Author: Ms. Elle

Derick Learns to Ride a Bicycle

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Yes,yes..finally my son has learnt to ride a bicycle. It has been a year since we bought him his bicycle, and only now he got to really enjoy it. He said, he now loves his bicycle more than ever. Apparently he’s not a kinesthetic learner, and there had been moments of frustration on his part and ours too.  While it has been very easy teaching Summer, Derick took his time,and that took so much of our patience and time.

*Derick and Summer have helmets but on this particular day, they decided not to wear them.

 

What were the tricks we did before he finally were able to put both feet on the pedals?

  1. First, we made sure the bike is the right height and size, and that he’s wearing protective gear for safety.
  2. Then we tried what we did with Summer, which was – hold the handle bar firmly forward, give it a push, put your feet on the pedals and start pedalling. It didn’t work with him! He couldn’t control the handle bar and couldn’t keep his balance.
  3. So we took the pedals out, and let him glide with it similar to pedal-less bicycles for toddlers.  Doing this develops a sense of balance and builds muscle memory. This stage took most part of the days that he tried learning to ride his bicycle. There were weeks even months that he refused to ride his bicycle because of frustration.
  4. At long last, during the summer break, we gave it another go after a long hiatus. We decided to put back the pedals since he could already balance. With sheer determination and lots and lots of encouragement that he could do it, he finally found his rythym  on the second day of practice. And since then he’s been enjoying it.

Hurray! Now, the bicycle is one of his treasured possesions.

Bicycling is a great outdoor activity for kids not only during summer but even during weekends and after school.  It is a great extracurricular activity that refreshes the mind and limit screen time.

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Kids Making Moringa Powder: A Beneficial Chore

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Moringa is a superfood I include in my children’s diet,  and honestly they love it.  Not just that,  they make Moringa powder themselves. It’s easy to follow, in fact there are only 4 simple steps all in the video description.

Here’s a short video clip of how to make Moringa powder.  Enjoy!

 

Allowing children to do this is actually beneficial for them.

  1. Doing chores like this give them a sense of accomplishment.  Something they could be proud of. Chores for children are what trainings are for adults.
  2. It’s a great way to teach children the importance of good health and how to stay healthy.
  3. One of the ways to help your child eat and love veggies and other plant-based food.
  4. Doing this chore, helps instill in your child the love for plants and nature in general. In fact we’ve planted Moringa in our garden in the city.

It’s so easy and simple,  right?  Is this something that you’re children could do too?

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How To Parent Like Angelina

Posted on by Ms. Elle

As a woman who successfully parents 6 children, has an incredible career, and supports multiple charities and causes, it is not surprising that Angelina Jolie is an inspiration to so many people. One of the most admirable things about Angelina is the way she chooses to parent. As any mother or father will know, being a parent is far from easy. If someone as hard-working as Angelina can juggle parenthood and a career, alongside her numerous other interests, it is certainly worth looking at the way in which she achieves this, and how other parents can benefit from her example.

Accept your children’s personalities

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt has cause quite a stir in some circles, with her penchant for masculine-type clothing and, some sources say, wanting to be referred to as John, and not her given name. To Angelina, this is no big deal, and why should it be? Children need to be able to express themselves in a safe environment, and being accepted for who they are will give them the confidence needed to be a mentally healthy adult. Being open and honest and keen to listen will ensure your child feels comfortable to share their feelings. This support should be applied whether they want to wear clothes that may not be the social norm, or if they are having a difficult time coming to terms with their sexuality.

Take them traveling

Of course, Angelina has funds that allow her to take her children all over the world, but even if you have a limited budget, traveling and experiencing diverse cultures should be considered very important for a child’s development. Allowing children to understand that the world consists of various cultures, and introducing them to assorted experiences is discussed on the blog Mommynearest. Among the benefits attributed to traveling with your children is that you are teaching them flexibility, and educating them in a fun way.

Embrace adventure

Alongside taking her children traveling with her, Angelina encourages her children to embrace adventures. Although Angelina does this by taking them to exciting locations all over the world, you can achieve this closer to home. Outdoor adventure play is one way in which your child can experience the thrill of climbing, team-work and imaginative play. There’s no need to think you need to take your kids trekking in Cambodia in order for them to experience real-life adventures, when sites like Indreviews.Com have compilations of the best outdoor activity centres for children you can place in your own back yard.

