How to Clean your Washing Machine Without Using Harsh Cleaners! {Mommy Tips}

What you need:

• Vinegar* or Lemon Juice
• Cleaning Cloth
• Small Brush  (toothbrush) 

1. Start by wiping down the exterior of your washing machine with the cleaning cloth using the vinegar.

Activities for the Colder Days, No Need to Stay At Home {Tips}

For all of us who live in the northern side of the world the days are getting colder and darker as we approach the winter solstice. It is not a pretty sight and venturing outside with your child can be daunting.  

Nowadays, it takes us a lot longer to prepare for our daily walks and our jackets, hats, mittens and scarves are now out of the closet permanently. So looking for activities to do with my son that were preferably indoors, I came across a few ideas that I want to share with you:

Easy and Delicious Broccoli and Cheese Casserole {Recipe}

 

This is one of my favorite recipes to make! It tastes great and it has tons of protein and veggies!

My little one loves it too!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of milk
• 2 cups of steamed broccoli (cut into bite size pieces)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
• 1/3 cup dry bread crumbs
• 4 tablespoons of all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons butter
• salt and pepper 

DIRECTIONS:

• Melt the butter in a medium size skillet on medium heat.  Mix the flour and milk on top of the butter slowly (be sure to stir constantly to avoid lumps).
• After the mixture thickens add the cheese and continue stirring until you are left with a thick sauce,   add salt and pepper.
• In an oven safe dish add the broccoli, then pour the sauce on top and sprinkle the bread crumbs over everything.
• Bake at 350°F. for 30 minutes or until the mixture is hot and bubbling.

ENJOY!

Looking for more easy recipes? Click here.

His First Birthday Party {Eco-Friendly Birthday Party Options}

This past weekend we celebrated our son's first birthday party. It was a great weekend filled with exciting experiences for all of us.  

We planned his birthday party at the local zoo,  the day was beautiful and sunny and we all got to see the wild animals, walked a lot and enjoyed the fresh air.  So perfect! 

While planning his party I wanted to minimize waste and found some pretty cool eco-friendly options that I didn't know about before. I am so excited to share some of them with you,  I even have a fun giveaway coming soon with a prize pack that would be great for your next birthday  celebration.

We loved our Felt Birthday Banner from GreenPartyGoods.com. It is great knowing that we can continue to use the banner for many more years and celebrations to come. Less waste plus I love that all the details are embroidered instead of glued.

The 100% Recycled Paws Favor Boxes were a hit and I love that they can be re-used and recycled once they are done.  Our little guests took home some eco-friendly goodies that fit perfectly in the cute little boxes.

We made our own cupcakes (nothing better than home made cupcakes! yum!) and we used some super fun and adorable cupcake liners and toppers than made it all look so cute. We seriously love robots so it was perfect!

We also brought a lot of our own trays from home and some metal containers to avoid using lots of disposable plastic ones that would go in the garbage after the party. We used biodegradable paper cups and straws and we got some super cool compostable plates and cutlery from Greenmunch.ca.  The compostable plates were made with palm leaves, isn't that awesome? We all loved the earthy feel and look of the plates.

We also got some biodegradable and compostable wooden cutlery that matched the plates perfectly. People kept asking what these were and they couldn't believe that they were disposable and compostable.  Both the plates and cutlery are such a great option when you are celebrating somewhere other than your home and you can't use your own silver cutlery. No plastic needed!

We had such a fantastic time! It was a great party but what matters the most is that at the end of the day we had a very very happy one year old running around! I love happy days and happy children. 

Happy Birthday Little Monkey!

Disclosure: I received a sample of some of the products featured. No other compensation was provided and and all views and opinions stated on this post are 100% my own.

Calling All Super Moms: Do You Take Care of Yourself Before Caring for Others?

I watched the Just a Little Heart Attack video today and I knew I had to share it.  I have been busy and stressed before while taking care of everything/everyone else and forgetting about myself.  I know many super moms out there that are the same and they have even less time  since they work outside of their homes.  So really  just remember to take a few minutes of your day no matter how busy it is and think about your own health! 

Too often, women don't realize they are suffering from a heart attack and wait too long to get help. Find out the signs of a heart attack or stroke here and share this link with other women in your life.

Remember you can't take care of other people if you don't take care of yourself first! Just like when you are on a plane and they go through the safety announcements, you must put your oxygen mask on BEFORE assisting others. Stay safe mommas!

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No compensation was provided and I am not affiliated with the American Heart Association, I just simply want to share the message. 

Yummy Organic Apple, Potato & Chicken Puree

 

This week's recipe is: Organic Apple, Potato & Chicken Puree (9 months +)

Ingredients: 

-1 chicken breast uncooked and diced

-1 Organic Apple

-1 Organic Potato

-1 cup vegetable stock 

-A dash of Black Pepper

Directions: 

-Peel both the Potato & Apple and cut into big chunks

-Combine all of the ingredients in a pot with enough water to cover contents

-Bring to a boil

-Simmer until the chicken is cooked  (about 25 minutes)

-Once it is cooked remove from the heat and let it cool down

-Puree or mash until achieving the desired texture.  Serve :)
 

 

Super easy and tasty!  My son LOVED it! Looking for more easy recipes? Click here.

*Please Remember:  Always check with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks.

Unplanned and beautiful September

Departing summer hath assumed
An aspect tenderly illumed,
The gentlest look of spring;
That calls from yonder leafy shade
Unfaded, yet prepared to fade,
A timely carolling.

- William Wordsworth, September

Don't you just love how unplanned days turn out to be the best days EVER?  Like ending up at the park on a beautiful afternoon and having the best time after acting on an impulse? 

