I Want



Citrine

my birth stone on etsy

Holiday Dress

I Want

Sausage

Is there anything more unattractive than full-paneled maternity pants? My belly looks like a cased sausage in them.
Not very pretty.
I am sticking to dresses.

A Year of Pregnancy - Could I Have Given Birth to an Elephant by Now?*

I've been thinking a lot about the past year, as we tend do when a year comes to a close.

My main thoughts center around family, our sweet, wonderful Maya and the little boy growing in my belly. Reflecting on this on-going journey, from a surprise pregnancy when a new baby was nowhere near our radar, to a devastating loss at the end of 2009. Onto another pregnancy (planned this time) and another painful loss which left me empty, yet more at peace and ready to wait and heal physically and emotionally.

But as I should have known, there wasn't much time or healing because a very much wanted, but not quite ready to have planned it pregnancy was staring at us via a positive pregnancy test (still in disbelief I headed straight to my Doctor's office for confirmation - somehow peeing on their stick proved that yes indeed, it was true).

This journey has made me:

• lose my innocence about pregnancy and left me unable to surrender to the many joys of pregnancy
• appreciate this specific pregnancy at this specific time, even with its hiccups and set backs
• more confident in my body - that it can handle all this and keep going, and going, and going
• more appreciative of and more willing to accept the help of friends and family
• more honest with myself about the idea of family and why we wanted another child in the first place
• given me the ability to let go of some things and focus on what is really important
• introduced me to an online community of amazingly strong and supportive women

*I just looked this up, and no, I could not have given birth to an elephant, they are pregnant for 22 months, I have a new-found respect for mama elephants!

Cheers to 2011!

Fluttering Obi

(im)patiently waiting for this dress to go on sale

and this one, too.

Hello Santa

...in the car this morning:
Mama can I call Santa?
Oh hello Santa. Are you bringing presents and a tree? What are you doing Santa? OK, you can come on Wednesday. I have to call Baba and Papi now. Bye.



Weather

The sun is sunny all over the place
Maya's assessment of the weather this morning

enjoying the sunny sun @ Baby Beach this summer

Chocolate What?

Chocolate Cheerios
Who knew?! I didn't until I tried them at Costco.
They are really good!

They make a great little crunchy, chocolaty snack!
Recipes, nutritional facts, and such...

I Want

...but won't be getting at $248

Maya, Meet Maya

This is a Go! Go! Sports Girls doll.
Her name is Maya and she does gymnastics, her favorite fruit is blueberries.
My Maya loves gymnastics and blueberries, too! Weird.

Some Things I Learned Today

A few things I learned while watching daytime TV:

• soap opera actresses have really good hair
• the 12 o'clock news is the same news as the 9 o'clock news
• there are far too many women who do not know who the father of their child is
• the maximum claim for Small Claims Court is $5,000

Almost Lost in Translation

I want to go on the alligator. I wanna go on the alligator. Pleaaaase! Let me go on the alligator.
Maya - 7PM @ Mission Viejo Mall

Alligator = escalator.
Thanks, Bret, for translating that one!

::

This shirt is so Maya. I love it.

This Big Much

Maya: Mama, I love you THIS big much (arms stretched way out).
Me: *dying from the cutness*

What more do you need to start your day off on the right note? Nothing!

Hello Matryoshka

I am noticing more and more matryoshka (nesting doll) inspired items lately. They are such a flashback to my Eastern European childhood where it was absolutely mandatory that you have at least one set of matryoshka dolls. I've seen matryoshka measuring cups at Anthropologie, matryoshka totes somewhere else, and these cups. Is it just me, or are they super-duper adorable. I have to get a set.

Like Starbucks, but Cheaper

I copied the Egg White, Spinach & Feta Wrap from Starbucks, it's very tasty and super easy to make, I've had it for both breakfast and as a lunch.

You'll need:
two egg whites
handful of cooked spinach
crumbled feta (as much as you like, I tend to like more)
sun dried tomatoes
whole wheat lavash bread
::stack in the above order, wrap and put in a pan for 30-45 seconds on each side to get everything melty and fused together.

*this is the Starbucks version, my wrap job is not quite as tidy

Starbucks' nutritional content:
Calories 280
Total Fat 10g
Total Carbohydrate 33g
Dietary Fiber 6g

Mine is probably about the same (maybe a few more calories since I added more cheese), but I definitely don't have these weird ingredients in my egg whites like they do: [egg whites, whey powder, unmodified corn starch, salt, nonfat dry milk, butter flavor (sunflower oil, natural flavors, medium chain triglycerides, palm kernal oil].

Sorry, Mr. Lizard, for the Potential Brain Damage

Mr. Lizard found himself inside our house this afternoon, and well, he probably wishes he hadn't...

