1 week down, the rest of my life to go!

So yesterday marked one week.  No pictures to post today, because change takes time.  Last week was an experiment.  I'm the type of person who does all or nothing, which can be hard because when I feel like I've failed I tend to say f-it and just eat whatever, without control, and with later regret.  From Wednesday night through Friday I just gave in to nightly craving.  Why is it so hard to maintain control at night?  Friday night I ate Domino's and it made me feel horrible for the rest of the night and all day Saturday.  As a result I woke up Saturday with determination.  I focused on eating protein, protein, and more protein and felt much better Sunday.  Yesterday I tried to focus on protein, but add in some veggies, because home girl feels plugged up.  Not sure if it is from all the crap I ate Wednesday through Friday, the high protein and low carb diet Saturday and Sunday, or a combination of both, but I don't like feeling this way.  I'm on the search to find some happy medium.  It's all about balance and moderation.

Today is Monday and a new week with new goals.  My goals are:

• To continue eating high protein
• To limit processed carbs as much as possible
• To eat more vegetables
• And to track my water intake to make sure I'm drinking at least 8 glasses (Something tells me I've been consuming more caffeine and less water)

I'm feeling positive about this week because my husband is willing to eat low carb with me for dinners and I have some fun meals planned.  Plus, I weighed myself today and despite not feeling like I did my best (I'm terribly hard on myself if you couldn't tell) I'm down 1.1 lbs!  Here is to week 2! *raises water bottle and chugs, chugs, chugs*

Let the journey begin

I normally would never do something like this, but I feel like I need to be open for accountability.  I've been trying to get back to my pre-mom body since my son was born, or at least around the 8-12 week mark, and while I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, maybe even a few pounds less, everything just looks different from the me I remember.  By no means am I overweight, but I guess by today's standards one could argue a whole bunch of things about my body, but that's not my point or the direction I want to go with this post.  I'm working on making me happier with me and more comfortable in my own skin.  My body has changed a lot in the last few years, but the biggest and hardest change for me was when I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago.  I stopped taking birth control in an attempt to get pregnant and at first everything was fine, but then my period just got longer, and longer, and eventually stopped coming.  And somewhere during that time I started putting on weight especially around my midsection and found it extremely hard, no matter how much I dieted to lose the weight.  It really hurt my self esteem.  I saw my OBGYN and was diagnosed by ultrasound and blood work with PCOS with insulin resistance, which was confirmed by a Endocrinologist.  I went on Metformin to get a period and control the pre-diabetes and it only did the later.  If you are wondering Metformin did not make me lose any weight.  

Fast forward to today.  My son is almost 9 months old!  I can't believe.  Time goes by so fast.  I'm still fixated on my stomach and those damn love handles.  However, while I blamed them on PCOS in the past my recent blood work was normal.  Go f-ing figure.  I did try going back on Metformin, but this time could not deal with the stomach bloating and constant feeling of nausea.  I last almost 2 weeks on it, but had to stop taking it a few days ago and already feel so much better!  Luckily for me since I've been tracking what I eat I was able to analyze what I believe I'm doing wrong.  Scratch that... what I believe I could be doing better.  (I'm channelling that positivity yo!)  I've definitely changed how I exercise and frankly do a lot less of it than I did in my 20s, but my diet could definitely be improved and that is going to be my focus.  And today is the day.  Today is the day I start take steps in the direction I want.  

Exercise

Getting exercise in has been a challenge.  I went through a phase where I got up at 5 am to work out, but it's hard and I like... no, need... no, like and need sleep so my option becomes exercising at night or going on walks at lunch (I do that often).  And while I could go workout right after work and leave my son longer at daycare, I don't even consider that an option.  I get so little time with him during the day that those few hours we get together before he goes to bed are really important to me.  I need time with him and I'm not willing to sacrifice that at this point.  And I also have a dog who deserves more than being put in the backyard to do his business.  So my exercise generally involves going for a mile or 2 walk with both my boys (yes fur baby and human baby).  Lucky for me my baby is entertained by being outside so this is my main exercise these days.   Working out at home can be more of a challenge, however, I do find that if I can get in about 20 minutes of home exercise when Carter is in his walker with some toys.  

Plus we get to spend some time together and he often thinks me trying to get in shape is hilarious.  You're welcome kid!   

