Sunday, August 30, 2015

Road Trips and Back Pains at 29 Weeks

I'm in my 30th week of pregnancy, and I have been bugging my husband to take me on a little road trip for months. We have had a summerliterallyfilled with renos, home projects, overtime, you name it. So I thought it would be nice to get out of the city, just the two of us, and do something new, before our "couple" status collided and morphed into "family" status.

Well, I took the day before our little road trip off to mentally and physically prepare. I booked an 80-minute prenatal massage at this super great spa (90% is covered by work benefits. HALLELUJAH!), went for a pedicure to get my feet ready for some walking and French-manicure showcasing, did some groceries so that we had some yummy snacks for the road and for our picnic, etc. When I got home, I thought I would do some light cleaning, the dishes, you know, to just tidy our home up before we left... The standard. Oh, and have dinner ready for hubby before he got home. Well, from about 4 p.m. to about 11 p.m., I was standing in the kitchen, washing mountains of dishes (I don't believe in dishwashers... In fact, I hate the smell of my dishes after they've gone through the dishwasher.), washing a variety of fruit and vegetables for our car ride, making a huge bowl of salad for our picnic, washing the picnic set, making dinner, etc. The idea here was to bring as many foods with us to not spend money on junk and empty calories that would be of no benefit to hubby, baby or myself.

By 11 p.m., my back was giving signs that it had had enoughand rightly so. At that point, this pregnant mama decided she needed some sleep if she were even thinking of waking up early enough the next morning to take on the road and a full day of adventures.

To my horror at, I woke up the next morning at 6:30 to horrible lower back pain. It was so bad that, for the first time during this pregnancy, I cried out of discomfort or pain. There was no way I could hit the road AND walk all day. No way at all. I could barely get up to go to the washroom and brush my teeth! Thank heavens my husband was there. He made me breakfast, told me to rest and assured me that if I felt better, even if it were later on in the morning, we could still go. His actions and words were very comforting.

By 9:45 a.m., I got up and noticed a significant improvement, so I asked him if he was still interested in going. After that, we hustled to get ready, pack up the food, get ice for the cooler and head out! Our destination was just two hours away, at the +SPACE FOR LIFE 's +Botanical Gardens in Montreal, and by 1:15 p.m., we were there! My mood really changed for the better.

Looking back at the day before, I think I mixed a few activities that should not have been mixed together:
  1. trying the 80-minute massage instead of the 50-minute one I usually get, which, I think, loosened my back ligaments a little too much;
  2. carrying heavy grocery bags after the massage; and
  3. being on my feet for several hours most of the day.
Honestly, what was I thinking? The fact is I wasn't. See, sometimes, your mind tricks you into believing your body is invincible and that you can continue doing things you were originally able to do pre-pregnancy. But soon enough, reality kicks in, and you feel the physical consequences of not reminding yourself of your reality. Whyyyy?! In the moment, what you are really asking yourself is "why not?". That's the trick I fell into simply due to the fact that there is so much that needs to get done in a home, and I really do enjoy doing things around the house to make it feel more cosy, inviting, and like home.

Anyway, the day was a success, and although my feet were a little sore from all the walking, my back was doing pretty well! I think it makes a difference when you walk for a long time vs. when you stand for a long time.

Best things about this little getaway were that hubby and I got to spend some good quality time together, we took some cool shots and enjoyed a gorgeous sunny day! And let me tell you, I did NOT realize just how big my tummy had gotten until I saw pictures he took! Looking at them reminds me that the female body is such a wonder in the way it is able to change its form to accommodate a new life, and makes me forget all the negative feelings simple back pain can bring on, like "I can't do anything any more", "I'm useless", "Why can't my body perform the way it did before", "ugh, I'm tired of being limited"... And the truth is, my body is doing much more than I can even imagine, and if it needs a little break, it's only because it is exhausting itself making a beautiful baby and keeping up with my crazy life. So it's no wonder it gets tired from time to time!

On that note, here are some pictures from our trip!




















The Difference Between "Diet" & "Healthy Living"

To begin, do you know the difference between dieting and changing your lifestyle? I didn't. Not six years ago, anyway.

See, this time six years ago, I started training for Miss Universe Canada, my first ever beauty pageant. And as we all know, there is an evening gown and bathing suit portion in this beauty competition. So knowing this, I made sure to extensively look up meal plans and exercises to follow, and even sought professional guidance from a  few very developed personal trainers to be as ready as I could be.

