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It's 19F (about -7C) this early morning...and went up to 27F (-2C) by this afternoon..brrrr..freezing but ot's very sunny and dry, here in Western Washington,..well the last day of 2010. Thank you God, you gave many blessings to our family,..and counting in 2011. We usually doing 'staycation' on New Year's Eve, simply because the temperature is getting lower and lower and most important, my hubby got only 31st, 1st and 2nd off days because this time January 2nd, 2011 it's Sunday. We got invitation (just last night) to celebrate NY's Eve in my brother in-law with his Phillippino wife. I don't mind eventhough I planned to cook something special just for the tree of us. We're excited and happy for their new house that they bought just December last year.
Christmas is always my favorite time of year. I loved it, still do. My late mom was active in Church, together with other mommies they helped Church decorate the altar, arranged flowers, even they made special holiday meal for pastors in the parish. I usually help my mom in the kitchen and with my siblings decorate our Christmas Tree, made cookies, cakes. My parents always made Christmas so special, cooking wonderful food, my dad helped cleaning the house. There's not necessary gifts under the tree, but we're lucky, me and my siblings always have new outfit for us to go to the mass.
I've been celebrating Christmas in America for 5 years and Christmas 2008 was very special because it was our daughter's 1st Christmas. She had no clue about 'Santa Claus' and even right now, but following her milestone, she's kinda expert 'opening gift' now, probably since her 2nd birthday, last September. The colorful gift wrap really spark her eyes.
With my little girl and my dear husband, we do get in the spirit of Christmas, I wrapped the gifts but this time I didn't put under the tree until close to the day, I made cookies with our sweetie pie, put some ornaments in the tree, and my hubby was the one who build the artificial Christmas Tree, Grace's daddy played piano for some Christmas songs and the most important was we plan ahead when is the best time to go to Christmas Mass.
My husband and I sometimes spend our 'quality' time at 'Olive Garden' Restaurant in Tacoma, one of their menu that I like and now become our family favorite is 'Zuppa Toscana'..I bet it means 'Tuscany Soup'..sort of like that...it's perfect during this Fall and Winter Season.
Makes : 6-8 servings
Ingredients :
1 lb ground Italian Sausage
1 1/2 crushed red peppers
1 large diced white onion
4 Tbs bacon pieces
2 tsp garlic puree
10 cups water
5 cubes chicken bouillon
1 cup heavy cream (you can substitute with regular milk)
1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
1/4 of a bunch of kale
I cook this dish many times, we love the taste of 'peanut' in it!..If you 'brave' enough with the hot sauce it will be superb..!
Prep 10 minutes
Cook about 25 minutes
Makes 6 main-dish serving
1 pound whole wheat spaghetti or linguine
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 bunches green onions, cut into 1/2 inc pieces
1 pound ground chicken- or turkey
2 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bag (12 to 16 oz) shredded broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, cabbage blend
1 can (14 to 14 1/2 oz) chicken broth (1 3/4 cups)
1/3 cup stir- fry sauce
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
Hot pepper sauce (optional)
After having my little girl, I went back down to my previous weight with no problem. I was lucky because it came off pretty fast, but I still had to workout to not be jiggly and fit in my 'before pregnant jeans'. I have to admit, I was a little bit worry, how if my jeans go up one size or even two sizes. I ate alot during breasfeeding period, I nursed Grace, my sweetie pie for 16 months, but Grace is a 'strong little girl' for one session of breastfeeding, she did it for at least 45 minutes, leaving me hungry again right away.
I've been thin my whole life, actually I was happy when I was pregnant with Grace, I looked fantastic, I gained about 26 pounds (12 kgs) and that's normal as total gain weight recommended for a woman of average weight is between 24 to 35 pounds, I might gain until 34 pounds if Grace was born full term.
I'm not a mommywood (celebrity moms from Hollywood) who must have flat tummy during red-carpet time, (helooo..! those lucky ladies have personal trainer..!) but I think it's important to look good for yourself, for your self-confindence and more important for your healthiness.
Reasons for Dating ...With My Hubby,..that's the long version of the title of this blog. Last Sunday I had a date with my hubby at Red Lobster, one of our favorite place to eat...(woow, Red Lobster should pay me for this advertisement)...
I've read alot about how important to have a date night with your spouse especially when you have kids, what I mean by 'night' is actually doesn't have to be in the night time. After we have a daughter mostly we had 'lunch' or late dinner for our date. FYI, we don't like to watch movie in the cinema, we prefer to watch DVD at home, so we never have a date watching movie. I like the idea that 'dating' is having nice meals together in the restaurant (doesn't have to be a fancy restaurant) and have meaningful conversations that don't revolve arround our two-year-old's potty training..(confession: my husband and I couldn't resist, we talked 'a little bit' about my precious daughter when we have a date..ha..ha!). I know that each marriage/family have its own 'culture of togetherness' ..maybe some couple don't need to have a DATE and prefer to do things as a family. To me it's about BALANCING, I have to admitt the sense of motherness was so strong when Grace, our daughter still newborn baby, I couldn't imagine leaving her with someone else while we're dining out. I'm a devoted mother, but I have to remind myself that I'm also a 'wife' and every couple needs time to reconnect as adults. In my opinion, 'date night' is essential, in keeping a relationship going, I mean Romantic relationship. I am fortunate that I have a nice mother in-law, she loves to baby sitt her grand-daughter so that we can go out for a date.
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