Lady Cups

I'm going to go off the autism/kids related path and just toss this out there:

Using a lady cup is a freaking mess.

They're often called a Luna cup, Lunette cup or the DivaCup or some other branded name.  "Period Cups" or "Menstrual Cups" are also popular terms.

Image credit: Google Search brought me to slate.com

They're silicone rubber cups you insert during your period and this tool is supposed to be easy to use, hypo-allergenic, sanitary, easy to clean, no leaks and both environmentally and economically-friendly.
I had used it before I had the M-Girl and after I had her it was impossible.
2-years later I'm finally trying to use it again.

For those that don't know- the cup kind of looks like a funnel. A pink (or other colour), thick rubber funnel and you need to fold it in half to squeeze it up in there.

My 1st Spinning Class: A Breakdown

I have no experience with spinning classes other than the one time I went to learn how to spin wool. My aunt had laughed at me thinking I meant spinning at a gym.
Hint: I'm not very good at spinning wool...

Well fast forward 12 years and I finally went to one. A proper gym-related spinning class.
I had originally signed up for a sh'bam class today (something to do with dancing) but due to time constraints- knew I wasn't going to make it on time.
A couple of my girlfriends who go to the same gym as I - we'll call them the "Gym Gurus" (it's our group chat name online)- suggested I sign up for spinning.
I was worried because:

1. I'm not good at riding a bike. Seriously- I suck at it and can't stand and cycle. 
1. I more or less learned how to bike when I was in my late 20's.
2. I'm out of shape in the cardio department. 
3. I don't think spinning is my thing but for the sake of trying- I signed up.

It was a 55-minutes long class.  The only other option in our gym is 45-minutes.

Here's some tips to survive if you're not super fit, not a biking pro and it's your first time too:

I should probably get better sneakers.

• Wear comfortable clothes that'll be caked in sweat, not too tight but not saggy either - you don't want to be making adjustments all the time!
• Bring your water bottle full. Maybe bring 2. My bike had 2 places - I know that for next time (if there is one!).
• Bring a hand towel to dry your face, neck and hands -they're going to sweat. (If you hate under boob sweat- spinning might not be for you.  If you can tolerate it - I envy you.)
• Bring ear plugs - a guy in the front did- I found the music too loud most of the time and had a headache to begin with. Thankfully the instructor saw me plugging my ears at one point and dude's neon ear plugs and dropped the volume.
• Don't go if you have a headache. 
• Comfy sneakers because the pedals have these straps for your feet and I had horrible foot cramps throughout. (See photo).
• Try to get a bike in the back. I was in the middle row but ahead of my friends and ever so jealous. 
• Getting a bike in the back row allows for you to:
•  Hide from the instructor and loud music if you're the type to need a break here and there to drink water or adjust your equipment. 
• Being in the back also allows your wedgie to ride along freely without fear of your sweaty colleagues seeing (and possibly putting bets on how long before) you pick it...thongs included. 
• And of course if you ate something disagreeable and making your gas gods throw a fiesta- that's usually (almost) hide-able from the back of the room (aka fart).  Good luck. 
• Adjust the bike properly to your height and comfort. I found the saddles to be hard as a rock and I found myself waddling after class. Actually I gracefully (as possible) fell off my bike when we were done. Also you need to be able to stand and spin- so get your instructor to give you a hand or your nearest  pre-sweaty neighbour (which was my case). 
• Go at your speed and at your tension.
• You won't fall off the bike.  Unless you fly forward and don't have your feet strapped in properly...so if you're a newbie to cycling (and I'm 30) - have faith and just go with the flow and follow your instructor and you'll be excited at being able to stand and cycle! I know I felt a wee bit giddy at not falling over and standing while cycling and shockingly - didn't bang my girly bits into the tip of the saddle seat! HA!
• Time might go slow and time might fly - try not to stare at the clock too much.
• **

Now here's the thing about the day after - that nobody tells you about in regards to spinning - other than, "You might hurt a bit".

YOU'RE GOING TO HURT A F*CK TON!

