the path to healing

Today's post is inspired by beautiful and courageous mama, Sonya Koeck. Sonya is on her path to healing an aggressive form of breast cancer that she was diagnosed with five years ago and she is leaving no path untraveled in doing so.

I am writing this today to share Sonya's story but also to shine a light on the difficult decisions that people diagnosed with cancer and many other serious illnesses are confronted with.

Which healing path to take? Sonya so rightly makes the point that in Australia the approach to treatment is very much western medicine versus natural medicine, it is either/or, whereas in countries such as Germany the two are integrated. There are in Australia exceptions: doctors, specialists, natural medicine practitioners who are open to integrating both approaches but they are few and far between and seeking these people out can be an exhaustive process physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. It shouldn't be this way.

Sonya's healing path has taken her from New South Wales away from her beloved husband and young children, to Germany where she is receiving wholistic treatment unavailable in Australia. Sonya is deeply committed to her healing, doing everything within her power meditating daily, eating a purely organic diet, remaining positive and staying connected to her faith, she is responding well to treatment in Germany but is having to say no to certain treatments available there because they are costly and her funds are low. I don't believe not having enough money should be a barrier to accessing effective health care for any person. To my mind this is purely a matter of distribution of currency, meaning money moves around the world all day every day some people have a lot some people have a little and everyone spends it differently. I believe in philanthropy and I don't believe you need to have a million dollars in the bank to be a philanthropist. I believe in the power of giving, the amount is one thing but the act of giving is another.

Sonya has learnt a tremendous amount about western medicine and natural medicine on her healing journey and when she is well she would like to share that knowledge with people who find themselves in her position to help guide them where no guide book exists.

In her pro-active way, Sonya has set up a crowd-funding page so she can continue receiving treatment in Germany and return home well to her family.

You can read in detail Sonya's story on her funding page and if you are able to make a financial contribution you can do so directly on the page. Every dollar adds up. I donated $20 last night because that is what I had, when I consider I spend $30 a week on buying coffee I figure I can afford to donate more during the next month.

I have never met Sonya. I have met her beautiful family, Sonya and her family are beloved friends of people close in my life, and as a woman, a wife and mother I am deeply moved by their situation.

I share this story today because I can, because social media can be positively life changing. This post is not just to ask you to donate money, perhaps you can't right now. I also share it because cancer is an all too common diagnosis and I invite you take a moment to let go of what is not important and join me in being immensely grateful for good health when you have it.

Big blessings to the beautiful Sonya from the Wholefood Mama community, and blessings to each of you too dear readers especially those whose lives in one way or another have been affected by cancer. Thank you for reading this today. xx

To donate or share Sonya's page go here - Onya Sonya - Sonya's Future Fund

wholefood mama maintenance

When was the last time you had a medical check up? Or visited your natural health practitioner?

I recently had a blood test to check my cholesterol level, triglycerides, iron, vitamin D, thyroid function etc; I do this every two years mainly because my mum died very unexpectedly at age 44 of a heart attack and because I believe so much that prevention is better than cure. Don't wait to get sick to get well!

The test results came back showing I was anaemic (low in iron). Tiredness is a common side effect of being anaemic and there I was thinking I was tired from Sol waking me up every night. After all, aren't all mothers tired? Well apparently not. And there is a difference between feeling tired and feeling exhausted to the bone and no amount of rest or sleep can restore your energy.

Anaemia has been an on and off problem for me since giving birth to River almost 7 years ago. It is not because I don't have enough iron in my diet but more so an absorption issue.

I decided to write about this here because I think many mothers put their own health and wellness at the bottom of their very full to do list and it really needs to be at the top.

I booked in to see my local Chinese medicine practitioner and spent an hour receiving acupuncture, shiatsu, wisdom and herbs. In addition to taking the herbs it was recommended I have a daily root vegetable juice, drink plenty of water and also chlorophyll. It was not recommended I sit down to a great big steak which is a common thought, that meat is the answer to anaemia, eating big amounts of red meat if your digestion is weak will make you more tired! I am enjoying the ritual of making the juice and now that the weather has finally cooled I have made a bone stock. The herbs have made a huge difference to my energy in just 10 days of taking them. The words of wisdom I received that I think will resonate with many mothers is to do things in your own time on your own terms, set goals that work for the present always with an ideal in mind that will be more possible in the future.

In your own time, on your own terms. Don't you love that? This applies to so many aspects of mothering and looking after yourself while you are busily focused on looking after all those around you. For instance, weaning, co-sleeping, practicing yoga, changing your family's diet. Your ideal might be to attend a yoga class twice a week but for now a yoga DVD at home is more achievable. Your ideal might be for your family to eat wholefood home cooked meals three times a day but for now you are focusing on wholefood breakfasts and saying goodbye to boxed cereals and white toast every morning.

What are you doing to take care of you mama? Do you find it hard to do?

11 (wholefood) tips for supporting grieving loved ones

Two of my beautiful friends are grieving following the deaths of people they love. I have unintentionally become an 'expert' on the topic of grief and how to offer support, not through a university degree but through the experience of having five significant family members die when I was aged between 18 and 23 (my great grandmother, my mum, my brother, my uncle and my grandmother). Experiencing so much loss early in my life has of course been painful and sad but through my loss and grief I have experienced many riches too, such as a clearer perspective about what really matters.

After having a cup of tea with one of my friends who is in the depths of raw new grief I started to think about the ways to support people who are grieving and I remembered ways that people supported me. Making food and sharing food is a very obvious and practical way of showing your love and support to someone who is grieving, especially to someone who is having to find a way to keep their family life going while feeling broken hearted.

If you have someone in your life who is grieving and you want to support them but don't really know how here are my tips with some wholefood ideas in the mix:

1. Acknowledge the person's loss. It sounds so simple but it means so much. "I am really sorry to hear that your......has died" or write it in a card. Avoiding the person because you don't know what to say is not helpful. If they cry when you speak to them its ok, you didn't upset them, the tears were already there.

2. Offer to do their grocery shopping for them or just arrive with a bag of groceries.

3. Make a pot of soup or some meals that can be frozen. Soup is soothing and nourishing, and it is easy to eat and digest which is important when appetite is low and digestion is unsettled which can be a part of grief.

4. Organise a meals roster among friends and provide cooked meals for a few weeks.

5. Deliver a fruit bowl to your friend, it is both nourishing and visually beautiful.

6. Offer to mind their children so that they can have some space just to be with their feelings.

7. Offer to do school drop offs and pick ups. Chatting at the school gate may be the last thing a grieving parent feels like doing.

