Ginger Syrup-How To Make It And Can It

Ginger Syrup-How To Make It And Can It

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Why would we want to make ginger syrup? Well, to start with, my family used to be a bunch of pop addicts.

This came from my “couponing” days, when I would find great deals on pop of all kinds, and buy it just because it was a great deal. I have reduced the amount of pop we drink. I don’t like the high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors.

The amount of sugar in a can of cola is 3 Tablespoons! That’s enough sugar for an entire day for a person. Too much sugar can cause your immune system to get sluggish. It can also lead to diabetes, tooth decay, and hormonal imbalances. I knew I wanted a healthier life for my family, so we had to cut the pop out.

When we DID drink pop, it was usually ginger ale.

My kids, hubby and I all loved it. I liked the spicy flavor, and the fact it was caffeine free. While transitioning from the bottled soda, we bought a soda stream. However, the syrup add-ins are full of high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and other stuff I really don’t want my family to have.

The next best thing? Make my own ginger syrup to add! This ginger syrup is the perfect syrup to make for homemade ginger-ale. I tried it, we loved it, and so I decided to make a huge batch to have on hand all the time.

It starts with a ginger simple syrup recipe. That is equal parts of sugar and ginger infused water.

Some of our favorite ginger syrup uses are for upset stomachs. Just one teaspoon of this ginger syrup helps to settle upset stomachs. The ginger syrup itself is easy to make. You could easily cut this recipe down for smaller batches.

If you need to make a smaller batch of ginger simple syrup, just store it in the fridge. You could also add a bit of mint extract to the finished syrup, or when adding to carbonated water for a special kick. I like to have a lot on hand, therefore, I make a huge batch every time we need it.

Begin by cutting up two big hands of ginger. A hand of ginger refers to a piece about the size of your hand. You can find them “hand sized” in the grocery store produce aisles. What you want is about 8 ounces for this ginger syrup recipe.

In a large stock pot, bring to a boil 6 cups of water and 6 cups of sugar. Add cut ginger. I don’t usually bother to peel the ginger for this recipe. If you choose to do that, try and source organic fresh ginger.

Bring the ginger syrup to a boil, boil 10 minutes. Turn off heat, cover, and allow to steep for 90 minutes.

After steeping is done, drain the ginger syrup into another pot. Bring syrup back to a full rolling boil while jars are in a boiling water bath. Fill pint sized jars to 1/4″ headspace and process for 30 minutes. To use, add 1/2 cup per 1 liter of carbonated or mineral water.

Have you ever made a ginger simple syrup recipe? What would you use it for first?

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Original article and pictures take thehomesteadinghippy.com site

Ginger Honey Gummy Snacks – GAPS legal

Ginger Honey Gummy Snacks – GAPS legal

I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. - Danielle

Our Little World Has Changed

When your kiddos are on the Intro part of the GAPS diet, they look forward to any treat, do they not? My kiddos look forward to the ginger tea we “brew” each day – it’s practically the highlight of their day.

Hey, whatever works. . . this diet starts off so strict, I’m happy to give them some kind of treat.

Another thing that’s kind of funny. I’ve noticed that when they initiate conversation throughout the day, it almost always deals with – you guessed it – FOOD.

“Mama, when we get off our diet, I want 9,000 pancakes”

“Mama, the first food I want to eat when I get to heaven is pizza”

“Mama, when can we have marshmallows?”

“Mama, the first place I want to eat when we get off our diet is ________” – fill in with the restaurant du jour

And so on. And so on. I try not to let the conversation linger in the realm of food – there’s a lot of opportunity for frustration. I feel for them, and I know what they’re going through. GAPS Intro is HARD. One of the hardest things I’ve ever taken on in my life.

Your whole world changes.

Which is why Ginger Honey Gummies are such a big stinkin’ deal now. They clamor for these night and day. If you’re on Intro and you’re looking for a nice way to get in more ginger and gelatin (very healthy stuff), then consider whipping these up.

>>>Here’s some more information about healthy ginger

>>>And more about healthy gelatin

You don’t have to be on the GAPS diet to enjoy these. They are for everyone! But I do think GAPS kiddos, especially those on intro, would especially appreciate these, as well as any ginger lover.