Some of the workouts I did included 6:15 a.m. boot-camp sessions every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, spinning classes on Sundays, weight training once or twice a week and Yoga on Saturdays. My body almost fully progressed to the way I would have like it to—but I was having some difficulty in the nutrition department, which kept things like love handles around. One thing I can say for myself and for many others is that food, especially good, tasty and not-so-good-for-you food is sometimes hard to resist, especially when you tell yourself you are on a "diet". For me, personally, as soon as someone puts a restriction on something, my inner rebel flares up and craves to do the exact opposite. So even though I was working out extensively, my food intake is what really needed a makeover.

See, when someone mentions to you they are "dieting", it implies that they are probably depriving themselves entirely of certain foods and that this is only a temporary thing. Little did I know that "dieting" was the only thing keeping me from seeing more drastic changes in my body. Don't get me wrong, I was in pretty good shape by the time the pageant rolled around in mid-June 2010, but I could have done so much better had I not been so focused on the number on the scale and the number of calories I was taking in. My eating habits weren't the greatest either, because I would eat very clean while depriving myself of breads and sweets (my weaknesses) for a certain amount of time and then crash for a few days. I did not know what moderation was, and soon, I was counting down the days until this whole pageant was over so that I could eat whatever I wanted again.

The first meal I had after my pageant journey ended was a McDonald's Big Mac with fries and a large Coke. It could not have gone down my system any smoother than it did, and I loved it.

I have to admit that after the pageant, I didn't stick to the good old gym routine I had once planned out pre-pageant, nor was I watching what I was eating. But about a year later, I had gained approximately 15 lbs from not caring as much about my nutrition or about exercise.  And let me tell you, it  wasn't 15 lbs of muscle—I started feeling uncomfortable.
When that light went off in my head, it was at that very moment that I realized that diet was not the answer. In order to achieve a healthy body and to feel good about oneself, there is a need to change your outlook on your life and an even bigger need to change your lifestyle.
See, from the day we come into life, we are given one body. Your body is your responsibility. You cannot trade it in for a new one. You are the only one with the power to change it. And this change can be for the better or for the worse. You must determine your path.

Once I realized this, it was almost like a night-and-day transformation. When I was looking into getting back into shape this time around, I did not have a "get fit by ______" date, nor was I looking at deprivations of any sorts. I simply told myself that this time around, I am getting into shape and turning my life around for me. Not for some pageant, to impress others or to be #1, but for me.

I quickly signed up for a three-month dodgeball session with friends (which I actually kept on doing for three years), and this translated into finding other great ways of staying active. I also found some yummy meal variations I could later build on, and ate that occasional slice of delectable cheesecake when it crossed my path, but would not go overboard. See, when I changed my outlook, my body was no longer the enemy I was trying to control. In fact, it became the friend I was trying to nurture and keep healthy. And let me tell you, when you stop being so hard on yourself and find pure motivation and positivity, it makes a world of a difference.

Needless to say, I ended up doing dodgeball (and I have to say, I have a pretty wicked arm) and beach volleyball. I also started running back in 2012. I went from not being able to run 500 metres without being out of breath and taking a break to running 7 kilometres in a year and a half without any breaks. My nutrition, however, is what really changed. Instead of choosing quick and easy foods to bring into my home, I decided to start making things from scratch and using whole foods to avoid preservatives, empty sugars, pesticides, unclean food-handling, processed carbohydrates and unnatural ingredients. This way, I dictated what goes into my snacks and meals, and what stays out.

Since then, I have never thought about going on another "diet" again.
How did you get to where you are today? What motivates you to have and to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Send your answers in here or visit alesiadunn.blogspot.ca and follow me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

The Struggles of Compiling a Gift Registry

Man, oh man: The time to compile a gift registry has finally arrived. At 6+ months, I figured it what about time I start to prepare "in case" some sort of surprise baby shower were to miraculously appear. 

You know, at first I thought it would be so much fun, and exciting, and just so easy. But the more research I did and comparisons I made, the more I began to realize that there is so much more to registry building than I previously assumed. And my one day of leisurely scanning baby items at +Toys"R"Us isles quickly turned into hours of research at home, at work, on forums and on the go. So when I originally thought I was going to spend ~an hour or two at the store adding things to my registry, what I was really in for was hours of background checking anything and everythingbecause, don't we all want the best for our babies? I now fully (or so I think) understand this statement.

