Smile

Three things from my week that made me smile...

1. This gorgeous belt from Anthro.

2. Congratulatory flowers from one of my customers.

3. New set of stationary cards, also from Anthro.

The majority of my week has been filled with diaper changes, nursing, and naps. I love my baby, however I'm also happy to look back on some things that I have especially for me.

The Unavoidable

Ok, I've totally been avoiding hair posts because frankly, I don't know what I want to do with it. I took my braids down after one week because they were giving me a headache. I couldn't wear them down because it was too hot - and when I wore them up - my head hurt. I had enough things hurting on me to deal with hair being an additional cause. Prior to that, I used the previous weeks, to allow me to "get to know" my hair again. I had been doing the same routine for a while, and I felt like I reached a break point, and should switch some things up.

Switching things up included the following:

• Adding a monthly protein treatment to my routine
• Trying more out styles
• Dry detangling vs. wet detangling 
• Finger detangling vs. comb/brush detangling

My thoughts on protein treatment for my hair...
I purchased the book, The Science of Black Hair, and the author spoke a lot about the importance of protein and moisture balance. I typically don't do any protein treatments for my hair - so I think monthly protein treatments will be a nice addition. I've only done two thus far, so I can't tell now whether or not it's made a difference. More on that later...

My thoughts on out styles for my hair...
For some reason, I think that I forget how kinky and coarse my hair can be. I had the NERVE to try a wash-n-go, SMH. Needless to say - it came out to be a tightly coiled afro that was absolutely dry and so coiled that I gave myself an additional headache finger-combing to detangle it. Out styles like braid outs seem to be fine, however I would need to re-twist/re-braid/bun it nightly to ensure my hair stays stretched. I need to come to terms with the fact that if I wear my hair out - it needs to be re-twisted at night. Period. I'm still unsure as to whether or not nightly re-twisting will be "too much" manipulation. However, if I can maintain my current length, I think I could deal with the fact that my hair is not APL, because I personally prefer wearing my hair out, over twists, unless they're the mini twists.

Dry vs. wet detangling for my hair with non-traditional tools...
I've been able to do several people's hair recently. When I saw the minimal hair loss from their detangling sessions, I thought I should try switching things up. When I say "dry detangle" I should use quotes, because I do spritz my hair with a water/aloe vera/castor oil mix to help the detangling process. Additionally - I have put down my comb, and left all detangling to my fingers. We'll see how this works with regards to length retention.

In Summary...
I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my hair. Some people with kinky hair still have soft hair, which makes it more manageable, IMO. However, my hair is a different beast. I want to rock an afro like Solange, Esperanza or Julia. Although, I'm not sure what my length retention will be with that as my signature style. Additionally, two-strand twists and braids generate SSKs, unless I do big ones - which are not cute on me to say the least. Also, I started looking at some of my hair idols, like Sera, and I think her hair grows a LOT faster than mine. Her hair at her year 2 mark is longer than my hair is now, and I've been growing it for a solid 3 years. With everybody going natural now, I think it can be discouraging to see folks at their one or two-year marks with hair that is longer than mine (hello CharyJay and Nikkimae). I know I shouldn't compare myself, but I'm human, and it makes me wonder: What am I missing? Is it just genetic? Is it just my hair? What's the deal?!?!?!

Right now, I'm re-grouping and re-focusing. I took A DAY to install some micro twists. I hope to keep them for at least one month. I can wash my hair with them, and style it as I like. See pictures below.

 **Excuse the bags under my eyes, war wounds of having a newborn...and no makeup

I just wanted to give you all an update - you can see why I haven't said much. This hair is getting on my last nerve, AGAIN! I will either cut it, go back to locs, or continue on this unpleasant free-strand journey that seems to turn up no positive results...past shoulder length. I think if I was seeing more success I wouldn't feel the need to cut it, because I would know I was getting results. However now, I feel like I'm getting nowhere, and the time commitment isn't worth the poor results.

Avocado-Spinach Panini

Sometimes I find that lunch is the most difficult meal to find as a vegetarian. I'm really trying out a lot of new recipes so that by the time Naja is a toddler, I have some staple lunch and dinner options that have all of the nutrients that she needs for a well-balanced meal. This panini actually has 12 g of protein in it - so that's not too shabby!

