some very pinteresting things…
Wordless Wednesday: the coolest stuff on my Pinterest boards right now!
Grapesicles. Genius from The Accidental Hostess.
Apple Sandwich. Genius from The Peaceful Mom.
Sandwich on a stick. Genius from Super Healthy Kids.
Capsicum dip holders. No washing up genius from The Daily Dish.
Frozen pikelet mix. Genius from 20 going on 80.
“Prepare pikelet mix, then pour all the batter into a large ziplock bag and freeze! Once you are ready to use it, take it out of the freezer to thaw, snip off a corner of the bag, and you have quick & mess free piklet mix! ”
I ♥ Pinterest. Do you?
Bowen therapy to help with bedwetting
Bowen therapy to help with bedwetting
Anyone who has kids will be familiar with bedwetting!
It can be very a very disruptive and traumatic stage for a family to go through. Lack of sleep, extra washing and feeling like a ‘baby’ are no fun for anyone. On the blog today, I am sharing with you what worked for our family – it was painless, easy, quick and fuss free!
Both of my children toilet trained themselves relatively easily. I was pretty laid back about the whole thing and let nature take its course. However, night time seemed to be taking a lot longer. I wasn’t too worried, having read that children become dry at night when they are ready. Both of them were very heavy sleepers, so that didn’t help. They just wore nappies and later pullups to bed.
No stress. However, as they reached Year One at school (6 years of age), I started wondering if I should be investigating it further, as sleep-overs were becoming a possibility.
Initially, the doctor recommended nasal spray (chemicals? no thanks) or an alarm which would wake everyone in the house up (what? well, that sounded like so much fun). So, I procrastinated. Until one day I was at my bowen therapist getting my back sorted and noticed a poster on her wall mentioning bedwetting! Well, I thought, lets give this a go – it’s natural, can’t hurt or harm and it’s affordable. So, we booked our son in and had a few treatments over a couple of weeks.
Suzanne also suggested some other things that we try in conjunction with the treatment.
*no stress surrounding the bedwetting (well, that was us anyway, we didn’t make a big drama about it or make the kids feel bad)
*rule out any psychological issues (no traumas or big changes were happening at the time)
*cut out apples and apple juice (aha! our son loved apples, still does – the acid found in apples and apple juice can irritate the bladder)
*a healthy diet (check)
*only water as fluids after lunch time, limit milk and juice and avoid soft drinks and cordials altogether (check)
So, we combined all these ideas and a few Bowen treatments over a couple of weeks. Our son was dry at night within a week of the treatment finishing! He had the odd accident in the next few months, but then it settled down to very infrequently (when he was sick). I was pleasantly surprised and amazed.
When our daughter reached age six, we decided to once again try the Bowen therapy (backed up with the other advice) and hey, presto, it worked again!!
Now, I tell anyone who will listen about this fabulous treatment! No chemicals or alarms required.
What is Bowen therapy?
Bowen is a very gentle type of body work, an alternative to chiropractic or physiotherapy work. It was developed in the 1950s by the late Tom Bowen in Geelong, Australia. It’s an all over approach that allows the body to move back to its original state of well-being. Read more here.
Our whole family prefer using bowen for any injuries or ailments because it is so gentle and pain-free. It can be used on a wide range of health problems. It is really important to find an experienced, fully qualified practitioner. You can find a qualified Bowen therapist here.
If you are in the Central Queensland or Gold Coast area, I can highly recommend Suzanne McTier-Browne. Suzanne has been our Bowen therapist for years!
I really hope this information helps some of you out there. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or have any other natural remedies that worked for your family.
Tomato Noodle Soup
This is one of those great recipes for lazy Sunday nights or the times you haven’t been shopping or the times the budget is a bit stretched. It uses foods you probably already have in the pantry and is still very nutritious and tasty.
Tomato Noodle Soup
Vital Stats: Gluten Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Vegetarian, Vegan
So, this is what you need:
2 tspn macadamia oil
2 cloves crushed organic garlic
2 x 410g cans Spiral organic diced tomatoes
1 tbs organic tomato paste
1 tspn dried Italian herbs
4 cups/1 litre chicken bone broth or vegetable stock
250g thin uncooked organic spaghetti or gluten free spaghetti
1 organic zucchini (optional)
fresh herbs and fresh parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Okay, so this is how you do it:
In a large pot, slurp the oil. Then grate in the organic garlic (or use Spiral organic garlic in a jar) and cook for one minute on a low heat. Get the garlic pong off your hands by rubbing them vigorously on your stainless steel sink.
