Christmas Gift Help...TRX??

Thinking about getting hubbie TRX.  Worth it?  We have a weight tree already.  Is this better, good supplement...or just not worth the money?

Living in an apartment with bikes, weights, etc

Ok, fellow condo/apartment dwellers, where do you store everything?  Do you have a dedicated room?  Or do you just have it out in plain view?  We are trying to figure out where to put it all....currently our bikes reside in the dining room because it's the easiest.  And I just keep mine on teh trainer since it's a pain in the 'ol ass to take on and off.  I kinda feel like it looks really, really dumb....but not many options.  Are we alone in this??

Food

I have a whole post about food, but that will have to wait until later :-).  For now I am just going to say that after reading the book The China Study, we are trying really hard to go even more vegetarian.  I've never been a HUGE meat lover so that part isn't too bad.  But Campbell, the author of the book and study, suggests going without fish, too (you're supposed to to vegan).  That part is a bit difficult.  So to make it easy on us, we choose to eat meat a couple times a week. And we haven't given up eggs, either.  And cheese.  I figure while living in the land of awesome cheese...we can't give that up.  But honestly, the cows are treated SO MUCH BETTER HERE anyway, so really, I feel much better about eating cheese here than I do in the US, and hopefully the huge amounts of plant based foods will hopefully balance the cheese out a bit.  Anyway, I have been loving some recipes lately and I thought I would share.  Everyone in the family loves these.  Jackson has always loved beans because it's what he's eaten forever (I didn't give him meat until way later into his toddler years). 

I will say that living in Paris and eating out is pretty much impossible to be a vegetarian.  The French love their meat (and I have to note that for the 2nd time I just typed MEET and not meat). Lawd, I need to write and read more so my mind doesn't go to mush!

Anyways, here are the recipes. 

This one is super yummy.  The blog Cate's World Kitchen, has lots of yummy stuff to eat, and a lot of it is Asian.  And I can't find a lot of Asian stuff here without trecking to other neighborhoods....so we don't eat a heck of a lot of Asian these days!

CHICKPEA and EGGPLANT CURRY


CHICKPEA AND RAISIN SALAD
Serves 8
Adapted from Real Simple Magazine

1 cup raisins (I used golden raisins)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons  sugar
3 15.5 ounche cans chickpeas, rinsed
1 cup fresh cilantro (or parsely....but I think the cilantro makes it!)
4 scallions (I didn't use scallions since they are like impossible to find in this city)
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
   Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

1.  In a small saucepan, combine the raisins, vinegar, and sugar and bring just to a simmer, remove from heat and let cool.

2.  In a large bowl, toss the chickpeas, cilantro, scallions and raisin mixture with the oil, cumin 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. 

Make ahead tip...make the salad without the cilantro and toss with cilantro before eating. 


 

babysitter

short post.  But how much do you guys pay a babysitter?  I need to find one so that Jon and I can start spending more time together ALONE.  I totally took having family and friends around for granted :-)  But damn, they feel really expensive here!

Staying out of the hole

Yup, I went all metaphorical on you all :-).  I still haven't really been hitting a work out routine.  But I have to.  So much depends on upon it.  First and foremost...my mental health.  I have dealt with depression issues since college.  I wouldn't say I am full on depressed right now (as in....in need of medication) but I am in need of something or else it will lead to that.  I am not opposed to medication, because it does work and has worked for me in the past.  But I would rather not take it if I don't have to.  I prefer the all natural medication: running and working out truly are my therapies.  The thing is, I am in such poor shape I don't even know if it's going to work since I can't really push myself right  now :-).  But I must get back on the horse.  I am meeting up with my new "running partner" on Monday....or so I hope.  Hopefully just having to meet someone will help get me out of bed and into a routine. 

I think a lot of the depressive feelings I currently have are just from everything all at once.  The move has been really hard on me.  Trying to figure out how to manage two kids (as in....give them both the attention they need ALL FREAKIN' DAY LONG) has been really, really hard.  Not having any support system over here has made the last two things even more difficult. I sometimes think that having twins would make it all easier because at least they'd have each other, and they'd both be on the same page of development and able to do the same things. 

