Kitchen Wars

I had big plans for today… No they didn’t involve curing cancer or bringing down international criminals… but nevertheless still important…

So with my big plans for the day ahead of me, I set forth only to find I am trapped… Trapped in the KITCHEN!!!!

Cooking all meals from scratch is a never ending job, and when I think about how many hours I spend in the kitchen per day I realise I am an unappreciated, unpaid chef for angry midgets!!

So things are-a-changing around here… In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the terminater movies “the machines are taking over” (I’m not sure if he said those exact words, but you know what I mean)

I have turned to any form of time saving implement that I can get my hands on, the following is a list of my favourite time saving machines, that will hopefully get me OUT of the kitchen.

So the holy grail in time saving kitchen equipment would have to be the cooking husband/partner, who whips up dinner while you pop your feet up with glass of chardy… Hmm, yes, moving right along…

Coming in at a close second would have to be the Thermomix. This whiz banger of a machine claims to do all sorts of amazing feats in the kitchen with a flick of a switch, from ice cream to muesli in moments.  Coming in at around the $2000 mark, it is a serious kitchen investment, and is unfortunately not on my  necessity list for now.

I would place my bench mixer next on the list. Cakes, biscuits, bread doughs etc are all easy peasy with the mixer. Whack in the ingredients, flick on and job done… Only down fall is that you don’t burn the calories from physically mixing the calorie laden cakes and biscuits etc.

Next up the old trusty bread maker… Our bread maker is older than time itself, but still manages to lure us in to the kitchen via our noses, for a fresh bread laden breakfast, time after time. Bread cooks overnight & you can get creative with a variety of flours and grains without spending $10 a loaf.

Last but not least is the slow cooker. Perfect for rainy autum weather, you can cook beautiful porridge with pears and cardomon overnight, then re-load for a delicious spicey lamb stew with barley for dinner. Sweet delicious comfort food.

So these little gems have allowed me to escape the kitchen today, long enough to… Well write this post… I’ll start on world peace tomorrow.

Megan Georgoulas

Toddlers and squalor

Written by Megan Georgoulas

When I first met my husband Frank, I believed my share house days were behind me.

No more over-flowing bins no one will empty, no more stacked dirty dishes no one will clean, no more stained carpets and dents in the walls, and the big winner, no more stinky toilets with lids up and wee on the seat!

Ah the golden days of designer furniture, ornaments and art, and beautiful sparkling clean bathrooms were all ahead of me.

That was until our inner city studio apartment world was rocked by multiple toddler mayhem and chaos.

Out to the burbs we marched and back into share house squalor we entered.

Sometimes I want to document on time lapse cameras just how much destruction and filth can be created by the boys in such a short amount of time. It is like they have some sort of innate programming, where their primary aim is to seek, destroy and stain!

I am in awe of seemingly spottless ‘toddler’ houses. Are they the result of obsessive compulsive cleaning syndrome? Are the children (and husband) trained maids? Maybe the kids aren’t allowed in the house until bed time? Or maybe they have a full-time cleaner, cook, nanny, personal assistant, child care and psychiatrist?!

Of an evening when the boys have finally gone to sleep and I am spending the rest of my ‘free’ time cleaning that particular day’s squalor, I try to remember that this too shall pass.

I remind myself that when they are teenagers, at least the mess and strange smells will be limited to their own bedrooms. They won’t always put everything they find in their mouths, they won’t always wee on the carpet or smear their dinner on the walls…

And this always brings me back to the fact that along with the bad stuff not lasting forever, neither will the good stuff. They won’t always fall asleep in my arms, or cuddle me in bed on cold winter mornings, or tell me they love me everynight as I tuck them in to bed. Remembering this puts the mess into beautiful perspective … Designer furniture can wait.

God bless our mess!

Seed Naturopathics: Open for Business

So after a three year hiatus, I am headed back to the consultation room. I am very excited to be practicing once again, and am looking forward to being a part of all the beautiful and challenging pregnancy and birth stories ahead.

