Thursday, October 29, 2015

Chocolate Avocado-Banana Pudding

At one day away from being 38 weeks pregnant, I was desperately craving something chocolate-y but also healthy (since I had a not-so-healthy dinner with hubby the night before). I opened up my pantry, and what did I spot? Some organic cocoa powder. My mind began to race as I went through all the different things I could make with it. One thing led to another, and I remembered that I had 2.5 avocados left in the fridge and extra ripe bananas I was saving for another banana bread loaf.

Can you guess what my sweet treat of choice was? Well, the answer is a creamy, nutrient-dense chocolate pudding. It felt really good to make such a healthy choice after choosing to eat a dinner high in sodium, trans fats and probably chemicals as well the night before. I just felt cleaner and more energized at the thought of it! This healthy snack motivated me to clean and organize my over-cluttered pantry (which, just by the way, now looks ah-mazing), make a nice dinner and get started on some apple-cinnamon energy balls for the hospital when baby Lukas decides to come. Mm!

And for all the pregnant ladies out there who have not been able to tolerate the taste or consistency of avocado, this is a great way to make sure you are consuming a good amount of nutrients for your little one's brain development, in particular. Throughout my entire pregnancy, I was unable to even think about avo, but this dessert seemed to do the trick. :) 



The recipe I used is very simple, and the ingredients are easily replaceable in the event you do not have all that is required (although, you absolutely do need avocados and cocoa powder).

Avocado-Banana Pudding
Ingredients


  • 2½ ripe avocados;
  • ½ cup cocoa powder (I used organic);
  • ½ cup brown sugar;
  • 1 very ripe banana;
  • ½ cup cow's milk (one of my biggest craving over the past two months)*;
  • ¼ cup coconut milk (or more if you like taste)*;
  • pinch of cinnamon
Blend all the ingredients together and enjoy! You will be able to get 4-5 servings out of this recipe.

*If you prefer using other types of milk or just using one type only, go for it! But make sure you have about ¾ to 1 cup of it, in case you want it to be a little smoother.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!!

Thanks,

-Alesia D.


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Monday, October 26, 2015

Landmark Moments: Baby Milestone Cards

A few weeks ago, I received a package in the mail from Landmark Moments - UK - containing 38 different baby milestone cards. I was really excited, because never did it occur to me to actually document my baby's milestones once he arrived into the world. The cards, I believe, are a smart way of doing so, since there is a box on the top left of each one that allows you to write down the date each milestone was reached. I also thought these cards would be a cute keepsake for your baby once he/she is older, as there is enough room on the back of each card to stick a picture. So why not create some sort of scrapbook one day to make going down memory lane more fun?

First Impression of the Product:
The illustrations are varied and full of colour, and they are also pretty gender-neutral. The cards themselves seem to be made of a thick construction paper material that prevents them from being easily bended. The font is very baby-ish, and this adds a nice little touch to the cards. One thing I found a little disappointing, however, is that they do not seem to ship to North America. Personally, I think they would do well here, considering the cost (€11.99, even if you were to convert, it is still reasonable), the
quality and the variation. Maybe that is in the works, who knows!

To give you an idea of what is included in the package, I photographed the entire set:



If you are on social media, they give you several ways to connect with them!




See? Real cute!!

I am very excited to have my little man so that I can begin to document his precious little life and put these fun cards to use, but wish they would change their delivery options on +Amazon

Thank you,

-Alesia D.

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Have you ever seen these before? Would you like to see them be shipped to North America? 
Tell me what you think!









Pack your Bags! It's D-Day

In the past few months, I have been asked about whether or not I have packed my hospital bag, what I put in it so far and what is left to buy. And in all honesty, I have only just begun putting my things together and assembling my thoughts (I am at 37+ weeks and have been putting off the thought of delivery and everything related to it for a while now. Oops!). There are some things, like makeup, undergarments and entertainment, that I have already thought of packing, but what else could I possibly bring with me?

I need to keep reminding myself that once I have that baby, I will no longer only be "Alesia Dunn", wife to a Mr Dunn. No, the moment I have that baby and step out of the hospital, I will be known as Mrs Dunn AND as Lukas's mommy. A mommy! Now, if that is not overwhelming and full of promise, I do not know what would be. Therefore, I need to pull myself together and ensure that my bags are packed in preparation for this special little gift from the heavens. I need to make sure that, while at the hospital and beyond, my motherly instincts kick in and that I pack the necessities for my sweet angel and mentally prepare to become someone's permanent caregiver. Not only that, but I also need to pack a few things for me, for hubby and a little something for the medical staff that will be helping me get through this delivery.

