Impractical Stuff

I seem to be having a slight identity crisis. It's more like a clash between my whimsical side and my practical side. Or between my youth and my adulthood.

I know, in the grand scheme of things, it's basically nothing. But it doesn't feel like nothing.

Hubby and I are trying to declutter. Again. Still. It feels like we're always fighting a losing battle with stuff.

We always seem to acquire more stuff than we get rid of. Especially clothes, so I decide to start there. I quickly run into a problem. I have a lot of clothes that I like and are cute and completely impractical. Like the strapless red party dress with the short poofy skirt that I love that I've worn once. It's not something that's really mama-esque even if I did miraculously have an occasion when it would be appropriate to wear it. But I don't want to get rid of it. I'm just not ready to let go of that part of me. So, even though it isn't practical, I'm going to put it back in my closet. At least until the next time I try to declutter.

Why I Don't Cover Up When Breastfeeding In Public

I've always been modest when it comes to showing my body. Don't get me wrong, I wear short shorts and tank tops in the summer. But I try to keep it classy. No pretending that sheer tights are really leggings and/or can be worn instead of pants.

So when it came to planning how I was going to feed Baby, I wasn't quite sure what I would be comfortable doing. I knew I wanted to breastfeed, so I expected to carry around one of those cute breastfeeding covers that doubles as an infinity scarf. Baby is here, and I don't own one. And I probably I wouldn't use it if I did.

One of my defining breastfeeding moments happened in Target. (I feel like everything happens at Target. I love Target. Anyway...) Baby and I were most of the way through the store, and he decided he was HUNGRY. So I pulled down my shirt and we breastfed in the toothpaste aisle in Target.

Because that's what Baby needed, and the hell with anyone else.

Although I will say the furniture section is a much more comfortable and relaxing place to breastfeed than the toothpaste aisle. If Baby can wait that long. If we're being real, the backseat of the car is even better. Better for me, that is. What's better for Baby is whatever fills his little hungry belly faster, so that's what we're going to do. And if that means a few strangers see some boob, so be it. They're not really even my boobs; I didn't get them until Baby, so I'm pretty sure they belong to him. And for the foreseeable future, they're his whenever he decides it's boob time.

Easy French Toast

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Happy Sunday! Today, I'd like to share with you my easy recipe for French Toast. It's delicious and passes the "can I make this with one hand while wearing a baby" test. My recipe is for one adult-sized serving, but it's easy enough to double or triple or quadruple (you get my drift) as needed.

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 splash vanilla
1 dash cinnamon
2 slices bread

How-to:
Stir together first 4 ingredients in a small flat-bottomed dish (I use this one--it's almost exactly the same size as a slice of bread). Dip both sides of both bread slices to coat. Cook in skillet until slightly browned, flipping as needed. Serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

I used my new copper pan. I absolutely love cooking with it because it's the first truly nonstick cooking surface I've ever found. This is how it looked after I finished the French toast. I didn't use cooking spray or butter on the pan, which means there's no extra fat or chemicals in the food, and those bits that are leftover can literally be wiped off with a sponge. This pan is so amazing it makes me not hate washing dishes. You'll be seeing a lot more of it in future posts.

Make Your Own Stuffed Animals For Teething Babies

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Baby is four months old and teething pretty hardcore. Thus, he puts everything in his mouth. Especially fingers (anyone's fingers, he's not particular). But toys are good too. The problem is that baby toys (specifically the stuffed animal variety) don't hold up as well as I want them to. Of the three that came with his Baby Gym (which he loves), one of the toys has polyester stuffing poking out and the stitching on another one is coming apart. Already. And I don't think I want Baby eating polyester stuffing. Which can mean only one thing.

It's time for Mama to pull out the sewing machine and start making baby toys.

I used this cute dinosaur pattern for my first baby toy. And this organic cotton stuffing, so I know Baby won't accidentally ingest yucky petroleum products or other funky chemicals while sucking on it. And a couple different textured ribbons I had lying around. And, (don't laugh) a really old, really worn pair of corduroy pants. Baby loves different textures, and corduroy is a nifty one. So here's my first ever handmade baby toy.

