African Babies Don't Cry

All Things Jesse, Week 65 {Mamatography Photo Challenge}

2012-02-22T12:46:00.001-08:00

Luschka from Diary of a First Child is hosting a fabulous 366 photo-a-day challenge where I get to document our day-to-day life. I am so enjoying taking part in this challenge, and I love that I get to share all my photos with you. Inspired by Melissa of Vibrant Wanderings with her What's New Babe? posts, I have decided to include all updates on Jesse's development and all his cute characteristics in one post.

Thursday, 16 February 2012

We spent the afternoon on the beach! My dad had to go to a coastal town for an appointment, and we decided we would join him and spend the afternoon on the beach. It was a scorching hot day and Jesse had great fun in swimming in the sea. He also tried to join in with a couple of teenagers playing with a ball and tried to walk up and touch everyone with his sandy hands. Needless to say, I spoke to everyone on the beach that day... impossible to be shy with a toddler!

Friday, 17 February 2012

We joined my gran in house-sitting my aunts house on a farm. being in a different house, that is not toddler proof was absolutely exhausting. I spent the entire time watching Jess and making sure he didn't open the glasses cabinet etc. He still managed to eat cat food, spill a container of rice everywhere and spend most of the weekend covered in mud. Plus, Jesse's nappies wouldn't come clean in my aunts washing machine - disaster! All in all, I was happy to be home at the end of the weekend.

Saturday, 18 February 2012

Jesse wasn't happy away from home either. He missed his playmate, Sasha, (his puppy) and didn't really know what to do with himself. Both of us thrive under routine and were totally thrown by the change in environment. Or maybe it was just that I was thrown, and he picked up on that vibe.

Sunday, 19 February 2012

A favourite activity is playing with stickers. Jesse likes to stick them to himself, stick them on the walls, stick them on the dog and thinks its really funny when he sticks them on me.

Monday, 20 February 2012

This child has so many different facial expressions, I wish I could capture them all with the camera. Here he is posing, for some reason. This is his thoughtful look, lol.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

My fathers birthday, he turned 50! Happy birthday to a wonderful father. My dad's is one of the nicest people I know, and has enviable morals and values. I am so grateful Jesse gets to grow up with him as a role model. Here is his cake, its green because, you know, he's a boy...

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Another pose, screwing up his eyes (and nose) in anticipation of the flash... gorgeous child!

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

Also linked up to Natural Parents Network, Hobo Mama and I Thought I Knew Mama's Wordless Wednesday posts, and Vibrant Wanderings Whats New Babe?

Fostering Independent Play in Young Toddlers : Guest Post

2012-02-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Today I have a guest post over at Mommy Outnumbered : Adventures in Mommyhood, a blog by Christy where she shares her adventures with four children all under the age of five. I don't know how she does it, I take my hat off to her!

This may sound like an impossible dream, toddlers playing on their own and keeping themselves amused on their own accord for any length of time?!. Well, its not. We, as mothers, just need to re-programme our brains a bit when it comes to what we classify as independent play and me-time for us.

Continue reading here.

All Things Jesse, Week 64 {Mamatography Photo Challenge: Week 7}

2012-02-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

Jesse has gotten a kick out of any music lately, be it the neighbours having a party or a tune on the radio. He especially likes to bust some moves when his toy cell phone rings... and mom better be dancing too!

Friday, 10 February 2012

After a very long infertile streak, one of our chickens finally had chicks. We had started to fear that our rooster was shooting blanks, and indeed this is still a probability, as these eggs were laid after the neighbours rooster spent a few days in our yard... scandalous ;)

Saturday, 11 February 2012

This is the face he pulls when I say 'smile!' Its also what he does when I ask for a kiss, lol. Here he is eating popcorn, and Sasha is patiently waiting to pick up any pieces he drops. Popcorn isn't exactly good for him, but I make it with coconut oil and sprinkle nutritional yeast on it, so it isnt too bad for him either. He loves it.

Sunday, 12 February 2012

Our chickens roam free in our garden, which is a great way to keep the snail population down, but turns searching for eggs into an Easter egg hunt. Now that there are chicks, however, we thought we better build a chicken coop, especially since they mysteriously dropped from 12 to 8 :( The whole family pitched in on Sunday, and we managed to whip one up in a day. Now mommy and her chicks are happy in their new home, at least until they are a bit bigger and then they too will be allowed to roam free.

Monday, 13 February 2012

True love is... sharing a carrot with your beloved puppy. These two are so cute together.

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

***Valentines Day***
I had a lovely valentines dinner with my little valentine.

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Jesse, like most toddlers, has a great love for anything shiny. Here he is admiring a shiny bangle. He loves to wear them too, thinking he looks very smart. He also loves shoes and has great fun trying on grampa's boots and mom's high heels. But, sometimes, shoes are worn as handbags over the shoulder too :)

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

Also linked up to Vibrant Wanderings, Hobo Mama, I Thought I Knew Mama, Natural Parents Network & Farmers Daughter's Wordless Wednesday posts.

The One Thing {Most} Parents Have In Common: They Try Their Best

2012-02-14T02:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the February 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Respectful Interactions With Other Parents

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have focused on how we can communicate with other parents compassionately.

***

I have made a choice when it comes to my parenting style and practice. This choice was made after countless hours of research and contemplation. I fully believe in the choices I have made, but I don't believe that this parenting style is for everyone. After all, it takes all sorts of people to make the world go round, and I am thankful that we are all so unique.

Most of my choices do not fit with society standards, and I have had more than one set of eyes rolling when it comes to what I let Jesse eat or where he sleeps.

In the end it all boils down to education, if it were not for my extensive research and daily reading on topics of parenting by mostly writers who are pro-attachment parenting, I too, would find some of my practices strange.

One thing I battle with, and indeed it was one of my new year's resolutions to try and change, is to have the courage to back up my beliefs and parenting style when in conversation with others. Although I have very strong beliefs that what I am doing is right, I do not feel comfortable pressing my beliefs on others. In the past, I have avoided parenting topics of conversation as a whole, rather than starting a heated debate on the pros and cons of vaccinations, for instance. I stand behind what I believe, and hope that one day Jesse will see that it is important to stand behind his beliefs with conviction. But, I do it in my own subtle and quiet way, generally avoiding conflict at all costs.

Source: layoutsparks.com

Occasionally a family member, or a friend will ask if Jesse is still nursing. I merely say yes and it is often they who remark how well he is doing, and how healthy he is, and how good for him it must be.

Jesse's diet is a biggie, meaning its an area that often causes contention. After much research I watch Jesse's diet very carefully, avoiding preservatives, colourants and refined sugar in their entirety. In the beginning a few family members were convinced I was depriving my child by not allowing sweet treats, however, over the past 14 months, Jesse's health has silenced them almost completely. I never once entered into a debate over the topic. After all, it is my decision to make, along with whether Jesse was circumcised, whether he will be vaccinated and when he shall wean himself.

I have realised that we need to be gentle on each other. The one thing (most) parents have in common, is that they merely want the best for their children, and are trying their best. Gentle pointing out what a great night sleep I get by co-sleeping, I find, changes mindsets more than entering in a huge debate throwing studies and facts at each other about the dangers of bed-sharing.

I am more than willing to share advice or resources if friends and family come to me, and find that generally, they are enthusiastic to learn what works for me.

How to Respond Respectfully to Unwanted Parenting Advice and Judgment — At Natural Parents Network, Amy (of Peace 4 Parents) offers some ways to deal with parenting advice and criticism, whether it's from your mom or the grocery store clerk.
Judgement is Natural - Just Don't Condemn — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shared her views on why judgment is unavoidable and why the bigger issue is condemnation.
Four Ways To Share Your Parenting Philosophy Gently — Valerie at Momma in Progress shares tips for communicating with fellow parents in a positive, peaceful manner.
When Other Parents Disagree With You — Being an attachment parent is hard enough, but when you are Lily, aka Witch Mom, someone who does not enforce gender roles on her kid, who devalues capitalism and materialism, and instead prefers homeschooling and homesteading — you are bound to disagree with someone, somewhere!
Mama Bashing — Lucy at Dreaming Aloud reflects on the hurt caused on the blogosphere by mama bashing and pleads for a more mindful way of dealing with differences.
Accentuate the Positive — Joella at Fine and Fair shares how she manages interactions with the parents she encounters in her work as a Parent Coach and Substance Abuse Counselor by building trusting relationships and affirming strengths.
The politics of mothers – keys to respectful interactions with other parents — Tara from MUMmedia offers great tips for handling the inevitable conflict of ideas and personalities in parenting/mother's groups, etc.
Trying to build our village — Sheila at A Gift Universe tells how she went from knowing no other moms in her new town to building a real community of mothers.
Internet Etiquette in the Mommy Wars — Shannon at The Artful Mama discusses how she handles heated topics in the "Mommy-space" online.
Parenting with Convictions — Sarah at Parenting God's Children encourages love and support for fellow parents and their convictions.
How To Be Respectful Despite Disagreeing On Parenting Styles... — Jenny at I'm a Full-Time Mummy shares her two cents' worth on how to have respectful interactions with other parents despite disagreeing on parenting styles.
Public Relations — Momma Jorje touches on keeping the peace when discussing parenting styles.
Navigating Parenting Politics — Since choosing an alternative parenting style means rejecting the mainstream, Miriam at The Other Baby Book shares a few simple tips that can help avoid hurt feelings.
Hiding in my grace cave — Lauren at Hobo Mama wants to forget that not all parents are as respectful and tolerant as the people with whom she now surrounds herself.
Carnival of Natural Parenting - Respectful Interactions with Other Parents — Wolfmother at Fabulous Mama Chronicles explores how her attitude has changed regarding sharing information and opinions with others and how she now chooses to keep the peace during social outings.
Empathy and respect — Helen at zen mummy tries to find her zen in the midst of the Mummy Wars.
Not Holier Than Thou — Amyables at Toddler in Tow muses about how she's learned to love all parents, despite differences, disagreements, and awkward conversations.
Nonviolent Communication and Unconditional Love — Wendylori at High Needs Attachment reflects on the choice to not take offense as the key to honest and open communication.
Respectful Parenting As a Way of Life — Sylvia at MaMammalia writes about using her parenting philosophy as a guide to dealing with other parents who make very different choices from her.
Homeschooling: Why Not? — Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling shares how parents can often make homeschooling work for their family even if, at first glance, it may seem daunting.
If You Can’t Say Something Nice… — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now tells her philosophy for online and offline interactions … a philosophy based primarily on a children’s movie.
Different Rules for Different Families — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children discusses how differences between families affect our children, and how that can be a good thing.
Respectful Interaction With Other Parents — Luschka at Diary of a First Child shares the ways she surrounds herself with a like-minded support network, so that she can gently advocate in her dealings with those whose opinions on parenting differ vastly from her own.
Parenting as a mirror — Rather than discrediting others' parenting styles, Kate Wicker discusses why she tries to focus on doing right rather than being right — and why she’s also not afraid to show others that she’s a heartfelt but imperfect mama just trying to be the best mom for her family.
The One Thing {Most} Parents Have In Common: They Try Their Best — Christine at African Babies Don't Cry finds interacting with other parents easier once she accepts that they are all just trying their best, just like her.
Finding your mama-groove: 5 ways to eliminate judge/be judged metality — MudpieMama reveals 5 ways of thinking that have helped her find her mama-groove and better navigate tricky parenting discussions.
Speaking Up For Those Who Can't — We've all had those moments when someone said something hurtful or insensitive, or downright rude that just shocks you to your core, and you're stunned into silence. Afterwards, you go home and think "Gosh, I wish I said…" This post by Arpita at Up Down, And Natural is for all the breastfeeding mamas who have thought "Gosh, I wish I said…"
Thank you for your opinion — Gaby at Tmuffin shares her go-to comment when she feels like others are judging her parenting style.
Mending — A playground conversation about jeans veers off course until a little mending by Kenna at Million Tiny Things is needed.
The Thing You Don't Know — Kelly at Becoming Crunchy talks about what she believes is one of the most important things you can consider when it comes to compassionate communication with other parents.
3 Tips for Interacting with Other Parents Respectfully When You Disagree with Them — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares what she has learned about respectful interactions on her parenting journey.
Peacefully Keeping My Cool: Quotes from Ana — How do you keep your cool? Ana from Pandamoly shares some of her favorite retorts and conversation starters when her Parenting Ethos comes into question.
Kind Matters — Carrie at Love Notes Mama discusses how she strives to be the type of person she'd want to meet.
Doing it my way but respecting your highway. — Terri from Child of the Nature Isle is determined to walk with her family on the road less travelled whether you like it or not!
Saying "I'm Right and You're Wrong" Seldom Does Much To Improve Your Cause... — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment writes about how living by example motivates her actions and interactions with others.
Have another kid and you won't care — Cassie of There's a Pickle in My Life, after having her second child, knows exactly how to respond to opposing advice.
Ten Tips to Communicate Respectfully, Even When You Disagree — What if disagreements with our partners, our children or even complete strangers ultimately led to more harmony and deeper connections? They can! Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares ten tips to strengthen our relationships in the midst of conflict.
A Little Light Conversation — Zoie at TouchstoneZ explains why respect needs to be given to every parent unconditionally.
Why I used to hide the formula box — Laura at Pug in the Kitchen finally talks about how judgement between parents changed her views on how she handles differences in parenting.
Assumptions — Nada at minimomist discusses how not everyone is able to nurse, physically, mentally, or emotionally.
Shushing Your Inner Judgey McJudgerson — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction knows that judging others is easy to do, but recognizing that we all parent from different perspectives takes work.
Respectfully Interacting with Others Online — Lani at Boobie Time Blog discusses the importance of remaining respectful behind the disguise of the internet.
Presumption of Good Will — Why — and how — Crunchy Con Mommy is going to try to assume the best of people she disagrees with on important issues.
Being Gracious with Parenting Advice — Tips for giving and receiving parenting advice with grace from Lisa at My World Edenwild.
Explain, Smile, Escape — Don't know what to do when you're confronted by another parent who disagrees with you? Amy at Anktangle shares a story from her life along with a helpful method for navigating these types of tricky situations (complete with a handy flow chart!).
Balancing Cultures and Choices — Dulce de leche discusses the challenges of walking the tightrope between generations while balancing cultural and family ties.
Linky - Parenting Peacefully with Social Media — Hannabert's Mom discusses parenting in a social media world.

{Monday Munch} All About Vitamin A, Toddler Requirements & A Beta-Carotene Rich Juice Recipe

2012-02-13T12:27:00.000-08:00

In order to ensure Jesse is getting sufficient of each major nutrient, I have drawn up the required doses and stuck it to my fridge. This helps me to plan weekly and daily meals. I have also listed the sources of each major nutrient. This is a great resource for all mom's of toddlers, and I will be sure to share it with you once it is completed.

In the mean time, as I research his needs, I will share my findings. Last week I chatted about protein, and included a few sources and quinoa recipes. This week I will chat about Vitamin A.

Vitamin A is fat-soluble and is used in the formation of the skin, bones, and teeth. It helps maintain the surface linings of the respiratory, urinary, and intestinal tracts thereby reducing the amount of bacteria that enters the body. It also plays an important role in vision by helping to maintain the mucosal linings of the eyes, and is required for the transduction of light into nerve signals in the retina. Vitamin A promotes healthy cell growth including reproductive functioning; differentiation of cells. It also regulates the immune system.

Vitamin A deficiency is not often heard of, but is a fairly common ailment. Check out the deficiency signs and symptoms:

Night blindness, diarrhoea, abnormalities of skin and bone development, hair and eye problems.
Immunity is decreased (surface linings become less effective and allow an increased amount of bacteria to enter the body.
Severe zinc deficiency often accompanies a Vitamin A deficiency this is due to the role in which Zinc plays in transporting Vitamin A stores from the liver to the body tissues.

Do you suffer from any of these? As a contact / glasses wearer myself, I could use to eat a few more carrots... your mother didn't tell you to eat your carrots so that you could see in the dark for nothing!

Dietary sources:
Plants (Caretenoid)

Red, orange or yellow vegetables / fruit such as cantaloupe, apricots, pink grapefruit, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes.
Leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, dark green cabbage, lambs lettuce, watercress, rocket, kohlrabi, chard, barley grass and spring greens.
Broccoli and mint.

***The more intense the colour of a fruit or vegetable, the higher the beta-carotene content. Vegetable sources of beta-carotene are fat and cholesterol-free.***

Animal (Retinol)

Fish liver oils (cod, salmon and halibut)
Liver
Whole milk, butter and cheese
Egg yolk

Toddlers, from one year to age three, need about 400mcg per day. As it is a fat-soluble vitamin there is the possibility of over-dosing, which will result in liver damage. To avoid this, rather do not resort to supplementation. A diet rich in colourful veggies will ensure your toddler gets a healthy intake of Vitamin A.

Here's a fun recipe to up your toddlers beta-carotene intake.

Yummy, Yum, Yum (Vitamin A Packed) Fresh Juice Recipe

1 Apple
2 Carrots
½ Cucumber
2 Celery stalks
½ small Pineapple
sprig of mint

Slowly put everything through a juicer, alternatively use a high speed blender and strain. Your toddler will love drinking this, Jesse sure does!

~ Is Adoption for Me? ~

2012-02-09T02:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first Family Size Blog Carnival!

This post was written for inclusion in the Family Size Blog Carnival hosted by Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling and Patti at Jazzy Mama. Today our participants share their decisions on family size and whether or not to grow their families. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

Ever since I can remember, I have dreamt of having a large family, with four or more children. I love family, love spending time with my own family, and want to create a family for my children filled with siblings.

What does family mean to you?

According the online Oxford English Dictionary, family means a group consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit... (unrelated to my post, but does anyone else find this strange? Two parents, why not one? Or three? Anyhoo, lets move on...)

To me, family means companionship,support, advice and encouragement. My sisters are my best friends and we share everything and ask each other for advice constantly. I cannot imagine life without my immediate and extended family.

