Akamatra

Sugar free cinnamon cookies recipe

Hello darlings!

I am back with a new recipe for a new obsession of mine:

Sugar free, cinnamon cookies!

I took a break from blogging for a week and I really missed it. But I needed the time to regroup and think to be honest. If you follow me on instagram you know I begun dieting (yet again) and if you are one of my older readers you may remember the confession of a chubby girl (LINK).

I started Noom cause I need to loose 15kg to be able to feel like my old self. I am now 1.5kg lighter two and a half weeks into the program. So far so good. I am not really hungry so that’s good. I miss ice cream and chocolate though so I decided to have one day to indulge per week, probably Saturday!

The philosophy of this system is to treat yourself occasionally in order to stick to a healthier living and eating for the long run. However, I want to give up sugar or at least not eat so much of it. Nick’s diet is sugar free for the last 3 years or so and we don’t give our daughter any sugar apart from honey (occasionally). That’s why I loved making these cookies so much! They are made with all organic ingredients, a little bit of honey and zea flour.

They are very crunchy and are the perfect treat for your afternoon tea! They still have a lot of calories (hello, flour and olive oil) but at least I know they are made with excellent materials. After all, I don’t eat them to get full (I promise), it’s just a healthy treat!

Ingredients

510g organic Zea (Triticum dicoccum) flour

220g organic olive oil

3 tbsp honey

Juice from one orange (organic)

1.5 tsp cinnamon

1.5 tsp baking soda

A pinch of salt (optional)

Procedure

Combine the flour with the cinnamon, the baking soda and the salt. If you have the time shift them, if not it’s ok, they will be good either way.

Combine the orange juice with the olive oil and add the honey. I use a hand held blending rod but you can use a mixer as well.

Then slowly add the liquid ingredients to the flour mixture and form dough. It should be oily (well duh) and not sticky on your hands.

Form the cookies in the shape you want and bake in a preheated oven at 180oC for 15-16min.

Let them cool and enjoy!

As I want to dig a little deeper on the nutritional facts of my recipes I tried to do a nutrition analysis for these cookies.

This is what came up

So they aren’t really bad boys are they? Just eat one or two with your tea and your coach will be happy!

Lots of love

14 comments

, by M. Akamatra

travel

Jacksonville, Florida. A two day itinerary

Hello darlings!

I have been MIA but for good reason. Akamatra is going to be moving to her new blogger home soon and I am keeping busy with all the preparations.

Among other things I am preparing a new travel series featuring places from all over the world. To start it off this is a two day itinerary for Jacksonville, Florida. I've never been there but it's on my bucket list for my next trip to the US of A along with some underrated destinations too. Enjoy!

The sunshine and beaches draw a lot of tourists to Florida year after year. While most people choose to visit Orlando, Miami, Panama City, and other beautiful destinations, Jacksonville is often overlooked by many travelers. As a large city, Jacksonville has a lot of awesome activities to offer, and since it doesn't get quite as many tourists as some other cities in Florida, you'll find that your vacation is so much more relaxing! Jacksonville loves tourists and tries hard to bring them in, with some success. However, since it doesn't have the draw of Orlando or Miami, you won't find many tourist traps, wich makes for a refreshing vacation. Without further ado, here is your 2 day Jacksonville itinerary!

Day 1:

Go to the Beach!

You cannot visit Florida without making some time for the beach! While Jacksonville doesn't have the most famous beaches in Florida, they're still beautiful! Jacksonville Beach is arguably the most lively beach in Jacksonville. It has a pier for fishing and a boardwalk with plenty of restaurants and bars for you to enjoy. The beach itself has soft, white sand. There are usually decent sized waves for surfing and boogie boarding, which is fun! Although, some days, the water is pretty flat. It just depends on the day. It's not a great beach for shelling, but you might be able to find some keepers! (If you love shelling and searching for Shark teeth, you should visit Mickler's Beach, which is south of Jacksonville Beach.) Jacksonville Beach has lifeguards, which is a huge plus. Many other beaches (like Mickler's) don't. You also have bathrooms and an outdoor shower where you can rinse off. Learn more about visiting Jacksonville Beach.

Get Lunch at Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House

If you got to Jacksonville Beach, you cannot miss having a beer and a bratwurst at Hoptingers! It is a German-themed beer garden, which means they have a ridiculous number of beers on tap! You can get just about anything you want. Plus, their food is fantastic! Most of it is inspired by Germany, but they also serve fantastic Poutine, just sayin'.

