First Time Mommy

Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy (Some tips & tricks!)

2012-09-25T14:51:00.001-07:00

I've heard varying responses of how much women have gained throughout the duration of their pregnancies; anywhere from 16 pounds to 80 pounds! That's a huge difference!

I have received plenty of advice from family and friends because I will be the first to admit that I need and appreciate all the help I can get! Some people said follow your cravings and eat whatever you want, and others said to be conscious of what I eat and not take "eating for two" literally! Early on in my pregnancy, I became curious and researched it on my own. Here's a post to pay it forward to all my new mommies out there!

I came across a great article that pretty much sums it all up =)

All information is obtained through the American Pregnancy Association Website!

Here's the link: Pregnancy Health

I just copied and pasted the things I thought were very helpful from the article:

Where does all the extra weight go?

Here is an approximate breakdown of your weight gain:

Baby: 7-8 pounds
Placenta: 1-2 pounds
Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds
Uterus: 2 pounds
Maternal breast tissue: 2 pounds
Maternal blood : 4 pounds
Fluids in maternal tissue: 4 pounds
Maternal fat and nutrient stores: 7 pounds

How much total weight should I gain?

The amount of weight you should gain depends on your weight and BMI (body mass index) before pregnancy. You should gain:

25-35 pounds if you were a healthy weight before pregnancy, with a BMI of 18.5-24.9.
28-40 pounds if you were underweight before pregnancy with a BMI of less than 18.5.
15-25 pounds if you were overweight before pregnancy with a BMI of 25-29.9.
11-20 pounds if you were obese before pregnancy with a BMI of over 30.

If you don't know your BMI, here's a quick link to an easy BMI calculator: BMI Calculator

At what rate should I gain weight during my pregnancy?

How much you should gain depends on your weight before you were pregnant and how far along you are in your pregnancy. For the average woman who starts her pregnancy out at a normal weight, your weight gain will look something like this. If you start out your pregnancy over or under-weight, you will want to talk with your health care provider about what your weight gain rate should look like.

Healthy weight before pregnancy:
- 1-4.5 pounds during the first trimester
- Approximately 1-2 pounds per week in the second trimester
- Approximately 1-2 pounds per week in the third trimester

Personally...

I was at a healthy BMI pre-pregnancy, so my doctor recommended about 25-35 pounds of weight gain! For me, I actually lost weight in my first trimester because the ~~fatigue and nausea~~ were so bad! The second trimester is when I actually gained the most weight because it was when I felt the best! I'm currently in my third trimester, and I actually haven't gained much weight because I've been walking so much and cleaning literally everything in sight! I hear that it's different for everyone and that every pregnancy is different!

Tips & Tricks

1. Eat frequently!

I eat every hour to two hours, but with small portion sizes! I always have fresh fruits, easy smoothies, or cereal to snack on. Don't skip any meals! Don't get me wrong, I follow my cravings, I just don't overeat. Moderation is key!

2. Slow it down!

I am definitely one of those people who love to stay active, and constantly had to be scolded by people to slow it down! It wasn't until I started getting really bad ligament/joint pain after a solid week of over-activity that I finally took it a little easier. I couldn't walk for over two weeks! Now it's only 30-45 minutes max on the treadmill! Keep track of your progress through Smartphone apps or a fitness tracker! There are so many on the market now. I'm a very visual person, so seeing my progress helped keep me motivated! Keep it a daily routine but listen to your body; if you start feeling pain or discomfort, you may be overdoing it.

3. Pregnancy-appropriate fitness gear that doesn't break the bank!

I looked around for maternity fitness gear, and found it all to be very pricey! I settled for my regular running shoes and bought inexpensive yoga pants! These were my best friends while working out! I also just used oversized t-shirts that I "borrowed" from my husband =) Works out perfectly fine! But hey, if you have the cash to buy cute fitness clothes or accessories, splurge! I always found more motivation to work out when I had cute and comfy workout clothes to go to the gym in! When it comes to shoes, Asics & Nike are the only brand I will go for =)

4. Water, water, water!

I drink water all the time, but given that it's a summer pregnancy I think I doubled my daily intake! Drink two full glasses of water right when you wake up to start the day right! Make it a habit! There are so many health benefits of water already! I absolutely love my Bobble water bottle! Such a steal at only $10!

