LookBack
In case you were busy this week and missed some Internet happening’s, here’s what went on around here:
We talked Vibrams running shoes:
Made delicious pumpkin cupcakes in less than 5 minutes:
Got organized:
Learned how to make groats & what’s up with all the other oats:
And laughed at some ridiculous fitness fails:
We talked 26 weeks of pregnancy & Braxton Hicks contractions.
Prenatal yoga.
The best pregnancy books.
And birth plans… or lack there of.
In other places around the interwebs:
Adventures in depression from Hyperbole & a Half.
NaNoWriMo & how to write a year’s worth of blog content in 30 days.
Top 10 tips for new moms…real tips.
And Brain Food 101: How to Store Bread
Anything catch your eye this week? And what are you being for Halloween?!
Thoughts
My head is far too scattered to post on just one cohesive topic. So you get a bunch of ramblings from the week:
1. Did you hear chronic pain is now officially classified as a disease? You probably don’t care. I do. Why does this matter? It means improvements in treatment.
Researchers have now shown that chronic pain really is in our heads- but not the way most doctors dismiss it. When you hurt yourself- say you slam your back in a car accident- signals are sent from your back to your brain saying ouch this hurts! Those signals continue for so long that they retrain your brain. Then even when the physical source of pain is gone or healed, the pain signals are still being sent to your brain. So for all intents and purpose, the injury is still there- there’s just nothing physical to fix.
Understanding the pain-signal process will make a huge difference in how chronic pain is managed and treated.
Did you know only 1% of doctors specialize in pain? They’re called physiatrists. Apparently doctors can get as little as 1 hour of training in pain when they’re in med school. Is that not the most frightening thing you’ve ever heard? These people prescribe narcotics! That’s less training than they get in nutrition, and that’s pretty low.
2. I think Jennifer Garner and I should be friends. And not just because she’s pregnant and married to Ben Affleck. I flipped on Ellen the other day while getting a snack, something I never do, and there she was, running the show. Anyone that can be funny next to Ellen is a-okay in my book. Plus she talked about accidently getting drunk while filming a segment with Martha Stewart. And stalking her kitchen- literally. I guess she has a Martha Stewart thing.
3. I’m buying paint for the nursery today. That means I have to actually make a decision on what colors we’re using…
4. Please adequately source your recipes if you’re posting a recipe that’s not yours on your blog. This includes saying “adapted from”, posting the recipe and then only subbing one thing, like whole wheat flour. Not cool.
5. I finally tried Love Grown Foods granola and chia pudding. Both fabulous.
6. 
a la the bestest’s pinterest.
7. 
from my friend Emily.
Happy Friday! 
Now on tiny sneakers:
How to Prepare for Pregnancy: the changes I made.
Fun
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It will soon be Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a holiday party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, please, have some standards!
10. One final tip: Wear sweatpants/loose fitting clothing. If you are leaving the party and you can walk without help from a construction forklift, “you haven’t been paying attention, people!” Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”
Ok, ok, so I kid. I got this in an email and wanted to share it- it’s a reminder to lighten up & don’t worry so much. 
You can read real holiday eating tips here.
What’s the one thing you have to have during the holidays?
