tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86400670661489697322024-03-13T21:59:31.889+00:00hello seedlingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-32804788307016061972016-08-16T21:59:00.001+01:002016-08-16T21:59:41.542+01:00We Love SpainHi! What's happening, Internet. We went to Spain to visit family, just outside Bilbao. Took a million photos that I have yet to sort through, but in the meantime here are a few from my trusty 5C.<br />
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Some murals in Plentzia. I had to be an Instagram girl and get our pic in front of it. Awesome beach there, by the way. Someone had made these little sand pools by the waters edge, and all the toddlers were loving it. I love the beaches there - it doesn't matter if you've got stretch marks, varicose veins, spare tire, whatever, Spanish women are out in their bikinis. 80 or 8. I was casually chatting to another mom, who happened to be topless and was rocking some post-breastfeeding boobs. Beach + body = beach body. I'm always covered up, because I'm lame.</div>
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More mural.</div>
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She got to spend a lot of time with this guy. Heart-eyes.</div>
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Going a bit feral. She was naked for the better part of a week.</div>
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Sun.</div>
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There are playgrounds every two blocks, it seems like. Really fantastic for families. This Snow White has a bit of the Madonna about her, no?</div>
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Father/son siesta.</div>
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The siesta continues. He's actually gone off the charts size-wise now, and his delicious chubbiness seemed to delight older Spanish ladies. Quite rightly. And he's on food properly now. So much food.</div>
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Gotta love a good washing line.</div>
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Hangs.</div>
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Yet more mural.<br />
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Me and the boy.</div>
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Random corner in a bar. Continental Europe always makes me want to plant geraniums.</div>
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A snack on the grass in a rare clothed moment. Papaya and hemp seeds.<br />
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More public art in Bilbao, right by the Guggenheim.<br />
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Yeah. Wow.<br />
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I like this lettering.</div>
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And last but certainly not least, some fountain frolicking. Right outside the Guggenheim is an amazing playground, because of course there is. AND some crazy fountains for playing in. I'm not sure I've ever seen her happier. The world is her playground.<br />
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Hopefully I will get around to posting some more soon!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-2572539826642601912016-08-09T20:50:00.000+01:002016-08-29T14:48:33.868+01:00Everything Bagel Salt Rip-Off<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fbuoaFHhu30/V8Q85QY275I/AAAAAAAACMM/1xtt_bsgNng/s640/blogger-image--1117744089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fbuoaFHhu30/V8Q85QY275I/AAAAAAAACMM/1xtt_bsgNng/s640/blogger-image--1117744089.jpg"></a></div><br></div>So, I didn't invent this. I was given a jar as a hostess gift, and soon found I couldn't live without it. The operative word here is "everything", because it now goes on everything. Anyway, I gather you can purchase this delightful stuff in the US, but we don't live there - I find these proportions do the job quite nicely:<br>
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Everything Bagel Salt<br>
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1 cup coarse sea salt (however coarse you like it - I ground mine a touch finer in the mortar and pestle.)<br>
1 tablespoon caraway<br>
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds<br>
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds<br>
1 tablespoon poppy seeds<br>
1 tablespoons garlic powder<br>
1 tablespoon onion salt<br>
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Here it is on some golden beetroot on toast. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xc4TQH1HY8s/V8Q87VHZdXI/AAAAAAAACMQ/2aRcckoCngg/s640/blogger-image--929945788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xc4TQH1HY8s/V8Q87VHZdXI/AAAAAAAACMQ/2aRcckoCngg/s640/blogger-image--929945788.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2DLH5loPSzg/V8Q83J3a7kI/AAAAAAAACMI/p3iF1xL1Fb4/s640/blogger-image-861817722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2DLH5loPSzg/V8Q83J3a7kI/AAAAAAAACMI/p3iF1xL1Fb4/s640/blogger-image-861817722.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Also good on tomatoes, or avocado - basically anything on toast. In other words, everything.</span></div><div><br><div><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-22274731970398782392016-08-03T13:57:00.000+01:002016-08-04T09:28:30.406+01:00Sewing<div>
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Eek, where have I been? I've been sewing.<br />
<a name='more'></a> Furiously, obsessively, with every spare moment. I like to sew. I don't think I've mentioned that on here, because frankly I hadn't done any since F was born, (just couldn't find the time or motivation), but it was probably my first creative love and it's a hobby I always return to. I learned from my mom when I was little, so I've been doing it a long time, but I am perhaps more confident than I am skilled - there's usually one big, stupid error per project. So I'd been thinking, fast fashion bums me out. How can a person (probably a woman) earn a decent living making clothes that are eventually sold for so little? That little label that says 'made in Bangladesh'? Bangladesh has one of the lowest minimum wages in the world. It's not a coincidence. When you sew your own clothes, it becomes clear that clothes are made, somewhere, by a skilled human being (whose skills are outrageously undervalued - again, because 85-90% of them are female?). We know this, as we know that the pay is likely to be low and the conditions less than ideal, but we forget somehow, as we do with the horrors of animal agriculture. Deep down I think we all know it's probably bad, but it's normal, and anyway, what can I do? Well, I can opt out, even in a limited way. I have an option that many people don't; I can make some of my own clothes. I'm not going to set some crazy goal, or pretend that I'm not just as bad as anyone. I checked my clothes earlier - made in Cambodia and China. But I refuse to let perfect be the enemy of good, so I'm just trying to make more of my clothes these days. I don't expect everyone to do this - as I said, I like to sew, and I'm going to ride out this creative wave while it lasts (I know from past experience that the fever will pass, and hopefully I will have filled my closet and set a new habit by then) - but in general I'm unapologetically in favour of conscious consumption. Secondhand is another (probably even better) option, or more 'ethical' brands. The big brands can do better, governments can do better, but in the meantime, I can do better. So I'm trying, but not martyring myself if you know what I mean.<br />
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Anyway, on to the actual sewing! I've been a fan of Colette Patterns for a while, and own several of their original (now 'archive', 'cause I'm old) patterns, and they now have a pattern magazine called <a href="https://www.seamwork.com/" target="_blank">Seamwork</a>. It's a nice read for it's own sake, but subscription also gets you two patterns a month from their library. The patterns are all simple, easy and, typical for Colette, they are contemporary with a whiff of vintage about them (their main collection patterns are more complicated and detailed, with lovely vintage details). So I'm building a small pattern library of basics, and a capsule wardrobe that meets my current lifestyle requirements: 1. Nursing friendly 2. Comfortable 3. Not sweats. And I've made loads! So far, my current binge has produced two pairs of trousers (Seamwork), two skirts (one vintage Butterick, one Colette), three robes (Seamwork, two for me and one for my mom), two tops (Seamwork), two dresses for me (Seamwork), and a dress for F (self-drafted). The only downside is putting the damn downloadable patterns together. Ethical considerations aside, I think it's time to rethink my wardrobe. I've been dressing like this mom gig is temporary, just throwing on whatever is clean and sort-of fits, and I really ought to accept that this is my life for now (which I love!) and commit to some clothes that make sense, but make me feel good. So I'm learning a lot, as you always do when you sew, getting more confident with knits, and sewing more separates than dresses (boob access). Although, I did see a '30's feedsack dress in the magazine that I MUST copy - the straps attach by a front button, which means you could nurse in it! I've pinned it to a board called Garment Sewing if you're on Pinterest.</div>
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Trousers and skirts.</div>
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F's little eyelet dress. She loves it. </div>
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Same. </div>
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Seamwork Catarina. Check out those adjustable straps! Pretty pleased with it, but won't get to wear it much until next year. </div>
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What about you, do you sew? Why? For yourself, or for others? My mom is a crazy-good quilter - the stitching is in my blood!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-25156817422106150652016-06-14T09:16:00.003+01:002016-06-14T09:16:39.318+01:00Love as an AnchorThere's a song I love, Prescilla by Bat for Lashes, do you know it? She's talking about a friend settling down to start a family, who wants to "comb a brush around their heads in the morning / to be needed, simply and with meaning."<br />