Take a Walk Along the Boardwalk

After lunch, it's always a good idea to take a walk, and the boardwalk is the perfect place! You get to see cute dogs, fun shops, and more! There are plenty of restaurants where you can sit outside, order a drink, and enjoy the beautiful weather, and people watch! The beach is all about taking things slow, so take you time and enjoy yourself. You should linger wherever it feels right!

Grab Dinner at Poe's Tavern

Do you love Edgar Allan Poe? Well, you should go to Poe's Tavern even if you don't! Their burgers are amazing. Seriously. The atmosphere is also awesome! Everything is Edgar Allan Poe themed! Yes, I'm for real right now. The restaurant is a little dark, but it sets the perfect mood. The burger you order will be named after one of Poe's works, which is a nice touch. Plus, the bathroom is wallpapered in pages from his stories and an audio tape of his stories are playing on loop instead of music. The magic is definitely in the details!

Day 2:

Riverside Arts Market

The Riverside Arts Market happens every Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. There, you can find local vendors selling fantastic food, art, and products. You can literally find anything your heart desires. Recently, I tried a turkey, feta, and pesto empanada that was to die for! So, make sure you grab lunch while you're there! I also picked up a bag of tea from a local business! The Riverside Arts Market is definitely a great place to get a unique souvenir and support local businesses. Learn more about Riverside Arts Market.

River Walk

When in Downtown Jacksonville, you must check out the River Walk! The view of the St. John's river is beautiful! Plus, you get a nice look at the city's skyline. It can get a little warm on this walk during the summer because there is very little shade. But, the breeze that often comes off the water helps a lot!

Friendship Fountain

At the end of the river walk, you'll find a large fountain, called Friendship Fountain. Go ahead, make a wish! Did you wish for the perfect family photo? Okay, maybe not. But, you can have one anyway! Friendship fountain is a perfect spot for a photo! When you stand in front of the fountain, the downtown skyline and main street bridge will be in the background! It is beautiful and is actually a popular spot for prom photos, just sayin'.

Visit a Museum

Cummer Museum of Art

This is my favorite museum in Jacksonville. They have an exhibit that changes every few months, and then they have their permanent collection. This museum may not be as prestigious as prestigious as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, but it still has a lot of beautiful paintings! Plus, in the back, there is a tranquil garden, which might be my favorite place in all of Jacksonville. If you want to feel inspired, you should visit. Learn more about the Cummer Museum.

MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)

If you enjoy looking at modern art, then you must visit the MOCA! Like most modern/contemporary art museums, the pieces will definitely make you think! The museum's permanent collection is rather large, coming in at just under 1,000 pieces of art. Of course, they also have changing exhibitions. Learn more about MOCA.

MOSH (Museum of Science and History)

If you're traveling with kids, the thought of visiting an art museum might make your cringe. The MOSH is geared towards kids. There are a lot of hands-on activities to keep them entertained, and they might even learn something! Learn more about the MOSH.

Go Get a Burrito at Burrito Gallery

Burrito Gallery is a Jacksonville favorite! Located right downtown, this restaurant serves the best burritos at great prices! They also serve tacos, but I'm just so in love with the burritos that ordering anything else feels wrong. This is a counter-service restaurant, so it's not fancy.

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Jacksonville

Jacksonville Is Huge

Jacksonville is a very large city. Make sure you check the distance between activities before deciding the order in which to do them. You don't want to drive out to the beach, then downtown, and then back to the beach! In the 2 day itinerary above, I made sure to that you won't be driving all over town for no reason!

Water and Snacks

When you venture to the beach, you should make sure you pack a cooler full of water and snacks! If you haven't been to the beach before, you'll be surprised at how thirsty and hungry you get!

Please, Don't Feed the Seagulls

The seagulls will want food. Please don't give it to them. If they start swarming you and making you uncomfortable, it's only because people have been feeding them. Put your food back in the cooler if it gets to bad. They will go away. If you do drop some food in the sand on accident, throw it away. Otherwise, the seagulls will just swarm you to get the food.

