song of the week

can't even get enough of this song, 

when I get my hands on you - the basement tapes with vocals by Marcus Mumford

Oliver's Library

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts

but I just picked up a few books from the This Is series to stash away for Christmas

and thought they might make great gift ideas, so a must share!

 book preview

I picked up the This is London, Britain, Edinburgh, Ireland and the World to start but am excited to collect them all! One of the greatest gifts my dad gave to me was to open my eyes to the world around us. He traveled a lot when I was growing up and it ignited a curiosity in me, a passion to learn about other places and how other people live . One of my goals is to teach my kids about other countries and cultures even if we can't travel there. 

First up learning about Britain and the UK, where my dad was born.

our home away from home, even if I've only actually passed through on a connecting flight. 

It's in my blood.and theirs too!

fresh obessed

want the freshest laundry?

try adding a few drops of lemon, lavender or any of your favourite oils

to your wool dryer balls. (I use Norwex brand dryer balls)

 

want to know about young living oils?

drop me a line info@nestedbirth.com

essential oils

like many I have fallen hard for essential oils as part of my everyday life. 

I had dappled in them before but after discovering Young Living at an information session earlier this year, I was hooked. It was clear to me that all oils are not created equal and  the oils I had used previously were not pure, therapeutic grade like YL. The proof was in the immediate results! 

As I mentioned in the previous post, I am certifying to become a labour, birth and postpartum doula. My intention when I started learning and using essential oils was to incorporate them as a comfort measure in my doula business. I have been doing a lot of research and webinars about oiling and I can't wait to share all sorts of tips and tricks of how to incorporate oils into your pregnancy, postpartum and beyond!

If you are looking for more information on oils and doula services please contact me at info@nestedbirth.com and if you are interested in starting your oiling journey with me please visit Young Living

Besides diffusing individual oils and blends for aromatic benefits throughout your home, you can easily make the most wonderful DIY items. This is a sample of the postpartum spray I whipped for my sister... who due any day now!

Postpartum Spray
in a glass bottle mix the following:

- 6 tbs witch havel

-6 drops of  frankincense oil 

- 3 drops of lavender oil

- 4 tbs of filtered water

- 3 tbs aloe vera

more tips and DIY coming!

salty rain

because pure joy, who doesn't need a little of that?

salty rain! the best!

live a kick-ass life

because sometimes we need a reminder...

Charles Bukowski's top 10 tips for living a kick-ass life!

read the full article here

1. Don’t settle.

2. Love yourself.  

3. Live life to its fullest.

4. Don’t fear pain, without it, you can’t experience happiness.

5. Be your own unique self and shamelessly express it in all you do.

6. You’re stronger than you think.

7. Don’t fear death.

8. Have confidence in yourself.

9. There are much worse things than loneliness.

10. Life happens, don’t always take it so seriously.

don't let this happen to you

seeing the world differently

this is a wonderful video, proving that you are never too old to see the world differently. 

never too old to try new things. I hope you watch it to the end, I guarantee you will smile, 

their laughter infectious, their excitement uplifting. I loved every sec of it!

tiny house

I'm in love with this house, obviously a tight fit for a family of five...

but I guess that's the point. We (especially in Canada) think square footage is boss. 

The bigger the better, but what if we spent less on our homes and more on just enjoying life. 

Although I would still take one of these tiny houses to park out in the woods for an amazing getaway!

 photos via

want, need, have to have

these are all so gorgeous....
I need to marry west elm because I'm in love with everything on their website!
I'll just take one of everything please.

west elm

Oliver's Library

this week's book selection should probably be under 'Georgies' library since they are more apt for her age group, but since Oliver loves pretty much all books, they still peaked his interest. 

these retro inspired books (by Stephen Krensky) about growing out of babyhood are too sweet 

and would make a perfect gift or a great addition to your child's library!

etsy love

It's not going to be happening for awhile but I'm already stashing away ideas for the boys room remodel. Once Finn is ready to be moved into Oliver's room in like a year from now,
I think it will be time to change things up a bit and these prints are definitely part of the plan!
Now if only I could decided on which ones....love them all (although I'm leaning towards the Canadian cities for obvious reasons my heart is with the European ones too) 

 loosepetals

homemade valentines

last night I whipped up some homemade valentines for the kiddos party on Friday.
hot off the press (home photo printer).
Super cute, super easy (and very cheap) personalized valentines for their friends.

lollipop taped to the back is yummy earth organic pops
taste good without the yucky not so good for you stuff which is perfect for little mouths!