~ My Crazy Family ~

With this dream of a large family has also come the realisation that I cannot justify bringing many more little souls into this world, where populations are booming and the earth cannot sustain many more lives, and thus I discuss the only other option there is, adoption.

I have been grappling with the choice of adoption versus having more of my own for a while now. It seems almost incredibly selfish of me, to think of adoption, whilst I am still fertile. I have many friends that are battling to conceive and for who adoption is not a chioce, for many reasons. But, the reason I am pro-adoption remains, there are so many children out there who are desperately in need of safe homes and loving families, and I would love to give one (or two, or three) of them what they deserve.

Via Flickr

In fact, I do not know why more families do not consider adoption. It is estimated that there are between 143 million and 210 million orphans worldwide (recent UNICEF report). Every day 5760 more children become orphans.

I am currently still hankering on the decision of expanding our family by adoption, and these are some of the decisions I have had to, and am currently still making:

Adoption is possible for single parents, and is a good option if you are unlikely / unwilling to find a mate. However, if you are married, your spouse has to be completely on board with your idea, of course. This is something I am still working on.
I would be willing to consider open adoption, which is where the birth parents and the adoptive parents agree to stay in touch after adoption. This would obviously only be an option if your relationship with the birth parents in one of mutual respect and understanding. I'm sure it could get very complicated if boundaries are crossed.
AIDS orphans are many in South Africa, and another consideration is whether I would be willing to adopt a child with special needs, and / or AIDS. This adds extra pressure as you would require the finances to deal with a sick (sickly) child, and the emotional strength, which I am not sure I have.
I would try to adopt as young a baby as possible, preferably taking over care of the baby at its birth. This way, I could make sure my new baby received the best natural parenting care from the start.
I would also try to breastfeed my adopted child, either by going on medication to do so, or by keeping my milk supply up from nursing Jesse until then.
Adoption in South Africa means you need to be willing to adopt children from different races. It is almost impossible to adopt white children in South Africa, and waiting lists are extremely long, you could wait forever. However, if you are willing to adopt a black child, as I am, it becomes much easier. Having a multi-cultural family is challenging I'm sure, but I invite that challenge and look forward to it. I only hope that my family, and extended family are as enthusiastic about welcoming another child (of a different race) as they did Jesse.

Via Flickr

A few facts and figures on adoption in South Africa and Africa:

2102400 more children become orphans every year in Africa alone.
Every 15 seconds, another child in Africa becomes an AIDS orphan.
Each year 14505000 children grow up as orphans and age out of the system by age sixteen, having never been placed with loving parents. Studies show that 10% - 15% of these children commit suicide before the reach age eighteen. These studies also show that 60% of the girls become prostitutes and 70% of the boys become hardened criminals.
In South Africa, abortion laws changed a few years back, and this resulted in an 80% reduction in babies available for adoption. Especially white babies. Minors in South Africa do not require parental consent in order to have an abortion. In South Africa, there are many black babies desperately in need of homes.
There are approximately 1.8 million children in South Africa needing to be adopted today.
3 babies are abandoned every 48 hours in the province of KwaZulu Natal alone, in South Africa.
In 2001, 874 babies were abandoned - that figure trebled in 2002 when 2186 babies were abandoned in KZN.
Most babies are abandoned in municipal toilets, latrines and refuse bags. This is mainly due to AIDS, poverty and unemployment.
34% of the KZN population is infected with AIDS. KZN has the most welfare agencies in the country and yet cannot cope.

Would you be willing to open your home and your heart to a child not of your blood?

***

Visit City Kids Homeschooling and Jazzy Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Family Size Blog Carnival!
Please take some time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants below:

The Perfect Family The family at Living Peacefully With Children isn't perfect, but the size is just right for them...at least for now.
Family Size Carnival Zoie at TouchstoneZ discusses how she loves the extremes of being happily child-free for life to being a mom of several. And on knowing when her family is just the right size.
Is Adoption for Me? Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares why she would consider adoption as the socially responsible way to have a large family.
Getting Used to Having Kids Lauren at Hobo Mama went from "probably one, maybe two" to wanting a handful, but not without some major struggles and soul searching along the way.
Magic Number For a while, Phoebe at Little Tinker Tales has wondered what the magic number will be for their family, but now thinks she's finally settled on an answer.
How Did You Get That Size Jorje explains how she "chose" her family size and why they aren't planning to grow again on Momma Jorje.com.
Family Size On A Per Kid Basis Sarah at Parenting God's Children shares how plans change as families grow.
More Babies: How, When, Why Joella at Fine and Fair writes to her daughter about when, how, and why she might get a sibling.
Family Size Kelly at Becoming Crunchy shares how she has no idea what size her family will end up being; though she used to be sure, a few factors have recently come up to change everything.
Thy Will Be Done CatholicMommy hasn't decided how many children she'll have. And she never will. Because, you know, she's Catholic.
Sanity and Health Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment talks about sanity and health considerations when deciding on her family's size.
Love Comes In All Sizes Melissa at White Noise and Mothers of Change shares her family's journey to becoming a family of six!
Family Size Liz at Homeschooling in Buffalo discusses how this carnival occurs less than two weeks after "closing up shop" by way of vasectomy.
Family Size Blog Carnival Billy, a single mother by choice, writes about the size of her family at My Pathway to Motherhood.
Creating Your Perfect Family Size Dr. Alan Singer shares insights from his new book, Creating Your Perfect Family Size.
Our Family Size You might not be surprised to learn that Patti at Jazzy Mama can't find any reasons NOT to have more babies.
Economics of Family Size Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling uses an economic cost-benefit analysis to determine her family's optimal size.

All Things Jesse {Mamatography Photo Challenge: Week 6}

2012-02-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

Jesse and his lab cross puppy, Sasha, have become the best of friends. Jesse thinks its great fun to hand her toys and shoes to chew, and Sasha loves Jesse because he is always doing something interesting. Its so cute to see how excited they are to see each other in the mornings.

Friday, 3 February 2012

Yup, there are going to be a lot of these photos, the two of them getting up to mischief. Here they have found a roll of ribbon. I can't complain too much as it kept them both entertained for a good 20 minutes.

Saturday, 4 February 2012

Jesse loves to get out of the house, and we don't have the opportunity often enough. On Saturday we went for breakfast at the nearest restaurant (in the next town over) and Jesse was in his element. He had great fun watching all the people and trying to eat left over food off the dirty floor (Yikes!). On the way home he was so relaxed he fell asleep, and (for the first time ever!) carried on sleeping after I had placed him on the bed. Hooray for small accomplishments!

Sunday, 5 February 2012

On Sunday we went to the beach! Its only an hour and a half away, and its a crime that we do not go more often. I love the beach, and Jesse seems to too. He had great fun splashing in the waves, digging in the sand and watching all the people. This towelling hoodie lasted about two seconds before he decided it *had* to come off.

Monday, 6 February 2012

Jesse has started categorizing objects. When he finds a soft toy, he gives it a big hug and makes high pitched aw sounds, with declarations of soft. he then rummages through his toy box to find all his other soft toys. Here he is with his two babies, Pickles (the rabbit) and Blossom (the lamb). All food is 'num num', and if he finds something, (such as a piece of bark) that may be edible he looks up at me and says 'num num' questioningly. He is satisfied once I tell him that no, it is not to be eaten.

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Both Jesse and Sasha are fascinated with water, here Jess has just pulled the sprinkler off the hosepipe, but not without them both getting wet. He has watched us move it around the garden and is trying to find a good spot to put it in here.

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Jesse seemed to be extra busy today, and demanded my full attention most of the day. We spent time in the garden, bounced on and pushed around his exercise ball, pushed trucks all around the house. Here he is with his monkey on his back, which he thought was hilarious.

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

Also linked up at Vibrant Wanderings, What's New Babe?:

Monday Munch: Protein and Toddler Protein Requirements PLUS Quinoa Recipe's

2012-02-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

To meet Jess's nutritional requirements I am slowly introducing new, varied and nutritious foods. This week I will chat about Protein. Jesse, at 14 months, still gets the majority of his calories from breast milk, however, as he gets older he is getting more and more inquisitive about food. Although he is doing very well developmentally, and is so healthy on a diet of mainly fruit, he also wants to try out everything we are eating. I try to ensure that our meals are super healthy so that he can share them if he so wishes.

The reason he is doing so well on fruit is because all fruit contains vitamins and minerals (including calcium and iron) which are all in a form which is ready to be absorbed by the human body and disseminated. Protein too is present in its simplest form, amino acids, and ready to be absorbed and disseminated. There is even fat present in fruit, ready to be absorbed and disseminated.

Protein is made up of 23 amino acids which are the building blocks of all protein in the body. The human body contains an amino acid pool which it draws from and deposits into as it needs and consumes. This pool is found in the blood, liver and cells. Even on a fruit diet, adequate amounts of protein can be supplied. Two amino acids are essential to children only, arginine (which is found in chocolate, buckwheat and wheatgerm amongst other foods) and histine (found in rice, wheat and rye). Goji berries contain both amino acids.

The protein requirements of the human body have been largely over-rated. Most sources state a far too large amount of protein needed. A full grown male actually only needs 60 – 75g per day. One can work out the protein requirements of a child providing 1g of protein for every 2kg’s of body weight.

We need protein mainly for growth and repair and the period that we grow the fastest is during the first six months of our lives, during this time nature has provided us with the most perfect food; mother’s milk. The average percentage of protein in this milk is a mere 1.6% less than any average fruit. (The Natural Way – Mary-Anne Shearer)

The danger with protein is in fact not that a diet will not provide enough, but that it provides too much.
T Colin Campbell performed the most thorough research on human nutrition and documented it in his book The China Study. He noted that consumption of high amounts of protein, especially animal protein, was linked to chronic diseases.

All food does contain protein, some concentrated and some un-concentrated. Concentrated protein is found in nuts, seeds, cheese, meat and fish. Fruit contains un-concentrated protein. A baby has an immature digestive tract so feeding a child concentrated protein or starch before he has a full set of teeth and can chew properly is not only a waste of time and money but is likely to cause problems down the line. Food is not broken down properly and so ferments in the stomach producing by-products such as alcohol. Often incompletely broken down food molecules can be absorbed into the blood stream and because they are foreign to the body they result in an antibody reaction which leads to the development of allergies to a variety of foods, e.g. gluten intolerance. (Healthy Kids – Mary-Anne Shearer & Charlotte Meschedes)

It is interesting to note that a banana contains all eight essential amino acids. 100g of banana provides 1.3g of protein. Jesse loves bananas, and easily eats 3 small bananas a day.

Other foods which are high in protein are below:

Hemp seeds
Chia seeds
Flax seeds
Nuts
Other seeds
Tahini (Sesame seed paste)

As you can see seeds are high in protein, and one seed that I use often for meals is quinoa, Jess tried it for the first time this past week, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I used two recipes, one recipe uses raw and sprouted quinoa, and the other cooked quinoa. Jess seemed to find the cooked quinoa harder to digest as most of it went straight through him, this doesn't surprise me as raw protein is easier to digest than that which is cooked.

{RECIPE} Quinoa Salad with Roasted Butternut, Roasted Vine Tomatoes, Parsley and Cranberries

This recipe was made from contents out of our veggie patch and in our fridge, and I was amazed by how well it turned out.

1 small butternut - peeled and chopped up small
3 vines of baby tomatoes or 12 cherry tomatoes
1 cup Quinoa
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
1/2 cup Fresh Parsley

Place the quinoa in 2 cups of water in a bot on medium heat. Simmer till all the water has evapourated.

Place the chopped butternut and vine tomatoes on a baking tray in the oven on 180C till the butternut is soft and the tomatoes are sticky.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy hot or cold. Feeds one breastfeeding mommy and a hungry toddler.

{RECIPE} Raw, Sprouted Quinoa & Spinach Salad

The inspiration for the next recipe came from Evie's Kitchen by Shazzie, although I added a few more ingredients and a dressing to make it more to my taste. This recipe requires a few days preparation time, as you need to allow the quinoa to sprout.

80g Quinoa
30g Spinach (we had Spinach brights in the garden which made my salad nice and colourful)
1/2 Cucumber
1 Carrot
30g Butternut
10g Parsley
Juice of 1/4 lemon
Olive oil or coconut oil

Soak the quinoa in water overnight. rinse, drain and sprout for a day. the next day, rinse the quinoa sprouts again and place on a clean kitchen towel to absorb as much excess water as possible.

Grate the carrot and butternut, chop the parsley, dice the cucumber and toss all ingredients into a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice before serving.

What protein rich foods do you and your toddler enjoy?

~ Blog Design Overhaul ~

2012-02-04T07:58:00.000-08:00

I have been having great fun making changes to the design of my blog this weekend. It has been on my to do list for ages and Im so glad I finally had the opportunity to do so. As a total amateur when it comes to anything design or code, I am very proud of myself ;)

I began by updating to a much cleaner and simpler template, which I love! Then I added an image for my blog header. I created the header image in GIMP, which is photo editing software that you can download for FREE! Its fairly simple to use, and there are plenty of tutorials to be found on the web. I have been playing around in it for a while, but I did follow this step-by-step tutorial for creating a blog header by Simply Amusing Designs Studio, you can find it here.

After this I was so inspired I even made a button. I designed the button in GIMP, and followed Lauren Wayne's tutorial on how to make the code. You can find the tutorial here.

Then, I thought I was very clever making a grab box for my button, I used a tutorial on Paper Heart Camera, which you can find here, but Lauren Wayne also has a simple tutorial on how to do it here.

All Things Jesse {Mamatography Photo Challenge: Week 5}

2012-02-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

Jesse's own little personality is becoming more and more apparent. Always the smiley, over-friendly extrovert of a baby, he now considers strangers very carefully. He is still friendly and smiley, but I would no longer call him an extrovert. A friends little girl of the same age came to play, and for the first time Jesse was quite shy. He preferred to sit on my lap, and watch her from a distance, although he did find her fascinating.

Here he is doing what he loves best, playing with dirt outside. He is re-potting a plant that was knocked off its shelf by the chickens, and decided it would look better in this wire basket.

Friday, 27 January 2012

This is the best photo I got when I asked him to show me his belly-button...moving target! He can also point to my belly-button, my nose, mouth and ears and just this week pointed to his own ears and nose. He is a great talker and in his own baby-talk repeats nose, ears, bellybutton. He can say all the dogs names and kitty. In fact he attempts to imitate all my actions and words, so I need to be extra vigilant of what I say and do. He also enjoys meowing like a cat, and barking like a dog.

Saturday, 28 January 2012

During Jesse's nap on Saturday, I spent some time on pinterest looking for activities to do with a one-year old. I collected them all on a board which you can find here. I was hoping to draw up a schedule of planned activities for the month, but that hasn't happened yet. One activity we did try out that evening was coloured ice blocks in the bath. I had some frozen green juice, which had been in the freezer a while and thought that would be a good 'natural' colour for the bath. Jesse decided they were still good for eating.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Jesse continues to get most of his nutrients from breast milk. He is a lover of fruit, and his favourites at the moment are watermelon and litchis. Bananas are a staple food in our house, and he still loves the raw chocolate puddings I make. I have started adding avocado and spirulina to them to make them even more nutritious. Here he is nursing AND talking on his toy phone to daddy... my little multi-tasker.

Monday, 30 January 2012

I have been fascinated with Jesse's awakening awareness with his different senses. A while ago he discovered the feeling of wet, looking at his hands after I have washed them, and opening and closing them in amazement. Just this week he started smelling flowers, like he has seen his mom and gran do with lots of sniffing through a very crinkled up nose... very cute. He now recognises hot, after touching a few warm things. When the oven is on and I warn him it is hot, he enthusiastically declares it is HA! with lots of gesturing that he mustn't touch. He makes the same sound for soft (probably because I pronounce hot and soft with the same exhaling of air?) and everything from the unimpressed cat, to the stuffed rabbit gets a big hug with his proclamation of soft! Here he is marvelling at the delightful oozy-ness of mud.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

If Jesse is outside, he is happy (as with most children), and he has forced me to get more involved in the garden. Here he is showing off our white carrots (seeds sent from my sister in London) which we picked out of our veggie patch.

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

I am trying very hard to include varied sources of major nutrients into Jess's diet, and today I made him Quinoa for the first time. This Quinoa salad included roasted butternut, tomatoes, cranberries and parsley. It was absolutely delicious and I will include the recipe in my next Monday Munch post.

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

Also linked up at Vibrant Wanderings, What's New Babe?:

Monday Munch : Flax Seeds {Raw Flax Seed Crumpet Recipe}

2012-01-30T12:23:00.000-08:00

Recently my sister made these Raw Flax Seed Crumpets for breakfast and they looked and tasted better than they sounded... plus they are super super good for you. I intend on making them for Jesse often.

Photo Credit : Louise Powell

Flax (also knows as linseed) is native to the Mediterranean and to India. Flax is grown for its seeds and for its fibre. The fibre is used to make fabric. Flax seed is the source of linseed oil which is a highly nutritious edible oil and is also a great natural wood treatment oil.

Flax seeds come in brown or yellow / golden, and are largely similar in nutritional characteristics. Flax seeds contain high levels of dietary fibre (therefore helps with constipation), an abundance of micro-nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds may lower cholesterol levels and also benefit individuals with breast and prostate cancer. Flax seeds also stabilise blood sugar levels and are therefore helpful to people with diabetes. Due to their high Omega 3 content, flax seeds fight inflammation. They also help with menopausal symptoms and depression.

Raw Flax Seed Crumpets Recipe

1 cup Flax Seeds
5 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
6 Tablespoons Water

Blend flax seeds into a fine powder in a coffee grinder. Pour into a bowl and mix with the rest of the ingredients. Shape into a ball and press down onto a flat surface (you can form one large crepe or many small crumpets).

Top with Agave syrup and banana with cinnamon OR date jam (dates blended with water).

Are flax seeds part of your daily diet? What are your favourite recipes to use them in?

Linked up on Culinary Wanderings with Melissa of Vibrant Wanderings.

