tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34392771581836303762024-03-13T23:09:50.322+11:00The Joy of the HomeMrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-19511623528191678702014-10-25T21:48:00.004+11:002014-10-25T21:48:45.795+11:00Exercise - Have a walking group.<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/exercise-have-a-walking-group/avenue-401875_1280/" rel="attachment wp-att-435"><img alt="avenue-401875_1280" class="alignnone wp-image-435" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/avenue-401875_1280-300x216.jpg" height="364" width="506" /></a><br />
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We all know the benefits of exercise for our bodies when we are trying to loss weight and get fit. It's great for our general health, mind, body and spirit.<br />
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I personally in the past have struggled at time to get out and exercise. I have been stuck in the idea that exercise takes up time, hard work, and is challenging with a large family and small children. Well I'm now proving myself wrong.<br />
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I'm a Mum of many which means living my life in multi tasking mode (which I'm sure many people do now in this fast paced world). So exercising in my mind was something that would not only take time away from the things that I need to be doing or would rather be doing if I had the time. I have since discovered that I can still multi task while exercising. I just need a few things.<br />
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We all need good shoes, a double stroller, bikes, a beautiful park and some good friends!!<br />
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Homeschooling my children also means that I need to make sure that they are educated about how to look after there bodies. I have been doing that with food, sharing with them food that helps to heal and build our bodies, but hadn't done a lot in the way of teaching them to care for there bodies with physical exercise until recently. I hadn't given it much thought, but now that I am, know how much they are loving being more active and they love being active with ME.<br />
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Now that I am moving out of the darkness and into Life, I want to enjoy as much of it as I can, and share it with my children. So while I'm training to be able to run 5 kms, So are they. They just don't know it yet. Well maybe they do and they are just not letting on.<br />
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So how do I multi task and exercise? I have walking dates!!!!!!<br />
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<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/exercise-have-a-walking-group/family-outing-421653_1280/" rel="attachment wp-att-434"><img alt="family-outing-421653_1280" class="size-medium wp-image-434 alignright" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/family-outing-421653_1280-300x225.jpg" height="225" width="300" /></a><br />
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I love catching up with friends and sharing our lives together, and I want my friendships to be ones that help inspire, grow, encourage, support, and generally share our burdens. There is nothing like chatting with a good friend to help the weights of life lift. There is also something to be said about the positive effects that exercise has on not only our bodies but our minds also. Releasing endorphins and reducing our stress levels.<br />
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So I get together with several friends each week to walk and talk.<br />
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My children benefit from this as well, they will bring there bikes and ride or walk and talk with us, learning how to have positive relationships in there lives. They also benefit from a family walking group I have started. Where each week several families come together to walk and have a BBQ/Picnic Dinner together.<br />
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This is one of my favourite days. I love getting together with other families but our house is small, and I hate cleaning LOL. So we don't do it that often. However I done need to have the house perfect and organised to met friends at the park, I just need to throw some things in a bag and go. Which I love!!!<br />
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So we meet Every Monday from around 4ish and stay until it's cold. Oh and what great fun we have together chatting, walking, catching up of each others week, and eating. Monday's it's easy to get our children to bed because they have used up there energy playing and we all sleep well. Well mostly, we do still have little ones.<br />
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Now what about bad weather. Well yes that is always an issue and when it's raining our walking dates are cancelled but I have made a deal with myself that when a walking date is cancelled I will still walk. However I take that walk with another group of friends. They are my podcast friends :) I jump on the treadmill that I have at home in our garage, and I listen to some of my favourite speakers. So I use that time to help me grow in my learning, while doing something positive for my body at the same time.<br />
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There are many obstacles that can hold us back from doing things that are beneficial for us, maybe see if you can rethink some of the issues, and make some changes for the better. They don't have to be huge. You can start small. Lots of small changes all add up to help make a big difference. Start your journey to becoming the person that you long to be, and if you are already there. Smell the Roses and Enjoy it!.<br />
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- Lots of Blessings,<br />
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Christina<br />
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-38617913364122590882014-10-25T21:47:00.000+11:002014-10-25T21:47:22.526+11:00HCG and My journey to health.Hi Lovelies!<br />
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I want to share with you changes that I have made and are in the process of making for my life. Most of you would know that last year I came very close to dying when I delivered my last <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/surviving-percreta/">baby, Marcella.</a> During that delivery I was on life support and was left very weak while my body recovered. I can honestly say that it took a good year to really get my groove back. During those 12 months I experienced some of the lowest emotional moments of my life. There is something to be said about not having control over your body and needing help with basic tasks as having a giant effect on your mental health- Especially as the primary care giver, and then almost needing to be the primary care <em>receiver</em>. My ability to breastfeed my new baby was gone, and my ability to have another baby was also gone. I was literally in a state of emotional breakdown. I wanted to just pass away. At this point my hormones where all over the place as well, contributing to my feelings of hopelessness. In the state of mind that I was in I started to medicate with chocolate and was literally eating myself to death. In my mind I thought it was a socially acceptable way to die.<br />
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I was already overweight when I came out of hospital, but filling my emotional holes with food added another 30 kgs to my already excess weight.<br />
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Thankfully as time went on, my hormones settled and my mind and body calmed, I was able to think more clearly and start getting back into life. At first I wanted to get back into GAPS to help us get back on track with healing both for my husband and myself, but I still was not in the right frame of mind to be able to do it well and consistently. SO thankfully in my weakened frame of mind, a friend shared with me about how she was using HCG to regain her health, which began my journey into looking at it more closely.<br />
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I have been following Cyndi O'Meara and Changing Habits for a many years. I have really enjoyed the research that she had done and respect her integrity quite a lot, so when I saw that she has a protocol it really started to get me thinking. I read that Phase 2 of the Diet was for 43 days. 43 days! I can do that! I was struggling with the idea of 2 years (at that point) but I saw 43 days as something that I could manage. The more I read the more I realised that this wasn't just about losing weight, but focused heavily on removing inflammation and looking at foods that help your body, instead of hindering it. That part was super important to me, because while I wanted to lose weight I've never just been about <em>losing weight</em>, but more focused on <em>gaining health.</em><br />
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So I jumped in, did my reading, and got started.<br />
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.....and I'm very glad that I did.<br />
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At the start of my first round I was 140kg! and pushing a size 26, at the end of that round I had lost 10 cms from my hips and waists each, and dropped 12.5 kgs, in the 6 weeks. It wasn't really super easy, I had my hard days when I would go to bed early so I could get into the next day, but then I would wake up and jump on the scales and see it move in the right direction, and that would motivate me to keep going.<br />
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The change helped encourage me to get moving more too. I had been pondering the idea of being able to run a 5 km fun run. Now that I am a President of the Australian Chapter of the <a href="http://www.hopeforaccreta.org/">Hope for Accreta Foundation,</a> I know somewhere down the track, being able to run 5kms will be useful. Also I would love to get out and be active with my children, camping, hiking, and do long bike ride trips. To do that, I want to know that I have the fitness behind me to get through it. So dropping that weight in the first round helped make the next step of getting active and increasing my fitness much easier.<br />
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SO here are my Before and After Pics from Round one.<br />
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<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Round-1-BA-Sept14.jpg"><img alt="Round 1 B&A Sept14" class="alignnone wp-image-440" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Round-1-BA-Sept14-258x300.jpg" height="423" width="364" /></a><br />
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Since then I have started my second round and in total I'm at 19.5kg lost, with another 2.5 weeks to go. Getting very close to my first 20 kgs mark! I hope to lose around another 60 kgs. But more than that, I'm looking forward to things that I will be able to do more and more as I lose more fat and gain more muscle, and gain more Life!.<br />
