emotional and mental hurdles, resuming workouts, and "what's for dinner" aka new mom life

April 25, 2018 Miranda Hammer

Despite being 6 months in, I still feel very much like a new mom. Nothing compares to the learning curve of motherhood. You quickly go from feeling overwhelmed by new tasks such as breastfeeding, changing a diaper, giving a bath, to having them be commonplace and completely ritualistic. I remember having a complete meltdown in the wee early days during bath time and feeling scared and overwhelmed by it all. Currently, Jack is still trying to decide whether he enjoys the bath or just tolerates it, but at least I know that I am a pro at bathing him. From what I've already learned and experienced, the moment that you think you've "got this," your baby changes and you have to regroup. Although I may never feel totally confident in knowing what I am doing, I am happy to share my insights, ranging from emotional and mental hurdles to how we currently navigate meals. Hopefully, I can offer up some ideas and connect with new moms dealing with similar emotional experiences.

breastfeeding: my thoughts and experiences so far....

March 10, 2018 Miranda Hammer

Before I was on the "other side" of things, I never realized how consuming breastfeeding is. I always knew that it was something that I hoped to be able to do for the nutritional, immunological, psychological, and environmental benefits. After experiencing the mammoth commitment that breastfeeding is, I understand why many mothers choose to stop before going back to work or decide not to do it at all. I am also fully aware of the many people who would like to be able to and because of certain factors do not have the option. The only way to adequately describe the first three months of breastfeeding is exhausting. At times I would feel completely tethered to Jack and that my days were just spent feeding him. In the "early days", i.e. the first three months, I used an app that allowed me to keep track of Jack's naps and feedings. After 48 hours of recording, I almost had a breakdown when I saw how many hours I had spent breastfeeding. Now at 4 months in, I wish that I had been kinder to myself and to have viewed those early months as a time to heal my body while providing Jack with all the nourishment and the emotional and physical closeness that he needed.

my pregnancy: cravings, aversions, workouts, and self care

February 22, 2018 Miranda Hammer

I haven't talked much about my pregnancy or my new life with baby Jack, but I am excited to share now! I have felt extremely fortunate that I have had a delicate landing into the world of motherhood, but my journey had a rough start. I had three miscarriages which were attributed to pure bad luck - really, really, bad luck. During the rollercoaster of pregnancies, I experienced extreme lows and tentative highs and was very cautious about sharing my news and allowing myself to embrace my pregnancy. Therapy, family, friends, and my four legged fur baby all helped me get through it. Now that Jack is here and healthy, I am excited to start sharing my thoughts and preferences about my journey. Everyone's experience is unique, this is what worked for me. I also am aware that I work for myself and had the luxury of setting my own hours, cooking and meal prepping, and was able to workout often and focus to on self care.

radish recs: how to build a plant-based pantry

February 15, 2018 Miranda Hammer

Properly setting yourself up for success is step one to optimizing a plant-based lifestyle. Your pantry is the backbone to cooking and eating in a health-focused yet flavorful manner. Creating a pantry that lends itself well to a plant-based diet is easy but may be costly at first, so go slow. A cost-effective tip would be to shop in the bulk bins of a health food store that has a high rotation. Or order in bulk from a reputable online distributor. The goal is to make meal and snack composition nourishing and easy. A plant-based pantry is geared toward dried, nonperishable items with the intention of combining the items with fresh whole produce.

my morning routine

April 24, 2017 Miranda Hammer

Working for myself has all the perks, but it also comes with the need for the essential skills of accountability and prioritization - both of which are challenging to maintain. Having a daily routine, rituals, and a balance of rigidity and flexibility has allowed me to become more and more productive and happy being my own boss. My morning routine is a huge component to starting my day off on a healthy and happy foot. Read ahead to hear how I begin my day.

how to save money + time while you grocery shop

February 19, 2017 Miranda Hammer

Did you start 2017 with lofty healthy eating goals, yet find yourself struggling to maintain a balanced and nutritious lifestyle? Healthy eating and cooking is easy as long as you take the time to set yourself up for success. Small, simple, sustainable modifications are the key to long term change.

Radish Recs: NYC

February 15, 2017 Miranda Hammer

As a born and bred New Yorker, I can confidently say that I have a strong understanding of the dining scene in New York City. I have acquired a balanced palate that can appreciate both fine dining establishments as well as rustic and simple cafes and dives that pepper the boroughs. This is an evolving list that will continue to expand exponentially as I continue my ever-growing appreciation of the New York City restaurant scene. Not everything listed is super “crunchy” and healthy; as I do enjoy dining out, even if it does not have health and wellness in mind.

Having worked as a hostess, bartender, and server for over five years in my somewhat formative period, I have acquired an innate understanding of how well-oiled restaurants run. I appreciate the attention to detail from the moment you enter to the time that you leave, the synchronicity of staff, the knowledge of a server, and the coordination from kitchen to table.

Check out my Radish Recs: NYC

crunchy radish holiday gift guide

December 7, 2016 Miranda Hammer

The time for gifting and giving is here! What better way to show someone you love them then with a thoughtful and personalized gift or donation! Here is the annual crunchy radish holiday gift guide.

five ways to keep calm during the holiday season

November 10, 2016 Miranda Hammer

Holiday madness is just getting started! Whether you are hosting your family for a festive meal, traveling, or just trying to manage the tidal wave of hustle and bustle that seems to peak in November and December, this time of the year can be stressful. Despite all the good eats and holiday cheer, finding time to unwind and keep sane is essential. Here are five tips to help you keep calm during the holiday season.

a very crunchy radish wedding: part ii

September 13, 2016 Miranda Hammer

It has taken me a year to finally share our wedding here on Crunchy Radish and our one year anniversary seemed like the perfect time to do so. A part of the delay had to do with the post-wedding blues - yes they really do exist, and I struggled for some time to be able to look back and reflect on the special day. The rest of it had to do with the desire or lack there of to share the intimacy of our celebration and carefully tread the line of private vs shared. I hope our pictures bring you inspiration and a smile, as they now do for me.