 

Lead by example

It is well-known that Angelina doted on her mother and it is often reported that she is saddened by the fact that her children didn’t know her. Jolie attributes her wish to lead by example to her mother, as this is exactly how her mother was with her. You can apply this to your own parenting by being charitable, forgiving, and understanding, in the things you say and the things you do.

A beautiful person inside and out, Angelina Jolie is a superb example of modern-day parenting at its best.

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Reasons I include Moringa in My Children’s Diet: You Should too.

Posted on by Ms. Elle

To be healthy need not be expensive.

Growing up, I never had vitamin supplements or power drinks like Milo or Ovaltine. Bragging aside,  my siblings and I were healthy and never frequent the doctor while growing up.  We ate healthy – a lot of fruits and vegetables, especially Moringa!

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Moringa Oleifera Leaves which have been removed from their stalks by my children. The process is so easy that my 6 year old could even do it. These here are ready for drying.

 

Moringa Oleifera is a tropical tree that’s  abundant in Asian countries like the Philippines,  Thailand,  Malaysia,  and India.  Moringa is so packed with health benefits,  it is called by many  as super food. What’s good is, it can be made into powder. It is so easy even kids can powder Moringa themselves.

Having experienced it and up until now I am still reaping the health benefits of Moringa,  I would certainly without a doubt include it in my kids diet.  For those who are unfamiliar with Moringa but have been hearing good stuff about it,  and who would love to know more; here are some reasons why I include Moringa in my children’s diet.

1. Combat the effect of too much screen time.

Screen time is giving kid’s eyes nowadays so much strain.  It is affecting their vision.  A healthy amount of Vitamin A is definitely needed.  Moringa is an excellent source of Vitamin A.

2. I’m not short. My height is just cute!

Your child may be dreaming of one day becoming a basketball player or a supermodel, help them attain this.  As growing kids,  they need hefty amount of protein to build and repair body tissues.  With only just a cup of Moringa leaves, your child gets 2 grams of protein. Isn’t that great?

3. Can’t drink milk. Worry not!

For lactose intolerant kids,  Moringa is one great source of Calcium as it has 4 times more than what is found in milk. And because there is a case of scoliosis in my side of the family, all the more my kids need this to have strong bones.

4. Keep the Doctor away with Moringa

Children and toddlers are prone to common colds and other illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses,  Moringa boosts your kids immunity like no other.  It has 7 times more Vitamin C than oranges,  rich in antioxidant,  and reduces inflammation.

5. The body’s Lego

The only vegetable that contains  9 essential amino acids that the body needs but could not synthsize on it own such as histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. These are essentials in the overall development and bodily functions in cellular level. These amino acids are building blocks, somewhat similar to Legos, behind the normal functions of our cells, muscles, and other tissues.

Aside from these,  Moringa is also rich in potassium,  magnesium,  Vitamin B6 and B2, and Iron. It also has loads of digestive fibers to aid your child’s digestion.

Your child could eat Moringa leaves as an ingredient in soup,  or in powder form which you could add to a variety of food, drinks, or smoothies.

To be healthy need not be expensive.  Moringa is the most affordable super food there is.  In fact,  in Asian countries you could just ask for this from a friend or a neighbor for FREE.  However Moringa does not grow well in cold places,  what’s good though is that it is available in powder form and can be bought online.

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Top Fun Activities to Do at Home with the Kids (That Won’t Ruin the House)

Posted on by Ms. Elle

If you’re a mother, you’ve probably faced this challenge at some point: it’s raining, you can’t go outside, but you’ve just cleaned your perfectly set up home and it actually doesn’t look like a mess for once. But you need to entertain the kids, so how do you do that without trashing the entire house again or getting paint on your new wallpaper? Don’t worry, here are five fun activities you can do at home with the kids, that won’t ruin the house and aren’t just sitting in front of the TV.

Fort Building

Fort building is an all-time classic activity, and while it might sound messy, it can actually be an excellent and easy to clear up activity. Grab all the chairs, couches, blankets, duvets and cushions you can find and construct a secret sanctuary. If you want to go the extra mile, you can even throw up some fairy lights and have a little movie night inside with some popcorn.

