tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248Sat, 02 Jun 2012 05:20:38 +0000motherhoodbaby foodcreative spacegreen petsgood causeseco-living: green celebrationseco-living: urban gardeningrecipes: for springwaldorf/steiner/montessori inspiredgreen cleaningnatural toysnatural parenting: natural pregnancythe omnivorous familyguest postnatural parenting: breastfeedingurban gardeningeco-living: green on a budgetrecipes: seasonal eatingrecipes: dessertsgreen giftswith love to YOUcrafting sewing and knittingnatural babysummer snap mondaysnatural parenting: a tv-free childhoodeco-living: green beautyeco-living: thrifting upcycling recycling** tutorials **ayurveda yoga meditationserene sundaysgentle parentingnatural parenting: family traditionsrecipes: for autumnrecipes: traditional and nutritionalgiveawaysnatural pregnancynatural parenting: cloth nappieseco-living: green cleaning recipestv-free childhoodeco-living: crafting sewing knittingfamily traditionsrecipes: snacks and finger foodthe vegetarian familynatural parenting: gentle disciplinetraveling with childrengratitudenatural parenting: waldorf inspiredgreen celebrationsthrifting upcycling and recyclingeco-living: natural toyscloth nappiesgentle parenting and disciplinegreen on a budgetoutdoor playteas tonics and natural remedieswholegrain sundayseco-living: crafting sewing and knittinghandmade homerecipes: for summerrecipes: for wintereco-living: teas tonics and natural remediesreading recommendationsbreastfeedinggreen family traditions and celebrationsinspired playgreen beautyfor your reading liststory-tellingrhythms and routinesnatural parenting: rhythms and routineseco-living: ayurveda yoga meditationecoMILF sponsorsrecipes: homemade breadDaily insight from a mother taking steps towards a more sustainable, compassionate and conscious life. Because going eco is logical.http://www.thiswholefamily.com/noreply@blogger.com (Meagan)Blogger931125ecomilfhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-3786935396384800606Tue, 29 May 2012 04:03:00 +00002012-05-29T14:04:05.155+10:00Raise is a non-profit organisation that runs mentoring programs for young people facing profound challenges like anxiety, depression, eating disorders, teenage pregnancy, substance misuse and suicide.  They have trained over 350 volunteer mentors in the Sydney community to work with these young people at risk, 80% of which are Mums- beautiful women with great skills and young children, who don't http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/raise-charity-ball-this-weekend-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-4376577801607499932Mon, 28 May 2012 03:57:00 +00002012-05-28T14:02:15.355+10:00natural parenting: waldorf inspirednatural parenting: a tv-free childhood North's '3 lighthouses' made from clay while I was doing my own clay modelling assignments for school It's amazing how much of my study seems to surface in our day to day lives. Steiner always urged those who attended his lectures never to take his word for anything, but to go out and test and experience everything he said. I am certainly doing that- taking everything I read with a grain of http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/natural-play-learning-through-imitation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-5190340527412878467Thu, 24 May 2012 04:36:00 +00002012-05-28T14:02:54.011+10:00recipes: traditional and nutritionalA while ago I told you about a group of friends who got together and cooked a great big meal and brought home a share for each of their families. It was wonderful, we socialised, cooked and minded the children all at the same time but in the end there were just too many cooks in the kitchen and one too many children in the house! So, we discontinued the group get togethers. Soon afterwards, my http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/take-my-advice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-2013904078349228244Wed, 23 May 2012 08:29:00 +00002012-05-28T14:03:11.630+10:00recipes: snacks and finger foodrecipes: desserts Indigo and I made big batch of these cookies the while North was at school last week. Oh, how simple and quiet things are when there are only two little hands to 'help' with baking! We didn't have the classic gingerbread ingredient: molasses, so we substituted with maple syrup. It made for much more simple and subtle tasting cookies, but delicious all the same. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups spelt http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/simple-gingerbread-cookies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-9140382301239562335Sat, 19 May 2012 02:03:00 +00002012-05-28T14:03:35.233+10:00eco-living: teas tonics and natural remedies North and especially little Indigo were down with change of season colds, coughs and fevers all week. In our family we like to let our bodies fight things as naturally as they can avoiding any intervention beyond homeopathy, nutrition, herbs, stocks and teas.  In Anthroposophical Medicine (and conventional medicine, see: Yale School of Medicine) a fever is important to the healing process http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/lemon-socks-for-fever-and-other.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-8798158456821560406Mon, 14 May 2012 20:12:00 +00002012-05-28T14:03:49.537+10:00eco-living: urban gardeningIn our winter urban garden at the moment we have... picked the very last of the capsicums  celery kale as well as brussel sprouts snow peas cos lettuce nasturtiums fresh herbs  and a big bunch of Marigolds that seem to attract little hands more than they attract the slugs... I'm planning on planting potatoes again soon. Last year we bought a bag from Bunnings but I'd like to http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/our-winter-urban-garden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-7491772849899876148Sun, 13 May 2012 11:15:00 +00002012-05-28T14:04:19.676+10:00natural parenting: waldorf inspired A warm hello to everyone!  