Things I love- TTC Edition

I like to write a post once in a while about products, clothes, food, or websites/apps that I'm really into at the moment. But I've never really mentioned what TTC things I like to use. So for those of you that are TTC check these things out.

The Website http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ is a super useful tool. It's a wealth of information and a great place to keep all your information regarding TTC. It also allows you to chart your daily temperatures and all signs & symptoms which is great!

For a Basal Thermometer for daily charting I recommend the Mabis thermometer that you can get at Walmart.

 Taking Charge of your Fertility is the first thing I bought when we decided to actively start trying to conceive. I bought this book after I reading so many postive reviews, and learning about it from the TTC community on the bump. I had just finished nursing school and had done a ton research so I thought I knew it all. Boy was I wrong, TCOYF had a great deal of information that I had no idea about so I learned a lot. I found it to be an easy, and even enjoyable read. It was well organized and made it easy to find sections that I wanted to review.

Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs)

I highly recommend buying internet cheapies from somewhere like ebay or amazon. Then when you think you might have a positive double check it with a digital. My favorite digital is Clear Blue Easy. It gives you a little happy face which makes it much easier to read than 2 lines. They always have coupons, which help bring down the cost.



Punta Cana

Recently J and I went to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and we had a fabulous time! It was beautiful, the people were kind, and the culture was amazing. The food wasn't spectacular, but was pretty darn good. It was nice to just relax and get away with the husband. I would totally recommend Punta Cana to anyone wanting to get away for a relaxing and fun vacation. It was amazing!

 The Room

The Mamajuana

The Water

 The Sand

The People

The Drinks

The food

The Husband

  = one beautiful trip!

Mexican Pizza Recipe

I'm not a huge fan of "fast food" but every once in awhile it's nice to have something easy for dinner. One thing I do like is a Mexican pizza from Taco Bell. I wanted to make a better version at home and this is what I came up with.

What you'll need

2 whole wheat flour tortillas

Olive Oil Spray

Mexican Cheese (can be low fat)

Ground Turkey

Organic taco seasonings

Organic refried beans with no fat

optional toppings

jalapenos

salsa

tomatoes

sour cream

guacamole

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Spray each side of your tortillas with olive oil

Place in oven and bake for 5-7 minutes then flip and bake for an additional 5 minutes

Brown your ground turkey and season

Warm beans

Spread a layer of beans on one tortilla

Spread your ground turkey on top

Place second tortilla on top

Sprinkle cheese on top

Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted

Top with desired toppings

Enjoy!

Sorry for the bad pictures, but you get the idea.

Pinterest Inspired Ice Box Cake "Recipe"

I love Pinterest, I've found a ton of new recipes to try.

Josue and I bought a new patio set and decided to have a BBQ. I thought this Icebox cake I found on Pinterest would be the perfect dessert for the hot day! This is super easy to assemble and quite delicious.

What you'll need

8 Sugar Free Ice Cream Sandwiches

Sugar Free Cool Whip or homemade whip cream

Caramel, Fudge or both

Candy Bar (I used a twix & snickers) Chopped up

Assembly

Place 4 Ice Cream bars on the bottom of a small casserole dish

Use a spatula to spread 1/2 of your whip cream

Drizzle some caramel

Put another layer of ice cream bars down

Spread another layer of whip cream

Drizzle fudge

Sprinkle chopped candy bar on top

Place in the freezer.

Serve frozen

Enjoy!

Don't Ignore...

...yourself.

During the last few years I myself have struggled with Infertility and PCOS. It's been a long road and I never imagined how hard it truly would be. However I'm not in this struggle alone, and I cannot be more grateful for that fact. I'm a pretty private & sensitive person. I started to research PCOS & Infertility and started posting online. I found friends that I could be open with and not feel judged by. I even started this blog to help open up about our struggles with IF, and it has helped me tremendously.

My advice to any couple or woman out there who is alone in struggling with IF is to seek support. I understand that it is a touchy & personal subject but there are other avenues than friends/family to discuss it with. Wives talk to your husbands and be open with him as to how you're feeling and husbands do the same with your wife. You can even seek the help of a professional therapist, a tool I myself have been recently contemplating. A great way to discuss what you're going through is to find an online community one such as Thebump.com or Babycenter.com. These sites have community's specifically for people who are trying to get pregnant or people who are having trouble TTC. You can be totally anonymous or divulge who you are, it's up to you. Don't ignore the way you may be feeling. Feeling hurt, angry, sad, lonely, or alone are not good feelings to bottle up inside. I've been there, and it's not fun. Open up to your spouse, your family, your friends, or anonymously, just don't ignore who you are and how you're feeling.

Whatever stage you may be at in your IF journey find your support system. If you already have one great! If you don't I'd be happy to offer any advice, point you in the right direction, or be the support you may need. Please feel free to contact me.

For more information on infertility and National Infertility Awareness Week, please visit the following links:

• Basic understanding of the disease of infertility : http://www.resolve.org/infertility101
• About NIAW : http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html

Don't Ignore...

...the Causes of Infertility

As part of national infertility week I wanted to be part of Resolve's Don't Ignore... Blogger's Unite. I've decided to write this blog about PCOS(polycycstic ovarian syndrome). Obviously there are many causes for Infertility some of them are even unexplained. PCOS is one of the current leading causes of infertility; it is close to my heart and something I feel I know a great deal about.

Infertility is a medical issue that affects 1 in 8 couples. PCOS affects millions of women world-wide and some don't even know they have it. It is one of the most common endocrine disorders, it's up there with thyroid disorders or even diabetes! Yet it is still not as widely known or talked about. There is no cure for it, but the symptoms are treatable.
Most simplistically PCOS is the imbalance of women's sex hormones. It is a metabolic disorder that affects several body systems that can cause significant long-term health consequences. It is often characterized with multiple small painless cysts that form in the ovary. If you ask a women who has it she will tell you that it is acne at the most inopportune times, it is unwanted facial hair, excess weight gain, difficulty losing weight, weird growths on the back of her neck, mood swings, irregular menstrual cycles, infertility, and in the most severe cases the inability to conceive even with intervention.
PCOS symptoms can be helped with the use of birth control, but for women that are trying to have a baby that is not an option. We have to endure the symptoms while it may take years to get pregnant. Not all women who have PCOS have issues trying to get pregnant, however the majority do. If you have PCO and have annovulation then the chances are you will have some issues conceiving.

                                                              A ploycystic ovary view from an ultrasound.

You can be tested for PCOS by an OB/GYN or even your family practitioner. It is mostly diagnosed by your symptoms but hormone labs, and an ultrasound can be done to confirm. Patients who have PCOS are at higher risk for having insulin resistance, and for developing type II diabetes, ovarian cancer, and possible cardiovascular disease. So if you've been diagnosed please take care of your body and see a Doctor regularly. If you have the symptoms make an appointment with your Physician to get more information and tests preformed. If you are one of my PCOS cysters help make others aware: blog, FB, and share information about PCOS. The only way to find a cure is to make people more aware, and interested in finding out more.

http://www.resolve.org/infertility101  (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Super Easy Ranch Dressing

If you want a healthy alternative to ranch dressing than this super easy recipe is perfect!

All you need is a blender bottle, equal parts greek yogurt & milk (buttermilk or almond milk are also good) pick your favorite ranch dressing mix & place everything in the blender bottle. SHAKE :)

If you like your ranch a little thicker you can add some extra yogurt.

Enjoy!