Clay Jar People

Couldn’t help but repost this… this really made me think…

Gratitude…

is meeting a mountain of dishes with a silent prayer of thanksgiving for the abundance of food on our table…

it’s replacing the urge to be exasperated over the smeared windows (again) with a reminder that those little hand prints are growing quickly…

it’s picking up my husband’s dirty socks (he knows where they go) and remembering my friend who just lost her husband and would give anything to pick up his dirty socks again…

it’s training my ear to hear the melody of “Mama” repeated over and over in a day—how sweet the sound if only I’ll listen…

it’s praising God for rain because blankets and books and snuggles are life-giving moments….

it’s choosing to focus on the sweet breath of my baby in the night, and not on how little sleep I’ve gotten lately….

it’s a reflection on the privilege of taking care of the people around me–”when you do it unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto Me”…

it’s bringing into remembrance, each day, the grace that has been poured out on my life, and the Giver that gave all…

Gratitude is seeing what is in light of what could be and living thankfully on purpose.

source

UPDATE: Mr Murray – executive director of The Foschini Group – called Taryn Hayes now and told her that these t-shirts were out of line and that they slipped passed their vetting system. They are all being recalled from all stores (including sports scene) across the country and an investigation is happening to see how they got passed through in the first place. He was very apologetic and as outraged as everyone else. Taryn was quite impressed with his handling of it. Now to see how quickly this happens. :-)

I am not usually one who reposts entire posts from other blogs… but this post by Jennifer Thorpe on the Mail and Guardian site really is important to me. My friend, Taryn previously posted about the derogatory and degrading T-shirts that Markhams sell… and there was major uproar and emails and such… but it appears that Foschini are still being ignorant and making it look like women are things to be used. I get so freaking angry I could use horrible words! But read this post, and help take action!

T-shirts that are offensive towards women, ignorant of the HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa, or are simply offensive are a reflection of a culture that says we shouldn’t care about these things, because misogyny, HIV/Aids and women’s rights are not something to be taken seriously. When a major brand like Foschini chooses to produce shirts that entrench these messages it is important that they are called to account.

On Thursday last week, Rebecca Hodes posted a letter on FeministsSA, signed by a number of journalists and academics, calling the Foschini group to remove the following shirt from their stores, and illustrating to them why it was wrong to have shirts like this in their stores. I put out a call on FeministsSA for others to send me images of shirts that they found offensive. I received three more. One that said “I put the STD in STUD, now all I need is U”. One said “You looked better … from behind”. The final one said the way to a woman’s heart was throughmoney, cars and lies.

What these T-shirts share in common is a deep-seated misogyny, a lack of respect for women, a lack of awareness about sexual health, and the fact that they are all produced by the Foschini group in their stores Markhams and Sportscene.

Foschini is sending us a message — they don’t care about women’s rights, and they are more than happy to print offensive messages about women. They don’t believe that people who shop in their stores are at risk of contracting HIV, despite claiming their own internalcomprehensive HIV policy.

The following stores are also part of the Foschini group:

• Foschini
• Donna-Claire
• Fashion Express
• Luella
• Markhams
• Exact
• Totalsports
• Sportscene
• Due South
• American Swiss
• Sterns
• Matrix
• @home
• @homelivingspace

I imagine that many of the people who shop at these stores do not support misogyny, do not support the dangerous practice of multiple concurrent partners, and would like their children to grow up in a world where women are respected for their intellect, ambition and talents rather than for how they look from behind.

If you are part of that group, and shop at Foschini, I’d like to ask you to stop. I’d like you to pay up and close your accounts.

I’d like to ask you to go one step further and get in touch with them and tell them about your displeasure with their messaging on the following number: 021 938 1911. The real person you want to talk to is AD Murray, their executive director.

I’d like you to ask Mr Murray if he promotes these views within the directorate of this corporation, and if he is aware that he is offending and alienating the majority of his target market. I’d like you to tell me what he says.

For now, and until they issue an apology for their ignorant offensive messaging, I will be boycotting them. I hope you will be too.