I truly believe that every little thing you do during the day adds up so if I can only do 10 minutes here or 20 minutes there I'm happy.  I did something and something is better than nothing.   

Diet

This is sitting on my counter right now:

I love dessert.  LOVE.  I'm pretty sure I asked my husband last night why cupcakes can't make me skinny.  Seriously, why can't they.  They're just so good.  And I'm so addicted.  I eat dessert every single night.  That's one thing I want to work on.  

Counting calories hasn’t been working for me in terms of changing how my tummy looks.  Everything I've read says:

     1. Cut the sugar (I'm trying!)

     2. Watch the carbs (but carbs make me happy!!)

     3. Stop eating 2 hour before bed (but how else will I stay awake?)

     4. Eat more protein

My goal for this week is to try this low carb thing.  Not sure if I can do Keto style low-carb. Let me rephrase that: I have absolutely no desire to do that.  I need some carbs and being extremely restrictive has never worked for me.  I haven't really decided what version of low carb I want to do in terms of macros other than trying to reduce sugar and sweets in my diet while eating more vegetables.  I'm about sensibility and moderation.  Also, my goal is to eat more protein.  The other day I read that you should eat the number of grams in protein as your desired goal weight.  120 grams of protein seems like a lot of protein, but I'm going to trust my research on this one and reevaluate my short term goals in one week. 

So stick with me as I document this journey and please be nice, because it is not easy to put yourself out there.

Here's to one month!

Today my baby is one month old.  The adjusting to this thing called motherhood has been a relatively smooth transition due in large part to the amazing support I've had.  There has been some road bumps and hurdles (recurrent plugged ducts, mastitis, and daily episodes of colic to name a few), but the support of my parents and husband has allowed me to keep my sanity and not turn to a bottle of formula.  Which has been tempting, especially when my son howls in pain due to what we presume to be his discomfort of gas.  Seeing your child in discomfort and not being able to console them is the worst feeling...

Today was the first day that I had to take care of Carter by myself.  I definitely took for granted the help I received while my parents were in town.  Caring for an infant is a 24/7 job, especially when you're breastfeeding.  Formula fed babies tend to sleep for longer stretches of time than breastfed babies because breast milk is digested quicker then formula.  This is not a plug for one means of feeding a baby over another or discounting one's decision to care for their child.  I'm purely just stating facts.  My day literally consisted of: try to figure out how to walk the dog with an infant (Rocky has to do his business too) and feed, change, and console infant on repeat.  Plus I had to find time to eat.  Can I just say that I don't make the best food choices when I'm priced for time... something to acknowledge and work on.  There was no time in my day for anything else and that includes doing dishes, laundry, tiding up, or making dinner, which brings me back to the subject of support.  I truly don't think I could have made it through this last month with my sanity, a fed belly, and a somewhat of put together house if I hadn't had the extra support.  My parents took care of everything including walking and feeding my dog, the dishes, grocery shopping, making meals, cleaning, and laundry to name a few.  These may seem like small tasks, but are so incredibly helpful as all I had to do was focus on myself and Carter.  I sure got spoiled having my parents here and boy do I miss them! 

All the help I received got me thinking.  I would say that if you know somebody who has had a new baby volunteer to go to their house and help them out in some way.  And by helping them out, I don't mean going to visit for the sole means of seeing / holding the baby.  That is not helpful.  Instead, offer to vacuum, do a load of laundry or the dishes, run an errand, or bring a meal...  Don't go to see the baby and expect to be catered on.  New parents have enough on their plate and should not be playing hostess with the mostess.  Also don't overstay your welcome.  New parents get no sleep and naps during the day are important.  Unless you are coming to do something helpful, like I previously noted above, don't stay for more than an hour.  It's exhausting and I'm convinced, especially in my case, that it turns my child into a devil since he can't get the rest during the day that he needs and becomes extremely fussy.

But let's end this on a positive note.  No matter how hard this transition has been or the moments I feel like I can't figure it out, I keep going because I love being a mom.  I truly feel that being Carter's mom is the reason I was meant to be here.  I love cuddling and kissing him and the bond I get when feeding him.  I love his smell and the way he looks so serene when he sleeps.  I love his big, blue eyes and his little lips.  And when he looks at me or caresses me during feedings I melt. 

