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THE BENEFITS AND GLORY OF HEMP SEEDS

Specialists say that hemp seed is the most powerful seed out there. Yes, it’s just that simple!

Some years ago, probably  about 14 years ( wow time flies ), I started to look into some food products calledsuper foods. I found some way more interesting than others and some too good and powerful to even be real.Hemp seeds fall into this category.

I started putting at least two big tablespoons daily into my morning smoothies  and  also sprinkling them over just about everything I create in my kitchen. I was suffering from eczema and other skin problems so I read that by adding them into my

daily diet these problems of mine should eventually disappear. The wonderful news is that they did! Not only did my skin feel better but I found a huge improvement in my hormone balance.  My monthly cycle became more accurate and less dramatic each time. I felt less hungry in the late morning and definitely had more energy, so for many good reasonshemp seeds have remained a staple in my diet.

And during my pregnancies I ate them more than usual. I sprinkle it on avocado toast or in my homemade guacamole; as eating all the omega fats is so very important while pregnant and breastfeeding.  By consuming avocados and hemp seeds I was sure I met my daily dose of these essential fats and calories. I sprinkle or blend hemp seeds into almost every dish I make and have made for my boys since they both started eating solids. I add the seeds in both fruit and vegetable blends. I also make my own hemp milk ( super simple).  I will show you soon how  to make all your non-dairy milks at home.

Here is what researchers have to say about hemp seeds:

– Excellent source of omega-3 and 6 which support brain, heart and hormonal function.

– A complete protein. For those who don’t eat animal proteins this would be an excellent source.

– Rich in soluble and insoluble fiber which naturally cleanses the colon and reduces sugar cravings.

– Improves blood circulation and helps you maintain optimal blood pressure.

– Decreases your risk of blood clots and boosts recovery after a  heart attack.

– Maintains skin health, reduces eczema (there you may also find the hemp seed oil useful,  one tablespoon in the morning can help boost improvements).

– Minerals such as – calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

– Vitamins – A, B1, B2, B3, B6, D, E

–  For arthritis and joint pain, it is ideal to take the hemp oil in the morning plus add in the hemp seeds as well to boost reduction of aches and pain.

– Support weight loss, since hemp seeds reduce sugar cravings and help you stay full longer by adding about 3 tablespoons into your breakfast meal.

Hemps seeds have a nice little nutty kind of flavor. When I make a quinoa pudding I love adding hemp seeds to it because the  combination is fantastic! I must warn you that Hemp oil doesn’t have a very pleasant taste. I took it in quite regularly during my pregnancies and while breastfeeding. Now that I am notpregnant nor breastfeeding I decided to take a brief break but I still eat the seeds daily.  My boys seem to love the oil though, so every morning I give them each a small spoon of hemp oil. They find it cool for some odd reason 🙂 I might start on the oil myself again soon. I find that it is quite helpful every so often to take a break from certain foods, even if they are super healthy. Just take a small pause and thenreincorporate them again after a few days.

 

You can find Hemp seeds and Hemp oil in any heath food store or  you can order it from amazon!

Love JM

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THE WONDERS OF CHIA SEEDS

This tiny little seed truly is a vitamin powerhouse packed with numerous health benefits for you and your entire family. Since this little seed is a bit expensive, I would love to explain why it is worth the expense and how to use it in ways in which you can receive every single benefit thatchia offers.

All over town, on Instagram, Facebook and in the media I notice  all kinds of advertisements for chia seed puddings that contain chopped fruit and muesli. This is great but the seeds are so small that our stomach and digestive system can’t really break them down. What can usually end up happening is that they will shoot through your body or get trapped in your colon walls on the way down.  So in reality we are buying and making all these chia seeds without getting all the very best of it’s amazing benefits.

Chia seeds are loaded with all the omega-3 essential fatty acids. They are also an excellent source of fiber, antioxidants, calcium, complete protein and minerals. Some researchers say that it contains more omega-3 than salmon, 3x moreiron than spinach, higher calcium than milk and more potassium than a banana. I find these all to be excellent reasons to consume this wonderful seed. I believe the  reason they have been in the spotlight for so long is because people really can feel and see a difference after eating them. These seeds move the digestive track (very well,  just to point out) , provide great energy, help your blood sugar stay steady and keep you full and satisfied until lunchtime.

I would now love to explain how to prepare chia seeds in the way that you can reap it’s benefits while all it’s glory dances throughout your body.

– I always start by soaking mine in water before use. I add a tablespoon of seeds in a glass and stir it in water overnight. I stir for awhile so that the seeds stay separated and don’t just sink down to the bottom of the glass. They will swell up a little and the texture will become a bit jellylike.

– In the morning I use my blender to blend them well.  I always do this because in this way they are already broken down and when you are ready to consume them your body can very easily soak in all of the seeds glorious benefits.

