Vegan Blueberry Banana Spinach and Kale Muffins Recipe!!!

So I really just put a lot of stuff together in my food processor and then mixed the dry with the wet and vuola... MAGIC, jk jk and then sprinkled in my blueberries then baked for 25 minutes on 350. But here are the ingredients used and how to substitute meat by products for vegan goodies!

Milled Flax seeds... soak a tablespoon or so in warm water (these will replace your eggs)

Combine in food processor or blender some bananas (ripe), the spinach and kale, almond milk vanilla (I use sweetened), flax seed mixture, and some coconut oil. Blend or pulse until a milky consistency.

In another bowl we used 3/4 cup  of  red mill organic coconut flour 1/4 cup of organic sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

Add wet to dry in another larger bowl. Dashed some vanilla extract in the mixture and whipped with a spoon.

Spoon into muffin tins or bread tin. Add blueberries in each muffin tin and fold into mixture.

Bake for 20-25 minutes on 350... longer if its a loaf you are making.

Allow them too cool and store in refrigerator in freezer bags.

This is the most obscure recipe ever im so sorry haha.

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Brave Amelia's hair: Secrets Revealed!!! not really just genetics maybe...

I get a lot of questions about Brave's hair. I appreciate the compliments, trust me I do. But when I was asked prior to this past month all I could reply was water and coconut oil. Which left a lot of strangers looking at me skeptical like I was lying. I assure you for the 1st year of my daughter's life all that entered her hair was Cetaphil's Natural shampoo and organic extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil from Giant's brand Wild Harvest. I also rarely combed it and probably only detangled it once every week and a half.

But around last month when Brave turned 1 something started happening to her hair composition. It would remain dry even after coconut oil and the porosity of her hair seemed to be changing. I have always been allergic to coconut oil on my scalp. I can put it on my body but not my scalp. My husband can use it in his hair and on his skin. Since the only thing I was putting in her hair was coconut oil I narrowed down easily that it was the coconut oil and we immediately stopped using it. So I did my research and devised a plan to instate a hair regimen for my little one. I chose the LOC method.

L- Leave in Conditioner
O- Oil
C- Creme or butter (in our case jelly)

For the past 3 weeks I have been using this method to amazing results. Brave's hair is thriving more than ever and I wanted to share the products we have been using.

Firstly, I detangle Brave's hair with a spritz bottle filled with water and a medium sized tooth comb before washing.

Next, I wash her hair with Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla sulfate free shampoo.

Ingredients

Water (Aqua),Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-2 Cocamide, Fragrance (Parfum), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, PEG-150 Distearate, PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-7, Potassium Cocoate, Rosa Canina Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Caramel

Then while her hair is still wet I add the Leave in Conditioner also Carol's Daughter

Ingredients

Water (Aqua), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Polysorbate 60, Agave Tequilana Stem Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Beeswax, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-butly Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Polysorbate 80, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Xantham Gum, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol

Next with her hair still wet and the leave in conditioner in I work oil from her scalp through her hair in small sections.

Ingredients

Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Calendula Officianalis Flower Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Fragrance (Parfum)

Lastly while her hair is still wet (sometimes i need to spritz her hair with water again) I add this curl defining jelly. Very sparsely while manipulating the coils in her hair. As I Am Born Curly Argan Curl Defining Jelly.

 Ingredients

Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin*, Xanthan Gum, Betaine, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil*, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Pectin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil*, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil*, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil*, Alcohol*, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract*, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract*, Potassium Sorbate, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Limonene*, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance/Parfum

I let her hair air dry. Then next morning it is soft, smells AMAZING, and her curls are magnificent.

-Ash Lauren

*DISCLAIMER* My daughter naturally has very coily and curly hair. Her curls could simply be the result of her genes and these products might just be overpriced delicious smelling potions lolol.