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With "love as an anchor, before the courage is gone." Because it takes courage, this motherhood gig. And love is an anchor.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-22984059729201143362016-06-13T10:40:00.001+01:002016-06-13T10:40:18.773+01:00Snapshot - Pea Podding<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GTNpGXDMmyg/V15_gfcWDdI/AAAAAAAACJU/s-5Jev4mm7g/s640/blogger-image--2126338853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GTNpGXDMmyg/V15_gfcWDdI/AAAAAAAACJU/s-5Jev4mm7g/s640/blogger-image--2126338853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CkflYKH9rBE/V15_c2g-57I/AAAAAAAACJE/DYqwFBeQrmU/s640/blogger-image--122309571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dYt96DNCoS4/V15_erPIdhI/AAAAAAAACJM/w2teb38sLoo/s640/blogger-image-843545042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dYt96DNCoS4/V15_erPIdhI/AAAAAAAACJM/w2teb38sLoo/s640/blogger-image-843545042.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Just to say that I'm pretty sure that pea podding is the most wholesome toddler activity there is.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CkflYKH9rBE/V15_c2g-57I/AAAAAAAACJE/DYqwFBeQrmU/s640/blogger-image--122309571.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She thinks it's pea "popping", and softly says "pop!" as she pops them in the bowl. It's pretty delightful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GTNpGXDMmyg/V15_gfcWDdI/AAAAAAAACJU/s-5Jev4mm7g/s640/blogger-image--2126338853.jpg"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That's all! Happy Monday! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-38517043704143727272016-05-22T22:12:00.002+01:002016-05-22T22:12:47.037+01:00Lacto-Fermented Daikon (that my toddler loves)<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've mentioned before that my kid can't get enough of these fermented radish pickles. This isn't a recipe, as much as a method - I obviously didn't invent this (if it were a song, it would be 'Trad'), but I'm asked about it frequently enough that I thought some of you might like a how-to? They are unbelievably tasty, considering how simple they are. I just plonk the jar on the table to have with dinner, or with bread and veggies and dips for an easy Sunday lunch. The three of us (you know, who eat solid foods), can get through a jar in one sitting. Sound good? Ok!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wash, but don't peel, some daikon radishes. Quantity is up to you, but I say make a good sized batch. I usually do two large ones at a time. Slice them into coins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pack the daikon slices into a jar. You can pack them fairly tightly, just not so tightly that air couldn't escape. The fermentation process creates bubbles, and you want those bubbles to sneak out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You'll also need some brine. The ratio I use is as 1 1/2 teaspoon of (good, natural) sea salt to 1 cup of water. So for two cups of water, that's 3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon). The quantity you'll need depends on the jars. I usually need one or two cups, so I make them one at a time. It should be room temperature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Submerge the daikon in brine. If its packed tightly in a jar with a narrower mouth, you can sometimes keep them submerged by wedging under the neck, but a safer bet is to use a weight of some kind. A smaller jar works a treat, as pictured. If they are still sneaking up to the surface, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charles-Viancin-Silicone-Sealing-Lilypad/dp/B00IHWR4NE/ref=pd_sim_201_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=314jDhNIY7L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=9B14QYM2GS78FJNMEA0R" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">these little silicon mats </a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">work well as a 'follower', but you'll still need a weight. Point is, keep them submerged. No metal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cover loosely with a cloth, and check every now and again to make sure that everything is still submerged. Leave at room temperature for at least a week, no longer than two. If it's cold, as it often is in my kitchen, two weeks is better. In the summer, I find one is perfect. If you're a nerd, like me, you can keep litmus papers in the kitchen to test for acidity - they are ready when they are 4.6 or lower. But that really isn't necessary, they are ready when they taste delicious. I can't be more precise because it depends on so many variables, but they really are that easy: submerge in brine, leave for a week or two.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eat, with everything. I like them on toast. She likes them by the handful!</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-28309410784405336112016-04-19T14:40:00.002+01:002016-04-19T14:42:59.799+01:00Miso-y Peanut Dipping Sauce<img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RLB-iPxFo1s/Vw5GYY-E1WI/AAAAAAAACEs/VYEC_DDHUEYq-o4NKS4oNBthk2rZm_LJQCLcB/s640/DSC_0587.jpg" style="text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
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Another recipe?? I've gone all industrious on you! No, this is just a little one - a simple (but completely addictive) dipping sauce for those gorgeous rice-paper rolls we're all making now that spring has finally sprung. Whenever I make something that my guy really loves, 9 times out of 10 it has miso in it. This has miso in it:<br />
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<b>Miso-y Peanut-y Dippin' Sauce</b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8640067066148969732" name="more"></a><br />
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1/2 cup of peanut butter (I like it how I like my babies - chunky)<br />
1/4 of soy sauce<br />
1/4 cup of lime juice<br />
1 tablespoon fresh miso (the refrigerated kind, see note)<br />
1 tablespoon brown rice syrup<br />
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Whizz it all up in a food processor or blender, dip with abandon. If you have any leftover, it makes a really good salad dressing too!<br />
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Note: Miso. Miso is one of a handful of ingredients that changed my cooking life, but it's gotta be the good stuff. The <i>live</i> stuff. And the live stuff has to be kept in the fridge, because it's alive. I will admit that it isn't always easy to find - I have to make a special trip to a good health food shop (Sheel Pharmacy in Lewisham usually stock it, sometimes unusual kinds too, like Tex-Mex!) or Whole Foods. But if you can find it, it makes all the difference - I can't vouch for the shelf-stable kind. This is my favourite variety of my favourite brand:<br />
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Go forth, and roll!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-10559931162653384272016-04-17T20:45:00.000+01:002016-04-17T20:45:25.712+01:00Wild Garlic Pesto<div>
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Can you get wild garlic where you are? This time of year I can find it at my farmers market, but I understand that it's easily foraged for in the English countryside, if you know where to look (smell?). But for me, purchased is just fine. It looks like grass, and tastes like strong garlic - we're a garlic-loving household, so that's just fine too. Made this pesto today to go with a barbecue and we couldn't get enough. I didn't plan on posting about this, so forgive the photo quality, but it's so good I couldn't resist - I'm not going to be humble, this is killer:<br />
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<b>Wild Garlic Pesto</b></div>
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100g wild garlic (pictured above left)</div>
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100g fresh basil</div>
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50g walnuts (or pumpkin seeds)</div>
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Half a tablespoon salt</div>
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Half a lemon worth of juice</div>
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1/4 - 1/2 cup of olive oil, depending on how you like the texture.</div>
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(I tried to do a cute walnuts-in-hand photo, but my son wasn't having it. It's ok, you know what walnuts look like.)<br />
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So, you basically just whizz it all up in a food processor but I would suggest starting small with the oil, like 1/4 cup, then adding more as you blend it until you like the texture. I like it on the chunky side.<br />
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We had it on EVERYTHING. Bread, grilled asparagus, even some carrot sticks. I freely admit that I had a couple spoonfuls just by itself. It's SO good. This makes a lot, but you'll want a lot.</div>
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Get. In. My. Face.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-625990297329676252016-04-15T22:01:00.000+01:002016-04-15T22:01:11.812+01:00Scenes From Our Table<br />
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Spring! How about some flowers?<br />
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Ranunculus. My favourite, I think. Besides all the others.<br />
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I had to move some stuff around so that breakable things were out of reach, which means she can now get to the cookbooks. She especially likes to look through the Ms. Cupcake book, and ask 'shall we make that one? Shall we??'<br />
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She also likes the colourful Mexico cookbook.<br />
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This is a <a href="http://kitteekake.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/pudla-of-moment.html" target="_blank">pudla</a>, which is a savoury chickpea flour pancake. Here with veggies inside, pickled chickpeas on top, and some hot sauce. Chickpeas forever. I made the table runner. I hadn't even ironed it yet, just wanted to see what it looked like.<br />
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A brunch. <a href="http://helloseedling.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/weekday-french-toast-easy-lazy.html" target="_blank">French toast </a>and banana. There was more banana, but SOMEBODY ate it all.<br />
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A dinner. Stir-fry and edamame.<br />
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Another dinner. Can every night be taco night? Not joking.<br />
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And some fabric from my stash that I'm going to turn into table linens (because we don't have enough). Thinking of selling some extras on Etsy - what do you think, do people buy napkins and runners? I could wax poetic about them; I love things that are both pretty and practical, and a little old-fashioned. (I have an intense love of vintage slips for the same reason. Often I see some girl with a clingy, unflattering dress situation and think, 'you need a slip, young lady'.) Here's a better look at that runner, still un-ironed:<br />
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The fabric was from a remnant I snagged at <a href="https://www.clothhouse.com/" target="_blank">The Cloth House</a> quite a while ago. Notice the book? Some men bring home flowers, mine gets me a book called 'Healing Foods'. That's love, folks. Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely weekend!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-59412825771815665842016-04-12T12:23:00.000+01:002016-04-12T12:23:22.206+01:00Rye/Chai Aquafaba Waffles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Remember when I was all in a tizzy about <a href="http://helloseedling.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/vegan-meringue.html" target="_blank">vegan meringue</a>? Well, I've been experimenting with the magic ingredient, <a href="http://aquafaba.com/" target="_blank">Aquafaba</a>, in something we actually eat on the reg: whole-grain waffles. You know I love to make waffles; they're treaty and fun, freeze really well, and if I use good flour, pretty healthy too. But whole-grain flours can be a little dense, a little heath-food-y - I'm finding that aquafaba makes them noticeably lighter and fluffier. Result! So here's my first contribution to the Aquafaba recipe cannon, and there will definitely be more where this came from (watch out Buckwheat, I'm coming for you). These ones are easy to make, aromatic and eminently brunch-worthy, with no refined sugar. Yum:</div>
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Wet Mix:</div>
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2 cups oat milk (or your favourite non-dairy milk)</div>
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1 tsp apple cider vinegar</div>
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2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil</div>
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2 tablespoons brown rice syrup</div>
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3 tablespoons (unwhipped) aquafaba</div>
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract</div>
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Dry Mix:</div>
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1 1/4 cup whole-grain rye flour</div>
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1 cup white flour (I'm using white spelt at the moment but regular white wheat flour is fine, I just like variety)</div>
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1 tablespoon baking powder</div>
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1/4 teaspoon salt</div>
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1/2 teaspoon chai spice blend</div>
