Wordless Wednesday

My beautiful soul...

Cuskiboo review!

Well, if you read this blog regularly you will know that I have a cuddly baby. Yip as I'm writing this my heart is warm knowing that this Sweetpea of mine loves to snuggle next to me and touch my skin and feel my breath on her face... I LOOOOOVE those moments and treasure every one. Having said all that, she also really enjoys her muslin cloths to rub on her face and lie next to her chest when she sleeps. So when we were asked to review the CUSKIBOO I was excited but a tad worried that she wouldn't take to it. After all she's only ever known my touch and her muslins which feel quite different to bamboo. Well I was super excited when I opened the package and found it to be surprisingly SOFT!

So it has many awesome features like:

• Bamboo is organically grown and totally sustainable
• Ultra absorbent (great for keeping mom or dad's scent)
• Anti Bacterial
• Eco-friendly
• Bio degradable
• Extremely soft (yes bamboo is really soft for those of you wondering!)

This is what Green Beginnings site had to say about this fantastic little find that they stock:

" Most amazing find midwives discovered during tests with new born babies, was because of the extra absorbency Cuskiboo holds, and in those early days when mummy/baby scents are so crucial, she not only carries mummy’s scents to baby but carries baby’s scent to mummy, so this is ultimately beneficial for mummy/baby bonding and also helps to bring on mummy’s milk flow, thus helping to make breast feeding easier.

Cuski, the super-soft baby comforter designed to soothe, calm and reassure you and your baby. Cuski is the natural alternative for parents who do not want their baby to use dummies or other sleeping aids.

*Research has shown that babies with comforters are much happier and more secure as they progress through certain milestones in their lives.

Babies at about nine months old often become very clingy to mum as they realise they are individuals and not part of their mothers. A comforter seems to help with this transition.

Safe, functional, consistent and fully machine washable."

Ok so Sweetpea is at that nine-month-old-clingy-stage where she happily smiles at anyone remotely looking her way but won't give up her mothers lap for anything (other than a kiss from daddy or some rough and tumble play with her siblings of course!).

So the test, does she love it or absolutely despise it?

Hmmm....

Yip, CUSKIBOO is now her friend!

Mommy's favourite feature is that I  know it makes my baby happy and restful, she sleeps like a dream and this mamma is very pleased.

Check them out at :

GREEN BEGINNINGS

CARING FOR KAYLA!

Isn't she darling? We think so! This is her mamma's story...

When I was 4years old, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when i was a grown up. The answer for me was easy. I wanted to be a mom. 22 years later my wish was granted. We were pregnant. We rushed out and bought everything pink. Her nickname was 'Mini G'. 3months later I woke up with pain in my tummy. My husband took me to the emergency. Mini G was no more. I suffered a devastating miscarriage.
A few months later, we found out we were pregnant again. It was a mix of excitement and fear. After 8months of a very high risk and complicated pregnancy our little one decided to come a month early. Her name was Kayla. She had to be in ICU for a while, but eventually we got to take her home.
Then it all started to unfold. Kayla was not picking up any weight.
She started projectile vomiting and having far too many dirty diapers. After many tests, the doctors called us in to tell us news that would change lives forever.

Kayla has been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, an in curable terminal illness that is very rare. We have already lost one child, and now we had to come to terms with the fact that one day we will have to bury our baby girl.

Kayla needs monthly medication, treatment and procedures that cost thousands for the rest of her life. While we have medical insurance - the South African government does not support CF as a terminal illness. Therefore our medical insurance does not cover everything.

Kerry (Kaylas mom) can also no longer work and bring in an income as Kayla needs around the clock care. We would like to appeal to friends, family and future friends who can help contribute towards her care. With your generous donations, we can buy the medicine and pay for medical bills that will help keep our little Kayla alive as long as possible. Every little bit helps.

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the love and support.
With love and blessings
The Glaser Family x

If you would like to support the Glaser's and baby Kayla, check out their FACEBOOK PAGE

Miss Kayla Rose Glaser
Absa Bank
Account No: 928 1295 293
Branch code: 6151
Branch: Sunningdale
IBAN/swift code: ABSAGB2L

Simply Bee! My facial routine

Ok so a lot of this blog is centered around babies and children, I am a mum after all but first I am a woman. Yip a true "girly girl"! I love make-up (we'll be doing some reviews on natural make up, yippee!) but I love skin care products, natural of course, even more!

So imagine my DELIGHT when Simply Bee sent me a huge hamper of their gorgeous products! So they have a really extensive range for all your skin needs as well as the yummiest honey... Mmmmm!

