tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41976855010786343702024-03-21T18:19:39.791-07:00caramel & cocoaCaramel & Cocoa - cooking, parenting, fashion, diy, eating, living, a blogGabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15362994816438199980noreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-23048244857675472692016-08-07T22:55:00.000-07:002016-08-07T22:55:02.461-07:00On Being 30 (ok 35)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I am no longer a “spring chicken.”
More importantly, I don’t really mind. This is monumental since on the eve of
my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday, five years ago, I, for lack of a better term, “freaked
the (f-expletive) out.” I hadn’t accomplished “enough”; I didn’t have “sufficient”
children; I didn’t earn “enough” money; I wasn’t the “right” dress size; I hadn’t
published “that” book and my house wasn’t the “perfect” dream home. In summary,
I just wasn’t where my 20 year-old-self had envisaged my 30 year-old-self
being. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Fast-forward five years and other
than adding another child into the mix, wearing a lot less make-up and getting
rid of my colored contact lenses, I am more or less in the same position. The
only exception is that I am far happier, confident and fulfilled with my life. What
changed? My perspective. I started questioning my behavior and asking if my
actions really made me happier.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The result: I realized that
having to wear colored contact lenses (for me) was not experimental or fun, but
some sort of attempt to enhance my appearance because at some level my
appearance was not good enough. I realized that I worried more about the number
on the scale and my BMI than whether or not I was actually fit and healthy. I realized
that I actually believed that ‘young’ women were better mothers. I thought that
only the “young” could accomplish literary success. I realized that I was
trying to live my life subject to a set of rules and norms that were
unimportant and detached from the person I was, I am. I cannot even tell you
where these rules and norms came from. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Somewhere in the last five years,
I stopped measuring my success based on a scale constructed by outside perception.
I stopped wearing make-up. I stopped taking angled selfies by the dozen, face
caked with make-up and mouth puckered. I reduced my spending completely. I
shifted my focus from objects to experiences. I started cherishing every tantrum
and fit that my children had understanding that their childhood was fleeting. I
accepted my after-baby weight as a trophy of child-bearing and breastfeeding, a
time that would one day be “all over.” Somewhere in the last five years I
started being honest with myself when asking “How does this make you feel?” I
stopped with the rules and just started living. I am far happier as a result. I am true only
to myself and it matters very little whether or not that same truth matters to
anyone else. They are not me and I am not them, or you, or him, or her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was recently at a restaurant in
La Jolla with my two daughters. The table next to us was group of attractive
mid-20 something women. My daughters were both eaves-dropping and fascinated by
the conversation of these young women who had no sense of volume voice control.
One the women was unsure if she should continue to smudge her eyeliner or not
on a day-to-day basis and it was more or less a source of anxiety for her. She.
Just. Wasn’t. Sure. I wondered whether she really meant what she was saying.
More importantly, I reflected on how far I had come in five years. As far as I
am concerned. I have made it. I am happy and fulfilled being as imperfect as I
am. How perfect is that. <o:p></o:p></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-56054792989298466112015-05-21T13:54:00.000-07:002015-05-21T13:54:14.125-07:00 Kids and Poo (As In Poop, Not The Bear)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9xpc8qaJGs0_fnl4RvDUPlrk3YDBt0V-42f5w8ounxfhNrOjNDf4Z91z4FrVpNzen-6hfRPy-2pZvszMDkpRcO3g2XD3qL6kyKrIFiBUzzt7ry_oOMkr-NpW6keNL78CNOYd01T3Sjo/s1600/Cristina%2527s+Shield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9xpc8qaJGs0_fnl4RvDUPlrk3YDBt0V-42f5w8ounxfhNrOjNDf4Z91z4FrVpNzen-6hfRPy-2pZvszMDkpRcO3g2XD3qL6kyKrIFiBUzzt7ry_oOMkr-NpW6keNL78CNOYd01T3Sjo/s320/Cristina%2527s+Shield.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kids and Poo (As In Poop, Not The Bear) </div>
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Lots of things in my life have changed since having had children. Adjustments have been made. </div>
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For example, I bought my first pack of baby wipes in July 2009. I was 27. How on earth did I survive 27 years without
baby wipes!?! Aside from being useful to clean butts, sticky fingers and disinfecting children in general, I sort of now use baby wipes for everything. AND. I. MEAN. EVERYTHING. ---- My kitchen hob looks shiny you say? Huggies
Natural! My bathroom floor tiles are clean. Huggies Natural! It was nearing the end of the day and my underarms were a bit stinky before the school run. Oh yes. Huggies Natural. I’m just saying.</div>
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I sleep less, or not at all. Sometimes, I get to sleep in until 8:00 A.M. if I promise my husband he can do the same the following morning. And if the baby needs a feed in the early A.M. and I am dead asleep
or sick, or just don’t have the energy to get out of bed, my husband, ever the gentleman, kindly lifts my shirt and latches the baby to my boob without waking me. Now that’s love. That’s teamwork. </div>
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What else has changed? My waistline (wider). My boobs (lower & fabulously flabby) and more of a tool than a sexual object. I’m OK with all of this. </div>
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I can’t remember the last time I had a bath, or shower or (let’s be honest here) used the toilet without having an audience
watching me. Or if I manage to get in there on my own, all three are waiting for me right against the door. “Can we come in?” “Are you done yet?” No and No. Then, as soon as I open the door they ALL tumble in wondering,
what ‘I was doing?” </div>
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But what I hadn’t expected, at all really, was the how much ‘number two’ there would be in my life. And by ‘number two’, I mean ‘poop’, as in poo, feces, excrement, caca (Spanish - ooh amn’t
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It starts when they are just newborns, and well, for me hasn’t ended. My eldest will be turning 6 shortly. At first, if you breastfeed, they have the mustard seed poo that kind of, is basically designed to
seep right through the legs of diapers. It’s like magic. It just works its way right through. Nothing can stop a healthy smattering of mustard seed poop. Good luck getting those stains out of clothes. And if you are really
very lucky, you might be holding or nursing them when the ‘big ones’ happen and this can mean only one thing. Your clothes are done. Done. </div>
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Parents of formula fed babies don’t get off easy either. Formula babies tend to get more constipated. And when the constipation goes, it is explosive and it STINKS. And there’s a lot of it. And you might
even accidentally stick your finger in it while changing the baby and think “what now?” Believe me, trying to hold a baby’s legs out of its own poo while trying to get a wipe from the pack with your free hand, that just
so happens to have poo on it deserves an Olympic medal. </div>
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Then they start to eat food that they can’t digest. You will, in part because of concern and in part because of curiosity, start to inspect the undigested food in their poop. You will probably Google it too.