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In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until the brown rice syrup is dissolved and the mixture is lightly foamy. Add the dry ingredients, and there's your batter! Cook as per your waffle maker - I get 8 waffles in my Cuisinart. </div>
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Notes and Tips:</div>
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*I've used American cups here. I just find that first thing in the morning, it feels easier. Also, I originally learned how to make waffles from <a href="http://www.theppk.com/" target="_blank">Isa</a>, who uses cups. I know, I'm inconsistent...</div>
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*Flours seem to vary immensely (one of the problems with cups), so do bear in mind that this batter will thicken up the longer it sits. If it's getting too thick, add a little more oat milk teaspoon at a time. </div>
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*My chai spice blend contains cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, ginger and black pepper. If you can't find one, and you're in the US, pumpkin pie spice would be a serviceable alternative. </div>
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*What can I say, I actually like them to look a little rustic, so I just let them spread out on their own in the iron. Which is really well pre-heated and sprayed copiously with oil, obviously.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-13825335813939649242016-04-07T21:01:00.000+01:002016-04-07T21:01:46.782+01:00Dealing With Toddler Pickiness, A Year OnIt seems like a while ago now that I was first tackling some pickiness with my (amazing, strong-willed) girl, and to be honest, it seems to come and go. Right now it feels like we've turned a corner, but I'm sure that it's just going to be an ongoing thing. Current thoughts and tactics:<br />
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<b>Getting her involved</b>: Whether it's unpacking the veggies, or making bread, or even getting some of our ferments going, she is always invited to 'help'. In the above picture, we had just gotten our veg delivery. She <i>asked</i> to try the mushrooms, which she didn't like, but she tried them three times that morning. She also asked if we could taste the artichoke ("Shall we taste it? Shall we do dat?" Heart-eye-emoji). The same goes with bread - she plays with (eats) a little dough, sees the bread rising, baking, and then it's exciting to eat. Sometimes, when we're cooking, she will eat half the tofu before I can add it to the pan, and that's ok. Sometimes she's not interested at all, and that's ok too. Which leads me too...</div>
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<b>Not forcing her</b>: Toddlers have a will of IRON. Not only does fighting about it make mealtimes very unpleasant, it's also pretty ineffective AND I think begets more pickiness as they assert themselves. My theory is, the more you make them insist that they don't like a particular food, the more that becomes a fact, a part of their emerging identity, rather than just a passing preference. If she doesn't like something, I tell her that she doesn't have to eat it. And that's fine.</div>
<b>Keep offering, then offer again: </b><br />
As I mentioned recently, it took TWO YEARS of offering avocado for her to decide she likes it. What if I had given up, thinking, well, she won't eat it so why bother. She's surprised me by eating raw spinach, celery, ALL the fermented radishes. And sometimes it's inconsistent - just because she won't eat her carrots for dinner doesn't mean she won't eat them for lunch. Another side effect of baby-led weaning is that we all eat the same dinner, apart from the very occasional curry for the grown-ups (she hates spicy food), which takes the pressure off the food waste issue. I haven't made her separate food, and it won't go to waste, so again, if she doesn't like it, fine.<br />
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<b>Green smoothies, again:</b> My guy bought a Nutribullet, and I was like, 'what's all the fuss about, it's a BLENDER.' But actually it's been great, for her especially. She's having rocket (arugula), spinach, kale, wheatgrass, spirulina - and none the wiser about it. I usually start with banana for sweetness, then greens, a 'boost' like wheatgrass or hemp seed or spirulina, and a liquid, usually water but sometimes oat milk, juice or coconut water. Anyway, she likes the smoothies and gets something green down her - she says they are "very juicy". High praise indeed. We have one every day. Note the 'Frozen' mug.</div>
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<b>Kid food</b>: Let me be honest, I do not want to eat steamed carrots as often as my daughter does. Or pasta, or Weetabix (I just remembered that this morning she asked for "one Weetabick". Singular. Haha.) or any of the other foods she really likes and can be consistently relied upon to eat. But I make them, because sometimes you just want to see them stuff their faces without reservation. My next goal is to get more variety in the grains we eat - more rice, more quinoa, more millet - because <i>I'm</i> bored of pasta. Once a week is enough for me. But I have to be ok with making 'kid food' sometimes, because it works and it can be really wholesome too. A peanut butter sandwich (on homemade bread, woo!) and an apple is just as good as the more exotic options I might like. So sometimes I've just got to get over myself, and feed the kid. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>A little bribe</b>: What? Bribe?! Ok, hear me out. This is the situation that drives me nuts: I've made her something that *she will like*, like, I don't know, fried plantain for example, and she won't try it at that particular moment. I don't think it's a good idea to bribe with dessert, or anything that's difficult to give, so I offer one high-five to try something new. Often, she likes it and eats the rest, collecting more high-fives. Or she doesn't, but she's tried it, and that's ok with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I hope her diet will just continue to broaden as she tries more and more new things. I hope to introduce different grains more regularly, as I said. I hope to be able to cook with more spice eventually. But mostly, I just hope she gets what she needs - and she does. So, you know, it could be worse. How do you deal with picky phases?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-37795093651237516012016-04-01T15:05:00.001+01:002016-04-08T15:12:47.570+01:00Getting Back on the Mat<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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The sun is shining, and I'm sick of being sick. I'm sick of being tired! Maybe it's just the natural end to that stay-in-bed postpartum period, or maybe it's spring, but H is 10 weeks old, and I feel like getting fit again. There was a time, before we had kids, that I went to yoga every single day. I had joined a gym when we temporarily didn't have a shower in our flat, and was really making the most of it. So it was that hardcore gym-bunny vinyasa flow yoga too. I felt awesome. I felt strong. I'm not necessarily looking to lose weight (I'm back in my normal clothes already. Did I mention H was a big baby? I did??), but I want to feel strong again. But, um, how do I do this with little ones underfoot? I'm not sure how this is going to work out, but here's my grand plan:</div>
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Step 1: Just get the goddamn mat out. Get my favourite leggings on. Take my shoes off. If you build it, they will come. H is happy in a bouncer for a little while, usually, so I just need to plan to take this sliver of time, every day. </div>
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Step 2: Involve F. On the days that she's home with me, maybe we can do yoga together? Our initial crack at this was a partial success. She really had fun, and it was so cute to see her doing down dog and warrior pose. But her attention span got the better of her, and soon she was making us a pretend picnic of chocolate cake to eat. Even so, a handful of sun salutations is better than nothing, surely?</div>
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Step 3: Refocus my diet. Not because I'm 'dieting', but because those little indulgences make you feel like crap when they become habitual. Caffeine and sugar have snuck back into my life, not everyday but enough to make me crave more, and I need them gone again. So goodbye for now vegan cupcakes! It's not you, it's me... And it's not like I need to be some Iron Woman, normally I think it's fine to indulge - but parenting two small children, one of whom is huge for his age and exclusively breastfeeding, is physically demanding. It's a marathon. I need stamina! Snacks lately have been protein-y (probably because of the aforementioned milk chugger), lots of nuts and seeds. F recently discovered that she loves pumpkin seeds, so we need them in the house all the time now.</div>
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Step 4: If all of the above goes well, and we are practicing daily, I might look into getting an audio-led yoga practice CD or something, and a child-sized mat for F. It could be our fun thing in the morning! We'll see though.</div>
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Just an aside, don't put Kombucha in your smoothie, even single fermented. It makes it 90% foam. Whoops!</div>
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Any tips for me? Anyone maintain a daily practice with kiddos about? What works?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-10435118995889341232016-04-01T14:31:00.000+01:002016-04-06T17:11:31.660+01:00Battle of the Vegan Pregnancy Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I've had two vegan pregnancies, and I've got 3 books on the subject - so that makes me an expert, right? No, really these are just my thoughts on a few of the books out there on having/enjoying/surviving a vegan pregnancy. </div>
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<b>Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide</b></div>
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An adorable little pocket guide written by blogger, scientist and all-around relatable chick Sayward Rebhal. It's genuinely funny, with a chatty tone, but the nutritional information is sound and the practical advice useful. For example, which brands of antacid are vegan? What are some good meals to freeze before the birth? What should you pack for the hospital? As it's short and sweet, it's not exhaustive - more like the advice of a good friend who's recently had a baby. But a friend who is <i>really</i> up on vegetarian nutrition and herbal remedies. </div>
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<b>Best for:</b> Nervous first-timers, evidence-based nutrition and supplement advice - really, all pregnant vegans should read this one.</div>
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<b>The Kind Mama</b></div>