A Word on Stevia:

In order to use less honey, I have added dried green stevia powder to the recipe. The white stevia powder/stevia liquid is NOT GAPS-legal, but the green stevia is. According to Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride on page 15 of the FAQs, “A bit of fresh stevia herb is OK, as any edible herbs.” So if you have it, you can use it. You don’t have to, though – the recipe will still taste fine with honey alone.

Let’s get started!

Ginger Honey Gummy Snacks – GAPS-legal, Intro-legal

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (a cheese grater works perfectly)
• 1/16 teaspoon green stevia (where to find green stevia powder)
• 2 cups + 1 cup filtered water, divided use
• 1/4 cup grass-fed gelatin (where to find gelatin)
• 1 tablespoon raw honey – if not using green stevia, double the honey (where to find raw honey) Note: if you are not necessarily trying to keep the sugar low, you can add three tablespoons honey.

Equipment

• Cheese grater
• Medium pot
• Another heat-safe pot or bowl to strain the ginger out
• Or, you can use a tea strainer to put the ginger into, so you won’t have to strain it again
• Medium sized bowl or large measuring cup
• Silicone spatula or spoon
• Whisk – I love this one
• Silicone molds and/or glass pan

Instructions

1. Add 2 cups water and green stevia to a medium sized pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3-5 minutes, then turn off the burner. Add in grated ginger. Can use tea strainer if desired.
2. While that is heating up, whisk gelatin into 1 cup of water in a separate bowl or measuring cup. It will get really thick, and that’s okay.
3. When the ginger water is finished simmering, use a strainer to strain into a separate bowl or pot. If you use the tea strainer, you don’t need to do this.
4. Spoon the gelatin mix into the hot ginger water as quickly as you can. (A silicon spatula works well here.) Whisk quickly until all the gelatin is dissolved into the hot liquid.
5. Stir in honey.
6. Pour into molds if you like, or pour into a square glass pan.
7. Allow to cool in refrigerator for 1 hour. Store in the refrigerator – I never cover them since we eat them so quickly, but you can if you want to.

Notes

The stevia herb is a powder and is not water-soluble. You’ll see little green specks in your gummies if you use it.

I hope your kiddos love these healthy snacks as much as mine do. Happy healing!

Love,

Dandy

Original article and pictures take 0fc5cb92f9783431f3abc5cf-ecffocieq.netdna-ssl.com site

Getting Ready for Baby #2 Checklist

Getting Ready for Baby #2 Checklist

All right, who stole my week? Last week I was happily thinking about how Baby #2 would be arriving in about 14 weeks. The next day, I got my pregnancy update email and poof! Just like that a whole week was gone. I thought I was 26 weeks, but I was actually 27!

Now I have less than 13 weeks left to get ready for Baby #2. Up until now, I’ve been avoiding even writing down this checklist. Now that it’s out though I’m actually feeling a little less overwhelmed. I feel a lot better to have it front of my eyes rather than rattling around in my head.

Here’s my checklist for getting ready for baby #2. If you’re doing the same, hopefully this will help you with your preparations, too!

(This post contains affiliate links to some resources and products I found helpful in getting ready for baby #2.)

Getting Ready for Baby #2 Checklist

1. Prepare my Toddler for Baby #2

Since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve made it my goal to help my toddler become a little more independent. We’ve been working on getting dressed and undressed, putting on socks and shoes, and feeding himself. Pretty much none of that is working so far, which is just fine. He’s just not quite ready yet.

The very best most wonderful thing that is working is that we started potty training last month when he was 20 months old. I’ll be talking a lot more about that next week. I can’t wait to share our very positive experience with you! Update: Here’s how I potty trained my 20 month old boy. I’m soooo glad we did this before baby #2 arrived!

One of my major concerns has been to do a better job of getting our house childproofed. I can just imagine all of the things E will find to get into while I’m sitting down nursing the new baby.

Then one of my wonderful Facebook fans suggested that I should also plan a safe place to put Baby #2 down where he or she can’t be accidentally over-loved by the toddler. I hadn’t even thought to worry about that yet.

We spend a lot of time talking with E about the new baby that is going to come live at our house. I tell him how he is going to have to share his milkies with the new baby.

Still, I know that there is absolutely no way he can comprehend the huge change that is about to occur. I can’t comprehend it either, but I am feeling more confident that we will figure it out.

2. Prepare for Another Natural Birth

I’ve done almost nothing to prepare for the actual birth so far! I spend a lot of time preaching to people about how they need to prepare if they want a natural birth, and well, it’s about time I take my own advice.

