A guide to recognizing food allergies, for moms (+ FREE egg allergy guide)

As a mother, introducing solid foods to our baby can be quite stressful.

There's literally a bazillion questions we're faced with every single day. When should I start introducing solids? What food should I start with? Why isn't he opening his mouth? Am I giving him too much? Too little? Should he still be drinking milk?

Today, I'll be addressing one question in particular, which happens to be very close to my heart: "How do I know if my child has a food allergy and what should I do?"

I've mentioned quite a few times that my son is allergic to eggs but I don't think I've ever explained exactly how I found out.

Before I get started, I wanted to share a guide I created for you. It explains how to replace eggs in cooking and baking. There's also a section about how to shop for packaged foods with an egg allergy.

Get your FREE egg allergy guide
+ BONUS access to our exclusive resource page
for bloggers and supermoms)

Em was 13 months old when we found out. We were having breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants. I hadn't finished introducing all the different foods so I brought his lunch from home. At restaurants, you have no way of knowing what food has been in contact with. So I didn't want to take any chances. I guess on some level, I must have already known he was allergic to something.

Anyway, I started feeding him the meal I brought from home. Looking around, I saw another mom giving her baby (which was much younger then mine) food from her plate. Meanwhile, my son was sitting there, curious, watching us eat our restaurant food with his big brown eyes. In a moment of weakness, I figured what's the harm? So I gave him some of the things I knew he'd already eaten; fruits, bread, potatoes... Nothing happened. So, I followed with crepes, waffles and muffin. We left none the wiser and headed shopping.

We arrived at the store about 20 minutes after we left the restaurant. Em (that's my son's secret code name) had fallen asleep in the car so my husband decided to let him sleep and stayed in the car with him. I went ahead to buy some clothes.

I hadn't been in the store for 5 minutes that my husband called me in panic: "Something's wrong! Quick! Come back! Come back right now!" My heart literally stopped and imploded. I dropped everything on the floor and ran back to the car.



There was vomit everywhere. Literally. On the back car seat, on the baby seat, on my son, on my husband, on the door, on the ground outside the car. I was amazed at how much food there had been in his little stomach.

Naturally, I undressed him and was about to wipe the car a bit when I noticed rashes and swelling in red patches all over his chest, neck, and .... FACE! I could barely see his eyes anymore.

Then I heard it. That sound no mother wants to hear. Wheezing. The kind you get when you have an asthma attack and you feel like someone is crushing your neck. Thankfully, he was coughing, it means your body is still fighting.

I strapped him into his car seat naked and we rushed to the nearest hospital (note: if this happens to you, call the ambulance, don't take your car). Even though the hospital was about 10 minutes away, it was the longest car ride in my life.

As we approached the hospital, his face was so swollen he was unrecognizable. It wasn't long that he stopped coughing and he was changing color. You should have seen me jump out of the car and rush into the emergency.

I didn't even have to say anything, the guard took him and called resuscitation staff stat. Within 1 minute he had 3 pediatrician around him, a shot of epipen, a dose of benadryl and a puff of ventolin.

It was close. VERY close. But our little baby boy was safe.

That story still gives me goose bumps to this day, and it's not something I wish on anyone. Ever. Which is why I'd like to help you identify food allergies.

So, how do you know if your child has a food allergy?

First, it's important to understand that there are different levels of food allergies. Some are very mild, and others are life threatening in a very scary way. Either way, they should be taken very seriously.

1. Introduce foods one at a time

The easiest way to recognize a food allergy for the first time in babies is to introduce foods one at a time.

The first time you introduce a food, there will be no reaction because the body doesn't know the food and doesn't know how to react.

The second time around (I suggest the next day), if there is an allergic reaction, it will be mild, and you'll notice a rash or swelling on his stomach/chest. This could take anywhere from a few minutes to about 2 hours after he ate the food. It's important to check because it'll give you an indication on what to expect the third time you give the food.

The third time is when you can get a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which is life threatening since you can literally stop breathing. If you notice any reaction other than a skin rash, call the emergency. Don't wait!

I suggest introducing the known allergens last, like cow's milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy and fish.

2. Learn how to recognize food allergy symptoms

Since your child may not be able to speak to express how he's feeling, I'm only going to give you the symptoms you can see and hear.