So without further ado, here is a short list of things that may slip your mind while you pack your bags.

For Baby
1. Newborn or Premie Diapers
     Excited you finally get to use that awesome diaper bag you just got?! Well, it is time to stuff it with a few diapers and baby wipes for your stay at the hospital. Nurses will definitely show you how to change your little angel's diaper while you enjoy your stay. I have heard that a small pack is recommended!

2. Baby's Going-Home Outfit
    I don't know about you, but I have been thinking of what my baby will be coming home in and how to make him as comfortable as he can be. And luckily, my mother-in-law saved my husband's going-home outfit for this very purpose. I bought a miniature onesie to replace the one my hubby wore on his very first day (so that our baby has his own) but the tiny knit jacket, socks and hat will be 28-year old classics on Lukey's hospital-release day! Mommies, I know you are excited, but be mindful of the season and of the weather in which you and your babe will be released. No t-shirts allowed in -5 weather, that is for sure!

3. Car Seat
    If there is one thing you definitely need once you have been discharged, it is a car seat, and a properly installed one at that. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully, and even get it checked out at your local fire station for extra reassurance. A lot of times, a nurse will actually accompany you to your care to ensure you have properly installed your car seat. So to avoid any stalling, get this item ready a few weeks before your delivery.

4. Baby's First Keepsake
    Ever heard of "Landmark Moments: Baby Edition" before? Well, it is a collection of baby cards from the U.K. that help document, you guessed it, milestone moments. This pack of 38 contains cards with landmark weeks, months and major occasions. Personally, I will be bringing the "Today I Arrived into the World" one for baby's delivery date. One drawback to this product, however, is that they do not ship to North America. It is unfortunate, since this product is thoughtful and would be perfect to give as a baby shower or home-visit gift. For a full list of what types of milestones are included in this pack, click here.

For Mommy
1. Health Card
    If you live in Canada, this one is a no-brainer.

2. Bag of Maxi Pads
    Right after baby arrives up until a few weeks post-birth, you will be needing these to protect your clothes from stains. I did not know this until recently, so I went out and bought some. It makes sense though, I do not know why I did not even think of it!

3. Toiletries 
    At first, I was only going to bring essentials, as in shampoo, condition, toothbrush/toothpaste and maybe some foundation to keep things simple. But then I started thinking about how great it feels to freshen up and get dolled up after a big workout or long, hard day. Delivery is no different. I know that after I have my baby, I want to look and feel fresh, and if that means bringing in a few extra products to boost my self-confidence (after learning first-hand how to breast feed, change a diaper, bathe a newborn and RECOVER from delivery) then it must be done! So my list quickly grew from shampoo, conditioner and foundation to all the items in this ------> picture. And to take care of my dry skin and clogged pores, I decided to bring my +Lush Cup O' Coffee Scrub, since we all know things can get pretty sweaty during labour. (So glamorous, right?) Oh, and don't forget the deodorant!

4. Nursing Bras
    First-time mom? Yeah, I think it is time for you to give up the +Victoria's Secret bras and trade them in for some good ol' nursing bras (and don't forget the breast pads). You will need these so that your newborn has full access to the goods when he gets hungry. That is, if you plan on breastfeeding of course.

5. Snacks
    Think the baby will come out right when you get to the hospital? Not necessarily. A lot of times, expecting mothers can be in the first stage of labour for hours. And in the meantime, nurses are working around the clock and sometimes well into their deserved breaks, just to help out. I did not know or even think about this until recently, but they barely get a bite in on the job. So to show your appreciation for their commitment and hard work, I strongly suggest making them some snacks (for them and for you, of course, since you will need energy for labour). So far, I have made banana bread muffins. For the recipe, click here. I also plan on making energy balls and bringing some vegetables, nuts and raisins. Do not forget to bring a water bottle (perhaps one for you and one for hubby)!

For Hubby
1. Toiletries
    Because daddy needs to feel fresh too!

