The days are starting to turn into a blur again and my life has turned into a constant cycle of 3-hourly feeds, burps, issues with gas and poo explosions. Who knew something so tiny could possibly be considered a weapon of mass destruction?? Lucky for him, he’s pretty cute and I’m not so bothered about poo anymore.
Eating has become something that happens when it happens – my body clock is all over the place and often breakfast is somewhere around lunchtime because sleep > food. Every time.
Also, it has to be convenient – none of this la gourmet stuff for me at the moment – I can tell you scoffing down a handful of grapes while having a baby attached to your boob is a skill.
The other day, I had a few moments to myself and I was pottering around in the kitchen when I thought I should make some granola. I had some greek yogurt cups in the fridge that would make a quick a tasty snack or breakfast when I needed something quick.
Then I couldn’t actually be bothered turning the oven on, given Rehan could wake and demand SOMETHING with the potential to crack it to high-pitch squealing standards and so looked for something non-bake.
And then, this.
BETTER than granola, but unfortunately I didn’t have all the ingredients to the original recipe. So I subbed what I had, omitting the puffed rice and sticking with oats and just adding whatever I could find in my pantry.
AND, since I used rice malt syrup (brown rice syrup) – it’s also conveniently fructose-free.
At the last minute, I noticed the bag of cacao nibs I had bought on a whim a few months back (as Evs rolled his eyes and placed in the pantry with all my other “healthy shit”)and never really found the time and recipe to use them in and decided to add a handful in. Cacao nibs are made from raw cacao beans and full of antioxidants and magnesium.
Best. Idea. Ever.
It turned it from a peanut-butter granola bar to a CHOC peanut-butter granola bar. I have since made 3 batches of this, and it has become my go-to meal when I am feeling peckish. The last batch I made, I probably added in a *touch* too much syrup (was wanting to finish the bottle) and they became delightfully sticky that I turned them into balls rolled in shredded coconut rather than bars.
These are really good on the-go, new mum or not – they’re easy to make when you have a few minutes to spare, packed full of nutritional goodness and really filling to boot. They are vegan, gluten-fee (if you use gluten-free oats) and fructose-free if you use the rice malt syrup. The best part is that it can be easily modified to suit all tastes and combinations – sub maple syrup/honey if you like, chocolate chips for the cacao nibs and you can definitely add whatever you like as well!
Ingredients
Dry (use scant measurements)
1 & 3/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 TB ground flaxmeal
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional – can use to roll in)
Wet (use generous measurements)
1/2 cup rice malt syrup (sub for honey (will not make it vegan)/maple/agave syrup)
1/3 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy and loved the peanut bits in it)
1 tsp vanilla extract/essence (optional)
Instructions
1) Add all dry ingredients into a medium sized bowl and mix together.
2) In a separate (microwave-safe) small bowl – add wet ingredients together and heat for 20-30 seconds. Mix together.
3) Pour wet mixture into dry and mix until well combined and it’s all evenly distributed.
4) Put mixture into a shallow pan and spread and flatten it down so it covers the pan.
You can then cut it into 12 now and store each one separately, or leave them in the pan. If making into balls, wet hands and roll into balls, covering them in the shredded coconut. Store them in the fridge – this will help bind the ingredients and make them easy to grab when hungry
Seriously good – even Evs liked them and said they tasted like healthy Reeces Pieces. Check out the original post for some fun modifications and combinations!
Hey folks! It’s the weekend again! Not that it really matters for me – the days also have melted into one. BUT, I can still be excited because it does mean that Evs is home for the next two days and he can help alleviate some of my boredom free time.
I am plodding along and literally waiting for baby to arrive. My due date is in about a week (Easter Monday in fact), so every post could be my LAST. Duh duh DUH.
(Yep, I like to be dramatic somewhat).
Despite my lack of internet, I have painstakingly gathered some links that I have read over the last week and that caught my eye. I hope you enjoy them too!
For those people who aren’t really into heavy breakfasts – typically with either some sort of grain or bread – Maria over at Econest has some ideas to switch it up without getting all blah. Bonus – sugar-free as well.
I was looking at this list and thinking I should have known half of these things while I was in my corporate job. A great post for any professional woman with career tips from the most successful women in the world. My favourite – “Forget the ladder, climb the jungle gym”.
A beautiful post that reminds me that everyone’s love language is different. So Evs might not be a classically romantic guy, but he shows love in a different way.
