Catching Up

I realize I have not posted anything in a long time!  I think we have been so busy trying to get out and do things that I am neglecting my more inactive activities, like blogging.

Today, the DiPinto grandparents came over to sprinkle some fertilizer on our lawn, but little man had just fallen asleep.  So sad when this happens because I know they only have so much time here with him before they head back up north.  So we made plans to get together tonight. 

Warhol and Photobooth attacked the sleeping baby!

So little man and I are hanging out alone today while Daddy works.  I spent the morning playing with his new toys and whipping up some new baby food.  Although he is too little to eat said food, I want to play around a bit before the actual time comes, so I know all the little tricks and roadblocks I might run into.  So far I have made the following:

• Brown rice cereal.   I tried this a few weeks ago by simply grinding the rice in the blender before cooking it up with some water.  I thought this came out a little too grainy though, and I even cooked it with waaay more water and for way longer than the recipe said.  I think this is due to my blender not getting the rice quite fine enough.  So, I bought a coffee/spice grinder the other day.  I still feel like there are some harder bits in there (compared to the super mushy rice cereal you buy at the store), but it's looking pretty good.
• Oatmeal.  I used the spice grinder to grind some of this up, but I did not cook it up.
• Apples.  This is pretty straight forward.  Steam apples on the stove for a bit, then puree.  Easy peasy.
• Nectarines.  I bought a bunch at Wal-mart yesterday because they were on sale and thought they would make great baby food.  So I peeled it, removed the core, and microwaved for about a minute.  Then I pureed.  It was delicious!!
• Bananas.  This was an interesting recipe in my book The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet.  It said to saute a banana with a tablespoon on unsalted butter for two minutes, then mash or puree.  The smell, OMG...the taste, OMG.  I wish I was a baby so I could justify eating buttery bananas all day.

Photo from Amazon

 Can't wait to scout the farmer's market to find even more things for him (and me) to try!

Foto Friday

This week I am straying from the typical Nash photo and deciding to indulge my narcissistic side.  A while back, a friend asked who our favorite fitness model was, and it reminded me about how I used to look to her for motivation.  It's appropriate then that I should look to her again as I seek to rebuild my body and find my strength.  So, here she is!

Jamie Eason

She has an awesome attitude, isn't shy about sharing her secrets, and has a really nice booty.  INSPIRATION!

Thoughts on My Gym Experience Today

First off, had a great workout!  Am feeling myself get stronger, although I can tell my running and my abs are waaaaay behind what they used to be.  I can only run for a few minutes at a time, but it's increasing little by little.  I can already see changes in my body, as my muscles start to peek back through.  Feels good!

BUT...I have some other thoughts to share (warning:  I'm a bit snobbish here...don't judge):

1.) Planet Fitness touts itself as "The Judgement-Free Zone."  Yes, "judgEment," not the grammatically correct "judgment."  And today I noticed a sign in the women's locker room that read, "Please do not dipose of sanitary blah, blah, blah..."   Yes, "dipose," not "dispose."  Come on, people!

2.)  Nothing annoys me more than the girls who clearly aren't serious about working out and yet take up valuable equipment space.  For example, today I was waiting to do back extensions because a girl was doing the weirdest, most ineffective crunches on the thing.  After I took a closer look, I got even more annoyed.  Hair down, wearing a regular bra, lifting the lightest weight on the machines, moving at a snail's pace with no apparent purpose/plan.  Um, come with your boyfriend even though you don't work out?!?  Get off the machines and go rent a DVD, chick!  Ugh!  Please note this is different than the regular gym newbie, which I totally understand and support.

3.)  I am not a gym snob by any means.  That is, I can work out in the most basic gyms, and would rather not pay an arm and a leg.  That being said, PF seems to be looking very dirty and rundown these days.  I wanted to roll out my hamstring today, but one look at the grungy, no-longer-white foam roller caused me to decide against it.  Dirty floors, broken equipment, ripped mats...  Ugh!  But I so don't want to pay the $50 a month for Pro Health (plus a $100 membership fee!!).  ::sigh::  Will just have to be sure to wash my hands thoroughly when I leave.

4.)  What kind of gym offers FREE PIZZA?!  That's right, not protein shakes or bars, not fruit or nuts...PIZZA!  PF does...come on!  How serious a gym can you be?!  Here's a link to a great review of PF...I tend to agree with most of what's in the article.