– I then add my favorite fruit and power foods –  HERE you can find a recipe for my favorite breakfast smoothie, or you can make your own.  I also adore adding kale to my smoothies because I think that it’s a wonderful option for some extra super power.

I make these every single morning for my family,  my sons drink a bit here at home in the morning then I send them to nursery with the rest in a jar. They snack on it later on in the morning or afternoon… sipping it through a straw as they are  such big cool dudes now 🙂

If you are doing this for your baby (which  I think is a wonderful idea ! )  you can add just one fruit at a time. When my boys were  7 months + I started to give them the chia seeds soaked and blended with either apple, pear or papaya and sometimes  hemp seeds and a hint of organic cinnamon.  I would then feed them this as a  pudding with a spoon. You can also make it and put it in a little jar to bring with you while travelling.

Now you can make your smoothies much more exciting – play and explore with this. We all have different taste buds so my tastes may not be the same as yours and that is why it’s important to explore the smoothie world. Let your children get involved in the game by allowing them to choose their favorites. This will have them curious in the kitchen and stimulate their appetites so they eat up all the good stuff!

Love JM

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QUINOA: BENEFITS AND PREPARATION

Quinoa is technically a seed, not a grain. It is related to beets, chard and spinach.  It has a lovely nutty flavor which is very satisfying. You can serve it hot or cold in many different dishes such as – soups, salads, morning porridge or as a healthy side dish.
Two things in particular that I love about quinoa is that it’s gluten free and also a complete protein. It’s an antioxidant powerhouse that contains healthy fatty acids ( plant based ). When  quinoa is cooked it doesn’t lose these important  fatty acids as it is very tolerant to being boiled, steamed and simmered . I must say though  that vegetarians and vegans tend to eat grains and and seeds,  such as quinoa, a bit too much. I highly recommend having  a big portion of vegetables , soup or even a salad loaded with greens, for example – avocado and beets.

Quinoa is quite simple to prepare. I always wash or rinse mine very well before cooking it. I also soak my quinoa in water for a few hours beforehand. Overnight or in the morning before work I will place the quinoa in a pot and let it soak in water throughout the day. When I arrive home I just need to rinse it a few times until the water runs clean. I suppose how often you need to rinse it will depend on the brand. I let it sit in the water because it’s  said to be gentler on your stomach and digestion. Once soaked the quinoa  releases a lot more of it’s minerals.

One cup of quinoa mixed with two cups of water (I usually make 2 cups quinoa 4 cups water and just store in the fridge and reheat as needed.) Bring to a boil, then lower and let simmer for about 15 minutes or until the water has disappeared. I then take off the sticky foam and toss it away while it’s still boiling.  At the end you can add your favorite oil. As you know my preference is always coconut or extra virgin olive oil. Prepared in this way your quinoa is ready and you can use it in any way you want. I like to steam a bunch of vegetables and mix it with quinoa, add coconut oil then  sprinkle some seaweed and hemp-seeds on top. There is also another version I love making from time to time. When all the water is almost gone from the quinoa,  I then add a can of organic coconut milk for an extra creamy taste and texture. It is SO yummy and great for kids. You can leave it as is or mix  a bit of cinnamon and apples in it for a delicious breakfast, or you can also add it to your steamed or roasted vegetables.

Experiment with quinoa and use your imagination.  If you happen to find a good recipe, please feel free to share it with us. We love hearing from our readers!

Love JM

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NATURAL HEALING FOR AN EARACHE
(LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL)

As a child, I always suffered with ear problems which continued well into adulthood.  My poor mother watched me crying from  pain and would have to give me antibiotics from time to time (which every mother hates giving to her child).

I understand  earache pains very well , so that when my boys had their moments of suffering from it I decided to do some research and actually found a natural solution that works wonders! This made me extremely happy because they haven’t needed to take antibiotics (so far) for ear pain since I discovered this.

A doctor once wrote me a prescription for antibiotics but I tried this first and the pain completely disappeared. As a clarification,  I am not recommending that you ignore your doctor’s advice but maybe just give this a try to see if it works as well for you as it did for us. If not,  you would obviously continue with your doctor’s orders.

I just find that so many doctors don’t even hesitate to write prescriptions for antibiotics and give  painkillers etc.. which I’m really not a fan of.  I never take them myself and I hardly give it to my sons unless completely necessary. There are many natural ways to ensure good health and I highly recommend you look into that a long with your doctor’s orders. I guess the main thing is to have a doctor you really trust that listens  and  goes over all your concerns.

My earache elimination method is so simple. I  take a small cloth and place it under very hot water and then ring it well. Wait just a few seconds for it to cool down so it’s not burning hot. Take lavender essential oil and put around 10 drops close to each other like you are making a circle in the center of the cloth.

