Bye Bye, Year One!

As this year comes to a close, I can't help but look back and smile at how this year as unfolded. This time last year I was enjoying my first week on maternity leave, writing off my constant contractions as Braxton Hicks, and indulging in the last days of my sweet slumber!

One year ago..

The first few months of Rosalie's life were a blur. I was barely sleeping, I was still in pain from recovery, and breastfeeding for the first time was difficult. I never realized how tough having a baby was and it took a lot of strength and patience to accept the reality of caring for a newborn. It also took some adjusting for me to get used to being stuck in the house at least 22 hours a day and never having time for myself anymore.

As the months went by, she grew while I learned. I learned every aspect of her personality, breastfeeding became a breeze, and leaving the house was now more difficult than staying home. I feel like I've evolved more this year than I ever have in my entire life. The process wasn't easy, but I feel like the ugly little caterpillar that had to endure months in a cocoon to finally emerge as a beautiful butterly.

This has been one of the best and most fulfilling years of my life. I said goodbye to partying and late nights and welcomed the world of early mornings and busy days with baby in tow.There are some mothers who are ready for the challenge right off the bat, and there are some, like me, who need some time to soak it all in. It might've taken me a few months, but I am happier now than I have ever been. I look back on her days as a tiny little thing, not able to move or speak and realize how much she needed me then. Looking at her now, it makes me so happy and proud to see a bustling baby girl who is healthy and smart and becoming more and more independent. It's like..Wow. Not only did Anthony and I make her out of nothing, but she grew into something quite special because of us and I'm deeply in love.

From her birth to her baptism and now her first birthday, I'm so thankful for the people who have always supported and loved us. I couldn't have done any of it without all the encouragement and help that I received from everyone. From the largest gifts to the smallest gestures, you've helped more than you'll ever know. To our loving family and friends who have been there for us from day one, THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart, I send you my love and gratitude.

It's kind of cool that Rosalie's birthday marks the start of a brand new year...it's the perfect way to welcome another 365 days of surprises! So here's to the beginning of 2012 and whatever challenges may come...Cheers!

Dear 16 Year Old Me

I saw a video on YouTube that had this title, and I thought it would be interesting. It turned out to be a PSA about cancer...Basically saying "live your life to the fullest because one day a miserable disease will take it all away". Touching, but not exactly what I thought it was going to be. Anyways, I've been wanting to do a post about it ever since..but in a funner, light-hearted way. Here goes.

Dear Ria,

You are completely and utterly too obsessed with yourself and what other people think. Stop worrying about such petty things. If you spent a quarter of the time thinking about how you can help others instead of yourself, your level of contentment and self worth would expand exponentially. You'll see.

Follow your dreams. Things might not work out as you imagine them to, and it will surprise the heck out of you, but don't panic. Everything will be okay. Always remember that things work themselves out in the end. Don't ever give up. Throwing in the towel seems like a viable option at times, but believe me, keep on chugging and you'll see how fast the rain clears up. You'll find that your life has more meaning than you ever imagined it could.

As for your friends, value them. Hold on to the great times that you have. Don't be sad, but people will come and go. It's normal. You'll think that you have found gold at times because you have so much fun with them, but it's the people who know the very core of your soul, all the good and the bad, that will always love you. The value of these friends is priceless...You'll sort through many just to find that the ones who never leave you are the ones worth fighting for. Every personality you meet will represent a thread in the fabric of your life, but some spools will be shorter than others...and that's ok.

Don't stress about boys. (Spoiler alert) You will eventually meet the love of your life and marrying him will be the easiest decision you will ever make. Just listen to your gut. True love exists...and not in the way you think it does. Don't get too caught up in searching for this man cause he will, quite literally, pop out of nowhere!

You are so blessed and these blessings will keep coming. Don't ever forget where they're coming from. There's so much more that I could say that would help, but I wouldn't want to ruin all the surprises for you.

It's all quite simple. Enjoy being young. Be daring. Take risks. Tell your parents every day that you love them. Laugh. Smile. Take care of your body! It will definitely take care of you when you need it the most.
And most importantly, if you have any questions or doubts, pray about it. You'll almost always get an answer.

Love,
You. Me. Us.

What 25 means to me

Funny story. This is my 2nd attempt to write an entry on this topic. I had an entire post all typed up and ready to go but as I read through it one last time, I realized how much I hated it. It just wasn't honest enough.

So here we go. Round 2. What does turning 25 mean to me?

With every year comes new challenges and more surprises. I think back to my 18th birthday when my troubles were so simple and all I had to worry about was dealing with being homesick and getting through my first year of college. 21 meant that I was finally legal and all I had to worry about was graduating college and balancing all my extracirricular activities. When I turned 23 I had a  wedding to plan. 24 meant 2 more months til baby. So what about 25?

I already did college. I already did the wedding and the baby. What now? What does 25 hold for me? What adventures will my 26 year old self be reflecting on next year?

It makes me a little sad because it seems like every year I had something to look forward to. If I know one thing about myself, it is that I don't like NOT having a plan. Since I was in my early teens I knew exactly what I wanted and how I was going to get it. I knew what school I was going to go to. I knew I wanted to have a family by 26. I knew what my wedding colors would be. I kind of feel like 25  threw a wrench in my gears because for the first time, I really don't know what to expect.

Anthony and I on the night of my birthday

I want to buy a house. I want to be debt free. I want to advance in my career. I want my family to grow. These are all things that I want for myself but I don't know when or really how I will accomplish them. The only thing I do know is that I now have a daughter to raise and a family to think about. As I type this entry, I'm coming realize that my life really isn't about me anymore. It's no longer a straight line that is predictable. Turning 25 means to me that I've had to grow up a lot quicker than I expected, and honestly..I'm okay with that.

The things I worry about are a lot more serious now. My priorities require a lot more maturity out of me. But I guess that's what growing up really means. I made the decision to invest a big part of myself into this family, and as with any other investment in this world, you can only get as much as you are willing to put in.