Wear Sunscreen

You should put your sunscreen on before you ever step foot onto the beach! The sunscreen takes time to soak into your skin, and that 15 minutes is all it takes to get burnt in Florida in the summer time. Yeah, the UV index is crazy. Also, reapply it every few hours. And take a break from the sun when possible. Yes, this means that renting an umbrella is a great idea! And don't worry; you'll still get a tan! ;)

Recap

Before you forget all of the good stuff, let's go ahead and do a quick review of your 2 day Jacksonville itinerary.

Day 1:

Go to Jacksonville Beach
Get lunch at Hoptinger
Take a walk along the board walk
Grab dinner at Poe's Tavern

Day 2:

Riverside Arts Market (don't forget to eat lunch while you're there!)
River Walk
Friendship Fountain
Visit a Museum
- Cummer Museum
- MOCA
- MOSH (kid-friendly)
Grab dinner at Burrito Gallery

I hope that you loved this itinerary! Jacksonville is an amazing city with tons of awesome things to do. Looking for more Florida destinations to add to your itinerary? Read this budget guide to St. Augustine, Florida, which is just 45 mintutes south of Jacksonville! Also, read about these 5 awesome vacation destinations in Florida.

This is a guest post written by Jennifer Meyer. She is a travel blogger who shares her best budget travel tips and destination guides on her blog, Roads We Wander. She loves helping people explore the world on a tight budget. Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Bloglovin'.

Lots of love

22 comments

, by M. Akamatra

home improvement

Summertime Plumbing Tips You Need To Know

Hello darlings,

we've spent the long weekend away and though I didn't really rest (there is no rest for the mums and dads) it was a nice change of scenery. There will be a post about the lovely beaches of Porto Heli, soon!

Summer is the perfect time to spend outdoors, take holidays, play games and ride a bike. It’s also a time when your home may have more foot traffic and guests and that means more flushes of the toilet, taps running more often and perhaps more showers, even. It also means there could be more plumbing issues.

Here are some top plumbing tips for summer to make sure you spend the season enjoying the sunshine and not trying to unclog that toilet.

Leaks

Summer is the perfect time to check for leaks. Long winters do have an impact on the plumbing, and you want to be able to take care of any issues during the warmer months.

Inspect each element that uses water both outside and inside your house, including pipes, tapes, shower heads and hot water heaters to make sure everything is in working order.

Avoid Clogs and Blockages

Use summer to discover if there are any weak flush or slow drain issues and then carry out routine unclogging with a plunger or auger. You can find each kind of plumbing supply in the UK stores that you may need.

Keep in mind that cracks may also develop in pipes, preventing the pipes from doing their job. One of the worst-case scenarios is a septic pipe backing up into your bath or other drains. If you have younger children, teach them not to flush foreign objects down the toilet to avoid clogs.

Also, be aware that hair can clog up bathtubs and sinks. Either clear the hair out by pulling it out or with a drain cleaning product.

Check the Gutters

Believe it or not, even clean gutters may be a common summer issue. Gutters play a vital role in keeping water away from your home’s foundation. For gutters function properly, they must be free of leaves, debris and other materials.

Keep an Eye on the Disposal

With summer comes plenty of delicious fruits and vegetables, but not all of them are okay for your kitchen disposal. Invest in a sink-side container in which you could perhaps start a compost pile and avoid stringy foods like corn husks, celery and banana peels that could clog your disposal.

Don’t Forget the Washing Machine

While it certainly feels like there is more laundry to do in winter as we wear layers, summertime brings with it a deluge of dirt and, therefore, just as much laundry. Kids spend the warmer days playing outside, swimming, and we get dirty in the garden with all our summer projects. You may even have guests visiting, which means extra linen. And, it’s hot, so we all get sweaty and dirty, shower more often, change clothes and just generate a pile of work for the washing machine.

At the beginning of spring, inspect your washing machine and all its parts. Pull your machine away from the wall and check the connections along with the hoses. Look for cracks and bulges, mould, mildew and any other kinds of evidence that something may be getting wet. Be sure to replace the hoses that are cracked.

Use these tips to ensure your summer is spent having fun and not attending to plumbing problems!

Lots of love

No comments

, by M. Akamatra

book review

How to get your kid to love books

Hello darlings!

I wanted to write a post about how to get your kid to love books since I gave birth to a bookworm myself. But that wasn’t surprising, since I myself was born into a family of bookworms.

