Goals for March 2010

I'm not even sure I should set any new goals seeing as I'm still responsible for everything I didn't take care of in February. I'm a glutton for punishment so here are a few more!

1. Hit my target weight of 130lbs, which is a rather lofty ambition. Diet & exercise will be my new best friends!

2. Start researching restaurants and cupcake shops for our trip to NYC!

3. Install the window coverings in our bedroom & guest bedroom. Well, this one is more for Dave but I'll add it to the list.

4. Drop M's crib to the final setting. This is a MUST!

Um... I don't even know what else to add to that list. I've got a lot on my plate already so maybe I'll keep it simple this time around.

Moral of the Story?

Overeating, excessive snacking and lack of exercise do NOT mix. I'm up 3.7lbs and back to 138.5lbs! Ugh.

I need to lose 8.5lbs by March 26th, which is when we fly out to NYC.

Depressing. Heading back to bed...

ETA: Stopped for coffees on my way home from grocery shopping (another $130 shop) and couldn't resist the salted chocolate chip cookies. Sigh. Diet starts tomorrow. Promise.

Worst Procrastinator EVER!

Epic fail. Seriously.

Firstly, despite JUST blogging that I was about to get a few things accomplished, I'm back on my computer updating my progress on my February goals. In my defense, I did tell Dave that we'd work on the guest room together tonight but he's out grabbing dinner & a movie. I did go up there and shuffle a box or two but realized we need to start with the crawl space in the basement before we can do that room. It's a vicious cycle!

Anyway, here's my update:

1. Finish the hall closet renovation. STILL not done. Working on it but hit a few bumps that require a handyman.

2. Purge, organize & clean the guest room and start making it actually look like a guest room. Work in progress. Managed to get rid of some stuff and do a bit of organizing BUT the shelves we bought to push this along don't work in this room. Of course, we figured this out after we'd assembled them and thrown out the boxes. We're now trying to sell them on craigslist & kijiji in the hopes that we can recoup our costs and purchase something a bit more suitable.

3. Maintain current weight (135lbs) and maybe even drop another lb or two. I completely blew my diet this month and basically did NOTHING. For someone who was so thrilled with her progress and stoked to keep it up, I somehow fell off the wagon HARD. Weight as of February 28th? Check back tomorrow...

4. Bring M's baby book up-to-date. We're horrible parents. 'Nuff said.

5. Spend more time with Cear by giving her a good walk each evening. Okay, I wouldn't say I totally failed this one but I'll have to give myself a C-.

6. Get out for a run with M in the jogging stroller at least 2x a week. See #3.

7. Find a nanny or caregiver for M for when I go back to work. We're still working on this one BUT I think we are damn close to having it sorted out! Should know for sure within a week or two. Sad & stressful but it's life.

8. Finalize my start date back at work for April. Finally! I DID this!!! I actually completed a February goal!!! I start back on April 26th. After a mix up and a bunch of corporate BS, which means less EI, I am starting back 2 weeks after M's 1st birthday.

9. Renew my Canadian passport, order M's Canadian passport AND replace my lost British passport. I get a B+ for this one. I renewed my Canadian passport and ordered M's passport and have them both in my hot little hands! I have the paperwork for my British as well as the police report number (blame Cear) but I just need to sit down and fill everything out.

10. Finalize the date & theme for M's 1st birthday party and start working on invites. Ugh. Okay, we had a date all sorted out until we realized that his birthday doesn't actually fall on Easter weekend this year. So, that means our quasi-Easter/farm theme might need to be fudged a little. We bought the stuff to start making the invites but haven't done a thing (no surprise there).

Now, to quote myself back at the end of January:

Of course, there is a bit of carry over from January like the hall closet renovation as well as avoiding alcohol during the week. FAIL. I'm slowly trying to get back into working mode by cutting out alcohol during the week, getting to bed earlier and waking at a decent time, which is rather easy with a baby who currently likes to get up around 6am. FAIL.

*Well, I do get up early but the other things just aren't happening.

