Post Post Post Partum Life

Breathe in. Exhale. Breathe in. Exhale. Wow, I'm back again on my blog. It's been so long. So dusty around here.

It has been quite the journey from pregnancy into motherhood and now into what it means to be a wife. I'm still the same wife in some aspects, but I can tell that my role as a wife has also changed a bit, but for the best.

When I was a newlywed I remember being a bit timid about my new role as a wife. I didn't really claim my place as the woman of the house. I did whatever I thought would please my husband and he would want to please me too, but because I didn't have a sense of my own identity, we would end up arguing about the silliest things. I wanted to do what made him happy and he wanted the same for me and pretty soon we both would get upset because it was a never ending merry-go-round of indecisions. Have you ever been through that with your spouse? Maybe it was just us. Maybe it was just me.

Well, when we found out we were pregnant, my first trimester broke that cycle really quickly. With all the morning, afternoon and evening sickness, fatigue and a strong intolerance of smelly things, I was forced to become more assertive. I think the assertiveness came out of me because I was reliant upon my husband's help. Maybe my timidity was really pridefulness? Or I was just really unsure if anyone would help me because I didn't believe people were that kind. Maybe there was a lot going on with me but being sick and helpless can really change your perspective and attitude. With a growing baby inside of me, relying on me to give it nourishment and a healthy start, I learned to speak up for myself and for my unborn child. I've always admired assertiveness in some women and I can see the benefits of possessing that trait. Being pregnant also created the space for my spouse and me to be gentle, patient and most of all gracious with one another as we began to speak up about what we wanted for the baby and for our future. It was a great training ground for me to break out of my funk and learn to speak up for myself.

So what I'm trying to get at is that I have my pregnancy to thank for adding more dynamic, grace and release to my life as a wife. I've learned to speak up, to not be shy about what I want, never withholding healing words that need to be spoken, to give myself the grace and strength to establish spoken boundaries and trust that it is a good thing. My husband also appreciates my new found assertiveness because it makes his life easier. He doesn't have to always guess what I desire because I now let him know what's on my mind (for the most part, I hope). Happy Friday and have a great weekend!!!!

Thank you Pregnancy for making me bolder! :D

Waiting Game

There are times in my life where I completely ignore something because I'm too afraid to face it. I think it's been that way with this blog. I've been swept up by my first full-term pregnancy and these last 9 months, I don't think I've cooked a lot, nor have I made anything that really tastes good.

I did make my first Chocolate Souffle, but would anyone like to try and make it? I really cut down the sugar on it due to my gestational diabetes and I made enough for one person. So it would be a bittersweet, lonely Chocolate Souffle recipe. Hmmm, maybe I will post the recipe.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a pic of what comforts my current 39 weeks-pregnant ailments...ICE. Crushed ice, chipped ice, ice discs...any kind of ice sounds good to me. I'm doing all I can induce labor but I've come to realize that Baby will come when Baby decides. Tomorrow, I meet up with my doc and we shall see what she says about my bun in the oven.

Ice is gone! I need MORE ice.

Oh, one thing I'm craving really badly is Pineapple Fluff Cake. Maybe I'll make some and post it. It all depends on if I go into labor or not. If not, then yes, if so, then I'll ask my husband to make me one. Have a good rest of the day, I know it's Monday and Monday isn't too many people's fave day. Hope you find something good about today! 

The Sims 4: GGGGGAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Hi There! As you can see from the title, I will not be sharing any food pics or anything food related today. This blog continues to be about things I love to share about being a Full Time Wife. Pretty soon I will be a Full Time Mommy and I look forward to capturing moments, purchases and more moments of my baby and family. But before baby arrives and my time is consumed by loving duties of a mother, I wanted to share my excitement for The Sims 4.

My husband shared an ad about The Sims 4 a couple evenings ago and today on my Facebook feed I find a first look game trailer of what creating and gameplay will look like. First off, here's the official trailer:

 

At first I wasn't sure what Brock was trying to show me. But as soon as I saw the PlumbBob...I freaked out! Since I've been pregnant, I haven't been able to play my Sims 3 as much as I wanted. So to tell me that there is a new Sims 4 coming out is just too much to take in. I cannot wait to get a laptop and play a little bit in between nursing (LOL). I have a feeling mothers are laughing or rolling their eyes at the comment I just made because it sounds absolutely ridiculous. A girl can dream. Watching this next vid about what to expect in Sims 4 thrills me with the thought of spending hours creating my family members and favorite celebs. If I can create the cast of Downton Abbey in my Sims 3, surely I can get even more detailed in creating the cast of Battlestar Galactica, Downton Abbey, Doctor Who and Breaking Bad. This is going to be an awesome Sims world.

 
The Sims 4 will be available in 2014. You can pre-order your limited edition Sims 4 today (I'm checking my budget). Have a good start of the week! Now I'm off to baking a Lemon Pound Cake. I had some leftover egg yolks from my Chocolate Souffle, I don't like to waste good yolks.

Cinema Sentinel: Pacific Rim

Uh...totally awesome fun! Great monsters and fight sequences. I actually felt like I was a little kid again watching my favorite saturday shows. It was great growing up in Asia and getting the opportunity to watch Japanese anime.

Here are two YouTube videos of this movie. If you haven't seen it yet and you like action sci-fi, fun action films, check it out at your local theater or wait for it on Redbox.

