The rain came this week
The drought hit its peak
The summer is waning
The Beatles are raining
The weather, of which rockstars did speak
Getting Varied, Whole Grains
I think we all know that whole grains are best.
Hopefully, we all know why. If not, quick reminder:
Whole grains are left intact after harvesting. The bran, endosperm and germ are all ground up together to make the ingredients for our bread, cereals and crackers. This is why whole grain foods are often grainier and darker than their refined counterparts.
The refined grains are typically made of just the endosperm. Sure this makes them softer, prettier and longer lasting. But, it also leaves them void of nutrition and often full of filler. More scary stuff here.
Filed under Health
It’s About Boobs
This post really is about boobs, and not in a fun way. Fair warning.
I’m willing to bet that most of my hours last week were spent breastfeeding, breast pumping and breast pump parts washing. I also made a lot of formula bottles and fed them to my baby.
When we took our daughter to her four month check up about a week and a half ago, the pediatrician recommended that we start supplementing with formula after every feeding. I wasn’t surprised – Iris is tiny. She clocked in at 10 pounds and 10 ounces two days after she hit four months. She has almost two and a half pounds to go until she’s doubled her birth weight.
Her size doesn’t really bother me. My sister and I were both 10 pounds at six months, which is crazy little. But we turned out okay for the most part, and Iris is already bigger than we were then. Of course, she weighs what our nephew did at birth. I decided to go ahead and supplement.
Filed under AutoBio, Of Family and Children
Freelance Weekend: Big Project
I spent most of last weekend right here, in front of the computer.
While I typically don’t work on the weekends, I do keep tabs on my email and try not to completely lose track of jobs and clients.
But, last week I accepted an assignment that was, in comparison to the majority of my work, massive. Because it was due on Monday, I knew I’d be doing most of it over Saturday and Sunday.
Filed under I'm a Professional
Me and the Cows: A Dairy Journey
I am not a vegan. The main reason for this is that I love eggs so much. Also, I imagine being truly vegan is incredibly time consuming. And a lot of stuff vegans don’t eat is actually pretty good for us.
But I can get behind the whole cutting out dairy thing.
I know – insane. Who could live without cheese or Alfredo sauce or ice cream? And I’m talking the real stuff, not vegan versions made with soy or whatever.
However, while I am not living without these things, I do live with a lot less of them than I used to.
Biggest difference? Way. Better. Digestion. Waybetter.
Filed under Health
Family, Beach House and Morning Cake
It was a very busy week and weekend, and I am far too brain dead to write a real post.
Know that my lovely, extended paternal family was here from Ohio to spend a week in a beach house overlooking Lake Michigan.
Understand that I had a fabulous time hanging out with aunties, uncles and cousins in a mid-century cottage, where they honored me and the baby with gifts and balloons.
Cut me some slack for giving into the IHOP red velvet pancakes at their sendoff breakfast.
The above photo was taken by my talented little cousin, who is heads taller than me and about to enter his senior year of high school. Gah.
Filed under AutoBio, Of Family and Children
Flowers on the Wall
I’m not counting them
I’m not waiting for them to fall
van Gogh
Almond Blossom
Our imagined space
Painted flowers on the wall
Filed under New Story
Sweet Thoughts, Maddening Eats
Yes. Fine. I obsess about food and what’s healthy enough to eat on a regular basis. And maaaybe my list is a little short for a lot of people.
But my diet is a free-for-all compared to that of my friend who basically can’t eat sugar.
I don’t mean she just avoids sweets and alcohol. No. She doesn’t eat wheat, fungus, vinegar, fruit, white rice, glazed meats, beets or sweets and alcohol. In extreme cases she also cuts starches like beans and carrots.
There’s a ton of other stuff but I can never remember it all.
At first, this sounds insane. And granted, she’s not typical and is pretty strict with herself. But she was dealing with symptoms ranging from anxiety to skin issues to breathing trouble to mouth sores.
Filed under Health
Blog B*#(%
I just need to take a minute to say something about blogs.
I look at a lot of different blogs, and most of them are great. But even the greatest ones do something that is a huge pet peeve of mine.
Disclaimer: This is just my opinion as an amateur blogger. But as a lifelong reader, I think it’s a good one.
To me, an “About” page should be, primarily, about the blog. It should not be the author’s life story. Maybe it talks a little bit about the blogger as well, but that should be secondary. While I do like getting to know the person behind the words (truly), the actual content of the blog is what will make me stay or go.
Yes, I realize that I have an “About” page, but it’s an “About Me” page. I chose to describe the blog in a sidebar.
Filed under I'm a Professional
Master Drug to Kill Cancer?
I have a cancer phobia.
Really, to some degree, everyone does. I mean, who wants cancer? No one. And who’s afraid of getting cancer because a hefty percentage of the people they know/knew have/had it? Everyone.
But I think dwell on it a little more than the average 31 year old. It might be because it took two of my grandparents, my father, my mother-in-law and countless others I’ve known. It might be because I’m prone to a little health anxiety. It’s probably both and more.