just in the nick of time

Here is a little make-shift advent calendar I created in about 2 hours flat with thrifted fabric and yarn. That's all I could muster with a two-year-old and baby afoot. Inside each little pouch I will put either a chocolate, a thrifted matchbox car, a handmade christmas ornament or other little surprises of the like. They won't all be filled all at once as there is only so much self-control you can expect from a curious toddler. But every night I will fill one up and North will start each new day off with a little magic. I can remember always having one of the paper advent calendars with the chocolates inside and waiting for Christmas in anticipation. I think this is a lovely way to explain the time (a very elusive concept for a toddler) we have to wait until Christmas. It's a very meaningful countdown this year as my family is coming all the way from Canada for a holiday together in Byron Bay. I cannot wait. My brother, sister and Dad won't have seen North or I for an entire year and they haven't even met Indigo yet!

There have been some gorgeous advent calendars throughout the blogosphere this week. I am loving all the inspiration.

xo

urban garden discovery

We have passionfruit! At least, we have passionfruit flowers until the fruit starts growing. As a Canadian, I can't say I have ever seen a flower so exotic looking, especially in my own backyard. Because we get passionfruit as a regular addition to our weekly seasonal organic produce box, I have started experimenting with passionfruit recipes. Some of my favourites so far include-

passionfruit butter

passionfruit friands

passionfruit marinated tofu

passionfruit cordial

What seasonal delights have you been enjoying?

xo

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo, no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.-soulemama

xo

the dirty dozen

Adam, the founder and owner of OrganicFood.com.au, has just started a wonderful blog fittingly called Muddy Carrots, filled with informative and interesting videocasts. This video talks about the 'dirty dozen', the twelve most pesticide contaminated fruits and veggies.

There are many more interesting posts over at his place, so when you get a chance, pop over to learn more about the foods you choose to consume.

xo

cloth nappies FAQ

Good Morning!

I have had the honour of being asked to write a fortnightly guest post for the Modern Little Munchkins blog and today it is everything you'd like to know about our experience with cloth nappies.

Please head over there and learn all about our passion for bubble bums wrapped in cloth.

xo

i'm never baking chocolate chip cookies again

because the coconut lime chocolate chip cookies I just baked knocked all others out of the park!

Coconut Lime Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup spelt flour

1/2 tsp bi-carb

pinch of salt

1 cup toasted coconut (dry roast in a pan until golden)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup raw cane sugar

1/2 cup sunflower oil

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

juice from one lime

1 cup dark chocolate chips

zest from one lime

Directions

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl

Add wet ingredients and combine

Add zest and chocolate chips last

Roll into small balls and place evenly (leaving enough room for spreading) on a baking tray. Bake for 12-15 minutes until just golden at 180˚C.

xo

OrganicFood.com.au giveaway winner!

After assigning numbers to all those who entered the OrganicFood.com.augiveaway, I then entered the numbers into the Random Number Generator and came out with

NUMBER 1 L: Hi there. Our favourite springtime meal is a soba noodle salad with lots of greens. Thanks for the chance.

L.

Please contact me at ecomilf[at]me.com with your email address and I will have Adam in touch about the wonderful gift voucher as soon as possible.

Congratulations and thank you for entering. A great big thank you to Adam from OrganicFood.com.au for having the giveaway and sharing the organic deliciousness!

xo

come in!

If you're a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-olden tales to spin. Come in! Come in! - Shel Silverstein.

xo

reading...

calm and compassionate children- a handbook, susan usha dermond

definitely worth a read

xo

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo, no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.-soulemama

xo

family values

a growing list of family values

to love one another through thick and thin

to be faithful, proud, honest and supportive of one another

to have respect, love, compassion and empathy towards all living beings- humans, animals and plants

to be passionate about learning, changing, expanding and growing

to have fun

to share

to plant, to grow, to get dirty, to harvest

to hug, to cuddle, to kiss, to touch

to forgive

to spend hours upon hours a day outside with nature

to eat wholesome vegetarian foods and nourish our bodies

to read, read and read some more

to enjoy being physically active each day

to have a quiet moment to oneself each day- whether practicing yoga, going for a jog, meditating, listening to music, having a siesta or reading a book

to reduce, reuse and recycle

to listen to music, to dance, to play instruments and to sing

to educate ourselves about different countries, languages, religions and cultures and to find the beauty in all of our differences

to be thankful for everything we have, especially each other

*****

What would you add to your list?

xo

quick and easy homemade presents for toddlers

Do you want to treat some of your toddler's friends to a little Christmas gift but can't afford to buy a gift for every child in your Mother's Group? Here are some beautiful little gifts you can whip up in less than an hour.

a crayon roll

an adorable softie owl

playdough

gnomes

pom poms

a collector's bag

Any other ideas to add? Would love to hear them!

xo

for me

I went to my very first yoga class since I was about 32 weeks pregnant (5 months ago), and I felt a part of myself spark and crackle and alight. I have become attached to this thing called yoga throughout the past 7 years. It is now a part of me and I feel something is missing without it. My yoga practice changes and grows with me as I enter each stage in life. Most recently I have noticed that it cultivates in me all the qualities I want to provide and reflect on my children- patience, respect, compassion, understanding, peace and calm.

