Let that sh*t go

Sometimes it's best to be blunt.  So today I got pretty blunt on my doula blog.   We've all heard the Frozen song "Let It Go" over and over and over, but it wasn't until my daughter (who has never seen the movie - animated movies are scary!!) started singing the song around the house that I started paying attention to the lyrics. 

So let it go.  Don't hold back.  Sometimes I imagine it all as a relaxing release.  Sometimes it is a gush like a broken damn.  Eitherway, it's not healthy to keep all that inside, Elsa (or new mom, or seasoned mom.) 

So let it go.  Just let that sh*t go. 

Use your B.R.A.I.N.

Over at ASwiftDoula.com, I posted a little tid bit about decision making.  There is a tool I use with my birth clients that is great for pregnancy and labor, but really, it can be used in any situation where you need to wade through the jargon.  It's B.R.A.I.N.  We all have one, but we aren't able to use it in all situations.  B.R.A.I.N. helps slow the process down, so instead of reacting so situations, we can respond.  I encourage you to add this tool to your kit. 

Polar Vortex Part Deux

I wrote this about today for an assignment:

It is a freezing day.  And yesterday.  The temp is in the ‘teens and with the wind chill, Chicago is in the negative numbers already.  The air hurts my face as I take my daughter to daycare.  We drove past Lake Michigan at the 57^th street turn signal, and I told my daughter she should look at the water – it was making clouds. 
The lake was warmer than the air, and it looked like steam was rising in a lazy dance up to the low clouds that were slowly collecting.  It was amazing. 

I spent the early afternoon taking a CPR class in a northern suburb, and on the way home, the radio said there will be snow tonight.  It was still freezing at this point, but while stopped at a light on my way to the grocery store for supplies, I could close my eyes to the sun beaming in on me.  My whole face felt perfectly happy.  Just an hour later, it was gloom and doom, and when I picked up my daughter from daycare, we made a mad dash so our snot didn’t freeze.  
Now I’m getting done with my motherhood role (check, I was awesome) and am tackling my business.  I’m sitting in a tank top with the windows OPEN because, wouldn’t you know it, our building’s boiler is incredible.  My poor plants.  If I forget to water them a day they suffer for it. 

I don’t yet know if we’ll get the snow, but how do I tell my body to prepare for it when it is sitting here looking for a fancy tiki drink to match this biodome-sauna?

I just wrote a blog about what winter fun we could have in Chicago this winter,
but if it is anything like last winter, with day after day of sub-zero temperature, I'll need to make a much different post:  Is cabin fever worth it if it means keeping your face? 

Placenta Encaps-a-what?

Women are having babies and then...

If you are some women, you encapsulate your placenta and you ingest it.  That's right. You eat it.  Here are some reasons why women are choosing this particular insurance policy.  

The everlasting quest...What's for dinner?

I had a chat with my mom today about life, and work, and ug...feeding my family. 

That makes me sound terrible doens't it? 

My mom shared with me a trick she used to/still uses when she's in a pinch. 

She cuts up and onion and ...

I blogged about it and you can follow the link to give yourself a secret weapon when you need a few more minutes. 

Ariel the Birth Doula

I have made a 180 in my career path.  From working with schools to supply books and planning fun author events, to now helping women be confident when birthing babies into the world. 

I am a birth doula. 

I am located on Chicago's South Side, serving Hyde Park and surrounding areas within a 45 minute travel time, and I love encouraging women to bring about the birth they want. 

That might mean educating a woman about her body so she understands what takes place in birth.  It might mean supplying information and resources so a woman can prepare herself to make the decisions needed in birth and after.  It may mean talking about fears and expectations so they don't rob her and her partner of the joy that birth can bring. 

Sometimes I am massaging, soothing, and encouraging for hours at a time.  Sometimes I am holding limbs, hair, or fans.  Sometimes I'm showing a partner where to rub, how to touch, or when to just be still and calm. 

Birth is raw.  If you are trying to birth naturally, or have a scheduled cesarean, or are attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), having a doula will greatly improve the likelihood that you will have the experience you desire.  And, should the need arise, having a doula will help you prepare for making the decisions you hoped you wouldn't have to make. 

