Grapes
Goat cheese
Toppings (ie: shredded coconut, flax/sesame seeds, crushed walnuts, powdered almonds)
1. Wrap the grape with a very thin layer of goat cheese.
2. Roll the ball in a topping of your choosing.
This is quite messy to make but it is quick, tasty & healthy! What kind of fruit & toppings would you use?
What toys do your kids have?
Finding suitable toys for my child was challenging. I wanted items that were stimulating and not toxic when chewed. The internet age has placed a lot of information at everyone's fingertips and it isn't always reassuring. Maybe we're being too careful, maybe not, either way, I rather not take the chance. Yes, information may change, but for now, the rule is: BPA, PVC and Phtalates free.
Sophie the Giraffe by Vulli: ♥♥♥♥♥
Does every baby have this toy? Really? At first, it seemed so...dull, but then, my son fell in love. I swear, its the first toy he reaches for. He grabs her, bites her, squeezes her. Its really quite cute. She stimulates sight, hearing & touch. She is made out of latex rubber; BPA, PVC and Phthalates free. The paint is also made out of latex, with added food paint. The long neck and small legs make her easy to grab, squeeze and bite. As unlikely as it is, the only negative side is the possibility of choking on the long legs.
Touch Ring - 4 Rainbow Rings by Heimess: ♥♥♥♥♥
The colors are very stimulating, the clinging sound is soft and the different rings challenge dexterity. The Heimess toys are safe for babies; the are made with wood and non toxic, saliva resistant colors. The only thing I don't like is that not much information can be found about this toy on the Heimess website.
Stacking Cups by Green Toys: ♥♥♥♥♥
I love how versatile these cups are; you can stack them into a tower, you can sort sizes into nests and you can use them as cups to scoop and pour in the bath. They are made out of recycled plastic milk containers and are BPA, PVC and Phthalates free. The only things I don't like are the colors (let's just say they could be a bit more stimulating, like red blue and yellow) and the fact that they are a bit hard to stack into a tower.
Wool Baby Slippers by Padraigs: ♥♥♥♥♥
These slippers are a-ma-sing. Seriously. They are made with pure wool and are crocheted by hand with extra soft sheepskin lining and tough leather soles. They come in a variety of colors and sizes (including for adults). They "breathe" for year-long comfort.
Since the birth of my son, I have been trying to be as natural as possible with all aspects of his life. Non-medicated birth, exclusive breastfeeding, homemade purees... so I decided to continue and make a natural, homemade moisturizing lotion. After a bit of research, I was inspired rawmazing to create my own recipe.
1/2 cup Shea Butter
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
2 drops Essential Oil (I use Eucalyptus essential oil)
1 tablespoon Calendula Oil
You can change the Essential Oil to modify the smell to your liking. The Calendula Oil is for added healing properties, you can leave it out or change it to another oil of your choosing. You can also increase the quantity to make the lotion creamier.
1. Melt all ingredients on low heat.
2. Let cool until semi-hard.
It's important to let the mix solidify slightly, otherwise the lotion will not whip. It may take some time, to speed things up put in the fridge.
3. Whip. (:
The lotion will solidify since both Coconut Oil and Shea Butter are solids at room temperature. Skin contact melts it instantly and the oils absorb quickly. The mixture is shelf stable.
If you are planning on making big batches (or taking a really long time to use your lotion), you can also add a drop of Vitamin E as a preservative agent. All the ingredients have a long shelf stable life, so you shouldn't need to. Stay tuned for my lip balm and eatable lip gloss recipes.
How would you personalize this lotion?
Coconut Oil is moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and helps with healing.
Shea Butter moisturizes, is anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and helps with healing.
Calendula Oil is moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal.
Eucalyptus Oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, antiseptic, deodorant and decongestant.
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.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking them.