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Before starting University I was very active person, I was able to do the splits and do cartwheels. I would like to get back to that- Getting back to being able to trust myself and my body again. We aren't done with GAPS at all, we will still at least be doing advanced GAPS, High Fat-Low Carb in between rounds, to help with our overall general health and healing, Particularly for my husband who has now joined me on the HCG Journey.<br />
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Something else I want to mention about the HCG Protocol for me is that I have found it has really helped with my hormones. After Marcella's birth and the hysterectomy my body was really struggling to be in balance again, but within a week of starting HCG it was like they came back into alignment, Which was an added bonus that I didn't expect!<br />
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For the benefit of myself and others that would like to follow my journey, I have started Vlogging my journey, and sharing some of the reasons that I have started... here is one major one :)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/WmxSUsD1u5M" width="420"></iframe><br />
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So I look forward to sharing the rest of my journey to life with you. You can keep up to date with my journey on my Facebook page, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lifesupporttolife">From Life Support to Life</a>.<br />
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If you are reading this and want to take a look for yourself and start the journey you can follow the Link below. I look forward to hearing from you.<br />
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Blessings, Christina.<br />
<a href="http://changinghabits.com.au/4-phase-fat-elimination-protocol" rel="noindex,nofollow"><img alt="" src="http://t.cfjump.com/a/15337/20572" style="border: none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a>Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-79112489224069259252014-09-20T14:17:00.000+10:002014-09-20T14:17:10.584+10:00Grain Free Salmon Fish Cakes<h1 class="post-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Titillium, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY</span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/author/Editor/" rel="author" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Christina">CHRISTINA</a><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="color: #aaaaaa; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; text-transform: uppercase;">· SEPTEMBER 19, 2014</span></h1>
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This is one of my quick go to meals for my family, when I haven’t been organised to get something out of the freezer for dinner or I have left over fish, from our favourite family meals of pan fried salmon. This is Full GAPS Friendly, and Paleo.</div>
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<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Salmon-cakes.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Salmon cakes" class="wp-image-356 aligncenter" height="534" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Salmon-cakes-265x300.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.2s ease; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" width="472" /></a></div>
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Ingredients</h3>
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400 grams Canned or pre-cooked salmon (Remove Bones)</div>
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1 TB – Your Inspirations At Home - <a href="https://backoffice.office2office.com/IMX_TM/IMX_Accounts/v2_cart_loader.asp?session=1078769389&user=10000000001&pinfo=&lc=&cl=yih&pg=item_detail&item=1110">Herb and Garlic</a></div>
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1 TB – Your Inspirations At Home -<a href="https://backoffice.office2office.com/IMX_TM/IMX_Accounts/v2_cart_loader.asp?session=1078769389&user=10000000001&pinfo=&lc=&cl=yih&pg=item_detail&item=1114" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"> Dill and Onion</a></div>
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2 TB – Coconut flour</div>
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1/4 tsp – Salt</div>
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2 eggs</div>
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1/4 a cup of Peas</div>
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1. Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and let sit for 10 – 15 mins. I use this time to make a salad, and Avocado Mash.</div>
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2. Using either your hands or spoons, shape batter into patties, I make mine the size of a heaped Soup spoon.</div>
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3. Shallow fry in the coconut oil, butter or ghee.</div>
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4. Turn when browned on one side.</div>
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5. Serve and enjoy.</div>
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* Serves 5 – I doubt the recipe for my family.</div>
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** I have used YIAH Herbs, you can use fresh or dried herbs of your choice, these ones work great for us.</div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-79804582488080260262014-08-05T20:09:00.003+10:002014-08-05T20:09:43.474+10:00Homeschool Journal Writing<h1 class="post-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Titillium, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
Homeschool Journal Writing</h1>
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BY <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/author/Editor/" rel="author" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Christina">CHRISTINA</a> · AUGUST 5, 2014</div>
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I shared recently about writing to pen friends as one the ways we try to make writing fun, another tool we use is Journaling. I have done this for the last few years. I have my children draw about activities that we have done during the week, or at our homeschool get together, and depending on there age, they dictate what they want to write, or when old enough write it themselves. I don’t correct the spelling in this journal like I do there other forms of writing activities, because I want it to be a good record of their abilities, and something we can look over and see how they have grown over time. I am also hoping to help them develop the skills of keeping a record of there lives, and will aim to journal most days as they get older and older.</div>
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This is an example from my 9 years journal, I let her choose the ones that she wanted share.</div>
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Do you have your children keep a journal? How to do work it for them?</div>
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- Christina</div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-37177846162146446182014-08-04T13:29:00.001+10:002014-08-04T13:29:41.845+10:00And the Winners Are.............<div style="text-align: center;">
Last week I ran a giveaway for two great books both written by Lee Holmes. </div>
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So today with the help of my lovely assistant Isaac we now have our winners. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ_n2R0pGpU/U977vChJAhI/AAAAAAAABA8/1QJy3qDj4wI/s1600/9781742663159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oZ_n2R0pGpU/U977vChJAhI/AAAAAAAABA8/1QJy3qDj4wI/s1600/9781742663159.jpg" height="400" width="372" /></a></div>
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<br />The Winner of Supercharged Food is .....................</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dv-3MwJoObA/U977YHGyIgI/AAAAAAAABAo/f8syZyoHwi0/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dv-3MwJoObA/U977YHGyIgI/AAAAAAAABAo/f8syZyoHwi0/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Anita Morgan</b></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uLo3Utm2rM/U977tmUo-II/AAAAAAAABA0/oGNYDk9nwXU/s1600/Heal+Your+Gut+Official+Cover+low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2uLo3Utm2rM/U977tmUo-II/AAAAAAAABA0/oGNYDk9nwXU/s1600/Heal+Your+Gut+Official+Cover+low+res.jpg" height="400" width="281" /></a></div>
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<br />And the winner of this awesome ebook is ..............</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NaL6F2aJyZo/U977U1Z6OlI/AAAAAAAABAc/5bZnwx58XSI/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NaL6F2aJyZo/U977U1Z6OlI/AAAAAAAABAc/5bZnwx58XSI/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Kerry Mcgugan </b></td></tr>
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Congratulations to Anita Morgan and Kerry Mcgugan for being today's winners. Contact me via email and I'll arrange to get those prizes to you. Email: thejoyofthehome@gmail.com</div>
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<br />Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-73360298138230229202014-08-01T10:45:00.000+10:002014-08-01T10:45:26.593+10:00Guest Post - Michelle Vogrinec<h1 class="post-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Titillium, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 38px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
Guest Post – Michelle Vogrinec</h1>
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BY <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/author/Editor/" rel="author" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Christina">CHRISTINA</a> · AUGUST 1, 2014</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 600; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">W</span>elcome to the blog, today we have a guest post from …….</div>
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Michelle Vogrinec.</h1>
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Michelle is a mum of 3 and the creator and founder of the baby product range GAIA Skin Naturals. At home in the Dandenong Ranges Michelle is an avid researcher of preventive health and sustainable living. Passionate about the environment, she uses complimentary medicine and growths her own fresh, organic fruit and veggies to support her family and maintain a healthy lifestyle.</div>
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Established in 2002, GAIA Baby was born out of necessity after Michelle’s first child Joshua developed eczema when he was just 8 weeks old. After consulting many doctors for a safe and effective solution and unsuccessfully trying numerous products on the market. Michelle concocted her own lotions made from natural organic ingredients.</div>
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Today Michelle is going to share on two of her products, and the benefits of baby massage.</h2>
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I hope you enjoy. Here is Michelle.</div>