8. Bake a wholesome cake or batch of biscuits.

9. A selection of herbal teas makes a thoughtful gift, camomile is of course a good choice as is valerian to help with sleep.

10. Put together a care pack that includes a candle, lavendar oil (sometimes it is difficult to sleep when grieving a few drops on a pillow can help), a beautiful soap, a purse pack of tissues or a handkerchief and perhaps a journal for some writing if your friend likes writing.

11. Grief is not time limited. The intensity of the feelings lessen over time but the loss remains. Be mindful that your friend may have new waves of grief around anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas. A small gift or a card, or making time for a cup of tea at these times means a lot.

If you have suggestions to add to this list please do in the comments. And to all those who are in the midst of grief, go gently for as long as you need to. xxx

merry christmas

Sol and I have enjoyed fresh mango followed by a golden toasted slice of panettone for breakfast over the past few mornings. Panettone is a sweet bread, rich with butter and eggs and studded with sultanas and candied citrus peel. Originating in Milan it is traditionally prepared to celebrate Christmas. My earliest memory of panettone is as a child at my nana's house.

My nan worked as a dressmaker all her life and in the factory where she worked throughout my childhood, many of the women she worked with were Italian or Greek. My brother and I enjoyed going with my nan on some weekends to visit her work friends where we were treated to warm and generous European hospitality (ie. much fussing over because my nan's friends loved children and many treats of home made biscuits and cakes). At Christmas time my nana would bring home gifts from these women of traditional Christmas foods such as panettone.

Having a young family of my own, I am keen to create some of our own Christmas traditions. Our cut + paste tree is shaping up to be one, as is making panforte. What traditions do you enjoy with your family? Or perhaps there are some from other cultures that you admire, I'd love to hear. Creating and honouring tradition makes life richer, brings deeper meaning to our celebrations and acknowledges history and ancestry.

Speaking of my young family, River had his last day of Prep today. I was as emotional as I was on his first day, completely unprepared for the heart swelling farewell to his beautiful teacher and the acknowledgment of all the wonderful ways he has grown this year in mind and heart.

In place of a list today, I have one special link...

My friend and mentor Samantha Gowing, who is a therapeutic chef with a flair for delicious food as medicine, launched her first ebook today. Filled with recipes, remedies and wonderful stories from Sam's life and kitchen, 'The Healing Feeling' represents 12 years of her experience and knowledge. It is a wonderful resource whether you are just starting out making better food choices or whether you are well underway on the real food journey.

The title of Sam's book speaks to me because from where I sit we could all do with some healing in one form or another, and if there's one need that is a growing one for many people it is nutritional healing. So, a big congratulations Sam on putting your heart, soul and wisdom into this beautiful book I know it will be valuable and life changing for many people.

Life is different when we are well nourished. We have more energy, more mental clarity, emotional balance and connection with the earth and the people we love.

On that note, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to seeing you back here in 2013. I've decided to make this my last post for 2012 and savour each moment of the days between now and the New Year giving my full attention to my real life family and friends. Thank you my online friends for reading my blog this year, for your comments and friendship and being part of the wholefood movement. Here's to more people joining us on the wholefood path next year.

Peace and Joy to all.

Nikki xx

eat well now

Over the past few months I've been reading Kris Carr and Jessica Ainscough's blogs with interest. These green smoothie drinking, plant eating, life loving gals are inspiring people the world over to live well. Now! For those of you who don't know their stories, Kris is an American woman who was diagnosed with a rare, incurable (thankfully slow-growing) cancer and has gone on to write 5 books, make a film and write a blog about the path she has taken in confronting cancer. Jess is a 26 year old Australian woman who was diagnosed four years ago with a rare form of cancer in her arm and shoulder, the only option for survival offered to Jess was amputation. Jess declined having her arm amputated, said no thanks to chemo and set off on her own path of healing which she blogs about at the Wellness Warrior.

Jess and Kris are inspirations not just to people with cancer. I am so captivated by Jess and Kris' stories because intrinsic in their message is one that is close to my own heart and that is to "Live Well NOW!" or as some put it "Prevention is Hot!" The health odds are stacked against the majority of people living in developed countries who 'get by' on processed food, and are immersed in pollution and stress. Modern living is toxic on many levels and it takes consciousness and commitment to swim in a different more vibrant stream.

The seeds for my own inspiration to live well and inspire others to do so were planted in me early. The biggest catalyst occurred when I was 21 and my mother died suddenly of an unexpected heart attack. My mum was 44 years young and had no obvious symptoms of heart disease. Her father died at the same age of a heart attack and my mum certainly was not on the prevention is hot train. No. In many ways my dear mum was reckless with her life and her health. Mum was a smoker, drinker, didn't exercise, skipped meals and had plenty of stress to tie all that together. Now that I am a mother I understand my own mum at a deeper level. I miss her greatly. I am grateful for the time I had with her and grateful that I have the awareness and courage to live my life differently. Mum's death elevated my desire to look after myself. In the sixteen years since my mum passed I have made peace with my body image issues that plagued me since early childhood, I found yoga and I have committed myself to a diet and lifestyle that nourishes me. Sure I stray from my path but overall I feel so fortunate that I am living the life I am.

Since having my own family and trading restaurant meals for ones I cook myself my writing focus has shifted. When I was living in Melbourne, reviewing restaurants and writing about mainstream food I was up with the latest cafe, which chef was at which restaurant, which flavours and ingredients were the ones on everyone's lips; one of my editors referred to me as 'newshound Nikki' if there were sheets of newspaper covering a shopfront I'd be tapping on the door to see what was happening, hunting out the next cafe story. I had fun and wouldn't change a minute of it (well maybe the inedible duck rillettes at restaurant unmentionable that just about put me off eating duck for life) but I am glad that I have grown and moved forward in my health and ultimately my happiness.

To deepen my commitment to this path I've been researching nutrition courses, deciding which one to  enrol in next year. I am hungry for knowledge and hungry to share what I know and believe in. I've been tap tap tapping away writing my first ebook that will hopefully be ready early next year to inspire you to take, or keep your family on the wellness path.

So, my Wholefood Mama friends don't wait to get sick to get well! If you aren't already living as though your life and your health are gifts to be cherished and nurtured I ask you why? You deserve to. And your family and friends deserve to have you for a very long, healthy and happy lifetime.

Now its over to you. What are your thoughts on committing to the wellness path? Challenges? Triumphs? Do tell. Oh and if any readers have studied nutrition and would recommend the course I'd love to hear that too. Thanks for reading. x

back to the stone age

From now until Christmas, week on week off, I am following Dr Zenon Gruba's version of the Stone Age Elimination Diet. I have written here before about Dr Gruba and the 12 week guided detox program that Pete and I undertook with him last year. We did it because we really subscribe to the theory of - 'why wait to get sick to be well?!' 

