Valentine's Day Dinner

My previous Valentine's Day would have included:

• Expensive restaurant meal with wine... including dessert.
• Wine at home

Total calorie consumption would have probably been 3,000 just for dinner and drinks (not including breakfast and lunch).

Today, however, Hubby and I dropped things back a notch. No wine (since it's not good for Baby), and lunch out instead of dinner. My lunch wasn't the greatest--crab cake sandwich and onion rings. But hey... that's what the Baby wanted!

By the time the day is through, I'll probably have consumed a total of 2,200 calories. Much less than previous Valentine Day celebrations... and almost right on target for a pregnant lady needs.

The biggest saving grace is the lack of wine... since a bottle can easily have 1,000 calories (and it wasn't unusual for me to drink a bottle on my own during "special" occasions). Whew! It's always hard to believe how many calories I was really consuming during the days I was still drinking.

Domain Registration

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I own a few different blogs, but most of them rely on the blogger platform domain name. However, I've been thinking about using a domain registration service for some of the more popular ones.

Registering a domain name would give my visitors an easy-to-remember website URL for my blogs. If I want to increase traffic and boost my blog's performance, a domain name is practically essential.

Paylessdomains.com.au is a great service for bloggers who want a new domain name. It's relatively inexpensive, and it offers lots of extra features (for a fee), such as web hosting packages, email hosting and SSL Security Certificates. Register for more than one domain name and you can get discounts, too. The service is perfect for anyone looking for an Australian domain name.

I've registered domain names in the past, and the process is always very simple and easy. If you're hoping to boost traffic and develop a popular blog, a domain name is an inexpensive way to create a memorable blog URL.

Taking It Easy

So because of a minor pregnancy complication, my doc advised that I "take it easy" for a little while. This means I've been spending the last couple of days on the couch. I am the quintessential couch potato. I'm surprised that the TV remote control hasn't become permanently embedded in the palm of my hand.

Another downside to "taking it easy" is that I'm trying to spend very little time on my feet, which means I am eating meals that require very little kitchen prep. My typical daily menu includes a few frozen dinners and the occasional delivery pizza or Chinese. Not exactly the healthiest foods.

Fortunately, Hubby is off work for a few days... so he can cook for me and pamper me! We just loaded up on a bunch of groceries, so he has plenty of ingredients for healthy meals. Now I only need to convince him that salad is a better dinner choice than fish 'n' chips!

Kustom Fitness Website

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The web can be a great tool for anyone looking to get fit, lose weight or become healthy. And it doesn't have to cost a lot of money! Kustom Fitness is a free website that allows you to plan your diet, track your goals, schedule workouts and more!

Kustom Fitness is also a great social networking website. You'll be able to meet friends and workout partners who share the same interest in fitness and weight loss. By joining a group of likeminded folks, you'll be more likely to stick to your healthy lifestyle since you'll have support and encouragement from others.

The website even offers Kustom Fitness Mobile, which allows you to stay connected through your cell phone!

And though there are a few additional services that require payment, most of these tools are absolutely free!

Maternity Exercise Gear

At this point, I can still squeeze into some of the larger exercise sweatpants and shirts that I purchased after finding out about my pregnancy. But in a very short period of time--probably just another few weeks--I'm going to have trouble fitting into my workout clothing. As a result, I've been doing some browsing for maternity exercise clothes.

The results? In the secondhand market (eBay, thrift stores, etc.), there's almost no maternity exercise clothing. The same is true of discount stores (like Wal-Mart). There are some very pricey specialty stores that sell maternity workout gear, but the cost is crazy! A 3-piece yoga suit like this one costs $118! That's way ridiculous!

Since I'm not running or doing anything super strenuous, I don't really need fancy moisture wicking fabrics. I'll probably be ok in just plain cotton tees and shorts this summer. It's not the best choice, but it's certainly the most economical.

Get Paid To Blog

(Sponsored post)

Many bloggers are trying to monetize their blogs, and why not? It's a great way to earn a few bucks for doing something you love. And now there's a new program in town--named Smorty--that allows you to write your opinions about websites, services and products in exchange for payment.

If you're an opinionated person and you like to share your thoughts, Smorty is a great way to get paid to blog. Personally, the idea of getting paid for blogging appeals to both the frugal and practical aspects of my personality.

The process is simple! Sign up, wait for your blog to be approved, and then accept opportunities as they arise. Opportunities do go quickly, but plenty are available for even small bloggers. In no time at all I had gotten this blog approved and was writing my first post for money.

So if you're looking for a way to blog for money, check out Smorty. It's simple, easy and fun, too!

Sushi Without The Fish

Ok... they may not be the healthiest meal in the world. But they're terribly tasty and relatively easy to make, plus Hubby enjoys the leftovers in his lunchbox. They're basically a very plain sushi roll.

I simply make up a batch of sushi rice with my trusty rice cooker. (Don't waste your time or money on a cheap-o rice cooker. Spend the cash and buy a Zojirushi Rice Cooker and Warmer. It's totally worth the money.)