This is love.  I feel so honored that I was chosen to be Carter's mother.  I am beyond blessed and will do everything in my power to teach him to do right, love him, support him, and give him the best life I can. 

Thoughts on being a new mom

As I sit here next to my son resting comfortably I wanted to share some of the thoughts I have had over the last week as I've transitioned into a new title: mom.  I can't believe that I delivered this little one a week ago and my world has forever changed for the best.  I've never felt this kind of love and it is all consuming.  I mean look at him, he's my version of perfection.

Our newest addition

I've had a lot of different thoughts and insights over this last week, some that I feel are important to share for other new mom's and mom's to be.

1. Get a breast pump... well get one in the event that you plan to breastfeed.  If you have no intention of giving your baby breast milk then this does not apply to you and you can skip the rest of this thought.  I, however, plan to exclusively breast feed my son for 6 months.  And for those of you who don't know breast pumps are covered under insurance.  I paid nada for a hospital grade breast pump and we all know that I LOVE free stuff!  The breast pump has helped me for a number of reasons.  First off my nipples became ridiculously sore around day 2 or 3 for a number of reasons: latch issues, frequent feedings (my baby gets hangry like his daddy), our anatomies, etc.  The first day I came home from the hospital I cringed at the idea of feeding him due to severe nipple pain.  In fact I was ready to give up on breast feeding and give him a bottle of formula.  Pumping, however, saved me not only on that night, but whenever I feel that my nipples need a break.  Plus, my husband gets a chance to feed our son.  My husband loves this and I love that they get to bond.  Also it is nice to have the husband take a night feeding so I can get a little chunk of sleep.  Which leads us to...

2. Nap when you can... because you will be tired, real tired.  Tired to the point that time distorts and you have no idea what the beep is going on.  I hear it gets better, but I'll let you know.  Last night was a great night, but I don't want to get excited too soon. 

3. Invest in nipple cream, newborn bottles, and a good breastfeeding pillow.  Once again this only applies if you plan to breastfeed.  Seriously put these things on your registry because:

• Your nipples will get sore and you will be thankful for nipple cream to help prevent cracked nipples.  I use nipple cream after every feed or pumping session and my nipples are in good shape... not that you needed to know that.  
• Why newborn bottles?  Because if you are like me and need to pump every now and then you will need a way to feed your son.  If you have the bottles on hand just in case, your poor partner won't have to venture out to find bottles in the middle of the night.  That would suck...
• Breastfeeding is hard and I highly recommend getting as comfortable as you can.  Comfortable mommy = better milk production for your little one and that is my goal.  I want my son to grow up to be strong like bull and in my opinion breast milk helps on many levels, but that is another discussion for another day.  The breastfeeding pillow has allowed me to feed with more comfort and I like to think my son loves it.  After all I would love to be able to lay on soft foam as someone feeds me liquid gold.  Just saying.

He gets milk drunk

3. Adult diapers.  Yes, adult diapers.  The crazy mesh underwear and pads that you are given in the hospital are totally uncomfortable and irritated my laceration.  Plus, I leaked right through them.  Nothing like having a big blood stain on your ass and not knowing it until after you had walked down the postpartum hall a few times to stretch your legs.  Sexy right?  Enter adult diapers.  Someone had told me to purchase adult diapers and I love them because they are more comfortable, less irritating, and capture all the lochia neatly. And no blood leakage on my new nursing pajamas! 

4. Gas drops.  My poor baby gets terrible gas pain that makes him howl for hours.  I tried to sit outside with him during one gas fit and had to go back inside because I was afraid my neighbors would think I was torturing my poor son.  My pediatric Nurse Practitioner reassured me that gas in developmental in newborns and that the gas drops are fine for my son to take.  Do they work?  Sometimes.  And sometimes is better than never so I use them every time little man gets a bottle.

5. Go outside.  I would also recommend double checking with your pediatrician office before doing this.  I got the green light to go on walks with my son in the neighborhood since the weather is nice, but was strongly discouraged from bringing him to crowded, public places (grocery store, Starbucks, etc.) until he is 2 months old.  Getting some fresh air is amazing and the walking helps with my nervous energy.  Plus an added bonus is baby boy tends to fall asleep after a loop around the block.