Part I

Part II

In the Car

Maya: Wow Mama you going super fast!
Me: I am sorry, did you get scared?
Maya: Yes. Go fast again. Again!!!

Maya and I have the best conversations during our morning commute.

Fun Gift

One of our favorite and most fun wedding gifts we received was a hammock (and stand). After 7+ years of consistent use, the rope hammock broke so I replaced it with this comfy quilted one. The best part is that the three of us fit on it perfectly!

Now I am going to take a break from watching the US-Ghana game and hammock away in the sunshine....
(oh, and it was a steal of a deal @ $69, normally $149!)

Virtually Virtual

Do you have virtual friends? Can someone you've never met be a friend?

For several months now I've been a part of an online community for women living through similar experiences. Some of the things we write in our posts have been shared with only the closest circle of friends and family, yet because of the relative anonymity and this virtual bond we somehow feel comfortable talking about the most personal of things. It's a strange sort of relationship, but at times it's truly a blessing to have.

Dreams

Me: Maya, what did you dream about last night?
Maya: Kitties and elephants and pizza.

And Now I am Totally Hungry

I came across some yummy recipes on my mid-morning blog-reading break, and wanted to share mine. I'll call it Big Bear Quinoa (we were in Big Bear when I "invented" it).

Big Bear Quinoa
quinoa
beans (black, kidney, pinto or whatever you like)
salsa (I like it Medium and chunky)
avocado (cut into cubes)
cheese (added it to Bret's serving only)
layer everything in the above order

It's so good and so quick, and it's a perfect lunch to take to work.

Now I am hungry, and it's not even close to my lunch break!

Happy, healthy eating...

Catch Up

She may be small, but she knows stuff...
(and she most certainly does not pose for pictures)

Hello June! Where did April and May go??

Our little Maya is becoming a bit of a hoarder, a really cute one. The other day she insisted on taking a lemon to bed with her, she was so proud of that lemon, she picked it all by herself. And what do you do when your kid asks if she can take her prised lemon to bed with her? I said yes (and took it out after she was asleep).

We've also bought what we hope to be our last box of diapers. I thought potty training would be something like this: Maya you go peepee and poopoo in the potty, I would show her a few times and be done, but the pairs of wet PullUps and undies have proven otherwise. Maybe we'll get it down by summer. Actually, I am not too worried about it, I am sure she'll master it at some point, right?

I never mentioned that I got a fancy new sewing machine for Christmas (fancy to me, after using a 20-year old Singer all this time!). I have used it about 3 times since then, go figure. I did make a birthday outfit for Maya only to decide that the skirt was just a little too big about 10 minutes before her party started. Good thing I had a back up dress that had just arrived in the mail from Spain. Thanks Aunt Christine!

I bought this Kashi bar over the weekend, it's so good. It's more of a snack/dessert not a breakfast or health bar, half is just perfect to satisfy a sweet-tooth. Yum.

Sometimes I really love getting advise from almost complete strangers, really. I was told that I "shouldn't try to hurry the curry" and it made me laugh so hard, I told my stranger-friend that it was the best advise, and I wish I could follow it, but I am a hurry-the-curry kind of a girl sometimes and I can't help it.

I am really looking forward to summer and our vacation.

Have a hoppy week...

This Mess is So Big and So Deep and So Tall....**

I've been avoiding everything about the oil spill, I've tried to ignore it because I felt I didn't have the space in my heart to get emotionally involved in all that this spill entails. So I figured if I ignored it long enough, it would just go away.

But then I realized, I am involved. And so are YOU (you don't get a choice in the matter).

Scientists say the impact is worse than the Exxon Valdez spill (meanwhile the BP COO has stated that the environmental impact will be "minimal"). As of last night, the "top kill" procedure seems to be successful and after over a month, the flow of oil has been halted.*
*PB reports says that they won't know for sure the top kill is working until later today (5/28)
**I was away from TV and news for a few days -- the top kill did not work, there is a new "cut-and-cap" plan in the works now...

And now the real work of cleaning up begins...

I can't do much to help, but I can donate.
Maybe you could as well?

In & Out

These shoes have been in and out of my "shopping cart" at least a dozen times in the last month.

In two days they will be out of a box and on my feet. Woohoo :)

p.s. this post is pretty ironic considering my post just below it. I am a bundle of contradictions sometimes, aren't I!?

Great Gift Idea - TisBest Philanthropy

Bret and I have been getting each other gifts for quite a while. At this point, I think we've gotten ourselves and each other pretty much everything we need and/or want. This Valentine's Day we actually gifted the exact same thing - books and chocolate.

Then, for Mother's Day, Bret gave me a certificate for the sponsorship and conservation of the Sequoia Forests through Sierra Club and a handmade card by him and Maya. I told him it was my favorite gift ever. Going forward, we decided that for birthdays and such, we'll follow this spirit of giving and come up with different ways to give to organizations we support.

