Mamahood: A Few Necessities (+ A Major Giveaway!) / November 11, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

when amesy came i had been 10 days past my due date. 41 + weeks was no joke. those last 2 weeks were pretty rough on my body and my mental state at times. at my last doctor's appointment i had a sonogram to measure amesy's heart rate and the amniotic fluid levels. we had so many appointments where they told us there was no progress and that the baby was staying put for the time being. so when the sonogram tech said that my fluid levels were low, and the baby was coming that day we were shocked and for the first time, totally unprepared. every time we travelled any further than our neighborhood we brought our hospital bag and made accommodations for our pup quint. this time, of course, we had nothing prepared - no hospital bag, and quint was at doggy daycare with no back-up plan of where he would stay overnight.

we ended up rushing home to pack up everything we needed. my dad, who works just over the bridge in nyc, came to pick quint up, and we hurriedly drove to the hospital. because i was way past my due date and had low fluid levels, i was induced. i labored for about 13 hours before it was finally time to deliver our little guy. that moment continues to be the most memorable space in time as of yet. pushing my baby from my body was the most empowering feeling i've ever felt. the rush of emotions i felt in those first few seconds of his life when he was squishy and gooey and i was able to kiss him for the fist time. that first cry of breath, and the disbelief and love strewn across my husband's face as his eyes met our little one's. the pure joy on my parents' faces when they met amesy in that delivery room. and the idea that this little being, once just a thought and a dream, was finally here. i'm not sure i will ever experience anything better.

but the first few weeks of newborn life if real. like, really real. we're still in the thick of midnight feedings and extreme sleep deprivation. but it's making a bit more sense now. and on top of that ames is so much more expressive. he recognizes our voices and faces, and is beginning to smile when we talk to him --> heart. melting.

so i thought i would round up some of my favorite baby/mama products that have literally saved the day in some form or another, and also host a major giveaway for 1 lucky reader!

Snacking - i love a good snack bar. i made these over the summer if you're wanting a homemade larabar. but Oat Mama Lactation Bars have been my go-to. they're gluten-free dairy-free, soy-free, and they're absolutely delicious! they're filling, full of yummy superfoods, and help you keep up milk production. but even if you're not breastfeeding they're great for late-night feedings, or to throw in your bag for a sustaining snack throughout the day. i'm also a huge fan of go macro, especially their new thrive bars which are another really great superfood bar. (and if want to purchase some, go macro is offering you all 30% off any thrive purchase with the discount code: Thrive30!!!)

Napping - Dock-A-Tot - this is like a big pillow with bumpers so your babe stays put! if ames is napping i can put it on any surface large enough - on my desk when i'm working, on the bed or couch when i need to tend to other things. plus, it's portable, so i bring it to my parents' house when we visit on the weekends so that amesy has a place to take a nap without bringing his bassinet, etc.! he also really loves to chill out in his swing. we have this one from nuna which is great for our small apartment.

Diaper talk - okay. so we went with the biodegradable, hippie-dip diapers at first, and we totally loved them! but they leaked. all. the. time. so between amesy being uncomfortable, and the huge laundry footprint we were having that totally negated our biodegradable diapers, we've been going with a mainstream brand (rhymes with hampers) for the time being. hopefully we can switch back sometime soon! California Baby are my favorite baby products so far. the ingredients in their creams and washes are free of weird preservatives, soy, and dairy. the subtle fragrance of their products is really awesome, and i love that they're a completely sustainable company - from their ingredients, to their manufacturing, and packaging.

Sleep time - my mom had bought ames a few nightgowns, and to be honest, i wasn't sure how much use he would get out of them. but they have made midnight changings a breeze! we don't have to fuss with buttons when we're half asleep. we are super keen on petite bateau brand, milk barn, and kissy kissy. they're really soft on baby's skin, plus they all come in really great colors and patterns.