You'll have to excuse any errors because I don't even think I can proofread this post for fear of truly realizing how little I actually did this month. Gah!

Once again, lots of carry over for March. I'm going to give myself a day or two to see what else, if anything, I want to add to this list. Clearly, putting goals on paper (or online) doesn't seem to be the push I need to get them done!

Eek!

Panic has set in because I just realized that tomorrow is the end of February and I have to both update on the progress of my February goals AND set new goals for March! Oh, and I have to weigh myself as well. Bah.

But moving on to happier news...

Congratulations to C&T on their new home! Just in time for baby! Can't wait to have you in the 'hood.

Congratulations to S&K on the safe arrival of baby Isobella Isla! We can't wait to meet her and are so excited that a baby girl has finally joined the boys.

Off I go to get some work done!

Current Obsession

I'm currently obsessed with listing things for sale on kijiji or craigslist. I honestly look around our house wondering what I can list. Just last night, I sold yet another baby carrier that I bought and barely used (M is not-so-much the carrying kind) and D sold a keyboard stand earlier in the week.

This leads to my other current obsession... savings jars.

I have always been notoriously bad at saving money. It's not that I'm a "spend everything in the account" sort of girl but I have a hard just not touching it unless I can't (RRSP, GIC, etc.) or unless I know it's specifically being saved for something. One thing I have always tried to do is have a piggy bank or other sort of container on the go where change and random bills can be dropped for later use. Typically, this money always goes towards vacations.

D's surprise birthday gift of a weekend in NYC spurred me to start the jar system again. It was something we hadn't been doing at all during my maternity leave though we actively did it while pregnant to open an account for M once he was here. I pulled out two jars and quickly deposited whatever change I could scrounge up in one and tossed a $20 bill in the other. The idea is that you drop your change in there and whatever paper you can live without. I've made a point of withdrawing an extra $20 when I go to the bank machine and it goes in there and we've put the proceeds from everything we've sold online in there as well.

It always sort of feels like "free" money to me. It's fun seeing the jars fill up and even more fun when you add it up at the end. I like knowing that this will be extra spending money or cash for a trip that we hadn't necessarily planned or budgeted for (though it is SO very needed). I also find this is an easy way to save without feeling deprived because the little amounts really do add up! We won't feel the pinch of withdrawing large amounts before we go away and it will eliminate the need to use credit.

Quick Skillet Mac and Cheese

Who am I kidding?! I'd rather sit on the couch and surf the 'net or blog instead of cooking & cleaning.

I am always looking for the ultimate Mac & Cheese recipe and came across this one in my latest Fine Cooking magazine. I'd definitely make it again because it was super quick & easy but I would tweak it a bit by adding in some extra old white cheddar either on top or in lieu of part of either the Emmentaler or Gruyere (or in lieu of a bit of both).

Quick Skillet Mac and Cheese

Kosher Salt

12 oz. dried spiral pasta, such as cavatappi, rotini or double elbows

3 Tbs. unsalted butter

3 Tbs. all-purpose flour

2 cups low-fat (2%) milk

4 oz. grated Emmentaler (1 1/4 cups)

4 oz. grated Gruyere (1 1/4 cups)

1 Tbs. Dijon mustard

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

Freshly ground black pepper

3 oz. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (3 cups)

Position a rack about 4" from the broiler and heat the broiler on high.

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until just tender. Drain well and set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 12" ovenproof skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and continue whisking until well combined, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the milk and continue to cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the Emmentaler, Gruyere, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and thyme and whisk until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 minutes. Stir in the pasta to coat with the sauce. Off the heat, season to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the Parmigiano-Reggiano evenly over the pasta.

Broil until the top is browned, 3 to 4 minutes and serve.

*Quick Skillet Mac and Cheese, Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough, FC #103

Feeling Thankful...

that I have NO eggs in the house because I really want to bake simply because I really want to eat something warm & gooey. The best part is that I actually trudged through the snow this morning to my favourite coffee place so I could get a latte & salted chocolate chip cookie as "reward" for shoveling the snow.

