As a nurse working in many different facilities over the last 10 years, I can’t tell you how many times patients came in with worsening conditions due to the fact that they would avoid needed hospitalization because of their health care insurance. At a time where they should have been focused solely on their health and working on getting better, they were worried about how much their care would cost.
How crazy is that? So many of these patients worked out on a regular basis, ate healthy and were proactive about their overall health in so many ways, but stopped short when it came to health insurance coverage. Make sure you have your health covered today! Open enrollment is still going on until December 15th, and is an open period of time in which you can apply for health insurance coverage for 2018. Oscar Health has created resources that help break down complex health terminology to make health plans and getting covered easier to understand. Go visit Oscar Health Coverage for more information.
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/abby-2738-1.jpg20022999Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-12-13 00:16:142017-12-13 00:20:48Get Covered With Oscar Health Coverage
Most of the country is being drenched in snow right now while California is still enjoying 80 degree temps! Though the warm weather is always pleasant… sometimes it can be hard to get into the holiday spirit when you still have your beach gear out!
One of our favorite ways to help get ready for the holidays is with some classic holiday treats! Everyone in the family LOVES hot chocolate but the powdered pre-made stuff is never as satisfying as the real deal… and even better… it’s super easy to make your own hot chocolate that is A LOT healthier than traditional recipes. Dairy-free makes this hot chocolate easier on tummies and minimal sugar is useful when Willow wants some at night.
I’ve been embracing this bump so much more than my last pregnancy. With Willow I was so self conscious with my changing body, but with the twins I have been trying to rock it more. With that being said I’m still human and get self conscious about my growing hips, legs and belly. So I use some tips and tricks from my wardrobe to appear a little leaner, and a little longer (rather than a little wider). Here are some tips I have picked up over the year to help elongate my frame.
Layer a long vest over tailored jeans and fitted shirt. The long vertical lines of the vest make you appear taller.
2. Nude Shoes, especially pumps with pointed toes and thin heels. Find a pair that matches your skin tone, and it will give the illusion of legs for days.
3. Wear all black, the oldest trick in the book. Wearing all one color helps create one long vertical line. Ensure each piece in your ensemble is well fitting.
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017.10.27_AbbyOchse_FINAL-3017.jpg36102407Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-12-09 00:54:192017-12-11 20:29:08Using Your Wardrobe To Appear Leaner and Longer
So many people have been asking how Willow feels about two new babies joining the family! We know this is going to be a HUGE transition for her since she has been by herself for 4 years but we’re determined to making the change as easy and exciting as possible for everyone. Here is how I am helping Willow prepare!
My dad bought me a book called Siblings Without Rivalry and it’s given me very valuable insight on what Willow may be thinking now and could feel after the twins arrive. My Dad gave me a great analogy, he said, “compare a new sibling to what it would feel like as a wife for your husband to come home with a younger and better wife that was now joining the family”… certainly not ideal for any wife!!! I can only imagine the jealousy that would arise from a situation like that (however far fetched it would be). But that analogy really put how Willow will be feeling into perspective.
Another fun practice I’ve been trying with Willow is giving her twin dolls to play with. We’ve been taking care of the baby dolls together so she learns to take ownership of her role as a big sister. I want her to be happy and eager to help take care of her new baby brothers. We’re hoping having the two dolls around will help her get used to the idea that the family is growing, and that the babies will need some attention.
We’re trying to help foster the relationship she’ll have with the boys and to have her involved in as much as we can. When we get ultrasounds we tell her that the twins are waving “Hi” to her and that they are SO excited to meet their big sister. She’s also helping to pick out things for the nursery and other new baby things we need. She is going to be a baby expert!
I reminded Willow that she is going to be the princess of the castle since both babies are going to be boys (they of course will be the princes…haha). In doing this I wanted to remind her that even though new babies are coming she is still our little girl! I plan on being very aware of maintaining mommy and daughter time as well. I know having the two newborns will be tough, but I want to make sure I continue to make the extra effort to do activities with Willow, like putting her to bed myself, etc.
