The Magic Green Balm

The Green Balm.  I Absolutely LOVE this stuff.  I can not recommend it more.  Charlie, their Founder and Designer approached me about 3 years ago now when I was doing wellbeing events at festivals, she asked if she could send us some samples to give to people after their massages and yoga classes at our events.  we didn't think twice about it, who doesn't love a free gift.  Well... These things went down like a house on fire, everyone was coming back asking for MORE! Why?  Because you can use this stuff for EVERYTHING and it smells divine.  You can use this stuff for any of the following:

• Fade pregnancy stretch marks and keep the skin supple
• Use to soothe minor rashes and nappy rash
• Gently reduces cradle cap on a babies head
• Uses on bumps, bruises, grazes and minor burns
• Helps calm eczema, psoriasis and dry itchy skin
• Take on holiday for essential family first aid
• make up remover
• moisturiser
• aftershave balm

The Green Balm is a 100% natural multi-purpose healing balm, suitable for the whole family to use, even those with the most sensitive skin.   Its lengthy list of first aid uses and wholesome ingredients makes The Green Balm an ideal product for using on delicate skin, just right for babies and children. It contains  MOA’s hero herb, organic yarrow,  known as Achillea Millefolium, which for centuries has been renowned for its nourishing and healing properties. Combined with tea tree oil, nature’s powerful antiseptic, yarrow creates an unrivalled healing synergy with endless therapeutic properties. Yarrow is both antiseptic and anti inflammatory, whilst has the unique ability to both oxygenate and staunch blood flow, promoting a speedy healing process.

This magical balm also contains:

• Beeswax to protect, helps reduce itching and allergens.
• Coconut oil with vitamin E to soften the skin.
• Sweet almond oil with vitamin A, easily absorbed.
• Soy bean oil high in anti oxidants and moisturising. 

MOA - Magic Organic Apothecary, have been presented with a winning SILVER award for BEST FAMILY SKIN CARE PRODUCT at the highly acclaimed Free From Skin Care Awards, held at Love Natural Love Organic  London Olympia and Charlie has recently started a new range of products including the MOA Aphrodite facial oil, it helps to smooth fine lines and ward off premature ageing with it's nourishing rose hip oil base.   

For more information, or if you would like to try a sample of this stuff e mail:  chiara@moa.lodon   Stockists include www.moa.london and Fenwick London

Sleeping like a baby

Such a funny phrase isn't it... when you become a parent you realise how hard it can actually be for a baby to sleep, not to mention a parent... There seems to be a never ending discussion about new babies and sleeping, it's enough to give you insomnia. To co-sleep or not to co-sleep?  Tummy or back?  To have the baby in a basket, or crib?  To use a breathing monitor or video monitor? WTF?!!! As a first time parent there are SO many conflicting answers.

Truth of the matter is DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU.  

I won't deny for one minute it's not a big deal.  It is, how your baby sleeps is a serious matter as SIDS is a real issue that as parents we need to be aware of.  However, If you are scared the baby will suffocate put him / her in their own bed.  If you need your sleep, put the baby in another room, or, if you can afford it,  get a night nurse/ doula.  If you can't bare to be apart and want skin to skin 24/7 keep that baby in your bed.  No one is right and no one is wrong, just do your best to keep your baby as safe as possible.  If you do co sleep, make sure they have their own space in the bed away from pillows and if they are in their own bed make sure there is nothing they could suffocate on.  It's basic stuff but fundamental.  Personally I put my babies on their side, it felt right for me, this way they didn't get 'flat head' and i always thought, if they vomit / spit up, they are less likely to choke.  The doctors suggest back at the moment, but when I was a baby it was tummy, so every generation is different in their beliefs. 

Sleeping apparatus can be really stressful, there is SO much in the market, we learnt this when we had our first son.  Reno HATED the Moses basket we were given, he HATED being in a crib.  He just wanted to be close to us, so we co slept. To us, it was more important he was happy and relaxed and slept which meant we too could sleep.   