Avocado-Spinach Panini
Source: Vegetarian Times, July/August 2011 Issue, "Hot off the Press!"
Serves 4

Ingredients

2 avocados, halved and thinly sliced

1/3 cup julienned, smoked sun-dried tomatoes (1 oz.)

2 Tbs. diced red onion

2 cups lightly packed baby spinach

4 4-oz. ciabatta rolls, split in half

Directions

1. Layer avocado slices, tomatoes, onion, and 1/2 cup spinach on each roll. Spray panini with cooking spray.

2. Coat skillet or grill pan with cooking spray, and heat over medium heat. Place panini in pan; weight with smaller-diameter saucepan weighted with 1 or 2 cans. Cook 2 minutes, remove weight, flip panini, replace weight, and cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes more. (Or cook 4 minutes in panini maker.)


This sandwich was absolutely delicious. The sun-dried tomatoes I purchased were stored in some EVOO with rosemary. The rosemary and EVOO from the tomatoes added just the right amount of zing to bring a lot of flavor. This sandwich is sure to become a summer staple for me!

Black Bean Quinoa Burger

Ok guys, I've featured a lot of burgers on my blog. The thing with veggie "burgers" is that they don't always mimick the taste of real burgers. Not that they're supposed to taste like meat, but some of the flavors are VERY exotic and really don't have the real "burger feel." Well this burger is the BEST burger I've fixed, and it's a great vegan/vegetarian replacement if you want the "burger feel" with your favorite burger toppings!

Black Bean Quinoa Burger
Source: Adapted from Vegetarian Times July/August 2011 Issue
Made 6 Burgers

Ingredients

 1/2 cup quinoa

1 small onion, finely chopped (1 cup)

6 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (1/4 cup)

1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, or 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained, divided

2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tsp.)

2 tsp. Todd's Dirt (It's a seafood seasoning, similar to Old Bay, you can also use steak seasoning)

8 whole-grain hamburger buns

 Directions

1. Stir together quinoa and 11/4 cups water in small saucepan, and season with salt, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. (You should have 11/2 cups cooked quinoa.)

2. Meanwhile, place onion and sun-dried tomatoes in medium nonstick skillet, and cook over medium heat. (The oil left on the tomatoes should be enough to sauté the onion.) Cook 3 to 4 minutes, or until onion has softened. Stir in 3/4 cup black beans, garlic, steak seasoning, and 11/2 cups water. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.

3. Transfer bean-onion mixture to food processor, add 3/4 cup cooked quinoa, and process until smooth. Transfer to bowl, and stir in remaining 3/4 cup quinoa and remaining 3/4 cup black beans. Season with salt and pepper, if desired, and cool. 

4. Preheat oven to 350°F, and generously coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Shape bean mixture into 8 patties (1/2 cup each), and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until patties are crisp on top. Flip patties with spatula, and bake 10 minutes more, or until both sides are crisp and brown. Serve on buns.

I used my FAVORITE burger toppings for this one which are: cheddar cheese, mustard, mayo, lettuce and onion! Note: With my new addition (Naja), I'm making it a point to have a protein in every meal. You will see a lot more uses of protein-rich ingredients to allow me to do this!

Super Trife

Top - F21; Skirt - J. Crew; Shoes - Borrowed from Mom

Date: Sunday, July 17, 2011

Is it super trife that I'm posting this outfit OVER a week late? I mean - I'm literally without the belly and everything now. This was my last pic preggo. It's funny looking at my pics - I think my face was definitely swollen in the last few weeks. Let me also just say that I think my hair looks a little crazy here, and it kind of has been crazy the past week. It's just been WILD! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. Depending on the time it takes these first few weeks, I'm considering a big chop. I know - I've been growing it, blah blah, but seriously - I don't want to spend HOURS on my hair. I have a whole hair update post drafted, I just need to tweak it a bit (for those who care). I missed 3 days of posting last week, but I still have a lot of good stuff backed up - food specifically! I may also throw in a post-baby outfit pic too...maybe. :)

Remix
I wore the top here.

Introducing Naja Simone...

Hello Everyone!

