CategoriesFood by

Breakfast Recipe: Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

Get ready to enjoy a sweet start to your day with this easy, yummy French toast recipe. Nothing beats the satisfaction of a delicious filling breakfast (especially) on a busy morning. Well, with some warm French toast, you’re sure covered!
Interestingly, there are quite some variations to French toast. What began as a way of making stale bread edible centuries ago in Europe has today evolved into a universally enjoyed cuisine with many variants. Old bread referred to as “Pain perdu” or “Lost bread” back in the 15th Century was soaked in a mixture of egg and milk before pan frying. Rather than throw the bread away, this was one nice way to make it appetisingly consumable.
French Toast Recipe

That was the original French toast. Today, the possibilities with this dish are endless; it can be eaten with just about anything. I bring you one of the several interesting variations – Strawberry stuffed French toast.
Stuffing can be done with fruits like banana, avocado, apple, peach or/and any berry of choice. Looking for a healthier punch? Try veggies like lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes. Need some protein? Throw in some strips of bacon or sausages. Toppings? You choose!
Preferably, don’t use already sliced bread for your French toast. It comes out best if you cut thick slices from a loaf of bread that’s several days old. Fresh loaf will either get crushed or fall apart while slicing but a degree of staleness will make the slices hold up better for easy dipping into the egg-milk mixture. A pinch of cinnamon and some dash of vanilla extract bring a distinct richness of flavour to French toast anytime, any day; be sure to add some. Let’s see what more you’ll need.
Ingredients:

Six thick slices Bread (Whole Wheat or White)
Two large Eggs
Six fresh strawberries, thinly sliced and mashed
3 Tablespoons Three Crowns Milk Powder
2 Slices low fat cheese (optional for spread)
½ Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup (optional for topping)
1-2 Tablespoons Butter (for frying)

 
Directions
When slicing your bread, ensure to keep the slices at least 1½ inches thick. Each slice of bread is then sliced halfway in the centre to create a pocket for the fillings. Next, mash the cheese and spread onto bread. Fill up with mashed strawberry slices and set aside.
Dissolve milk in a cup of water and whisk together with well-beaten eggs, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour mixture into a shallow container where you can easily dip in your bread slices.
Dip bread in egg mixture; allow soaking before bringing out. Shake off any excess.
In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Place slices in skillet and fry until golden brown. Flip to cook the other side. Remove from skillet into the plate. Spread some syrup on them and serve warm.
 
 
 

CategoriesLifestyle by

House Chores For Your Active Toddler

Do you know that as early two-years-old, your little toddler can become quite handy around the house? Yes, she can! But we often overlook the capability of these young ones and sternly refuse them engaging in some chores. I was guilty of this.
My daughter was ever so eager to help. She was excited getting her hands on little tasks around the house, but like many mothers out there, I resisted. Then one day I finally allowed her to join me in cleaning up my room. That day, I realised that helping out not only kept her busy but gave her a feeling of relevance too. She sure felt good with her accomplishment when we were done and was handsomely rewarded.
The earlier your kids start at house chores, the easier it gets for her when she’s much older. Helping out with house chores at a young age promotes an early sense of responsibility and a level of independence. Plus, participating meaningfully around the house is a constructive way to use up their energy. I’m sure you’ll agree!
Chores For Kids
Thinking of what possible chores your kid’s little hands can tackle?
For starters, at ages 2-3, your toddler can assist in picking up and putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket, set mats on the table for dinner and of course, take her toys from the floor and bring Mommy’s bag.
At 4-5years, arranging books and toys neatly may not be so possible, but she sure can pick toys up and place them in boxes or on assigned shelves. Your little one by now can help with some dusting, clean up spills, hand out wet laundry for drying, sort out and fold laundry, put away shoes, carry in grocery bags from the car, help set dinner plates on the table, and even clean up after eating. Though still with your supervision, your older toddler should at this stage be able to do some sweeping around the house, and also handle personal chores like teeth brushing and dressing up.
Interestingly at 5, my daughter is ever so willing to help out whenever I’m in the kitchen cooking. Now I know better; I don’t hesitate to accept her help. It undoubtedly comes truly valuable. Mommy’s little helper gets over-excited putting the groceries away and bringing out the jars of spices and seasoning.

