Inspiring, Motivating and Keeping it Green!
Summer Time is Smoothie Time.
Summer Time is Smoothie Time is our home and now that my Son is older and LOVES helping out in the kitchen, it is also a great activity for him to learn about how food is prepared and where it comes from.
This morning we whipped up an awesome yummy Almond Milk Smoothie with kale from our garden upstate NY, mint from our apartment grown plant in the city, almond butter and sea salt.
To reduce consuming toxins in our family we only use organic ingredients.
WHAT YOU NEED
- 2 cups of shredded frozen kale
- 3 cups of ice cubes
- 2 cups of almond milk
- 1 teaspoon of almond butter
- 4 sprigs of fresh mint
- sprinkle of sea salt
WHAT TO DO
- Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth
- Serve straight away
What about you, what’s your favorite Smoothie Recipe?
Miles Storm helping me make a kale, mint, almond smoothie this morning.
Erba Vita, what a find. Think Green. Live Green.
A few weeks back I was excited to receive a package of supplements for myself and my little boy from Italy’s 30-years-strong leading brand in herbal medical – Erba Vita. I will be honest when I write that I had never heard of Erba Vita before, but I know all about Erba Vita now and I am happy to share their inspirational vibe with you.
Erba Vita is available in over 30 countries being very popular in Europe, providing high-quality NON-GMO natural health products made with raw materials to millions of people. Erba Vita products also lack artificial colors, dairy, lactose, soy, eggs, fish, nuts or yeast and are rigorously tested for quality, safety and efficacy. Pretty amazing right? Especially if you take a moment to consider what goes into our mainstream medicines these days.
Sleep – Where I live, the traffic outside is so loud that even after living in New York City for 10 years I still have to put ear plugs in at night to have peace. I also usually wake up once or twice during the night! I hate this as being a Mum and on-the-go all day the last thing I want is to be sleep deprived the next morning. I really love my sleep and need every second I can get. Thankfully, this has not happened since I started taking the Erba Vita Sleep supplement which is a combination of Melatonin, California Poppy and Griffonia (native African shrub). I take one a night, and wake up feeling refreshed and not groggy (which is a big downside to a lot of the other sleep supplements available). I highly recommend this product.
Happy Mood and No Stress – Well who doesn’t want to be happy all the time and not be stressed out? I actually have not tried these products personally YET but if things get a little crazy around here, I surely will be! The No Stress product contains Siberian Ginseng and is meant to help with relaxation, while the Happy Mood product contains St John’s Wort and helps with obtaining feelings of well-being. I take away from this that the Happy Mood supplement is helpful if you are feeling depressed, and the No Stress supplement is great if something suddenly happens helping to keep you calm.
Love the concept of the 4Slim Detox Water Bottle Caps
4Slim Detox – This is a Genius product for sure. Each box contains 20 active caps which you can add-on the top of a 500 ml water bottle, release the contents of the cap into the water and drink it throughout the day. I love this concept, which helps to rid your body of toxins while supporting healthy weight loss.
Yep, we have another winner! I will definitely be keeping a stock of these little guys in my pantry.
As my Son is not yet 3 years of age, and the Children’s Erba Vita products we have in our home are for Little People over 4 years of age, it will be quite awhile before we get to try them out.
However, I already know that for me and my family Erba Vita is a big YES YES YES just because many of the medicines/supplements, especially for children in the USA, contain so many nasty synthetic ingredients. I so much prefer a natural holistic approach as a first choice in any situation.
In the USA you can buy Erba Vita products online at Amazon
Thanks for reading my BLOG!
Collection of received products Propolis Children’s Syrup & Throat Spray, Immum Kids, Throaty Kids, Detox Active Caps, No Stress, Happy Mood and Sleep Supplements
Raw Dark Chocolate Unpasteurized Goat Milk Ice-Cream
Ice-Cream, Ice-Cream we all scream for Ice-Cream
With Summer fast approaching here in the Northern Hemisphere, that can only mean one thing – it’s time for children to eat a busload of ice-cream! However, concerns come to hand in my family with this realization as my Son cannot consume cow milk products. This is because he breaks out in an eczema like skin rash. The rash does not appear when he has goat milk products so this is what we give him instead.
