Friday, May 30, 2014

Ginger Water


On a trip to Belize we happened upon this local "fruit water". While technically ginger in not a fruit, it gets thrown in with other waters such as Jamica, Watermelon, and Lime.
We have developed a love of these different water drinks. They are particularly appealing in that they are all natural. No dye, no flavors, no artificial flavors. 
My husband is extremely fond of ginger in any and all forms, so when the waitress said that one of the drinks specials was ginger water he could not wait to try it. Once we did we had to ask how to make it ourselves. Turns out it is super easy.
There are many health benefits attributed to ginger, here are a few:
1. Ginger clears the ‘microcirculatory channels’ of the body, including the pesky sinuses that tend to flare up from time to time.
2. Feeling airsick or nauseous? Chew on ginger, preferably tossed in a little honey.
3. Tummy moaning and groaning under cramps? Munch on ginger.
4. Reeling under joint pain? Ginger, with its anti-inflammatory properties—can bring relief. Float some ginger essential oil in your bath to help aching muscles and joints.
5.Stir up some ginger tea to get rid of throat and nose congestion. And when there’s a nip in the air, the warming benefits of this tasty tea are even greater!
Our family has been using ginger for years to control car sickness, it works like a charm!

For all of you that like a natural drink with a clean and refreshing taste here is how to make it at home.


Start with about 3 or 4 good size pieces of fresh ginger.


Peel and chop into small pieces.


Place in a pan with the sweetener of your choice and about 4 cups of water. We use raw or turbinado sugar. You can use agave, stevia, honey, or processed sugar. Be cautious of using artificial sweeteners as they have a tendency to become bitter when heated. Bring this to a boil and cook until the water is reduced by at least 50%. We usually go down to about 25% to make a ginger flavored simple syrup. Stir occasionally to avoid burning the syrup.

Once your water has reduced, remove from heat and let sit for a while to cool. Pour through a strainer and store syrup in a container in the refrigerator. We usually make a couple of batches and put the first batch right into a half gallon pitcher with cold water. For us, we use about 1 cup of syrup to 3 cups of cold water. Give it a taste and adjust accordingly. I add a bit more water for mine, Todd likes his with more "bite" from the ginger. I also like to add a splash of the syrup to my iced tea for a more exotic tasting tea.



50% OFF Silicone Necklaces!


Mon Petit Mardi round bead silicone necklaces are on sale for 50% off 05/30/14 - 06/03/14. Available in 19 colors, these necklaces are safe for baby to teethe on and stylish for mom to wear. You can find the sale here.


Features

  • Mommy chic, baby safe
  • Approximately 30'
  • 100% silicone beads
  • Soft on babies gums and emerging teeth
  • No BPA, phthalates, cadmium, lead, metals
  • Easily cleaned with dish soap and water, also dishwasher safe
  • Necklaces have a breakaway clasp for added safety
  • Necklaces are a great sensory tool to help babies focus while nursing


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Quotes I Love





I am Barbara, the Grandma (or “Munga” as Tuesday calls me) of Mon Petit Mardi.
I grew up in Boston (not Boston, Massachusetts just Boston, I have always laughed at how arrogant we Bostonians are that we just know that there is no other possible Boston!) My grandmother was a Liberian so that is probably where my great love of books started. I can remember being so excited when she would come with a box or two of discarded books from the library for me. The subject matter ranged from fantasy to history. There was never any rhyme or reason to what she would include. As I got older I wondered if it was her intention to expose me to all genres or if she chose books by how pretty they looked all lined up together. I suspect it was the latter as there was never any type of order that I could tell on her bookshelves, but they sure looked attractive and all of her books were well used and loved.
I married a fellow book lover and I think even he was surprised at the number of books I brought with me to my new home.
As we grew our family it was important to me to pass along my love of books. From pregnancy forward I read to my kids, and like my grandmother I included every type of book I could. I am happy to say that love of literature has stuck with both of my girls and it looks as if Tuesday is on the same path. We go through a daily routine where she selects books to be read to her and then manages to convince my husband (aka PaPa) to read “just one more”. I am not sure if he gives in because she is irresistibly cute in her begging or because he is an avid reader too. Whichever the case may be, she usually manages to get several books a day into her busy 3 year olds schedule.
As I was reading some passages out to Todd and it occurred to me that book quotes might work as a blog subject, so here it is. Some of my favorite literary quotes on motherhood follow:

"A good mother loves fiercely but ultimately brings up her children to thrive without her. They must be the most important thing in her life, but if she is the most important thing in theirs, she has failed." ― Erin Kelly - The Burning

"Gilbert put his arm about them. 'Oh, you mothers!' he said. 'You mothers! God knew what He was about when He made you." — L. M. Montgomery - Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables Series)

 “I think this power of living in our children is one of the sweetest things in the world…” ― Louisa May Alcott - Jo's Boys

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." — Washington Irving

“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else's happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is...and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” ― Donna Ball - At Home on Ladybug Farm

“When your mother asks, "Do you want a piece of advice?" it's a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway.” - Erma Bombeck

“Think for a minute, darling: in fairy tales it's always the children who have the fine adventures. The mothers have to stay at home and wait for the children to fly in the window.” ― Audrey Niffenegger - The Time Traveler's Wife

“Does your ma know you're this silly?" she demanded tartly.

He nodded, comically sad. "The few gray hairs she has on her head are my doing. But" — with an exaggerated change of mood — "I send her plenty of money, so she can pay to have them dyed!"
"I hope she beat you as a child," Onua grumbled.” ― Tamora Pierce - Wild Magic


“I will look after you and I will look after anybody you say needs to be looked after, any way you say. I am here. I brought my whole self to you. I am your mother.” ― Maya Angelou - Mom & Me & Mom

“Just as there is no warning for childbirth, there is no preparation for the sight of a first child... There should be a song for women to sing at this moment, or a prayer to recite. But perhaps there is none because there are no words strong enough to name the moment.” ― Anita Diamant - The Red Tent

“I don't remember who said this, but there really are places in the heart you don't even know exist until you love a child.” ― Anne LamottOperating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year

Did any of these quotes make you smile or touch a spot in your mind or heart?  There are so many more that I could include, but I would love to read some of your favorites. Please feel free to join the conversation by leaving your comments below.


Friday, May 23, 2014

Slime!

Homemade slime is an all time favorite around here. This recipe is a fun activity to do with your kids and will keep them occupied for hours!




Supplies:
- 4 oz white school glue (you can use white or clear for different looks)
- 1 teaspoon Borax (find this in the laundry aisle)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- food coloring if you want colored slime (red, in this case)
- something to mix in & stir with



Start by dissolving 1 teaspoon of Borax into 1 cup of water. 
(don't worry if all the powder dissolves)


Next pour the white school glue (or clear if you want) into a bowl. Next time I'll try glitter glue.



Next add 1/2 cup of water and a few drops of food coloring. I filled the empty glue bottle, gave it a good shake and dumped it in. You can use the glue bottle one more time as a 'spoon' for stirring. No need for extra dishes, right?



Now the fun part! Pour your Borax solution into the bowl and stir. Almost immediately you'll see the slime start to form. 


You'll need to drain the excess water now. It will still feel like it's too wet and slippery at this point, but it will firm up. Just knead it, stretch it, repeat. After a few minutes of this it'll be perfect. 



Here's the finished product.



When you're finished plying with your slime, put it in a zippy and keep in the fridge. If it seems to get a little dry, add a few drops of water to the baggy.



I probably don't need to say this but, please don't eat the slime. Although it may not be especially toxic, it can't be good for you either!




Monday, May 19, 2014

 Scones and Cream

When in Australia visiting Tuesday's dad we discovered scones and clotted cream. While my mouth says it was the find of a lifetime, I am not so sure that I can say my waistband would agree.

I have been going through some pictures and got a craving for scones. I looked at loads of recipes and settled on two that sounded easy to prepare, looked yummy, and had good reviews.

