Growing up every Christmas my mom would start saving our orange peels to make orange peel candy. Since winter is citrus season it’s perfect! You naturally buy more oranges since they’re cheap and you get to use every part of them instead of wasting the peels. The other day I was in a orange mood and after eating a few I decided not to waste them and to make orange peel candy a little early this year:) One thing I did manage to forget is that the wintertime weather is slightly drier and cooler so I had to adapt the process a little bit. But first, I sliced the orange peels and put them in boiling water with sugar. I was using the peels of five oranges and 1 cup sugar. Here are the exact ingredients.
- 6 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- peels from 5 oranges
- enough added sugar to coat peels after cooking
Yes, you heard me correctly, sugar. I am usually not a sugar person because it gives me wicked headaches but when it comes to Christmas candy traditions I stick close. Boil the orange peels until they’re very soft and supple which can take up to a few hours. I think mine took about three. You can set it up and forget about it for a while! It really is an eye ball process because of the many different types of orange peels.
Once they’re done cooking pull them out and place them on a paper towel before sprinkling them with sugar! Make sure they’re completely covered. I mean really slag it on.
In the winter time the next step is super easy, all you have to do is leave the out to dry over night! However, in the humid and melty summer I learned that it’s better to pop them in the dehydrator for a few hours! Once they’re nice and crunchy take them out and enjoy!
I store them in a ziplock bag to keep them from getting rehydrated and munch whenever I get the urge.
They’re crunchy, tangy and even have a little spice kick. SO DELICIOUS! Only two ingredients!
Now I feel like starting the holiday season:)
This week has been the pits. I’ll be honest, I’ve been having contractions all week. Rather consistently in fact. Stronger than Braxton Hicks contractions but not strong enough to be active labor. However, enough that I can’t sleep through them. So when you see these pictures and wonder why the hell I look like I’m about to die, it’s because I haven’t slept since Monday.
A few times during the day I’ll dose off because of sheer exhaustion but I’m running low on fuel.
I’m commanding him to come……,he’s already a rebellious little bugger though and won’t pay any attention to what his mama tells him.
I went to my appointment this week and I’ve dilated to 3 centimeters, 80% effaced and having contractions. You’d think that would mean something but it’s been dragging along for so many days now that I’m pretty much discouraged. I keep forgetting that he WILL actually come sometime soon and get into the mindset that it won’t ever happen. I honestly thought I’d be having this guy on Wednesday! I gained almost a pound and I consider that a bonus so at least that’s some good news. haha
So I’m terribly sorry about my lack of keeping up with everyone but I’ve been pretty much just trying to get rest so that eventually when I start real labor I won’t be completely unprepared physically. My midwife suggested I take benadryl before bed since it doesn’t affect labor coming or not and would allow me to sleep so that I can handle labor when it comes. However, like so many other drugs benadryl is listed as a ‘B’ on the pregnancy drug chart and I seriously don’t even use Tums, so I’m a little paranoid. We’ll see.
Now, I’ll leave you all to try the many tips and tricks other pregnant women all over the world have tried to accelerate labor from ‘early’ to ‘active’.
Question: Did any of you moms out there have long early labor that made it impossible to sleep or work? I need advice!
Nope, I’ve not had the baby yet.WHEN WILL HE GET HERE? It’s a good question. One I certainly can’t answer but wish I could.
In the meantime, we’ve been preparing for his arrival and enduring the waiting game. I’ve been trying to rest and Shane has been taking good care of me. I haven’t been eating much worth reporting since it’s sort of been things like this……
Oh and I have had one really really colorful meal that I’m sure will amuse everyone. Honestly, I just put it together and realized it was all orange aftewards.
haha, good one eh?
The baby room is done (except for getting the mattress for the crib) so I thought I’d share some photos. I finished it a couple weeks ago but never shared:)
There’s the gorgeous crib my parents got us. We need to go get the mattress but have put it off since it’s not urgent as Avery will be using the bassinet for at least a couple months.
This is a bit blurry but it’s the closet. I’m trying for minimalism and simplicity here so I tried to organize the clothing by size and pack them all well along with the cloth diapers in the bottom section.
Here’s my super awesome stroller that is soooooo cool and smooth. I can’t wait to get this out and use it when Avery comes! I’m pretty excited.
