TTC Support!

Trying To Conceive (TTC) can be an extremely trying time for couples: some get pregnant on the first cycle, some have been trying for years and are still waiting. 

I have been blessed to have two babies back to back, but I know it could have been so much harder (we had our own TTC concerns from the very beginning). On the other hand, we have a family member who has been trying to have children for 10 years. They have tried IVF, many other options, and are now looking into adoption. Just because we have children does not mean that I have no empathy for anyone in this situation. I don't know what I would do without my babies, so I know what it means for you. 

Just know that every family has their own road to walk when it comes to having children. Some can have children easily and naturally, but some can't, and that should not make you feel like less of a woman or a man. It's just your course. Your time will come. There are many other options, and I thoroughly believe that when it is time, God will bless your life, in whatever option.  

I know it infuriates you when you hear about people who didn't want their children or see them mistreating them when you're out and about. Why couldn't you have had that baby? You would love him/her like no one else could... I know because I feel it too, all the time! This is only preparing you for your own little one and is helping you to appreciate him/her so much more! 

Don't loss faith or hope. Don't give up. I am here to support anyone having problems TTCing, and I also implore you to check out these communities on TheBump.com. It's absolutely wonderful, helpful, and refreshing to talk to someone going through the exact same things you are. Good luck to you all! XOXO, Kyrstie.

Babies On The Brain

Child Free: Not By Choice

Infertility

Miscarriage/Pregnancy Loss

Snarky and T-TTC

Trying To Get Pregnant

Trouble TTC

Kyrstie's Chinese Chicken (no MSG added)!

My hubby-to-be loves Chinese black pepper chicken, so last night I decided to make it at home, and even though we were a little weary of the odd ingredients that we had never used before, it came out surprisingly amazingly delicious ...and oh so filling! Here's my take on Chinese black pepper chicken! ENJOY!

Chinese Chicken



Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast (or get it already pre-cut into strips)
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, diced (optional, but we add garlic to everything)
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 4-6 tablespoons cornstarch (found with the flour and sugar in most stores, we had trouble finding it)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil 
• 1 cube chicken bullion or 1 cup chicken broth

Sauce:

• 1/4 cup oyster sauce (trust me on this one!)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons crushed black pepper (feel free to be a little more liberal, Joseph definitely was)

Directions:

1. Mix oyster sauce, soy sauce, and black pepper in a bowl and set aside. 
2. Cut chicken into bit-sized pieces and dust with cornstarch. Fry in vegetable oil in small batches in a pan on the stove. Drain and set aside.
3. Throw out the oil. Add the chicken bullion, sesame oil, onion, and bell pepper. Cook until liquid has reduced. Stir in the chicken, followed by the sauce. Simmer and stir until well-mixed (10-15 minutes). 
4. Serve over hot rice.

My Famous Low Country Boil!

...Famous through family and friends, but hey, famous all the same! This is probably my favorite recipe to cook ...AND EAT! I could probably win a shrimp eating contest if I could peel them fast enough! This is a good down-home recipe that is sure to please and sure to fill all their little bellies! Happy cooking! 

Kyrstie's Low Country Boil

Recipe yields 6 servings (63 minutes)

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 43 minutes 

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds fresh shrimp (large to jumbo-sized)
• 6 ears of corn 
• 6 (4 inch) smoked sausage links 
• 12 new red potatoes 
• 1 bag Zataran's crab boil mix
• 1 container Old Bay seasoning (1/2 cup)

Directions:

1. Add enough water to a large stockpot (10-12 quarts) to cover all ingredients. Add crab boil and bring water to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and add potatoes and sausage. Cook for 20 minutes.
2. Add corn and cook for 10 more minutes. Add shrimp and cook for no more than 3 minutes. 
3. Drain and serve.

20 Weeks!

Finally got Anna down for a nap, so now I can update you guys! Tomorrow, we will know whether Anna is getting a little baby brother or a little baby sister! Our appointment is at 1:45, and we will finally get to see the little bean (now more like a banana) again! We'll finally be able to start seriously deciding on names, and we're SO excited to finally find out! Halfway there to seeing this cute little angel! 

For more on Week 20 or your week of pregnancy, check out Mommy's Corner!

Also, to see baby go from seed to the size of the watermelon in two minutes, click here: Watch Baby Grow! (Parents.com)

Home Repair "Professionals"...

Okay, so I'm not really a ranter, and I should probably just post my issues on AngiesList or something, but what is up with the way contractors and small businesses are doing business lately?

It's making the hard-working individuals who do their jobs and show up on time look bad, and it's really making me wonder just how many people are being taken advantage of out there just because they don't necessarily know the logistics of the jobs that are being done on their homes. 

First off, I just want to say 'thank you' to Dish Network for being expedient and professional when our dish started malfunctioning a few months ago. They set an appointment for the next available business day, updated us on any time changes, and called before and when they arrived.

They were very professional, cordial, and fixed the problem (even giving us an updated dish when it was probably not a necessity). He was in, out, and very friendly and courteous. 