Next, fling in the diced tomatoes – use Spiral Organic tomatoes as there is no BPA plastic lining the can. Then chuck in the tomato paste, herbs and the stock or broth. Stir and bring to the boil.
Now this bit is optional, but I like to feel virtuous by adding green stuff! Grate in one zucchini. You could also use this opportunity for a bit of a fridge clean out and throw in any leftover veges instead!
Add the spaghetti and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.
Go and put your feet up, get a kid to stir it occasionally to make sure it doesn’t catch on the bottom. If you want some protein, you could add any cooked leftover meat or a tin of tuna now and heat through.
Serve with some fresh herbs, cracked pepper and fresh grated parmesan cheese on top (not the packet stuff please!). It makes about 4-6 portions, depending on how big you like your serves. It works well next day for lunch too.
Now, a word about tinned or canned food and BPA.
It’s not good. Most people are aware of the dangers of BPA or bisphenol A as it has been pretty topical lately. You can read more here. It’s something I have been very careful of and have taken steps to remove it completely from our home.
Take a look inside the can next time you open one. Is the lining plastic? Good chances are it contains BPA and the BPA has leached into your food! I can only find one brand of organic tomatoes that do not contain BPA and that is Spiral Organic. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anyone in my area that stocks it.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and the kids like it too. Remember to come back and tell me how it was!
Update: I have had some great feedback on this recipe via Facebook. Here is what other mums have to say:
* Melissa says “I made your tomato & noodle soup for dinner tonight. It was yum! M loved it too, & when I could get I (aka Miss I don’t like soup) to have some she said it was nice.”
* Peta says “Tomato Noodle Soup was AMAZING!!! It was the nicest soup I have eaten in AGES!! My Miss 2 LOVED it and Master 4 devoured half my soup while waiting for his noodles to cool! He has also re-named it in our house-hold as “Christmas Soup” because it has the red tomatoes and green zucchini!! Thanks once again :)”
Our Trip to Henderson Park Farm Retreat
I love those holidays where we don’t have to do anything, see anyone or be anywhere. It’s nice to unplug from the world and just be. I was desperately in need of some down time, time with my family and a big dose of Mother Nature. Kids and hubby were worn out from school and work too. So last week, we took off for a couple of days to Henderson Park Farm Retreat. Truly one of those magical spots where you can just relax and connect with nature. 
sunrise over Hedlow Creek
Henderson Park is just north of Rockhampton, in Central Queensland, Australia nestled on the banks of Hedlow Creek. The farm has been in the family for generations and now they share their little piece of paradise with visitors from all over the world.
We stayed in a motel room in the lodge with a shared kitchen. It was very luxurious and comfortable. Happy Natural New Age Mum! I like my creature comforts. 
four star rooms at a farm stay? you betcha!
There is not a lot to do at Henderson Park. There are no shops, no restaurants, no entertainment. Bliss! What there is to do, is bushwalk around the farm, canoe on the beautiful Hedlow Creek, and chill out. We also did a lot of napping, reading, yoga and board games! We didn’t even turn on the tv, use our phones or check Facebook!
bushwalking
canoeing on Hedlow Creek
(the canoes are free for guests to use whenever they want)
local wildlife
Being a farm stay, you will see lots of cows and you can do a tour around the farm with the hosts if you like. We also saw lots of native wildlife. These kangaroos were very interested in us paddling past them! We also saw some wallabies and lots of different birds. Apparently the odd koala makes an appearance in the gum trees, but we weren’t lucky enough to see them this time.
sunset over Hedlow Creek
By the time dark descended over the farm each night, we had enjoyed our bbq dinner, a round of Pictionary and were ready for bed !
We came back so very relaxed, recharged and happy with some more beautiful memories to cherish and add to the memory bank!
Have you had a holiday lately where you were able to really relax?
Make your own gluten free brekky cereal
I think I have a crush on Julie Maree Wood. I buy her books, I make her recipes, I stalk her Facebook pages, I like her posts, I tell everyone about her.
