Stephanie Huston

This is for those people who didn’t realize just how much of a type A personality I have   Obviously as Emily gets older, she will eat more, but given the quantities that she currently consumes, here is a menu using up all the jars that I have on hand.

• Orange = new food being introduced
• Green =  homemade baby food
• Black = a food that she has had before

This is draft one.  I wonder how long before her eating habits change, & I have to increase the amount of food at a meal & therefore revise the menu?

I have recently stocked up on baby food, so I decided to inventory it all so I know what I have on hand.   Not nearly as daunting a task as one would think.  After about 15 min, I have a nice check sheet outlining the 121 jars that are on hand.  I then spent about an hour planning out Emily’s menu for the next month making sure each new food is introduced over at least 2 days.  Those jars should last me until the end of January unless she starts eating a lot more at each meal.  Currently, we go through about 12 T of cereal a day, 1 1/2 jars of fruit, and 1 1/2 – 2 jars of veg.

Once we get through these jars, and move on to foods with texture, I will begin making my own baby food.  Emily starts proteins at the end of the month, so eggs, cheeses & yogurt will soon be added to the menu.  I already have a lot of dried beans on hand, so I will prepare those at the end of the month too.  Then its on too meats.  We are well stocked with organic grass-fed beef, but I need to start scoping out the sales for organic/hormone-free pork & poultry.  I only have large packages in my freezer currently, so a butcher counter where I can get just a few ounces of something would be ideal.

God willing, in the not to distant future, Emily will have teeth (still nothing at 7 1/2 mos) and then we can introduce so finger foods to the mix.  She is already showing interest in David’s Cheerios & cereal bars, so she is well on her way.

All of this cookie talk has me thinking that Liz may be on to something…Would anyone be interested in doing a cookie swap in early December?  If so, what day of the week works better for you?  If there is enough interest, I’ll figure out a date, and send everyone an evite.  Happy Baking!

…until CHRISTMAS!

That’s what I saw in my friends signature line this morning.  We haven’t even gotten through Halloween or Thanksgiving, and yet Christmas is staring us down already.

This year, I have decided to do as much homemade/handmade stuff as possible for Christmas gifts, starting with cookies.  Every year I bake cookies for everyone my husband works with, everyone I work with, several friends, our family, and for us (let alone the ones that I sell).  All total there are usually 20-30 tins or trays being given out, and every year I set my expectations really high for what I want to get done.  This year, my cookie wish list has over 16 varieties of cookies on it, and for most I will be making multiple batches.  My house will turn into a virtual bakery & sugar shop from November through New Years.

Most people I know would be paralyzed by fear if the knew that they needed to make so many cookies…on their own…using only their kitchen.  I, on the other hand, love to bake.  I look forward to every fall with the holidays and the food, and yes, to the cookies.  I have so many fond memories surrounding baking, whether it was preparing chocolate chip cookies for my youngest brother (I used to make a batch a week) or my mom letting me experiment at the holidays.  I hope that I can create similar memories with my own children.  David already has a love of cookies, and of chocolate chip cookie dough; while Emily longingly stares at the cookies, and will have to wait until next Christmas to have her first tastes of the sugary treats.

My mind is wandering to all of the delectable bites that will soon come from my kitchen…Chocolate Chip, Manunka Chunk, Oatmeal, Hermits, Gingerbread, Sugar cookies, Spritz, Butter Cookies, Pizzelles, 5 layer bars, Pecan Tassies, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Baklava, Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies, Chocolate Crinkles, Snickerdoodles, Cranberry Shortbread, Biscotti…and the list goes on.

If you don’t want to do your own holiday baking, I’d be happy to do it for you.  It means that I can create even more varieties of cookies, and try out new recipes too!

So if you are a friend, family member, or co-worker you now understand why you smell the faint aroma of sugar, spice, and chocolate any time you are around me for the next sixty-nine days.  My cookie obsession is under way…

You are cordially invited to my Tupperware Online Party! I am hosting this Online Party to tell you about all of the great products Tupperware has to offer to simplify your kitchen, home, and life! Please click any of the shopping links to begin browsing through products and special offers available through my Online Party.

Thanks for participating in my Tupperware Online Party,
Stephanie

Steve & I have decided to purchase a side of beef (amazing since I used to be a vegetarian).  We believe in supporting local agriculture, so we found a farm in Bucks County that sells Certified Organic Grass Fed Beef.

George & Clair Lankas
Sunny Slope Farm
New Hope, PA

Here are the details on our purchase:

• You purchase a side of beef by its hanging weight, which is how much it weighs before being aged or butchered.  An average steer weighs 600-700 lbs, so a side is approximately 300-350 lbs.  This year, Sunny Slope Farm is charging $3.50 per lb hanging weight so a side of beef will run about $1050.
• Beef has an approximate loss of 20-30% during the aging and butchering process, so based on a 300 lb side you will have about 225 lbs of meat.
• All of the beef at Sunny Slope Farm is aged for 2 weeks before being custom butchered.
• Steers hit market weight in early fall, and go to slaughter in October.  With 2 weeks for aging and 1 week for butchering & processing of the steer orders are received in early to mid-November.
• You choose the cuts you want from the side of beef.  For example, you can have a standing rib roast, bone-in rib eye steaks, or boneless Delmonico steaks or a combination all from the same section of the animal.  You choose what you want.
• All of your beef is double wrapped, labeled & frozen by the butcher.
• A $50 deposit is required on all orders, and they are almost out of steers for this year.  The only downside is that they only accept cash, checks, & money orders -  no credit cards.

