Mango Berry Salad Recipe!

I've said it and I'll say it again- I am not a salad fan. In fact, most of the time I would use the word, "hate" to describe my relationship with them. My mom used to say, "Pretend to be a bunny and nibble on the leaf" and that helped when I was younger but I just don't find the same joy in it now for some odd reason.



 Being pregnant, I usually am good with scarfing down whatever food is in sight nowadays- but on this particular night I was feeling very apathetic towards food in general and was indecisive down to the core. Jay and I were on a double with Mandi (his sister) and her date and we all decided to meet at Zupas.  Everyone went ahead and ordered but when my turn came, I couldn't say I wanted anything. To make matters worse, there was no pressure to hurry and order because there was nobody in line behind me. So I sat and pondered, just looking at the menu glaring down at me, pushing me to make a decision. I just couldn't- I sat there and just couldn't decide what I wanted and I was getting embarrassed because the staff were all telling me to order different things. But then, Pete- one employee- finally said he would help me decide. He told me of this salad they had (SALAD?! Yuck!) that had fruit in it and that his wife loves it when she is pregnant. (Funny how that will stop me in my tracks of throwing up in my mind thinking about eating a salad-just hearing about another pregnant lady who said she liked it). So, somewhat reluctantly I agreed to try a sample of the dressing. Yum. It was surprisingly really tasty. Okay, I agreed to try an order of the salad, knowing that it could be a waste of money but then what if it was good, I dared hope.

This Zupas salad flipped my world upside down. Salad no longer=yuck.
It actually could be scrumptious. I finally made it the other day for my family and both Bethany and Ward (teens who hardly ever touch any sort of vegetable) actually tried it! They said, and I quote, "It tastes like a treat! Like candy!" So now I am convinced this is the best salad ever because you think you are eating a treat but really you are getting to eat green leafy stuff coated in heaven.

Are you convinced? Well, don't take my word for it- try it yourself.

I found a recipe online that I tweaked a bit so I'll give you my version of Zupas Mango Berry Salad:

I also made it bigger so this is a family-sized recipe:


For the Salad:
2 cups chopped fresh strawberries
1 small package fresh blueberries
1 fresh ripe mango chopped in small pieces
8-10 cups green leaves of some kind (I used a spring mix)

Dressing: (mix in blender)
1/4-1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (I used honey vanilla flavored)
2 Tablespoons Rice vinegar (the recipe called for rice wine vinegar but I couldn't find that)
*I think if I would have cut the rice vinegar down to 1 Tbsp it would have been even better or tried lemon juice instead....maybe next time that's what I'll do but it's still good with the vinegar.
1 large ripe mango, pitted and peeled.
1/2 tsp salt

Mix and if too tart add some honey!

Topping:
1/4 cup chopped almonds or walnuts caramelized in raw organic sugar and cinnamon. (The cinnamon flavor with the mango dressing is like dancing the samba in your mouth).

Mix the greenery and berries and mango with a little of the mango yogurt dressing (I actually had a little left-over dressing so just eye-ball to see how much you want/need for how much lettuce you have).

Such a perfect summer salad! We had it with fajitas and I'm sure would be good with whatever main course you choose-
or just have it for dessert!
Yum!!!

Red Raspberry Leaf Herbal Tea

 I started taking red raspberry leaf herbal tea. I have done some research on this and apparently it is really good for the female body- along with the pregnant female body. There are recommendations to start in the 3rd trimester or at 36 weeks so I guess I'm not "late" in starting, even though I wish I had known about this sooner.
I researched the benefits and this is what I found:
 Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) tones the uterus, improves contractions and decreases constipation. Most of the benefits given to regular use of Raspberry lea tea throughout pregnancy can be traced to the strengthening power of fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself; and to the nourishing power of the vitamins and minerals found in this plant. There is rich concentration of Vitamin C, the presence of Vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorus and potassium.
When to use: There are two basic points of view on the subject. There is agreement among many clinicians that in the 3rd trimester frequent (2- 3 cups per day of tea or 1 – 2 cups per day of infusion) is beneficial to the uterine and pelvic muscles. 

• Reducing pain during labor and after birth. By toning the muscles used during labor and birth, Raspberry leaf eliminates many of the reasons for a painful birth and prolonged recovery. It does not counter the pain of dilation of the cervix.

Red Raspberry Leaves do not start or encourage labor. It can help the contractions to be productive once true labor has begun because it strengthens the uterine and pelvic muscles but it is not an oxytonic herb (one that would induce labor). That being said, it’s important to talk with your midwife, obstetrician or herbalist before beginning drinking red raspberry leaf tea or taking a supplement. Some will recommend you wait until you are 36 weeks along before incorporating the tea into your health regime while others may encourage you to begin right away. Each situation and pregnancy is different so it’s best to get other’s opinions before beginning red raspberry leaf tea.

http://womanplace.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/the-benefits-of-red-raspberry-leaf-tea-in-pregnancy/

I also looked up what a bunch of people had said when they took this tea and I have found surprising and awesome reviews of the stuff! I am so happy that I am starting now, at 36 weeks so my muscles will have time to absorb the nutrients provided in these leaves!


I have also talked with the nurses and midwives and everyone says it is safe but to not put too much hope in it either- who knows if it will actually make a difference in sensation of labor but I am hopeful.

