This Week for Dinner – Weekly Meal Plans, Dinner Ideas, Recipes and More!: Pregnancy and Babies

Category: Pregnancy and Babies

Friday, January 20

Gearing Up for Baby: Rockin’ Baby Sling {and Giveaway!}

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks! BUT…keep reading because this is a cool baby sling!

It’s been a while since I have done a Gearing Up for Baby post…but I still have a baby and I’m still trying out lots of cool gear! Today I wanted to share a nifty sling that I discovered…and of course host a giveaway!

I wanted some sort of pouch or sling for when Owen was born. I did a quick search on Cool Mom Picks (which is also where I first discovered the Orbit travel system), and both Liz and Kristen had only glowing things to say about the Rockin’ Baby pouch. So, I got on the horn (okay, I sent an email, but how long has it been since you said “got on the horn”…I couldn’t resist) to Rockin’ Baby to see if I could try out their pouch and do a giveaway…and they happily obliged!

This pouch is very cool. There are zippers in the back that make it easy to adjust to the right size and it’s easy to get on and off. I don’t know about you, but other slings are intimidating to me, with yards of fabric to contend with. This pouch is simple and to the point. If you do like a more traditional sling, however, Rockin’ Baby has those, too!

I think my favorite part of Rockin’ Baby is their ONE FOR ONE business model, similar to Tom’s shoes. Every time someone buys a sling, Rockin’ Baby gives one to a mother in Haiti and educates those mothers on the impact a sling can have in their lives. Kathryn Wiley, who purchased the Rockin’ Baby business last year, bought the company because she loved the product and she had the lovely vision to evolve the business into a Mother to Mother model in order to help mothers in need. It’s a cool story and I love supporting Kathryn and her vision!

Giveaway time! If you would like one of these cool pouches, just leave a comment by Midnight PT on Wednesday, January 25. If you have are expecting or have a baby, you’ll love it! If you don’t, this would make for a pretty sweet baby gift! So, get commenting! One randomly-selected winner will be announced on Thursday, January 26. Good luck!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 9:22 am 97 Comments
Categories: Gearing Up for Baby, Pregnancy and Babies, the goods
Sunday, October 16

Week 247 Menu

Sorry today’s post is late. And it doesn’t have a photo. Between Owen still not totally realizing that humans are NOT nocturnal and my computer shutting down and making an S.O.S. tone non-stop on Friday afternoon (right when I was about to sync up my new iPhone no less!) necessitating a trip to the Genius Bar where it still resides, well, I guess that says it all! But I haven’t ever missed a Sunday menu post and I’m not going to start now!

Monday is the last day for meals being brought in. It’s been heaven and we feel very grateful to so many wonderful friends! We’ll see how I do this week…Owen is definitely more work than my other babies were, so I’m still feeling a little (okay, a lot) worn out. We still have a lot of support the next few weeks, so we should be good regardless of how well I stick to the meal plan!

My mom’s team at work sent us a TON of frozen meals from Omaha Steaks, so we’ll probably start using some of those. So, for a few nights I’ll list the Omaha Steak food we’re eating, but link to my recipe I would normally use if I were actually cooking it!

MONDAY:
- Dinner coming from friends

TUESDAY:
- Leftovers

WEDNESDAY:
- Beef Stew
- Yummy bread

THURSDAY:
- Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- Fresh fruit (still coming in from our CSA!)

FRIDAY:
- Leftovers

SATURDAY:
- Eat out

SUNDAY:
- Waffles

Let’s see what you got! Share your menus for the week! And I’ll have more recipes to share this week from meals that were brought in by friends (including the pineapple satay and coconut caramel sauce I was supposed to post on Friday before my computer decided to prove it knows Morse code).

Posted by Jane Maynard at 11:10 am 39 Comments
Categories: Pregnancy and Babies, weekly menus
Sunday, October 9

Week 246 Menu

I am officially the most tired I’ve been since Owen was born. Last night was a rough one. The whole time he was awake, I just kept reminding myself how wonderful and adorable he is and that I should be enjoying the time since he won’t be this little for very long. The pep talk mostly worked.

When Mom is busy feeding the new baby and napping when she can, the older kids in the family turn into delinquents. Graffiti is Step 1 on the path to rebellion. But, I gotta say, I’m digging those colorful bricks. And graffiti is better than drugs and alcohol.

It’s a good thing we have people still bringing us meals this week because my brain is simply not functioning today. I couldn’t create a meal plan if my life depended on it! I’m hoping next week to {maybe} get back on the meal planning train. We’ll see how things go. Until then, please please please share your menus to provide inspiration for one another!