My feet are still aching, down-south area - specifically under my bottom feels bruised.  I haven't felt like this since delivering V-Man.  This is probably more to do with the seat being harder than a rock. For me it got to the point that standing was more of a relief than sitting!!

I got home and laid down with the kids - I couldn't sit - so lying down was it for me and I promptly puked.

But of course I didn't want to get it on their beds - so I swallowed that chuck back.

I felt nauseous the rest of the night and was so sure I wouldn't make it to class today - but it seemed to subside and the only issue was sitting.

Thankfully I'm in cooking school - so sitting only exists during lunch, coffee break and theory class - which was horrifically painful.

**You might want to add "pain killers" to the list above.**

A comment from a fan of my Facebook page warned me of "soreness and blisters in places I shouldn't" get them.

Lovely - I read that when I was already on a bus and on my way to the gym.  Mild panic - but my Gym Guru girlfriends were waiting and they had done it before and agreed that yes - "no pain no gain" is adequately suitable for losing my tummy flub and wanting to be more fit.

My friend's spouse does this twice a week.  How?!
I'm debating on going again next Monday (providing no headache or period - because that would be uncomfortable too) and seeing if I really like it.  Like honestly do I like it and will the pain lessen as I go more often.

I'm also considering (heavily) to buy a gel pad bike seat cover and just slap that on - because I really don't think I should feel like I gave birth to the world's biggest baby a day or two after spinning.
Never mind the vomit part - which Hubster started worrying!  Mostly because I have a pretty strong stomach for things, I didn't eat a massive portion of food before hand and I didn't have the tension too hard in my opinion.  But I also wasn't drenched in sweat like others - and I guess I can credit the leg work outs that I do manage to squeeze in...?

So - is spinning for me?  Maybe!  I can't say I hate it - although my first words to the girls were, "NEVER AGAIN" as I gracefully semi-fell off my bike to do cool-down stretches...

I definitely found I had a clear head because I just kept staring at the clock and with the blaring music and cheerful instructor - I couldn't think about anything else.

Is spinning for you?  Maybe!  I would try a shorter time frame than 55-minutes for a first time.  I thought my gym had a 30-minutes spinning class but apparently not.

Here are some "Benefits of Spinning" I found via Google.

Good luck you spinning warrior!
BIMU

Tasty Payback

Today's the day where women around the world are worshipped for being a mom. "One of the hardest jobs in the world" as it's often known as.
When you think about it- any kind of parenting is tough as f*ck.
Whether it's one kid or 20- it ain't easy.

I thought I would share my Mother's Day story.

For the fourth year running- my husband has forgotten. He was quickly reminded when the kids were bringing home their sweet little daycare homemade gifts.
He offered to cook bacon and eggs.
My husband reads and does research for a living. Why he cannot cook anything like dinner or bake a cake- is beyond me. I certainly have enough cookbooks to choose from!  Never mind a simple card- which is my honest to god favourite part of any gift or holiday.
Never mind the fact he hasn't even said "Thank you my part-time domestic goddess for hosting 3 little aliens in your womb and for dealing with all the cravings, saggy boobs, weight gain, pissing and pooping yourself regularly, insane hormone battles, stretch marks and stitches down south (with every single one) and the joys of being a full time restaurant/cow. I appreciate everything you do and love you very much. Thanks for not killing me by now."
You know- everything that's packed into "Happy Mothers Day".
(Yes the Hubster is in hot water for the past 4 years- he just doesn't know it yet. Last year was a free pass with the hospital stay and pneumonia of course!)

So yes, he made me bacon and eggs (which we have every weekend)  and dragged my lardy butt up a few hills and around the woods hiking with 2/3 kids (V-Man came home later today) and the dogs. But before we even made it to the woods- Milo felt the need to protect me from a tiny dog that was being quiet (however they may have gotten into a scuffle before)- and clawed open two of my toes trying to get this tiny beast. The bones are bruising and they hurt.
My fault for enjoying the challenge of hiking in flip flops...but anyway- pure jerk wad.