************PRODUCTS I TRIED BUT HATED!!!*************

Cantu Kids Care Curl Cream 8.0fl oz

SheaMoisture KIDS Curling Butter Creme - Coconut & Hibiscus - 6 oz

SMASH CAKE AND A ROMPER

Brave Amelia ONE YEAR photoshoot

My Breastfeeding Journey: The true story behind it all

Dear World:

Since learning I was pregnant last December I've been dead set on giving my child what I didn't have. And that was breast milk. Whether it be via the pump or the breast I wanted to ensure they had breast milk the first year of their life. As my due date neared I gained more understanding of breastfeeding and all it entailed. I then had a real come to Jesus moment with myself that my baby might not be able to latch... so I might have to exclusively pump or even give my child formula. With that I bought or was gifted all the breast pumps and accessories and organic formula I could get my hands on.

3 weeks old, safe in her cacoon

When I gave birth to Brave Amelia I was still under the influence of my epidural and my baby came out with slight jaundice. She was given formula for the first 2 days of her life. It didn't sadden me too much because I was taking percocet for my residual pain and I felt better not giving my baby breast milk while taking narcotics. The 2nd day of my stay at St Joseph's hospital the lactation consultant visited. My tiny 5 lb 13 ounce baby was NOT latching. It was heart breaking. On top of this very
little colostrum was coming out of my breast when we self expressed. Another day of formula for my daughter and that time.... I did mind. I was bothered... I was down right upset. The next and last day we spent at the hospital a different lactation consultant came to help with latching but again my baby girl would NOT latch. Very little colostrum was being expressed. She showed us how to feed my baby formula from a syringe so that she wouldn't get attached to a bottle and never latch. My heart sunk, Torin was my rock because I felt like a failure. I was still hopeful I would be able to pump though once we got home.

I waited a day to start pumping once home and very little came out and it hurt... A LOT. I was using the Ameda Purely Yours pump. (Months later I found out I was using the wrong sized flange.... there is a science to it ladies.) So I supplemented my breast milk with formula for another week. We used Earth's Best Organic formula. My daughter definitely liked the breast milk more than the formula. I used this pump in pain every two hours for the first month of her life before I got fed up. I went to my OBGYN and told them of my trouble, they suggested I use a Medela Freestyle Pump that I could get thru my insurance and put in an order for me.... The only issue was that it would take up to 2 weeks to receive. I was so discouraged. Throughout this first month I tried everyday to get Brave to latch. I even bought nipple shields and tried. It was sooo painful and she seemed to use it as a pacifier rather than to eat. 

I walked out of my obgyn office and thought to myself enough is enough and drove to St Joseph's. I remembered I could rent an hospital grade pump for $60 a month from them. I rented the Medela Symphony Pump and bought the accessory kit. The kit came with size 24 flange, a size I hadn't tried yet. I rushed home to pump, I was optimistic and hopeful. I had always heard that the hospital grade pumps work best for women with the challenges I had. My first session pumping with the hospital pump I pumped more than I ever had and it only took 10 minutes. I almost wanted to cry. I felt like a successful mom. I felt like I could do this.

Over the next month I pumped every 2 hours... yes 2 hours. At first I was on cloud nine but by week

She can now hold a tiny bottle at 13 weeks old

2 pumping every 2 hours became such a laborious task. Imagine waking up, feeding your baby, lulling them back to sleep then having to pump for 15 minutes and doing it all over again in 2 hours every single night. Oh and pumping during the day... she hated it. She did not like me placing her down for 15 minutes to pump. It was a very strict schedule of waiting for her to sleep and hurrying to pump before she woke and then all over again another 2 hours later. But I can say I was definitely committed. At one point I had 7 days worth of milk stored in my freezer. But then I decided to go out on Halloween and my husband watched the baby... because I chose to drink I could not give her my expressed milk for a full 24 hours. 