Such is life. Chances are you will know your child’s poo so well you could identify it in a line-up. </div>
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As a new parent, you will wipe fresh poop off of butts for 2 years. Then, once they are toilet training or toilet trained, you will get to wipe fresh poop off of butts for another two years, and hands and
the floor, because, guess what, little kids can’t really wipe their butts so you have to help them. </div>
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Once they are 4-6, and for the most part, properly toilet trained, they still can’t wipe their butts. This is made worse by the fact that they are now at school or nursery/day-care, so you now wipe dried
poo off of your children or dunk them in the bath religiously. You will also boil wash your children’s clothes because there will be streaks and caked in poo on under-garments. On really bad days, hands up, I confess, I
throw them away. Sometimes, I just can’t cope. </div>
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Wanna do something really gross? Lick your child’s palms after school. I. DARE. YOU. </div>
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Then there is the actual toilet poo. The poo that sticks on the side of a once white toilet bowl. That stuff is hard to get rid of and kids don’t think to use the toilet brush. And if they do, you don’t want
them using a toilet brush. Believe me. I’ve tried and tested that one. Kids don’t always properly expel the contents of their bowels. They just don't have the patience, opting for multiple poo trips in a day. Most of which will likely require the helping
hand of a toilet brush and you. </div>
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Then there is the fact that kids love poo talk. By love, I mean LOVE. My 4 year-old made a sword and shield at nursery this week. On the shield she painted a witch with red pigtails and her trusted cat standing
by her side. In the painting, there are also, two brown colored rocks. Well, I thought they were rocks. They aren’t. They are, you guessed it -- poo! Technically it is ‘cat poo’ that the witch has stepped in. And boy, was she ever-so pleased when she told me what she had painted (see picture above).</div>
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I have kids. I deal with a lot of poo everyday. A lot. </div>
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Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15362994816438199980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-84315327139731897482015-05-08T14:09:00.003-07:002015-05-08T14:09:33.968-07:00Yes. I’m Still Nursing My 17 Month Old.<div class="Normal">
“You are still breastfeeding?”</div>
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It’s probably one of the most common questions I get when my son, who is now 17 months old, toddles over, raises his arms and then leans into the ‘breastfeeding position’ as I lift him. </div>
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“Yes. Yes, I am.”</div>
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“He’s eating food right?”</div>
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“Yes. He eats all his meals but still feeds on demand.” </div>
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The truth is, he is my third child. I breastfed my two daughters before him, so when he came, I was sure that breastfeeding was going to be easy. It didn’t turn out that way. He was hungry and aggressive
and had a latch so painful that my nipples were constantly bleeding and the pain was so strong that I threw a cup of tea across the room in anger once. I persevered through 6 weeks of pain and there were many tears. Then one
day, like magic, we had a rhythm and since then it has been smooth sailing. </div>
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It comforts him. It soothes him. He sleeps well. He sleeps very well. I am in a position where I am able to feed him on demand. His sisters who are 4 and 5 are comfortable around ‘boobs’ and feeding. They
often tell me, ‘the baby wants a feed.” They hang out with us while I nurse him, sometimes arguing over who gets to sit next to his head. Once he is drowsy, I place him in his cot and spend the rest of the night bonding
with my girls. </div>
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I am still nursing. He is not ready to stop. I am not ready to stop. One day it will end. That will be it. Until then, I will gaze into my little man’s eyes.</div>
Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15362994816438199980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-74746721272944288902014-05-15T13:54:00.001-07:002014-05-15T13:54:30.768-07:00pokorn and karits<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-GB">My 4.5 year-old wrote me a note and told me
not to open it until she was in bed. I just did. It says</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">‘Pleez bi pokorn and karits.’ (transation –
please buy popcorn and carrots.) </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dtyfsCevZ-2_puoxc0PJSowy8lncU9FMnGb_OhftdUxWI_HcGJLKTQio3DSE3Z9mZ4Golb6tOxTLMM-0IBb5FVAx-a6Sl0bQdaOhzgMmZvqMaFCcJ5zyXRUSVwWbxHOjHuFPKlIDDI4/s1600/photo(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dtyfsCevZ-2_puoxc0PJSowy8lncU9FMnGb_OhftdUxWI_HcGJLKTQio3DSE3Z9mZ4Golb6tOxTLMM-0IBb5FVAx-a6Sl0bQdaOhzgMmZvqMaFCcJ5zyXRUSVwWbxHOjHuFPKlIDDI4/s1600/photo(2).JPG" height="127" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-79425869337123529372014-05-13T14:09:00.001-07:002014-05-13T14:09:08.939-07:00Work or Stay @ Home<br />
Lisa Heffernan from GrownandFlown, wrote about her regrets leaving a high powered job to raise her children (<a href="http://grownandflown.com/regret-being-a-stay-at-home-mom/" target="_blank">link here</a>). <br />
<br />
Food for thought. That's all. It's bedtime for me.<br />
<br />
<br />gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-60419448766423486262014-05-12T12:32:00.000-07:002014-05-12T12:32:15.198-07:00Rantings About Career <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I see women with plans and even more upsetting, women who are putting their
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<span lang="EN-GB">I've carved out a career plan/path that I now need to put into action. I do have a dream job. It is the one thing I've always wanted to do, aside from be a Britney back up dancer. I just need to own up to it and do it. So that's is my focus. Putting it all into action. Oh yeah, and I need to control my weight, but that a whole other saga. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-7271930694207716372014-05-08T13:48:00.000-07:002014-05-08T13:52:07.192-07:00Why I Hate British Airways and Why My 5 Month Old Has An Email Address <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I know that it
is not obvious from the title, but this is a gripe about a society that is becoming
far too techy and the company culture that forces technology down our throats. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I just spent
over 3,600 GBP (that’s over $6000) on flights with British Airways. And by ‘just
spent’ I mean just today, a few hours ago. And I’m angry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that’s a heap of money. So when I saw
that my children’s flights weren’t linked to my frequent flyer number, I
thought that I’d give them a ring and add my three children to my account. My
thinking was that sometime in the future, I’d earn a free flight or upgrade,
especially given that the children and I make this trip EVERY year. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The first
problem I encountered was, I couldn’t find an appropriate number to ring. After
really digging through the website, I came across one. I rang the number, a
recording told me that they were very busy and tried to convince me to visit “my
booking” on ba.com. I persevered through a very confusing (and unfriendly)
options menu and finally spoke to a real live person, in a different country of
course. Victorious I was 17 minutes later. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I explained, “I
am travelling with my three children aged 5 months, 3 and 4. I would like to
add them to my executive membership program.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The reply was something along the lines of: “Yes of course. I am happy
to assist you. Please hold one moment.” Moments later, the woman directed me to
visit ba.com and create a ‘household account.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Ever so happy I
did exactly as I was told. That was until, I encountered a problem. Creating a
household account required that I enter my children’s names, ages and their
email addresses. Now my children don’t have email addresses. The eldest is 4
and the youngest is 5 months. I did what I thought was reasonable and I entered
my email account for all three. But alas, this wasn’t acceptable to the ‘system.’
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I, rather
annoyed, but hopeful, rang BA once more and after waiting an additional 12
minutes through the options, I spoke to someone, who explained that, all three
children couldn’t use my email address. They would need their own. Why? Oh yes,
for verification reasons. What’s more: Once their email addresses were entered.
They’d each receive an email that they’d have to accept in order to be
enrolled in the program. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was pretty
annoyed by this point and asked to speak with ‘the manager.’ Response “You are
welcome to do that but they will just tell you the same thing. Hold one moment.”