I took a two day hiatus to birth my child, lol!!! I am SOOOO happy to be back in action. Now that Naja is here, I don't know how often I may post baby-related stuff. You know this blog, it goes with the flow and evolves with me. I posted pics (below), but I am taking the time to use this post to share my labor story because I think it's hilarious.

My Labor Story
Tuesday morning I woke up around 5:30 AM, and I felt like I was having more than the regular Braxton-Hicks contractions. I was using the bathroom about every 20 minutes, and I was having contractions about every 10 minutes. I felt pretty miserable. At 6:30 AM, I called my doctor who informed me that I needed to come in when my contractions are only 5 minutes apart. At this point, I think everyone thinks I'm over-reacting, because it's 10 days before my due date, and it is my first child. I continued to time my contractions, which came consistently at 10 minute intervals, then sometime around 8:15 AM my water broke. It was undeniable - it felt like a balloon popped and warm water gushed out. I went to my mom to inform her of the news, and called the doctor's office. They told me to rush right in! I took a quick shower to get ready to head to the hospital, then my mom and I were off!

When we arrived at the hospital, I was met with a nonchalant nurse who hooked me up to a machine to monitor Naja's heart rate and my blood pressure. She left me in the room for a good 20 minutes, I was coping with the contractions well - still planned to go all natural. She came back and took a swab to check to see if I was ruptured, and she said that I wasn't. The swab didn't turn blue, and she said they may send me home. That's when things got a little wratchet.

My contractions were coming a lot more often, I felt nauseous, and I had a dry mouth. I started banging my fist up against the wall, and I called the nurse to see if she could remove the monitor around my belly (watching Naja's heart rate). I also said something like, "I can't believe women still have children with this kind of pain." While waiting for the nurse, my mom asked me if I was sure that I still wanted a natural birth. I asked her if the epidural would eliminate my contraction pain. Her reply, "Oh yes!" My reply, "Then YES, I want the epidural!!!" Thirty minutes later, the nurse came into the room to inform me that we couldn't remove the heart monitor, and that the doctor asked to check me to see if I was dilated. She checked me and I was 5-6 cm and 90% effaced at 9:50 AM. I was quickly admitted to labor and delivery.

The following moments were a blur. I went into the labor and delivery room, they put an oxygen mask on me, and had me sign a lot of papers. My contractions were steadily worsening. I was in pain. I kept asking, "Am I going to have time for the epidural?" They replied, "YES!" I screamed, "AHHHHHHH!" The nurse said, "Honey, that isn't going to help." Then, I pulled the oxygen mask off, and asked if they could remove the heart monitor again. I was really going through it!!! My mom tried to re-focus me on breathing and getting through the contractions. Then - I felt it - like I had to go - and I knew it was Naja. I said, "She's coming!!!" They looked and saw that I was 8-9 cm and 100% effaced. They called my doctor, who was in another building, but after three hard pushes, baby girl was here! The on-call doctor actually delivered Naja. I did have an episiotomy, but I had a natural birth. No pitocin, no epidural! Ok, now for the part you care about - my beautiful baby girl. Introducing Miss Naja Simone...

We don't know who she looks like - I think she'll either look like her father or my mom. It's so hard to tell with newborns. Either way, she's a beauty!

Strawberry Summer Cake

Can somebody say "Mmm mmm good?" This was by far, the most delicious summer dessert ever. Fresh strawberries, with a cake batter that's not too sweet, and just the right amount of cake-like texture. I was in heaven! I had to wait for my mom to be home to fix this because with the fresh strawberries, it doesn't last long, and I wasn't about to eat the entire cake by myself. It was totally worth the wait.

Strawberry Summer Cake
Source: Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for pie plate
1 1/2 cups (188 grams) all-purpose flour (can swap 3/4 cup or 94 grams all-purpose flour with 3/4 cup or 75 grams of barley flour, see Note)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup (200 grams) plus 2 tablespoons (25 grams) granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup (118 ml) milk
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 pound (450 grams) strawberries, hulled and halved

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 10-inch pie pan or 9- or 10-inch springform.Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 1 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth.

Pour into prepared pie plate. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer (though I had to overlap a few to get them all in). Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries.

Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325°F and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes. (Gooey strawberries on the tester are a given.) Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into wedges. Serve with lightly whipped cream.

How's that for your Monday morning pleasure?