How I Survived My First Trimester

Recently, I announced my husband and I are expecting our first baby.  I'm kind of a private person so I wanted to wait until I was pretty far along before I posted it on social media.  I'm currently 5 and half months and so happy to be through with the first trimester!  Today, I wanted to share my personal experiences with being pregnant those first few months.

Brian and I have been married over four years.  Last year, we decided we were ready to have a baby.  Those first few years of marriage without kids were great and I'm glad we got to enjoy that time together.  In May of 2016, I went off birth control and it took about 5 months before we got a positive test result.

On September 25, we both stared at the result window with shock and excitement.  I remember feeling shaky and overjoyed to be carrying life inside me.  It was extremely hard, but we decided to keep this a secret from our families for a while so we could do something really special when we made our announcement.

On October 29, it had been a little over a month and we were finally going to tell our families.  I didn't want anything extravagant, but I also wanted to surprise them.  My sister and brother-in-law already found out because they accidentally saw something on Brian's phone.  They helped set up the camera so we could record reactions.  We invited both of our parents, sisters, and brothers-in-law for dinner and when everyone got there, Brian said we had an announcement. 

I made up a bogus story about how we were going to be building a vacation home in Georgia and we wanted them to help us decide on the plans.  We handed each couple an envelope with 4 pictures, the last one being the ultrasound.  My mom jumped up and hugged me so tight I couldn't breath.  Some were shocked, while others had their previous suspicions confirmed.

The picture in the top right is a reaction shot of when I told Brian to come look at the pregnancy test result.  He was testing his game camera and when we saw this, we died laughing.

I didn't show much at all in the first trimester, so I was able to wear all my normal clothes.  I used a hair tie to make my pants a little looser, and that was a great fix since I didn't want to buy maternity clothes yet.  I did have some emotional and physical symptoms.  I was nauseated almost everyday, but thank God I never threw up.  My eyes got even more sensitive to the sun, I had no energy, and I was often depressed.  Brian went on a lot of hunting trips during this time too, so I was alone more.  Usually this wouldn't bother me, but for some reason I felt more lonely.  Unfortunately, as a result of not feeling well, my family got the worst of my mood swings.

I did have a few weird cravings and got off track a little on my Beauty Detox diet, but I quickly realized I couldn't keep that up because I would feel sick after eating "cheat" foods and my skin broke out a little too.

I ended up losing some weight, which the doctor said was normal due to the nausea.  I got a few pounds under 100, but once I got past the first 3 months I got my appetite back and started gaining.  Now that I'm in my second trimester, many things have changed, which I will update on once I enter my third trimester.  I'll also be posting about my terrible experience with my former OBGYN, so look out for that soon!

I feel like my first trimester could have been better, but it could have been way worse.  I'm thankful to have such a loving family who is always there for me.  It took a lot of praying and taking it one day at a time, but I made it through.  The second trimester is definitely a lot more fun!

How to Easily Meal Plan for the Week

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is cooking at home.  I love discovering new recipes and cooking them for me and my husband.  A huge part of cooking is planning ahead so you have everything you need when you're hungry.  Many people are very busy during the week, so planning your meals from the beginning will reduce stress and prevent you from making unhealthy choices when you just want a quick meal.  Today I'm going to share the steps I take every week to keep me and my husband satisfied and nourished!

Step 1: Designate a Planning/Grocery Shopping Day For Each Week

Getting into a grocery shopping routine on a day you have some free time is key.  Every Sunday, my husband and I go grocery shopping together.  We go to Native Sun for our food and Publix for toiletries and other miscellaneous items.  It's actually become a fun tradition.  Before we go, I have everything planned so I'm not wandering the stores trying to think about what I need.

Step 2: Write Down Your Meal Plan

This step is fun because you get to discover new recipes.  Sometimes it can be frustrating, especially if you're having to plan for a lot people, but I've found this technique very helpful.  Write down each meal category like this: Breakfast, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, Desserts.  Then under each category, write each person's initial and what they want to eat for the week.  Brian and I usually have the same thing for breakfast, so that's easy.  I always have smoothies for my snack and we try to not have a lot of desserts unless it's a special occasion, so those categories can be checked off pretty quickly.  That just leaves lunches and dinners that require a little more effort.  I either go to my Beauty Detox Books or Pinterest for recipes.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for something specific and other times I want to try something new.  Either way, these tools are lifesavers for meal planning.  You can usually find quick and easy recipes for whatever you're craving on Pinterest.

