Weekend & Last Pregnancy VLOG- Week 40

Hope you are having a good weekend! A few highlights from mine (note: most of these are instagram pictures!):

Giant pickles from Harris Teeter are awesome:

Amazing pedicure:

Trip to the gym- elliptical & Body Step:

Baked up a batch of oatmeal banana chip muffins for some special people:

Spent time with Josh & Frank. While we made the bed, we buried Frank under the pillows:

Saturday night, we went to dinner with friends. I had a pregnancy request (since I never really had any cravings…I am going to consider this one!), to try the ridiculously large nachos from Liberty Tap Room:

Even with help, there was no hope of finishing this!

Pregnancy Update/VLOG- Week 40:

Enjoy your Sunday!

TJs Opening!!! & Summer Turkey Chili

AH! Our Trader Joe's opened today!! And we were there when the doors opened! I wanted to share some pictures from the opening:

 

Me & Josh’s Mom:

Yup…the Mayor was definitely there:

Be still my heart:

And we’ve got wine, beer and liquor!

Checking out:

The stash:

Pop Chips, veggie burgers, edammmus, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, Hawaiian coffee, dark chocolate/caramel wedges, bars, pizza dough, almond and sunflower butter, refried black beans, ginger chews, pineapple salsa and crab cakes!

Moving on, I love chili year round! Its just such a comforting meal! On Tuesday night, we had Josh’s Mom over for dinner and I knew I wanted to make up a batch of summer chili. I had made a similar recipe previously in the crock pot….but couldn’t find the exact recipe. I went off memory and made it on the stove top.

Summer Chili:

Ingredients:

• Olive Oil (~2 tablespoons)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 lb ground turkey or chicken
• 1 Tbsp teriyaki sauce
• 12 oz crushed or strained tomatoes
• 12 oz crushed pineapple, drained
• 12 oz can kidney beans or white beans, drained and rinsed
• 12 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2/3 cup corn (if frozen, defrosted)
• 2/3 cup peas (if frozen, defrosted)

Directions:

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, jalapeno, chili powder, cumin and garlic powder. Cook until fragrant (~ 5 minutes). Add ground turkey and cook through. Add remaining ingredients, turn heat to low/medium low and cook/simmer for at least 20 minutes (preferably an hour or two). Serve with your favorite toppings.

I used Pomi tomatoes in this chili. I’ve heard so many bloggers RAVE about this product that I had to give it a go! Totally delicious!

Toppers (Greek yogurt, cheddar cheese & jalapenos):

Sides (bread & butter and melon-straight from our garden!):

I only wish I had taken pictures of our completed bowls!

What are you up to this weekend? I’m hoping to fit in a couple easy workouts and good meals. Then…baby time???

Lasts & Aluminum Free Baking Soda

Today is a day of lasts before all of the firsts begin. It is my last day of work before I begin maternity leave and the last pump class I will teach before the peanut arrives! Crazy, but exciting all at the same time! Whats going on with you this Wednesday?

Yesterday, I squeezed in some baking. I used Bob’s Red Mill Aluminum Free baking soda in both of the baked goods I made. I received this product to review from the nice people at Swanson Health Products (disclaimer: I received this product for free).

 

First up, I made Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies. I was making these cookies for Diana who placed the winning bid on my baked good through the auction for Susan.

 

The cookies baked up great! They raised up very nicely.

Since the Almond Butter recipe doesn’t make a ton of cookies, I decided to make a second baked good for Diana, Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip muffins. I made just a couple adjustments to the recipe: I added chocolate chunks and made muffins (baked for 30 minutes) instead of bread.

Do you have a favorite baking product? Are you interested in getting some free Swanson Health Products goodies to review on your own blog? Then check out the Swanson Health Blog for all the details.

Bake Sale & Instagram

I know you’re going to see a million reminders today buttttt…..don’t forget about the amazing fundraiser for Susan! My baked goods can be found here. There are so many amazing items up for bid, I have no idea how I’ll choose which to bid on!

Thank you all for your well wishes on the upcoming delivery . I will keep you all in the loop as to whats going on (as much as I can anyways).

I downloaded the Instagram app (name:itzyskitchen) on my iPhone a while ago, but never really started using it. I finally got into it yesterday and am officially addicted! Here is my Sunday via words and a few Instagram pictures:

I slept in- awesome! Once up, I cleaned a bit and then Josh and I went for a walk. I came home and picked a few items from our little garden, jalapenos:

and another watermelon:

J and I ran errands and then met up with his parents for brunch/lunch at Crave (we’re officially addicted). I got the summer salad again. Cornbread croutons? Get in my belly (if you can find room ):

After a little more work-work & ironing, I relaxed with this guy:

And enjoyed an easy dinner- egg wrap with a side of cantaloupe, cucumbers and an un-pictured plain chobani with chocolate chips (yum!):

Do you Instagram? Whats your username? How was your Sunday?

And the winner of the Sweat Pink shoelaces is....Tiffany! Tiffany -I think I still have your address- I will email you if not!

Grill 225 & Pregnancy Update/VLOG- Week 39

Hey All! I apologize for the lack of exciting recipes lately. As time ticks down to the peanuts arrival, there has been a lot of running around, easy meals at home, and even easier meals out .

How has your weekend been so far? Friday night, Josh and I had an easy dinner at home and passed out early- it was wonderful. Saturday involved Body Step in the morning, catching up on work work in the afternoon, and going to Grill 225 to celebrate Josh’s Dad’s birthday at night. 

Since it was a birthday celebration, they brought out champagne for the non-preggers people to enjoy:

Josh’s parents:

Me & Josh:

We are huge fans of Grill 225- it’s the perfect special occasion spot! As I’ve posted before, my favorite thing is their amazing bread basket- especially their tomato focaccia:

 

For dinner, I had their side pasta with whole roasted garlic.

Josh’s parents and Josh had steak. We also had hash browns and Brussels sprouts.  For dessert, Josh’s Dad ordered the AMAZING peach cobbler (which we all split and couldn’t finish!!). They even made the plate extra pretty for his birthday:

Pregnancy Update/VLOG- Week 39:

Thank you all for your questions for Josh! He had a crazy/busy work week, but will be providing answers soon!

Excuse my sweaty picture:

And VLOG:

Funny story: Josh recently traded in his hot two seater car for a more reasonable (but still hot) four door car. On Friday, we received an awesome gift from some of the people that have worked for Josh:

A second base for our car seat ! I think Josh will look like an awesome Mr. Mom with the car seat in the back of his new car. Thank you guys!!

As a fun side note, look what we pulled out of our garden this week!!

MELON! I am super excited.

What is your favorite summer fruit?