Magic Tricks

Magic tricks may not be the first thing that springs to mind, but they are actually an easy, fun and engaging activity, especially for older kids, providing hours of fun. The main obstacle that stands in the way of most people is a lack of knowledge on how to do the magic tricks, but that’s okay, you don’t need to be a professional magician. With sites like Rebel Magic, you can find easy to follow tutorials that’ll keep your kids entertained for hours.

Reading

Reading is a classic quiet and non-messy activity for kids. Reading rates are declining in children, which isn’t great, because reading has been shown to actually help children’s brains to develop faster, allowing them to express themselves better, develop their creativity and sense of imagination, as well as helping them academically. If your kids are a bit older, they might want to take out their own books from the library and read by themselves, but for younger kids, reading with their parents can be a great way to encourage a love of books and keep them entertained.

Origami

More for older kids (but the younger ones can still have fun) origami is an ancient Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes or figures. Pro origami artists can create huge sculptures such as dragons and swans, but there is also a lot of fun to be had with beginners. You can buy origami sets online that teach kids how to make basic figures such as frogs and birds.

Dance Party

Stick on some tunes, perhaps some throwback tracks to your own childhood and get dancing. This is not only fun for the kids, but also for the adults, and allows you all to get in some exercise, which will de-stress you and hopefully wear them out a bit.
There are many more options for mess-free home activities, but these are just some of the most popular options to save for a rainy day. Hopefully they’ve inspired you to be a bit more creative when it comes to one of those days you’ve been locked in the house.

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Portable Cordless Handy Stitch: Should make sewing easy

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Been planning to make pillow cases, apron, and mini dresses for my daughter’s barbie dolls for as long as I can remember. It’s quite ambitious and almost impossible to sew these manually. So when I saw this portable, cordless, handy stitch online I thought to myself perfect! Another Mom’s new toy.

The Handy Stitch

It came in this blue box with the sewing kit wrapped in bubble wrap, and some extra parts like thread,  threader,  and thread spool. It also has an instructional manual, which is in English, great!

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Price

A single item of the handy stitch is worth 944 baht, but they offer packages too, like 2 for only 1,247 baht (I’m a mom on a budget, so I thought this is a great deal!). I bought two, one for me and one for my daughter.

 

Buying online

Buying the handy stitch online was quick. All I did was send them a private message in their Facebook page and they got back to me immediately with the pricing, and then some other details were needed too like name and address. Everything was settled in a matter of minutes and after three days, voila, got my cute sewing machine. Paid them cash upon receiving it, and excitedly got on to business.

 

And how’s it?

Oh well, lemon. Yes I bought a lemon! It came with a piece of cloth where there are stitches to prove that it works (as you can see in the photo above) . Yes it does work…for the first 10 seconds. Thought I broken it, so I got the other one. The same thing, worked for 10 seconds then started acting up.
It uses a single thread which the needle would sew into a chain stitch on the fabric. But on closer look, my husband and I figured that the needle couldn’t loop the thread. We watched Youtube reviews and found out other owners have similar problems. One suggested to recalibrate the needle by tightening the screw that holds it in place. And so we did. It worked! It managed to make a few stitches, then two or three without stitches, then it’s sewing again, then nothing, then a few, then nothing and more nothing. Don’t tell me the needle needs re-adjustment every few stitches!

I was frustrated and disappointed big time. This is the second time we bought a China made item online (the first was Dengo Car Camera), both turned out a waste of our hard-earned money.

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7 Travel Safety Tips For Women

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Traveling around the world is always going to be a daunting prospect, but for women, there are additional precautions that should be considered. It is perfectly possible for a woman to travel around the world on her own, but it is important to take your personal safety seriously.

 

Research Thoroughly

The more you know about the place you’re heading to, the more you will be able to prepare yourself. Research the customs and culture of your destination and make sure that you understand any special requirements regarding dress and conduct. No one likes feeling like their rights are being taken from them, but if you travel and act in defiance of local customs on principle, you are potentially placing yourself in grave danger. No matter how strongly you might feel, the consequences are not worth it for the sake of foregoing local dress codes.