Step 3: Write Down the Ingredients You Need

Once you have all your meals planned, it's time to figure out what you need for each meal.  Go down the list starting with breakfast until you get to desserts.  If I'm using a recipe book, I'll write down the page number next to the recipe so when I go to make it, I know exactly where to go.  If I'm using Pinterest, I screenshot the recipes on my phone for the same reason.  As you're looking at each recipe, check to see if you already have any of the ingredients.  Finally, try to think of any other miscellaneous items you may need.  I use the reverse side of my meal plan list to write down the ingredients because it saves paper and it makes it easy if I need to refer back to anything while in the store.

Step 4: Go Shopping!

Now that you've got everything planned and written down, you're ready to go shopping.  Try to stick to your list if you can to prevent impulse buys and save money.  If you have a budget you need to stick to, round up prices for each item and write them down on your list as you check things off.  Then you can total everything at the end.

That's it!  Making this a weekly routine is a great way to stay healthy because you know exactly what you're putting in your body.  Planning ahead is always better than waiting until the last minute when you're starving!

Products to Ditch Today (and Awesome Alternatives!)

As a minimalist, I'm always trying to discover new ways to save space and money.  We live in a world where someone is always trying to sell us something, but the truth is, we don't need all this stuff!  I used to buy into this mentality and try new products just for something different.  But many products are not necessary, take up precious space, are full of chemicals, and cost a lot of money.  I've done a lot of research on all these topics, and I'd encourage you to do your own.  Today, I'm sharing my list of products I no longer use.  I'll also give convenient alternatives if needed.

Shaving Cream/Gel

In one of my first blogs, I discussed How I Cured Itchy Irritation From Shaving My Legs.  I discovered my skin was reacting to the shaving cream I was using.  Shaving products are often full of toxins that cause skin irritations.  You don't need to waste money on them.  I now shave with Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap, which I also use as body wash.  It's gentle on skin and I no longer suffer from irritation.  Plus, now there is one less product in my shower, so I'm happy!

Antiperspirant

Please, Please, Please, DO NOT USE ANTIPERSPIRANT!  Our bodies are supposed to sweat!  By blocking sweat glands, you are keeping toxins your body needs to get rid of inside.  Please check out my blog, The Best Chemical Free Deodorant, where I share my story about how bad I used to stink.  I share the deodorant recipe I use, requiring only 4 simple, inexpensive ingredients.  My husband and I share the deodorant and it lasts for months.  Even if we're sweating, we don't have to stink!

Dryer Sheets/Fabric Softeners 

Last year, I started hearing how dryer sheets and fabric softeners are full of chemicals and should be avoided.  I heard about alternatives, such as wool dryer balls you can add your favorite essential oils to if you want a chemical free smell on your clothes.  I had about a half a box of dryer sheets left, which I used up and have never replaced.  I don't miss them at all.  Please check out this EWG article, Don't Get Slimed: Skip the Fabric Softener, for more information about the dangers of these products and other natural alternatives.

Loofahs

At one point, I had 3 different loofahs I used in the shower.  One day, I decided I didn't need them anymore.  This turned out to be a great decision because loofahs hold a lot of bacteria.  This is another product you can ditch and not replace, thus giving you more free space.  I just wash my body with my hands now.

Chewing Gum

If you haven't checked out my blog, My Aspartame Horror Story, please do.  I discuss how I discovered the artificial sweeteners in the gum and mints I was using were causing migraines and neurological issues.  Artificial sweeteners are poison, but thankfully, there are gum and mints with natural sweeteners such as xylitol, which are safe.  I love the mints from the Spry brand and use them regularly.  Recently, I decided to give up gum.  Gum is something we don't really need and it actually tricks our bodies into thinking we need to start digesting, thus causing imbalance.  Gum can also cause bad breath.  This is one habit I sometimes miss, but I can live without.

Air Freshener Sprays/ Plug-Ins

Once again, this is another product full of chemicals.  If you actually read the ingredients in these products, it's really scary.  People spray these into the air of their homes and breathe them in all the time.  This is not only an unnecessary product, it's also harmful.  If you want your home to really smell good, invest in a diffuser and let essential oils fill your space with healthy, natural scents and ditch the fake stuff!

Kitchen Sponges

This is similar to loofahs because kitchen sponges hold a lot of bacteria as well.  You're cleaning your dishes with something that can never really be clean.  I've never liked touching a kitchen sponge, so I use a dish scrubbing brush with a handle so I don't have to feel anything nasty while washing the dishes.  This brush is under $10 at Bed Bath and Beyond and it's very easy to clean.  I throw mine in the dishwasher every time I do a load and it dries quickly.  They only need to be replaced every year or so.  Easy!

I hope this inspired you to look into the products you use and really consider making a change.  You'll be saving space, time, and money when you reduce purchases, therefore making your life more simple.  Remember, less clutter means less you have to deal with, resulting in less stress and more time for what's really important!