Month: September 2015

   

If you’re like me and the doctor’s ordered you off sugar, dairy and wheat (all the good stuff, right?!) you may find yourself asking, “What’s left?” 

Especially if you grew up eating a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast. 

As a nursing mom it’s important for me to get my calories and proteins in every meal. I have to make it count. So this is a breakfast that does just that. It’s delicious, savory and fairly easy to make. 

This dish calls for blanched broccolini. I like to keep blanched broccolini in my refrigerator so I have it on hand when making dishes like this. The steps to blanch broccolini are simple. Think of the steps you take to make pasta, only this calls for less time in the boiling water. You can add salt to the water of you desire. Cook time is 3-4 minutes for these veggies to get tender. Strain your broccolini and run under cold water before storing in the refrigerator. 

I use a Japanese rice cooker to make my brown rice because it’s easy and fool proof. I like to keep cooked rice in my refrigerator as well so I just have to heat it on the skillet when making dishes like this. 

Alas, this is a two pan breakfast. In one pan you will have water with two cap fulls of apple cider vinegar boiling to poach your farm eggs. In the other you will have olive oil and crushed garlic heating up where you will sauté your blanched broccolini and warm up your rice. 

Once your garlic is sautéed in the olive oil, add chopped broccolini and rice. Cover the pan with a lid. 

In the small pot with boiling water and apple cider vinegar add your farm eggs with the shells ON into the water for 30 seconds. Remove the eggs. Crack open the eggs directly into the water and let cook for approximately 4 minutes or until yolk is cooked to your desire (less time in the water means a runnier egg). 

Remove the lid from your sauté pan and stir your veggies and rice to ensure ingredients are getting heat on all sides. Once your eggs are done remove them with a small strainer or slatted spoon and place on a paper towel so excess water can be absorbed into the towel. 

Serve the sautéed rice and broccolini in a bowl. Top with the two farm eggs. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and herbs. Can drizzle balsamic vinegar if desired for taste. 

Bon Appétit!

  I often get asked what homeopathic remedies we use when baby is teething. Here are a few of our favorite things:

1) Boiron Chamomilla 30c homeopathic remedy

2) Genuine Baltic Amber Teething Necklace

3) Hyland’s Homeopathic Teething Tablets (daytime and nighttime)

4) Sophie the Giraffe Teether

5) Hyland’s Homeopathic Teething Gel

We use one of the homeopathic remedies you can find at the health food store, Chamomilla, in the 30c potency three times per day. Chamomilla is a particular favorite because it is used for teething and irritability as well as other symptoms such as constipation. I give baby 3 pellets once in the morning, once midday and once in the evening. My daughter is very used to taking her remedies so I am able to show her the pellets and she opens her mouth, ready for me to place them on her tongue.  She sucks on them until they’ve dissolved.  I make sure she is sitting up when I give them to her.  When she first started taking them, I would tuck the pellets in between her cheek and gum and that worked pretty well for her.

The amber teething necklace has been very a effective method in relieving teething pain. These necklaces have been used for a long time on babies and toddlers to relieve teething pain.  Amber is an ancient stone.  When worn against the skin, the warmth of the body heats up the stone and a healing, all natural oil is released onto baby’s skin.  This oil has anti inflammatory properties and helps relieve the inflammation associated with teething. When baby wears her necklace I have noticed she is much more comfortable on days when teething is particularly bothering her. She also has a dry shirt, which if you have been with a baby heavily teething you know that they can become soaked with drool. Since we’ve been using the necklace we have not needed to use a teething bib.

Hyland’s homeopathic teething tablets are great to give throughout the day while alternating with the Chamomilla 30c because they are a blend of a few different remedies that are helpful with teething and irritability. They are also in a lower potency so they can have a different effect on baby. We like to use the nighttime ones before naps and bedtime.

Sophie the giraffe teether is a favorite of our daughter’s. She can really gnaw on it her without hurting her gums.

Hyland’s homeopathic teething gel is a great alternative to the gels that numb baby’s gums.  This one is made of the same remedies we give orally for teething, just in a gel form. (Think of how we can use Arnica topically in a gel or cream and can also take the pellets orally. Same concept.)

There are other things not listed above that we’ve found particularly helpful such as a cold damp wash cloth on the gums (wet a cotton wash cloth and place in the fridge to cool). Baby’s favorite is a warm bubble bath with mama before bed. Yes, on days when baby needs the extra support, I get in the bath with her 🙂 I’ve found when the teething gets rough physical contact, especially skin to skin, is the most relaxing and soothing remedy of all. Plus, mama gets to soak and relax too. Just be sure to plan ahead and make sure you have someone to help you get baby in and out of the tub safely. 

Additionally, there are some great tethers out there without BPA. Green Sprouts makes a ring teether with liquid inside that can be chilled in the fridge or frozen, though our little one finds that if this one is frozen it’s too hard on her gums. Life Factory makes a silicone teether that can be frozen and stays soft. We have also found frozen blueberries or bananas in the Baby Safe feeder to be great.

Hope you find some of our tips helpful and soothing for you and your little one! Best wishes 🌟

 I love coming across pretty and unique things for my daughter to play with especially if they’re handmade by another mom!

These soft blocks are made by Vintage Baby Jane and can be found in their shop on Etsy.

I was looking for a quiet and soft toy that baby could play with before and after naps or bedtime that wouldn’t overstimulate her and also make for pretty decoration on her bed.

These sweet blocks are made of very soft cotton and have a little bell inside that’s just loud enough to hear when baby  shakes them.

These would make a great new baby gift for an expecting mom ♥️🎈

Blocks are one of a kind. Similar blocks to those pictures made by Vintage Baby Jane shop can be found here on Etsy:  http://etsy.me/1KEtZlW