ΔΙΑΒΑΣΤΕ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΡΤΗΣΗ ΣΤΑ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ ΕΔΩ

My mom used to read several books a month and since the money was tight, she used to buy them second hand, read them and return them to the store to get discount for the next. Our visit to the second hand book stores was every Sunday and I still remember the smell of the books. She then discovered the public library near our house and proceeded to read every book they owned.

When I was seven, I got a gift for Christmas. It was Penelope Delta'sDelta’s book of “The secrets of the swamp” and I was mesmerized. I needed help reading and understanding some words but I was totally and irrevocably hooked to books! I read all my sister’s books, all the books from the public library that were fit for a seven year old (and some that weren’t) and I went on to loving reading for the rest of my life. It’s no lie that during the most stressful times of my University exams, I used to stop reading for the exams and read literature to help me relax!

Natalia has developed an unprecedented love for books since she was 12 months old. We had bought her some hard stock books which she could hold in her hands and we read them to her. She then progressed from those to books for older kids. She now asks us to read to her 10-15 times a day.

Here are some things we did naturally but later on I realized that they were the things that led to Natalia’s love for books.

Change your voice

When you read to a toddler you need to understand they have a short attention span. If you read in a monotone, flat voice they will soon get bored and ask to move. It will be much more exciting (for you too!) to read by coloring your voice according to the book. For example, when something unexpected happens in the story, build some excitement in your voice. Also, try to change your voice according to the different characters of the book. If it’s a larger animal, make it with a little bass, if it’s a small kid, make it a little higher in tone. That way the kids will distinguish between the different characters in the book and they’ll follow the story with interest.

In Emma’s Yarlett book “Simon, Stella and the moon”, (στα Ελληνικά: «Ο Σίμος, η Στέλλα και το Φεγγάρι», εκδόσεις Ψυχογιός), which Natalia loves and with good reason, I make my voice different as I talk as Simon, and another one as Stella. And then as the reader of the book when I get to the point of the book that sums the twins’ problem: the fact they can’t share, I make my voice bored and dull to show Natalia in a gentle way that this is wrong. She totally gets the changes and when the two kids “break” the moon, Natalia screams: Craaaaatsssss. It’s so entertaining to watch!

Get them involved

Most of the books for kids aged 0-2 have some movable part for the kid to interact with. That’s one of the things little ones love. They love to be involved in the book. Natalia loves to play with the cards that make Mimi the spider go up and down the drain in these happy little books of the Read and Have fun series (στα Ελληνικά: Διαβάζω και Διασκεδάζω, Στο κήπο, Στη Βόλτα, Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο).

The first book with normal (not card stock) pages Natalia fell in love with was Richard Byrne’sRichard’s Byrne “This book just ate my dog” (στα Ελληνικά: Αυτό το βιβλίο έφαγε το σκύλο μου, Εκδόσεις Διόπτρα). I can’t begin to describe how wonderful this simple little book is and how it singlehandedly promoted Natalia’s love for book into the sky!

Nick used to read it to her sitting next to her on the couch. Then when the book prompted the reader to spur into action Nick helped Natalia the first time to stand on the couch, turn the book sideways and shake it. That was it! Natalia lived for the time in the afternoon when she could shake the book and call out BOO!!! at just the right time!

Getting them into the game is much more productive towards making them love book reading, than simple reading to them is.

Use the illustration

Apart from the deeper meaning a book may have, the illustration plays a vital role especially in books for children. For kids who don’t know how to read yet, the image is the story itself. So the illustration has to be telling the story too.

One of Natalia’s favorite books is Birgitta’s Sif “Oliver” (στα Ελληνικά Όλιβερ, εκδόσεις ‘Ικαρος). We’ve read it so many times she knows it by heart. What makes this book great – apart from its lovely meaning – is the amazingly detailed illustration. There are so many things to mention and point to the child, every time we read it we discover something new.

Take the time to look at the designs in the book and seize the chance to teach the child something new. “How many balls do you see here? What is that kid wearing inon his head? Oh, look, what kind of animal is that?” All these questions will excite the kid and make him/her learn.

Give them a choice

Don’t turn story reading into your own agenda. If you have a small variety of books, let your kid decide which one he/she wants to read. Don’t get frustrated if they choose the same book over and over again. They have the right to like what they like, don’t they?