I am really, really wishing I could go along to this – but alas small thing called a baby will be here. Melbourne peeps – if you are free – I’d highly recommend it. These girls are amazing.
With Winter coming upon us (and thus the shorter days and lack of natural light!) and the urge to take better photos (it’s half the reason I don’t post many recipes – Instagram can only do so much lol) – I’m considering building my own light box. Here’s a great tutorial on how to DIY one of your own.
Did you hear about Lululemon’s recall on their new line of yoga pants because they were too sheer?? Jimmy Kimmel give us his (hilarious) opinion on it through this video about the yoga pant shortage.
Also, given my sporadic blogging – for the first baby news you’re more likely to catch me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
How I’m feeling? Now that I’m on holidays, I’ve been taking advantage of the time I have and spending it resting and taking naps. I have no shame in having breakfast and then heading back up for a snooze. Laaazzzzy summer days are good.
Fitness? Swimming and walking. It’s weird, but I’m finding that my lower “area” is so sore after walking. Like my lower back, inner thighs and butt. I could barely walk after going one particulary “long” walk. I was seriously considering going to a chiro or something to align my spine but finally got into a regular prenatal yoga practice after finding a great video online – man it kicked my ass after not doing it for so long. But it also took away that back pain like magic. So, so good.
Weight? Bigger still. I feel like I’m carrying quite low which makes me push out my stomach a bit more to ease the weight and the waddle has definitely started. I also need help getting off couches now
How I’m changing? Getting clucky. Want this baby now. With Christmas and the holidays here, it blows my mind that this time next year this baby will be on the OUTSIDE. I see all these cute Christmas outfits and wish the bubs was here just so I can dress it up in cute red and white.
What I miss? Can I say wine again?? In the height of the party season, it sucks to be sipping on lemon water.
Symptoms? The back pain – oh my. I’m also slightly concerned I’m eating too many sweets, so am trying to consciously cut that down and not give into my daily ice-cream habit.
This baby likes to move it , move it. Such an active little thing to the point he/she is keeping me up and not letting me sleep in. It doesn’t like whatever position I am in and I end up just staring at the ceiling feeling this volley of kicks and just get up. I GET THE HINT.
Cravings? Cherries still. And fizzy lemonade.
Aversions? Haven’t been a huge seafood person (i.e. salmon etc) throughout.
Highlights this week?
Being on holidays!! Feeling mentally relaxed for the first time in a long time! Looking forward to spending time with friends and family over the next few weeks
Hola friends! Can you believe the weekend is here ALREADY?!
I can.
Because I had a 3-day week.
Teehee.
Ok, making you jealous aside – my week flew by and I was busy as a bee trying to fit in 5 workdays worth of work into 3 and cursing the traffic that STILL seemed to be around when most people with good sense would be away from where I needed to be and preferably on holiday.
This weekend is gearing up to be a busy one with some more baby-related shopping happening, a trip to visit friends in Geelong (about 1.5 hrs drive out of Melbourne) to see their new baby and prettying up the house a little more. As the weather does it’s topsy-turvy thing, in the moments where it decides to stay sunny (um, 26 degrees (78.8 F) on Sunday – AWESOME) means playtime outside and chasing the dogs to hold them down and give them a much-needed bath.
I’m excited about the upcoming week as well for a few reasons.
1. COLDPLAY CONCERT on Tuesday!!!
2. DIWALI on Tuesday!!! (which kinda clashes with the concert but we’ll make it work )
3. 20 week ultrasound on Thursday!! Woohoo – get to see bubs again
For your reading pleasure, here’s a few links I loved this week:
After spending 3 months in Hong Kong last year, I missed my Melbourne so bad. And now, after coming home to Melbourne, I find myself missing HK at the oddest times. It…grew on me. This great post from Thought Catalog summed up my feelings about my city – I can bet it will do the same about yours.
Making pancakes on Sunday morning would be perfect. They are Paleo-friendly, contain no sugar (using Stevia or dextrose so good for those on the I Quit Sugar program), low-carb but filled with protein so they keep you fuller for longer. I’d eat them with a blueberry coulis (after a tip from Liz!) and some greek yogurt on the side.