• Skin rash
• Swelling of the lips and tongue
• Vomit
• Breathing difficulties, wheezing and coughing
• Loss of consciousness

3. Know what to do in case of an allergic reaction

If an allergic reaction isn't something you're already aware of and have an epipen for, or if you suspect anything, call a health information line (ours in Quebec is 811). On the other hand, if you see a rapid evolution of the symptoms stated above, call the emergency ambulance service (911 in Canada). You will have enough time to recognize the symptoms and call so don't panic, but don't wait either if you're not sure. Minutes count! In either situation, I suggest notifying your child's pediatrician as soon as possible and meet with him to ask all your questions.

Here are some egg free dessert recipes I've shared in the past that I think you might like:
Egg free vanilla cupcake recipe
Egg free apple upside-down cake
Egg free gingerbread cookie recipe
5 minute homemade chocolate pudding (eggless)
Maple buckwheat crepe recipe (no eggs)

Like I mentioned above, I wrote a 4 page guide for you about replacing eggs in cooking and baking. It also includes a list of synonyms of eggs to look out for when shopping packaged foods.

Do you have any questions about food allergies you'd like me to address? Egg in particular? I'd love to help and answer any questions you might have! Have you ever witnessed a severe allergic reaction?

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am simply a mom sharing her experience. If you have any doubts, please contact your medical professional or 911 in case of an emergency.

DIY: Basic shea coconut lip balm

Ever since I made my homemade + natural moisturizing lotion recipe, I've been on a quest to eliminate as many chemicals from my home as possible. Some of it involves making my own products like these homemade baby wipes. I've also been trying out a few cleaning and body care products from different brands.

It's been quite an intense journey to be honest, mainly because my life has been on overload recently, but also because I never realized just how many chemicals are around us on a daily basis, it's actually kind of scary! Anything from our skin care routine, to bathing, to cleaning our home, in our food, even our mattress and our car contains harmful chemicals, can you imagine?



With that being said, I have no intention of turning into a full on Green Holistic Naturalist (or whatever you call people that are 100% natural living) but I do hope to find some kind of balance and be more intentional in my everyday life without compromising my happiness and that of my family. Life is just to short to not enjoy everything you love.

Today I want to share with you a super easy basic shea coconut lip balm recipe. I'm using raw, pure and fair trade Shea butter from Kariderm. It's my absolute favorite product from their company. The texture is super light, it absorbs quickly and has intense moisturizing action. I use it in practically all of my homemade body care products.

MATERIALS

1 tsp Shea butter
1 tsp Coconut oil
2 tsp Beeswax (grated)

TOOLS

Glass bowl
Pot
Pipette
Lip balm tube

DIRECTIONS

Heat all ingredients in a glass bowl over a hot pot of water, on low heat. If you have a double boiler, you can use that too. When I'm in a hurry, I do it in small increments in the microwave, but I really don't like using the microwave too much so the stove top is my favorite way. Once everything is melted, mix it a bit, then transfer the mixture to the lip balm tube using the pipette (the recipe is enough for 2 tubes). Wait until it cools and enjoy!



This is super quick and easy to make and it's surprisingly moisturizing. It's been my go-to natural lip balm for quite some time now and although I keep trying different brands once in a while, I always return to my homemade one. It's also a super fun, thoughtful and intentional gift to make for your friends and family.

What kind of skin care products have you tried making at home?

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Kariderm. The Shea butter was sent to me at no cost. All thoughts expressed in this post are my own.

My second birth story

I was going through my saved posts and I realized I never posted the birth story of my second child. It was over a year ago, but I really wanted to share it because it was such a beautiful and positive experience that I feel it can reassure future moms out there.

Let's get one thing straight before I get started though. Giving birth is giving birth. Even though my experience was positive, it wasn't easy and required a lot of strength, dedication and self-motivation (much like anything of value in life).

It all started on a Monday night. I had only just stopped working the previous Friday and I was looking forward to having a couple of weeks to pack my bags, get the baby's room ready, spend some quality alone time with my first son and relax a bit. It turns out my little bundle of joy had another plan for us.

At exactly 37 weeks of pregnancy, Z decided to make a surprise appearance into the world. I was excited to meet him but at the same time I was a bit scared. I think that's normal though, doesn't every mom panic when she goes into labor? I was actually pretty worried I'd deliver on the side of street midway to the hospital seeing as my first delivery went so fast.