Mamatography Photo Project : Week 4

2012-01-29T13:31:00.000-08:00

Luschka from Diary of a First Child is hosting a fabulous 366 photo-a-day challenge where I get to document our day-to-day life, as well as Jesse's development.

I wasn't well this week, I had a bad case of the absolutely-no-energies, and thus this post is *bit* late :)

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Thursday went by with me not taking a single photo of Jesse *gasp*, I remembered about the challenge after he had gone to bed so I took a photo of our new puppy, and Jesse's new best friend; Sasha.

Friday, 20 January 2012

Friday was a beautiful day, and we decided to eat outside. Here is Jess enjoying a mealie.

Saturday, 21 January 2012

We finally had some much needed rain, the garden was thankful.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

Jesse found this cute miniature brass teapot, and so we just had to hold a tea party on the floor :)

Monday, 23 January 2012

Eeek! I didn't take a photo! But here is an oldie, but goodie :)

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Jess has just started to enjoy drawing. The blackboard is the best, however, he still tries to eat the chalk...

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Yip, some people call this child Donald Duck as he is always pant-less! Here he is gardening at his great-grans house.

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

{Guest Post} Achieving Naturally Clear Skin - From the Inside Out

2012-01-24T00:15:00.000-08:00

This is the first in a series of guest posts by my lovely sister, Louise. As a follow up to my Natural Beauty Regime post from last week I asked Louise to share her story on how she came to finally having beautiful clear skin, naturally; after suffering with problematic skin for many years. You can find a full biographical note on Louise at the end of this post.

When I told Christine that my skin had finall cleared up she asked me to write a guest post on her blog about my journey to clear skin; I have not reached the end of the road, but I think I have worked out a routine that suits me and the results show!

I am 26 and have always battled with bad skin (The area under my jaw line was particularly troublesome) despite eating a nutritious diet. I have, like Christine, been a vegetarian for over 11 years now, and have always enjoyed healthy food above processed products. I could never understand why my skin was such a deceiving reflection of my fairly healthy lifestyle.

Four months ago I decided to make it my goal to work towards having clear skin, naturally. I read all I could on the topic and experimented with a routine that suited me.

Your skin is a true reflection of your inner health so working from the inside out when treating any skin condition is very important. Thanks to individuality, some of us have to work that little bit harder to achieve the radiant glow; that comes so easily to others.

I firstly looked at my diet; I have avoided refined carbohydrates and sugar in their entirety, refined carbs lead to excess insulin production by the liver - in reaction to the increased glucose levels in the blood; this elevation in hormone levels in turn causes increased sebum production which increases the opportunity for bacteria growth and therefore infection. I have also reduced my intake of nuts, this did not even occur to me at first, however, I definitely was eating far too many nuts, although very nutritious and beneficial for acne in moderation (particularly brazil nuts which contain selenium), they are acid forming and therefore can also aggravate acne. I increased my raw food intake as much as possible; starting my day with a litre of diluted green juice and then fruit. Lunch would invariably be a salad; such as quinoa salad (I sometimes sprout my quinoa – sprouting releases those valuable enzymes allowing you to digest more nutrients – and what’s more; it’s raw!). I snack on fresh (preferably organic) fruit and seeds throughout the day if I am hungry. Dinner will always be accompanied with a large salad. Raw food assists in maintaing an alkaline blood pH which is optimal for all functions of the body. I try drink as much water as possible throughout the day, about 2 litres, this promotes new cell growth. I have also introduced maca powder to my diet, this is a fabulous hormone regulator and has a delicious malt taste when mixed with smoothies. See Christine's recipe for her delicious chocolate maca pudding posted on Mamatography Photo Project : Week 2.

Although I aim to find all my nutrients through food; I have started taking a good probiotic, multivitamin containing Zinc and Essential Fatty Acids; of which I am specifically interested in Omega 3 (we are seldom deficient in Omega 6 as this is abundant in our diets).

The skin is our largest organ of elimination and therefore if it is not functioning at its optimum we will be left with unwanted toxins in our body, this build up of toxins will result in skin conditions or extra workload for other organs of elimination. Therefore, it is important to support the skin: this can be done by daily dry skin brushing and by promoting sweating through exercise. It is also valuable to look at the other organs of elimination; the lungs, digestive system, kidneys and the lymphatic system, which plays an important role in the elimination system, and ensure that they are working effectively.

I have tried to stay away from skin products as much as possible: however, unfortunately, it is necessary for me to wear make up to work on a daily basis. I have changed my make up brands to 'natural' products that contain no parabens and those that help maintain the natural pH of my skin. I use mainly water to clean my skin, with a soft, clean cotton cloth (be mindful of how you wash your cotton cloths as the detergents could excaserbate a skin condition), occassionally I add 2 drops of lavendar and tea tree oil to the water (ensure that the water is luke warm; neither too hot nor too cold). I then apply a drop or 2 of jojoba oil, applying this to damp skin aids with absorption. Jojoba oil has the same absorption properties as sebum. Currently, I am also applying Vitamin E oil to my neck to try and minimise scarring.

Oats make a wonderful face mask as they soothe the skin and help reduce inflammation (sometimes I simply put oats in an old stocking or pair of tights and let it soak in the bath with me). Another healing face mask is avocado (and its great for preventing signs of ageing too).

Let us summarise what has been discussed;

Reduce refined carbohydrates and processed foods
Increase raw whole food intake
Increase water intake (minimum of 2 litres per day)
Introduce maca powder to diet
Supplementation - probiotic, multi-vitamin and EFA's.
Increase exercise and therefore, sweating.
Introduce daily dry brushing of the skin
Avoid harmful skin products
Introduce nutrient rich foods to your skin care regime; such as oats and avocado.

I have also noticed that my skin tends to flair up when I am stressed, I have introduced yoga and conscious breathing to my routine to try and minimise my stress levels.

It is exciting to note the responses your body has to slight changes in your lifestyle. Being conscious of the daily decisions you make can have a huge impact on your health; both positive and negative.

Louise is a South African, currently living in London, England. She works as a corporate banker by day, and studies Naturopathic Nutrition (makes use of whole and organic foods as medicine) by night. She is passionate about natural living, natural nutrition and has taken a special interest in raw food. Reading on these subjects is a favourite past time, as well as travelling, practising yoga and meditation.

You can contact Louise for more info at louise_powell {at} hotmail.co.za

Mamatography Photo Project : Week 3

2012-01-18T23:48:00.000-08:00

Luschka from Diary of a First Child is hosting a fabulous 366 photo-a-day challenge where I get to document our day-to-day life, as well as Jesse's development.

Here is what our week looked like :)

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Jesse in my parents garden, standing under the arch where my husband and I got married.

Friday, 13 January 2012

Walking in freshly cut grass, Jess was fascinated by the way it stuck to our feet.

Saturday, 14 January 2012

On Saturday we visited a local dam with another family who have four sons. Jess was in his element. While the men played on the dam with the boat the woman sat under umbrellas and gossiped. Jess spent plenty of time in the water as usual.

Sunday, 15 January 2012

My youngest sister has recently qualified as a veterinary nurse. She managed to get a fantastic job with a vet hospital as the surgery nurse in Durban. On Sunday our whole family went to visit her. Here Jesse is learning to use Grampa's binoculars.

Monday, 16 January 2012

Sporting three new teeth on the top, and a fourth which is taking its time to cut through and causing much pain as it does so.

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Eating *another* gem squash out of the garden, this time on a porcelain plate after reading this article.

Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Jess discovered that lavender does not taste as good as it smells.

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

Mamatography Photo Project : Week 2

2012-01-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

Luschka from Diary of a First Child is hosting a fabulous 366 photo-a-day challenge where I get to document our day-to-day life, as well as Jesse's development.

I am simply loving this challenge, and am so excited to share our week with you again.

Thursday, 5 January 2012

Jesse and I had a relaxed morning and decided to take a walk up the hill into town to visit my dad at his workshop. Here is Jesse having great fun playing with a bunch of tools on the workshop floor... those socks did come clean amazingly enough! :)

Friday, 6 January 2012

On Friday I had a hand sewing project that was driving me nuts, I couldn't get my blanket stitch to look neat and so I spent the morning at my grandmothers house being tutored on how to do it correctly. Jesse spent the morning trashing her small cottage. On our way home we walked through town and I bought Jess a new pair of shoes - his first real pair (compared to soft slippers). Here he is trying them on, he thought they were very smart and proceeded to walk around in circles for us showing them off.

Saturday, 7 January 2012

I made such a delicious raw chocolate pudding which is 100% healthy and sugar free, and absolutely delicious. Here's how to make it, blend : 3 bananas, 3 fresh dates, 4 tbsp coconut cream or milk, 2 tsp raw maca root powder and 3 tsp raw cacao powder... Yum!

Sunday, 8 January 2012

Jesse has always had beautiful hair, right up from the day he was born it has been long and thick. However, over his first few months he experienced breakage from rubbing his head whilst lying on his back, sitting in his car chair etc. I have tried before to even it out, without chopping too much off. This Sunday I again gave him a trim hoping to even it out a bit more. Here is a photo of his beautiful curls.

Monday, 9 January 2012

I dropped my camera :( While I try to claim from insurance I am using my fathers camera and fear my photos are a bit blurry as I try to work out how to use it. Monday was a beautiful hot day. We decided to have a swim late in the afternoon. Jesse loves to swim and is very confident in the water, perhaps too confident. I will need to send him to lessons soon I think. Here he is climbing up the water feature, my mom is just beside him although you cant see her in the photo.

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

On Tuesday we went to my aunts for tea so that Jess could spend the morning with my cousins before they had to go back to school. They are a bit older and dote on him, sharing all their old toys and patiently throwing balls for him. But, because of our visit Jess missed his morning nap, he unfortunately fell asleep in the car and then woke up when we got home. The car trip was only 10 minutes long, and he refused to go back to sleep. He spent the rest of the day a little spaced out, although not miserable. At one point he had been very quiet for quite some time and when I checked on him he was standing at the door in my parents bedroom watching the chickens outside. He did this for more than 30 minutes. I snuck up on him and took this photo:

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Today was stinking hot, but Jess insisted on playing outside. He spent most of the day playing on the shaded verandah with the dogs while I sat in front of a fan. Later in the afternoon we got into the pool. One of Jess's favourite things to do is sweep, I desperately need to find him a child's size broom. Here he is sweeping outside, and yes, this child hardly ever wears clothes.

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

My Natural Beauty Regime

2012-01-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the January 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Experiments in Natural Family Living

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have reported on weeklong trials to make their lives a little greener. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

***

What a great carnival topic, to start the new year off with a green / natural resolution. I'm going to share my natural beauty regime, part of it I have been doing for a while whilst a few things I tried especially for this experiment and they worked so well I'm keeping them!

I should probably tell you a bit about my skin before I tell you what works for me. I have pretty low maintenance skin, slightly on the oily side with a few patches of pigmentation made more obvious during pregnancy. I therefore use a scrub often.

What a natural beauty regime consists of.

Here is what has worked for me:

Firstly, I make my own toothpaste. I have been making my own toothpaste for nearly 6 months now and absolutely love it. I found a fantastic recipe, and have adapted it to make it my own. I will share it below. Unfortunately after my pregnancy I did suffer from a few cavities (before I started using this toothpaste), and then one of my teeth cracked needing to be rebuilt and a pin inserted... and I'm one of those people who hate the dentists :( It is now very sensitive but this toothpaste does not seem to irritate it. I should add that I use an electric toothbrush which seems to help keep my teeth super clean.

Home-Made Toothpaste Recipe

4 tablespoons Coconut Oil (gently heat under running hot water to liquefy)

1 tablespoon Bicarbonate of Soda (baking soda)

5 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil

You could use any essential oil, I have tried peppermint before but really like the fruitiness and freshness of grapefruit. Whip ingredients together and store in a cool place in a small jar. I use a small scoop to apply it to my toothbrush.

In terms of skin care I have been using minimal products for some time already. At the beginning of last year I switched from commercial day creams and night creams to using only pure Jojoba oil as a moisturiser. This worked wonderfully in the winter as it nourished my skin. In the summer I apply it only to dry areas such as my cheeks and not the oilier areas such as my nose and forehead. I often use pure Aloe Vera gel if my skin feels irritated or is sunburnt.

For this experiment I tossed my cleanser and opted for pure water, a face cloth and lavender and tea tree essential oils. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I found the face cloth worked perfectly for my slightly oily skin. I suffered no break out and my skin felt clean. What's more is that my skin is now clearer, softer and has a better tone.

Cleanser
Face cloth
Lavender and tea tree essential oils, or find another combination that works for you. This seems to work well for slightly oily skin.
I simply run a basin of warm water, add a few drops of the oils and immerse the face cloth in it and then give my face a gentle but thorough clean. Some people prefer a harsher cleanser and so could use a soft bristled brush such as a shaving foam brush.

Moisturiser:
Pure Jojoba oil
Apply a few drops with your fingertips to a wet face and gently pat dry with a soft towel.

I also had fabulous results with using bicarbonate of soda as a microderm abrasion scrub. It wasn't as harsh as the commercial varieties but left my skin with a lovely glow. I use it once or twice a week to reduce my pigmentation.

Home-Made Microderm Abrasion Scrub

1 tablespoon Bicarbonate of Soda
Wet face cloth

Simply dust the bicarb over the wet face cloth and gently massage your face in circular motions. Rinse once your skin feels tender.

I no longer use soap of any kind to wash my body either. I generally bath, which is not very 'green' of me, but Jesse and I do use the same water. Before I get into the bath a brush my skin with a soft bristled brush. This is a great exfoliater whilst getting my circulation and lymph drainage going. Then, I add a few drops of tea tree oil to my bath water, which is naturally anti-bacterial and wash with a face cloth. Works wonderfully, and I'm not smelly at all ;) I also, often add coarse salt to the bath which is another antibacterial and I find helps to soften skin. Epsoms salts in the bath is a real treat to ease aches and pains as well as help expel toxins.

I do, however, often wash my hands with soap after changing nappies, playing with the dogs etc. Its an old habit, and one I am unlikely to change. I do vow to start making my own anti-bacterial liquid hand soap, and promise to share the recipe once I have found the perfect one.

I have also been experimenting with a few natural deodorant recipes and haven't quite found the right one just yet. I will be trying this pro-biotic deodorant next, which sounds promising.

Jesse decides my hair straightener really needs to be included in my beauty regime.

Do you use any natural beauty care recipes? What works for you?