With my sacrifices have come great rewards. I spent the last 25 years investing in my myself and my relationships. I now have the confidence and the strength to be a mom and pass on the valuable things I've learned to my daughter. I have spent enough time learning about my friends and sharing myself with them that I am content with the people that are in my life, and I know that I have a handful of lifelong friendships to cherish. I probably couldn't have said that a couple birthdays ago.

I am not trying to say that I am done investing in these other things, but really, that the time has come to focus my attention elsewhere. It is now my job as a mother, no matter what age I am, to step up to the plate and give this family all I've got. I've spent 25 years preparing myself for this life and now that I have it, I will do what I can to ensure that I don't fall short. It's like I've been gathering up my my life savings to finally spend it all on the greatest investment yet. There are always risks, but in the end, the rewards are priceless. I'm nervous and excited for what's to come, and I kind of like that I don't know what to expect. I've never really been into surprises, but I'm sure there will be some great ones to come.

So bring it on, 25! I'm ready for you.

Baby Talk

This is something that has been on my mind lately...an ever present situation...a question that I've been asked more often...When is it our turn to have baby #2?

I have a serious debate with myself about this topic every time the conversation comes up. A part of me wants to enjoy the time that I have with Rosalie before I have to start sharing my love and attention with another child, but the other part of me wants to give her a companion...a brother or sister that will be her playmate for life.

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned how the thought of another baby terrified me. Admittedly, it still does. I caused myself a great deal of anxiety when I was pregnant. I constantly worried about the condition of the baby and my own health. It was really tough on my nerves. It may be selfish thinking, but how will I prepare myself for that again? I remember my palms sweating at every doctor's appointment, praying that her heartbeat was still there. I remember my sleepless nights knowing that I had an ultrasound appointment the next day and I begged the Lord that they would find nothing wrong. There are times when I think I can never put myself through that again, but then I remember how miraculous the process really was and how amazing I felt when finally saw my beautiful, healthy baby girl for the first time. Seeing her face everyday reminds me how truly lucky I am that all of my prayers were answered.

I wasn't too fond of my big belly when I
had it, but it looks great in pictures! Lol

I can make a list of things that I still worry about on a daily basis. But the list of joyful things that my family brings into my life is much longer. Having a child has been an emotional roller coaster for me. One minute I can be laughing hysterically as she dances to the Mickey's Clubhouse theme song in her playpen and the next minute I can be screaming in panic as she topples over and bumps her head. Can I go through double the worry with two children? It'll probably be a struggle. But I am sure that the joy of having another child is twice as rewarding.

When is it ever a good time to get pregnant? When Anthony graduates from grad school? When I am finally promoted to the position that I'd like to be at in my career? When we finally have our house? Our aspirations are never ending. I can't imagine there would ever be a time when we'd say "THIS is the perfect time to have a baby!" Although having a baby does cost some money, we can't just base the decision on our careers or financial situation, but rather our readiness to go through the emotionally and physically demanding task of having another child.


It's obvious that I get mixed emotions when it comes to expanding our family, but the most prominent emotion I feel is excitement for the possibilities to come. My mom always says to me: "Your clock is ticking. Buildling your family comes first. All of the other stuff can come later." It always gets me thinking. So, when WILL we start trying for baby #2? I guess the best time frame I can give right now is sometime before Rosalie's 2nd birthday. Although it is exciting to imagine another precious baby girl or baby boy in our lives, I know that we have to be smart about our timing and at least get through this next year without any big surprises if we want to reach our financial goals.I'm sure that the time will come eventually, but as of today, I think we will just continue to enjoy our sweet baby Rosalie... and the longer hours of sleep we're getting.

Baked Chicken Pasta

So I'm really excited to share this recipe with you because I was kind of just messing around with another recipe I found online and this actually turned out great!! Not only was it easy, but it turned out so savory and delicious.

Ingredients:
1-1.5 lbs Thin Sliced Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets
1 package garlic and herb OR italian bread bread crumbs
2 Beaten Eggs
2 tablespoons minced garlic (I usually use the jarred one)
1 package sliced mushrooms
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 package of wide egg noodles
4 tablespoons butter
1 can chicken broth
1 can cream of mushroom

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
1) Melt Butter in a skillet and add minced garlic.
2) Once the garlic is browned, add mushrooms and sautee for 3- 5 minutes for flavor

Browning the chicken

3) Place the mushrooms in a rectangular baking dish

4) Coat chicken breasts with egg then roll in bread crumbs. Cover completely.
5) Melt butter in same skillet used for mushrooms (gives the chicken a nice flavor). Brown both sides of chicken breasts. (Do not burn. A nice dark brown color will give it good flavor. Should only take a couple minutes on each side)
6) Place browned chicken on top of mushrooms in baking dish.

7) Cover chicken and mushrooms with broth and cream of mushroom.
8) Bake in oven for about 30 minutes or until juices run clear.

Straight from the oven

9) About 10 minutes before taking it out of the oven, add mozzarella cheese on top. It should melt nicely over the chicken.

10) Let cool for about 15 minutes.
Serve with cooked egg noodles.

This might not be the healthiest recipe that I've put on here, but it sure is yummy! You can choose to add some vegetables into this dish..I imagine some onions or green peppers would give it a nice touch. Perhaps I'll try that next time.

Good luck and enjoy!

Finished product. Yum!

Tasty Salmon and Mushrooms

This is a great recipe that I found online and tweaked a little to better suit my liking. I've made it twice for my family because they absolutely loved it the first time I made it. I've been spending a lot more time in the kitchen making both food for my family AND homemade baby food for Rosalie but I'm loving it. As always, I'm constantly trying new foods that are fast and delicious and this one definitely made the list!

Serves 4-6 People
Ingredients:
Fresh Salmon Fillets (About 2-3 lbs)
2 Packets Dry Italian Dressing
1 bag sliced and washed white mushrooms
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 Cups Water

Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees.
1) Mix the Italian dressing, water, and lemon juice in a bowl
2) Arrange the salmon fillets in a large rectangular glass baking dish. (Aluminum is ok, just make sure to butter it or coat with cooking spray)
3) Distribute the mushrooms over the fillets
4) Pour the liquid mix on top of Salmon and mushrooms. Be sure to try and cover everything.
5) Cover with Aluminum foil.