I had an appointment with my OBGYN earlier that day, at around 5pm. After doing an internal exam (you know the one), she confirmed that I was neither dilated or effaced; as in, ZERO. Pretty normal for 37 weeks of pregnancy. I returned home completely oblivious to what was about to happen. I quickly cooked supper for my family and rushed to my prenatal yoga class on an empty stomach. When I returned home, I was pretty tired, so I went to relax in bed a few minutes as I checked social media on my iPhone. My husband walked in to bring me supper, so I moved over to sit up and that's when I felt it, this weird kind of "mini explosion" in my stomach, sort of like a balloon popping. My first thought: "Um, that's not normal."

Then it happened; as I stood up to get out of bed, water leaked between my legs. I was freaking out, I was like: "Oh my god, am I peeing? Wait, no, I can't be... I can't hold it in!! Oh my god oh my god is that what it's like to lose your water? That's so weird!" So I quickly made my way to the bathroom as water was literally gushing out of me. I never lost my water during my first delivery, so I had no idea!

Since we had absolutely nothing ready, my husband rushed around trying to wipe water off the floor and pack as quickly as he could. I couldn't help because every time I tried to move, more water came gushing out and we had to clean it up, so I just sat on the toilet and handled the panicking and the phone calls.

I called our babysitter so she could watch over my older son (who was sleeping for the night, thank god!) until my father arrived. After notifying my dad, I gave my mom a call. She was with my grand-mother taking care of my very sick grand-father. She was supposed to be part of my delivery team, but she was so far away that by the time she arrived, the baby was born. Boo-urns. Anyway, I remember giving my sister a call because I needed someone to talk to that could calm me down and help me focus.

The babysitter arrived and Antonio (my husband) had finished packing the car. I ended up having to put a dress on so that I could put a big rolled up towel between my legs to absorb the water which would not stop coming out! I'm pretty sure I scared our poor 11yo babysitter with that towel.

So we're in the car and I don't really have contractions, some mild discomfort, yes, but nothing too wild. Panic attacks though? Um, yes. I was so worried I would die in labor. I know, ridiculous in this day and age, but I'm a worry bug when it comes to things like that. We arrived at the hospital, parked the car relatively far since the parking lot is quite small and there's rarely any space available. I had no trouble walking all the way to the maternity ward.

We arrived and the nurse gave some forms to my husband and asked me to come in. She wanted me to sit so that she could plug me to a machine which would monitor the baby's heart. I was like, plug? Sure. Sit? Hell no. She was not happy because she couldn't watch the baby's heart rate if I wasn't sitting. Um, you can use your stethoscope lady, or some other tool. I know it's harder, but I don't care about your comfort, I care about my well being and the safe delivery of my child.

At this point I started having mild contractions, maybe every 2 or 3 minutes? Nothing unbearable. I kept telling her to bring me into a birthing room, that it wouldn't take long, but she wouldn't listen and she kept telling me to calm down. I think she was annoyed at me but I knew how my first delivery went and I didn't want to deliver in the hallway.

After about a half hour, she finally took me into a birthing room and since she hadn't offered a hospital robe, I took off all my clothes (one less thing to worry about). She sent another nurse and a student to take care of me, both of which had no idea what to do.

I asked for a birthing ball because I remembered how good it felt with my first. Sadly, it didn't work this time. When I tried to sit on it, the pressure on my pelvic area was unbearable. I had no clue how to position myself so I just stood up, placed my hands on the side of the bed and put my weight on my hands.

Contractions started to be a bit more intense at this point. I swayed from side to side between contractions and during contractions I squatted like a frog while doing my disturbingly long and low-pitched "ohm" sound. My husband was trying to massage my lower back and do pressure points like the nurse had shown him during my first delivery. Alas, he didn't remember where, or how, and it was doing more harm than good, so he stopped. He rubbed my back instead and brought me as many cold compresses as he could.

I remember the nurse asking me if I wanted laughing gas at one point and I'm pretty sure I gave her a death stare. I kept asking for things like ice and a massage and she didn't budge. I was seriously disappointed in the service she offered. To top it off, my mom hadn't arrived yet. I was doing it all alone. Next time I'm getting a Doula for sure.

Anyway, after a while I thought: "If this is anything like the first, I must be at around 7cm dilated now. It hurts so much and I have no help! I'm never going to make it to the end." I should have remembered that usually when you start wanting to give up, it's because the end is near...