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<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/GAIA_NB_BabyMoisturiser_250ml-HR-WHITE.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Baby Moisturiser 250ml 002" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-269" height="300" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/GAIA_NB_BabyMoisturiser_250ml-HR-WHITE-124x300.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.2s ease; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" width="124" /></a><a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/GAIA_NB_BabyMassageOil_125ml-HR-WHITE.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Baby Massage Oil 125ml 0001" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-268" height="300" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/GAIA_NB_BabyMassageOil_125ml-HR-WHITE-125x300.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.2s ease; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" width="125" /></a></h2>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“According to the International Association of Infant Massage, </em><em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">there is both research and anecdotal evidence from families which shows that there are many ways that babies and parents may benefit from infant massage.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The relaxation benefits are well known – from assisting with sleep patterns, increased flexibility and muscle tone to calming and reduction of stress, but what may be lesser known is that massage may assist in the relief of gas and colic, constipation, growing pains, teething and muscular cramps.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Infant massage may also stimulate baby’s circulatory and digestive systems, hormonal and immune systems, coordination and balance, learning and concentration, muscular development and growth and even their mind and body awareness – so you may find it an important part of maintaining your baby’s total wellbeing.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In addition to the physical benefits for the baby, interaction between parent and child during massage may promote bonding and secure attachment, verbal/non-verbal communication, development of trust and confidence, and feelings of love and being valued – for both parties! This can be a particularly special time for dads that are away at work all day or an intimate “time-out” for first-time mums struggling to adjust to the huge demands of 24/7 parenting.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your midwife, maternal health nurse or medical professional can advise you on the best oil to use for your baby but I suggest that you definitely avoid using oils which are meant for adult use or adult massage – they are not suitable for babies. Choose an oil which is free from petrochemicals, mineral oil, and artificial fragrances or heavy scents. A natural edible plant-based oil, as recommended by the Infant Massage Association, is best.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some of our mums who prefer not to use an oil at all use GAIA Natural Baby Moisturiser as a massage lotion. The moisturising properties of shea butter, cocoa butter combined with nourishing organic oils make a lovely non-greasy alternative</em>.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Of course, if an irritation occurs, stop using any product immediately and consult your medical professional</em>.</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You don’t have to be an expert in baby massage. You and your baby can benefit simply by setting up the scene and using gentle touch, such as massaging moisturiser or massage oil into your baby’s arms, body and legs, then turn them over onto their tummy and massage your moisturiser or oil into their back. I recommend doing this after baby’s bath.</em></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another great time to offer infant massage is as part of baby’s bedtime routine. After a warm bath with a moisturising soap-free wash (ideally one with calming oils like lavender, chamomile or ylang ylang), pop on some soothing music and spend a few minutes gently massaging your oil or moisturiser into their skin while telling a bedtime story and slowly getting them dressed. This routine often helps them relax and prepare for a peaceful night’s sleep. </em></div>
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<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/max_baby_nobottles-1.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: 0.2s ease; border: 0px; color: #db648a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="max_baby_nobottles (1)" class="wp-image-270 aligncenter" height="415" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/max_baby_nobottles-1-300x200.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.2s ease; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 18px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: opacity 0.2s ease; vertical-align: baseline;" width="623" /></a></div>
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Michelle massaging Max – her third son and “face” of GAIA Natural Baby</h3>
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The GAIA Range can be found in most leading supermarkets, pharmacies, baby products stores, and health food shops.</div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-18551383713668112062014-07-26T14:11:00.003+10:002014-07-26T14:11:52.306+10:00Milk Kefir<h1 class="post-title entry-title" data-mce-style="color: #6a6a6a; text-align: center;" style="color: #6a6a6a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: center;">
<a data-mce-href="http://mathewsonsculturesforlife.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/milk-kefir-recipe.html" data-mce-style="color: #d39e7b;" href="http://mathewsonsculturesforlife.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/milk-kefir-recipe.html" style="color: #d39e7b;">Milk Kefir Recipe</a></h1>
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Ingredients</h2>
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4 cups of full cream milk of your choice, whatever is available to you,<br />Raw, Pasteurized, Homogenised - if that's all you have, Also Goats milk is another great option.<br />1 Tbs Milk Kefir Grains<br />A clean Jar (5 cups) with lid or cloth cover.</div>
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Method</h2>
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Put your Grains in the Jar.<br />Fill a clean glass jar with 4 cups of fresh milk.<br />Stir gently with plastic or wooden spoon 2 or 3 times during culturing to move the grains through the milk.</div>
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Depending on the temperature of the day the kefir will be ready in 12 to 24 hours in the summer.<br />Winter could take up to 48 hours.<br />When ready the kefir will smell sour and the kefir grains float to the top of the milk. The milk will have thickened. Thickness will depend on the milk used and the length of time you leave the kefir to culture. You can culture for a longer time till the milk separates into curds and whey and then strain. Very beneficial culturing to this stage. Do not throw out curdled kefir milk. This is what it does. Stir gently to mix it up with the separated liquid and then strain, using the grains for a new batch of kefir.</div>
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These grains will multiply and you will have spare to share with family and friends.</div>
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You can use a plastic strainer (hard to find) or a good SS strainer. Do not use any other kind of metal in contact with the kefir as it will harm the kefir.<br />Hygiene is important as you’re working with a living organism.<br />Keep kefir out of the sun.<br />Never squeeze the grains to get all the milk out. (this will harm the kefir grains) Always keep the grains in milk.</div>
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If you care for your grains, making sure they have food, they will keep growing and you can have them for a life time.<br />If you wish to take a break from kefir, simple put feed them and then place them in the fridge, for up to two weeks.<br />Also you can feed them and put the in the freezer for longer storage.</div>
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Enjoy your Milk kefir with all it's wonderful benefits, and the many delights that can be made with it.</div>
Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-27204779471142577612014-07-25T08:00:00.000+10:002014-08-01T21:14:25.971+10:00Super Charged Food - Book Give away. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<b>Open Until Midnight, Australian Time.</b></h3>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOiuVo9Gq2A/U8z23WEDuwI/AAAAAAAAA9g/TmkA4UDZLu0/s1600/9781742663159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VOiuVo9Gq2A/U8z23WEDuwI/AAAAAAAAA9g/TmkA4UDZLu0/s1600/9781742663159.jpg" height="320" width="297" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Supercharged-Food-Lee-Holmes/9781742663159/?a_aid_cmathewson" target="_blank">Here is the Link to buy this book now. </a></td></tr>
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I'm a book lover, but a slow reader. There are many books that I have really enjoyed reading and have helped me along my journey to health and well being.<br />
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Last week I found this book by Lee Holmes that fits so well into what we are doing with our health.<br />
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The recipes are gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and sugar- free. Which fits really well into the GAPS, Paleo, Primal Living and generally 'wanting to improve your health' way of thinking.<br />
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A little about the Writer and the Book, Lee Holmes.<br />
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In 2006 Lee Holmes was struggling with her life- tired, unwell, struggling to gain weight (45kg or 99lbs) and her health was going downhill.<br />
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Over the next 12 months, she went from doctor to doctor, test to test in an effort to find out what was going on with her body. <br />
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Eventually Lee was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease and fibromyalgia. From her prognosis onwards, life became filled with prescriptions for immunosuppressants, steroids, and anti-inflammatories which made her feel worse.<br />
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<b>She needed a Change!</b></div>
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Fed up with being unwell and on a mountain of drugs she decided to go on a journey of discovery with food. This book is filled with information she discovered on that journey, as she learned to use food as her medicine and heal herself.<br />
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In the book Lee shares her top 5 foods for the Kitchen Medicine-Chest. Her top 10 superstar foods and how to use them. Also she makes reference to Detoxing and Natural cleaners for your home, and so many other useful tips and great advice for how to get started, giving your pantry and shopping list a makeover; and I must say the photos are gorgeous!.<br />
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<b>Lee Holmes latest book is called "Heal Your Gut". </b><br />
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<a href="http://www.superchargedfood.com/shop/heal-your-gut-e-book/">Heal Your Gut</a> is an informative, uncomplicated and achievable gut healing protocol which will inspire, motivate and bring about true healing to the body. <br />