I was furious by this point. Then a man asked ‘how he could help me?’ I again
explained my problem and he explained that the program was paperless and
everyone enrolled needed an email. I explained the ages of my children. He said
there was nothing he could do. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I then went on a
rant. I told him that it was silly to ask for children’s emails and incredibly inefficient.
I would have to spend time creating email accounts, remembering passwords,
logging in occasionally so as to not lose access to the accounts and that it
was all an administrative nightmare on top of raising three very young
children. By this point I WANTED TO CRY. The man recommended that I use
outlook.com to create the accounts and that I use a password I would easily
remember. He then ended the call. I was angry because he had oversimplified
something that quite frankly, ISN’T SO SIMPLE. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thanks manager
man. Really, thanks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’d lost the
battle. And to add insult to injury I found out that most email providers,
gmail included, don’t allow you to create emails for children. I spent about an
hour creating the accounts and linking them to my executive club membership. I
had also spent about an hour on calls to British Airways, so the entire process
took about 2 hours. 2 hours! 2 hours! Remember I have THREE young children and
I spent 2 hours of my day messing about with British Airways and I handed over
a wad of cash. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It is abhorrent
that they would require separate email for children to be added to a household
account. It is equally abhorrent that they made me waste 2 hours of my day,
doing something that could have been sorted in 10 minutes, in one phone call.
This world is lost. British Airways needs to sort out its ‘system’ and needs training
on its customer service. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Wait til you
hear my story about why one of my children will have to sit alone on the flight.
But, I will leave that for another day. Until then, if you need to get a hold
of my infant son, you can email him at <a href="mailto:Ingramlucasa@gmail.com">Ingramlucasa@gmail.com</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-77483437127391978202014-05-06T13:38:00.001-07:002014-05-06T13:38:53.582-07:00Why I Suck as a Mom: It All Started with a Buzzing Toothbrush <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">My eldest child
is 4-and- a-half. Let’s call her Api (because that’s her name). She has been refusing
to eat my home cooked meals. Annoying? Yes. Very. Very annoying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">About 10 days
ago, she stopped using the electric ‘buzzing’ toothbrush that she had begged
for and I went out of my way to find. I was irritated but passive aggressively let
it go – the whole, 'not worth an argument ' argument. Fine.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then she ‘politely’
started to say things like “I don’t really like the food mummy.” My response,
usually with a baby on one hip, a serving spoon in the other, and messy hair in
need of brushing ranged from “There are starving children in the world”, “
agh (gasp) you <b><u>used</u></b> to be
such a goo eater” to the guilt inducing “I worked so hard to prepare this for
you.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Api, being ever
so eager to please fought through each bite and slowly (eventually) finished all
of her meals, always being the last one at the table. I thought I had triumphed, won that battle. What great parenting
skills right? My victory was short lived when at the weekend, she was in tears
because her “tongue” hurt. Lo and behold, the child I thought was being ungrateful
had lots and lots of little mouth ulcers bursting in her mouth and was too
worried I’d be displeased. So she didn’t tell me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Not only that, I
have been making her have raw mango and raw tomatoes, which only irritates the ulcers
further. Oh and the buzzing toothbrush hurts when it rubs against the ulcers. I
should have been more observant and asked questions. But I wasn’t and didn’t. I
feel really bad. She is probably going to hate me when she is older. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’ve been trying
to make it up to her (<s>spoiling her</s>). I could come up with loads of
excuses for my failings but instead I am just going to slow down and breathe
and try to cope with the guilt. </span></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-35673318945514835082014-05-04T13:21:00.003-07:002014-05-04T13:23:03.457-07:00Guilty About Weaning <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Lucas is 5 months
old and weighs about 20 pounds. I’m thinking of weaning him from the boob and
introducing solids. But I feel guilty about doing it. I am not sure what to do.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He sits on my
knee and fixedly stares at my food. If you gesture to give him some, he opens
his little mouth like a hungry bird. But I am reluctant to start him on any
solids. Alot of it has to do with my own insecurities about ‘failing as a mom’
or just ‘not doing the best thing.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
whole ‘Breast is Best’ campaign has worked on me and now I am left feeling shame
for contemplating starting him on solids so early. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He isn’t my
first child. I’ve done this twice before. My first, I weaned far too early. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know it at the time. But I know it
now in retrospect. She wasn’t anywhere near sitting up on her own, wasn’t
interested in food and didn’t really know what to do with the food. But at the
time, I was eager to get back to work, have her sleep as much as possible on a
full belly and I never really felt comfortable feeding in public. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">With my second,
well, she was a breeze to feed and an incredibly easy baby, despite having a
collapsed lung as an infant. I tried weaning her at 10 months and knew she wasn’t
ready, so she was just over 1 year-old when I introduced solids and even then I
continue to feed her after that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Now with my
little man, he is a hungry and content baby. I know that he would love to taste
solids. Selfishly, it would make my life a bit easier in that I wouldn’t have
to stay up late to express milk or plan in advance before leaving him to run errands,
visit my doctor/dentist or take the girls out about town. But everyone is
saying 6 months. And I just did a Google search and found hundreds of women
saying to wait for at least a year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s
a girl to do? Live with the guilt? Or be completely selfless? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-17543868281825731692014-04-22T13:32:00.001-07:002015-05-22T02:20:03.124-07:00Before I turn 40<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’m an ‘<b>old</b>’ 32-year old. That’s kind of like the opposite of “being a
young 65 year-old.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’m obsessed with my age and always have
been. I suffered from great anxiety in the months leading up to my 25<sup>th</sup>
birthday and I put alot of pressure on years 25 – 30. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">At 25 I made an unrealistic (and poorly
though-out) list of things to have accomplished by the age of 30 which included
things like:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">buy a luxury car</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">having (at least) 4 children</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">establishing my career</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">publishing a book</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">retiring at the age of 30</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">My
late twenties turned into a mix of ‘finding myself’, ‘ testing things out”, and
‘surviving life”. It</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span lang="EN-GB">was
hit and miss really. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: -.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">By my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I drove a used SAAB big enough
to fit 2 car seats and a large buggy in the back.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I had had 2 children (far) too
close together.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I was still ‘establishing’ my
career.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I was still ‘talking’ about
publishing a book, and hadn’t written a chapter, page or word.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Was nowhere near retiring.</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So now, at 32, I am giving this whole ‘before
I turn’ tactic another attempt. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Before I turn 40, I would like to:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">have remembered to enjoy my time
with my children (most of it anyway). Part of this would involve having taken a big trip with all 3 (or 4) of them and husband of course. A 6 months tour of Latin America perhaps? </span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">play an instrument well – and I
don’t mean in this airy fairy ‘I can play twinkle star’ way. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I want to be able
to hear a song and play it.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> r</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">un a full-marathon. I mean
run, not walk. But I don’t mean run quickly or set any sort of unrealistic
goal. I’m not crazy or a masochist.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">have performed in front of an
audience. I don’t have any real talent in anything really, ANYTHING!!! But I
see the value in putting myself forward. But more importantly, it would be good
for my children to see this too.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">have a decent retirement plan
in order.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">publish a book. This is
something I have wanted to do since I was about 16. I’ve finished chapters of
two novels so I just need to pick up some pace and pray to God someone will
want to publish one of them, ideally both. </span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">eat well. Be fit. And have flat
abs. I don’t want flat abs always but maybe for a 6 month period.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">do that inverted crow yoga
pose.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">have perfected my own ‘go to’
unique Mexican 5 course meal for hosting.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">continue to live below my
means. My husband and I are literally from different parts of the world but one
thing I have learned from him is ‘living below one’s means.” Don’t chase the
things (handbags, shoes, make-up, car, stuff) but the experiences and moments. I
hope my children adopt this way of life as well. It makes for greater
conversation and a free-er spirit. I hope to still be in this mindset at 40.</span></li>
</ol>
What's on your list?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-25321673099140121682014-04-14T14:56:00.002-07:002014-04-14T14:56:15.727-07:00To my 20 year-old self, from me at 32.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">To my 20
year-old self, from me at 32. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">If I could speak
to my 20 year old self, what would say? (In no specific order)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Speak Up</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Speak up, make yourself heard and exude confidence. If you have
something to say, then say it and stop making excuses. You will not regret it.