Low and behold, it starts to push. I was in complete disbelief. I was like: "It's pushing, it's pushing!" I struggled to get onto the bed as the nurse said: "That's not possible, let's see how much you're dilated." As I got onto the bed on 4 legs, my body pushed a second time (note: my body, not me) and the head came out.

After that, all I remember is the doctor rushing in while putting her gloves on and asking: "Are you really going to deliver like that?" I starred. Enough said. She said push, I pushed once and the baby came out. He was born at 3 past midnight.

I turned, they put his little naked body on my chest and he pushed with his little arms to look up at me. It was magical. I let him snuggled with me a bit before helping him to my breast to eat. But that's another story...

Mexico 2015

You may have noticed that things have been quiet around here for the past 2 weeks. My family and I just came back from our Mexico vacation. Every few years we go and visit my in-laws in Mexico D.F. It's hard to live so far from family, but the bright side is that we get to travel. Right? ;)

For this trip, we decided to mix things up and spent half the time in Acapulco. We hadn't been to the beach in quite some time and we wanted the kids to see the ocean. Our family joined us at the Mayan Palace and we spent quality time together by the pool, or the beach, every-single-day.

It was the first time we went to a hotel since having kids. I was a bit worried about traveling with my son who has an egg allergy because we can't exactly go to restaurants and I didn't know what kind of foods we would find at the local supermarket. I was so pleased to see that, as discussed with the hotel staff, the room had a complete mini kitchen, so my mother-in-law and I were able to cook delicious meals. Plus, we saved a whole bunch of money, win-win! The food at the store was all marked for allergens too so that also made things much less stressful.

As for traveling with kids, it wasn't all that hard other than the obvious need for a schedule and organization. We tried to keep their regular meal and nap times intact to avoid unnecessary tantrums (not that we ever get any, but I didn't want to adventure down the road of sleep-deprived babies). Besides, it kept sunburns at bay since their nap time is usually around noon to 3PM.

In the mornings we went to the pool and in the evening to the beach, next time I'll do the opposite though because the pool water was much too cold in the morning and there was no shade for the 11AM sun! It would have been better to play in the sand at the beach early in the morning, in the shade, and keep the pool for the late afternoon when the sun was less strong and the water warmer. Eh, you learn with experience right? We still had a lot of fun though, the kids played with their inflatable boats and goggles, and we made tons of sand castles.

We took the kids on a horse ride on the beach. They absolutely loved it, and so did we! :) But...did you know that those poor horses are usually starved? My husband was saying that the owners, usually poor, keep most of the money for their family and the poor animals go without food or drink for much too long. Sad isn't it?

My in-laws babysat the kids on one night which gave my husband and I some time to go out dancing. BEACH DANCING PARTY. Like, um, yeah! I almost forgot what it was like to lose myself in music. I love to dance. So hubby and I danced salsa until our feet hurt.

Before I left for my vacation, I had asked a few of you what you'd like me to write about from my trip and I have a few posts coming up about local food, a drink recipe, and some other fun things so stay tuned!

Until then, a Happy Easter to all of you! Don't eat too much chocolate. ;)

The ultimate Easter egg hunt

Let's rock it with this ultimate Easter egg hunt.
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Hey guys!

I'm writing from Mexico! I'm on vacation right now with my in-laws and having a blast. I have a whole bunch of posts lined up for you guys about my trip but first, I wanted to share a few of my Eater ideas with you.

My kids are growing up so fast and I've been looking for fun holiday related games to play during family events. I hope to turn these into traditions that they'll grow up to love and remember. Anyway, Easter is coming up fast, and I wanted to do an Easter egg hunt but I didn't want to do just a basic "search and eat".

So I came up with a couple of fun twists to the traditional egg hunt.

What kind of games do you play for the Easter holidays?



MATERIALS:

Plastic eggs
Mini chocolate eggs
Paper
Scissors
Pen



1. I started by cutting strips of paper and writing simple instructions on them like "behind the couch", "under a pillow" and "on a chair". These will serve to make the game more interesting rather than a simple "find and eat" egg hunt.



2. After making the tags, I filled some of the plastic eggs with tags or chocolate eggs.



3. Play the game! :)



INSTRUCTIONS:

Preparing
Put aside some empty plastic eggs.
Fill some of the plastic eggs with 1 or 2 chocolate eggs.
Put a written tag from above in a few plastic eggs. 