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The natural four week protocol is not scary and honors the body as a whole. The healing program is divided into four phases for you to follow one step at a time. <br />
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The book connects with the emotional, stress and brain related aspects of gut health. Recognising the activity of cortisol in the body, meeting the Vegus Nerve, and really learning to belly breathe through fears and worries is just one crucial part to healing from within. <br />
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There are chapters covering the gut and immune system connection and the two-way interdependent relationship between the gut and the brain. The book also covers lifestyle factors which contribute to gut health such as such as cleaning products and beauty products.<br />
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<b>So now it's giveaway time! </b></h2>
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I have <b>TWO</b> prizes to give away. </div>
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One copy of "Super Charged Food" by Lee Holmes, </h3>
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and a copy of Lee's Latest E-book "Heal Your Gut". </h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Supercharged-Food-Lee-Holmes/9781742663159/?a_aid_cmathewson">Buy Now</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VPQUou7UvU/U85KoqlDcgI/AAAAAAAAA_c/RVOB1cYF1iQ/s1600/Heal+Your+Gut+Official+Cover+low+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VPQUou7UvU/U85KoqlDcgI/AAAAAAAAA_c/RVOB1cYF1iQ/s1600/Heal+Your+Gut+Official+Cover+low+res.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a><br />
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How to Win!</h2>
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For your chance to win you can enter a few ways. Each way will give you a entry into the draw.</div>
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<b>1. Leave a comment on the blog telling me which book you would like to win. </b></div>
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<b>2. Like me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thejoyofthehome?fref=ts"><span id="goog_611654947"></span>Facebook,<span id="goog_611654948"></span></a> and leave a comment about which book you would like to win.</b></div>
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<b>3. Tag and share with a Friend. </b></div>
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<b>You will get an entry for every friend you tag in the facebook post.</b> </div>
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<i>Giveaway starts Friday 25th of July and Closes On the 1st of August, </i><br />
<i>with the winner's being Announced on the blog and on facebook on the 4th of August. </i><br />
<i>Oh and you can Answer with both books. </i></div>
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Lee Holmes is a Certified Holistic Health Coach (<a href="http://bit.ly/1g3BXYN">Institute of Integrative Nutrition</a>), Hatha Yoga Teacher and Whole Foods Chef. She is also the author of three best-selling books <a href="http://www.superchargedfood.com/shop/supercharged-food-recipe-book/">Supercharged Food</a>, <a href="http://www.superchargedfood.com/shop/eat-yourself-beautiful/">Eat Yourself Beautiful</a>, and <a href="http://www.superchargedfood.com/shop/supercharged-food-kids-recipe-book/">Supercharged Food for Kids</a> Lee’s website <a href="http://www.superchargedfood.com/">www.superchargedfood.com</a> encourages S.O.L.E food; sustainable, organic, local and ethical. It features delicious anti-inflammatory recipes, information, news, reviews and menu planning ideas to make it easy for people to enjoy a satisfying, wholesome and nourishing diet. She created a petition to <a href="http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/nsw-health-improve-the-food-in-nsw-hospitals">improve food in hospitals</a> in Australia and as a result a healthier menu has been introduced by the Minister for Health. In addition to passionately creating change at government and policy level, in 2013 Lee won the title of <a href="http://www.bupaaustraliablog.com.au/health-blog-awards-2013-finalists/">Health Influencer Blog of the Year</a>. Lee’s favourite anti-inflammatory recipe is Smashed Sardines and Avocado on Chia and </div>
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Flaxseed Loaf. If you would like to hear more from you Lee you can follow her <span style="text-align: center;">on</span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/superchargedfood?fref=ts" style="text-align: center;"> facebook</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span></div>
Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-90630179860581622172014-07-24T08:00:00.000+10:002014-07-24T08:00:02.614+10:00Blueberry Kefir Cake<h2>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">So here's my recipe for the Day.</span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Blueberry Kefir Cake</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Ingredients</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">125g Butter, or Coconut Oil</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">1 Cup Sweetener of your choice, sugar, honey, Stevia( you don't need a cup of stevia)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">3 eggs</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">2 Cups plain flour - you can use white or wholemeal, Spelt, we like the wholemeal Spelt version Better.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">3 Tsp. Baking powder</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">3/4 Cup of Kefir or yoghurt</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">1 cup of blueberries, fresh or frozen.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">1. Preheat oven to 180c. Grease a round spring form Cake tin. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">2. Using an electric mixer, or whisk, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">3. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating to combine.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">4. Add half the flour mix (flour and baking powder, and half the kefir, stir to combine.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">5. Add the remainder of flour mix and kefir and stir until combined. Be careful not to over work the batter, just until combined.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">6. Spread mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with blueberries. Press blueberries in slightly.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">7. bake for 50 mins,or until a skewer comes out clean. If the top of the cake seems to be getting too dark, cover with foil.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">8. Let cool and sprinkle with Icing Sugar.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Eat and Enjoy! The better the Ingredients the better more nutrients.</span>Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-75469922248280319972014-07-23T07:00:00.000+10:002014-07-23T07:00:02.444+10:00Pen Friends - Homeschool Activity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pen Friends </h2>
One of the challenges that I face sometimes when it comes to homeschooling is to make writing fun for my children. I see it as a need in our family that they are able to hand write well. To get good at something you need to practices.<br />
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In the early years of their education I use an <a href="https://www.abeka.com/" target="_blank">Abeka</a> workbook to help me with teaching them the skill of writing and forming letter and words. Which for us has proven to be useful in our household, and has helped several of my children learn to read. However once they are reading well they do get bored of it. So I have come up with a number of ways my to help my children learn a love for writing. (that is still a work in progress with some of them)<br />
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<b>One of the ways we practise our handwriting skills is with Pen Friends. </b><br />
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I am also trying to teach my children to<b> BE</b> the type of friend that they would like to <b>HAVE</b>. All my children <b>love to get letters </b>in the mail. So we are learning that if you would <b>like to get</b> letters in the mail, then you also need to be someone that<b> writes letters</b> to other people.<br />
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<b>So this is where pen friends come in handy. </b><br />
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This year I have made a <b>concerted </b>effort to help them grow and develop qualities of a good pen friend.<br />
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<b>The first quality would be "someone that writes back".</b><br />
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It can be very discouraging when your children spend the time and effort writing to people that don't write back. So to help avoid some of that, I have gotten several pen friends for my children. They have a least three friends there age, and a few relatives that they can write to. <b>Relatives are good, </b>because they will often pop a card, postcard, or letter in the mail in return.<br />
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I have also <b>scheduled </b>a time in my homeschool week for letter writing. For Us Monday is the day! It's the beginning of the week and we get the most done on that day. I also know myself, while I<b> LOVE</b> to fly by the seat of my pants, if I don't make time for things to happen in our crazy, lovely home, sometime they don't get done. Or months have gone by and we suddenly remember that we haven't done, or have missed out on..... So for me I <b>HAVE</b> schedule and make time for things that we <b>REALLY</b> want to do in our lives.<br />
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It is the beginning of term 3 for us, so Monday was the day we sat down and made cards for our pen friends. The children had great fun. This time we made and sent one off to every pen friend on there list, because I did get a little slack in my schedule in the last month of last term. So just to bring us all update on everyones pen friends there are lots of letters going out from our house this week.<br />
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Having Pen Friends doesn't have to be something that is hard and tiresome, you don't always have to write a big long letter. Often we will be out shopping and find that we card or a postcard that they can easily fill in a send.<br />
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For us Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents are really good value when it comes to getting letters back.<br />
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<b>Leave me a Comment</b><br />
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Let me know your pen friend experiences? Or things that you do to help encourage your children to develop there handwriting skills.<br />
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<br />Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-60872424773656827232014-07-22T06:30:00.000+10:002014-07-22T09:26:04.121+10:00Mother & Baby Feature<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August Edition 2014</td></tr>
