Whipped Shea Butter Belly Cream Recipe

Here's a recipe for a belly cream I've been making throughout my pregnancy. Apparently, it has had great success with anyone I have shared it with. It's easy to make, has no nasty chemicals and leaves the skin super hydrated.
It does need some time to get used to the thick-ish consistency, but if I can use it during the Athenian heat waves anyone can. By now it has become a staple and I can't go on a day without it. Add it to your after the shower-before -going -to -sleep- ritual and I promise you will be looking forward to it every night.

Whipped Shea Butter Belly Cream Recipe

• 150 ml Organic Non Refined Shea Butter
• 60-70 ml Organic Virgin Olive Oil
• A box of Vitamin E capsules ( from Pharmacy )
• 20 drops of Lavender Oil *

Melt the butter in a metallic pan that rests inside another pan with water.
Don't overheat or let it boil since this will likely destroy many of the good stuff in the Shea Butter.
Let Butter Cool.
Once it is cooled down, add Olive oil, Vit E oil and Lavender Oil.
Whip mixture and place in refrigerator. At this point the mixture still retains some heat so you will not get the whipped consistency just yet.
Take out of fridge and whip again. Repeat this process with 30 minute intervals until you get that whipped cream consistency and it forms peaks.
Sometimes mixture cools too much and goes funny. If this happens, just let it sit in room temperature a bit and mix again. Scoop and place in a jar or tin.


* The are many counter indication for Essential Oil use during pregnancy. Some say that Lavender Oil is a uterus stimulant and is best avoided during pregnancy. If it will makes you feel better you can totally omit the Lavender Oil. As an alternative, you can add any fragrance oil you wish, just check that they are safe to use on skin and non-toxic.

Update - Despite having a dendency for stretch marks ever since puberty, I did not develop any during pregnancy...at least at the places I religiously applied this cream to. I don't know if it was pure luck, but I think its worth giving it a try. Your skin will thank you as even if you can't prevent stretchmarks, it will be moisturized and soft.

 

Nursery Banners

Banner for Serge.


I ordered a small pack of gorgeous paper to make into a banner. Any paper will do. I think mine was 2x6 inch and came in packs of 50's. Omitted the very pink ones by order of HG ( Husband George ).


Cut, glue on cardboard, sew or glue on ribbon.


Hang.
Have curious, velcro sheepdog wonder what is the fuss with this room.

Putting It All Together - Nursery

Progress on the nursery:

Wardrobe stripped, painted, assembled and placed in room. Check.
Walls. Pant over the icky, stained and yellowed walls. Check.
Chest of drawers. Strip red color, paint white, assemble, pull hair out, position. Check.
Side table. No painting, just assembly,yayyyyyyyyyy. Position. Check.
Armchair acquired and placed it in room. Check.

Awaiting for cot-bed.



Night light and clock for keeping track of whatever needs to be kept.

Bellow is the Hemnes chest of drawers which once was red and - in the tradition of the wardrobe - was stripped and painted another color with Auro paint. We will be adding a small extension in the back and use it as a nappy changing surface.




Husband George found the "S" from an old shop sign ( part of the word "furs" ). S is for Serge. We will make it into another night light by adding Christmas lights inside and hanging it from the wall.
Love the yellow stripy interior and that it smells of wood when you open it. Excuse the temporary mess of the contents.

Just like the cozy wardrobe interior:

Are Macaroons The New Cupcakes ?

New York times ran an article about the supposedly fading fad of cupcakes. Fad? When I realized I have a cupcake obsession and made this post, I wasn't remotely aware that foodstuff could be fashion.

I am not ready to leave behind my newly discovered cupcake obsession and promise to serve it with every colorful, sugary, multi-colored candy sprinkle of my heart.

But...there is one question. If cupcakes are out, what will take it's place ? What could be as stylized, sweet and decadent ? What could be equaly delicious as an image on a bag or a shirt and gorgeously tasteful i the mouth. Just one thing sprang into my mind : Macaroons.






( Recipe for pink Macaroons above )

Dating back to the 18th century, the macaroon is made of egg whites, sugar and almond paste. This sweet pastry came out of the French courts' baker's oven as round meringues similar to today’s amaretti. Some say they originated during the Italian Renaissance hence the name Macaroon - Macaron.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Pierre Desfontaines Ladurée, had the idea to join two meringues and fill them with ganache. Today, these meringues are of endless colours and flavors and Ladurée still has it's macaroons as it's most famous creation. When visiting Paris, you have to stop at Ladurée, even if it is to just hover over their lush macaroon gift boxes and presentation. If Paris is too far away- which it probably is, you could alays order online. Try the Raspberry - Cassis flavor for a true essence of all that is Parisian or you could always try making them yourself with a few ideas here.


Other places you could go for a Macaroons - Macaron are:

Pierre Hermé in Paris and Tokyo for more innovative flavors ( I think they have a zucchini one...) and the delicately flavored, mini macaroons at Zurich's Confiserie Sprungli. These little sweets are pure heaven when combined with a cup of coffee at their cafe. I could eat them all day long and forever and ever and ever.

If, you just want to wear a Macaroon, because it is a fad after all , you could always try this delicious Antoinette's Tea Party - Mint Green Macaroon Necklace
( from hacCa's Etsy shop)

or this Macaron Bracelet
( from lepinkchocolat's shop at Etsy )

or even these French Macaron Soaps for your bathroom, but try not to eat:





( from naiad's shop at Etsy)

Whatever you do, I'm sure once you've tried them there's no going back. I would really like to re-unite the antagonistic Cupcake and Macaron one day in a...Macaron and Cupcake party but I'm wondering who would come.

smallish Note

I have a month left till the new Small Person arrives and I think I have now accepted the fact that I am Baby Thing obsessed. Not baby obsessed yet, just consumed with it's accessories. I think and hope that when engulfed by nice things, I will not be too terrified of the sudden yellow, mustard pooping situation surrounding my existence.

So it is pretty safe to assume that all future posts in this terribly misspelled blog will have a baby thing theme. Bare with me?