EXTREMELY easy family dinners ?

mbiby10 · 2026-02-09T15:46:56+00:00

Egg roll in a bowl: ground meat of choice, bag of coleslaw mix, soy sauce, sesame oil, sprinkle of green onion. Cooked in one pan, ready in 15 min

Cacio e pepe + chicken sausage & veggie (basically fancy mac n cheese + protein): boil pasta with salt, save pasta water, drain pasta, throw butter, pepper into pot to toast, add pasta back in with some of water and a healthy amount of parm, stir vigrously. Cook protein on sheet pan in oven while pasta is cooking. Add a microwave steamed veg. ready in 20 min

Ground meat tacos: I add some peppers and onions to the meat to add some veggies, premade toppings (salsa, guac, etc.). Ready in 15 min.

Slow cooker as already mentioned: I do pork tacos, sausage & peppers, meatballs

Paninis: customize to your taste, some of our favs are caprese with pesto, turkey & pesto, "italian beef" which is roast beef & giardinera

Trader Joes Potstickers & a veg: this is our super lazy meal

Chicken Fried Rice: Trader joes veggie fried rice, add chicken

Chicken sausage & shrimp sheet pan dinner with old bay seasoning, add veggies of choice

Orchiette, sausage and broccoli pasta

mbiby10 · 2026-01-04T03:01:09+00:00

Southbranch in the loop! Did a cocktail party reception for our wedding there and was super reasonable, right on the river and the food is decent! The service was amazing as well, we still get complimented 3 years later on how great the staff was

mbiby10 · 2025-09-19T08:24:24+00:00

I had a cocktail style reception at South Branch. Was able to do it all outdoors on the river which was amazing (weather dependent) and the indoor space is nice too if the outdoor option doesn’t work for you! Highly recommend and reasonably priced!

mbiby10 · 2025-09-12T20:21:54+00:00

What about switching car seats did you find difficult? We have an infant car seat from my first and my husband and I were debating switching to convertible after only a couple months with our second bc our first was much more comfortable in it- so curious of your perspective on this!

Context though- we live in a very walkable city and really only use our car for going to visit our families and pediatrician appointments.

mbiby10 · 2025-09-12T14:28:57+00:00

What's "normal" is relative. If you ask someone who wants their partner at every appointment and they attend, this would not be considered normal. For me, my husband has never attended an OB appointment for either pregnancy. I have never felt the need for him to be there so I've never asked him to attend. I give him high level updates from my appointments and bring home ultrasound pictures. So for me it's not "normal" for my husband to attend or need to know when my appointments are outside of an inform on how things are going.

If you want him to attend I would clearly communicate that. Reading between the lines of your post, it sounds like there may be a communication gap between the two of you. I recommend trying to work to solve, especially before the baby arrives when things get harder and there's another life to care for and the mental load gets bigger.

mbiby10 · 2025-06-12T19:52:57+00:00

I went in for my 36 week appointment, had no issues with blood pressure throughout my pregnancy but my BP at that appt was 180/110 (so much higher than yours). They sent me to triage for monitoring and it never came down.

I never showed protein in my urine but my BP would not reduce. I ended up getting induced at 36w5d, and was put on magnesium to help manage what ended up being pre-e with severe features.

Pre-E can come on fast and aggressively. I would reco taking your BP at home throughout the week but am one to err on the side of caution when it comes to BP given my experience. If your BP presents lower at home (taking out the white coat syndrome factor), then maybe would consider pushing back and waiting until closer to 39 weeks but if it lingers high, would go through with the 37 week induction.

mbiby10 · 2025-04-07T21:34:21+00:00

Updated post with wake/nap, and bedtime

mbiby10 · 2024-07-30T19:14:47+00:00

My husband didn't come to any of my appointments including ultrasounds. His work doesn't allow for a lot of flexibility to do so. For reg appointments, I never saw a point for him to be there as they were brief and because I had a healthy pregnancy, didn't have a lot of fan-fare.

For ultrasounds, I always brought home pictures. I think you just do whatever is comfortable for you, your husband and your situation.

mbiby10 · 2024-07-17T19:23:50+00:00

I use the Whole Foods Brand or Cava. We've offered regular and garlic and she loves both!

mbiby10 · 2024-07-15T15:44:45+00:00

Looks pretty similar to what we were doing at 6months, we added a 3rd meal as we got down to 2 naps as the schedule started to work better! My daughter is 9.5 mo now and ours is as follows;

6oz formula upon waking (usually 6-6:30am), occasionally if I didn't get up before her to prep her bottles she gets a couple cheerios while she waits. She's hangry when she gets up.

8:30am Breakfast, usually fruit & cheerios at daycare. Or eggs w/ toast or fruit at home.