5. Healthy substitutes for unhealthy cravings!

Two things I've craved a lot during pregnancy: Soda & cake. I actually don't drink soda often, but I have had major cravings for it throughout my pregnancy. One trick I've learned is to use calorie-free club soda! It may sound weird but I just mix it in with Gatorade powder! Although it's not as sweet, it satisfies the craving just fine! Plus, this picture of the nutrition facts motivates me to use it even more:

Another thing I've craved a lot has been cake! I've learned that it's best if you make it yourself so you can substitute for healthier ingredients! Here's a recipe from Hungry Girl that I've used a lot in my baking: Chocolate Cake Recipe!

Once again, club soda to the rescue! Instead of frosting, I use sugar-free instant pudding and fat-free cool whip! I also add in a variety of different fruits! Here are some cakes that I've made already:

Strawberry Marshmallow Cream Cake

Pineapple Creme Cake

Hope you found this post helpful=) I am currently 38 weeks and am super anxious!

Free Prenatal Classes!

2012-09-10T14:54:00.000-07:00

If you have not been to any Prenatal Classes yet, Pacificord (A Cord Blood Banking Company) offers free prenatal classes!

The Classes they offer:

Childbirth Preparation
Relaxation for Childbirth
Baby Care Basics
Breastfeeding Basics

The Nitty Gritty:

Each class is offered once a month! Classes always fall on a Tuesday, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

To sign up for a class, use this link: Free Pacificord Prenatal Classes

Classes are done through an interactive, fun powerpoint presentation by a charismatic and entertaining presenter named Nurse Wendy! She has great credentials and works at Newport Hoag, where I will actually be delivering my baby.

They have really comfy chairs, and have a restroom right down the hall which is very convenient! They save about 10 minutes at the end of class to talk about the benefits of banking your baby's cord blood and show a short, inspirational video of how banking cord blood saved a little boy's life. The classes were fairly informative and eases a lot of nerves for first-time mothers (like me!). Nurse Wendy is very straight-forward and answers questions thoroughly.

Overall, a great experience and a good alternative to paying for prenatal classes that they offer in your community or in your hospital.

Plus, they also give you a lot of goodies:

A Pacificord folder with information regarding the company and a catalog and coupon from Piyo-Piyo (a cute baby store in Irvine)!

A whole box of goodies from FIRST5 California!

It came with a booklet, CD, and pamphlet that has parenting advice!

It also includes a pamphet from CA Poison Control, and a wonderful book about what to do in numerous situations where your child may be in danger! It literally has every possible emergency you can think of!


Lastly, it came with this adorable touch & feel children's book! It includes English AND Spanish!

Photo Update! 32 Weeks and counting =)

2012-08-16T14:02:00.000-07:00


Baby Shower decorations! The baby shower was incredible! Lots of family and friends showered us with love, support, and advice!

And so many gifts that it filled up half of our apartment! This picture was only mid-way through our shower! Even today, we are still receiving things in the mail for our baby! Having a baby feels like Christmas everyday! We also had lovely photos taken by Garone C. Africa Photography! I'll be posting those baby shower pictures soon! =)

George & Miyuki's wedding<3 It was beautiful and heartfelt! There was even a Karaoke machine! =D

Did I mention that they also had a lunch buffet?

Including all you can eat Sushi! ( I, for one, couldn't indulge in this, sadly.)

We also went to the OC Fair (Finally!)

We weren't feeling in the mood for the crazy deep-fried food you'd usually get at the OC fair, so I just got exactly what the baby was craving: Chicken and waffles =) Seriously really good though!!


Yosuke won our baby girl a new friend! And of course, it was a basketball shooting game =) Only on his second shot too!

Quick Pregnancy update

2012-07-31T13:29:00.002-07:00

A quick update since It's been a while!

