I discovered my Lululemon yoga mat makes a great GREEN backdrop for a photo!
Today I want to do a product review. I purchased these Ezekiel Whole Grain Tortillas last week as a reward for my early rising challenge. The challenge is still going well- I have been getting up between 6-6:20am, with a few slip-ups here and there when I need more sleep. I’m not sure if I will be able to break into the 5’s like I hoped, but I am happy with around 6 anyways.
I was really excited to try these as I have been wondering about them for over a year now.
I had the wrap with a delicious quinoa mixture- 1 cup quinoa, 2 heaping tablespoons hummus, ground pepper, and 1 tablespoon tomato paste. Very delicious! On a bed of baby spinach.
I was a bit disappointed with these wraps because they are quite tough. I was expecting a soft tortilla but these were not soft. They don’t taste bad, but I would prefer to spend my dough on other dough…
I definitely prefer the Ezekiel bread to these. The bread seems more filling to me, even though it is about the same number of calories. Maybe it is because I toast the bread.
Someone mentioned that the Ezekiel English muffins are really good so I think I will try those next!
Celery is like air to me. Very fun to crunch though. That is one thing I love about veggies…so. much. chewing. 
I also made a fun discovery with my tea.
I rarely drink black tea lately, but I used to drink it all the time. Eric drinks it a lot so he has got me drinking some decaf at night time again. I wanted a creamy tea so I tried adding coconut milk. I put about 3 tablespoons of coconut milk into my tea. At first I wasn’t sure about the taste, but as I drank it I really enjoyed it. The tea was so creamy and rich tasting! A definite keeper.
Nothing like a hot cuppa tea on a cold winter’s night…
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This was a question I posed on Twitter tonight and I got some interesting responses:
“For all the ladies out there who want children- do you have a certain age that you want to have your first by?”
I would also like to ask: For those of you who already have children please share your thoughts on your own experience! Did you have them early enough, too late, just right?
Or have you decided that you don’t want to have children?
Any MEN out there who want to chime in? (I’d pretty much die happy if one did…)
well if you ask my fiancee, he wants to be done having kids by the time we’re 30 (I’m 23, he’s 24). to that i say wtf?! haha. i am just letting things run their course – children will happen eventually. he should be glad i’m even considering kids at this point… i used to be a dog-only person :)
we just had a friend announce she’s pregnant, and i freaked a little bit. i’m not ready to handle this whole baby-thing yet!!!
I’m split on this one. On the one hand, I’d love to start having kids before I’m 30 and be all done by the time I’m 35. On the other, I’d like to start after 30 and be done by 35. Then again, I could see myself having kids in my late 30s. But I’m really torn between the first two.
I’m not fussed, though, as there’s no baby-daddy on the horizon, so it’s no biggie.
Yet.
Wow! What a HOT topic! This has definitely been a hot topic for my husband and me for the past few months. I’ll be 29 in September and the plan, or at least my plan, is to start thinking about it next summer… but is that too late?? How is one to know?
A lot of people I talk to say that you are never “ready” for it. You will never have enough money, never have traveled enough, never have had enough fun, so you just kind of have to jump in and do it.
My biggest reservations come from seeing other moms. I know they love their babies, but they so often look so frazzled and stressed! I am already so frazzled and stressed!
My mom had me at 19 and I remember how stressed she always seemed. She didn’t ever (and still doesn’t) do anything for herself. It was always for the kids. My parents were very young when they had kids. They had five kids by the time they were 34! This was not always very easy for them.
I’m also very, very afraid of what it will do to my body. I work very hard to stay fit. I want a 6 pack before I have a baby bump!
I know this sounds superficial and selfish, but there are just so many things I am not quite ready to give up. I want the freedom to workout when I want to, to rest when I want to, to go to happy hours and out with friends when I want to. I also really want 8 hours of sleep at night!
So, as you can tell from this very long, drawn out comment. I have no idea when the right time to start a family is. For now, I am happy with raising my dogs! ;o)
Frazzle and stressed. Yes — I have seen that.
But what I recall from my Mom (and Dad) was their entire focus was on seizing the moment and having fun. They lived their life like that before me and my brother (they were married 8 years before my brother, 10 years when they had me), and they lived their life after having the two of us. I’ve always been impressed with the two of them. They traveled the world without us and with us on a shoe-string budget, and are still going strong now (my Mom went back and got her PhD when she was 50, and now teaches full-time — she always says that you can’t view life as stopping — just new opportunities around the corner).
This gives me perspective that life does NOT stop with kids. Change, yes. Stop, never.
I’m so flip flop on this issue! One minute I think NO WAY! The next I think I’m ready today!!! Yikes!
I always had the plan in my head that I would be with someone for 3 years prior to being married at 25, pregnant by 26, giving birth by 27… second child by 30…. happy forever and ever…
BOY did those plans not pan out very well! LOL
I just got out of a 5 year relationship… and I am now 24… guess I will have to reschedule life… time to start the quest over!
Ooooo have you got babies on the brain?? Or perhaps Eric does… lol?
I would like to start a family sometime around my early 30’s…preferably the 30-32. I want to make sure that I have a stable job and home so that I can provide nothing but the best situation for my family. My parents are both teachers, but they waited till they saved up and were financially stable to have my sister and I so that they could provide for us without any problems.
Now, I am not saying I am going to give my kids everything they want and spoil them…thats not what my parents did and I don’t plan on doing that for my future children either. I want my kids to earn what they get (with a few side gifts every now and then) but for the most part I want to instill in them the same work ethic, morals, and determination that my parents instilled in me.
I married my high school sweetheart at 18. Had our first child at 20, second at 21 and third at 23. Now I’m 30 and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. All my friends are just now starting and I am sooo glad to be where I am in parenthood. Hubby and I are going to be only 41 when our youngest graduates high school. We both were able to finish our undergrad and get great carrers going, the only thing we haven’t done too much of is travel. That will come soon. I’m working on my master’s right now, so all in good time.
We are grappling with this questions now in trying to make plans for the future. I’m almost 28 and would like to start trying by the time I’m 30. I think that is a good age, but am always nervous that maybe I should start now b/c you never know when it comes to fertility.
Until my niece was born, I never wanted children, but as another reader said, something clicked. I’m 26, not married, but in a relationship of almost 3 years. I do want kids, but I’m not exactly in a rush. It’s not the right time right now, but I would welcome whatever happens. I’d like to have my first by 30, but in to my 30s is fine!
i have one daughter. I had her when i was 21….for ME that was way too early…i feel like we have grown up together. Don’t get me wrong i love every minute with her and wouldn’t take her back for anything, but for young girls out there I want to preach…LIVE YOUR LIFE FIRST! I”m not saying your life ends with childern but your priorities definitely change!
Have any of you been watching MTV’s Teen mom? I want to croak every time i see this show come on!! it fills me with so much anger….why are there no shows about young women DOING THINGS?? There are so many girls out there accomplishing things and doing stuff for the community and their careers…why are there no shows about that?
I had my first child when I was 23 and my second when I was 26. We’ll probably have one more in a couple of years. I’ll be 30. This has been perfect for us. I’m guessing you’ll find from the responses that every person and situation is different. There is no one plan fits all. Glad for that!
I’m all about being an older mom…I don’t know why, but I’m 28 and would like to try with kids when I’m around 30 or so. I’m really enjoying being young with my hubby, and honestly, I think kids keep you young which is a great reason to have them when you are older!
Coconut milk in tea is SUCH a good idea!
The comments on the kid question are really interesting. I don’t think of myself as a “kid person” and since I’m only 25 I don’t see it happening for at LEAST 5 years, but probably more.
I’m 25, we are talking about starting next year, but I still go back an forth! Original plan wa 3-4 out by 30, we shall see! I can’t wait to have kids, but I only get to see my husband 1/4 of the year, I want to live our life first!!