I feel very blessed that even though I am technically returning to work, the ‘work’ I have been doing as a mother has prepared and humbled me to work alongside mums and their families during their own journeys into life and parenthood.

I will be focussing on the pre-natal health of both mum and dad in the lead up to conception, support throughout pregnancy and birth, including HypnoBirthing classes, and will also be providing post-natal support for both mother and baby.

Becoming a mum is one of the most transformational times in a woman’s life which requires patience, understanding, love and unconditional support.

Unfortunately new mums can slip through the cracks within our current society and health model. With the main focus being on the babies health and milestones, our own health as mothers can suffer.

With the help of herbal medicine, correct nutrition, exercise and counselling, this time can be a joyous celebration rather than extreme fatigue and isolation.

As a mum of two toddlers I understand how important it is to care for yourself so that you can be the best mum, physically and emotionally for your children.

I will be consulting from Healthy Life Carindale on a Sunday between 10am and 3pm, and am also availale for online and telephone consultations.

Please contact me at megan@seednaturopathics.com for more info or to book an appointment.

Megan Georgoulas

Holy Doula

When I fell pregnant with our second child, I knew immediately I wanted a different birthing experience than that of our first child, Max. I had wanted Max’s birth to be natural, calm and beautiful, however things didn’t go as planned.

When meconium was detected after my waters broke, the relaxed, calm birth we had planned for turned into beeping machines, monitors, bright lights, multiple strangers present in the room, needles, fear, and a lot of pain. I felt scared, unsafe and out of control. The staff were cold, rude and I felt that no one was listening to myself or my husband.

In order to have the birth I had always dreamt of with our second child, we did a lot of preparation. We took HypnoBirthing classes and through those classes met a wonderful student doula, Sandy. Sandy offered us her services as a doula, and we didn’t hesitate to accept. Sandy met with us during the pregnancy and made sure we were all on the same page, and by the time I went into labour we had developed a very strong bond and trust.

Having Sandy present at the birth, was invaluable. She became my comfort, reassurance and spokesperson. When both myself and my husband started to lose our cool, she kept the atmosphere calm and relaxed. She spoke to hospital staff when I couldn’t and helped us achieve the natural, calm birth that I felt I had been robbed of with Max.

Having a doula present during labour is very important with Australia’s current public hospital system, where you are usually sharing one of the most special and intimate moments of your life with complete strangers. The beauty of using a doula is that you have a support person with you who you are familiar with, and who is aware of your birthing goals and needs.

Having Sandy as our doula enriched my birthing experience and I could not imagine birthing without the support of a wise, compassionate, strong woman who has mine and my families best interest at heart. I would not hesitate in recommending the use of a doula during childbirth… I wouldn’t birth without one!

Sandy can be contacted via Holistic Birthing

Does sex induce labor?

By the time the 40 week mark has come and gone, even the most patient mumma’s to be can become a little ‘over’ being so pregnant!

The tummy continues to stretch long after you thought it had no more room to give, you’re already sleep deprived from constant peeing through the night and kicks to the ribs that feel like they could have been delivered by a black belt ninja, and most importantly you just cannot wait any longer to meet your beloved baby.

So after many days of being overdue with both my baby boys, I thought I would take matter into my own hands…. well mine and my husband’s!

I had heard from many sources that red wine, a hot curry and a night of love making would awaken the stalk and by morning we would be holding our new bundle of joy.

So being open to most things, and especially things that require a good time, I decided to give it a go.

Low and behold within a few hours of making love, I commenced labor, and by the following mornings we were holding our beautiful baby boys.

So although there are no guarantees the love making method will work for everyone, what a beautiful way to connect with your partner before you enter the next stage of life together, as parents.

Megan Georgoulas

Surviving the inlaws | Mummy Matters

Some handy hints for keeping the peace!

Surviving the inlaws | Mummy Matters.