“Julie Maree Wood is a naturopath and nutritionist (a food nerd). She teaches and writes on the topic, runs a clinic in Sydney and is the nutritionist for the Sydney Kings’ basketball team. She is the author of Feeding Fussy Kids, 60-Second Secrets, The Complete Food Makeover and The 4 week Energy Diet.”
Flicking through my copy of Feeding Fussy Kids, I came across Julie’s recipe for Three-Bubble Crunch. Hellooooo, breakfast just got a whole lot more interesting! I’m sorry Julie, but I had to tweak it – I am a cereal serial tweaker! So, this is my version of Julie’s recipe. I call mine…..
Puffy Coconut Cereal!
Vital Stats: egg free, nut free, gluten free
Okay, so this is what you need:
1 1/3 cups puffed brown rice
1 1/3 cups puffed corn
1 1/3 cups puffed millet
1/2 cup shredded organic coconut
2 tablespoons virgin organic coconut oil
2 tablespoons organic apple juice concentrate
3 teaspoons of cinnamon
Abundant Earth make fantastic puffed cereals with nothing artificial added. Find them in the health food aisle of major supermarkets.
Okay, so this is how you do it:
Line a large baking tray or two with baking paper. Set oven to 150°C.
Mix everything together thoroughly in a large bowl.
Spread onto the trays, making sure you have it all in one layer.
Bake for about 10 minutes, depending on your oven. It should be nice and golden brown and crunchy. It will get even crunchier as it cools. Be careful not to burn it though!
Cool it right down and then store it in an airtight container. Serve it with some organic milk for brekky or just as a snack on its own! You could also top it with a dried fruit, nut and seed mix.
Get more fantastic recipes and tips on getting nutrition into fussy kids:
Feeding Fussy Kids: Delicious Nutritious Recipes to Tame Fussy Eaters
Your guide to a happy, healthy Easter
Your guide to a happy, healthy Easter
Easter is just around the corner !!
Special occasions seem to go hand in hand with overindulgence, don’t they? Chocolate, hot cross buns, chocolate, huge family dinners and more chocolate!
I have the best ideas from around the web to make your Easter a whole lot healthier. Enjoy.
Hot cross buns, hot cross buns……. Make your own hot cross buns this Easter and you avoid loads of sugar and additives. It’s really not that hard! Perfect for Easter Sunday brekky with some organic butter. Try these ‘Hot, Happy Buns’ from the clever Wendy at Vegie Smugglers.
You might also like this version from the amazing Teresa Cutter if you want something that is wheat free, gluten-free and paleo friendly!
Another cute idea for breakfast are these ‘chick eggs’ that I found on Pinterest. You can see how to make them here.
I know, I know, you are thinking “When is she getting to the chocolate?”
Okay, chocolate time is here. Yes, I realize that Facebook is going viral with news that chocolate is good for you and you can lose weight eating chocolate. I am pretty sure they mean two squares of good quality dark chocolate per day, not a bucket of Smarties! Personally, I would rather quality over quantity when it comes to chocolate. Choose the best quality, organic chocolate you can find, eat a small amount and enjoy it, guilt free!
What a cheeky organic chocolate bunny from Organic Times.
This one from moo free might interest you too. It’s vegan and dairy free.
Now if you want to get really fancy, you can have a go at making your own chocolate, from scratch (and I’m not talking about melting some cooking chocolate into moulds here!).
You can get a raw chocolate kit from Loving Earth. Very cool.
You can try Quirky Cooking’s thermomix recipe for Almost Raw Chocolate.
Now, Easter doesn’t have to be all about loading the kids up with chocolate. You can put non-edible things in the Easter baskets too! For a bit of fun, you can print off these cute Easter activities.
If you have any other ideas for making Easter healthy, please leave a comment below! It would be lovely to get some more thoughts!
Whatever you do for Easter, have a lovely time with your family. Stay safe, happy and healthy!
Five Favourite Things – March
I am going a little “Sound of Music meets Oprah” today and sharing with you some of my favourite things. These are some things I have been in love with lately.
My essential oil diffuser and Young Living oils – these are food grade therapeutic oils and are very effective. I use it every night with lavender to help me get off to sleep. Addicted.