The first challenge I faced was strollers. The questions my husband and I had to ask ourselves were:
  • Do we want a three-wheel jogging stroller or a regular four-wheel one?
  • What colour do we want to choose?
  • Do we want to buy a travel system or buy things separately?
  • Has the car seat passed safety inspections?
  • What are the safety features each stroller has to offer?
  • Is the stroller easy to fold, transport and store?
  • Does the seat offer good back support and sufficient coverage from light and wind?
  • +Graco+BOB Gear? Chicco Nuevo? +Baby Trend+Peg Perego+Britax+Evenflo? Nuna IVVI? The list can go on and on and on...
Finally, my husband and I decided to go with the "Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Travel System with SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat". Why? Because we both like to run and we have a very active lifestyle (I plan on going back to doing the same level and intensity of activity once I get the go-ahead) so it only made sense. I have not used it yet—evidently so—but once the baby is here and I begin to regularly test it out, I will know if it was a good choice for us!

Graco FastAction Fold Jogger Travel System with SnugRide Click Connect 35 Infant Car Seat - in Marathon

Our second challenge was cribs. Boy, oh boy, was it mind-boggling to come up with the perfect colour pallet. Because, choosing a crib is not just about choosing a crib, it is about planning out the whole nursery. No amount of pinning on +Pinterest or googling on +Google could prepare me for this long journey. I often asked myself:
  • Do I want a beige, grey or white crib set? (My top three colours)
  • Do I want them to be rustic-looking or have a solid colour?
  • Do we want a traditional or convertible crib?
  • Will we actually use the convertible options when baby Boy gets older or will we end up buying him an actual bed set?
  • "High-end" designer or regular? Is there a difference in quality or are you paying for the crest and the name?
  • What are we going to use as nursery accent colours?
  • What about bed sheets, wall colour and curtains?
  • CURTAINS?! Should we do curtains or blinds?? Whatever the case, should we add ruffles and all those baby-ish accessories to the windows?
  • I like elephants... Will my theme be ruined if I start to stray a little?
  • Should I bother with a bed skirt? What about a bed set?
  • Oh my gosh, what kind of light fixture should we choose? We don’t want the boob-light that came with the house, it barely emits enough light!
  • Do we want an organic mattress? What about sheets? Should we go with organic sheets as well patterns or no patterns?
As you can see, there is so much thought that goes into a nursery. I didn't even put that much thought into my own room! Verdict: I kept the light, neutral wall colour, went for a rustic-y grey crib and dresser, off-white curtains and light-gold and mint accent colours. I "pulled off" the gold and mint by painting the letters of my baby’s first name in these colours. The mattress I chose is the “Kidiway Organic Delicate Touch Mattress” and the sheets I chose are the “Kushies Organic Jersey Fitted Crib Sheet” in off white. I think it’s important to keep natural items like these a priority, since baby will spend so much time sleeping and breathing in the air around him. I am hoping to eventually get the Melissa and Doug plush giraffe for the corner in between the crib and the dresser. And as for a rocking chair, I haven't even looked into that yet. All I know is there was an ultra-comfy one at +Fab Baby Gear. And let me tell you, it's best to keep me off it, or else I will be lulling myself to sleep, never mind baby. It might seem as though I am “obsessing” quite a bit over this aspect, but whenever I do something, I make sure that it’s not just a temporary fix. This room my husband and I (more like just “I” lol) are putting together will last our son quite a few years, and that is why quality is so important. Also, it really doesn’t help that the baby market is so full of choices. It is truly dizzying!

Baby Caché Windsor Lifetime Crib - Grey

The next big thing I came to realize was that not all toys and teethers are to be trusted. I had the pleasure of watching a great documentary on +Netflix called "The Human Experiment", during which I learned that many plastic children's toys contain chemicals that babies can ingest while innocently biting them. If we give our children harmful toys (not on purpose, of course) we could end up exposing them to unnecessary long-terms conditions, which could prevent them from having kids in the long run or cause them to develop short-term or even long-term diseases. So please guys, avoid plastic, dollar-store-quality toys and opt for something more eco-friendly. What they suggest in the documentary is going for wooden toys, as they do not release toxins into your baby's environment.



