Muldoon Memos

1. Dole Sesame Asian Salad Mix. I buy the family sized bag ($6.50 at HyVee) and split it into three lunches. I LOVE the mix of flavors, dressing, and crunchy things; the variety makes this fun to eat instead of boring like a normal salad... I've eaten this as part of my lunch every day for the last two weeks. The Chipotle and Cheddar version is a close second fav. 2. Dunkin' Donuts. I'm seriously obsessed. Last week there was a COMPLETELY FREE item every day of the week through their Perks App. Plus a free coffee after the Huskers get 350 yards of offense.. and basically free stuff all the time. (I've received a dozen FREE donuts THREE times now too. Not through the app or anything, but I order a drink and then they have leftover donuts to give away... SCORE.) I go way too much. 3. All American Boys. I read this book for my Young Adult Literature grad class... and I am a bit obsessed. Written in alternating perspectives, Rashad and Quinn, All American Boys tells ...

1. I miss blogging, but I normally blogged during lunch or part of my plan time at work, and this year I have a new prep.. so I have NO extra time whatsoever. At home, I'm not normally by my computer much and the Blogger app is yucky. However, I'm shooting out a quick hello into the universe today! 2. Norah is 4.5 months old. She got croup early last week, a quick dose of steroids, and acted her normal happy self. BUT HER SLEEP has been wrecked. I'm blaming it on the croup.. or maybe the 4 month sleep regression.. or her new ability to roll over.. I don't know. But she had been getting up ONCE a night for over a month.. and now we're back to like every 2-3 hours. This has also led to her sleeping in our room.. because if she wakes up before 2am, I'm still in a major sleep haze and I honestly fall asleep while nursing her on the footstool in her room. Which sort of scares me, so I just bring her back into our room. Agghg. 3. Luke is freaking hilarious. He talks...

Little miss Norah is already 3 months (and some change) old. She's almost growing out of her 6 mo clothes and is on the fast track to size 3 diapers. Luckily for me, she's recently began getting up only ONCE per night.. anytime between 2:30-5. I haven't quite figured out what helps her sleep until 5, but I can totally handle a once per night feeding! But... I'm back to work as of last week which means: pumping. GROSS. I hate pumping. Mainly because 1) I miss out on any socialization time with my co-workers since I can't eat lunch with them and I lose my plan times to pumping too (which means it's harder to get stuff done!) 2) Seriously less clothing options 3) So much stuff to transport and clean. BUT. On the positive side: 1) I figured out how to pump while driving on my morning commute = time saver! 2) I'm currently making just enough so I haven't had to supplement yet.... we'll see how long that can last. Luke and Norah are at...

The Walls Around Us:  The unreliable narrator(s) threw me for a few loops! I knew something was off in how I was perceiving the story but I could not figure it out on my own until all the pieces came together at the end. This book switches between two characters: Amber, who is a prisoner in an all-girls youth detention center, and Lena, who is a star ballerina with a sketchy past. We know that Lena's best friend was convicted of murder before being sent to the youth detention center and she died a month after arriving... but the story is told mostly three years past when the girl died. It's rather complicated. The story was intriguing, though the "paranormal" aspect that appeared toward the end wasn't explained enough for me.  Overall = B Everything I Never Told You:  Recommended by many internet lists, I finally got around to reading this novel. And it only took me 3 days. Though marketed as a mystery, that part of the plot unraveled so slowly at times ...

1. Iced coffee with a splash of almond milk. Preferably from Dunkin Donuts. I also bought the Toddy Cold Brew system; it's super easy (& cheap!). I'm having fun experimenting with the best coffee concentrate to water/milk ratio.  (He's had a haircut since these pics) 2. Luke's voice. He is talking all the time now though at least half is undiscernable.  But it's so cute! And he acts as if what he's saying is totally clear. He's also starting putting a few words together like : Daddy work. Where go? Mama coffee. Also, he's totally mastered the goodnight kiss + luh you. Adorable. Cue heart melt.  3. My parents are moving from Council Bluffs to a neighborhood in NW Omaha only 5 minutes from me. I'm pumped! The house is awesome and on a golf course and it's going to be great. 4. Oh yeah. Scott got a new job too! It happened right as Norah was coming so there were some potential paternity leave timing and insurance issues, ...

