Caramel Apple Oatmeal Bars

I tell myself these bars aren't that bad for me since the serving size is only for 100 calories. However, that is for an unfairly small portion!. However, they do have fruit... and oats! They're a yummy treat for lunches and my husband adores them. I have adapted my recipe from the one you can find here on Betty Crocker's website.

 

1

cup packed brown sugar

3/4

cup butter or margarine, softened

1 3/4

cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2

cups quick-cooking oats

1

teaspoon salt

1/2

teaspoon baking soda

4 1/2

cups coarsely chopped peeled tart apples (3 medium)

3

tablespoons all-purpose flour

carmel ice cream topping, drizzled on top until your hearts content :)

Nuts, optional

• 1Heat oven to 400ºF. Mix brown sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in 1 3/4 cups flour, the oats, salt and baking soda. Reserve 2 cups oat mixture; press remaining oat mixture in ungreased rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches.
• 2Toss apples and 3 tablespoons flour; spread over mixture in pan. Pour caramel topping evenly over apples. Sprinkle with reserved oat mixture; press lightly. Add nuts of your choice if you'd like. I usually use pecans of walnuts.
• 3Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. For 36 bars, cut into 6 rows by 6 rows while warm. Store covered in refrigerator (I leave mine on the counter).

Well that took awhile...

If you all remember this post I shared with you LONG ago (back in September) about our living room makeover, you were probably wondering if it ever evolved into anything. Well, it did!

http://elizabethlouandco.blogspot.com/2011/09/living-room-makeover-in-progress.html

Let me tell you, it was a LONG process! We had originally painted the below piece of furniture (follow link for the make-over) a light yellow to match the sheets that I picked up at HomeGoods and made into curtains.

http://elizabethlouandco.blogspot.com/2011/11/dresser-diy.html

We sat with that current set up for a couple of months before finally deciding that neither myself, nor my husband, nor many friends and family, liked the color scheme we had chosen.

So, it was back to the drawing board and I had looked EVERYWHERE for curtains, which I wanted to be the jumping off point and big pattern and color for the room. Below is what the end result looks like. I LOVE IT!

P.S. The curtains are from Pottery Barn. They were very expensive, but at that point I think Kyle and I were both sick of trying to find something we liked, so he let me splurge :) Such a good husband!

Grandmom South's Baked Mac & Cheese

This dish has been a staple at any holiday dinner we have ever had in the South Residence (my dad's side). At least that I can remember.

The usual spread consists of the following: ham or turkey-sometimes both, gravy (somehow, it was always my job to make this- appointed by my grandfather), baked mac, mashed potatoes, corn, beets, dinner rolls, deviled eggs and a fresh vegetable and fruit tray... oh, and we can't forget the apple and pumpkin pies! It was always quite a feast!

Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away in 2007. She and my maternal grandmother really taught me everything I know about cooking, and most things domestic. My mom's strong suit is cleaning, but she's not big into sewing/crafts or cooking/baking (sorry mom, but I think you would willingly admit this). My dad always says I was born decades too late, seeing as how much I adore the domestic, slow-paced, home-grown life.

Anyway, my paternal grandmother, whose recipe this is, NEVER wrote anything down. She did everything from memory and added a little of this or that, depending on how the dish tasted. Before she passed away, I was getting old enough to realize that once she was gone, all of our favorite recipes would be gone with her if I didn't write them down, so that's what I did, hence the simplistic, to-the-point recipe below :)

Grandmom South's Baked Mac & Cheese
1 box elbow macaroni
10 oz. Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, shredded
MUST be cracker barrel- I have used other brands and nothing has the same flavor
Whole or 2% Milk (eyeball this- fill the 13x9 pan a little less than 1/2 full)
You must use whole or 2%, I have used skim and it really takes away from the flavor


Preheat over to 325-350 degrees

Cook the macaroni as directed on the box. Drain and set aside. Pour drained macaroni into a greased 13x9" pan and sprinkle with cheese. Fill the pan about 1/2 full with milk. Top with bread cubs if desired. Cover with foil and bake for one hour. If you like your edges a little crisp, take the foil off for the last 10 minutes in the oven. Enjoy!

This is not an April Fool's joke...

This pictures sums up my life thus far in 2012. Back in January I had shared with you a very personal post regarding Kyle and I's possible "infertile" future. However, it appears with no hard work, miracles grow from difficulties!

We are 9 weeks and 5 days. Not quite to the 12 weeks mark, where the chance of miscarriage drastically drops, and most people start sharing with friends and family, but if you read my blog, you are most likely our friend or family... so I'm sharing a little early!

