My pregnancy survival

I am 30 weeks today and I can't believe that my "d-day" is so quickly approaching! Being pregnant is hard work, especially when you're older. Not that 28 is old but I had my last when I was 19 and the difference is quite drastic! I wanted to post some of my favorite things that have helped me survive pregnancy thus far. Starting with:

Canned Chicken. Everyone knows that you can't have seafood while you're pregnant and not just for the mercury but for the bacteria as well. Did you know that included processed lunch meat? It has been so hard cutting that out of my diet so this has been a great substitute. All I'd do is strain the chicken, throw in mayo, celery, red onions, and maybe some alfalfa sprouts and voila - a delicious pregnancy approved sandwich. I've eaten countless cans of this stuff - thank goodness they sell it at Costco!

When I was pregnant last time (age 19 mind you), I had some back pain in the very end but I never experienced the "zingers" I've had the entire stretch this time. You know, those sharp tortuous pains in the lower back? The ones that come from doing nothing and pretty much collapse you? Yeah those. Some days are definitely worse than others but this next one really helped relieve some of that pain:
Maternity Yoga 

I love this yoga movie. Its only about 30 minutes long and provides safe, helpful relief to any pains you might be having. I got it on Amazon for under $10 - can't beat that. Plus, it has a section for post pregnancy yoga which I will be doing in about 10 weeks!

My next maternity fav has been this 3-panel tank top which I wear under EVERYTHING! As you can see its completely designed for the growth throughout your entire pregnancy AND to wear after. "Pregnancy belly shape wear girdle made for any pregnant mom before, during, and after pregnancy."
 I got mine off a website called babysteals.com for about $16 but here is the direct website. LOVES IT!



I realize now that I have not posted one picture of myself pregnant. Probably because those mostly all get posted on facebook. So here is a picture taken today - 30 weeks down, 10 to go!

Valentine's for sunbeam class

Yet another idea from Pinterest. I made these cute little Valentine's for my sunbeam class, aren't they the cutest! 

Vitamix Challenge Part 1

Have you heard all the hype over the Vitamix? Well, let me tell you it is amazing!!!

"This versatile, high-performance appliance helps you prepare healthy meals quickly and easily without a single attachment! Super-powerful Vitamix motor matches the power on the Vitamix commercial blending equipment found in the finest restaurants worldwide." Costco website

I've heard that you can put anything in it and watch as it effortlessly pulverizes it - whole apples, pineapples with the outer layer, nuts, grains, beans, rice, etc. and all without a single attachment. The most exciting part about this new toy is getting to experiment with it, hence the "Vitamix Challenge". My new game at home is having the boys guess what I put into their drinks. Last night it consisted of this:

Chunk of pineapple - no outer layer
Whole apple
Handful of spinach
One whole banana - no peel
Chunk of Beet
Several tablespoons of Flaxseeds
Cup of Greek yogurt
Cup of Ice
Dash of fat free milk

My husband pretty much pinned every ingredient except the spinach, beet, and flaxseed. Isn't that great that all he could taste was the fruit? Great way to sneak healthies into someone's diet. Trick? Believe it or not it was the beet that tricked him. Once I grinded all the other ingredients it came out a yucky green color but after adding the chunk of beet it came out a nice smooth dark pink. He never suspected the spinach with such an appealing presentation.



Oh, and I smashed a Vitamix claim. This machine does not pulverize a whole apple. I had to take it out and cut it into 4 pieces which then worked fine. But I did leave the seeds, peal, and core all there.

Its going to be fun coming up with all the ways to use this machine. Stay tuned for more!