Here is the one I made (and it turned out great!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

English Cream Scones
Servings:  16 small scones
Ingredients:

 2 Cups All Purpose Flour ( I used unbleached). The recipe recommended using a scale for accuracy. They say it makes a big difference so I did weigh out the 9 ounces.
1 TBLS Baking Powder
4 TBLS Sugar (I used the "less" refined)
1/2 tsp salt
5 TBLS Cold Unsalted Butter (I used salted as it was all I had on hand) cut into cubes

3/4 Cups Heavy Cream
1 Egg - slightly beaten (oops forgot to beat in advance)
1 tsp Vanilla
2 TBLS Sugar to sprinkle on top (I skipped this step as I thought that there may be a bit much sugar in these anyway. Traditional scones are really not very sweet)



Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Place flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and butter into a bowl (if you are among the blessed to have a food processor put ingredients into there and pulsate in 3 second intervals until it looks like coarse meal) and with a pastry blender (2 knives will work too) mix until you achieve coarse meal texture. I never really got to a texture that I personally would call "coarse meal" but this was close.



In a large bowl stir in the heavy cream, beaten egg, and vanilla. Mix by hand until it forms a slightly sticky moistened dough ball. If you have a stand mixer you can also mix on the lowest speed with a dough hook for a few minutes.


I strongly suggest at this time you remove your wedding and other rings. 

Don't ask, just trust me!

Flour your working surface and grab enough dough (about 1/4 of the dough) to form about the size of a baseball and gently roll it into a ball. On the flowered work space flatten the ball until your disk is about 3/4" high with the center slightly higher then the edges. At this point you can sprinkle the tops with sugar if you are going that route.


Cut each of the circles into 4 pieces. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, or on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes until the bottoms are golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack.



And this is what we ended up with!

Strawberry & Cream                                              Lemon Curd and Cream

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clotted Cream
1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1 TBL Confectionery Sugar
3 oz. Cream Cheese 


Soften cream cheese, add sugar and mix with hand mixer. Add heavy cream and beat until soft peaks form. Do not over beat or you will have whipped cream instead of clotted cream. The consistency should be like very thick cream, not fluffy.


These have been taste tested and family approved. I will try them out on company very soon.


                                                                                

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Helpful Household Hints

I found a lot of these while looking through Pinterest. Pinterest is a wonderful source for finding creative and economical tips for around the house. I will include links whenever I can to the original site where I see the tips. If a link is wrong or no longer working just let me know and I will fix it if I can.

Please feel free to leave your feedback on any of these that you try or to leave a tip of your own!
___________________________________________________________

Don't you just hate trying to find the end of a roll of tape? Here is a great fix using a plastic bread tag as a tape marker. Just fold the end of the tape over the plastic bread tag, and your tape will be ready to use next time you reach for it.


From Martha Stewart. Slip-proof your rug: To give an area rug some traction, flip it over, and apply lines of acrylic-latex caulk every 6 inches or so. Once dry, you can safely put down your rug; the rubbery strips will hold it in place.  


Restore a vacuum to maximum power by cutting the lint and hair from its roller brush using a seam ripper. This is a huge time saver. I have used scissors before but the seam ripper is so much easier and faster! I hate to admit the number of hours I have spent over the years picking away at the hair stuck in our sweepers roller bar. I have often thought that we could house a kennel and not have as much hair as our two girls managed to shed!


If you break your blender container you can substitute a mason jar.


Remove gunk from the sole plate of an iron. With the setting on low, rub the iron over the dryer sheet until the residue disappears, and you're left with a pristine press.


Love this idea. I hate climbing up to clean the tops of our kitchen cabinets. They seem to be grease and dust magnets which is a deadly cleaning combination. Once I have the length of the first sheet, just tear a bunch off the same size and you can switch out clean for used in minutes.


You can freeze heavy cream or buttermilk. I have all kinds of recipes that call for small amounts of these and then the rest either goes to waste or I find my self baking enough to pack pounds onto the whole family! Just fill ice cube trays and freeze. When solid store in freezer zippy bags.


