Facing Fear

Welcome back, Hey Eleanor!

Posted on April 18, 2018

Hi from Minneapolis! I’ve taken just a short, totally unacknowledged hiatus from Hey Eleanor.

Like 10 months. Oops! Or, as we say in Minnesota, “Ope!”

Though I have received some really nice emails and comments from readers, I don’t expect that people noticed my absence. I always think it’s a little presumptuous when internet people skip, like, one measly newsletter and profusely apologize for it. Pssst… didn’t notice or care! Scharry.

So if you care to know what’s been going on, I’ll explain.

I had a baby in July of 2016. Arlene is a doll and I am obsessed with her. She’s smart, funny, she is my world.

If I’m being totally honest, I didn’t quite realize just how much having a child would change everything.

My husband and I recently had an in-depth conversation about how much our lives have changed since kids. I … Read more

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Recipes

Easy Spicy Raspberry Chutney Recipe

Posted on July 29, 2017

“Do you eat like this every night?”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked this question. Yeah, we eat well at the Katt house. But here’s our secret: we keep our cooking super simple.

A typical dinner might be grilled chicken with veggies roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper. That’s it. These things take literally minutes to assemble and require minimal effort during the cooking process.

However, it’s easy to elevate even the most boring of meals with the addition of a sauce. Whether it’s the spicy Asian dressing I toss on a watermelon salad, carrot top chimichurri or homemade ranch, a sauce elevates a plain ol’ meal to something impressive. I almost always have a few sauces in my fridge. Which is why I am super excited to partner with Driscoll’s and theFeedFeed to bring you this delicious new recipe!

A favorite of late is … Read more

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Parenting

The biggest lessons I learned in my first year as a parent

Posted on July 14, 2017

what i learned in my first year as a parent

Today, Arlene turns one.

As any parent can attest, that first birthday comes with a tsunami of emotions.

Accomplishment: You made it a full year!
Bewilderment: Wait… how has it been a year?
Dread: Only 17 more of these and she’s out of the house?!
Panic: What if she fails to launch?

As I compare the photos of Arlene’s first day on earth to what she looks like today, I can’t believe just 365 days separate that skinny alien baby from my current chubby, funny munchkin. But honestly, some days I can’t tell who’s grown more– Arlene or me. With that said, here’s the biggest lessons I learned in my first year of parenthood.

* * *

You know zero about being a parent until you are one.

Read all the books you like, listen to every podcast, have yourself a 3 Men and a Baby/3 Men and a Little … Read more

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Wellness

I tried THINX and the DivaCup. Here’s what happened.

Posted on June 26, 2017

Is that?

It can’t be.

But I’m still breastfeeding!

My period returned 11 months after baby #1.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my 20 period-free months. No cramps, no PMS, no period-related acne, no ruined underwear. All I had to do was get pregnant! (and essentially experience all of those same period symptoms, but this time, I also gained a bunch of weight and grew a baby!).

Since birthing a babe, I’m less self-conscious about my body and feel more confident than ever. Or maybe it’s just that after a complete stranger assists you out of surgical-grade mesh underwear and/or manually milks your engorged breast, you just stop giving a rip.

Anyhow, with my new-found appreciation for my womanliness, I decided to ditch my old-school period tactics and try two alternative approaches: THINX and the DivaCup. Here’s what happened.

* * *

THINX

What they are: Period proof underwear that can replace … Read more

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Parenting

A Practical Baby Registry for New Parents

Posted on June 1, 2017

Overwhelmed with registering for your baby? Welcome to the club.

Before I had Arlene, I’d literally changed a diaper once. I knew nothing about babies, and all these gizmos and gadgets left my head spinning. Do I need the jogging stroller and an umbrella stroller and a snap-and-go and and and and…. waaaaaahhhhhh! What in the hell is all this stuff?

In my 10 months as a mom, I’ve learned that you just need a core set of items to start with. We live in a small-ish space and I don’t like heaps of crap, so I’ve tried to not overdo it on baby stuff.

Once your baby is here, you’ll be working with A LOT more information. That’s when you may realize that you actually DO need the $400 Mamaroo (and will be willing to pay for it if it’s the only thing that will keep your baby … Read more

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