I have been reading Childbirth Without Fear at a rate of about 5 pages per day. So, I should be done about the time the new baby turns 4!

Luckily, I have been enjoying lots of beautiful, empowering, natural birth stories and doing lots of research as I work on my Natural Birth Stories book. Wow! These women are so strong!

It is helping me build faith that I can do this again.

I really need to get back on track with my pregnancy exercise and nutrition plan. I’ve been doing ok, but I know I could be doing better.

I clearly remember how much I need all the strength in my arms and legs to maintain a comfortable position while laboring and pushing. I spent a lot of time on my hands and knees and in a semi squat during my first birth.

I would also like to practice my relaxation and review my Bradley workbook with my husband.

I need to start gathering supplies for my home birth kit. This will need to be ready by the time we have our home visit from the midwives. Thankfully that’s about 10 weeks away, but I’m sure it will be here before I know it!

We will be renting a birth tub, so I need to reserve that soon. I already have a just-in-case-of-transfer type hospital birth plan, but I’d also like to make one specifically for our ideal home birth.

3. Getting Ready for Baby

The nice thing about having a second baby is that there is much less to buy. Now if only there weren’t so many more things to do!

Here’s a list of things I can think of that we do need to buy before Baby #2 arrives:

• Convertible Car Seat. I have my eye on a Diono Radian because you can fit 3 across even in a sedan. (Thinking ahead!)
• Baby Wash Cloths. Ours are so worn out.
• Tandem Double Stroller. This can wait as we’ll be baby-wearing for quite a while.
• Postpartum Mama Cloth. This isn’t really for baby, but I will not be enduring 8 weeks in disposable pads again. Ouch!
• Bassinet. I need to measure and see if there’s anyway we can fit the Co-Sleeper in our bedroom. If not I like this Fisher-Price Newborn Rock ‘N Play Sleeper. It lets baby sleep on an incline, it folds up flat for storage, and it goes up to 25 pounds and 32 inches long which is great for my big babies. Update: We ended up using the Rock ‘n Play and loved it!

I also really want a pair of baby Robeez shoes. E never wore shoes until he was walking, but they’re so cute and impractical! I’ll have to wait until we find out the gender for that one though.

I need to wash at least the smaller sizes of baby clothes and sort out which ones might be passably gender neutral. We’re making it a little bit harder on ourselves since we aren’t finding out the gender this time.

I guess I should probably buy and wash at least a couple baby girl clothes? At least with an August baby, a diaper and a receiving blanket will do just fine for quite a few weeks. Poor BabyE didn’t wear clothes for the first three weeks he was born except to visit the midwife.

So there’s really not much we need to buy, compared to even my minimalist baby registry checklist I posted a couple years ago.

It felt so good to pack away the diapers just a couple of weeks ago, but I’ll need to find the newborn cloth diapers and wash them in preparation for Baby #2.

4. Declutter

We just did a major declutter about 6 months ago, so there isn’t a whole lot to do. I just want to maintain the progress we’ve already made.

• Tackle the pile of filing that is living on my dining room table.
• Back up and donate or recycle the old computer.
• Donate the books we decided to part with.
• Clear off the top of the dryer. I’m tired or reaching around the sewing machine to get to the knobs!
• Clear out a drawer for clothes for Baby #2.

5. Stock Up on Freezer Meals

I guess I had spent so much time learning about pregnancy and preparing for birth that I missed the part about postpartum recovery. I didn’t even put away one freezer meal before I had BabyE.

Then, the intensity of the postpartum period with my first baby took me by surprise. I didn’t cook dinner again until BabyE was 4 months old.

Luckily DH did an amazing job of taking care of us and making sure his ravenous breastfeeding wife stayed full of healthy food. That’s just not going to work this time around with a toddler and new baby that need our attention.

Update: I put away about 8 weeks worth of freezer meals, and I am SO thankful that I did! I heart Once a Month Meals! I’ll tell ya, the transition to two kids was tough, but not having to cook for a couple of months really helped!

So really, that’s not too much to get done in 13 weeks, right? Right!? I’ll be posting later to let you know how it all goes! Update: You can read the exciting birth story of my sweet Baby #2 here.

How did you prepare your toddler for Baby #2? What are your favorite freezer meal recipes? How many do I need? Did I forget anything from my list? (I’m sure I did!) Share your advice in the comments.