Natalia's latest book "obsession" is David Litchfield's "The bear and the piano" (στα Ελληνικά, Ο Αρκούδος και το Πιάνο, εκδόσεις Μικρή Σελήνη). She asks for it several times a day and we really can't say no to her. This is one of the sweetest books about friendship we've ever read and we all enjoy it very much!

If you want to enrich their reading, take a close look at their favorite books and see what they have in common. Is it the illustration style? Is it the meaning? You can start building your kids library from there.

It’s important to remember that if they include one book into their daily routine, your goal is reached, no matter what book they choose!

Read in another language

Kids are like sponges. They learn much easier than adults do, so why don’t you start them early on?

When Nick had to travel to Italy a while back, he asked me what to get Natalia as a present. I said, why don’t you get her a kids book in Italian? That way she will always have something from Italy and we can read her the book in Italian. Maybe she will pick up a word or two? Guess what? Natalia knows the whole book “La rabbia di Matteo” by Ian de Haes by heart in Italian.

Now we have started reading in English too. She loves the rhyme of the Angeliki’s Darlasi book “The fates” and she’s steadily learning words in English.

For me it’s marvelous to be able to read to her in English, since it’s a language I obviously love, books tailing the Myths and Legends of my country.

Kids see, kids do

If they see you read, they will read too! If they see you holding your smart phone (guilty but in my defense I am reading books on my Kindle app) all the time, they will want one too, so choose wisely what you want your kid to mimic of you!

Set a good example by reading books so the kids can see that and be like you!

In it for the cuddle

One of the best things reading with Natalia has to offer is the cuddles. Seating together on the couch, our sides touching, my hand over her shoulders holding the book open. Do you get the picture?

Toddlers need connection, they need healthy attachment, gentleness and warmth to thrive. Book reading gives them all that and your undivided attention too. So even if they are in it for the cuddle, they will soon be sucked down the wonderful world of written words and illustrations.

Even if you don’t practice attachment parenting, these are great ways to get your kids to like and eventually love book reading.

Do you have any tricks of your own? I’d love to read them!

Lots of love

41 comments

, by M. Akamatra

book

Πως να βοηθήσετε τα παιδιά να αγαπήσουν τα βιβλία

Γεια σας και χαρά σας!

Ήθελα να γράψω μία ανάρτηση για το πώς να βοηθήσετε τα παιδιά να αγαπήσουν τα βιβλία από τότε που γέννησα τη μικρή μου βιβλιοφάγο. Φυσικά δεν μου προκάλεσε έκπληξη αφού και εγώ και οι γονείς μου ανήκουμε στο είδος.

Η μαμά μου διάβαζε αρκετά βιβλία το μήνα και όταν δεν είχαμε πολλά λεφτά, τα αγόραζε μεταχειρισμένα από το Μοναστηράκι, τα διάβαζε, και τα γύριζε πίσω για να πάρει έκπτωση για τα επόμενα. Ακόμα θυμάμαι τη μυρωδιά τους. Μετά ανακάλυψε τη δανειστική βιβλιοθήκη του δήμου μας και διάβασε όλα τα βιβλία που βρήκε εκεί.

READ THIS POST IN ENGLISH HERE

Όταν ήμουν επτά χρονών μου πήραν για δώρο Χριστουγέννων το βιβλίο της Πηνελόπης Δέλτα, Τα μυστικά του βάλτου. Ήταν η αρχή της βιβλιοφιλίας για εμένα. Χρειάστηκα βοήθεια για να καταλάβω κάποιες λέξεις αλλά έκτοτε εθίστηκα στα βιβλία. Διάβασα ότι είχε η αδερφή μου, ότι κατάλληλο έβρισκα στη δανειστική βιβλιοθήκη (και μερικά μη κατάλληλα επίσης) και συνέχισα να διαβάζω με πάθος. Στο Πανεπιστήμιο, όταν είχα δύσκολη εξεταστική διάβαζα μερικά λογοτεχνικά για να χαλαρώνω.

Η Ναταλία μας έχει δείξει μια άνευ προηγούμενου αγάπη για τα βιβλία από τότε που ήταν 12 μηνών. Της αγοράσαμε μερικά με χοντρό χαρτόνι και απλές λέξεις αλλά γρήγορα τα ξεπέρασε και αγάπησε τα βιβλία για μεγαλύτερα παιδιά. Τώρα, δύο μήνες πριν τα 2α της γενέθλια, ζητά να της διαβάσουμε 10 με 15 φορές τη μέρα.