As your toddler tackles these small tasks, don’t expect perfection. Be quick to cheer and encourage even while the task is ongoing (high five works like magic). Don’t also forget to reward good attitude towards assigned duties and first-time obedience. 

CategoriesHealth by

Coconut Oil Benefits

Coconut oil has a multitude of benefits which include skin care, hair care, improving digestion and immunity against a host of infections. People are beginning to discover the wonders of this oil, and it is gaining popularity all over the world. Here are a few benefits of Coconut oil:
Coconut Oil Benefits

Skincare and Beauty benefits

It nourishes and moisturises the skin including dry skin
It delays the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin
It helps in treating various skin problems such as eczema and dermatitis
It is magnificent for chapped lips
It strengthens the nails and hydrates the cuticle skin making the hands look youthful

Baby care

Coconut oil is useful in the treatment of diaper rash
It can be used as baby lotion to keep baby’s skin moisturised
Cradle capand Eczema can be easily treated at home with coconut oil
Coconut oil can be used as baby’s massage oil
Coconut oil is useful in relieving thrush
You can use coconut oil instead of regular baby oil on baby’s soft spot to help fortify the area
Coconut oil helps relieve teething pain in infants, rub onto the gums for relief

Hair care

It enhances hair growth and gives hair a soft and shiny quality
It is highly effective in reducing protein loss in hair
It helps relieve the scalp of dandruff and also contributes to keeping hair free from lice
It helps the regrowth process of damaged hair

Health benefits

Coconut oil is beneficial for the heart as it contains 50% lauric acid which contributes to preventing various heart problems such as high blood pressure
Coconut oil is very useful in weight loss. Research suggests that it helps reduce abdominal obesity in women
It strengthens the immune system
It aids easy digestion
Coconut oil improves memory and brain function
It helps in controlling blood sugar and improves the secretion of insulin
Coconut oil is very soothing and helps in removing stress

 

CategoriesLifestyle by

Dealing With Incontinence

Do you suddenly have the urge to pee and can’t seem to control it? Does an unexpected sneeze or a cough, or sometimes the simple act of laughing cause a leak in your panties? How often do you experience urinary loss? Do you lose urine sometimes before you can make it to the bathroom?
Often considered more as a disease (but it actually isn’t), incontinence (inability to control urination) is common amongst male and female, old and young. Though experienced twice as more by women than men, ageing, stress and most often neurological diseases are some of the general causes of incontinence.
Dealing with Incontinence

The structure of the female urinary tract, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause are the main reasons incontinence occurs more in women. It’s a condition of involuntary urination; an indication that something is wrong within the human body. Thus it’s medically regarded as a symptom and mostly temporal. There’re two main common types of temporary incontinence – stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Interestingly, over 200 million people around the world experience one of these two at a point in their lives.
Stress incontinence is usually experienced when there’s increased pressure on the bladder (while coughing, sneezing, laughing and even exercising). This occurs as the pelvic floor muscles become weakened especially as a result of childbirth (large babies and prolonged labour), lack of oestrogen or collagen deficiency. When pelvic floor muscles can’t support the bladder and urethra (urine outlet) as strongly as they should, any slight pressure causes a leak from the bladder. The increased weight of the uterus on the bladder walls during pregnancy can also cause stress incontinence.
Urge incontinence is experienced as a result of overactive bladder. Usually, when the bladder is filled to a certain level, there’s a network of signals within the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and bladder muscles) to cause an urge to pee. When this system acts abnormally, wrong signals are triggered, and there’s an overaction by the bladder causing it to release urine uncontrollably, sporadically or too frequently.
Everyday habits may also contribute to temporary incontinence. Certain foods, the amount of water/ drinks you consume, and some diuretic drugs stimulate the bladder unnecessarily. Also, sedatives and BP medications are muscle relaxants thereby relaxing the bladder and pelvic floor muscles to lose urine.
Do you know that almost 80% of incontinent cases can be treated? Incontinence can be treated or significantly improved. Lifestyle changes (minimal or no alcohol, quitting smoking, cutting down on caffeine), engaging in kegel exercises, staying fit by maintaining a healthy weight or considerably shedding some are suggested ways to deal with incontinence. Eating a well-balanced diet with lots of vegetables and fibre will see your system functioning adequately. Foods rich in magnesium and Vitamin D will also aid the apt functioning of your bladder. 
Sometimes, if severe, certain surgeries can be carried out.Unfortunately, without proper tests, the level of severity may never be known. Though frustrating, involuntary urinating is often seen as normal and for fear of embarrassment, many people are unwilling to discuss it even with medical practitioners. If experiencing such a situation, don’t get overwhelmed by anxiety or shame; seek medical assistance. 