This has been a rough month… so I apologise for the delay in posting this update.

Elijah has gotten soooo busy!

• He is crawling at a crazy speed, and climbing onto/into everything.
• He can reach things I think he can’t.
• He figured out how to open doors, including his bedroom door.
• He climbs in and out of his ball pit by himself.
• He crawls/climbs up stairs… not quite there with climbing down though.
• He has 2 teeth!! His top right incisor and his bottom left incisor is peeking through. (he bit me for the first time tonight)
• He loves cheese – and says namnamnam/numnumnum whenever he wants food.
• He loves drinking from a cup or glass or mug, and will reach to try and get it out of one’s hand.
• He finally figured out how to flip from his back to his tummy… only now, he does it ALL the time… in the middle of feeds, or when I’m changing him, or while he’s sleeping, and then he wakes up and stand up…
• He stands for short periods unassisted.
• He loves music – not that this is new, but he dances when there’s music.
• He wants to be outside all the time, and gets niggly indoors… what to do… in this family we tend to stay indoors (I love outdoors though).

What’s in a name?

Its called cute, so it must be cute… yes, these products definitely earn their name!

Hush Hush nursing cover: The fabric is really pretty and designed more for mom than baby, so it looks less obvious than baby-printed fabric. It covers baby and mom really well for a discreet feed, even in a crowded restaurant. The Hush Hush nursing cover has a strap that can be adjusted, that fits around mom’s neck and then the cover hangs over baby. I found it really easy to use, and the piece of boning that allows you to see your baby is fabulous, allowing constant eye contact making bonding so much more. I really like this nursing cover, as its locally made, and really affordably priced.

Busy Bib: As I have mentioned numerous times on this here blog… I have a drooler… a major spit factory. And then he started eating and trying to feed himself… He makes an EPIC mess. So when Nira said she’d send me the sleeved bib to try, I was over the moon. What a genius product!! It covers Elijah’s whole chest, and part of his pants, and both arms. Its easy to clean and dries really quickly. So bring on the messy butternut, or jelly-messy play! (I need to say, I am really not very phased about him getting dirty or making a mess, I realise its part of growing up, so it doesn’t bug me, but this bib is just perfect for those times you just need your kid to stay clean for 5 minutes longer).

Perky Poncho: This has got to be the cutest little raincoat ever! Complete with ears! My one is a tad too big for Elijah, but he will grow into it – and since he isn’t walking yet, he hasn’t ventured out into the puddles with it. I do think that this poncho will be awesome for toddlers who want to jump in puddles in the rain, or when you need to go out in winter, just for added dryness. And it looks so freaking cute!!

I asked Nira Lincoln, the owner of Oh So Cute, to answer some questions so we can get to know more about the person behind this cute company:

Tell me something about yourself/family?

I have a daughter that surprises and inspires me each and every day

What did you do after school?

I studied and then did a gap year travelling around North America, Europe and India

Where are you based?
In Cape Town

What inspired you to start “Oh So Cute”?
My 3 year old daughter, Samantha, has always been my inspiration.  I also noticed that there seemed to be a shortage here of practical products for babies and young children and that many people were resorting to getting items sent from overseas.  I thought we should be capable of producing these things right here in South Africa and making them even better.

Where does the name come from?
When I started to make the oh so cute… products I kept looking at them and thinking how cute they are.  The little ones who end up using the products are so cute too so the name stuck.  When people see the products for the first time they always remark how cute they are and then realise that is actually their name.
Where do you want the business to go in the future?
My aim is to make oh so cute… to grow from strength to strength and be readily available throughout the country.  I have so many fantastic accessories that I would like to develop, all aimed at making parenting simpler.  I would also love to be able to keep producing products that are competitively priced and good value right here in South Africa.
Which of your creations is your favourite and why?
I would have to say that it is the Busy Bib as this was the first product I started working on.  When my daughter started solids I could not understand what the purpose was of a small handkerchief sized bib that had to be washed after every meal.  When I looked around for a solution there didn’t seem to be anything suitable so I decided to make the perfect bib that could also be used for anything that involved getting messy. I love my other products too but the Busy Bib will always be special.