Hold on your child’s ear and gently press on it for about 5-15 minutes (longer the better) and then repeat two to three times. I have never had to do it 3x but I guess it depends on how bad the pain is.

It is very likely your child may not like this, at least in the beginning. A good song and rocking from side to side or even his/her favorite cartoon on TV may now be your little helper. It can keep your child calm and relaxed. My older son liked this very much, I think he felt relief quite fast and he loves the smell of lavender oil. My younger son wasn’t too happy about this, as he is usually quite busy to try and remain still for so long. I recommend doing this as soon as you see your child complaining about ear pain so that you may be able to relive the pain early on.

What also works is placing three drops of the lavender essential oil on the top of my fingers and massaging it directly into the earlobe area and leaving it on after the hot cloth. I leave the oil on overnight as well.

Here you can find many alternative ways to remain healthy, strong and obtain good advice on natural healing from colds and flues – http://www.mercola.com/ .

As usual I hope this can be put to good use 🙂

Love JM
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SPRAY BOTTLE THERAPY

While pregnant with Gabriel Örn,  I’d practice pregnancy yoga with an amazing woman named Audur in Iceland.  At the end of each class she’d make us lay on our mats wrapped up in blankets and surrounded by pillows to ensure we were as comfortable as possible with our big bellies. We’d breath, relax and take a tiny power nap while this wonderful woman would walk around the room with a spray bottle filled with water and 10-20 drops of lavender and lemon essential oils.

Oh boy,  was I in heaven at that moment! I loved that part so much that I decided to get one for myself .  She suggested having this at home to freshen up the air and induce positive energy. Also said that when our  moment of labor did arrive we could have our partners spray some of this magic mixture over us in between contractions and that it would help calm and relax us before the next wave of pain arrived:)  I found this to be extremely helpful and I loved the lavender / lemon rainfall over me.

Actually, I adored it so much that I now use it daily in my home.

Here is how :

If you don’t have a spray bottle handy at home  you can  head over to Tiger and buy one for cheap. I put 10-20 drops of lavender and 10-20 of lemon ( I know it’s a lot, but I just love the smell) you can put less or more , whichever suits your needs.  You could also try new mixtures, choose your favorite smell.

In the morning,  as well as in the evening I will spray the mixture around my home. In the evening I use more of the lavender oil to create a calm atmosphere. This helps my boys to fall fast and deeply asleep.  I spray a bit on their pillows and bed 30 minutes before they go to sleep ( 30 mins. before so that their pillows will be dry) 

After I hang up my laundry,  I spray my mixture over it to make it smell good . I would like to point out that I highly suggest  organic laundry soap ; you can buy this at your nearest health food store. It doesn’t contain  harmful chemicals and strong odors. It’s better for your baby, you and the whole family. I personally don’t like to wear clothes that smell too much of soap. It  gives me a headache or my skin tends to get dry and sometimes itchy. Organic laundry soap is safe for the whole family and also for theenvironment. Also another good tip concerning laundry is that from time to time our machine can have a bad odor, so In this case I will add around 5-10 drops of tea tree oil inside my  empty machine and the smell disappears 🙂

I also love a lavender/ tea tree oil combo. Tea tree oil is cleansing so I will  clean my floors with just hot water and tea tree but then add one more oil to it, depending on what I am in the mood to smell on that given day.  I especially did this when my boys were really young – laying , playing  and practicing their crawling skills on the floor all day. I hardly ever use any soap for this matter, but we never use outdoor shoes in the home so that also helps to keep our floors clean. There are many natural ways to clean our homes with out the use of intense soaps and cleaners that can be extremely harmful  to inhale. It is good to keep this in mind during your pregnancy as well because breathing in these toxic materials could prove very harmful to your growing baby, other family members and you.

There are so many lovely ways to bring essential oils into your home and they set such a lovely calm energy – more on it’s different uses later this week.

In the meantime, I hope you will  give these suggestions a try:)

Love JM

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VISIT WITH APPLE PIE

Many of you wrote to me about how helpful you found Mothers Spells’ last post regarding my favorite things so I decided to stop by the lovely shop again to show you more 🙂

After I became a mother I felt like a toy wasn’t just a toy anymore. I carefully choose my sons’ toys and I try to teach them respect for each one. I also do not overload their room with too much stuff so this way they have more space to explore and play with only a few good toys that they like and appreciate. I see so many kids rooms with way too many toys and they don’t even play with half of them. I also believe children need their space and the rule that applies here is less really is more. The same goes for clothes, I feel like they grow so fast and kids love to play and get dirty outside and inside as well. So I keep my laundry machine busy each day and only have the necessary amount of clothes for them . In doing this , I find we have more space and my house seems a bit less chaotic!

I am going to start with the world’s softest pajamas, they are made from bamboo fiber (sounds strange right?) I am telling you they are so soft and comfortable and include beautiful prints for boys and girls. They also have a lovely gift set for newborns that I recently purchased as a gift for all my friends that are expecting or that just gave birth. They also carry a baby blanket with the same softness and all skin friendly.