***
Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Make your own moisturizer! — Megan at boho mama whips up a winter skin-friendly moisturizer.
Cold Water Only — Brittany at The Pistachio Project talks about how you do not need hot water to wash laundry.
Family Cloth... Really?? — After lots of forethought and consideration, Momma Jorje finally decides to take the plunge with family cloth.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle : 5-5-5 Things A Day — Luschka from Diary of a First Child writes about decluttering her home in an attempt to create a gentler living space. She takes on a new project where she sets a goal of reducing, reusing and recycling every day.
Pros and cons of family cloth — Lauren at Hobo Mama would love to continue replacing paper products with family cloth … if she could only get over how damp she feels.
Craftily Parenting — Kellie at Our Mindful Life finds that crafting makes her a better parent.
Changes — Laura at Pug in the Kitchen couldn't choose just one area to experiment with, so she wrote a long post about all the fun changes initiated in her life!
Life without Internet: Not all it's Cracked up to Be — Adrienne at Mommying My Way tries to go a week without the Internet, only to realize a healthy dose of Internet usage really helps keep this stay-at-home mom connected.
My Progression to Raw Milk — Kerry at City Kids Homeschooling shares her natural parenting progression all the way to trying raw milk.
mama's new little friend. — Sarah at Bitty Bird tries a menstrual cup to "green her period," and is pleasantly surprised when she falls in love with the product!
Before you throw it out, try homemade laundry soap! — Jennifer at Practical OH Mommy shows visual proof that homemade laundry soap is cheaper, easier, and works better than the store-bought chemicals!
Oil, Oil, No Toil, No Trouble — K from Very Simple Secret talks about her foray into the oil-cleansing method.
I Need a Hobby — Amanda at Let's Take the Metro couldn't decide which experiment to run, so she did them all.
7 days of macrobiotics for a balanced family — The Stones make a [successful] attempt to release the "holiday junking" with 7 days of macrobiotic meals to balance their bodies and souls. Elisabeth at Manic Mrs. Stone includes an explanation of macrobiotics.
Chemical Free Beauty Challenge — Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction turned to natural alternatives for her daily beauty and cleaning routine, with great results.
Greening my Armpits!? My Green Resolution — Shannon at The Artful Mama talks about how she decided to give up her traditional antiperspirant and make the switch over to crystal deodorants and definitely isn't looking back!
Going Raw (for a while) — Jenny at Chronicles of a Nursing Mom shares her family's experience with raw food.
Do we get to eat gluten today? — Sheila at A Gift Universe has been trying to figure out if her son does better with or without gluten in his diet … but it's really hard to tell for sure.
Hippies Can Smell and Look Fabulous Too! — Arpita of Up, Down And Natural details her experience of going shampoo-free and overhauling her cosmetics to find the balance between feeling beautifully fabulous and honoring her inner hippie.
Our cupboards are full...but there's nothing to eat — Lucy at Dreaming Aloud takes on the challenge of chomping through the contents of her storecupboard rather than going shopping — but there's something that she just can't bring herself to do …
Elimination Experiment 3.0 — MudpieMama recounts the messy adventures of her baby daughter trying to be diaper free.
Family Cloth Trial — Amyables at Toddler in Tow talks about making and using family cloth wipes in the bathroom for the first time.
Taking a Hiatus — Amy at Peace 4 Parents shares how her experience of much less internet interaction affected her family and how it will change her approach in the future.
Trying Out the Menstrual Cup — Lindsey at an unschooling adventure ditches the tampons and gives menstrual cups a try.
Managing Food Waste in Our Home — Tired of the holiday waste, Robbie at Going Green Mama takes a weeklong focus on reducing food waste in her home, and learns some lessons that can take her through the new year.
Going Offline, Cloth Tissues, and Simplicity — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama muses over her time away from blogging and social networking. In addition, she shares her newfound love of cloth tissues and simplicity.
The Oil Cleansing Method — Erica at ChildOrganics explores an easy, organic and natural way to tackle skin care.
Experiments in Natural Family Living - Natural Toys! — Lani at Boobie Time enjoys the silence of natural toys and being more present with her son.
Discovering a New City and Organic Foods — Amy at A Secure Base describes her family's switch to and search for organic foods for one week.
My Experiment in Homemade Bread — Crunchy Con Mommy tried — and loved — baking her own homemade bread.
Menu Planning: Stop the Excuses — Gaby at Tmuffin stopped the excuses and started planning her weekly meals, drastically cutting her grocery budget and stress level and improving the quality of foods she fed her family.
My First Menstrual Cup — Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children was pleasantly surprised with her first experience using a menstrual cup.
My Natural Beauty Regime — Christine at African Babies Don’t Cry shares the results of banishing cleanser and soaps from her bathroom, as well as a couple of natural homemade recipes that have worked well on her skin.
Unplugging and Creating a Rhythm: Our Experiment in Natural Family Living — Dionna at Code Name: Mama focused less on gadgets and spent more time with her family to create a healthy rhythm for the new year.
Experiments in Natural Family Living: 5 First Steps Toward Preparing for a Natural Birth — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama discusses how she tackled the pressing matter of how to begin preparing for a natural birth.
All you need is...vinegar! — Kristen at My Semi-Crunchy Life learns that one household product can replace all the cleaners in her cabinet.
Nope Nada Ixnay Negative Pass Decline — Zoie at TouchstoneZ finds out what shakes loose if she says, "YES!!" to anything anyone asks of her over the space of 10 days.
Reducing our exposure to toxins found in plastics — Syenna at Gently Parenting Twins throws out the melamine and BPA plastics which have been hanging around the kitchen for too long.
Duh! — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares how she began the process of helping her 2-year-old son stop physically acting out.
Experiments in Natural Parenting: Starting, Stopping, and Gaining Perspective — Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings explains how pregnancy brain interfered with her attempts to complete an experiment, but how she gained some interesting perspective as she started and stopped several.
From Experiment to Lifestyle — Abbie at Farmer's Daughter shares her experience avoiding processed foods for a month, and deciding to make it a permanent lifestyle change.
From Disposable Paper to Reusable Cloth – AGAIN! — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle stops flushing trees down the toilet and switches to the softest ever butt-wiping material: cloth.
Extra! Extra! Water Heater Turned Down, Mom Doesn't Notice! — Thomasin at Propson Palingenesis finds an energy-saving experiment that's so easy she didn't even realize it was happening.
Worm Tea — CatholicMommy isn't sure how successful her worm bin will be, but she's having fun anyway.
Miles to Go ... — Rachael at The Variegated Life learns that when it comes to sleep debt, she's in real deep.
My Month With Water Kefir — Paige at Baby Dust Diaries experiments with a new fermented probiotic drink homemade in her own kitchen.
OMG Mom is Home... All Day Everyday: A Week-Long Experiment in Connecting — What a difference a week makes! Ana at Pandamoly is afforded a week off from work and takes the chance to reconnect and reattach with her 16-month-old son through an experiment in simply being there.
Creating Healthy Family Recipes — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares her experiment with healthy, gluten-free recipes and a chocolate muffin recipe that was created during the experiment.
Adventures in Alternative Haircare: No 'Poo — This guest post at Natural Parents Network from Amy at Anktangle chronicles a months-long journey into the world of no 'poo.
My Experiment in Natural Family Living: Natural Family Planning — Birth control options are seriously limited for those of us trying to live a little closer to the earth, so Mama Psalmist experiments with natural family planning.

Mamatography Photo Project : Week 1

2012-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Luschka from Diary of a First Child is hosting a fabulous 366 photo-a-day challenge where I get to document our day-to-day life, as well as Jesse's development.

I am very excited to share with you week one. We are still enjoying an extended stay at my parents home over the Christmas holidays and Jesse is enjoying it immensely.

Sunday, 1 January 2012

We spent New Years Day with my extended family at a nearby private dam. It was a lovely, relaxed day and Jesse, as usual, enjoyed all the company. Here he is being pushed around by his second-cousin, who made a show of complaining his back was hurting. Look at Jess's face, he is totally convinced that this is what his toy wheel-barrow was made for!

Monday, 2 January 2012

Monday was an overcast, rainy day. The rest of my family took my sister to the airport to fly home to London and so it was just Jesse and myself at home. Jesse was not impressed with only having me for company after the hustle and bustle of a full house for more than a week and I had to try extra hard to keep him entertained. Here he is exploring a basket of shells.

Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Another gloomy day spent indoors. This time we kept entertained by zooming Jesse's new truck up and down the passage. This is the first photo I have taken of him walking, he is walking beautifully now and hardly crawls at all.

Wednesday, 4 January 2012

Jesse is cutting three teeth at the moment, and so hasn't been the most cheerful little soul. Today, however, the sun was shining and he was in a much better mood. We spent most of the day playing on the verandah with the dogs. Here Jesse is eating his dinner, gem squash from the vegetable garden with a dash of coconut oil.

Now go check out the other participants in the Mamatography challenge by clicking on the button below:

Reflections On 2011 and Hopes For 2012

2012-01-03T11:34:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a year... I cant say its been great but it was definitely a better year than 2010. What made it better? No life changing decisions made! In 2010 I started a new job, fell pregnant, got married, lost said job and moved house. 2011 was a pretty quiet in year which I enjoyed with my new son. It was a year of discovery, in myself, and a year of healing. At the end of 2010 I found myself in the cardiac ICU, mostly brought on by stress. I was able to pin point the causes of this stress, either change them or deal with them and became a much calmer person for it. In 2011 I concentrated on bettering my physical health, in 2012 I plan to concentrate on my spiritual and psychological health.

I also started my blog last year, which has brought me much joy. I love the interaction with like minded parents this blog has brought me. I started volunteering for the Natural Parents Network which has proved life changing,what a wonderful group of parents working together and sharing experiences and advice.

In case you missed them, here are my most popular posts of 2011:

My hopes for 2012 is that I can continue growing as a person, slowly kneading out flaws in my personality and reaching an even calmer state. Amy, from Peace 4 Parents, recently reminded me of these wise words: stop concentrating on what you don't want, and start concentrating on what you do want. I totally believe in the power of positive thinking, and this year plan to concentrate on changing my attitude a little. I have made a few new years resolutions, I love making resolutions and (as long as they're not totally unattainable) usually reach them. I'm always interested to hear other peoples resolutions, so I will share mine:

Cut ALL sugar from my diet. I have done this before when I was diagnosed with a Candida overgrowth and noticed a dramatic improvement in my general well-being and with my moods. Unfortunately I started eating sugar again, and with whilst advocating such a healthy diet for my son I feel very guilty eating a chocolate. The time has come to give up my sugar addiction again.

Eat raw food only till lunch. I had in fact decided to start this in November, however with the holidays and all the festivities it was put on the back burner. I aim to eventually get to a high raw fruit and veg diet including nuts and seeds, perhaps 80% raw... I know my body would be in peak condition at this level. Follow me as I blog about this journey on Mondays in my Monday Munch segment.

Wake up, and get up, at 6am every morning. I am not a morning person, and find it so easy to lay in bed until 8am, especially of Jesse is still asleep. I started this one a couple of days before the new year and what an improvement. I find Jesse gets up earlier too, and therefore goes to bed earlier. Its also so much easier to get the day started on the right foot if you wake up early. When I would wake up later, I would sometimes find myself still in my pyjamas at 11am as I try to get the dishes and laundry done.

Take part in the Couch to 5K challenge. Exercise for me has always been intermittent and as I slowly get older and older the importance of it dawns upon me. I haven't started this challenge yet as I am battling to find a suitable time to go for my walk/run. A time when someone else can watch Jesse so that I can leave the house. I may just find myself waking even earlier to get this done....

Go No 'Poo. I have seriously long, thick but dry hair, and I know it will benefit from the absence of all chemical cleaning agents. A couple of days in, it is looking very scary indeed, but I intend to push through and will keep you posted.

Catch up and stay in regular contact with all my special friends. Motherhood keeps you busy, often too busy for coffee and a chat with a friend, especially if they don't have children. More than likely they're not as excited as you to sit in the kiddies play area of a restaurant. So, over the past year and admittedly even before then, I have lost contact with special people despite Facebook. I have already started contacting them all again!

Own up to my beliefs, and have the courage to stand by my convictions. I generally avoid hot topics like vaccinations and circumcision, whether on this blog or just chatting to an aunt. This year I vow to have the courage to stand by my choices, decisions and research.

I think these should keep me rather busy in 2012. I am excited about many of them and plan to take one day at a time, always moving forward.

Have you made any new years resolutions? What are they?

Natural Parents Network Volunteers' Best of 2011

2011-12-19T03:52:00.000-08:00

I am proud and honored to be volunteer with the Natural Parents Network (NPN), a community of natural-minded parents and parents-to-be where you will be informed, empowered, and inspired.

When you visit the NPN’s website you can find articles and posts about Activism, Balance, Consistent Care, Ecological Responsibility, Family Safety, Feeding With Love, Gentle Discipline, Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Natural Learning, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Practical Home Help, Preparing for Parenting, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep, and so much more!

The volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make NPN the outstanding resource it is also spend countless hours informing and inspiring others on their personal blogs. To close out 2011, the NPN volunteers have come together to provide you with some valuable reading material. Each volunteer has selected either their most viewed post of 2011 or their favorite post and shared the link here. Please take a few moments to visit each post. Our intention is to expand our reach as bloggers and informed parents and parents-to-be who are still growing as we move through our own journeys. Each volunteer has provided links to other social media sites where you can follow them as well.We hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as we enjoyed writing them. We are always looking for new volunteers so please, contact us if you are interested. Just a few hours per month can help other mamas in a huge way!

Abbie at Farmer's Daughter shares her Christmas Cookie Swap Blog Hop, which is her fourth annual virtual cookie swap and most popular post of the year. Please stop by and link up your favorite holiday recipe until Dec. 31. You can find Farmer's Daughter on Facebook and Twitter.

Adrienne from Mommying My Way shares Fear vs. Faith, one of her favorite posts about how often living a life of faith can look like a life of fear, but the two are really quite different. You can also find Mommying My Way on Facebook.

Alicia of Lactation Narration retells the story of her oldest daughter's 5 years of nursing and weaning in her favorite post of 2011, The Weaning Party. You can find Lactation Narration on Facebook and Twitter.

Amy of Toddler In Tow shares Finding My Mommy-Zen, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, she shares her desire to balance her own self-esteem by choice in order to parent with peace and compassion. You can also find Toddler In Tow on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, and follow Amyables (Amy W.) on Google + and Ravelry.

Arpita of Up, Down, and Natural shares one of her most popular posts titled Reflections. This is a beautiful look at the type of mother she wants to be. You can find Up, Down, and Natural on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Charise of I Thought I Knew Mama shares Why Do Children Have More Food Allergies Than Ever Before?, her most viewed post of 2011. This post explains the shocking info that one unsuspecting mother discovered when she started researching why her daughter had a violent allergic reaction to eggs. This is a must read post for ensuring the health of your family. You can also find I Thought I Knew Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Stumbleupon.

Christine of African Babies Don’t Cry shares The Best First Food for Babies, one of her favourite posts of 2011. This well-researched post delves into the healthiest and most nutritious food to feed your baby. You can also find African Babies Don’t Cry on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Cynthia of The Hippie Housewife shares Gentle Discipline for Toddlers, her most viewed post of 2011. This post describes five gentle discipline tools for parenting toddlers. You can also find The Hippie Housewife on Facebook, Google +, and Pinterest.

Darcel of The Mahogany Way shares how Babywearing As a Way of Life one of her favorite post of 2011. This post showcases some beautiful woven wraps that she has purchased, traded, borrowed, and sold over the years. Darcel also talks about the benefits of babywearing from the newborn through toddler stage. You can also find Darcel{ The Mahogany Way} on Facebook, Twitter, Her Community for Mothers of Color, and Pinterest.

Dionna of Code Name Mama shares 50 Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids Plus Fun Serving Suggestions, her most viewed post of 2011. Most of these snacks are quick to fix and portable, so you can pack them to send with your child on play dates, at preschool, or to just have handy in the refrigerator for when your child wants to grab a bite to eat “all by himself.” You can find Dionna on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Erica at ChildOrganics shares a post that is not only close to her heart, but also her most viewed post for 2011 titled Attachment Parenting in the NICU. This post shares her top 10 tips for parenting should you find yourself with a baby in the NICU. You can also find Erica on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Gretchen of That Mama Gretchen shares her personal experience of returning to work, expressing milk, and the ups and downs in between in her 2011 most viewed post, Mama's Milk. You can also find Gretchen on GFC, Blog Lovin', Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Isil of Smiling like Sunshine shares how to make an autumn tree using pumpkin seeds, her most popular post in 2011. This post features a lovely craft activity that you can do with your kids! You can also find Isil on Facebook and Twitter.

Jennifer of Hybrid Rasta Mama shares 80 Uses For Coconut Oil, her most viewed post of 2011. This comprehensive post provides background information on the benefits of coconut oil as well as outlines 80 uses for it. You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

Jennifer of True Confessions of a Real Mommy shares her most popular post of 2011, Weekly House Blessing (Otherwise Known as Cleaning Once a Week). This post outlines a once per week cleaning routine for busy moms. You can also find Jennifer on Twitter.

Joella, the mama behind Fine and Fair, shares An Unusual Gripe with Bebe Gluton, one of her most popular posts of 2011. In it, she discusses the controversy surrounding a "breastfeeding doll" and offers her take on the gender role implications of dolls in general. Fine and Fair can also be found on twitter and facebook.

Julia of A Little Bit of All of It shares the story of how her co-sleeping relationship ended with her daughter, her most viewed post of 2011. This post shows how her daughter transitioned to her own bed on her 2nd birthday and the emotions involved for her mom. You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment shares True Blessings: White Noise and Grandparents, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, Kat talks about how she maximizes getting sleep and how grateful and blessed she is to have her parents be so involved in helping and spending time with her kiddos.

Kelly of Becoming Crunchy shares That Cup Does What?, her most viewed post of 2011. This post is one of a series of reviews and information on switching to all natural menstrual products - having heard so many different options and recommendations, Kelly decided to give a whole bunch of them a try and pull all the reviews together in one week for anyone interested in making the switch. This post in particular covers the ins and outs of the Diva Cup. You can also find Becoming Crunchy on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Kristin of Intrepid Murmurings shares a popular post from 2011, something she and her husband made for their girls for Christmas, great for open-ended play and construction: Handmade Tree Blocks. You can also find Kristin on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Lani of Boobie Time shares Helping a Fellow Breastfeeding Mom, her inspiration for starting to blog. This post discusses the importance of fellow moms supporting each other and some tips on having a successful breastfeeding relationship. Lani can also be found on Facebook.

Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door writes about finally entering "spring" when her child with special needs begins preschool. After battling post-partum mental illness (post tramatic stress disorder) after the preterm birth of her third child, she finally begins to feel healthy and whole again in "It's Fall, Ya'll-Again."

Lauren of Hobo Mama shares On not having an AP poster child, her (OK, second) most viewed post of 2011. Lauren's first child shook her certainty that attachment parenting meant babies never cried and toddlers grew independent — and that's all right, too. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Luschka of Diary of a First Child shares Lactivism, Breastfeeding, Bottlefeeding and Mothers at War, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This post discusses how the breastfeeding/bottle feeding debate causes a division between mothers, leading to the alienation of women and babies, while divisive companies prosper. You can also find Diary of a First Child on Facebook, and Twitter.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares how With Privilege Comes Responsibility, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This compelling post explains her strong felt desire to stand up for those less privileged. You can also find Living Peacefully with Children on Facebook.

Melissa of Vibrant Wanderings shares a Montessori-Inspired Checklist for Choosing Toys, her most popular post of 2011. The article outlines some important Montessori principles and how they relate to children's toys, translating that into some simple guiding principles. You can also find Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Melissa of White Noise shares Modern Day Wet Nurse, her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, Melissa shares the benefits of human breast milk and human milk sharing. You can also find Melissa at Mothers of Change.

Momma Jorje shares Amniocentesis - What is it *really* like?, one of her most viewed posts of 2011. This open and honest series offers not only the technical process of amniocentesis, but also the emotions involved in awaiting (and receiving) the procedure and a diagnosis. Momma Jorje can also be found on Facebook.

Moorea of MamaLady: Adventures in Queer Parenting shares Fluoride: Another Reason Breast Is Best, her favorite post of 2011. This post provides research on the harmful effects of fluoride in drinking water for babies and toddlers and ways to limit fluoride consumption in your home. You can also find MamaLady on Facebook and Twitter and her Parent Coaching Site.

Rachael at The Variegated Life is Calling the Muse in her most viewed post of 2011. In this post, she describes how she uses ritual to help her tap into her creative spirit. You can also find Rachael on Twitter and The Variegated Life on Facebook.

Rebekah and Chris from Liberated Family shares Using Cloth In a Disposable Society, their favorite post of 2011. This extensive post provides a lot of information regarding the varied uses of cloth as well as the many benefits. You can also find Liberated Family on Twitter.

Sarah at Parenting God's Children shares her most viewed post: Confessions of a Breastfeeding Advocate: I Couldn't. She confesses her struggles with breastfeeding her daughters, but shares why she'll continue the good fight. You can also find Sarah on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Seonaid of The Practical Dilettante offers a science- and reverence-based meditation on The Living Earth, her most viewed post of 2011. This meditation was originally written for Earth Day, but it provides a way to reconnect with your place in the living breathing planet at any time of year. You can also find Seonaid on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares I Recommend (But Moira Likes This Book Too), her most viewed post of 2011. This post is a review of a wonderful book that talks about all the different ways that families can be made up, along with some of why this topic is so important to her family.