I never caught up the week after Halloween with my pumping. It became just down right overwhelming. I think my stress levels hit an all time high because one Friday the first week of November I went to pump and nothing came out... literally NOTHING. I had no milk stored in my fridge nor freezer and my baby was screaming from hunger pain. I think it was just natural instinct that I put my baby up to my bare nipple to see if she would latch. I hadn't tried for a whole month since I got the hospital pump. AND GUESS WHAT!? My baby not only latched on... she latched on like she had always been doing it! I was feeding my baby from my breast successfully with no consultant help and no breast shield. It was beautiful! And since that day she has been nursing from the breast like a damn bawse! I still pump for when my mom watches her or when we go out in public (still not super comfortable nursing in public unless Im in the van). And let me tell you... nursing thru out the night is like a cake walk compared to pumping and bottle feeding. 

I wrote this to give an honest depiction of how breastfeeding can be. I think nowadays we see a lot on social media about how beautiful it is, but never about how hard it can be. How mentally and physically draining it can be. Its a bitter sweet sacrifice that is most definitely worth it. I also wrote this to encourage others to NEVER GIVE UP. My daughter didn't latch for 2 months! That's almost unheard of, and if I gave up I never would have known she could. Feeding Brave via pumping or nursing its all been worth it. Ladies we are amazing... our bodies can seem like a mystery sometimes,
but trust your instincts. Regardless if you pump, nurse or formula feed you are STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL and the gift we give our children is priceless. 

Signed,

A relentless mom who will do anything for her daughter

Brave Amelia's Birth Story 9.5.15

September 2nd 2015 I had what I didn't know at the time to be my last OBGYN appointment before the birth of our daughter. I was 38 weeks and 5 days pregnant. My OB Dr Khajawi ( I know cool name right?!) performed a cervical exam. I was only 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced... which in layman's terms means no where near ready to give birth. Since throughout my pregnancy my daughter measured small during sonograms he sent me to my birthing hospital, St Joseph's, to have one last growth scan before her birth. During the growth scan the tech confirmed my baby girl was going to be a wee one, but also saw something alarming which im still not sure exactly what was alarming. But it alarmed her enough that the doctor had to overlook the exam and the doctor sent me to labor and delivery to have a stress test done. They said because of my chronic hypertension they wanted to make sure the baby wasn't distressed. During the stress test it showed that my daughter's heart rate was rising and falling which isn't supposed to happen. They recommended I come back in two days for another test. That Friday, September 4th, I left work for another stress test mid day. I was officially 39 weeks pregnant. Again the stress test showed a rise and fall in the heart rate of my baby girl. At this point the doctor at labor and delivery called my OB and scheduled me to go in right away to his office to have an appointment for a plan of action. My OB recommended that we induce labor. I was distraught at first. I felt perfectly fine and my birth plan was all natural no unnecessary interventions. I asked if we could prolong the induction decision and informed him my parents would be in town tonight so maybe next Wednesday. If another stress test shows the same im willing to induce. He agreed and was fine with this plan of action.



I left his office and drove to Popeyes to pick up lunch. I NEEDED TO STRESS EAT. I bought the spiciest meal they had knowing that spicy food was known to induce labor. On the way back to work I felt a cramp.... like a period cramp. Like one I would normally pop Tylenol for. When I got to work I asked my coworkers, most of which have children, if what I experienced was a contraction and they are agreed "Uhhh yea Ash, why are you even still at work?" Now since my first stress test I had been bouncing on the yoga ball at night and eating pineapples but never really imagined Id go into labor before my due date, so I believe I was in shock and that's why I finished out my work day experiencing contractions every hour or so. Once home I showered and got right back to bouncing away on my yoga ball. My husband came home, I told him about my day and the contractions and he was as cool as a cucumber about it. He stated, "I think she is coming this weekend for sure." Uhh yea still in shock total disbelief. So then my parents arrived for dinner. They caught the auto train from Florida to Virginia and drove into town. What's ironic is that their trip was planned since January to come into Baltimore September 4th, even with my due date being September 11th. My parents are soothsayers I tell you. So during dinner I shared  that I was experiencing contractions. I was so calm about it I almost feel like they didn't believe it either. By the time we finished up dinner the contractions were about 45 minutes apart but they were stronger. At this point I was ready to clear out my house and let my body do what it do. Alls I know is I needed to get into the shower and I needed my parents to leave and to know that I would call them when we went to the hospital. Easier said then done because of course at this point my parents were super worried and didn't want to leave my side. But I needed them to trust my process. I went to the bathroom believing the spicy chicken from lunch had turned on me and discovered I lost my mucus plug. THIS WAS THE REAL DEAL.