Considering the price of organic beef at markets like Whole Foods, this is a great value.  We are looking forward to our purchase.  Now to see if it is possible to get sick of beef over the course of 2010!

Saturday, June 27 is your last chance to place a Tastefully Simple order to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  So far we have raised $50.

Please consider placing an order to support the Breast Cancer 3-Day.  Twenty percent (twenty-five percent once we have $500 in sales) of all orders will be donated to Sandee’s Walkers, a team participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Philadelphia on October 16-18.

If you are interested in placing an order, go to the Tastefully Simple’s “search for host” page and enter the host’s name – Stephanie Huston.  I will post updates here periodically to let everyone know how well the fundraiser is going.

Thank you for your support!

With only 11 days to go until my scheduled c-section, I need to get ready to pack for the hospital.  When we had David there were things that I had wanted & forgot to pack, so this time I made a rather extensive list of what to bring with me.  I’ll be checking in on Thursday morning at 6am and won’t be discharged until Sunday at some point.  Steve will be spenging the nights at the hospital & we plan on breastfeeding so I have a lot of items for both of that outlined on here as well.  The other kicker is that food service is only from 7am-7pm, and nursing mom’s should try to eat every few hours, so snacks are a must.

Here’s what I have on my list…

For Me:

• 2 Nursing Nightgowns - I hate the hospital gowns & want to change as soon as I can into something comfortable
• Robe
• Slippers
• 4 Cotton Underwear
• 2-3 Nursing Bras
• Nursing Pads - some hospitals supply these
• 4 Socks
• Pillows - make sure they have a color or pattern so they don’t accidentally get confused with hospital pillows
  
• Comfy outfit for me to wear home

For Steve:

• Pillows - make sure they have a color or pattern so they don’t accidentally get confused with hospital pillows
• Flannel Sheet
• 3 changes of clothes
• Clothes for sleeping (sweat pants/shorts)
• slippers

Toiletries:

• 2 bath sheets - make sure they have a color or pattern so they don’t accidentally get confused with hospital towels
• poof or wash cloth
• body wash
• shampoo & conditioner
• toothbrush, toothpaste, & mouthwash
• deodorant
• q-tips
• comb & hairbrush
• pony tail holders/headband
• lip balm - hospital air is very dry
• moisturizer - hospital air is very dry

For Baby:

• Coming Home Outfit - NB and 0-3 mos since you won’t know how big the baby is
• Spare outfit/Sleep Sack - in case there is a blow out diaper
• Undershirts - for coming home 2 in each size just in case
• Hat & booties - you won’t need booties if the outfit has feet, and the hospital will give you a hat
• Receiving blanket - for the car ride home or hospital photos
• Infant Car Seat
• Breast Pump & accessories  – All hospitals can provide you with a breast pump for during your stay if you need to pump.  With a first child your milk could take 3-6 days to come in, but with a second child could come in within 2 days.
• Boppy

Miscellaneous:

• Folder of paperwork – Pediatrician contact info, My medical info, Birth Plan & Postpartum/Newborn Care
• Cash for food (Steve)
• Calling Card - you may not have a cell signal in your room, and this way you can call out of the building easier
• Phone List/Email List
• Baby Book & Pen
• Camera/Video Camera & extra batteries/tapes
• Cell Phone Charger
• Laptop - some hospitals have wireless access, at the very least you can use it to watch movies or listen to music
• Magazine or book

Snacks: This one is up to you.  The food at RWJ was pretty good, but the portions were small & I was always hungry.  I recommend some snacks that can be served room temp like crackers, granola bars, etc; as well as things that are a little more meal like such as cereal and cup of soup.  Find out if your hospital has a pantry in the postpartum ward & what is included.  Ours has a microwave, and you can bring stuff from home to reheat & eat once you are allowed to eat real food again.

Since I am not going to go through labor, I don’t have a reason to bring a labor bag this time.  When I had my son I needed a few other items to get through labor.  I had included: gatorade, popsicles, hard candy, cards, and other items to keep me busy if I was going to be there for a while.  If you have a little back massager or aromatherapy stuff you may want to bring that too to help you through the contractions.

I tried to pack everything in 1 suitcase & the diaper bag, plus a bag for snacks.  Last time it worked.   If you are having a vaginal delivery, you will be sent home from the hospital within 48 hours of delivery (in most cases), so you may not need as much clothing with you.  You can also make do without nightgowns, and you can wear the same clothes home as you wore in (as long as your water didn’t break while wearing them).  If your partner isn’t staying the whole time, then there is even less to pack.  Or you can always pack the necessities, and take them with you and have everything else at home for someone else to bring you if you decide that you need it at some point during your hospital stay.

You will also be coming home with a bit more than you came with (besides the baby).  Since you are paying for the diapers, wipes, and all that stuff already, you might as well take it all home with you.  Every time they take the baby to the nursery they will refill the bassinet cart.  When the baby returns, unload it to bring the stuff home.  We walked out with over a weeks worth of diapers this way, as well as wipes, pads, baby bath, and 2 basins!