6. Take advantage of help.  Don't try to do it all even if you want to and think you can do it better than EVERYONE else.  It's hard for one person to take care of an infant 24/7.  I need breaks so I can sleep or pump or even take a shower.  I know that eventually I won't have any help so I'm extremely grateful for it now because this transition is difficult (but very, very worth it!). 

7. Don't forget to eat and drink.  Having a baby is a lot of work, both physically and emotionally.  By the time you're done feeding / pumping, cleaning up, changing baby, and putting baby down you close your eyes for one second and it's time for his next feed.  Sometimes I feel like a dairy cow... Don't neglect yourself.  You need tons of water to help with milk supply and nutrition to keep you going.

8. You may still look pregnant after the baby.  Maybe some of you bounce right back, but I still looked pregnant after giving birth.  Even though I know better, I thought that in some crazy universe I would push out my son and have a flat stomach again.  Nope.  So please if you see a mother holding a small baby DON'T ask her if she is expecting or say, "wow, Irish twins."  It takes 10 months to put the weight on, so clearly it will take time to loose the baby weight.  One day at a time.

9. Don't forget your fur babies.  Having a new baby is a hard transition for your fur babies too.  Make sure to show them love too.  I sometimes get caught up in the new baby, but I try to make an effort to give Rocky some love too whether it is an extra treat here and there or giving him a little one on one cuddle session.  And we always invite him to lie with us when feeding or resting.

Best friends already

10. Take lots of pictures. I was already crazy obsessed with my dog, but now the focus has shifted to babe.  Each day he looks completely different and I want to capture every moment I can because before you know it he won't be my little baby anymore.  Plus I'm obsessed and like to show him off.

My heart <3

Last weeks goal was a fail, but Ebates...

Last week I failed my goal of eating all the veggies in my CSA box, but I didn't throw anything away.  So I will try, try, try to finish everything before it spoils.  Thank God family is coming to visit this week so I can have some help consuming these veggies.

On a side note, I recently received my "big fat check" from Ebates.

This is definitely not the biggest or fattest check I have ever received, but free money is free money.  I use Ebates every time I shop online and receive cash back.  There is literally no catch.  I have talked about Ebates a number of times and am still shocked that people don't use Ebates for all their online shopping.

Sign up today with my referral link here and receive $10 in addition to the advertised cash back after making a purchase through Ebates.  By signing up I also get a chance to win a vacation to Disney World and you know baby Della Favorite would love to go to Disney World.  Fine, I would love to go as I have never been.  Regardless sign up and let me know what you think of Ebates and how much money you have gotten back.  My friend has already surpassed by total earning by shopping for all his work purchases through Ebates.  Yes, I'm jelly, but love that he is getting to reap the benefits of this amazing site. 

Another week, another box of veggie goals

I got 99 problems, but a 1/2 bushel of organic veggies ain't one, HIT ME!

A month ago I made it my goal to eat all the veggies that came in my CSA box.  I chronicled my week starting here posting pictures of what I ate as well as sharing some recipes like my basic pesto.  Ultimately I did not meet my goal and tossed some vegetables.  For those of you who know me, I hate wasting food.  It goes with my hoarding nature.  For the most part I've eaten 90-95% of the weekly vegetable box.  However, last week I did end up freezing some onions and shallots because... let's be real, a girl can only eat so many onions and shallots before she is over it!  I'm convinced they give me heartburn.  Or it could be the baby in my belly?  Either way...  At least I didn't toss any vegetables last week.  I would say that is progress.

This week I'm going back to the goal of consuming ALL the veggies I have before I pick up next Sunday's box.  And I don't want to have to freeze any items this week.  I'm going to chronicle what I eat if it includes a vegetable from my box and share recipes again if any of them are share worthy.  In fact I'm getting hungry right now writing about food so I will cut this post short.

The items I received this week are pictured above.  I'm sad that the farm told us we would not be receiving any more Jersey corn, but I'm excited at the variety of the different vegetables I got this week including:

Stay tuned to see if I can reach my weekly goal.  "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I CAN!"

Beets in my box ... my CSA box

Beets look intimidating, but they are really easy to cook once you learn how to prep them.  I used to throw away the beet greens, but the whole beet is edible.  You can substitute beet greens in any recipe calling for leafy greens (think swiss chard, spinach, kale, etc.)