I jumped into the shower and got out my contraction counter app. At this point im wondering where my husband was because I told him I was about to get into the shower and to come and assist me. Welp... my parents were not budging. Haha they were so worried and wouldn't leave. After an hour of coaxing from my husband they finally left. He then came and checked on me in the bathroom. At this point it was around 9pm, my first contraction at lunch time was around 1 pm. I assured him I was ok, my contractions were around 30 minutes apart and told him to take a nap because this baby was probably coming tonight or tomorrow and I knew he was exhausted from work. I spent the next 3 hours... yes 3 HOURS in the shower timing contractions. In 3 hours they went from 30 minutes apart to 4 minutes apart. That's when I peeled myself out of the bathtub floor and went to my kitchen to find something to eat... my last meal. For some reason I settled on a blue ICEE freeze cup of all things. After I ate that I used my Brookstone massager on my lower back. Then my contractions ramped up and I made my way to my bedroom and woke Torin up with one statement.  I simply stated "ITS TIME." We were so sure I wasn't going into labor until my due date that we had nothing packed except her diaper bag. So I scrambled to pack a hospital bag for him and I while getting dressed and timing my contractions. We shuffled out to our van and were on our way to St Joseph's.



It was now 1 am. Once we arrived at the hospital I realized I had no idea what entrance or where we should go. We showed up to a part of the hospital that was pitch black, Torin ran in then ran back out after realizing that wasn't it. Then we headed to the emergency department. Once there we checked in at the front desk and they placed me in a wheelchair because the contractions were getting really REAL. I was wheeled to labor and delivery triage for the emergency department. Another woman was behind the partition next to me with her entire family. While the nurse was checking all my vitals I overheard the midwife tell the woman next to me to "Go home, you aren't dilated enough yet. Stay off your feet and return when your contractions are 3 minutes apart." My stomach sank. I did NOT want to be sent home, I was sure I was in labor. I changed into my hospital gown in the bathroom and shuffled back out to the bed. The on call midwife came and checked my cervix and I was 2 cm dilated. My belly was hooked up to a heart rate monitor and again they informed me my baby's heart rate was rising and falling. At this point she kept it straight with me. Either I was going to need to induce or possibly have a c section if the heart rate stayed this way and if I didn't dilate further in the next 2 hours. My heart sank even further. Torin was my rock though and reassured me that everything would be ok. Two hours later the midwife returned and checked my cervix I was now 5 cm dilated so they sent me to the actual labor and delivery ward.



Once there I was hooked up to the heart rate monitor for baby girl. From 4 am to 8 am my blood pressure was taken and the heart rate monitor showed her heart rate rising and falling. The doctor on staff was worried as well as my nurse. They informed me I must induce or risk having a c section. I DID NOT WANT A C SECTION so I conceded and allowed the induction. I was given Pitocin. Now I was always told that Pitocin contractions were the worst pain imaginable and boy was everyone right. Contractions...well  normal ones felt like horrible period cramps, Pitocin contractions felt like the worst stomach virus you ever had in life coming every minute lasting 30 seconds each time. I withstood the Pitocin contractions for an hour and a half before I buckled and buzzed the nurse requesting... no demanding an epidural. Something I promised myself I would never do. But at this point with the knowledge of my baby's heart rate rising and falling and the Pitocin contractions I was too overwhelmed and didn't want to completely hate my birth experience. The anesthesiologist came in and administered the epidural. During the administration I experienced 2... yes 2 contractions. I was sure I was going to jerk my body and be paralyzed for life but my petite nurse held me down so that I didn't moved. Between the epidural and the contraction pain I threw up twice... and yup it was BLUE ICEE colored. Gross! For the next 4 hours I was mostly numb from my waist down and my left leg was completely numb, I had no control of it. My cervix was checked at 10 am and  I was now 6 cm dilated. My nurse suggested the peanut ball to be placed between my legs to promote dilation. The peanut ball is a yoga ball shaped like a peanut. You are rotated from your left side to your right side every 20 minutes with the ball between your legs to promote dilation.