So my skin care routine with Simply Bee involves these lovely products:

Facial Cleanser 200ml - R65

Ingredients: Beeswax, Propolis, Sweet Almond Oil, Castor Oil, Lavender Essential Oil.

"This is a rich, sulfate-free facial cleanser  made with a gentle,  plant-based cleansing complex featuring rosewater. Luxuriously lathering away excess dirt, oil and make-up leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed. Castor Oil helps to remove make up and dirt easily and provides a touch of moisturiser for a naturally fresh healthy skin." Now I naturally have an oily skin so when I saw this has castor oil in I thought it would just make my face look really shiny ( the yucky, grimy kinda shiny not the supermodel glamourous shine!) BUT it didn't! Infact the opposite was true! My skin has been the best its been in years and I have Simply Bee to thank for it! Now I could go on and on about the cleanser but there is MUCH more to this facial range that I have to tell you about. Like their cream:

Daily Moisturiser 100ml - R75Ingredients: Beeswax, Propolis, Sweet Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Water and Lavender Essential Oil.


"Enhance your skins natural glow! This light-weight natural moisturiser is specially formulated with beeswax and some of nature’s most nutritious substances, such as Sweet Almond and Grapeseed Carrier Oil and Lavender Essential Oil to help enhance skins natural radiance, and propolis to maintain essential moisture, calm and sooth the skin. Our daily moisturiser beeswax products are excellent for all skin types, for best results use in the morning after the cleanser."

Night Cream 100ml - R90

Ingredients: Beeswax, Propolis, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Water and Evening Primrose Oil.

Renew and replenish your skin with this super-saturated, emollient cream for skin that needs a rich formula. Full of shea and cocoa butter to moisturise and beeswax to lock in the moisture. This night cream can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep. Fantastic for extra dry skin. Use at night after applying Anti-Wrinkle cream.

Now my ultimate FAVOURITE product because of the silky feeling it leaves and the lovely scent (I'm a sucker for anything with neroli in!) is their serum. Every woman needs this serum in their routine!

                                                             Propolis Serum 30ml - R105

Ingredients: Propolis, Sweet Almond Oil and Neroli Essential Oil.

"This richly repairing micro-emulsified serum contains a high concentration Propolis from the Fynbos of the West Coast. Combined with Neroli, Propolis concentrate calms, heals, and truly enriches your skin. Anti-bacterial and decongesting, this formulation alleviates micro-circulation problems and strenghtens your fragile skin. Propolis has been proved to be beneficial to human skin and is considered as luxurious. There are over 50 different flavonoids in propolis. Flavonoid improves the circulation of blood and the decomposition of pigments. It also prevents skin aging and age spots. Propolis is also rich in vitamins especially vitamin P found in rutin. For all skin types, specially sensitive skin. Use a few drops, apply to face and neck area once or twice daily after after facial cleanser, before your favourite moisturiser."

I loove this stuff! It really absorbs quickly which might be surprising considering it looks like an oil. 

I have reviews coming about their facial scrub and anti-ageing cream, which really are as yummy as the rest of their products! This is a skin care routine I'm really sticking too, pity it's taken me a  few years to find a range I really trust and enjoy using...

I love what SIMPLY BEE stands for. Keeping natural ingredients natural and with no petroleum in too!

Go check this company out, you won't be sorry you did!

SIMPLY BEE

SnuggleBum nappies!

I'm a very proud mamma these last few weeks! Little Man toilet trained in less than a week and went off all nappies. He hasn't had one accident at night! Of course I know this can change at any moment as just when you think you've got it down, they change ALL the rules! Having said that I'm still really impressed with how well he did.

These photos are about 2 months old and was probably the last cloth nappy he wore as he loves, loves, loves the print on it!

This is the SNUGGLEBUM NAPPY! I am proud to say it is totally made by the company and isn't an import! Its a fitted nappy with a pocket to stuff and has a separate cover. 

This is the large nappy on Little Man at 2 years old (28 months)

This the large cover with plenty room to still grow.

This is the system. Flannel pocket with snaps, absorbent towel made of 100 % cotton, PUL cover.

What we love about Snugglebum:

• They are proudly made in SA offering community development and the creation of jobs by equipping the local ladies with the necessary skills and providing employment for sewing the nappies.
• The flannel stays soft wash after wash and comes in a few cute prints.
• As all the parts are separate they dry far quicker than most nappies.
• Pocket is a generous size so even daddy's large hands can stuff this nappy.
• Their sizing is great, medium and large sized nappies fit really well as they are sized accordingly and the one size will size quite small to fit a younger baby.
• Love the snap placements, no wing droop on this fitted or cover which is a HUGE plus in my books!
• Makes a great night nappy and we haven't had to double stuff it so far.
• Really easy to put together and quicker than what you think, should get all your folding done in a half hour of NCIS lol!