Good news, I don't have Gestational Diabetes! Such a huge relief. I was almost absolutely certain that I had it since I was more at risk for it, but I guess being active and the healthy eating does pay off. My past two weeks have consisted of catching up with old friends, which I absolutely love and need to do more of! I will be the first to admit that I am the worst person to keep in touch with. Despite the busy schedule, I firmly believe that if someone is important to you, that you make the time regardless. Also, it only takes like 5 seconds to text someone, and an hour or so to meet up for lunch is not asking for much.

I've also made it a habit to walk at least for half an hour every morning, which I think has actually helped with my energy levels. I've been adjusting to my new dosage on Levoxyl and I have good and bad days. On my tired days, I literally feel like my body can't even move and I'm dead weight. Either way, I'm still taking it one day at a time, and I literally have about two months left! It flew by so fast! I've also been preoccupied with planning for the baby shower. They have the cutest baby shower ideas and themes out there! It's been fun planning and organizing everything with the help from my family. That's all for now, this was initially supposed to be a ~~quick update~~ (yet it never is). Here's a couple pictures from yesterday. I managed to do all our laundry yesterday too! I love days where I can mix leisure with productiveness!

True Foods Kitchen in Newport Beach, CA

Caramelized Onion Tart

Edamame Dumplings with White Truffle Oil

Tuscan Kale Salad

$100 Macy's Gift Card! (Gift from University HS Counseling Department!)

Where I used the Gift Card =)

Love this little box!

It's like opening up a present!

Red Velvet and Vanilla Coconut Cupcake

Absolutely delicious.

Boy or Girl? 8 ways to Predict the Baby's Gender!

2012-07-16T14:56:00.002-07:00

We've said it to a few people already (yet we're still not 100% sure), but we already received the great news that we're having a baby girl! We haven't even had our baby shower yet but we've already been given a lot of gifts for our baby. I feel as if our family and friends are just as excited as we are! We seriously have so much pink baby stuff right now, I'm a ~~little paranoid~~ that the baby will turn out to be a boy, and we can't use half of the stuff we've been given! For our baby registry, I tried my best to stay as gender neutral as possible! It's funny, because in the beginning everyone actually thought it would be a boy, but I guess the only sure way to know is when the baby comes out.

I've heard of so many different baby gender predictors, but I just had to share because some of these are quite bizarre. And yes, I am guilty about being slightly superstitious (I mean I am Filipino; you guys know what I'm talking about), so a part of me may buy into a little bit of it (But not all!)! Based on the fact that I already know we're having a baby girl (fingers crossed), I'll tell you whether these are true for me!

Here are the ones I've heard about:

Low or High?

I've heard of this one a lot! They say that if you carry the baby low, that it's a boy, and if you carry her high, it's a girl. For me, this is actually true!

Stolen Beauty

They say if you are plagued with a lot of acne and skin blemishes during pregnancy, then you are having a baby girl. Legend says that your little princess steals all your beauty during pregnancy!

I haven't had any skin issues during pregnancy (yet), so for me, this is false!

It's in the Swing

I've heard two variations of this; one includes a necklace with a cross, and the other a piece of string with your wedding ring!

With the cross, you're supposed to hold the cross really still above your palm. If it swings back and forth, it's a boy, if it swings in a circle, it's a girl.

With the wedding ring, you hold it really still above your belly. It's opposite from the cross prediction results; so if it swings back and forth, it's a girl, and in a circle, a boy.

I've tried the necklace with the cross before, and it said that I was having a girl. So this one for me, is also true!

Drano Experiment This one is really unusual, and a new one for me. Mommy-to-be pees in a cup, and pours in a tablespoon of Drano. If it turns green, it's a girl, if it turns blue (you've guessed it!), it's a boy. I have not tried this one yet, something about this makes me feel a little uneasy. Nothing against Drano though!

Baby's Heartbeat Another predictor I've heard of is the baby's heart rate. If the baby's heart rate is over 140 beats per minute, it's a girl; if it's under 140, it's a boy! I have to get back to this one, because I wasn't paying too much attention to the beats per minute at my last ultrasound, I always get too excited!

Sweet or Sour?

If you crave sweets during pregnancy, it's a girl!

If you crave sour or salty foods, it's a boy!