I would would love to hear from you all on what you found to be helpful when introducing a new baby (or babies) to the family! We have a few more ideas that AJ and I are considering implementing like sending Willow gifts from the twins, etc. But we’re stilling learning and researching!
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2017.12.02_BuckleyGenderReveal_FINAL-2586.jpg26403960Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-12-07 01:10:242017-12-08 18:07:43#AskAbby: How are you preparing Willow for twin boys?
This past weekend was finally the moment we had been waiting for! AJ and I found out the genders of our twins and BOY were we in for a surprise. 😉
Leading up to the day of my party I wasn’t exactly nervous. I was excited but when the day finally came and I had so many butterflies in my stomach. More than anything I just wanted my babies to be healthy, but of course I was looking forward to knowing what these little bundles of joy would be.
I was so lucky to have such an amazing team of people help me put together my gender reveal party. The weather was perfect, as most days in California are but since it was an outdoor party the cool weather and sunshine made the day that much more pleasant. PRIV did my hair and makeup the morning of, which definitely helped me out as I was trying to relax and let every moment of the day sink in.
Our close friends and family were there to celebrate with us. Thank goodness I had some fellow moms-to-be there so we could exchange stories and sip on delicious “mocktails” made by Health-Ade Kombucha.
The real adults got to drink Babe Rosé by Swish Beverages that matched out decor perfectly!
One of my favorite decorations of the party was the dessert table, lined with the cutest baby cake pops and beautiful balloon decorations from Brag Designs.
Also, we had The Lobos Food Truck come and serve up mini chicken sliders and fries for everyone. It turned out to be a hit!
Once everyone was well feed and mingled for a bit it was time for the big reveal.
Willow and AJ did the honors of opening the first box while everyone gathered around. We took a bet from the crowd before we opened the box, and most people thought we were having two girls.
The first box slowly opened and blue balloons came flying up! As you can see from my reaction I was definitely surprised but mostly so excited! I wish more people were there to have seen AJ’s reaction…priceless! Willow, and most of the kids at the party, got a little startled by all of the commotion. So we held her when opening the second box.
Then it was time to open the second box and guess what?! It was blue balloons AGAIN!
That’s right, we are having TWIN BOYS!
We could not be happier to bring the Buckley boys into this world very soon!
Willow was really banking on a girl and a boy but we’re sure once they come she’ll be excited and jump right into her role as a big sister.
Now that we know it will be boys, it’s time I start shopping for my little men and relaxing for just a little bit longer until they make their big debut.
Again, I couldn’t have done all of this without the support of you guys, my friends and family and all of the people that made this party possible!
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Screen-Shot-2017-12-05-at-5.35.24-PM.png446962Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-12-05 05:30:172017-12-08 19:40:31The Party That Changed My Life!
For those of you who have been pregnant, you know the struggle is real when it comes to managing food cravings while pregnant! My experience with the twins so far has been a bit different than my pregnancy with Willow. Funny enough though, by this point in my pregnancy with Willow, I had gained DOUBLE the weight than what I’ve gained with the twins so far! I thought it would be the opposite and I’m honestly not sure if it’s attributed to it just being my second pregnancy or that there are two babies to feed.
I have noticed that my appetite is definitely much more constant than when I was pregnant with Willow. If I don’t eat every two hours, I’m STARVING and begin to feel a bit light headed. One of the ways I’ve been combating my constant hunger without completely overeating is by starting off my morning with a very healthy breakfast and by keeping snacks on hand at all times.
In the mornings my go-to breakfast has been a smoothie! I’ve kept the specific ingredients pretty flexible and have been throwing in whatever fruits & veggies are in the fridge with my homemade almond milk and occasionally a scoop of an organic nut butter as well. Pretty easy and stressless! Though a smoothie sounds light, my secret has been making two servings. I’ll have my first serving around 6AM and then my second about an hour to an hour in a half later while I’m in the car driving to work. A well fed mama and a well fed nurse is key! For snacks, my favorite is to keep granola bars on hand but if I feel like I’m eating too much sugar, I’ll switch to almonds and other nuts.