Υπάρχουν μερικά πράγματα που κάναμε φυσικά χωρίς πολύ σκέψη, αργότερα όμως κατάλαβα ότι αυτά βοήθησαν την Ναταλία να αγαπήσει τα βιβλία.

Αλλάξτε την φωνή σας

Τα νήπια έχουν πολύ περιορισμένο διάστημα προσοχής. Όταν διαβάζετε σε ένα νήπιο πρέπει να λάβετε υπόψη σαν ότι αν δε του κεντρίσετε τη προσοχή, θα βαρεθεί και θα ζητήσει να σηκωθεί. Θα είναι πολύ πιο διασκεδαστικό και για αυτό και για εσάς να χρωματίσετε τη φωνή σας με βάση την ιστορία του βιβλίου. Για παράδειγμα αν μέσα στην ιστορία συμβαίνει κάτι απροσδόκητο, δώστε τη χροιά του ενθουσιασμού στη φωνή σας.

Επίσης προσπαθήστε να αλλάξετε τη φωνή σας με τους διαφορετικούς χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου. Αν μιλάει κάποιο μεγάλο ζώο, κάντε τη φωνή σας λίγο πιο βαθιά, σε ένα μικρότερο ζώο, κάντε τη λίγο πιο ψιλή. Έτσι τα παιδιά θα μπορούν να διακρίνουν τους διαφορετικούς χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου και θα ακολουθήσουν την ιστορία με ενδιαφέρον.

Στο βιβλίο «Ο Σίμος, η Στέλλα και το Φεγγάρι» της Emma Yarlett (Εκδόσεις Ψυχογιός), το οποίο η Ναταλία δικαίως αγαπάει πολύ, αλλάζω τη φωνή μου όταν κάνω τη Στέλλα και το Σίμο. Και όταν κάνω τον αφηγητή και φτάνω στο σημείο που αποτελεί το νόημα όλου του βιβλίου – δηλαδή το ότι τα διδυμάκια αυτά δεν μπορούν να μοιράζονται – κάνω τη φωνή μου μουντή και βαρετή για να δείξω στη Ναταλιά, ευγενικά και χωρίς θυμό ότι αυτό δεν είναι κάτι καλό.

Είναι πολύ διασκεδαστικό να την ακούς να φωνάζει μόνη της Κρρρρααααατςςς στο σημείο που τα δύο πιτσιρίκια «σπάνε» το φεγγάρι.

Βάλτε τα στο παιχνίδι

Τα περισσότερα βιβλία για παιδιά από 0-2 ετών, έχουν κάποιο κινούμενο κομμάτι ή pop-up για να γίνουν πιο διαδραστικά. Αυτό είναι κάτι που τα μικρά το λατρεύουν. Τους αρέσει πολύ να συμμετέχουν στο βιβλίο. Η Ναταλία χαίρεται πολύ να κάνει την αράχνη την Μιμή να ανεβοκατεβαίνει μέσα στην υδροροή της στα υπέροχα βιβλία της σειράς Διαβάζω και Διασκεδάζω, Στο κήπο και Στη Βόλτα, (Εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο).

Το πρώτο βιβλίο με κανονικές σελίδες (όχι χαρτόνι) που ερωτεύτηκε η Ναταλία ήταν το βιβλίο του Richard Byrne «Αυτό το βιβλίο έφαγε το σκύλο μου» (Εκδόσεις Διόπτρα). Πραγματικά δεν μπορώ να σας περιγράψω πόσο υπέροχο είναι αυτό το βιβλίο και πόσο συνέβαλλε στην αγάπη της Ναταλίας για τα βιβλία.

Ο Νίκος της το διάβαζε όταν καθόταν δίπλα της στον καναπέ. Στο σημείο που το βιβλίο ενθαρρύνει τον αναγνώστη να λάβει δράση ο Νίκος βοηθούσε τη Ναταλία να σταθεί όρθια στο καναπέ, να γυρίσει το βιβλίο στο πλάι και να το κουνήσει. Αυτό ήταν! Η Ναταλία περίμενε πως και πως το απόγευμα που θα διάβαζε το βιβλίο με το μπαμπά της και θα φώναζε «ΜΠΟΥ!» στο κατάλληλο σημείο.