This one is a little tricky for me, because in my first trimester, I craved sour and salty. It may have been the morning sickness, but I couldn't even stand the sight of anything sweet. In my second trimester, I started craving a lot of sweet things again! And now that I'm in my third trimester, I literally just crave everything. So with this one, I'm stumped.

Chinese Gender Chart

You can get the chart, and more info here: Chinese Gender Chart

This chart uses the month when your baby was conceived, and your age at the time of conception. There are claims that this chart is about 90% accurate in predicting the sex of your baby! For me, this was surprisingly true!

Morning Sickness

Rumor has it that if you are stricken with a bad case of morning sickness during the first trimester, it's a girl. If you're one of the lucky ones and sail through the first semester without hugging the toilet, then it's a boy. For me, unfortunately, this is true. The first trimester was absolutely horrible!

So in review, four out of eight of these baby gender predictors points to a baby girl! Ultimately, I guess the only sure way to tell is when the little one is finally born. It's really up to the parents-to-be to buy into any of these. Boy or girl, we're happy as long as our little one is healthy! We're so excited for her (or possibly him) to pop out already!

Takoyaki!

2012-07-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

We decided to make Takoyaki the other night! A lot of it was trial and error and requires some practice, but it was definitely fun trying to figure it out!

This is what we used:

An Electric Takoyaki Maker
Regular skewers as a takoyaki pick

The Ingredients:

Blanched octopus, diced
Beni shoga (pickled ginger), chopped
100 grams takoyaki mix or okonomiyaki mix
1 1/2 cup water (340cc)
1 egg
oil, to brush

Topping:
Takoyaki or Okonomiyaki Sauce
Kewpie Mayonnaise
Ao nori (green/blue seaweed flakes)
katsuobushi (bonito flakes)

It always looks really bad at first, but it eventually starts to look better!

Here's what our process looked like:

First, add the batter, then add the tako & beni shoga, and then flip once it starts getting brown around the edges and the batter starts to thicken & bubble in the middle!

Here's our first batch:

Not so pretty, but still so yummy!

Our Second Batch:

The other half was just topped with soy sauce, and it was just as good! It's always fun when we get to make dinner together, even if it doesn't go as smoothly!

Happy Sunday!

A Little Taste of Home

2012-07-13T19:06:00.003-07:00

I crave Filipino food all the time, Philippines was my first home afterall! Interesting fact: Tagalog (Filipino) was my first language. I actually didn't learn English till I moved to the United States when I was about five years old. To help me learn English, my mom and dad hired one of our neighbors to be my English tutor. (Anyway, back to the point.)

My family in the Philippines is the most loving, caring and hospitable people you'll ever meet! I was born and raised in a small province called Bataan. My mom had eleven brothers and sisters, and most of them all live on the same street! I loved visiting back in December, and despite not being home for over fifteen years, it's as if I never left. Everyone treats you like family; including neighbors, family and childhood friends! When I went, I had such an overwhelming sense of belonging and warmth. It was so nice to find similarities with all my cousins and how we tend to bond over the smallest quirky habits or annoying pet peeves.

To everyone back at home:

I MISS YOU.

This in no way compares to the real deal back at home, but until I come back to visit with the baby, this will have to do!

Biko (Filipino Rice Cake)

Not even going to lie, I took a bite before I took a picture!

Find the recipe I used here:

Filipino Rice Cake Recipe

Happy Friday the 13th!

Fun with Food dye

2012-07-12T11:52:00.002-07:00

It's fun to add color to anything!

These were made with my sister & cousin a while back, but it's a little funny when I think back on it because we ~~messed up~~ in the recipe somehow. The frosting came out a little runny and was not fluffy at all! Despite the setback, we still made it work, and they turned out whimsical & delicious!

This is the what we used:

This is how they turned out:

It was a lot of fun! Baking and doing creative projects are so much more fun when you have other people to do them with! Come bake with me! =)

A Box of Chocolates

2012-07-11T22:14:00.000-07:00

A cute gift idea!

Cookies and Cream Chocolate

My sister came up with the idea!

What you need:
white chocolate melts
whole oreos
A chocolate mold (You can get one from Michaels)
Mini baking cups
A cute little box (Go to Daiso!)
Ribbon & stickers, etc.

