Well, That Was a Short Lived Effort

As the Perman Three head into 2016 I'm realizing there are only so many things I can accomplish successfully in a given week...and apparently blogging isn't making that list.  So, to catch you up on what you've missed here are the past 8 weeks in photos:

 

 

 

I'm So Cute It's Spooky

Will's sister, Amanda, was in town this weekend with her boyfriend John and I took the opportunity to take a three day weekend.  On Friday night we went to 7 Seas and the Galley for dinner.

 

bar baby

 

 

another whale sighting!

 

On Saturday I went to a kettle bell work out at better, a newer gym in Gig Harbor.  And let me tell you! Kettle bells are no joke! I've been mixing up my workouts post baby by going to training facilities in the harbor that have a punch card option.  This works great for my schedule because we're still learning our baby routine and it mixes up my workouts.  Right now I'm going to TRX/Circuit  at Harbor Fit T/TH and now I'm going to pick up Kettle bells on Saturday morning.  #healthywifesexylife

On Sunday we all went to brunch and then back home to prep for my annual Pumpkin Carving Party. 
 

cleaning for the party

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner while the carving was going on I put Ava to bed at, her now routine, 8:15pm.  She has been sleeping from 8:30pm to 6:00am(weekdays) 7:00am(weekends) for 3 weeks! What a game changer! She smiles and is very animated- talking and cooing and trying to get your attention.  She's also very good at grabbing things (like Mommy's hair) and rolling onto her side. 

 

We sent Amanda and John back to San Francisco Monday morning, we miss you already!

Local and Fabulous

After a busy week at work I was ready to enjoy a quiet weekend with Ava and Will.  On Saturday we did some errands and played with the baby. 

I mean, how cute is she?

 
I went to one of my new favorite stores Bloom.  I love it for two reasons, the first is that it's my aesthetic of basic wear that can be mixed and matched and because it's locally owned.    
 

Keep it local and fabulous

On Saturday night I made our weekly menu:
For Dinner:
Taco Night
Clam Chowder
BLTs
Freezer meal (I made several meals before Ava was born thinking I would need them after we brought her home.... still haven't cracked into them so let me know if you would like a frozen lasagna)
For the Week:
Life Changing Bread
Blueberry and Coconut Granola Bars
Sweet Potato Acorn Squash Lunches

I have discovered (maybe later than everyone else) the bulk food section of Fred Meyer.  I've only ever used that section to buy dried figs for a steakhouse salad I make during the summer but then I realized I should be buying almost everything from that section.  Not only is that section mostly organic but it's also very inexpensive- I bought a jar of dried basil for $0.11!!!! I had to restock some more spices with taco night this week. 

Taco Mix
2 TBSP smoked paprika (Penzy's is the best)
2 TBSP arrowroot (or cornstarch)
1 TBSP cumin
2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
* 1 TBSP per pound of meat

 

Have a good week! We are worn out!

 

Lazy PNW Weekend

Will and I had a quiet weekend at home.  On Saturday Ava allowed us to sleep in and then we went to lunch at 7 Seas Brewery and tried out their food truck, which was delicious! Will said that they had the best Reuben in the PNW! (obviously our first love is at O'Connell's in St.Louis) We miss having regular haunts like we did in Missouri so I'm hoping that 7 Seas and the Gallery fill that void.

On Saturday the rain came and it felt like the first weekend of fall. My friend Katerina calls this Soup Weather and we kicked off the season with a classic from my Mom, Baked Potato Soup. 

Sunday we woke up and went for a walk at Kopachuck State Park and an afternoon of chores followed.   In the evening we went for a quick paddle while my inlaws watched Ava. 

WHALE!!!! I wasn't at the water when the whale was spotted again, but I'll be there next time!

 

 
 

 

Just hangin with Dad

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a great week!!!

No Cell Service.....Perfect

Will asked last weekend if I wanted to get away for the weekend with the baby, of course I said YES!!!! He wanted to go out to the coast of Washington to and spend the day hiking down the beaches of the Olympic National Park.  (Big thank you to my in-laws who watched our dogs for us!)

Leading up the weekend I was seriously thinking about living in the present and how I want to embrace the now.  I'm someone who always has something going on...."in our next house"...."when I lose weight"....."when the baby's older"....."when I'm in better shape".   A huge part of this change of mindset has been to just do the things I put off doing.  I'm working on the garden, I'm buying the Lululemon shirt, I'm taking longer hikes with my husband.  And then I dawned on me that if I want to be fully able to capture the present I need to lose the distractions from it!  TV isn't a big part of our daily routine, in fact I don't think the TV has been on once since I returned to work from maternity leave about 4 weeks ago.  But! what I lack in television I make up for in Facebook feeds and Instagram refreshes. I'm tired of being busy with things I'm not actually doing- so I Friday I signed off! See you in November!  

Saturday we headed for the coast! Upon arriving at our first destination Will looks down at his phone to call his parents and said, "No cell service....perfect," smiled and put his phone away and we enjoyed an uninterrupted first trip with our baby. 

Learning to Blog is the Hardest Part....

After countless hours spent perusing other people's blogs while on maternity leave I have decided to start my own! Welcome to Our New Gig! This blog is designed to share our lives with you- the places we go, the things we do and the food we eat. 

This week Will continued his reign of Super Dad while I attended a week long work conference in Milwaukee.  That's right folks Will watched Ava, at eight weeks old, solo for the entire week! Adapting to life as a working mom has it's share of challenges- and while on this work trip I was left with no option other than to pump in an airport family restroom.  I will spare you the details but let's just say that moment had me really questioning how important this "breastfeeding thing really is".  Luckily both Ava and I are happy to be back in our routine and hopefully we can pick up where we left off.  The day that I got back Ava had her two month check up. 

Ava weighing in at 12pounds 4ounces

After a week of hotel food and being drastically off Post Baby Plan I was happy to be back in my kitchen.  Saturday night I made the most delicious Life Changing Bread that my sister in law introduced me to, Hot & Sour Soup, chia seed chocolate pudding and my first recipe created just for Our New Gig! These Protein Bran Muffins are a great morning grab-and-go breakfast or can be a sweet treat for after dinner. 

Protein Bran Muffins

2 cups oat bran
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup reduced fat milk
1 egg
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup mini milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray muffin tin with non-stick spray.  Mix all dry ingredients together. In separate bowl combine milk, egg, maple syrup and oil.  Stir to combine by adding small amounts of the oat mix to the wet.  Stir in chocolate chips (adding ground flax to this recipe would be a fabulous addition)

Bake for 25 minutes

serves 12, 300cal, 7g fat, 56 carbs, 8g protein

 

On Sunday morning we made Pumpkin Spice Amaranth Porridge.  Amaranth is an ancient grain that can be used in both savory and sweet dishes and is packed with protein.  This porridge recipe (while not a Will favorite because it's too "earthy") has loads of fiber and protein to kick the first Sunday of fall off right. 

 

Pumpkin Spice Amaranth Porridge

1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup whole grain amaranth

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp ground flax seed

liquid vanilla stevia to taste (or maple syrup)

 

Combine water and almond milk and bring to a simmer.  Add amaranth and simmer for 15 minutes.  Mix in pumpkin puree until heated through and add spices, sweetener and flax.  Serve with toasted almonds or pumpkin

seeds and a slash of more almond milk or half and half

serves 3, 200cal, 5g fat, 33carbs, 6.5g protein