2. His Own Pillow
    While mothers get to enjoy sleeping in a hospital bed, dads often get stuck on the sleeper chairs. To sort of improve the overnight experience that is sleeping in a hospital, consider bringing along a pillow. Or, if both mommy and daddy are okay with it, it may be wiser to send him home to sleep comfortably in his own bed so that he is energized and ready to take care of mom and baby when he returns to the hospital the next morning.

3. Chargers and Entertainment
    Again, since there may be loads of downtime at the hospital, it would be a good idea to pack the phone chargers and perhaps bring a laptop to enjoy +Netflix or a book.

4. Change
    Don't forget to bring some change for the parking meters! Your significant other would not want to be stuck without any change or his wallet. Obviously there are different paying systems depending on where you are located, but I suggest having both some change and a credit card handy.

5. Change of Clothes
    If your hunny decides to stay the night, remind him to pack extra clothes! A pair of jeans, shirts and socks will do the trick.

I hope this list helps anyone who is still struggling with what to pack or that it at least motivates some of you to get going.

Thanks!

-Alesia D.


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Not your first time packing a hospital bag? What were your essential items?

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Kale-Quinoa Salad

So I tried this salad out at +Moxies last week while out for lunch with a girlfriend and totally thought it would be perfect to make at home: The ingredients are nothing crazy, prep time seems short, the flavour is awesome, it is packed with nutrients and you end up with a huge batch that will last you a few days. Sounds incredible, right? RIGHT?!

Last Saturday, we invited friends over for dinner, and since one of them has several types of food intolerances, I thought we could have an ultra-healthy dinner. That way, she could still enjoy her meal, and I could continue ensuring that my baby receives the best womb service possible (get it?). The meal consisted of: baked salmon, baked sweet potatoes and kale-quinoa salad. Truthfully, it was a very yummy and filling meal.

If I could describe the taste of the salad to you, I would not know how to articulate it. It has a very unique flavour, definitely not what I have been used to in terms of a salad. It is lemony, salty, sweet and nutty all at the same time. And best of all, it makes for a yummy treat for those who eat gluten-free foods and who are vegetarian! Quinoa is a great source of protein, kale is low in calories and high in fibre, sunflower seeds are the richest seed source in Vitamin E, raisins are high in iron... Should I continue? Nahh, it is okay, I'll pass. :P 

So here is the recipe I came up with!

Kale-Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups quinoa, cooked with beef or chicken broth;
  • 1 bunch kale, chopped;
  • ¾ cup sunflower seeds;
  • ¾ cup raisins;
  • 3-4 tbs olive oil;
  • 1 full lemon, juiced;
  • 1/4 cup tahini;
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, diced;
  • salt;
  • pepper; and
  • drizzle Italian dressing.
Mix everything together. Adjust quantity of ingredients to fit your own personal flavour. Once finished, place in the fridge and let chill for about 20 minutes to let all the flavours set in.

I would recommend making extra quinoa in case you wanted to add more to the salad or even to have some extra for another meal, it never hurts :). I added the tahini in there because I really did not know what type of vinaigrette Moxies adds to their salad, so I experimented, and no one complained!






Enjoy the yumminess and tell me what you think!!!


Thanks,
-Alesia D.

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Honeymoon Part II: Riviera Maya

To showcase part 2 of my honeymoon adventures (click here for Part I if you missed it!), I have chosen none other than "throwback Thursday" (a.k.a. #tbt) to do so. After a wonderful vacation in Cabo, my husband and I grabbed a cab first thing in the a.m., hopped on a plane and made our way to the Mayan Riviera, stopping first in the historically charged Mexico City. For your information, Cabo San Lucas and the Mayan Riviera are at opposite ends in Mexico, so it wasn't a very short distance away, but we got to see a little more this way. =)
The beautiful Mexico City
By the time we arrived to the resort, this time at the +Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun, it was night time, so my husband and I did what we did best and ordered room service right when we got in. And actually, the food was slightly better at this resort than it was at the Dreams (as our travel agent mentioned when we were first scoping out different options), but the rooms were definitely not as impressive as they were in Cabo. As seen in the picture to your right, it looks like a standard hotel room, not even comparing to its Dreams sister-resort.
Excursions

The first Mayan adventure on which we decided to embark was Chichén Itzá. Its distance from the resort is roughly 2.5 hours, so our tour guide make a very appreciated effort to give us as much information and fun facts as he could to keep up entertained on the road. We learned about the Mayans, their extensive history, their cultural beliefs and practises, and also about the different areas through which we were passing. And before getting to the ruins, we stop in a nearby village to do some shopping and indulge in some traditional Mayan cuisine, which included shredded pork, a tortilla, a sort of cabbage salad and orange slices.