But you will regret and painfully remember each and every time that you should
have spoken up, no matter how little the issue was/is, like in 7<sup>th</sup>
grade when you were desperate to enter the math competition at a local high school,
but too timid to tell your teacher that you really wanted to do it. Gabriela,
you probably would have won it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Enjoy your alone time – and
turn off the ‘insert expletive’ TELEVISION.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Don’t sweat spending your Friday nights alone and don’t for goodness
sakes waste your weekends watching tv, and sulking about being alone. Gabriela,
in your twenties you often go for long runs by the seaside and stop to think
about what is going to happen and who you are going to meet. Instead, take in
the scenery, enjoy the moment and go for a longer run, or pick up another
hobby. But don’t ever feel sad about being alone and don’t watch reality tv. It will rot you from the inside out. Once you have kids, you will NEVER be alone, not even in your thoughts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3. Travel</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">You know that study abroad
year that you are thinking of taking? TAKE IT! Take two! You will never regret
travelling or seeing the world. All the reasons you can think to make you stay,
aren’t really important enough to make you stay. So go. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4. Career & Children : You can’t
have it all</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">No-one is going to tell you this, and at 20, you don’t yet know how
badly you will want children and how much you will love being in their company
once you have them. However, no one is going to tell you that you can’t have it
all. You can’t have an amazing career and be there for your children at the
same time. You will have to choose at some point or play the balancing game,
take a pay cut or give up some time with your children. You won’t manage both
of them 100%. That’s just life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Write</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">You love writing. You always have. Write as often as you can. And
that book you’ve been wanting to write for the last year? Write it. At 32 by
8:30pm you will just want to be in bed and you will daily regret not yet having
written that book. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">6. Volunteer</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
Keep volunteering for causes greater than yourself. You are but one
person on this planet and despite your greatest problem, you are very very fortunate compared to most of the planet. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">7. Eat right – Your metabolism is
going to slow down one. Enough said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">8. Always call your mom and dad.
They really love you. </span></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-39269505035546639362014-03-31T13:51:00.001-07:002014-03-31T13:51:28.887-07:00 I'm trying to lose weight AGAIN<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I have been
complaining alot recently about sorting out and changing several aspects of my
life. I feel miles away from where I’d like to be. But while I have spent a ton
of energy complaining, I have done very little to actually bring about any
change. I’ve sort of been waiting for someone or something to sort things out
for me. I am actually tired of the sound of my complaining voice. If I were a friend
of mine, hearing me complain all the time, I’d smack me and walk away.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The other day, a
friend told me to set small goals instead of making an overwhelming life plan. That
sounds doable. So that is what I am doing. My first focus and goal is to focus
on my health and fitness. I have joined a gym, met a trainer and taken a huge
leap in leaving my darling Lucas in the gym day nursery for an hour each visit.
I am sort of riddled with guilt over it, but there really is no other way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am 15 weeks
post-partum and 20 pounds heavier than I was this time last year. And I have a
long road ahead. I know this. It was confirmed. I met with a trainer who was
kind enough to not only weigh me, but also measure my body fat percentage
(40.9). Geez thanks for that. I am two weeks in and have lost NOTHING. But I am
going to stick to my plan. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">At the moment nothing
makes me feel fatter than going to the gym. Why? Because healthy fit people
tend to go to the gym and those healthy fit people have the cheek to exercise RIGHT
NEXT TO ME! And I DONT LIKE IT! I am coping and still making it to the gym
though, telling myself “you have three children” to make myself feel better. Ah
well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Next focus,
career ... </span></div>
Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15362994816438199980noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-22486900348826155822014-01-03T10:30:00.002-08:002014-01-03T10:30:24.489-08:00Birth Story: Third Baby ; First C-Section <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplm0VyUes6CMsYso3K3gAtDxv45oP8vHk-kZ_0-ko08DTxZ0xS8P0CaNkJMPlbUJgRCrvgLoBGMR7-AiH_tUXGEOuJF0O-4Y5bmjafoXQlRCGuwFS6GEvse0URxcikSFCWBweT0dF6qc/s1600/Lucas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplm0VyUes6CMsYso3K3gAtDxv45oP8vHk-kZ_0-ko08DTxZ0xS8P0CaNkJMPlbUJgRCrvgLoBGMR7-AiH_tUXGEOuJF0O-4Y5bmjafoXQlRCGuwFS6GEvse0URxcikSFCWBweT0dF6qc/s640/Lucas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I really didn’t think
that the birth of my third child would present any problems – sort of a ‘been
there done that’ type of thing. Then I was hit with a meteor shower of “get
over-yourself.”</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Lucas was born
on December 11, 2013 weighing 9lbs 8oz. He is now 3 weeks old and thank
the heavens that he has been an easy to handle newborn because recovering from
the delivery and fighting back tears with each painful toe-curling breastfeed have
been difficult to handle. I am just now starting to leave the house. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am doing ok. Despite being absolutely smitten with my
rather large bundle of joy, breastfeeding this time around has been
excruciatingly painful. Psychologically, this has been difficult to cope with
since I really enjoyed nursing my two girls, nursing Cristina until she was 18
months. This time around, the first two weeks have been, on a scale of 1 to 10— <b>off the scale painful</b>. Each latch, I’d say a prayer, grit my teeth,
curl my toes, remind myself how much I loved the child and quickly latch –
always fighting back tears, and nearly on the brink of throwing my drink across
the room. Each day I threatened to
resort to formula. It hasn’t helped that I came down with quite a serious case
of mastitis, also known as ‘milk fever.’ It is a painful breast infection of
the milk ducts that causes pain, flu-like symptoms and (in my case) the feeling
of impending death. My doctor thinks, I might need surgery to correct it, but I
am dutifully taking my antibiotics and praying for the best. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It has all been
made worse by the actual birth experience which was not ideal – 12 hours of labor,
5 of which were spent stalled at 8cm and ended up with an emergency c-section
since he wouldn’t fit through my pelvis and my tailbone was bruised beyond belief. I've been told it all had to do with his gaze and size. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I keep replaying
the entire birth and last few weeks of pregnancy (as if reliving it will change
things). Where did I go wrong? What could I have done differently? I should
have advocated more, labored longer at home and told them exactly where to go
when I was told I had to labor in a bed. Or should I have pushed for an
induction at week 38 given his size? For some reason, I feel a bit of blame, a
bit of a failure. It didn’t help that everyone in the hospital was surprised,
given I had two vaginal births, that this one ended in a c-section. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Api, my first