Soothing Our Babe - Solly Baby Wrap - guys, this wrap has saved our sanity on more than one night. whether we're going for a walk, or soothing ames during one of his fussy periods, the solly is a total god! i love how i can wear it around the house, have my arms free while also having that super special skin-to-skin time. the material is really soft and it comes in so many great patterns and colors :) highly recommend! aside from putting ames in the solly wrap and bopping him around the apartment or going for a walk, we really love our exercise/yoga ball, too. the evenings are the fussiest for him, so between taking lots of walks in the stroller or the solly wrap, bouncing with him on the ball is just another item to have in your soothing repertoire ;)

Playtime - we have this really beautiful alphabet blanket that my mom purchased for us from amelie mancini. everything she makes is handmade and super special. we plan on using it for so many things, but for now it's thick and soft enough for tummy time.

Carseat/stroller - i've gotten a lot of questions on instagram about what stroller we use, and more specifically about the striped car seat cover we have. we have the uppa baby vista stroller which folds up really small and fits perfectly in our narrow apartment. it also has an awesome turning radius - another great thing to have in our narrow hallway! lastly, native wilds makes this awesome carseat cover that also acts as a breastfeeding cover, grocery cart cover, and scarf - boom! they also come in really great patterns! it was the first thing i bought when i found out i was pregnant, and it's continues to be one of my favorite purchases.

ok, time for the fun part! *the giveaway* i got some of my favorite brands together to give 1 super duper lucky reader a few stellar baby products! *the details* to enter the giveaway: please leave a comment below sharing a thought about expecting your little one (whether that's pregancy, adoption, surrogacy, etc.), some of your favorite tips or tricks as a new mama, or some of your go-to snacks! the winner will be announced next friday, november 18 at 5 pm. thank you so much to all of these wonderfully generous companies who so graciously worked with me to make this giveaway possible!

one winner will be chosen to win:

1 Deluxe Dock-a-Tot (pictured)

1 Solly Baby Wrap (pictured)

California Baby Calendula Cream and Calming Shampoo & Bodywash (pictured)

$75 gift card to Oat Mama (bars pictured)

$75 gift card to Finn and Emma

Hemp-Buckwheat Blender Waffles w/ Spiced Apples / November 10, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Hemp-Buckwheat Blender Waffles w/ Spiced Apples | dolly and oatmeal #vegan #glutenfree

time is precious these days. life with a newborn has put a lot of things into perspective that i took for granted previously. even when amesy's napping there seems to be a million things that need my attention and there's just never enough time. between feeding him every 2 hours, changings, and just general fussiness there's little time for much else.

i kind of knew this would be the case, as people warned me. so before ames made his entrance into this world, i developed some busy lady recipes that bridge the gap between eating anything that resembles food, and easy-peasy, crave-worthy food that i would never have enough time to make. a recipe that simply throws a few pantry items into a blender and results in a delicious, and sustaining breakfast meal is something that made/makes me super excited. so, i was super thrilled when i got the recipe for these blender, high-vibe, good for any day, waffles just right and good enough to share them you! the ingredient list is really clean, sticking to a lot of the superfoods we all know and love. and while i love eggs, i get a lot of readers asking for vegan friendly recipes or alternatives. with a nod to my vegan friends, these waffles are egg-free, and utilize ground flax here for binding purposes - yay, flax! so, whether you're a new mom, a busy lady, a busy dude, or someone who appreciates an easy meal, this one's for you ;)

*i wrote this post before the election, but i would be remiss if i didn't address my feelings on this. first, i believe in this democratic process, and therefore i will continue my beliefs while continue theres. my only hope is that love, compassion, acceptance of differences, open-mindedness all continue to have a seat at the table in a trump administration. i keep hope alive that i will be able to raise my son in his first 4 years on this earth without the hate and discrimination the trump campaign so viciously spewed these past months. i am so tremendously sad at what could have been, and was extremely proud to have amesy at my side when i cast my ballot for the first female president. i spent most of yesterday with tears streaming down my face, and holding my baby close to me. that said, i'm hopeful that the rights we've worked so hard to attain won't be taken away; that so much of what keeps millions of americans safe, and insured, and healthy won't be overturned, and we can accept and understand one another a bit more.

peace, love & light. xo!