And then there’s all the other stuff like receiving blankets, diapers, onesies, twosies... You name it! Holy cow, this baby is going to end up having more clothes than my husband! Lol! That's not saying much though, he doesn't really like the whole shopping thing, and most men make due with their favourite staple items anyways. Gee, I started getting dizzy at this point! There is so much to choose from! But in my research, I found that many first-time moms are thinking the exact same thing as I am...
  • How many of everything will I need?
  • What if I get too much? What would I do with it?
  • What if I get too little? How am I supposed to save money, especially on diapers?
  • Which brands should I go for?
Thankfully, I joined an online group for mothers due in November 2015 from all over the world, and many second- or third-time moms have provided me with tons of useful insight. According to them, about 8-10 receiving blankets should do the trick. I still don't know if I personally bought too much or too little diapers for each size my little baby will be, but I just figured I could just buy some more if need be or sell them. I found a gem of a way to buy and sell that kind of thing by joining a local resale group, and that is where I have found all my diapers and wipes so far. Some of the deals are quite the steal! I went for +Pampers because apparently they tend to work better for baby boys. So we will see! And as for onesies, I tried to be tactful. I haven't bought many, but whenever I would come across a nice deal or clearance at a good store, I usually rummage through to see if there is anything I would like. On top of that, my mother, sister and mother-in-law have been getting us cute little items here and there to slowly fill his closet. I am in looooove with some of the things they have gotten him!!

To sum it all up, I think those are the items I most struggled with. However, I am so happy that I made a final decision on the things I will be choosing for Baby L. In the end, I know he won't care what he gets and what he doesn't get in terms of material things, but I would give him the world if I could.

Are there any baby items you struggled with? Anything you thought you would love, but didn't? I would love to know. 

-Alesia D.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Individual's and Couples' Activities on a Budget


Being pregnant and on a mission to save a few dolla-dolla bills here and there before baby comes, I have had to think about ways to still have fun by myself and with hubby but not break the bank.

Thankfully, I live in a city where a wide variety of fun, free activities are offered on the daily, ESPECIALLY in the summer time. And let me tell you, when you have a nice, chunky mortgage to pay off, a baby on the way and all these little expenses here and there, you start to appreciate the word "free" when it comes to fun. Now, I'm not saying that we're drowning in our expenses or anything, but I think it makes things more interesting when you start having to use your creativity to do things. It pushes you to further familiarize yourself with the city in which you live, explore it more, find new interests and hobbies and try new things altogether. All-around good times!

Now without wasting any more time, allow me to present my top activities for preggos and for couples.

Parliament Hill Yoga: 

I am so fortunate to live in a city where fitness is prevalent. So much so, that every Wednesday, +lululemon athletica here in Ottawa puts on a free Yoga class from 12-1 p.m. for anyone to join. This tradition began in the summer of 2012 and has been growing ever since. Expect to see people in the hundreds downward-dogging and sun-saluting their lunch hour away. It really is a magical thing to see so many people coming out and getting a good breath of fresh air with you. Just don't forget to bring your mat, some yoga gear and water... Assistants are constantly walking around and helping participants out!


Prenatal Massage: 

THIS IS FOR THOSE WITH BENEFITS AT WORK! There is nothing more relaxing than getting a good, deep tissue prenatal massage from someone who knows their stuff. When hubby is busy, I really like to take the time to get pampered in this way—at least once a month. My suggestion, if you don't already have yourself a masseuse, is to request a female masseuse with strong hands (if that's what you like). Ladies, I just find that male masseuses get a little awkward when dealing with a pregnant lady, and it really just does not work for me. I am so lucky to have found a fantastic female masseuse, I literally fall asleep. And the best thing about all of this is that I only have to pay 10% of the regular price! Gosh I love benefits.


Berry Picking with Significant Other: 

I think this activity provides a few great benefits. Firstly, it costs significantly less to buy a basket and fill it with as many berries as possible (as well as eat "a few" along the way, hehe) than it would to buy packs at the grocery, on sale or not on sale. Secondly, it allows you and hubby to bond over a light and fun activity. And men love food, right? I say "winninggg" to that! Thirdly, depending on the type of berries you are picking, you could end up doing lots of squatting, which results in your daily workout being completed. Especially if doctor has requested you not do any exercise, it's a sneaky way of getting some in anyway! Fourthly, if you did like I did this year and picked a TON of berries, you could end up making homemade jams and spreads! That way, you control the amount of sugar and you ensure you are consuming real fruits when having jam. When pregnant, I feel very strongly about this.