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DIY Beauty: Homemade Exfoliator

Exfoliating is a necessary beauty regime as it gets rid of dead cells that clog the pores revealing a smoother and brighter skin. One way to exfoliate is by using scrubs and here is a homemade scrub made just for you. One major thing I love about this scrub is that you can make it from ingredients you have lying around the house, isn’t that just great?
Homemade Exfoliator
Ingredients needed

Sugar (White / Brown)
Olive oil
Essential oil (e.g. rose oil, lavender oil)
Step

Pour 6 teaspoons of sugar into a container
Add three teaspoons of olive oilto the sugar
Mix gently
Add few drops of essential oil
Mix thoroughly

Application
Using exfoliating gloves or your hand alone, massage the scrub in a circular motion onto your body. Rinse off with warm water, towel dry and moisturise your body with oil.
You can use this scrub for all parts of your body including your face, and it is suitable for all skin types.
Things to note

You can increase or reduce your ingredients depending on the quantity of scrub you want, but your olive oil should be half the amount of sugar
The essential oil is mainly to give the scrub a pleasant smell
You can store the scrub in a container and place in a cool place

CategoriesLifestyle by

Easy Tips To Cut The Clutter In Your Home

Sometimes I get so busy with work, and in the midst of all the activities, I leave quite a lot of clutter around me. Coupled with my daughter’s messy pile of toys and clothes, searching for missing items in the midst of all the mess can be an almost impossible feat. I remember almost pulling my hair out one time while searching for my bunch of keys. Just to make it on time for my meeting, I had to leave the search at a point. Eventually, I found the keys on my return. Ever since I made up my mind to always keep my spaces clean and less cluttered.
Have you ever found yourself in such a situation? I’m quite sure to get many YESes from busy mums like me. Picking up littered clothes and toys after your spouse and kids is a JOB in itself. However, clutter can be quite suffocating and to avoid it in the first instance is the best way to de-clutter.
Clutter In Home

Here’s an important rule to avoid clutter – every useful item should have a place of its own. Patiently train your kids to put things (especially toys, books and clothing) away after use. My daughter now knows that once she’s done with her homework or playing with toys, PACK is the word. She puts stuff back to their allocated places.
A major reason why tabletops and counters, especially in the kitchen and bedroom, get piled up is that we don’t assign specific homes to things. Items used frequently can be placed where they’re readily available while those used occasionally are stored up neatly. Now and then, make a mental note of things you don’t need, pile them up and give them out. There’re a thousand and one people who are just in need of this stuff wasting away in your store.
Are your rooms/drawers common dumping grounds for clothes, furniture, exercise equipment and other stuff? How much of the furniture in your living room/bedroom do you honestly need? Is your wardrobe over-bursting with clothes you’ve not worn in years? Sometimes we’ve got so much space and can’t help the urge to fill it up with all sorts. If pieces of stuff are not so often used, then they’ve got no business being there. Don’t you think you should take them out?
Feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin? All you need is a 5-minute start off at a targeted area with one rule in mind – anything not in use must be taken out. It might take several days, but as you tackle one area at a time, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll achieve.
Another way to easily get rid of the clutter is scheduling routine “spring cleanings”. This may not be so easy if you run a tight schedule but the air of freshness in your immediate environment – the look and feel of an organised home is sure worth the effort.
Helpful?
 