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This one is by Alicia Silverstone - yes, the one from Clueless. She's a vegan and serious hippie. I bought this one knowing full-well that I might not like everything in it, because it's not just a vegan pregnancy book, it's a hardcore <i>macrobiotic</i> vegan pregnancy book, AND an attachment-parenting, home-birth-advocating, western-medicine-mistrusting, elimination-communicating, bed-sharing, eco-warrior-ing love letter to a more natural, some might say alternative, <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">parenting style. She came under fire for being vaguely anti-vax (I'd bet my life that her kid isn't vaccinated), but really, if you read it all, she's actually deeply mistrustful of ALL conventional medicine - I don't feel that way (hey epidural, love you forever xx), but at least it's not just this <i>one</i> thing, based on that one bad study. (For the record, my kids are vaccinated. My position is basically 'yay vaccines'. I know this is a tangent, and controversial in some circles, but I feel strongly about our collective responsibility to public health. Just an example, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/junipersheart/info/?tab=page_info" target="_blank">an old friend's daughter</a> had a heart transplant at 7 months old, and has to be immune-suppressed so her little body doesn't reject the heart that saved her life. She can't be vaccinated, and relies on that herd-immunity. Vaccinate for her too. Anyway...) It tends to set out one path (her path) as being THE path, and in the grand tradition of baby books, the writing style is a little twee. All that said, her positivity is refreshing, the photography is lovely, and the recipes are actually fantastic. I happen to love macrobiotic-style food, so for me, yum. I also really like some of the parenting philosophy, in terms of gentleness to both mama and baby. For instance, she advocates 'laying in' postpartum, a practice I mentioned recently - basically staying in bed or not far from it to rest, recover, bond and breastfeed after the birth. Nice work of you can get it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Best for: </b>Macrobiotic recipes, attachment parenting, serious</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> earth-mother types, movie stars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Random find in Foyles, and probably my favourite! Written by NYC doula, yoga teacher and lifestyle guru Latham Thomas, whose positivity is completely infectious. Do you know many yoga teachers? It is SO written by a yoga teacher. Out of everything I read about pregnancy and birth, this is the book that made me want to try to <i>enjoy</i> it, to luxuriate in the absurd, spectacular miracle that was happening to me. I've said before that I don't exactly relish the physical experience of pregnancy, so that's no mean feat. It made me want to take care of myself, because I effing deserve it. There's a confidence to her positivity that feels very New York to me, as opposed to the more wide-eyed, earnest (slightly flakey?) style in The Kind Mama. It has yoga suggestions for pre-conception, each trimester, and postpartum. The recipes are pretty standard healthy vegan fare, but no less yummy - I've made quite a few of her smoothies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Best for:</b> Yoga, healthy recipes, self care. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Are there any others that you know of? What did you enjoy reading during pregnancy?</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-27051119409464598892016-03-31T15:22:00.003+01:002016-03-31T15:22:51.350+01:00Leftover Love: Curry Ramen<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I am pretty much living on noodle soups these days, they are my absolute favourite thing right now for a weekday lunch. Fast and healthy, and cozy, and yum. I like to throw them together with whatever I have on hand, leftover or fresh, so here's an idea to use up some leftover veggies!</div>
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The night before we had a brown rice noodle stir-fry with mushrooms, onions and tofu (which was "'licious", according to F), with some steamed broccoli and carrots on the side. F went to town on the noodles and carrots, but not so much the mushrooms and broccoli. So, I had lots of those, some carrots, and no noodles. Reheated on its own, a nuked bowl of mushy veggies seemed rather depressing. Soup!</div>
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A good portion of leftover veggies, and in this case tofu as well.</div>
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A block of ramen noodles (I like these spelt one, a block is quarter of this pack).</div>
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400 mls vegetable stock </div>
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1 Tablespoon Thai red curry paste.</div>
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Half a small packet or can of coconut milk.</div>
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Fresh coriander (cilantro) - I think Thai basil would be awesome as well, if you have it.</div>
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Just cook the noodles in the vegetable stock according to the packet instructions, and add the rest of the ingredients at the last minute to warm through (you don't want them mushy). Garnish with coriander, Bob's your uncle.</div>
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These spelt noodles cook really quickly, perfect for an easy lunch. For the leftovers, cooked vegetables, beans, seitan - all will work. If you're adding something fresh, like some kale or something, just add it a little earlier.<br />
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I keep these mini-tins (165ml) of coconut milk on hand. For one person, I use half the can, for two, a whole one. I can use the rest of it for another soup, to enrich a sauce this evening, or in a smoothie tomorrow. Yes, I'm already planning the leftovers of my leftovers.<br />
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Red curry paste. Easy to find these days. This packet came from Ocado, and it isn't so huge that you can't get through it all.<br />
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10 minutes "work". </div>
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Get. In. My. Face.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-14823128692801226692016-03-29T21:39:00.001+01:002016-03-29T22:08:32.182+01:00A Long Weekend, A Living Kitchen<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wY5B7VIjqDc/Vvrn9RNgPaI/AAAAAAAAB9c/iAG22mkEIUI/s640/blogger-image-1663725932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wY5B7VIjqDc/Vvrn9RNgPaI/AAAAAAAAB9c/iAG22mkEIUI/s640/blogger-image-1663725932.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She kicked off the 4 day weekend with Peppa and George, naturally. Opted to stay in pyjamas for most of the morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s_qOBadStVQ/Vvrn_42NK7I/AAAAAAAAB9g/fWayfFbVtec/s640/blogger-image-74689334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s_qOBadStVQ/Vvrn_42NK7I/AAAAAAAAB9g/fWayfFbVtec/s640/blogger-image-74689334.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While we got the house ready for guests! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8nq1vLhcsOk/VvmNqNnuoOI/AAAAAAAAB9E/5cJrfv7WO4M/s640/blogger-image--1338001614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8nq1vLhcsOk/VvmNqNnuoOI/AAAAAAAAB9E/5cJrfv7WO4M/s640/blogger-image--1338001614.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was telling my sister-in-law that we had a Kombucha explosion (yeah, that happened. Rite of passage?), and she said that we had a "living kitchen". I thought that was a lovely turn of phrase, and a lovely thing to say in light of the mini-disaster that prompted it! Anyway, that's my new goal, a living kitchen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-00QC9Ha871M/VvmNf_xEDhI/AAAAAAAAB8w/CXNCQ7ZJins/s640/blogger-image--1668541348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-00QC9Ha871M/VvmNf_xEDhI/AAAAAAAAB8w/CXNCQ7ZJins/s640/blogger-image--1668541348.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Easter Sunday, my old stand-by Jambalaya and a new roasted veggie salad with basil sauce. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G33BAvvz6LI/VvmNhzoBVAI/AAAAAAAAB80/AolOSi7cHsw/s640/blogger-image-2049143971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G33BAvvz6LI/VvmNhzoBVAI/AAAAAAAAB80/AolOSi7cHsw/s640/blogger-image-2049143971.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Living kitchen? Certainly a full kitchen. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-crkdXG2DH2A/VvmNvAmctRI/AAAAAAAAB9M/Wnnl4neBQh4/s640/blogger-image--776362908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-crkdXG2DH2A/VvmNvAmctRI/AAAAAAAAB9M/Wnnl4neBQh4/s640/blogger-image--776362908.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Apple crumble for dessert, which I didn't photograph. It was nice though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vOJN1y_5jW8/VvmNscyhilI/AAAAAAAAB9I/ZvkyGY6Eel0/s640/blogger-image-1330246339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vOJN1y_5jW8/VvmNscyhilI/AAAAAAAAB9I/ZvkyGY6Eel0/s640/blogger-image-1330246339.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I won't lie, I love it when people bring us flowers. I broke my big vase last year (boo), so sometimes I have to break down nice arrangements into a few smaller bunches. It works, and then we have flowers EVERYWHERE. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Epz_Mzb_IJg/VvmNjlpEyqI/AAAAAAAAB84/U9_dlF5ZtTs/s640/blogger-image-1463874590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Epz_Mzb_IJg/VvmNjlpEyqI/AAAAAAAAB84/U9_dlF5ZtTs/s640/blogger-image-1463874590.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Everywhere! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0CsEzwhDrOk/VvmNlg5rTeI/AAAAAAAAB88/AG32fPrPdN4/s640/blogger-image-2028813795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0CsEzwhDrOk/VvmNlg5rTeI/AAAAAAAAB88/AG32fPrPdN4/s640/blogger-image-2028813795.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Marks and Spencer's apple hot cross buns are accidentally vegan, FYI. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wZfmH-AcFc8/VvroB8_Or3I/AAAAAAAAB9k/uBkGo6LNbCk/s640/blogger-image-1904833722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wZfmH-AcFc8/VvroB8_Or3I/AAAAAAAAB9k/uBkGo6LNbCk/s640/blogger-image-1904833722.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Talking poetry with my father-in-law. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jkVoKANuKC0/VvmNoAuWCwI/AAAAAAAAB9A/1mL-39IR22k/s640/blogger-image-858701897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jkVoKANuKC0/VvmNoAuWCwI/AAAAAAAAB9A/1mL-39IR22k/s640/blogger-image-858701897.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And she finally, FINALLY, ate an avocado. My avocado. That I really did want. So I was happy, but still kind-of hungry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So we had a good time. She ate too much chocolate, and played with her cousins, and stayed up too late - basically the toddler equivalent of a 4 day bender. And the boy, I'm almost too scared to report, started sleeping through. Success, all around! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-1080608398967048832016-03-22T17:01:00.001+00:002016-03-22T17:01:19.212+00:00The Fourth Trimester<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Have you heard the term 'fourth trimester'? See, the idea is that our babies are born too early, an evolutionary trade-off for having such big brains in their big heads, while they can still fit through relatively narrow upright-walking pelvises. So they are helpless in way that the babies of other species are not. And we as mothers remain their home in a very real way after birth. We can somewhat arbitrarily think of the first three months of a baby's life as the 'fourth trimester' of pregnancy. I like this idea, because it makes you reevaluate the cultural expectation to 'get back to normal'. It's an intense period - it's supposed to be intense. Why should my babies be 'learning independence' when they, really, are so small and helpless they shouldn't even be out in the world yet?<i> Of course</i> they don't want to be put down, or left on their own. That said, I've got things to do still - I want to play with F, bake our bread, and you know, shower and sleep occasionally. Some thoughts on getting through it:<br />
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Sling it: I'm a big believer in the sling. Carried babies are happy babies, simple as that. Keeping them upright also means they get nice, big, hidden burps out, and they're less likely to get that flat-head-thing from being in the pram all the time. Have you seen that? Babies are spending so much time on their backs that they have to wear helmets! Poor little things, and what a pain for the moms! Anyway, with both babies, the Moby wrap was wonderful for the very early days around the house, and I keep eyeing up ring slings for when he can sit up more (drooling over a <a href="http://sakurabloom.com/collections/linen-shop/linen" target="_blank">linen Sakura Bloom</a>). And once you work out how to nurse in the sling, you're golden. For out and about, we couldn't do without the <a href="http://www.ergobaby.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ergobaby</a>.</div>