born came at 41 weeks, painfully but quickly (only pushed twice in the course
of 5 minutes). She had swallowed meconium and was born with a fever and despite
weighing in at around 9 pounds, had to spend 4 days in the NICU. My plans of
having a cool and doula led epidural free labor at home with a music play list
and massage never happened. My second born, Cristina, while a bit smaller,
around 8.5 pounds, got ‘stuck’ and I must have pushed for over an hour but she
eventually came with no intervention. My placenta never came and I lost just
over 2 liters of blood and ended up being whisked away for an emergency manual
removal of the placenta, which was excruciatingly painful. But recovery with
both of them was quick and easy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was upset when
I was told I needed a c-section. I was upset when I saw the midwife give my
husband scrubs. I was upset when I was given pain medication. I was upset and
shaking as I was wheeled into the operating room. I was in tears as it was
happening. As soon as he arrived, I fed him, but felt very weak and the
recovery has been hard. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">All that said, when I was in recovery, immediately after the operation, a woman was wheeled in next to me. She was about to have a planned c-section. She was the happiest person on earth, just elated to be on the brink of meeting her baby. She came back from her c-section as if she had arrived at Disneyland. I thought she was going to literally spring from her bed. A total contrast to how I felt then - exhausted, weak, sad and like a failure of sorts. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I feel better
now. I have been surrounded by some incredibly faithful friends. Family has
really been active in helping with the girls and my husband has taken on 100%
of the household burdens. I have therefore been able to rest, recover and bond
with Lucas. He and I are working on his latch, which is hit or miss at this
point (but still incredibly painful). I am going to continue to trod along and hope that he
gets the hang of it SOON. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">There is
something quite lovely about the way he curls up his little body and is easily
comforted by the warmth of another body against his. He is angelic pure-love,
not yet tainted by the world. While the birth wasn’t ideal, I am so overjoyed
that he is here now. And so far, the girls love him to bits. He's perfect. I am healing. All is good. All is love. </span></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-80233127648468494882013-09-04T16:39:00.002-07:002013-09-04T16:39:31.589-07:00Red-Light; Green-Light: My Daughter’s First Day of School<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Red-Light;
Green-Light: My Daughter’s First Day of School </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Where have the
last four years gone?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I cannot sleep.
Today is <i>A</i>’s first day of formal
education. In the next hours she will wake up an enthusiastic 4 year-old, clueless
as to how different her life will be going forward. Together we will go about getting
her fed, uniform sorted, hair brushed and making sure she is ready for the day
ahead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am incredibly
thrilled for her. She will learn to read, write, explore her interests in
after-school clubs, make new friends, figure out where her interests lie and
learn how to tie her own school tie. What
character will she choose for World Book Day? I can’t wait for all of that. </span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">At the same time
I am worried. She will have to assert herself, get involved, ask questions,
take initiative to make new friends (without me), line up for school meals on
her own, change in and out of her PE uniform in 4 minutes time and cope with
the more rambunctious in the group – all whilst (I hope) remembering to be a loving
person (and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration). I wish I could be a
fly on the wall watching it all, but I accept that when I ask her what she has
done she will likely say “nothing” or “I don’t know.” Because those are the
things that children say. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">While I know
that school is the best place for her I can’t help but cry. Five days a week
during school hours she will not be my responsibility and that saddens me: last
minute decisions to trek into London’s arts museums on Wednesday mornings, late
pancake breakfasts on Thursdays or staying out late weeknights because we can –
that is all gone. She will be required to be at school and my responsibility will
be to make sure that she is well rested and prepared for that. Our weekly baking and art activity will fall
second to her own school assignments which might possibly interest her more and
(<i>I am in full tears now</i>) I cannot
believe that the years have flown by so quickly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Her moral character,
even at this age, will be challenged. I know this from my own school
experiences. Children are confused and often unkind as a result. My goodness,
is she ready? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I did not take
to motherhood easily in her first year. I was overwhelmed by the life change
and switch in focus from my agenda to hers and I went back to work far too
quickly as a result. But somewhere along the way, I began to understand and
accept and enjoy my parenting role. My focus switched 100% to listening to my
children’s needs and communicating with them constantly. I stopped working and
have never regretted that decision. When I did that my life changed wholly and
more than a responsibility or task, my children became my companions, and for,
especially the last 3 years, we have been feeding off of each other and sharing
experiences. It has been great. I am having a hard time letting go of what I
love, spending time with them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">What will it be
like now that I will only have 1 child at home and 1 at school (and one in the
belly)? What emotions will we all experience? I am sure that at times my eldest
will be overwhelmed and manifest her emotions in anger and moods. My youngest might feel ignored and I will feel
lost, displaced. I understand all of that and just like I expect her to be a
good person at school I will try to be a good person at home in handling all of
this. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In a few hours, I
will joyfully brush her hair into pigtails (as she has requested), place a striped
blue hair-band on her head and take far too many photos of her in uniform,
marking her first day of school. I will walk her to her classroom and give her
a big kiss and hug goodbye and once back in my car I will have a very intense
cry and leave it there, accepting that my role as a parent will have changed
but knowing that I will not be any less important in her life. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-87440486406231477152013-08-28T10:31:00.000-07:002013-08-28T10:31:37.913-07:00Fresh Apple Cinnamon Muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXmJ6zXprYcLea5OWveFoqZLzrDdlSh54iKapkiqoQEayjw3dR4rK-Ki1EDlAjOG2eZa6RvLLf64WzOvnUO8uBV-LleCDBau6CN19fpO0JQ7owl7vUdA4-yyYo3XP3G28MWnXHmWUv0Q/s1600/fresh+apple-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXmJ6zXprYcLea5OWveFoqZLzrDdlSh54iKapkiqoQEayjw3dR4rK-Ki1EDlAjOG2eZa6RvLLf64WzOvnUO8uBV-LleCDBau6CN19fpO0JQ7owl7vUdA4-yyYo3XP3G28MWnXHmWUv0Q/s320/fresh+apple-001.JPG" width="319" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
I'm off of sweet sweets with this pregnancy. Well only marginally. The girls wanted to bake cupcakes and cookies, but this, I thought, was a good compromise. Easy to make. Not too sweet (does not call for loads of sugar). Easy for the girls to help and they are a kid perfect size. The recipe says it makes 12 but I only managed to get 10. Still - I am making another batch tomorrow. Oh - I also left out the nuts. <a name='more'></a><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="articleAttrSection" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<h5>