At 12 noon my nurse was checking the heart rate monitor every 20 minutes and was really alarmed at the way my baby's heart rate  was rising and falling since we were checked into the hospital. She decided to hook me up to a heart rate monitor as well to see how I was doing. This is when she discovered the entire time the baby's heart rate monitor was picking up my heart rate as well. Thusly it was showing a high rate which is normal for babies and a lower rate which is normal for adults. After this revelation I felt the biggest relief of my life. I think this helped me dilate to the full 10 cm because my cervix was checked at 1:45pm and I was 10 cm dilated! At this point the midwife nurse and NICU team were ushered into the delivery room. I was assured that the NICU team was there just in case the baby was actually in distress once delivered. This entire time my water had yet to break. So at 1:55pm the doctor gave my midwife the OK to break my water. They readied Torin and my nurse into position, one on either side of me, holding my legs back and my midwife broke my water. She then instructed me to bear down and push. Now with the epidural I couldn't feel anything but they described what pushing would feel like and I guess my muscle memory kicked in because 5 pushes and my baby "shot out of my vagina" as my husband put it. She came out and was whaling immediately. She was born at 2:05 pm weighing 5 lbs 13 ounces at 19.5 inches long. I FELT AMAZING! To know she had lung capacity and she was here and she was ok. They quickly wiped her off and placed her on my chest. Best feeling ever! Then she was whisked across the room to the NICU team who was stationed in the back of the room. They made she was ok, checking all her vitals. She had a low body temperature so she had to be kept under a heat lamp for a bit and she had a touch of jaundice. I then was instructed to push out my placenta. I informed them I wanted to keep my placenta but since I had an interesting delivery I was instructed the hospital needed to study the placenta so I couldn't keep it. I was slightly crushed but nothing could kill my high of just delivering my baby girl.



My husband held Brave Amelia Matthews for the first time and wept tears of joy. I was experiencing the best part of my life and I basked in every single second. Brave's birth story was filled with curveballs and revelations but I wouldn't have it any other way. She came into the world with a bang... my brave one was here. I am a mom. We are a family.





Here are a couple of pictures and short clips of our experience...

OUR REGISTRY LINKS!!!

Hey Family and friends! We are an eco friendly and organic family and appreciate all you can give to our newest bundle of joy. Listed below are links to all of our registries. Thank you so much for all your support and love!

(NO MONKEY THEMED GIFTS, NO PLASTIC, the less pink the better, NO PACIFIERS)

We are cloth diapering and have listed some cloth diapers on the registry but also plan on using a service. This link will take you to the CLOTH DIAPER RENTALS we would like to try. They offer gift cards, but I believe you have to contact the store to purchase gift cards. This would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

We didn't list really any clothing items because truthfully, WE LOVE ALL BABY CLOTHES, haha!

We would take anything from this site Organic Natural Baltimore Baby store We have a registry with them but its sparse because we love EVERYTHING they offer so feel free to explore their site.

Our registries:

• Baby registry (everything registry)
• BABIES R US
• Target Registry

We love you all so very much and are so excited to meet our Brave Amelia in September. Our hearts are overjoyed!