Detangler: Our Lifesaver

Where would I be without this product?

Since I a big fan of leaving our girls' curls natural and free, instead of like this, detangler has become my go to product. Yes, something as simple as detangler makes my life, our morning routine, and most importantly, my girl's hair lives go a lot smoother. I admit, I am nothing without this product, the matted curls blessing our girl's head would dominate me each morning and our children would end up with hair like the cat at Nyah's school. They call her Rasta Kitty and she gets her name honestly.


Rasta Kitty is an old, old cat who has outlived many previous owners. She is definitely living each of her nine lives to the fullest and her hair seems to be her ultimate proof of this. She is a cat who adventures both inside and outiside of the school and her long greyish hair is matted into little locks, which is where she gets her name, obviously. All of the children love Rasta Kitty, (not so sure the feeling is mutual though).


Not sure the kids would be so kind if we left Nyah's hair to the elements each morning, though they probably wouldn't notice. Dread locks would be the ultimate result if I did not have the daily battle with the beautiful curls on top of our girls' heads. It doesn't matter if we wash it and comb it nice the night before, braid it before bed, or wrap it before bed, they will wake up with matted hair which isn't really the most conducive environment for a brush. So, I get out the detangler and go to town I am so thankful for this product. I can't even get into if they took a dip in the salty Caribbean, there is nothing to do but wash their hair using almost a bottle of conditioner.


We aren't loyal to one brand of detangler, just relieved when the few grocery stores here are stocked with this product, as with most stuff here, we take what we can get. And just for the record, this is what Nyah's hair looks like when I brush it when it dry without detangler. Yeah. And by the way, she still prefers her hair to be braided.


My next challenge in the hair department will be our little boy's hair. Maybe his dad will just chop it off but I know the treehugger in me will be rallying strong and I won't want to cut his hair and managing his curls will no doubt be a challenge. The look of Rasta Kitty might be in his future.

Mango Madness

Oh no, not another mango post! Well, what can I say, we have been eating a lot of mangoes around here.  Can you believe I just learned how to cut the thing properly? Seriously, how did it take me so many years of island living to learn this important skill?  


Actually, I am not too surprised it took me so long to learn the cutting technique considering that prior to moving to St. Croix, I don't think I had ever eaten or maybe even seen a mango in the raw? Embarrassing, I know. I remember trying my first taste of the magical fruit here and not totally knowing if I should eat the skin or not, just kinda hung back and watched others before I dove in. 


Today I will share with you my newly acquired knowledge of how to cut a mango, for snacking. When cooking with mango, I cut it a completely different way. We do it two ways around here, the civilized (clean) way and then the other way, which is really messy, depending on the ripeness of the fruit.


So here is the first way we cut the mango, the way we do it at home when a knife is handy. I thought I knew how to do this and then yesterday I realized I was constantly cutting into the tough seed in the middle of the fruit. My knowledgeable island boy husband then revealed to me the key fact that I must cut along the long end of the oval of the mango, like so. Of course, wait to cut  the mango until its ripe or feels soft to touch, about the softness of a ripe avocado.

Repeat on the other side.

Then pick up the slices and scoop the delicious fruit out with your teeth, using the skin as a bowl and a way to keep fingers clean, but don't eat the skin.

Finally, peel the center and eat all the goodness left around the seed you wish.


The next way we eat mangos is how we do it when out in nature with no knife in sight. Simply start at the top and pull the peel down all around leaving the skin intact at the bottom of the fruit so there is a place to hold the fruit without getting your hands covered in mango juice.

Then devour. 

Be careful, your face might look like this after eating a mango this way (smile included). Trust me, its inevitable.

I am sure this is probably old news but to most of you but for some, hopefully, the lightbulb just went off as it did for me yesterday. 


Hope this helps so next time you are in the islands you will look like a professional and not embarrass yourself as I did by trying to eat the mango peel. And please don't think I am stingy, I would mail you all mangoes but the USDA doesn't think it's a good idea and if they got smashed en route, it might result in a huge mess by the time it arrives which really wouldn't be fun for anyone.


Sending mango love to everyone. 

Tirty Two Weeks

It's pronounced "tree" here. As in, Nyah is tree years old, its tree o'clock, tirty tree cents is your change, and we will soon have tree chilren dem'.

But I will still only have two arms so I am wondering how I will accomplish all of the hugs, snuggles, squeezes and pats these two girls so love need. (Okay, who am I trying to kid here? I can't keep my hands off them).


When one wants to sit in my lap, the other is never far behind. I am sure this will only be personified when baby bruda arrives because Elsie (as her sister calls her) is pretty into snuggling, with two fingers in her mouth and blanket by her face. Baby bruda protruding in the way or not, she finds her spot. Obviously the little guy gets his fare share of nudges as these little bodies try to get comfortable.


But, I guess thats what awesome dads like George are for. Because combined we will have four arms and then we will outnumber the tree of them. Four arms will be enough arms for anyone and everyone to be held and loved on, all around, all the time. Tree will be okay, we can do this. Right?