Clearly, my willpower & motivation have not yet returned. In the past week, I basically ate en entire box of Baci chocolates, enough cheese & kielbassa to feed a small nation, 57lbs of buttery popcorn and partook in 3 desserts between 2 people while out for dinner last night.

I was going to weigh myself this morning but I'm pushing it to Sunday. I actually forgot about it completely and now I've eaten far too much junk that I'm too afraid to get on the scale today. Pathetic!

I've been an MIA blogger this week but have a few recipes I'd like to post as well as an update on our childcare situation but I'm going to take advantage of M's nap to tidy the kitchen and prep for dinner tonight. The glorious life of a housewife never ends!

Until later...

5 More Sleeps...

... until I have to weigh in and it's certainly not going to be pretty. I basically did nothing and ate everything during the month of February. Pretty certain this month can't be saved. Sigh.

We leave for NYC on March 29th and that's my new goal. I want to be 130lbs with a slightly trimmer and more toned mummy tummy. The ONLY way I'm going to accomplish this is by running. Oh, and throwing out the Baci chocolates that I've been eating by the handful might help as well.

Dinner with Friends

We had old friends of mine over for dinner & drinks last night. It was so much fun! I had a great time catching up with everyone and was reminded that it's so important to take time for friends and get together more often! It's too easy to let your weekends fill up with necessities like errands & getting things done around the house that you start putting less effort into the fun stuff like getting together with friends. Put a little distance in there and visits become few & far between.

The meal turned out great or at least I thought so! It was super simple, straightforward and tasty. The best part was that I could prep most of it in advance. What was on the menu?

Crostini with White Bean Puree, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breasts on top of Bucatini in a Spicy Tomato Sauce with Crisped Pancetta

Baby Romaine & Avocado in a Soy-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Drunken Marsala Strawberries topped with Lemon Mascarpone

I'll post some of the recipes later tonight. This menu is definitely a keeper!

PS - Thanks to J&B and L&A for making the trek from Oakville/Burlington down to Toronto. Can't wait to see both again soon!

February Blahs...

On another note...

I don't know what's going around but it seems like everyone has a case of the blues this month. I feel lazy & unmotivated to do anything! The thought of cleaning & cooking seems so daunting and boring. My diet has gone out the window and I haven't done any exercise at all in ages.

Blah.

I have to get back on track so I'm committing to a run once D gets home from work. I feel like I've undone all my hard work from January and I hate that feeling. I need to push myself to stay motivated. Today is my fresh start!

Making Progress!

We are finally making progress with some stuff around the house though so that's encouraging. I managed to get two coats of paint done in the hall closet and we have a handyman tentatively booked for Friday to do so minor patching & trim work in there before we can put up the shelves, which have already been purchased and are ready to go.

We also bought some bookcases for our guest room and assembled them last night. Of course, we're having buyer's remorse and thinking we made the wrong choice in terms of suitable storage for M if/when he moves into that room. We have immediate needs for storage to help get that room guest-friendly but thinking long term, we would likely move M into that room if and when we have a 2nd child. I know, I know... planning way ahead but I just want to exercise some practical thinking.

Our downstairs bathroom renovation was FINALLY supposed to be underway today but it seems the tile installer is MIA. D is currently tracking him down!

The cabinetmaker is also coming tomorrow afternoon to do a final site audit in our kitchen. We've decided to add two levels of upper & lower cabinets totaling 8' high with open shelving at the end on the wall opposite our kitchen. This will give us SO much storage and I'll finally be able to bring box after box of my cooking & baking stuff back from my parent's basement, where it has sat neglected since we moved here in April 2009.

Lots of changes going on here and I'm hoping we'll have everything done by the time I head back to work. I have this overwhelming feeling of being unorganized and it's driving me nuts! I'm trying to simplify our lives and give everything a "home" in our house.

Meal Plan for Week of February 14th

There's only 5 meals planned for this week as we're going out tomorrow night to celebrate Valentine's Day and having friends for dinner next Saturday. I'm still working on the perfect menu for next Saturday night.

Monday: Boneless Pork Chops w/ Mustard Sauce served with brown rice & green beans.