Το να βάλεις τα παιδιά στο παιχνίδι της ανάγνωσης είναι πολύ πιο παραγωγικό στο να τα κάνεις να αγαπήσουν τα βιβλία από το να τους διαβάζεις απλά.

Εκμεταλλευτείτε την εικονογράφηση

Πέρα από τα βαθύτερα νοήματα που μπορεί να έχει ένα βιβλίο, η εικονογράφηση παίζει σημαντικό ρόλο στα παιδικά βιβλία. Για τα παιδιά που δεν ξέρουν ακόμα να διαβάζουν, οι εικόνες λένε την ιστορία.

Ένα από τα αγαπημένα βιβλία της Ναταλίας είναι ο Όλιβερ της Birgitta’s Sif (εκδόσεις ‘Ικαρος). Το έχουμε διαβάσει τόσες φορές που το έχει μάθει απέξω. Αυτό που κάνει αυτό το βιβλίο υπέροχο – πέρα από το μήνυμά του – είναι η λεπτομερής και ενδιαφέρουσα εικονογράφηση. Υπάρχουν τόσα πράγματα που μπορείς να δείξεις στο παιδί που κάθε φορά που το διαβάζουμε ανακαλύπτουμε και κάτι νέο.

Δείτε το βιβλίο και τα σχέδια με ηρεμία και μην χάσετε την ευκαιρία να μάθετε στο παιδί κάτι καινούργιο. «Πόσες μπάλες έχει αυτή τη εικόνα;» Τι φοράει ο Όλιβερ στο κεφάλι του; Α! Για κοίτα, ποιο ζωάκι είναι αυτό;» Τέτοιες ερωτήσεις θα ενθουσιάσουν το παιδί και θα το βοηθήσουν να μάθει.

Αφήστε τα να διαλέξουν

Η ανάγνωση των βιβλίων γίνεται για το παιδί και όχι (μόνο) για εσάς. Αν έχετε μια μικρή ποικιλία από βιβλία, αφήστε το παιδί να διαλέξει αυτό που θέλει να του διαβάσετε. Μην δυσανασχετείτε αν σας ζητάει συνέχεια το ίδιο βιβλίο. Έχει το δικαίωμα να του αρέσει αυτό που του αρέσει έτσι δεν είναι;

Τελευταία η Ναταλία έχει ιδιαίτερη αγάπη για το βιβλίο του David Litchfield "Ο αρκούδος και το πιάνο" (εκδόσεις Μικρή Σελήνη). Ζητάει να της το διαβάσουμε πολλές φορές μέσα στη μέρα και δεν μπορούμε να της αρνηθούμε. Είναι ένα από τα πιο γλυκά βιβλία σχετικά με τη φιλία που έχουμε διαβάσει ως τώρα και το χαιρόμαστε όλοι οικογενειακώς.

Αν θέλετε να εμπλουτίσετε τα βιβλία που του αρέσουν, δείτε προσεκτικά τα αγαπημένα του βιβλία. Τι κοινό έχουν; Την εικονογράφηση, το νόημα, τα χρώματα; Μπορείτε να αρχίσετε να φτιάχνετε τη παιδική βιβλιοθήκη με αυτό το γνώμονα.

Είναι σημαντικό να θυμάστε ότι αν περιλαμβάνουν έστω και ένα βιβλίο μέσα στη μέρα τους, ο στόχος έχει επιτευχθεί, ανεξάρτητα από το βιβλίο που επιλέγουν.

Διαβάστε σε μία ξένη γλώσσα

Τα παιδιά είναι σαν σφουγγάρια. Μαθαίνουν πολύ πιο εύκολα από ότι οι ενήλικες, οπότε δεν είναι ποτέ νωρίς για να ξεκινήσουν!

Όταν ο Νίκος ταξίδεψε πρόσφατα στην Ιταλία και με ρώτησε τι να φέρει δώρο στη μικρή, του απάντησα χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη, να φέρει ένα βιβλίο στα Ιταλικά. Έτσι θα είχε πάντα κάτι από την Ιταλία και μπορεί να μάθαινε και μερικές λέξεις στα Ιταλικά. Τελικά, η Ναταλία αγάπησε πολύ το “La rabbia di Matteo” του Ian de Haes (Εκδόσεις Edizioni Theoria S.r.l.) και έμαθε πολλές λέξεις στα Ιταλικά.