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I am actually not sure if “Sophie the Giraffe” , is as famous here in Italy as she is throughout the rest of Europe so I am going to introduce you to her. This is a teether and a toy. You will find Sophie in three different versions here, including one that also makes a squeaky sound when squeezed. The other good part is that she’s made from all natural fibers (hevea rubber.)

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I am a big fan of wooden toys. The ball you see here is a toy that got passed down from my older son to the younger and they both loved looking at it, turning it around in their small hands and watching the little balls move around. This went on every airplane trip we took and when they were very young they even used the ends of it to itch their gums when new teeth were breaking through.

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This beautiful table I think is brilliant in a home. This game might actually help you to get through breakfast without standing up a 100x. It will keep your baby occupied for a bit…well let’s hope for quite awhile… 🙂

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These three mini dinos are made out of wood and have fun shapes with wheels so they can be pushed or driven all around the room.

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I wish I had seen this baby gym when my boys were younger. I find it so beautiful! You can take the toys off as well and stick it on your car seat or stroller. It is made with beautiful wood and knitted figures.

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My brother recently had a son and when I went to visit them my beautiful nephew was relaxing so calm and safe in one of these. I again wished I had seen this as well when my sons were newborns. With this you can easily move around your house and let your newborn rest safely and cozily. Move it to the couch or your bed. Plus I am sure it isn’t too complicated to travel with you on your weekend getaways 🙂

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Another one I wish I had for my sons’ first baths is this flower. It’s so soft ( towel-like fabric ) and lets your newborn feel so safe and relaxed for his/her’s first bath. You can easily stick this in your sink and give your baby a relaxing bath there as well.

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Having a hard time falling asleep? This is a cuddle buddy that releases relaxing melodies and sounds of nature with a soft little light so that way it’s not too dark in your child’s room.

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I am positive this was designed by a mother 😉 :Play and Go” is both a game blanket and a bag to store toys in. It can easily be moved around the house and then at the end of play all toys get placed in the middle and with the pull of two strings – voila, the room is clean! They have ones with many different cool prints and patterns.

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I hope you enjoyed this week’s list. It was a bit longer this time and I hope it gave you all some more ideas. The store is located close to Park Sempione in Milan, so if you are in the area you can pass by before or after playing in the park.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Love JM

www.applepie.eu

@Photo, www.mamafedona.com

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A DAY WITH FRANCESCA

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On one of the brightest and sunniest Saturdays of January,  I had the pleasure of visiting Francesca and her beautiful twins. A  boy named Gregorio and a girl named Mathilde.

As I arrived to her home she welcomed me in with a huge smile and told me that her husband had taken the kids outside and would be home in just a few minutes. They had gone out for some fresh air and a bit of play at her local park.

Upon their return,  I noticed three more big smiles and was even more excited to hear their story and the secret behind the happiness they all seemed to share.

I soon learned  that Francesca and her husband were eternally grateful because after 5 years of struggling to conceive with almost no hope left and a lot of exhaustion, the twins chose to arrive.

So after two years of dating you guys chose to have a baby, how did that go for you?

I had recently lost my father so we kind of chose to celebrate life again by having a baby and starting a family. We tried for a year without any pregnancy and the second year we went to a famous doctor here in Milan that wanted to operate on me to see what the problem was. I was 28 at the time and having surgery was just crazy to me, so I said no. Then after some researching of good doctors we finally found one that we just had a great connection with and started the classical process of IVF. After 5 years of this I was completely destroyed, full of hormones and I hardly recognized myself and was fearful about my own health. I had kind of given up and settled my mind that I would be a great aunt and second mom to my friends’ children.

My husband and my doctor then asked me if I was willing to try one more time and I agreed.

Well on November 7, 2013 we discovered we were expecting twins!

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Wow, how did you take the news?

First we cried and laughed back and fourth for awhile staring at the paper. Although, I have to admit we were also a bit scared because you never know how the first few months will be. We felt extremely LUCKY and blessed – we were having two babies! Believe me I just cried tears of happiness for a few days.

So between you guys how was it after all this effort and stress?

He is just the love of my life. I would marry him over and over again.

How was the pregnancy? How was it carrying twins?

The first three months was hard because I had to take hormones to maintain the pregnancy because if it they aren’t produced naturally it might be hard to maintain the pregnancy. So I was really, really tired and then I had a check-up with my doctor every 10 days. After that I had very good pregnancy but towards the very end I had high blood pressure.

Were you ever scared of the delivery?