Who am I kidding, I still throw away the beet greens.  My mom, was recently visiting so lucky for me she consumed the raw beet greens in her green drinks.  Last time I had beet greens I sauteed them in olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper and immediately threw them away after one bite.  Neither my husband or I could handle the earthiness in sauteed form.  Thank God for moms, especially my mom, who will take one for the team.

Don't feel so bad for her.  She claims she likes beet greens.

PREPPING

To prep the beets for cooking I chop off the stems (keep the stems if you dare) and give them a good wash and scrub with a potato scrubber to remove any caked on dirt.

I find that the skin slides off easier if you drizzle each beet with a small amount of oil.

I then wrap each beet in foil and place in a baking dish.  The baking dish is my insurance policy against leaks because beet juice stains everything!

Beets, depending on their size, can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to cook at a 375 degree heated oven.  These beats were relatively small, ranging in size from a tangerine to a nectarine, and took a full 40 minutes to cook until fork tender (meaning a fork easily pierces through the skin).  I would recommend checking the beets after 30 minutes of cooking to see if they are tender and then every 10-15 minutes to ensure you don't overcook them.  Beets should be slightly soft, but not mushy. Once cooked I cool the beets until I can handle them.



The dark skin will peel off in between your fingers with a rolling action.  It's ridiculously easy, but you can also remove the skin with a paring knife or carrot peeler.  I remove the stems and keep beets whole until ready to eat.  Once cooked they last about a week in an airtight container.

I love roasted beets.  Cooking brings out the sweetness in beets and their flavor is enhanced by combining them in recipes / meals that call for cheese (feta, goat, white cheddar), salt, and vinaigrette.    

Once the beets were cooked lunch was a breeze.  I used leftover veggies from my CSA box and topped the salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and feta cheese.  Yum!

DIY Maternity Pants

I fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes during my first trimester.  Sure my pants got a little tight at the waist, but nothing that a hair elastic or Belly Band couldn't fix.  But then I hit 16 weeks and I had to find a solution.  Since I wasn't about to *gasp* buy maternity pants I decided to DIY some old work pants into maternity pants.  Because let's face it, I love a good DIY.

While I had the idea of maternity pants, I can't take any credit for this DIY (shout out to all you awesome DIYers).  There are tons of different maternity pant DIYs available on Pinterest.  I, however, liked the DIY instructions from What's Up Moms and the results were amazing!

While you can use a sewing machine I somehow managed to break mine so I was stuck doing this by hand.  It takes awhile, but I promise the end results are worth the effort, especially if you're like me and haven't gained any weight in your thighs (thank you sweet baby Jesus).  I find that most maternity pants I tried on fit in the waist, but were loose in the butt and thighs and no one wants to have people whisper behind their back that they have a grandma butt.  Then again...my mom, aka soon to be grandma, has an amazing derriere so maybe having a grandma butt isn't such a bag thing...

I've made a ton of DIY pants and shorts this pregnancy and made some modifications to What's Up Moms DIY.

Here are my directions for DIY Maternity Pants:

You will need:
A pair of pants (or shorts) that you don't mind repurposing
Needle and thread
Fabric scissors
Straight pins
4 inch elastic (I bought mine from Amazon)

Directions:
1. Cut out the front pockets.  Starting at the top of the waistband cut along the side seam making sure to remove the whole pocket.  Just be careful and don't cut a whole through the pants.  Repeat on the other side

2. Measure and cut the elastic 1.5x the length of the pocket you just cut making sure the elastic overlaps the seam

3. Line up the top of the elastic with the top of the jeans and pin in place.  Obviously repeat on other side.

4. Starting at the waistband sew the elastic in place along the seam.  Always make sure to start and finish your knots inside the pants.  I sewed the seam twice for extra reinforcement.  Repeat on other side

I matched the thread as best as I could to the color of the pants.  My sewing isn't the best (clearly), but in all honesty you can't see the new seam under shirts, especially long maternity shirts.

5. Trim the elastic on the inside.

6. Put on your DIY maternity pants and show off that adorable baby bump!

Milestone

Last night was a milestone for me.  It was the first time I felt my baby move and boy was it weird.  I felt the sensation of something trying to claw its way out of me.  It was almost painful, but today I scanned myself and baby Della Favorite is head down.  Baby has been breech so this explains the large movements. 