The reason for the long break is just that... pregnancy! I wish I could say I was one of those dreamy women who adore being pregnant, but so far I haven't like it at all! I hear after 12 weeks it gets much better, so I'm hoping things turn around then.

Let me share all of the details; for you... and me to remember later!

MORNING SICKNESS:
I have been very lucky so far... though I don't feel like it! Nausea started around 5 weeks and was quickly followed by a four day long GI bug.  That was horrible, but the nausea was bearable and was mostly gone by noon. However, around 8 weeks, the nausea changed course and set in around lunchtime and was much worse than it had been a few weeks earlier. I have my very favorite friend, Zofran, to help when I can't bear the sickness.

CRAVINGS:
Well, at first, around 5 1/2 weeks, I was craving vegetables and salads and anything healthy... that didn't last very long! When I hit 7 weeks I was craving macaroni and cheese- Kraft blue box- every night, and a little later mashed potatoes. I'm kind of tired of mac at the moment, but I made the most delicious mashed potatoes that I just finished today-boo. (TIP: I used 1/2 cup of cottage cheese in them and they were delicious! They warmed up beautifully, which isn't always the case with mashed potatoes). Currently, I'm not craving anything because EVERYTHING gives me indigestion, already! I knew with having IBS, pregnancy was probably going to be miserable GI-wise. Surprisingly, I haven't really craved sweets, which I'm pretty excited about, because usually that is my downfall!

BELLY BUMP:
I have just the slightest little bump below my belly button... really I just feel like I'm getting chubby right now! I don't feel pregnant at all. Depending on what scale I use, I've gained less than a pounds to 2 pounds since this little peanut has started to develop. Hopefully I only gain about another pound in the remaining weeks, because after that they'll really start to pack on!

Oh and yes, there is only one! Seeing as Kyle is a twin and my aunt and uncle are twins, and my HCG levels were about 3 times higher than the normal range, we were a little worried we might be having multiples. Not that we would be ungrateful of course, but we'd like to enjoy one at a time!

I hope to be back to posting 2-3 times a week. I have some yummy recipes coming up to share with you: baked french toast, my grandmom's baked mac and cheese and caramel apple bars, as well as our living room makeover.... and a photo shoot with my cousin's little girl! So much to catch up on!

Have a great Monday!

Warmer Weather = Walks!

I have been enjoying this warmer weather in the northeast. Don't get me wrong... I love a good snowstorm, but this mild weather hasn't been half bad! My little Lillian especially loves it. She used to get a walk 4-5 times a week, now she's down to once a week... poor thing!

On our last walk (last week- we're due for another!), I brought my camera because I was going through shooting withdrawal! The sun was setting and it was gorgeous- I didn't realize there are a lot of unique objects to photograph on our walks!

This is the coolest fire hydrant I have ever seen... so unique!

Love the lens flare on this one!

This is my favorite... love, love, love!

Details.

Portait Session

Now that it's Valentine's Day, I can share with you this session I did a couple of weeks ago with my sister-in-law. She wanted to give her hubby some proper pictures to put on his desk at work. I'd say it was a success... isn't she GORGEOUS! <3 her.

Valentine's Day

So yesterday my husband and I celebrated our Valentine's Day, since this year it falls on a Tuesday. We're not your generic, usual Valentine'e Day people who go out for dinner and I get flowers and chocolate and he gets... well, I don't know what he would get. Are there "generic and usual" Valentine's gifts for guys? Hmm...

Anyway, We like to make homemade gifts, from the heart. So... I made him "The Game of Love". See picture below.

Picture stolen from blog where you can find instructions for this: The Real Housewives of Bucks County

I also got him two small gifts. I got him stones for a hot stone massage. My hair dresser sells them- they give you a hot stone massage after your shampoo- AMAZING. The other gift I won't share :)

I, on the other hand, got the best Valentine's Day gift EVER... half a dozen cupcakes! And a homemade card and a beautiful bouquet of flowers (I  know I said earlier that we don't do generic and usual... but flowers aren't usually part of the Valentine's Day present!). 

You see, I have an obsession... which I think I disclosed on a post a few months ago... with ICED by Betsy cupcakes. She makes, by far, the best cupcakes I have ever had. And I have had ALOT of cupcakes in my 27 years! Lucky for me she's local and I get to enjoy her cupcakes at the local farmers markets and a few select small businesses in the area. She currently is trying to get a $25,000 business grant via intuit... vote for her HERE!

One of my cupcakes. This one is called "The Southern Belle" It's red velvet cake with cream cheese buttercream... YUM! Yes... I ate it for breakfast this morning... I started out with half a dozen cupcakes yesterday, my husband ate one, and now I only have one left... you do the math!