No (she says firmly), I always knew inside of me that I would and could be able to give birth naturally. But my doctor told me no, too much pressure and he wanted to be there when I delivered. He said it was too risky and that we had to schedule a
c-section. No matter what he said, I just somehow knew I was going to be able to do it myself so I asked if I could at least give it a try. I mean I would be at the hospital and if it didn’t work I could just deliver my babies via c-section. So we made a compromise that I would have a c-section scheduled in case anything happened but at least I’d first give it a try on my own.

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Then one day I was sitting here on my couch and boom my water broke, like a whole river! But I was completely calm and happy and ready to make my body work it’s magic. I called my doctor and he told me to take my time, have a shower and come on over when ready. When I arrived at the hospital, the surgery room was ready for me but I refused because I really wanted to at least try, so I kept on insisting.  Obviously,  if me or my babies were in danger they could then perform a c- section; I am not crazy!

Delivery of twins is usually a bit faster because there is more pressure because they are in two. Then they told me Mathilde was not in the correct position and was stuck to one side. An obstetrician arrived and was supposed to massage my belly to try and move her a bit,  but she  dug her elbow so strong  that she ended up breaking two of my ribs. Therefore, I was in labor with two broken ribs and had a bit of a hard time taking deep breaths. At that point, they told me I had to have a c-section but my feeling at the time and to this day is that I would have been able to do this on my own a 100%. If I had  the right person who could have  helped me with love and true care, I do strongly believe I would have done so.  I mean I waited 6 year for this and that was the best part but it’s okay, they are here now and I am eternally grateful.

So what happened next? Did Enrico stay with you in the c-section?

He walked me over to the room but the problem here in Italy is that husbands are not allowed to stay with their partners during c-sections as they can in the rest of Europe or America. This made us really sad. He had to stay on the other side of a window, so truthfully we were not able to support each other. Then after the c-section, I saw each of my babies for a quick second and then they took them in another room and sewed me back together. No one in the room asked me how I was or how my babies were doing – nothing, I was all alone. My dream was to stay a bit with my husband and two babies together to understand that in this important moment we had just become parents.

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Did you want to breastfeed them?

Oh yes, absolutely. Finally a wonderful woman came in to my room and asked me if I wanted to breastfeed and she stayed with me for the next couple of days to help me get going with the feeding. I stayed in the electric machine for some hours and the milk just came and I was ready to feed the whole floor. I was so happy that at least I was able to do that. For awhile I just followed my babies needs, I was basically topless for three months always breast-feeding. If there is a will there’s a way, even if they come in two. This was really a wonderful moment to be able to breast-feed. Sometimes they would both drink at the same time 🙂

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Did you have any extra help?

Yes, my grandmother and their great-grandmother came here and stayed with us and helped me and she is 80 years old. Amazing! She was just incredible, she helped me a lot. Took the babies out for a walk in the morning so I could rest and take a shower.

You are a working mother now, how long did you stay home with the babies?

I stayed home with them the first 6 months and then my first year of work I just worked mornings from 9-13. It was so hard to leave them, I cried every time.

Where do you work?

I work for Jimmy Choo – in the fashion industry, and have been doing that for a long time, before this I was working for Valentino. I love it but now that I’m a mother my dreams are changing a little bit. Maybe later on in life, I would love to be an event planner. I love organizing parties and seeing everyone together and happy. This way I can own my time and stay more with the twins.

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For how long did you breast-feed?

For 8 months, Gregorio kind of lost interest about that time but Mathilde would have wanted to breast-feed for longer. And I had so much breast milk in the freezer so she was able to drink it from her bottle for a long time.

How did it go when you gave them food?

To be honest, not well and in that moment I felt like a failure. Their doctor told me that at 6 months I had to start feeding them solids but they didn’t want it. No matter what I made, they spit it out and the food was more on the walls then in their stomachs. I guess they were just not ready. I really tried everything from fresh food to jar food. The doctor even suggested meat and fish in powder form to put in their food! Sounds gross, right?

In this period I cried so much I was under so much pressure from the doctor but my babies just did not want food. I suppose they just wanted to breast-feed for a bit longer. Then I took a little break and tried again later and that worked much better. Of course doctors’ instructions are important but as you say in your blog, I guess every mother has to listen to her own child and her own instincts. We all might have different needs.

How about you guys, do you try and stay healthy food wise?

Yes, we definitely do especially since we have become parents. I feel a responsibility towards taking good care of my own health since I became a mother. I need to be up to each task for the children and need to live a long and healthy life with them. We like to try new things, right now we are drinking hot water with lemon each morning and eating more fruit.

How is your marriage going now after you had kids?

Well I focus on picking and choosing my battles in a relationship. I try to avoid fights over toothpaste and silly things like that. Or when I ask him to pass me something from the kitchen and he asks me where it is I respond with, ” the same spot it has been for the past 10 years”! I rethink and realize it is not worth fighting over. I think about all we have been through in these past 11 years together and I realize he is just the love of my life. I would marry him over and over again.