Many people wait until they are diagnosed with a chronic illness to improve their diet and lifestyle. I believe that even for people who are in good health and eating a nutritious diet there is always room for refinement. 

It had been 12 months since I last saw Dr Gruba so I went for a follow up visit and basically he gave me the thumbs up for improving my health. To keep me on my path though he recommended I follow his version of the Stone Age Diet. With the emphasis being on eating fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and meat (no pig products) no grains and no dairy there are similarities to the Paleo diet, however in contrast to Paleo ways Gruba's diet includes legumes and potato. (The baked rice in the third picture was not for me but the vegetables were). This article is a good read to cover the for and against Paleo.

Having completed my first week I can say the beauty of the one week on one week off is two fold. For me it makes it very achievable. Having gone 3 months with no sugar, salt, dairy, wheat, fruit, alcohol or caffeine, 7 days is a walk in the veggie garden. The other aspect I am enjoying is it has heightened my awareness to which foods agree with me and which don't. As much as I enjoy a bowl of porridge on a cold morning I have really noticed that if I eat too bigger a bowl I feel like Goldilocks in need of a nap.

I won't bore you too much with the intricacies of my personal observations (because given there are people in the world who only have rice or less to eat I do find bantering on about detoxing etc; to be self indulgent and the need to detox indicative of our culture of excess) but another aspect I like about this diet is the reliance on real food. I was in the veggie garden harvesting greens 3 meals a day compared to one or two meals a day where I would take a leaf or two for a salad sandwich I was picking bunches of greens to cook up and eat with an egg or some kangaroo or to mix in with chickpeas and other veggies. By the fourth day Pete asked me to please go easy on the kale plant. It made me realise that most people eat too few vegetables. 

I commenced last Saturday to coincide the ending of my 7 days with going to a birthday party where I red wine, bread and cheese were back on my menu.

Where are you all at with your real food journeys? I ask because, well because I want to know, but also because eating real food in a processed world requires a certain way of thinking, a commitment to good health and it takes planning. Share your tips and thoughts.

time out

I arrived home today from taking time out, to this sweet arrangement of Sol's rainbow shoes resting atop of Pete's big boots. While I was away, they had time together climbing sand dunes and laying amongst the clovers.

Despite all my wholefood, health loving ways, I am not great at making time for looking after me. Ouch. That was hard to confess. I tend to push myself to the edge of the line before putting my hand up and saying, "hmmm I think I need a rest". I am a task master when it comes to myself, always wanting to do more, be more, give more.

While some of you may be just at the start of your wholefood journey, slowly making changes, less takeaway food, more taking stock and so on; I am working on swallowing my own advice, to be gentle, go slow, one small bite at a time and trying to let go a little, cut myself some slack. Given, I'm nearly 40 I feel like a slow learner with this! We all have to start somewhere.

I started today with a shiatsu massage. Have you ever had one? I first had one about fifteen years ago when a neighbour friend was a shiatsu student and looking for people to practice on. That massage was an incredible experience. I slept more soundly that night, had energising vivid dreams and woke with an amazing sense of mental clarity and feeling of complete calm. I'd never had that from a massage before.

So, what is shiatsu? Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage that works on moving the energy (life force) in the body by applying finger or palm pressure on acupressure points. It is incredibly effective for moving stuck or blocked energy helping to clear fatigue, release emotion and restore balance in body, mind and spirit.

If you are not into having a massage because you don't like the idea of being semi-naked, covered in oil and rubbed down by a stranger, shiatsu is the answer as you remain fully clothed and lay on a futon mattress on the floor.

From my first experience of shiatsu I loved it so much I began studying it at the Australian shiatsu college when I lived in Melbourne. It was just before knowing I was pregnant with River and I vividly remember one of the women in the class on the first day as we went around the circle introducing ourselves and explaining why we were there, she was very softly spoken and answered, "I've spent the last 20 years raising my three sons and now it is time to do something for me." At the time, having not had children myself, I was in my late twenties, and was really taken aback by her answer. I thought to myself "how could that happen? how could she have not done things she was interested in for 20 years? I vowed to myself then and there that when I have children I'm not going to let that happen to me. I am still going to maintain my sense of self". Ha! I laugh at my younger self now.

I am so enraptured with my sons, my husband and being a family and as my natural way of being is to do more, be more and give more I can now so easily see how my sense of self can go missing in action.

I took the first step today to restoring balance. Where are you at? Do you need to make some changes? What do you do to restore your internal harmony and take care of the 'I' in family? I'd love to hear. Oh and I can't recommend enough - have a shiatsu!

globesity: fat's new frontier

Watching babies drink coca cola from the bottle is not easy viewing but if you missed Foreign Correspondent's special on global obesity and want to witness the damage processed foods coupled with powerful marketing are doing in some of the world's developing countries you can watch the episode here.

Viewing the program strengthened my commitment to eating wholefoods and my resolve to grow this blog and do anything and everything I can to spread the word about wholefoods, to inspire people to eat well, to treasure their health and to campaign to change the world one bite at a time.

Don't even get me started on the Olympic sponsorship by unmentionable fast food company and already mentioned soft drink company. Really. The gods must sit back and laugh at human stupidity.

Not my usual sunny way to finish the week I know but it had to be said. And there's more to say but I'll leave that for next week.

For now my thoughts turn to putting the finishing touches on gifts and treasures for River's birthday celebration this weekend as he turns six. I wish you all a happy weekend. I hope it is nourishing in every sense of the word. x

green is good

I drank my first green smoothie probably three years ago during one of our winters in Byron Bay. I was hooked on the sweet and cleansing drink from the first one. And I was thrilled that River liked them too. Getting green vegetables into children just became easy. I don't usually drink them in winter but Jodi's post about green monster juice reminded me of how good they are and I couldn't wait until Spring!

The smoothie pictured above is a 'cheat's' version that I blended last night when we arrived home from the first of the celebrations for River who turns six next sunday. We had spent the day at my aunt's with extended family, we had lots of fun playing in the winter sun and enjoyed ample birthday food including kangaroo pies and of course birthday cake. No one felt like dinner. Pete had a pot of ginger tea while River and I had green smoothie and played with his birthday games. (Sol fell asleep at 5.30pm in the car on the way home and I put him straight into bed when we arrived home. So yes I have been awake with him since 5.30am today :) joy)

I say the smoothie is a cheat's version because I used coconut water that is mixed with banana and instead of fossicking around in the vegie garden in the dark looking for leafy greens, I put in two heaped spoons of Supergreens powder (spirulina, barley grass, chlorella and wheat grass) and whizzed it in the blender. Dinner was served.

