Wattpad

I've been MIA. I know. It's pretty pathetic. I have some other projects, and cooking has taken a backseat. I'm still diligently kefiring and trying to eat clean and green. It works most of the time, but moderation is my new mantra as a mama.

The first project I'm working on is a non-fiction book called The Other Baby Book: A Natural Approach to Baby's First Year. It's been loads of fun - I'm researching and working with experts in fields that are relevant and interesting to me at this point in my life. Plus, we're reviewing products, which means learning about cool new companies. You can find us on Facebook, where we often have lively discussions with our fans. We're hosting some pretty cool giveaways too.

The second project is the young adult fiction novel, Filling in the Gap, that I wrote about in an earlier post. I'm done with it, but am revising a final time. I entered the manuscript in a contest on Wattpad, an online eBook community. I haven't marketed it well at all, because I'm inundated with Other Baby Book stuff, but I think I have a shot at winning, if I can just get through the first round, which is the "popular" vote. From there, my pieces goes to judges.



If you're interested in reading the first fifty pages and/or voting for me, I would be so appreciative! If you don't have a Wattpad login, you will have to sign up. I know that kind of stuff can be a pain, so thank you thank you!!

I'll be back again someday...just not sure when. Our goal is to finish The Other Baby Book and have it published by August!!

Green and Healthy Routines

I had a reader ask about my skin care routine. I used to do the Oil Cleansing Method, but for whatever reason (I think it was my trip to Italy, actually), I stopped. Ironically, I was thinking of starting again, and you, dear reader, were the kick in the pants that I needed. I'm loving the new routine! (I was previously using Mountain Rose Herbs cleansing grains, which are totally awesome as well.) I feel like I've rediscovered an old friend. I use extra virgin olive oil, castor oil, and a few drops of jojoba and almond oils, rub a quarter sized amount into my face for several minutes (ah, massage), and then follow with a "steam facial" - a piping hot, wet washcloth - for at least a minute. My skin feels wonderful and moist afterward. I do rub some jojoba oil once it's dried though, because it can feel tight. I mixed up a big batch to save time each day, but playing around with different oils is fun, and something you can definitely do. Just remember that castor oil is drying and cleansing, and olive oil, jojoba, coconut, avocado and almond oils are moisturizing. Adjust according to your needs. And maybe I should add, I only wash my face once a day. And I probably shower far less than the average American. My sister would cringe if she ever read my blog.

My latest favorite "product" are tooth chips. I won a sample of tooth chips from Rose of Sharon and I admit, I was skeptical. Something that tastes like SOAP? No TUBE? But I'd been wanting a more sustainable alternative to toothpaste for awhile, so I took the plunge. Why use tooth chips? Well, here's what their site says about the chips:

We use Organic Oils

It is FREE of Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

It is FREE of Fluoride

It is FREE of Tricosan

It is FREE of Sand and Silica which brushes away gum tissue and enamel

It really CLEANS your teeth and doesn't leave a glycerin film to coat your teeth

It CLEANS so well that after brushing your saliva naturally begins the re-mineralizing process

It's SAFE for your entire family

It's MADE in the USA 

I can attest that it is an amazing product. My teeth feel so very clean after brushing. Despite my lacksidaisical attitude toward showering, I'm pretty fanatic about having a clean mouth. I floss regularly, and I do use an electric toothbrush every night, which makes a big difference. (I just use a manual one in the mornings.) These chpis are a keeper. I don't know that Anabella will ever taste tooth paste. As an added bonus, there's no plastic tube. Gotta love it! (You do have to get over the fact that it tastes like soap though...)

Rose of Sharon has some fantastic shampoo bars too. Again, no plastic bottle, just a bar of soap. My hair feels seriously clean, and smells a lot better than when I tried no 'poo with baking soda. They're very reasonably priced, can be used on your body, and contain no chemicals or yucky stuff that I wouldn't want to seep into my blood stream. When we consider that hot water in the shower opens our pores, if you use lots of products that have unpronounceable chemical ingredients on your hair and skin, they are going to make their way into your body. I'm especially aware of this fact because I'm breastfeeding. Anyway, I digress. After shampooing with the soap bar, I follow with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, drop of lavender oil, and drop of tea tree oil, diluted in two cups of water. My hair feels really soft. It doesn't have much body though, so I'll be working on that end of things soon. I'm just glad it doesn't smell or look dirty...most of the time.

As for deodorant, I did make some homemade stuff, but mostly I forgot to use it. I think I applied it a total of 5 times the whole summer. I figured that God gave us a certain body odor for a reason. And I wanted my daughter to smell ME, rather than some fragrance masking me. Now that it's getting cooler, the chance of me using it is going toward nil. Mark is my barometer. He's never once told me that I smell, and he would if he could!

So, that pretty much sums up my "beauty" routine. I still use castor oil to take off make up if I've put any on, (got a great natural mascara that I'll have to dig up the name of when Anabella's not sleeping). And coconut oil is a fantastic all purpose moisturizer as well. Any questions??