Farmers' Markets: 

Ever thought of checking out your local farmers' market? It's such a great way to learn what produce is in season and support your local community. My husband and I love that. Many Saturday mornings, we will get up, wear comfortable clothes and head out for a nice, long walk in the downtown area to see what new fruit and vegetables farmers are bringing in and buy a few of our favourites. And for the majority of time, their prices tend to be better than of those in large supermarket chains. And fresher. When these products are coming from, say, Mexico or something, you don't know a) how long it took them to get here, b) how they were stored, c) when they were picked and d) if any rodents managed to get in the truck, plane or boat on which they were transported. #reality


Casino du Lac Leamy Sound of Light: 

This just happens to be one of my favourite free activities. I mean, you can pay to attend this firework activity (between $25 and like $100-something), but the truth of the matter is that you can easily watch the fireworks from anywhere and tune into the right radio station to hear the music, which corresponds to the firework movement and intensity. It happens every Wednesday and Saturday nights for three weeks (5 nights total). One of four countries compete on each night, and the winner is announced at the grand finale on the final night (short clip is on my Instagram!!). It is definitely worth seeing!! Just grab a lawn chair or two, a drink and your camera! And don't forget to hold hubby's arm from time to time. :) P.S. Fireworks aren't harmful to baby if you are pregnant. Baby might get startled at first, but absolutely no damage can be done to his eardrums. Just an FYI!


Northern Lights Sound and Lights Show: 

Another free activity offered on Parliament Hill, this nightly must-see event should be part of at least one of your summer date nights. Using both advanced digital technology and great sound, the show highlights Canada's history on the Peace Tower. It's so easy to keep this activity free: parking practically anywhere downtown is free after 7 p.m., so no having to worry about that! Plus, the baby in mama's belly will enjoy all the sounds!


Picnics by the Water:

Think you're too old, too busy or too cool for a picnic by the water? Think again. There is so much potential when planning a picnic for you and hubby. In my case, hubby loves going out for walks and he also loves eating, so I figure, "why not make a date activity out of it?' This works so well for us because we get to use our food from home: we make sandwiches, fresh salads, bring water and dessert with us—a full meal! I bought a cute picnic bag in our dating days that includes cutlery, plates, cloth napkins, cups and even salt&pepper shakers and a bottle opener. It looks like a backpack and holds so much food. One of our favourite spots is near the Rideau Canal, absolutely romantic.

Of course, you can always opt for movie nights, game nights, parades, festivals, and so on, but these are some of our favourites. One thing I encourage you to do it is to check your city's webpage to find events and activities in your area. Especially with being pregnant, I find that anything I can combine with walking is worth doing since my doctor has put many restrictions on the frequency and intensity of the activities I would normally do.

What are some of your favourite free activities? I'd love to hear and try them out if possible!

-Alesia D.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Baked Salmon Cakes

I remember the first time I had salmon cakes. It was over two years ago, the summer before I got married. My parents and I decided to go out for appetizers and drinks at +Moxies to celebrate the end of the week. They opted for their favourites: nachos and Caesars. I thought I would be the rebel that evening and went for salmon cakes, but stuck with my classic peach bellini. It was the first time I had ever tried salmon cakes, and I loved them! The only thing that I could think to myself, however, was "I can do it better".

A few weeks later, salmon went on sale, so I bought two nice, big fillets from the grocery store. I wanted to buy lots of salmon because I wanted to ensure I had freezable leftovers for later on. I had made sure to take note of all the different ingredients I spotted in the ones from Moxie's, and bought what I needed--and more! Especially with all the fresh vegetables in season at that particular time of summer, I could not resist blending flavours!

Only thing I would suggest is picking wild and Atlantic salmon over the farmed  and Pacific variety. Reasons for this include: less hormones, less chemicals, better quality of water, which has an influence on the quality of living, etc.

As it turned out, my salmon cakes were a success!! They were so flavourful, fresh and just so freaken good!! And another great thing about salmon cakes is that you can decide on whether you want to have them as smaller, bite-sized appetizers or as a main course (in the form of patties just on their own or in fresh summer-time burgers). And you can't forget to make a complementary dipping sauce!!! A nice avocado-dill sauce goes perfectly.

Benefits
Since we are using many whole, fresh ingredients to make this, the health benefits are endless. Following are some of the ingredients used in this recipe and how they help your overall health.

For starters, wild salmon is a sustainable source of omega-3 fatty acid. Since the human body does not naturally produce this, we must eat foods containing omega-3, as it normalizes and regulates your cholesterol triglyceride levels. It improves bone density and strength, and can help prevent heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure, among other things. Salmon is also very high in Vitamin D. One of the many health benefits of this vitamin is that it enhances blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and, as a personal observation: it really helps with iron absorption. Vitamin D really helped my body absorb iron and regain strength in my nails and hair. So for all the ladies wondering why their iron levels are low, consider either taking Vitamin D shots at your local clinic or pills.

