Essence

This image makes me smile it gives me the feeling of waking up on a sunny morning full of bounce and zing, that utter happiness that i remember from my childhood when the holidays lasted for ever and we knew we were free to play in the fields and woods all day. It comes from the How to Raw Love blog which is also filled with images of delicious raw food.

This image also caught my eye, it's an extract from the book the owner of the blog is writing which has a little bit about raw bath time and herbal things/essential oils to treat illness. Take a peek HERE.

Super Exciting Conscious Parenting Summit

YEAH the *free* Conscious Parenting Summit hosted by Matt Monarch and Angela Stokes-Monarch of the Raw Food World has begun, but only just so there is still time to access the first interview by Ingrid Bauer on elimination communication. Click HERE to sign up and to listen to Matt and Angela explain what it's all about. It is seriously worth checking it out and signing up to access each of the main interviews (as well as all the bonus interviews and material) from the 16 inspiring speakers from around the world. They will be speaking on topics such as conscious conception, healthy pregnancy, natural birthing, vaccinations, children's nutrition, breastfeeding, cosleeping and more ....and each interview is available for 24 hours. 

Here is a look at the 16 experts on conscious parenting that are involved in this summit:

You can also read more about each one on the conscious parenting website here.

Angela Stokes Monarch with her gorgeous daughter Oria

(see her blog RawReform here.)

Baby Greens

This is the smoothie that is getting Sebastian (10 months) and i chirpey and buzzing and our tummies happy and healthy. Its a version of the green smoothie that we had in Stockholm at the weekend when we happened upon this fabulous Green/Natural/Raw food place called EAT! Eco Affaren (Eco Affair) Tegnérgatan 3, Normalm, Stockholm. Take a look at their website here. It is a delicious, creamy, filling smoothie and my body just seems to come alive at the mere thought of it. Sebastian too as he glugged down two large glasses of it this morning.

Sebastian 2011

Chirpey Green Smoothie Recipe

1 avacado

1 mango

Large handful of spinach (or other leafy greens)

Juice of one orange

water to mix

At a guess 8 or so mint leaves...but its just as good without.

Happy Slurping

Aaaah the stupidity

 I adore a bargain and today i found the most wonderful Voksi bag (for the uninitiated a Voksi is an amazing wool lined sleeping bag for a pram to keep your baby warm and toastey in the winter) for almost nothing in a local charity shop.

Yeah i thought to myself a true steal and one more thing off my list to get as i'll now have something to keep the new baby warm this winter if i choose to have him in a pram or just something cosy for him to lie on or wrap him up in, in the house.

We were so lucky when we moved to Norway because we were given an Urban Voksi for Theodore, the latest in the Voksi range,which was a total godsend. Even though we've had to replace it twice (for free, no questions asked) because the original zips broke, they have now redesigned the zips and we have hopefully exchanged the bag for the final time. It's meant though that essentially we've had a whole new bag with better zips for free even though it was purchased over 2 years ago now.

Urban Voksi

 

Urban Voksi in a pram

BUT having got such a wonderful bargain i'm not sure what i was thinking when i decided to wash the duvet (and not on the delicate cycle as one would obviously do with anything wool) and promptly shrunk it from its former delicious fluffy duvet glory to a severely reduced looking specimen which will no longer fit the cover or perhaps do it's job. I'm SO cross with myself and wonder where i left my brain for those moments when i rammed it into the machine. Its not the first item to have suffered this way and sadly i'm sure it wont be the last, but for now i am greatly mourning the loss of rather a nice Voksi bag and an amazing bargain.

 Any tips about how to get the Voksi back to it's former glory?

