Teaching in Tanzania – A life changing experience

Last summer a very close friend of mine volunteered to teach at a school in Tanzania, a life changing experience that lasted for 3 weeks. I’m so proud of her! I’m sure she has made a difference in so many lives.

The other day she posted some pictures of her trip, they are breathtaking. The children, the view and the whole vibe of the pictures are so touching.

She promised to tell me all about it in detail very soon, I will definitely keep you updated on all her adventures and stories. Volunteering is something I would love to do in the future. Inshala when my babies are a little bit older.

If you are interested in volunteering abroad please check out Cross Cultural Solutions for more information.

Starbucks magic

I received this newsletter today from Alia AlMoayad - Nutritional Therapist based in Bahrain. I would like to share it with you as I know most of you might be a bit shocked by the calories in your favorite drink.

It always amazes me how people complain about how expensive organic and
healthy food is and yet they have no problem splurging on over-priced coffees and
lattes every morning at Starbucks.

Not only are the foods and drinks at these places more expensive, but they
also cause havoc to your health!

Can you imagine that a tall Caramel Frappucino (with no whipped cream) contains
195 calories and 33 grams of sugar!  That’s equivalent to almost 7 teaspoons of sugar!
If you order that with a starbucks blueberry muffin, you add an extra 380 calories and
28 grams of sugar (almost 6 teaspoons of sugar)!

From this ‘quick’ snack, you got 575 calories and almost 13 teaspoons of sugar!  And

you haven’t even counted your other meals!

Sometimes, our ‘quick’ and ‘light’ snacks do more harm than we think….  choose smart.

To receive her newsletter click here.

Chicago bans crib bumpers

Many experts say bumpers can suffocate babies if their heads get near the padded crib guards and they can’t move away, or if baby gets wedged between a bumper and the mattress. But as long as retailers offer bumpers – often sold in cute, coordinating nursery sets - some parents will keep on buying them, despite the risks.

Not in Chicago, which became the first municipality in the nation to ban the sale of bumpers with a unanimous vote.

“There have been numerous cases of babies found not breathing, with their face up against the bumper,” said Cowles, the executive director of Chicago-based Kids in Danger, a nonprofit child-safety group. “There may have been other products in the crib, and they may have been diagnosed as a SIDS death, but the fact is, their face was up against a bumper.”

Via moms today

Help us make a difference

We live in a country that has so much yet we sometimes take it for granted. Did you know that 29,000 children died last week from starvation in Somalia? and that 12,000,000 more will die from starvation & drought in the next coming weeks?!

Starting from today, KD 2.000 from every order purchased from Oleana Boutique will be donated to Somalia through Direct Aid.  Hopefully something small can make a BIG difference.

High Chairs & Shopping Carts harbour more bacteria than toilet seats!

In a pervious post I wrote about a study that showed shopping carts in supper markets carry more germs than public restrooms. Another study  says that not only shopping carts but also high chairs in restaurants have been found to harbour more bacteria than the average public toilet seat.

Teams took swabs from high chairs in 30 different restaurants and found that on average the number of bacteria on a high chair – including some which can lead to serious illness – was 147 per square centimeter. Continue reading the article here.

Babies can get very sick from the bacteria lurking around the high chairs and shopping carts. I always have my shopping cart cover with me when going to the super market with Fizzle  but If I go to a restaurant and he has to sit in a high chair, I always make sure I wipe it down with dettol wipes before putting him in it.

Image via Daily Mail

 

Repositioning Islam through The 99

Dr Naif Al Mutawa, creator of The 99, is using the comic series to reposition the perception of Islam in the Islamic world and in the west.

It would be nice to see such cartoons during the moth of Ramadan.

greensac at Galleria 2000

I passed by Galleria 2000 today and came across this great little store called greensac. greensac is a store dedicated to selling reusable shopping bags and fair trade products. If I’m not mistaken I think it is the first store of its kind in Kuwait. I loved the wide range of stylish reusable bags they had, perfect for days at the beach, grocery shopping or just for everyday use.

They come in all different shapes, sizes and color.

The brown bags are so cool. Each bag has a different color lining which makes it revisable as well.

They also have the support Japan bags. For Every FEED Japan bag, a donation will go to the FEED Foundation’s FEED Japan Fund to aid in the disaster relief efforts by supporting organizations on the ground .

And my favorite item has to be these shopping cart bags. It will make grocery shopping so much easier and guilt free. Unfortunately they wont be available until the 16th of June.

They can also help you start a recycling program, whatever be the type of your organization. They can help you:

• Set up a  recycling scheme
• Train your staff to recognize the different materials that can be recycled
• Identify the most appropriate recycling company in Kuwait

greensac is definitely worth a visit

For more information check out their website, Facebook page and follow them on twitter. oh how much I love social media!

Dear 16-year-old Me

A few simple steps to prevent sunburn:

• Stay out of the sun during peak hours between 12pm – 3pm.
• Use sunscreen on any exposed areas. An SPF of 45+ is recommended
• Keep covered up.Use an umbrella and floppy hats when out of the pool.
• Put a small amount of oil or sunscreen in your hair so you will avoid burning your scalp.

If you do get sunburn, aloe vera gel is an extremely soothing and non-toxic solution. Buy it in tubes or tubs and generously coat your sunburn. No need to rub it in, it’ll do that on its own.

The best & worst places to be a mother

The 12th annual Mothers’ Index analyzes health, education and economic conditions for women and children in 164 countries. Norway is the world’s best place to be a mother, while Afghanistan is the worst. This year, Kuwait ranks # 34 in the less developed countries category while Cuba ranked #1. Bahrain was the highest ranking in the Gulf Countries at # 17, followed by U.A.E #36, Qatar #38, Saudi Arabia #64 and finally Oman #69.

I was shocked that Kuwait was so far down the line from Cuba! Why do you think that is ? What are we missing in Kuwait and how can we develop it more?

Click here to view a report by Save the Children on the best & worst places to be a mother.

Let’s Move!

Last month, Beyonce joined forces with First Lady Michelle Obama to promote the national Let’s Move! campaign, which aims to target childhood obesity. The singer offered up a re-worked version of her hit song, ‘Single Ladies,’ in support of the effort.

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping children become more physically active.

With child obesity and diabetes raising in Kuwait, we definitely need the government, schools and private sectors to get together and create a similar awareness campaign.