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Do you do something special to maintain the chemistry?

Once a month we go out for dinner, cinema or something. Just a moment for us, where we are not allowed to talk about the kids. A moment dedicated to just us and the relationship.

Do you every lose your patience with the kids?

No, not really. I really work a lot so during the time I get to spend with the kids I really want it to be quality time. I do think maybe I yell more at Enrico instead 🙂 Especially in the morning when we are all getting ready to go out for the day. Usually at around 10:30ish I will call him to apologize for my yelling 🙂

I would like to thank Francesca for sharing her motherhood story with us. It was really a pleasure to meet her and her beautiful family. I love how every story at some point gives me so many goosebumps and even tears in my eyes.

I appreciate her honesty and hope this will be of comfort or encouragement to a mother out there. I wish you all the best of luck 🙂

– Love JM

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COCONUT GLORY

Coconut Oil has been extremely popular worldwide for a few years now. It’s known as a super food/product that you can use in over 75 different ways . In your household, skin, hair, as a health supplement and for cooking.

Health websites and bloggers have been writing about it’s glory for quite some years  but Italy seems to have skipped this train. I do believe this is due to the fact that olive oil here is considered the first lady of oils and for many good reasons 🙂

Since moving here I use olive oil much more than I used to, but from time to time I like to switch things up so I will alternate between olive and coconut in my cooking.

I would like start off by providing you with you some of the many ways coconut oil may be of use to you and I think a good speech can never be repeated enough.

– For starters,  coconut oil can tolerate the highest heat out of all the oils and this is the reason why claims have been made that it’s the most healthy oil to cook with. It is high in saturated fat, but not all saturated fat is bad. The saturated fat in coconut oil is natural and natural saturated fat has been proven to be extremely healthy and even necessary for your body. It improves your health and functions in so many different ways.

– Coconut oil may help you to naturally balance your hormones because it’s a great source of saturated fat and also lauric acid.

– Coconut oil can help improve bacteria and gut health by destroying bad bacteria and candida. Candida imbalance can decrease stomach acids which then cause inflammation and poor digestion.

* There are entire books dedicated to the potential of saturated fats like coconut oil to help avoid Alzheimer’s.  If you are interested in exploring more on this topic then I suggest you read, “Alzheimer’s Disease: What If There Was A Cure?”

– It’s anti-inflammatory properties can help lessen arthritis.

–  It’s anti-inflammatory properties can also release a bloated swollen stomach.

– Blend a tablespoon into hot tea to help speed recovery from a cold or flu.

– Rub it in your nose to reduce allergies.

– Can reduce the itch of mosquito bites.

– Coconut oil makes an excellent eye-makeup remover all on its own.

– Add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to make a delicious massage oil.

– As a natural shaving cream and aftershave lotion.

– Mix with seal salt to remove dry skin on feet.

– Natural homemade diaper cream.

– Use it alone or with baking soda as a natural deodorant.

– By itself or with baking soda as a naturally whitening toothpaste

– Rub on cuticles to help nails grow.

– Rub on elbows or knees daily to alleviate dry, flaky skin patches.

– Excellent lip balm.

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– After dish-washing use as a hand lotion or before going out in cold weather to protect your hands from dryness.

– As a completely natural baby lotion and massage oil.

*  I rub it on my  boys’ faces to protect their sensitive skin before going out into very cold weather.

– Make your own baby wipes – boil a small cup of water and add one big table spoon of coconut oil to it  so that it melts. Then pour the mixture over a large pile of gauze in a box or Tupperware. *I use it as a diaper rash cream for my boys.

– Coconut Oil for hair – rub it onto the very ends of your hair and let it remain overnight and in the morning  make sure to washout well.

– Coconut oil for hair – rub into your scalp daily to stimulate hair growth in men

– Oil Pulling –  First thing in the morning when you wake up put a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it between your teeth between 5 and 20 minutes, then spit out and scrape your tongue well. It’s been said that this can improve any cuts or soars, cure bad breath, provide good gum and oral health.

– I like to add a teaspoon to my coffee every morning.

– In smoothies

– In exchange of butter on bread – coconut oil is delicious

– I add a tablespoon of it to melt over my steamed vegetables – so yummy!

– As an alternative to butter in many baking recipes.

What I always do after my shower and before drying off is massage the oil into my wet skin for extra moisture and I also do this for my boys. Take my word for it , your skin will simply glow. I am always very conscious of  what I put on my skin, especially during my pregnancies and while breastfeeding. I once heard we should never put anything on our skin in which we can’t eat. Our skin is our biggest and a very important organ so what we put on our skin can easily be absorbed into our circulation. Many skin products are just loaded with harmful chemicals and toxic materials. I highly recommend you give coconut oil a try. I always keep one jar of it in our kitchen and one in the bathroom.

Hope you enjoy it!