Oliver's Library

Oliver has always loved books, even as a baby he was so content to sit and listen to story after story. 

Georgie was very different, she had no time for the stillness that reading required ... until recently. 

True to Georgie's style she picks the time and the place when she's ready for a book by bringing one to me and saying  "read it"

I've recently discovered some greats reads so I thought I would share. 

First up. Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of Country Life by Julia Rothman

Now this book is a little advanced for a 3 1/2 year old but he did really enjoy it!

 There are so many great things to learn, from barn styles to how to make a chicken coop, to identifying different plants and flowers and even great recipes. I know this book will be a favourite for years to come for him and me. 

etsy love

hey y'all, my sister-in-law just opened up her etsy shop!

stocked with adorable must-have for the little babes in your life. 

These make great shower gifts for the mamas-to-be or great items to just buy yourself.
She's adding new items all the time and of course accepting custom orders as well.

check out from this town

photos via

This NonSlip change mat is definitely one of my favourites...
very useful, washable, soft on baby and this print gah! so good and gender neutral!

things you should never say to a pregnant woman

as I approach the end of this pregnancy and the glow from 2nd trimester definitely fading... 

I thought I'd share a list of things never to say to a pregnant lady. 

Actually some of these brought some serious LOL's, read the article here

“Was it planned?”

  Does it really matter? Whether it was planned or not, she’s obviously sharing the news because she’s happy and excited not because she wants to answer to nosy people. Questioning her decision-making is unnecessary (and kind of rude). What to say instead: “Congratulations, kids are great!” 

“Did you take fertility drugs?”

Getting pregnant isn’t easy for everyone and the struggle with fertility is emotionally and financially exhausting. When a woman is pregnant at a certain age or is carrying multiples, be mindful of the delicate story that may be behind her joy; intrusive questions just rain on her parade. What to say instead: “Do multiples run in your family?” 

“You look like you’re ready to pop!”

(What she’s thinking: What’s your excuse? I’m carrying a life!) Come on, women are self-conscious enough as it is and when she’s carrying an extra 20 or so pounds she’s extra sensitive about her looks (and everything else for that matter). What to say instead: “Do you know what you are having?” 

“Can I touch your belly?”

  (What she’s thinking: I don’t even know you!) Unless you’re a close relative or friend, this is just awkward for her. Just because a woman is pregnant doesn’t make her belly community property. What to say instead: “Wow, you look great! What a cute belly!” 

 “Have you picked a name yet?”

  It seems harmless, but trust us, she doesn’t want to answer this question and subject herself (and her partner) to your opinions. It’s hard enough agreeing on a baby name as a couple and input from strangers just makes the process more difficult. What to say instead: “Are you having fun picking a name?” 

“Enjoy ____ now because once the baby comes, you can kiss it goodbye.”

Pregnancy is an emotional time for a woman especially if it’s her first. She’s very aware that her life is about to drastically change. She doesn’t need you to suggest that she’ll never enjoy sleep, skinny jeans or a minute alone ever again. What to say instead: “Parenting is certainly full of ups and downs but it’s worth it!” 

 “You shouldn't be eating/drinking that.”

(What she’s thinking: Thanks Dr. Stranger, but I’ll eat and drink whatever I please and if you get in the way, you may lose a finger.) Pregnant women are well aware of their new dietary recommendations and restrictions and if you don’t trust she’s making wise decisions, keep it to yourself. What to say instead: “Boy, does that look delicious!”  

“I never had morning sickness.”

All pregnancies are different, so bragging to a mother who is sick as a dog about your lack of pregnancy symptoms is downright insensitive. What to say instead: “How have you been feeling? Any morning sickness?”  

“I was sick my whole 9 months.”

On the flip side, a pregnant woman doesn’t want to be any more terrified than she already is. Keep the horror stories to yourself. What to say instead: “Don’t worry, you will feel better soon enough!”  

“I was ripped open from end to end.”

 This falls into the horror story category. Like pregnancy, giving birth is different for every woman. And the fact is, most women don’t end up “ripped from end-to-end" — one bad experience shouldn’t set off panic in the mind of a new mother! What to say instead: “I had a rough experience, but not all women go through what I did.” 