Only time will tell, but if this works as well as everyone on Pinterest says, it will be terrific! Cinnamon in the sandbox keeps the bugs away. You need to use a cup to a cup and a half of cinnamon and mix it into the sand.




I love this idea. Bobby pins have a way of escaping to never be found when needed (they can always be found when unwanted like when vacuuming!) 


I have often run my sponges through the dishwasher to freshen them up, but if there is not a load about to run this is a great idea. Soak sponges in water with either white vinegar or lemon juice, place in microwave for one minute on high. Be careful when these come out as they will be HOT! Use tongs or an oven mitt to remove.



Color Code Keys - I find myself stumbling around looking for the "right" key too often. When I saw this idea I thought this is just what I need! So far, so good . . . the polish is holding without chipping or peeling.

     


Thursday, May 15, 2014

Cloth Diaper Terminology


You've finally decided to cloth diaper and you want to look up some information on how to get started. You search for a cloth diaper group  or look up a cloth diaper blog and it looks like people are speaking another language! What does AIO,CD,PUL mean? HI my name is Amber and I felt the same way at one time. No need  to worry, Here is a list of common cloth diaper acronyms.

CD: Cloth Diaper

Pocket Diaper: This is the number one choice for CD moms. There is a pocket opening between the outer shell of the diaper and the inner layer that touches babies skin. inside this pocket you can place an insert you wish to use.

Inserts:  this is the absorbent material for the diaper (can come in many forms, microfiber, bamboo, cotton and hemp)

AIO: All in one diaper, no need for inserts. Everything is one piece making it super easy to use and no need for "stuffing" you diaper like a pocket style. Since this is an all in one this style diaper does take longer to dry.

AI2: All-in-Twos. The diaper has an absorbent layer (like an insert) that attaches to the inside of the diaper with snaps. You can remove the layer for washing and then snap it back on. The closures are also adjustable.

PUL: PUL stands for polyurethane laminate – it’s a water proof material used to make outer shells of diapers

Aplix: This is similar to a Velcro closure, but is said to be softer and more durable. This is also known as the Hook & Loop closure

EBF: This refers to a baby that is exclusively breastfed.  EBF poop is water soluble and doesn’t need to be rinsed before placing in the washing machine since it will rinse clean.

Fluff Mail Term referring to cloth diapers.  Example: I’m expecting Fluff Mail (my cloth diapers) to arrive tomorrow.

Doubler: Another liner that can be added to the diaper and that can “double” the absorbency of the diaper. 

Diaper Sprayer: Attaches to most toilets and allows you to “spray” and rinse your dirty diapers over your toilet.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Silicone Necklace Giveaway!



What is a Birth Doula?

Following is an article that Suzanne Banks Fredregill, certified DONA Doula, wrote for us (and you!) here at Mon Petit Mardi. 
What is a Birth Doula?
Like nurturing Earth Mothers, birth doulas empower laboring women to own their birth experience and to fully participate in the process by providing education, emotional support and physical comfort measures. The Greek term “doula” means “Mothering the mother”, a tradition long practiced in ancient societies where women birthed within a community of other women.
Today’s birth doulas do much the same. They are professional labor coaches who, through intensive training and often a personal calling, provide support for pregnant and laboring couples.
Doulas provide childbirth information to assist parents in making educated decisions about the birth process. They help develop birth plans and advocate for its’ use. They also serve as a liaison between parents and medical staff so the birth experience is a natural event and not a medically managed condition. Doulas also offer comfort measures to provide natural relief, thus reducing the need for pain medications and other medical interventions.
Studies of the use of doulas show a 25% decrease in labor duration, a 30% decrease in the need for pain medications, 40% reduction in the need for oxytocin induction, 50% reduction in c-section rates, and a 60% reduction in epidural use. Increased breastfeeding success, greater reported satisfaction in the birth experience, and more positive newborn assessments have also been associated with professional labor support. Dads also report much more positively when they have someone to provide guidance and encouragement for them, as well.
If you are interested in hiring a doula to personalize your birth experience, contact Doulas of North American (DONA) . Their website can help you locate and hire a doula, answer questions about qualifications and training, and provide birth and postpartum fact sheets. www.dona.org

Be sure and watch for our upcoming article on breastfeeding from Suzanne along with a giveaway of a copy of her 2010 updated book on breastfeeding!