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Last Month I was in contact with <a href="http://www.motherandbaby.com.au/" target="_blank">Mother & Baby</a> magazine, about doing an article and telling my story of surviving Placenta Previa & Percreta, for a number of reasons.<br />
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1. To Share awareness of the condition,</b><br />
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3. Encouraging women to think twice about an unnecessary c-section, and </b><br />
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Today My story can out in print! </h3>
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So the story is a very shortened version of my story, as of course there is a word count limit, but hopefully it will create some good exposure for the condition and the<a href="http://www.hopeforaccreta.org/" target="_blank"> Hope for Accreta Foundation.</a><br />
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Since Surviving, I have in many ways made it my mission to help other women avoid it, and support those that have it. <br />
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Being pregnant is meant to be one the of most joyous times of a women's life, but with a pregnancy condition, it can be one of the most stress times in her life. For me that was the case. I love having children, and would do it all again for my blessings. However there is something to be said about living with fear and worry, "Will my baby survive?", "Will I survive?", "Will this be the day that is all falls apart?". All are thoughts that are very real, it isn't a pretend fear that you can just shrug off.<br />
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While all those fears subside when you hold your precious baby, for some that moment never comes. Even when it does come, the stress, anxiety, and worry can effect the rest of your life for some time. Many women with the condition will go on to suffer PND, or PTSD. Both of which can effect the joy and the way in which you interact with you baby, and with your old life.<br />
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I am very thankful for the support of many people, and good friends that helped us get through. With out good friends to be listening ears, a shoulder to cry on, and ready and willing to give a helping hand, I'm not sure how we would have made it through.<br />
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I am however very glad we did, and we can now work towards helping make a difference for others.<br />
Don't forget to get your copy of Mother & Baby and check out the article.<br />
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<br />Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-69486430794546533272014-07-21T06:30:00.000+10:002014-07-21T06:30:01.195+10:0021st of July - Weekly Round Up. <h2 style="text-align: center;">
Welcome to this weeks round up. </h2>
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Here is a recap of the most popular posts from the week gone by. </h3>
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Sitting in number 1 spot of the most popular posts this week is.....</h3>
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1.<b> My Full Story of Surviving Percreta</b>.</div>
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This of course was a very challenging time in the life of my family, and writing about has been a great blessing for me in sharing my story with many. </div>
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You can read that story<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/my-full-story-of-surviving-percreta.html" target="_blank"> here. </a></div>
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2. In second place this weeks is, </div>
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<b>Planning your Homeschool - Setting Goals. </b></div>
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Having been a homeschooler for the last 5 years, I have learnt for<b> me</b>, spending time planning has been helpful in getting a hold of </div>
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what we are doing for the year. </div>
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You can read that post <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/setting-your-goals-homeschool-planning.html">here.</a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHky3XZCl24/U8d9GmurLbI/AAAAAAAAA5o/vqNNjhvB54w/s1600/10491115_10152981889409554_1035822688322293647_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHky3XZCl24/U8d9GmurLbI/AAAAAAAAA5o/vqNNjhvB54w/s1600/10491115_10152981889409554_1035822688322293647_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>3. Sitting in third this weeks is my post on, </div>
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<b>Being Silly With Your Children.</b></div>
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I personally often need a reminder to take time out from my busy day to be silly and just have plain fun with my children, as I get caught up in what needs or should be done. </div>
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Have a read of that one <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/be-silly-with-your-children.html">here. </a></div>
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4. Fourth this weeks is </div>
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<b>Beef and Bean Casserole</b>. </div>
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Who doesn't like to have a hearty warm Casserole in the middle of winter. </div>
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Recipe <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/beef-beans-casserole.html">Here. </a></div>
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5. The final place this week goes to ......</div>
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<b>Sour Dough Crepes with Caramelised Pineapple. </b> </div>
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A Tasty Treat for the Sunday Morning Breakfast, a quick dessert, or just another way to use up your extra sour dough starter. </div>
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You can find that recipe<a href="http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/sour-dough-crepes-with-caramel-pineapple.html"> Here. </a></div>
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I hope you have enjoyed there Highlights. </div>
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Why not <b>leave me a Comment </b>and let me know what your favour read was. </div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-85551936896567650252014-07-18T06:30:00.000+10:002014-07-18T20:59:40.907+10:00Guest Post - Kerry Jensen<br />
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Staying positive in the face of the negative</h2>
<i>This is a guest post by Kerry Jensen who over the last several years had to face many challenges. I asked her, "How have you kept a positive attitude with all the chaos that is going on. Here is her story. </i><br />
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I guess you could say, that life for me over the last 3 years has not been an easy road to travel. In 2012 my husband and I were expecting our third baby, our third precious Son.<br />
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At 20 weeks gestation, they discovered my <b>blood pressure was sky high</b>, and then began a road of medications, weekly checkups and scans. We went for an ultrasound scan one day, only to be sent straight to our doctor at the hospital, he shut the door and sat us both down.</div>
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He looked at me and said <b>"your baby is in danger"</b>. </h4>
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My blood pressure was still sky high, I had pre-eclampsia, and to add to it, there wasn't enough fluid surrounding our baby. We were admitted to hospital that afternoon, and sent down to Hobart- <b>4 hours away from home</b>, to a bigger hospital that could handle premature born babies. At <b>28 weeks,</b> after a terrifying rush into theatre for an emergency c-section, and a<b> very</b> quick goodbye to my terrified husband, I had my third Son. </div>
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He weighed a very tiny 617 grams. </h3>
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His skin was transparent. He looked like a skinned rabbit, and we could hold Him in one hand. He was surrounded by tubes, cords and monitors, and spent the first 4 months of His life in the hospital.</div>
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After getting out of the hospital our lives were filled with the care of our three boys, and constant trips to the doctors and hospital to make sure Ethan was ok. Then in 2013, I spent <b>five long weeks in hospital, on oxygen support. </b><br />
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The doctors assumed I had pneumonia, but after the 11th try of antibiotics weren't improving my lungs, they suspected an auto immune disease. After a muscle biopsy, and daily test's, it was confirmed, my <b>immune system was trying to shut down my lungs, and muscles.</b><br />
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<br />I've learnt to walk again, been through almost a year of physio, chemo and intense steroids. </h3>
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<h3>
<br />Well, how do I look at the positives in all of this? </h3>
<br />
They say, whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. I've walked a lot of this journey, <b>kicking and screaming</b> for the ride to stop. I've <b>begged </b>for answers, and<b> prayed</b> until I had nothing left.<br />
<br />
I wanted to run away, but couldn't. I was broken.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>So where did I put my trust? </b><br />
<br />
In the only<b> one </b>who was big enough to deal with these health issues, and strong enough to hold my pain.<b> God</b>. I found it easier to dump it all at His feet, I met Him face to face. He accepted me as I was, a broken wreck, needing a miracle. <b>Life didn't get easier, but my faith became stronger!</b><br />
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<h4>
I learnt to see the small positives in every day,</h4>
<br />
I became thankful instead of fearful. I stopped seeing myself as a broken wreck, and saw what God saw... the potential, and the worth. I started eating well- healthy foods made a huge difference. I stopped needing to have everything under control, organised and clean.<br />
<br />
We stopped with the sterile environment and swapped it with FUN. I became creative, and the<b> joy </b>came back. Life is only what we make of it.<br />
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<h3>
Choose to see the positives!.</h3>
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<i>If you have enjoyed reading Kerry's Guest Post, the leave her a comment, and you might like to follow her continuing journey to healing on Facebook.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/644077465677166/?fref=ts" target="_blank"> Here</a></i></div>
Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-77096687755982669142014-07-17T06:30:00.000+10:002014-07-17T06:30:00.983+10:00Sour Dough Crepes - With Caramel Pineapple <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