Then I take a sheet of toasted nori (sometimes I cut the sheet in half) and slather on the rice until it forms a thin layer. Sometimes I add veggies (like avocado) on top, other times I just leave it plain. I roll it up as I would a roll of sushi, then cut into pieces. That's it! Sometimes I cut one roll into two pieces and just eat it in bites like a hotdog.

(Here's a link to simple instructions that illustrate the steps I take: http://sushifan.com/make_sushi.html)

I could make it healthier with short grain brown rice instead of white sushi rice... and sometimes I do. Nori is pretty healthy--it's a sea veggie--so I feel I'm at least getting my vegetables when I eat this snack. And if I use a filling like avocado or asparagus, I get a little nutritional boost, too.

Slacking on exercise...

It seems like everything is conspiring against me... or, at least, my ability to exercise.

My mom's been very sick, so I've been spending a lot of afternoons with her. Hubby's been working a lot (and I prefer to exercise with him). The weather's been super cold and windy, so outdoor walks don't really work right now. And I've been incredibly tired (probably a combination of physical and emotional exhaustion).

Sounds like a bunch of excuses, right?

I guess that's really all it is. I'm making a bunch of lame-0 excuses to justify my lack of exercise. Looking over my workout journal, I've been averaging one short walk per week.

That's hardly acceptable.

If I don't exercise during this pregnancy, I'll probably continue to feel tired and exhausted. Which means I'll be a tired and exhausted "new mom." Which means it'll take me even longer to lose the baby weight.

The smartest thing I can do right now is stay active throughout this pregnancy. Regular workouts now--even if they're just brisk walks--will help me lose the weight once the baby is born. So I gotta get motivated to do it, even if I don't feel like it.

Frozen Meals

I've become a frozen meal junkie.

I've always stayed away from frozen meals--except the occasional Amy's Organic Meal--because they're loaded with chemicals, preservatives and sodium. The only benefit to these meals at all is that they're calorie-controlled. Most "healthy" versions contain around 300 calories. Add an extra dish of veggies, and it's a pretty decent sized meal for very little calories.

Hubby works past dinner time a lot of evenings, which means I have to fend for myself. In the past, I might have made myself a healthy stir-fry or nibbled on a bowl of soup. These days, however, I just don't have the energy or motivation to cook.

The result? I am eating frozen meals all the time. I mostly stick with vegetarian versions, like beans/rice or spaghetti marinara. Nonetheless, these aren't exactly well-rounded meals. (In truth, I don't make that extra side of veggies like I should.)

I'm going to have to start thinking of some options for quick and easy healthy meals that require very little cooking.

Human Touch Massage Chairs

This is a sponsored post

During this pregnancy, I have experienced most of the typical pregnancy side effects and symptoms… including back pain. I've been longing for a quality massage that can help ease some of the discomfort I'm feeling through my shoulders and back.

So I was amazed and delighted to discover Human Touch Massage Chairs, which have advanced computer controls. These chairs are designed to relieve pain and alleviate stress with massage technology that replicates the feel of a real massage! They're customizable so you can create an experience almost identical to the one you'd receive from a human massage professional.

One of the favorite features of this product is that it gives you a full body massage--shoulders, back and legs. I'm currently experiencing some pain in those areas, and I know a chair like this would help me find some relief.

Food Diary

Even though I am currently pregnant, I still keep a food diary. When I'm trying to lose weight, cut fat or build muscle mass, a food diary helps me track my diet to ensure that I'm getting the proper nutrition for my goals. I figured it could do the same for me during pregnancy.

But keeping my food diary, I help ensure that both me and the baby are getting plenty of nutrients. I can quickly glance at a week's worth of entries to find out if I'm short on veggies, fruit or whole grains. I can also find out if I've been having too many treats of ice cream and brownies.

I've been keeping this food diary for years. Simplicity is one of the reasons I've been able to maintain it. I don't track macronutrients, and in some cases I don't even track portion sizes. A typical entry might look like this:

10:00 AM: 3 scrambled egg whites, 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1/2 apple

Although it's not incredibly detailed, it's just enough info to help me stay on track.

Auto Warranties

This is a sponsored post

Although I consider myself a "green" environmentalist, Hubby and I own a gas-guzzling SUV. The reason? We fancy ourselves to be outdoor enthusiasts, and I love to exercise outside. So we wanted a vehicle that would hold our bikes and provide the 4-wheel drive we'd need to go up a mountain.

As a result, our SUV takes a beating. At one point, we considered purchasing an Auto Warranty. Auto warranties generally cover more than the factory warranty, and they're a great choice for car owners who tend to be a little rough on their vehicles. They may also be useful for folks who want a little extra protection and peace of mind.

To learn more about auto warranties, check out the personal finance website FinanceGenius.com. It's full of information about all things related to money, including insurance, auto warranties, student loans, mortgages and more.