Directions:

Crush whole oreos in a bowl.
Microwave the chocolate melts in a microwave-safe bowl on the defrost setting for about three minutes!
Mix in the crushed oreos (make sure it's pretty fine so it fits into chocolate mold).
Use a small spoon to put melted mixture into the chocolate mold.
Put in the freezer for about five minutes.
Take out chocolates from the mold and place the chocolates in mini baking cups.
Place in a cute little box, and decorate however you like!

***Quick tip: Make sure you keep it refrigerated until you give the gift to a special someone =)

Pregnant with Cancer

2012-07-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

Warning: Stop reading right here if you don't like hearing people complain.

So blunt, I know (And borderline over-dramatic).

I don't like talking about it much, but yesterday was a little overwhelming as I received some unwanted news from my doctor. Right now, I really don't care if it's an over-share, I just need to vent and process my thoughts (writing has always helped me with this.)

Yesterday, my endocrinologist expressed that she was worried about a nodule that was found in one of my routine ultrasounds a little while ago (before I found out I was pregnant). We put a hold on any further tests or treatment when we found out I was expecting, so we could take care of the baby (which is obviously my priority). I always feel a little down when I receive bad news concerning my cancer (although I should be used to it by now), just because I can't help but feel a sense of helplessness, and because I always have to put the rest of my life on hold. It took three and a half years to get my TSH at a desirable level, and I have had to undergo radiation treatment twice. (During radiation treatment, I have to go into isolation for about a week.) Oh, and did I forget to mention that I also have Hashimotos? Yeah.

With my cancer history, I see my endocrinologist twice a month (including blood work) to monitor my TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and ensure that it's at a safe level for the baby. My hormone levels during pregnancy have to be suppressed so the cancer doesn't grow, and this puts me in danger of being hypothyroid during pregnancy. She also just increased the dosage of my medication, which always puts me on edge because the adjustment period, for lack of a better word, sucks. She recommended that I see a perinatologist (An OB that specializes in high-risk pregnancies) on top of the OB that I was already seeing when I first found out I was pregnant. I chose my OB because she specialized in Thyroid conditions, so I was comfortable just sticking with my OB (who I absolutely love!) and talking to her about my concerns.

Anyway, my endocrinologist wants to get right back on track once I have the baby, and resume tests and treatments immediately. This seriously just makes me so upset . But what choice do I have? I'm just so glad that I have my family and friends that are so supportive, and have already said that they're going to help out with taking care of the baby. I seriously get ~~teary-eyed~~ when I think about going into isolation after radiation, and being away from my newborn baby='( I really don't want to miss anything! On top of all of this, there's a controversial theory that states that cancer grows more rapidly during pregnancy. My doctor also informed me that women with my condition have a higher risk of gestational diabetes. I take my glucose test next week, wish me luck!

There! I feel a little better. After you go through tribulations in life (like everyone else), you learn quickly the things that tend to alleviate the pain, and help snap you out of it.The two things that usually help me:

Working out and food.

So I went from Kickboxing and Tough Mudder, to walking on a treadmill and kegel excercises. Not as exciting, but at least I get to wear these again:

I had my pandora station set on Florence and the Machine, and had my book to accompany my one-hour walk on the treadmill this morning.

Watermelon was what I was craving today, but I was so ~~tempted~~ to just get a spoonful of nutella (But I didn't! Especially after finding out that bit about gestational diabetes).

I also talked it out with my parents, sisters, and of course Yosuke. It always helps. Thanks for putting up with me, I know I can be a cry-baby.

Such a long post, but it helps me make sense of things, and helps keep my sanity. Don't get me wrong, I know I am really fortunate in so many other ways, and I have to stay positive and just do what I have to do (for myself and my baby)!

Have a good day!

A Quick Fix, Healthy Breakfast!