Somehow he forgot that V-Man is to be picked up by 2 and thought it was 3. I managed to don on my super cape (busted toes and all) and rushed to the bus to get the V-Man by 1:59pm. He was the last kid to be picked up and I felt awful because I didn't want their Mother's Day plans to be ruined because of us being late getting our kiddo.

So I do love pay back (within budget and reason) and I went to the gym while M-Girl was having a monster melt down (she refused to nap or listen and decided to dive face first off the coffee table and into the wooden floors) and I went to the gym for a solid 45 minutes. I then ordered Chinese food for everyone and for myself opted for Peking Duck instead of my trusty Szcheuan beef as its more pricey and today's a special day.
What the Hubster doesn't know is that this week is going to be full of suppers that he's not a fan of.

No- I won't poison him. Just making and serving food that me and the kids like and that he CAN eat with his crohn's. Spaghetti, some creamy pasta (I'm willing to suffer myself too for a good bowl!), meat loaf and salmon.

"But don't forget your 100/100 rule!" My friend kindly reminded me.
I didn't forget. I'm putting 100% by getting Chinese food and bringing it home. He did his 100% by watching the kids so I can burn off the nasty energy.

I'm all about the compromise.
And this my friends- is what marriage is really like. (At least for us.)
I figure it's kinder than screaming, making him sleep on the sofa or some other petty move.
BIMU

Happy Mother's Day & Some Funny Stories

Happy Mother's Day to you.
Whether you're a mom of 20, a mom of 1, an expecting mom, a foster mom, a single mom, a step-mom, a grandma, a mom grieving the loss of a child or a single dad.
Happy Mothers Day to you.

I don't expect anything from my family on Mother's Day because my kids are still quite young to understand what it is or why it's nice to show appreciation to their mother- and my husband is forgetful.
I don't like flowers and I shouldn't eat a box of chocolate or candy- so I'm simply satisfied with a card from my Hubster and an overall easier day from dealing with the mass chaos of having three kids.
This year, I am just grateful that Hubster isn't ill because last year he wasn't able to get me a card because he was laid up in the hospital with pneumonia.
The previous two years he didn't remember or he was too busy with work- then felt getting a card was pointless because it wouldn't have pre-inked "Happy Mother's Day" in it...despite my argument that a pretty card with HIS and the kids writing would do just as nicely- and mean more!

That's when I realized that while some recognition for the work we do as mothers year-round would be lovely (and I always make sure to get him something for Father's Day!) - that Mother's Day is just one of those marketable holidays.
Just like Christmas- it's lovely for those that celebrate the religious aspects but businesses totally jack up the prices on everything because it's a material holiday.
Now don't get me wrong- I love receiving a card from the husband and the little gifts the kids made at daycare! It lights up my day!
And poor A-Man has been nagging at me since Wednesday to open his "birthday present" he made me (we had a couple holiday days last week) - so I really don't want to turn down the opportunity to make him smile and also see the butterfly he made.  (He told me already.)

I've just learned to treat it like any other day because it is.
I make sure to send an e-card and pictures of the kids and so on to my mom and other close maternal-like friends. I make sure to post a proper Facebook status and if possible, a blog post!
Then I go on about the day doing things like homework, laundry and cooking.
It's now officially Mother's Day and the Hubster clearly forgot it was Mothers Day and tried to cover it up with making breakfast- better than nothing I guess!

So now is where I get brutally honest (I currently am in M-Gurl's bed and it's 11:52pm the eve of Mother's Day) and share some funny mommy stories with you:

• When I was pregnant with the V-Man- it was a textbook pregnancy, other than morning sickness, and I got ridiculously excited at feeling "butterflies"- which meant the baby's first movements! I woke the Hubster up and told him, "Hey! The baby is kicking! I can feel it-just like in the book!" His response was, "it's probably just gas. Go back to sleep."
• While pregnant with V-Man and in Finland, I had a massive meltdown because I saw a red and grey squirrel and thought it was dying. I came home in a panic- full on sobbing tears and snot because I was so sure this squirrel was on death squirrelly row. Hubster assured me the fur was changing colours because of the season change and asked if I have ever seen a squirrel before. ☺️
• I've pooped myself while pregnant- there. I've said it. 
• And countless times of peeing while sneezing, coughing, clearing my throat and laughing/breathing.
• I have a really hard time keeping a straight face whenever my kids swear (I'm trying really hard to cut back but it's hard when you're being woken up at 5-7am on a weekend or holiday!). The other day I swear I heard A-Man say "F*ck it!" When I questioned him, he stuck a toy in his pocket and said, "it goes in my POCKET!"  So freaking smooth. 