Sour Dough Crepes - with Caramel Pineapple.</h2>
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<h3>
Ingredients</h3>
<div>
2 cups of Sour Dough Starter,</div>
<div>
2 eggs, </div>
<div>
2 TB honey, (or sweetener of your choice)</div>
<div>
1 TB Cinnamon</div>
<div>
coconut oil, butter, ghee.</div>
<div>
Extra honey to taste.</div>
<div>
1 Pineapple, fresh or canned (if you can't get fresh)</div>
<div>
Homemade Yoghurt or Coconut Cream. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Method</h3>
<div>
1. Combine all ingredients, in a pouring jug. </div>
<div>
2. Heat a pan, and add your oil or butter. </div>
<div>
3. Once warm, start adding the batter, creating the desired crepe size. </div>
<div>
4. Once bubbles start to appear in the batter, you now your crepe is ready to flip. </div>
<div>
5. Cook for a few minutes on the other side, and then serve. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Carmel Pineapple</h3>
<div>
1. Cut one whole Pineapple into pieces, </div>
<div>
2. Cook Pineapple in a pan with coconut oil or butter, and honey to taste.</div>
<div>
3. Keep stirring as it cooks and heats through.</div>
<div>
4. Once you see the pineapple starting to soften, it's ready to serve.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
Serve </h3>
<div>
Serve crepes with pineapple and homemade yoghurt or coconut cream.</div>
<div>
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<i>- Christina</i></div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-51398513357718528862014-07-16T06:30:00.000+10:002014-07-16T06:30:00.238+10:00Setting your Goals - Homeschool planning<h4 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Over the next few months I'm going to sharing with you my tips for planning your homeschool, giving you an idea of how I go about making plans for my family each year. So today is....</span></h4>
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<h2>
Step One: Creating your Goals</h2>
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<h3>
<ul>
<li>What are your goals for homeschooling? </li>
</ul>
</h3>
Knowing what you stand for, and what you hope to achieve will help you know where you are going, what tools will fit YOUR homeschool, and will help you stay on track when the winds of change come your way, which they inevitably will. For example, you might go to a homeschool group, join a online group or two, read some blogs and websites, all of which will be filled with great ideas. There are so many resources and ideas out there in the world that you could use, but not all of them will fit YOUR homeschool. So defining your goals, how you want to teach, how your children learn best, what will fit into your schooling day, what your schooling day will look like, etc. are all decisions which will help you refine what will work for you, and what won't. A lovely idea isn't any good to you if it won't work in helping your family and will quickly become more of a burden to you than a help.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
1. Why are you choosing homeschooling or home education?</h3>
<br />
People make the choice or decision for many many reasons. What was your reason?<br />
<br />
* It's no good if you choose to home ed because you want your family to spend time together, but then you construct your homeschool in such a way that you are always on the run from one activity to the next and the only time you spend together is in the car or around the table at night, exhausted. <br />
<br />
<h3>
2. What lifestyle do you want to create for your family?</h3>
<br />
If you want a structured lifestyle, then a structured curriculum might be the way to go for you, however If you wanted a more relaxed lifestyle so you could be a bit more free to be able to take advantage of the different things that are going on in your local area. < >Or you might like to be a mix of both.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3. What skills do you value and wish for your children to learn?</h3>
<br />
Is it Cooking, Gardening, Building, Craft, Sewing, Caring for Livestock, Horse Riding, Etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
4. What are your educational goals with your children?</h3>
<br />
For me, I aim to create independent learners and thinkers, and not just rote learners, so I am working towards teaching them how to learn something they don't currently know, and interactive thinking about what they are learning. I am also trying to build discerning learners, as not everything that is presented as truth actually is.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5. Do you have a particular passion or topic area that you want to share with your children?</h3>
For example, you might have a cultural background that you want your children to learn about, or special interests that you feel are important for your children to learn, like growing food to feed themselves?<br />
<br />
<h3>
6. What are you family goals for the year?</h3>
<br />
Do you have some particular things that you as a family are working towards for the year?<br />
- it could be living with less.<br />
- Giving more to charity.<br />
- A family trip.<br />
- Growing enough food to feed yourself.<br />
- Start a business.<br />
<br />
The list is endless.<br />
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<h3>
7. What goals do you have for your children in each subject area?</h3>
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<ul>
<li>Reading - e.g. reading independently</li>
<li>Writing - e.g. effective letter writing</li>
<li>Math - e.g. learning multiplication</li>
<li>History - e.g. Learning some local history</li>
<li>Science - e.g. Doing experiments </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Art - e.g working on learning painting skills</li>
<li>Music - e.g. Music appreciation </li>
<li>Handicrafts - e.g. Wool Crafts</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>Spiritual - e.g. learning bible verses</li>
<li>Emotional - e.g. learning to express feelings well. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li>physical - e.g. good body health</li>
<li>Social - e.g. learning to introduce yourself to others</li>
<li>Financial -e.g handling pocket money</li>
<li>Home skills - e.g. learning skills in cleaning. </li>
<li>Business skills - e.g. learning to type on the computer. </li>
</ul>
<div>
You might have very different goals for each of your children, some might be same.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
So what are your goals?</h3>
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Did you find this useful? Leave a comment to let me know what you thought. ~ Christina</div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-34766332904667108932014-07-15T14:04:00.000+10:002014-07-15T14:04:37.126+10:00Be Silly With Your Children!<h2>
Are silly with your children?</h2>
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As Mothers we often spend a lot of time thinking about the day to day things.<br />
<br />
* Making sure everyone is dressed<br />
* Are they warm?<br />
* Are they feed<br />
* Is the food is healthy?<br />
* Is the house is some what tidy?<br />
* Have done the school work ?<br />
<br />
Getting the bills paid, running the errors, and all the other serious stuff that we have to think about in our busy lives.<br />
<br />
With all this busy-ness we can often forget to be silly with our children. Spending time just playing and letting go of the stress is both good for them and good for us.<br />
<br />
When we smile and be at least a little silly our brains release endorphins which make us feel good, and in return it does wonders for our stress levels, and the general health of our bodies. <br />
<br />
<h3>
So in saying that, what do you do to be silly with your children?</h3>
<h2>
<br />Here are our top 5 silly things that we do with our children. </h2>
<br />
<h3>
1. Turning the music on loud and Dancing it out. </h3>
What ever type of music you like, whether is be worship, rock, pop, the sound track from Frozen. Turn it on and just sing and dance it all out. This is also a great way to get exercise, and you don't feel like you are because you are just having fun together.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2. Family Opera! </h3>
When things get stressed, and trouble is brewing, you can turn that around by singing. If you come to our house you might be lucky or unlucky to find us singing the mundane tasks we are doing. <b>"I'm doing the dishes, wash off that food..." </b>at the top of our lungs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
3. Making silly faces. </h3>
Children love pulling silly faces, and it's a great way to try and make each other laugh. Use your iphone, ipad, computer, and play with how silly you can make the photos look. But you don't need technology to have a <b>"Silly Face Competition".</b><br />
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<h3>
4. A tickle fight. </h3>
There are very few a live that don't like even a little tickle, and the sound of your children laughing is one the best medicines for the stress of the day.<br />
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<h3>
5. Reading a Book!</h3>
The book can be silly or not, but just by doing the voices you will be bringing the story alive for your children and creating a fun experience for you all.<br />
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SO the next time you are feeling that tension is high, everyone is fighting, then do something silly with your children to help you all feel good.<br />
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<h4>
Please leave me a comment. I would love to know what silly things you do with your children. </h4>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-66343775803278293432014-07-11T11:44:00.002+10:002014-07-11T11:44:32.561+10:00Beef & Beans Casserole<h2 class="post-body entry-content" data-mce-style="color: #000000;" id="post-body-8946330837990480135" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.285714286rem; line-height: 1.6; margin: 1.714285714rem 0px;">
<span data-mce-style="color: #ff6600;" style="color: #ff6600;">In Winter here in Australia, So time for some tasty hearty warm Meals! </span><a data-mce-href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPsNDvFAQI/AAAAAAAAAB4/mY6ZIX11yQU/s1600/0710+002.JPG" data-mce-style="color: #000000;" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPsNDvFAQI/AAAAAAAAAB4/mY6ZIX11yQU/s1600/0710+002.JPG" style="color: black; outline: none;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></a></h2>
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<a data-mce-href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPry66WaOI/AAAAAAAAABo/PhycyjPcmZM/s1600/july10+024.JPG" data-mce-style="color: #000000;" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPry66WaOI/AAAAAAAAABo/PhycyjPcmZM/s1600/july10+024.JPG" style="color: black; outline: none;"><img alt="" border="0" data-mce-src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPsNDvFAQI/AAAAAAAAAB4/mY6ZIX11yQU/s200/0710+002.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490992079779987714" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPsNDvFAQI/AAAAAAAAAB4/mY6ZIX11yQU/s200/0710+002.JPG" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; max-width: 100%;" /><img alt="" border="0" data-mce-src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPry66WaOI/AAAAAAAAABo/PhycyjPcmZM/s200/july10+024.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490991630734747874" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPry66WaOI/AAAAAAAAABo/PhycyjPcmZM/s200/july10+024.JPG" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; max-width: 100%;" /><img alt="" border="0" data-mce-src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPsMlEqiUI/AAAAAAAAABw/a16F7RIMaJ4/s200/july10+027.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490992071549028674" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IOusrvj-t3o/TDPsMlEqiUI/AAAAAAAAABw/a16F7RIMaJ4/s200/july10+027.JPG" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; max-width: 100%;" /></a></div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Beef and Beans Casserole</span></div>