SnuggleBum nappy pockets are offered in Medium, Large and One Size.  The Medium nappies will fit an average sized baby from 6 weeks to 18 months.  The Large nappies will fit from 12 months to potty. 

We will be reviewing the one size on Sweetpea as well as their swimming cozzie and ring sling so come back soon for that! In the meantime check out their website and keep a look out for their video's on how to stuff and use their nappies. Really informative site!

SNUGGLEBUM

éfa nappies!

Now let me tell you, one of my favourite things is to get  FLUFFY MAIL!

So imagine my surprise when I got this gorgeous package!

I love it when a company goes to extra lengths for a client especially mommies who could use all the pretty extras! Well let me tell you that these nappies didn't disappoint either!

It's a pocket nappy so great for ease of use (especially for daddies and   to send to daycare).
Love the charcoal coloured fleece on the inside, it keeps moisture away from baby and it doesn't show stains!

This is on the 2nd rise setting and I think Sweetpea will use it like this for a while to come! I just love this purple!

As you can see this nappy will really take you from newborn to potty training. Its the best nappy in my opinion to do so. For a tiny baby there are overlapping snaps on the top which is a must and the hip snap prevents the "wing droop" from happening when they get mobile.

It's not a bulky nappy either so fits great under pants although I must say this spring I never covered them up! 

These nappies aren't only gorgeous but much healthier for baba as they are bamboo, so not chemically ridden plastic next to their important parts. They are also more sustainably produced being that they are made from bamboo and as you can see by the diagram below, much more friendly on the pocket!

This is what they said on their site about the cost:

Our research shows average daily nappy use are about:

0 - 3 months	10 per day
3 - 6 months	8 per day
6 - 12 months	6 per day
12 - 24 months	6 per day
24 - Potty training	5 per day

On average, using disposable nappies will add up to about 5 369 nappies at a cost of R17 727* over 2,5 years (not accounting for inflation).

This, compared to 

Éfa Bamboo Nappies:

Using reusable bamboo nappies

until potty training at 2.5yrs of age

@R139 for one nappy (including 1 x  liner)

Using 20 nappies in total

= R2593*

* When ordered as part of Package "Option D"

Check their very informative site out:

éfa nappies

Mommy Must have Monday! Baby Throne!

Ok so my gorgeous Sweetpea has hit the 6 month mark, sniff, sniff! She has been growing so beautifully and really is such a joy! She is still doing EC (Elimination Communication) and is quite the star. A few months back we got the BABY THRONE and oh my goodness... every EC mamma and baby should have one! We love ours for so many reasons which I will share after some cutie pics (to this mamma anyway!).

First time on my throne, see my smile? A few seconds later.....a wee!!

Can you tell I like the independence? Now mommy can sit in front of me and I can look at a book or my mommy's face! This is the Intermediate stage and we used this stage for only a few days just to get Sweetpea used to the shape of the seat then we moved onto.....

The loo! Yes my then 4 month old on the toilet by herself! Now having said that, NEVER  leave your baby alone in the bathroom on the THRONE! Use the few minutes to sing a song, read a little board book or show off your funny faces!

This has become a huge tool in our EC journey. Every morning when I wake up we go to the kiddies bathroom and I slip off her night nappy and she sits on her throne. It only takes a few seconds and she makes her no 1. With a song or some chatting to get some smiles then follows no 2! Now for my "little" list on why we love it:

• The Beginner Baby Throne: The first stage or when your baba is very small and can hold his/her head up comfortably. Sweetpea was 4 months old. Wearing her nappy,  bottom is close to the bottom of the base and there is no hole to worry about.
• The Intermediate Baby Throne: The base is turned up the other way and the floor of the base is farther away from baba's bottom. With no nappy on she can feel the air on her bottom and can get used to it.  Sweetpea was 4 months old when I tried this and loved it.
• The Advanced Baby Throne: Used without the base and is simply placed on top of the toilet. Toddlers can also use these gentle and progressive stages to get onto the advanced stage quickly without getting a fright!
• Can be used by physically handicapped children too as the seat gives great support.
• It was made by a mamma for her son so she knows what was needed!
• Its ubber soft and comfy
• It's recyclable BONUS!
• 60% LESS nappies used, so huge saving if you are using disposables so GREENER and saves you money and time!
• can last from 4 months+ till about 20 kg (+/- 4 to 5kg's) so worth every cent spent in my opinion (for what it's worth).

So worth checking their site out! 

BABY THRONE

You will be seeing more of this throne in our EC UPDATES, hope you don't mind this mamma's potty mouth!