2012-07-09T13:00:00.001-07:00

It is seriously getting harder to get up out of bed these days. Sometimes, I'll feel energetic enough to make myself a big healthy breakfast, and sometimes, not. Today, I just wanted something ~~fast and sweet~~ (yeah I know), but still healthy at least! So I opted for this:

Nonfat Greek Yogurt & Blueberries, drizzled with Honey

So, I don't care much for the taste of Greek Yogurt, but the health benefits really convinced me to give it a try! Plus, it tastes really good with various fruits (I've tried bananas, blueberries, and strawberries), and I always top it off with honey! This literally took a minute to put together! And just for fun, here are some healthy facts!

Health Benefits of Greek Yogurt:

Good source of Protein! On average, one serving has about 13-20 grams of protein!
It has about 50% less sodium!
It's low in carbohydrates! Greek yogurt has about 9 grams of carbs, compared to regular yogurt's 15-17 grams!
It's easier to digest because it has less lactose (the sugar found in dairy)!

These are just a few! Find the article here: The Health Benefits of Greek Yogurt!

Honey vs. Sugar:
There are many reasons as to why I prefer honey!

It's a natural sweetener!
It's an immune system booster! "It's antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties can help improve your digestive system and help you stay healthy and fight disease."
It's anti-cancer! (This is a plus for obvious reasons.)
It can help with heartburn & morning sickness during pregnancy (Both things I've been a victim of)!

For more info on the health benefits of honey (...and there are plenty!), go here:
The Health Benefits of Honey

Have a beautiful day!

Basketball Withdrawals

2012-07-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

So on top of playing in a soccer league and training MMA every week, Yosuke plays basketball every Sunday evening. Picture this little pregnant lady on the sideline yelling throughout the whole game (Yup, that would be me). Maybe this is a sign that I really need to tone it down before I become a soccer mom.

Most people know, but I've been playing organized basketball since I was in middle school. Since I am my mother's daughter, I tend to get too into the game sometimes (okay fine, all the time) and literally am vocal the whole game. Anyway, since my mobility is limited, I have a serious case of basketball withdrawals. I just really like competition sport, team or individual.

Nonetheless, I always enjoy watching Yosuke play basketball! Side note: Our first unofficial date was actually playing basketball together at the ARC (Anteater Recreation Center)!

His new Nike ID basketball shoes

My husband, the baller. lol

Tommy Bahama Island Grille

2012-07-08T16:50:00.001-07:00

Lunch in Newport Beach on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Honestly, I didn't even know there was a Tommy Bahama Restaurant. This place was absolutely delicious!

Mango Colada (I had ~~two~~ of these, virgin of course!)

Ahi Poke with Guacamole and Flatbread

Lobster Grilled Cheese & Tomato Bisque

Thai Shrimp & Scallop Curry

Pina Colada Cake


Yum!

Red Velvet Oreo Cupcakes

2012-07-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

These are easy to make, and sooooo good! Just use a boxed red velvet mix! Follow all directions on the box, but before you pour the batter into the baking cups, put a whole oreo at the bottom, and pour batter on top until the oreo is fully covered (about 2/3 full)!

I used two different topping: classic cream cheese & chocolate. I also crushed some extra oreos and sprinkled the cupcakes to add some pizzazz!

Although I used regular clear baking cups (boring!), Surlatable has super cute baking cups on their website (among other things that I'd probably buy)!

Blueberry Cottage Cheese Pancakes

2012-07-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

I know, it may sound unusual, but I was craving two different things (this happens a lot actually) one morning and decided to experiment!

Here's the super easy recipe I came up with:

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup of blueberries
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 table spoons of butter
3 eggs
Light cooking spray

Directions:

Combine cottage cheese, blueberries, flour, butter, and eggs in a large mixing bowl.
Coat a large pan with light cooking spray.
Pour about 1/3 cup of batter into pan.
Flip with a spatula when bubbles appear on the surface.
Top with powdered sugar or maple syrup!

The upside to all of this, is that it's actually relatively healthy (depending on how much maple syrup you use)! I've always been skeptical about cottage cheese, so I looked it up and found these key points about cottage cheese:

1. Low in Fat

2. High in Protein

3. High in Calcium

4. Low in Salt & Preservatives

You can get more information from this article:

Is Cottage Cheese Healthy to Eat?

Also, who doesn't know that blueberries are good for you? But just in case you want a list to make you feel good about yourself (like I did), here's the Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Blueberries.

