Higher Food Standards

Its been a while...

I now have time to think about all the things I did while I was on maternity leave. Although short in time, it was long in hours.
One of the greatest things that maternity leave did for me was the abundant amount of time I had to watch t.v as I was nursing. Trying to still learn something for the first little bit I watched all the movies we had in our house...some three or four times. How else are you going to keep awake at UN-godly hours of the day and night? Then at the advice of my dear hubby who was being supportive during the whole process I turned to HULU.com the coolest website! You can watch any show as many episodes as they have!!! Some had a few, others had whole seasons! Well I got really into a show called "Kitchen Nightmares" its with Chef Gordon Ramsey. He goes from restaurant to restaurant trying to help them out. He tastes the food then shows whats going on in the kitchen and advices the owners as to what to do, how to run their business what to clean, etc.

I can now appreciate food at a higher level. Honestly!

I grew up a Russian Jew. Meaning=we LOVE FOOD! Everything we do is with food. We are happy with food, we are sad with food, we are mad with food, etc.
I am also by nature (or my mom's side of the family gene pool) am not picky about food. I will eat almost anything and like it. I really do mean anything from expensive restaurant Steak to cheap fast food (in my previous life I loved McDonald's!). Yet, now I have a higher standard for food quality! I still love hot dogs, but its a matter of how long they have been around and when the expiration date is! I no longer look at food loving and think that one day we will eat it! NO, we won't!!! If its in the fridge longer than three, okay four days...its garbage. I now have higher standards of what goes into the freezer...because lets face it ladies and gentlemen if you put Challah in the freezer and you take it out a week or more later it will taste like its been frozen. Instead of saving time shopping for fresh food, I save time and money in not having old food and too much food in the fridge and freezer. Yes, I know its easier to make something for the whole week, but how much harder is it to cook twice in the week then it is to cook once and throw food out? Yes I must admit it takes more time to think of a menu and think of what we would like to eat and what is on sale for the week but in the end the reward is fresh good food that will be eaten in three or four days tops!
I can now see the shelves of my fridge because its not overwhelmed with mounds of food that will eventually get tossed out because too much was made and then not eaten in time. Or we got sick of eating it so we left it and I made even more food, and then that goes in the fridge and of course doesn't all get eaten.
So, my solution (at least for now) is to plan in advance, shop once a week for fresh fruits and vegetables and once a week for poultry and eat what we buy...or toss it out. Since I can't stand to throw food out, we eat what we buy!

Oh, and did I mention that cuts down on going out for food. Yes, because you think to yourself..."if I go out then the food that is already made and waiting to be eaten in the fridge will be thrown out". Also, after watching Kitchen nightmares and the standards of kitchen cleanliness that most restaurants seem to have...I DON'T WANT TO GO OUT! I have higher standards for picking my nose then most restaurants have for their kitchens!

My conclusion: yes it takes longer to be organized and on top of your kitchen, but its very worth it in the long run. Like everything else, once you get used to it and in the swing of things, it will take much shorter time.

Its a total coincidence that I was thinking of this post at 4am and when I was reading blogs I found that ProfK had posted the coolest food link for her viewers! I've attached the link and I highly recommend it!

LOVE IT!

Hat tip to ProfK THANK YOU!

Take off your shoes please!

This is not the post that I've been meaning to write.
But I'm 15 months pregnant and I'll do what I want to!!!

So, THIS is why I INSIST that people take off their outside shoes in my home!

I am not crazy, I just like being clean and HEALTHY!

So, everyone...
Please take off your SHOES in my HOUSE!

I knew it!

http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20090812/sleep-less-get-diabetes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

A good read!

An interesting article in regards to breastfeeding and it being linked to cutting the risk of breast cancer. I suggest to read it...its a quick read.

Did you want to know the 4-healthy habits that cut disease risk? Well here they are. None of them are earth shattering...we all know it...just a matter of following the professionals advice.

Well this one is a good one as well!!! Pessimism being linked to heart disease. Basically...if you a pessimist you've got more chances of your heart not liking that. Another quick read that is enlightening.

Interesting

I really thought that Israel was overpopulated with doctors.
In fact some doctors from the U.S.A were being told not to make Aliya for fear of not finding a parnassah...how can this be true?

Clutter=no room=dirt=WHY?

So I'm on a cleaning spree...sort of.
I'm always liking things clean...especially my house. Recently we are needing to make some more room for the new addition to our family that will g-d willing come at the end of August. With this making room, comes the realization that even though you de-clutter constantly and your house doesn't look messy or out of order...really it still is! Closets are awesome...but dangerous. There can be many things that go in the closet and then NEVER come out again.

THEREFORE...we DE-CLUTTER!

Donating to a good cause feels so good!
Selling things online, or in a used book store (just an example) also feels so good...and it creates space! Something that is more useful then a book that you haven't opened in 5 years and probably will never open again!

There are just somethings that are hard to part with because of all the memories...but really...the memory is not in the item...its in your head...or picture...you can always take a picture and keep it forever...and have a clutter free home :-)

Please take my boob, please!

This was the final nail on the head.

Usually in America there is a law under the FMLA that a woman can take up to 3 months off for maternity leave. Under this law you have to work in a company larger than 50 people for this to apply to you. You also have to have worked in the company for a year before this law applies to you. If either one of the conditions is not met...then you are what is know as...out of luck.
I had a fantastic HR person (clueless) who said I was eligible ...even though I'm with the company for 4 months. Well, because I like for all the i's to be dotted and t's to be crossed I called to confirm. NOPE I am NOT eligible.
BUT...I work for a fantastic company that even though I have not been here for a full year they are being so kind as to let me stay home for 8 weeks (yup two months).

So America...

While I go to work...I'll leave my boob's at home so MY KID CAN EAT!

And for the men and women that decided on these fantastic laws...well I've got a special place for you to go and I've got directions on how you can get there!