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<strong>Ingredients</strong></div>
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3 Cans of Tomatoes, or 15 frozen Tomatoes</div>
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5 tb Worcestershire sauce; we use organic one</div>
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1 piece of beef casserole steak, diced</div>
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1 Can or equivalent Kidney Beans, (or any other beans)</div>
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3 Cloves of Garlic, crushed or diced</div>
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1 Onion diced.</div>
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Mixed Herbs</div>
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Salt and Pepper</div>
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Mixed Veggies, I use Carrots, green beans, peas, Swede.</div>
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You could add whatever you have on hand.</div>
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Method</h4>
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1. If using Frozen Tomatoes, put them into the slow cooker to defrost, after they are melted down a little you can pull the skins off.</div>
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2. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker, and add enough water to cover the ingredients. Let cook for 5 or more hours. Add salt and pepper to taste, before serving.</div>
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You can serve as is, Add a dollop of Home made Sour Cream, serve with Mashed potatoes, Rice, Pasta. We enjoy it with mashed Cauliflower.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="font-weight: bold;" style="font-weight: bold;">Enjoy your winter meals!</span></div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-21415123222606628132014-07-10T07:30:00.000+10:002014-07-10T08:26:21.897+10:00Zest for Life<h1 style="clear: both; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; line-height: 1.5; margin: 1.714285714rem 0px;">
<span data-mce-style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" style="color: red;">Children have an AMAZING Zest for Life.</span></h1>
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I have always found it amazing the Zest for life that children have. Having seven that are all at slightly different stages of growth and development, there is always something going on in our house.<br />
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> Most days I hear at least one child say,"watch me!", "See what I can do now!". They are excited about learning, excited by pushing there bodies to find out what they can do with them. Exploring the environment around them, seeing what they can make with the things they find. <strong>There is joy that exudes them.</strong> </span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"></span>So what happens then when we become adults?</h3>
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<br data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;" /><a data-mce-href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2991.jpg" href="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2991.jpg" style="color: #21759b; outline: none;"><img alt="IMG_2991" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-78" data-mce-src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2991-300x224.jpg" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_2991-300x224.jpg" height="224" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="300" /></a></h3>
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For many of us the thought of running a marathon sounds like a lot of work. Doing the dishes is work, hanging out washing is work. However for children, they think it is<strong> fun!</strong> They love playing Mummy and Daddy, pretending to do the things that we see as work. <strong>We</strong> get busying the act of living that we forget to enjoy life. We only get one shot at this so we should allow ourselves to time to breath deeply the aroma's of life, and cherish the moments we have. </div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">As a home educating Mum, I want to try my best to keep this natural love of learning alive. Help my children continue in that passion of discovery of how things work, why things are so, how far their bodies can go, how fast they can run....etc the list is endless, and hopefully in the process, I will also get somewhat <strong>back to that place of simple joy, and exploration.</strong></span></div>
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There are many lessons that we can learn from Children and that is part of the JOY in being around them. </h2>
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What is your favourite lesson that you have learnt from your children? Leave me a comment. </div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-91743508559314533232014-07-09T21:23:00.002+10:002014-07-09T21:46:10.960+10:00Family Meal Table<div class="entry-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714;">
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The Family Dinner Table is Important.</h1>
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We have always wanted to create and have a close knit family. One of the many ways to help create that in our fast pace lives is to treasure the family dinner table.</div>
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It is a time not only for the family eat, but for a family to commune together. Occasionally and not as much as I would like to us too, we make an <b>event</b> of it. It is great to see how much the children love it.<br />
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Dressing Up the Table</h3>
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We dress up the table, light candles, sing, pray and have conversations. We have done many things over the years. I have made my own<strong> conversation box</strong>, and <strong>pray box</strong>.</div>
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In the conversation box are cards all of which contain a question to help start off a conversation, and in the pray box are cards with the names and sometimes photos of people that we would like to pray for regularly. The children will take in turns on different nights drawing out from each of the boxes.</div>
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Get Everyone Talking and Connecting</h3>
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Other nights we play the game, t<strong>ell us something you love about the person sitting next to you, or across from you</strong>. We do this one on days when the children have been particularly argumentative with each other, and need to be reminded that they do actually really love each other, and are loved by the other member of there families.</div>
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It is amazing how much the children enjoy this time as a family.</h2>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714;">What things do you and your family do at the dinner table? Leave me a comment. </span></div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-30043596667107479512014-07-09T08:41:00.004+10:002014-07-09T08:42:07.938+10:00<h1 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #c42632; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 1.714285714rem 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
Grow your own!</h1>
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<img alt="start-with-water" class="size-medium wp-image-12 alignright" src="http://thejoyofthehome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/start-with-water-300x225.jpg" height="225" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; float: right; height: auto; margin: 0.857142857rem 0px 0.857142857rem 1.714285714rem; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="300" /></div>
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As the years have gone by, we became increasingly aware of how additives and pesticides have an impact on our bodies, and have an increasing desire be in more control over what we put into the bodies or our children and ourselves.</div>
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So how do we prevent this? Well the answer is to buy certified organic, (unless you know the grower and then just organic is fine) and making as much of your own food as possible that includes baked goods, bread, canned foods etc.</div>
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For many on a low income or those with many mouths to feed, buying everything organic is not always an option. So being the warrior that I am, I started to think about ways that we can do the best we can with what we have and said,</div>
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“right we can’t buy it, but I have dirt, I have hands, and the ability to learn!”, “I can grow my own!”</h2>
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So that’s our <strong>goal!</strong></div>
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Last year was the first time we had a <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span> veggie garden. We had dabbled a few times in the past, but this year we where making a real effort to see what we can do. Like any new and old gardener we had some successes and some failures. We had great Tomatoes, I rarely brought tomatoes from the store last year, and the ones I did, where not great, so gave up on that idea. Which was better for our health anyway. Carrots on the other hand where over taken with weeds and we ended up loosing most of them. One of the things I love about gardening is that everything is a learning experience,</div>
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“If something doesn’t go well this year, it’s a lesson for next year.”</h2>
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The other things that is really great is the ability to put food in front of my family to eat and know that I am giving them the best that I can. It makes me want to honour the work and effort that was put into growing that food, so when it comes to the kitchen I don’t want to waste it. Everything get used or it goes into the compost to make more soil and nutritional compost for the garden, ready for next year.</div>
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So my goal is a long range goal.</div>
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I’m not silly enough to think that I can do it all in the first year.</h3>