Hemp-Buckwheat Blender Waffles w/ Spiced Apples | v & gf

i like making a double batch of this recipe to freeze and have leftovers. the spiced apples take a bit more time to make, but can also be made ahead of time and reheated as needed.

| makes 4 waffles |

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup buckwheat flour
1/4 cup hemp hearts/seeds
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
2 tablespoons melted unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil. melted, plus more for waffle iron
1 tablespoon ground flax
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

spiced apples

1 tablespoon unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil
1 large apple (i like honeycrisp or pink lady)
1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground ginger
pinch of ground nutmeg
tiny pinch of salt

toppings

sliced almonds
hemp hearts
maple syrup

method

preheat oven to warm (about 180°F) and place a baking sheet lined with parchment paper inside.
in the container of an upright, high-speed blender, combine the almond milk and vinegar. let the mixture sit for 10 minutes, until bubbly. next, add the remaining ingredients and blend on high for 1 minute, scraping down the sides as needed. let the mixture rest while you preheat the waffle iron.
grease the hot iron with some coconut oil and pour a heaping 1/2 cup of the batter into it. cook for 3-4 minutes, until the edges are a bit crispy. place the waffle into the preheated oven and repeat with the remaining batter.
keep the waffles warm while you make the spiced apples.
heat a 10-12 inch skillet over medium heat. once hot, add the coconut oil, apples, spices, and salt. cook until soft and tender, gently flipping them over to cook evenly, about 7-10 minutes.
serve waffles warm topped with spiced apples, sliced almonds, hemp seeds, and maple syrup.

enjoy!

similar recipes:

overnight oat waffles w/ lemon zest & poppy seeds

banana buckwheat waffles w/ blue-barb syrup

Sprouted Brown Rice Pilaf w/ Roasted Grapes & Fennel / October 19, 2016 by Lindsey | Dolly and Oatmeal

Sprouted Brown Rice Pilaf w/ Roasted Grapes & Fennel | dolly and oatmeal

hey y'all! it's felt like forever since i've blogged in real-time and it feels so good! the last time i checked in here i hadn't given birth to our son, james,("amesy"). he finally came september 27, 10 days after his due date! when i can gather my thoughts into cohesive sentences i plan to write more about his entrance into the world :)

newborn baby life has somewhat rocked mine and frank's existence a bit ;) we knew that sleep deprivation, emotional rollercoasters, and general fuzziness were in our futures but there was really no way to prepare or scale how much a little human impacts every minute and second of your life. at this moment we're trying to keep him alive and healthy, marvel at his little toes and button nose, take in every coo and odd sound he emits, and study the range of emotions that take over his teeny face at a given second. he's, in a word, precious. but i would be lying if i didn't say that navigating this new territory is wrought with emotion, and just plain terrifying at times. i know frank and i are strengthened by all of those who have done this parenting thing before us, and those who continue to do it presently with grace and honesty.

and now, rice pilaf! i knew this dish would come in handy after our little amesy was born. it's basically a one-stop-pot of grainy goodness (which also means less dishes to clean!). pilaf has no bounds as to what kind of flavors you want the end product to have. so here i wanted something soothing and minimal in terms of spices, and more emphasis on fresh herbs and produce. the herbs, onion, fennel, and roasted grapes shine together as i'm a big time fan of fruit mixed all up in a savory dish/salad. i have a feeling this humble pot is going to continue to make a weekly appearance as a side dish or a for a quick lunch. hopefully you'll find it easy-peasy as well!

big autumnal hugs! xo's

Sprouted Brown Rice Pilaf w/ Roasted Grapes & Fennel | v & gf

i chose to use a sprouted variety of brown rice, but feel free to substitute your preferred grain and cook according to the directions on the package.

| makes 4 servings |

roasted grapes

1 cup seedless grapes
2-3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
salt and fresh pepper, to taste

pilaf

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small fennel bulb, finely chopped
1 cup sprouted brown rice (i like this brand)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 3/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chopped sage
salt and fresh pepper, to taste
1/4 cup toasted almonds, roughly chopped
handful of fresh parsley, chopped

method

preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside.
toss the grapes with the oil, and salt and pepper to taste. transfer to the baking sheet and roast until the grapes are slightly burst and juicy, about 12-15 minutes. remove from the oven and set aside.
heat the oil in a lidded saucepan over medium heat. once hot, add the onion and fennel. cook until the onions are translucent and the fennel is soft, 5-6 minutes. add the rice and cumin until well-coated, and cook for another couple of minutes, then add the water and sage, season with salt and pepper, to taste. bring the rice to a boil and cover with a fitted lid.