dressing
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with pumpkin puree, walnuts, and raisins
Lunch: Falafels with pitas, veggies, and tahini dressing
Dinner: ALTs with homemade hummus, snow peas, and pitas
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

Thursday
Breakfast: Whole grain cereal (hot) with fruit
Lunch: Chili
Dinner: Penne with zucchini and sun-dried tomato and pumpkin seed pesto and a side salad
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

Friday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with pumpkin puree, walnuts, and raisins
Lunch: ALTs with homemade hummus, snow peas, and pitas
Dinner: Eggs on spelt bagels with fresh fruit
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

Saturday
Breakfast: Whole grain cereal (hot) with fruit
Lunch: ALTs with hummus and pitas
Dinner: Penne with zucchini and sun-dried tomato and pumpkin seed pesto and a side salad
Snacks: Whey protein shake, apple slices with peanut butter, or a homemade snack bar

I found some FANTASTIC blogs about vegetarian cooking that I just started pulling recipes from. Check out my Sunday Drive post tomorrow for their names and web addys

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19 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

My Mutant-X Gene Would Be Lameness

2

As Josh and I walked home from picking up a cuppa at the local coffee shop, we passed a sports bar. The bar’s patio was filled with happy and rowdy 20 and 30-somethings having a great time watching the game and enjoying some brew.

I asked Josh if he ever felt like he was missing out on something by not being able to take part in that lifestyle. He replied no-that he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out by not really having the chance to go out and drink and be rowdy, but sometimes he does wish he could go out with a few friends, enjoy a beer, and stay out until 11:30pm.

It was at that point I had to remind him that we didn’t even stay out that late before Jude was born, so was he saying that he missed the life he used to lead before he and I got together? NO! Of course not… except that, well, it’s probably true since our lack of fun and crazy outings is really all my fault. I’m super lame, and I think I always have been. When we lived in PA, I didn’t do the bar scene because the bars were much too smoky (and because I valued my sleep and liked to go to bed early). Josh would have gone, despite the smoke, but I think he skipped going because he knew I would make him strip down to his birthday suit and shower the second he walked in the door.

So, if I were an X-Men, my name would be Lame-o (see, even my name would be lame), and my mutant-x gene would be lameness. I would emit lameness onto all I came into close contact with and they too would cease doing fun things and would instead go to sleep at 9pm and clean their kitchens for fun.

If you were an X-Men, what would be your name and super power?

18 Sep

Posted by
Jillian Frank

Category

Another Lesson Learned

2

Have you ever come to a realization about a particularly frustrating situation and you suddenly feel really ashamed because what you’ve realized is that you’ve had your head up your ass? Well, that was me this morning.

The boy, my sweet, sweet baby boy, has been super freaking cranky for the past few days. Today was no different. I can usually handle his moodiness (with the help of my friend Jameson-for me, not Jude), but this morning, well, he just started whining as soon as he got up, and I was tired, and well… things just went downhill from there.

I tried everything I had in my arsenal: I tried nursing him, not nursing him, reading to him, playing with him, feeding him, giving him his water… nothing worked. He just kept at it like he was gunning to make it into the Guinness Book for the most consecutive hours spent whining before the age of 2.

So there I was, frustrated beyond all belief, and it wasn’t even 8:30am yet. At that point I launched into a diatribe about “how much I do for [him]” and “how all I do is love [him]” and “don’t I deserve some thanks and maybe a moment’s peace for all that I do?”

And then I was smacked in the face and kicked in the shins by a moment of clarity.

I’m an ass. I know it was the tiredness and frustration talking, but man, was I actually wanting and expecting my son (my not even 16-month-old son) to be thankful for my love? Christ. I’m an ass. I love and care for my son for no good reason at all. I love and care for him because he’s him. I’m gentle with him because he deserves gentle parents. I don’t parent with the expectation that Jude will be grateful for all I do for him. I parent the way I do because it makes sense and because children deserve unconditional love and care and understanding.

Have I mentioned I’m an ass?

Does this parenting thing ever get easier, or am I doomed to continue in a cycle of acting like a idiot-being hit with reality-lamenting my woeful parenting-apologizing to my son-acting like an idiot… lather, rinse, repeat?