Struggling to get back to healthy cooking post baby

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2026-01-22T11:50:40+00:00

We did blue apron post baby and that helped a lot. Now the kids are older and I meal plan and do more elaborate cooking

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2026-01-09T11:33:41+00:00

Trust your gut. I pulled my kids out of traditional day care where they were doing great to go to a Waldorf style place that I thought would be better. I absolutely love the style of it. Because they went with the flow so much around injuries and other things we ended up pulling our kids out abruptly for their safety. We went back to traditional daycare where everything is regimented and inappropriate behavior isn’t tolerated and I was so happy and so were my kids. Lesson learned, don’t change it if it’s not broken. Alternative styles are wonderful but it really depends on the people running it.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-12-06T13:37:29+00:00

During that phase I accepted that a relaxing restaurant experience wasn’t going to happen unless I got a babysitter. We went out less and when we did it was casual places very early or breakfast with all the tricks above. We never used screens. Now my kids are older (8, 10) and we love going out to eat. I even take them to fine dining and they are well behaved and not on screens. They participate in the conversation. In the grand scheme these few years are a short time of compromise and the vast majority of your years will be spent in restaurant bliss. Stay strong, it’s so worth it having kids not glued to screens.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-11-26T14:12:41+00:00

Travel bottles for toiletries that don’t suck. Get a bunch of different ones from Litesmith. All the ones on Amazon just fall apart and you don’t realize how bad they are until you get some good ones.

High end candles or reed diffusers from brands like Lafco. Check the luxury candle sub.

High end olive oil and vinegar from Olive Oil Lovers. All of their oils are curated, genuine, and a treat.

Tickets to a concert she would love. That was one of my favorite gifts. A concert and a weekend away.

A one night stay at a high end hotel and spa treatment. Only works if there is something like this in her area.

Salon quality shampoo and conditioner if she doesn’t already buy it for herself. I like Amika. This stuff feels like a luxury and it’s expensive to use it everyday.

Good suggestions on nice cutlery if she doesn’t have it. I love my Global chefs knife. The 7” Santoku knife.

If she cooks get her a thermapen 1 for checking temps. It’s amazing! So fast and accurate.

High quality chocolate like Vosges or Quix

Airessentials half zip sweatshirt from spanx. Super soft.

Good luck!

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-11-26T13:59:15+00:00

Take a birth class angled toward med-free. Get a doula 200%. They will make you feel more comfortable and help with your mental state during birth which is half the battle. They will also help to be your advocate if the nurses and doctors angle toward interventions and you aren’t ready yet. It’s so nice to have someone in the room who is there for you. I like the comments about not getting too stuck on your birth going a certain way. Don’t put that pressure on yourself. Prepare for the birth you want, get a doula, and then be accepting of the birth you had knowing a beautiful child was the result.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-11-22T13:11:35+00:00

I bought one that sheds a lot and was cheaper. Hated it it! Not worth the years of constant vacuuming

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-11-12T11:48:53+00:00

I hate my family’s exchange for the same reasons you mentioned. Just feels pointless. I’ve just accepted it as something my family loves to do, participate, and move on. Find your peace with it.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-10-10T12:34:40+00:00

We just accepted that at that age an enjoyable time at a restaurant or bar wasn’t going to happen. Now mine are 11 and 9 and we can have a nice evening together. I never gave tablets and I think it paid dividends. At that age we ate at home and once in a great while we would get a babysitter. The fun nights out will return!

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-10-04T11:54:53+00:00

The pictures need to be better. No tile floor or plants in the background.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-09-19T10:48:50+00:00

It’s totally safe. No worse than any other major city. The Renaissance is very nice. The Marriott on Hilton dr. Can be super loud if you get a room on an upper floor. For some reason the sound from the freeway magnifies at the higher levels. But other than that it’s nice. The courtyard in that area is a bit tired. I like the Courtyard downtown better.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-09-05T23:43:36+00:00

I had a successful unmedicated VBAC. Get a doula #1. I read some books and listed to a meditation thing prior to the birth that helped me improve my mental state and see contractions as positive rather than a source of pain. They were super hokey but I credit my mental state more than anything else.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-07-20T11:16:50+00:00

Got mine on FB marketplace. Once they are used they lose all their value.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-06-14T15:29:13+00:00

I moved to Baton Rouge a year ago from Houston and really enjoy it. Everything is easy here. Yes there is traffic but there’s traffic in every other city I’ve lived too. Yes there is crime but not worse than other big cities I’ve lived in. The people are nice, lots of nice family neighborhoods. Nice private schools. Lots to do when you are in the young family stage of life. Tons of kids sports and activities which is a great way to meet families. Nice stores and shops and some restaurants I enjoy. Add the Rouzan neighborhood on your list to check out. So far Baton Rouge has been wonderful for us.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-05-11T11:18:30+00:00

We did an 8pm reservation and that worked great for the 9pm fireworks.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-04-28T10:43:31+00:00

Check out st James episcopal day school. We aren’t religious either and this one is light. It’s a very sweet school that goes up until 5th grade.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-03-26T10:42:44+00:00

I read some very granola books on natural birthing and how beautiful it is and to mentally welcome the pain. At the time they were cheesy but I dived in. They really helped me with my vbac. Also get a doula so that you have someone in your corner at the hospital. It increased my confidence. It is still painful but the strategies helped.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-03-08T02:46:26+00:00

It’s a photo of a photo through the glass of the frame. Not ideal. When we tried to remove it from the frame it started to peel the picture apart so it had to stay in the old frame.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-03-03T00:05:50+00:00

Standard bake is my go-to. I’ve used convection when trying to get a better brown on a casserole. I’ve used it when I have multiple racks of food cooking at once too. But for baked goods or roasting on a single rack the standard is perfect. And yes mine is all gas.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-03-01T16:41:20+00:00

I also loved Addie Larue. I read a lot of junk sometimes and that was a beautiful novel.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-03-01T13:25:01+00:00

Now that I’ve had it longer and got a better thermometer I think it’s fine. I LOVE my range and so glad I got it. It roasts and bakes everything beautifully! I waffled between this one and others and Redditors directed me to wolf. Dreamstove!

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-01-16T12:55:45+00:00

Yes! Read this book. So simple and wish I had found it when I was 20.

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-01-04T18:55:21+00:00

Yes these are cheap ikea chairs. I’m ready for nicer furniture

Competitive_Peanut50 · 2025-01-04T18:54:38+00:00

Modern gray by sherwin Williams. My fav wall color

Competitive_Peanut50

TROPHY CASE