Monday, June 10, 2013

Anything Instant

6:01 PM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

I was asking before are the instant soups sold in the supermarket okay for babies and toddlers just like "Don’t these contain MSG?" , and alike. Thanks to my baby’s doctor (yeah her pediatrician). She said cup soups are not exactly what nutritionists would recommend as food for babies and toddlers. MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor enhancer of many processed food items. Though MSG is considered generally safe and approved for use, it has shown side effects on some people, such as dizziness or allergic reactions.

It was long ago that some baby food manufacturers tried to lessen the food additives (not only MSG) in their products after some reports of brain damage or mental retardation that could been caused by food additives were discovered. So, to make it safe, offer your babies a variety of food and go natural by making fresh broth more often or in the other name, be Organic. By the way, if she doesn’t like soups, don’t force her to eat or even taste it.
 

Labels: baby journey, foods, kids, mommyhood, toddler | 0 comments

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Stress Management

3:51 AM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

How much stress can you take? If you really think about it, everyday is always a test in stress management, especially for a first time mom just like me. Responsibilities have become more complex, a career being a stay-at-home-home requires more demands, and even relationships are strained by the demands of daily survival. And whether the source of stress is physical such as when one fears for one’s safety or that of her loved ones, environmental or emotional which includes worrying about things one can’t change, the result is still often detrimental to one’s well-being.

Most people when the stress attack, they think that food could help them relax. Chocolates and candy, ice cream, chips, cookies and cakes, or dining at the fast food are the foods on their mind when they felt stressed out. We may not admit it, but since many of our food choices and eating habits are visible. Good luck to us! :-) Be stress-free and learn to cope-up in times of its attack, at the same time of a healthy choices.

Labels: family/ family matters, foods, life's journey, mommyhood | 0 comments

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Caring for the Baby

12:02 PM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

It is the parents responsibility to take care of the baby. The baby’s first year is the best time to prepare him or her for a happy future. Thus parents should know the proper steps to follow in caring for a newborn and what his or her needs are. A newborn baby sleeps most of the time. Enough sleep and rest is needed for physical health. Since the baby sleeps a lot, he/she should be placed in a crib protected from mosquitoes and other insects.

To prevent diaper rush, make sure that the baby is always clean and dry. Be careful in changing the baby’s diaper. If the baby has had a loose bowel movement, do not remove the diaper at once but fold the soiled portion under. Wipe the anus with moistened cotton, and then wash with soap and water. Babies should feed with the recommended amount of prepared milk products. There are many powdered milk good for infants although mother’s milk is still the best for the baby.

Labels: baby care tips, baby journey, baby Sam, baby's intake, baby's/cow's/mother's milk, family/ family matters, family/family bonding, foods | 0 comments

Dealing With Teething Troubles

11:48 AM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

As part of the development milestone, babies would really undergo the painful stage of teething. It is a phenomenon where discomfort is very common causing night troubles and sleeplessness. Though some parents are blessed with babies who will just grow teeth like nothing happens, painless teething happens one in a million cases.

Remember that teething is not an illness and therefore it should not be giving babies any problems aside from discomfort in the swollen gum area. Diarrhea and vomiting are two different things abd should be managed differently.

When teething occurs, you may apply some teething gels to numb the gums for few minutes. To avoid introducing any substance by mouth, you may use cold clean cloth. Teethers or teething rings can be used as well or simply let your finger be bitten. Just make sure that your finger is clean and well disinfected. Cold solid foods like chilled banana can also be served.

Labels: baby care tips, baby journey, foods, Infant Teething Journey | 0 comments

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Things To Do During a Cookie and Coffee Break

10:03 AM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

So it gets to 11.00am, or 3pm, and it's time for a break. Work's been tough, you've got fifteen minutes or half an hour free, but how to spend that time? Productively, unproductively? Here are some ideas:
First - it's essential that you get the food right. Noone wants to get to the end of a break and realise it's been wasted on bad food and a boring time. You could go to your local coffee shop, which has the downsides of a queue and social interaction, or you could make do with the coffee, milk and sugar in the staff room. It won't taste great but it'll be free.

Now if you haven't gone and bought some food, you'd be hard pushed to find anything worthwhile in a staff room biscuit tin, and if it's not Shelagh-in-accounting's leaving do, then you're stuck. Why not treat yourself and get your hands on a davids cookies discount code ?At this point you're going to need to go back in time to pick something up at home to take with you - or alternatively, if time travel isn't an option, just do this the next day.