Something we discovered just after Reno was born, was this amazing thing called the French designed CocoonaBaby. We were given this as a gift and I can not stress to you how incredible this thing is!!!  We hadn't even heard of it prior, it solved all our issues. Their 100% organic cotton and very soft Fleur de Coton fabric makes for a beautiful and environmentally friendly bed for your new born.  The tag line of the product, which I believe is true, is that it simulates the feeling of being in the womb for a new born.  It's not flat, it's a cocoon, so the baby is snuggled and swaddled so baby feels safe and as parents we felt comfortable about co sleeping with a new born as he had his own world keeping him safe in our bed.  We all slept.... zzzzzzzzz  

This is how it works

We didn't have the stress of getting up out of bed when he stirred to see if he was awake, we didn't worry if he was breathing as we could hear his little grunts next to us.  We woke up and saw his beaming face next to us, happy and relaxed, we were all much more relaxed.  This thing became our life line for sleep! We took it everywhere with us, it travels so well.   When Reno was 6 weeks old we flew to Cannes and then drove to Tuscany and it was the best thing ever as it meant we didn't have to ask for a crib anywhere and it was small, light weight and soft so you could shove it into any bag.  It also meant that he felt safe and comfortable where ever we went.

Eden our second son went into this cocoon as a new born,  now he is heading towards 4 months and starting to roll and clearly too big for this cocoon I have moved him out of it.  It feels like a good time and he has an awareness now which new borns don't have until 3 months.  Those first 3 months are known as the 4th trimester, when I sincerely believe the babies have no sense of I or ME yet and crying is a primal request to have needs met.  All they really want is to be close to Mama.  At 3 months they suddenly wake up and become people, it's rather extraordinary!

We decided, for Eden, this time, in order to co sleep next to us, to give us the option of having him in the bed with us or next to us in his own space,  we bought a basic crib from Ikea (SNIGLAR CRIB) and just didn't add the 4th side.  It was WAY cheaper than getting a 'proper' co sleeper and works really well, we can also then use it as his own crib when he moves into another room at some point.  I have been really happy with this.

So, I could ramble on all day about what is amazing, but I am really sharing what I did with you to make the point that we had to find what worked for US.   Find what works for you and what makes you happy and comfortable.  there is nothing more important that your sleep as a mother.  Lack of sleep contributes to less milk production, anxiety, depression, as well as exhaustion. I hope you feel some what liberated from feeling like there is only one right answer.

Actually 'getting' your baby to sleep - that's a whole other blog post... :)

Oh - to end on something hilarious.  Just when you think you have cracked it and your baby is sleeping through the night, they will start teething, so you will basically have to start all over again.  I am not saying this to be an asshole, I am saying it as it took me a while to let go and realise that EVERYTHING IS A PHASE, nothing is set and nothing is forever and no better lesson to learn this with than a sleeping or not sleeping baby.  ENJOY :)

a perfect gift

Today I was surprised in the mail with what I consider to be a totally perfect gift.   Beautifully wrapped in lovely grey tissue paper printed with TOKYObay writing all over it, I swiftly opened it up to discover a smooth and luxurious feeling leather box.  slipping the latch upwards I was welcomed with a delightful looking pillow and around it was clasped a gorgeous muted tone teal colour watch.  

Being brutally honest I am not much of a watch fan, BUT, the Scala Watch is a recent Spring Summer new release and I am completely smitten by it.  I think because it's such soft leather and neutral tone, it feels so nice to wear and not cumbersome even though it's a unisex style with it's oversized polished silver case.  It's a really nice modern and clean design with what I would describe as a 'boyfriend' style and feel to it.  The full numbered dial and design and elongated index at each hour look like they were inspired by the dial on the 1950's kitchen scales.  This retro touch is contoured with a simple cut edge strap in a matte leather that is so smooth and the extra colour hit on the handset pulls this classic watch into 2016 and I just love it!  The case size is 40mm and this watch actually comes in a few other colours too, but I am smitten with this one.

Next to this divine retro watch, I was also given the beautiful black cuff which I think compliments well with the contrasting colours and cute little pendant that attaches to it.  I am totally in love and want to say thank you to Dory and Jun at  TOKYObay for designing such lovely items.  The company has such a cute and interesting story that I touched on briefly in one of my interviews with Amber.    

Established in 1991, TOKYObay is a San Francisco designed watch and accessory brand born out of a collaboration between two talented designers from two very different backgrounds. Jun Kobayashi, from Tokyo, and Dory Isaacs, originally from the UK and now living in the San Francisco Bay Area, came together as two friends with time on their minds.   The East meets West watch and accessory line is infused with everything from Jun's days as a bassist in the popular niche group Flower Travelin' Band to Dory's upbringing in England as a passionate fashion student and ceramic studio owner. The result is a constantly evolving, unique fusion of Japanese minimalism and fashion-focused sensibilities.   Always stylish, well designed and full of colour, TOKYObay is perfect when dressing for the everyday.