Two-egg Lemon Bundt Cake

I haven't baked in a while but when I do, I go old school. I pulled out some old cookbooks and tried a recipe from one of my go-to Better Homes & Gardens Dessert Recipe book. Every time I try a recipe from this book, I feel as if I'm getting to experience baking history first hand. I'm baking something that would be made when my grandmother was young woman, just like me.

Today's cake is adapted from the recipe, Best Two-egg Cake, but I added food coloring (yellow), lemon extract and used a bundt pan because I felt like it.

For cakes to come out clean from a bundt pan, line the bottom with parchment paper. Measure the bottom and cut a hole in the middle for a ring shaped liner. Spray pan with baking spray, this time I used Baker's Joy.

The recipe calls for using two round pans at 375 degrees. I know my oven, so I baked the cake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and reduced to 325 degrees and baked for another 10-15. As you can tell, I'm quite experimental and I hate burning cakes, such a waste of a party.

In the end, the cake turned out quite delightful, very dense with a touch of lemon flavor. I would say, a nice thin slice of this cake would be fantastic with fresh cut strawberries or raspberries and whip cream, garnished with some mint leaves. Enjoy!

Two-egg Lemon Bundt Cake
Recipe adapted from Better Homes & Gardens (1965) Best Two-egg Cake
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons of bourbon vanilla
2 eggs (room temperature)
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
--------------------------------------
2 teaspoons of lemon extract
4 drops of yellow food coloring

• Preheat oven 350 degrees.
• Beat shortening until softened. 
• Gradually add sugar and beat thoroughly.
• Add vanilla, beat and then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. 
• Sift flour with baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternating with milk, beating well after each. 
• Separate about two cups or desired amount, add lemon extract and food coloring. 
• In prepared bundt pan, spoon in vanilla cake batter and alternate with lemon cake batter. I layered my batter. 
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for another 10-15 minutes. Depending on your oven. Remove from oven and allow to cool before removing the bundt cake. 

Cinema Sentinel: The Great Gatsby

I haven't posted a lot of movie trailers I'm excited about, but this summer is chock-full of blockbusters to keep us all busy! We've already kicked off our summer of movies with Iron Man 3 this past weekend at our local AMC Dine-In Theatre. If you haven't experienced AMC's Dine-In theatre then I encourage you to do so. If you have food allergies or you are particular about what you eat, then take a look at their menu before you visit.

Okay back to my movie that I'm excited about watching...The Great Gatsby, Baz Luhrmann style! From Strictly Ballroom, to Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, his films have always made a lasting impression on me and I still enjoy watching them in 2013. As a child, I didn't know Strictly Ballroom was directed by Baz, I just enjoyed the style and characters he so vibrantly created.

I know The Great Gatsby has a different soundtrack than the era it is supposed to be set in but I trust the music director's vision. I can remember listening to Romeo + Juliet soundtrack over and over in  high school on my cheap cd player and then singing at the top of my lungs to "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge! with my thespian friends. Good times of song and dance.

Well, in celebration of this upcoming film, I just wanted to share some 1920s YouTube vids I like and a hotel that I believe is absolutely fitting for this time period. My dear friend Lacy took me along with her to a conference a couple years ago that was held at The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach. This establishment has been hosting famous guests and presidents since 1926. There are two different structures of the same hotel, one historical and one built in the 70s. Lucky for us, we got to stay in the historical hotel. From the moment we drove up and checked in, I could feel the spirit of the hotel, almost haunting yet quite inviting. Read more about The Cavalier Hotel here.

Anyway, thanks for humoring me and let's get right to the videos:
I know I'm a 1920s girl at heart when I dance. Uninhibited and fun!

(via Aaron1912 on YouTube)


(via maynardcat on YouTube)

Last but not least...The Great Gatsby trailer! Release day May 10, 2013. Be sure to get your tickets boys and gals!

(via TheHollywoodBird on YouTube)

Our 1920s look for a friend's wedding we attended in Temecula. Happy Hump Day!

I'm a Mommy...of 16 Weeks!

Let's see, my last post was in March and I bet that was posted on a decent day when I wasn't plagued with nausea and heartburn. These past three-four months I've been MIA from my blog for a very good reason...I'm 16 weeks pregnant!

This has been an answer to our prayers and even though I had terrible pregnancy sickness, deep in my heart I was thankful for every unwanted pregnancy symptom that made my days miserable. My heart goes out to all mommies and future-mommies who have and will go through pregnancy sickness. To be honest, I thought I would be able to handle it well and still continue with normal day-to-day activities/chores but I was deeply mistaken. I can't tell you how much I hated the smell of my own home. I hated the smell of my fridge. Worst of all, I hated the smell of buttercream and all things sugary. Even the thought of baking and decorating a cake would send me straight to the bathroom. It was bittersweet when I had to cancel my Wilton classes. I was on a roll with this cake decorating venture but at the same time Life decided to take me on a hormonal ride called major pregnancy sickness . We shall meet again Wilton!

For now, I'm currently enjoying my 2nd trimester and looking forward to learning more of what I can do to prepare for a baby. I look forward to sharing our baby story with you on my other blog...The Full Time Mommy (in construction).

Thanks for reading my post today!! :)

Some funny pregnancy announcements online:

Found on Weffaroo's Photobucket. Too funny! 

Found this one via Pinterest via 9laughs.com under Honest Pregnancy Announcement. I feel for the poor mommy but I love his enthusiasm.

I can totally see my husband and I doing this, trading my nice dresses and him some of his old electronics (never our Xbox 360). Found this via Cheezburger.com