Now your snacks are sorted out, what to do with your small amount of free time? One good idea, healthy for both the mind and the body, is to do some exercise. Go outside, go for a walk, and shake off the monotony of office life. You can easily tie in that diet you’ve always wanted to work on with your walk, check out these Weight Watchers coupons here . The fresh air and activity will stand you in great stead to sit in a swivel chair and pencil-push for four hours.
If you get on with your co-workers, then sitting around your desks or the staff room can be a great way to chill out and bond, and one of the positives is that if you need to, you can work through the break, whilst still chatting. Obviously, you might work in an office with people you loathe. In which case, avoid this paragraph.
For a more relaxed break away from colleagues, spend some time on Facebook - catch up on everyone else's holidays whilst you're stuck in Slough. Do some internet shopping - buy some old Cher vinyls just because it passes the time. And finally, for a truly great way to waste many minutes, go on Twitter. Warning: overuse of Twitter may result in losing your job.

A great way to spend a short break (one of the benefits being that you can eat at the same time) is to phone a friend for a catch-up. Phone that aunt that you need to speak to, or your friend who moved to Glasgow. Not only will this keep you entertained, but it's a good way to get off the computer for a few minutes.
What with the proliferation of ITV Player, iPlayer and the equivalent for most TV channels, a good way to get away from it all is to plug in some headphones and watch a show. Good programmes for the coffee break (it has to be using these tassimo codes here of course!)are the soaps, comedies or any old clips on Youtube. Just keep your programme suitable for when the boss walks past.
So grab yourself a cup and a cookie, pick something to relax you and enjoy your break. Before you know it, you'll be back to the grind again...

Labels: foods, me-time, mommyhood | 0 comments

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

First Tooth

7:57 AM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

My lovely precious daughter Sam is fond of biting for quite how many days or weeks already before I can see her teeth came out. Actually her dad saw it first when it was little and told me, I just ignore since I can see it when it is already big anyway. In that way, the visibility thing is fronting my very own eyes then. True enough! As I told you earlier, she loves biting. Good thing she is still drinking her milk and even eating her food in a box, named rice and mixed fruit, though I did not give her yesterday since she has a pretty hard poop the last night. She poop twice. Then I give her milk and water often as long as likes drinking, as in I introduce it to her when she's resting from playing, or just anything she's having, like 30 minutes interval. And guess what? She poop the usual thing yesterday. Thanks to her daddy too for suggesting to let her rest of the food (or in my mind if I give her, I will put more milk on it, and so I opted the former and it worked, well, it should work either way since the goal is I have to give her more liquid).

Seeing her first tooth in her lower part of her gum is happiness. I am telling her that she's already old since she has already a tooth. Ha! what a great feeling!

Labels: Baby's Firsts, baby's journey, foods, Infant Teething Journey | 4 comments

How to Make a Berry Cheesecake from Home

7:40 AM | Posted by Cacai M. | | Edit Post

One of the best summer treat for friends and family is a fresh berry topped cheesecake. It is not only a delectable treat for everyone, but also a beautiful show stopper. Everyone who will see it will surely awe over the beautiful dessert. The good thing about this dessert is that you can make it from your very own kitchen.
We will make a recipe that can make 24 servings. The finished product will be a 9 x 13 inches rectangle cake. This size can serve the entire family or will make a little piece each night of the week for dessert.
For the crust
2 Cups Wafer crumbs
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup refined sugar
For the filling
1 cup granulated sugar
1 package (3.4 oz) JELL-O Lemon flavored instant pudding

4 8oz packages cream cheese
4 eggs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
For the topping
1 package whipped topping
1 cup each blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, sliced strawberries 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
You need to preheat oven to 325 degree Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, line a 13 x 9 inch pan with foil. Make sure that the ends of foil extended over the sides of the pan.
In a medium bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, butter and sugar. Pour the crust mixture into the prepared pan. Press the bottom of the pan firmly, and bake for 10 minutes.
Mix the cream cheese and sugar in a blender or mixer and blend well until smooth. You can add sour cream and mix well. Once mixed, add the lemon zest, lemon pudding mix and lemon juice. Blend them well until thoroughly combined. You can start adding the eggs, one at a time. You need to adjust the blender to slow speed while adding the eggs. Once smooth, pour this mixture over the crust.
Bake the mixture for approximately one hour or until the center is almost done. Let it cools fully before putting it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Transfer the cheesecake to a tray and add and mix thoroughly the vanilla extract to the whipped topping. You need to spread the topping over the cake. Finally, decorate it with fresh fruits.

Labels: family/family bonding, foods, life's journey | 0 comments