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Nourish: It's a balance, obviously, because we're short of time, but I feel so strongly that good, real food will keep us all going. A diet of snatched biscuits and convenience foods will leave you feeling depleted. My freezer stash was/is a lifesaver, but I've actually found that I do still have the desire to cook, especially because I'm feeding F as well as myself. Not just in the postpartum period, but in life, I think that exercising discipline when you <i>shop </i>makes all the difference when you come to eat. What will save you time, without sacrificing decent nutrition? Maybe springing for pre-chopped veggies for a few weeks, maybe some wholesome canned goods (I think I've said before that I'm a big fan of Amy's soups), maybe you can give your partner (or mom) your favourite cookbook and say "anything from this, please". Something usually has to give for convenience, and when that something isn't nutrition, it's often the budget. I try to remember that these shortcuts aren't forever, and try to balance in other ways, for instance I'm spending more on our groceries right now, but eating out less. </div>
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Snack: I have a strong appetite when I'm nursing, and with H. being such a big boy, I feel like I'm hungry all the time! Again, it needn't be time consuming. In fact, some of the simplest snacks are wholesome enough. Think of things you might also feed a toddler: carrot sticks, hummus, fruit, seed and nut butters. You can do a lot worse than good old peanut butter and apple slices. Stock up on healthy snacks like you're planning a road trip. Currently, I'm never without fruit, nuts, seeds, avocados, granola, non-dairy yogurt - in essence, low-effort, high-energy. Although I'm not dieting (I never diet), I am trying to stick to foods that <i>offer</i> something.</div>
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Stay home: Most of try to do too much too soon, if you ask me. You're getting to know this tiny new person. You're nursing around the clock. You're <i>healing. </i>Staying close to home means that you're more likely to sleep when you have the opportunity, and you're more likely to make good food choices. There's a practice that has fallen out of favour in our culture, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lying-in" target="_blank">lying-in</a>; it used to be recommended to literally <i>stay in bed</i> for weeks following the birth of a child. That seems imminently sensible to me, if not practical. It <i>is </i>practical, however, to keep the long jaunts to a minimum - you'll be glad you did!</div>
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Prioritise: Since we can't do everything, we'll need to choose what's most important. To me, for instance, it's been important to keep my kitchen ticking over - not just for F, but for myself. But I've been excusing myself from some social engagements, just to save energy. And no one can tell you what's important to you; maybe skipping the shopping, but meeting friends for brunch is a better use of your energy? I'm an introvert by nature (though not a shy one - introverted doesn't mean shy!), and I find that especially right now, social interaction can be exhausting if I'm not careful to balance it out with quiet home time. Maybe you'd be better off keeping on top of the laundry, but using paper plates for a couple weeks? With a toddler around, a tidy home actually makes my life easier, but tidy doesn't mean spotless. We will survive dirty windows, I'm fairly confident.</div>
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Delegate: Most of the moms I know, in my little urban bubble, were badass professional women well before having kids. They know how to get things done. So why should they feel that they've got to do everything themselves? Delegate that shit, wherever you can. Ask your partner to do <i>specific </i>things that you don't have time for (for real, they might not know every little thing that needs doing). And if you don't have a lot of family support, and you can afford it, paying for some help is a fine idea - a cleaner every now and then, a postpartum doula, a few hours of childcare for older children. Even just doing the grocery shopping online is a huge time saver. I know my privilege is showing right now, but I still say take help where you can get, even the paid-for variety. </div>
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Try to enjoy it: I know, its a hard time. But its also a time of special sweetness. This season of life has been a more wonderful gift than I ever expected. I mean, check them out:</div>
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Peering over the Moses basket:</div>
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Anyway, soon enough we'll be on to the next phase with it's unknown challenges. Here we go!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-31007229870225898742016-03-18T21:35:00.001+00:002016-03-19T09:51:14.599+00:00Scenes From Our Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gnphX_1pR_8/VuxmWdasf2I/AAAAAAAAB6s/m1DtmiQ9ckg/s640/blogger-image-832407020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gnphX_1pR_8/VuxmWdasf2I/AAAAAAAAB6s/m1DtmiQ9ckg/s640/blogger-image-832407020.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Something of a backlog! It's definitely still an adjustment period around here (and maybe it always is with children in the house? As they are always changing?), and one thing that really makes me feel 'normal' is getting down to the farmer's market on Sunday. Some of that bounty above, and below. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3SD_mUhgKPE/Vux0gPWToVI/AAAAAAAAB7o/WtkE5QVXRmo/s640/blogger-image-1408270225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3SD_mUhgKPE/Vux0gPWToVI/AAAAAAAAB7o/WtkE5QVXRmo/s640/blogger-image-1408270225.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Killer onion focaccia. Focaccia is actually easy to make, but I bought this one - which is just as well, because then I can pretend that I don't know how much oil goes into it. Along with a couple of Tofurky sausages and sliced apples, that was our simple Sunday lunch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n5lo9GCpPzQ/Vux0qvypM0I/AAAAAAAAB70/ck1UQazwkik/s640/blogger-image--717393980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n5lo9GCpPzQ/Vux0qvypM0I/AAAAAAAAB70/ck1UQazwkik/s640/blogger-image--717393980.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Breakfast is also less complicated these days. Mostly commercial cereal! I'm eating a lot of nutty granola. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PdM_bJv5XJk/Vuxu-nKmACI/AAAAAAAAB7I/SJvxLMy6f1Q/s640/blogger-image--1446851715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PdM_bJv5XJk/Vuxu-nKmACI/AAAAAAAAB7I/SJvxLMy6f1Q/s640/blogger-image--1446851715.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And she's into either Weetabix, or lately oats, chia seeds and soy yogurt. When we get up I will ask 'pancakes today? French toast?' And she'll go 'NO!!! YOGURT!!!' Ask and ye shall receive...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oCdEoOk-6ss/Vux0sstq_uI/AAAAAAAAB74/mHGxJVXPEqE/s640/blogger-image--930765836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oCdEoOk-6ss/Vux0sstq_uI/AAAAAAAAB74/mHGxJVXPEqE/s640/blogger-image--930765836.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lots of green smoothies. Still one of the only reliable ways to get green vegetables in that child, so while I don't personally think that smoothies are the last word in healthy living, they sure come in handy with toddlers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cVfSaioTWyM/Vuxu68A-bLI/AAAAAAAAB7A/Hm1qlQawDos/s640/blogger-image-854332831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cVfSaioTWyM/Vuxu68A-bLI/AAAAAAAAB7A/Hm1qlQawDos/s640/blogger-image-854332831.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thai curry paste and coconut milk, noodles, tofu and whatever veggies I have on hand. My new favourite! I made this for my man and I one day he had to work from home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WKUIwTRGmQA/Vux0omeS2II/AAAAAAAAB7w/hYRfbm33zyk/s640/blogger-image--897255418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WKUIwTRGmQA/Vux0omeS2II/AAAAAAAAB7w/hYRfbm33zyk/s640/blogger-image--897255418.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kimchi. Obsessed. How did I get through my life up until now without Kimchi in the house? I'm throwing it on everything.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wft0pBZaRCc/VuxvA0XLNtI/AAAAAAAAB7M/7FhaJj5GjSk/s640/blogger-image-1315602293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wft0pBZaRCc/VuxvA0XLNtI/AAAAAAAAB7M/7FhaJj5GjSk/s640/blogger-image-1315602293.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On toast, with greens and tempeh bacon - calling it a BL-Chi, because I'm a nerd. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lj3UFgwqQfw/Vuxu8qMcFxI/AAAAAAAAB7E/oHiqfsunQvE/s640/blogger-image--115269384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lj3UFgwqQfw/Vuxu8qMcFxI/AAAAAAAAB7E/oHiqfsunQvE/s640/blogger-image--115269384.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And in every vegan-bowl-type-thing. This is leftover fried rice, greens, kimchi and pickled chickpeas. Eaten at our newly carved out desk area while I try to get to grips with Lightroom - am a long way off competence there, but it's interesting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8SJupwW32eM/VuxvCw-a9pI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/iZWO8-yX31Y/s640/blogger-image--1042049205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8SJupwW32eM/VuxvCw-a9pI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/iZWO8-yX31Y/s640/blogger-image--1042049205.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Snacks. Bread and peanut butter, kukicha tea. Have ditched the paper products again now that the dust has settled. I can cope with dishes and linens again. </div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5CWQlINNmCc/Vuxu471nhcI/AAAAAAAAB68/2OrPolsY-0w/s640/blogger-image--685054105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5CWQlINNmCc/Vuxu471nhcI/AAAAAAAAB68/2OrPolsY-0w/s640/blogger-image--685054105.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And my reward for coping with dishes and linens is having a cute table again.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GnVNe1ENOJU/Vux0dxQqXoI/AAAAAAAAB7k/bQEGR-kqX0c/s640/blogger-image-1143446320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GnVNe1ENOJU/Vux0dxQqXoI/AAAAAAAAB7k/bQEGR-kqX0c/s640/blogger-image-1143446320.jpg"></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lastly, a scene from another table. We went to the Gallery Cafe for Mother's Day brunch the other week, which was absolutely lovely. I love that place. Obviously, we had to share a cupcake. My heart.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-45861208918433515722016-03-16T17:58:00.001+00:002016-03-17T09:08:25.348+00:00Our Bread Making Routine (With Quick Yeast)I'm often asked about how we find the time to make bread. Truth is, bread takes time, but not much <i>active </i>time. So with a little planning, it's possible - we make bread twice a week on average, and I sometimes buy a nice loaf on Sundays. I haven't yet cracked sourdough (will try again once the weather warms up - I think our kitchen is too cold to get a starter going right now), so this is the easy stuff - flour, water, quick yeast and salt, sometimes olive oil:<br>
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<b>Basic Bread Recipe:</b></div>
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<b>500g of organic, wholegrain flour.</b> My favourites to mix and match are plain old Strong Wholemeal Bread Flour, Rye, Malthouse and Spelt. I also keep Strong White on hand to mix in sometimes, if I feel like a fluffier loaf (especially with rye, which can be a little heavy or gummy, or with something like buckwheat, which doesn't contain gluten), but I never make plain white bread. I've specified organic - the pesticide levels are actually higher in whole grain products because they aren't stripped of the outer husks, so it's really worth springing for. Also, we're saving money by making bread, right? So let's make something nice. </div>