Lastly, I’ve been super aware of my water intake! 4 liters a day! SO many times we confuse dehydration with hunger so keeping a water bottle on me at all times has helped me minimize over indulging with some unmentioned non-healthy snacks 😉
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_7543.jpg39602640Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-11-30 03:26:192017-11-30 03:26:19#AskAbby: What's been your experience with pregnancy cravings so far?
There’s so much more to Thanksgiving than a fun opportunity to sit around a delicious dinner with friends and family. Now that Willow is older, we’ve begun to teach her to the greater meaning behind the holiday: gratitude and generosity. We recently sat down to go through her toys to pick out a few that we would donate to other children who aren’t fortunate enough to have them. It was quite comical explaining to Willow that there are kids who don’t have toys… she couldn’t believe it! I’m really happy that she is beginning to understand these concepts and how important it is to share her abundance with others. We’re hoping to continue these lessons with more charitable work and donations as she gets older.
Another aspect of Thanksgiving we’re hoping to instill in her is how to appreciate doing activities with the entire family. Dinner is a VERY collaborative effort in our family! It’s always a joy watching Willow participate and contribute in making the big dinner!
After dinner is prepared and we’re all sitting at the table, everyone in the family takes a turn of sharing with the group what they are especially thankful for that year. Willow is still getting a hang of her public speaking skills but it’s a great habit for her to practice!
Our Thanksgivings are always concluded with a big family game of Pictionary! It’s usually boys versus girls and then losers have to do the dishes. Never too early to start teaching her a good sense of family competition and fun!
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_7430-e1511400535449.jpg12962643Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-11-23 01:27:222017-11-23 01:29:50#AskAbby: How do you teach Willow the spirit of Thanksgiving?
This year I planned a Friendsgiving for some of my close girlfriends, and after sending out the invites I was having second thoughts. Preparing a whole meal for 6 people while pregnant was starting to feel quite stressful, and let’s just say I am not the greatest cook! I was definitely looking for some cooking hacks that would help me out in preparation for the big feast.
I found a Farmer John Gold Wrapped Whole Ham that comes pre-cooked and is easy to heat in the oven. I added a brown sugar-agave glaze to it just before it was done cooking and it was perfection (I was pretty proud of myself that I didn’t burn it or myself!). See the simple recipe here:
Heat oven to 325°F (my ham was about 20 pounds so I increased my temperature to 350 degrees).
Remove ham from package and discard the bone guard.
Place ham cut side down in baking pan and cover ham with foil.
Place ham in oven and heat for approximately 15 minutes per pound until warm. Do not overcook. (I cooked mine for a little over 5 hours until a food thermometer inserted into the ham read temperature of 140°F).
With 30 minutes left pour glaze over ham (simple recipe below) and continue cooking 30 minutes more, basting at least twice with the drippings to ensure the ham does not burn.
Allow for the ham to stand covered for 5-10 minutes before carving.
Brown Sugar Agave Glaze:
Ingredients:
3 cups packed, light brown sugar
1 cup agave
Directions:
Combine the brown sugar and agave in a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat until the mixture is smooth and the brown sugar has dissolved.
Pour the brown sugar glaze over the ham and continue cooking 30 minutes more, basting at least twice with the drippings to ensure the ham does not burn.
The ham came out beautifully and was a favorite among my guests! Now, I am definitely a sides kind of girl, but recently I’m really into the desserts (it could have something to do with these twins!). I went for a non-traditional pie this year, and did a dark chocolate brownie cake topped with FARMER JOHN® All-Natural Bacon bits. Pro Tip: You can totally cheat and use a boxed brownie mix like I did for this!!
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TCM_FarmerJohn-8215.jpg29992002Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-11-22 00:40:412017-11-22 00:40:41How To Throw An Easy Friendsgiving
Willow is turning 4 in January and we finally just transitioned her to a “big girl” bed. It was always shocking to other parents, when they found out she was still in her crib at well past the age of 3. The truth is she loved her crib, sleeps 10-12 hours a night still and never tried to climb out! She was finally starting to outgrow the crib, and I knew it was time to find her a bigger, more comfortable bed. Since this is always a hot topic for parents, I thought I would share some ways we helped her prepare for this transition.