 

Keep Your Valuables With You While in Transit

Many of us travel with tablets, laptops, and smartphones these days. Thieves know when these items are most vulnerable, particularly during transit. Whenever you are traveling on a plane, a train, or even a bus, especially if you will be sleeping, keep your valuables close by so that they can’t be disturbed without your knowledge.

 

Only Take What You Need

The lighter you travel, the easier you will travel. Having less stuff make it easier for you to pack up and move if you feel unsafe. If you are bogged down by lots of baggage, you could potentially find yourself in a situation where you have to abandon some of your luggage.

 

Don’t Be Too Trusting

When traveling, you will naturally want to make friends. We all like having company. Other people will provide you with great comfort on the road, and you will hopefully make lots of new friends. However, you must always be wary. Apply the same caution that you would at home, perhaps even a little more so.

 

Be Careful With Alcohol

Alcohol is the architect of bad decisions. There’s nothing wrong with going out and having fun, but remember that, in addition to the usual cautions you need to take with alcohol, you will also likely be in unfamiliar territory. This makes you even more vulnerable.

 

Be Prepared to Spend More

If you are willing to spend a little bit more, you can often secure a little additional safety and security. For example, when it comes to choosing an appropriate means of transport, the cheapest option will be walking, but this is also the most dangerous. On the other hand, driving yourself leaves you in control but will incur the most costs.

 

Always Have Plans

You should always aim to plan ahead as you travel. This will make it possible for you to check out any areas you are heading to before you reach them. For example, if you are traveling around the US and looking for baseball-related places to visit, Theplanetofbaseball.com can help you learn more about this fun sport, so you can plan some great days out.

Travel is all about having fun and experiencing new things. It is a wonderful experience and something that all of us should do at some point. Traveling safely is easy as long as you prepare beforehand.

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5 Reasons Why Your Baby Avoids Eating Solid Food

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Every mother wants her baby to follow a healthy food diet. The initial days are manageable with milk and other liquid foods. However, as the baby grows, the mother need to prepare him/her for eating solid foods and developing a stronger digestive system. Also, it is important to start consuming solids so that the infant can be given more nutrients, which breastmilk or liquid foods usually do not possess. Some toddlers may quickly begin following a solid food diet, while others require efforts to develop this habit. If your baby is avoiding consuming solid food, then this could be due to one of the following reasons.

 

• He or She is already full

Due to a small stomach, a baby needs food in every 1.5-2 hours. Thus, mothers keep feeding the baby with breastmilk or bottle feed to keep the nutritional intake stable. It becomes habitual for moms, so it becomes hard for the baby to consume solid food as he/she has already consumed plenty of liquid food. Many parents follow the method where they bottle or breastfeed the baby first and then offer them solid food. However, the baby is unable to eat at that time due to a full stomach.

 

• The toddler is tired

You may not realize this, but when you bring your toddler to the table for food, he/she may not be filling utterly active at that time. It might be time for his/her nap, and feeding the baby with food at that moment may result in his/her disinterest in the food. Thus, ensure that you feed solid foods to the baby when he/she is active and does not need to sleep.

 

• Preference of food texture

Infants may not necessarily like the solid food you are feeding them. Try to experiment with different kinds of foods and make a note of the ones that he/she enjoys eating without any problems of texture or taste. You may often need to use various methods to feed them, for instance, by mixing two foods to suit their liking.

 

• Maybe the baby is being distracted

Babies often avoid eating food when their focus is upon some other object present in the surrounding. It may become a troubling situation for you as the baby grows. Thus, make sure that the baby is just focused on the food he/she is about to it without any possible distractions in the area.

 

• Feeling discomfort

You need to check the way your baby is sitting, dressing, etc., as an uncomfortable baby is going to feel fussy about performing any activity, even eating food. Hence, make sure that the baby is wearing loose clothes, sitting correctly, is not feeling sick, and does not require anything other than food. If you still do not understand the problem, try consulting a pediatrician. You can learn about How Much Does A Pediatrician Earn Per Hour by visiting this page.
Babies are innocent and do not understand the environment around them at such a young age. Thus, it is necessary that you guide them with love and affection to eat solid food and follow a healthy diet.