– Love JM

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WE ARE TRYING TO HAVE A BABY

What an extremely exciting time when a couple in-love makes the decision to create a life together.  For some it comes easily and for many others it proves difficult or even impossible. The reasons for this can be many. As always it depends on the individual and if there are any issues with her ovaries or his semen. Remember that lifestyle plays a huge part in this equation and is a very important factor. You should think about the answer to the following questions: Are you sleeping well? Is there stress that you are currently dealing with? Do you make poor choices when it comes to food? Also, last but definitely not least , do you smoke or consume too much alcohol?

When trying to conceive it feels like the pressure is mostly on the woman to take good care of herself due to the fact that the baby will be growing inside of her. This is true and she should take extra steps to ensure good health for herself and that of her unborn child. Women must eat good, fresh and clean foods. When I say clean, I mean homemade or at least not processed factory made junk. This is because you would not believe how many companies out there put so much extra CRAP (excuse my language) in their  products, even ones who claim to be “Organic”. Organic does not equal healthy anymore due to the fact that many brands use the word as a marketing ploy; it works and we are suffering because of it.

Along with eating well, a good night’s sleep is also extremely necessary. Our bodies must rest to restore our system for the next day and prepare  for what’s to come. A restful, deep sleep also reduces stress levels in our body and boosts our mood and sense of calm.

Exercise is also very important as it helps your body self-regulate by increasing circulation throughout it which helps a great deal. By exercising you reduce stress levels which help you to sleep better.Exercise also causes cravings for healthier more nutritious food. In the end all these factors help you to  reach new and better life choices.

It is super important to give your body the tools it needs to function at it’s best.  

The above doesn’t apply only to women. Men that are trying to impregnate their partners need to provide healthy and strong sperm. Many men think that they don’t have to quit smoking, eat well or that they can sit at a desk all day without moving their bodies. This could not be further from the truth. Once a couple has made the decision to conceive together they then both have to take a closer look at their lifestyles. I mean we should all give ourselves the gift of a healthy life even if we are not trying to have a baby. Maybe the baby thing is a good excuse and will give you motivation to make a change to better your health and life.

In doing all the above, might I add that your goal should not be to become skinny. You should not be on a low-fat or fat free food diet. Your body needs fat to survive, this applies especially to women. Our hormonal system requires fat so it can function strong and well. Regular menstruation without too much pain is what we want. If this is out of balance we experience painful cramps, too heavy of a flow and irregularity. Our brains and babies need fat to grow and develop.

Breast milk is very fattening and those of you who’ve breastfed might have noticed extra fat around  the circle on your upper back. Don’t worry once you stop feeding thatdisappears on it’s own, so do your best to embrace and be proud of it because you are doing an amazing job 🙂

Fat is not the enemy but make sure to eat only good fats such as:

– Nuts and seeds : almonds, macadamia, walnuts, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, hemp-seeds and sesame seeds.

– Avocado

– Coconut ( if you have it fresh that is always best). * I add 100% Organic coconut milk to many foods I prepare such as soup.

– Fish * Make sure you are buying wild, fresh fish and of high quality. Stay away from shell fish and bottom feeders. From time to time I do love a good, tasty Salmon. As a person that comes from Iceland, I truly do know a thing or two about good fish 🙂

Well take this all in and think about if any of my advice could be of use to you; I truly do hope so. I know it can be hard and frustrating when you are waiting for something to happen and every month you are disappointed. Don’t give up. Protect your love and the passion that you have towards each other – it is important. Be kind to yourself and your body, you deserve it.

love, JM

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FIRST LIST OF BABY FOOD

It’s been said that the first three years of a persons’ life is the most important when it comes to food, love and care. During this time period babies are growing and learning so much at a fast speed. If the mother is able to breastfeed it is known to be the greatest gift she can provide to her child. If for unfortunate reasons a mother can’t then she will find other ways to give it back.

Graduating from milk and embarking on food can be a very tricky time. What to feed and what not to feed our babies… All parents want to provide the very best and sometimes we just don’t know better because the advertising industry want us to trust them. There are even some doctors that will suggest for us to buy food that is factory mass produced. These foods have a very long shelf life, are stored in room temperature and claim to contain “FRESH” vegetables, and also fish and meat! I have never seen real FRESH food not rot if put in a situation such as this. That means these foods are chemical – laden and contain ingredients that are definitely not on my menu. I started to research and find this out as I became a mother. I really started to dig deep into what foods would give my son the benefits and nutrients that his growing body and mind needed.