Peace, man! I have been wearing this gorgeous bracelet I got for my 40th birthday last year all the time….. I just love it. It’s very ME!
Baby capsicum… baby vegetables are just way cuter than normal vegetables! I just fling some oil on to them and roast at high temp until all golden and caramelized and gooey….. drool!
The fabulous Miss Phryne Fisher. I have finally finished all the Phryne novels ! I am also enjoying Phryne on the ABC (Australia) as well. Such a great character, set in Australia, written by an Australian author. I love how books transport you to another time and place. Notice the library sticker? I get most of my novels from the library. It saves trees!
My favourite breakfast on my new(ish) deck:
Organic poached eggs with organic avocado on homemade organic spelt toast topped with pink Himalayan sea salt and pepper….. and a cup of organic chamomile tea in my special peacock fine bone china mug…… trees, birds, fresh air….. bliss! It’s the simple things in life that can bring the most pleasure.
Now, that I have told you my favourite things, I want you to tell me yours. What are your favourite things at the moment? Tell me your top 5.
Make your own healthy chocolate drink mix!
Let’s face it, no matter how much slick marketing they like to spin, the chocolate drink mixes on the market are anything but healthy!
Refined white sugar form the base of these drinks….. and don’t even start me on the artificial additives! While that’s okay in moderation, some kids find it hard to be moderate with chocolate milk. Making your own version at home is not only cheaper, but it’s chockful of nutrients that growing young bodies need. This has a healthier sugar, is high in fibre, gluten free and all natural.
I found this great recipe some time ago on the Thermomix forums, posted by Cathy. The kids love it and I am happy they are drinking something that is good for them.
Healthy, Homemade Milo
So, this is what you need:
3 tablespoons flaxseeds
2 tablespoons organic sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons organic sesame seeds
2 tablespoons organic pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/3 cup organic almonds
1/4 cup organic brazil nuts
1/4 cup organic cashews
1/4 cup organic pecan nuts
1 cup raw organic cacao powder
1 cup organic rapadura sugar
So, this is how you do it:
Grind all the nuts and seeds together first – use the thermomix on speed 9 for about 10 seconds or use a strong food processor or coffee grinder. The aim is a fine powder, not a paste!
Add cacao powder and rapadura and mix thoroughly. Test a little bit in some milk first – your kids might like it with a little more sugar as rapadura is not as sweet as normal sugar.
To use, just put about 4 teaspoons in a glass of milk and stir briskly. It won’t dissolve completely because of the nuts and seeds. Store it in the fridge for up to two months. If you don’t use a lot, keep it in the freezer.
You can use it in baking, on top of icecream – the possibilities are endless! I have even used it to make yummy truffles – roll teapsoonfuls of homemade nut butter in it!! Ohhhhh, so good!
I love to chat, so if you make it, come back and let me know how you went and if you liked it!
How to use chamomile tea to treat conjunctivitis (or pinkeye)!
How to use chamomile tea to treat conjunctivitis (or pinkeye)!
Chamomile is incredibly effective at treating conjunctivitis. This herb is known for it’s anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties.
We have used this for years now and it really works, every time. No need to spend a fortune at the chemist or put chemicals in your kids’ eyes! I really love simple remedies too – things you can easily find at the local health food store.
So this is what you need:
♥ organic cotton make-up pads
♥ filtered water
So, this is how you do it:
Boil the filtered water. Make up the tea with about a quarter to one half a cup to one tea bag or one heaped teaspoon of tea. Let brew for about five minutes. Take out the tea and let it cool down to room temperature.
Wash your hands and dry thoroughly. Dip a cotton pad into it. Squeeze a little out and wipe from inner eye to outer eye in one sweep. Discard pad. Wash hands again and use a new cotton wipe for the next eye. Repeat every couple of hours throughout the day for as long as you need it.
I love Hilde Hemmes’ for herbals and their chamomile is brilliant and contains no nasty toxins.
You can keep a batch of tea in the fridge for a few days or make it fresh daily.
I double checked this remedy was okay with the amazing naturopath Mim Beim in her book, Natural Remedies and she recommends it too!
Have you tried this? Would you give it a go?
Want to know a great natural remedy for dandruff?