-Bake covered for 15 minutes.
-Remove cover and bake for another 12 minutes.

It is important to not overcook the Salmon! Salmon gets dry very easily when overcooked so watch the clock very carefully.

- Let Cool for about 20 minutes before serving.
- Serve over brown or white rice.

The Finished Product

I absolutely love it with a side of baked asparagus or green beans. It's really very simple to stick some asparagus in the oven alongside the salmon. Just coat the asparagus or green beans in cooking spray or olive oil then season with salt and pepper. 12-15 minutes will usually do the trick so just pop it in after you uncover the salmon.

There you have it! Shoot me a line if you decide to try it and end up loving it too!

Just an Update

These past few months have been pretty hectic for us. We've had lots of big changes from Anthony going back to school part-time, to me changing career directions, to personal family struggles that we've had to overcome that weren't always so easy.

Hanging out on the beach of Puerto Vallarta

Luckily for us, we had planned a vacation with our friends to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico which happened to come at the perfect time. Right when I felt like I was going to blow my lid off, we were able to get a small escape from reality, just the two of us. It was beautiful there. The weather was perfect, we were in good company with some of our close friends, and we were ready to let loose. We stayed at Dreams All-inclusive Resort. This was our first time coming to Puerto Vallarta, let alone experiencing the luxury of all-inclusive, and let me tell you, we took full advantage of this! 24-hour room service, amazing waterfront restaurants, and cocktails included? What more could you ask for? Needless to say, we had a GREAT time. We missed our baby but mommy and daddy needed a break!

Rosalie is almost 9 months old now and her personality is really shining through. Her smiles are priceless and she does a little army crawl to get around. She babbles, shes screams, she sleeping less and less during the day and more during the night. Watching her grow is amazing. She is definitely getting to be very clingy to me, always looking around for me and wanting me to carry her. She screams bloody murder as soon as I walk out of the room! It's flattering but at the same time, I feel bad that she doesn't let other people play with her as freely as she once did when she was a couple months younger.

This has been a bit of a problem since she has recently started day care. She's only been there a couple times so I can't really tell you how well it's going. It's been really tough for me to leave her in the care of someone I barely know, but I definitely researched a lot of local day care options and I've found that this home day care was probably the best option for us. It breaks my heart knowing that she is not being taken care of the way that she would be if she was with me or her dad, but I'm hoping that she will adjust and so will I.

Happy Baby at 8 months old

I have also cut down my hours at work to only 3 days a week to be with her more often than not. For the past month I've been really torn about what I should do about child care but in the end I decided it was best to meet halfway and do day care only half the time and just cut down my time at work. I honestly wish I knew how other working moms do it. Especially moms with other kids. One of the reasons I'm scared to have another baby is finding child care options for two children. I always wish that we had more options...me being a full time work-at-home mom sounds ideal but how would I find such a job? You really have to pick and choose what sacrifices you make in life. To work or not to work? To be at home with your child or work to provide for your child? Either way, I know that I am very blessed to be working so I will continue to do what I feel is best for my family.

Although we've faced our challenges, I feel that we grow closer as a family everyday. Marriage and mommyhood is not always easy. Some days get the best of us but we do what we can to move forward and continue to grow as people and as parents. I really feel that these past two months have thrown it's fair share of challenges at us, but here we are, still madly in love and still happy. In the end I know that it really isn't about how many times life knocks you down, but how many times you choose to get up again.

Stop. Breathe. And Smile.

Life is too short.

We sort through a a million thoughts a day. We hear and see a million different moments. Which will be the moments we hold onto? What words will we remember hearing? And what thoughts will we deem as significant?

My mind has been going 100 mph lately...I'm constantly thinking about the future and about my next move in life. Sometimes our path splits into two directions and we are left standing at a crossroad that can alter our lives forever. It is too often that we stand there and scratch our heads that we forget that the world and everything else around us is still moving, regardless if our momentum has slowed down.

I've been so preoccupied with the future of my family that sometimes I forget to live for today. I've seen young people...friends...pass away much too soon. I've seen healthy adults receive the news that they're not as invincible as they thought. Reality happens too fast to the precious time that we are given today. When I die, I want to be able to smile at the things I did do, and not the things I planned on doing.

This doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to spend every penny that I get as I get it or that I am going to party like it's 1995 (Or in my case 2005). But sometimes I need a good jolt back to reality. Someone to say "Hey! You're getting older but you're too busy worrying about tomorrow to notice!"

So here I am..telling myself that today is more important than tomorrow. And to remind myself of that on a more consistent basis, I'm going to make a bucket list. Not my wishes for the future or things I hope to see before I die (i.e. See Rosalie get married or celebrate my 50th anniversary with Anthony) but a realistic list of 10 personal endeavors that I'd like to accomplish sometime before I kick the bucket. These things don't require age, assistance, or experience (maybe money) but rather, my full attention to living for today.

Ria's Bucket List
1) Write a book. (I already have ideas I just need to get them on paper)
2) Host a formal dinner party in which all the food is prepared from scratch...by me.
3) Go Island hopping in Greece.
4) Read the bible from cover to cover.
5) Go to Comic-Con to see all my favorite celebs in person
6) Take a road trip all the way up California's Coastline using only Pacific Coast Highway.
7) Take a pottery class. (I'd love to be able to make my own home decor)
8) Brew my own beer
9) See the Northern Lights
10) Create/research my family tree

There it is. Little things I've always wanted to experience for myself that I've never taken the time to do. If you can offer any help/advice on something on my list, please share! This isn't wishful thinking people, this is the real deal!

So, what's on your bucket list?

Wrestling With My Self Image

At the beginning of June, I made a pledge to myself that I would really start trying to lose the baby weight and get myself healthy again. It's July 5, and here I am, 3 lbs lighter and starting to lose motivation.

At 6 months postpartum, I currently weigh in at 128 lbs. And just to refresh your memory, I was 133 lbs at 2 months postpartum. I still can't fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans, in fact, I'm currently 2 sizes up from where I want to be.