Next up, bell peppers contain a very pronounced amount of Vitamin C, which translates into better iron absorbency and antioxidant properties. Red peppers decrease anxiety, hypertension and reduce bloating. What's more? Regular consumption of this red veggy has been linked to lowering your chances of cancer. Orange peppers have little calories and contain lots of fiber, which is important if you are exercising portion-control and want to improve your cholesterol levels. And yellow peppers are great as they contain niacin (also known as Vitamin B3), an organic compound that helps your nerves and digestive system function the way they are meant to.

Also on the list is parsley.This herb puts your immune system at such an advantage that you just can't go wrong! It is rich in Vitamin A (beta-carotene), B-12, C and K, meaning that it cleans your immune system and flushes the excess fluid from your body. And let me tell you from experience, if you're pregnant, flushed out excess fluid can have you feeling pretty nice, and light, and not huge nor bloated. Did you know that this leafy green stuff also contributes to anemia prevention, bad breath treatment, blood tonic and purifying and indigestion soothing?

And to end things, we will conclude with sweet potatoes before introducing my baked salmon cake recipe! They are a source of potassium, which is an electrolyte that regulates the heartbeat, reduces swelling and inflammation and controls kidney activity. And like carrots, this vegetable is high in beta-carotene. Additionally, it strengthens eyesight and boosts our immune system's capabilities. It also protects the skin against aging. Now ain't that nice?

Another overall good thing about having salmon cakes at hand is that portion control is easily exercised (although, I have to say, these suckers turn out so good that they are SO hard to resist sometimes).

Now without further ado, let the cooking begin!
Ingredients:
For the salmon cakes
  • 3 lbs salmon fillets;
  • 2 tbs olive oil;
  • salt and ground black pepper, to taste;
  • 2 small red onions, thinly diced;
  • 7 celery sticks, thinly diced;
  • 1/2 English cucumber, thinly diced;
  • 1 red, 1 orange and 1 yellow bell peppers, thinly diced;
  • 1/2 sweet potato; thinly diced;
  • 3 large garlic cloves; thinly diced;
  • 1 cup parsley, chopped;
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs; 
  • 4 tbsp light mayonnaise;
  • 3 tbsp mustard;
  • 1 tsp paprika;
  • 2 tbsp dried dill
  • 1 tbsp dried basil;
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten; and
  • 4 large egg whites, lightly beaten.
For the avocado-dill sauce
  • 2 ripe avocados, mashed;
  • 1 cup light sour cream;
  • 3 tbsp mayonnaise;
  • 2-3 tbs dried dill;
  • 1/2 lemon, squeezed;
  • 3 scallions, finely chopped;
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped;
  • salt to taste; and
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper.
Directions:
Salmon Cakes
  1. Add olive oil to a large pan and heat over medium-high heat.
  2. Add one salmon fillet at a time to the pan when you see the olive start to boil, and season with salt and pepper. Each fillet should be cooked until the salmon easily flakes. Cooking time depends on thickness of the fish. Tip: don't worry about peeling off the skin just yetthe skin will gradually come off as the fish cooks more and more. Then at that point, you can peel it off. 
  3. Place cooked salmon in a large bowl.
  4. In the same pan, now emptied, add olive oil, onions, garlic, celery, cucumber, peppers, sweet potato, parsley, salt and pepper. Saute over low-medium heat. You don't want anything to burnyour goal is to soften these ingredients, give it about 15 minutes. Make sure to drain any excess liquid. Set aside while you complete step 5.
  5. Flake salmon in the same bowl you placed it in after cooking. Add breadcrumbs, mayo, mustard, paprika, dried dill, basil and oregano. Add the vegetables and mix very well. Taste and adjust the flavour to your liking. Add eggs and mix once again. Now cover and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  6. Set oven to 400°F. On a baking sheet, add parchment paper to fit and start shaping your salmon cakes. A fistful makes appetizer-size cakes, while palm-sized ones are ideal for patties.
  7. Bake 10-13 minutes on each side, until the cakes are a nice golden-brown.
Avocado-Dill Sauce
Combine all the ingredients together, and voila!

Enjoy!!!

-Alesia D.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Yoga on the Hill

As mentioned in my last post entitled "Stress Busters - Pregnancy Edition" under my Fitness and Wellness section, I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather we have been getting + free events across my city, and do #yogaonthehill. I made sure to plan my day around this outdoor activity so that I could make the most of it and ensure I did not miss it.