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My After Giving Birth vs Kate Middleton’s

Posted on by Ms. Elle
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Kate Middleton discharged from the hospital seven hours after giving birth to her third child.

Kate Middleton came out from the hospital with her third baby looking as radaint as ever. Oh that look is not the look of a woman who just gave birth, right? Except for that tiny post baby bump, I wouldn’t know she had been pregnant or has given birth for that matter. Her eyes, nose, and skin show no sign of pregnancy. And oh, she was on heels.

This really got me thinking of my own after giving birth experience. Prior,  I’ve shunned any thoughts of it as I don’t want to bring those memories back.  However there is happiness in sharing and knowing others’ experiences. In a previous post I talked about my traumatic breastfeeding experience  which I’d deeply appreciate if you check it out. But before that please read on and see how similar or dissimilar our after giving birth experiences are.

I have got two children and well in both times, after giving birth I felt I have just exercised rigorously nonstop for 8 hours; and oh I also looked horrible. Horrible enough I wanted to hide under the bed cover for weeks.

Let me walk you through it, and tell me if you had a similar one.

1. Extremely exhausted. I have never been that exhausted in my entire life. My body felt bruised and heavy. I just wanted to sleep for a long time.

2. Soreness everywhere. My eyes were, and so was my vagina. Not just sore, it was swollen too! Side to side movement was a pain. Walking was painful. But peeing was the worst!

3. Here’s the worst part, puffed face in the “worsiest” (if such word exist) possible way. I remember I didn’t want to see my face in the mirror or my photo taken. My nose was super big and my eyes were like Yoda’s.

4. Dry, unattractive skin caused by pregnancy triggered melasma. It’s worst around the neck and armpit.

And oh, wearing shoes after was a no-no let alone heeled shoes. I wish! My feet were as big and swollen as an elephant.

I have seen other women among my circle of friends and women in my community  go through quite similar to mine. However I’m wonderin how celebrities and other famous people make giving birth look like a walk in the park.

Was it a walk in the park for you?

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Energy Saving Tips for Your New Home

Posted on by Ms. Elle

When moving into a new home, there are many factors that you should be considering which can help save you a significant amount of money. Here are a few energy saving tips that you should be aware of before moving into your new home.

 

Compare Suppliers

Before moving into your new home, you will need to sit down and have a look at the different energy suppliers on the market. Each supplier will have different strengths and weaknesses, so you will need to weigh up what will be best for you and how you can get the most out of your new home. Being able to compare electricity, solar and gas offers will help you make the right decision.

 

Turning Radiators Off

In the winter months especially, it can be easy to forget about how much energy you are using. Whilst it is nice to have a whole home heated and warm, there are simple ways where you can cut down on costs. Having radiators switched on in every room can quickly become a financial burden, so ensuring you restrict your usage, turning them off before sleeping can benefit you in the long run. Visiting websites like warmrooms.co.uk can give you more information on what type of radiators will work best for your new home.

 

Setting Your Thermostat

Keeping a close eye on your thermostat can also help you save money on your energy bills. It is important to have your home at the right temperature depending on the season of the year so make sure that you bear this in mind. To save even more money, try and have your thermostat at the lowest you can throughout the summer months. For every degree above 20 degrees, you could be seeing a 10% increase in your energy bills so taking appropriate action can help you stay in control and aware of costs.

 

Insulation

Another way to help save on your energy bills is by having insulation throughout your home. If you have insulated ceilings, your home will be much warmer, and you will not feel the need to turn on your heating as much. Before moving into your new home, make sure that you do your research and find out if your roof is insulated as it can make a massive difference overall.

 

Energy Efficiency

Another great way to save on your energy bills is by having energy saving lightbulbs throughout your home. There are a wide range of shapes and wattages to suit all your lighting needs. Energy saving lightbulbs can provide up to 80% in energy savings as well as lasting up to 10 years, ensuring you get the best value for money.

Taking simple steps and understanding the ways to help save on your energy bills will benefit you in the long run. Not only will you be able to take control on how you use energy, you will also be benefiting financially. Make sure you take the time to work out which energy supplier is right for you to get the best deals possible.

 

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