After all my reading and research on the topic of food, I discovered clean-eating as a much better alternative for my child. Clean-eating is made up of fresh food and mostly organic vegetables and fruit. It is all natural for children to digest and to receive all the most important vitamins and minerals.They use these nutrients to grow and blossom without too much of the usual complications such as rashes, constipation and runny-noses which many times are completely food related.
Therefore I have created a list of my favorite foods for babies that I am delighted to share with you. I personally made all of the food for my kids. I find it much more convenient, affordable and I always know exactly what my child is eating.
This list includes foods for around 6 months and up but it does depend on how curious your child seems to be on trying food. I do believe every mother knows how to read her child on when the right moment is but it also depends on how much milk that mother has; it is completely normal for a breastfeeding baby to want to drink often. My firstborn showed no interest in food up until 8 months of age. He just drank plenty of milk and seemed very happy with it. While my second was very curious and super excited when I was eating so I took that as a sign that he was ready to try out some food. At just over 6 months he started on solids but also continued on breast-milk as his main source of energy for a little while longer.

It’s in my hopes that you can find my list helpful. Please try it out and I would love to read your feedback on what worked and maybe didn’t work.

 

Food for 6 months+

Avocado:
An incredible fruit packed with so much nutrition such as the very important good fats that your baby’s brain and skin needs to keep on glowing. Consumption of avocado helps support his/her digestion, provides enzymes, fiber, vitamin K, C , B6 and folate. Twice more potassium than a banana and without all the sugar. Simple and super delicious.

All you have to do is cut it in half , twist the two parts and either scrape out the meat with a little spoon or smash all the meat with a fork and it is ready for consumption. If your baby does not seem to like it, I recommend not to give up, keep re-introducing it and sooner rather than later he/she will give in and love it. Later on when your baby starts to eat mixed foods you can mix the avocado with many different things such as – sweet-potatoes, pears, bananas and peas.

Papaya:
Oh , how I love papaya! It is totally a super fruit with Vitamin C and digestive enzymes that prevent your baby from becoming constipated. Papaya gives your body Vitamin B as well. Papaya has been dubbed ” the fruit of angels” .

You can either scrape the meat out with a spoon but if that is way too messy you can just throw it in a blender and because it is so liquid just pulse it a few times then pour in a bowl. You can even leave a few of the seeds in the blender ( around 4 seeds) as they are packed with vitamins too 🙂

Sweet-potato:
The sweet flavor that sweet-potatoes have help your baby to love it, plus it is great for your baby’s eyes, hair and skin. It is loaded with Vitamin A and Beta carotene, also contains very high levels of Copper and Zinc. It may keep your baby full and satisfied because it is a natural carbohydrate.

It is super easy to prepare. I always steam vegetables for my boys as that helps to protect all the vitamins and minerals from being destroyed. I wash the potato first and then peel it, cut it down into cubes then steam it. After I will smash it with a fork or a blender and use a bit of the steamed water to create the right consistency. In the beginning it is better to have the texture thinner and then slowly try and thicken it. The reason I do that is because it helps pass through their delicate systems easier. I then always include a teaspoon of oil per portion at the very end. I rotate between Coconut oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Organic and high quality brands. I prefer to spend a bit more on the oil I use for them because it is a 100% worth it 🙂

Banana :
Sooo easy, especially while travelling. Every baby loves banana and this is why I waited awhile to feed it to my sons. After they tried it all they wanted was bananas. It’s super sweet and the texture so creamy – what a great combo. You will only need a spoon to open the banana and scrape out the meat.

Pumpkin:
Pumpkins come in many different shapes and colors the nutrients they hold are all quite similar so just choose the one that you prefer or try them all 🙂 Very high in Beta carotene and gentle on the digestive track. Super sweet and tasty so your baby will adore it.

Simple like the sweet-potato – you will wash, peel and cut it down into small pieces. I always put the pumpkin into a blender because it can be hard to get very smooth by fork and then you end it with a bit of your choice of oil 🙂

Pear:
Pears are juicy and sweet, I don’t know any babies who dislike this fruit. Similar to apples when it comes to health benefits.

I wash the pear and peel it just a little less then half and then scrape out the meat or just use the same method as you’d use to make the applesauce to make a tasty pear sauce.

Apple:
Apples are an excellent super food that contains significant amounts of Vitamin C and fiber. It is also a great source of minerals – Zinc, Copper, Potassium and Calcium. Apples should always be bought organic. The very famous apple sauce has proven popular in my household with my boys and still is.

I peel the apples and then steam them for just a bit ( 3-5 minutes should suffice) blend with a tad of the steamed water. *Note: if you have some extra breast milk lying around you can use that as well which is even better. I add between two and five leaves of thoroughly washed baby spinach into my apple sauce. In the finale stage, along with your oil, just add a dash of cinnamon because you know cinnamon makes everything better 🙂

Well this is my first list of baby foods and I hope it’s helpful.
I highly suggest when you introduce a food to your baby that you give them only one new food to try at a time. In case your baby has any allergic reactions it will be simpler to trace it’s origin. I introduced one food at a time and waited 3-4 days before adding a new one.

Love JM