Thank you so much for your kind words of support while I was gone. I have had a lovely break away from this space and am feeling quite refreshed and ready to share bits and pieces of our lives once again. I am not sure I will ever be posting as regularly as I did, but I will be making a consistent effort to write a few times each week.  I thought I'd begin by http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/05/anthroposophy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-6258701877502524327Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:24:00 +00002012-04-24T14:24:41.915+10:00 Some of you may have noticed how much less time I am spending at the computer (and on this blog) compared to last year. Part of it has to do with my Word for the Year: 'breathe', part of it has to do with balancing school work, parenting, nesting, baking, cooking... and on and on. But there is another part of me that has lost my blojo as some call it. At times my camera has started to feel http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/breathe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-5476188772953330368Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:12:00 +00002012-05-28T14:04:05.108+10:00natural parenting: waldorf inspired Yellow the bracken, Golden the sheaves, Rosy the apples, Crimson the leaves, Mist on the hillside, Clouds grey and white, Autumn, good morning! Summer, good night! Such vibrant photos for mid-Autumn, don't you think? Taken while on my Teacher Training retreat last week. The beauty of Australia! Wishing you all a beautiful weekend with those you love.http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/lazy-autumn-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-5506843106322225033Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:55:00 +00002012-04-19T19:56:00.705+10:00eco-living: green cleaning recipesCan you believe I haven't polished my jewellery since I posted this green cleaning recipe two years ago?! I thought I'd re-publish it for those who didn't see it or wanted a refresher. before- very tarnished looking silver I haven't cleaned my jewellery in ages and I certainly didn't want to buy the chemical cleaners found at the supermarket and jewellery stores- you know something's http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/from-archives-green-cleaning-jewellery.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-5913816721170953293Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:25:00 +00002012-04-18T16:25:52.425+10:00** tutorials **eco-living: crafting sewing knittingnatural parenting: waldorf inspired Believe it or not this little mouse is a great source of fun and entertainment in our home. So much so, that we have two mice- one for the toy room and one for Mama's purse for unexpected situations where a bit of light humour, focus, quiet and entertainment are desperately needed.  The 'game' we play with him is quite simple. North's preschool teacher was the first to introduce it to me.  http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/tutorial-theres-mouse-in-my-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-5732666118713492530Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:08:00 +00002012-04-17T20:09:43.544+10:00recipes: snacks and finger foodrecipes: desserts We've been experimenting with coconut flour around here and it's been a delicious gluten free substitute. It seems to work best with eggs and has a light and bouncy spongey texture to it. We're not entirely gluten free but we avoid wheat like the plague and stick to spelt flour for most baking and bread making. Ingredients 2 eggs3 bananas (mashed) 2 tbs honey1/4 cup coconut oil1/2 tsp sea http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/gluten-free-coconut-flour-banana-bread.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-3385510057824402213Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +00002012-04-16T13:20:51.175+10:00natural parenting: waldorf inspiredI arrived home Saturday evening just in time for some enormous hugs and kisses and a few bedtime stories. The first 3 nights away went quickly but by Friday evening I was aching to get home. The (Steiner Waldorf Education) Residential Course was soul shaping. I met kindred spirit, ate beautiful wholesome food and gained insight into Anthroposophy and the Life Phases according to Steiner as well http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/fresh-start.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-2593072260639384378Sun, 08 Apr 2012 10:16:00 +00002012-04-08T20:16:40.039+10:00 We've been working through some fevers and chills in these parts; decorating more eggs; lining Easter baskets with wool for the bunny; sleeping and recovering and preparing for a big week ahead. This week I will go out into the world and leave my little ones at home with a dear and trusted friend, as well as the loving care of their father. This is a huge step for me- I have never spent more http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/time-and-transformation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-6865441385024467174Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:18:00 +00002012-04-04T16:18:42.754+10:00natural parenting: family traditionsnatural parenting: waldorf inspiredeco-living: crafting sewing and knittingIt's hard to find an Easter Story appropriate for the preschooler that also has some Australian themes. This is one we have been using for two years now and North absolutely adores it. Adapted (depending on the props we had available) from a story given to me in a handout at an "Autumnal Workshop" run by Ebba Bodome. Author unknown. An Australian Easter Bunny Story Once upon a time there http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/tutorial-tell-australian-easter-bunny.