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<b>1 teaspoon quick dried yeast.</b> Make sure it's reasonably fresh - it might not work well if it's been in your cupboard for yonks.</div>
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<b>1 teaspoon fine sea salt. </b></div>
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<b>325 mls warm water.</b> </div>
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<b>About a tablespoon of oil, I use olive or rapeseed. Optional.</b></div>
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The timetable goes roughly like this: mix and knead for 10 minutes, proof for an hour, light knead and shape for 5 minutes, proof for half an hour in the loaf tin, bake at 200C for half an hour. So, as you can see, it takes a bare minimum of two hours, but with <i>only 15 minutes</i> active. Now, let's say it's a Monday. Maybe we are planning to go to a playgroup or something. Before we set off, we'll make our dough. This isn't a chore, it's an activity! It's messy play! We sing about 'Dough a Deer' and enjoy ourselves.</div>
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I won't lie, having a stand mixer helps. I let the Kitchenaid do the first knead. So again, I'm not <i>actively</i> working - I'm usually tidying up, actually, and F is usually playing with her small portion of dough. Then, depending on our timetable and the weather, I either set the dough to rise on my heat mat or at room temperature. Our kitchen is really cold, so I keep a heat mat for my Kombucha, and it also comes in handy for bread. A warmer temperature will mean that the dough doubles in size faster. SO, if I know that playgroup is an hour and half, I might leave the dough in a cooler spot to deliberately slow the process down - as long as it's not so cold as to halt the rise completely. Kneading and shaping by hand takes very little time, and again, you leave it alone for a while (you can even refrigerate it at this point to use later on - we often do for pizza dough). We might then start to make and eat our lunch - so we are home anyway - and put the oven on to pre-heat. Then I can bake the bread in between lunch and nap, which will cool down sufficiently to be ready to eat as a post-nap snack!</div>
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Alternatively, if we're home in the afternoon, we can have fresh bread in time for dinner just by popping into the kitchen every so often. I might start the dough before her nap, but really there's time after as well. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*The times are a <i>guideline</i>. Really, you want to knead until the gluten is sufficiently developed (it will be nice and springy), and proof until it doubles. You can manipulate your timetable with the temperature - just don't push it too far. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*Dough freezes. Yup. I especially like to freeze pizza dough (same recipe as above, just use '00' flour instead of bread flour. I really like a 50% spelt, 50% '00' pizza dough - and I pretend it's authentic because spelt was eaten by the Romans!), which also makes a decent flatbread. Just flatten a smallish ball of dough, brush with oil and throw on the grill pan. Little fresh flatbreads with hummus and vegetables makes a nice dinner if you ask me. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*If you're vegan, you might already have vital wheat gluten in the house - so if you find that your whole grain bread isn't as chewy or springy as you'd like, you can add a tablespoon. I don't use it anymore, but it's a common bread additive and worth experimenting with. You'll also get a good feel for the gluten content of your bread by manipulating it deliberately. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*Flour seems to vary not just by grain, but brand as well. I'd rather add more flour than more water. In a stand mixer, the dough should form a big stretchy ball that's slapping the sides of the bowl. By hand, again, you're looking for stretchy - not just sticky. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">*For a crustier crust, you need steam in the oven. A little roasting tin with some hot water works a treat, but make sure to put it in BEFORE the bread. It works it's magic in the first few minutes of baking. </div>
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Eat a slice or two (or five) while it's still warm, if at all possible.<br>
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But get in there quick!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-23082704216171443712016-03-16T14:52:00.000+00:002016-03-16T14:52:02.928+00:00Shared Nursery - In Progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Want to see their nursery? We're trying to make the most of a fairly small space, and it's not finished, but we like it! More piccies:</div>
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Obviously we've kept the book display (Ikea shelves), and I'm planning on displaying a lot of kid-art. Just adding, adding, adding as we find quirky things, and they make quirky things. So above F's bed is some art she made, and some garlands. I don't like to have framed art over their beds because I'm paranoid.<br />
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The colour scheme is all-of-them. Phasing out the pastels a bit in favour of brights. The new ochre striped rug helps.<br />
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Unfinished hoop art.<br />
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Their Ikea Duktig kitchen, unpimped.<br />
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There he is! In dreamland again, care of the Ergo.<br />
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Some fun pillows. The cloud is from Land of Nod and I made the other.<br />
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Some context. F's bed on the left side of the room.<br />
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And H on the right. I like to keep the toys out of reach, not because I'm mean (though I might be) but because I think they are a distraction at sleep times.<br />
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I've said before that I don't really like themes, and couldn't stick to a strict colour palette if my life depended on it, but I think it's still pretty gender-neutral, no? Boys like colour too.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-41942375464340015002016-02-29T20:40:00.001+00:002016-02-29T20:40:19.048+00:00Nap SnapsThey're cute when they sleep, right?<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ODEPpdHWMk/VtSsmCH5zhI/AAAAAAAAB4w/8Xn6ZHdepGQ/s640/blogger-image--100127974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ODEPpdHWMk/VtSsmCH5zhI/AAAAAAAAB4w/8Xn6ZHdepGQ/s640/blogger-image--100127974.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GNoSgjSPIes/VtSssSJDAxI/AAAAAAAAB48/yCAQMXrgN7I/s640/blogger-image-979943087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GNoSgjSPIes/VtSssSJDAxI/AAAAAAAAB48/yCAQMXrgN7I/s640/blogger-image-979943087.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eWi1JZ0NK-M/VtSskByJa3I/AAAAAAAAB4s/4AXgRYO8_7k/s640/blogger-image--998903966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eWi1JZ0NK-M/VtSskByJa3I/AAAAAAAAB4s/4AXgRYO8_7k/s640/blogger-image--998903966.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M-bII5f58KM/VtSsobyJbjI/AAAAAAAAB40/ehUHUtZHjT4/s640/blogger-image-997222892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M-bII5f58KM/VtSsobyJbjI/AAAAAAAAB40/ehUHUtZHjT4/s640/blogger-image-997222892.jpg"></a></div><br></div>And awake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MZ4favxzUIo/VtSsqSLE01I/AAAAAAAAB44/MWmZoL-1qZc/s640/blogger-image--1489944404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MZ4favxzUIo/VtSsqSLE01I/AAAAAAAAB44/MWmZoL-1qZc/s640/blogger-image--1489944404.jpg"></a></div></div></div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-9593230842611176092016-02-18T14:52:00.001+00:002016-02-19T15:20:57.518+00:00Postpartum LifeIt's been 4 weeks since the little man reluctantly joined us earthside. How's it going? Well, newborns are a lot of work, duh, but to be perfectly honest, it's been pretty blissful. Not having the feeding issues that we had the first time around helps, as well as being used to the 24-hour childcare thing - I don't expect "free time" at the moment, and so I don't miss it. I've leaned more heavily on my partner this time, because, simply, I've needed to. And again, with feeding going well, it's very clear what I can and can't do by myself.<div><br></div><div>Some things have been easier than I expected, like bath time, other things much harder, like getting everyone dressed and out of the house. I've accepted a little more screen time in our day: she used to have none, on an average weekday, and now she might have an hour while I tidy up and make dinner. I'm not proud of this one either, but I stocked up on some paper plates to use when I need to keep things simple. I'm getting through my freezer stash, which turned out to be a good investment. For example, I defrosted some homemade cookies when we had some guests coming over. This morning I had a rye and peanut butter waffle. Woman cannot live on cold cereal alone. </div><div><br></div><div>I'm more aware this time of how very quickly this phase will pass, as well. In a few short months he'll be sitting up, crawling, eating solids. Spring is just around the corner, and by summer he will be a different baby. It's amazing, and terrifying. Nothing keeps you present like being unbelievably busy with children; my husband will ask 'what do you want to do today?', and my answer is usually that I'm hoping to fit a shower in. </div><div><br></div><div>Some photo evidence:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ewuDMhT7dH4/VscyllvrgOI/AAAAAAAAB3o/c2jlwmqsCZ4/s640/blogger-image-549432166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ewuDMhT7dH4/VscyllvrgOI/AAAAAAAAB3o/c2jlwmqsCZ4/s640/blogger-image-549432166.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Multitasking. Look how big he is! Two weeks old here. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hZHqAwO2TTs/Vscyp_1x4tI/AAAAAAAAB3w/D7UMhtlpMYs/s640/blogger-image-1785280414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hZHqAwO2TTs/Vscyp_1x4tI/AAAAAAAAB3w/D7UMhtlpMYs/s640/blogger-image-1785280414.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've managed a few simultaneous naps, but lately one seems to wake up right after the other goes to sleep. Hmm. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JZTzS03_PAM/VscytXpVpTI/AAAAAAAAB34/E8CjDeTombw/s640/blogger-image-1131444741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JZTzS03_PAM/VscytXpVpTI/AAAAAAAAB34/E8CjDeTombw/s640/blogger-image-1131444741.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Screen time.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nE4JDU2Ock/VscyvdRl63I/AAAAAAAAB38/d6P_GFD0DUM/s640/blogger-image-2023473467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nE4JDU2Ock/VscyvdRl63I/AAAAAAAAB38/d6P_GFD0DUM/s640/blogger-image-2023473467.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Paper plates. And mess. On her plate is a waffle from the freezer and a kiwi. In her mouth is a sock. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jDrrlKa5A-M/Vscyrvgd0SI/AAAAAAAAB30/Rbw4cUKYb9c/s640/blogger-image-1410102716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jDrrlKa5A-M/Vscyrvgd0SI/AAAAAAAAB30/Rbw4cUKYb9c/s640/blogger-image-1410102716.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Cuteness.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NptpAO3-OAc/Vscy16-bXtI/AAAAAAAAB4A/BQIv11gQ1RM/s640/blogger-image--941558832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NptpAO3-OAc/Vscy16-bXtI/AAAAAAAAB4A/BQIv11gQ1RM/s640/blogger-image--941558832.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3hqmvUYQUD4/Vscynqk-CJI/AAAAAAAAB3s/3L0lkYOKrOo/s640/blogger-image-842720228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3hqmvUYQUD4/Vscynqk-CJI/AAAAAAAAB3s/3L0lkYOKrOo/s640/blogger-image-842720228.