If you want to read up on the goodness of green smoothies I recommend Victoria Boutenko's inspiring and informative book Green for Life. You can visit her site here.

Happy Monday to you all x

ps for those who noticed my photo update on the right there it shows my new 'accidental' hair cut from shoulder length to crop top! I had a bad haircut at a hairdresser and Pete then 'fixed' it for me. He did a better job than the hairdresser. Fortunately my hair grows fast :) Thanks aunty Karen for taking the photo in your fabulous magenta bathroom.

top 10 ways to beat the winter blues

Here in the southern hemisphere we're just about half way through winter! Woo hoo. I know for some of you, me included, getting through winter is tough.

One of the mums at school was telling me how winter is getting her down and her favorite time of the day was after school when she lit their open fire "That makes me happy,"she said. I can relate to that. Nothing beats the glow and warmth of an open fire to lift your spirit.

Go on get happy with these ideas:

1.Take a winter getaway Sure a month on a beach in Thailand might be ideal but if budget doesn't allow that, do anything you can to get a change of scene for even a couple of nights. And it doesn't even have to be in a hot climate. Spend a weekend in the country or on the coast at a house with an openfire. Getting away, changing the routine is a great way to recharge. The photo of the stunning ocean beach was taken by my friend Mette last week when she was enjoying a mid winter break with her family at Cape Shanck.

2.Dry skin brushing This is one of the simplest ways to do something food for you. Buy yourself a dry skin brush made from a natural fibre not synthetic and before you step into the shower use the brush to slough off all those dead skin cells. The results are instant - smooth skin and an energised feeling. 

3. Declutter Why wait til Spring for a spring clean? We spend so much time inside on cold and rainy days makes more sense to me to clear out those cupboards and shelves now and then when that sunshine shows up again you can head outside knowing you're all sorted.

4.Dose up on Vitamin D since our exposure to the sun is reduced during to summer to protect our skin from skin cancer and reduced during winter as a result of less daylight hours, Vitamin D deficiency is common and affects mood and bone density. Salmon, tuna, eggs, cheese are all good food sources of vitamin D but they may not be enough. Talk to your health practitioner if you think you'd benefit from a supplement.

5.Move your body get those happy chemicals (endorphins) pumping by moving your body. Getting outside in the cold weather may not be that appealing but it is excuse or reason to become a couch potato. Go to an indoor swim centre, go to a class - yoga, dance, circuit, use an exercise DVD. This one also fits with my 'prevention is better than cure' theory, that is don't wait until Spring to exercise it will be time to wear bathers sooner than you think the time is now!

6. Have a massage the healing power of massage is well recognised in countries such as India and China where it is an integral part of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, it is not seen as a mere luxurious indulgence. A good massage can balance the energy systems in your body, your nervous system and bring a deep sense of peace and relaxation. Having a massage doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Give yourself a head and face massage or a foot massage or do an exchange with a friend or someone in your family.

7. Soak in a hot spring If you are lucky enough to live near a hot mineral spring like we are make use of it. It will warm you to the core and leave you feeling relaxed and renewed. Remember to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. And if a hot spring isn't near by try a steam room or sauna.

8. Eat well This applies year round of course but during winter the best foods to eat to keep you happy and healthy are those rich in zinc, vitamin C and the B vitamins. Porridge is a great way to start the day as it is a slow release complex carbohydrate so it won't have your sugar levels rising and crashing. Enjoy some oysters to boost your zinc levels. Citrus fruits are in season for a reason! Good fats (avocado, flaxseed oil, coconut oil, nut butter) and lean protein (tuna, salmon, kangaroo, eggs) are nourishing and satisfying. Resist overloading on 'comfort' foods made with flour and sugars as they will add to your winter 'coat' and send your mood up and down. Bone soups are the best source of nourishment and comfort.

9. Learn to knit Learning a new skill is good for keeping our brains happy and there's nothing cuter than a homemade knit for children. Your local library is a great place to find books on learning to knit.

10. Embrace the season This is a case of if you can't beat it enjoy it. In just over six weeks it will be Spring time so enjoy the things that say Winter - walking in the rain, jumping in puddles, have a bonfire, going to the snow, slow cooking.

We're almost there!

mothers know best

My plans of ice-skating, catching up with kinder friends, visiting my nan in the country have all been thwarted by a very nasty, hard hitting dose of winter ills and chills. Pow. With little warning, River, Sol and I have spent the past four days with fever, chills, hacking coughs, head and body aches. Somehow Pete has escaped the bug and remained well to deal with the mountain of washing that always accompanies sickness and to make us soup and tea.

River and I are steadily climbing our way towards wellness on soup, tea and vitamin C (plus an excellent herbal cough relief concoction by Greenridge). When I placed (pictured) bowl of soup in front of River at 8am yesterday his response was "Chicken noodle soup! For breakfast?!" Yes, today that is breakfast.

Our little buddy Sol's temperature had been hovering around 39.5 for two days and by the third morning even though his temperature had dropped he was still wanting to sleep a lot and was whimpering, I didn't feel at all comfortable with this so I took him off to the doctor who confirmed he has a chest infection. Boo hoo. Poor little man.

As much as I am a food-as-medicine, natural remedy kinda gal and prefer not to give my children antibiotics at the first sign of a sniffle, I do value a diagnosis from a medical doctor for my peace of mind and I am thankful that pharmaceutical medicine exists for times when we need it most. Unfortunately, it is the 'for times when we need it most' part that is lost in the power of advertising and on those driving pharmaceutical company profit lines. 

Like all mothers I find it difficult to see my children unwell and want to make them comfortable and have them in good health again asap. And if I can do that using rest, natural remedies and TLC all the better. If my boys are really unwell and showing no sign of improving, I take them to the doctor. After many years of learning about food as medicine and natural remedies, I trust my judgement and when in doubt I call on like minded friends and family to compare notes and have my trusted natural therapies practitioners I consult too. There is still a lot more learning for me to do and more growing in confidence with caring for my sick children. Making decisions about how to care for your child when they are unwell is one of the many things that there is no preparation for when you become a parent.

Trusting your instinct is of course the most important thing to do. When River was 3 and woke in the night with a cough I had never heard from him before my instinct was to immediately ring an ambulance. And I was so glad I did. He had a severe bout of croup, he had never had croup before, and was taken to hospital in the ambulance with Pete where he had to have oxygen and steroid medication and stay under observation. When I arrived at the hospital later the nurse said never to feel like I was over-reacting, it was always better to seek help than wait and see. This particularly applies to anything to do with breathing!

