Moss Graffiti

I thought this was super amazing. I think I might just have to try this out!

My Lovelies

You can't stop wanting to grow up asking all the time am I older mama? I remember doing that same thing, feeling the same way. Now I'm my mother telling you to live in the moment, enjoy now. I look out the window and watch you make your way around the vines, picking juicy fruits, grinning as the sweetness fills your mouth. the swing moves you around and around as your hair whips. half blissful half terrified. we pretend its a ride. pillow fights at night light up your eyes, bringing you closer to him while breaking free from the mold. moving close reading and sounding out strange new words. drawing out stories filled with beauties crowned and dancing. serious. so serious and literal and at other times lost in imagination. peter rabbit, mrs. tiggywinkle. ruby and max.

How can a long nap change you before my very eyes. A little sleep, a little older.my little man he never stops eating. eating eating. belly swelling tight and jolly. uneasy steps, cautious and careful. into every thing. eating everything. swaying, clapping to the sounds, keeping time with the rhythm of the dishwasher, all is music to you. sunshine soaked hair, curly and wild. big smiles belly laughs. snuggles and more snuggles. that pouting lip that makes me laugh so serious and stern, trying to make a point. dinner time crying. crying for something to fill that belly again. reaching up wanting to be held and bounced around. watching. back and forth watching people move by.


my lovelies.

The Cut

I don't really splurge on myself, but when it comes to my hair I do spend a little bit more than normal. I think sometimes its worth it. in this case it was. I love my hairdresser too which really helps. She seriously is an artist and really takes into consideration my lifestyle, hair type, and facial structure. She is a sweet and beautiful woman and I'm so blessed to have someone I can trust to cut my hair. Its been about a month but has taken years for me to get this done. literally. I've had hairdressers refuse to cut my hair short, and I've chickened out a few times too. You see I've had long hair since about sixth grade and I wasn't sure I was ready to part with my locks. But I've been needing a change for a while. I'm 29 and over this last year I've been looking back at what I've done, how I've changed and grown, what chronic mistakes I keep making, how I want to move forward and be renew. Cutting my hair, I guess, was a natural extension of my emotional state. I wanted to be lighter. My heart, my mind, my body. my hair. It may sound a bit silly but its the truth.

The results? surprising. I've really enjoyed my short hair. I feel lighter. I feel somehow rejuvenated. even peppy! funny how something so simple as a haircut can do so much. I guess it was just time.

Elderberry Syrup

I was looking for something, anything to help boost my little ones immune systems naturally and effectively. I stumbled upon a website article that posted a few recipes and ideas on how mommies could help their little ones combat cold and flu miseries. If you read through the article you'll find the recipe for Elderberry Syrup. I've been making this recipe and using it for about a year now and I've been so happy with the results. I've noticed that when I give this to my children on a regular basis they tend to fight off colds much better. You can go to any health food store and find this on the shelves but to make it at home is way more cost effective and fun. I've altered the recipe slightly adding a dash or two of Cayenne pepper to give a little kick and help with absorption. In the past I've felt overwhelmed and stressed when my kids get sick, but now I feel more prepared and thankful that there are herbs available to help fight off infections.

Plantain

I find it so ironic that many of the healing herbs around us are consider weeds. Plantain happens to fall into that category. As a child I can remember picking the stalks bending it into a little gun to pop of the tops. People who desire an immaculate lawn spend a lot of time and money getting rid of this helpful herb. Plantain, which can be found all around the world is most noted for its astringent properties.

I started using plantain mainly due to my curiosity of hearing it work for bee stings and mosquito bites. You see my daughter gets horrific reactions to mosquito bites and nothing I put on seemed to work for the poor dear. I had heard that if you get some plantain and chew it up in your mouth and spit it out and slap that juicy mess on any bites it will start to pull out the poison and remove some of the pain. So I tired it and despite the nasty taste it seemed to work. Later I realized you can just whizz it up in your blender with some water or olive oil and make a poultice and you've got the same thing, without the dramatics.

To me this is a huge break through. I can be almost anywhere and not feel stressed out if my kids get a bite or a bee sting. I also read that you can make a toner with plantain and it can clear up your skin by drawing out impurities and clearing up scar marks. Of course I had to try that! SO I mixed up some apple cider vinegar, crushed plantain leaves and calendula and let it sit for three weeks, shaking the bottle every day or so, and now I've been using the mixture every morning and night as a facial toner. I read that your face gets worse before it gets better and it seems to be the case. I smell sort of like a vinaigrette salad dressing but I don't mind especially because 1. it was cheap to make and 2. it really seems to be working!

So if you're interested get outside and go and find some plantain. stick it on some bug bite and see what happens!

Burlap to Cashmere

I've loved this band for a long time. I hope you will too. Hey they're Greek how could you not?!?

Butter is better

I love butter. I'm not as bad as my grandfather who actually eats slab after slab but I'm leaning more that way as I age. I buy my butter in bulk and lather it on most everything. A few weeks back I decided to try making my own butter, after a conversation with a friend. It was so much fun to make. You must try it especially with your kids or your mother. Here's how its done. Find some high quality heavy cream, I use the real deal straight from old Gerta, let is sit at room temp for a few hours (this cuts your shaking time in half) Then screw on the lid of a glass jar and shake away. I sat on the floor with some pillows and just had some fun. Sophia tried for a while too but got bored real quick. After awhile you will notice that the fat solid (butter) starts to separate from the watery milkiness (butter milk) and before long you have complete separation. Pour off the butter milk and then rinse the butter. This takes the most time. The more butter milk you get out the better your butter will be. I used a wooden slotted spoon and swished and squished till the water in the jar was clear. Put the butter in a nice little jar with a lid so that it doesn't absorb things from your fridge. Let sit and then serve. It will keep for a few days, but I doubt it will be around for that long. We devoured our butter that night! I did try my butter milk which I usually can't stand to drink and was totally shocked at how blissful it tasted. This can be saved and used in recipes like biscuits or pancakes.
Trust me if you do this right you will be so overjoyed.

As a side note. Butter made from milk that comes from cows that are grass fed is such an amazing super food. SO many of us have been brainwashed to believe that fats are bad for us but this is really not true. In fact is so essential to healthy living that if a pregnant mother completely limits her good fats, her baby can have some neurological issues.

If you want to learn more check out Butter Is Better.

Nettle Tea

My mid-wife had me drink Nettle Tea during my pregnancy with Louis. At first I was a little taken back when she handed me a glass and let me try some. My only other experience with the herb had been on a hiking trip back when I was a teenager.Trust me it was not fun! So here I was drinking it?! If you are curious about its benefits you can find out more from here. I had very little experience with loose leaf teas and it actually took me a little while before I figured it out. I just thought tea always came in a bag and was a little intimidated by brewing my own! So for all of those interested below is an easy recipe for making your own nettle tea.




Boil about six cups of water until simmering. Turn the heat off.




Add about 1/3 of a cup or more of loose nettle leaves. You can add more if you like it stronger. Mix it gently a few times and put the lid on your pot. Let it steep up to 8 hours. Remember the longer it steeps the stronger it gets.




After your tea has cooled strain off the herbs into a glass container. Put in the fridge to cool. We add honey or stevia to our iced nettle with a bit of lemon juice. Normally I like my tea hot and will make my loose leaf tea in a french press (which is only for tea). I add my herbs to the bottom (about 2 tablespoons ) pour in my hot water, let steep for 5 minutes or so, press it all down and enjoy.

*remember to do your research before you take any herbs, especially if you are on any medication.