Original article and pictures take growingslower.com site

Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables

Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables

My kids LOVE veggies…..but I can say that this wasn’t always the case. For many years I was a single mom raising a daughter who didn’t eat many vegetables, however looking back I can now see why and I changed that in her and the two daughters that came later in life by doing a few different things, here’s tips on getting kids to eat vegetables…..I hope they inspire a change in your kids too!

Tips on getting kids to eat and LOVE vegetables. YES it is possible and mine do!

Getting kids to eat vegetables

Serve them every night and just put one on their plate to start. Cooked veggies were more successful than raw ones as the flavor doesn’t seem to be quite as pungent and they are easier to chew. If eating the whole piece is tough, a bite should be required in order to receive any late night treats.

Offer a variety of vegetables throughout the week. Quite frankly I only buy what is on sale, but throughout the year that rotates and you can find and cook a variety of veggies to serve at least a few times a week so they get to see and taste something new. During the summertime you will find things like artichokes and eggplant that are unique, believe it or not because they tried it my kids will ask for artichokes now above all the rest!

Top them with yumminess, meaning that in the beginning you may need to shred cheese on that that broccoli and cauliflower, or slather butter on it. Over time hold back on the amount of topping you put on the veggies as they get used to the flavor they will need less of it to mask what they are now used to….and hopefully will eventually like.

Cook with them in the kitchen. If they are involved in the cooking process and coming up with ways of making the vegetables they are cooking taste good (I like this cheese better than that cheese on my broccoli) it is more likely that they will have a positive outlook on tasting them.

Make it fun by putting different ones in an empty egg carton (of course ensuring it is clean and no leaky eggs were in there, or use plates with divided sections) so they can pick and choose what looks yummy. Add some fruits in to the mix with the vegetables so they aren’t instantly turned away from trying it. Get creative.

Veggie & Fruit made fun

Eat veggies yourself every night when you serve them. Not only eat them but enjoy them. The best model of what kids eat and how adventurous they are in terms of eating depends on what you model to them. When it was just myself & my daughter & I didn’t really cook or serve veggies she had a “yuck” attitude, now years later as we have served them every night & she’s seen me eat them on a daily basis she asks for certain things like bagged carrots to put in her lunch. Modeling is so important!

Be consistent as you strive to create good veggie eaters. Don’t get frustrated that you have cooked and served different veggies for a few weeks and they still haven’t acquired a love for them. It will be slow for some and quicker for others. One of your children may become a more adventurous tester & be quicker to like one or more things you’ve served, some who are more set in their ways may take some time. Be consistent in what is required of them (at least try every meal) and they will eventually find something that they enjoy (it’s bound to happen).

I am obviously not an expert, just a mom with 3 kids who has been in the place where I wanted my child to eat healthy and be a more adventurous eater, took the time to try different methods, and now I am sharing what worked for us. Now my kids LOVE things like sushi, broccoli and rave over my quiche. I hope this helps & happy eating!

There are many cookbooks out there that have great recipes where you can “hide” veggies in dinners (affiliate link) and baked goods such as the one below (it is great and a good way to start), this is one way to begin the veggie process. Shredded carrots in meatloaf and zucchini in muffins mask the flavors, kids eat them unknowingly, and later you can introduce the idea that they did in fact eat it in that “yummy muffin” & the “yuck” factor will fade a bit this way.

Recipes for hiding vegetables

Original article and pictures take temeculablogs.com site

GET OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORT!

GET OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORT!

Anxious Toddlers invited Jennifer Owens, LCSW, LMT a holistic and wellness expert from bridgemindbody.com to educate our readers on what supplements for anxiety may help child anxiety. She provided us with a wealth of knowledge!

child anxiety affects 1 in 8 children and if untreated, it can lead to increased risk of poor school performance, substance abuse or other mental health concerns such as depression.

The good news is that an anxiety diagnosis does not have to cause permanent issues and can be reduced significantly using a variety of interventions. Conventional treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy and medical interventions: most commonly Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft and Paxil.

Many parents are hesitant to give their young children medication and are looking for alternatives. Supplements are one such complimentary or alternative treatment option that according to research, anecdotal reports and clinical experience, shows promising results.

At our integrative mental-health counseling center we use conventional and complimentary approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, nutritional and diet counseling, mind-body techniques such as yoga, mindfulness, breathing techniques and supplement recommendations.