As I type I feel fluttering.  I know I'm still early and I won't feel consistent movement necessarily at this point, but so reassuring to feel movement each night. 

My honest Tieks review

I wear ballet flats almost every day at work... Let's start over.

I wear the same pair of ballet flats almost every day at work: a silver pair of Vera Wang Lavender flats that I got years ago from Century 21.  They literally go with everything.  So needless to say I was on the hunt for a pair of ballet flats that are versatile enough to wear everyday and most importantly comfortable.  Now that it is warm(er), I try to go on a walk a few times a week during my lunch break to get a few minutes of fresh air and cardio.  Thus my shoes have to transition from office to walk and back to office without my feet hurting or leaving my feet covered in blisters.

I've heard about Tieks for awhile, but the cost hindered me from trying them out.  What changed my mind was the return policy.  A lot of websites appear to offer free shipping and returns, but when you read the fine print there is some stipulation, whether it is a fee for return shipping or stocking.  Not with Tieks!  So I took a chance and ordered the Rose Gold Glam Tieks that I had my eyes on.  

 

First off the packaging is adorable.  Tieks are known for their Tiffany Blue soles and the packaging ties in with the color scheme perfectly. 

Plus the flower detail is really stunning.  This is an an item that you can definitely repurpose.  The flower detail is on an elastic so it would be a gorgeous finishing touch to a gift as Tieks presents it or would look super cute in your little one's hair as a statement headband.  You're welcome.

 

First off I love the rose gold color.  It screams summer.  I also like that Tieks are foldable.  They come with a black dust bag that the flats fold into, which is a really nice touch.  Plus it allows you to carry these shoes in your purse without getting your purse covered in God knows what's on the ground and change into them as needed. 

 

Now what I don't like... 

I love that the soles are Tiffany Blue, but I really, really, really don't like the blue stripe down the back of these flats.  It cheapens the look. 

As soon as I slipped these on my initial thought was: these are not the most comfortable flats I've ever tried.  Tieks need to be broken in and for $235 I don't know if they will truly become the most comfortable shoe once they form to my feet.  For that price tag I'm just not willing to risk keeping them and then regretting such an expensive purchase.   Plus the demarcation of my big toe is weird.  I feel like that would annoy me overtime.  So the Tieks had to go back.

The main reason I decided to review Tieks is that I did not see a single negative review while researching Tieks online and after trying them I wonder if more bloggers were offered some type of incentive for their glowing reviews.  I'm leaning towards yes considering the cheapest pair of Tieks go for $175, which is pricey! A few bloggers did admit that they were offered half off to review the Tieks and honestly I probably would have kept these Tieks for half off, but no incentive was offered.  For now I'm still on the hunt for the most comfortable flats that won't break the bank.  Suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 

Roasted Asparagus

Tuesday I shared my Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes recipe and promised to share how I make roasted asparagus.

Asparagus is not only delicious, but it's a natural diuretic (hello skinny!) so be prepared for some pungent urine.  If you ask me, it is a small price to pay for a bloat free belly.  While asparagus is easy to make, it is also quickly destroyed if you overcook it.  I, like my father, prefer vegetables to have a crunch to them.  This recipe is perfect for that.  When the asparagus is a vibrant green color it is cooked with said crunch.  Yum!

Now if you are in the camp that prefers vegetables to be overcooked then this recipe is not for you. Once the asparagus turns a dull, dark green color then you've achieved mushy and stringy asparagus.  Edible, but not ideal.

Roasted Asparagus

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

• Bunch of asparagus (literally one bunch, not a whole lot)
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1-2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese depending on how cheesy you like it

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees and coat baking dish with cooking spray
2.  Wash asparagus, dry, and remove ends (I do the bend and snap technique)
3.  Place asparagus in the baking dish and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, garlic powder, and half the cheese

4. Once tossed sprinkle remaining cheese over asparagus and bake for 12-15 minutes until asparagus is tender to your liking (I like a little bite)

Note: The color change is slight, but you can see in the pictures that the asparagus takes on a more bright green shade
5.  Serve and enjoy.  I recommend pairing it with my Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes recipe and the protein of your choosing

Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

My husband has been craving steak.  I, on the other hand, only like meat when I'm in the mood, which is pretty much never.  Unless by meat you mean tuna fish because I love tuna.

