Changes are a comin...

Autumns here.....transformations happening everywhere. Since my miscarriage my eating habits have been .....well not nourishing at all. I went back to wheat and sugar and feel all the worse for it. Only about 2 kg have crept back on but I refuse to return to my former self...
Apart from the weight gain issue , I loathe the tiredness,bloating,heavy head.....oh so boring!


So with the change of Autumn ,changes for me are in order. I want to feel good ,I love feeling good.

I have discovered a great site, I am fascinated by it.....It will become my new way of life,and I will share my journey with you.Have a look around , check out the forum.....

I need to to tend to this now......

see what happens when mummies in blog world....yogurt covered toys mmmmmm

Thought for the day....

Change always comes bearing gifts.
~Price Pritchett

The winner is...

Hope you enjoy trying it out.{wink}
email me your address at nourishedmama{at}yahoo{dot}co{dot}uk

Where oh where....

Where oh where have I been? This little blog of mine was well and truly deserted.But it was with good reason. I feel ready to return to the blog world ,and hope I will have your company.
I was blessed with a surprise pregnancy and stopped blogging due to very bad morning sickness,I just felt all consumed by it and it stayed with me until my second trimester started. I planned and Allah planned and He is the best of planners .I lost the baby at  13.2 weeks so with recovery and  Ramadan around the corner ,time slipped by.....

Alhamdulilah Allah rewards hardship , which calms the heart and soul ..........nothing in this life is lost.

So life resumes ...I have alot to share and I haven't forgotten about the giveaway! I vote myself the worst blog giveaway lady!
A quick warning before I announce the winner  {ahem} you lucky thing!
As you know I was trying out the no poo thing. I was so excited to discover the rhassoul clay and even more excited when my husband brought me some from North Africa.
Anyway my husband decided to help me wash my hair with it saying -your going to look so lovely ,just wait and see. So I let him cake my hair with loads of clay,he rinses ....I go to blow dry for the big reveal.
Ummmm. I. did. not. look.lovely.   Oh no ........my hair could stand up on its own .A big ,thick ,sticky mass.
Please don't do that at home folks! So what I've learnt from my mother in law recently is that you should use a little,comb through then rinse very very very thoroughly.I have  yet to try it again using this method.Although my husband has been using it since we got it with great results.I suppose that's because his hair is short. I so want it to work for me....I will give it another go errrrr soon.
So to the lucky winner{wink} have fun trying it out {if your brave enough} and let us know how you get on.

guest post....

Hi everyone.... It's not nourished mama,  I've just hijacked her blog to let you know that she is not able to blog at the moment but hasn't forgotten about us and she will be back soon with the giveaway news and a brand new, exciting, informative, funny post (no pressure dear)...stay tuned..

Gifts from the earth and giveaway....

Husband has returned with gifts from the earth.....

This is my rhassoul clay in it's natural state! Husband tried it while away and was raving about his skin and hair. I was so excited to try it.  I have kept up with the no-poo,using baking soda and vinegar for about 3 weeks now. The result were good, hair was in the adjusting stage,so not magnificent but better than when using shampoo.My hair did get greasy about every 2 days  and I still had white flakes especially near my forehead .
Wow! I used the rhassoul clay....wow,wow,wow........I love it! Hair doesn't get greasy for about 4 days and then only slightly.My white flakes have dissapearded.My hair has volume, it's shiny.......
I was brought some powdered rhassoul clay aswell which is what I actually used  but according to my husband who has used the packaged powered one and the rocks which you powder yourself and he said the rocks are better{I will use my rocks next time}.But I have had success with the packaged one...so I wanted to share and hope someone loves it as much as me.
So just  little giveaway......




A small packet of rhassoul clay.....which can be used for washing your hair ,body , and face.
I have actually stopped using soap as well and am using the rhassoul clay to wash my body.
Leave a comment........giveaway ends next friday 28th May....


Thought for the day.....


Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.

Wash wednesday challenge...

Can't believe it's been a week since my last post and I'm back at wash wednesday!
I have exciting news about rhassoul clay....but I'll leave that for tomorrow!
I'll leave you with my pics.....enjoy!

Wash wednesday photo challenge....

A few posts ago...I spoke of my love of hanging washing on the line in the sunshine...seems I am not the only one with this simple love.....cute post over at GardenMama 
GardenMama is also having a wash wednesday photo challenge for the month of May.....

seems i'm a day late.....
are you going to join next weeks?

This is where I am....