I am a routine and schedules type of person, I love planning my day and knowing what I am doing, where and at what time. I am always prepared and bring my bag filled with things that I would need whenever I go.  Well, this afternoon it was different.  It was just half and hour before bedtime and ten minutes after my husband came home from work when we said: "Let's go for a walk,  let's break the routine!".

This time I didn't take my diaper bag filled with "what ifs". We took the stroller and left on our walk, I didn't ask questions or tried to figure out where or what we were doing,  we just simply walked. We ended up at the park, a park we have visited before, where I always came prepared, I always had a mat or a towel to put on the ground for us to sit and of course toys, wipes, blankets....

Well my friends, this time it was different.  Little rocks, sand and grass were underneath us. Little hands were touching and playing and no wipes were being used to clean them. There were no toys because the leaves and tiny twigs became toys. It was perfect. Unplanned and beautiful. Organic and natural.

We came home after our little adventure and after a warm bath, milk and story time our son was peacefully asleep.  As I left his room I wondered why our lives were so full of schedules and routines and what ifs. I want my son to have fun and enjoy life and explore. I should really start worrying less about the dirt on his hands or the next nap time.  I should relax and enjoy and live in the present even if I don't know where we are going next.   Life is just too beautiful to not stop and enjoy the moment.  

Time goes by way too fast and before we know it he will be all grown up.  I better sit and relax and enjoy the moment, the precious moments that will never come back! 

Oh, what a beautiful afternoon we had!  Now, be sure to enjoy YOURS! :)

The end of the Summer

With the summer coming to an end in less than one month I am left trying to do as many outdoor activities as I can right NOW.  This has been a very special summer, not only for myself but of course for my little one.  His first summer has been filled with many firsts and I am thrilled to see how much he has grown and changed during this past months.

This week we have been going out a lot and trying to be out in the sun at least an hour or two a day.  It is definitively looking darker outside in the mornings when we wake up and I can feel the Fall approaching. 

Time goes by extremely fast and every day I am reminded to live in the present and enjoy every little thing.  I get a chance to be with my son and share so many of his new experiences and I am very grateful about it.

I am really looking forward to the next couple of weeks. I will continue to enjoy this gorgeous Summer with my family.  Continue doing the things we love and going out to explore as much as we can. At the park we can go and watch the ants go, the bees in the flowers, touch the green warm grass and sit quietly listening to nature's sounds. 

What are YOU doing before this Summer ends?

Approaching Toddlerhood

As I woke up this morning I saw my little not so little one and suddenly realized that we were fast approaching Toddlerhood! He was standing in his crib laughing and gave me the biggest smile after saying "ma ma ma ma" and lifting both his arms in the air to hug me.  

It seems like it was yesterday when we brought home a little 8lbs baby that we were able to  hold in one hand. Now my arm burns after holding him for just a couple of minutes!  Time goes by FAST!  

Being a mom has been amazing,  truly a blessing and I wouldn't change it for anything. There have been so many new experiences and the opportunity to really slow down and learn things again while seeing everything from my little one's eyes. Priceless!

During my pregnancy I spent hours reading baby books and getting ready for his arrival.  I read a lot of books about birthing and the very first few days after the birth. I remember we were so focused on the impending birth that when I was about 7 months pregnant and I had a meeting with my doula she pointed out that I was worrying too much about the actual birth and that the birthing process was just the very beginning.  She suggested to stop worrying about that process and to focus more on what was next.  What we were doing AFTER the birth.

She was right! The actual birth was 14 hours and after those intense hours everything that happened next was all NEW and a lot more exciting that the birth.  Spending those very first few days and months with your baby are all a new and wonderful experience that is 100% unique and special and I really wish I have spent less time worrying and focusing on the birth and way more time on what to expect after having my baby.

During my pregnancy I managed to read: What to Expect "The First Year" by Heidi Murkoff,  Your Baby's First Year for Dummies, The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood by Jane Buckingham, The Mother of All Baby Books: Canadian Guide to Baby's First Year by Ann Douglas and a few other books I don't remember right now.  Most books I read were all very similar as they all gave a lot of information about the first months and what to expect up to a year.

A lot of the information on the books I read was repetitive and very similar and I remember at times skipping chapters with almost identical information. I am not saying they weren't helpful, I just think I should try some more variety next time around! Something I quickly found out with my son was that all babies reach their own milestones at different times that are unique to them.  The books can all tell you something but you will see it all happening when YOUR baby is ready so that is something to be aware of.  No need to panic, you just need to be patient!

Now that my son is less than two months away from leaving "Infancy" and reaching "Toddlerhood" I am sitting here eager to read and get some more information on what to expect during the next stage. I frequent many forums and websites with "monthly" milestone reports but I am also looking to fill my eBook reader with books that are worth reading.    Here I come to YOU to ask for recommendations. For all of you out there that have read books on what goes on after the first year. Any recommendations?  I may get: What to Expect: The Second Year because I know the series, but any other books that I must read?

Really looking forward to some good recommendations!!! :)

Yummy Organic Sweet Potato & Apple Mash Recipe

 

This week's recipe is: Organic Sweet Potato & Apple Mash (6 months +)

Sweet Potatoes are high in Vitamin A, beta carotene and potassium. They also contain  Vitamin E, calcium and folate.

Ingredients: 

2 Organic Sweet Potatoes

2 Organic Red Apples

Directions: 

-Peel both the Sweet Potatoes & Apples and cut into big chunks

-Place chunks in a pan with enough water to cover the potatoes/apples

-Steam until tender (check with a fork)

-Blend the steamed Potatoes & Apples with some of the water left over from the steaming process to achieve the desired texture. Let it cool down and serve :)  

Super easy and tasty!  Looking for more easy recipes? Click here.

*Please Remember:  Always check with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks.