Week 26

After feeling like such crap over the past few months, I think it's finally starting to sink in that I've been feeling pretty darn amazing these past few weeks, dare I say entire month! Minus the few naps here and there, I've generally had the energy to join the real world. I'm starting the third trimester next week so we'll see how long this energy lasts!

Random musings of Week 26: Well hello there baby bump!

 -cravings for pop tarts, soda
-I've felt really strong movements by the babes, even if I haven't felt him all that frequently. He tends to move when I'm sitting or lying down and I cradle my stomach. As soon as I do this, he gives me a hard punch or kick to signal his presence.
-lots of afternoon naps- I feel pretty good in the morning but my mid afternoon, my energy starts to dwindle and I need an hour nap
-2 workouts (zumba both times if you count today)
-I think the baby is sitting right above my pelvic area because I feel this dull, and sometimes annoying pressure on my lower belly. Pretty annoying!!

On to other things besides baby....

I found a new salsa dance studio in Chicago that I'm going to call home. After researching multiple places, I found this place to be the most affordable and closest to home. The classes are held everyday in the afternoon and evening, depending on what class you sign up for. I signed up for a $150 VIP card which gives me access to any class; it's $7 for any afternoon class with Miguel and $12 for evening and weekend classes with him and other instructors. I doubt I'll be able to continue dancing for much longer, maybe 1 more month max, but I'm just grateful I haven't lost my center of gravity!
http://www.danceacademyofsalsa.com/Chicagosalsaclasses.html

This past Tuesday, we went to our Restaurant Week dinner reservation at Boka. Even though the menu looked delicious on paper, I wasn't particularly wowed by any of the flavor combinations used. I would still probably rate the restaurant a B+ for its solidly good food and service. 

Beef cheek ravioli, crayfish and celery root hash, lobster jus

Herb crusted whitefish, black truffle, brussel and prawn slaw, sweet potato, chestnut jus

Chocolate praline terrine with Hazelnut ice cream, coffee foam, candied hazelnuts.

We also tried out our local, 5 minute walk sushi joint called Sublime Sushi.

I went with their really reasonable shrimp tempera udon lunch special ($7!). The veggies and shrimp were a bit overfried and undercooked (the veggies, not the shrimp)= sad.

at least the broth and noodles were delicious!

 

T thought the sushi rice had a bit too much vinegar on it so that combined with my hard veggies was a big no no. We definitely wouldn't rule out going there again but it probably won't become a regular rotation. 

my sleeping beauty :-). She's been extra sweet on me lately and I wonder if its because she can sense there's someone more important in the room.. one can only dream!!

Our dinner yesterday was a delicious roast chicken that T made for us with a side of chicken cheddar noodles and collard greens. We've been on such a poultry kick lately... dare I say I'm getting tired of eating CHICKEN!?!

Back to the gym

This morning, I did something I haven't done in 5 months.... I went to the gym!!! Craziness! :-) I did my first love, Zumba, and it felt so good to be back in the gym!! The instructor actually approached me during the class, asked me if I was okay, and said if I needed any modifications to ask her. Thankfully, I have enough experience with Zumba and my body that I was able to take it down a notch on my own. Watching all the ladies go at it hardcore really made me miss how my body used to be able to do things higher impact, but I have to remember the reason why I'm doing this in the first place. After the class, I spoke with the instructor and she said she taught Zumba until she was 8 months preggos! Hopefully, I don't get too uncomfortable these last 3 months that I can go to the gym regularly. I think my goal is to go in at least 3-4 times a week. Oh yea, and the gym we joined is XSport Fitness. There are several pros and cons to the gym I'm already spotting.

Pro:

1.) parking lot

2.) huge cardio section with lots of machines

3.) all you want and need stationary weight machines

4.) variety of group classes

5.) super affordable children's area- you can drop off your kid from 6mths-12 years for $1 per hour or $10 per month!

6.) spa and tanning area, rock climbing wall, basketball court, swimming pool w. whirlpool and sauna

7.) 24 hours- although I don't see myself really taking advantage of this!

8.) affordable monthly rate

Con:

1.) no stretch area- you can use the studio exercise rooms though whenever a class isn't in session)

2.) really crowded- maybe I'll just have to find the right time to go when it isn't extra crowded

3.) limited smaller free weights section (for gals like me who don't lift to get big or go home!)

Yesterday, we went to Kohls to get another bath rug and spend our free  $100 Kohl's cash we received when we bought all our home furnishings last week. I was planning on getting lots of candles to spruce up our place but something else caught my eye.. Easter decorations!!

I got this cute little candy dish, along with some things to put up on our mantle.

My goal is to put up something different on the mantle for every season (I'll reuse my decorations of course!). Here's Easter.

We still have to find something sticky to hang this up on our front door. Cute eh?!

 

Even though we were only supposed to spend the "free" cash we got back, T bought me this super cute and ON sale Vera Wang purse. Me=purses as shoes=most women. :-) 

Lunch yesterday was at Panera after running most of our errands. I got my usual, frontega chicken with a side of broccoli cheddar soup- yum!

T made us dinner last night: bbq chicken with a side salad and rice and peas. We bought a plastic container of washed organic greens that has been a lifesaver for our simple dinners lately. Now no one has an excuse to get your veggies in!

After dinner, we took Sonoma for a walk and ended up at a deserted dog park. Thankfully since Sonoma isn't a fan of other dogs!

She jumped up and kept walking along the ledge behind me- too cute!

Our lunch today totally hit the spot for comfort food central. We had cheesy mac hamburger helper with leaner* ground turkey meat instead of ground beef. It was delicious!!

 

Plans for today consists of relaxing and going out to dinner for restaurant week to Boka! 

Crisp and Cleanin

We, I mean Tarek and my mom spent the weekend tackling the living room, basement, and upstairs rooms, which consisted of organizing all the cords, knick knacks, and papers lying around the house. I put away most of my stuff the first two days we moved in and now I'm just waiting for some storage containers to arrive so I can put away the rest of the stuff I don't need right this minute such as study materials and books. We're still pluggin along though!

 

No matter how many things get put away, this table never seems to get clean!

Our kitchen looks pretty organized now thanks to my momma!

the baby's room is almost cleared away! Our nursery furniture is coming next weekend- can't wait!

I decorated the baby's bathroom even though he's probably not going to appreciate it until he gets older :-)

Call me a bit obsessed with monkeys

Friday night's dinner was some broiled, baked, and grilled chicken with some rice and beans, potato salad, and salad. We had a bit of trouble with our fire alarm while T made dinner and I swear it went off 3 times before we finally decided to stop using the oven and just finish off the chicken on the stove. Yet again we have a really sensitive fire alarm!! Blergh.

On Saturday, we stopped by my favorite chicken spot in Chicago (favorite being I've eaten there only 3 times, hehe) called Crisp and then ran a couple errands.

Crisp has the most delicious *Korean* fried chicken I've ever tasted, along with some tasty sides such as these fried mushrooms.

kkaktugi- spicy radishes

The Big Boy Buddha Bowl loaded with a TON of veggies and generous portions of beef.

The main event- Seoul Sassy and Crisp Bbq whole chicken platter. It's finger lickin good!!

We also stopped by Dirk's Fish and Gourmet shop on our way home, picking up some things for dinner. T's been on a roll, doing most, if not all the cooking this past week!

two kinds of shrimp

http://www.dirksfish.com/

shrimp #1 slightly bigger than the second

shrimp #2 the smalller, more flavorful one

pre-made crab cakes with grainy mustard

I crumbled my crab cake and ate it with more salad, which helped balance out the saltiness of the cakes.

 

cooked scallop roll with spicy mayo

I tried Thomas bagel thins  for the first time and it was the perfect size for me, not too big that I get overly full, typical these days since my stomach can't handle an overload of food, and not too small that I'm still hungry. 

Errand time!! Target, Kohl's, and possibly gym membership search. 

Moving Day 2012

We have officially moved into our new apartment!! There is stuff E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. but we're taking the one step at a time approach with organizing all of our random stuff everything.

 

I was worried the movers would dirty up our floors but they were very professional and laid down red protection for us and also covered our carpet with plastic. They arrived at 9 and left by 12:30- now that's what I call prompt service! I guess that's also what happens when a corporation pays for your move (they pack and unpack everything for you!!).

We also had movers on Wednesday that brought all the new furniture we bought. Now our living room, dining room, and bedroom is mostly complete.

Thankfully T didn't have to put everything together.

Our new bedroom furniture! :-)

Nightstand

Living room set

Entertainment center

Our first meal at our apartment from Pizza Metro, one of our many neighborhood pizza joints. The pizza was tasty except for the crust- T was right when he said it tasted like crushed up crackers! I think I got a bit spoiled eating lots of amazing pizza in London. Damn.

Sitting patiently marking off all the boxes that the movers brought in.

On moving day, T brought us breakfast from our local coffee joint Bucktown Beanery. I had an egg and bagel sandwich with ham, which was delicious and perfect with my side of almond tea.

We spent Valentines Day at the Wyndam Hotel since we couldn't move into our new place til the morning after. Dinner was at Hotel Conrad, less than a mile from our hotel. Our pre fixe meal included shrimp bisque, goat cheese "salad", lobster ravioli, and chocolate fondue.

the shrimp bisque was perfect and had a generous portion of shrimp.

I wouldn't really consider this a salad even though that's what they called it- a Parmesan crisp under a spread of goat cheese that tasted like yogurt in texture along with honey. Yummy!!

We both agreed there was a generous portion of lobster stuffed into the freshly made ravioli but there was something citrusy about the sauce that threw us both off. Otherwise, it was a great dish.

Chocolate fondue with all the fixin's- strawberries, pineapple, almond cake, and sugar crusted marshmallows. 

Time to relax on the couch!!