Setting up
Hide all of the plastic eggs, including the empty ones.
Hide some chocolate eggs by themselves.
Hide small bundles of chocolate eggs according to the tags from above. For example, if the tag says "in a cabinet" then you hide a bunch of chocolate eggs in a cabinet. These will be like a bonus stack for people who find them!

Playing
For a set amount of time, people search for the eggs (chocolate or plastic).
Whoever has the most of both types combined wins a small prize. 

My 5 basic pregnancy must-haves

Not too long ago, I decided to start sharing my pregnancy and motherhood experiences:

• 5 activities I enjoyed during pregnancy
• my first birth story 
• what to expect during pregnancy

Today, I wanted to share 5 things which were a must for me during both of my pregnancies. I'm well aware that each pregnancy is different, and I'm not a doctor, but these are things that helped me during both of mine, so I thought I would pass the information along. It never hurts to share, right? :)



1. SNACKS
For me, this was an absolute must. In the beginning, I felt so sick and bloated that I was worried eating would make me feel worse. It didn't completely make the nausea disappear, but it did help a lot. I could only eat bland tasting foods like crackers and nuts, yogurt, stuff like that, and it had to be in small continuous portions.

2. COMFORTABLE CLOTHES
With all the body changes, comfort was super important for me. At least, as much comfort as possible. I wore lose stretchy clothes (like leggins, long tank tops and cardigans), flat shoes and sport bras. What I love most about all of these items is that you can use them before, during and after pregnancy. Saving money is important right?

3. PRENATAL VITAMINS
This is a basic item during pregnancy. My OBGYN recommended I take some to help me deliver all the necessary nutrients to my growing baby. I never say no to helping my baby grow safe and strong!

4. EXTRA PILLOWS
I heard a lot of hype about body pillow but they didn't work for me. I always ended up very uncomfortable. What I did find comfortable though, was having lots of pillows around me. One between my legs, one under my head, hugging one, and one in my back. Everyone is different so play around to see what works best for you. Essentially, this helps keep your spine straight and for me, it also helped with lower back pain.

5. TUMMY BUTTER
I'm sure everyone knows about stretch marks. The bonus question is how to avoid them. Is it even possible? I was lucky and didn't get any during either of my pregnancies. I used Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula and loved it. It smells delicious and feels rich on your skin. I also used organic coconut oil. Even if it doesn't help with stretch marks, you can always ask your loved one to give you and baby a nice massage!

What kind of things helped you during your pregnancy?

DIY: Nature hunt + fall garland

Fall always makes me want to go on nature hunts. I remember collecting lots of fallen leaves as a child and carefully putting them away in books to dry. I never ended up doing anything with them though. Such a shame since so many beautiful things can be made with them.

This year, my son has been rediscovering the seasons. At 2 years old I find he's a lot more alert and curious. I've been playing a lot of discovery games with him, one of which involves exploring and gathering; a nature hunt! It involves picking random things outdoors and building collections or finding things I ask for, sort of like hide and seek. I'm not sure who enjoyed this activity more, my son, or myself but it's definitely something I plan on doing more often, especially during summer and fall.

We picked so many wonderful things that I thought it would be fun to get creative and make some decorations for our home. Today I'll be sharing my fall garland and next week my acorn mobile so don't forget to check back next Monday. :)

MATERIALS:
Random outdoor pickings (I have leaves, branches and acorns)
String
Thin wire

TOOLS:
Scissors
Glue gun
Pliers



1. The first thing I did is dry the leaves. I just used an old book and carefully placed them between pages overnight.


2. While the leaves were drying, I made sure the tops of the acorns were stuck on properly. When they fall from the trees they come loose so I strongly suggest gluing them. I then attached them in bunches of 2 to hang on the garland.


3. Next, I tied some of the branches to the string by twisting a thin gold wire around both.


4. Once the leaves were dry I glued them together in bunches of 3 and the glued them to the string between each branch.


5. Last, I hung the garland and added the little acorns. I switched them around the garland a bit until I settled for next to the leaves. That's really where it looks best.


There you have it, a super cute fall pickings garland with leaves, acorns and branches. Excuse the spiders and skulls, that was part of my Halloween decor. ;)

Have you made decorations with things you collected outside before?