What You'll Need:</h5>
<ul class="recipeIngredient">
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210945"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount">1 <span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: -3px;">1</span>/<span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: 3px;">2</span> cups</span> <span class="name">all-purpose flour (180 grams)</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210946"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: -3px;">1</span>/<span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: 3px;">3</span> cup</span> <span class="name">sugar (75 grams) </span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210947"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount">2 teaspoons</span> <span class="name">baking powder</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210948"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount">1 teaspoon</span> <span class="name">ground cinnamon, divided</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210949"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: -3px;">1</span>/<span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: 3px;">2</span> teaspoon</span> <span class="name">salt</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210950"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount">1 </span><span class="name">egg</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210951"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: -3px;">1</span>/<span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: 3px;">2</span> cup</span> <span class="name">milk (120 ml) </span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210952"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount">1 </span><span class="name">apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210953"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount">4 tablespoons</span> <span class="name">(1/4 cup) butter, melted</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210954"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: -3px;">1</span>/<span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: 3px;">3</span> cup</span> <span class="name">chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)</span></span></li>
<li class="shoppingListItem" rel="1210955"><span class="ingredient"><span class="amount"><span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: -3px;">1</span>/<span style="font-size: 0.8em; position: relative; top: 3px;">4</span> cup</span> <span class="name">packed brown sugar (50 grams) </span></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="articleAttrSection" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<h5>
What To Do:</h5>
<ol>
<li>Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C/170C fan assisted). Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or lines with muffin/cake liners.<br /> </li>
<li>In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and the salt.<br /> </li>
<li>In a medium bowl, beat together the egg and milk. Stir in chopped apple and melted butter. Add all at once to flour mixture; stir just until mixed (batter will be very stiff).<br /> </li>
<li>Spoon into prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Mix chopped nuts, brown sugar, and remaining cinnamon to make topping; sprinkle evenly over muffins.<br /> </li>
<li>Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and serve warm.<br /> </li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOirobcEhFU-oFv_MoQ79LiDs1pEl4hZyrUWHgIGMcZhBgXVzmdck2NFBnDIMrCcXu_oyCmJqBWaoQ-zH_BB7Dq1DIvjwKYt680LxsM6V3IKF0YLEa7mZ07ISzydqf2xeT6vEs4Fp2QQo/s1600/baking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOirobcEhFU-oFv_MoQ79LiDs1pEl4hZyrUWHgIGMcZhBgXVzmdck2NFBnDIMrCcXu_oyCmJqBWaoQ-zH_BB7Dq1DIvjwKYt680LxsM6V3IKF0YLEa7mZ07ISzydqf2xeT6vEs4Fp2QQo/s320/baking.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
recipe from: <a href="http://www.mrfood.com/Bread/Fresh-Apple-Cinnamon-Muffins-3689#">http://www.mrfood.com/Bread/Fresh-Apple-Cinnamon-Muffins-3689#</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-83542328190348617362013-06-27T10:47:00.000-07:002013-06-27T12:16:59.967-07:00Forever 31 : A Dear John Letter to Forever 21 & Abercrombie & Fitch <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ienhance.com/cms_files/original/amitoooldforthis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ienhance.com/cms_files/original/amitoooldforthis.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">To My Sweet
Darlings, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Let me just
start by saying that it’s not you. It’s me. I’ve changed. You haven’t. I don’t
blame you necessarily. I am not sure how to put this into words but I will try
as best I can. I’ve tried to hold on for as long as I could. But the truth is
that my needs have changed and you haven’t changed with me. Sadly, as a result,
I am no longer able to comfortably visit your shops greeting the happy young attractive
well-groomed but funky staff only to try on clothes that are poorly made, fall
unflatteringly to accentuate my ageing curves, sagging arms, tummy strained by childbirth
and just plainly remind me of a time gone by. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I quite
literally need more, and that is something that you are unable to give me. I
need more support, a more carefully cut pattern and lines that compliment, not
to mention a more forgiving return policy and an alterations department.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Abercrombie, I
am especially hurt by you. Most recently, I walked passed a new store opening
where you had some early twenty-something bare-chested male models posing for
pictures. Walking passed with my two girls just shy of turning 3 & 4, one
of your models walked towards us, “Mam. Would you like a photo?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">“No thank you!”
I politely responded trying to absorb the first time I’d ever been called “mam.”
But I guess that to a young attractive 23 year-old, a 31 year-old pregnant woman
with two kids, is pretty much ancient. Ah well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">That was the
moment that I realized this break-up had to happen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I will always have
incredibly fond memories of you. I will forever remember the thrill of walking
into Forever 21 when I was 14 years old with my mom and then continuing to into
my late teens and twenties to buy “fashionable and cute” 7 dollar tops and 2
dollar belts to compliment tight black pants for Saturday nights out, week
after week. I’ll never forget my favorite Abercrombie tees and the extra extra
short brown corduroy shorts I so proudly rocked while at university and until
recently, I still stashed in my ‘skinny’ drawer. Being young and relatively poor wasn’t easy but
you filled gaps and you brought me happiness and distraction. You made me happy
then. But it is over now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Goodbye for now.
Well that’s until my children desire your clothes. And at that point I will
become a mere bystander in the cyclical love affair that you will continue with the
next generation of young gals. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">With love,
Gabriela aged 31 </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-45707942772985490542013-03-18T05:59:00.000-07:002013-03-18T05:59:01.051-07:00Peanut Butter Brownies <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxiWr5vLNgPq8fydsf5TRtrvioWywgds8kd4fsDJGU7yhT7nPxJWr5a_zI_o8lS3nmzJ2S1ZQbeoJaYhPJ1DRnFnmUKOozECwPyn4aUd0FmqGiIkdQJGz1wUqyz_hduSF0fzJoVd6O4I/s1600/marble+brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxiWr5vLNgPq8fydsf5TRtrvioWywgds8kd4fsDJGU7yhT7nPxJWr5a_zI_o8lS3nmzJ2S1ZQbeoJaYhPJ1DRnFnmUKOozECwPyn4aUd0FmqGiIkdQJGz1wUqyz_hduSF0fzJoVd6O4I/s640/marble+brownies.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This Mother's Day in the UK, instead of buying gifts, the girls made brownies for Granny and Auntie. This was an easy recipe to do with the girls. I did all of the heating up and they did all of the pouring, mixing & adding. The best part was how excited they were to give the gifts away once completed. The time for our guests to arrive couldn't come soon enough and jackets were barely off before they were each shoving a box in someone's face. As for the brownies they are lovely with a perfect flaky crust. Just as brownies ought to be.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