Not too bad for a first attempt. I'll do a step by step for you next time. What other animals do you think would make good stuffed animals for Baby?

How to de-boogie a baby

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Because Hubby works in a hospital and also goes to school, he's exposed to a lot of cooties. Which means Baby and I are exposed to a lot of cooties. A lot meaning we had a house full of sickies six weeks ago and we have a house full of sickies now. Fan-freaking-tastic. Which means I've been getting a lot of practice de-snotting Baby.

Let me tell you: not all boogies are created equal. And you can't really pretend like they are. You need different boogie tools for different boogies.

Remember that boogie bulb everyone told you to steal from the hospital when your baby was born? They can keep it.

When you need to suck humongous boogies out of a tiny baby nose, you need a snot sucker that a) you can see into and b) uses more force than that little bulb thingie inflating. Yes, the NoseFrida is more expensive, but it is totally worth the price! It's so rewarding to see boogies get sucked out of Baby's nose... and he loves it. Which may have more to do with me calling myself a big weirdo in a goofy voice than the actual snot sucking...

Is it weird that I enjoy getting Baby's boogies?

But I digress. You also need an Oogie Bear for smaller boogies. Think of it like an ice cream scooper, but for boogies. Mmmm, ice cream. I'll have to make some once the cooties subside and my taste buds can thoroughly enjoy things again...

How do you feel about de-snotting other human beings? Are there any other tools you think I need to add to my boogie-fighting arsenal?

Baked Oatmeal

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If you're looking for a hearty, healthy breakfast that's tasty and passes the "can I make this while wearing a sleeping baby?" test, look no further.

Ingredients:

1 cup old fashioned oats (not quick oats)
1 1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar (or less, to taste)
1 egg
1 handful chocolate chips

From here, you can add pretty much whatever else catches your fancy. If you want to make this into a breastfeeding recipe, you could add some flaxseed meal, but I wouldn't do more than 1/4 cup. I'll add a handful of pecans if I have them, and a splash of vanilla if I'm feeling fancy. And cinnamon. I love adding cinnamon to just about everything sweet. If you're not like me, leave it out.

How-to:

Pour all ingredients into loaf pan. Stir to combine, making sure you don't end up with clumps of peanut butter (which might take a minute). Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until set. Kiss sleeping baby (of course, this doesn't have to wait until the end).

I only have a "before" picture because the baby woke up while this was in the oven and I was too hungry when it came out to get an "after" photo. I'll try to remember next time I make this delicious breakfast. Unless you want to try this recipe and share your own photo?

The Ultimate Barbecue Chicken Post

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Because Hubby is from Texas (or maybe because he's a weirdo... could go either way), he doesn't share my love for barbecue chicken. Which means one batch makes me about a week's worth of lunches for while he's at work! It's literally the easiest thing to make in the slow cooker and it's so delicious and versatile once it's done. If you don't have a slow cooker, I definitely suggest getting one. They're great for when you don't want to spend a ton of time cooking.

This recipe works just as well if you have a nice pork tenderloin, except then it's pulled pork instead of barbecue chicken. And then it won't last as long, because Hubby will eat it, too.

Here's how you make it: put 2 or 3 boneless chicken breasts (or 1 pork tenderloin) in the slow cooker, pour about half a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce over the top, turn the slow cooker on low for about 6 hours and walk away. When it's fully cooked, shred the chicken with a fork right in the slow cooker. You don't want to lose any of the chicken-y barbecue-y juices. And then comes the hardest part... trying to figure out how you want to consume your delicious barbecue chicken. 

Here are some of my favorites.

Pizza: barbecue chicken, red onion, green onion, extra barbecue sauce, and jack cheese (cheddar works, too) on a homemade pizza crust.

Salad: barbecue chicken, green onion, black beans, corn, lettuce with equal parts barbecue sauce and ranch dressing.

Sandwich: just barbecue chicken on toasted sourdough works just fine for me. I'm so California.

Nachos: barbecue chicken, black beans, green onion, any shredded cheese, and tortilla chips.

Quesadilla: a substitute for nachos if you don't have tortilla chips.

A la carte: with a fork, unless you want sticky barbecue fingers.

What's your favorite way to enjoy barbecue chicken?