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My Little Traveler

So we set out on our first airplane ride with the little one, and I was pleasantly surprised with how well we all did. It was a rocky start, as I was very stressed with packing and making sure that we had everything we needed, not only for myself but for Julian as well. We did get Julian his own seat, and I think this was the best decision we made! He was strapped into his car seat, all snug and happy. It also helped that we left at bedtime. As soon as we hit the runway, the movement and the noise put him right to sleep and he stayed that way the entire flight. Paul and I were able to relax and actually enjoy the flight.

It was a short flight from Philadelphia to Orlando, where we visited with my grandparents. It was by design that this trip was low key since we weren't sure how Julian would react. The weather was great, my grandparents enjoyed our visit, and we got away for the first time in over a year. The flight home was the same as the flight down, uneventful. Now, we just need to plan that next trip, and it can be farther since we have ourselves a great little traveler.

We had planned on working on the business while away, but R & R took priority. We still need to finalize packaging. Once we have that we can have our inspections and gets our licenses. I am hoping to get this done real soon, but working and being a mommy take the majority of my time at the moment. I work on PūrO Baby whenever I can.

Maybe I just need to get away one more time...

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I was a little side tracked during the holidays, as I think everyone is at some point. The business was put on hold while we spent quality time with friends and family. It was great catching up with family near and far, as well as our friends. Paul's family visited from Virginia and our very good friends, Tina and Tom, flew in from San Francisco. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful holiday!

We hosted all our friends for a New Years Brunch. It was a great way to get everyone together now that we are spread all over the place. If you're not from Philadelphia, you may not be familiar with the Mummer's Parade. It's like Mardi Gras, but freezing cold. After brunch, we all walked to center city to enjoy a little of the parade. The costumes are elaborate, and the music gets you moving. If you ever get the chance, be sure to check it out. Julian got his first taste of the Mummer's this year.

Now that the decorations are put away, it's time to focus my energy back on getting the business off the ground. Paul and I are starting our class at Wharton which will help us finish our business plan. A good friend of ours, Jenna is putting the final touches on our logo (which I hope to have real soon). And I am ready to offer some taste testing samples to some families in our neighborhood. I hope their feedback will help me develop our initial flavor offerings.

Happy Holidays

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May 2010 bring health, love and happiness to you and your family!

Looking Forward To The Holidays

Having a child to experience the holidays with is one of the greatest gifts. I am looking forward to creating new family traditions with Paul and Julian. When I look back at my own childhood, Christmas always holds fond memories- the tree, family, great food and of course gifts. It is a wonderful time of the year.

We started by putting up the tree. I always buy an ornament whenever I go on vacation, or something special happens in my life, so decorating the tree is a walk down memory lane. I plan on continuing this and also getting ornaments for Julian every year. Christmas music was playing on the iPod, and Julian really enjoyed it when daddy turned on the lights. Of course, the cats love it too- it gives them a place to curl up under at night.

We also got our picture taken with Santa at Northwestern Stables in Fairmount Park. The picture is great, so this will also be an annual outing. I also love that it is a fundraiser to support the horses!

Julian is 8 months, so he will not remember this Christmas, but for me it is laying the foundation for many more holidays to come. I feel like the magic is back in the holidays, all thanks to our little man. I'll remind him of his first Christmas by taking lots of pictures of course.

Happy Holidays to everyone, and a wonderful 2010. Feel free to post any holiday traditions you share, or memories from your childhood of the holidays!

I Passed

Great news! I just got the results of my food safety test (the first step in getting our business up and running) and I passed. Now, we just need to figure out how we want to package our product. We're learning a lot about the packaging business, different types of containers and environmentally friendly options.

We're also going to take a class to help us finish up our Business Plan. We keep moving forward:)

For the moms out there, tried a new combination today that Julian loved- avocado banana. Give it a try!

I Think I Can Have It All, Why Not?

My interest in nutrition came about from my work as a veterinarian. My job at VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia opened my eyes to the epidemic of obesity in our pets. Currently it is reported that over 50% of our pet population is overweight! I think the majority of the patients that I see on a daily basis are overweight. When I approach the subject with my clients, many are surprised that their cats are carrying extra weight. Our perceptions are skewed and even though studies show that if our pets are maintained at their ideal weight they live longer (average of 2 years longer, which in pet years is a long time) I often find it difficult to get clients on board with weight loss. I make sure I talk about nutrition with each of my clients. Getting our pets to lose weight is not easy, so I need to educate my clients on why it is important for their pets health.

Check out this article on pet obesity where I was quoted:

http://www.obesitydiscussion.com/forums/miscellaneous-obesity-studies/porked-pets-reflect-u-s-2707.html

So I think it is natural that I want my family to be healthy and eat right too. So can I have it all? A career, family life, friends, a new business? I don't see why not! But I need to educate moms on why homemade food is better then all the other options available. Here are my reasons...

Organic

First, the subject of organic versus non-organic seems obvious to me. If I can choose a food without pesticides, growth hormone or antibiotics, absolutely I will. We don't know the effects long term for a lot of these chemicals, but I am sure if they can be avoided our bodies will benefit. Do you even know what they are spraying on the produce you're eating, or which injections they give to the animals you are eating? It's scary to think about.

Freshness

Have you ever wondered why the jars and pouched found on shelves are good for over a year? When I make my food fresh, it will keep three days refrigerated or three months in the freezer. Unless I add something to keep it from spoiling, that's the maximum time it will stay fresh. Some companies use additives and preservatives. Most store organic brands, which don't use preservatives, are heated to very high temperatures to prolong the shelf life. This diminishes the color, texture and nutrient content. I love looking at the vibrant colors of the fruit and vegetables I cook for Julian. Take a peek at the expiration dates on the foods next time you're in the supermarket. (And look at the color.)

Flavors

Most important, have you ever tasted any of the food you feed to your baby? I do! I love eating the leftovers that Julian doesn't finish. It tastes exactly like it should, delicious. I feel that eating fresh produce from the start will help Julian transition to eating fruits and vegetables as a normal part of his diet. It makes sense- he is used to the flavors from the start.

Variety

I have made many fruits and vegetables that you just don't find in store bought baby foods. I believe the variety is opening up Julian's taste buds, and giving him the experience of flavor. Also, the texture of the food is closer to what we would experience- it's not a uniform purée. The zucchini is thin and watery, the sweet potatoes are thick. The different textures give Julian a whole new experience at each meal.