The Mayan ruins were gorgeous. We were hit with very heavy rain for about 10-15 minutes at one point, but the sky quickly cleared up for about an hour or so, only to introduce us to another downpour shortly afterwards. But then the hot, beaming sun came out and tried helping us dry our drenched clothes (seriously, everything got soaked). 
See those clouds? Yeah, not as innocent as they look.
The proof is on those shorts--I mean, in the pudding.

Fact: Did you know that as of a few years ago, authorities no longer allow anyone to climb the stairs of these pyramids?
One important lesson my husband and I learned that day was this: Wherever you go in Mexico, make sure to wear a bathing suit underneath since you never know when you will be taken to a cenote! This, my friends, was our second stop of the day. It too was gorgeous, and I was so jealous of everyone who brought their swimsuit, as the water looked so cool and refreshing.


The next excursion we did was the following day at the fun +Xel-Há Park. We actually bought the tickets for this excursion while we were waiting for our plane in Mexico City. They were cheaper this way (we compared the prices when we got to the +Secrets Resort). So just a little heads up to all of you who like to save a little cha-ching here and thing. This park is so much fun. Honestly, when friends and family were describing the place to me, it did not seem as appealing and it felt like they were exaggerating. But I cannot say enough good things about this place! It's like an all-inclusive EVERYTHING. (Alright, there are some things you need to pay extra for, like swimming with the dolphins and stuff, but still.) Their food is all-inclusive and so are most of the attractions (and there is a WIDE variety of inclusions). Some of the activities we did at Xel-Há were: swimming with the very sweet and adorable dolphins, the lazy river, snorkelling, eating, cenote-exploring, walking through the jungle trails, lounging in the hammock
area, etc. Seriously, it was such a great day, I felt like a child at an upgraded water park.



The Resort

As mentioned before, we stayed at the +Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun. And as I also mentioned, the rooms did not look as fancy and as "next level" as the ones at the Dreams Los Cabos. However, the foyer and the grounds of this resort were breathtaking. The decor, colour scheme and fresh flower arrangements made for a very enriching experience. Staff members were very courteous, the resort was very clean, and there was even a bar on the first floor where guests could watch their football.

The beach at the Secrets Capri was swim-safe, so we were able to swim in the Caribbean sea as we pleased. But I do have to say that the water sometimes got cloudy with seaweed and other things, so I was not as tempted to dunk my whole head it at times. On another note, they had a very engaging fitness staff that often encouraged people to play sports and participate in various physical activities. My husband and I really got into the volleyball that was offered and quickly made friends with a few American visitors. I even got to try sea-doing! It was so much fun, but we (I'll say "we" for my husband's sake, but it should really be "he") lost control at one point and got flung into the water. Come to think of it, it was pretty awesome, and we both had a good laugh at it afterwards lol. 

What was also nice at this resort is that they brought in different exotic animals for people to take pictures with. Not only that, but they also offered different types of photoshoots, and people could pick and choose photos they wished to purchase at the +Secrets Capri's professional-looking media section.






I think this has to be my favourite face to look at... <3
In all, this trip was amazing. The memories made in +Mexico were unbeatable, and I feel so lucky to have had my husband, with whom I had the privilege to share these beautiful moments, by my side. Now we are just deciding on where to go next... Thoughts?

Thanks!

-Alesia D.

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Ever been to Riviera Maya? Tell me where you stayed and your opinion!

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Honeymoon Part I: Cabo San Lucas

Just over two wonderful years ago, my husband and I tied the knot. To be precise, the deed was done on October 13th, 2013, a.k.a Thanksgiving weekend (in Canada).

A few short hours after our reception party was the flight to Mehico, and boy were we excited! Come to think of it, I am not sure if were more excited about the "being married" part or the "going away on vacation!!!!!!" part. Regardless, we were pumped.