Since June, I've began to calorie count, I've joined 24 Hour Fitness (loving the classes by the way), and I have done at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 times a week. I'm trying not to whine here, but why haven't I seen any results? I am still breastfeeding so I am eating at least 1800 calories a day to ensure that my milk supply isn't negatively affected by a drastic change in my diet. But I am making healthier food choices and have cut out a lot of junk from my diet.

I've promised on my blog to share my weight loss journey, and normally I wouldn't waste an entry on an incessant rant about how frustrated I am with myself, but here I am, looking for some answers. I've really been struggling to accept my new motherly body, because honestly, I didn't think it would be THIS hard to lose the weight. I know I've only been working at it for a month now, but I'm tired of having to wear spanks..and for the first time in a long time, shopping for new clothes isn't so fun.

How do all these new moms lose all the weight plus more? Working full time, I find it very hard to leave for the gym when I get home because all I have with her is those few hours a day from the time I get home until her bedtime. Lately, I've been going to the gym at lunch and early on the weekends. But it feels like it's not enough. The scale isn't budging, and neither is this deflated balloon of a tummy that I have going on.

Please, someone tell me what to do! I need some weight loss buddies. I need some motivation. I need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Because right now, the image of a delicious In-N-Out burger is clouding my mind. I'm literally going crazy here with this weight loss thing. Why is so hard to be a woman? Anthony doesn't drink soda for a week and BAM! He loses 5 lbs. Seriously???

Sigh. I'm sorry for a wasted entry. But it sure does feel good to get that off my chest.

Happily Ever After..One Year Later

It seems like only yesterday I was standing at the end of the aisle, staring at the man I was about to commit my whole life to. And now, here we are one year later, with a new baby, a change of plans, and high hopes for the future.

I hate to admit it, but our darling daughter was NOT planned, nor did we expect to be hit with such life changing news so early in our marriage. Looking back, it almost feels as if our relationship took a backseat to to the pregnancy because we were so busy preparing for the baby and being cautious of what we could and could not do with me being pregnant for the majority of the year.

It was kind of a bummer having to decline party invitations and seeing pictures of our closest friends enjoying themselves in places like Las Vegas and Cancun...places we probably would've been at had it not been for our early surprise. I'd be lying if I said that all of these sacrifices we were making didn't test our loyalty to one other. We had to think like parents now, and not like newlyweds who had the money and the freedom to enjoy their young years together as a couple.

I could sit here thinking about the things we didn't get to do in our first year of marriage and what we missed out on, but that's not what I remember most about the year. What I remember most was Anthony running to Albertsons in the middle of the night getting Pillsbury cinnamon rolls because he heard me say I was craving Cinnabon but the mall was already closed. What I remember most was Anthony calling me several times a day at work to always make sure I was okay. What I remember the most is how much we laughed and I cried at all the romantic comedies I forced him to watch. What I remember the most is all the long hours he worked so we could put away enough money for the baby. What I remember the most is how every time we fought, I'd catch him watching our wedding video because it made him feel better. What I remember the most is how wonderful it was to watch him grow as a husband...and the most amazing father.

A year ago today...MY life ended.

And OURS began.

I love you, babe.

So glad we made it...Look how far we've come, my baby

Together, we made it. The 3 of us have made it to month 4 of Rosalie's life, and like her, I am reaching my own  developmental milestones.

I've been singing a whole new tune these past few days, and believe me, it's a happier one. Every time I've read over that last post about being "real", I've realized how solemn I've been and how my emotional struggle of being a new mom has managed to ease itself comfortably between the lines of my entries. While I've had my fair share of baby blues, it feels so good to finally get something right and to start feel a little normal again.

The little lady

I was feeling emotionally conflicted because I wanted to be honest with myself and admit that being a parent was downright hard, but at the same time, I felt like the luckiest person in the world for being blessed with a healthy and beautiful baby girl. I struggled to accept all the changes that were happening in my life, along with all the new responsibilities of being a parent. My constant worrying and fear of change was causing me anxiety, and it showed.

But something happened. Like a slap in the face, we had a scare of an accident the day before we left for Miami. Rosalie was in the car with us, and when our car collided with the other one, every hair on my body stood up and my only thought was to throw myself onto her carseat to make sure that she was safe. No need to worry, the accident wasn't a bad one..but just enough to scare the begeezus out of me.

As we waited on the side of the road for help to come, I held Rosalie on my lap as she happily outlined the Mickey Mouse on my shirt with her little finger. I remember looking at her and being so relieved that she was safe, and even though she wasn't hurt and will probably never remember it, I wish she hadn't been in the car with us that day to experience that. Had something happened to her, I would've traded every sleepless night and sore muscle I've ever had just to rewind time. The thought of it alone makes me sick to my stomach.

This past month, I've come to realize that the problem wasn't that I was losing my sleep and sanity, the problem was that I struggled with being a perfect mom...and condering the fact that this is my first baby, I had no clue what I was doing. I resorted to books and websites...anything I could find that would tell me what was supposed to be happening and how my baby should be acting at this age and that. I had expectations...and when those expectations weren't fulfilled, I'd think to myself "What am I doing wrong" "Why isn't she sleeping through the night yet?" "Why is she so small?" I was trying to raise her "by the book" and obviously, that wasn't working. I was my biggest critic, and the pressure that I was putting on myself to be a good mom, to lose weight, be a good wife, and to never ask for help was really weighing down on me and affecting how I viewed myself as a mother...as a person.

Me and my chubby little princess

Since then, I've learned to just relax and follow my own cues and not some expert who is a complete stranger to me and family. I've been so much happier with myself as a parent because I've learned to let go of my expectations and just enjoy her and all the little things that make our time together so special. She's developing so quickly and learning new things everyday at such a fast rate that I want to slap myself for ever wanting to fast forward time. She laughs and coos, smiles and screams, and even reaches for things and plays with her own reflection. Before I know it, she'll be going to school and facing the world on her own, and as much as I want to keep her safe from pain and danger, I know I can't bubble wrap her and keep her at home forever.