Yaye for pancakes!

Fresh Cinnamon rolls

2012-07-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

I had to share! I have the Allrecipes app on my iphone! It's super handy!

Recipe Details

Cinnamon Rolls III

16 Servings, Prep Time: 2 Hours , Cook Time: 20 Minutes

Description

Here's an easy alternative to buying those famous cinnamon rolls in the mall. They taste exactly the same, and the dough is made in the bread machine.

Ingredients

1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 cup warm milk
1 egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups bread flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1/2 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons milk

Directions

In the pan of your bread machine, combine water, melted butter, vanilla pudding, warm milk, egg, 1 tablespoon sugar, salt, bread flour and yeast. Set machine to Dough cycle; press Start.
When Dough cycle has finished, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 17x10 inch rectangle. Spread with softened butter. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cinnamon and pecans. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture over dough.
Roll up dough, beginning with long side. Slice into 16 one inch slices and place in 9x13 buttered pan. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. While rolls bake, stir together cream cheese, softened butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla and milk. Remove rolls from oven and top with frosting.

Nutritional Information

Servings Per Recipe: 16
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 346

Carbohydrates: 45.2g

Fat: 16.1g

Protein: 6.4g

Dietary Fiber: 1.7g

Cholesterol: 45.4mg

Sodium: 177.5mg

These were so yummy! Prepare these the night before if you don't want to do all the prep early in the morning! It's so much better fresh out of the oven!

Add in a cup of cappuccino (decaf for me!), and it was the perfect way to start my day.

Brownie bites!

2012-07-07T17:24:00.001-07:00

A small treat, sweet and simple! Just a packaged brownie mix, poured into mini cupcake liners!

I was tempted to put nutella in the center, but I felt guilty enough about making these in the first place. These were delicious, and it was a good portion size!

Baby Shower Ideas

2012-07-06T18:36:00.003-07:00

Since I'm in the process of planning for our baby shower, I came across so many cute baby shower ideas! I just had to share a couple of these, they're too cute!!

All of these are cute decoration & gift ideas! They include diapers, onesies, baby blankets, stuffed animals and baby essentials like bottles and bibs!

Some baby showers have a Diaper Raffle: guests bring a pack of diapers to enter into a raffle! A prize could be anything! (I was thinking along the lines of a gift card of some sort.)

If you have creative friends (with a lot of time on their hands), you can even have a diaper cake contest! People could judge the diaper cakes on a cute display table at your baby shower, and you can even decorate a cute box where the guests can put their votes!

I know, I sound way to excited when event planning can usually be stressful. BUT seriously, these events are like a artsy/crafty person's dream come true! Happy Planning!

Eating during Pregnancy

2012-07-06T18:16:00.003-07:00

Food.

No one really prepares you for all the restrictions that pregnancy puts on the foods you eat. You can't eat ~~soft cheeses, sushi,~~ and you can only have 200 mg of caffeine a day! (This is only to name a few.) Always talk to your OB with any questions you may have, but here's a link to a list of things that are ~~restricted~~ during pregnancy:

What NOT to eat!

One of the upsides (some say) of pregnancy is that it really forces you to eat healthier! I've always loved eating fresh fruits and veggies, but now that I'm eating for two, I really think twice before I grab for something to munch on. Two really good products that I've gotten (AND I'd really recommend) have really helped with the process!

First, The Jack LaLanne Juicer! My husband got it for me! This thing is amazing. The only thing I'd complain about is the clean up after use (of course, right?). It's really hard to get all the seeds and fibers out of the strainer inside. Either way, I try to use it every morning. (Key word: try)

Another juicer that I saw had really good reviews is the Breville Compact Juicer:

Second, I got an Aroma Housewares 3 in 1 Super Pot with a Grill Plate as a wedding gift from our friends, Amadeus and Amanda! Thanks guys! (Clean up is a piece of cake for this one!)

If you have more mouths to feed, I would go for something like this:

These two things really do help in eating healthier! Here are a couple of things that I've gotten in the habit of since I found out that I am now eating for two:
Fresh juice in the morning! (Credits to my juicer) Includes: strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, and cucumbers. It may sound weird but tastes delicious!