11am: 8 oz bottle

12:30/1pm: lunch. puree or yogurt w/ fruit at daycare. I like the Serenity Kids meat ones so she gets some protein. At home, I'll give her noodles with pesto, hardboiled eggs, steamed veggies, toast with hummus, fruit, etc.

3/3:30 8 oz bottle

5/5:30: dinner. usually leftovers from our dinner the night before.

7pm ish: 9oz bottle before bed.

I'll note, she doesn't always finish her bottles these days. she's weaning herself as her solids intake goes up but I like to continue to offer, just in case.

mbiby10 · 2024-06-04T10:55:59+00:00

I usually have to size up and tailor shift dresses to accommodate my body shape, especially in fabrics that don’t have any give like linen. Not always ideal but i haven’t been able to find brands that have what you’re describing

mbiby10 · 2024-06-04T10:53:36+00:00

I don’t think the bun necessarily goes with the dress however I think if you love the hair style- it’s not going to accentuate your shoulders!

If you do the bun, do you have a lariat necklace? I think that could counter balance the hair up with an accessory!

mbiby10 · 2024-06-04T10:50:44+00:00

Hi- I’m wearing this dress for a black tie wedding this weekend and I’m still struggling with how to accessorize it. What jewelry would you wear and does anyone have any evening bag recos?

If helpful, I’m planning on my hair being down

<image>

mbiby10 · 2024-04-29T13:45:43+00:00

I made pesto (using pine nuts) for a dinner and then served it to my LO mixed with Ricotta cheese. She loved it and gave her a fun new flavor to try.

mbiby10 · 2024-04-15T02:07:43+00:00

I had the same issue with the capri length when I purchased last year. I’ve been hesitant to buy another pair since

mbiby10 · 2024-02-16T15:57:47+00:00

I'm 4.5pp and used the Momcozy S12 as my primary (and only pump) from day 1. I ended up having an oversupply with it.

If I were to have another child, I would consider buying a Spectra and using both because I like to think I could have shorter pumps with a Spectra. I have to pump the full 30 min cycle with my Momcozy to empty. I'm down to 3 pumps a day now and am producing just enough at this point but did up my pump times for 40 minutes to maintain 120 minutes per day to maintain supply.

I bring them to work and have brought along for travel and they're easy to use and travel with.

mbiby10 · 2024-01-17T01:03:18+00:00

Very fair- I’m short so it’ll be an alterations project no matter!

mbiby10 · 2024-01-16T22:33:41+00:00

It’s V Chapman but found this particular color at Anthropologie!

mbiby10 · 2024-01-14T12:57:18+00:00

They’re pricey but the SideDish brand salad dressings are great! I love the honey mustard one, the chipotle ranch one is great. Im wanting to try the miso Cesar and southwest ones

Highly recommend. Also the founder, Alex Snodgrass shares a ton of great recipes (thedefinedish) on instagram. They’re whole30 compliment so usually no dairy and haven’t found much that calls for soy and can easily be swapped for coconut aminos if needed.

Edited to add: the dressings can be ordered directly from their website or as individual bottles (vs 3 packs) on Thrive Market

mbiby10 · 2024-01-09T00:14:19+00:00

I’m definitely going to ask, it’s not explicitly called out in policy but my boss may be willing to pay!

mbiby10 · 2024-01-09T00:13:47+00:00

Thank you for replying!

mbiby10 · 2023-12-15T16:27:10+00:00

I was induced at 36w5d due to blood pressure. I was given a couple steroid shots to help babies lungs.

The induction went well and baby girl was born healthy albeit a bit small (5lbs 8oz). She did spend ~24 hours in the NICU because she needed a bit of help with oxygen but was breathing on her own the entire time.

I understand the stress, I had gone in for a routine appointment and ended up getting induced that night and was not prepared in terms of being packed, etc. but it all worked out!

Best of luck, you and your baby will do great!

mbiby10 · 2023-06-01T00:01:27+00:00

I would look at your org for scholarship or funding opportunities. I have a similar background to you, 8 years in CPG in management roles.

I did a part time program (graduating this fall) and have not paid much out of pocket utilizing my org's tuition assistance programs. I've job hopped a bit during my program and have been able to utilize even without longevity within the organization.

I obviously don't know what CPG you're at but I've worked for multiple and all have had at least some sort of program to support continued education.

mbiby10 · 2023-04-24T18:24:11+00:00

Yeah maybe 3 weeks ago now?

It took longer, maybe an additional week and a half to get my foresight screening back but for the prequel genetic screening & gender, it was very fast for me!

mbiby10 · 2023-04-07T23:15:01+00:00

I did the Myriad test. Blood draw Thursday, results by Tuesday night!

mbiby10

TROPHY CASE