Today, a friend sent me a link to TisBest Philanthropy, check it out. I am going to use it for Father's Day.

I am not saying we're never buying gifts again, if "the perfect" gift presents itself, that's great!

A couple of other non-profit-type of sites I've used:
Kiva
Arbor Day Foundation
Materialism That Matters
Donnors Chose
LA Family Services

Graphic

I am always amazed that our veggie meals cost much more than a meat meal for Bret.

Veggie chili costs more than meat chili
Salad more than a burger
Blueberries more than ground beef

It doesn't make sense to me, even though I have an idea why (major subsidies for corn/soy crops = main feed for farm animals. Picture a cow chomping on corn on the cob in the wild, yeah, cows don't eat corn, but that's a whole other story...)

Anyhow, I saw this today, I though it was interesting...

from Food subsidies, in graphic form , the Veg Blog

My (Maya) Joy

Dear Maya,

Your 23-month"birthday" went by without a monthly update, I am sorry. We've been busy, the good kind of busy, happy busy together.

I am feeling emotional today, overrun with extra love, like my heart has opened up to an even deeper love for you. You are a big box full of presents and I get to pull out a new gift everyday - a new word, a new expression, a  new adventure.

This morning we ate breakfast together, we chatted and shared scrambled eggs and Greek yogurt with honey. I couldn't imagine doing anything more perfect at that moment.

Kisses,
mama

Why Don't I Know Anything About This - Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

The Jamie Oliver Food Revolution Petition sounds like something I should know about...but I don't. I see it mentioned on TV, blogs, Facebook, etc., so I need to check out the website.

Have you signed the Petition?
(I haven't, yet)

Good Things and a Birthday

Boy, have I neglected these Good Things posts. But that's not an indication of a lack of good things, I promise.

This "Good Things" is about one "thing."

BRET

And today is Bret's birthday! Happy Birthday, Husband (even though you don't read my blog).

We started the morning with a mini cake/large cupcake (couldn't decide which to call it), a gift, breakfast burritos, and goodies to take to school. Then this afternoon, off to the mountains for the last weekend of snow.

Bret doesn't get enough credit on this here blog, but he should. Have I mentioned that he does 99% of our laundry and dishwasher unloading. Good grief, what would our house look like if those things were left up to me?! He's the kind of dad who raises his kid, he doesn't "babysit" (how do you babysit your own kids). He lets me wallow in self pity on occasion but he's not not afraid to tell me to get up off my dupe (that's Bulgarian for butt) and get myself together. And he's pretty cute and funny, so that's nice too :) We're two very different peas in one pod and it works.

There's No Place Like Home

Chocolate Art

by Enric Rovira

Bread

I love bread. Really love it. A lot.
I also love water. Bread and water.
I am so boring.

Anyhow, I am pretty serious about the bread I buy. For a long, long while I only bought Ezekiel Sprouted Whole Grain bread. Then Milton's Multi Grain (or the Trader Joe's version of it).

But I have a brand new favorite bread and I am sticking with this one forever and ever :)
Alvarado Street Essential Sprouted FlaxSeed Bread.

We’re pleased to introduce our NEW “Essential” Sprouted FlaxSeed Bread. This is our first new recipe in over 8 years, and one we’re very proud to offer. With all the healthy attributes flaxseed has to offer, it’s no wonder it’s already becoming one of our most popular breads. A great source of Omega 3 and 6! “Essential” is our lowest calorie bread, as well as lowest fat, lowest sodium and lowest carbs.

Plus Alvarado Street Bakery is an awesome company, so I am glad to support them and their tasty breads!

So Awesome

I have written before about how I love this blog. But I have no words for how awesome this most recent post is. I am so jealous of these two kids. If our dogs weren't old and lazy (mostly lazy), I guarantee you Bret would be making this for Maya in no time.

image from http://www.sweet-juniper.com/

The Garden Collection

It's true, I have resorted to retail therapy lately and even if I hate to admit it, it has made me feel a bit better these days.

I am not a big spender or a name-brand stickler, but if it is cute and practical and it fits me well, I'll probably buy it (that's a lot of and's) plus I still have Christmas gift cards and I got a teeny tiny bonus, so technically, this is free therapy.

Today's therapy session? A fun and happy tunic at H&M ($9.95!), made from organic cotton and part of their Garden Collection.

Pipe Cleaners and a Duckie

Sometimes pure joy and silliness = pipe cleaners + a rubber duckie on a string (and $2 at the Dollar Tree)

22 Months

My Sweet Maya,

a red berry you found on our walk this morning, along with a leaf in one pocket, a rock in the other, and a flower in your other hand. You are very busy collecting treasures on our walks.