5 activities I enjoyed during pregnancy

I've always heard you should keep doing the same physical activities you're used to during pregnancy. For me though, that would have meant sitting in front of my computer screen all day long. No way that was going to happen. I wanted to take good care of the little one growing inside me, and of myself, to prepare for delivery. I wanted light activities, that I could easily build up and maybe even continue after giving birth.

prenatal yoga

I remember thinking I would never EVER do yoga, it was much too weird, those positions, the heavy breathing, why would anyone like that? I had no idea how amazing it actually is. When my masseuse suggested it to me I kind of laughed in my head. On my way back home though, I figured why not? She'd always given me very good advice and I trusted her. This was BY FAR the best activity I did for myself; I even returned during my 2nd pregnancy. I have to be honest though, it really depends on the teacher, and how serious you are about it.

My first teacher was awesome, she showed us basic positions and encouraged us to try harder variations depending on our capacities. The cat/cow pose did wonders for my lower back pains (it was also the most amazing way to push during the last phase of labor!). The child's pose helped me a lot with relaxation and deep breathing (even during labor!). The butterfly pose was great for helping widen my hip bones and the goddess pose allowed me to practice muscular endurance combined with breathing exercises (which helped prepare me for dealing with the pain of labor).

The most important thing I learned though, was how to breathe and not feel stupid about doing it loudly. We worked on vocal ohms during most poses (my second teacher didn't do this and I was quite disappointed). What is ohm you ask? It's a deep breathing sound that comes from deep within. The weirdest thing ever, seriously, I felt like I was mooing like a cow. You know what though? This was probably THE BEST thing to practice for delivery. During labor, this is one of the only things that helped me stay focused and relaxed. Instead of thinking about the pain, I would thing about those very long deep sounds I was making. Magic.

prenatal swimming

I've always loved water so naturally, I had to inquire at the pool if they had prenatal programs and they did! So I registered. I remember thinking I looked pretty silly jumping up and down in the water and walking around waving my arms. At first I didn't think it was helping me much, but after a while, I discovered that the intensity of the workout depends on how much energy you put into it. I pushed a little bit harder every class. I'm not sure how much this activity actually helped me physically, but it was nice to think about something else for a while and get out of the house. I didn't end up doing this activity for my second pregnancy but I'm glad I tried it out.

By the way, this is probably one of the times you'll be wanting to wear a bikini. I've always been shy about my body, but being pregnant is just so beautiful that I felt super comfortable showing off my new curves. Which worked out well because I didn't have to buy a completely new bathing suit. Although I did have to change the top because my breasts engorged so much that my existing one ended up looking like tiny little triangles. Lol.

walking

I really enjoyed walking during my pregnancy. It was a nice way to get some fresh air, spend some quality time with my husband, and get moving. This is an activity that I continued doing with my children once they were born. It's good for everyone, forces us to spend some time together, and it's a great activity to give you a break from entertaining your kids (especially if you don't want to use the television as a distraction).

professional massages

If you don't already do this on a semi-regular basis I strongly suggest it. Even if it's just once a month, it's totally worth it. Getting all those tensions out of your muscles is a must, especially during pregnancy. All the changes going on in my body caused me discomfort, and this was an amazing way to ease my body into accepting these changes. I did this for both of my pregnancies and continue to do so when I need some "me" time. 

going out

Restaurants, operas, plays, weekend escapades, or even just to the movies. I tried to go out as much as I could before I had my first child because I knew it would be a while before I would be able to do so again. I'm glad that I did and would most likely do it WAY MORE than I did because now I know how much "no time for myself" actually means "no time for myself". I figured I'd have at least an hour to myself every day. Nu-hun. Nope. Nada. Even when/if I can find a little time to go out, I either end up feeling guilty or thinking about my kids the entire time. I'm sure this is something that will fade over time, but for now, it's a little bit overwhelming. In any case, I quite enjoyed taking the opportunity to go to the movies and eat out during my pregnancy.


The most important thing I got from doing these activities though, is some time to reflect on my pregnancy; what I wanted to get out of it, what I hoped for my little one, how I wanted my delivery to go and what role I wanted my husband to have in the process. It also gave me the opportunity to make friends with other women that were going through the same thing as me.


Disclaimer: I am not a health professional, I am simply sharing my personal experience hoping to encourage future mothers. What worked for me may not work for you. Always consult your obstetrician with questions concerning your pregnancy.