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-1600202607028082229Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:09:00 +00002012-04-03T14:09:06.549+10:00 We've been very busy bunnies around these parts this week. This is the first year North has been totally involved in  Easter activities. I didn't go through the ordeal of making natural dyes from scratch this year, although it is on my to do list for next year when Indigo is a bit older and I am able to spend longer amounts of time in the kitchen without her pulling at my legs quite as much... http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/dying-easter-eggs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-2552548885740944306Sun, 01 Apr 2012 20:00:00 +00002012-04-02T06:00:01.303+10:00Although we rarely eat fish anymore since Indigo's severe allergic reaction, for me, nothing nourishes a protein craving more than seafood. (H)appy Fish is the perfect iPhone App for Australians who want to support a more sustainable fish industry. This free App contains a detailed Sustainable Seafood Guide from the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS). The App classifies your choice ofhttp://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/04/happy-fish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-2231373376912465421Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:00:00 +00002012-03-30T18:00:08.999+11:00 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/this-moment_30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-9058152457621614754Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:35:00 +00002012-03-30T22:04:42.424+11:00recipes: traditional and nutritionaleco-living: urban gardeningI grew up with a salad after every meal and have since then rarely missed a day with my beloved crunchy green leaves. A combination of luck, constant exposure and pretty relaxed eaters has made my children salad lovers as well. Even Indigo loves eating lettuce- not an entire bowlful mind you, but a tiny baby portion just for her. As we enjoy the lingering warm days of what feels like an Indian http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/family-salad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-7728857366577489437Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:46:00 +00002012-03-28T19:47:33.548+11:00natural parenting: family traditions** tutorials **eco-living: crafting sewing knitting Materials Bucket or large container filled with warm water Coloured wool roving  dishsoap Directions Tear pieces of wool roving into small strips and colour match in whatever way you'd like Tie the 2 or 3 pieces of roving together in a very loose knot and then spread the wool out to make a sphere shape, tucking in any loose ends I must say, the more exact I was with this step the http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/tutorial-wet-felted-wool-easter-eggs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-9178726421933582079Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:49:00 +00002012-03-27T20:52:22.148+11:00 Right now I am :: breathing, doing and thinking slower. As Autumn finds her way to us with blustery wind and rain storms I am enjoying wearing tights and boots, enjoying cup after cup of hot tea and lighting beeswax candles in the evening. :: feeling there is so much to do, even at a slower pace. Reading, cooking, learning, cleaning, caring, creating, mending, washing, playing...  :: http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/right-now.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-4208969784618392051Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:13:00 +00002012-03-26T21:13:56.841+11:00Please pop over and see the guest post I wrote for the Kindred Gifts Blog on the benefits of using bamboo and hemp fabrics. Head on over and have a look if you get a chance! Hope you all had a lovely start today! http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/facts-on-hemp-and-bamboo-fabrics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-8306240591653936833Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:00:00 +00002012-03-30T22:04:00.338+11:00 Sparkle Stories is an online resource for high-quality audio stories for children and families. Each week Sparkle Stories delivers delightful, original audio stories to subscribers around the world. They offer five original Story Series, plus a sixth Series with classic stories, songs and games, all designed to entertain and inspire the whole family. I asked David and Lisabeth the http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/giveaway-from-this-whole-family-sponsor_24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-3560987608616578721Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +00002012-03-23T21:01:40.950+11:00 {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Big girl underwear... oh, my! http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/this-moment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7461228147269301248.post-4379430002950561314Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:30:00 +00002012-03-22T21:30:52.488+11:00 I’ve been taking Heather’s Wholefoods Workshop and she inspired me to revisit my love for granola. I have been steering away from granola because I know it is best for digestion to soak grains instead of eating them baked or undercooked, however I am also a firm believer in ‘everything in moderation’ especially since adding more animal proteins to our diets and seeing the unbelievable results http://www.thiswholefamily.com/2012/03/raw-cacao-almond-coconut-and-maple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meagan)1