My beautiful flowers and adorable card!

I hope you all had a lovely Valentines Day!

.:Frustration:.

It's been a stressful New Year...

I've had lower abdominal pain on and off for the last few years, and after it appeared that my symptoms were worsening (not in frequency, but intensity) I decided it was time to go to the doctor. Mainly for the fact, that we're a perfectly healthy, young couple who has been trying to conceive for the last 7 (now 8 months) and have been unsuccessful. I wanted to make sure that this discomfort I had been ignoring wasn't causing an issue with my fertility.

On January 10th, after an episode of intense- though short-lived- pain the evening before, I made a doctor's appointment. My doctor seemed to think it was a hernia and nothing related to my reproductive organs. I on the other hand was convinced I had a cyst on my ovary... after much research, I was pretty sure it was safe to say it wasn't ovarian cancer (I/nurse always think the worst!). 

He then called me with the results and said that there was nothing remarkable on the ultrasound regarding anything on my right side, my ovaries or my uterus. However, I had a "left-sided hydrosalpinx". The short version of this is that my fallopian tube was blocked with fluid (for my nursing friends- it was serous fluid, not pus or blood). I plagued myself with a week of research and reading forums etc and was convinced I was an infertile-mertile unless I had the tube laproscopically removed and we proceeded with IVF (again... always thinking the worse, but I SWEAR that was what all of my research concluded to!). 

He referred me to my gynecologist whom I saw on January 23rd and proceeded to state that he wasn't convinced it was a hydrosalpinx for the following reason:

1. Testing I had done to rule out infection for the hydrosalpinx was negative
2. I only have it on one side, which is very uncommon
3. I have no other risk factors (endometriosis etc)

So, he stated that he thought I had a paraovarian cyst. From what I knew about "ovarian cysts" (para means it is located somewhere other than on the ovary) they're pretty common and unthreatening. However, I couldn't find much research on paraovarian cyst- but the doctor said they can effect fertility and they don't usually "disappear" like ovarian cysts= blocked fallopian tube.

He sent me for blood work to check my hormone levels and instructed me to start charting my basal body temperature as well as schedule an appointment for two weeks later where he would do a "post-coital" exam to analyze K's swimmers and make sure there was no male-factor infertility. 

Well... after my blood work I got a phone call from one of the nurses stating "I'm really sorry I don't have a complete message for you, but the doctor left a note here that says 'levels very low, have her call when she gets her period'". I had to wait two days until I got my period, then called and he said he wanted me to call because my progesterone level was very low and that's normal if you're expecting your period (I guess he forgot we had discussed when my period was due in the consultation). However, my progesterone level was 2.8... from what I've looked up, it should be 3.3-25.0 during that time of my cycle. So, technically it was still low... even though he said it was fine...

Our plan was to work with him for the following few months and if we wren't successful he would refer us to a fertility specialist.

I am due for my "post-coital" exam tomorrow, but last night, we received a bill in the mail for $730.58 for the blood work I had done. My insurance denied the claim because it was coded as "infertility female of unspecified origin". The doctor specifically told me he was NOT diagnosing me as infertile. So I was pretty furious that the labs were put through with that diagnosis. Now I have the joy of dealing with the insurance company and doctor's office to get the bill coded properly so that we don't have to pay for it. 

I also had to cancel my appointment for the exam tomorrow, because there is no way around coding a post coital exam as anything other than what it is... fertility testing.

I am furious that our insurance company won't even pay for testing to determine if we are infertile! If they won't pay for IVF and other procedures, even medication, to correct infertility, I understand that. I don't agree with it, but I understand. But how can you deny claims to help determine if someone is infertile! Am I supposed to live my life not knowing the reason I can't get pregnant?!

I'm working with my gynecologist to try to work around the world of insurance and continue to have my blood work checked for my hormone levels, as well as meet with him to discuss my basal body temperature charts. However, anything outside of that, will have to be paid for out of pocket if we want to get it done. I HATE INSURANCE.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the ultrasound I had done on the 10th was not well reported... it didn't have the size or location of the "hydrosalpinx" so I probably have to get another ultrasound done... transvaginal... not fun. And also NEITHER of my doctors has come up with an answer or has even really focused on my right sided discomfort/pain or the fact that I have a blocked fallopian tube! HELLO... I'm not only on the verge of being infertile, but it appears I also have a medical condition that needs to be tended to.

I'm 27 years old... all I've ever wanted or thought I would be in my life was a wife and mother... not an infertile, otherwise healthy 27 year old. 

Never did I think we would have trouble conceiving... Just keeping my fingers crossed that we get a little miracle... just one will do :)