Also, I have more delicious recipes and meals to share with you this week from what people have been bringing us. Seriously, we’ve been getting great dinners. We are so grateful! Stay tuned for some of that yumminess.

Posted by Jane Maynard at 10:01 am 42 Comments
Categories: Pregnancy and Babies, weekly menus
Tuesday, October 4

Hungarian Stuffed Peppers

One good thing about me not cooking the next few weeks and having people bring us dinners is that we’ll get to try lots of fun recipes, which I can then share with you!

For our first post-baby dinner, my friend Julie brought us Hungarian Stuffed Peppers. Julie got this recipe from her Hungarian landlord in Vienna, so it’s totally Hungarian legit. I know you were worried about that. The peppers were delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Thanks, Julie!!

Frau Goesslebauer’s Hungarian Stuffed Peppers
- 8 green peppers
- ½ lb ground beef
- ½ lb mild italian sausage
- 1 egg
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 2 28-oz. cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 large white onion
- 3 or 4 yellow potatoes, peeled and cut into tiny cubes
- 2 Tbls sweet Hungarian paprika (buy it fresh!) (Julie used a combo of smoked and sweet paprika when she made ours, and it was yummy!)
- 1+ tsp salt
- 1 tsp fresh pepper
- 2 Tbls sugar
- 2 bay leaves
- 1+ cup water
- Sour cream (full fat organic is best)

Cut off tops of peppers. Take out seeds.

Mix: meat, egg, rice, potatoes, salt & pepper, paprika. Stuff meat mixture into peppers. Set upright in pot. Make meatballs with extra meat to set on top.

In Cuisinart chop onion and tops of peppers finely (or blend smooth in blender.) Mix onions, pepper tops, crushed tomatoes, sugar, water, bay leaves.

Pour mixture over peppers in pot. Bring to simmer and simmer on low heat for 1 ½ hours. The key is low heat! Add water if sauce looks too thick.

Serve with fresh sour cream and sauerkraut if you have it. Great paired with noodles or dumplings.

Posted by Jane Maynard at 8:33 am 11 Comments
Categories: featured recipes, main dishes, Pregnancy and Babies, Recipes
Sunday, October 2

Week 245 Menu

In case anyone was wondering, recovering from an emergency c-section is way worse than a regular delivery. But there is one benefit to being forced to do nothing. I get to stare at these…

…all day.

My mom leaves town today, after two weeks of having either her or my dad here to help. (I don’t know what we would have done without them!) We have a bit of time before more family can get out to help us, so I’m a little nervous about what the next week or two will bring. Thankfully, between church and good friends looking out for us, we have people bringing us dinner 10 nights in a row. I can’t even begin to express the gratitude I am feeling for everyone who is helping us out in so many ways.

Anyway, here’s my meal plan for the week…sit back and let the food come to us!

What are you having for dinner this week? Please share your menus! And have a fabulous week!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 6:00 am 50 Comments
Categories: meal planning, Pregnancy and Babies
Thursday, September 29

Gearing Up for Baby Giveaway: Matthew Kate Kids’ Clothes

This giveaway is now closed – thank you!

First off, before you think I’m Wonder Woman or something, I’m not. I wrote this post days before Owen was born, knowing I would be out of it this week. Since I am in baby lala land right now, I have another cute Gearing Up for Baby giveaway for you!

A good friend of mine from years ago (before either of us had kids!) has started a super cute company and I’m happy to share it with you today! Her company Matthew Kate sells clothes for kids that mark their birthday milestones. Jessica sent my girls each “3 Years” and “6 Years” t-shirts last year and they LOVE them. She also sent me the “Oh What a Year!” baby boy shirt set that I can’t wait to use. Might have to do something like this with our little guy using the shirts!

Matthew Kate is giving away a baby set to one of you lucky people and the winner can choose either Boy or Girl! If you have a baby, you’ll love it…and if you don’t, this makes a GREAT baby gift! Same drill as always…just leave a comment on this post. Please post comments by Midnight PT on Monday, October 3. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 4.

Good luck!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 8:00 am 101 Comments
Categories: Gearing Up for Baby, Pregnancy and Babies, the goods
Tuesday, September 27

Owen is here!

Just wanted to put a quick post up and let you know that Baby Boy Maynard has arrived! AND he has a name…Owen!

I was scheduled for an induction, but ended up going into labor on my own a few hours earlier. Unfortunately there were some complications and we ended up having a very fast emergency c-section, but both Owen and I are doing very well now and we go home tomorrow!