Sheryl at Little Snowflakes shares her experiences with tandem nursing in Tandem Nursing – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, her most viewed post of 2011. You can also find Sheryl on Twitter.

Stay tuned for some amazing posts from all of these tremendous bloggers in 2012!

Wordless Wednesday : Meeting Chloe the Giraffe

2011-12-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Things have been very quiet here at African Babies Don't Cry, the reason for this is that my husband started a new position on a new game farm, and we subsequently had to move across the country.

This move was full of anxiety and stress, but also excitement for the start and all that it brings.

Here is Jesse meeting Chloe the tame Giraffe on the new game farm. I apologise for the blurry cell phone pictures, but these were taken in the heat of the excitement by a staff member on my husbands phone.

Wordless Wednesday : Birthday Boy

2011-11-30T13:50:00.001-08:00

Happy first birthday to my darling Jesse, what a blessing this year has been!

Monday Munch : Raw till Lunch Week Two (Plus Scone Recipe)

2011-11-29T11:19:00.001-08:00

What a hectic weekend, we spent the majority of it in the car in sweltering heat leaving me feeling very much exhausted. Thus, my Monday Munch is being posted on a Tuesday. This is week two of my new Monday Munch post, if you missed week one, read it here.

My goal for last week was to eat raw till lunch, which went semi-successfully:

I enjoyed drinking green juice first thing every morning. It was month end and a few days before I went to the shops we ran out of green juice ingredients, so my juices became very interesting as I used up all the fresh produce in my fridge. The best combination was carrot and apple... yum. I also juiced up a cucumber and some watermelon which was very refreshing and which Jesse enjoyed thoroughly.

I made sure to make a banana based smoothie every morning, too, my latest and favourite includes fresh cherries... yum! These are great energy packed smoothies.

I then snacked on raw assorted nuts and shared a few with Jesse. I did find that he filled up a bit too much on these, and cut back on his nursing, so I slowed down on offering him them.

I say my week was semi-successful as we spent the weekend travelling, and ate far too many take-aways, including breakfasts. This has left me feeling bloated and lethargic. I am back on my raw till lunch as from yesterday and am feeling a bit better already.

So, I am not going to add anything new to my challenge this week. I am simply going to continue with my raw till lunch plan.

A very exciting aside: I have purchased a starter kit to make Kombucha, and plan to make it in the next few days. I will definitely report back to you all on this.

I bought some speciality 100% Ceylon tea today, and enjoyed a fantastic cup with scones. Nothing like afternoon tea, and so I leave you with a really yummy (but not so healthy) recipe for scones. This recipe is really easy, it only has three ingredients! One of which is Sprite (fizzy lemonade)

Scones made with Sprite

325g Self-raising Flour
167ml Thick Cream
167ml cold Sprite

Sift flour into a large mixing bowl. Combine Sprite and cream in a smaller mixing bowl. Carefully fold liquids into flour. Roll out dough and cut with a scone cutter.

Bake in a medium oven for approximately 15 minutes... depends on how thick you cut them. I just keep checking on them.

Serve hot with whipped cream and jam.

The Gratitude Challenge : 100 Things I am Grateful For

2011-11-24T02:45:00.001-08:00

Fellow Natural Parents Network Volunteer, Amanda, of Let’s Take the Metro challenged anyone interested to come up with 100 things we are grateful for. Although I am not in America, and therefore do not celebrate Thanksgiving, I thought this was a wonderful idea. Its so good to remind oneself every so often of all that is good in your life. Especially now, as my husbands contract comes to an end and we are moving house and life seems to be very stressful indeed.

So, here is my list of things that I am grateful for:

1. My son, Jesse : Jesse literally lights up my life. He has given meaning for my existence on this earth. I am forever grateful that he chose me to be his mom.

2. My husband, Chris : Chris has an endless amount of patience and love, both of which are needed in abundance when living with me. My best friend.

3. My two younger sisters, Louise & Kathryn : The two people in my life I can truly count on to always be there for me. I am continually bouncing ideas off of them, and asking for advice.

4. My parents : My parents been through hell and back to give me the life I have now. No words can express how grateful I am for them and what they have done for me.

5. My gran, Ma : Ma is the strongest person I know, she has lost a child, a husband and yet you never see her having a bad or down day. She is always cheery and an inspiration for what she gets done in a day.

6. The rest of my large, extended family : I am so blessed to have such a large and close family. Holidays are always joyous occasions and we all share the importance of getting together.

7. My parents-in-law : for welcoming me into your family and just having so much love to share.

8. My sister and brother in law : So nice to finally have a brother, and yay for another sister!

9. The rest of my large, extended family-in-law : Its so great that they too are a close family, Jesse is one lucky grandson!

10. My close friends, Charmaine and Debbie : The kind of friends that you don't speak to for a month, but when you do, you pick up right where you left off. I will always treasure our friendship.

11. My awesome friend Stof : For making me laugh.

12. The amazing group of ladies who volunteer for the Natural Parents Network : My online friends who I go to for parenting advice, and anything else really. I am so lucky to be part of such a caring community.

13. Conan, Xena & Honey : My dogs, Conan and Honey passed away a few years back and Xena now lives with my mom but for a long time they were my babies and brought me much joy.

14. My large group of friends that I am in contact with only every now and then : We don't speak often but I couldn't live without you.

15. My laptop : My entire life is on this laptop, it provides my livelihood as well as my entertainment.

16. My super comfy queen size bed : I am a bed snob, I never have a good nights rest unless it is in my own super comfy bed.

17 My super comfy pillow : I take it everywhere I go. My neck goes into spasms if I try sleep with any other pillow.

18. South Africa : What other country can we enjoy such a temperate climate all year round. I love how colourful this country is and I would never want to live anywhere else.

19. Vegetable gardens : I don't have one yet, but as a vegetarian I am totally grateful that some people do. I plan to have one very, very soon.

20. Fuzzibuns nappies : I wouldn't be so passionate about using cloth nappies if it wasn't for the convenience of Fuzzibuns pocket diapers.

21. My Blackberry : For keeping me in touch with my friends and family with such ease.

22. Jesse's Amber Teething necklace : Jesse has only now started teething, but so far it has been an {almost} breeze with no fevers or runny noses etc.

23. Sleep : Jesse has never been a good day napper, but he has always been a star at night. After those first sleepless 6 weeks I am forever grateful for sleep.

24. My washing machine : Its new, after the last one packed in, you cant do cloth nappies without a washing machine. I love how the clothes go in dirty and come out clean... like a miracle!

25. My super-sized fridge : Its big and shiny. I bought it when I was still single and thought I could afford it. Now it holds all our fresh produce with ease... love it!

26. My slow-cooker : How fantastic is it that you can put all the ingredients in it and have yummy supper a few hours later?

27. My shoe collection : Granted I don't get to wear all me heels as much any more (read : ever) but I still love them all!

28. My library : Books are an outlandish price here in comparison to other countries. So every book in my collection has been bought with passion. I hold on to these treasures and often re-read them.

29. Mary-ann Shearer : I read her book, The Natural Way, when I was about 12, and so started my passion for nutritional health.

30. My health : This time last year I was at my unhealthiest and 9 months pregnant. I ended up having two heart attacks and spending 10 days in ICU cardiac division. I am now completely recovered and if I never set foot into a hospital again it will be too soon.

31. The ocean : Therapy for my soul.

32. The Woodlands Kingfisher : Having been absent all winter it is now, today, finally back. I am grateful for its beauty it adds to the garden.

Woodlands Kingfisher

33. Contact lenses : I am not a good glasses-wearer.

34. Swimming pools : The only respite in this heat.

35. Long hot baths : I put Jesse in the bath with me, that way I get to soak a bit.

36. My Moby Wrap : So comfy, for both of us.

37. My new Juicer : Love being able to make green juice every morning.

38. Watermelon : Watermelon just rocks, who doesn't love watermelon?

39. Trees : For cleaning the air, providing us with shade and most of all for making my garden look pretty.

40. Roses : My ultimate favourite flower... there is nothing that comes close to its beauty.

41. My tumble-dryer : Its impossible to use cloth nappies without one.

42. Co-sleeping : I am so grateful that I get to wake up next to my beautiful son every morning. I am also grateful for the extra sleep co-sleeping affords me.

43. My past mistakes : For without them I wouldn't be as grateful as I am for my present.

44. Adele : For my current favourite song.

45. Avocado Pears : Possibly my favourite food of all time.

46. Jane Austen : Her books have held my attention for decades as I have read them over and over.

47. Giraffes : We have a few on the farm, one of them recently had a baby... they are such graceful animals. Beautiful.

48. Make-up : I don't wear it very often, but when I do I am very grateful for it.

49. My vacuum cleaner : We can have so much more fun in the house when cleaning up is easier.

50. All the blogs I follow in google reader : When my husband switches on the TV at the end of the day, I switch on my laptop to read all your blogs. What a way to wind down :)

51. Blogging : I had been meaning to get into it for a while, and I am so glad I finally did as I love writing, this is my creative outlet.

52. My Garmin : I'm terrible at directions, ask anyone, thank goodness for this invention.

53. My son's glowing health : With so much that could have gone wrong, and given how unhealthy I was at the end of my pregnancy, his glowing health is a testament to my constant prayers.

54. Skype : They only way my sister Louise, who is in the UK, can chat and see us and Jesse's development.

55. Braai's : (BBQ's) Although not a meat eater, I love socialising outdoors whilst sitting around a fire. Even if it is just the three of us.

56. The internet : Wow, what did we do without it?

57. Pinterest : What a fun way to track all the things you will never have time to do lol.

58. Prawns and other seafood : Yum!

59. Rescue remedy : I used to be on medication for panic attacks, now between calming exercises like meditation and rescue remedy I manage just fine.

60. Sushi : Totally missed eating sushi throughout my pregnancy, made me appreciate it more.

61. Tea : I am an ultimate tea pot.

62. Freshly baked scones with cream and jam : Especially if someone else like my mom has made them.

63. Jesse's high-chair that clips on to the dining room table : he loves being part of the dinner conversation.

64. Air-conditioning : We simply would not sleep without it in this heat.

65. Woolworths : The nearest one is two hours away, but worth the drive as they are the only shop to stock a good selection of organic foods, natural products and free-range meat for the hubby.

66. My GHD Flat-iron : Hours of blow-drying my hair straight are a thing of the past.

67. Breastfeeding : Yay for never having to worry about feeding Jess when we are travelling, never having to get up in the middle of the night to make bottles, sanitizing bottles etc. Breastfeeding is so convenient.

68. Rain : Living on a farm you realise its importance. Its raining as I type this... bliss.

69. Electricity : enough said.

70. Facebook : Yip, I'm daring to say it. I'm not 'chatty' enough to keep up with all my friends. This makes my life so much simpler.

71. Squirrels : Take a rat and put a bushy tail on it and you get an animal that is so cute? Weird, but true.

72. All-natural bubble bath : all the luxury without any of the chemicals.

73. Popcorn : I eat far too much of it, but its a cheap and a reasonably healthy snack.

74. Music : Life would be so boring without music. I have theme-songs for every event and stage of my life.

75. Big hugs : Jesse has just started giving them to me, best thing ever.

76. The Natural Parents Network : With zero to none in terms of an attachment parenting support base here in South Africa, I have relied heavily on this network.

77. Pasta : Comfort food.

78. Summer : My body craves the sun, and after a dreary winter (by South African standards) the sun is ever welcome.

79. Google Reader : Before I found it I was bookmarking blogs, coming back to check on them every so often. Bookmarking posts I liked... what a mission.

80. Shazzie : My new-found health guru. I love how enthusiastic she is about everything.

81. Candlelight : There is a time and a place where candlelight is the most romantic and peaceful thing ever.

82. Agapanthas : One of my favourite indigenous flowers.

83. The sound the rain makes on the thatch roof : This must be what peace sounds like.

84. Quiet : I'm sensitive to noise, so is Jesse, we are most relaxed in the afternoons when the washing machine is finished etc and the house is silent.

85. Jesse singing : So dang cute.

86. Home-made Foccacia bread : So easy to make and so yummy.

89. Wonderful comments on my blog : They really do just make my day.

90. Deciding not to circumcise Jesse : It was touch and go for a {very} short time, and I know I would have regretted it.

91. Kudu : My favourite antelope, which we have plenty of on the farm.

Kudu

92. Tame Buffalo : You would never get this close to any other buffalo bull.

93. Making the decision not to vaccinate Jesse : the best decision for us.

94. Quinoa : So much healthier and yummier than rice as an accompaniment to curries etc.

95. My Car : I know all too well the inconvenience of not owning a car, I truly treasure owning one now.

96. My teeth : I hate going to the dentist, so I am really grateful I have reasonably good teeth.

97. Cashew nuts : Jesse and my favourite snack.

98. Daily phone calls with my mom : I look forward to them.

99. My sisters dog Donna : She deserves a mention as she has just my puppy, who will be ready on Christmas day.

100. Im grateful I have completed this list, and grateful it was so easy to do.

Others participating in this challenge:

Wordless Wednesday : Dirt

2011-11-23T12:20:00.001-08:00

Such fun playing in the dirt :)

Monday Munch : Raw till Lunch

2011-11-21T11:52:00.001-08:00

After much deliberation on a name, I am excited to have a weekly platform where I will share my quest for a more naturally healthy diet. This will be a recurring feature every Monday where I will share my latest research on nutrition, superfoods I have tried and supplements I am taking as well as recipes and the like.

I have been dabbling with a raw food diet for a while, but suffer terribly with cravings and so have not managed to eat high raw just yet. But, I have decided to be a bit easier on myself and take it slow. For now, I have committed to eating raw till lunch. I will then eventually commit to eating raw till lunch plus a 50% raw lunch and so on.

I don't think I will ever undertake to eat a 100% raw diet, however I would like to one day get to a 75% raw diet.

I am a vegetarian, and currently eat seafood (which I love and wont be giving up any time soon), a tiny amount of dairy and the occasional egg. I further commit to a vegan diet till lunch.

Hopefully reporting back to you every Monday will keep me in line :)

Back to my constant battle with cravings... I have been diagnosed with Candida overgrowth, I also suffer hyperglycaemia both of which contribute to a constant craving and weakness for sugar. The morning are also when my metabolism is at its fastest meaning I am constantly hungry until it slows down after lunch.

So, this is what my morning will look like:

Green Juice on waking, Jesse shares this with me - he thoroughly enjoys it and loves to drink it through a straw. Find my favourite green juice recipe here.

Via pinterest from Healthy Happy Life

A fruit smoothie - here is a recipe for my favourite at the moment:

A frozen banana or two, depending on their size
A fresh date - which helps bate the sugar cravings
A teaspoon of cinnamon - a powerful antioxidant
Dessicated coconut / fresh coconut or a bit of coconut milk
Filtered water

I blend all this up with a stick blender (I am currently coveting a Vita-mix) and enjoy.

Via pinterest from Natural Noshing

My metabolism is most active in the morning, so I am usually hungry again within an hour of drinking the smoothie. I then chop up some fruit and share this with Jesse. If I feel hungry again before lunch I eat a few raw nuts, usually almonds as these contain high levels of calcium.

I am also going to use this space to share recipe's that I have made and enjoyed. I recently came across this recipe for a Polenta and Aubergine Casserole from Mindful Momma which both myself and my husband thoroughly enjoyed and I would definitely make again.

Are any of you trying to eat healthier? What changes have you made to your diet?

Frugal Recipe : Foccacia Bread

2011-11-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

This post is for inclusion in the Natural Mothers Network Frugal Families Carnival. The topic of the month is Frugal Fireside Recipe's.

Living in the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa) means we are enjoying an extremely warm summer at the moment. So, a fireside recipe for me is more of an accompaniment to a Braai (BBQ) but this recipe is a great accompaniment to a warming pasta dish such a Pasta Puttanesca or can be enjoyed with a hearty soup ... yum.

My favourite way to enjoy Foccacia Bread is plain (no seasoning's other than course salt) with a dipping sauce made from olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Making bread must be one of the most satisfying things to do in the kitchen. Foccacia is a great one to start with, as its so simple, and tasty.

Here is my favourite fool-proof recipe:

Foccacia Bread

Foccacia is a flat oven baked Italian bread. It is related to pizza, and in fact I use this same recipe as my home-made pizza base.

800ml white bread flour
1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
seasoning of choice - see below for yummy ideas
About 350 ml lukewarm water

Combine flour, yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a hollow in the centre and add the oil and half the seasonings. Add the water and mix with a wooden spoon to form a soft dough (The mixture makes a moist, slightly sticky dough.)

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead lightly for 10 minutes until smooth and no longer sticky. (Tiny air bubbles will form on the surface when the dough is lightly pressed between your hands.)

Place the dough in a large oiled mixing bowl, brush with a little oil and cover lightly with a clean cloth. Leave in a warm place until the dough has doubled in volume (about 40 - 60minutes)

Remove the dough from the bowl and knead lightly four or five times, taking care not to knead out the air. Shape the dough into a neat oval by tucking the sides under to enclose even more air. Cover lightly and leave to rest for 7 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius and spray a fairly large baking sheet with non-stick spray. Lightly roll out the dough on a floured surface until it is the size of the baking sheet. Alternatively, flatten it with the palm of your hand until it is the required size. Place on the baking sheet, cover with a cloth and leave to rise in volume (about 20 - 30 minutes.)

Make holes in the proven dough with your fingers and fill with remaining seasonings. Sprinkle with olive oil and coarse salt.

Bake for 25 minutes until risen and done. Remove from the oven, place on a cooling rack and drizzle with extra olive oil.

Makes 1 large loaf which serves 6.

Ideas for seasonings:
Fresh Rosemary and crushed garlic cloves
Sun-dried tomatoes and chives
Anchovies, garlic and olives
Mixed herbs
Feta cheese and sage

Wordless Wednesday : Watermelon

2011-11-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the topic for the Carnival of Natural Parenting - Kids in the Kitchen, I am sharing Jesse eating his favourite fruit - Watermelon.

