Wednesday WOW: NC Sheroes; “Moving Forward”

Sometimes Sheroes are right in our back yard!  They are the ones that get up everyday, no matter what’s going on at home, in their mind, or in their account and make it happen. No excuses , no delays- they are unselfishly walking in their calling and impressing the world one day, move, and thought at a time.

You may or may not  know their names, or ever spoken to them, but you’ve seen them or results of their incredible work. They are “Sheroes; Moving Forward!”

 

 

 

On April 2nd, at 11″30 am, We will honor our sheroes by resting their capes and revealing why they are so bold, brave and unstoppable!

 

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library presents NC SHEROES  “Moving Forward!”

 

THIS IS OUR 2nd year celebrating with MomsRising NC  and my moms group Queen City Stay At Home Moms.

 

We will honor 6 amazing women, who have made significant contributions to the Women’s movement right here in North Carolina.

After an introduction, we will award each Shero. Then go into a Round-table. Come prepared to find out why women matter and should be empowered to have a voice! Bring a child with you. It’s lessons like these that stick with them!

 

Here is our impressive line up!

Tawanna Ross- Award wining Gospel Hip Hop artist

Asha Sims- Gentle Yoga instructor

Melody Gross- Doula

 Nadine Ford – Farmer/gardener

Cassie Pressley- Teen Vegan Baker

Tina B. – Social activist

Special Guest TBA later.

Sweet Right?!  We’ll see you there! This ceremony is complete with  refreshments! So don’t worry about stopping for breakfast. And …Yes bring the kids, we’ll have a station for them to entertain themselves need be.

April 2,2016

11:30 Am

Beatties Ford Public Library, Charlotte NC

All are welcomed and encourage to attend. Free Parking, Refreshments and Admission

RSVP Here or Here! 

 

This is from last year. More videos are on YouTube. (go on and click it, it’ll show)

Smash Cakes: Because your Baby is the King/Queen Of All Babies!

Nine babies and I only had 2 smash cakes! What was I thinking of? They are so cute, fun, and just plain smart!

I know a great vegan baker in Charlotte NC. See Cassie Sweetz

Who wants a cake a lil hand all over their cake? REALLY??? Lil Mikey can be the cutest thing since Kermit the Frog, but uuugh, I’ll pass on the booger laced slime delight.

A smash cake is typically given to the birthday child at the first birthday celebration and is to be smashed, smeared, enjoyed and eaten by the birthday boy or birthday girl (remember to take lots of photos for the album!). Increasingly, people are making two cakes for the 1st birthday party: a smash cake and the main decorated birthday cake. The birthday guest of honor gets to have fun with the smash cake while the main birthday cake can be enjoyed by the guests, untouched by little hands.

There are several ways to create a first birthday smash cake. A smash cake is usually a mini cake that matches the party theme, however any cake will do. The smash cake can be as simple as a vanilla cupcake (a giant cupcake is perfect) or as complex as a smaller version of the main cake. The possibilities are endless!

Remember to remove any cookie sticks, decorative pix or candles before you serve the smash cake and be sure to spread newspapers under your child’s chair to catch the mess!

Order it from Cassie’s Sweetz or make it your self! Or you can click on the links of each picture for more details.

PRETTY IN PINK CAKE

Rose Levy Beranbaum’s white velvet cake is my go-to cake for birthdays. You can pair it with almost any frosting or filling. Although Beranbaum prefers a non-chocolate frosting on this cake like this one, I think a silky chocolate buttercream frosting works just fine here if it’s not overly chocolate-y.

If you have only two 9-inch pans like I do, follow this recipe to make the first two layers. After they have cooled and you have another pan available, halve the recipe to make a third layer. This will give you three 1 1/8-inch cake layers.

INGREDIENTS:

For The Cake:4 1/2 large egg whites
1 cup milk
2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

DIRECTIONS:

STEP 1: MAKE THE CAKE

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9-inch cake pans with butter and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Grease tops of parchment paper and dust lightly with flour.