Anabella's Blog

Green in a Pink World has been taken over by Anabella. Not that that's a bad thing...but I want to have my own separate blog. The people who have been following this blog for the past two years (are you still out there?!) likely don't want to see a million pictures of Annie...or maybe they just want more recipes and less baby. Either way, the little one is moving over to her own space: Anabella Sofia.  All updates will be there over there, and I've moved the videos and the monthly posts there too. Thanks for reading!

Just hangin' and smilin'

Anabella's third month

She's already three months old! Anabella is growing leaps and bounds, and we happen to think she's the cutest, smartest baby around. She's a happier baby every day, and though she still hates the car, she's playing more independently, and has been going to bed without much fuss. We've started a routine where we go for a long walk (in the MOBY - which she loves and get quiets in in 5 seconds!), take a bath, have a massage, read a story, and then nurse. She seems to be really taking to it! Anabella typically sleeps 8 hours a night 5 days a week, and gets up once the other two days. She naps well in the morning, and as long as we stick to her routine, will nap well in the afternoon too.

Annie and Dad like to watch the Red Sox together

Our scale is not incredibly reliable, but I'd say she's at least 12.5 pounds now, and measures 24 inches. Her latest tricks are grabbing objects and putting them in her mouth. My latest trick is to give her the bottle as a "toy" and see if I can't fool her into drinking it. As of now, she will not take a pacifier or a bottle. She says, "If you can have the real thing, why settle for anything less??" She's a girl of high standards. Can't fault her for that.

Anabella is holding her head steady when she's well rested, and would do nothing more during her awake time than stand on my legs. She is able to hold her weight, and all I do is keep her balance. This standing game keeps her smiling and occupied for a good thirty minutes! Speaking of smiling, she has a big, bright smile that is difficult to catch on camera (though you can see it in some of the videos.) As soon as she sees me bring out the camera, she gets very serious. But when we're just hanging, she blesses me with smiles, and lots of "words." I love hearing her talk! If you haven't checked out the videos of her talking, they're in previous posts. She's also been giggling and it's the sweetest thing ever. We adore her!!

Here are some of the highlights of her third month:

getting dedicated at CFCF

looking like a twin to her dad

spending time with Nana Evie, who babysat her while Mum and Dad went out to eat for their 7 year anniversary (their first date since her birth) 

hanging out in Marshfield with Nan Sue and Grandpa Joe

playing in her new tent

enjoying new toys

napping well!

and being the cutest baby at the new moms' group (yeah, she took the title again this month!)

Coming up for month four will be more trips to Marshfield, meeting cousin Quincy, and lots of growing!

More Anabella Fun

Chatty Cathy

Turn up the volume for this one!

Bath Time

Stroller Time Video

Anabella's second month

Anabella's second month has been very eventful. At 7 weeks,  she weighed in at 10 pounds, 5 ounces, and measured 22.25 inches. She got a clean bill of health, though her consistent evening fussiness coupled with a few other things prompted the pediatrician to suggest I give up dairy. From about 5 or 6pm on (or any time during the day she's been up for more than an hour), she's very unhappy, and there have been frequent evenings of inconsolable crying. It's gotten better in the last week or so, but she's still pretty fussy. If you've followed my blog at all, you know this is the second time I've attempted to give up dairy. Since 50% of my daily caloric intake is dairy in the form of raw milk, butter, yogurt, and cheeses, it will be difficult, but if it helps Anabella, I'm willing to try! Things have improved a little, but it's hard to tell since it's only been a week and it can take 2-3 weeks for the dairy to get out of my system, and then 2-3 more for it to completely leave hers. I'll report back next month.

She's much more alert and is a joy to be around (well, maybe joy wouldn't be the right word during bouts of tears...) Right after she's been fed, she's very smiley, and her favorite thing to do now is stand up (supported!) on my lap. She's all giggles and coos during this time. She also really enjoys sitting on the couch by herself. We prop her up on pillows and she thinks she's a hot shot. In the picture above, she's trying to eat the beautiful monogrammed bib Great Aunt Anne brought her from Carmel, CA.

Highlights of Month Two

Meeting her godparents, Tatianna Massaro and Thomas McGrory

Giving smiles to Grandpa Ted

grabbing rattles and other toys

(see Tummy Time video)

dancing at Nava and Barney's wedding, which she slept through in the sling

Lily's 1st birthday party and other visits with Lily

visiting Marshfield, meeting Great Grandma Bea, and seeing the Haverhill Massaro clan

July 4th weekend down the cape

20 minutes of driving without crying

and...

being the cutest baby at the new moms' group!! 

One of the other moms commented on how happy and smiley Anabella was. =)

Coming up for month three will be the Massaro family reunion in Marshfield, Anabella's dedication at Community of Faith Christian Fellowship in Brighton, and hopefully some more successful car rides and outings to visit the grandparents! All other pictures can be viewed by clicking the link on the right sidebar.