London is my home for now
This is my street.....

and this is my 1st floor flat....




but I want and need more.Don't get me wrong....I am grateful-we have a home,water,amenities...comfort.
I'm yearning for a different life....with sun,nature,space......
I want to nuture  a garden,a family life in our own outside space.....discovering new hobbies with my close friend,our families growing together,to hear the athan-call to prayer{listen}  5 times a day.....being able to contemplate  in nature,sipping  mint tea on my own terrace on a warm summers night. These simple things will make me happy.
It seems there is an adventure ahead of me ..inshallah...I can't wait.....

I came across this book in the charity shop....I have read her other book 'Under the Tuscan Sun'..and loved it.I love how she relays the ups and downs,discoveries and growth of  her life on her Tuscan farm.I love her connection  to the land and how she shares her simple recipes from her kitchen.
So for now I am immersed in her adventure...and waiting for mine to begin.

Thought for the day....


People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.

Say no to ''poo''

I know I am really really late with this post....it's just been impossible to get things done with a teething baby hanging around my legs{HELP!!}Anyway.....

Yes .....I'm saying goodbye to ''poo''...that's shampoo.Since the birth of my third son & hitting 30 my hair has gone downhill! It just isn't looking healthy anymore.......I've been using a variety of natural shop bought shampoos.....I've never been happy with the result,but grudgingly carried on.

I came across this post..... which amazed and intrigued me.So I'm joining the 'no-poo'movement.It's so liberating to know that we can create our own natural products from food and not spend a fortune on 'natural' products or cause damage with the not so natural.I'm going to use the baking soda and vinegar method to start with.

Here are a few points I found interesting from the article

• Shampoo cleans out the dirt in your hair, but is very harsh and also takes the natural oils that make your hair shiny, soft and strong.{even natural shampoos have this effect}

• The Materials Safety Data Sheet cautions to avoid body contact with SLS,{sodium lauryl sulfate} it also puts infants and children (whose eye are developing at a more rapid rate) at risk for improper eye development when it's absorbed through the skin and accumulates in eye tissues.

• The oils in your hair come naturally out of your scalp to nourish it. Stripping them away causes damage, and breakage over time. In a way you do need conditioner, if you use shampoo - because it covers up the damage that's been done. But you don't need shampoo in the first place, all you're spending your money on is a big bottle of perfumed detergent.

• you'll find that the more shampoo you use, the more often you need to use it. In the long run, coating your hair with mineral oil makes it weaker, and more prone to damage.

• Anyone with small children who hasn't used baby shampoo will be aware of how, even after days and days of toddler mayhem, even after playing and sweating, their hair does not get greasy.

So that discovery was all exciting but.....what I'm really excited about is this product- Rhassoul Clay
Found deep beneath the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Rhassoul comes from the Arabic word "rassala" meaning "washing’’.
It can used for washing the body and hair.My husband is on a trip to Algeria{North Africa}...so I have put my order in!I am so excited about this product,especially since it has been used for over 1400 years,its really really natural,good for the environment......going back to simplicity.
So I'm setting myself a challenge of 'no-poo' for one month ........ anyone want to join me? anyone tried it?
Thought for day....

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English
language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and
enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in
having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.
-   Elise Boulding

Just passing....

This is just a quick....just passing post. I'm really excited about a new challenge I'm setting for myself and some amazing natural discoveries I've made which I am eager to apply.But I'm stuck for time today....so please come tomorrow to see what I'm up to! You never know.... you may have been there and done that! {wink}
I'll leave you with pics of my garden cooks.....they made the stinkiest soup ever!{yuck}

And one of my silly ''I love moments.......






What silly moment do you love?.....


Thought for the day...

Manifest plainness,

Embrace simplicity,

Reduce selfishness,

Have few desires.

- Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Sunny dreams....

I love the sun...I love nature....I love peace and quiet.....
I am dreaming of a spaces like this......
But for now I have to{ positively} accept my 1st floor London flat with shared overlooked garden that is used by the neighbourhood  terrors cats as a toilet!
I have decided to take the little one to the park after dropping kids at school for sun and nature nourishment.And then the older ones after school for their fun in the sun....
My dreams of opening the french doors onto my own garden,eating and watching the kids play outside....sipping sparkling lemon water ...soaking in the nourishing sun rays...will come{inshallah}....patience is all that is needed...and a positive attitude in the meantime...

As much as I love the sun and believe that it is good and needed for better health....if I know I am going to be out at the wrong time of day,for hours with no trees for shade....protection is needed.I wear a head scarf and I absolutely hate my scarf tan that I acquire on my face in the summer time. I have tried so many sunblocks...natural and those not so.....all seem to trigger sore eyes for me and I still get the scarf tan......and from my latest research ,it seems that even some of the natural brands still react with the sun on your skin causing more damage than protection. I found this site that has some interesting findings about some of the products we use.I thought of ordering this and giving it a try!But then I read this and now I'm thinking maybe sunblock isn't such a good idea!I think I need all the vitamin D I can get!...Wearing a hat is an option...although it does look quite odd! In the above article the author did mention the following in the comments section....