Combine ¼ cup milk, the egg whites and the vanilla in a bowl and set aside.

Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on low for 30 seconds. Add the butter and remaining ¾ cup milk, and mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Increase to medium speed (or high if you’re using a hand mixer) and beat for 1 ½ minutes. Scrape down the sides, and add the egg mixture in 3 batches, beating for 20 seconds after each addition.

Scrape the batter into the pans and smooth the tops with a spatula. The pans should be about ½ full. Bake 25-35 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. You will want the cake to spring back when pressed lightly.

Cool the cakes for 10 minutes, then loosen the sides with a knife or spatula. Remove from pans.

STEP 2: MAKE THE FROSTING

Make your favorite frosting. I am partial to an Italian meringue buttercream.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE AND FROST THE CAKE

Using a cake leveler, evenly cut the tops off the cake so the layers are equal height.

Spread an even layer of frosting on top of the first cake layer and stick the cake in the freezer for 10 minutes or until the frosting is set. Add the second cake layer and repeat with frosting and freezer time. Add the third layer and spread a thin layer of frosting on top of the cake and around the sides of the cake – this is your crumb coat. Put cake in the freezer for 5 minutes or until frosting is set. Add a final thin layer of frosting to the top and sides of the cake, making sure it has a smooth finish. Place the cake in the freezer, covered, until you’re ready to decorate.

STEP 4: DECORATE THE CAKE

For the final fondant decoration, please see Not Without Salt’s instructions. I used 2 lbs of red buttercream fondant (with some leftover) and 4 lbs of white buttercream fondant (with some leftover). I used “antique white” to cover the cake and “wedding white” to make the strips.

If you’re making a 9-inch cake, you will need another set of hands to help you wrap the fondant around the cake, that is, unless you come up with a better system or technique than I did. If so, please share!

It’s your baby’s first birthday! Let him dig into his first birthday cake toddler-style with an adorable smash cake that’s almost too cute to eat. Almost.

101 More ideas-

Everything Else to Know about Smash Cakes

Just a lot of pretty ideas-

(Be sure to click all of the links in this post for more details)

And I DOULA!

I was asked during a recent interview,“How do you handle being a doula when you have young kids?” My answer:I love what I do, I have an supportive family and a wonderful gym membership!” (read more on that here: )  

I think most moms would do well at it! The truth is, giving birth is strikingly similar to mothering: It’s usually chaotic, sometimes stressful, rarely pretty, never easy. You might feel like you’re failing even when you’re not; sometimes, it will feel impossible. But you’ll press through anyway, because forward is the only option. When you do, your doula will be with you. Not just because she’s been there, but because she loves it and lives it!

For those who do not know what a dolua is I’ll explain. 

A doula is “a woman who serves” and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.

A Birth Doula  

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decisions
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman’s memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman’s partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

 

A Postpartum Doula

• Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
• Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
• Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary

It’s World Doula Week -Mar ch 22-28th

The purpose of World Doula Week (“WDW”) is to empower doulas all over the world to improve the physiological, social, emotional, and psychological health of women, newborns and families in birth and in the postpartum period.

Here’s a little more information on

postpartum-recovery

My doula service, The Pink Grasshopper is named after my oldest daughter.  I have great holistic mom /baby supplies over there.

I’m on Twitter too. Follow me over here also. I’ll start a few raffles soon once I get some traffic over there .

Check out my Pinterest Board!It’s LOADED with hard to find birthing information!

Need to increase your milk supply? Buy these awesome lactation treats! Cassie is a teen baker from Charlotte NC and makes all sorts of GMO, Vegan and Organic treats!  – Cassie Sweetz

Now Go Have A baby and call me in the morning,

QC Supermom

My 5th Doula Baby is here!