Fresh fruits! It's a great snacking substitute to ~~junk food~~! My favorites are cherries and watermelon! YUM!

Salad with every dinner! I use an asian sesame dressing that literally makes everything taste delicious! I love to add eggs, shrimp, avocados, mushrooms, etc. Anything to make it more colorful and fun!

Don't be ~~fooled~~, I still like to bake and sometimes cheat and actually eat some of the things I make (like the fudge in my previous post), but it's all in moderation of course!

Cheers to being healthy (or at least trying)!

Rocky Road Fudge cups

2012-07-06T17:42:00.003-07:00

Rocky Road Fudge cups! My own recipe!

Ingredients:
1.5 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1.5 cups of milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup of butter
1 can (14 oz.) of condensed milk
1 cup of crushed almonds
1 cup of mini-marshmallows

Directions:

In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, butter, and condensed milk. Put the microwave on the defrost setting, and microwave for about three minutes.
Take out (caution, may be a little hot) and stir ingredients and add in nuts. Microwave on defrost setting for another minute (or until ingredients are mixed in well).
Then, take out the bowl and mix in mini-marshmallows (Try not to mix too much; use more of a folding over method).
Pour mixture into cupcake liners in a cupcake pan (work quickly because the fudge gets harder to work with once it cools). Let the fudge cups cool in the refrigerator =)

Optional topping:

I used a dab of cream cheese frosting, and a fresh cherry right on top! YUM!
I also used a cartoon monster cupcake liner from Target, I thought they were adorable!

Hello there!

2012-07-06T17:30:00.000-07:00

In the past six months, my whole life has been turned upside down! Up until now, I've been a crazy workaholic. I love working and staying active! Needless to say, sometimes I bite off more than I can chew.

Before all the surprises, I was working three jobs, going to graduate school to obtain my Masters in school counseling, doing my internship, and oh, did I forget to mention that I'm a cancer survivor? Well, that too. I was diagnosed with papillary Thyroid Cancer my senior year in undergraduate school, (that was four years ago) and am still being monitored for that while being on medication for the rest of my life. Yaye! (Not really.) Anyway, I've overcome a lot of things in my short life thus far, and unfortunately cancer doesn't take the cake. Nonetheless, I've learned to stay positive and will always see the good in things that other people would otherwise write off as ~~hopeless~~. You'll eventually learn a lot more about me through my posts, but for the sake of organizing my thoughts and in an effort not to bore and overwhelm you, here's a shortened version of my life in the past six months. Ready....and....GO!

First, I made an unforgettable trip to where it all started, and where a big part of my heart will always be, my first home, Bagac in Bataan, Philippines. Here's a picture of my inang (grandma) and I, along with my sister, cousins, and aunt. It's such a warm feeling I get when I think about where I come from. Provincial living is so humble, yet simple. Family here have so little, yet they are so happy. Their secret? Don't get caught up with the materialistic/superficial problems that arise with everyday life, simply appreciate all that you have and never take it all for granted.

Second, I got married in Maui! It was absolutely perfect and everything I dreamed my wedding would be! It truly is indescribable when you have absolutely no doubts about the man you chose to spend the rest of your life with. All issues and problems that may come my way now seem so miniscule when I know that I always have the love of my life by my side.

Third, I graduated with my Master's degree in a field that I have the utmost passion for; education. I am happy with my efforts, and have met incredible people along the way!

Lastly, Yosuke and I are expecting! Thus, the shift in priorities and total focus of my life at the moment. We're completely ecstatic, but tragically inexperienced. Afterall, it is our first! I'm currently a little over 26 weeks, just getting into that third trimester (Mommies, you know what I'm talking about!). I'm having flashbacks of the first trimester! YIKES. Overall though, I'd say I'm pretty excited for this little peanut to pop out!

That pretty much wraps it up! Believe it or not, this is a ~~short one~~ for me. I can't wait to document this whole journey; it'll be nice to look back on this all and have it bring back some pleasant memories, and laugh about the ones that aren't so pleasant. At the very least, I hope you find some amusement through this blog.

Nice to meet you!