“Get an epidural!”  

 Deciding how and where to give birth is extremely personal — it’s about what she wants, not what other people think she should want. Though hospital settings and epidurals are mainstream, not every mother chooses to go that route. Questioning her decision to do something you didn’t gives her zero credit for making an educated decision. What to say instead: “I decided to get an epidural because…but everyone is different.” 

But these have to be my absolute personal favourites from the article.....

• “Are you still with the father?”
• “When I told my boss I was pregnant (with my first child), the first thing he said was: “Are you going to keep it?””
• “Although I had been with my husband for nine years, my MIL had the nerve to ask if the baby was his.”
• “We were having our weekly ultrasound and my doctor didn’t say anything about the baby’s heart or lungs…instead, she said: ‘And there are his balls.’ Really? Is that the medical term?” 
• “I was working in a restaurant and attempting to seat some people, when they requested a table on the opposite side of the restaurant and said: ‘You look like you could use the exercise anyway...’”
•  “As a 44-year-old pregnant woman I often heard: ‘You know, the likelihood of Down's syndrome goes up as you get older.’ Nice, huh?”
•  “When I told my MIL I would be opting for an epidural, she replied: ‘I hope the doctor doesn't paralyze you, that would make taking care of a new born really difficult.’ Ugh, seriously?” 
•  “When I was seven months pregnant someone asked me if I’d ever considered losing weight.”
•  “My OB was concerned that I was measuring very large as my due date was closing in and said: "I just want to make sure you're not having a monster baby."
•  “I had someone tell me that they couldn't picture me as a mother. How do you even respond to that?”

 

  

body brushing

do you brush your body? here's why you should start!

The benefits of dry skin brushing include:

 

•  improving vascular blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. By releasing toxins, it encourages the body’s discharge of metabolic wastes so the body is able to run more effectively. Remember your lymphatic system doesn't have a pump so actively promoting lymphatic movement is key to a healthier life.
• Dry skin brushing rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin
•  Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores.
• Increasing the circulation to the skin could possibly reduce the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is toxic material accumulated in your body’s fat cells. No need to take drastic measures like liposuction, how about utilizing the dry skin brushing techniques to help break down unwanted toxins?
• Dry body brushing helps shed dead skin cells (and encourages new cell renewal), which results in smoother and brighter skin. It can also help with any pesky ingrown hairs.
• It helps with muscle tone and gives you a more even distribution of fat deposits.

 you don’t have to book a pricey spa treatment to reap the benefits; this one can be done in your very own bathroom. All you need to do is purchase a natural bristle brush (not one made from nylon or synthetic materials). One with a long handle is also a plus, as it means you can reach all areas of the body. 

20 things we should say more often

love this. 

raspberry leaf tea

one of my favourite teas (and not just because I'm 37 weeks pregnant)

 is  raspberry leaf tea while it has a great reputation for benefits during pregnancy, this tea is beneficial to all women in any stage of life. As it's name suggests, it's made from the leaf of the raspberry plant, it's naturally high in magnesium, potassium, iron and b-vitamins and this specific combination of nutrients make it highly beneficial for women's reproduction health. 

In pregnancy it helps alleviate nausea, leg cramps and improves sleep while also strengthening the uterus and pelvic muscles which many claim lead to a shorter and easier labour. It is also recommended for women to increase fertility and helpful for couples trying to conceive. I've drank it throughout my pregnancies although I've found at times it made me crampy and then I would reduce my intake to a couple of times a week instead of daily. But always consult with your midwife or doctor before taking any herb while pregnant.

Pregnancy aside,  Raspberry Leaf Tea has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat an assortment of ailments including but not limited to:canker sores, cold sores, and gingivitis in persons of all ages and anemia, leg cramps, diarrhea, and morning sickness in pregnant women, and as a uterine relaxant. 

I've been a fan of raspberry leaf tea for some time, 

check out my other posts here , here,  here and here

etsy love

so I died and went to coat heaven.

these coats are.... I MEAN! honestly. 

just stop because I need deeper pockets and gahhh! I'm in LOVE.

Can you even handle it? Well done littlegoodall

check out this etsy shop for even more adorable creations.