My daughter texts and say,”Mom, please come do your doula thing. I’ll pay you.” Now, how can I say no to an offer like that? So off I went. When I walked in the laboring mom was not alone. She had a her mom, boyfriend, little brother, and dad there, so obviously I didn’t know how I would fit in, but very soon, I seen the need.  This teen parents had so much on their mind. Missed working hours, their own major medical appointments, and feeding their own younger children. I sensed quickly that although they were physically there with Shawnte’, they we’re not mentally. That’s why my daughter asked me to come.

Me giving a pain relieving massage.

As I entered the door, I sprung into work. after saying hello to everyone, I asked mom to be how she was feeling and gave her, her very 1st gift, a much needed massage. While doing so, I asked her if she knew what was about to happen. How her body would open up a like a lotus flower. I also asked her what did she know about labor and delivery. To my surprise that she knew nothing ,so I filled her in with a clear conversation and pictures between labor pains.

That conversations seemed to relax her a lot, so then we started to discuss other birthing things. When it seemed like she was getting uncomfortable, I started reciting labor affirmations to her. With her being  teen, AND having so many people in the room, she couldn’t really focus on what I was saying so I tried something else….. The birthing ball and Youtube! This warrior was smiling, and singing Katy Perry’s “Hear Me Roar.”

 

 

After cries, scratches, moaning, even more questions, and 30+ hours later Destyn arrived via C Section. No, it wasn’t our plan, but he’s here, healthy and well loved. Mama  deserves a recovery smoothie, and I earned one on one time with my newest love! All hail Prince Destn!! And yes, my daughter will pay her bill, in spite of the fact, that I loved the job.:)  Whoose next?

Reclaiming My Identity

As a Stay At Home Mom, I must acknowledge and address both the perks and pitfalls of managing, a large family with limited income. 99.6 % of the time I am content. My motto is “Mess with me, you might get by with an eye roll. Mess with my children, and you better run”. (My husband can take care of himself. He’s a tough guy.) TODAY I sat in that .40% and I did’t know why.

       I love this!

Everything on the surface appeared fine. The children had no complaints. I even called my son in college to listen to his voice and to see if I could pick up on any cues, he too sound great. So yes, I was grateful to mentally clear that off my mind.

Yet something was not right. Maybe I’m over processing something  or maybe God is trying to direct me to a new place or possibly stopping me from making a big mistake, I thought. Have you ever felt unsettled in your spirit?

I do have a lot going on these days. ( 9 children, a crazy veteran husband, I’m still breastfeeding our youngest, SAHM group organizer, tutor, community activator, AND blogger) Needless to say our days often feel like an insane whirlwind of needs, requests, deadlines and never-ending demands, but I honestly love it all. Crazy right?

So, I tiptoed into my bedroom closet for a few minutes. I walked out to a revelation. I hated that I didn’t notice it before, as it’s been repressed for a while. I ignored my hair breaking off, chalking it up to the harsh cold weather. I also ignored my jumping eye lid, crediting my lack of sleep for that. BUT when I started getting nervous for no reason. I had to hit the breaks and put myself first.

My financial insecurities, and concern that the world is more perilous for kid raising than when I grew up.

Before I got married. I worked three jobs. Two in hospitality and one in appointment setting. I LOVED making my own money. Being able to make purchases without permission, consent or validation was the life.Not that I was wasteful, because I wasn’t but it is a level of empowerment. Yes, when I got married he  & I became 1. But I lost that power, I need it back.  My husband will never understand it. It’s nothing like having your own, and bringing it to the family table.

Jessica Beals has Nothing on me. Pass the mic…… next year …. please. 🙂

When I was young, we had more hope. I like to think that I’m raising amazing children and equipping them for today’s challenges. If it wasn’t for my moms group and my Kwanzaa family, I would think that I live on a island. These children today will choose short cuts every time. The value of life, inner pride, zest for the future, moral codes are diminished. It’s saddening.