 

CategoriesHealth by

Exercises To Firm Up The Butt

Most women want a big butt, but apart from having a big ass, we would also like it to be firm, not droopy. These exercises will help strengthen the buttocks, thighs and back. Before you begin, do a 6-minute warm-up routine and afterwards, cool down with a 5-minute stretch.
The Squat
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hands stretched out in front of you, squat down to a 90-degree angle with your thighs parallel to the ground. Slowly rise to the starting position. Do two sets of 20 reps
The Squat hold and Pulse
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, squat down to a 90-degree angle as before. Stand back up but don’t stand totally straight, instead make up and down movements; pulsing to get the burn. Do two sets of 20 reps
Side-lying leg raise

Lie on your left side with your left knee bent at 90 degrees and your right leg straight and in line with your back. Place your right hand at your back. Raise your right leg as far as you can without tilting your hips back, slower lower to the starting position. Perform 8 to 10 times and repeat on the other side.
The Bridge
Lay on your back with your knees bent, and your feet planted firmly on the ground. Raise your hips towards the ceiling, creating a straight line from your knees to your shoulders; tighten your abdominals and buttocks as you come up. Slowly lower your hips to the starting point and repeat as many times as you can.
The Bridge with leg lift
Do the bridge as explained earlier, but extend one leg at a time as you push up into the bridge mode. Keep your extended leg as straight as possible for maximum toning.
One-leg kickbacks

Place yourself on your hands and knees. Keeping your right leg bent at 90 degrees and your left knee still on the ground, raise your right knee as high as you can. Lower your knee to the starting position, repeat 8 to 10 times and change to the other leg
The Lunges
Stand with your feet together; take a step forward with your right leg, slowly bending the knees until both legs are nearly at right angles. Push back up to the starting position, repeat 8 to 10 times and switch legs.

CategoriesHealth by

Facial Exercise That Fight Wrinkles

As we age, our skin begins to lose it youthfulness. Facial exercises should be done daily to fight wrinkles and all other ageing signs. There are ten groups of muscles that make up the face and scalp, appearing on the forehead, in the cheeks, around the eyes, within the chin, around the lips, and finally in the neck. If the muscles are not exercised and toned, the face will sag and portray an older look. By toning the muscles in it, you can give your face smoother skin, a natural lift, a younger look, and an overall brighter appearance.
Facial Exercises Examples
Facing a mirror, exercise your face for 5 – 10 minutes every day.If you don’t want anyone to find you making silly faces at yourself in the mirror, you may want to lock your door!For the ForeheadFirm up your brow, place your index fingers on your forehead just above your eyelids and pull them down while trying to raise your eyebrows. Repeat these process ten times.For the EyesWithout moving your upper eyelids, attempt to raise your lower ones. This great defence against crow’s feet is easier said than done. Repeat the process ten times.For the CheeksTo do this: Push your lips out as far as possible to form an exaggerated “O” with your mouth, then smile as brightly as you can. After holding this position for 1-second form the “O” shape again and hold that for 1 second. Repeat this ten times.For the LipsSuck on the tip of your index finger up to the first joint as hard as you can then slowly pull it from your mouth. Repeat ten times.
Neck and chinUsing one hand, place the index finger and thumb against the base your neck, looking straight into the mirror. Simultaneously raise your head and gently pull the skin down. Repeat ten times.These facial exercises when consistently done can work wonders over time, though you could do yourself a great big favour by cutting down on the cigarettes and alcohol!

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Get Rid Of Hormonal Imbalance Naturally

If you are suffering from hormonal imbalance, you are not alone. A lot of women, irrespective of their age or size are living with hormonal imbalance.
Hormonal balance is vital to a healthy, cancer-free mind and body, but can be disrupted in many ways. Hormone fluctuations occur naturally, such as in puberty, menopause, and perimenopause. Hormone imbalance may also be caused by toxins or an unbalanced lifestyle. Understanding the causes of hormone imbalance empowers us to prevent them, and at the same time, feel better, think better, and better prevent breast cancer.
Common causes of hormonal imbalance are menopause, pregnancy, menstrual cycle, the contraceptive pill, and lifestyle factors such as inconsistent sleep patterns, stress a poor diet and lack of exercise. Other causes can be thyroid issues or diabetes.
Signs of hormonal imbalance include insomnia, vaginal dryness, lack of libido, mood swing and depression, digestive disorders, hot flashes and night sweats.
How To Get Rid Of Hormonal Imbalance Naturally
Hormonal imbalance, when diagnosed, can be treated at the hospital, but these natural methods can aid the treatment. Good diet, lifestyle changes and certain herbs play a major role in getting rid of hormonal imbalance.