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I aim to grow as much of our family food supply as we can, and each year adding more and more. SO in saying that, we live in a suburban rental property, we are lucky enough to have a veggie garden, and fruit trees now. However when we first started this journey our land lord was letting us have a veggie patch which is about all up 8×8 metres maybe more here and there. But that garden bed was not the only thing we are using to grow food. I tried to use up every available space. We grew Zucchini plants in the flower beds, worked well and you don’t have to have many plants to get a good crop. This years goal for us to work on using the available space effectively.</div>
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If you are a renter and you think <strong>“Oh I would like to grow my own but I don’t know how long we will be at this house”</strong>, and don’t want to invest in making a garden only to leave it behind. You are not along. I started my gardening journey with container gardening, and to this day I still find some of my crops grow better in containers like Lettuce.</div>
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For many years I have grown several different variety’s of lettuce in containers on my balcony. Cut and come again lettuces variety’s and spinach work great. When you look at the money you can save by just growing your families need for leafy greens, it is well worth you time to at least think about.</div>
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We have also started many of dwarf fruit trees in containers, and have several crops from them before having the opportunity to plant them in the ground.</div>
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Now I realise that we will never be able to have everything, we can’t grow our own meat, (yet! I have my think cap on about that one) but we can’t grow wheat, or enough to feed us anyway, currently we don’t have a goat to milk, BUT we have chickens for eggs. But what I am finding is that the more of our fruit and vegy that we can grow, save us money that we can then spend of good quality foods, grass fed meat, and other staples in our diet. <strong>It’s one step at a time.</strong></div>
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Go Organic!</h3>
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~ Christina Mathewson</div>
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Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-18582308632247731582014-07-05T08:44:00.001+10:002014-07-05T09:13:18.074+10:00The Willis Clan Family on TODAY Show - full videoMy Husband and I have always said that we would like to have a family band. I look forward to the day. But now I'm enjoying seeing the Will's Clan :) I hope you enjoy it too.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gj14JraxIts" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-67955892438471764122014-07-03T20:49:00.001+10:002014-07-03T22:30:15.015+10:00Fat Head<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/evcNPfZlrZs" width="480"></iframe>Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-7723006347343468542014-07-03T20:43:00.001+10:002014-07-03T20:44:53.656+10:00Science For Smart People<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/y1RXvBveht0" width="480"></iframe><br />
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Over time I have watched this video a number of times, and find it very enjoyable and informative. I hope you enjoy it as well.<br />
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ChristinaMrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-26137969488881066942014-06-22T18:40:00.000+10:002014-06-22T18:40:03.019+10:00Pocket money. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last fortnight I posted our new point system at home to help with rewards and behavioural management. We are also using it as a way to help the children to learn to manage there money. So each point equals 5 cents. <br />
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To help our children develop good money habits, we are starting with the idea of using 10% for Charity, 10% for savings, and then they can choose what to use the remainder for with in reason.<br />
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With the remainder I hope to encourage them to start setting up there businesses, but for now we are focusing on the saving and giving elements.<br />
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So this was our first week of them giving from their own money. They had $5.40 to give. I asked my facebook friends for some advice on charities that they could give the money too.<br />
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Here is the working list of charities and ideas that they can give too.<br />
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Of course the first meaningful one on our list is the<br />
<a href="http://www.hopeforaccreta.org/" target="_blank">Hope for Accreta Foundation</a>. Others on the list are;<br />
<a href="http://operationchristmaschild.org.au/" target="_blank">Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.redcross.org.au/donate.aspx" target="_blank">Australian Red Cross</a><br />
<a href="http://www.babymum.org.au/" target="_blank">Baby Mum Australia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tear.org.au/give/" target="_blank">Tear Australia</a> and "useful gifts"<br />
<a href="http://www.heartfelt.org.au/donate" target="_blank">Heartfelt</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sidsandkidsshop.org/donation" target="_blank">SIDS</a><br />
<a href="http://www.starlight.org.au/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Starlight</a><br />
<a href="http://www.rmhc.org.au/houses/201/contact" target="_blank">Ronald McDonald House</a><br />
<a href="http://www.sim.org.au/gift-catalogue" target="_blank">SIM - Serving in Mission </a><br />
<a href="http://www.guardiancareliberia.org/" target="_blank">Guardian Care</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cff.org/" target="_blank">Cycstic Fibrosis</a><br />
<a href="http://www.gospelforasia.org.au/" target="_blank">Gospel for Asia </a><br />
<a href="http://www.chilout.org/" target="_blank">Chilout</a><br />
<a href="https://www.oxfam.org.au/donate/" target="_blank">Oxfam</a><br />
<a href="http://kiva.org/">Kiva.org</a><br />
<a href="http://indianorphanage.com/" target="_blank">The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission</a><br />
<a href="http://www.compassion.com.au/" target="_blank">Compassion Australia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.epinet.org.au/" target="_blank">Epilepsy Australia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.heartkids.org.au/" target="_blank">Heart Kids</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cancer.org.au/" target="_blank">Cancer council</a><br />
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So that is a good start. They give there money this fortnight to buy a chicken via Tear Australia "Useful gifts", and look forward to researching and learning more about the other organisations and what things they do to help the communities they are working for. Maybe one day they will start their own, or run some fundraising events for charities that they find are close to their hearts.<br />
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Do you have your children give to charity? What works for you? And who do you give to?Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3439277158183630376.post-57588478065309702222014-06-22T14:00:00.000+10:002014-07-24T22:06:43.711+10:00Marcella's First Birthday<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1oRJ-hPVlg/U6ZDq8AC_gI/AAAAAAAAAv8/LVoBpIrIyJ0/s1600/10419945_10152419639936072_1023607219896587832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--1oRJ-hPVlg/U6ZDq8AC_gI/AAAAAAAAAv8/LVoBpIrIyJ0/s1600/10419945_10152419639936072_1023607219896587832_n.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a>Well the milestone of the first birthday has been reached. If you haven't read the story of Marcella's Birth you can <a href="http://thejoyofthehome.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/my-full-story-of-surviving-percreta.html" target="_blank">here.</a> Wow, what an emotional day. Due to an incident the night before, where I was left feeling unsupported, not by friends by an organisation. I was already very emotional, and puffy from crying. So it was a challenge for me for the day to pull myself together so that I could be in the present, and enjoy and celebrate being on the other side.<br />
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I had great plans for the day, we first went to a <a href="http://www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au/" target="_blank">Life's Little Treasures</a> playgroup, which happened to fall on the day, and chat with other prem mum's. Which we did and it was great and really helped to settle my emotions.<br />
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Marcella and the other children all had a great time.<br />
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So dressed in her <a href="http://www.hopeforaccreta.org/" target="_blank">Hope for Accreta</a> shirt, we then went on to deliver our thank you cards that I had made up for the occasion. So we first posted and hand delivered some of our cards to friends that helped up get through this traumatic event.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rFssQ7-qaxg/U6ZEPlior3I/AAAAAAAAAwE/3ujqG-bISq4/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rFssQ7-qaxg/U6ZEPlior3I/AAAAAAAAAwE/3ujqG-bISq4/s1600/photo.JPG" height="238" width="320" /></a><br />
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We then went on to the hospital to deliver our cards to the Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Chaplains, NICU Doctors and Nurses, and everyone involved in helping to keep me here, or making the journey that much easier.<br />
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There were a few tears, especially when I saw one of the NICU Nurses that help with Marcella's care. She would sit with me for hours to try and help me get milk, and deliver the bond between me and my baby. SO it was a very special day. I also want to thank all of you out there that have supported us with Pray, Encouragements, Practical help and Support. Thank you for helping make the journey a little easier.<br />
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Here is a few photo's from the day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving Cake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying some Story time at LLT</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye Intensive Care</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying thank you to the Chaplains </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Last time I will be in the NICU</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gift for the NICU, hopefully will bless some Mum's to come. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saying Goodbye to the Hospital</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a difference a year can make.</td></tr>
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We are all really thankful that we have made it this far. Thank you all.Mrs. Mathewsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09287379158416640808noreply@blogger.com5