Thankfully, upstate NY where we spend each weekend, we live near Sepascot Home Farm which offers raw goat milk (straight from the goat into a bottle) and as a double bonus my Son LOVES goat milk. I am not a fan of pasteurized (or homogenized) milk. I see no point in heating up milk so much that it becomes sterile and loses most of its natural nutritional content, and further more, then the milk companies add synthetic additives in to replace them? Makes no sense to me. I just like to know that my Son is having milk pure and simple as nature intended.
Goat milk is very similar to human milk in comparison and has less lactose than cow’s milk making it a great alternative for people who are sensitive. Goat’s milk is also digested by the human body in around 20 minutes, whereas if you drink cow’s milk it can take up to 24 hours to digest.
This was my husband and my first time making goat milk ice-cream, and it was a huge HIT. Personally, I do not drink animal milk at all, but I did have a taste of this and it was very flavorable. With 5 simple ingredients how can you go wrong.
A very simple 5 item ingredient list – Raw Goat Milk, Raw Honey, Organic Dark Chocolate, 5 egg yolks from cage-free chickens and organic vanilla extract
WHAT YOU NEED
- 3 cups of raw goat milk (We picked some up at Sepascot Home Farm upstate NY)
- 3.5 oz good quality dark chocolate niblets
- 5 egg yolks (We used yolks from cage-free chickens from Sepascot Home Farm upstate NY)
- 1 tablespoon organic vanilla extract (We used Simply Organic brand)
- 1/3 of a cup of raw honey (We used Ray Tousey brand)
EQUIPMENT
- An Ice-Cream machine. We have a Cusinart. Pure Indulgence™ 2 Qt. Frozen Yogurt-Sorbet & Ice Cream Maker
- Heavy bottomed pot
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Mixing bowl
- Whisker
WHAT TO DO
- Combine the goat’s milk and dark chocolate niblets in a large pot
- Bring the mixture to a simmer at a medium low heat range whisking (at the same time) so that the chocolate melts and is incorporated well
- Remove from heat and set aside
Whisk the chocolate with the goat milk until completely melted
- In a separate bowl whisk the egg yolks with the honey
Proof is in the Pudding as the saying goes
- To prevent the eggs from curdling and in effect turning into scrambled eggs, whisk a cup of the hot combination of goat milk and chocolate into the egg yolks and honey thus tempering the eggs
- Whisk in a second cup of the hot mixture of goat milk and chocolate into the egg yolks and honey and then pour that back into the pot with the remainder of the milk mixture
- Return the flame to medium-low and whisk until you feel the mixture thickening
- Remove from heat and strain through a wire sifter into a bowl
- Stir in the vanilla and add the salt
- Place the bowl in the freezer until slightly cold (we left in for around 30 minutes), stirring occasionally
- Freeze following directions for your specific ice cream machine
- Serve with strawberries or a swig of mint
What do you think of this ice-cream recipe, would you try it at home. Why or why not?
Thanks for Reading my Blog!!
There is no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one — Jill Churchill.
Experts agree that motherhood is even more difficult now than it was for past generations of Mums, with nearly one in three Mums consciously make parenting decisions to avoid criticism from others — Doctor Michele Borba
A few weeks ago, here in New York City, I was invited to the Strong Moms Empower Summit and Luncheon. I have to admit, as I am invited to a lot of events, I really did not know what I was walking in to. I actually thought it was a casual get together with a few other local Mummy Bloggers. However, when I arrived at the gorgeous Alexandria Center overlooking the East River, I straight away knew otherwise. This was a really BIG deal. To start with the space was gorgeous and secondly there was a couple of hundred “movers and shakers” in the Mummy world on site.