Eat Enough Healthy Fats
Get enough good fat into your body by adding it to your diet. The 3% of the body made up of polyunsaturated fats contains both Omega-3 fats and Omega-6 fats in about a 50:50 balance. This ratio is extremely important for health, and it is often ignored. Seed based vegetable oils (like canola oil, soybean oil, etc.) are very high in Omega-6 fats and low in Omega-3 fats. Since the 1950s, these seed based oils have replaced many sources
of saturated fats and Omega-3s in the diet. This is one of the reasons that most people are not getting enough vital Omega-3 fatty acids from their diet.  Avoid fats like vegetable oil, peanut oil, canola oil, soybean oil, margarine, shortening, or other chemically altered fats. Eat fats like coconut oil, real butter, olive oil (don’t heat it!) and animal fats (tallow, lard) from healthy sources instead and eat lots of high Omega-3 fish.
Avoid Caffeine
Too much caffeine can wreak havoc on the endocrine system, especially if there are other hormone stressors involved, like pregnancy, the presence of toxins, beneficial fat imbalance or stress.
Stop taking coffee if you can, or replace with beneficial herbal teas. If you can’t or won’t get rid the coffee, use it as a way to sneak in your beneficial fats by adding one tablespoon coconut oil to each cup and blending in the blender to emulsify.
Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Harmful chemicals found in pesticides, plastics, household cleaners, and even mattresses can contain hormone disrupting chemicals that mimic hormones in the body and keep the body from producing real hormones. Things like hormonal birth control can (obviously) do the same thing.
Get Enough Sleep
Without adequate sleep, your hormones will not be in the balance. While you’re sleeping, your body is extremely active removing toxins, recharging the mind, and creating hormones. Skimping on sleep, even for one night, can have a tremendous impact on hormones and even one night of missed or shortened sleep can create the hormone levels of a pre-diabetic.
Supplement Wisely
It’s so bad that we live in a world where the food supply is often below par as nutrients are lost due to over-farming, the water is often contaminated with chemicals, and even the air can contain compounds that cause havoc in the body.
Ideally, we could get all of our nutrients from food, properly hydrate from water, and get enough Vitamin D from the sun on a daily basis. We’d get magnesium from the ocean and not get deficient in the first place since we’d be consuming adequate minerals from eating fresh seafood.
In cases like this supplements are needed. There are enough supplements sold out there that are helpful for hormonal imbalance.
NOTE: Make sure to check with your doctor or health care professional before taking any new supplements, especially if you are on medications or contraceptives.
Maca Root Extract is a hormone boosting tuber in the radish family with a long history of use in Peru. Women who use this often see improvements in fertility, reduction in PMS and better skin/hair. It can help men with sperm production, testosterone levels, and muscle composition.  This herb is a good source of minerals and essential fatty acids, which is one of the ways it supports hormone balance.  It is available in powder form and capsules. Maca should be discontinued during pregnancy. 
Magnesium is vital for hundreds of functions within the human body, and many of us are deficient in this master mineral. Magnesium can be gotten in powder or liquid form, or through magnesium oil applied to the skin.Topical application is often the most effective option for those with a damaged digestive tract or severe deficiency. 
Vitamin D & Omega-3s is Aapre-hormone is supportive of hormone function. Best obtained from the sun if possible, or from a D3 supplement or Cod-liver oil  (a good source of Omega-3 and Vitamin D and what I do in the winter). Make sure not to get too much, and optimally, get Serum Vitamin D levels checked to monitor levels.
 Gelatin or Collagen is a great source of minerals and necessary amino acids. Gelatin and collagen powders support hormone production and digestive health in various ways. Gelatin powder can actually “gel” and is useful in recipes like homemade jello and probiotic marshmallows, while collagen protein does not gel but is easily added to soups, smoothies, coffee, tea or any other food.
Natural Progesterone Cream PMS and menstrual troubles that are often linked to specific hormone imbalances. Especially for those with short cycles or short second phase of their cycle (ovulation through the start of menses), progesterone can be the issue. Symptoms reduce when such people use natural progesterone cream.
Exercise The Right Way
For those with hormone imbalance, extended intense exercise can make the problem worse in the short term. Sleep is much more important, at least during the balancing phase, so focusing on relaxing exercises like walking or swimming and avoiding the extended running, cardio, and exercise videos can help the body in the short term. 
While extended cardio can be bad, short bursts of heavy lifting (kettlebells, deadlifts, squats, lunges) can be beneficial since they trigger a cascade of beneficial hormone reactions. Aim for a few sets (5-7) at a weight that challenges you, but make sure to get help with form and training if you haven’t done these before the as bad form can be harmful.
Take  Herbs
Certain herbs and plants can also help the body bring hormones into balance. Of course, it is important to talk to a doctor before taking these, especially if a person is on hormonal contraceptives or other medications.
Vitex/Chaste Tree Berry– Nourishes the pituitary gland and helps lengthen the luteal phase. It lowers prolactin and raises progesterone. For some women, this alone will improve symptoms.
Red Raspberry Leaf– A well know fertility herb that is also helpful in reducing PMS and cramping. It has a high nutrient profile and is especially high in calcium and is a uterine tonic. It is available in capsule form but makes an excellent hot or cold tea. 
Adaptogens- Herbs that help the body handle stress and support the adrenals. They are a great and natural way to work toward hormone balance for many people. 
Support Digestive Health
The digestive system has much more of an impact on hormones than we realize. Not only is the digestive tract the source of many vital neurotransmitters in the body, but an imbalance in the gut can translate to an imbalance in neurotransmitter and hormones. Serotonin, a necessary neurotransmitter for sleep/stress balance is more concentrated in the gut than even in the brain! 70% of the immune system is found in the gut, and it is quite literally the motherboard of many functions in the
 Fix Your Leptin
Leptin is a master hormone, and if it is out of balance or if you are resistant to it, no other hormones will balance well. Fixing leptin also helps boost fertility, make weight loss easier, improve sleep, and lower inflammation.
 