Right now, I couldn't be any happier with where I'm at. I feel much more comfortable and confident as a mom...I'm learning to trust myself and my instincts. Her personality is really starting to shine and being with her is such a joy. Anthony and I are enjoying taking her out and letting her explore all her new surroundings, and so is she! Now that I'm back to work, every minute with her counts...So when she wakes up hungry at 3 a.m., or simply just wanting to be held, that's more than okay...because most of the time, I want to hold her too.

Something I never knew...But had to share!

Did you know that the maximum daily recommended sodium intake is 2,400 grams? You probably don't realize it, but just one sitting at a restaurant can push your sodium to the limit. Since I've been trying to lose weight again and start living a healthier style, I've subscribed to all these health newsletters that deliver me interesting tidbits of information on food and exercise, etc etc. Well, this article in particular caught my eye because if you're like me, you really only look at the calorie and fat columns on the nutritional menu. Titled "30 Saltiest Foods in America" by Men's Health Magazine, this article has opened my eyes to the damage that sodium can really do to your body: high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis, and exercise-induced asthma. Experts say that it's even ADDICTIVE and that you can overeat yourself into obesity because of your cravings for salt. Crazy, right? So, because I care, read this list and avoid these foods and foods similar to them.

30) Burger King Cheeseburger with French Fries (small)

1,360 milligrams sodium
680 calories
33 g fat (10.5 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)

29) Auntie Anne’s Sesame Pretzel with Hot Salsa Cheese <---Damn that was a good one.

1,440 milligrams sodium
510 calories
18 g fat (7 g saturated)

28) Pizza Hut Supreme Pan Pizza (2 slices)

1,780 milligrams sodium
800 calories
40 g fat (16 g saturated)

27) Panera Bread Half Sierra Turkey with Half Greek Salad You Pick Two Combo

1,870 milligrams sodium
810 calories
59 g fat (12 g saturated)

26) Boston Market Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich

1,900 milligrams sodium
800 calories
41 g fat (7 g saturated, 5 g trans)

25) Arby’s Large Mozzarella Sticks

2,047 milligrams sodium
637 calories
42 g fat (19 g saturated)

24) Quizno’s Large Tuna Melt

2,120 milligrams sodium
1,760 calories
133 g fat (25 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)

23) Taco Bell Grilled Stuft Beef Burrito <---But oh-so-delicious

2,120 milligrams sodium
680 calories
30 g fat (10 g saturated)

22) Bob Evans Stacks & Stuffed Caramel Banana Pecan Hotcakes

2,259 milligrams sodium
1,543 calories
77 g fat (26 g saturated, 9 g trans)
109 g sugars

21) Subway Footlong Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki

2,290 milligrams sodium
770 calories
9 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
34 g sugars

20) McDonald’s Deluxe Breakfast with Margarine and Syrup

2,335 milligrams sodium
1,370 calories
64.5 g fat (21.5 g saturated)
161 g carbohydrates

19)  Uno Chicago Grill Classic Deep Dish Individual Pizza (1/2 pie)

2,460 mg sodium
1,155 calories
82 g fat (27 g saturated)

18) Dairy Queen Chili Cheese Fries

2,550 milligrams sodium
1,240 calories
71 g fat (28 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)

17)  Panera Bread Full Chipotle Chicken on Artisan French

2,570 mg sodium
1,070 calories
55 g fat (15 g saturated, 1 g trans)

16) On the Border Grande Taco Salad with Taco Beef and Chipotle Honey Mustard

2,620 milligrams sodium
1,700 calories
124 g fat (37.5 g saturated)

15) Uno Chicago Grill Kid’s Kombo with French Fries

2,850 milligrams sodium
1,250 calories
79 g fat (11.5 g saturated)

14) Denny’s Buffalo Chicken Strips

2,940 milligrams sodium
730 calories
32 g fat (0 g saturated)

13) Dunkin Donuts Salt Bagel <--- Ew Really?

3,420 mg sodium
320 calories
2.5 g fat (.5 g saturated fat)

12) Olive Garden Grilled Shrimp Caprese

3,490 milligrams sodium
900 calories
41 g fat (17 g saturated)

11)  Blimpie Special Vegetarian Sub (12”)

3,532 milligrams sodium
1,186 calories
60 g fat (19 g saturated)
131 g carbohydrates

10) Ruby Tuesday Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta

3,933 mg sodium
1,086 calories
63 g fat

9) On the Border Dos XX Fish Tacos

4,060 milligrams sodium
2,350 calories
152 g fat (31 g saturated)

8) Chili’s Smokehouse Bacon Triple Cheese Big Mouth Burger with Jalapeno Ranch Dressing

4,201 milligrams sodium
1,901 calories
138 g fat (47 g saturated)

7) IHOP Thick-Cut Bone-In Ham & Eggs

4,310 mg sodium
1,170 calories
61 g fat (19 g saturated)

6) Arby’s Sausage Gravy Biscuit

4,699 mg sodium
1,040 calories
60 g fat (22 g saturated, 2 g trans)

5) Applebee's Weight Watchers Chipotle Lime Chicken <---Even Weight Watchers will let you down!

4,990 mg sodium
490 calories
12 g fat (2 g saturated)

4) P.F. Chang’s Hot and Sour Soup Bowl <---Nooo! This can't be so. One of my favorite soups..

5,000 milligrams sodium
400 calories
15 g fat (5 g saturated)

3) Chili’s Fajita Quesadillas Beef With Rice and Beans, 4 flour tortillas, and condiments <---Have ordered this several times.

6,390 milligrams sodium
2,240 calories
92 g fat (43.5 g saturated)
253 g carbohydrates

2) Applebee's Appetizer Sampler <---The article says any app sampler is usually bad.

6,830 mg sodium
2,590 calories
173 g fat (54 g saturated)

1)   P.F. Chang’s Double Pan-Fried Noodles with Pork

2)   7,900 milligrams sodium
1,652 calories
84 g fat (12 g saturated)

Sad to say, but I have been a victim of many of the foods on this list. They actually got this information from the "Eat this, Not That!" book. I think I'll go buy one today.