You wouldn’t think a guy with two failed marriage would have much advice to give in regards to relationships, would you? But this post surprisingly has some good ones. If anything, you know what NOT to do to blow it up
It’s that time of year again for me. Spring, while I love thee – I don’t love the hayfever/allergies that I am subjected to with much stuffiness of the nose, watery, itchy eyes and sneezing. Oh the sneezing! I swear I am going to shoot that baby out one day with one of my sneezes. Since I am pregnant, I’m not recommended to take the normal anti-histamines that I’d willingly pop and have had to resort to other ways to manage it. This great post from Maria at Econest lists some natural, ayurvedic tips to make your life a little easier in the allergy season (And funny how half these things my dad does but I never really paid much thought to it. Huh.)
Now that it is getting warmer, I am forced to take my legs out of hibernation (and actually shave!). The problem is that I don’t really fit into any of my clothes any more. So when I saw this post about creating your own DIY summer skirt, my first thought was – this is AWESOME. Because it really is THAT simple. AND I don’t have to waste money. If that didn’t get you, well, every girl needs some stretchy skirts in their closets for their babies. Food babies of course.
I liked Eat, Pray, Love. The movie? Meh – not so much. And since it came out (and before 50 Shades of Grey took over) – every woman I know had a desire to travel to either India, Italy or Indonesia to fulfil that part of her life as per the book. This post about one woman’s experience with the EPL-ers is a funny read. And I agree her #1 as well.
How far along?18 weeks, 6 days (as of posting I’ve started week 19 now)
How big is baby? A mango!! (which so happens to coincide with the start of the mango season here in Australia. I’m eyeing them off)
(Notice new outdoor furniture that we assembled today as well. And my wilted basil plant in the white pot lol. We’re missing the cushions as they had sold out, but still it was nice to sit here watching the sun set).
How I’m feeling? Still feeling good – I feel like I’m at a point where it seems a little cruisy. Each week I just feel like I get bigger and bigger but otherwise it’s been pretty drama free. My belly still itches like a mother which is really annoying me. Anyone have any suggestions for relieving this??
Quitting sugar has been harder than I thought this time around. Mainly because I’ve been wanting juicy, fresh fruit like mangoes and watermelon and allowing myself to eat that instead of chocolate. However, the effects of sugar on me – no matter where it came from – are the same. That includes the bloating.
See exhibit A.
That’s bloat + baby.
But the difference now is that I can blame it all on baby
Fitness? Doing as well as I can manage – I think I have to accept that my body isn’t quite it used to be (and even then it wasn’t a hugely well-oiled machine). I tried a slow jog on the tready at the gym the other day and I was puffed by 1.5km. Gah. So brisk walking it is. Walking the dogs and swimming is really where I am at the moment and it’s been kinda humbling in a way to…just…accept that. I think I might post about this in more detail.
Weight? As I’m getting bigger so is my weight. Which is awesome because it means baby is growing!!
How I’m changing? Ok so you’ve all heard of my itchy belly…well it’s also itchy boobs now. #FML. I look deranged as I try and discreetly scratch myself and it’s not really working. The discreet thing that is. Also since we spent most of this long weekend baby item shopping, I’ve started to notice prams a lot more. Like I stare young couples down in an attempt to figure out what they have. I’m so confused.
What I miss?I found a replacement for wine!!! I found this brand at my local supermarket that makes non-alcoholic wine and it hits the spot. Like *ALMOST* the same – I miss the little buzz you get from wine, but this has been good on the warm summery-type evenings we’ve had over the last few days.
Symptoms? Pimples are coming back and I think it’s because of the weather changing from cold to hot to cold again. Maybe the mangoes as well. Ugh. Also…I THINK I can start to feel the baby move. I mean, over the last few weeks I’ve been getting little jabs here and there and then a bubbly type feeling (which I know is NOT gas) so I’m getting all excited. Evs puts his hands on my belly as much as he can but nothing from the outside yet.
Cravings? Oatmeal. Weird I know. And avocadoes are back in my book again. Had the best brunch at a local cafe and it was so so good.
Aversions? I’m kinda starting to get off eating meat. I prefer to eat around it and would much rather eat the side veggies etc than the actual meat part. Thinking I need to make more vegetarian stuff.
Highlights this week? Buying our first baby clothes ever! They had a 30% off storewide sale at Bonds over the weekend and I bought some jumpsuits and the cutest stripy leggings. Is it just me or are chubby legs with a big, saggy nappy the most cutest thing to see in stripy leggings??