CategoriesLifestyle by

How to succeed as a Stay at home Mum

A lot of women find themselves as stay at home moms (SAHM) probably as a result of relocation after marriage and not being able to get a job or because of maternity concerns or just because they prefer to stay with their children till they are grown to a certain age. Regardless of the reason, it is not as easy as people think to stay at home all day, especially, with a child (or children) thrown in. If you also work from home; it could be hectic, and you could realize at the end of the day that you weren’t productive or that you didn’t accomplish all you wanted to. Below are a few steps to succeeding as a SAHM.
Stay At Home Moms (SAHM)

Have a realistic schedule and stick to it
I wrote realistic because at times we set schedules that we know we cannot keep up with. A schedule will show all you need to achieve per day and the time needed to achieve them and having one will enable you to plan your time and your goals for the day
Get your child(ren) on a schedule
Easier said than done, right? Getting your charge on a schedule is the best thing to do so you can arrange to get other things done based on this schedule. This is essential especially if you are working from home as you would most likely prefer to do your work without distractions probably when your child is sleeping. If your baby is old enough, you can also take your child to the crèche.
Create time for breaks
No matter how busy you are, try to have break times to eat and relax, as this will keep you refreshed and relaxed and better able to tackle issues
Avoid distraction
When you are home, and no one is watching over your shoulder, it is easy to be distracted by other things such as the TV, the games your children are playing, etc. It’s best to try to be focused on the work at hand and leave those distractions until your break time.
Be flexible
There is sometimes your schedule won’t work out as planned, be flexible and accept it.

Avoid procrastination
Accept help

Accept help from friends and family when possible
Stay positive
Remain positive at all times