175 grams (6oz or 3/4 cups) butter plus more for greasing<br />
125g (4oz or 1/2 cups) dark chocolate chopped<br />
175g (6oz or 3/4 cups) light brown sugar<br />
2 medium eggs<br />
125 grams (1 cup) plain flour<br />
25 grams (1oz or 1/4 cup) cocoa powder<br />
<br />
For the peanut butter marble<br />
25 grams (1oz or 1 tablespoon) unsalted butter, melted<br />
40 grams icing sugar (1.25 oz or 1/3 cups) sifted<br />
100g (3.5 oz or 1/2 cup) smooth peanut butter<br />
1 tablespoon vanilla extract<br />
<br />
1. Preheat the oven to 180 C (160 fan or 350F). Grease & line an 8inch (20.5cm) square tin with baking paper. I used a 9 inch round spring-form because I do not own a square tin.<br />
<br />
2. Melt the butter & chocolate on low heat stirring frequently until well combined and smooth. Take off heat and stir in sugar and eggs. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and mix with spoon to combine. Set aside.<br />
<br />
3. In a medium bowl mix the ingredients for the peanut butter marble: butter, icing sugar, peanut butter and vanilla extract.<br />
<br />
4. Spoon 1/3 of the chocolate mixture into the tin and smooth out to level with the back of a spoon. Dollop over a few spoonfuls of the peanut marble mixture. Top with the remaining chocolate mixture and spread to level. Drop more spoonfuls of the peanut butter mixture on top. Tap the tin firmly down to release air bubbles.<br />
<br />
5. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until a solid crust has formed.<br />
<br />
6. Let it cool completely before taking it out of the tin.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAsDaUO2j2zc_gNpS9SnBakwNmDF_SsGSX3Zim4ueTWC9sYg9Sy11JlmoJvQsGLOw31Zebcmu8Mfl4ZXaSgJAIV5_xINT8BurhGLeLftVQ-3Md4V0zPUynE23wDGW2HUInH5B8zB7Yzg/s1600/Marble+Brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAsDaUO2j2zc_gNpS9SnBakwNmDF_SsGSX3Zim4ueTWC9sYg9Sy11JlmoJvQsGLOw31Zebcmu8Mfl4ZXaSgJAIV5_xINT8BurhGLeLftVQ-3Md4V0zPUynE23wDGW2HUInH5B8zB7Yzg/s640/Marble+Brownies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-58754021658542574082013-03-14T03:01:00.003-07:002013-03-14T03:06:07.611-07:00Crazy Hair <em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></em>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I finally managed to get C's hair into braids. It took me about 10 minutes per braid and they were so tight that they stood stiff in the air like antlers, none-the-less they were braids. No small feat as the hair gods haven't really blessed her with lovely long locks. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Looking into the mirror she was ecstatic which was pleasing to me. Going about our day-to-day business she got plenty of compliments on her hair-do. I couldn't help but think how silly I'd look sporting the same hairstyle and how she will express utter embarrassment 15 years from now upon seeing these same photos. At 2.5 it's cute but at 31 it is freaky and strange. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I've only read one book so far this year (which probably means I've read the one book that I will read this year) and in it there is a line which had an impact on me: </span></span></span></div>
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"Margaret used to say that women often made the mistake of keeping their hair in the style they adopted when they were at their most attractive. They hung on long after it became inappropriate, all because they were afraid of the big cut.</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">." Sense of Ending by Julian Barnes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I think this is true for most of us. I'd cut off 18 inches of hair a couple weeks before reading the book. If I hadn't I probably would have done it immediately after. Here's to crazy hair dos & change. </span></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-38503130586296070272013-03-12T01:12:00.000-07:002013-03-12T01:12:26.913-07:00St. Patricks Day boutonniere and necklace <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xGMn3N-VswoRpe-fBDjP45-T2GYqelxmr1vzPcDTYL6iWLNQ-lInstcjKEJAuMylqArIi6iWEb0kEtBRbbX__3-SG1UXMxpC0Zvhk4RJeED_JnUGgD8qgb_jLeDeHDRIYpRGLKm7ZoI/s1600/photo+(6)-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xGMn3N-VswoRpe-fBDjP45-T2GYqelxmr1vzPcDTYL6iWLNQ-lInstcjKEJAuMylqArIi6iWEb0kEtBRbbX__3-SG1UXMxpC0Zvhk4RJeED_JnUGgD8qgb_jLeDeHDRIYpRGLKm7ZoI/s400/photo+(6)-001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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St. Patrick's Day is just days away (and its snowing outside) so <i>C </i>and I used colored paper, a cookie cutter, pipe cleaners and sticky tape to make necklaces for the girls and boutonnieres for <i>H</i> and<i> I</i>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8Fz3tY5HNUeLUFBv8MFPbQ5BhmECZRxRZ5kPgaJBxXC7-ehzCN1HTC-2MqPlMAeeyXDMvdL_Z1Vwnql7dBQOnvMvvihdNDMccwLzTrKQk7mF6fRIA30MJxN4uwI1P9AnfKw-K1eoNoY/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8Fz3tY5HNUeLUFBv8MFPbQ5BhmECZRxRZ5kPgaJBxXC7-ehzCN1HTC-2MqPlMAeeyXDMvdL_Z1Vwnql7dBQOnvMvvihdNDMccwLzTrKQk7mF6fRIA30MJxN4uwI1P9AnfKw-K1eoNoY/s320/photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-56658256134208802632013-03-11T01:13:00.000-07:002013-03-11T01:29:58.156-07:00Perfect Sugar Cookies (Easter Themed)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4mw5XmwMDaf940hk1-Wwi5KqvykDpcPXQ1_laWLnVM_DqOr3l4cONHJGhnZ0QcvSO87Hx_FE-VNuNfH2gQRYUXF8IvMb8eWcpZBCA22jCZ7Y_djbZhYcKn7MglvDxlYRKK1Ejd7mf4s/s1600/Easter+Cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4mw5XmwMDaf940hk1-Wwi5KqvykDpcPXQ1_laWLnVM_DqOr3l4cONHJGhnZ0QcvSO87Hx_FE-VNuNfH2gQRYUXF8IvMb8eWcpZBCA22jCZ7Y_djbZhYcKn7MglvDxlYRKK1Ejd7mf4s/s400/Easter+Cookies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have to say, I think that these cookies taste fantastic and the girls think they are incredibly cute. They are a perfect balance of butter and sugar appealing to both children and adults. The dough is so easy to work with that even kids can handle it and mine did. The frosting recipe is easy and dries hard for mess free storage.<br />
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<b>for the cookies:</b><br />
250 grams all-purpose flour (2 cups) - plus more for the surface<br />
1/2 teaspoon baking powder<br />
118 grams butter (1 American stick) softened<br />
150 grams granulated sugar (3/4 cup)<br />
1 large egg<br />
1 tablespoon vanilla extract<br />
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<b>For frosting: </b><br />
128 grams powdered sugar (1 cup confectioners sugar)<br />
1 tablespoon warm water<br />
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
desired food colouring<br />
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1. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually and on low speed add the flour mixture until combined.<br />
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2. Shape into a ball and wrap in parchment paper or plastic and refrigerate until firm (at least an hour).<br />
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3. Preheat oven to 160 C (140 fan assisted/325 F). Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface. Using a floured rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Use desired cookie cutter shapes. Reroll the scraps. Refrigerate cut-outs about 15 minutes. (hint for working with kids, I rollout on floured cutting boards and let them sit at the table cutting out the shapes.)<br />
4. Bake until golden 12 -14 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.<br />