Tuesday: Quick Skillet Mac 'n Cheese served with salad.

Wednesday: Parmesan-Crusted Chicken served with Orzo with Lemon, Garlic, Parmigiano & Herbs and grilled asparagus.

Thursday: Spicy Beef with Peanuts & Chilis served with stir fried veggies.

Friday: Falafel sandwiches with a chunky Greek-style salad.

Heading to the grocery store tomorrow morning! Lots of items on this list so I'm guessing we'll be around the usual $130 mark.

More Relaxing than the Holiday Inn?!

Okay, not the best picture but this is our guest room. Doesn't look very hospitable, does it?! Since moving into our home, this room has been our dumping ground. It's where we hang our laundry to dry and stash any 'homeless' items. Quite simply, it's a giant mess.

Our weekend in NYC in late March is the push we need to clear the clutter and make this into an actual guest room. I'm about to begin the task of tackling this room so if you don't hear from me for a few days, please send help!

Fail.

I am a lousy dieter. Seriously. I need to get back on track.

Childcare + Hormones = Meltdown of Epic Proportions

I basically lost the plot today. I panicked and then pitched a massive fit. My poor dad had to attempt to decipher what I was saying in between sobs & random thoughts.

We're trying to navigate this whole childcare thing and it is simply so overwhelming! We've met two potential nannies so far and are definitely interested in pursuing a relationship with the first. However, we've been confronted with cost negotiations that would normally be straightforward except we've been asked to essentially take on the role of formal employer. You know, the sort of employer that deducts taxes, pays GST and issues a T4 at the end of each year. Yikes. This is something we never considered and to be honest, something I don't think either of us are prepared to do. It's also the sort of thing that greatly impacts the old bank account because of the whole gross/net thing.

When it comes to hiring a caregiver, there are 3 potential scenarios:

1. We become the employer, business number & all, and handle everything from that standpoint.

2. The caregiver establishes a business whereby she receives her salary, issues a receipt and files taxes, etc. as necessary.

3. We agree to work under the table with the caregiver whereby we can't claim the loss against our taxes and she is not making contributions or paying taxes.

Sigh.

I've had a thousand different scenarios swirling around my head all week. I've been researching everything nonstop and placing calls for experienced advice. I know I owe L a call or email and am planning on doing that this evening. We aren't ruling her out but I know we're just at the beginning of lots of talks.

Anyway, I was at M's library class today when I overheard people talking about daycare wait lists and that's when it hit me that I have NO back up plan. I truly don't. We're lucky in the sense that we know we have this one great person and that if push comes to shove, we can go above & beyond our budget to have her care for M. But what if all talks fall apart and we're left scrambling?!

I have M on about 8-10 daycare wait lists (including one I just added today) but nobody can give me an sort of indication if they'll have a spot come April. I've registered us with various home care agencies in the hopes of finding a place that way but again, no guarantees. When I call to check M's status, I don't get anywhere. They won't tell me how many names are ahead or how many spots they may or may not have open. The all seem to say the same thing, which is that I'll get a call maybe 2-3 weeks before our date and even then, they may not be able to take him until AFTER I've started back at work. How on earth do we handle a transition period?!

It's all so frustrating, confusing & overwhelming. I've officially set my start date back at work (April 26th) and I would love to start the whole nanny OR daycare transition at the beginning of that month. I hate not knowing who will be caring for my most prized possession! I know that our families will help us, if needed, but I just want to know what's happening long before I'm due back. Everyone always says to secure your daycare spot early, even when you're still pregnant, but we're walking proof that isn't always the case.

Chicken Breasts with Red Thai Curry Peanut Sauce

This recipe is super simple but really tasty. It makes a lot of sauce that you can freeze for another use, toss with Asian noodles or even serve as a dipping sauce for dumplings or satays.

I always serve this with rice and steamed carrots & broccoli.