Strong Moms Empower is a call-to-action campaign that is working towards Stopping Bullying Among Parents. Yes, you read correctly – Parents. Apparently in today’s world there is a ton of bullying going on both online and offline which in turn is making Mothers unsure of their decisions, afraid to speak their minds and causing a lot of insecurity and sadness. BUT, we’re all Mums right and on the same team? Evidently, this is not so.
Being at this luncheon and listening to the speakers, I thought back to times that I have been bullied online by other parents. Once, only just having given birth, I posted a question about breastfeeding my Son, to which another Mother commented that “I was only breastfeeding because I could not afford formula”??? Hmm, I just did not even know what to say to that, it literally blew my mind so I decided not to say anything at all. Or, more recently when I posted a picture of my 2.5 year old Son on the Willy B Mum Facebook page with his nails painted the same color as mine, to where another Mother decided it was best to comment that; “That is ridiculous, why are you creating an excuse for him to be bullied at school”?? One, he is 2.5 and does not go to school yet and two isn’t that what you are doing to me right now by leaving that comment?
Unfortunately, I am sure you can all think back to one or another situations where you have also been made to feel inadequate by another parent!
All Mothers are different, and all Mothers love their children right? So, why all the hatred and negativity, from other Mothers towards Mothers, that are in the same boat trying to do the best they can to raise their children?
LOOK OUT
Parents choose many many ways to bring up children and no matter your personal choice there is going to be another parent who is doing completely the opposite and unfortunately may give you a hard time about it!
- Do you breastfeed versus formula feeding?
- Do you feed your child meat versus a vegetarian diet?
- Do you spank your child if they are naughty versus talking your child through problems?
- Do you have much money versus not having much money at all?
- Do you send your children to a public school versus a private school?
- Are your children overweight versus rearing very fit and active children?
- Are you a single mother versus in a stable relationship?
- Are you a Stay-At-Home Mother versus a working Mother who is not home much?
DURING THE LUNCHEON
While tweeting away with the hashtag #StrongMomsEmpower (as was encouraged by the host to help get the word out) a girlfriend and fellow blogger leaned over to me, quite shocked and said “Have you seen this”? She passed me her phone and showed me hundreds of tweets (with a different hashtag) that were going on in real-time basically talking derogatively and IN EFFECT BULLYING the campaign and what was hoping to be achieved. It was so Ironic! This was, because news to both of us, the major corporation Similac was sponsoring the event.
So let’s back up a bit here. Most of you know I am a holistic mother, and for me feeding my Son formula was a “Hell No over my Dead Body” kind of feeling. I even took that one step further and ended up breastfeeding my Son till he was 26 months of age!
This was my preference, and I do not have to justify my reasoning to ANYBODY.
I am not a fan of Similac and it was my choice not to give my baby formula, just as many Mothers are a fan of Similac and choose to give their baby formula. However, at the end of the day, we are all Mothers and we all make the right decisions for our family and it is nobody else’s business to make another Mother’s life difficult because one does not agree. End of Story.
RETROSPECT
I thought for a long time about whether to even post this article, and in the end I decided knowing that Similac is a big corporation, what they are doing is a helpful & positive thing, and probably something that only a big corporation could have the means to do?
I am happy that I had the opportunity to attend the luncheon, as now I am aware of what is going on out there in “Mummy Land” and I really want to help Stop the bullying. Personally, I am working on being more understanding, considerate, kind and supportive to other Mothers (even if I do not agree with their choices).
I know that being a Mother is sometimes lonely and often confusing and we ALL need to support each other no matter what our choices under our roofs are! I urge all you Mummies to do the same. Let us Strong Moms Empower!
What about you, have you ever been bullied by another Parent?
Thanks for reading my BLOG.
Strong Moms Empower. Let’s support each other Mummies!
At home with Drinking Diaries
According to Newsweek Magazine, 60% of women drink — Drinking Diaries
A few month’s back a girlfriend sent me a copy of the newly released (Sept 2012) book Drinking Diaries: Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up.