To begin, my day started at 7:30 a.m. My pregnancy led me to crave oatmeal cookies that day, so I quickly ran out of the house unshowered (oops!) to get a couple of missing ingredients, and got crackin' on that baking! While I waited for the oven to preheat, I took a quick shower (no dirty people around here!) and started forming my oh-so-delicious-I-can't-believe-I-just-made-these oatmeal cookies. And by 10:30 a.m., all was done, the kitchen sink was full,and I was scrambling to get all my things together before heading out to my first outdoor Yoga sesh! My "things" included my new +Thyme Maternity exercise gear, my +Ray-Ban aviators, a tall bottle of ice water, washed and cut up lemons as well as fresh-from-the-garden mint leavesand my Yoga mat, of course!


I made sure to get downtown early so that I could park far and get a bit of cardio in before and after my main workout. It was such a perfect day, it was the best option! This way, I got to save money on expensive parking fees, do some complementary exercise, get some fresh air, observe people as they whizzed by me and really increase the appreciation I already have for MY city.

By 11:55 a.m., I finally arrived to Parliament Hill and found myself a spot. Not a great view of the instructor, but with hundreds of others there, I expected nothing less. Plus, it's refreshing to just be in the presence of so many others wanting to do good for their bodies.

At 12:00 p.m. sharp, the class started. NICE!!! I was so proud of myself for taking initiative and being part of something like this! As we furthered into the class, my body recognized a lot of the moves (as my mother was a Yoga instructor for many years, and I attended many of her classes) and flowed with all the other yogis. The only thing I could not do were all the exercises involving laying on my stomach. (But justifiably soafter all, I AM 6 months pregnant!) During those periods, I simply alternated between doing the cat/cow poses and looking around at my surroundings. I did all that while soaking up some awesome Vitamin D.

Tourists seemed especially intrigued by and interested in this activity, and I noticed that many seemed keen to take pictures of all the participants. This event really adds to Ottawa's unique charm and fitness-oriented #lifestyle.

Seriously, I am planning on doing this all over again next Wednesday. It's too good, too fun, and too temporary not to every week (or at least, when possible).

Until next time!

-Alesia D.









August 7, 2015

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Cream of Broccoli Soup

Healthy Cream of Broccoli

I've been on a huge health kick for about a year and a half now, and any time I see a meal somewhere I am interested in making at home, I look for healthier alternatives. Not only is it better for myself, but I then know I am making responsible, health-conscious choices for my family.

Last week, I noticed that both broccoli AND cauliflower were on sale, so my ticker started ticking, and I thought of making a cream of broccoli soup using different ingredients. See, in my recipe, I find that using dried herbs to enhance the flavour trumps using heavy creams or loads of butter. Don't get me wrong though, creamy, buttery soups are awesome in the fall and winter and I wouldn't turn them down if you offered me some, but in the summer, you just want something lighter. Ya dig? Being pregnant, I especially appreciate feeling lighter. So thank you, healthy soups! (By the way, this recipe calls for SOME butter, so no panicking.)

And now, let's begin!

Ingredients:
  • 1 large cauliflower, washed+cut into florets;
  • 4 heads broccoli, washed+cut into florets (the store I buy them from sells them in couples);
  • 1 whole red onion, chopped;
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp olive oil;
  • 5 cups 1% milk;
  • 2 cup organic, low-sodium chicken broth;
  • 2 tbsp butter;
  • 2 tbsp garlic salt;
  • 2 tbsp onion powder;
  • 2 tbsp dried parsley; and
  • salt & pepper to taste.
Directions:
  • Heat olive oil in a large pot on medium-high heat, and add garlic along with onions. Stir and add water on occasion to prevent burning.
  • Add milk and chicken broth, followed by cauliflower. Put the lid on (not fully covering the pot) and let it come to a boil as to soften the cauliflower, about 10-15 minutes. Note: Keep a close eye at this pointwhen milk reaches a certain temperature, it fizzes to the top and creates a mess!
  • Add broccoli to the mix, and let it soften.
  • Once broccoli is soft, start transferring what you can into your blender. Remember not to fill it too highabout ¾ of the way is good enough to avoid an overflow. Then place back in pot.
  • Once the whole batch has been blended, add your butter, garlic salt, onion powder, dried parsley, salt and pepper, and stir. Now do a taste test and add whatever you think should be added.
  • Once satisfied with the flavour, turn heat on low and let the soup sit for 10 minutes to let the different ingredients sink in together.
  • After that, serve and enjoy!
Tell me what you think and if this worked for you! :)

-Alesia D.
August 5, 2015

Monday, August 3, 2015

Tabouleh Recipe

Middle Eastern Tabouleh

So, this salad is a dish I grew up eating very often as a child. It is extremely refreshing, tasty and good for youplus the health benefits are endless! And did I forget to mention that vegetarians would love this?