There have been many days lately where I just really want to run away from it all.  I know, not cool at all.  Hubbie has been working a lot lately and so I pretty much cover everything, hell I would do it anyway if he wasn't working a lot.  I know it's my "job" but I hate it.  I so want to love my job.  But doing all of the cleaning, all of the meal planning, all of the errand running, 95% of the kid duties just isn't fun for me.  I have contemplated moving back to the US so I can get a job but of course that isn't a realistic option. 

To top it off my patience has been crap lately.  I have snapped at Jackson more than a few times and I hate it.  I am usually not that way.  My life just feels so out of balance and unhappy.  How often do you guys feel like this?

Sorry for the vent.  I need to stop being such a debbie downer.  Hope you all have a great weekend!!

In need of motivation

So.....been a month yet again since I last posted.  I was hoping I'd get into the swing of things and actually have something related to working out to write about!  Not so much.  And I have zero excuses.  I just have yet to get my motivation to get up in the mornings.  I WANT to run, lift, yoga, etc, it's just getting my ass out of bed has been difficult.

I need to run.  So why is it so hard for me to get out there?  I have been in a pretty low place the last few months.  This move hasn't been an easy one.  I'm still in search of friends (for both me and J-man).  I've met people but I don't know, friendships just haven't formed.  The few people who live in our neighborhood don't have kids or don't have kids our age so that makes it tough.  I always feel like I'm just a nuissane to those friends without kids.  Cuz, if I didn't have kids and I lived in Paris and didn't have to work I'd most likely just want to hang out at cafés all day people watching.

I am sooo unhappy with my body right  now.  I think the percentage of muscle is pretty much nill.  I hate being and feeling weak. I just need to get into a routine.  They say it takes 21 days to really get into a routine.  It's time to start!

It's time to get out of my funk and start getting stronger, fitter and healthier.  If I don't I think I'll end up getting into an even darker hole mentally and it'll be harder to get out.

How have you all found motivation to just GET MOVING?!?!

Getting settled in our new home

So we have been in Paris for 5 weeks now.  It's been a huge whirlwind over the past couple of months, to say the least.  Phew.  We still have loads of organizing to do since we basically unpacked everything since they only pick up the boxes once.  So we have crap everywhere that needs to find a home.  I've tried to make myself just chill over it all but dang it's tough!  I hate having clutter everywhere.  Seriously annoys me sooo bad.

So what's life in Paris like?  Hmm, it depends on the day :-).  Language barrier has been really hard.  Not having any friends has been even more difficult.  Most days go by quickly since we have our stuff to keep us busy, but it's very lonely.  The days that go by really slowly are the worst, obviously.  And trips to the Supermarché are usually the worst because trecking 1km to the store by foot with a 3 year old is slow going.  Then it takes me forever to figure out where the items on my list are.  And of course I have to double check everything because even though the picture might make it look like I know what I am buying doesn't always mean that's the case.  And getting it home is fun.  So far I have only bought enough to fit into the basket of our stroller.  I actually just need to start doing the home delivery option (it's free after 50 euro...not bad).  But trying to get the delivery has been a task I don't want to complete since English is just not spoken much here at all!  And it's not them being rude; a lot of people just DO NOT speak English.  So most times I feel worried about looking like a total ass in front of all these people who I know are snickering about the "dumb American" under their smiles :-).  

I have yet to get into a routine (hence the last post).  It's really tough!  The hubby is home in the mornings, though, so I just need to get up at an early time and get out and get 'er done.  I'm still a little scared, though, to be running in the dark around here since I don't know my way around just yet.

But even more challenging is trying to work in the breastfeeding.  El-Kat is usually on a pretty good "schedule" but some mornings she's just totally off. I can't figure out if I should just wake her up at 5, feed her and then pump what's left...then hope she sleeps until about 8 so I have time to get it all done and not have to worry about either one of us getting our workouts or getting ready for the day routines interrupted.

Running.  I met a fellow runner chica who just ran the Paris Marathon last weekend.  She did an awesome job and if I can get back into shape I think we'll be good running partners because she seems to have the same times as me (well, when I was in shape anyway!).  I just need to get back into a routine and get my ass out there.  The Paris Marathon starts about 500m from where we live and ends pretty much right outside my doorstep so I am planning on running it next year.  Looking forward to that!  Now I just need to find something in the Fall.

