Roxana Firte

Baby number 2 - and…. it’s a BOY

2019-05-24T14:04:00.001-07:00

I should know by now that life rarely turns out the way you imagine or plan it. Along the way you are in for many surprises, but in the end that’s what makes it beautiful and worth the ride.

I wanted a second baby, but I was always honest about it… I wanted another GIRL.

For some reason (maybe because I grew up with a younger sister) I always imagined myself as a mother of two girls. Never once did I think about the possibility of actually having a boy. Therefore imagine my surprise and somewhat of a disappointment when I was told that we are expecting a baby brother.

I was worried about how things will work out after giving birth, both with practical matters as well as emotionally. The day was crowded enough with one kid and a company to run… How was I supposed to make room for a second baby and the scariest of all - what if I will love him less than I love my daughter?
Other thoughts were haunting me as well… Will I manage to lose the baby weight? (I gained 20 kg again, even if I paid attention to what and how much I ate). How will I handle the jealousy of my daughter and what if I end up neglecting her? When will I have time for my husband and how much will this affect our relationship as a couple?

I didn’t have an easy pregnancy. First trimester went by with nausea and vomiting and once the belly started to get bigger, I started aching in weird places and having tons of Braxton Hicks contractions. I stopped working when I was around 7 months pregnant because I feared I will give birth prematurely.
At the prenatal check-ups I was told I was expecting quite a small baby and chances were that he will be bottom down at birth which will result in a C-section again. But I wished so much for a natural birth and I fortunately managed to experience it this time around.
Against all odds I went one week over the due date and on the 24th of May 2018 at 05.30 after 14 hours of labour I gave birth to my son, Darius Daniel. Weighting 4135 grams and measuring 56 cm , this sweet baby boy was nothing but small :-) And I loved him from the bottom of my heart from the very first moment I got to hold him. Not more and definitely not less than I love his sister.

Gender means nothing - he might not be the girl I dreamed of, but he is the most amazing boy in the entire world and I am so proud of him.

As for the life with 2 kids while running a business - well, it’s hard (I’m not gonna lie), challenging, exhausting at times, but also beautiful and fulfilling.

Roxi's pumpkin pie

2015-09-28T15:05:00.003-07:00

Ingredients

1 fresh pumpkin (sliced, baked on baking sheet and blended afterwards until creamy)
1 package cream cheese, softened (I used Philadelphia)
1 cup sugar
a hint of salt
1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1/2 cup yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 piece pre-made pie dough ( I forgot to buy it so I made it myself. Ingredients:300 g flour, 150 g butter, 80 g powdered sugar, 2 egg yolks, lemon zest and a bit of cold water)
sour cream, for topping

Preheat the oven to 175 °C.

Place the pre-made pie dough down into a pie pan (aprox. 26 cm diameter) and press down along the bottom and all sides. Pinch and crimp the edges together to make a pretty pattern. Pierce dough with a fork before putting in the oven. Bake alone for about 20 minutes and only afterwards add the filling.

For the filling, mix all the ingredients in the exact same order as written above and you are done! Pour the mixture on top of the pie dough and bake for around 50 minutes or until the center is set.

Cut into slices and serve with sour cream.

I hope you will enjoy it.

Roxi's salty crackers

2015-09-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

This is a healthier alternative to all the chips and crackers you buy in the stores. Give it a try - it takes no time and your family will appreciate it.

Ingredients:

500 g flour
350 g salty cheese (I used salty sheep cheese from Romania, but feta cheese will also work just fine)
150 g butter
2 eggs
100 g sour cream
salt, cumin seeds and poppy seeds for topping

Mix all the ingredients and knead the dough until it's easy to work with it. Roll the dough into a sheet that is about 1-2 cm thick and cut it lenghtwise to get the shape you see in the picture. Grease each piece with egg yolk and spread salt, cumin or poppy seeds on top. Bake on a baking sheet until golden.