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We also work closely with other health care providers such as pediatricians, massage therapists, herbalists and nutritionists. We recommend a blend of treatments that address the whole person including the physical, social, mental and environmental influences. Nutritional and herbal supplements can be a very helpful addition to reducing anxiety in young children.

Supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids or parts of these substances. Makers of dietary supplements cannot legally say that the products cure, prevent or treat diseases and at this time the FDA does not regulate supplements. So, it is important to choose high quality supplements that have been shown in research to be effective and safe for children. For more info on how to select a supplement click here.

Working with an integrative medical professional who has experience with supplements could also be helpful.

Always consult with your primary care physician before starting any new supplements or herbal remedies with your child.

1. Magnesium

There are several studies over the last 10 years that have linked Magnesium deficiencies with anxiety as well as the reduction of anxiety after taking Magnesium supplements. Increasing Magnesium in your child’s diet is relatively easy. Foods high in Magnesium include rice, wheat and oats but unfortunately, when these foods are processed they lose much of their Magnesium content. Some seeds like pumpkin, sunflower, flax and sesame are high in Magnesium and can be added to children’s food or as a snack.

magnesium supplement, talk to a trusted medical professional especially if your child has an allergy to magnesium salts, kidney disease, heart disease, intestinal (bowel) disease or neuromuscular disease. For more information on Magnesium supplements for children read this article from About Kids Health.

2. Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown in countless studies to have tremendous health benefits as well as mental health benefits. Multiple studies have shown that a deficiency in Omega 3’s have been linked to depression, anxiety and ADHD.

When choosing an Omega 3 supplement for your child make sure it contains EPA and DHA (vitamin D aids in the absorption of fatty acids, so look for a supplement with added D for an extra boost). Barlean’s makes an excellent fish oil for children. Vegetarians can take an algae form of Omega 3.

This supplement is relatively safe when given at the appropriate dose for children, as it is a substance found naturally in fish or algae, however watch for any intolerance or allergy.

3. B vitamin Complex

Vitamin B Complex deficiencies have been well studied and linked to problems with the nervous system including anxiety. While the research has not focused on children, it is generally safe to increase B vitamins in your child’s diet or the addition of a vitamin supplement to help decrease anxious symptoms.

Food sources of B complex include:

• Pork, berries, legumes, lean meats. Nuts, soy milk ( Vitamin B1)

• Eggs, dark green vegetables, fish, grains, lean meat, mushrooms ( B2)

• Sunflower seeds, tuna, poultry, potato, cottage cheese, liver (B3)

• Organ meats, avocados, broccoli, mushrooms ( B5)

• Green beans, whole grains, spinach, fish, bananas ( B6)

• Soy products, egg yolks, fish, organ meats, cheese, sweet potatoes ( B7)

• Green leafy vegetables, citrus juice, legumes, tofu, tomato juice ( B9)

• Milk, fish, fortified breakfast cereal, eggs, shellfish ( B12)

4. Passionflower

Passionflower is commonly used for sleep issues, anxiety or issues related to GI upset. Passionflower is seen as safe with very few reported side effects, although there have been no studies on its effects for children. Dr. Weil, an integrative medical doctor and co-founder of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, recommends using the tincture form of passionflower (using a non-alcohol tincture for children under 4 and using half the recommended adult dosage for children under 10).

5. Lavender, lemon balm and chamomile

These three herbs have long been used for their calming properties and have been shown in some studies to benefit mild to moderate anxiety. A specific lemon balm product, Cyracos has been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety in adults.

Lavender, lemon balm and chamomile makes excellent herbal teas and is more tolerated by children if sweetener is added such as stevia or honey (for children over 1 year old). Alternatively, you can use diluted essential oils in your child’s bath or on their pillow at night for calming effects.

Using supplements to treat anxiety is only one piece of the puzzle. There are many causes of anxiety in children such as environmental, physiological, family dynamics, trauma, life transitions or a combination of factors. Relying on only one method of treatment is not adequate.

Instead focus on a holistic approach applying methods for the body (i.e. supplements, diet, yoga), mind (i.e. counseling, biofeedback, mindfulness techniques) and environment (i.e. family dynamics, spending time in nature, living space modifications).

Jennifer Owens, LCSW, LMT is a holistic therapist and wellness expert with Bridge Counseling and Wellness in Louisville, KY. For more information on integrative mental health and wellness resources please visit www.bridgemindbody.com

More Anxiety Articles

***

Additional Support

A teen support book on anxiety that your kid will actually read:

If you are at a loss as to how to help your child manage anxiety, take the e-course Teach Your Kids to Crush Anxiety taught by a child therapist. Learn all the tools she teaches kids and teach them to your child. You don’t have to feel powerless.

