I've been experimenting with chia puddings lately as a healthy breakfast option, and this Strawberry Chia Pudding is delish. Chia seeds are an incredibly healthy superfood, full of fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein, and have been shown to have blood sugar stabilising benefits as well.  Because the strawberries are the only flavouring here, they need to be really tasty. If the fresh ones on hand are a bit tasteless, then substitute frozen ones - you don't need to defrost them first.

Strawberry Chia Pudding

1 cup chopped strawberries
1 cup almond milk
1-2 tablespoons brown rice syrup or honey
1/2 cup chia seeds

1. Combine first three ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
2. Pour over the chia seeds in a small bowl, and stir well.
3. Stand for 4 hours, stirring every now and then.
4. Serve with extra chopped strawberries.

Makes 2-3 servings, and keeps well for a few days in the fridge.

Back again for another What I Wore Wednesday! We have been having my favourite kind of weather lately - nice and cool, but gloriously sunny - it really has been perfect over the past week! It was a mixed bag of outfits this week - some good, some that could do with improvement - and a few that really highlighted a gap in my wardrobe.


This top from Eileen Fisher is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing I've ever bought. I can literally wear it all year round - either on its own in summer, or layered over a long sleeved tee in winter - and the linen jersey just gets softer with each wear. I used to think that Eileen Fisher was just for "older ladies" but I am finding that I am slowly adding more and more of her pieces to my wardrobe, since I appreciate not only their style, but also their quality and ethos of the company.

 

Here is another Eileen Fisher piece that I found on ebay. It's loose and comfy, and in person the draping and movement of the top is just amazing. But, the shorter proportions of the top means that I need to wear high heels with the outfit, so this is not one for running errands all day!

This CAbi tunic is really a summer item (made from chiffon), but I love it so much, and the deeper colours suit winter, so I am continuing to wear it, layered over a tee. I didn't realize until just the other day how perfect this wool scarf was for this top, but the swirls of colour are just perfect!

 Winter has arrived with a vengeance here in Perth, and the sudden change in weather from super hot, to super cold (by Perth standards, anyway!), can wreak havoc with your health. After a bad start from Stephen, I am really stepping up our natural prevention methods, to try and stave off any further episodes of illness.

The first thing I've done is really refocus on having the family eat more nutrient dense foods, lots of garlic and ginger, and lots of vitamin C-containing fruits and veg, such as oranges, strawberries, blueberries and red capsicum. Smoothies are an easy way to accomplish this, as are stir-fries, and both of these are hits with the kids. I am still drinking my hot ginger tea at least once a day, and so far, so good! I am trying to make sure the kids are really well hydrated, as this has also been shown to help the immune system function properly.

Secondly, I'm reminding the kids about proper hygiene and making sure they wash their hands more frequently throughout the day. The cold virus can live for a reasonable length of time outside of the body, especially on hard surfaces like door handles and desks, so washing your hands more often is a proven way of reducing your exposure. I don't believe in "anti-bacterial" hand wash (regular soap and washing properly is just as effective and doesn't contribute to antibiotic resistance) but I do always carry a natural hand sanitizer in my bag for when I can't get to a bathroom. 

Lastly, I've just made another batch of my Elderberry Syrup, and I'm giving the kids a teaspoon a day (2 for me) as a general immune booster. This syrup will last for 2 months in the fridge, so this batch should last me through most of winter. If you can't make it yourself, there are a few good commercial ones available at the chemist or health food store. I've been using Sambucol (which is finally available here in Australia) for the past two weeks while I was trying to find some time to make my own.

And just in case you do get struck down with the lurgy, here are three more things that I use frequently:

Homemade Decongestant Balm (Vaporub)
Normal vaporub is made with a petroleum jelly base which I try to avoid, so this is a good, and effective, substitute. You could also use the same essential oils in an oil burner.

Honey
Honey has been clinically proven to be just as effective as soothing a cough as cough medicine, and is much gentler. Plus, it is naturally antiseptic, and it tastes better!

Elder, Mint & Thyme Cough Lollies
I haven't had time to make a batch of these this year, but they really work, so they are definitely on my to-do list.

Sore Throat Tea
If your throat is bothering you, make up a cup of my hot ginger tea, but add in a teaspoon each of fresh chopped sage and thyme. Let stand for 10 minutes (I make it in a thermos so it stays piping hot), then add the juice of half a lemon and sip slowly.

 

image source

Disclaimer: All content on the Chic Mummy blog is for general information purposes only. The information on the Chic Mummy blog is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

For those of you in the northern hemisphere, summer break is coming and with that many families start thinking about taking holidays and trips with their families. Today, I am bring you a guest post from Kendra Thornton, a mummy of 3 who used to be the Orbitz Director of Communications, giving her a unique perspective on travelling the world!

 

Travel Light, Travel Safe With Your Family!

Tip 1: Feed Them First

Tip 2: The Burning Sunday

Tip 3: Pad the End

Tip 4: Dress Light

Tip 5: Bottled Only, Please!

 

These photos are from the last two weeks, since I didn't manage to get a photo every day. The weather has been up and down, but mostly sunny, and even positively warm on a couple of the days.


This has become one of my favourite outfits. It is super comfortable, and I feel super confident in as well. These boots from Wittner are ah-mazing! You can't really see it in the pic, but the heel and the back is suede, while the rest is regular leather, and despite the heel, they are so comfy.


I received this scarf ages ago as a secret santa gift, and not only was it the perfect present for me, it is also amazingly versatile due to all the colours it contains.