DIY: Homemade and natural lip balm

Ever since I made my natural homemade moisturizing lotion, I've been wanting to make more and more of my own beauty products at home using natural ingredients. I am trying to minimize all the unnecessary chemicals in my family's life. I've been using this recipe for about a year now and I'm very satisfied with it. It goes on smooth, doesn't smell like anything (unless you add essential oil) and absorbs super quickly. Most important of all, it moisturizes very well.

INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp Coconut Oil
1.5 tbsp Beeswax


OPTIONAL:
Drop of Essential Oil (I used peppermint)
Drop of Vitamin E (acts as preservative for large batches)


First, combine Coconut Oil with the Beeswax. Microwave until melted.


There are many kinds of Coconut Oils; some are harder than others at room temperature. Because of this, the first time you make this recipe, I suggest starting with small portions and only melting a bit of the Beeswax at a time (melt, allow to harden for a few hours, test with finger, then add more if necessary). I strongly suggest you do this because there is nothing more annoying than a lip balm that's hard as rock! Once you've figured out the exact proportions, you don't need to do this again.

Second, pour in container, let sit until set.


Do you have any natural homemade recipes?

You could also add any other oil you like. Just use the same oil/beeswax ratio and do the hardness test. c:



Disclaimer: This recipe is homemade. I am not a health professional, I am simply a mother trying to find simple and chemical-free solutions for my family. This lip balm works great for us but it may not work for you and I take no responsibility for that.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking them.

What to expect when going to the zoo

Last week, my family and I went to the zoo (crossed an activity off my summer bucket list, yay!). I remember going a couple of times when I was little, and I have to be honest, other than the obvious "going to see the animals" part, I forgot what a day at the zoo meant. I made a list of a few things I think are important to know before you head out.

1. Be Patient
This is kind of obvious but believe it or not, I actually expected to see all the animals up close as soon as I got to their habitat. Silly right? Make sure you are ready to wait for them to come out; you could be waiting for a while. If you can, bring some binoculars, that way you wouldn't have to wait around as long; unless you want to take pictures.



2. Plan Ahead
There are often shows planned during the day. Research ahead and make sure you plan your day around these. Sometimes the animators attract the animals so you aren't waiting as long. Even if they don't, at least you get a bit of information while you wait. It makes the trip that much more interesting.



3. Bring Water
Make sure you bring a bottle of water for each member of your family. There are a lot of attractions and you'll be walking a lot, so you'll be very thirsty. I'm assuming you're going on a warm sunny day like we did, but even if you don't, I still recommend bringing water. Having an umbrella is also a good idea, you know, portable shade...



4. Bring Food
It's a good idea to bring some snacks. Food at these kinds of attractions tends to be a bit pricey. You can indulge in a few treats if you want, but it's still a good idea to bring snacks so you don't burn a hole in your wallet. Speaking of which, make sure you have some cash handy, because the food stands don't accept interact or visa.



5. Bring Activities
If you're going with children, make sure you bring some toys & activities just in case you have long wait times. It will be much easier for you, and a lot more fun for your kids. ;)



6. Wear Comfortable Shoes
I can't stress this enough. You are going to be walking all day, and most likely standing; comfortable shoes is a must.



We had a lot of fun (if waiting around a lot can be called fun) and we will definitely make this into a yearly activity. I'm sure our son will appreciate it more when he's older.

Have you ever been to the zoo?

My summer 2013 bucket list

Life has been extremely busy lately with my return to work. It's an adjustment, that's for sure. Not much time to sleep, have to plan meals ahead of time, cleaning is done after my son goes to sleep, and extra activities are on hold. We are slowly getting adjusted to our new schedule, but I have to organize my time better.

What are some of the things you want to do this summer?

There are so many things I want to do with my family this summer. Actually, there are always a lot of things I want to do, regardless of the season. The sad part is, if I don't write anything down, I seem to forget a lot of them. So this year, I decided to start documenting some of my hopes into bucket lists. Here is my list for the summer months.

1. Camp in my backyard Done!
Yup, in my backyard. I have every intention of going to a camping site as well, but there is just something about camping in my backyard that is very appealing; especially with a young child and having everything close at hand.

2. Dance in the rain Done!
When I say rain, I mean pouring down rain. This one is just for me, because I like to be crazy once in a while, it makes me feel free. I'll be jumping in water puddles too; just so you know.

3. Sleep under the stars Done!
I've always loved to look far into the sky and imagine infinity. Yes, I know it's not possible, but trying to understand something inexplicable amuses me and keeps my brain cells occupied for hours.