Letters to Littles : Letters to My Jesse 11 Months

2011-11-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

To my darling Jesse,

Such an exciting and event filled month in terms of development for you my darling!

I have so much to report back on in this letter... which always makes the family happy, as we live so far away from everyone.

Firstly, you have finally started getting your first tooth! It seems to be only one, on the bottom. You have been such an angel, every now and then you show how sore it is by biting on something and pulling a face, but otherwise, you have not had a temperature, upset stomach, runny nose or anything! My healthy and strong little angel :)

Secondly, we have started elimination communication, and as far as our first month went I would say it was a raving success. We have had a number of catches in the potty with number ones, and two catches in the potty with number two's! I relate our success to the wonderful warm weather we have been having and the fact that you have been going nappy-less for most of the day - even naps!

You received your first haircut :( I did it on a whim, after wondering about your uneven curls for weeks... didn't cut it too short, just trimmed it till it was a bit more even - now its even curlier :)

You have started wearing 'big boy' pyjamas... no more baby-grows. Often its so hot you merely sleep in your nappy. Especially if the lights are out and we cant put the air-conditioner on... which seems to be very often lately.

Daddy's Boy

Finally, you are standing with no support regularly and have taken as many as three steps unaided!!! Daddy is very proud of this. You no longer like to crawl anywhere and want to walk, often standing at a perch and calling us to come hold your hand and help you walk! So so cute.

You turn one year old this month... I am absolutely flabbergasted by how quickly this year has passed us by. But it has been very eventful and filled with joy.

Lots of Love
Mom

This post has been linked up with Touchstonez's monthly Letters to Littles.

My Little Healthy Eater

2011-11-08T01:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the November Carnival of Natural Parenting: Kids in the Kitchen

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared how kids get involved in cooking and feeding. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.

This is my all-time favourite topic. I can talk about my sons healthy diet all day long. I have always had a passion for nutritional research... probably stemming from my own hang-ups with food, and I have spent many years devouring book after book on the topic of 'natural' nutrition. I have also completed a course in Natural Health and Nutrition through the International Academy of Health and Wellness.

I define the term 'natural' nutrition with eating as close to what nature intended as possible.

Long before I fell pregnant I decided that the mainstream diet that we are bombarded with from advertisers on television and in supermarkets is not conducive to a healthy mind, body and soul for our precious children. Through all my studies and reading in different books on the subject I came to a few conclusions. Firstly, that delaying the introduction of solids as late as possible is better for all involved. Find out more on my previous post regarding when to start solids here. The best first {solid} food for children is fruit. I have written on this topic previously and I do believe that it is valuable information so please find an excerpt from that post below, you can read the full post here.

Not only do I feel that babies are put on to solids too early, there are also some crazy choices that parents make as first foods. Babies have immature digestive systems and cannot chew properly until around 2 years old. Complex carbohydrates and proteins require chewing to start the digestive process off. Feeding your babies these foods means that they are not digested properly and ferment in the digestive tract. "By-products of fermentation are alcohol, acetic acid and ammonia, all of which can result in nappy rash, foul gas and stools, cramping, mucus, irritability and failure to thrive." (Healthy Kids, The Natural Way by Mary-Ann Shearer and Charlotte Meschede)

There is, however, a perfect food. A food that is closest in its nutrient composition to mothers milk... and this is fruit. A food with all the protein and starch broken down into easily absorbable amino acids and glucose molecules, loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and many other valuable nutrients. Uncooked, ripe fruit meets most of your young child’s nutrient requirements. Babies love eating fruit as it is naturally sweet, just like mother’s milk.

After much research I have discovered that fruit is the only food your baby will need until they are two years old (As long as you are practicing full term breastfeeding). From here on you may start introducing more complex carbohydrates like carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin. In my opinion rice cereals and other highly refined baby foods have no place in a healthy babies diet. Cereal has become infamous for being "babies first junk food".

My son is now 11 months old. He has only now started eating solids with any regularity or quantity. On a typical day... my husband goes off to work at the crack-of-dawn (he starts at 6am in summer) and leaves Jesse and I asleep in bed. We wake up a *little* later... and after lots of nursing, we go sit on the verandah (porch) and eat some fruit for breakfast whilst watching the birds and squirrels. Sometimes my husband manages to join us. Summer is a great time to eat lots of fruit, there is so much in season.

This is what our breakfast looks like on a typical day.

Jesse has been fed solids in the baby-led weaning fashion. The result of this is that he has become very aware of different textures and knows exactly what he likes. His first love was apple... and his new love is watermelon.

Why I don't usually use plates or tablecloths.

I am also a believer in the miracles of green juice consumption, and that introducing green juice to your child early on in his life lets them become accustomed to its taste. Jesse and I have just started drinking these every morning. Find my favourite recipe here.

Another awesome breakfast is smoothies. Our favourite blend is made up of two frozen bananas, a teaspoon of cinnamon (anti-oxidant) and a fresh date with a little filtered water added. Very yummy, but I don't do smoothies too often as I feel it is important for Jesse to get used to the texture of solid foods and to build his jaw muscles by using a chewing action. See more about this in my post on baby-led weaning here.

A lovely recipe for children for breakfast, that is so nutritious too, is Chia Pudding. Chia seeds are the seed of a herb grown in North and South America, and was once the staple food of the Aztecs. Chia seeds are highly nutritious, they contain Omega 3 and Omega 6 with the perfect ratio of Omega 3 to 6. Chia seeds contain water soluble fibre which is ideal for constipation and diarrhoea as it regulates bowel function. They also regulate the thyroid and other hormonal function. These seeds contain all 8 amino acids for complete protein and contain powerful anti-oxidants.

Chia and Dried Fruit Pudding

This recipe was adapted from Evie's Kitchen by Shazzie

When mixed with water Chia Seeds turn glutinous making a pudding with a consistency not unlike that of tapioca pudding. It definitely tastes better than it looks :)

200ml Warm Water
30g Raisins
20g Chia Seeds
20g Dried Apricots
20g Dried Pear

Finely chop the dried fruit and add the Chia seeds in a small bowl. Pour over the warm (not hot) water and leave for twenty minutes to thicken. Stir before serving.

Indeed any dried fruit can be used, I used dried cranberries, pears and gooseberries in the picture above. However the Chia seeds do not have a very distinctive flavour so it is best to use sweet dried fruit.

Sharing with Daddy

I realise that it is easy to talk of my sons healthy diet now, when he is still so young and it is simple to control his diet. Once he becomes older and has more of a will I do fear it will become harder and I will have to become more and more imaginative in my healthy meal offerings. Until then, I will continue to slowly introduce healthy food.

***
Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Baking & letting go — Cooking with kids can be a mess. Nadia at Red White & GREEN Mom is learning to relax, be patient, and have fun with the process.
Family feeding in Child of Mine — Lauren at Hobo Mama reviews Ellyn Satter's suggestions for appropriate feeding and points out where her family has problems following through.
Children with Knives! (And other Kitchen Tools) — Jennifer at True Confessions of a Real Mommy teaches her children how to safely use knives.
"Mommy, Can I Help?" — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment writes about how she lets her kiddos help out with cooking, despite her {sometimes} lack of patience!
Solids the Second Time Around — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes recounts her experiences introducing solids to her second child.
The Adventure of Toddler Tastebuds — The Accidental Natural Mama shares a few things that helped her daughter develop an adventurous palate.
A Tradition of Love — Kelly at Becoming Crunchy looks forward to sharing the kitchen traditions passed on from her mom and has already found several ways to involve baby in the kitchen.
The Very Best Classroom — Alicia C. at McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts reveals how her kitchen is more than a place to make food - it's a classroom!
Raising Little Chefs — Chef Mike guest posts on Natural Parents Network about how he went from a guy who couldn't cook to a chef who wanted to teach his boys to know how the food we love is made.
In the Kitchen with my kids — Isil at Smiling like Sunshine shares a delicious soup recipe that her kids love.
Papa, the Pancake Artist — Papa's making an incredible breakfast over at Our Mindful Life.
Kids won't eat salad? Try this one! — Tat at Mum in Search is sharing her children's favourite salad recipe.
Recipe For a Great Relationship — Cooking with kids is about feeding hearts as well as bellies, writes Hannah at Wild Parenting.
The Ritual of Mealtimes — Syenna at Gently Parenting Twins writes about the significance of mealtimes in her family’s daily rhythm.
Kid, Meet Food. Food, Kid. — Alburnet at What's Next? panicks about passing on her food "issues" to her offspring.
Growing Up in the Kitchen — Cassie at There's a Pickle in My Life shares how her son is growing up in the kitchen.
Harvesting Corn and History — From Kenna at School Garden Year: The kids in the school garden harvest their corn and learn how much history grows in their food.
My Guiding Principles for Teaching my Child about Food — Tree at Mom Grooves uses these guiding principles to give her daughter a love of good food and an understanding of nutrition as well as to empower her to make the best choices for her body.
Kitchen Control — Amanda at Let's Take the Metro writes about her struggles to relinquish control in the kitchen to her children.
Food — Emma at Your Fonder Heart lets her seven month old teach her how to feed a baby.
Kitchen Fun? — Adrienne at Mommying My Way questions how much fun she can have in a non-functional kitchen, while trying to remain positive about the blessings of cooking for her family.
Kitchen Adventures — Erica at ChildOrganics shares fun ways to connect with your kids in the kitchen.
Kids in the Kitchen: Finding the Right Tools — Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares some of her favorite child-sized kitchen gadgets and where to find them.
The Kitchen Classroom — Laura at Authentic Parenting knows that everything your kids want to learn is at the end of the ladle.
Kids in the Kitchen — Luschka from Diary of a First Child talks about the role of the kitchen in family communication and shares fun kitchen activities for the under two.
Our Kitchen is an Unschooling Classroom. — Terri at Child of the Nature Isle explores the many ways her kitchen has become a rich environment for learning.
Montessori-Inspired Food Preparation for Preschoolers — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares lots of resources for using Montessori food preparation activities for young children in the kitchen.
My Little Healthy Eater — Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares her research on what is the best first food for babies, and includes a healthy and yummy breakfast recipe.
Two Boys and Papa in the Kitchen: Recipe for Disaster? — MudpieMama shares all about her fears, joys and discoveries when the boys and handsome hubby took over the kitchen.
Food choices, Food treats — Henrietta at Angel Wings and Herb Tea shares her family's relationship with food.
learning to eat — Catherine at learner mummy reflects on little M's first adventures with food.
The Night My 7-Year-Old Made Dinner — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! shares how her 7-year-old daughter surprised everyone by turning what started as an idea to play restaurant into pulling off making supper for her family.
Cooking With a High-Needs Toddler — Sylvia at MaMammalia describes how Montessori-inspired activities and a bit of acceptance have helped her overcome hurdles in cooking while caring for a "high-needs" child.
Kids in the Kitchen – teaching healthy food choices — Brenna at Almost All The Truth shares her belief in the importance of getting kids into the kitchen using her favorite cookbook for kids to develop healthy food choices now and hopefully into the future.
Make Milk, Not War — Tamara at Tea for Three remembers the daily food fights as she struggled to feed a picky eater.
teaching baby birds about good food. — Sarah at Small Bird on Fire writes about the ways in which her family chooses to gently teach their son how to make wise food decisions.
5 Ways to Enhance Your Baby or Young Toddler's Relationship with Food — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares simple ways to give your child a healthy beginning to her lifelong relationship with food.
Toddler at the Table: 10 Creative Solutions — Moorea at Mamalady shares tips for preventing meal-time power struggles.
How My Child Takes Responsibility During His Mealtime... — Jenny @ I'm a full-time mummy shares how she teaches and encourages her 32 months old son on adopting good manners and responsibilities during his mealtimes...
Kids in the Kitchen: 6 Tips Plus a Recipe — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings shares six tips for overcoming some of the the difficulties of cooking with multiple young sous chefs, and a recipe they all can agree on!
How BLW has made me a better parent — Zoe at Mummykins shares how baby-led weaning has changed her approach to parenting.
My Budding Chef — Jenny at Chronicles of a Nursing Mom is no cook but is happy that her daughter has shown an inclination and manages to whip up yummy goodies for their family.
Kids in the Kitchen: An Activity for Every Age — Gaby from Tmuffin describes how she keeps her kids busy in the kitchen, whether they are one week old or two years old.
The Phantastically Mutlipurposed Phyllo — Ana at Pandamoly shares how Phyllo is used to create enticing dishes at home! Anything can be made into a Struedel!
Kitchen Kids — Laura from A Pug in the Kitchen shares her children's most favorite recipe to make, experience and eat.
Independence vs. Connection in the Kitchen: won't you please get yourself your own snack already? — Lisa at Organic Baby Atlanta wishes her daughter would just go make a mess in the kitchen. But her daughter only wants to do it together.
Grandma Rose's Kitchen — Abbie at Farmer's Daughter reminisces about her childhood and dreams of filling her kitchen with people, love, noise, and messes.
Healthy Food Choices for Kids — Jorje offers one way to encourage children to make their own healthy food choices at MommaJorje.com.
Cooking food to thrive rather than survive — Phoebe at Little Tinker Tales is trying to foster a lifetime of good food habits by teaching her children about the importance of avoiding junk, cooking healthy meals, and learning about the whole food process.
Evolution of a self-led eater — Sheila at A Gift Universe shares the story of how her son grew from nursing around the clock to eating everything in sight, without her having to push.
10 Ways Tiny Helps In The Kitchen — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama explores the ways in which her toddler actively participates in kitchen-related activities.
The Complexity of Feeding a Child — Feeding children a healthy diet is no straight-forward task, but Lisa at My World Edenwild shares some general guidelines to help your child thrive.
Lactation Cookies — That Mama Gretchen shares a fun recipe that will benefit both mamas and babies!
50 of the Best Books, Websites, & Resources to Inspire Kids in the Kitchen — Need inspiration to get your kids in the kitchen? Dionna at Code Name: Mama rounds up some of the best books and websites that can serve as a source for ideas, recipes, and cooking with littles fun.
A 4-year-old's smoothie recipe — Jen at Grow With Graces and her son set out to make a smoothie without the usual ingredients. She let him improvise. See how it turned out.
Independent Food Preparation (My Toddler Can Do That?) — Megan at Montessori Moments shares simple ways for children to prepare their own healthy snacks.
Follow Your Gut — Amy at Anktangle shares her philosophy about intuitive eating, and how she's trying to foster her son's trust in his own inner wisdom when he feels hungry.
A TODDLER-STYLE LUNCH + RECIPE — Manic Mrs. Stone photographs how to have messy fun during lunchtime with a helpful toddler.

Wireless Connectivity : How to Protect Your Family

2011-11-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Without thinking you reach to make a call on your cell phone, whilst looking up a number on your wireless connected laptop. The radio is playing your favourite tune and there is popcorn popping in the microwave... EMF's (Electro-Magnetic Fields) are a part of our every day life.

Source

We are well aware that the electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phones DOES affect the brain, and that telecommunications masts have been proven to have a deadly affect on wildlife, flora and fauna in their near vicinity. But, have you actually thought about the total affect of EMF's on your family.

Frequencies in your environment from cell phones, telecommunication masts, WiFi, Wimax, or wireless telephone systems may contribute to the following symptoms in yourself and family members: (adapted from EMRRFSA)

Rashes, itching and burning skin
Headaches, dizziness, short-term memory loss
Chronic fatigue, disrupted sleep patterns
Sudden weight loss or increase
Painful kidneys, impaired liver function
Sinusitis, tinnitus,
Heart palpitations,
Shooting muscular pains in arms, neck or legs
Ongoing gastric disturbances,
Altered sugar metabolism,
Swollen lymph nodes
Suppressed immune system

Source

The facts:

Children's brains absorb more radiation.
The World Health Organisation has classified radio-frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
The European Parliament has advised its 47 member states to put in place information and awareness campaigns on the risks of the long-term biological effects of EMF's, especially targeting children, teenagers and young people of reproductive age.
Russia and the Seletun Scientific statement recommends that u18's and pregnant woman do not use cell phones.
Taiwan removed all telecom masts (1500) from or near schools in 2007.
Switzerland and France have removed WiFi from schools and replaced it with fibre-optics.
Schools worldwide have removed WiFi and ensured they are hard wired.
India prohibits the use of children or women in cell phone advertisements.
France has prohibited the use of WiFi in its public libraries and some cities have removed WiFi completely.

Wireless connectivity is unaviodable, but what can we do to limit our families exposure?:

Use the speaker-phone option on your cell phone whenever possible, and keep the phone atleast two feet away from your body.
Do not sleep with your cell phone near your bed.
Do not keep your cell phone on your body at all times.
Change your home back to a hard-wired system. Do away with the wireless router, printer etc.
Do not use a portable home phone - these are a major source of EMF's.
Think twice about living in a home near a telecommunications mast.
Fill your home with house plants, they have been proven to absorb negative electromagnetic energy emmitted from electronics.
Salt lamps are also know for emitting positive ions, counteracting negative electromagnetic energy.
Re-think your wireless baby monitor. They have been proved to emit as much radiation as a cell phone. Search for the old analog baby monitors with long antennas, even these need to be kept 5 or 6 feet away from baby.
Best of all, Create an EMF-free bedroom: Don't bring cell phones, portable phones, wireless routers or computers into the bedroom. Unplug electric devices, such as electric blankets and space hearers, near the bed. Use batter-powered LCD clocks (not LED), keeping them several feet from the body. Keep extension cords or power strips away from the bed. Source

I know I am guilty of letting Jesse talk to gran on the cell phone... I am definitely going to be re-looking at the EMF situation in out household and plan on creating an EMF-Free bedroom. I will report back on its success... the biggest obstacle is talking hubby into not sleeping with the cell phone right next to his bed. What are you doing to protect your family?

This post is linked-up with I Thought I Knew Mama's Green & Natural Thursday's.

Wordless Wednesday : Hello Smiler!