Read the full article here.

Wedding, anyone?

If the throngs of crazed customers clutching registry printouts at the Crate and Barrel are any indication, wedding season is once again upon us.

I'm beyond excited for the handful of women out there finally finding Mr. Right and reaching the pinnacle of their lives where they finally get to live out their childhood dream - an elaborate white wedding with roses galore and champagne toasts for the happy couple. I must admit, I'm a sucker for weddings and all the emotions that come with it too!

Having gone through the joy of wedding planning (and panic) myself, I thought I'd share with you some honest tips that anyone, married or not, can read and laugh at or cry about...either way..Enjoy!

1) If you think you're wedding is going to go perfect - It's not! Not to cause any panic, but I don't think there's any wedding in the world that has gone perfectly as planned, and if you claim that yours did, please come forward so I can slap a "DENIAL" sticker on your forehead!
Ok, look at this way. A wedding is a BIG event that requires the cooperation and coordination of many people. One of these people is bound to screw up. I started planning my wedding 14 months before showtime, and STILL there were hiccups. Just to name a few: a) My limo driver showed up 30 minutes late. b) An event was booked right before our wedding so we only had 2 hours to set up instead of the whole day. c) My veil almost blew off during our ceremony because the wind was so strong that day.
Yet, in the end, we got married and there were no cops/ambulances called. That's the important thing right?
Heck, you'll be so nervous, you won't have the energy to deal with all that stuff anyway.

2) Don't feel bad about cutting down your guest list. Looking back at the people that were at our wedding, I can name a few "well, that was a waste" invitations. I'm not trying to be mean, but I'm just being very frank about the fact that you should never feel bad for a person that's sad about not being invited!
Remember, it's your wedding and the only people that deserve to be there are the people that genuinely want to see you married and happy. You will KNOW if someone just wants to be there to enjoy the free food and drinks...because honestly, anyone who thinks that they deserve to be at your wedding probably doesn't. So when you're making your list and checking it twice, ask yourself, "Do I want to pay $100 for them to be there?" Because that's an average of what it costs to invite that one person. Same rule applies for someone who asks to bring a guest. If they can't stomach the idea of coming to your wedding alone then perhaps they shouldn't be invited either.

3) Find the motivation to get in shape. This little piece of advice might be too direct, but it's honest-to-goodness one of the simplest things you can do to make your special day that much more special. If you're feeling lazy, find the motivation to just get up and do it. There are going to be cameras coming at you from thousands of different angles, and trust me, you don't want to look back at your wedding photos that people tag you in and say "Oh gosh, look at my double chin in that picture!" You want to look and feel beautiful because 30 years from now, you want your grandchildren to revel in how perfect their grandmother looked on her wedding day so they can argue about who gets to wear your dress and not who wants to cut it up and use it as a parachute.

4) Be cautious about your vendors. Read reviews. Get testimonials. Don't hire someone blindly! Vendors are the people that will make your wedding magic and you don't want to be trusting someone with your money and and an essential piece of your wedding without being 100% sure that they're going to do an excellent job. I was a fiend for weddingwire.com and still, I was dissappointed with some of their performances. In most cases, you get what you pay for..So if there's ever a question about going with the cheaper person who is not well known vs. a pricier person with excellent reviews, well, you should go with the latter to say the least.

5) You can't put a price on love!  If at one month before your wedding you find yourself throwing the budget out the window, don't beat yourself up. There comes a breaking point in every bride's life where they say "EFF IT" and impulsively buy that cupid ice sculpture that they've been so hesitant to buy for so long. And you know what, that's A-OK! At the end of my wedding planning, I must've given into at least 5 things that I didn't "have the money for". And you know what, I don't regret those little extras one bit. You only get married once, and just as long as you don't go wildly off of your budget, then yes, get those chivari chairs you've been longing for! You'll be glad you did.

6) If you're not going on a honeymoon, find some time to get away after the wedding, just the two of you. After the big day is over and done with, you don't want to come home to a house full of unwrapped wedding gifts and skip the days of bliss that follow. Try your hardest to take some time away together, even just for a weekend, so you can process what you just did and forget about all the financials just for those few days. The last thing anyone wants to do is fight about how you're going to pay for this and that and discuss what lies ahead. If you can, sip on some cocktails poolside and enjoy some peace and quiet. Trust me, you'll need it before dealing with all the details that come after the wedding is over!

There's much more that can be said about this subject, but I don't want to blow the lid off of the "mystery of wedding planning". So boys and girls, if theres anything you took away from this little lesson of mine, it's to be merry and wed. Everything else, well, just kind of happens the way it's supposed to.

Happy planning!

A "Real" Post

I came across this post and it has truly inspired me. It's titled The Disease called Perfection. It's a long entry so in case you don't feel like reading it, the writer basically discusses real life situations where people put up a front to seem "perfect", regardless of the fact that they have troubling secrets. If you do have time though, I suggest you go through and read it. I think some of you will find it very easy to relate.


Here is an excerpt from the closing statement of his entry:
Be bold about your weaknesses and you will change people's lives. Be honest about who you actually are, and others will begin to be their actual selves around you. Once you cure yourself of the disease, others will come to you, asking if they can just "talk". People are desperate to talk. Some of the most "perfect" people around you will tell you of some of the greatest struggles going on. Some of the most "perfect" people around you will break down in tears as they tell you how difficult life is for them. Turns out some of the most "perfect" people around us are human beings after all, and are dying to talk to another human being about it.
 
Will you help me spread "Real"? Tell us below just how perfect you aren't. You never know who might be alive tomorrow because you were real today. You never know who needs to feel like they aren't alone in their inability to be perfect. Tell us what you struggle with. Tell a sad or dark secret. Get vulnerable. Get real. Let's see if we can get 1,000 people showing the world that we're not defined by perfection. - Dan Pearce

I've had writer's block for a while and reading this has encouraged me to "get real". I wouldn't go as far as saying that people walk around being "fake" but nobody ever openly embraces their weaknesses, do they? And the most compelling stories are ones where people do. I stayed up last night reading the responses and felt that I just had to share my own experiences in hopes that at least one person feels touched and can relate to what I am going through. I am not perfect. Here is my dose of reality:

For the past 2 months I haven't gotten more than 4 hour blocks of sleep and it's driving me crazy. Sometimes I am so tired and my muscles feel so weak that I just sit on my recliner with Rosalie and cry.

