Parenting and Lifestyle Blog
Natalie’s love of gardening began with her love of cooking. What started as a few potted herbs to add some spice to her culinary creations on her porch in Seattle has turned into a mild obsession with her backyard and all things that grow (well mainly things that grow fruits or veggies).
I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. This sentiment may be more appropriate for an 11-year-old than for someone in her mid-30s, but I’m fine with it. After all, it’s not uncommon: I have a large number of acquaintances my age who have no idea what they want to …
I never used to be like this. When did I become the Angry Mum?? I swore I would never be this person. I would never belittle or yell at my children. I wanted to be the mum who built up her kids, not tear them down. When did this happen? I know it has started …
We see the light at the end of the tunnel. My husband and I feel like we’ve been marathon-ing since 2016 when I gave birth to my elder daughter. 17 months later, we welcomed Sophie, and two years after that, Ava made us a family of five. Next week, Ava turns two. In a span …
There’s not much going on in my life right now – and I love it. I’m pleased to admit that my life is pretty simple, and not just because I currently don’t have a job. I write and ‘blog’ in the mornings, I search for employment in the afternoons and I network and spend time …
When baking or cooking food, you use up some kind of energy, specifically heat, in order to complete the process. This energy could originate from a variety of sources, including gas, electricity, or wood that has been burned. If you’re using the first two, your monthly bills are likely to be greater. Some families who …
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about mindfulness and how it might benefit children, particularly adopted children. We’ve had a rough few weeks. For my adopted son, things haven’t been going so smoothly at school. Being an adopted child at a British school is difficult, and it’s even more difficult in a French school. I …
One of the most difficult aspects of being a mother for me was the complete lack of independence. My husband and I had spent 5 years together before having baby, doing precisely what we wanted, when we wanted. Have you ever wanted to go to the movies? Done. Have you ever wanted to have a …
We were quite mainstream before we had children. We bought the products we saw advertised. We ate non organic vegetables. We shopped for the best deals. We used harsh cleaners to clean. We threw away our plastic and lived happily ever after with our heads buried in the sand. Until we decided to have children. …
Bolting herbs aren’t everyone’s favorite item in the garden, despite their beauty. For several types of herbs this means that their life cycle is coming to an end. To extend the life of plants like basil or cilantro, many gardeners pinch off the flowers, which is a highly recommended technique. But what if you want …