My parents love their fresh veggie garden. And I am so glad to say that we have a common interest. I think it's so great to be able to walk out into your own backyard, pick what you need to pick, come back into the house and cook. There's something so organic about picking your own vegetables and knowing exactly where they came from.

The main ingredient here is parsley. This herb puts your immune system at such an advantage, that you just can't go wrong! It is rich in Vitamin A (beta-carotene), B-12, C and K, meaning that it cleans your immune system and flushes the excess fluid from your body. And let me tell you from experience, if you're pregnant, flushed out excess fluid can have you feeling pretty darn nice, and light, and not huge, and not bloated. Did you know that this leafy green stuff also contributes to anemia prevention, bad breath treatment, blood tonic and purifying and indigestion soothing? So yeah, you can say it's pretty high up there along with kale.

Before you start making this salad though, keep in mind that that it is quite time-consuming, as all the big ingredients must be finely chopped... No big pieces allowed if you plan on doing it the traditional way!

Alright folks, time to roll those sleeves up and get crackin'!

Ingredients:

  • 3 parsley bunches;
  • 3-4 small to medium tomatoes;
  • 2 green onions;
  • 2 lemons with pulp, squeezed;
  • 1 handful bulgur, soaked first;
  • ~cup olive oil;
  • 2 tbsp dried or fresh mint, finely chopped if fresh;
  • ~1 tbsp salt (or more to taste... you want it to complement the lemon juice);
  • ~1½ tbsp sumac spice.
Directions:

1. Wash your parsley very extremely well. Especially when they are coming straight from the garden, you want to make sure ALL the dirt is washed out, because failing to do so can eventually lead to developing kidney stones. What I do is thoroughly wash my two sinks with soap and hot water, drain, then fill with cold water only to the point where the parsley leaves are completely submerged. I swish each bunch around in sink #1 until I feel it is time to place them in sink #2 and start the swishing/cleaning process all over again. I usually do this process 6 to 9 times, depending on how dirty my bunches are.



 2. Next, dry your bunches very well using a kitchen towel. And wash your tomatoes and green onions. This is easy enough! Tip: If you bought your parsley today but aren't ready to make your tabouleh just yet, wrap it in that same towel and place it in an air-tight ziploc bag that will go in your fridge. It will stay fresh and crunchy for 1 to 2 days.





3. Chop each bunch, one at a time. You want to make sure each is being chopped as finely as possible. Same thing with the tomatoes and onions.

 4. Next, squeeze your lemons, remove the seeds from the squeezer and pour all contents into your bowl.

 5.Add the bulgur, sumac, mint, olive oil and salt, et voilĂ ! Mix everything very well, add anything you think should be added and enjoy! I personally like tabouleh with potato wedges and a nice BBQ.

Thanks for reading,

-Alesia D.

Banana Bread Recipe

Banana Bread

I. Love. Banana Bread. It's one of the easiest things to make and most certainly a tasty treat to have on-hand to bring to work, take on the go, or whatever! My husband especially likes it, so that why I make it whenever I see a few ripe bananas.

Actually, I only started making it when I got married back in 2013. The thought occurred to me when I met up with a long-time childhood friend. Like, I'm talking about a grade 1 to grade 6 kind of thing. Every single time I went over to her house when we were younger, her mother had a freshly baked batch of banana muffins, ready to eat. I remember them being oh-so good and wondered why my mom never made them...

So there you have it, the background story to my love of banana bread.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I do!!

Banana Bread
Ingredients:

  • 3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed;
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted;
  • ¾ cup brown sugar;
  • 1 egg, beaten;
  • 1½ cups flour;
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract;
  • 1 tsp baking soda;
  • pinch of salt;
  • pinch of cinnamon (or to taste); and
  • rolled oats (for decoration at the end).
Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (or 175°C) and butter a 4"x8" loaf pan.
  2. Place bananas in medium-sized bowl and mash them as well as you can.
  3. Start adding all other ingredients to this bowl (I subconsciously always add them in the same order, as shown above). And mix well.
  4. Pour batter into greased pan, and sprinkle some oats on top for decoration.
  5. Place in the oven for 55 minutes. My oven is strong, so 55 minutes is all I need, but depending on the strength of your oven, you may want to use a cake tester, such as a fork, knife or toothpick, to make sure your loaf is done.
  6. Remove your yummy treat from the pan, let it cool for 5-10 minutes, then serve!
Enjoy this!!

-Alesia D.