Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

Monday, March 24, 2014

11 Week Chalkboard Tracker

So I wanted to start doing the whole pregnancy chalkboard tracker trend that's been going around.  I am going to document my pregnancy on a weekly basis.  

11 WEEKS


*Please note this photo was taken the week of February 25, 2014.

How far along: 11 Weeks
Baby is the size of a: Lime
Total Weight Gain: None
The Bump: Mostly bloat at this time so "the bump" comes and goes LOL
Symptoms:  Just really really sleepy all of the time
Food Cravings/Aversions: None
What I Miss:  I miss being able to have a drink! The hubby and I met some friends in Miami this weekend and this was when it really dawned on me that I am not drinking!
Wedding Ring On or Off: On!
Names Picked Yet: We have some that we like for either gender but nothing selected yet!
What I am looking forward to: getting a baby bump!




Big News! Were Pregnant!

Soo I would love to write about how long our process was when TTC (trying to conceive) however I personally feel as if it all happened pretty quickly!  According to my timeline we conceived on Christmas Eve/Christmas which in itself just made me smile!  According to my doctor the clock started ticking on the countdown to Baby Brooks around December 10!  So yea I know its the end of March and I know I am just sharing but we wanted to make sure things were progressing as they should be before I started blogging about it.  So I can officially say were are now Making The Brooks....hence the new title of this blog.

I will be sharing and posting photos of my pregnancy progress via blogging, pictures, and videos so hopefully you can follow us through this process of creating our family and taking the journey through motherhood.

I wanted to share the photo I posted via Facebook/Instagram to share the news of our bundle of joy!


Friday, January 10, 2014

Some Points on Fertility

So a couple of days ago I shared that my DH (dear husband) and I were officially on the TTC (trying to conceive) boat.  If you can't tell my all of my posts on this blog I am one of those dive into research heavy types...things sort of become my "obsession" I am talking pinterest boards and all.  Now for now my pinterest board for the future Baby Brooks is set to private but eventually I promise I will share.....Now that I am back from that side ramble let me get to the real topic at hand points (or facts I have learned about fertility and TTC since we started this journey.



Learn how your body works
This one is a struggle for me because for well all of my life I have tried to learn the things to avoid a pregnancy.  Now I find myself trying to take cues from my body to figure out when the right time for making a baby is.  I find these two apps (Ovia Fertility and What to Expect Fertility).  These apps have tons of helpful information and different kinds of calendars/calculators that will help you keep track of when you are fertile/ovulating, when to test, and when your next cycle should start.

 Watch your weight
I know right this sounds like the fun police are trying to pull you over and write a ticket. But sadly it's so true!  Being at a healthy weight can help make your pregnancy healthier and will even give you a better chance of conceiving.  For me a good source of my weight gain can be alcohol! Which is something I had to cut out all together (since its a no no once we conceive).

Take Your Prenatals
Yes another thing that is frequently said but is something that is true.  Pre-Natal Vitamins should be taken before, during, and after pregnancy.  Trust and believe I have been taking this daily (gotta get my folic acid in!)

So these are just a few points I had on fertility and TTC!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The Best Vegetarian Chili Ever!

So as promised I must share this delicious chili recipe that has absolutely no meat!  I know many of you are trying to start the year off right and this chili will help you do it!  I got this recipe from my favorite cooking blog Divas Can Cook.  It has tons of seasoning and tons of veggies and it is delish! Now before you look at list of ingredients and think its too much for you to try please know that this was super easy to make and it is well worth it!

Vegetarian Chili



Ingredients:

1 Zucchini (chopped)
1 Green Bell Pepper (chopped)
1 Red Bell Pepper (chopped)
1 Small Onion (chopped)
2 TBS of minced garlic
1 Cup of Sweet Corn
1 Bag (12oz) Morning Star Meal Starters (Grillers Veggie Crumbles)
1 Can (14oz) Diced Tomatoes (I used Hunts brand Basil, Garlic, Oregano flavor) 
1 Can (14.5 oz) Whole Italian Stewed Tomatoes (chopped)
1 Can (15oz) Tomato Sauce (I used Hunt's Tomato Sauce Basil, Garlic, & Oregano)
1 Can (15 oz) Kidney beans, rinsed & drained
1 Can (15 oz) Black beans, rinsed & drained
1 Can (15 oz) Garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
3 TBS Chili Powder
3 TBS Celery Flakes
1½ TSP Seasoning Salt
1½ TSP Ground Cumin
1 TSP Paprika
1 TBS Oregano
1 TBS Cilantro
2 TSP Sugar
1 TBS Parsley
2 TSP Thyme
1 TBS Basil
A few dashes of black pepper 