Since it was our first time going to Mexico, we were split on which cities to stay in, so we decided to both pick an area: I picked San Jose del Cabo, while my husband picked la Riviera Maya, both of which offer a great deal of variety in terms of scenery and attractions.

First-night order: caprese salad, chicken parmesan, a cheese burger,
chocolate cake, cheesecake (my FAVE) and some bubbly.
First up was Cabo. Can I just start by saying that this place was f l a w l e s s ? I mean, our hotel suite was to die for, the mountains and surroundings were majestic, and the turtles, well, they were my favourite part!!

For starters, we picked the +Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa. This resort exceeded all of our expectations. Upon landing and finally getting into our room, we decided to get started on some room service, since, naturally, most restaurants were closed by the time we landed. The service, the food and the selection were exceptional, and the servers were so friendly. We were so hungry after a very long day of travelling from Canada to Mexico's extremity.


Turtles

Don't mind the lashes... Post wedding face, you know?
The next morning, we woke up extremely early, at approximately 5:15 a.m., to go for a nice, romantic walk on the beach. One thing that I had been extremely looking forward to experiencing was interacting with newly hatched turtles and helping them get to the water safely. I had done a lot of research prior to our honeymoon on turtle-hatching season to understand that we would be catching it just in time. My initial reaction to them was pure joy, especially due to the fact that this happened on our first morning in Mexico... It was magical.




FACT: Did you know turtle gender is determined by the temperature of the sand at the time of incubation?

FACT: Turtle nesting season begins in July and hatching season stretches from September to December.

There were hundreds of crabs hiding in those rocks... I was afraid.



It was truly a bonding moment for us as a newly married couple, that first morning was. But little did we know, there was so much more to see and do. 


























The Resort

Again, I would like to say that our resort was amazing. Our suite alone felt beyond exotic and the view of the water was breathtaking. The tiles, the draping the details everywhere and the cleanliness of the room made us feel like a million bucks. The resort featured a nice variety of restaurants (Japanese and Italian) and even an 'Adults Only' pool. All their drinks were made to perfection and the in-pool activities were fun to take part in. But since my husband and I aren't big on the golfing thing, we did not quite explore the golfing terrain.

We decided to try out the spa one evening though and thought it would be nice to get an outdoor, sunset massage. This gave us access to the hot tub and sauna before being escorted by our masseuses to an outside cabana, where our massage beds were set up. The massage was nice (I would have personally preferred more pressure during the treatment) but the sound of the waves crashing almost put me to sleep.

See? How gorgeous is this?

If you take a look at the left-hand side of this picture, you will notice a wedding is well under way. There was a wedding celebration Every. Single. Night. It was fun to watch!!
Sunsets and palm trees make me happy. :)



Sushi Night!!
The pool where most of our drinking and sport-playing got done. :)

For some reason, my husband kept on being told he looks like +Tom Cruise by the Americans at our resort. Do you see any resemblance??
One of my favourite pictures of us <3.

Adults' Only Area

El Arco

Now, the following day, we headed out toward El Arco, one of Cabo's most known attractions. I was particularly excited about this because I had done so much research on the location and heard many great things from friends and +TripAdvisor. The ride there was not bad at allperhaps about 20 minutes away? The bus took us through the downtown area to show us what was available in terms or entertainment and food and then dropped us off at the water taxi stop to get to Lovers' Arch. There, we explored the grounds, found some cool (and I mean cool) rock formations beside which we took pictures and snorkelled with hundreds of fish.
Our first glimpse of the Arch!!



This is called "Divorce Beach" because the waves' undertoe is so strong that it can pull someone into the water. So, if two people come to this place, typically only one comes back alive haha.



A new tradition was born when we came to Cabo: Were were on a mission to eat at every Hard Rock Cafe we came across during each and every trip we took!





We felt really safe walking down the streets of Cabo San Lucas. It was a very friendly area with lots to see and do.

My husband and I are looking forward to our five-year anniversary, as we have committed ourselves to return to Cabo at the same time to the same resort, and relive the magic during this milestone. Even to this day, and with a few more trips under our belt, we still see this destination as the one that beats them all.

Join me next week to hear about Part II of our honeymoon at the +Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun in the Mayan Riviera! Or click here!

-Alesia D.


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Come and join me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

Ever been to Cabo? Tell me where you stayed and your opinion!