Love the question of the day :)
I’m 30 and my husband and I do not want children. We just don’t see them in our lives. We get so much fulfillment from our hobbies and our alone time. Maybe that’s “selfish,” but it is what it is. I’ve said that if I get that maternal instinct at some point, I’d adopt. But, now, we have cats that we treat as our children :) I’m very happy with that.
I would definitely like to have my first child by 30. That cuts down on age-related risk factors, and gives me a greater chance at being a fun, fit, active mom. :)
I’ve had the same issues with the Ezekiel Tortillas. They always seems to break whenever I actually try to use them as wraps. Just so you don’t waste them though, if you slice them up and bake them, they make really tasty pita-esque chips!
I’m 22and from 18-20 for some odd reason (cough insecure cough)I was extremely jealous of everyone who was a “young fun mom”. Now – I’m so grateful that I didn’t react to my stupid urge. Kids do change EVERYTHING about your life and I don’t feel like I am ready. Kind of been thinking I might never be “ready” but I def want to finish school and buy a house, prob won’t happen before I’m 25 so after that maybe I will revisit the idea. It seems like the average is 26-28. I just read an article about how much your chances of conceiving decrease substantially after you turn 30. Something to keep in the back of our minds….
I won’t have kids after 30. My mother had too many problems with me and my sister (had me at 30, sister at 33).
I’m 21 and refuse to have children before 25. There is no place for a child in my life right now. They scare the sh!t outta me.
Well, let’s see…when I was in college, I wanted to be married by the time I was 27 and at least my first child by 30. I am 29 right now and I and looks like I missed both of those timelines…best advice…don’t move to NYC single!!
If my bf and I get married…I imagine it won’t be long before a baby is on the way :) I am happy with the way things have worked out though…Looking back 2 years ago there is no way I would have been ready to have a baby! In the meantime I’m a’eating lots of veggies and making sure I get my share of folic acid.
Oh boy…..well I have another B-Day coming in April and I will be 34 so I’m starting to stress. I never thought I would be at this age and still childless ( If I planned on having one…or two that is )
Anyway, I’m getting checked out soon to make sure everything is “working” okay…my partner is doing the same ( He’s alomost 40 ) Anyway, sensitive topic over here ( lol ) Where did all the years go?
Very timely question! I am 30 and my husband and I are thinking about trying next year. I never had a “deadline” but I guess in the back of my head “30” seemed like a good age. We’ve been married 5 years and just wanted to enjoy as much time with each other as possible traveling and enjoying our freedom for awhile. However, I realize there will never be the “perfect” time and I don’t think I’ll ever feel 100% ready, so at some point you just have to go for it. My friends and I have been talking about this a lot lately- as they are all in the same boat. We’re wondering who will pull the trigger first!
I am 24 years old and have been married for almost 2 years to my best friend. I would like to have our first child when I am 26 or 27. I am honestly so excited and sometimes it feels like I am counting down the months (year?!) until we can start a family. My mom was 27,30, and 35 when she had myself and my 2 siblings and that seemed to be the perfect ages. Now that we are all out of the house my parents are still young enough to enjoy their “freedom” and the next chapter of their lives.
I was 33 when I got married and had my first son at 34 and my second son at 36. Now I wish I had had the energy I did when I was 25 but even better I had the financial and marital stability and experience to be able to provide for my children.
Some women regret that they weren’t able to do certain things after having their kids. I feel that I lived a complete life by waiting to be in my 30’s. I know who I am. I know I have no regrets. That will add greatly to my son’s nurturing.
Motherhood amplifies life!
PS: The Ezekiel English Muffins are the best I’ve ever had. The wraps not so much.
Ideally, I’d like to have my first around 28 or so. My Mom had my older sister at 28 and I think that’s a good age but it’ll just depend how my business goes and how the search for a good husband goes…. :)
I don’t want to have any kids after 35, just because I want to get to see a lot of my kid’s lives. I envision being like a Sophia on Golden Girls. I want to still be alive when my kids are 60!