Cooking Instructions:
  •  Heat olive oil in a large pot.
  • Add in the vegetable crumbles. and chopped veggies.
  • Sauté on medium heat until the bell peppers are nice and tender.
  • Add the corn and cook for another minute.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, chopped Italian Stewed Tomatoes and tomato sauce.
  • Stir in the drained beans.
  • Stir until everything is combined.
  • Add in the spices.
  • Stir to combine.
  • Cover and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.



  • Now I will be honest I had my bowl of chili with a side of cornbread (not so healthy huh?)  I has some left over from another meal and I just couldn't let it go to waste.  Although it probably wasn't the healthy option this chili pairs so well with it!

    Until next time!





     
     


    Were Officially on the TTC Bandwagon!

    Happy New Years!!!!



    Just in case you missed it my husband and were married on June 8, 2013!.  Today I wanted to share with you guys that we are officially Trying to Conceive (TTC).  So were officially "trying" I am talking I have purchased ovulation tests so this is about to get real serious!  I haven't been on BC so hopefully this process happens rather quickly.  I feel like my desire to become a mother has just taken over my mind!  So cross your fingers and hope for the best because once it does happen I will be taking you on the ride your life!

    In other news....do people still do New Year's Resolutions....I def have some Hair Resolutions I will be sharing with you all shortly!

    Up Next:  My new FAVORITE vegetarian chili recipe ...and its a must try!

    Wednesday, November 27, 2013

    Ten Thankfuls Bringing it Together...



    I know this one sounds a little weird but I think it helps me stay grounded.  I am thankful that no matter what blessings are bestowed upon our lives I will never forget the obstacles and things that I have overcome.  I am thankful for the ability to look to my past because it will help me tread forward.

    As for my other "Thankfuls" since tomorrow is officially Thanksgiving I will go a head a list them:

    #5 I am thankful for my job.  Now if you know me personally then you know I can really be ready to be done with work but nonetheless I am so thankful for the opportunity to have a job...especially in this economy.

    #6 Creative Ability, yes I said it  I am thankful that I am good and crafty with my hands..no seriously I would probably go insane if I could not use my hands to make things.

    #7 Readers-  I know over 2013 I have been off and on, then mostly off again when it comes to posting frequently.  But to those loyal readers I am truly thankful for you!  So hats off to you and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

    #8 Me Time!  Yes I am truly one of those people who appreciate those stolen moments to myself....when  I can curl up with my glass of wine and clean out my DVR...lately those moments don't happen as often as I like but when I get them they are golden.

    #9 Technology I know this seems like a weird thing to be thankful for but when you live in a different city than your immediate family and close friends cell phones, face time, facebook, and other things seem to some how save your world and I am truly thankful for it.

    #10 R&B Music - I mean come on!  There is nothing like hearing someone sing (in my case most of the time it is Beyonce) the soundtrack of your life.  Good music touches me, it makes me feel good. Yep i am pretty thankful for.

    So that sums up my Ten Thankfuls!

    Saturday, November 23, 2013

    Ten Thankfuls # 3 My Friends



    Good friends are hard to come by.  I am not just talking about someone you love to have a good time with I am talking about a great friend you have been trough the trenches with.  I am blessed to say I have a number of friends whom I am extremely close to and have been in my corner.  I just wanted to take this moment and shout out some of my best friends.  I am truly thankful for you!

    Tuesday, November 19, 2013

    Ten Thankfuls #2 My Family



    Of course this photo only captures a snippet of my family (and extended family) but you get my drift!  Family is super important and I love mines dearly (taking the good with the bad lol).  It's pretty much one of those things that are a given.  I happen to be surrounded by people who love and truly support me and that is why I am thankful for them.