4. Roast marshmallows
Because it isn't really summer unless you eat burnt campfire smores.

5. Ride my bike Done!
I haven't been doing much exercise lately. I don't like going to the gym, and enjoying winter sports with a newborn is a bit difficult. So this summer, I bought a bike attachment for my son, sort of like a trolley, and I'm going to get back into shape.

6. Pick fresh berries Done!
We have lots of berries in our backyard including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and gooseberries. I want my son to grow up knowing where produce comes from other than "the grocery store."

7. Plant a garden Done!
I've been wanting to do this forever. Now that we own a house and a decent sized yard, I just can't wait to plant my own garden. I'll be starting with the basics this year and adding more things next year. There's something about eating my own fruits and vegetables that really appeals to me. Maybe it's the sense of accomplishment, or just the fact that I get to learn how things work. Either way, I want to learn so that I can teach my kids.

8. Fly a kite
My son is probably still too young for this, but I'd like to start a summer tradition. Go to the park, have a picnic, and fly a kite.

9. Make a flower crown
I know... so many flower crowns going around right now, but they are so cute! I want to walk around for an entire day wearing my flower crown.

10. Blow bubbles Done!
This one is more for my son. He doesn't understand the concept of blowing yet, but I'm hoping that before the end of the summer he'll learn. Because popping bubbles is a lot of fun.

11. Go for a picnic
I'm not quite sure why I enjoy picnics so much. Maybe it's the day away from daily responsibilities, or maybe it's just the slower speed of the meal. In any case, we'll be doing a few of these this summer, at home, and at the park.

12. Swim in our pool Done!
What's the point of having a swimming pool if you never swim in it? This summer, I'm making it a point to take a plunge every time the water is warm enough to not instantly freeze. Even if it ruins my hair.

13. Roller skate
For the same reason as biking, except if I roller skate, my husband will have to take care of our son. It would give me some alone time, which would be great. I could hear myself think again. Wouldn't that be nice?

14. Farmer's market Done!
I believe in supporting the local economy. Enough said. Oh, and I might stop by the local farms to pick fresh produce with my little family. Who knows, this might become another summer tradition. (:

15. Go to the zoo Done!
I heard of a few zoos around my area, and I'm really exited to take my son there. He absolutely loves animals. He gets all excited every time he sees a dog or a cat. Imagining his reaction to big animals makes me smile.

16. Walk a lot
I find I spend a lot of time planning and doing chores. So much, that sometimes I forget to sit down and spend quality time with my family. For me, taking walks removes all distractions, clears my mind, and allows me to appreciate my family. So walks... here we come!

17. Wear fancy hats Done!
I absolutely adore big hats; the really elegant ones from old movies. I don't know why we don't wear them anymore. It's good protection against the sun, and they look so pretty. I'm totally going to start an old trend back up.

18. Go to the beach Done!
I'm not quite sure where there are nice beaches around Montreal, but I'm going to find one, and we're going to make sand castles.

19. Movies at the park Done!
This one is more for my husband. Free hot dogs are cool. Especially when a movie comes with it.

DIY: Homemade and natural homemade baby wipes

Why do we use store bought baby wipes to clean our baby's bottom at diaper changes? The answer is simple; for me it was a mix of convenience & the fact that I didn't know any better. Did you know that you can simply use water and a cloth? There. Problem solved. Thanks mom. However, I wanted something that could soothe my little one's cute little butt cheeks at the same time, so I added a bit Calendula and Eucalyptus Oil. Calendula Oil is moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal & gentle on baby bottoms. Eucalyptus Oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial & antiseptic.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cup of warm Water
1 tablespoon of Calendula Oil
2 drops of Eucalyptus Oil


You can either use cloths or disposable paper towels.

1. Mix all the ingredients & soak the cloths.


2. Squeeze excess water out & dispose of liquid mix.

3. Put your wipes in a container of your choice.


Notes:
1. Make only enough wipes for one day.
2. Wash the container daily.
3. Wash the cloths after every use.

Do you use a natural homemade body care recipe?

My last words of wisdom; if ever I have another child, I'll still use the store bought wipes when I go out, or go on trips, it's much more convenient. At home though, I'll opt for the more nature friendly washable cloths.

Disclaimer: This recipe is homemade. I am not a health professional, I am simply a mother trying to find simple and chemical-free solutions for my family. This lotion works great for us but it may not work for you and I take no responsibility for that.