From people living in Australia (out working out in the sun a lot), they say that if you:

- eat lots of unrefined coconut oil
- eat cruciferous veggies, especially broccoli sprouts
- take spirulina
- then apply unrefined coconut oil topically to your skin

That provides the best protection.

What do you all think and use?

Just a little update.....
I had my first bit of chocolate yesterday since the challenge ended! I have kept up with the no sugar no wheat.I am feeling and looking so much better ..no bread or chocolate could lure me back! I enjoyed the chocolate moment and then left it behind....I don't need it....its such a brief moment of enjoyment with huge consequences.Still weighing in at 64 kilos...and haven't started exercising again yet. But I am feeling positive! With kids back at school I started oil pulling again with coconut oil this time....and using salt to brush my teeth until I find a tooth powder recipe! yippee for positive change!

Thought for the day...

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,but anyone can make a new ending.

Maria Robinson

Chatter box....

This is my little chatter box.....




this is his new thing....constant chatter that makes absolute sense...oh so cute{mashallah}
mmmm...yes he is on the table....another one of his pass times!

I also want to share a link to an interesting post I came across....here 
following on from the glycerin issue! Sad to say I haven't started my new no toothpaste regime but my husband has started using only salt......{I am still determined to try no toothpaste ,I am just a bit unorganised at the moment....}

Thought for the day.....

"In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves … self discipline with all of them came first."
-- Harry S Truman, U.S. President

Oliveology giveaway winner....

Really sorry about the late giveaway draw.....
I strayed from the the blogging world.......busy with my day to day life....and then some!
Happy to be back though!
Eva well done.....please email me your details at       nourishedmama{at}yahoo{dot}co{dot}uk

Oliveology tea giveaway..

Olive tea has been enjoyed by ancient Greek civilizations....it is detoxifying and healing.
Rich in vitamins A ,B, C & E......as well as being anti-viral,anti-bacterial & anti-fungal.
Great for colds, flu &  infections.

Leave a comment.....giveaway ends......Friday 9th April...open to all...

I'm the best mummy...

according to my 6 yr old son. I made pancakes....something I've only ever done once before..long time ago!{I know ..tut tut ...bad mama}He can't stop thinking and talking about them.
Well I made them gluten free...I was really worried they would be horrible but everyone loved them! And I can eat them too! In an ideal world I wish the flour was wholegrain, soaked and freshly ground,the milk raw and unpasteurized.....although grateful for the organic milk and gluten free flour.Thankfully we have access to free range happy eggs.  I used this flour ...

It' a great feeling being the best mummy in the world......

Thought for the day....

"Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and
realize they were the big things."
Author Unknown

I love.....

I love this look.....so feminine.....
beautiful colours....simple.....natural....

The toothpaste dilema....

I am thinking about stopping using toothpaste! I use natural toothpaste most of the time,and actually never thought much about toothpaste apart from the fluoride issue.
But lately I am having some toothy issues....sensitivity,receding gums.I think there are a number of contributors.....acid saliva pH, acidosis....breastfeeding & pregnancies...or maybe mineral deficiencies? All in all more balance is needed and more than likely a green supplement and possibly some tissue salts...but that's for another day.Back to the toothpaste issue...

My father in law doesn't use toothpaste...he is over seventy,never been to a dentists and has all his teeth.He uses salt and miswak {siwak}.
The problem with toothpaste is the glycerine.
Teeth reenamalize when clean. TO MAKE TEETH CLEAN ONE BRUSHES WITH ANY BAR SOAP. Soap washes off in just 2 rinses. What about toothpastes? Glycerine in all tooth pastes is so sticky that it takes 27 washes to get it off. Teeth brushed with any toothpaste are coated with a film and CANNOT PROPERLY REENAMELIZE. Even the natural pastes contain glycerine! read more here
Tooth soap is available to buy....not sure what I am going to go for yet.{make or buy}But the toothpaste is out for now while I experiment.
I am wondering if the salt will be too abrasive on a daily basis. I am definitely going to start using miswak, make sure I rinse after eating and continue oil pulling.

A bit of info on miswak {siwak}.....

• Purifies the mouth
• Cleanses the teeth
• Strengthens the gums
• Prevents cavities
• Sweetens the breath
• Cleanses the brain
• Creates appetite for food
• Assists in digestion of food
• Clears eyesight
• Provides energy

love to hear your thoughts on toothpaste,tooth soap and miswak....