    Brooks Wedding Recap Series: The Bridal Party

    So I know last week I said that I had the best bridesmaid in the universe and this week I am still sticking with it.  Our entire wedding party (even our hosts/hostesses) were the absolute best.  They were a complete ball of energy and since we wanted our day to feel like a giant party their energy made our day exactly what we wanted...memorable.

    The Wedding Party:  The Ladies and Gents...

    Photo Credit


    Our Wedding Party:  Parent's and Children....

    Photo Credit

    Once again I have to give all of the thanks and credit to our amazing wedding photographer Raquita at Pinxit Photography she was the absolute best!  You can check out her website here: Pinxit Photography

    Monday, November 18, 2013

    Ten Thankfuls #1 My Husband





    So its vastly approaching that time of year again.  The time when we all reflect on things we are thankful for.  So this year I decided that I would do some posts on ten things, people, places I am thankful for.  So for day 1 of this challenge I am thankful for my loving, sexy, considered, amazing husband.  True love is hard to find and I wake up and look at him sleeping each morning and I honestly have to thank God for this blessing he has sent me.

    So what are ten things you are thankful for??? Please feel free to share them.

    Sunday, November 10, 2013

    Brooks Wedding Recap Series: Getting Ready

    Sooo I am finally taking the time to start the recap series of our big day.  June 8, 2013 was filled with so many emotions.  Joy and and love filled the air as all of our family and friends traveled from near and far to celebrate the union of Mario and I.

    Getting Ready: Guys

    First, let me say the week the guys had in St. Louis leading up to the wedding was something completely different than that of which the girls had.  The guys days before the wedding consisted of partying, playing around and having a good time.  I mean even in the hours before the wedding they were enjoying themselves.

    Photo Credit


    Getting Ready: Girls


    Now the week the girls had in St. Louis leading up until the wedding was completely different than what the guys experienced.  While we had our share of laughs and funny moments my girls were spending late nights and extremely early mornings running errands, putting bags together, and since I was such a hands on bride a lot of time went to setting up the Rehearsal Dinner Space, Ceremony, and Reception sites.   While we were running around trying not to stress out I still found the time to have an emotional breakdown while preparing for the wedding lol this came the day of while handing out my bridesmaid gifts. Let me just say I hands down had the BEST bridal party ever.  They were all very dedicated and supportive during my wedding experience.

    Photo Credit

    Getting Ready: Random Blissful Moments


    So there were sooo many moments the worlds best photographer Raquita Henderson at Pinxit Photography captured while we were getting ready  I chose to highlight some of my favorites below.

    Photo Credit

    Now I know I mentioned this earlier but I have to give credit to my wonderful wedding photographer Raquita Henderson at Pinxit Photography for all of these photos.  She was such an amazing patient person and I am so thankful we found her to capture our special day


    Up next:  posts on the Rehearsal Dinner and The Ceremony...

    Thursday, July 11, 2013

    What I'm Cooking Wednesday's:

    Hey guy's I want to start a new series of posts and they will be called "What I am Cooking Wednesday's".  It's where I will share on Thursday's what I cooked the night before.  I will be trying some new things and mastering some old.  Feel free to use any of the recipe's I am providing and I promise I will be 100% honest as I review and recap them.


    This Week's Dish:

    Bowtie Pasta with Sausage and Escarole

    Image Credit


    So before I begin I will say that this is a recipe I tried a while back when I was doing weight watchers.  I can never seem to find Escarole so I did replace mines with Rapini (aka Brocolli Rabe).  I actually love this dish, it has small spicy kick to it and it allows me to eat pasta without all of the guilt that normally comes with it.

    On to the recipe:

    Ingredients:
    6 oz of uncooked pasta bowties (I used the whole box)
    1/4 tsp of salt (for when you cook the pasta)
    1 tsp of olive oil
    8 oz of uncooked turkey sausages, hot Italian style (removed the castings - the clear film that holds the meat together) (I used 4 out 5 that came in the package)
    1 small uncooked onion, chopped
    4 garlic cloves (I used the minced garlic that comes in the jar)
    8 cups of escarole, roughly chopped into bite-size pieces (remember I used Rapini instead)
    3/4 cup of chicken broth
    14 1/2 can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes (I actually only used 1/2 of the can)
    1 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
    1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (I used 1/2 of cup and I used shaved Parmesan)

    Preparation:

    Cook pasta in lightly salted water according to package directions; drain pasta and return to pot.

    Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and onion; cook, breaking up sausage as it cooks, until sausage is lightly browned.

    Add garlic, rapini (escarole) and broth to skillet; cook, stirring often, until rapini (escarole) is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and red pepper flakes; cook until heated through, about 1 minute.

    Spoon sauce over pasta; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese; sprinkle with red pepper flakes (if desired).


    Here is a look (from my cell phone) of how my pasta came out.  Feel free to ask any questions below!


    Our Wedding Unofficial Recap: The Ceremony

    Hey guys I know its been such a long time since I posted but I am back!  The wedding is finally over and so is the month long vacation from just about everything.  Before I post some pics from this very small unofficial recap of our big day.  I wanted to take some time to talk about the changes to the blog.  First things first you will see that I have add a few pages at the top of the site (specifically the one that says "Shop")  Yes!  I finally opened an easy store and yes it is def a work in progress.  But as you will see in some upcoming posts I have been Strassing shoes and accessories.  But I will talk more on that later.  Next, on the right hand side of the page you will see i have my latest pins from Pinterest as well as my latest Instagram posts.

    Okay on to my mini recap....and when i say unofficial I mean that these are photos that were taken by my friends.  Once I have the photos from our wedding photographer i will post them here.

    The Ceremony:

    As you can probably tell our wedding colors were black and white.  We had a blast on our big day and I am glad that is over....its was quite the long and stressful journey but it was a successful one.   I will be sure to post about some of the many DIY projects I took on for the wedding!

    Thursday, October 4, 2012

    Oh how we love those changes....

    Hello everyone!  I know this post is long overdue! But I just wanted to take the time to let you all know about some of the changes that would be occurring here on the All Relevant Things site. 

    First, I am moving from a general fashion and beauty blog to more of a personal style/haircare/lifestyle blog. 

    What that means:  Basically you will be only seeing "fashion" posts as it relates to my personal style and whats trending in my life as opposed to what is happening in the rest of the world.

    Next, I am going to be featuring more lifestyle pieces.

    What that means:  As you may or may not know I am in the process of planning the biggest party of my life (my wedding).  So I will be doing some posts surrounding my journey as I plan and recaps of those events as they come.  This also means you will start to see more posts on DIY projects I have taken on as well as new recipes I have been trying.

    Lastly,  the "Look" of the blog. As you can tell the blog is looking different these days...this was mostly for me...I needed to see something new...I wanted something that felt more "personal"...the changes are happening slowly but eventually you will see a completely new look for "All Relevant Things".

    Overall, I just want to continue providing relevant information and I honestly believe these changes are going to be for the better. 

    I want to thank everyone for their support and I hope you all enjoy the new changes.....



    Saturday, June 30, 2012

    Get Fit in 30: Day 4

    
    Credit


    {Day 4: Slow Burn}


    Today's challenge is one that will get your blood up and running a bit...be sure to put on your tennis shoes. 


    Task: Spend 5 to 10 mintues doing 1 to 3 sets of 12-16 reps of each of the following exercises:

    *Crunches
    *Planks
    *Push-Ups


    Nothing too difficult...but you get my drift....so join me in completing today's challenge.


    Head's Up:  Eating right tomorrow for breakfast.



    



    Thursday, June 28, 2012

    Get Fit in 30: Day 3

    Image Credit
    {Get Fit in 30 Day 3}

    Today's get fit challenge is more physical that the previous two days.  The challenege for today is to do 30 minutes of cardio with a five minutes stretch period.  Sounds easy right?  So join me in today's challenge.

    Recap of yesterday:  Who said fruit all day was easy?  Things started out fine but once lunch time rolled in ans people started warming up their food the smells were really getting to me.  So I tried imagining that my strawberries and my pinapples were chicken and biscuits lol.  So the next time I do this I am going to swtich it up maybe make me a smoothie and eat my fruit just so I feel like I am switching it up a bit.

    Heads Up:  Tomorrow nice good workout!