I am currently 41. I met my husband when I was 32, married when I was 34, bought our home at 35, had our first son when I was 37 and our second when I was 39. I had wonderful pregnancies both times. I was able to exercise throughout both while working full-time. I think I had my children at the perfect time . . . for me. I waited to marry the right man (who is also a wonderful father) and whether that happened when I was 22 or 40, it was the surrounding circumstances that made it right, not the number.
This has been on my mind a LOT lately! I recently turned 29. Years ago, I thought I’d have kids at about 27 or 28. As I got older, that sort of shifted to 29/30. I got married about 9 months ago (dated for 10 years!!!). So I’m definitely very stable with my husband. 90% of me wants kids now! Ideally, I’d like to go off BC this summer, and start trying September-December of this year. I’d like my first kid at 30, and then my second around 33. HOWEVER, my husband is not quite ready for kids. When we discussed that timeline, it was scary for him, and he said he’d like to start trying NEXT year (2011), meaning I’d have my first right after my 31st birthday. So we’re just about 6-8 months different in our timeline, which definitely isn’t a deal breaker.
There is a tiny bit of me (10%) that is scared to have kids because your life changes SO MUCH. It never occurred to me before, but now that children are in my “close” future, I do realize all of things that will be put on hold when we have kids (like afternoon naps, traveling alone, etc). It doesn’t deter me from wanting kids, and I know that we’ll have a great family support system, but I am much more realistic now about how this will change our lives.
What about you Angela?????? Anything to tell us??? If not, what is your ideal time? Are you and your hubby on the same page?
Yay for the moms who spoke up about having kids later. It seems that people I know either had them in their 20’s or are having them now- mid to late 30’s. I am 35 and still am not sure if I am going to have kids yet- my boyfriend and I have been together for 7 months. I still want to hike the PCT and start in a PhD program before I have kids- but if I do and it happens with my body- I will try in 3 years and see what happens. I am ok with or without and that is a nice place to be mentally, for me. Most of my friends that had kids younger are having major problems in their marriages and to me, a happy union with someone and to give back to this world is most important to me. I am a child therapist and see many kids a day so I get to make an impact either way.
thanks for your blog and for the discussion.
I’ve been married for almost 2 years and I’m 26 but my Husband is 32.
I always said 27….so we better get working on it;)
Someone asked me the other day what are you waiting for?
To be honest I didnt have a good answer.
When you have a career, a house, a loving husband…why wait?
Looks like we BOTH have babies on the brain. My topic today was also about having a baby!
I’m thinking sometime before 35, lol. I’m currently 29, turning 30 in May. I’m confused about it. On one hand, I know I’ll never be totally ready, but on the other hand, I don’t want to rob myself of “alone” time with my husband. We got married in September of 2008 and I’m not ready for it to not be just us yet. That said, the thought of having HIS baby totally makes me excited!
So, I’m back at where I started: confused.
(My blog is private right now, but if you’d like to added as a reader, just shoot me an email: [email protected])
Oh, P.S. My husband is already 38 so that makes it even harder not to want to hurry things up, lol.
I am 20! and the idea of having a child scares me (maybe bc I JUST turned 20). I would joke about wanting to have a baby when I see a cute little one in a stroller or in the arms of its mother. This is sooo going to sound weird but I had a dream that I gave birth! and that my baby was hungry and crying, but there wasn’t any food available, so I breast fed her. In my dream, that was so most precious moment for me, I felt like I was in the moment (the dream version of me). TMI haha, but then I woke up and I thought woah! maybe it isn’t so bad.
eeks.
I’m 22 years old and my daughter is 9 months old. When I was in high school I thought I wanted to wait until I was 25 to have kids. I have been with my husband since high school and one day, about two months before I got pregnant, I was late… so I took a pregnancy test. I wasn’t sure what I wanted the results to be but when it came out negative, I cried. I knew then that I wanted to at least go off birth control. We weren’t neccesarily “trying” but I got pregnant soon after.