 Thought  for the day....

Watch the little things; a small leak will sink a great ship.  ~Benjamin Franklin

A bit of this and that...

It's been a long uneventful week!Weight loss still good,down to 64 kg! Exercise is still not happening!.Wondering if anyone wants to do a exercise challenge? These last 4 kg will need budging through exercise ! Let me know who is up for it!
We were gifted with homemade North African couscous and fresh organic broad beans this week so dh had a sudden craving for broad bean couscous and sour milk.{Algerian traditional dish}

The couscous and beans are salted ,oiled and moistened with water before steaming 3 times for 20 mins each time! At each interval moistening and oiling again.It really is delicious{although I can't eat it}.I use Algerian homemade olive oil which we brought back with us from our holidays.This really is the most amazing oil I have ever tasted.And I have been lucky enough to taste all kinds of olive oils....from the really expensive to the normal store brands.For me nothing compares,I love it! So if you are lucky enough to know someone from North Africa ask them to bring you some olive oil...you'll be amazed....

I am loving my new shoes....bought at a discount designer store....all leather ,ever so soft and so feminine.....

And for baby a thrifted pair of leather lovelies!

Have a little health tip too which I am currently trying out.Apple cider vinegar....raw and unpasteurized.

• Restore your body's natural pH balance - Your blood is supposed to be slightly alkaline,
• Aid digestion - Apple cider vinegar helps stimulate your stomach acid, aiding the digestion of protein and fats. Good digestion is essential for staying healthy and naturally slim.
• Promote the growth of healthy microflora - apple cider vinegar is a prebiotic, which feeds probiotics
• Stop sugar cravings - use apple cider vinegar next time you have a craving for that bowl of ice cream or piece of chocolate cake. Here's a quick remedy that may stop you from indulging: Add two teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar to a 6 oz glass of filtered water, and drink it down.

Read more here and here
Let me know what you think or if you are already taking it! Would love to make my own .....

Thoughts for the day...
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
Confucius

Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Thrifting destiny.....

I believe in destiny ,it's an important part of my faith.....and isn't it amazing when it happens in the simplest way.....
Went off on one of my thrifty adventures searching for those surprising finds that were waiting for me.....
My eyes are always on the lookout for moroccan treats and I found a little something!

and then I was........

I was extremely happy to find Neals Yard goodies....at £ 2.50

I love their stuff.....just find it hard to pay the expensive prices...so this was a real treat find for me. Nourishing mama moments coming my way.......
See what I mean about destiny! This is the second time I have found a box of their goodies!

Thought for the day....

You will usually cause harm when you are hurried and rough, because goodness finds its roots in gentleness. The Messenger of Allah (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:

"Whenever gentleness is present in something, that thing is beautified; when gentleness is removed from something, that thing becomes spoiled."{taken from ''Don't be sad''}

something I need to remind myself of daily....

Ghee....look what I made!

I wanted to make Ghee for a while.....and I finally got round to it.First a little info on why it's a good addition to your diet,especially when homemade from unsalted ,organic, pasture fed butter.{apparently it's even better when the butter is unpasteurized or even made by oneself}

* Ayurveda maintains that Ghee is a vital food for healthy skin, mental clarity and good digestion. It also helps the body assimilate nutrients.

* Ghee is salt and lactose free so it is beneficial for those who can't drink milk or eat cheese.

* Ghee is said to have anti-cancer and anti-viral properties.

* Contains CLA or conjugated linolenic acid which aids weightloss, especially stubborn belly fat and has been shown to slow the progress of some types of cancer and heart disease.

* We all need healthy fats in our diet and Ghee is an easily digestible source of saturated fat that contains no trans fats or hydrogenated fats. Ghee, however, is low in the essential omega 3 fatty acids you need for good brain health so supplementation with omega 3's is a needed for a healthy diet.

It also has a high smoking point so is good for cooking with..ie:doesn't burn easily and turn into nasty free radicals..
This is what I did.......

Make sure you sterilize the glass jar,and don't overcook the butter...it really needs to be watched! Few things I will do differently next time.....don't close the jar before ghee has completely cooled and skim the white solids that form on the top as it's simmering.Seems there are different methods of making it....I suppose I will grow more confident with time.

Would love to hear of anyone with more experience of making ghee....or if anyone gives it a go, how it turned out.
I love empire line dresses and maxi dresses....but I never find any in the shops that fit all in the right places...found this lovely pattern.....from Anna Maria  now I just wish I could sew!! I would probably tone the colours down...but I love it!

Thought for the day...

If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution.  ~Author Unknown