Squishy squishy squashie, give your clothes a washy… Maybe Barny’s not your thing, but Soap Nuts should be. Completely natural, these ‘nuts’ are actually fruit from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, found primarily in the Himilayas. They are harvested, de-seeded and dried in the sun. When you wash your laundry with them, the saponin contained within the outer shell acts as a fantastic natural detergent. These have been used for centuries in other parts of the earth, but are only just now gaining popularity in the western world. Marketed by The Laundry Tree with a beautiful linen bag, they leave no scent and get laundry fresh and clean.
Once upon a time, somewhere in post-war Eastern Europe, there was a great famine in which people jealously hoarded whatever food they could find, hiding it even from their friends and neighbors. One day a wandering soldier came into a village and began asking questions as if he planned to stay for the night. “There’s not a bite to eat in the whole province,” he was told. “Better keep moving on.”
In June, there were reports that the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, was especially dangerous for pregnant women. The concern is not that pregnant women are more likely to contract this particular strain of the flu, but rather that they are more likely than the average person to have serious complications should they contract H1N1. As a result of this phenomenon, there is a need to vaccinate pregnant women. However, now that the vaccine is soon to be available, there are questions about whether it is safe for pregnant women.
Bobbi Kay from Vancouver’s Boneta is at it again with her unbelievable mocktails. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or just want to cut back a bit, here is a stunner.
(writing start: new beginnings)
The house is quiet. Unbelievably, the house is quiet. I have soup stock boiling on the stove and the kitchen fan hums above it. Our ancient dog is snoring and his paws brush the hardwood as he races like a puppy in his sleep. The dishwasher is running. But the kids. Are. Asleep.
Who’s delivering your baby? Your family doctor, an ob/gyn? How about a midwife? With a university degree, evidence based practices and woman-centered care, the modern midwife isn’t the mystic woman she used to be. Today she has the respect of doctors and nurses and is delivering babies in the same hospitals. For many of us midwifery care raises three red flags. The first being: do I have to deliver at home?
Dressing up, wearing hats, makeup and funny hair is such a great time for children and parents, not to mention the treats that go along with this fun night. Though with all the fun and good times that are about to be had, it’s really important that safety be number one when getting your kids ready to head out with you to Trick or Treat. Urbanmommies.com has some simple Halloween trick or treating tips for tots that will keep the night fun and safe for everyone.
Trick or Treating Tips for Tots
- Ensure that your costumes are flame retardant and that they are loose enough to wear warmer clothing underneath.
- Masks can really obstruct a child’s vision face painting is a safer option.
- Wear reflectors, the Dollar Stores are great for the neon ones that form into necklaces and bracelets plus, your kids will love to wear them!
- Flashlights will help the children see and be seen more clearly
- Feed your kids an early nutritious meal and make sure they are properly hydrated for the walk, little legs get tired out fast so stick close to home
- We live on the coast people, it’s ok to carry an umbrella
- Keep to well lit sidewalks and always remember to walk not run
- Wear proper shoes, the princess shoes are adorable but clearly not a great choice for a long walk!
- Don’t let your kids eat any treats before you get home and have a chance to sample, I mean look them over. There is only a tiny chance that your candy has been tampered with but “when in doubt, throw it out”!
Decorating for holidays can be tricky when you have little ones around. Take a look at the tips below provided by Safe Kids Canada and remember HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
When decorating your home:
- Small children should never carve pumpkins. Instead, let your child draw a face on the pumpkin.
- Make your home safe for trick or treaters. Remove all objects around the outside of your house that could cause children to trip or fall. Turn your outside light on.
- Avoid using candles to decorate pumpkins. Small inexpensive flashlights can be used to light pumpkins safely.
- Keep lit candles out of children’s reach and away from curtains and other objects that could catch fire.
If you have a nanny or are thinking of getting one, there are a few things you should know. Linh Tsiu is a Canadian accountant who specializes in Caregiver Tax Services. She handles payroll for caregivers and instructs families in the financial implications of hiring a nanny. As always, in parenting there are so many things to learn. Now that you are an ‘expert’ mother, driver, chef, housekeeper, teacher, manager and scheduling guru – do you really need to handle the accounting too?