Check out Oh So Cute’s website for the range of colours, and follow them on Facebook for updates.

I have previously mentioned not being able to hold it all together… and having a bit of envy towards women/moms who seem to be able to cook,clean, raise kids, have great marriages, craft and look like they stepped out of a magazine.

I’m there again.

When I read this post this morning, it helped to let me see its not really just me. Of course, as much as I know it, believing it in my heart is a whole different story.

My cleaning lady resigned, we got a puppy and we all came down with the flu in the same week. Meaning, my house is a tip, I feel like crap, and I’m trying to save the puppy from being tugged/chewed/chased to pieces.

This is where I need to sit. To be still. To focus on Him. To feel His grace.

To realise, this too shall pass, and so quickly. Not only that, but to see the gifts in every moment, even the ones that feel like curses.

I started my list of one thousand gifts, a long time ago, but keep forgetting about it. Now I think its time to consciously work on it. To find the beauty in the chaos. To see God’s grace in every single moment.

I’m praying for new eyes, to see things through His view.
For new lips, to give thanks for everything.
For new ears, to hear His voice in the noise of each day.
For new hands, to give everything I have to Him.
For new feet, to go where He leads.

1. warm tea
2. snuggles with my sleeping boy
3. his laughter at the dogs
4. a small house to clean
5. birds twittering on the deck
6. blogging
7. being close to my folks

…

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

Author Unknown

“While your children are little, cultivate an attitude of sacrifice. Sacrifice your peace for their fun, your clean kitchen floor for their help cracking eggs, your quiet moment for their long retelling of a dream…. Prioritize your children far and away above the other work you need to get done. They are the only part of your work that really matters.”

Kelly Crawford – Generation Cedar

Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.  ~Pearl S. Buck

After months (if I think about it, probably years) of feeling bloated and uncomfortable every day of my life, having mild eczema, weird rashes, headaches, crazy PMS, fatigue and struggling to lose weight, I finally went for allergy tests.

Saskia Etschmaier via weheartit

Turns out, after a looong test (involving cables, machines, electrodes and all such scientific gadgets), I am very allergic to dairy and mildly to wheat. All of my discomforts are apparently due to these allergens. I have embarked on the interesting, and challenging journey that is dairy and wheat free… and just for fun I’m trying to limit my sugar intake, yet again. Can you say “fun times”?

Seriously, I am so glad to finally have some kind of answer to my issues, I though I was weird! But now that I know I can do something to prevent all the horrible discomforts, I am fully in it. I have also had to start taking extra supplements, calcium (no dairy wrecks the calcium input) and vit B complex (should help the fatigue and loss of energy).

What bugs me though, is how dairy and wheat is in EVERYTHING! Crackerbread, which one would think may be dairy free, contains milk solids… this is the maize and rye ones. I drink rice milk in my coffee and such, as soya is out (see PCOS). Cheese is out. Yogurt is out. I have never been a huge fruit fan, but am going to have to force myself to eat fruit and more veggies, just to get some kind of variety. Luckily, my parents are in the blood type diet, and bake rye bread often, so I just get some from my mom. I would bake my own, but heck, I couldn’t eat the whole loaf alone. I am very happy to say, I have found a brand of pasta that is made from maize, now, it does state on the package that it might contain traces of wheat, but since my allergy to wheat is mild, I figure it worth a go. A girl has to have her pasta! It tastes AMAZING with tomato mix/marinara and stir fry veggies.

I have discovered some cool blogs with allergy-related recipes, mostly gluten-free, but thats safe for me, provided they are dairy free too. I am hoping to try some scones this weekend, and also pizza :) no idea what to put on pizza that can’t have cheese on… :( but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

Anyone else dairy-allergic? Wheat? Send me your ideas/ tips/ recipes/ condolences/ encouragement ;)