2011-11-02T07:43:00.000-07:00

Photos of Jesse smiling are rare... he is a very happy child, but does not like to smile for the camera.

Here is my angel smiling - still no teeth at 11 months! :)

I love me! : A journey

2011-10-28T00:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the I Love Me! Carnival!

This post was written for inclusion in the I Love Me! Carnival hosted by Amy at Anktangle. This carnival is all about love of self, challenging you to lift yourself up, just for being you.

Please read to the bottom to find a list of submissions from the other carnival participants.

Self-love... Place it into perspective... you love your children, you love your family and you love your husband. Now, is it possible to place the same emotions towards yourself? Do you love yourself? For most of us this is a really difficult emotion to place, and it all boils down to self-respect.

Self-respect is SO important. How do you expect to teach your children self-respect when it is lacking in yourself. How do you teach your daughters to have a healthy self-body image if you don't have one yourself?

With this in mind, I have been on a journey of self discovery and acceptance since the birth of my son 11 months ago. I am still on this journey, however, the words 'I love me' roll off the tongue a little easier these days.

It all started with a quarter life crises. The new mid-life crises. Its a real thing. I had one.

At 25 years of age, I ended a 7 year relationship with my ex-fiancé. I moved from a small town to Johannesburg and started a high-powered and high-paid job in sales. I lost my sense of self and tried to become someone I am not. I spent a year doing things that were totally out of character for me, until I was no longer sure of who I was. I became impulsive, took up smoking and took chances, no longer worrying about consequences. I started a stormy rebound relationship that lasted almost a year. It was a year that left me completely emotionally drained.

I found myself in a dark place, suffering from anxiety attacks on a regular basis and unable to hold my job. My self-confidence was shattered.

With no self-confidence I struggled to make decisions, yet I made a decision to pull myself together. I adopted a cat from the animal shelter and slowly started pulling my life back in order. I was quiet and kept to myself. I constantly doubted myself and my abilities. I also took on a new job that kept me very busy. Too busy in fact, I only lasted 6 months of their insane workload and three hour travel time there and back. I then took on a teaching position which made me very happy. This was the beginning of my healing process.

My now husband and I started dating (we knew each other from school) and I shortly fell pregnant. My son literally saved my life. He gave me a reason to live when I had lost all hope. I have spent the past year pulling myself out of the dark hole I had fallen into and dusting myself off... regaining my former self-respect on a journey until I can once again say : I love me!

I have learnt a few things on this journey and here are a few pointers I can share for fostering self-respect in oneself:

Count your blessings. So clichéd, I know. But it seriously works. Try writing them down or taking a mental note of them each day. I have spent each day of the last 11 months marvelling at the miracle that is my son and am so very thankful that he has graced my life.
Be true to yourself. I have found the easiest way to find your self-respect again is to be true to yourself. Live your life in a way which is true to your ideals and goals. I am a nurturer and was born to be a mother. I am not a career driven person, and a corporate environment merely put me under intense strain that caused all sorts of symptoms such as anxiety and a run-down immune system.
Be true to your parenting ideals. I have, thankfully, found my parenting niche in a mixture of natural parenting and attachment parenting. I deal with opposing parenting styles on a daily basis from family and friends but my confidence has grown in my own parenting skills. Plus I have a very healthy and happy little boy who is a testament to this parenting philosophy.
Box those unhappy thoughts. A few 'bad' things have happened in my life that have left little scars. I found myself dwelling on them which in turn lead me to eat boxes of chocolates. I now box those thoughts. I mentally visualise the 'bad' incidences being placed in a box with a lock in the back of my mind and force myself not to think of them again. In the beginning it was difficult and it required constant attention to not think about the incidences. It has, over time, become easier and easier. Now I hardly ever find those thoughts coming to mind.
Look after your health, eat healthily and exercise. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind. A healthy mind leads to better relationships, better parenting and an easier life. The link between depression and bad eating habits is profound... make a decision today to add more fruit and vegetables to your diet and cut out sugar. Depression feeds on sugar.
Decide what is important in your life. I literally sat down and wrote a list of what was important to me. I decided that material objects and monetary gain were not the most important thing in my life. To stay at home with my son, give him a warm and loving home and a natural education were important, and I am living every day trying to live up to this decision.
Delight in the small things in life and celebrate them. I make a really big deal out of small things now. Like ten minutes to enjoy a cup of tea and a magazine, or the arrival of my sons all-natural bum cream in the post. These things make me really excited now.

Its hard work and requires constant attention but it is possible. The turn-around I have had in attitude in just the last year is astonishing. It boils down to making a decision every day... you can be happy or miserable... it's up to you. I chose to try be happy. Eventually my emotions caught up with my decisions.

Once you have self-respect, others find it easier to respect you. Life becomes easier. Make the decision.

Thank you for reading this post from the I Love Me! Carnival. Please take some time to read the contributions from theother carnival participants:

(This list will be updated by the afternoon of October 28th with all the carnival links.)

The Art of Being Thoughtful – Becky at Old New Legacy likes that she is mostly thoughtful but wants to become more thoughtful. She shares a story that demonstrates that giving gifts doesn't have to be expensive.
I love me (and running)! – Sheryl of Little Snowflakes writes about her new love of running and how it has helped her learn to love herself!
For the Love of Moe – Valerie at Momma in Progress shares her thoughts on a body forever changed, but forever loved.
Where I Find My Worth – Sarah at Parenting God's Children shares how finding her worth in worldly things always falls short.
Oh Yeah, I'm Cool – Tree at Mom Grooves shares her very favorite gift and the thing she most wants to pass on to her daughter.
Loving – Rosemary at Rosmarinus Officinalis talks about some of the things she loves about herself - some easily, and some by choice for the sake of healing.
caught in a landslide – jaqbuncad of wakey wakey, eggs and bakey! shares a list of reasons why zie loves hir body.
I Love Me! - A Rampage of Appreciation! – Terri at Child of the Nature Isle stops waiting for anyone else to tell her she is wonderful and goes on a rampage of appreciation for herself!
Raising Healthy Daughters – In a guest post at Natural Parents Network, Kate Wicker offers tips to pass on a healthy self-image to the young ladies in our care.
Unexpected Benefits of a Healthy Pregnancy – How does it feel to have a healthy pregnancy? Dionna at Code Name: Mama discovers that making positive choices can be empowering.
Filling Up Our Watering Cans – Nada at miniMOMist believes that practicing Sabbath is the same as being a gardener who lovingly tends to the flowers in her garden. She needs to fill up her watering can first.
Better Body by Baby – Jess from Mama 'Roo and Family Too! shares how having her first baby makes her feel even more beautiful and confident about her body than ever before.
These Breasts Were Made for Nursing – Becoming a mother helped Mandy from Living Peacefully with Children to embrace her womanhood and improve her self image.
Yeah, I'm Pretty Cool – Amanda at Let's Take the Metro writes about her own self love and how she hopes to foster the same self-respect in her children.
Who I've Become – The future is bright with That Mama Gretchen who shares her past and present perspective on body image and how she hopes to become a change agent with her daughter.
Ever-Evolving Me – Joella at Fine and Fair writes to her daughter about her innate drive to continue learning, growing, and evolving.
I love you for your mind – Lauren at Hobo Mama turns a dubious phrase on its head with a little self-loving slam poetry.
Stop Think of Love with Your Body – Amy of Peace 4 Parents shares an exercise to gradually transition from hating to loving your body - stretch marks, sags, imperfections, and all.
I Love Me! – Jenny @ I'm a full-time mummy shares the things that she loves about herself!
First, I'm Superwoman. Later, I'm Supperwoman – Patti @ Jazzy Mama explains how she loves taking care of her amazing body. It birthed 4 children, after all!
Baby Strikes A Pose – Emma from Your Fonder Heart writes about her family's decision not to let their 7 month old model, and uses the opportunity to think more deeply about girls (young and old) and how they determine their self-worth.
Love Your Tree – How do you picture the ways your body and mind change? Amy at Anktangle writes about how trees help her have perspective about her own growth over time.
Pumpkin Butt – Zoie at TouchstoneZ writes about how birth and pumpkins are the way to accepting her body
I do love me – Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about the lessons about loving herself she wants to pass along to her daughter.
Appreciating Who I Am – Linni at An Unschooling Adventure describes the things she likes about herself and the way she appreciates who she is as a person.
I love me! : A journey – Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares her journey on arriving at the point where she can say: I love me!
My Daughter Doesn't Care So Why Should I? – Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama calls herself on the carpet for the image of self love and beauty she portrays in front of her toddler.
Finding out who I am – Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares an exercise that helped her identify positive qualities she possesses, and how that has helped her learn to love herself.

Wordless Wednesday : Water Baby

2011-10-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

We are experiencing a heat wave here in the north of South Africa... and the best way to get through it is by playing with water. Here Jesse is exploring the hose pipe and bird bath :)

The Natural Approach to Weaning (Child-led Weaning) & The Conclusion of My Starting Solids Series

2011-10-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have very strong feelings when it comes to weaning a baby. I am a supporter of extended breastfeeding and believe that a child benefits both physically as well as psychologically.

Lets first look at the physical benefits of breastfeeding until your child weans himself; the best thing you can do for your child is breastfeed, if you have a choice it should be breast-milk all the way. Check out this fascinating list of ingredients in formula vs breastmilk and it is clear why breast-milk is the far far superior choice Breast-milk has all the nutrients and calories a baby requires up till at least two years of age. Any solids before this age are just for experimentation and exploration. (Read more in my post on when to start solids here) To wean a child before this age runs the risk of omitting valuable nutrients from of his diet. For one, your child is at a higher risk of anaemia. It is very difficult for a child to eat the required quantity (and to efficiently digest the required quantity) of green vegetables or liver (if you allow your small child to consume animal products) to obtain the required amounts of iron. In fact, nearly 80% of children under the age of 5 are anaemic. Iron supplementation is dangerous and should be avoided if possible - see more on my post regarding supplementation.

The psychological benefits of extended breastfeeding are just as, if not more, important. Nursing is a source of comfort that is difficult to replace... indeed there are commercial pacifiers available but why let your child suck on a piece of plastic when nursing is possible?

Snacking on Apple ~ Main Course: Breastmilk :)

An intresting read is Dr Katherine Dettwyler's paper on the natural age of weaning. She suggests that we look at our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, primates, for tips on when to expect weaning to take place. Do yourself a favour and read it, it will quiet any qualms you may have over extended breastfeeding.

For fear of re-inventing the wheel, I will not delve any deeper into the topic of weaning. I am no expert as my son is very much still nursing and it will be years still until I have to deal with this. I merely will direct you to an outstanding site with loads of information on the topic of weaning : Weaning at Kellymom.

This is the last post in my series on starting solids. Please find links to the other posts in this series below:

When is the right time to start baby on solids?

Best first food for baby.

Now that we have started solids, how much? And how often? Subtitled: Our journey with baby-led weaning.

Should you supplement your child's diet?

Have you experienced child-led weaning? Please do let me know your thoughts and link up any posts in the comments below.

Wordless Wednesday : Outside Play

2011-10-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

Jesse would be outside all day if given the choice. Only problem is... he ends up eating a pile of leaves and sticks.

A new Quest on Organization

2011-10-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Since leaving the corporate world and becoming at stay-at-home mom, my time management skills have completely evaporated. Resulting in me bumbling around the house all day, trying to do a million things at once, and not really getting anything done.

With this in mind, I have started a new quest to get more organized.

First things first, I needed to drastically re-look at the way I handle the cleaning of my house. This is my worst. Although I love a clean house, I would rather do anything else than clean it. Thankfully, we share a cleaning lady with the main house on the farm. She comes in every day to sweep the floors, and do the ironing. She also cleans the bathrooms once a week, and cleans the windows every month. This is a big help, but there is still a lot that is left up to me to do.

With the help from a few of my favourite organizational and cleaning websites, I have drawn up the following schedule. I have formulated it as a check-list, which I have laminated and stuck to the fridge. That way I can tick off what I have done daily, or weekly etc and see what still needs to be done. This check-list was particularly inspired by a post on I Heart Organizing where she shares her personal cleaning plan.

I suffer from the perfectionist outlook that if I am going to do something, then it has to be done properly. With this in mind I formulated my cleaning check-list, with what needs to be done on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. I used The Linen Cupboards list of cleaning tasks as a reminder of what needs to be done, as well as Martha Stewart's website.

My cleaning schedule is as follows, I have also included links on how best to perform the tasks - as I said, if I'm going to do something, I might as well do it properly.

Daily:
Wash dishes, pack away and shine sink - how to do it properly, includes tips for loading dishwashers.
Wipe kitchen counters and mop kitchen floor
Clean bathroom counters
Do laundry and put away clothes - Both Martha Stewart and The Linen Cupboard both have great advice for doing laundry.

Source: Pinterest, originally pinned by Organic Mama from website : A glimpse of the girl next door.

Ironing - all about ironing
Full house pick up and tidy
Make beds - how to make the perfect bed
Clear and re-set dining table

Source: Celebrate the Rhythm of Life - Rhythm ~ Waldorf Style

Sweep / Vacuum entire house.

Weekly:
Dust surfaces
Clean toilets, baths, showers and scrub grout
Mop floors
Scrub garbage bin
Wipe out fridge and other kitchen appliances.
Clean dish rack
Change bed linen
Organize and file mail
Vacuum under and behind furniture
Wash windows and mirrors
Wash cars
Meal plan and grocery shopping
Clean stove-top

Monthly:
Clean out the washing machine and dishwasher - how to clean a dishwasher and how to clean a washing machine.
Vacuum and clean upholstery
Dust ceiling fans and books
Clean oven - Don't be tempted to use commercial oven cleaners - they are laden with toxic chemicals. Here is an excerpt from The Linen Cupboard where she tells you how to clean an oven with lemons and bicarbonate of soda:

The alternative is simply using bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) or lemons - much healthier. If you have a lot of hard caked spills in the oven, try using an oven proof bowl containing lemon wedges covered with water, and place in the oven at 100 C for 20 to 30 minutes. This should help soften some of the grease. Alternatively lightly spray the entire oven with water, the sprinkle bicarbonate of soda liberally over the base of the oven and spray lightly with water again. Leave to sit overnight, and don't turn the oven on. By morning the grease and burnt spills should be soft enough to wipe away. Tougher bits can be removed with a palette knife or steel wool. Repeat the process if necessary.

Wipe switch plates, walls, door handles and phones
Clean mattress and rotate
Clean mattress and pillow protectors as well as the night frill
Wash hair and make-up brushes
Flush drains with vinegar, boiling water and bicarbonate of soda
De-scale coffee maker and kettle etc.
Clean out vacuum cleaner
Dust and wipe indoor and outdoor ceilings - our ceilings are thatch and seem to collect cobwebs and dust.
Wipe curtain pelmets

Quarterly:
Recycle magazines
Polish furniture
Clean light fittings and lamp shades
Clean out the garage
Clean the braai (BBQ)
Clean out and scrub grocery cupboard

Annually:
Clean out the closet
Shampoo carpets and upholstery
Clean out cabinets and drawers
Clean curtains

This list may seem a bit OTT, but, I do believe that daily maintenance is the key to a clean and comfortable home. One week in, and my schedule seems to be going well. I definitely feel more in top of things, and less overwhelmed.

Please do share your cleaning tips and / or schedule. I love to hear from you.

Wordless Wednesday : Obsession with Wheels

2011-10-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

Overcoming My Fear Of All Things Financial

2011-10-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the October Carnival of Natural Parenting: Money Matters
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared how finances affect their parenting choices. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***
Money... just the utterance of the word fills me with dread and makes me feel sick to my stomach. I have had so many bad experiences with money, all the result of ignorance on my part. The dread goes back to my childhood where money was a constant source of tension between my parents, neither of them had much experience of how to run personal finances.

Of course when I left school and started working I thought I knew better, when I received my first pay check everyone said I must start saving straight away but there was always something that needed to be urgently bought. The result was that after working for ten years, and climbing the corporate ladder relatively successfully, I merely ended up with a lifestyle I couldn't afford and a list of debt I couldn't get rid of.

The pressure got to me and I left my high powered job as a project manager to go back to my love of children and teaching. Shortly after making this decision I fell pregnant with Jesse. Jesse's dad, my now husband, was a student at the time finishing off his diploma in nature conservation. The school unfortunately did not renew my contract when they found out I was expecting and the pressure was on my husband to find a job that paid well. We both felt it was important that he worked in the field that he loved, even though it is notoriously underpaid.

Source: Pinterest, pinned by Chantal Mullens from website: www.Johner.com

This year has been a trying year financially, as we try to pay off my accumulated debt, the medical bills from Jesse's birth (there is always something that medical aid doesn't pay for) and get by day to day. I opted to stay at home with Jesse, a virtually unheard of decision in South Africa where labour is cheap and a nanny could be hired for a very small salary per month. However, staying at home with Jesse is something that is very important to me, and my husband agreed that we should try to make it work.

Being a Mom, one suddenly has to become a responsible adult. Where every decision you make not only impacts yourself but the future of your children. It is now even more critical that we deal with our debt and start saving for the future. I want to make sure that I can send Jesse to university one day, if he so wishes. Jesse has also taught me to delight in the small things in life. Not every experience needs to cost a bundle. His favourite toys, for instance, are shells and magnets.

I have had to put drastic changes in place to ensure we have a better future, financially. Some of them include:

I have started the envelope system, which works well. Basically if you haven't budgeted for it, and don't have the physical money for it then don't buy it. You also get to make these really cute fabric envelopes from Just Imagine Heaven.

Source: Pinterest, pinned by Kiersten Steck from website: Just Imagine Heaven

I plan a weekly menu and write a grocery list, I also never go grocery shopping when I am hungry as otherwise I am bound to buy junk.
You can get by living day-to-day on a very small budget as long as:

You make all meals from scratch and eat simple, whole foods.
Do not buy snacks (Popcorn is a good snack as it is affordable)
Leave eating out for special treats only.
Buy baby clothes from the most reasonable shops... they only last three months anyway before he grows out of them. Or buy used clothing.
Use cloth nappies (diapers)
There are very few baby gadgets that are necessary (another post for another day)
Use natural, home-made cleaning products.