Well, after a good cup of tea, a stress busting video, and a silent peek at my beautiful children (sleeping face I think everything will work itself out as it should.In the meantime, I have to come up with some strategies that will work with my time and generate real income…… then tease my husband by buying the girls new earrings. (yes, that would drive him nutty! 🙂 )

I’m thinking about AVON. I love their new line. With my large family, and the new product line, earnings seems quite promising. We’ll at least till something better comes along.See, it’s looking better already. Putting myself self first hasn’t wavered my goal of keeping my children a priority.

Great ideas here

Staying In My Zone~QC Supermom

Toxins Toxins EVERYWHERE! Stroller Brigade to the rescue!

This 37th year celebration was one of the best! If its any indication of what the next 12 months will be like, I am SO ready!

Although there were no balloons, ice cream or cake. I woke up to a husband, 6 happy and healthy children, breakfast in bed, an opportunity to

Mya may not go in body, but she will always be with us in spirit

honor my daughter,
Mya’s life and represent for my loved ones with autism, so it was looking great from the start.

My mission for that day was to stroll around Capitol Hill at the Stroller Brigade in Washington DC wit my Momsrising friends!

We are on a mission to create better laws that reflect how dangerous toxins are. As they are the root cause of all illness and disease. The current toxin laws  were written in 1976. Yet, a plethora of toxins have flooded the marketplace since then. Yucky-yuck- yuck!

How many toys, lip sticks, couches, carpets have you had over the years? ……a lot right?

There’s real cause for concern as chronic diseases in our children are on the rise and mysteriously high levels of autism and other learning disabilities are plaguing this young generation. We can not continue to sit around and watch our children and other loved ones demise.

Toxins are defined as a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms

You can get involved! All it takes is guts! Look at us. We are everyday moms. In this picture, the man that leg belongs to said that it was the best meeting hes ever attended on the hill.

It was nice meeting all the wonderful people with the same goals like Anne Brock, of Flour Mama, Sonali Desai,Kate Roetzer,Dennis Sills, Lee Anderson, Bryan Mcgannon, and Erin Kesler. Just as I finish this post, I just learned that we met with nearly 80 Congressional offices during yesterday’s #StrollerBrigade. That’s awesome!

Join us! ~QCSUPERMOM

I nursed Noah on Capitol Hill. 🙂

What A New Mom Needs

The postpartum period begins after the delivery of the baby and ends when the mother’s body has returned as closely as possible to its pre-pregnant state. This period usually lasts six to eight weeks. Sociologically, she has other needs. See the soft reminders below.

1. Save me some money. Offer to take my baby pictures. You know those hospital pictures as overpriced. I may have something cute to put my lil one in & I’d rather pay you.
2. Ask me if I mind recycled gifts, like a stroller, car seat, crib, clothes, diaper bag, etc. I just might need it.
3. Make us a big salad, a big pan of lasagna with a nice homemade dressing on the side and a gallon of mint tea and clean the kitchen completely afterward. Drop it off, wash your hand if you want to hold the baby, do that and leave shortly afterwards.
4. Come over about 2 pm in the afternoon in your work clothes to water my plants, feed the dog and dust my house. Hold the baby while I have a hot shower. Let me take a nap, while you fold all of the laundry or do some.  
5. Put a sign on my door saying “Dear Friends and Family, Mom and baby need extra rest right now. Please phone first. All donations of casserole dinners would be most welcome. Thank you for caring about our family.”
6. Remind me to keep myself up. If you gotta find my black yoga/leggings pants or scarf, high lyrca -cotton cami, please remind me to wear it. If we’re going, remind me to grab  my cover up or
7. Take my older kids for a really fun-filled afternoon to a park, Imaginon or Monkey Joes and feed them healthy food from Earth Fare.

 Never be afraid to ask for help. These are the kindnesses that new families remember and appreciate forever. Things that really make a difference are the services for the body and soul. Most of your friends and family members don’t know what they can do that won’t be an intrusion.

Breastfeeding Awareness And What Else

Created By QC Supermom

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Did you know that?