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>More cuteness.</div><div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-83630789251685360152016-02-18T08:57:00.001+00:002016-02-18T10:39:38.141+00:00Vegan Golden Milk<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s37VuuSv9RU/VsWHkcDmQXI/AAAAAAAAB3M/uIItlvfaJAU/s640/blogger-image--775762495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s37VuuSv9RU/VsWHkcDmQXI/AAAAAAAAB3M/uIItlvfaJAU/s640/blogger-image--775762495.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Everyone in my house is sick but me. Even the baby. I'm dong my best to eat well, get enough rest (ha!) and look after myself so I can look after the little ones (the saying is true; you can't pour from an empty cup). It's still winter though, so you're very unlikely to find me munching on cold, raw salads all day. I still want cozy. Enter Golden Milk - warm, spicy, turmeric-mulled milk. I'm no expert in Ayurveda, but I understand that turmeric is fabulously healthful, and Golden Milk is just one of the traditional ways to enjoy it.<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> It's comforting and rich and delicious; you really can do a lot worse as far as wellness tonics go - on a cold day, I'd quite happily drink this instead of a hot chocolate or coffee. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As usual, I'm not comfortable making outrageous health claims, but supposedly it's an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, overall-health-supporting wonder root. And it tastes completely different when fresh - tangier than I'd expected, almost citrusy. Recipe!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9Xq5U9CouM/VsWHiYMJOiI/AAAAAAAAB3I/IL7wnzXitJo/s640/blogger-image--1785891530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K9Xq5U9CouM/VsWHiYMJOiI/AAAAAAAAB3I/IL7wnzXitJo/s640/blogger-image--1785891530.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 cup of unsweetened oat milk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 tablespoon brown rice syrup (optional)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1/2 to 1 teaspoon coconut oil</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 star anise (don't think this is traditional, I just like it)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">About half a stick of cinnamon, broken up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A small piece of fresh turmeric (I used the smaller piece pictured - about a thumbnail? Or half a pinky?), grated on a microplane. Don't bother peeling it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Gently warm in a saucepan, strain and enjoy! The turmeric will stain everything, FYI, but it's really worth getting the fresh root if you can find it. If there's some reason you can't have yellow fingers for a day or two, you should wear plastic gloves or even just use a sandwich bag when you grate it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now, don't get sick!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-35370497899734453812016-02-16T09:58:00.000+00:002016-02-18T09:59:52.543+00:00A Birth StoryIt's good to write this stuff down, isn't it? As I mentioned, we did not get our hippie-dream-birth, but I still think ours is a story worth telling. They say that a healthy baby is "all that matters", and while that is certainly the most important thing, it's not the only important thing; we were treated with respect and kindness throughout this process, and I've come away positive and ready to mother, rather than feeling confused and traumatised. The experience does matter.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Firstly, the lead-up was a bit odd this time. Because my first pregnancy was long (42+1), as were all of my mother’s, I wasn’t terribly concerned about going overdue. It seemed to be a normal gestation for women in my family. I was, however, experiencing what felt distinctly like early labour, off and on, for a couple of weeks. It would start in the evening, and the contractions were mild but they would track - sometimes one every 8-10 minutes. They did not feel like Braxton Hicks, but they weren’t getting more intense and obviously weren’t kicking off real labour. So, thinking that he’d arrive in his own good time, I waited. Once again, I went way overdue. Once again, we were going to overshoot the limit for the all-natural Birth Centre. I’d had 4 sweeps, and each time they told me I was 2cm and stretchy, one midwife went so far as to say “we’re on until 8 - see you later hopefully!”, but it just couldn’t seem to get started past those initial cramps. So our plan was to get checked out, see how we were both faring, and make a decision on induction based on those specifics. At 42 weeks, I was still feeling pretty well, though uncomfortable, so I expected the tests to all come back healthy, and that we would probably wait a few more days for our boy to arrive naturally, as his sister had done. We had a scan which flagged up some excess amniotic fluid, polyhydraminos, and estimated that he was on the large side. Again, I wasn’t terribly concerned at this stage, not knowing much about the condition. We waited to speak to a doctor, and unlike the last time I went overdue, the doctor we spoke to, Cordelia, was kind and even-handed (she went through the risks of induction as well as the risks of prolonged pregnancy in our <i>specific</i> case - I didn’t feel shanghai’d or manipulated or disrespected at all), but she was a little worried about cord-prolapse with the excess fluid. Cord prolapse seemed unlikely, but it’s no joke. So we discussed induction. Not being keen on synthetic hormones, we asked if they could potentially skip the pessary or gel and just break my waters. The answer was, essentially, ‘we can try’ - and I appreciated that they were willing to work with our preferences. I was still disappointed, and still cried a bit - but we decided to go for it. We were admitted that same night, so my husband went and got some food, which we ate in the Antenatal Ward while we waited for a bed on Labour Ward. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once we moved to Labour Ward, it was a question of waiting for the doctor to do a controlled ARM (artificial rupture of membranes) to minimise the risk of cord prolapse, and get labour going. They normally give you 2 to 4 hours for labour to kick off before they want to administer Syntocinon (same thing as Pitocin, synthetic oxytocin). For me, the possibility of Syntocinon means an epidural - I don’t expect to deal with unnatural contractions naturally. The ARM went well, and the extra fluid was obvious. After 2 hours, I was just starting to contract mildly, but the doctor, Alex, knowing my preferences, decided to give us another 2 hours before checking my cervix. When that was up, I was finally labouring properly but unfortunately hadn’t dilated any more than the 2cm I’d been when I walked in, which means they did want give me a Syntocinon drip. I asked for my epidural, and got one (by the way, mobile epidurals now seem to be standard at Lewisham Hospital, and they are excellent in that you can still have an active labour. Basically, you control the dose, so you can leave it low in order to feel the contraction <i>pressure</i>, but not pain. You can also walk around, bounce on a yoga ball, or just stay upright - all of which helps get that baby out. And you don't have to have a catheter. It's awesome, and I'd have one again - I was chatting casually with a midwife about breastfeeding while having thunderous contractions, 5 in 10 minutes. My main worry with epidurals was always being too numb to push, and ending up with an instrumental birth or C-section. <i>So</i> not an issue here.). Now, I don’t know if it’s because of or in spite of the epidural, but at this point my body suddenly realised what it was supposed to be doing and I was fully within a few hours. No Syntocinon needed after all. When it came time to push, I was very much able to feel the pressure, and he was out in 10 minutes. As per my birth plan, cord clamping was delayed, and we enjoyed some beautiful skin-on-skin time while I barely paid attention to the 3rd stage. Then I started to feel dizzy. I asked my husband to take the baby and proceeded to nearly pass out. My blood pressure was crashing, from blood loss it turns out, and they gave me fluids. He weighed in at 9 pounds 11 ounces. I knew I’d torn, which I initially was unconcerned about, but then the consultant came and said that it was a 3rd degree tear. I didn’t fully realise how serious it was until they wheeled me into theatre. I was shivering from the fluids (I’d lost about a litre of blood), and became quite tearful at the suddenly highly medical situation. The anaesthetist kindly chatted to me during the whole surgery, which was a very welcome distraction. It took a long time, and afterward I was still shivering and worried that I hadn't had a chance to breastfeed yet, but I felt very well looked after. The midwife brought me my beautiful (huge) son, and we were transferred upstairs to postnatal. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After my daughter was born, I’d had a miserable stay on the postnatal ward, but I was pleased to find the place improved to the point of being unrecognisable. I was bed-bound for several hours, but very well-supported. The breastfeeding midwife, Jane, was amazingly patient and helpful as we struggled to get a latch. I was concerned that he hadn’t fed since birth, hours ago at this point, and was perhaps getting lethargic. She patiently helped me hand-express 3 mL of colostrum, which perked him up enough to get a latch shortly after her shift ended. She also helped me change him when I couldn’t get out of bed to fetch warm water. The midwives, again, were kind and supportive - in spite of being very, very busy.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Although our birth didn’t go according to plan (nobody plans for stitches on their sphincter, right?), we were so well-cared for that we just feel so grateful. To the midwives and doctors, and the NHS: thank you, thank you, thank you, for delivering us safely, for respecting our wishes, and for working so hard.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In hindsight, is there anything I could have done differently? Perhaps I could have taken those false starts a little more seriously, and gotten more thoroughly checked out - someone suggested the possibility that the extra fluid was preventing him from putting sufficient pressure on the cervix to start labour. And what caused the polyhydraminos? And his size? It wasn't gestational diabetes, my blood results have confirmed. So we don't know, and probably never will - just one of those things. I was measuring normally until the very end.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My recovery has been tougher than last time, with serious soreness and anaemia, but feeding is going so much better that again, I feel positive. I feel happy. I feel blessed. He's here, he's huge, and he's hungry. We're finding our feet. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-49672465166251821612016-02-11T16:28:00.001+00:002016-02-11T16:28:09.644+00:00Scenes From Our Table (Couch and Floor)Well, hello! I had the baby! He's perfect, and huge - weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces at birth. I promise to post the whole story (far from all-natural, let me just warn you) and pictures soon, but for now I'm just going to end my hiatus with some random piccies from the last little while.<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ESSrIgfSzDw/Vry2ZcIXPiI/AAAAAAAAB2s/iQRQmqs7zfA/s640/blogger-image--2028246101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ESSrIgfSzDw/Vry2ZcIXPiI/AAAAAAAAB2s/iQRQmqs7zfA/s640/blogger-image--2028246101.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Da bump.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AMwGH7ww3No/Vry2XeBhrFI/AAAAAAAAB2o/HGAbiWVvBUs/s640/blogger-image--1929560989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AMwGH7ww3No/Vry2XeBhrFI/AAAAAAAAB2o/HGAbiWVvBUs/s640/blogger-image--1929560989.