If you would like to learn more about me and my services, feel free to visit A Swift Doula. 

Other posts you may find interesting:

You're A What?
Leaving The House With a Toddler
There Is Room For Us All

30th Birthday

 I'm 30!  My birthday was very low key and an enjoyable time spend with my little family.  Yesterday, we celebrated again, with friends here at the house.  I decorated a bit with yellow, as tribute to my younger self, who was color coded such to keep my things separate from my brothers and sister (who were green, red, and blue).

 When thinking of what to make, my sister recommended an egg bake, or quiche, or something of the sort.  My mom has given us a terrific crust recipe that go along with her tarts, but it worked great as a whole pie too.

 They were simple to make, and delicious.  I'll put the recipe at the bottom if you're interested.

My egg bake helper.

We had some close friends over who we've come to depend a great deal on, in one way or another.  Harper was excited to have other kids to play with, as was evident by the running and gleeful screaming that punctuated many of the conversations.  (At one point - and this is why I love my friends - there was a needed discussion that running in the house isn't ok.  I paraphrase here:  "Do you see all these beer bottles?  We don't want any of these to be knocked over, ok.  You need to slow down."  Just telling it like it is :)

There was cooking decorating!  There was a choice of A, !, or ninja cookies to frosting.  Jessica was a great help in getting some naked cookies dressed up.

Dan, Greg, and Nikki

Meryl, Crissy, Trish, Kristy, and Mike

Ryan, Greg, Audrey, Jonathan, and Meryl

These little munchkins were so much fun.  Oscar, Farrah, and Harper are all piled up on the chair in Harper's room for this shot (courtesy of Meryl!)

Mike and the kids - notice Farrah in action mode

I had to change my plans for the photos I collected from my dad's house.  Since we didn't do helium balloons, I make a "30" poster out of them instead.  People had fun looking at them and commenting on the various glimpses of life.

Crissy and Trish came up from Springfield!  Woot!

There were some others that came a bit later so they aren't pictured, but we all had a great time!  Thanks everyone from coming to celebrate the beginning of my next 30 years!  

Other food items that were served:

Pasta salad
white chocolate dipped pretzels
popcorn with chocolate chips
cheese and crackers
my dad's dried apples
my dad's deer jerky
strawberries

The egg bake recipe: 

Crust (makes two 9 inch pie pans)

• 6 oz cream cheese
• 1 stick unsalted butter - softened
• 4 Tbl spoons of vegetable shorting (or a second stick of butter)
• 2 cups flour 

Combine with pastry cutter or fork.  Kneed gently into a ball -  your body temp will melt the butter, helping it come together.  Divide in half, one for each pan.  Roll out dough between two sheets of wax paper (which is way easier than trying to keep it from sticking to your rolling pin) then put in baking pans.  Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.  While chilling, combine filling.

Filling (for two)

• 9 eggs
• 1/8 cup half & half
• 1/2 red pepper, small chop
• 1/2 green pepper, small chop
• 1/2 yellow pepper, small chop
• 1/4 medium red onion, fine to small chop
• 1 potato, peeled and cubed (*NOTE - I baked my potato the day before to insure it would be tender in the egg bake.  I cooked in my small toaster oven for 1 hr at 350 degrees, covered in aluminum foil.)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 strips bacon, cooked (I only put bacon on one pie, double if you want it on both)
• 1 tsp thyme (rosemary would be good, too)
• salt and pepper to taste
• Ramano cheese for top

Combine all ingredients, except bacon and cheese.  Pour in to chilled baking pans.  Rough Chop the bacon and put on top of one of the pies.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.  Place pie pans on cooking sheets to make it easier on yourself to get them in and out of the oven.  To test done-ness, give the pans a little jiggle, if there are any parts that still wobble, keep them in.  Double check with a toothpick.  While they are still warm, use a vegetable peeler to make large shavings of cheese for the top.

Let sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.  Can be served at room temperature.