But most of all, it provides a spiritual release and outlet. A place where I am present in the moment without anyone demanding anything of me and I can reflect and be grateful for everything life has to offer.

I look forward to my practice. Even if it is in the wee hours of the morning. It will be a while before my practice becomes a part of my daily rhythm. But for now, I am satisfied with fitting it in when I can in between breastfeeds while the rest of my family sleeps soundly in their beds.

I am grateful to start the day with myself and to connect to my body, mind and soul.

xo

greek quinoa salad and a **giveaway from OrganicFood.com.au**

In celebration of Spring, I thought I'd share one of my favourite spring recipes and also present a lovely giveaway from OrganicFood.com.au.

THE RECIPE

Greek Quinoa Salad

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa

1 1/2 cups cold water

1/2 tsp salt

handful of basil, roughly chopped

handful of pitted and sliced kalamata olives

handful of cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/2 block of feta cheese, cubed

1/2 cup fresh, shelled peas, blanched

1 carrot thinly sliced and halved

1 sm. cucumber sliced and halved

dressing-

1/8 cup olive oil

1/8 cup red wine vinegar

crushed or grated garlic clove

1 tbs dijon mustard

tsp salt

tsp pepper

Directions

Rinse quinoa and bring to boil and then put heat on low and cover for 15 mintues, remove from heat and then let it sit for 5 more minutes with the lid on.

Chill in the fridge.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the quinoa and incorporate, mix the dressing ingredients together and pour over salad to taste. For more on the benefits of quinoa, see this past post.

THE GIVEAWAY

Family owned and run, OrganicFood.com.au delivers high quality, fresh organic produce across Sydney and Melbourne. Their fresh seasonal organic produce is bought daily at organic markets, minimising the time from the organic farm to your front door.

**Win a $20 voucher to use at OrganicFood.com.au**

TO ENTER: What's your favourite springtime meal? A fresh salad? A gazpacho? Sandwich? Melbourne and Sydney residents simply leave a comment below. All comments will be entered in a draw for a $20 voucher to use at OrganicFood.com.au.

The winner will be announced on Monday, November 22nd. A great big thank you to Adam from organicfood.com.au for the such a great opportunity and for providing us the opportunity to live cleaner and healthier, green and organic lives!

For more information on the benefits of eating organic food and the risks associated with genetically modified food see the OrganicFood.com.au about section for a plethora of information, including inspiring recipes and nutrition glossaries. You can also check out Adam's new blog, Muddy Carrots, to learn everything you'd ever want to know about organics.

xo

sweet and salty rosemary popcorn

Inspired last weekend by the taste of rosemary, I discovered another way to enjoy it-

sweet and salty rosemary popcorn

1/4 cup popcorn kernels

2 small sprigs rosemary, finely cut

1 tbs salt flakes

1 tbs cane sugar

2 tbs butter, melted

makes about 4 cups of popped corn

Put the kernels in a large slightly greased pot on medium high and cover

Shake the pot every so often so they don't burn

Wait until you hear popping, when the popping slows down and there is 5 seconds between each pop it's ready

Add butter and stir to coat

Mix the salt, sugar and rosemary together and sprinkle on the popcorn, stirring to get all pieces

xo

reflections from a loving mama

Written Thursday, November 11th, 2010:

It’s 7:46pm. Brad is in New Zealand for the night. The wee ones are fast asleep in their beds up the creaky stairs, surrounded by silky comforters and fluffy bears. North’s cheeks are probably flushed, his hair twirled into a whirlwind, his thumb has probably gently fallen out of his mouth by now. Indigo’s shallow and silent breaths are filling the basket beside our bed. She is double-wrapped to ensure her houdini hands don’t escape and flail around, waking her from her peaceful slumber.

I made these two gorgeous and innocent creatures. From conception to birth I helped them grow.

I sustain these beautiful, compassionate and pure beings. I provide. I love. I kiss. I comfort. I feed their little mouths, their little minds, their little souls.

I protect them as best I can. From falls down stairs, from bees, from hot ovens, from overstimulation, from UV rays, from growing up too fast, from everything that is wrong and sad in this world. When they hurt, I hurt. I feel for them and with them.

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a parent. By these two spirits who came to me in perfection and who I will influence as positively as I can, but who I will, and life will tarnish.

Tonight as I sit back, take a breath and be thankful, I remind myself that nothing lasts forever. They will some day, too soon, grow up and live without me. But in this moment, I love them totally and utterly. They complete me, and I complete them.

What a wonderful stop in this blessed journey called life.

xo

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A {single} photo - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.-soulemama

{their very first ferry ride}

xo