I was excited to receive the book as, at the time, I had been drinking daily. Hang on, that sounds bad on paper, so let’s back track a bit. What I mean by that is my husband and I would drink a few (or more) glasses of wine at dinner each night. With, most weekends us drinking wine at lunch and the occasional Mimosa or Bloody Mary at breakfast if dining out. Wine is like Water in our home sometimes!
Before receiving the book, I felt trapped, like I could not break the evening wine routine. I was so tired of waking up cloudy in the mornings, especially with an on-the-go toddler to tend to. Drinking alcohol now is not like the good old days pre-baby where I only had to get up to walk the dogs and get myself organized – Ha!
The worst part about it all was that I really did not have anybody to talk to about my love/hate relationship with alcohol, and honestly I was not sure how other people would judge me if I did discuss my feelings with them – you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t as the saying goes.
Every night I would look forward to a glass of wine, and every morning I felt horrible because I was not 100% and clear as a bell – it was like living in the movie Ground Hog Day with the same thing happening over and over.
My Little Boy never lets me sit down and read, not that I mind being interrupted!
I hoped that reading “Drinking Diaries” would give me clarity on what I was going through and give me the secret to NOT feel like drinking wine every night… well it did more than that. It literally scared the hell out of me and I stopped drinking… for a while anyway!
One essay in particular in the book titled “IT.MUST.BE” by Becky Sherrick Harks brought me to tears with her reminiscing her childhood memory with best friend, Stacy. Stacy died from cirrhosis of the liver at 26 years of age leaving behind 2 little boys. I was devastated, with the story still haunting me.
On the other end of the scale, there is a beautiful story titled “My Father, My Beer Buddy” written by Ann Hood who talks about her awe-like relationship with her Father growing up, sharing beers and tales from his time traveling all over the world while he was in the Navy. This also brought me to tears just with the sheer love that is portrayed by the Author between a Daughter and Father.
“Drinking Diaries” is a book filled with happy and sad short essays written by women who are journalists, bloggers and novelists. All of who have various relationships with alcohol – occasional drinkers, former alcoholics, friends of drinkers and non-drinkers.
The book is a collection of 28 short essays which are broken into 5 categories – Girlhood, Relationships, Culture, Family and Revelations. There is surely, at least, one story that every person can relate to in some way or another. I also liked that as it is many tales in one, it is perfect for a Mummy-On-The-Go like me, as I can pick it up, read a bit and put it back down making it an easy read.
“Drinking Diaries” is available online from $10-$16 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Indiebound and Powells – take your pick. If you want more of Drinking Diaries you can also visit www.DrinkingDiaries.com for videos, forum and further stories.
“Drinking Diaries” is a thought-provoking, insightful book which I give two-thumbs up too. It helped me to reconsider my relationship with alcohol, and I really appreciate that. I was a little lost there for a while! Not anymore.
These mini-muffins are perfect for breakfast
My little boy has allergies to cow dairy products and gluten, so not wanting him to miss out, I created this gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, sugarless mini-muffin recipe by taking and adding from a few different recipes.
It was my first time experimenting making muffins, and besides over cooking the first batch a little too much, these turned out surprisingly well; being super moist and really delicious. I am very proud of myself!
Happily, Miles Storm was eager to help out in the kitchen which turned into a fun afternoon activity for both of us. Cooking with him is such a lovely bonding experience – a lot of mess, a lot of questions and a lot of laughter!
I suggest serving the mini-muffins plain (above photo) as part of a healthy breakfast, or even decorated (bottom photo) with toppings like fresh banana. Who doesn’t love bananas! Alternatively, as a special treat, dress the mini-muffins with sprinkles. For this batch I used the Australian multi-colored alternative known as “hundreds and thousands”.