Make It Sound Amazing! We talked about her new bed for about a month before it even came! I let her look at pictures and involved her in the process of picking out her new bed. We chose this amazing twin bed frame from Sweet Home From Wood and a nontoxic mattress from Tomorrow Sleep.
Let Them Decorate…Willow picked out all of her sheets and quilts for her bed. I think letting her in on the process also kept her excited about sleeping in a new space. She went with mermaid sheets with a fun double sided quilt (all from Target).
Go Over Ground Rules… Kids thrive off of routine and structure. Getting Willow into her new bed, came with some rules that we went over quite a few times with her. I has some anxiety about her having the freedom to get up and roam around at night now. So we discussed that she may only get out of bed to use the bathroom, or come directly to our room. Thus far she has followed the rules and is loving her new bed!
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/abby-9044.jpg20022999Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-11-18 01:28:312017-11-18 01:28:31Tips For Transitioning A Toddler To A Big Kid Bed
It seems stress can be the norm in my life sometimes! Thank goodness I’m familiar with the non-stop nature of my life thanks to being a nurse at a hospital for many years… however, my emergencies lately are generally less life threatening and more to do with running late to drop off Willow at school or forgetting to pack myself a snack to ward off my pregnancy fueled hangeryness.
Since spa days and vacations have been far and few between, I’ve found some other methods every mama on the go needs to help destress and wind down. Happy mamas are the best mamas and it’s uber important for us to remember that sometimes the best way to take care of our families is to be mindful of ourselves.
My “Favorite Five” go-tos to relieve stress:
#1: Acupuncture
I turn to my favorite chinese medicine often and I’ve even started making weekly appointments. I initially sought out acupuncture to jump start my fertility when I was having trouble getting pregnant (see next blog post for the full story) but I’ve maintained my commitment to the practice since. Acupuncture can be a little scary for first-timers and those who don’t like needles but I really encourage giving it a try. It might take a session or two to really get comfortable with someone sticking needles into your body but I feel the relief for long after my session is over. Besides relieving stress, it has helped me a lot with my headaches as well.
#2: Essential Oils
I love lavender and peppermint oils! My acupuncturist was the first to recommend these oils to me but they are VERY handy when it comes to relieving stress on the go. Lavender is known for its calming effects but it also, more specifically, can relieve anxiety. I’ll put the oil on my hands throughout the day for this purpose. Peppermint is another powerhouse oil that can help relieve pain alongside a bunch of other benefits like reducing nausea and helping with digestion. I put peppermint on my temples when I have headaches and prefer it over popping a pain reliever medication.
#3: Working out
Working out has been a much different experience since being pregnant with the twins, I used to run on the treadmill to clear my head followed by toning arms and legs but I may begin trying out gentler methods of exercise for the duration of my pregnancy. I try to view exercise as less of a chore and more of a luxury and break from other hectic things that may be going on.
#4: Alone Time
The holy grail of relieving stress! I know whenever I’m getting in a funk, what I really need is some alone time. It doesn’t matter so much what I’m doing but just having no one around for a bit is very important in maintaining my sanity. I’ll often go get my nails done or go shopping by myself – not errands but a good activity while venturing alone.
#5: Manifesting
I’m not great at meditating though I’ve tried a bunch of methods… it just never works for me. One thing I do really enjoy though is actively thinking about gratitude. Being mindful of the things that mean a lot to us can be very calming and grounding – especially on a tough day. I try to make this a daily practice and it breeds a lot more positivity in my mind that reflects in my life.
https://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/IMG_7369-e1510796277635.jpg5931367Abby Ochsehttp://stage.thechicmamas.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/TCM_Home_Logo-300x41.pngAbby Ochse2017-11-16 01:36:002017-11-16 01:38:22#AskAbby: How do I relieve stress as a busy mom?