So enjoy your Mother's Day- whichever and however you celebrate it!

I was woken up before 7 (go figure) and by 8, found out that the kids dumped a bucket of oil from the fridge all over the kitchen floor.

By 8:15am, I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor - while the Hubster took the trash out.

And now we are off for a hike with the dogs-then I'll accept the gracious offer of breakfast.

Cheers,

BIMU

NY Resolution Recipe #14: Home-made salted caramel sauce

To go hand-in-hand with the previous post about apple strudel - I figure it's time to do one about caramel sauce!

It's so nice and easy to make and again - I'm betting you have the ingredients at home already!

What you need:

• 3 dl of thick whipping cream (not the stuff in the can you just shake and squirt out)
• 3 dl of icing/powdered sugar sifted
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• Sprinkle of sea salt optional and delicious

What to do:

1. Melt butter in a sauce pan and add whipping cream and sifted sugar.
2. Stir continuously on medium-heat until bubbling for a couple minutes.

1. Reduce heat and continue stirring to prevent burning and it'll thicken as it cooks and more as it cools!
2. Sprinkle in a bit of sea salt if you like - because we all know that "Home-made Salted Caramel Sauce" sounds so much fancier ;).
3. Store in a mason jar and allow to cool.

Serve with apple-based desserts like the stuffed apples down below, apple strudel, on ice-cream, as a dip for fruit -  wherever you feel the need to have some caramel in your life.

Enjoy,

BIMU

NY Resolution Recipe #13: Apple Strudel

I'm in cooking school and recently we had a "German Day" - of which I was ridiculously excited to learn how to make home-made sausages.
But seeing as I don't have a sausage-making machine or a meat grinder - this post isn't about that unfortunately!
What I do have - is things to make apple strudel!  And you probably do too.
I've changed this from the school recipe which I found a bit bland with only boiling apples with a cinnamon stick - by mixing in the cinnamon and nutmeg after draining them.

What you need:

• 3-4 Large apples peeled/cored and chopped small (I used golden delicious since they were on sale)
• Cinnamon stick
• Cinnamon and nutmeg
• Brown sugar
• Filo pastry/puff pastry 4 sheets thawed
• Melted butter
• Optional:
• Slivered almonds or chopped peanuts
• Dark chocolate shaved
• Raisins
• Caramel sauce

What to do:

1. Boil your apples with the cinnamon stick until tender - about 15 minutes.
2. Drain water, discard cinnamon stick and pre-heat oven to 200*C (400*F).
3. Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar to your taste.
4. Lie out 1 sheet of filo carefully (it tears easily) and keep the rest of the sheets covered so it doesn't dry out.  Brush with melted butter and add the next sheet - adding melted butter between each layer.

Lay apple filling a couple inches wide along the edge - but give yourself an inch or two from the actual edge (see first photo).

Add on top your chocolate/nuts and/or raisins.

Fold in sides carefully (all 4 layers).
Brush butter along the folded edges.

Slowly roll it upwards - be careful of the center not ripping.
Brush butter while rolling because then it prevents it from drying out while baking. Brush butter generously on top.
Sprinkle extra nuts on top if you want!  

Bake in a 200*C/400*F oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Slice and serve warm with vanilla ice-cream and caramel sauce!

Next post will have the caramel sauce recipe! :)
Sorry I'm falling behind on these - but I AM sticking to my resolution and making something new every week! And not just in school :).

Since my husband can't eat nuts - I made him a separate strudel and didn't top it with nuts so that way we could distinguish the two strudels.

This could be made with other fruits I'm sure - just make sure they're well drained so the pastry is easier to roll and less likely to break on you from being soggy!

Enjoy,

BIMU

PS Originally posted here.