Walking Shoes

Where will they go, who will they be, what challenges lie in their pathes. What does life have in store for these two beautiful girls? 


Whatever their journeys bring, I hope they remain as devoted, close and patient with each other as they show to be at times, times like these. 

Little sister trying to walk in big sisters shoes.

Big sister helping little put "The Converse" on, as she calls them, then trying to once again master the entire process of putting on shoes. The tie. 

She tries and tries again. At home and at school, slowing our every departure with her multiple attempts. Practice, practice, obsessive practice.

And little sister waits patiently and my mind wonders, contemplating the questions above, my soul at ease in a calm and peaceful smile, enjoying the moment with my most beloved. I then focus in on the situation and notice this. 

Hear the angels sing. Behold the accomplishment. She has done it. She tied the shoe. The first I've seen. 


Way to go wonderful sister, way to help your sister out. Don't ever stop.

Jackpot

We made a visit to the in laws house today and what can I say, we hit the mango jack pot. Their yard is plentiful in the food department to say the least where we pick stuff like this and this. 


If you can't tell by the numerous posts I've written about mangoes, I am pretty enthusiastic about these flavor packed fruits. I absolutely love them, not only for the joy they bring my little girl but because they are wonderfully tasty. Mother nature truly out did herself in the mango department. Sweet and juicy, like heaven for my taste buds. 


Being that I am not from the islands, like my husband, I am always in awe of these little treasures each season they bless us with their presence. I think George had his share of mangoes when he was young and had this perfect treat at his fingertips. Imagine, playing outside and rompin' with friends all day and then stopping in the backyard for a mango break. These island kids, spoiled I tell ya.  

Nyah eats a mango and then immediately asks for another. We are not sure how many mangoes one human girl can safely consume in a single sitting but we will soon find out. Her grandmother tells us, "Nyah a strong island woman, leave her alone and let her eat her mangoes." She hasn't got sick yet. This girl has nothing but love for her mangoes. I have actually never seen her adore a food more.


Mango salsa, mangoes from breakfast, mango smoothie, I even tried mango bread last year, its all wonderful. It's all wonderful. I am sure we will do it all again this season and the next and the next so stay tuned for many more mango posts, (or at least as long as we continue living the island dream). Oh yeah, and this reminds me, I want to try mango popsicles. Stay tuned.

Life's Adventures

Our life has turned busy, hustle and bustle all around as our lives are being downsized and packed away into a few big brown boxes. Moving? Maybe, who knows? Sure wish I knew. Moving out of our condo, yes, probably. Maybe. We are preparing as if we are leaving our wonderful island life so everything is packed and we wait. And wonder. And try to remain positive at our undetermined future. The unplanned and unknown can be scary. But what is certain is we have a two amazing girls and a little boy on the way who we are all beyond excited to meet. 


As I sit here enjoying the breeze and watch the waves break in the distance, as these annoying little mosquitoes bite me, a reminder that summer and the heat are approaching, I realize days like this might be few and far between. And afternoons like these.

So we will enjoy our moments here to the fullest until our plans are set. Adventure awaits, just not sure I am up for it this time. Remember when I wrote about finally arriving at this point in my life? Looks like life has other plans for us at times. 

What will this blog be without photos like this? Might have to change the title description but the adventure will remain because life is always an adventure, an adventure I am beyond thankful to be a part of. 

Play

This is the girls' play area, also known as our living room. This is the place they, mostly Elsa, does her best discovering and development of her imagination. The level she does this is massive, bordering on destructive. This is the room before, early in the morning before their sweet little hearts have stirred.

 Here is the room about five minutes after Elsa has made her entrance.

She just can't help herself, she has to pull everything off the shelf, has to learn, has to explore. She often pauses to do a little of this. No real baby toys here, we don't purchase much in that department, but as you can see, Elsa is doing just fine with the lack of plastic toys some genius designated appropriate for a twelve to eighteen month old child. All you see has pretty much been given to us by our generous friends and family, and we all know kids enjoy boxes and brooms and rolls of toilet paper and garbage cans better than that crap anyway. 

Each day/night as we do yet another clean up, I attempt to put things back in their place and inevitably throw a ton of stuff away. Where do all the tiny pieces of plastic that settle on the bottom of the toy box come from? Its overwhelming. 

I recently tried to do away with the toy box or toy basket in our case to try to be more in tune with the Montessori philosophy of having a place for everything so the girls can put things back in their place after playing, resulting in a tidy play area to hopefully cut down on the chaos and clutter in the girls brain, but its almost impossible. For me at least. Never fails, we are in a rush and the toys have to go somewhere and inevitably they get shoved in the basket and the cycle continues until I do another mass toy clean out and pitch a ton of stuff.

But the girls are happy and I am learning a happy child ranks way higher on my list of important things in my life than a tidy house does. So play on Elsa, destroy play on.