Designed for the Side Sleeper

After five excruciating days AND nights of neck pain I had had enough. I knew that one night I went to sleep pain-free, and the next morning I woke up barely able to move my head completely to the side. Over the next few days that pain gradually got worse until there was so much resistance, I could not look completely to my right OR my left. This pain was at the base of my skull, and felt like someone had put a metal bolt right through my neck - very Frankenstein-esque.

In the past, I have been no stranger to waking up with neck pain. SO, I decided to invest in a new pillow. I was quite skeptical on how something as simple as a pillow could cause or prevent so much pain. Little did I know, there were hundreds of different kinds of pillows for different kinds of sleepers. Crazy? Well, not so much. It makes sense. Brian likes a thin, soft pillow. I have always needed something of more substance.

I went out on my adventure of pillow shopping. So many to choose from. But I must say, they do make the overwhelming white redundancy more manageable by creating a color system for different sleep positions. *cue harp* ~ a whole section of pillows designed for SIDE SLEEPERS! Has this been the cause of my random neck pain for the past 10 years? Was it really THAT simple?? Part of me wished it was a cure, and the other part wanted to stay oblivious just because it seemed so simple.

Last night, I made the bed in fresh sheets and shoved my huge, thick, FIRM side sleeper pillow into the pillow case. It was so plump that it looked like a stuffed sausage. I climbed in bed, and immediately felt how comfortable my head and neck were. No strain, not one bit of pain. "We shall see how I feel in the morning" I thought to myself as I quickly drifted off to sleep.

Next morning..... I woke up to Owen climbing into the bed. I looked to my left... NO PAIN! Ummmm, seriously?? I excitedly moved my head back and forth. No resistance, no pain! Hallelujah!

Wow. This pillow was worth every penny.

For the love of.... Gymboree?

Owen, April 2008. Wearing Gymboree, of course.

First let me all tell you how lucky I am to have such a wonderful husband. He is so supportive of my Gymboree obsession. Whether or not he actually appreciates the fine detail in design or not, he will at least sit there and listen to my whole talk about the new line. He patiently watches while I show him every new item I just purchased. He puts up with a lot when it comes to my Gymboree obsession. So much so, that he even wants to start up a Gymboree franchise (also because he probably feels like he knows the whole company because of me). Who better to put in charge then a Gymboree addict, right? ;)

But see, that right there is true love. Loving every single thing about your partner. The weird quirks they have, and appreciating that person for who they are. The Gymboree side of me is something reasonably new, within the past five years. This wasn't something Brian "signed on for" when we were married almost seven years ago. But, he loves how passionate I am about Gymboree clothes, that passion is something I've always possessed. It was just expressed in different ways before I was a mom. Now being a mom has over taken me, and I am most proud of the accomplishments of my child, and general mom things that might seem dull to non-moms. My husband even says that he thinks our son is the best dressed kid whenever he takes him to the playground, or when we are out as a family. To me, that is just as sweet as him telling me I look beautiful. To me, it is sweet to hear those words because I know it's coming from his heart. He knows how happy it will make me when I hear it coming from him, knowing that he notices and cares. It's true, I respect his opinion and like to know that he thinks I'm doing a good job.... even if his positive comment is about our sons wardrobe.

I put a lot of thought into what our son wears each day. His outfit is always perfect coordinated, from head to toe... all matching. I always get compliments from teachers, other parents, and strangers. But, it will always mean the most when it's from my best critic..... my biggest fan.

Balsamic Chicken with White Beans & Spinach

Ready in just 30 minutes, this entree brings the flavor of Tuscany into your home!

This was a big hit in our house, Brian and I both had leftovers for lunch today. Can't beat that!

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Golden Mushroom Soup

1 can (about 15 ounces) white kidney beans (cannellini), rinsed and drained

1 bag (about 7 ounces) fresh baby spinach

• Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes or until it's well browned on both sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet.
  
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in the vinegar and cook, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
• Stir the soup and beans in the skillet and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the spinach. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through and the spinach is wilted.