My Dream (one of those pregnancy ones)

I dreamt last night that baby was born!

It was really different because I didn't tell anyone that I was going into labor, not even Jay. And I stayed home and it was so fast. All of a sudden I was holding my baby boy in my arms and nobody knew! How fun it was going to be to surprise everyone.

Then I was holding him and saying his name that we picked out for him.  All of a sudden he was older- like 4 or 5 and he told me he knew his name because I always said it and he knew my voice too-but he thought it was weird that I was talking in a "baby voice" to him since I never used that voice. He knew his name but kind of shrugged at it and said, "Well, that's what you've been calling me" like he wasn't that excited about it. Then he was really tall- and he looked a lot like Jay- dark hair, freckles, blue eyes. I tried calling him the name we had picked and it just didn't fit- I mean he accepted it because that's what we call him but I'm not sure now if that is going to be his name....

Then, I went upstairs but now I was looking for my baby- I needed to feed him, I was sure that's what you were supposed to do after giving birth and I was looking and everyone was home but nobody noticed that my huge belly was gone. I was shocked that people talked to me and didn't notice my belly was gone. I had to find the baby so I could just show them.

This dream was a little weird- that he was older and everything and he talked to me but I have to tell you the whole delivery part was awesome. I am actually really looking forward to labor and that will mean I will get to meet my little man. And he will grow someday and I am looking forward to being his mom.

I don't know if this happens to other pregnant women with the first child but I start really thinking about what this is going to mean- I have to grow up- now I can't be the whiny one or be the one taken care of all the time- now I am going to take care of someone else- I almost feel like I am going to be a different person. It scares me sometimes to think what a big change a little person will bring.

But after this dream I am just totally excited. Excited to make that change- even though it's scary. I am so happy that I am going to be a mom to this person and take care of him and raise him to be good. I seriously can't wait.

Amnesia and the Dollar Theater

Jay and I went and saw....The Vow.
You say it's been out for a while? Well, Jay and I are very proud to say we waited a couple of months to go to the movies so that all the "new movies" would be in the dollar theater. We just had to get to that point of being a few months off of the release date and now we've got it down. We love going to the dollar and we even get student discounts- 25 cents off each ticket! We've got it down to a science pretty much (other than the fact that everyone sees movies first and when we finally talk about them, people look at us like they are in a very awkward social situation knowing us).

So, The Vow: Now, I've heard a lot of reviews saying it wasn't all that great- which could have been why we loved it so much- we didn't expect a lot. We LOVED it. What a good reminder that love shouldn't be taken for granted and you do need to work at love- that it doesn't always come easy- even if you don't hit your head and  lose your memory. Don't people forget all the time why they are in love or what made them fall in love with someone in the first place?

Circumstances change and starting a family seems like a big deal and I've been afraid of forgetting why Jay and I fell in love- we are going to get so busy and life just seems to keep getting busier and busier. I don't think it's going to slow down so it's good to have a reminder to slow down and "date" your spouse. We are going to have to make the time- and that isn't such a bad thing really. We are starting a new adventure of parenthood together and now our time has to be a little more planned and that's okay.

Is this a "buy-worthy" movie?
Yes.

Week 36

Month: 8!!!! Final stretch y'all.
Weight Gain: 35 lbs
Facts: Baby is as big as a crenshaw melon- yah never heard of it but we are in the melons people! That's a big deal. He's supposedly around 6 pounds and 19 inches-I can feel that.

Journal:

April 26th: I could have my baby in a week and he would be considered full term. Better start packing for the hospital. I made the list.

April 27th: Emotional day today- tears that could fill a nice little swimming pool probably. Haven't had a good cry for a while- I think it's healthy once in a while.

April 28th: Really achy and head hurting, nauseous. So, so cold then randomly really hot. Small fever- Jay was so so sweet to me. He helped me with anything and everything that I needed and ran to the grocery store in the middle of the night to get me juice and Tylenol and then stayed up watching Merlin with me to make sure he could keep wetting down the washcloth to put on my head and filling up my cup with juice and making sure that I was taken care of. What a miserable night, but what a wonderful loving husband I have. I slept a ton today after I had some medicine. Oh, and as I was feeling progressively worse, I must admit that it crossed my mind I wouldn't have to give my talk the next day...which was a plus to being sick;) So I called the 1st counselor and told him to have a back-up just in case.

April 29th: I know I could have gotten out of the talk because I was sick but I went and did it- and didn't throw up! Success! And the first counselor came up to me afterwards and said that my back-up had been praying fervently for me to be well today and that his testimony in prayer had been strengthened because I showed up. ha ha.

April 30th: Jay has been so awesome! Holy cow, he has been helping me around the house and making sure that I don't feel overwhelmed with things and just taking care of me and telling me I am doing a good job growing a baby! Thanks honey, it means so much to hear you say things and all the help you are giving me- you are the BEST!!!

May 1st: This is it- one more month. I think it finally hit Jay tonight that we could really have a baby here really soon-I always say, "Jay, we are having a baby!" Like it's an announcement and new and that is how he sounded the other night when he said it to me!

May 2nd: I don't believe he has dropped yet because I think baby is going to kick a hole through my ribs- I am pretty sure I am bruised in that one spot that he kicks frequently. Ouch! Feet almost fell off while shopping- glad that didn't happen-how embarrassing that would have been.