The nitty-gritty deets: 8 pounds and 4.5 total inches lost (I took measurements on my arm (stayed the same), chest (-2), waist (stayed the same), hips (-.5) and thigh (-2). Shakeology: I drank Shakeology every day for the last 19 days (Usually 5 oz coffee, 5 oz almond milk, ice, chocolate shakeology, banana, scoop of organic natural peanut butter, 1 T chia seeds). Other than it being rather delicious and feeling like a special dessert shake, I don't think I really noticed any difference in energy levels, curbed cravings, etc. Is the product worth $5/day? No. But buying it allowed me to be in an online support group that I did need. Without the group and others posting their meals and sweaty selfies after workouts, I would've quit much sooner. Will I be buying another bag of Shakeology? No. Bummers:  Even though I've been rocking it and lost 10 lbs before vacation this week, still none of my clothes fit. (I literally have 1 pair of jean shorts that fit because I bought...

Recipe Notables from the Week Zucchini Lasagna: Cut zucchini in half length wise and scoop out some with a spoon to make a boat. Thin layer of cottage cheese (or ricotta). Add a layer of meat and spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Super easy. Banana Muffins: I added blueberries, chia seeds, used whole wheat flour, and made as muffins instead of a loaf of bread. Delicious!! Scott even liked them and normally he doesn't like "healthy" recipe versions. Buffalo Cauliflower: Cut up head of cauliflower. Brush with mixture (2T olive oil, 1/4c. buffalo sauce). Sprinkle with garlic powder. Bake for 20 min at 350. Yum! Chocolate Shakeology "Almond Joy" =  Add coconut milk, shredded coconut, almond extract. I did not like this...  "Chunk Monkey" = Add banana, almond milk, peanut butter. This is my favorite... Sometimes I add cold coffee instead of almond milk (if I didn't drink my coffee from the day befo...

Week Two Recap! ONE. Meal prep is essential for me staying on track. I have no time to make lunch during the week between the two kiddos needing my attention; also, if I make my husband's lunch then he won't buy it (= save $$). If I don't pre-make salads, I will NEVER choose to make a salad when I actually get hungry, but if it's the only thing already made, then I'll eat it. I also pre-made fruit cups! TWO. Iced coffee is my new jam.  THREE. I've been trying to get in my daily walks, but I'm still finding it hard to get everyone on the same page at the right time, etc. I got in 3 this week! Post walk selfie FOUR. My Shakeology arrived Wednesday-- it is tasty. My favorite recipe so far: chocolate shakeology + banana + coffee + peanut butter + ice. Now is it worth the exorbitant price of 5.00 a day??? (which is what it costs after tax and shipping.) NO. But I needed a jump start motivator... full review to come. I've on...

There's definitely a certain "feel" to a good sumer jam: fun, care-free, danceable, happy. Here's my Summer Spotify playlist I put on to get me in a groovin' mood =) 1. Can't Stop the Feelin by JT 2. Pride by American Authors 3. Brand New by Ben Rector 4. Better Place by Rachel Platton 5. Rock Bottom by Hailee Steinfeld 6. America's Sweetheart by Elie King 7. Wild Things by Aleesia Cara 8. Oasis by A Great Big World 9. Lost Boy by Ruth B (This is not a normal "summer" song, but I'm obsessed with it and I quite figure out why!) 10. Hallelujah by Andy Grammar What are your fav songs this summer? I need to add more to my list!

Breakfast: cup of hot coffee, then a cup of iced coffee, quinoa banana bar Lunch: salad (with carrots, celery, green peppers, craisins, nuts, cucumber) + fruit (grapes, mandarin oranges, strawberries) Snack: Smoothie (coffee, almond milk, natural peanut butter, 2 bananas, chia seeds, ice) Dinner: Mexican rice bowl (Taco seasoning mixed with black beans, corn, tomatoes over brown rice + lettuce) and some grapes Snack: plain popcorn Workout: none again. Ohmygosh I am having trouble figuring it out with these two kiddos..  (because I only have time to either workout or shower and depending on the day's activities.. sometimes I need the shower!) * I feel like Norah has been eating on both sides for a long time and still acting a little hungry, so I'm trying to eat more even though I haven't been all that hungry because I don't want to lose my milk!

Breakfast: whole wheat bagel (not "clean") with natural peanut butter. Coffee. Lunch: My parents took me out to Le Peep. It's hard to get something that isn't a salad! I ordered 2 pieces of French toast, 2 pieces of turkey bacon and coffee. I didn't use syrup or anything on my French toast, and it was surprisingly still tasty. And more coffee. Probably too much coffee... (I never pay attention to the amount of caffeine I consume a day when pregnant/nursing; hopefully Norah doesn't decide to be touchy with it.) Snack: Quinoa banana bar Dinner: Hobo packet (hamburger, red potato, green pepper, zucchini, carrots on the grill), grapes Snack: Carrot cake Larabar (I had one of these a few years ago and thought it was so gross. Today, I actually thought it tasted great! I'm excited to try the other flavors I got (lemon cake and cappuccino). Workout: 30 minute walk with the double stroller.. lots of hills on the route I took today whi...