Thank you ALL for your baby name ideas, well wishes and support! Off to snuggle with my son…

Posted by Jane Maynard at 1:21 pm 78 Comments
Categories: musings, Pregnancy and Babies
Sunday, September 25

Week 244 Menu

Yes, I’m still here. But we are going to the hospital today…on my birthday! Yup, baby boy will most likely have the same birthday as me. Pretty fun! Wish us luck today!

This week I am not planning a menu. I figure having a baby is a good excuse, right? So, I’m giving myself a break! I’m not even posting a photo today. Take that, Blog.

BUT…you are not off the hook so easily! Please post your menus…please please please! I’m counting on all of you to step up while I slack off!

Don’t forget to enter the Dillon Rogers giveaway if you haven’t already.

And if you have cookie recipes that you like (or love!) that are vegan, gluten-free, egg-free, etc, please be sure to comment on Friday’s Call for Recipes post!

Adios, amigos. I’m off to have a baby! Happy Birthday to Me!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 6:00 am 61 Comments
Categories: Pregnancy and Babies, weekly menus
Sunday, September 18

Week 243 Menu

Well…today’s my due date. And this baby is still cooking. And he still doesn’t have a name. So, nothing much new around here! (P.S. People started sharing name ideas with their menus…and, yes, name suggestions are welcome! We need all the help we can get!)

My dad arrived yesterday. Such a relief – if I go into labor in the middle of the night, we have someone here to take care of the girls. Phew! Last night he helped me cut up some melon. As he was cutting he said, “So, do I get a mention on the blog now?” So, here’s his big shout out. Good job, Dad.

Here is my total non-menu menu for the week. I’m just hoping that one of these days has hospital food on the menu!

MONDAY:
- Rachel Sandwiches

TUESDAY:
- Frozen pizza

WEDNESDAY:
- Rubio’s

THURSDAY:
- Pancakes

FRIDAY:
- The girls have a pizza party, adults fend for themselves

SATURDAY:
- Eat out

SUNDAY:
- Grandma’s in town! Maybe she’ll rustle something up…or maybe we’ll just eat out again.

For real. We NEED your menus now. I am no inspiration whatsoever. Please share what you’ve got cooking for the week!

Posted by Jane Maynard at 9:30 am 69 Comments
Categories: Pregnancy and Babies, weekly menus
Friday, September 16

Gearing Up for Baby: Maxi Cosi Car Seat & Stroller
I have another car seat and stroller review for you, and it’s another product that broke me out of the Babies-R-Us-store-wandering rut. Maxi Cosi was generous enough to provide me with their Mico infant car seat and their Mila stroller (which works with the car seat) to try out and let you know what I think. This system is on the affordable side of the spectrum, which I think most of us greatly appreciate, and I’m excited to share it with you!

First impressions – things I’m liking a lot:
- The system looks cool and there are good color choices. I know, looks aren’t everything, but I do appreciate it when a company realizes that just because a kid might like Winnie the Pooh doesn’t meant the parents are going to want to make a Pooh statement everywhere they go!
- I love the fact that this stroller is quite compact, similar to the Maclaren that I love so much, but you can also use it with the infant car seat! And, once you’re done with the car seat, you can use this stroller up to 50 pounds. Great versatility, you get your money’s worth.
- The brake system is super easy to use. I actually am really loving this feature. To brake, push the button on the back right wheel with your foot, to un-brake, push the button on the left wheel. (Works better than my Maclaren’s brake system by a long shot.)
- When the stroller is folded, it can stand upright. I really like this feature a lot.
- Large basket underneath for storage.
- Folding and unfolding the stroller is easy, and you can either push the release in the back with your foot or pull a handle.
- Car seat is lightweight, which is nice when lugging baby around, and there is side-impact protection.
- Stroller comes with a rain shield.
On first pass, here are the things I don’t love:
- Easiest access to the storage is through the front of the stroller – would prefer if the access was from the back.
- No tray by the handles to put stuff. There is a cup holder and a pocket in the canopy, so at least there’s something up top for keeping a few little items. No tray for the kids, either.
- Typical small stroller wheels. I like my wheels bigger so I can go off-roading!
Jury’s still out:
- You can’t adjust handle height, but the handles aren’t too short and you do not kick the wheels when strolling, so it may not be a big deal.
- Canopies on the stroller and the car seat seem like they’re a decent size, but want to use them to see if they really do cover enough.
After we use this with the baby a bit, we’ll let you know what we think, so stay tuned!
Posted by Jane Maynard at 11:11 am 6 Comments
Categories: Gearing Up for Baby, Pregnancy and Babies, the goods