Enjoy.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- 2 Cups of Almond Meal
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (I used Trader Joe’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil)
- 1/3 cup of apple cinnamon sauce (I used Trader Joe’s Organic Apple Sauce with Cinnamon)
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 very ripe banana, mashed until smooth
- 1 cup of macadamia nuts, chopped small
- 2 cups of organic blueberries
- 1/4 cup of coconut shreds
Visual of the ingredients, the colored specks are an Australian product known as “hundreds & thousands”
WHAT TO DO
My Little Helper
- 01. Pre-Heat your oven to 350 Farenheit
- 02. Either, grease a mini-muffin tray or line a tray with non-bleached baking cups
- 03. In a large bowl mix together the almond meal, baking powder, baking soda, coconut shreds and macadamia nuts
- 04. In a separate bowl mix together the coconut water, coconut oil, apple cinnamon sauce and banana
- 05. Add the moist ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well, folding the blueberries lightly in at the end
- 06. Evenly dollop the mixture into the muffin tin
- 07. Bake for 25 minutes
- 08. Let cool and serve
My first batch which I baked too long, but still tasted okay. I decorated these with “hundreds-and-thousands” & banana slices
Miles Storm with his Ipad and the new Disney Storytime App
Story Time on an Ipad can be a great bonding experience and just as enjoyable as reading normal books
My family drives a lot as we live between 2 homes. During the week we live in Brooklyn NYC and during the weekends we live 90 miles North of NYC in the township of Rhinebeck Upstate NY. To break that down, on a good day, it is a 2 hour drive each way. But, when traffic is bad it has been known to take 5 hours for us to get from one to another.
Because of this, our Son has had his very own Ipad from a very young age – 7 months to be exact! As Miles has grown the apps on his Ipad have also changed. At first, we just used to put movies on for him to watch, but as he became older he wanted to interact more and play with games. Thankfully, there are so many learning applications on the Ipad with programs specifically designed for toddlers. As he is now hitting the 3 year mark, his choices are again changing, with him currently really being into stories.
One of the issues I have had with downloading stories on his Ipad is that, for the most part you can only download one story per each individual app which is really annoying. I have been looking for an app where you can have one with many stories inside it and this week I was super excited to find one from good old Walt Disney. The new Disney Storytime houses up to 20 stories on the one app – LOVE that! I downloaded 10 books straight off the bat for Miles Storm which is keeping him busy!
Here are a few reasons why I am a big fan of this app at the moment;
- I love that you can design your own avatar with your child’s photo in it (see my Son’s below, I think he looks cute as a cartoon character) with options including choices on hair color and shirt color
- I love that you do not have to leave the app to add new books, you can do it all on-screen by adding credit and then Miles can choose the books he likes
- I love that there are so many books to choose for, this app actually has the largest collection of Disney stories available, with Miles choosing – Always Time for A Laugh, Starry Night, Rapunzel’s Story, Puppy Trouble, A Tight Squeeze, Down to Earth, Super Annoying, A day without Pumbaa, Watch Dug and Radiator Springs Road Trip
- I love that viewing options can be personalized to either “Read by Myself” and “Read to Me”
- I love that you can record your own voice in place of the default reader which I actually did for Rapunzel’s Story, so now every time Miles listens to it he will hear his Mummy reading the story to him (cute)
- I love that when a story is being read by the default voice each word is highlighted on the screen, meaning that Miles can start to associate words/letters with the sound when it is pronounced
I know, I know there’s a lot of LOVE going on around here!
Disney Storytime is available for $1.99 on iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Parents can buy credits (2 credits for $2.99, 5 credits for $4.99, and 17 credits [all books] for $8.99).
I definitely recommend checking it out if you are looking to simplify your child’s online story choices. And how can you go wrong, Walt Disney was a great storyteller with a wonderful imagination who loved children so very much! His stories definitely brought me great pleasure growing up, and it’s wonderful to see the same thing happening with Miles Storm.
What’s your favorite Disney Story?
Miles Storm as the Avatar on his Disney Storytime book shelf
