Summertime

Summertime...and the livin' is easy. Ahhhh, that it were so. Actually, we're really looking forward to summer. Our firstborn is done school, we're taking off to Saskatchewan to visit family and do some family sessions in the great outdoors, and then we're planning lots of BBQ's, some beach days and some family outings as well as some work in the yard. And of course, we continue to build Eve Baby into a thriving studio where more and more women can celebrate the beauty and wonder of motherhood and new life with one of Manitoba's best (I can brag about my hubby, right?!!).

In other news, Rodney just spent a busy couple of days preparing for and teaching at the first ever Manitoba Photographic Artist's Exposition at the Forks. His two seminars (Glamour/Art Nude Photography and Child Portraiture) were some of the first to sell out. It's still going on...workshops, galleries and things. It also happens to be National Aboriginal Day with celebrations there and on Selkirk Avenue. We might try to take a little of that in if the kids wake up in time.

Enjoy your summer. Mosquitoes and sun aren't the easiest for life with little ones, but a walk mid-morning or late afternoon can be so life-giving. Plus there are lots of little sun/wind shelters you can get for the beach. Maybe you'll only be there for 1 1/2 hours instead of 3 or 4, but it's still nice to get out. We'll be back soon.

Tasty and Quick

Part of the challenges of having a baby is figuring out how to care for this oh-so-dependent-and-unpredictable one and still get meals on the table. For many new moms, this can be even more challenging coming from a full-time work background and all that entails for meal preparation (whether it be shared, very quick prep, later meals, take-out or pre-packaged). Going from that to being home all day and having a fussy baby close to supper time changes things drastically. At Eve Baby, we know the many facets of motherhood and seek to help moms in as many ways as possible (besides giving them the most beautiful memories we possibly can!)

Thus I bring you our first meal ideas: French Beef Dip and Easy Spinach Salad

French Beef Dip (Crockpot Recipe) from "Cooking Con Brio" (Sask Music Teachers' Assoc)

3 to 4 lb beef roast (I use Outside Round Roast just because it's a mid-range price)
1/2 cup soya sauce
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 beef bouillon cube (or 1 cup of beef broth)
6 peppercorns

Place all ingredients in slow cooker. Add water to almost cover roast (for large crockpots this makes a lot of au jus!) Turn slow cooker on low for the day. Slice meat (or fork apart) and put onto buns. Serve with juice for dipping.

Easy Spinach Salad (courtesy of my sister after one of my babies was born)

Spinach from a bag
Mandarins from a can
Sliced almonds from a bag
Creamy poppyseed dressing.

Mix. Done. Yum!


Variations for toddlers: cut roast into fry-sized pieces for finger food (dip into ketchup if necessary), put butter on the bun, set aside some mandarins for them...

Diaper Rash Tips

If you're looking for a simple way to prevent diaper rash and even treat it, use grapeseed oil (sometimes, not always in Superstore) in a little squeeze bottle and apply at every diaper change. It replaces the oils that are stripped away by wipes and protects the skin. Add a few drops of lavendar essential oil and the anti-inflammatory/anti-bacterial properties bring healing to even quite bad rashes. Tiber River Naturals is one place you can find essential oils (I'm quite sure they carry lavendar). Grapeseed oil could probably substituted by other oils, but I've never tried them. You could ask a massage therapist for ideas. Alternately, you could try Tiber River's Bottom's Up cream which can be used all over and contains calendula among other things.

Click on the wikipedia links to learn more properties of grapeseed oil, lavendar and calendula. They each have many uses!