    Wednesday, June 27, 2012

    Get Fit in 30: Day 2



    {Day 2: All Fruit, All Day}

    Okay Day 2 of the 30 day challenge is here.  Today's challenge is All Fruit, All Day. Meaning the only thing I will be eating all day is fruits and drinking water.  If your up for this challenge then please join me!


    Recap of yesterday:  Walking is easy so this challenge was great.  I think the hardest part was determining when I was going to walk since the rain had be coming and going down here in FL.

    Head's Up: Tomorrow get ready to move we have cardio to do.

    Tuesday, June 26, 2012

    Get Fit in 30: Day 1

    Image Credit

    {Day 1: 20 Minutes Up Stairs or a Hill}

    Is everyone as pumped as I am! Day 1 take 20 minutes to walk...up stairs or up a hill.  It's pretty simple and I plan to do my workout after work today. 

    Do you all plan to participate?  I would love to hear your thoughts...

    Heads Up: Tomorrow nothing but fruit!

    Monday, June 25, 2012

    Get Fit in 30



    Get Fit in 30…30 days of eating better and working out.

    Okay so last week I was thinking it would be good if I start to get my mind and my body on the right path.  Not that I completely disregard my well being I am just not the best at it.  After some thought I figured what better way to get “fit” than to do a fitness challenge.  Now I must admit this is not an extreme weight loss in 30 days type of challenge.  Let just call it a way of getting my life on track for when I do decide to do a hard core diet or exercise plan.  So why the heck not…join me…I am “challenging you” let’s keep each other accountable!

    So here’s how it goes:  Each day I am going to do a different post with a challenge.  The challenge will be in regards to eating better or exercising. 

    The Challenge: Well in actuality the real challenge will be to complete each day.  Now none of the task will be too hard (in fact most a pretty easy) but you have to do them!

    The Goal:  Getting our lives on track!

    The Nitty Gritty (daily challenges…so you know what you’re getting into in advance)


    Day 1: Walk for 20 minutes up stairs or a hill

    Day 2: All fruit, all day

    Day 3: 30 minutes of cardio with a 5 minute stretch

    Day 4: Burn Flow: 5-10 minutes doing 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps of crunches, planks, and push-ups

    Day 5: Fruit for breakfast, water only

    Day 6: Leg Work: 50 squats, 50 side leg rises for each leg

    Day 7: No sweets or treats healthy snacks only

    Day 8: Stretch it out/15 minute run

    Day 9: Veggie Only Day

    Day 10: DVD workout day

    Day 11: All fruit, all day

    Day 12: Energy Flow: 80 Jumping Jacks, 50 Crunches, 50 leg kicks

    Day 13: No Carbs anywhere

    Day 14: IPOD Flow: 30 minute workout to some of your favorite tracks

    Day 15: Nothing but water

    Day 16: 30 minutes of AB work

    Day 17: Walk for 20 minutes at an incline

    Day 18: No food after 6pm water only

    Day 19: TV Show Abs

    Day 20: Fruit and Veggies only

    Day 21: 40 Minutes of cardio

    Day 22: 20 Minute run

    Day 23: Water only

    Day 24: Water Aquatics

    Day 25: 10 minutes of abs, 15 minutes of cardio, 10 minutes of squats

    Day 26: 25 minutes of arm work (weights, pushups, arm circles)

    Day 27: Squats on Squats – 100 squats

    Day 28: Water, fruit, and veggies only

    Day 29: 20 Minutes of Cardio

    Day 30: The Finale: 15 cardio, 15 abs, 10 minute arms, 10 minute legs


    So join me in doing this fun challenge.  Each day I will do a detailed post on what the challenge is and the following day I will do a recap of how the previous day went.  During the challenge feel free to leave comments on your experiences with the process.

    Friday, February 24, 2012

    30 for 30 Challenge Day 21: A Picture of your shoe collection

    {30 for 30 Day 21: A Picture of your shoe collection}





    First off let me say that I decided to highlight only 15 shoes for this photo...mostly because I did not feel like taking any more shoes out of the boxes and lining them up for this photo but also because I thought that would be a bit much.  So yes this picture just reflects fifteen pairs of shoes I can't seem to put down....that's pretty much it of this day of the challenge.

    Coming up...trend alert: Pleats! (Yay!!!)