This week though nesting has gone to the background as my body does strange things and the waiting game wears on me. However, I did finish up minimalizing my own closet and I officially got rid of two and a half trash bags FULL of clothing and now feel organized. I also got rid of three pairs of shoes. Which is always a big deal for a girl:)
I’m resting now and hoping to see my baby soon. Thanks for all your patience. I hope that soon I’ll have some news for you:)
I made it to 38! I’m glad I’ve made it here because the closer you get to the actual due date the better your baby is at nursing since the last few weeks are when they develop their sucking skills.
However, now I’m going to pull out all the stops. My midwife gave me the go ahead to do whatever I want to make it happen. Basically, all the things that were giving me strong Braxton Hicks contraction (cleaning the floor on my hands and knees, exercising harder core, etc) are going to progress things faster. Since I am 75% effaced as opposed to 50% last week she said the contractions are working really well right now. He’s getting pushed further down at a fairly fast rate. So, here’s the pic for the week folks.
I can certainly feel his lowness and get very uncomfortable when he pushes himself down between my hip bones. He just gets wedged in there…..it’s a strange feeling.
Here’s one with a little more ‘tude. My shirt and white belly blend so nicely together don’t you think? haha.
So now it’s a lovely lovely Saturday and we’re chilling at our local coffee shop enjoying some iced drinks (I’m hitting the iced ginger peach tea for the ole stomach again). We have a tour of the local brewery (Boulevard Brewing Company what what!) this afternoon and even though I can’t drink I still enjoy them since we always have a good group of friends and family along with us. We try to do it yearly at least if not more since they are always working on new projects and fun brews. Then we’ve got dinner at my grandma’s and then who knows, maybe I’ll have this baby. haha
Enjoy your weekend!
I made it through the workday! Now for the weekend! I can handle weekends for sure even if I’m uncomfortable, they’re a hundred times better than being at work. I had my midwife appointment today after work and things are looking good. I’m not dilated much more than last time (barely over 1 centimeters) but I’m now 75% effaced and that means that all these Braxton Hicks contractions are doing their thing! I also gained back those darned two pounds! So I’m back up to a 15 pound weight gain! I think my goal of 20 won’t be reached but I’m okay with that.
I also received the Versatile Blogger Award from Michal over at Earth Muffin! Such a sweetheart to choose me:) So here’s what I’ve gotta do now!
- Thank the person who gave you the award.
- Share seven things about yourself.
- Give this award out to 15 other bloggers that you think are fabulous, interesting and deserving.
- Contact each of the bloggers you chose.
Thank you sister! I’m flattered that you think I’m worthy of the title! I love our email convos and bloggy commenting. Someday we gotta meet in real life!
Okay, now, seven things about myself. This will be hard
- I have a completely irrational fear of strong wind. I completely freak out and my heart pounds out of my chest when the wind reaches a certain point. I guess I feel like something important will blow away. When I was little I’d go to the sand box because that was the only place I was certain wouldn’t blow away. But I’d stress out that my family would get blown away the whole time I’d sit in that box.
- I have an unrealistic dream of owning a self sustaining farm.
- Once I seriously considered killing my dog and felt like I would become a bad mother when I had kids because of it. I still feel a bit guilty.
- When I was thirteen and first heard Hanson I made a pact with myself to become a singer………that didn’t really pan out.
- I was homeschooled all the way until college.
- I love Disney more than a girl my age should
- I realized at age 6 that I like sleeping as much as I like being awake.
Whew! That was hard. Okay, now for the fun stuff! I get to award fifteen bloggers I think deserve this award! It’s going to be hard to keep it to fifteen but I will do my best.
- Beth at Dining and Dishing
- Kacy at Low….and Behold!
- Lauren at Eater Not a Runner
- Katie at Lilveggiepatch
- Leah at Simply Fabulous
- Kate at This Place is Now Home
- Kayla at Let’s Live Wholesome
- Kristina at Good N Weird
- Amy at Everything is Homemade
- Cara at Cashews and Hummus
- Chelsea at Chelsea’s Chew and Run Fun
- Sophia at Burp and Slurp
- Kristin at Flexy Fare
- Melanie at She Runs Brooklyn
- Holly at The Healthy Everythingtarian
You ladies all rock! Keep up the good work and blog away.
Now I’m chilling with the hubby listening to records and enjoying watermelon……
While being continually astounded by the insane thunder storm going on outside right now. Monsoon rains, powerful wind and bright lightning. I love summer storms!