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For a more in-depth look at anxiety, get the book How to Parent Your Anxious Toddler

Original article and pictures take www.anxioustoddlers.com site

Get Kids to Listen!

Get Kids to Listen!

Tired of the yelling? Tired of the whining? Tired of being tired?

You’re not alone. From toddler temper-tantrums to teenage talking back, parents wonder what it takes to get kids to cooperate.

If you’re tired of nagging, reminding and yelling to get kids to listen – this session is for you!

The Humbled Homemaker is excited to partner with Amy McCready, founder of Positive Parenting Solutions & TODAY Show contributor to offer a FREE LIVE training webinar on Wednesday, May 20 at 9 p.m. EDT.

Discover proven tools for your most frustrating discipline dilemmas including the 5 R’s of Fair & Effective Consequences. This hour-long investment will lead to a lifetime of peace in your home!

RSVP here!

Pin the images below to share about the FREE webinar with your friends and family!

Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site

Gently Weaning Your Baby

Gently Weaning Your Baby

W-E-A-N. That dreaded four letter word that has really been haunting me much of late. My son is 16 months old and has never slept through the night. On a good night he wakes only twice. On average he wakes 5 times. To nurse. And nurse. And nurse some more. I LOVE breastfeeding, especially in the daytime. But at night, I love my sleep more, and I am desperate to get it back.

I worry though that night weaning may affect our daytime breastfeeding relationship, especially if it is done too abruptly. Nursing is what has really brought us close together. We spend a good amount of daytime just staring into each others’ eyes while we nurse. It is really something so magical that if I force weaning too quickly it would definitely be emotionally painful for both of us. I’m not ready to fully wean, just to sleep.

But this is my reason. Sleep.

Why Parent Led Weaning?

There are several reasons why parent led weaning may be appropriate for you. For example, you may need to return to work, are expecting another baby, are having breastfeeding difficulties, have health complications, or are just simply ready to have your body back. Plain and simple, breastfeeding can be very hard and carry with it a lot of social stigma. Whatever the reason, it may be time for your nursling to wean.

Because weaning can be a very emotional experience for both mother and child, a gentle approach is most recommended. This gives time for both of you to adjust not only emotionally, but physically too. If you wean too quickly, your nursling’s diet may not adjust in time to compensate for the decrease of nutrients. Similarly if a mother stops too quickly she may experience painful engorgement since her body did not receive the time to adjust.

Emotionally the change can be very painful like a hard break up. Especially if your nursling is not quite ready, there may be many tears and protests. For the mother, the change in hormones can make her more emotional as well. I know I feel that “love” hormone when I nurse; it definitely brings my mood up when I’m feeling blue. I expect that when I completely stop nursing I will feel blue for a while. This is even more reason to approach weaning very gradually and peacefully for both of us.

3 Things to Consider Before Weaning Your Baby

There are dozens of books and thousands of suggestions online on how to approach weaning. But weaning to me is as personal as parenting is. There is not a one size fits all approach to weaning but here are some of my important things to consider:

1. Are you really ready to wean? Try to imagine your life without nursing. Does this bring tears to your eyes? Then maybe you don’t need to fully wean, but just cut out or adjust some nursing sessions. For example, if you are going back to work and will have to cut back on daytime nursing, perhaps introducing a longer nighttime nursing session will help make up for the loss of daytime nursing. Or if daytime nursing has become trying, like a distracted toddler who is constantly jumping on and off the breast, cutting down to a few nursing sessions can help bring the joy back to the other nursing sessions.

2. So you’re ready to wean: daytime weaning, nighttime weaning or both? Since I’m ready to do some nighttime weaning, I have been trying to encourage some good long daytime nursing sessions to fill up my son for the night. I am happy to nurse several times in the day, and have tried to implement Jay Gordon’s method to nighttime weaning, but so far to no avail.

If you’re tackling the daytime nursing, first figure out which sessions are truly hunger-based and which are comfort-based. A lot of our daytime nursing ends up being comfort, or what I called “bored” nursing. I can easily distract my son from nursing by playing, hugging or finding some other comforting activity. Hunger-based sessions however need to be approached with great care, especially if your nursling isn’t a big solid-food-eater yet. Take the time to figure out which comfort sessions you can really cut out now and be gentler with the hunger ones. Some nurslings will hold out all day to nurse. Make sure your baby is still being adequately nourished.

