Good morning, and happy Monday!
I hope you all had a great first week of the new year! These next few months go by the slowest for me because I’m craving warm weather and green grass. January and February are the coldest months in the Carolinas, so I’ll be excited when spring gets here. Today, my plans include:
- Finishing up this recap blog.
- Cleaning the house (it’s a mess!).
- Going out for a walk before I settle in for the night.
I used to love watching the Bachelor on Monday nights, but now I’m lucky if I can keep my eyes open past 7:15! I usually record it and watch it the next day, which is way better since it’s half commercials anyways 😉
This week flew by. My favorite part is playing with Tux in the mornings. I don’t know what it is, but he’s the most energetic between the hours of 5:30 am, and 10 am. He runs and round and pounces. He officially plays with toys which melts my heart entirely, and he’ll wrestle with Leo for hours until Leo quits on him.
This week, I made my chocolate chip oatmeal blender bars about three times! We can’t get enough of them, and they’re so convenient for quick snacks. I love my blueberry version, but Kyle likes the chocolate chip better. I keep them out on my counter until they’re all eaten up.
Kyle had a work event on Tuesday night, so the dogs and I cuddled up in the living room and had a movie night accompanied by Applebee’s chicken fingers. Sometimes pregnancy cravings will strike, and you simply have to go with it. I don’t fight my cravings because it tends to make me nauseous. If I want a salad, I’ll eat a salad. If I want chicken fingers, I’ll order the chicken fingers. Pregnancy has brought me into the intuitive eating championship.
I’m still eating a lot of avocado toast, fresh fruit, my yogurt parfaits each morning, and then dinner is when I get weird cravings. I also can’t eat past four, or I feel so uncomfortable. I think it’s because my sleeping schedule is 5 am to 7:15 pm. I have breakfast at 5:30, so my body doesn’t want dinner too late. You learn quickly what feels good and what doesn’t.
On Wednesday, I made a big bowl of parmesan basil tortellini with parmesan cheese, butter, and peas. It was actually really good, and Kyle said we need to add it to the dinner cycle. It’s great the next day cold, too!
On Friday, I had some leftover Applebees chicken fingers with French fries, and a side salad! I blogged about this salad last week, and I’m still loving it so far. I don’t know what it is about the bbq sauce at Applebees, but it’s what I think I’m craving the most!
On Friday, I put together a few things for the nursery. I cannot wait for the reveal! We have the wall decor to do (still trying to decide on wallpaper prints), but we’re almost done! I started putting together a little cart next to the changing table for all baby products. I don’t want the changing table to get too cluttered, and I love that it’s portable. I am making a second one to put downstairs, so we don’t have to take the baby upstairs each time for a changing.
Since the weather was in the 70’s last week, my tulips and hyacinths started coming up. I bought more mulch to cover their tops to protect them from the upcoming cold weather, and I read that they’ll begin to slow their growing process if the temperatures drop. They’re such intelligent plants! I’m not too worried about them right now, but I hope they slow their roll a bit.
I felt like an actual human wearing jeans for the first time in months. I’ve been relying on my favorite pregnancy leggings but decided it was time to purchase a pair of maternity jeans. I wasn’t expecting to like them, but I LOVE THEM! I found them at Old Navy and bought them two sizes up to grow into them in the next few months. I just want regular jeans to be this comfortable! I will post what products I’ve LOVED during my maternity. Right now, I’ve only purchased body oil, face cream, leggings, jeans, a pregnancy pillow, and a heating pad!
I met with a friend at Summit Coffee in South Park on Saturday morning! It was my first time trying this spot out, and I’m a huge fan! I had a decaf oat milk latte and an almond croissant. This was THE BEST croissant I have ever had in my life. It was filled with a gooey almond filling, and I just had to purchase a box of them to bring home! I told Kyle that we’re going there again this week. He was a big fan of those croissants, too!
I made a kale Caesar salad with chicken for dinner on Saturday night, and we had Whole Foods sushi on the side! I’ll post the chicken caesar salad recipe soon..
My morning go-to! I have not missed one day without having my bowl of yogurt. It’s Greek yogurt, blueberries, raspberries, honey, granola, and recently I’ve been topping it with macadamia nuts.
For dinner last night, we made jalapeño burger spring rolls (I definitely will post that recipe before Super Bowl!) and leftover kale salad 😋 We started watching The Lost Daughter on Netflix, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I was out by 7!
I have some really yummy recipes coming to the blog in the next few weeks so stay tuned! Have a great week, everyone!
Questions for you!
- Do you watch the Super Bowl for the commercials? the food? Or the game?
- What restaurant sauce do you crave the most?
- Do you eat the same breakfast every morning?
Stacy says
I noticed desitin on your baby cart. Just a little suggestion when using it. I noticed it was extremely hard to wipe off my little guys bum when I went to change his diaper. I decided to put a little Vaseline on first then the desitin. Boy was that a game changer 🙌🏼❤️. Way easier clean up!
Taralynn says
Thanks for the tip!
Kelli says
I will second that, and also say that weleda has an amazing diaper cream that was THE go-to for both of my littles. I was skeptical about it, but it’s the bees knees 🙂
Kristen says
I am so excited for you and your family! I have been following you since maybe 2011! I love to see the growth !
1. I watch Super Bowl for food FOR SURE
2. Usually I crave restaurant ranch but lately I have been craving a good honey mustard, I remember Applebee’s had a good one! All the chains closed near me in the suburbs of Chicago!
3. I usually eat any type of eggs for breakfast, that’s what fills me the most! I have been doing a lot of egg wraps lately!
Taralynn says
Thank you, Kristen! ♥️ Gosh where does time go!?
YOU AND ME BOTH, GIRL! 🥘
Oh man 😭 that stinks! They do have a good Honey Mustard!
That sounds delicious 😋
Lorri says
I had to do a double take. You typed “I’m not a huge fan!” about Summit Coffee. I think you typed a “t” instead of a “w”. 😉
For great children’s wallpaper (or any wallpaper), I highly recommend Etsy. You’d be amazed at the gorgeous stuff they have, and many of them are available as regular or removable.
Taralynn says
LOL UGH!
This is why I shouldn’t trust Grammarly all the time 😆 I fixed it and so glad you caught it because my eyes don’t catch I when reading it back. I AM A HUGE FAN!!!!! 😆
Harriet says
Hi Taralynn, that photo of tux playing it’s just pure joy, you have given him the best home. So excited for you and your growing family and can’t wait for your nursery reveal. We have a restaurant near us that does the most incredible southwest chipotle sauce with fried chicken tenders so good! I also go through phases with my breakfast currently loving crunchy oat cluster cereal with almond milk. Would love to be in jeans and a jumper right now but we have 109*f and higher for the next few weeks, I may melt. Have a great week.
Taralynn says
Thanks, Harriet!
He brings us so much joy! ♥️
ohhh one of my favorite kinds of breakfasts!
109 omg!!! so hot. We are getting snow this weekend!
Allie M. says
I love that diaper cart, especially that it doesn’t have any wheels! Where is that one from? All I have seen are ones with wheels!
Taralynn says
Hi, Allie! It’s from Michaels. It came with wheels but they’re optional 😊
Ashton Jury says
I love hosting for Super Bowl and my bean dip and spinach dip are always a must! I watch for the commercials usually unless my team is playing. I am definitely gonna make those jalapeño wontons though!
I am definitely a more savory breakfast person its either avocado toast with smoked salmon for me or just eggs and bacon or turkey sausage.
I am a SAUCE person! I love sauces, my coworkers make fun of me because they know I have all the condiments. I love the chic fil a sauce, and in n outs secret sauce.