merry christmas 2013

The year is drawing to a close. My ebook is not yet complete but much further along. Thank you for your patience with the mini posts. Now there's no more school or kinder lunches to pack, no getting out the door by 8.30am for the school run. No. It is time to just be. Time to gather with friends and family, to laugh and cry, share stories and food, reminisce and look forward.

Thank you for visiting here this year. I've loved your company, meeting more of you and discovering more blogs. I'm looking forward to more blogging in 2014, I'm especially looking forward to the mystery and unknown of what will unfold from following creative dreams.

Thinking of those for who Christmas this year is a hard time, if your heart is heavy because of loss or separation or some other reason go gently and keep trusting that the heaviness will lift and life will feel light again. I know it to be true.

Where ever you are in the world or in your heart I wish you and your family all the very best over this holiday season and would love to see you back here next year.

Until then, eat well! xxx

mini post: my favorite pregnancy and parenting books

(this is me pregnant with River in 2006. My friend Shoshanna Jordan took the portrait I love it as much for the precious time in my life that Shosh captured but also for what she captured in our friendship. Thankyou Shosh xx)

Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering, Dr Sarah Buckley

The Natural Way to a Better Pregnancy, Francesca Naish and Jan Roberts

The Natural Way to Better Breastfeeding, Francesca Naish and Jan Roberts

Growing Great Families, Ian and Mary Grant

Growing Great Boys, Ian and Mary Grant (there is also Growing Great Girls in this series that I haven't read but based on how good these two are I am sure it would be a great read too).

Raising Boys, Steve Biddulph

Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves, Naomi Aldort

Parenting with Soul, Sally Collings

Bhuddism for Mothers, Sarah Napthali

Bhuddism for Mothers of Schoolchildren, Sarah Napthali

Which books would you add to the list? Share in the comments we all need a little inspiration from time to time to keep us going with this parenting gig.

mini post: raising real food kids

(photo from the archives - River age 20 months with Pete. The veggie garden flourishing as it still is, thanks to Pete)

I'm focusing on finishing my ebook and have written a series of mini posts to tide you over til I'm back. Thanks for reading! 

Some inspiration to keep you moving on your wholefood/real food path...

From Food Renegade: Raising kids to enjoy real food

Spoonfed: Raising kids to think about the food they eat

100 days of real food: Raising kids on a healthy diet is not going to ruin them

mini post: been meaning to quit soy milk? me too

I'm focusing on finishing my ebook and have written a series of mini posts to tide you over til I'm back. Thanks for reading! 

I switched from cows milk to soy milk in 1997 when I went to see a naturopath about the debilitating recurring sinus infections I was suffering, she recommended I quit all dairy for at least one month and switch to soy. I haven't had a sinus infection since. All these years later I still haven't quit soy.

I drink one soy coffee most days and a soy chai on the other days. Perhaps one cup is ok? My instincts tell me it's not. Each month I go for a few days sometimes up to 10 days with no coffee and hence no soy and then I edge back into it. I think eventually I will move beyond it.

This post: The Soy Decoy Don't be Deceived provides some strong food for thought plus a whole series of links worth looking at on this topic.

Where are you at with soy? Do you drink cows milk with coffee?

mini post: panforte christmas gift idea

**I'm focusing on finishing my ebook and have written a series of mini posts to tide you over til I'm back. Thanks for reading!** 

I make panforte each year, the mixture of spices, chocolate, nuts and fruit is heaven sent. And gluten free :)

Take a look at my archive post for the recipe.

If you have written posts about Christmas gifts to make please share them in the comments.

making time to write an ebook

It seems the only way to get something done is to commit to it and make it a priority. Sounds obvious I know, but it is easy to lose time each day hoping that you will have an hour to fit in exercise, writing, craft and so on. It doesn't really work.

So, I have decided to prioritise finishing my ebook over blogging. Ouch! It hurts to write that because I enjoy blogging and will miss being in this space and reading blogs but the truth is none of that will get my book finished - as my darling husband has regularly pointed out to me. Annoying but true.

I have though set up a series of mini posts to appear over the next few weeks. A photo with a quote or a link or two, a way of saying "I'm thinking of you!". Only I won't be on vacation I'll be writing and cooking and photographing and and and. Hmmm easy to see how overwhelm can cause procrastination.

What will be in the book?

I'm so glad you asked :) The book will be a down-to-earth guide for getting your family on track or back on track to eating real food and will of course have lots of easy, nutritious and delicious recipes.

It will also have anecdotes from other wholefood mamas about their experiences with finding their way with wholefood.

I am very excited and grateful to have some wonderful contributors sharing their recipes and experiences including Sonia from Natural New Age Mum, Natalie from Digestible Kitchen, Georgia from Well Nourished, and Alexx Stuart to name a few.

Wish me luck and hopefully with full focus on my book I will get it finished and be back here in time to wish you a Merry Christmas! Have a beautiful time preparing for Christmas.

Nikki x

for the love of olives

I remember the first time River ate an olive. He was two and grabbed a big fat green olive off an antipasto plate, he popped the whole thing in his mouth pip and all and proceeded to fall in love with olives. Both River and Sol love olives, so do I. We were only too happy to receive the beautiful jar of home preserved olives, pictured above, from our friend Bronwyn. They are sensational! I wish you could taste one.

I had a go at preserving olives at the start of the year using this easy method.

After waiting 5 weeks to eat them, we opened the lid and the top was covered in a layer of mould. Boo hoo. I am embarrassed to say that I think the reason there was mould was because although we sterilised the jar the lid we used was plastic, a metal lid would have been better because you can sterilise metal. So, learn from my mistake and make sure you use a metal lid. We did sample one of the olives from the bottom though and the flavour was divine. I was a bit nervous about poisoning the family so I ditched the rest but I'd definitely give it another go.

Have you ever preserved olives? Share your tips in the comments.

stills: a weekly collection

1. Sol's fourth birthday party spread - carrot and cumin hummus with rice crackers, feta and spinach frittata, savoury gluten free muffins, brown rice sushi rolls with tuna, avocado and carrot. (not pictured salsa and corn chips).

2. Chai for the grown ups. I love drinking chai at the park.

3. Sol's jellyfish cake. Thank you Women's Weekly kids party cake book for the inspiration. Yes gasp that is blue jelly you see there.

4. Sol's kinder teacher is an exceptional woman, so loving and nurturing, she creates a beautiful space in the kinder room both by how she decorates it and by her warmth. I am grateful to have her in our life. This is a sign she has at the entrance to the room.

5. Beautiful strawberries, I haven't met a child yet who doesn't love this fruit.

6. Morning light. My favorite.

7. Another piece of kinder inspiration. (Pay no attention to this if you are having a grumpy mummy day ;) that's not the days we're talking about)

(Joining in with Em from The Beetleshack)