Tuesday Top Ten - Summer Munchies

Since having Claire (well really, since getting married), I haven't been the healthiest eater.  This summer, it's been so much easier to run through the drive-thru at Chic-fil-a than to make something at home.  It's just hard to go to the grocery store with the biddle now because if I put her in the cart she cries, and if I put her in the Baby Bjorn, she eats my grocery lists out of my hand (really - it's happened numerous times.  Sneaky little thing!)  But no more excuses.  I am taking baby steps to add more veggies to my diet, eat at home to save money, and have three meals a day (instead of one meal of chicken tenders and waffle fries).  These are my typical meals this summer:

1. Southwestern Egg Beaters with spinach, oatmeal, and decaf HEB Houston Blend coffee.
2. Turkey sandwich on 15 Grain bread with spinach.
3. Crackers and cheese and brussels sprouts.
4. Fully-cooked frozen chicken breast and mixed veggies.
5. Lean Cuisine and asparagus.
6. California Club Pita.

And for dessert.  I can't be healthy all the time.

7. Cookies and Cream ice cream.
8. Amaretto chocolate syrup ice cream soup.
9. Lindor truffles.
10. Sea Salt Soiree Ghirardelli Chocolate.

Any other quick/healthy/economical/yummy suggestions??

Tuesday Top Ten - Lifesaving Baby Items

* These aren't necessarily recommendations, just what has been helpful for us specifically.

1. Miracle Blanket. Claire lived in this, day and night, the first two to three months. It was the only swaddle she couldn't break out of. We still use it when our current swaddle needs to be washed.

1/31/11

2. Rock 'N Play Sleeper. This is where she slept until she moved into our bed at 2 1/2 months old. It's so light and easy to move into any room.

1/24/11

3. Snap n' go stroller. Our first outing with Claire was to the mall on New Year's Eve. We didn't have to wake her to take her out of her car seat, and the lull of pushing her around in it (and mall noise) helped her stay asleep.

12/31/10

4. Soothie pacifier. When Claire was almost two weeks old, she started crying for an hour every night and sometimes during the day. She hadn't taken a paci up to this point, but one night, I tried the Soothie, and it worked like a dream! This led to us being able to take her in public, sleep, and just enjoy her without having to jump up and down on the couch to soothe her.

1/5/11

5. Baby Bjorn. We started putting her in it when she was 8 lbs. (smallest they can be in it) and haven't stopped! We use it almost every day. She's so happy in it, and we can have use of both hands!

3/30/11

6. Medela Pump in Style Breast Pump.

(Sorry, no pic ;) )

7. Graco Pack 'n Play. At first, we just used this as our changing station and storage for the millions of items we needed to have access to. Then we moved it next to our bed and attempted to have her sleep in it, but somehow she always ended up in our bed. We still use it for a changing station, but we're about to have to take the bassinet section down so our little monkey doesn't climb over the edge.

5/10/11

8. Exersaucer. Leah let us borrow this. This is the first time she used it, at three months, and she was in it every day for the next two months.  This was the only way we could shower, eat, or clean for awhile!

3/18/11

9. Halo SleepSack Swaddle. This is what we use now. The pics are from when she was smaller, so this is the newborn size. We now use the small, and I think she'll fit in it at least another month or two. I know most babies aren't swaddled when they're seven months old, but she sleeps so much better = we sleep so much better! :)

4/13/11

10. Summer Infant Video Baby Monitor. We didn't use this until Claire was 5 1/2 months old. This is when she moved upstairs to her crib, instead of sleeping in our bed and napping in the pack n' play in our room. Here's a pic Ranger sent me when he was home with Claire:

6/25/11

Tuesday Top Ten - Skills I Think It Would Be Cool To Have (But Not Magic Tricks)

1. Speak other languages fluently, preferably German and Spanish
2. Talk people into telling the truth (ahem, Casey Anthony)
3. Interior decorating
4. Cut and style hair
5. Throw ingredients into a pot/pan/dish and make a delectable treat, without following a recipe
6. Singing
7. Dancing.  I have more fun with choreographed routines than just going out dancing, so I would love to be able to see a routine one time and do it well like some of the contestants on So You Think You Can Dance.
8. Tumbling.  Even in my cheerleading days, this wasn't my strong point.  I would LOVE to run outside and do a roundoff backhandspring whipback backhandspring backhandspring layout!  :)
9. Be a great Kindergarten teacher
10. Be a great mom to Claire and wife to Ranger.  I know that is really two things but I want a top ten list.

What skills would YOU love to have??