Fairy ... Fairy ... how many are they?

I keep on using the "Fairy" when am stuck in my parenting. seriously its not easy! And it’s really hard to be judged! But you just keep on trying in different ways to reach to your little kids mind, not easy cause kids are smart and succeed in having things done their way not our way! Sounds funny really and actually it sounds like I have no control over her but that’s not true!

I first used the fairy technique when I was potty training and it was amazing! I mean it PERFECT I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling. The thing is kids get used to the fact that the parent buys and takes care of all their issues but when there is this beautiful image of an angelic fairy helping children to grow up and use the toilet and rewarding them was the highlight of my daughter’s achievement.

I kept on using that method and it was working, I didn’t reward her every time she went using the toilet but it depends on the end of the day, before bedtime if she tried her best she would get rewarded (from the fairy of coarse) with the simple things that she adores, at that time it was jelly beans, coming in small counted amounts of the colors that she likes placed in a certain place from the Fairy. Fairies simply help little boys and girls to go the toilet.

So that worked great thank god! I always and still do say that accidents sometimes happen and that we should try harder next time and that its fine. Always encourage and you’ll see, they just need to believe in their new powers.

Now there is the “sleeping fairy” and the sleeping fairy started lets say about last summer and that’s quiet a while, hoping that she sleeps in her bed alone without me next to her. (Still in the process, trying to succeed)

It started when I bought her a new big bed and fixed her room with colors that she likes and started the process of explaining the cause and answering all the “whys” that a child her age can possibly think of. Then it just came up to me again! Using the magic of the fairy, explaining that when kids sleep in their big beds till early in the morning the fairy brings them a fancy gift, and I did that numerous of times! Worked for a couple of times and I believe coincidence played a big role at those times.

So with time the fairy thing passed and every night shed cry and call me and Id have to go and sleep the rest of the night with her in her own bed instead of mine. She did it her way and not mine ;(

The funny part she missed the fairy. She actually asked me last night “why the fairy doesn’t bring me any jelllllyyyy beans or gifts anymore?’ so I laughed saying: “mama maybe because your not trying your best to sleep alone in your bed like big girls”

She wants jellybeans she’s craving for it! And she did it, she slept the night for a cause, the need of jellybeans. As promised I had the jelly beans ready from the stash that I keep away, on her table saying “LOOK the fairy got you something open it!” with full excitement she said “eee cuz am a big girl now”

One good night sleep with no interruptions was missed! I want more!!! 

Reading time!

"Read Read Read Read we are Pirates who love to Read!" Elmo and the Bookaneers.

Elmo made reading even more fun, now my little one wants to be a bookaneer.  When its reading time we have to sing this song while she chooses 3 books (cuz she is 3 years old ;p) and usually they are the same every time!

Its fun! educational and great quality time that only a parent can do ;)

School Mornings

Mama Today fi school?

The innocent question that has to be asked everyday! and when I answer "no its a weekend" shed smile with relief!

Every morning my daughter has to sleep in, as if she needs those extra minutes, she’s in her deep sleep that makes me feel guilty to wake her up! but on the other hand, weekends she wakes up super early! meaning 6ish am, happy and excited to start her day (weird :S)

Anyway! I actually found a way to change her into her school clothes in a couple of minutes without the need of begging, manipulating or rewarding. Simply changing her into her school clothes while she is still lying lazily in her bed.

Its perfect! she’s dressed! done! then we play a tiny game of racing who will wash and brush first before the water runs out! (my daughter believes now that the water will run out and finish if we keep it running for a long time!) and its true they have to learn how to save water!

Tarrraaa! Done  in exactly 20min, she’s in the car before me (still racing lol) having her breakfast in her car seat :))

Now the traffic that I have to deal with and I have no solution for that!

Shes drawing not scribbling but drawing! Yaaay!

I'm so happy I can't believe my eyes! At last my daughter is drawing seriously making sense of those scribbles. Yaaaaay! >Walking around with a marker insisting to draw tattoos on our hands

Makes any sense? ;p

Hope you like the recipe !!
Ingredients

1/2 cup whole almonds, toasted
1/4 cup sliced almondstoasted
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1/4 cups sugar

1/2 sticks butter melted
1/3 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F(180 C).
Butter and flour a 9-inch cake pan.
Combine the whole almonds and 1/4 cup pine nuts in a food processor.
Pulse the machine until the nuts are finely ground.
Transfer the nuts to a medium bowl.
Add the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Stir to combine and set aside.
In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer beat the eggs and the sugar until the mixture becomes thick and pale yellow.
Add the butter, and milk.
Stir in the almond extract and apricots.
Gently stir in the dry ingredients.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
Sprinkle the top of the cake with sliced almonds and remaining 1/4 cup pine nuts.
Bake until the cake is cooked and a toothpick comes out clean, about 50 to 55 minutes.
Let the cake cool on a wire rack.
Use a knife to loosen the edges.
Turn the cake out, slice, and serve.

Thanks & Regards

E.T

Roasted Brocoli with Garlic

Simple, Quick and Light...

Ingredients:

Brocoli
Diced Garlic 3 - 4 cloves
Lemon 1
Olive Oil
Soy Sauce 1 table spoon
Pepper for flavoring

Method:

Preheat oven at 180
Drizzle small amounts of olive oil on to the tray
In a bowl mix in diced garlic, lemon juice, soy sauce, brocoli and pepper for flavor.
Once all is mixed, put in the oven and let it roast for approximately 20 minutes.

Dear Cook with Me..

It has been a while since I've last cooked anything interesting…. As of the next 20 days ill will be on a detox diet, actually trying to follow Dr. Joshis 21 Holistic 21 Day diet.
What is the Dr. Joshis Holistic Detox..? Well it not just a weight loss diet it is an all “alkine” method of living! Well at least for 21 day you will be eating mostly natural non preserved food.. Basically no fried, potatoes, ketchup and no COFFEE!!!!!! This is meant to detox your body and balance your Ph to your natural state... it is said so ... :S lets see

Anyways my first day was yesterday and I decided to make Hammour with Asparagus in lemon juice.


Dish: Hammour with Asparagus in lemon juice.

Ingredients:
2 Lemons : 1 squeezed, the other sliced.
1 Hammour Filet
Salt & Pepper
1 Table Spoon Olive Oil
Species (Oregano, Dill)

Method: Oven cooked for 25 – 30 minutes
1. Marinate the fillet with lemon juice and spices.
2. Add Salt and Pepper
3. Place the filed in the pirex, add a spoon of water.
4. Slice the left over lemon and place it around the filet and just toss in the asparagus on the side.
5. Cover the pirex with tin foil, make so incisions with a fork or knife.
Remember just one table spoon of oil and one table spoon of water is all you need.