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0giJpoCCT1s/Vry2mITlvWI/AAAAAAAAB20/LMmb1xT6edo/s640/blogger-image-120693975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0giJpoCCT1s/Vry2mITlvWI/AAAAAAAAB20/LMmb1xT6edo/s640/blogger-image-120693975.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Da breakfast. Former is pear & cinnamon hot cakes, later is French toast, apple and peanut butter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zQLQLNbgswQ/Vry2TaAnXxI/AAAAAAAAB2g/Q2SbIsSeR94/s640/blogger-image--2014106691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zQLQLNbgswQ/Vry2TaAnXxI/AAAAAAAAB2g/Q2SbIsSeR94/s640/blogger-image--2014106691.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Found in F's room.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wCs0tpzP7R0/Vry2VT8QlwI/AAAAAAAAB2k/BogQFRdEsS8/s640/blogger-image-959715183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wCs0tpzP7R0/Vry2VT8QlwI/AAAAAAAAB2k/BogQFRdEsS8/s640/blogger-image-959715183.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w3uqd_QnoXw/Vry2Rt8VRFI/AAAAAAAAB2c/kkUC6sl3iRI/s640/blogger-image--68826947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w3uqd_QnoXw/Vry2Rt8VRFI/AAAAAAAAB2c/kkUC6sl3iRI/s640/blogger-image--68826947.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pkk7147Oq-Q/Vry2bSrX5mI/AAAAAAAAB2w/DuIehuyLKGI/s640/blogger-image--2089809221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pkk7147Oq-Q/Vry2bSrX5mI/AAAAAAAAB2w/DuIehuyLKGI/s640/blogger-image--2089809221.jpg"></a></div><br></div>My obsession with home fermenting continues. We've got some radishes here, leek paste and celeriac kraut. I've been using recipes from Fermented Vegetables - having a lot of fun with it! It's also been great to have so much probiotic food in the house, as I had to be on antibiotics after the birth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aqFDJ0iCS8k/Vry2Iw2Km3I/AAAAAAAAB2M/gqKJj0ue20E/s640/blogger-image-1979393042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aqFDJ0iCS8k/Vry2Iw2Km3I/AAAAAAAAB2M/gqKJj0ue20E/s640/blogger-image-1979393042.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Couldn't stop baking as I came up to 42 weeks...</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pXtMPr00iRs/Vry2N6el45I/AAAAAAAAB2U/rMBgqvpyEvo/s640/blogger-image-1141566892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pXtMPr00iRs/Vry2N6el45I/AAAAAAAAB2U/rMBgqvpyEvo/s640/blogger-image-1141566892.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>AFTER the birth there have been flowers.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--XKQD_4WjmI/Vry2PvbE71I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/5fQqI70J0dU/s640/blogger-image-108110161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--XKQD_4WjmI/Vry2PvbE71I/AAAAAAAAB2Y/5fQqI70J0dU/s640/blogger-image-108110161.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>An<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">d lots of tea.</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VxvuS4oY7U0/Vry2L_aXBUI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/2ZL3uikm_O4/s640/blogger-image-1357546951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VxvuS4oY7U0/Vry2L_aXBUI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/2ZL3uikm_O4/s640/blogger-image-1357546951.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And Kimchi ramen.</div><div><br></div><div>Life is good. I will gush appropriately very soon. </div><div><br></div><div>xx</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8640067066148969732.post-62425721187700484892015-11-19T15:03:00.001+00:002015-11-19T18:12:21.178+00:00The 8 Best Baby Products (According to Me)Obviously we are busy getting ready for the new arrival around here, and it had me thinking about what we're going to use again, and what we're not - basically what really worked for us and our baby. They say that you really don't need a lot of baby stuff, but it's also true that the RIGHT stuff can really make life easier. Some of these items are pretty high-end, and while I'm normally quite a thrifty gal, I have to admit that I learned a lesson in false economy when it comes to baby stuff. I also off-set the pricier things in my mind with all the things we didn't buy, like a pram (people couldn't believe we weren't getting one, but seriously, we didn't need it, and the most popular one I see around costs like £1000. When we idly priced them,<em> </em>I think my reaction was just a long string of expletives). Without further ado:<br>
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1. <a href="http://www.medela.com/UK/en/breastfeeding/products/pumping/swing.html" target="_blank">Medela Swing Breast Pump</a></div>
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If you don't need a breast pump, you don't need a breast pump (lucky you!), but if you do, you need a serious one. I had originally purchased an inexpensive manual pump, assuming that it would only be for very occasional use, but then we had problems (ALL the problems) and it just wasn't going to cut it. This model was recommended to us by a friend, and we went and bought it immediately. It ain't cheap, but it saved our breastfeeding relationship, and more than paid for itself in savings on formula. If feeding is going really well, a manual might be fine to pump the occasional bottle, or to relieve engorgement (F had a terrible vomiting bug once when she was exclusively breastfed, and I had to borrow a pump while we were waiting with her in the ER! The manual would have been good then, but we were travelling). Alternatively, if you're exclusively pumping for any significant length of time, you'll want a double - again, I think Medela is the bee's knees. For us, this model did the trick. </div>
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2. <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/baby-carrier" target="_blank">The Ergobaby Carrier</a></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FlBmV13eREQ/Vk2rUysX_fI/AAAAAAAAB1M/Ohpt7uyvEAM/s640/blogger-image-383572259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FlBmV13eREQ/Vk2rUysX_fI/AAAAAAAAB1M/Ohpt7uyvEAM/s640/blogger-image-383572259.jpg"></a></div>
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So comfy! So convenient! I'd still be using it for dog walks if I wasn't super-pregnant. Again, we purchased this one AFTER trying others (I didn't do much research on carriers beforehand), and the difference is well worth the admittedly hefty price tag. What I didn't know before is to look for a carrier that protects baby's hips rather than leaving them dangling - if you want to wear your baby a lot, it's important. Also, protecting your back! They get heavy amazingly quickly. We used the Ergo almost exclusively until she was about a year, then occasionally until, well, now. </div>
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3. <a href="http://mobywrap.com/" target="_blank">Moby Wrap</a></div>
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One of the only things I got right before she arrived! I saw a woman wearing one and thought it looked comfortable, so I asked her about it. It IS very comfortable, especially for the newborn phase and for around the house - and I plan on using it again this time, especially at home. It's also inexpensive - hallelujah! The only downside is that it's a little bit fiddly to put on and off, and I personally don't like to use it once they are a bit heavier - it gets kind of droopy. That said, I don't think there is anything better for the early, early days. </div>
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4. <a href="http://www.poddlepod.com/" target="_blank">The Poddle Pod</a></div>
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What the hell is a Poddle Pod? It's a baby-shaped doughnut pillow, basically, which gives them a nice snug feeling. A friend of mine recommended it after trying it in desperation with her son who always wanted to be held. I remember distinctly that I ordered it at around 4am (hence the somewhat reckless leopard print choice), and I loved that it gave me an alternative to co-sleeping at that stage, and it was great for travel. That said, it's utterly useless if your kid doesn't take to it - so it's either a miracle or a waste of space, and there's no way of knowing beforehand. </div>
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5. <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10248519/" target="_blank">IKEA Gulliver Cot</a></div>
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God bless IKEA. It's not that this cot is so much better than others, rather it's EXACTLY the same, for a tiny fraction of the price, and still looks great. We've bought another for the new baby. Converts to a toddler bed as well: </div>
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6. <a href="https://www.stokke.com/GBR/en-gb/highchairs/tripp-trapp/1001.html?gclid=CMT5teLVnMkCFYGlGwoduQoGPg" target="_blank">Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair</a></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZdEVSn8xxN4/Vk2r3kIRZMI/AAAAAAAAB1k/O1mkVcsrblQ/s640/blogger-image-641115539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZdEVSn8xxN4/Vk2r3kIRZMI/AAAAAAAAB1k/O1mkVcsrblQ/s640/blogger-image-641115539.jpg"></a></div>
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Possibly the single best thing here, along with the Ergo. Before we weaned, I remember thinking, 'it's an effing chair, what could POSSIBLY justify that price'. But there is a HUGE difference. In the wrong highchair, she slumped and wriggled. The wrong chair was <strike>hard</strike> <em>impossible</em> to clean properly. The wrong chair was ugly, and would only last a year or two. The Tripp Trapp is safe, easy to clean, great for baby-led weaning, attractive, and long-lasting - after it's done being a highchair, it has another life as a... regular chair. Seriously, seriously good design. We're keeping an eye out for another on Ebay, but they go quickly and tend to retain their value pretty well. </div>
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7.<a href="http://www.johnlewis.com/maclaren-mark-ii-buggy-midnight-navy/p231855335" target="_blank"> MacLaren Mark II Stroller</a></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-US47dq9cLWA/Vk2r1vvWvmI/AAAAAAAAB1c/IGm3P9SP41M/s640/blogger-image--454716123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-US47dq9cLWA/Vk2r1vvWvmI/AAAAAAAAB1c/IGm3P9SP41M/s640/blogger-image--454716123.jpg"></a></div>
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When we finally decided on a stroller (which was a generous gift - thanks Mom!), F was nearly a year old - so our needs were obviously different than they would be for a newborn. I wanted lightweight, and this is the lightest on the market. I wanted portable, and I can take it up and down stairs with one hand if need be, with a baby on my hip, no problem. And while it may be lightweight, it's also sturdy as hell - we've flown with it 8 times already. It also didn't hurt that it came in a cheery orange colour. <br>
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8.<a href="http://earthmamaangelbaby.com/products/natural-nipple-butter" target="_blank"> Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter</a><br>
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Not only is this the best, it's vegan and cruelty-free. Most popular nipple creams are lanolin-based -ew. This is a blend of pland-based oils and butters, it smells divine and it works - I should know, we had actual<em> wounds</em> to contend with, not just a little dryness. In fact, my healing improved from when I started using it (again, I didn't research this beforehand - silly girl).<br>
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Those are just my favourites - what gems have you found? What couldn't you do without? I have high hopes for the<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Milkies-MLK001-Milk-Saver/dp/B007HYL9TS" target="_blank"> Milkies Milk Saver</a> this time around, and I've sprung for a Hot Milk sleep bra (nobody told me last time that I'd need to sleep in a nursing bra to begin with! A truly comfy one is going to make my nights a little easier) - here's hoping we're as prepared as I think we are!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07486178066394979716noreply@blogger.com2