So, back to Sol and his chest infection. I went to the chemist with a prescription for antibiotics and asked for some children's ibuprofen (brand here is Nurofen). Sol is susceptible to ear infections and in the past when he has had an ear infection if I give him paracetamol he vomits. I talked this over with the doctor and he suggested I try children's ibuprofen if his temperature rose again and he was in pain. An interesting discussion followed with the pharmacist who does not recommend Nurofen for children (she does though stock it) due to the fact is too harsh on their tummies and she has seen an increased incidence Nurofen induced asthma in children, which she said "no one is talking about". Well we are now. The marketing for paracetamol and ibuprofen aimed at treating children is completely irresponsible in my opinion (and that of the pharmacist's), it plays totally on the vulnerability of parent's of sick children. The truth about fever is that it is a natural response to fighting infection and is not in and of itself dangerous, and therefore in the vast majority of cases does not need treating with said products.

If you want to read up on fever in children this fact sheet from the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne provides a good summary of what to look for and what to do or not do, and for a more in-depth article go to this pdf file of Kindred magazine and scroll down to page 20 where you will find 'Fever - your child's best friend'.

If you're still reading I hope it was a helpful post, it turned out to be a long one but there are so many things to navigate out there when it comes to health and wellbeing I always think it is worthwhile sharing experience and comparing notes. Here's to good health and good advice when it comes to health care.

what if?

Do you ever allow "what if?" to hold you back? To keep you in your comfort zone, stay surrounded by the familiar. You have an idea, a flash of inspiration or a long held dream and any step of action is thwarted by a negative answer to "what if?" Hard to admit but I am guilty of this and it has taken me until almost 40 to even realise!! I had until recently, told myself that by thinking about the 'what ifs?' I was being a realist, thinking things through. Not so at all.

I have had some fantastic opportunities come my way and on recent reflection I feel like I haven't really lived every inch of them. I've played it safe and small. Ouch, again hard to admit. Why have I done this? Because, what if it doesn't work out? what if people don't like it? what if I lose money and time? what if I start and then don't know how to continue? what if I had to say no to someone? ...what if? what if? what if?

Well, the truth is this sort of thinking is completely crippling. It is also a habit. A habit that can be broken. Thankfully this new found awareness was lovingly brought to my attention by some nearest and dearest and I can make changes to free myself from this affliction starting with returning to yoga to clear my mind and calm my nervous edge, by taking my friend Bron up on the offer of a massage and turning off the negative 'what if?' button in my brain, and then getting on with as the saying goes 'feeling the fear and doing it anyway'. 

For me this feeling has not coincided with motherhood, it existed long before; but I know for some women it does coincide with motherhood, as becoming a mother can simultaneously expand a woman's creative and loving heart and mind in the most wonderful ways and reduce it painfully in others. The reducing can also take away confidence. If you can relate to this, I always find the analogy of thinking about life in seasons so helpful, that you are in a season and the season will change. It is also very important though to seek out and surround yourself with people who will support you to step into the next season when it arrives.

Now if you will indulge me a little further, I'd like to finish this post with the lyrics of a song written and performed last night by River who is one month away from turning six and like most parents do with their children I marvel at his view of the world and how he puts words together. To give context to this song, we are not raising our boys to follow a particular religion or faith, we talk about the spirit world and the natural world, so with that in mind I soaked in River's song when he performed it for the first time last night.

Standing before his audience of Sol and I with his toy electric guitar around his neck he introduced himself, "Hello my name is River and this song is called 'God'". And then proceeded to sing:

God is special

because they are always there for you

and they help you if you are sad

they are in your head when you dream

they are special and bright

they are special because they are there

forever and ever and ever and ever.

I love that God is plural. I hope this post has been a helpful start for those who are wanting to move forward with their dreams and passions. Or even with just folding the washing. What if we never folded the washing again?!

everything is yoga

painting by Poh Ling Yeow

In the early weeks after giving birth to River I was floating with love and joy and simultaneously bewildered by lack of sleep and the relentlessness of breastfeeding my newborn babe; a mantra came to me "everything is yoga" and I breathed more deeply. Those three little words danced around my head and somehow just thinking of them, breathing them in melted the tension in my neck and shoulders, made me feel lighter in body, mind and spirit.

In his book The Tree of Yoga BKS Iyengar writes:

"Yoga means union. The union of the individual soul with the Universal Spirit is yoga...I say that yoga is the union of body with the mind and of mind with the soul".

I came to yoga at a time of deep grief some sixteen years ago. I knew very little about what yoga actually involved but I knew if I were to ever feel lightness again I had to find something to take me there and yoga turned out to be that something.

I am tremendously grateful that the first class I went to was led by Louise Goodvach, who in one class conveyed to me the essence of yoga with her strength, grace, compassion, humour and light. The space Louise created, the poses we held, lifted my spirit immeasurably. That class was the beginning of a long association with Louise and her yoga school and a lifetime love and appreciation of yoga and all the great things that come with regular practice.

Since having the boys I have practiced yoga at home with varying regularity. Now that River is at school and Sol is heading towards turning 3 the time has well arrived for me to seek a class and go!
So looking forward to it.

Do you have a mantra? A daily practice for your body, mind and spirit?

Whatever your something is I hope you manage to weave it into your day.

be careful what you wish for

Early last week I was thinking about dropping River off at school, returning home with Sol and 'taking the day off'. Day off = instead of focusing all my energy into finding a way to work through my list of tasks and balance it out with activities with/for Sol I would just be. Instead of a 'to do' list, 'to be' was the goal (see I still need a goal). But when you are a parent you can't call the office and say 'I won't be in today' so this plan was going to be my next best thing.

What happened? The morning after I had the 'take a day off' thought, I woke up with a sore throat. As any mother will tell you, catching a cold when you are a mum does not equate to sipping lemon tea and quiet bed rest whilst your body does its healing work. No. Having a cold when you are a mum, well in my experience, equates to making a speedy recovery because domestic duties, family life and freelance writing with a sore throat, aches, chills and headache is no fun.

So while I didn't put myself to bed for a whole day I did sip lemon, ginger, honey and echinacea tea, I did have a nap one day when Sol had his (me sleeping in the day is unheard of, I relish that quiet time to be awake on my own) I also sipped chicken broth laden with garlic, I gargled saltwater, I skipped reading duty at school, cancelled a trip to Melbourne and basically I was on a 'go slow' for the week. Each of those small healing details - rest, remedies and saying 'no' - added up to me feeling better, feeling like I had nurtured myself and that I was recharged.