My accumulation of debt boils down to ignorance about financial planning and a fear of money. The best way to deal with a fear of money is to deal with your finances on a daily basis. Draw up a budget, look at your bank account every day, draw up a checklist of bills to pay and work out a payment roster. Contact creditors and let them know when you expect to settle your account.

My financial learning experience is an on-going event, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

***
Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:
(This list will be live and updated by afternoon October 11 with all the carnival links.)

Money Matter$ — Jenny at I'm a full-time mummy shares her experiences on several ways to save money as a parent.
A different kind of life... — Mrs Green from Little Green Blog shares her utopian life and how it differs from her current one!
Show Me The Money! — Arpita of Up, Down & Natural shares her experience of planning for parenting costs while also balancing the financial aspect of infertility treatments.
Material v Spiritual Wealth - Living a Very Frugal Life with Kids — Amy at Peace 4 Parents shares her family's realizations about the differences between material and spiritual wealth.
If I Had a Money Tree — Sheila at A Gift Universe lists the things she would buy for her children if money were no object.
Financial Sacrifices, Budgets, and the Single Income Family — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama looks at the importance of living within your means, the basics of crafting a budget, and the "real cost" of working outside of the home.
Overcoming My Fear of All Things Financial — Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares how she is currently overcoming her fear of money and trying to rectify her ignorance of all things financial.
Confessions of a Cheapskate — Adrienne at Mommying My Way admits that her cheapskate tendencies that were present pre-motherhood only compounded post-baby.
Money Matters — Witch Mom hates money; here's why.
Money? What Money?! — Alicia C. at McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts describes how decisions she's made have resulted in little income, yet a green lifestyle for her and her family.
What matters. — Laura at Our Messy Messy Life might worry about spending too much money on the grocery budget, but she will not sacrifice quality to save a dollar.
Making Ends Meet — Abbie at Farmer's Daughter shares about being a working mom and natural parent.
Poor People, Wealthy Ways — Sylvia at MaMammalia discusses how existing on very little money allows her to set an example of how to live conscientiously and with love.
The Green Stuff — Amyables at Toddler In Tow shares how natural parenting has bettered her budget - and her perspective on creating and mothering.
Jemma's Money — Take a sneak peek at That Mama Gretchen's monthly budget and how Jemma fits into it.
5 Tips for How to Save Time and Money by Eating Healthier — Family meal prep can be expensive and time-consuming without a plan! Dionna at Code Name: Mama shares five easy tips for how to make your cooking life (and budget) easier.
Belonging in the Countryside — Lack of money led Phoebe at Little Tinker Tales towards natural parenting, but it also hinders her from realizing her dream.
Total Disclosure and Total Reform — Claire at The Adventures of Lactating Girl gets down to the nitty gritty of her money problems with hopes that you all can help her get her budget under control.
Save Money by Using What You Have — Gaby at Tmuffin is only good with money because she's lazy, has trouble throwing things away, and is indecisive. Here are some money-saving tips that helped her manage to quit her job and save enough money to become a WAHM.
Two Hippos & Ten Euros: A Lesson in Budgeting — MudpieMama shares all about how her boys managed a tight budget at a recent zoo outing.
ABBA said it — Laura from A Pug in the Kitchen ponders where her family has come from, where they are now and her hopes for her children's financial future.
Money vs. Time — Momma Jorje writes about cutting back on junk, bills, and then ultimately on income as well ~ to gain something of greater value: Time.
An Unexpected Cost of Parenting — Moorea at MamaLady shares how medical crises changed how she feels about planning for parenthood.
5 Ways This Stay at Home Mom Saves Money — Charise at I Thought I Knew Mama shares 5 self-imposed guidelines that help her spend as little money as possible.
Frugal Parenting — Lisa at My World Edenwild shares 8 ways she saves money and enriches her family's lives at the same time.
Conscious Cash Conscious — Zoie at TouchstoneZ shares her 5 money-conscious considerations that balance her family’s joy with their eco-friendly ideals.
Money, Sex and Having it All — Patti at Jazzy Mama explains how she's willing to give up one thing to get another. (And just for fun, she pretends to give advice on how to build capital in the bedroom.)
Money could buy me ... a clone? — With no local family to help out, Jessica Claire at Crunchy-Chewy Mama wants childcare so she can take care of her health.
Spending Intentionally — CatholicMommy loves to budget! Join her to learn what to buy, what not to buy, and, most importantly, where to buy.
New lessons from an allowance — Lauren at Hobo Mama welcomes a follow-up guest post from Sam about the latest lessons their four-year-old's learned from having his own spending money.
How to Homeschool without Spending a Fortune — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares tips and links to many resources for saving money while homeschooling from preschool through high school.
It's Not a Baby Crisis. It's Not Even a Professional Crisis. — Why paid maternity leave, you may ask? Rachael at The Variegated Life has some answers.
"Making" Money — Do you like to do-it-yourself? Amy at Anktangle uses her crafty skills to save her family money and live a little greener.
Money On My Mind — Luschka at Diary of a First Child has been thinking about money and her relationship with it, specifically how it impacts on her parenting, her parenting choices, and ultimately her lifestyle.
Spending, Saving, and Finding a Balance — Melissa at The New Mommy Files discusses the various choices she and her family have made that affect their finances, and finds it all to be worth it in the end.
Accounting for Taste — Cassie at There's a Pickle in My Life shares their budget and talks about how they decided food is the most important item to budget for.
Money Matters... But Not Too Much — Mamapoekie at Authentic Parenting shares how her family approaches money without putting too much of a focus onto it.
Parenting While Owning a Home Business — In a guest post at Natural Parents Network, Lauren at Hobo Mama lays out the pros and cons of balancing parenting with working from home.
Crunchy Living is SO Expensive...Or Is It? — Kelly at Becoming Crunchy talks about her biggest objection to natural living - and her surprise at what she learned.
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems — Sarah at Parenting God's Children shares how a financial accountability partner changed her family's finances.
The Importance of Food Planning — Amanda at Let's Take the Metro discusses how food budgeting and planning has helped her, even if she doesn't always do it.
Kids & Money: Starting an Allowance for Preschoolers — Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings discusses her family's approach and experiences with starting an allowance for preschoolers.

Do It Yourself : Really Simple Candle Holder / Centrepiece

2011-10-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Recently, we attended my brother-in-laws wedding. Read all about it here. The décor was especially cute for an African themed wedding, held in the bush. Each table had this really cute candle holder that the groom whipped up the morning of.

Wedding tables with drift wood candle holders.

I fell in love with them, and when we got home decided to make one for my dining room table. Here's how I did it...

First off, you need an attractive piece of wood. We saved this piece off the firewood pile. Drift wood collected off the coast would work even better.

Then, rope in a handy helper and his side-kick to nail three (or more) tiny nails into the wood at even intervals. Easy enough to do yourself, except I chose a piece of Leadwood, hardest wood in Africa... needed some extra muscle to get those nails in.

Place three candles on the nails, piercing them slowly so as not to split the candle. If your nails are too large the candle will split. Tea light candles worked well.

Et viola!

Should You Supplement Your Child's Diet?

2011-10-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Not long ago, I was a firm disbeliever in supplements. I thought they were all part of a money making racket, and made up of cheap fillers that made no real difference to your health. I believed that eating a healthy diet of whole foods would meet your bodies nutritional requirements. That was until I had a health scare myself. Many tests were run, but the results that stuck in my head were those that illustrated how deficient in vital vitamins I was. It was shocking.

Since then I have been researching vitamins and other supplements and how best to get what your body requires. First and foremost you need a varied diet of whole foods, plenty of fruit and vegetables and a good source of essential fats such as Chia seeds. Over and above this, due to the way in which fruit and vegetables are grown these days with an abundance of pesticides and only chemically replicated fertilisers, supplements are vital. Our food is just not as nutritious as days gone by.

Source: Pinterest, pinned by Ocyawlil Yram from website Shape.com

I found that Patrick Holford's books have some of the best information out there concerning what you should be taking, why, and the repercussions of being deficient. He shares plenty of studies showing the improvement of health and wellness after starting a supplement regimen.

So... is it necessary to supplement your child? In a word, yes, it definitely is. But, if your child still gets the bulk of his nutrients / calories from breastmilk then it is unnecessary to supplement him. It is, however, imperative, to ensure that you are taking the correct supplements.

Lets start off with what a breastfeeding mother should be taking to ensure her milk is as nutritious as possible for a growing baby (Again, this is according to my research, I welcome comments on whether you disagree or think I have left something off the list)

A good multivitamin and multi-mineral
You really get what you pay for with multivitamins, the cheaper the supplement generally the more laden it is with cheap fillers and un-absorbable nutrients. I have found that among the best are the Patrick Holford range and the Solal Technologies range. It is crucial that your take a multivitamin and mineral daily, especially if you are taking any other vitamins such as Vitamin C, as you can upset the very delicate balance that is your body and make yourself deficient.
A good pro-biotic
Due to the modern diet our guts are in a shocking state. Most modern day foods strip the gut of precious bacterial enzymes, allowing the bad bacteria to flourish resulting in all sorts of complaints from irritable bowel syndrome to thrush. Also, people don't realise that a lot of the bacteria that should be in your gut to help with digestion and produce vitamins such as B12, only stick around for a couple of days and then pass through. It is important to keep replacing these bacteria, and if you are not doing so by eating fermented foods daily and adhering to a very healthy diet then taking a pro-biotic is crucial.
An Omega supplement including GLA (Omega 6), DHA and EPA (Omega 3)
I cannot begin to stress how important fats are for yourself and for your babies growing brain. The brain is mostly made up of essential fatty acids. If you are deficient in fats, it affects your IQ, period. With the modern day diet most of us have a high intake of bad fats, such as saturated fat (fried foods) and a deficiency in essential fats that are found in nuts, seeds and Avocado's. Taking an omega supplement which includes things like salmon oil, flaxseed oil and borage oil helps to keep the brain functioning at an optimal level, also improving things like concentration and mood.
A high dose Vitamin C or Anti-oxidant supplement
Due to the fact that Vitamin C is a water soluble nutrient it is impossible to overdose on it. Taking a high dose vitamin C supplement daily helps to keep your immune system functioning at an optimum level, as well as helping your body fight off baddies such as pollution, heavy metals and pesticides.
Vitamin B complex with folic acid
Vitamin B is essential for keeping up a nursing mothers strength. It is also vital for your babies growth and development. We know how important it is to supplement with folic acid whilst pregnant but it is just as important to do so whilst nursing, it is essential for brain and nerve function.
Garlic oil
There has been much research on the effects of garlic on the immune system and all agree that it has wonderful healing properties. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is antifungal. This supplement is relatively affordable, and I cannot come up with a reason not to take it.
A 'green' powder such as Aim's Barleylife
Getting the required amount of green vegetables in our diet nowadays is almost impossible. A green powder supplement is generally made from dehydrated barley grass, and is jam-packed full of nourishment as well as fantastic anti-cancer properties. It is worth looking at a green powder that also contains seaweed, especially Spirulina.

Source: Pinterest, pinned by Felicity Humblestone from website The Costa Rica News

Once your child is getting the bulk of his nutrients from solid food, you need to start supplementing him. His daily supplement schedule should look something like this.

A good multivitamin and multi-mineral
Again, you get what you pay for with multivitamins and minerals. Most brands have a kid friendly chewable option which makes your life easier. Straight away your mind can rest at ease whilst your child receives the majority of essential nutrients.
A vitamin C supplement
Unfortunately most multivitamins do not contain enough vitamin C, magnesium or calcium, especially kids supplements as vitamin C makes them taste unpleasant and magnesium counteracts the chewiness. It is possible to get a chewable vitamin C that uses calcium / magnesium ascorbate and zinc in drop form, also for adding to drinks and this kills three birds with one stone.
A good pro-biotic
You will be amazed at the difference taking a pro-biotic daily will make to your child's disposition. A happy tummy makes for a happy baby. I have found that the liquid pro-biotics are the easiest to dispense to small children. Simply add them to a beverage or give it to them with a dropper if they will allow that.
A Omega supplement including GLA (Omega 6), DHA and EPA (Omega 3)
So, so, SO important for growing brains. If your family does not already have a high intake of nuts and seeds you will see a drastic improvement in concentration and motor skills in your child in only a couple of days.
Soya lecithin granules
A good source of choline and phospholipids which are essential for brain development. Sprinkle a tablespoon on your childs cereal in the mornings or on any other meal.
Vitamin D
This is a fat soluble vitamin. Prime food sources of this vitamin are egg yolk and fish. An egg only supplies 6% of the RDA and fish doesn't do much better. A good source is sunshine, but if you live in a temperament climate, supplementation is essential.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin which is only stored in the body for a short time. Higher vitamin K intake seems to correspond to greater bone density. Without enough Vitamin K, cavities in teeth, stunted growth and facial deformities can occur, as can gastro-intestinal bleeding and easy bruising.
Ionic iron
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in our society. Iron deficiency is also the most common deficiency in children below the age of 5 due to fussy eating and early weaning. However, iron toxicity can be serious, so you need to be careful about supplementing. Ionic iron is the best supplemental iron because of the absorption rate. Ionic minerals have molecule clusters that are small enough to be fully utilised by the body. For a vegan child, as my child will be until the age of 4 or 5, four teaspoons of ionic iron per day is sufficient.
Vitamin B12 spray
This is a water-soluble vitamin. Bacterial enzymes within our colon produce vitamin B12, but we cant absorb it at that site - we absorb it in the small intestine. This means its highly unlikely that we use the vitamin B12 that is created inside us. It is available in seaweed and in dairy products and eggs. If you, like me are worried about an allergy to egg and are waiting till your child is older to feed him egg then supplementation is vital. The best B12 supplements are those administered sub-lingually (beneath the tongue) for optimum absorption.

With this list you can rest assured that your child is one step closer to perfect health. As I have said before, this is according to my research. Please let me know if you think I have left anything out.

A note on RDA's (Recommended Daily Allowance), these are set as the minimum amount of each nutrient one should be consuming on a day, and not the maximum amount. Therefore, it is best to over supplement than to under-supplement. I have found Patrick Holford's books have the best information on RDA's as well as Evie's Kitchen by Shazzie .

Wordless Wednesday : The Start of a Snack Station

2011-10-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

At the 'snack station' / coffee table enjoying an apple and a few sunflower seeds.

This child just loves apple.

Sunflower seeds provide hours {minutes} of entertainment, practice of the pincer grasp, and essential fats if he manages to swallow any.

While I aspire to eventually have a set-up like Embrita Blogging or The New Mommy Files , for now, and because Jess is still so young and would just empty everything on to the floor, I simply place a few snacks on the coffee table in our living room. It is the perfect height for him to practise his standing, and he has begun the habit of popping past for a snack whenever he feels like it. It is more out of novelty and inquisitiveness than hunger. He still doesn't swallow much, and is very much on breastmilk.

Letters to Littles : A Few of your Favourite Things

2011-10-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

Pleased to be participating in Letters to Littles : A Monthly Letter Project to our Kids, along with Zoie at Touchstonez

To my darling Jesse baby

You are now 10 months old... I get a hollow feeling in my stomach when I think you will be one year old in less than two months time. Where has the time gone? You are continuing to be more and more of a delight to parent as you slowly become more independent. You manage to spend nearly 20 minutes at a time playing and fiddling with toys, and anything else you can find, while I sit nearby.

To read more please click here

Potato and Butternut Bake

2011-10-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

This recipe serves eight. Perfect for braai’s (BBQ's).

Ingredients

500 ml milk
250 ml cream
750 g potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
750 g butternut, peeled and thinly sliced
A cup of grated cheese
2 tsp crushed garlic
1 Packet Brown Onion Soup Mix

Simmer the milk, cream and garlic for a few minutes but be careful notto boil the sauce. Add the soup mix and stir.

Grease a large ovenproof dish and alternate layers of potato andbutternut with the white sauce, finishing off with a layer of white sauce.

Sprinkle with grated cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 180º C for 1,5hours. Remove the foil and then bake for a further 15 to 20 minutes or untilthe cheese is golden.

Wedding in the African Bush

2011-10-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

The reason I have been so intermittent with blog posts recently is due to two reasons... 1. Im not very organised, and 2. I have been travelling.

My husband took a very rare weeks leave from work to attend his brothers wedding. His brother and fiance are also in nature conservation and work near Hoodspruit. With their love of animals and nature they decided to have a true bush wedding, getting married in a private park called Marloth in Mpumalanga. My in-laws live in the private park, and the ceremony was held at a friend of theirs house. The reception was held at the local restaurant, aptly named Die Watergat. Marloth Park is on the border of Kruger National Park, and although it does not have any 'big' game, you can have sightings of lion etc from the border. In fact, on their wedding day the groom and his best men went for a walk along the border which looks on to the Crocodile river and they were lucky enough to witness a lion kill. They took it as a sign of good luck.

It was a beautiful wedding, they are both young (seems to be a new trend at the moment: getting married young?) and their love is awe inspiring. A beautiful ceremony that was non-denominational but with hints of Catholicism - the bride is Catholic, and it was important for her to have Communion. I walked away with renewed hope in the ancient custom called marriage.

Both the bride and groom had spent months in preparation, both being equally involved in decision making and decor. I found this so refreshing, so many weddings nowadays are left up to the bride to plan. A cute addition was their wedding favours... both the bride and grooms names start with M, so they gifted their guests with an aptly named, Mozambican beer called 2M (Duojem (Spelling?) is Portuguese). Luckily the Mozamican border is less than an hour from Marloth Park and so crates of the beer were easily attainable.

We spent the week helping with preparations and it was a great time to catch up with my husbands side of the family. We all live scattered across South Africa and only seem to see each other at special occasions, which is such a pity. The evening before the wedding we had a braai (BBQ) with over 300 prawns - deliciously juicy Mozambican prawns - what a feast!

All in all we had a wonderful time.