Is BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS ENOUGH?

It’s been a year since the Charlotte NC Library fiasco.( See story here) I remember like it was yesterday. I sat in the library covered and was told to leave my seat to go into a 8×8 box to feed my son. Needless to say, that bird did not fly. Not only did I tell her she had no right to stop me from getting my work done at the library, but she also was violating my right to nurse my child. The nerves right?

I choose to feed him in                              dignity!

What was most surprising was the fact the enforcer sent two ladies to me TWICE before confronting me. When she did approach me, she asked me some of the most ignorant questions ever! The way I see it, a less trained mom would have snatched her baby from the boob and threw it back in her shirt, in shame, quicker than you could say peep show.That older African American supervisor had no clue that she was speaking to a empowered advocate of breastfeeding. I’m so happy it was me and I stood my ground. I know that the benefits of nursing my baby out ways any healthy baby parasite. A real change needs to be made. The Health Department here in Charlotte NC has taken great steps to encourage breast feeding, but more progress could easily be made. 

Beautiful Poem called “Embarrassed”  -click it!    

 

1. Provide more positive mentors. I’ve learned that many young moms refuse to breastfeed because no one ever told them, showed them that it was ok, and that it is better than the most expensive sneakers they could ever put on them. Keep programs like  the WIC BreastFeeding Peer group installed in the community.

2. Better representation – Is it just me or do you appreciate seeing people that look like you …..sometimes? It’s just another way of putting myself in the picture. Some people needs that visual. Mrs. B made the cover of a breastfeeding brochure but she wasn’t smiling. Yes, I looked. Can we see happy, loving married moms, single moms, siblings even moms of various color tandem nursing?

3. Install Value – Many females have been told their body is for sex only. SEX is a incredible thing, but that’s only half it’s for. Our bodies are a source of life. From our breast, ears, mouths, hearts, womb, eyes, arms, lap, legs and feet.

4. Real support from real moms – Le Lache, The United States Breastfeeding Committee,   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, they are great information services but fail as sources for interventions and grassroots advocacy. On Face Book, you’ll see hundreds of breastfeeding groups that will jump at protecting, uplifting and spiritually supporting an oppressed nursing mom. Imagine if they were trained. What a sisterhood of force to be reckoned with!

Breastfeeding moms need more than a healthy start. They need progressive long term support long after we give birth. How else would she know how to respond to an NIP

( nursing in public) attacker if no one teaches her?

Even after delivery moms with little support NEED to be told to keep going. It’s get better. The colostrum is enough. His tummy is very small right now. 

Watch this rap video….. it’s really good and I even don’t like rap!

Well, time to feed Noah, Take Care- QC Supermom

B R E A S T F E E D

Wednesday Wow: Water birth

This past week has been amazing. I helped deliver a baby in water. My son came home from college and I got impregnated! Well, that last one is a stretch, as I am creating something greater inside of me. It’s not a human baby, but it’s almost as incredible. I’ll tell you more about that later. But, now, about that water birth……

What hospital did Adam take Eve to in order to deliver Cain and Able?

Just like it sounds, a water birth is giving birth in water. You may choose to deliver in a bathtub, hot tub (with the temperature turned down), or other pool of water. You can have a water delivery at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital.

Water is believed to help the mother surrender to the birth process and create a feeling of tranquility

“Amy”, my assistant organizer went into labor. I waited for the call forever seems like, but when it came, the first thing came in my mind was, “pray!” She was more collected than I ever imagined her to be. But I knew the path we were taking was taboo in our current day, social group, and age demographic.  “Amy” had a water birth. No drugs or other excessive procedures were used.

This isn’t “Amy” I just wanted to add it to this post. But it does a great job showing the baby coming out of water.(owners link attached)

When she asked me to be her birthing partner, I jumped all over it. On the morning that she delivered, I pulled out all the tools I could think of, from the relaxing oils, gentle rubs, mind soothing affirmations, forehead compress, minerals infused water, and labor ball-everything!