3. Lastly, be patient and expect surprises. Weaning can take a looooong time, like months. Expect set backs where you might need to return to a previous nursing schedule to help either yourself or nursling to transition. On the flip side, don’t be surprised if your nursling suddenly just stops nursing. Babies are mysterious that way, and the timing may have been just right.

Have you successfully used any approaches to gently wean your baby?

Maya is a Canadian mama who recently moved with her hubby and baby boy to America. Although she spent most of her adult life as a student in University, for the past 15 months she has spent in the euphoric state of motherhood. She didn’t quite realize it, but when her son was born, Maya was re-born and has really surprised herself at what a breastfeeding, cosleeping, babywearing, cloth diapering, crunchy mama she really is.

Original article and pictures take www.intoxicatedonlife.com site

Garlic Mushroom Quinoa

Garlic Mushroom Quinoa

An easy, healthy side dish that you’ll want to make with every single meal!

With the weather hitting 90 degrees this week, I think it’s safe to say that bikini season is officially here. So in an attempt to shed off all that donut weight, Jason and I have really been trying to get into this whole “clean-eating” situation. And instead of our usual carb-loaded french-fry-onion-ring-deep-fried side dishes, I decided to make a healthy, protein-rich side dish. That is, after we’ve had our morning cup of coffees and maple bars.

Now instead of just serving up a boring old bowl of quinoa, I decided to have a little bit of fun with it and add in one of my all-time favorite veggies = mushrooms. Not only do they have an amazing distinct flavor but they also add a range of nutritional and health benefits right into your meal! And no, this is not a sponsored post for mushrooms. I just REALLY love mushrooms.

So that’s what this is – a boring old bowl of quinoa with a fun twist, chockfull of mushrooms, garlic and thyme. It’s so simple and comes together so easily – it’s practically fool-proof!

Original article and pictures take 23209-presscdn-pagely.netdna-ssl.com site

Garden Veggie Chicken Skillet Recipe {Quick, Easy, Healthy, and Delicious}

Garden Veggie Chicken Skillet Recipe {Quick, Easy, Healthy, and Delicious}

Several of you have commented that you would love more one-skillet-meal recipes. Tell you what – me too. I have very few recipes like that, especially those that fall under the healthy, real food, easy categories. So I tinkered last week and hoped my family would like what I came up with.

Did they like it? Well, would I be posting it here if they didn’t? We were six for six on this one. Sweet! (Actually, it’s savory, but you get the point.) So now I present to you a recipe which:

• Takes only a few minutes to prepare
• Takes only a few minutes to cook
• Will help you stretch the meat, saving you money
• Is full of tasty veggies
• Is a complete meal in one dish
• Tastes amazing (my family said so)

This recipe filled my large electric skillet, feeding six of us. If you have a smaller family, you may want to cut this recipe in half. Also, while this recipe covers all your nutritional bases, I still recommend serving this with a salad (more veggies!) and/or some fresh fruit.

Garden Veggie Chicken Skillet Recipe

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5 medium potatoes, any variety, cut into small cubes

1 pound uncooked boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into small bites (I use thighs because they taste better to us)

4 cups chopped veggies – any variety or combination (zucchini, asparagus, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and onions recommended)

1/2 cup Italian dressing (I use my simple homemade Italian Dressing recipe)

Combine all ingredients in a large skillet. Stir dressing around to coat veggies, potatoes, and meat. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 12-20 minutes or until veggies are tender and meat is cooked thoroughly.

• 5 medium potatoes, any variety, cut into small cubes
• 1 pound uncooked boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into small bites (I use thighs because they taste better to us)
• 4 cups chopped veggies - any variety or combination (zucchini, asparagus, sweet peppers, mushrooms, and onions recommended)

1. Combine all ingredients in a large skillet.
2. Stir dressing around to coat veggies, potatoes, and meat.
3. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 12-20 minutes or until veggies are tender and meat is cooked thoroughly.

The Italian Dressing is the rock star in this recipe. It gives the meat and veggies awesome flavor, plus the oil in the dressing helps in the cooking process. Delicious and super simple!

Think your family would like this meal?

Original article and pictures take heavenlyhomemakers.com site