2 Tbs. chopped fresh ginger

1 Tbs. chopped garlic

1/2 cup natural smooth peanut butter, preferably at room temperature

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 Tbs. soy sauce

2 Tbs. mirin or granulated sugar

1 3/4 tsp. red Thai curry paste

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, trimmed

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbs. canola oil; more as needed

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

3 Tbs. minced fresh cilantro

In a food processor, combine the ginger, garlic, peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, mirin (or sugar), 1 1/2 tsp. of the curry paste and 3 Tbs. water. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Taste to check the heat level and add the remaining 1/4 tsp. (or more) curry paste if you like.

If the chicken breasts come with tenders, remove them and reserve them for another use. Between two sheets of plastic wrap, lightly pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness with a meat mallet, a heavy pan or the side of a cleaver. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Set a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the canola oil. When the oil is very hot, add two of the chicken breasts and cook until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and continue to cook until it's cooked through, another 3-4 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding 1-2 Tbs. more oil if the pan is dry.

Reduce the heat to low and add the coconut milk and 1/2 cup of the peanut sauce to the skillet. Stir to combine and heat through, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.

The fresh cilantro adds a nice flavour but if you don't have it, don't stress. It's still a great meal!

*Chicken with Red Thai Curry Peanut Sauce, Kate Hays, FC #76

Meeting Ms. Right?

Well, we met our first potential nanny today. L seemed very nice, experienced and was sweet with M. She's got many years of nanny experience and came to us following the recommendation of a friend. We seemed to mesh with her and she respected our parenting style. We seemed to be on the same page with our wants for an almost one-year-old baby. I also get the feeling she's the sort of woman who would offer great guidance & advice to us as well.

BUT...

There are a couple of slight hiccups that we need to look into on our end. One issue is pretty minor and definitely not a deal breaker (for her or us) but the other is a bit more significant. We need to talk to some people and get an idea of logistics to see if it will work for both parties.

I really hoped we'd love her and that she'd love us and we'd all be hugging by the end of the meeting. We didn't quite have that but we were left with a very great feeling about her & her nannying style. I've got my fingers crossed and will be interested to see what sort of answers we get over the next few days.

Yep, It's Been Confirmed...

Yet again, another weekly shop totaling $130. Granted, $18 of that was for D's razor blades (perhaps time to think about growing a beard?) and lots of fresh veggies & fruit. We also buy Ace bread and 2 loafs (one for us & one for M) totaled $10 today. I'm not even going to post our meal plan this week because it's extremely boring & simple. Looking at my list, I was certain we'd be under a $100 today. I think I've discovered the best way to keep the cost down (and domestics to a minimum) is to shop solo!

It's Super Bowl Sunday and I'm excited to use an event that we won't be watching as an excuse to eat deliciously bad food! Bring on the chicken wings... and huge platter of veggies & dip.

Diet. Resumes. Tomorrow.

Importance of Exercise

I have done NOTHING in about 2 weeks. Granted, I've been sick with a nagging cold since last weekend but other than a breezy stroller walk, I have not done any exercise. My brand new jogging stroller sits sad in the corner.

I weighed in today more so out of curiosity than necessity. I was down 0.4lbs and hit the 134.7lb mark. Without a doubt, that number would be lower had I been exercising. I'm giving myself another 2-3 days to shake the cough before getting out there but I've set myself a new goal of losing another 5lbs in 2 months.

I want to return to work feeling great about myself & my body. I was riding such a high on Tuesday night after attending a work function and my co-worker told me I looked hot & showed no evidence of having a baby! That is motivation at it's finest.

More Personal Than Sharing a Bathroom?

Seriously? Is there anything? Yes. Sharing a car!

We just purchased a new car and in 2 very short months, my beloved MINI will be returned to the dealer. The MINI has proven to be a disastrous family car! D can barely fit behind the wheel, my knees and chin are on the dashboard because of M's car seat and poor M is practically wedged in his car seat by the stroller. Our new car is much more practical and will comfortably fit M's car seat, his stroller and our dog, when needed.

That said, our new car will be our ONLY car.

I know many people get by with being a one car family but neither D or I have ever been without our own car since the ripe age of 16. Egads! I have NEVER had to share my car... until recently. We turned in D's car about 3 weeks ago and have been sharing mine. Not such a big deal because neither of us technically need it during the day. D's work is easy to get to via TTC and most of my daily errands can be done using two feet & a heartbeat. D's been taking the MINI to work most days until today when he took the new car and left the other for me.

And it was today while driving my car out of the city that I realized that we are truly, 100%, without a doubt going to KILL each other while sharing a car. We are both notorious for leaving empty water bottles or coffee cups in the holder instead of promptly disposing of them at the first stop. I will admit to hoarding maybe a few too many CDs in the pocket of the driver's door. I also know that I'm not known to have a spotless car though I did have it detailed not too long ago.

Firstly, I absolutely HATE getting into my car... oops, our car... and having to adjust the seat & mirrors. It drives me insane! I also hate having to change the music or radio station to suit my preferences or presets. I hate having to actually turn the radio on because the last driver shut it off while on the phone instead of just turning the volume down! I hate having to move CDs (not in cases, of course) off the passenger seat (D's habit) so I can put my purse there. I get annoyed when ALL my CDs are NOT in the driver's side pocket but rather heaped on the floor between the passenger seat amidst a dozen coffee cups & empty personal pizza boxes (or Tupperware, foil, sandwich bags and apples leftover from packed lunches).

But... my absolute biggest pet peeve? Getting into a car that has absolutely NO gas. So little gas that the car struggles to turn on! Aargh!

D and I have a long way to go and many years ahead of sharing just the one car. I know I'm going to have to bend on some of my "rules" and I know D is going to have to try harder to abide by my rules. Ha! We are both very different drivers and car owners. I'm sensing many domestics in our future!

I'm already looking forward to inspecting the new car once D gets home from work tonight. Poor guy doesn't stand a chance!

Frustrated and Frazzled!

M will be 10 months old in just a few days, which means I really need to think about care for him when I go back to work. It also means I need to establish my start date for April.

When I was pregnant, I never really set a last day for work. I felt great and was determined to work up to my due date or whenever baby came. Well, M came 2 weeks early and I basically called in on the morning of Thursday, April 9th with an "um... not coming in today because my water just broke" and thus started my maternity leave. I had decided with my HR department to use up remaining vacation days before my actual leave started. This brought me to the 24th of April, which thrilled me because it meant I'd be home for a couple weeks after M's 1st birthday.

Fast forward to this week when I got in touch with HR to discuss my start date and of course, there's a mix up. Their paper work says I need to start back any day after the 9th. I called Service Canada to find out the date on my ROE and it says my last day paid by my company was the 24th (taking into account all those leftover vacation days). So, there's the mix up. I finally found the email from the HR person I was dealing with last year and forwarded it to the new person. I'm obsessively checking my BlackBerry waiting to hear back.

The lovely lady at Service Canada then tells me that I will not receive EI after the 10th of April because of the vacation time I took instead of immediately applying for EI. She said they will not pay me for parental benefits for any days after my child turns 1. I have to look into this further but basically, I will now not be compensated for those extra 2 weeks. Sigh.

I called D in a panic and between my lack of voice due to cold and hysterical sobs, I'm pretty sure he had NO clue what I was going on about. The thought of suddenly losing those 2 weeks with M absolutely shattered me! I know it doesn't seem like much but I had really looked forward to having a bit more time at home with him after he turned 1. I don't care about the money because I just want those last few days with M... sniff, sniff.

Anyway, I've got 2 leads for a nanny for M. I've corresponded with one via email and she seems great. She comes highly recommended by a friend's sister so I've got my fingers & toes crossed. I spoke with the other woman today and she seems nice as well. I got her name from a nanny at the drop-in I have gone to and we're planning on meeting next week.

I really want to get this next step sorted out so we're comfortable with the person who will be joining our family in April. I'm also really hoping for that April 24th start date as it gives us a good few weeks to make the transition. It's overwhelming to know that I'm going back to work soon and it's frustrating that there are so many uncertainties. Where are Mary Poppins or Mrs. Doubtfire when you need them!?