I regret the academic decisions I made in college. I really wish that I made more sound choices about my school work and took college more seriously. I feel like I chose the wrong path and am paying for it now by not having a major that pays the big bucks.

I HATE my body. Nothing in my closet fits anymore. Everything I've bought since I gave birth is 2 sizes up from what I used to be but I don't want to exercise or diet. I am too sleep deprived and unmotivated to lose weight right now. I can't look in the mirror and be happy.

I'm afraid of living a financially mediocre life forever. Will we ever be "well off"? I don't know. I really don't know how people have thousands of dollars in surplus to buy nice things for themselves ON TOP of having a house, children, and a savings account for all their colleges. How do they not live paycheck to paycheck? I constantly worry about our financial future.

I sometimes look at the pictures of my beautiful and fashionable friends on Facebook and get super jealous. Like, "It's not fair how good you look" jealous. It makes me not want to leave the house.

I am not a cook. Really, I suck. I can make things that are easy and things that are fast but otherwise, I'm clueless. We eat out 75% of the time and I feel like a bad wife because of it.

I make dates with my friends because sometimes, I feel like they'll forget about me. I am so much more "grown up" then a lot of my friends now that I'm married and I have a kid and I feel like nobody wants to hang out with me as much.

I'm afraid that Anthony will leave me one day because he'll wake up and not like what he sees.

Being a mom is so hard that sometimes I wonder if it ever gets easier, and if so, can I fast forward to that time? I am terrified of getting pregnant again but I don't want Rosalie to be alone.

The list goes on. Sometimes I am angry. Sometimes I am sad. I cry just because and sometimes I just want to get away. My life isn't perfect, but it is what it is. Would there be happiness in the world if no one experienced sadness? Would winning mean so much if nobody knew what it felt like to lose? Would we hold our loved ones so tight if we knew they were always going to be there? Would anyone be unique if we all looked the same?
With good comes evil. Your trash might be somebody's treasure. So spread the "real" and get in touch with the parts of yourself that you're afraid to face. I hope that after reading this you don't judge me too harshly, but find yourselves loving who you are...who WE are because of it.

What's love got to do with it?

Having a baby can really test your commitment to your significant other. Believe me when I say that it's not always easy keeping the romance alive when a crying baby is causing tension. In the spirit of February and the holiday all about love, I'd like to post about marriage.


Yes, I am young and I am married and I am a mother. This path that I have chosen in life has forced me to make several sacrifices. No more partying or late nights, no spontaneous travels around the world, and no more first dates. But through the years of knowing my husband, I've come to learn that the things I have gained in my experiences and choices have far outweighed what I had to sacrifice.

College life proved to be quite a challenge for our relationship, but through the hardships and the tears, our love endured. Who I am, my outlook on life, and my choices have evolved many times through the years and so has his. I can look back to who he was 6 years ago and tell you how different of a person he has become. I could go on and on about how hard it is to be a mother and wife in this blog, but sometimes to make my relationship work and keep my love for him strong, I have to sit and think about how hard it is to be a father and a husband for someone as young and as wishful as me.

2005 - When we were still kids

He works to pay the bills. He sacrifices time with his family so that we have a place to live and food to eat. He has given up partying with the boys so that he can stay home and console our crying daughter on nights that she doesn't want to sleep. He can't make extravagant purchases or spoil himself with goodies because his hard earned money goes to diapers and toys. For all of this, I see him. I see him for who he really is and I am grateful. My heart is filled with a love and gratitude so deep that no words can explain it. 

A lot of people our age now are contemplating marriage and a family and whether or not they are ready for such a big step. From my point of view, making a decision this early in life is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Was I ready to give up my single life? Was I ready to make such a serious commitment? Could I do forever?
Honestly, I wasn't 100% positive of how I felt, and I'm sure he wasn't either. But something inside told me that the only thing I had left to lose was him and I wasn't ready to do that. In fact, I knew I'd never be. Sure there are financial obstacles in front of every path down to the road to marriage, but the question was, would we be willing to trek down that road together? Could we change our ways of life to be together? If that meant that he and I would never have to part ways, then yes. I feel like God has chosen us to be parents at this exact moment in time for a reason and for that, all of the sacrifices we are making are nothing short of a blessing.

Don't get me wrong, marriage is no walk in the park. We fight like any other couple and we need our breaks from home here and there, but I've never ever regretted taking that walk down the aisle. This isn't my sermon on why I think marriage is great, nor is it a way to brag about how wonderful my life is, but it is my way of reminding myself and others how powerful love is because I admit, sometimes I REALLY  need reminding. 50% of marriages end in divorce these days, and in some cases, I wouldn't blame them. But we have to remember how far a little bit of unselfish thinking and praise towards your significant other can really go.

So if you're ever at a crossroads in life, whether it be the question of to marry or not to marry, to go on that second date or not, or to say sorry or not say sorry..swallow your fears and take a chance. You never know where a little love can take you.

A New Reflection: Body After Baby

So it begins. My postpartum weight loss journey.

A woman's biggest secret is her postpartum body. EVERY girl has to wonder how a new mother's body has changed. I know I did. If I could, I would ask every new mom to bare her "battle scars" so we could share and compare and mope about it together.
When your body is youthful and beautiful, you hate to imagine the aftermath of what a baby can do to your once flawless image. This is what I had feared the most. Looking in the mirror after I had a baby and being afraid of what I'd see.