In other aspects of home repair, things have not been so professional: Last year, my dad had his roof redone to fix the damage and leaking caused by a tree falling on the house a couple of years ago. However, when Joseph and I moved back in between us moving into our new house, Joseph went to put some boxes up into the crawlspace and came across a horrific sight.

The contractor that "fixed" the roof had:

1. Left all of the moldy and water-rotted debris from the original accident up there in the crawlspace.
2. Not properly secured the hole he cut back into the roof for the exhaust pipe to run out, leaving a hole (with a piece of roof tile falling through it) that could easily allow water in.
3. Had used wood on the roof that looked nothing like what we originally had up there; side-by-side it looked like they had used the cheapest stuff they could possibly find... And for the price my dad paid, if we would have done the same job ourselves, at least 1/2 would have been straight profit!

And NOW (bare with me), our one-year-old air conditioner just STOPPED working! Yet, the guy who installed it and warrantied it (a family friend of my aunt's) said he couldn't get out here yesterday because he was having dinner with his mom ...and said he would be out here today at 9AM sharp, but didn't show up 'til around 1:30 this afternoon (without bothering to call).

Okay, seriously, it's the middle of summer (real air feel around 102 degrees, and I have a six-month-old daughter that had to suffer through it yesterday while we had to slowly cool down the house from 85 degrees with the window units we luckily stored in the shed!), and now he's saying the motor has gone out on our BRAND NEW air conditioning unit, and since he will have to order it, it will be a few more days before it gets fixed (when there are stores that carry A/C parts all over town)!

...And he was rude as crap, like I was causing him a hassle.

I just have a serious question though: What if we didn't have the window units (a sweet Godsend)? Would my daughter have to sit in the heat, with no A/C, in the middle of the hottest part of summer for what promises to be a week before the air gets turned back on?

Uhhh! Sorry, but I feel better now. 

Has anyone else had these sort of quality issues with home repair "professionals" lately?

Not-At-All-Bland Pork Chops!

So, pork chops seem to be an issue to cook for most people, ...and growing up, I felt the same way; they just had NO taste! Joseph and I have played around with marinades and rubs for over a year now, and we've had some 'yes!'s and some 'no!'s, but last week, we had an accident that turned into the best pork chops we have ever had! 

We were making fajita sandwiches earlier in the week and had forgot to get taco seasoning at the store, so we tried to make our own to save time. Well, that turned into the hottest rub we have ever had, and Joseph marked it "Hell Rub" in permanent marker on the side of the Tupperware we stored it in.

While making the pork chops however, Joseph went to grab the Longhorn's rub we had put together out of the cabinet, and before I could point out that it was, in fact, the infamous "Hell Rub" he had grabbed, he had already smothered the chops with it. We both looked at each in fear (and seriously believed we had ruined the meat)! Instead, when we tried them, after cooking them in the griddle, they were the best pork chops we have ever had! Here's the recipe, ENJOY:

Delicious Pork Chops

Ingredients:

• 4-8 boneless pork chops
• 1/2 cup Teriyaki sauce
• 1/4 cup Soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic salt 
• Joe's "Hell Rub" seasoning

Joe's "Hell Rub" Ingredients (store remainder in airtight container in pantry or cabinet):

• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions:

1. Trim fat off pork chops. Marinate chops in Teriyaki sauce, Soy sauce, garlic salt, and Worcestershire sauce for 15-30 mins. Thinly coat the chops with the "Hell Rub."
2. Cook in skillet or griddle until chops are fully-cooked (until the insides of the chops are no longer pink).

10 Things You Should Never Refrigerate!

We have been putting half of these things in the fridge for like... FOREVER! Haha. But if you want to save money and flavor, follow this list: 

Surprising Things You Should Never Refrigerate 

Onions - They like their mesh bag (or any bag that allows for air circulation) in the pantry. But keep them away from potatoes, which emit potatoes and gases that can cause onions to rot. 

Batteries - Stash in a drawer at room temperature. Extreme cold (or heat) can diminish performance.

 

Garlic - It will do well for two months in the pantry. Store loose, so air can move around it. 

Tomatoes - They can get mealy in the fridge, so leave them out of counter, out of plastic bags. To speed ripening, store in a paper bag. Once ripe, they'll last for about three days.

 

Coffee - The fridge (and the freezer) create condensation, which can affect the flavor of both ground coffee and coffee beans. Coffee fares best in an airtight container in the pantry.

Nail Polish - Keeping it in the fridge can cause it to thicken. Store at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

Winter Squashes - Varieties such as acorn, butternut, delicata, and spaghetti will last for about a month or more in the pantry.

 

Hot Sauce - It can live happily in the pantry for up to three years. 

Potatoes - Refrigeration adversely affects their flavor, so store in the pantry in paper bags (plastic bags trap moisture and speed decay). Most varieties should last three weeks.

Bread - The refrigerator dries it out fast. Instead, keep what you'll eat within four days at room temperature and freeze the rest.



Info and photos contributed to: www.realsimple.com