Lucky for husband I was sick this weekend, which means he took one for the team and got to pick out groceries or how I like to think about it, whatever he wants to eat.  Since he knew today would be a snow storm, he decided to make a nice steak and potato meal and being the good wife that I am, I agreed to eat whatever he cooked.  

Let's just say dinner was delicious and I'm glad he wanted steak.

I would love to take credit for dinner, but hubs was in charge of the steak.  I won't and can't even pretend to know how he cooks it, but it's the bomb.  Clearly I should have more steak in my life.  I did contribute though with two of my go to sides that are super easy and make for great food presentation:Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus.

Click here for the Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Crispy Parmesan Baked Potatoes

Printable Recipe

Servings: about 4

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs baby potatoes
• 1/4-1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (powdered or shredded both work)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Olive oil

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. Clean potatoes and slice in half lengthwise

3. Put about 1/4 cup of the mustard and cheese in separate shallow dishes for dipping (remember you can always add more mustard and cheese as needed)
4. Dip potato cut side down in mustard

5. Then dip in Parmesan cheese

6. Shake off extra cheese and place potatoes cut side down on baking sheet lined with parchment paper

7. Repeat dipping potatoes in mustard and then cheese until all potatoes are on baking sheet.  Drizzle olive oil over potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste

8.  Cook potatoes for 30 minutes or until a knife easily pierces through potato and cut side is golden brown

Dish up and enjoy!  I know I did. 

Ebates

Most people know about Ebates by now, but I still meet people who don't know about Ebates or use it for ALL their online shopping.

So for those of you who don't know Ebates offers cash back for all most of your online shopping.  I can't say all because there are still times that I will purchase something online and the site is not participating with Ebates (I'm talking specifically about Joyus...come on Ebates that site is the bomb!).

Ebates is super simple once you sign up here.  
1.  Click the link for the site you want to shop at.  Clearly today it's all about Nordies.

2. Once you click the desired shopping site a new tab will pop open and take you to Nordstrom's website.

3.  Shop as you usually would and get a percent back off your purchase.  In this case 6%.  

I swear it is that easy.  And then you get a big, fat check or money transferred to your PayPal account.

Right now when you sign up for Ebates you get $10 cash back and a chance to win a 2016 Toyota Highlander for doing nothing more then one extra click of your mouse before doing what you already did best.  Now you can do it better.  Seriously if you are not using Ebates to get cash back you are missing out on free money.  And while a $22.31 check may not seem like much, those checks add up.

Gemstone Wrist Candy

I've been so busy, but I finally have had a chance to take some me time and do what I love most ... get creative.  From glittering things to making jewelry, nothing makes me happier than spending a few minutes (or hours) making something with my hands.  No TV or radio on, I just like to sit and make and not have to think about things.  I do far too much thinking on a daily basis.

After selling out of almost all my previous bracelets I've come back with some new designs and old favorites.  All my bracelets can be worn alone or paired with another piece. For sales leave a comment or  contact me at dellafavorite@gmail.com.

From left to right: 1) silver plated hematite with turquoise accent; 2) amethyst; 3) amethyst and fancy jasper; 4) silver painted beads; and 5) amethyst and crystal accent beads.

From left to right: 1) chrysocolla and crystal accent beads; 2) chrysoprase and crystal accent beads; & 3) red agate, turquoise, and crystal accent beads.  

From left to right: 1) and 2) turquoise, red agate, and amethyst; & 3) and 4) gold plated hematite and chrysoprase.  

I also wanted some of my bracelets to have character and be able to be worn various ways with the one side being more elaborate than the other.  What's cool about this look is that one bracelet looks like two different bracelets depending on how you wear or view it.  I've received tons of compliments wearing this type of bracelet doing my post Christmas shopping at the mall.

Chrysocolla, chrysoprase, gold plated hematite and crystal accent bead bracelet

Red agate, turquoise, and crystal accent bead bracelet

Chrysoprase, silver plated hematite, and crystal accent bead bracelet

Silver plated hematite with turquoise accent bracelet

Amethyst and fancy jasper bracelet set

Amethyst, crystal accent bead, and silver painted bead bracelet set

Turquoise, red agate, and amethyst bracelet set

Gold plated hematite and chrysoprase bracelet set

Thank you for taking the time to view my creations.  If you are interested in a bracelet drop me line for a quote (dellafavorite@gmail.com).