As her contractions came, she continued to breathe and cruise right through them. Sure, she was in anguish but her when I see that petite thumb of hers pop up from under her, I knew she was doing great. Her loudest moan was at the ring of fire. (That’s right before the baby crowns)

“The power and intensity of your contractions cannot be stronger than you, because it is you.” ~ Unknown

When baby “BP” came out, it felt “right.” I had 9 births but none of them compared to what just happened. “Amy” allowed her body to follow baby BP’s lead. He flowed out when he was ready.  No one yelled “PUSH! “or “HOLD it till the team gets here.”  It was all about “Baby BP”, as nature intended.

Right then I knew without a doubt that we, moms were highly connected to GOD.

So happy to say that mom, baby and placenta are all doing well. I wish that more moms would open their minds to it.

I could get use to this. Hmmm “Kelle The Doula….what a nice ring to my ears!

BIRTH WITHOUT FEAR! He’s here! Welcome to the World “baby BP!”

Resources:

START HERE- POWERFUL LOGIC AND ONE MOM DECODED TO CHOOSE WATERBIRTH

Stars that water birth their baby’s

 Water birth pros and cons

Research documents on waterbirth

Watch videos here on water births

Documentary of couple’s journey to baby and all the tricks they used to get to he water birth.  (a real good one)

Friday Four: It’s Doula Week!

This week was World Doula Week! Did you celebrate by saying thank you?

I love doulas,midwives and other supportive birthing partners! I’ve used them for the last 4 births and it’s made a world of difference compared to the first 5 births. I’ve found them tobe able to minimize my stress and pain, level in oerder to enourage healthly- natural births

Have you met a doula? They are some of the most open minded people ever, and there are different types of birthing partners. Midwifes are one step above doulas and one step under OBGYN’s. and your husband are right there beside the doula. As she works as your assistant, voice, and planner. A post-partum doula is just as awesome, the will go from the pre labor, Labor and delivery , to the post care.  Yes, someone can come by and nurture mom after the birth and refrain from nagging about the state of the house.

I was talking with two of my mom friends and asked them to consider a doula. They both asked why and I responded by saying that a birth doula is knowledgeable about childbirth, understanding the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor. She provides continuous emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint while remaining with the woman throughout the entire labor and birth. The constant support is possible because birth doulas have no other “patients” to attend to, no shift change and no other responsibilities other than the overall well-being of the woman in labor.

Doula’s  often use the power of touch and massage to reduce stress and anxiety during labor. Massage helps stimulate the production of natural oxytocin. The pituitary gland  secretes natural oxytocin to the bloodstream which causes uterine  contractions and also secretes it to the brain, which results in a  feeling of well being, drowsiness  and a raised pain threshold. Synthetic IV oxytocin can not cross into  the blood stream and brain, so it increases contractions without the  positive psychological effects of natural oxytocin.

At least  thirteen scientific studies evaluating the effectiveness of doulas have  shown that having a doula present at your birth can have the following  results:

  * Shorter labor by 25% (average two hours less for first time mothers)
* Reduced need for pain medication
* Fewer episiotomies
* 40% reduction in the use of forceps
* 40% reduction in the use of Pitocin
* 50% reduction in cesarean rate
* 60% reduction in the request of epidurals
* Greater satisfaction with the birth
* Better mother infant interaction
* Improved neonatal outcomes
* Increased breastfeeding success

Here’s just 4 reasons doulas are awesome!

1. They can help you write an intelligent birthing plan.
2. They help untangle labor and delivery myths, stress, and unfortunates.
3. They help moms & family mentally prepare for birth/ a new addition.
4. They can connect you with a very well stock list of local resources, service providers, and new mom goodies.

I’d say they are worth their weight in gold! To all of my Birthing Support Partners, THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!!!

Check out a few more things you’ll need to know.

Other benfits to having a doula

Congratulations on your pregnancy!