I can’t begin to explain to someone that doesn’t have children what it’s like to love your child. I respect people’s opinion on whether or not to have children, 100 percent, but sometimes when I look at people and think “you don’t know what you’re missing!”.
I don’t have children yet, but my husband and I plan to start growing our family in about 3 years, when I’ll be about 27 & he’s 28.
I thought I might want to have kids one day, but as I watch my friends getting married and having babies, I realize that I don’t want kids at all. No thank you!
Very interesting discussion!
I always thought I’d be married by 23 or 25, and pregnant by my golden birthday – 26. Well, I just turned 28 and my biological clock has not started ringing yet. I’ve been in a relationship for 5 years, and the Boyf and I are looking at houses, but we haven’t exactly looked at ones with room for a nursery, playroom, etc.
I agree with many of you that there is a certain pressure from external sources, and even an air of guilt about not wanting to get pregnant (yet).
I got pregnant at 19, when I was in college. At that time I wasnt even sure I wanted children because growing up I’ve never really been around younger kids and I didnt babysit. The first diaper I changed was my son’s! Thank god my boyfriend knew how, he’s the one who showed me :)
It’s true when they say a child changes your life…But in a good way! Now I can’t see myself without my little boy (he’s four). Let me tell you, life is never boring with a kid…There’s always something new or funny happening everyday :)
To be completely honest though, there were times when I’d be jealous of my friends my age who only had to worry about partying and shopping and who did whatever they wanted when they wanted. But those things cannot be compared to the joys of raising a child, because there are so many!
So at first I thought I was too young but as soon as I had my son and became a parent I knew it was the right time for me.
I am 36, I had my kids at 31 and 33. It worked out well for me – dh and I were together for ages too but we had a blast in our 20s travelling and just partying it up. Sometimes I think about how ‘old’ I will be when/if I am a grandma but that just motivates me to stay in shape and healthy so if I am old, at least I am healthy ;)
I think the right age is whatever works for your family.
I have some single friends who are now looking at adoption or in vitro because they really want kids but there is no partner on the horizon and they are in their late 30’s.
Wow, what a HOT TOPIC:) My husband and I have been married for 15 years and we have one child. We were 24 and 25 when he was born. I’m thinking any age is perfect because you make it perfect. I have to say the vulgar comments that come from family/friends/strangers about an “only” child are very challenging. I believe you should do what feels right for you, not what society thinks is right.
Well, I’m a day late but I wanted to chime in and say my husband and I have been married 10 years (our anniversary is next week) and we are completely and blissfully happy without children and plan on remaining that way. It is my BIGGEST pet peeve when people use the word family to mean “with chilren” because WE are a family, a family of two (well, four if you count the cat and dog, which we do!!). I volunteer for many organizations, I’m a 4-H leader for one, and I can’t imagine how I would fit in all my volunteer hours with kids of my own. Why would I give up helping thousands of kids each year to focus on one or two? Seems selfish and pointless to me.
what do you think about half of each half
Just found your blog today! Love it!
I always said I wanted to have at least 1 kid by the time I was 30, preferably 2 or 3 by then. Now, I have about 15 days to get pregnant if I want to have 1 by then. I admit, it depresses me, but hey, it is what it is. We’ve been trying for over a year and apparently God doesn’t want us to have them yet! I’m just hoping it’s in the near future because it’s KILLING me with every friend/family member that gets pregnant!
I would like to be done having kids by the time I’m 30. I want to have them young so I have enough energy to take care of them, and are still young enough to do more traveling when they are grown.
I’ve done a fair bit of traveling already, so I won’t feel like I haven’t “experienced being young” whenever I do have kids.
I’m in a long-term relationship currently, and we are looking to get married next year and then probably start having children a year or so after that.
I’m 22 now, so probably around 24/25 we will start trying.