Today, you are 22 months old. The highlight of last month was you saying "mama, you funny." First because, yes, you think I am funny, and second because I can point out to your Dad that I am the funny one, not him. Haha!

..helping Dad fix his surfboard

dancing with Ian @ Emma's ballett studio

this is what you do when I ask you to look at me so I can take a picture

...just being cute

You remind us not to take ourselves too seriously and your unconditional love and compassion soothes even our deepest hurts.

We love you Maya Joy,

M&D

Fun Little Things

My friend and co-worker started selling Avon, I didn't need any cosmetics (or anything else, really) but of course I had to order something from her.

Little did I know all the fun things they sell.

Like these bubble bath body paints (totally not my type of thing, but I knew Maya would love them, and they smell so good!)

And this cool insulated tote for picnics and the beach

And this was just too cute not to buy

Munching on Mushrooms

This is what Maya ate last night

Mushrooms!! Raw and cooked.
I am so proud :)

Do You Eat These Every Day?

The 5 foods you should eat every day

#1 Leafy greens
Medical experts call them one of nature's miracle foods. Leafy greens like Swiss chard and kale are high in nutrients like folate and vitamins A and C that can lower your risk of cancer. Just one cup of dark, leafy greens a day could also prevent diabetes and high blood pressure.

#2 Nuts
Many nutritionists recommend nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts because they're high in natural fiber. Fiber slows your digestive process, keeping hunger and unhealthy mid-afternoon snacks at bay. Goodbye vending machine runs!

#3 Onions
Studies show that consuming onions on a regular basis may reduce symptoms of asthma and the risk of developing stomach cancer. Add them to soups and stir-fry, and just remember -- the stronger the onion, the greater the health benefit.

#4 Whole grains
Refined grains, like white rice and pasta, have lost 90% of their nutritional value through the refining process. As if that weren't reason enough to choose whole grains like brown rice, quinoa and whole oats, a recent study showed that a diet rich in whole grains actually flattens your belly by reducing fat storage in your lower abdominal region.

#5 Yogurt
Making yogurt part of your daily eating routine can improve your digestion -- if you're buying the right stuff. Check that the label lists "active cultures" to make sure you're getting healthy probiotics, and pick a yogurt rich in vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis.

Chestita Baba Marta

Martenitza

Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds

There is a car in the parking lot at work which has "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds" written on its license place holder. I look at it all the time thinking: OK, today will be all about good thoughts, good words and good deeds...but usually by the time I reach the 11th floor, I have completely forgotten all about my good intentions.

This morning, I heard a story on the radio which set the right tone for my day; it's so great to see people still have kindness in their hearts for complete strangers:

"Back in October 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Gregory from South Africa were enjoying a cruise on the magnificent Queen Mary 2, making photos of their vessel passing alongside the famous QE2.

When taking their photos, the camera accidentally fell overboard into the Atlantic off the coast of Ireland. Usually, dropping a camera into the ocean means the end of the camera, and the photos stored on it.
To the couples amazement, their camera and memory card were returned to them this week after a Spanish fisherman caught it in one of his nets.
Apparently, Benito Estevez found the camera, and was able to track down where the photos were taken, contacted the cruise line, and managed to reunite the couple with their photos.
Of course, the camera was damaged beyond repair, but the memory card was still in excellent condition, as were the photos stored on it.
Peter Shanks, the CEO of Cunard obviously took good advantage of this fantastic event, and had the following to say:
"In all my years in the travel industry I have never heard of such a heart-warming stroke of luck and we at Cunard are delighted that Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have been reunited with their photos. The images are even more poignant as they depict the last transatlantic crossing of the great QE2 and can never be taken again."
Kudos to everyone involved - I'm guessing that most fishermen would just throw trash like that away, but to go to this much effort to reunite someone with their photos is a breath of fresh air." story from here

21 Months on the 21st

Happy 21 Months to My Happy and Sweet Girl,

What a great day we had - cuddles and laughs, breakfast and play with cousins, visit with neighborhood friends and a sweet nap, reading and home-made muffins, coloring and jumping, and even some ice cream.

You fill our hearts with exactly what we need,
Mama & Daddy

Fishies & Kisses

I recently came across these OMEGA-3/DHA chews. I am not typically into supplements, but given that Maya is less than an enthusiastic and adventurous eater, I thought I'd give them a try. The fish oil is from tested and safe sources (no mercury or other toxins). I tried one, and they are very tasty. Maya thinks they are a treat, so I try to pack one with her lunch or give as 'dessert' after dinner.

Also, this is such a sweet book

Free Shipping + 20% Off = Yipee

I "went" online shopping on my lunch break today. 

Look at the fun things I found ... all on sale!!

<< in black

Do you care to guess how much?

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$182.66 for all four

jcrew.com