If you are in the midst of a cold I wish you the best with finding moments of renewal, ditto if you are caring for sickies. And if you're wishing for a 'day off' make it a very clear wish that doesn't include catching a cold!

What happens in your house when you have a cold? Who looks after you?

Happy Monday.

breastfeeding

Each year the mainstream media do their best to churn out a few stories portraying breastfeeding as something unusual, unnatural, sexualised or something for mothers to be embarrassed or ashamed about, for instance those mothers who do vs. those who don't, those who stop after a few months vs. those breastfeeding three year olds.

Being a long time breastfeeding mama myself I couldn't resist weighing in on the matter, particularly as I'm still breastfeeding my youngest son Sol who is two and a half (he and I pictured above). I breastfed Sol's older brother River until he was two and then for River's second birthday I decided the gift I was going to give both he and I was: weaning. Within two nights our breastfeeding days were done. We were both ready for that to happen.

Not so with Sol who is far more attached to being breastfed than River was. I am growing physically weary of feeding and am looking forward to having my body back. Slowly, slowly.

Today I came across this article 'Getting rid of the breastfeeding taboo' written by Australian author and mother Tara Moss about her experience of breastfeeding her daughter, the article also includes a lot of facts and figures about breastfeeding in Australia and the general lack of support many new mothers experience in their effort to breastfeed. Tara is the UNICEF Patron for Breastfeeding, for the Baby Friendly Health Initiative which aims to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Australia.

Before having children I didn't imagine I would breastfeed for more than the first year of my children's lives. I've been very fortunate that my experience of learning to breastfeed was very straight forward - no cracked nipples, no difficulty with attachment, no mastitis.

The Natural Way to Better Breastfeeding by Francesa Naish and Jan Roberts is the number one book I recommend to any breastfeeding mother. I referred to it daily in the beginning months of feeding. Franseca and Jan are natural health and fertility practitioners and have written a number of excellent books about conception, pregnancy and birth.

If you haven't yet visited Marvellous Kiddo, one of the series I enjoy on this great blog is the art and photography series celebrating breastfeeding mamas such as this photo by Dorothea Lange.

This has turned into a long post! And its not over yet, below is a story I started a few years ago about breastfeeding and I've just finished it now.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have something to say about your experiences of breastfeeding or the media's role in making it look unnatural.
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Would you like a glass of water love?

When pregnant with my first child I wondered what will it be like to breastfeed? Would I be able to? Would my baby take to it easily? I felt nervous at the thought of it not happening easily. So, during my pregnancy I read books on breastfeeding, browsed the internet and studied the Australian Breastfeeding Association website. I listened to stories from my aunt and sister-in-law who breastfed their children for two or more years. I also heard friend’s stories of suffering cracked nipples, back, neck and shoulder pain, having difficulty attaching their baby to the breast, not enough milk or too much milk. My aunt and my sister-in-law were really the only two women who spoke of the experience with fondness. Despite my quiet nervousness I knew breastfeeding my baby was the natural thing to do, I also knew reading and hearing stories were one thing, doing would be another.

On July 29 2006, after 10 hours of labour our beautiful son was born naturally and to my relief he latched on to my breast and sucked with strength. From day one I felt no pain, within two days I had an abundance of milk, my nipples didn’t crack and my baby gained weight literally before my eyes. As perfect as this experience sounds, in my early newborn daze I felt twinges of how women can feel depressed when first attempting to breastfeed.

Recovering from labor was a greater task than I imagined: the physical pain of sitting, standing, walking and even laying down left me craving just a moment to breathe, to have my body to myself. But no, my body was working round the clock to produce milk and the little being I had brought into the world wanted and needed to be fed, wanted to suck at my breast at anytime of the day and night regardless of how exhausted I felt. The support and encouragement from my partner cannot be underestimated. He brought me countless glasses of water while I fed River and reminded me that the feeling of exhaustion would pass and encouraged me to sleep while River slept.

In decades gone by women learned to breastfeed by watching their mothers, aunties and sisters, who were supported by other women to do so. Today some women will not have held a baby til they have one of their own, much less regularly witness women breastfeeding. It seems what is natural has become unnatural. Breastfeeding takes time and commitment, you have to want to do it, you have to be supported to do it by your family, friends and community. An example of this kind of support happened when my son was four months of age we were walking along a local shopping strip and it came time for a feed. I sat on a bench outside a hairdressing salon and began to feed, the salon owner came out and asked, ‘Would you like a glass of water love? I remember how it was.’ I was so touched by her support.

My friend Maria who breastfed her three beautiful girls gave me a valuable piece of advice before I gave birth to River at a birthing centre and that was, for the time I stayed at the birthing centre each time River was to feed to ask a midwife to be by my side. That way, I had support from the very first feed and my nipples were less likely to be damaged if someone was there to guide me through those early feeds.

At first, I felt quite overwhelmed that my baby depended on my milk to survive and thrive. What if I didn’t have enough? What if he didn’t gain weight? As River and I settled into our breastfeeding rhythm my overwhelm eased and I was thrilled to see him grow and know that I really was sustaining him. I loved the convenience of breastfeeding. No bottles to carry around, no need to make sure there was enough formula in the house or packed in a bag if we were going away. Another aspect I totally value about my experience of breastfeeding River and now Sol is the way it connected us, fulltime breastfeeding meant I had to be with them. 

I’ve chosen to be with our boys around the clock during the formative years of their lives and that has included breastfeeding day and night. I count my blessings it was easy for me to do. To new or pregnant mothers reading this, like everything else in parenting, breastfeeding is a ‘season’ a period of time that begins and ends, for some it is a smooth, enriching season for others it is stormy; whatever shape the season takes for you speak up early when you need help (or if you have too much ‘help’ speak up) and above all else trust your instincts and enjoy your baby. All too quickly you’ll be wondering what to put in their lunchbox.

attitude is everything

My nan (pictured left) and Pete's mum (on right) are visiting River's school today for Grandparents Day. This occasion has raised an unexpected wellspring of emotion in me - which I have to say I find inconvenient when this happens! - but anyway happening it is. Partly an emotional hangover from Mother's Day but the other part is the pure love and admiration I feel especially for my nan who is such an inspiration to me, and all the women of her generation who raised their children back in the days before lattes, baby cinos, 'me' time and dads who washed dishes.

My nan and Pete's mum are a year apart in age, (in their eighth decade shhh! they don't look it or talk much about that), their resilience is something I am in awe of.