Suzanne has written two books on breastfeeding: 

Everything Breastfeeding Book 2010
You know that breastfeeding is good for your baby--but nursing doesn't always come easy and it can often leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. But The Everything Breastfeeding Book, 2nd Edition is here to help! This friendly, accessible guide helps you make the best choices for you and your baby. It features balanced, practical information on:
·         Finding the most comfortable positions
·         Managing pain and swelling
·         Establishing a feeding routine
·         Pumping and milk storage
·         What to do if your baby is resistant
This updated edition of a parenting classic also includes all-new information on BPA bottle safety, legislation, and tips from real moms who've succeeded. Packed with advice on every aspect of breastfeeding--from latching on to weaning baby off the breast--The Everything Breastfeeding Book, 2nd Edition is every new mom's best friend.

Breastfeeding (Everything You Need to Know About...) 2004                                                         It may be surprising to learn that breastfeeding does not always come as naturally as many mothers expect, so this professional yet friendly handbook offers support and confidence, from preparing to breastfeed and the most comfortable positions, to coaxing a reluctant baby. The ultimate guide to successful breastfeeding any time, any place, anywhere.

About the Author
Suzanne Fredregill, CBE is a Certified Breastfeeding Educator, a Certified DONA Doula, a Certified Infant Massage Instructor, a Certified Childbirth Educator, a Licensed Master of Social Work, and the mom of two breastfed children.

Ray Fredregill is an assistant professor of communications at a private college, and an experienced scriptwriter and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism/mass communications.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Mystery Sale!

Mon Petit Mardi Mystery Amber Teething Necklaces and Bracelets are back for a limited time! If you've been wanting to try one of these, but on a tight budget, this is a great opportunity for you. You'll save 43% on necklaces and 44% on bracelets! These are all 1st quality, beautiful pieces! Your necklace may be polished or unpolished, baroque or olive style and could be any color. No matter what you get we know you'll love it!


Which amber necklace will you get???



Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our new blog! You might be reading this post because you're already one of Mon Petit Mardi's many fans, but if you haven't heard of us that's ok because I'm going to share our story with you now! Mon Petit Mardi is a mommy-owned and family operated business. Our focus is providing high quality items for women and children along with excellent customer service. We started our business in 2010 when I was pregnant with Tuesday. Oh, by the way, this seems like a good time to tell you the meaning of our name. Mon Petit Mardi is French for My Little Tuesday... and is named after my little Tuesday. When we first started our business it was just 2 moms (mom and grandma) working from home making everything by hand. As we grew we began to employ other moms who wanted to work from home. We have expanded over the years and now sell a wide variety of products, some still made locally by moms like us. We are best known for our Baltic amber jewelry. Our amber comes from Lithuania and is very special. Each and every piece, each individual bead even, is handcrafted by Lithuanian artisans. These artisans are locally known as 'Masters' and have been doing this work for generations. You can learn more about Baltic amber and its healing properties here. The whole process is fascinating and I promise to talk more about it on a future post, and even share some pics from our last trip to Lithuania! Some other favorites are our RuffleBums™Cloth DiapersCrochet Hats and Silicone Jewelry for mom. All of our products are manufactured using high quality materials and are CPSIA compliant. As we got into this business we were surprised to learn how many companies sell products like cloth diapers that are made with composite materials and can contain lead! Our blog will contain information about our products, promotions, contests and giveaways...but we will also discuss things like pregnancy, breastfeeding, preparing healthy meals, DIY projects...all sorts of topics related to children and family. We want you to be involved; we appreciate and encourage your comments and emails! Please feel free to contact us with any questions, suggestions or comments. :-)