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For the frosting - combine the sugar, vanilla extract and food colouring and mix well with a spoon. Slowly add the water until you get the desired spreading consistency. Frost fully cooled cookies and let rest for 45 minutes to dry and harden before stacking and storing them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpG4pF_Y2GeEF4aUKQ-br1dpiQdRNpU4KP2DWvablcfKSi7O__d4RXn4HQKI8x0Jv6qUxe1HQtecI9XeEIIuOAuESAa8om1UNGJ9OEbpU5d_QiN3VECV57UlZPOdNcCTXBatQitib26o/s1600/Easter+Cookies1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpG4pF_Y2GeEF4aUKQ-br1dpiQdRNpU4KP2DWvablcfKSi7O__d4RXn4HQKI8x0Jv6qUxe1HQtecI9XeEIIuOAuESAa8om1UNGJ9OEbpU5d_QiN3VECV57UlZPOdNcCTXBatQitib26o/s400/Easter+Cookies1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-60563190940419709762013-03-08T08:04:00.000-08:002013-03-08T08:05:07.662-08:00A Talent of Sorts: Ear Inserter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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C, my youngest, is two and a HALF. If you ask her, she will emphasize the "HALF" because she is a kid and desperately wants to be older, until she turns thirty when she will want to be younger. </div>
<a name='more'></a>She is alot of things including an avid thumb sucker and "ear inserter." Yes, I've made up that term, but honestly, what does one call it when their child constantly wraps their ear into a little parcel like above. Maybe it is a talent and she will make an offensively large sum of money off of it when she is older. Or maybe she will just disfigure her ear. Alas ... only time will tell ...<br />
<br />gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-68746111693422934302013-02-15T14:55:00.000-08:002013-02-15T14:59:31.759-08:00Another Diet & My Hoo Rag<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynL00zIpBrhVeyhxO9NmN-hu85yVtyz147WMBYMrX4D_-BVJiKRTm0w2Zz6zWucS86zU0aZrYJL9Vyf270W0wJDtbxAUemCkvXuCK7uM3L9gcbZG8CI7U9vQrZSwVnu4uZy33v-ihxRU/s1600/Reviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynL00zIpBrhVeyhxO9NmN-hu85yVtyz147WMBYMrX4D_-BVJiKRTm0w2Zz6zWucS86zU0aZrYJL9Vyf270W0wJDtbxAUemCkvXuCK7uM3L9gcbZG8CI7U9vQrZSwVnu4uZy33v-ihxRU/s640/Reviews.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve been
running 20 miles a week for the last month and tracking my calories using
<a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">MyFitnessPal </a>on my iPhone. In five weeks I have lost 6.6 pounds (3 kilos). I’ve
taken to running, even in freezing temperatures, snow and rain.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The exercise is
fun but the dieting is difficult and I often find that I am hungry when I go to
bed. I hate the feeling of self-deprivation but my biggest frustration comes from
the realization that the weight does not fall off as easily as it did when I
was in my 20’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hungry and
brushing my hair before bedtime I found a very long gray hair and after careful
inspection found another ten <i>(sigh), </i>another
reminder that I am ageing Against my better judgement I pulled them all out and
am eagerly awaiting my hair appointment where I will be getting golden highlights.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Morale is low,
very low, incredibly low but I am going to stick with it another 8 weeks ... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On the plus side, I've fallen in love with my <a href="http://www.hoorag.com/">Hoorag </a>and so has<i> H</i>. It is a seamless bandanna that I've taken to wearing to keep my head warm while running, as a scarf, as a hair accessory and to keep my hair back while I am cooking. <i>H </i>has stolen my pink one and uses it as a balaclava while cycling into work. They are quite handy and customizable. As soon as I get my c&c logo sorted I might order some personalized ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To find out more visit: <a href="http://www.hoorag.com/whats-a-hoo-rag/">http://www.hoorag.com/whats-a-hoo-rag/</a></span></div>
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gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-11522578099419380772013-01-23T09:25:00.000-08:002013-01-23T09:25:59.922-08:00litter clutter hi <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks C! I'm really looking forward to finding all of this random (insert expletive) littered around the house and then taking all of this (insert expletive) back upstairs tonight after you are in bed. I then get to do it all over again tomorrow. (INSERT EXPLETIVE)!!!</div>
gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-79740708566492090882013-01-18T00:56:00.000-08:002013-01-18T00:56:54.825-08:00Five Things Friday <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519038481981923710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4197685501078634370.post-37687804425204332092013-01-17T00:31:00.001-08:002013-01-18T00:56:40.182-08:00Motherhood is a Sad Thing Really<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFdLBMCxc-Ws4E0oXBuXq7to7jZhCEJOjnYi6xok7rQZLmECvs9Gskf78_5HYoAM8o48ePv2_xOEyPexBJTKA0DFnoZ6sK6Vcu90eTOwykU0ENoAoeXT1A6bfT8GGTZNscjDG87QApeo/s1600/photo1+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFdLBMCxc-Ws4E0oXBuXq7to7jZhCEJOjnYi6xok7rQZLmECvs9Gskf78_5HYoAM8o48ePv2_xOEyPexBJTKA0DFnoZ6sK6Vcu90eTOwykU0ENoAoeXT1A6bfT8GGTZNscjDG87QApeo/s400/photo1+(6).JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(C frustrated since her journey down the stairs holding her baby, an open umbrella and a hand-bag proved to be more difficult than expected.) </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Motherhood is a
sad thing really. You watch these little lives grow and fashion them to be a
certain way. It is such a thrilling experience and then suddenly, one day, they
are strangers and you are alone as if it all never happened. You
realize that the happiness was only temporary, which makes for a very deep
sadness.” Those are not my words but they
are my friend Josephine’s words. She’s 94 years old and thus the most
experienced person that I know.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She is right. I’m
unbelievably and authentically happy at the moment. Each day excites me and I
find myself really taking in sensations and trying to remember details. The girls
were in the bath tonight and Cristina, my two-year-old, politely asked to get
out. I helped her out and as I knelt down to try and dry her off she lunged at
me proceeding to tickle me. It was hilarious. She then stopped in front of me
as I placed a towel over her damp body and opening her arms wide gave me a firm
hug and held on for at least 30 seconds. “I love you so much.” she said. I smiled at her trying to memorize every
detail: where the curly locks on her head were falling, the depth of her
dimples, the spaces in between her teeth, the smell of her bath wash, the
droplets of water still on her arms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am overwhelmed
by these moments. At 2 & 3, the girls are funny, quirky, loving, chatty, incredibly
curious and interesting. They are constantly learning new things and watching
their journey and being an instrumental part of it is both exhilarating and fulfilling.
I was very amused yesterday when they
were silently waiting underneath their beds and when I asked what they were
doing, I was told they were hibernating bears and they couldn’t possibly come
out until the springtime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Accepting that
this is the happiest I’ve ever been, reminds me that it is probably the
happiest I will ever be, thus it is all downhill from here on out. The girls
are more independent every day. Cristina who decided to toilet train herself
last week, recently started 5 hours of preschool a week and adores her teachers.
Apollonia, who is 3, has friends and interests of her own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a year or two
they will both have started school. Their teachers will be an enormous
influence in their lives. They won’t need me around all of the time. They will
grow to prefer the company of their friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, lovers
and spouses. Eventually, they might sit, in a foreign country blogging about
life, while I am somewhere far from them, having a cup of tea and looking
through old photographs asking “Where have the years gone? Motherhood is a sad
thing really. You watch these little lives grow and fashion them to be a
certain way. It is such a thrilling experience and then suddenly, one day, they
are strangers.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gabrielahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15362994816438199980noreply@blogger.com0