Norah is getting cuter by the day :) She sleeps for 4 hours at first, but then is up every 2.5 hours after that. She now wakes up, eats, and immediately goes back to sleep- so usually I'm only up for 15min or so. She takes rockin naps during the day too. Usually a 2-3 hour one in the morning and afternoon. Then the rest of the day she's awake or just dozes for a little bit at a time. She loves to eat, but is rather lazy and takes her sweet time. Norah doesn't like the bath or her carseat. She likes being swaddled, sung to, and being worn in the Moby. She hasn't had a bottle yet because I've only pumped a few times (I. Hate. Pumping.). Tomorrow Scott and I are going out for our anniversary, so my mom volunteered to babysit and give her her first bottle then. Hopefully she eats and doesn't cry the whole time I'm gone. Eek. Luke likes her 95% of the time. He gets her pacifier if she's crying, throws her diapers away, gives her kisses, a...

Breakfast: Coffee and Apple Pie Overnight Oats (Combine: 1/2c. rolled oats, 1/4c. unsweetened applesauce, 1/4c. ish almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg. Cover and put in fridge overnight. Add cut up apples + more cinnamon on top in the morning. Warm in the microwave for 45 seconds.) I'm not a huge oatmeal fan, but I thought I'd try this anyway... yuck. I ate about 1/3 of it. Then I ate one of those muffins. Snack: Iced latte with almond milk ($$$, but tasty) from Aroma's at their story time! (They were handing out FREE chocolate chip cookies; I fed it to Luke and didn't even sneak a bite. Go me!) Lunch: Salad (with carrots, nuts, taco meat) Snack:  Quinoa Banana Bar  (I added a handful of chocolate chips-- totally not "approved" but whatever!-- some shredded coconut and some chia seeds too.) Thoughts: definitely interesting. Chewy texture but the uncooked quinoa adds some crunch. Very filling, good snack I'll probably make again but in a bigger pan so t...

Breakfast: Smoothie (coffee, almond milk, 2 bananas, chia seeds, plain greek yogurt, natural peanut butter) Snack: Zucchini Banana Muffin -- They're not delicious because there is little to no flavor-- even with the vanilla, banana, cinnamon and nutmeg. Maybe by flavor I mean there just isn't sugar. Ha. But they do satisfy my bread/carb craving. Lunch: Salad (with carrots, celery, chicken, nuts) and Fruit cup (strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, blackberries) Snack: Another muffin Dinner: Grilled tilapia, broccoli, s weet potato waffles  (These were gross. They just didn't have any flavor...) Snack: another muffin. Ha! Totally an emotional eat... I was stuck cluster feeding Norah for 2 hours, then she choked and threw up ALL over me, her, and my bed. After cleaning everything up she wanted to eat more! By that point it was 11:30 and I was exhausted.. and hungry. So muffin in was! Workout: 30 minute walk with the double stroller

Breakfast: Coffee and Muffin en route to help at my sister's garage sale. (At said garage sale, Luke consistently tried to run into the street!! Ahhh!! Chasing after him sure felt like a workout.) ** Amazingly did not eat a cookie bar my sister had made... yay me! Lunch: Salad (with carrots, celery, chicken, and nuts) Snack: Fruit cup (cantaloupe, pineapple) Dinner: Taco bowl (brown rice, mixed veggies, lettuce, taco meat and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese) -- rather delicious!  Snack: a muffin I almost made today a diet pop day, but told myself to wait an hour and see if I still really wanted it. Three hours went by and I had forgotten about it!! # win I've only drank 50 oz of water though... aiming for around 90. Workout: none. Oops.

I'm four weeks out from Norah's birth date, and there is still a lot of extra weight hanging around (which wasn't the case with Luke!). So starting yesterday and until vacation on June 25th I will be aiming to: 1) eat clean -- no processed foods, minimal grains/dairy/sugar, one or two diet cokes a week (techincally not allowed, but if I want to do this as a "lifestyle" change, it's unrealistic for me to give up my diet soda completely). 2) work out 30 minutes a day -- I won't have the "go-ahead" from my doctor for another two weeks, so I'll just be walking (and pushing a double stroller-- ohmygosh heavy and awkward) at the beginning before hopefully doing some at-home Turbo Jam or Zumba videos. I'm hoping this will sort of "jump-start" some better habits and allow me to see some progress to help keep me motivated! We'll see. Also, since I'm breastfeeding I still need to keep up my calories. I'm not going to e...