Nan raised her four children while my grandfather could be counted on to drink his pay check and turn the house upside down.  To feed herself and her children my nan sewed. Dress after dress, alteration after alteration, with children climbing on her lap her sewing machine hummed along and nan just 'got on with it'. When nan's youngest child, my aunty, was 14 they went to live with my great-grandmother another great woman I was blessed to have in my life. By this time, nan's three sons - my dad and my uncles - were living independently off in the world doing their own thing.

Nan is an exceptionally capable and unflappable woman. I have never heard a bitter word spoken by her about my grandfather who passed away 2 years ago. In fact, they remained in contact over the years. My grandfather had stopped drinking in the latter part of his life and had better relationships with my aunt and one uncle. Nan is eternally optimistic about life and lives by the motto, "attitude is everything and as long as you have good health that's all that matters."

The quality I admire so much about Pete's mum is that despite a very difficult family life as a child she went on to create a loving family life with her husband and Pete and his sister and also became a Nanny to two families who she is still very much part of their lives today. Pete's mum's kindness and generosity is inherent in her nature.

The year nan was turning 70, my aunt and I were planning a party for her. Plans changed though when nan announced that she had met a fella and that he had asked her to go travelling with him. First stop was Darwin (from Melbourne where nan lived to Darwin by road is 3,754 kilometres). As her family we were slightly speechless but nervously happy for nan who was off on an incredible adventure. On her seventieth birthday nan rang me from Broome in Western Australia where she had just watched the camel train walk along Cable Beach as the sun was setting, her beau Bob by her side. The lightness and joy in her voice, she sounded like a teenager. I was so happy for her it was a gift I couldn't have given her and it beat the barbecue party in the backyard my aunt and I were planning.

Nan and I on my wedding day

Today I am happy for River that he gets to have his grandmother and great grandmother see him in action at school, and Bob will be there too. And I am happy for all the grandparents because I know the boundless joy their grandchildren bring.

Who are the inspiring women in your life? Are you lucky enough to have great grandparents?

soupalicious

Having a pot of soup simmering on the stove is a good feeling. The gentle aroma fills the house, I enjoy the anticipation of eating a bowl of warming goodness and I also enjoy knowing I have a nourishing meal or snack ready to heat and eat for a quick lunch or for family and friends. Below are recipes for two of my everyday favorite soups and the third one comes from my friend Bronwyn who each winter since I met her three years ago has told me about a traditional Tibetan yoghurt soup she makes when she or her daughter have a fever or a cold. I finally have the recipe and have included it here for you. Thanks Bron!

Soup is a meal I never tire of so expect to see more soup recipes soon. And if you have any to share let me know and I'd be happy to try them and write a post including the recipe and even better if there is a story that goes with the recipe, perhaps a family or cultural tradition.

CHICKEN SOUP

Ingredients
1 large onion, chopped
4-6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 sticks celery with leaves, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
2-3 chicken pieces with bone (drumstick, maryland or thigh)
2 litres chicken stock or water (can use 1 litre stock 1 litre water)
A small handful of brown rice or barley or short noodles
A bunch of parsley chopped

Method
In a large pot heat a splash of olive oil over a low to medium heat and gently fry onion and garlic until onion is transparent.
Add celery and carrot and fry for a few minutes longer putting in a splash of water if pan becomes too dry.
Place in chicken pieces and slightly brown the outside.
Cover with stock and water.
Toss in brown rice or barley. If using noodles add them towards the end of the cooking time.
Bring to boil then lower to simmer and cook for an hour or until meat tender and grain is cooked.
Remove chicken pieces from pot, discard skin and shred meat from bone. Discard bones and return meat to pot.
Add chopped parsley, stir and it is ready to serve.

LAMB SHANK AND BARLEY SOUP
This is a meal-in-a-bowl kind of soup. My nan filled my freezer with containers of this soup when River was born (he is a July baby) it was perfect post partum fare. And now it is a family favorite.
I  especially like it when I am feeling a bit low on energy.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil           

2 lamb shanks           

2 onions, chopped           

2 cloves garlic, crushed           

2 carrots, chopped           

2 potatoes, peeled and chopped           

1 turnip, peeled and chopped           

1 parsnip, peeled and chopped           

1 litre meat or vegetable stock           

1 litre water           

1 (425g) can chopped tomatoes           

1/2 cup pearl barley           

2 bay leaves   


Method         

Heat oil in a large stock pot/saucepan.

Brown shanks well all over.

Transfer to a plate.

Add onions and garlic to pan and saute until onions are tender.

Stir in carrots, potatoes, turnip and parsnip.

Cook for 1 minute.

Blend in remaining ingredients.

Return shanks to pot.

Bring to the boil.

Reduce heat.

Simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours or until barley is tender and lamb falls off the bone (add more liquid as required).

Transfer shanks to a dish.

Remove meat and chop roughly.

Add meat to soup.

Ready to serve.

TIBETAN CURD SOUPBronwyn writes, "Traditionally this soup is made in the Summer time as a refreshing dinner, cooling and balancing to the body. It is also used to remedy fever and symptoms of flu. This has been successfully tried and tested by myself and friends numerous times! I just love it as an alternative, vegetarian dinner. The measurements are slightly vague, because as it is with traditional cooking, ingredients are seldom measured out but done by feel and visually passed down from cook to cook."

Ingredients
Ghee to cook with
1 bunch spring onion, sliced
Full cream, unsweetened yoghurt
Salt and pepper to taste
Just boiled water
Noodles of your choice


Method
Firstly fry down the spring onion, in ghee, in a saucepan.
Spoon the desired amount of yoghurt (I use about 2-3 tbspn per person) into a bowl and mix till smooth.
This will help the yoghurt to stop separating as it is cooked. I've been told, the more mixing the more delicious the soup will taste!
Add the yoghurt to the spring onion in the saucepan, and fry for a few minutes.
Season as desired.
Add as much boiled water as needed to cook the desired amount of noodles properly, not making it too thin or too sludgy.
Add noodles and serve when ready!
A hearty yet light soup ready to go in no time!


Thanks Bron. I made this soup with butter as I didn't have ghee and it worked out fine. I made enough for two serves and used about 40 grams of gluten free spaghetti as the noodle component, I broke the noodles up and put them in. Don't worry if when you put the water in it seems to thin, it will thicken up again as the noodles cook. 


I did have a photograph to accompany this recipe but my camera or computer is being temperamental and won't send photo across. I like the recipe so much though I couldn't wait! So here it is and perhaps I'll cook it one day with Bronwyn and post step by step photos.