Let me break it down for you.
Weight at first prenatal appointment June 18, 2010: 120 lbs
Weight on December 31, 2010 (38 weeks pregnant): 151 lbs
Current Weight: 132 lbs

I, myself, was surprised to lose 20 pounds following the birth of Rosalie, and I am happy to report that I feel almost fully recovered. And, in case you were wondering, I managed to get away without any stretch marks, although I have a few faint ones in areas that will probably remain unseen (lol).
My stomach isn't as tight as it once was due to my abdominal muscles "loosening" to make room for baby, but for the most part, it has shrank back to it's almost normal size despite a little extra fat around the edges. I can tell that the extra weight remains in areas below the waist and in my face. These are my target areas that I'd like to work on.

My goal weight is 115 pounds and I'd like to reach this by the time I return to work in April. I have no plan of action yet since the doctor advises that I keep my exercise moderate for the first two months since I am exclusively breastfeeding and my supply could be negatively affected if I do not give my body adequate time to recover.

As much as I'd like to start popping in those workout videos, I know that it is important for me to feel 100% back to normal before I do so. Breastfeeding is not as easy as people make it look! It was a struggle for me at first, and I was psyching myself out by thinking that I would not be able to do it. The first week was grueling. Rosalie latched on like a champ but my milk had not come in yet and it was painful..VERY painful. I seriously wanted to cry every time she clamored around for food. Luckily, Kaiser is a great resource for breastfeeding support and I absolutely loved the lactation consultant there. I went in to see her at least 3 times, and she encouraged me to keep trying and eventually, my milk would come in and things would get easier. As much as I wanted to throw in the towel and give Rosalie a bottle, I kept at it, and after about 5 days, my milk supply kicked in an mealtime was no longer doomsday for me. Hallelujah!

Although exclusively breastfeeding has many perks, it's been tough on me because my husband can't help with the feedings. So that means I am up every 2-3 hours day or night, feeding the baby. The sleep deprivation takes it toll, but I just have to keep telling myself that she won't be in this newborn stage forever and the time between feedings WILL get longer. Leaving the house is an issue because I have to time it around her eating schedule, but hey, welcome to the life of being a mom. Hopefully working out will find a way into my schedule in the next few weeks. On the plus side, breastfeeding burns an average of 500 calories a day!

I hope I'm not being naive about my weight loss goals especially with a new baby in tow, but hopefully making my progress public is enough motivation to get me off my butt!

So, here's to re-prioritizing my life and putting my own health and image back on the list. Healthy Happy Mom = Healthy Happy baby. Skinny, active, mom = One Happy Me.

From Mere Mortal to Mom

Aside from sharing your baby's birth story, you begin to realize that motherhood in itself is a whole new journey that makes labor and delivery look like a distant thing of the past. Not many people talk too much in detail about the emotional rollercoaster of being a new parent. Since this blog is about my life journey and starting a new family, I'll try my best to share with my readers my emotional and physical experiences that I endure.

No parent can look you in the eye and tell you that bringing a baby home is easy. They'd be lying.
The first night in the hospital, little Rosalie would cry on and off every other hour or so and hated to be put down to sleep on her own. It was a tough transition bringing her home and having to be stuck to her 24/7. I read and read all these articles about newborn babies to see if this behavior was normal. Well, of course it is! What baby that is fresh out of the womb would be comfortable being put down in a dark, cold, crib by herself? It has taken some time and patience but I feel like I'm starting to understand her more and more which have made the nights easier.

These past 5 days with my baby and husband have brought about a number of feelings and realizations about myself:

1) My Body is Amazing: Sorry, no. But that I didn't meant that I'm slipping into my skinny jeans already, but my self worth has sky-rocketed through the roof! Knowing that I am supporting another human being and that her life depends on me makes me appreciate myself much more. Breast feeding has not been easy. It's tedious, time consuming, and can be painful, but it's up to me to ensure that Rosalie gets the best care possible, and if that means making that sacrifice, I am more than willing to do it. Even if it means she'll have to be stuck to me for the coming months, I have to keep telling myself that her infancy will only last so long and soon enough, I'll be missing these nights when all she needed in life was to be hugged by her mommy and daddy.

2) My heart has opened wider than I ever thought possible: Nothing scares me more than something happening to my baby or my husband. When Rosalie was born, she was a bit jaundiced (there was a chemical imbalance in her blood which caused a slight yellowing in her skin. This is common in perfectly healthy babies). Her levels were a little high, and when I went to my follow up appointment, she had lost about 10% of her birthweight, which is the maximum she could lose before it becomes a cause for concern. When we got home from the doctor, I sat on the floor, held my baby and cried. It was the worst feeling in the world! Seeing her get her blood drawn 3 days in a row and knowing that there was something wrong took more of a toll on me than anything that has ever happened to my own body. I sat there and cried, and prayed harder than I ever have that she would just be ok.
Needless to say, we went back to the doctor's today, and she has gained 5 oz in the last 2 days which is great! And her level of jaundice has began to digress, meaning that there is no threat to her and no treatment needed. It feels like a million pounds has been lifted off of my shoulders. I know there will be more incidents in the future, so I know I must prepare myself  for those future times that she will scrape her knee or gets her feelings hurt. It's hard to be jaded or self centered once your a mom. I've gained much needed perspective and my compassionate side is blossoming, and I'm finally growing up. It's a beautiful thing.

3) With the addition of a baby, my priorities and values become clear. I am so impressed by my husband who has shown me that we are more of a team that I could have ever imagined. He is sacrificing just as much as I am and although he has had his moments of frustration, he has taken it all in stride. He kisses Rosalie with every chance that he gets. He rocks her to sleep and talks to her non-stop. He's been the "man of the house". Even the simplest moments where I fall asleep on the recliner and he sleeps on the couch next to me just so I'm within arms reach makes me warm and fuzzy inside. I have made my own little family, and right now nothing matters more than providing what I can and making sure that I'm the best mommy and wife that I can be.

There's so much more to write, and so much more to say about being a new mom so I hope that I have been able to touch some of you in a new way that I have never shared before. I want to get all the nitty gritty stuff eventually, such as my postpartum weight loss journey, but for now, I'm going to close my laptop and give me husband and baby a kiss because my heart is overflowing with love just writing this.