I'm hoping to start writing on here again but time has been short.  Once we get our apartment in order hopefully I'll have more time!   Thanks to all those who are actually still reading this thing!

Yum Yum!

I am sooo going to make these in the next few days.  I am pretty sure I can find all of the ingredients here somewhere :-).  I actually did find a healthfood store.  I still have to make my way there.  Hoping to do that this weekend!

But anyway, here's the recipe I found that sounds yummy and fun to make with Jackson.  By the way, her food looks soo yummy and I have been trying to only eat one meat dish a day.  I honestly don't even love meat, but I feel it's really hard to get in all of the protein I need.  I'll let you know how I like the recipe.

http://catesworldkitchen.com/2010/12/carrot-cake-cookies-raw-and-vegan/

Daily routines

I am so needing help on how to get my crap together on the daily routines.  How do you guys do it all?  Since having the baby it seems like I am running around like a wild, crazy woman all day long.  Would love to hear how you fit it all in, i.e. exercise, cleaning everything, making dinner, running errands, and keeping the kids entertained all day long.  Please, please, please....I need your advice and help.

Alive...Barely :-)

Wow, it's been a while since I've wrote anything on here. Some bullet points because that's all I have time for and I'm already up way too late. And these are in no particular order so bear with me. this is actually going to be short since it is late but wanted to tell everyone (all two or three of you I mean) I am still alive.

1. Yes, it is way too late. But unfortunately it's about the only time I get to really think without Jackson saying "Mommy, come play with me. Mommy, I am hungry. Mommy, I need to go pee pee. Mommy..." you get the drift. I honestly would pay a lot of money to just get a weekend to just sit in a hotel room and enjoy some peace and quiet.

2. I am stressed about the move. We still have a ton of things on the list and we're not getting through them very quickly. Might I suggest to never move with a new baby and a hubby who doesn't get time off? Yeah, not so much fun. But at least Paris is at the end of the tunnel :-) If we had the Congo as our next destination I'd be even crabbier so yes, there is a silver lining.

3. Thank heavens for an awesome baby. She is such a good baby! She even slept from 9 last night until 6 this morning. Yeah, I woke up looking like a porn star. Ha.

4. I am so beyond frustrated because the weight is not coming off as quickly as it did with Jackson. I swear it came off a heck of a lot faster. But I really wasn't watching the scale or super eager to get back into my clothes last time either. I only have one pair of semi decent pants that fit and about two shirts. I don't want to spend the money on anythign new to get me through this period but I think I might have to because yoga pants and race shirts can only cut it for so long. And you know it isn't going to cut it in France.

3. Also frustrated becuase I am just not getting the workouts in like I want. When I can't run I get frustrated and don't even want to work out. The only cardio equipment we own is a rower and I could use it but it just doesn't do it for me all the time.

4. Jillian's 30-day shred is really great, but umm yeah, I am pretty sure I hav to do it more often than once a week for it to be effective. Ha!

5. My sister is getting married in a month and the thought of squeezing into a dress sounds not so fun to me.

6. Bonus of having to fit into a dress while breastfeeding is I actually have cleavage.

7. Not so fun part of having to fit in a dress while breastfeeding is that I will have to find a dress that can accommodate various cup sizes throughout the night :-)

8. My goals for this week are to eat as well as I can, exercise every day for at least 20 minutes (hey, gotta start somewhere and that's about all the time I have for now), and check off as many items on my list as possible. And mostly....stay sane and not allow myself to stress out because it really does affect my milk supply.

9. We actually FINALLY found out this last week that we are officially moving beginning of March and they finally assigned us housing. Yippy skippy because now I can actually go and buy some furniture since I know we can use it.

10. We pack out in a week and a half so not much time to get a lot of stuff done!

I have been reading lots of blogs while feeding in the middle of the night and randomly throughout the day during feedings. But i haven't been commenting much....just know I've been reading! It helps keep me somewhat motivated that maybe, just maybe, I'll get back into the swing of things running wise.

Oh, did I mention that we'll have a HUGE park only 5 minute walk from our apartment? Totally psyched about that.