What I'm learning
The last few months have been triggering a lot of past memories and tender parts of my story in ways that I never could have planned. Things like getting an iron infusion on the anniversary of when I got emergently admitted to the hospital for postpartum blood transfusions. Having a crazy blizzard 5 years to the day when I received some life-changing bad news, also on the night of a crazy blizzard. Lots of things I thought I'd dealt with have come to the surface in new ways. After the initial freakout, I'm growing to see it all as an opportunity for more healing on a deeper level, instead of telling myself all my work has been for naught. Turns out Shrek was right and we all have layers, like onions (sorry if that reference just outed me as a geriatric millenial).
What I'm reading
If you're an Anne of Green Gables fan, do not miss out on Marilla of Green Gables. Neither the cover nor the description does justice to this book. It was such an enjoyable read. (Trigger warning: Marilla's mother dies in childbirth but the scene is brief and not glamorized or gratuitous.)
In non-fiction, I just re-read the Art of Memoir. I really love writing and I've been working on a book manuscript. If it never goes anywhere, it will still have been healing to write it and Karr's thoughts on how and why memoir is powerful makes so much sense to me.
What I'm listening to
Like most of us, I go through phases with podcasts. I haven't been able to listen to many recently. Sub-zero temps, two blizzards, and major cabin fever have left me with very little uninterrupted time this month. I find myself listening to old playlists or Sandra McCracken's Psalms album often.
However, this episode of the Bare Marriage podcast came out a few days ago and it articulates so many things that my husband and I have been working through with parenting our third kiddo as more of a team. I can't say I wholeheartedly stand behind this podcast as a whole, mostly because the main host drives me slightly crazy (I appreciate her message but not her delivery of it). BUT the three other people on this episode about letting men be dads are GOLD. Very thought-provoking. I want to hear what you think when you listen!
On my podcast
I started my own podcast called Milk + Motherhood in October 2022. It's on hiatus right now, but if you subscribe you'll be the first to know when the next episode comes out! Next week, I'm finally chatting with my friend Melanie (a fellow IBCLC) for the weaning episode we have had to reschedule way too many times! If you have questions about weaning, hit reply to this email and we will be sure to address them.
In the meantime, did you hear me on the Innate Wisdom Podcast last month? I was definitely in a spicy mood when we recorded and we cover a lot of ground!
What We're Eating
1.) I hate cooking right now. My youngest is at, like, peak toddlerhood shenanigans having just turned 2. It is so adorable and hilarious and I am already preemptively aching for how much I'll miss this season when it's gone. But also, I will not for one minute miss dinnertime with a toddler who is either crawling on every surface in the kitchen, putting himself in danger while I cook, or else screaming because I've locked him out of the kitchen. We are eating old standbys like spaghetti with meat sauce, sheet pan nachos, and Kevin's sous vide meals with rice. Anything quick and mindless.
2.) I just re-ordered some Mama Meals because I appreciated them so much after my surgery in November. I'm most excited about the shatavari rice pudding and the lactation brownies. These meals are nutrient-dense, organic, PUFA-free... honestly everything I strive to be in my own kitchen, but shipped to you in frozen portions to heat up at your leisure when you're needing to rest and recover. Ideal for postpartum, but I figure my upcoming endometriosis excision surgery is definitely going to be similar to PP recovery. I actually chatted with the owners recently and got an affiliate code for you: HAPPYMAMA20 will get you $20 off your first order!
Seasonal Recipe
It's hot chocolate season! Homemade marshmallows melt wonderfully in hot drinks this time of year, and they're easier to make than you might think:
1 cup of water, divided 3 Tbs Perfect Supplements gelatin* 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt 1.) Line an 8x8 or 9x9 square pan with parchment paper.
2.) Put 1/2 cup of the water in a small saucepan and 1/2 cup in a mixing bowl. 3.) Sprinkle the gelatin powder evenly over the surface of the water in the bowl and wait several minutes for it to "bloom," or soak up some of the water. 4.) Meanwhile, turn the stove top on low and heat the remaining water and the maple syrup. When they're just below a simmer, dissolve the sugar in the saucepan and add the vanilla and salt. Stir the warm mixture until smooth. 5.) Slowly pour the warm mixture into the gelatin + water mixture while stirring gently with an electric mixer. Slowly turn the mixer up to high speed (you'll need a kitchen towel for a splatter guard) and mix for about 15 minutes. The fluff should be smooth and stick upside down on a spoon when you swipe some out of the bowl. If it's runny, it's not mixed enough. If it's lumpy, you overmixed (but they still taste delicious, so proceed anyway and make a note for next time). 6.) Quickly use a spatula to scoop the fluff from the mixing bowl and into the lined pan and smooth the top. They start to solidify quickly, so it takes some practice to make this look cute. You can either leave on the countertop for a few hours, or place in the fridge for 30 minutes or so before cutting.
*I love Perfect Supplements because it's glyphosate-free and grass-fed. Code HAPPYMAMA10 gets you 10% off!
Parting Thoughts
Thank you so much for subscribing to this little missive, following me on social media, supporting my podcast, and using my affiliate links. I'm so grateful for this community and your support.