Russian Princess snugness with a baby on board

So now that the snow and ice have arrived in Oslo and the temperatures have dropped to minus 8 degrees C i have finally admitted defeat and unearthed my deliciously warm Russian Princess style hat and snug below the knee down coat, which is like wearing a heavenly but stylish duvet, and wonder why i waited so long (my ugg boots and thick gloves have followed, thank heaven). I feel so warm and toastey as i go about Oslo, but i'm also very aware that i wont be able to do my coat up around my pregnant belly for much longer as it's becoming quite a tight fit and the weather will inevitably get colder. So i'm thinking that either i will need to make do and wear it open with a big thick jumper underneath (hmmm i don't have one of those) and risk getting very cold or i need to invest in a new coat. Not just any coat though as i feel that would be a little pointless to buy a maternity coat just for the next two months. It needs to be one that is versatile enough that i can wear it while pregnant, when the baby is born (as i want to carry him in a sling i need a jacket that will do up around us both) and when i have lost the baby weight. There are several different Mama Jackets on the market which fit the bill and i have listed a few here....see what you think:

1) The MAM coat from Mam Design

Now in its fifth season, the MaM Coat is a great solution for babywearing through the cooler (and wetter!) months. It's suitable for use during pregnancy, for front and back carriers, with all kinds of non-framed carriers and it can also be worn without your little one on board.

Using a babywearing coat makes getting out and about much simpler as you just need to pop your baby in the sling, put the coat on and go. No need for snowsuits and raincovers, no problem with pushchair wheels in wet leaves or snow, and you know exactly how hot or cold your baby is all the time.

hmm but is it warm enough?

Although this jacket is hugely practical i personally don't think that it is massively attractive.

2) MaM Tunic babywearing coat with weatherproof fleece

  

 I love this MaM babywearing tunic which comes in weatherproof fleece. It seems to me to be a very stylish Scandinavian design, and perfect for layering throughout the seasons. It can be used during pregnancy and when carrying a baby on the front or back, or without a baby at all. "A timeless investment piece" and i think my favourite overall.

3) Mama Jacket/babywearing coat

Made of a wool/cashmere blend in either charcoal grey or wine red, this coat also allows you to wear your baby on your back or front without a large amount of billowing fabric surrounding you. It also doubles up as a maternity coat with an extra pregnancy insert - and can also be used without the supplied insert as a normal jacket when you are not carrying your child. Not too bad.

4)  The M Coat 

Another convertible 3-in-one- jacket but this one is insulated with pure Canadian Down which makes me think it will be warm enough for the Scandinavien winter. It can be used not only as a maternity jacket but also when you have had the baby and want to wear him/her in a sling as well as afterwards as a regular coat.

5) The Babywearing Down Coat 

This is another down coat but to be honest i'm not a huge fan of this one because although undoubtedly warm it does actually look like you are wearing a sleeping bag/duvet.

6) Peekaru Fleece Vest   

Snug Baby Wearing

This could be amazing under my down coat and a slightly cheaper option than buying a totally new coat.

The Peekaru Original is a fleece vest that zips over a soft baby carrier to keep you and your child warm. It says that it also fits comfortably over all carriers, including Baby Bjorns, Hotslings, Ergos, Mei Tais, and Wraps. It's made from 85% recycled high quality Polartec fleece with each Peekaru Original saving approximately 25 plastic bottles from reaching the landfill. In addition, Polartec fleece holds an Oeko-tex Standard 100 for textile products of all types which pose no risk whatsoever to health. So you can feel good knowing that while you are holding your baby close, you are also helping the environment.

7) Suse's Kinder Coat 

 Again not the most flattering design...?

Failing all of those i do have this amazing MaM cover for the slings i have. I saw it on a man carrying his baby when i first moved to Oslo and literally chased him down the street to find out where he bought it from!! It's 4-season microfibre-fleece lined cover and comes with a detachable fleece hood. It's easy to use around any soft slings including the ergo baby carrier and keeps the baby warm and snug in cold countries like Norway, even if the Mama is less than toastey! You can buy them online or from this wonderful shop in Oslo called Bæreglede on Wessels Gate. They have a whole heap of natural baby things including slings, wool clothes and cloth nappies.

and while i'm listing warm things for the winter i also love these  

Baby leg warmers.

 Just sooooo cute.