Enjoy :-)

Ready or not, here I come! ... or the story of how I gave birth

2015-08-17T15:17:00.002-07:00

It happened so fast and the feelings were so intense...
I had it all planned out. I was due on the 10th of January. After a couple of prenatal classes and lots of research on the net, I was going for a natural birth. I was strong and I could handle the pain. After all, how bad can it be?!
I had an easy pregnancy, except for the continuous nausea and daily vomiting of the first trimester. I worked almost until the end. My belly was so big and I looked so ready to give birth, customers were literally sending me home (they didn't want my water on their expensive carpets..haha).
Everyone but me seemed to be aware of the upcoming event. Two days before the big day, I was traveling 200 km by car to attend a family wedding. People started to question my sanity :-) and I don't blame them. Little did I know that my daughter was about to scare the sh*t out of me.
It started as a relaxing evening on the 9th of January. We were home and about to watch a movie with my brother and sister in law. I had been complaining the whole day that the I couldn't feel the baby moving at all in the last 24 hours, so I decided that for my own piece of mind I will call the hospital. They said I have to be seen by a midwife and maybe a doctor.
So we packed it all up (my hospital bag was already ready and waiting), but then we were in for a surprise. We decided to take my brother-in-law's car, but it wouldn't start (we found out later the engine was dead), so we drove our car instead. Half way to the hospital the wheel gets stuck and we find ourselves waiting for my dad to pick us all up. By now I was beginning to get nervous. I had a bad feeling in my stomach and I could hardly keep calm.
Once at the hospital they started to check the baby, looking for the heart beat. It seemed like forever until the midwife told us that there is life inside me. I instantly broke into tears. All I wanted to know was that she was fine. From that moment on I was in a trance. I remember midwives coming in, a female doctor, nurses - so I knew we were in trouble. They induced me and labor started. I could handle it so I kept my spirits up. But then my baby's heart beat started to be irregular. By 6 a.m. a decision was reached that an emergency C-section is the best solution for us. And on 10th of January 2015, at 06.13 Sara Maria was born. Her umbilical cord was wrapped three times around her neck and one time around her body (no wonder she was unable to move or be delivered naturally). Not really the way I planned it, but I was so happy we got a happy ending.

Roxi's biscotti

2015-06-23T03:03:00.003-07:00

Biscotti is a sweet coffee bread, that is easily addictive :-) With a simple google search you will find so many recipes... My choice this time was the cranberry&almond biscotti.

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
1 egg white

Preheat oven to 175 °C. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, 2 eggs and almond extract in large bowl until well blended. Mix in flour mixture, then dried cranberries. Divide dough in half. Using floured hands, shape each piece into a log. Transfer both logs to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Whisk egg white in small bowl until foamy; brush egg white glaze on top and sides of each log.

Bake logs until golden brown (logs will spread), about 35 minutes. Cool completely on sheet on rack, while maintaining oven temperature. Using serrated knife, cut logs on diagonal into slices. Arrange slices, cut side down, on same sheet. Bake 10 minutes; turn biscotti over. Bake until just beginning to color, about 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Roxi's yogurt delight

2015-05-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

Chopped oranges, greek yogurt and dark chocolate musli... Healthy and fresh!

Roxi's lemon cake

2015-05-11T08:21:00.003-07:00

This is my favourite version of lemon cake. It's easy to make and tastes good. Enjoy it together with a cup of coffee or tea.

This is the recipe

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
3/4 cup milk

Heat oven to 175°C.

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the egg, lemon zest, the melted margarine or butter and the milk. Mix well (some lumps will remain).

Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

I covered the cake in chocolate frosting and sprinkled it with chopped almonds and dried berries.

I hope you like it.

Roxi's panna cotta

2015-05-11T08:01:00.001-07:00

This impressive looking desert is so easy to make, yet your guests will love it.

Ingredients
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon unflavoured powdered gelatin (or any gelatin)
3 cups whipping cream
1/3 cup honey
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch salt
Some fruits - I used peaches, strawberries and blueberries…

Place the milk in a small bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over. Let it stand for a few minutes to soften the gelatin. Pour milk mixture into a saucepan and stir over medium heat just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil (I would say for about 5 minutes). Add the cream, honey, sugar, and salt. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat. Pour into 6 wine glasses so that they are half full. Cool slightly. Refrigerate until set (at least 6 hours).

Spoon the fruits atop the panna cotta and serve.

Roxi's cheescake

2015-05-11T05:00:00.004-07:00

I think this is the most appreciated desert I have ever made. It was a huge success among friends and family. Even my husband, who is not that much into cakes, loved it.

This is the recipe if you would like to try it out.

For the crust

1 cup (100 grams) crushed digestive biscuits

1 tablespoon (15 grams) granulated white sugar

4-5 tablespoons (55-65 grams) melted butter

In a small bowl combine the digestive biscuits, sugar, and melted butter. Press a tablespoon of crumbs onto the bottoms of about 12 muffin cups (sometimes I have enough filling for 15 cups) Cover and refrigerate while you make the filling.

For the filling

2 - 8 ounce (450 grams) full fat cream cheese, room temperature

2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 ml) sour cream, room temperature

With an electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese on low speed until creamy and smooth. Add the sugar and salt and beat until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and sour cream. Remove the crusts from the refrigerator and evenly divide the filling among the 12-15 muffin cups.

Bake for about 18 - 22 minutes or until firm but the centers of the cheesecakes still wobble a little. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Let it cool and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

When you serve it pour some sour cherry syrup as a finishing touch.

Enjoy!

Where past meets the present

2015-05-11T04:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to write this blog about my life because I felt I have a lot to share. I see it as free therapy in form of a private journal. The more I write, the more I discover myself… And it’s such a nice feeling.

I put a lot of thinking into what should be the first posting about Fashion&Style on this blog. And it only felt natural to show you what fashion is like in a very special place in Romania, that I used to call home. It’s a place called Maramures, north of the country, protected by mountains and very poor infrastructure, where tradition and national identity are still very much fashionable.

Last summer I had the pleasure and honour to attend a wedding in that area. Two of our dearest friends decided to tie the knot in a very traditional manner. Pictures speak for themselves :-)

What do you think? Did you know National Geographic has included Maramures in their list of Best Trips 2015?

The big news - ladies and gentlemen, we are expecting!

2015-05-10T03:33:00.000-07:00

I will never forget the moment I found out I was pregnant. I took at least ten pregnancy tests, just to make sure that it's for real. I couldn't say if the baby was planned... At that point in time we didn't give it much thought. We just stopped using any protection and patiently waited for it to happen. We were one of the lucky couples, so we didn't have to wait that long until congratulations were on the way.

It was actually in May last year that we made the big announcement. (God, how time flies...). Family was overexcited, friends were in shock but happy and we were somewhere in between. I guess we didn't know what to expect. Deep in my soul I was so scared... Doubt was kicking in. Is it the right time? Are we ready for a baby? How is our relationship going to change? Can we afford it financially? Turns out, when the moment comes, you are as ready as you will ever be :-) So go for it!

Here are some pics from my pregnant days. I thought I will never say this, but when I see that belly, I kind of miss it.

Confessions

2015-05-10T02:58:00.000-07:00

It all started after I finished my education. I think I was a good student. At least when it comes to the subjects I liked. I had a flair for Sales and a good vibe for Communication. Teachers noticed me, classmates enjoyed working with me and companies seemed to be interested in my potential ( I never had problems in finding internships). So you can imagine I never put much thought into how my career will look like once I will graduate. I pretty much expected that things will just happen by themselves. Friends and family know what I am talking about.

But then, big surprise! Real life, real job market, well.. it’s real! All of a sudden I had the feeling that school was just a playing ground. I woke up one morning with the bitter realisation that I live in Denmark but speak no Danish, I work in Burger King although I have a Bachelor degree, I feel content just by making ends meet while I totally forget about my once imposing career expectations. You would say that must have been a wake up call, but things get worse. Soon after I found myself receiving unemployment benefits from the Danish state (A-kassse), just like the majority of my classmates. And A-kasse, well.. stay away from it! It’s dangerous! That’s when true laziness kicks in… I think right now I just told the story of most of the international students in Denmark (at least the ones I know).

Luckily for me, it turned out that the expression “there is always light in the end of the tunnel” has some truth behind it. Motivation never kicks in by itself, but when you surround yourself with the right kind of people, things start to move. And these take me to the moment, where with the help of a trusted Danish friend, I took the first steps into entrepreneurship and started up Real Service Aps, a cleaning company, that has been my main focus in the past year… Or at least until January, when my baby girl was born :)

It’s amazing how everything falls into place once you discover and start doing something that you like. Although there was and maybe will still be a lot of hard physical work involved, there is no greater feeling than knowing that everything I do, I do it for myself and my family. I honestly can’t picture myself being employed somewhere else.

What is your success story? Let’s spread some positivity around :)