Happy soup cooking. I look forward to hearing your recipes.

snack on this

For many people making the switch to a wholefoods way of eating giving up highly processed snacks leaves them wondering if not biscuits and chips then what? Or perhaps you are bit further along in your wholefood ways and are tiring of hoummus and carrot sticks so today I thought I'd make it easy for you and give you 20 snack suggestions that will hopefully inspire you to snack well. On that note, 'snacking well' refers to morning and/or afternoon tea taking into account how active you and your family have been and whether you are actually hungry. Endless, mindless snacking means meals are often not eaten with gusto and you are in a constant state of being full rather than being in touch with hunger.

I think one of the first steps in changing the foods you eat is to shift your thinking to 'how is this nourishing me/my family?' compared to just filling tummies. The new aim is for the food you eat to be nutrient dense. And for the eating to be mindful.

Even when choosing a snack, consider the season. Here in Oz we are edging towards winter so fruits and raw foods are not the best choices as they are cooling to the body and require strong digestion. Cooked and warmer foods are better options in the cooler months. Todays list is a mix to give you ideas, take into account the season you are in and go from there.

And for any readers thinking my children will never eat that! Involve your children in the preparation and remember to be patient. Change takes time, you may have to present and re-present the same food and then one day your child will surprise you and enjoy eating it.

1. a bowl of homemade soup or miso
2. almond spread on corn thins, rice cakes or a slice of good bread toasted
3. mashed avocado on corn thins, rice cakes or a slice of good bread toasted with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of grated carrot or alfalfa sprout.
4. buckwheat pancakes or pikelets with cinnamon and natural yoghurt
5. a small handful of trail mix - nuts, seeds, dried fruits
6. a hard boiled egg
7. seaweed sheets cut into strips (best for children 5 and over as they are a choking hazard if not chewed well)
8. homemade sushi
9. homemade rice paper rolls
10. air popped popcorn
11. homemade dips and a colourful array of veggie sticks
12. fruit smoothie
13. fruit lassi
14. seasonal fruit stewed with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and or cloves served warm with a dollop of natural yoghurt
15. natural yoghurt with a tablespoon of flaxseed oil and a sprinkling of seeds
16. caffeine free chai
17. fresh fruit (the laws of food combining recommend it is best to eat fruit on its own. so if you choose fruit as your snack don't then eat a slice of toast after it)
18. fresh dates
19. homemade cake, biscuit, rice pudding - if it is homemade you can control the sugar content and the quality of ingredients
20. antipasto - cheese, olives, roasted vegetables, good bread - (skip the traditional processed meats)

I'd love to hear your snack suggestions - so would my family!

While I'm here, I'd also like to share that the very lovely Zoe Saint-Paul who writes the Slow Mama blog interviewed me for her Living Slow series you can read it here.

Thanks for visiting.

sleep

When I was pregnant with River I was chatting with my chiropractor/homeopath who I have great respect for and who is a father of six, we were chatting about birth and babies and what to expect in parenthood and he uttered the words, "Ah sleep. It will never be the same again". It were as if he were half saying it to me and half saying it to himself like sleep was a distant memory or a place he'd once been to and may never return to again. That is very much how I feel when it comes to sleep, or should I say lack of it.

Our darling second boy Sol, on the third night of his life he slept from 10pm to 5.30am. I was quietly rejoicing thinking "I've got one of those babies, one that sleeps for more than two hours in a row!" I hear about those babies but didn't really believe it. That third night was just a tease. I haven't had an unbroken nights sleep for two and a half years. And by unbroken I mean waking 3-5 times a night. I'm not looking for sympathy, really I'm not, some say I only have myself to blame because I co-sleep with my children and am still breastfeeding Sol (though practically counting the days til he weans!) I am ridiculously thankful that River is such a solid sleeper 7.30pm-7.30am he is that kind of a guy. If they were both waking I don't know how I would cope.

Despite knowing a good nights sleep is invaluable for well-being I still choose to go to bed late most nights, like around 11pm-12am. I relish the quiet time as my family sleeps. Even waking up tired the next morning at around 6am is so worth having that time to myself. Of course all the research tells me its not worth sacrificing sleep and that lack of sleep is linked to all manner of illnesses ranging from heart disease to diabetes and obesity. For now I miss unbroken sleep I remember it as a rejuvenating place and look forward to going there again one day.

I like these fourteen tips for getting more sleep . I'm making an effort to have at least 2-3 early nights per week. 

If you're really interested in sleep or have way too much time to fill in you can read The National Sleep Research Project 40 amazing facts about sleep . These stood out to me:

"A new baby typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year"

"In insomnia in bereavement taking sleeping pills can disrupt grieving"

"Experts say one of the most alluring sleep distractions is the 24-hour accessibility of the internet"

Oh and if you're wondering what the photo above has to do with sleep, in a way nothing and in a way everything. The photo captures a collection of things that bring me joy daily and when you are living in a state of constant sleep deprivation the small things really count, like the tea cup from a favorite mama friend, the miniature vase a gift from a friend who bought it back to Australia from her time overseas working in refugee camps, the divine sculpture created by a talented mama friend when I was pregnant with Sol, and the ceramic heart found in a share house I once lived in reminds me of the great women I shared the house with before we all became mamas. 

To all the new mamas especially, may good sleep be yours.

fast food slow craft

This salad is my idea of fast food. Made with Ceres Organics super grain mix - white, red, black quinoa and amaranth - it is lunch on the run worth sitting down for.

When I'm in a quinoa mood I cook enough for a few serves and keep it in the fridge, then I can have it as a quick porridge for breakfast or as the base for a salad at lunch or dinner.

The salad above goes like this:

Quinoa amaranth mix
Avocado roughly chopped
Cherry tomatoes halved
A tin of tuna
Fresh basil
Dulse flakes
A simple dressing of lemon juice and olive oil

Place all ingredients in a bowl and toss until dressing is evenly distributed. So quick! I vary the ingredients with whatever is in the fridge or garden, carrot sticks or sometimes grated carrot and beetroot, spring onion, capsicum...you get the picture. I made one for dinner last night with vegies roasted in cumin and then made a garlic, lemon juice and olive dressing with just a smidgen of fresh chilli.

With all that spare time (ha ha) you have from making a quick nutritious lunch, you can spend the afternoon doing Easter craft.

You'll find a whole list of inspiration from felted chickens to decoupaged eggs in the right side bar on DesignMom.

On the Angry Chicken blog you'll find these gorgeous coiled fabric baskets.

And for some local Aussie crafting talent and inspiration visit Handmade Life. Even if your idea of Easter craft is rolling the coloured foil from all the chocolate eggs you've been eating into balls and you can't see yourself creating paper mache egg decorations, do take a look for the visual satisfaction.

Hop to it. Sorry. I wonder if I can come up with an Easter related pun each day this week :)