Τώρα έχουμε αρχίσει να διαβάζουμε και αγγλικά βιβλία. Της αρέσουν πολύ τα στιχάκια του βιβλίου της Αγγελικής Νταρλάση «The fates» (εκδόσεις Μεταίχμιο) και μαθαίνει νέες λέξεις στα Αγγλικά. Και εμένα μου αρέσει πολύ που μοιράζομαι μαζί της την αγάπη μου για την αγγλική γλώσσα καθώς της διαβάζω βιβλία για τους μύθους και τους θρύλους της χώρας μας.

Τα παιδιά βλέπουν και μιμούνται

Αν σας βλέπουν να διαβάζετε, θα διαβάσουν και αυτά! Αν σας βλέπουν να κρατάτε το κινητό στα χέρια σας, μαντέψτε τι θα θέλουν να κρατάνε και αυτά! (Δηλώνω ένοχη αν και προς υπεράσπισή μου, και στο έρμο στο κινητό βιβλία διαβάζω αλλά σε μορφή e-books στο Kindle).

Δώστε το καλό παράδειγμα διαβάζοντας βιβλία έτσι ώστε τα παιδιά να θέλουν να σας μοιάσουν.

Για την αγκαλιά

Ένα από τα καλύτερα πράγματα που μου προσφέρει το διάβασμα με τη Ναταλία είναι η σωματική επαφή. Καθόμαστε δίπλα δίπλα στο καναπέ, με το χέρι μου περασμένο πάνω από τη πλατούλα της για να κρατάω το βιβλίο ανοικτό. Δεν είναι όμορφη εικόνα;

Τα νήπια αποζητούν την επαφή, την υγιή προσκόλληση, την ευγένεια και τη ζεστασιά. Η ανάγνωση βιβλίων αγκαλιά τα προσφέρει όλα αυτά μαζί με την αδιάσπαστη προσοχή σας. Ακόμα και αν αυτό που θέλουν πιο πολύ είναι η αγκαλιά, γρήγορα θα αγαπήσουν και τον υπέροχο κόσμο των γραμμένων λέξεων και της εικονογράφησης.

Ποιά είναι τα αγαπημένα παιδικά βιβλία των παιδιών σας;

Lots of love

6 comments

, by M. Akamatra

craft

4 Challenging Embroidery Techniques to Try This Summer

Hello darlings!

Embroidery is a beautiful craft that allows you to create works of art with nothing more than a needle, thread and some cloth. Gorgeous designs can be made with even the simplest of embroidery stitches and techniques, but once you have the basics down, you may be looking for a way to challenge yourself even further.

As summer rolls in, you might find yourself with a little more time to dedicate to your hobbies. Take your embroidery travel kit with you and try to improve the embroidery skills you’ve got with a few new challenges in technique. Check out these four new embroidery techniques to try this summer below.

1. The Split Stitch

Many embroiderers learn a few essential stitches when they start embroidering and use them for everything in their creations. Try challenging yourself by learning a new stitch. A great one to start with is the split stitch. This stitch is a variation of the very commonly known backstitch or running stitch and can be used for all kinds of things – lettering, filling in shapes and more.

available here

To create a split stitch, simply create one straight stitch. Then, bring your needle up through the center of that stitch from the backside of the fabric. Then, bring your needle back down through the fabric, leaving another straight stitch that’s the same length as the first. Repeat until you’ve reached your desired length. This creates a braided effect that can add a lot of interest to your design.

2. Hand Lettering with the Stem Stitch

Hand lettering in embroidery can be a beautiful way to capture favorite sayings, quotes, dates and other text in your hoop, but it can be challenging to learn how to stitch the letters in a way that looks just right. An easy way to create the right effect on text is by embroidering your letters in a stem stitch.

available here

The stem stitch got its name from how it’s most commonly used: to embroider stems on flowers and leaves. The stem stitch is created similarly to the split stitch, but instead of bringing your needle through the direct center of your initial straight stitch, you make your second stitch right beside your first stitch. The end result is a beautiful, twisted rope effect that can easily curve around the shapes of letters.

3. Create Freestanding Lace

If you have an embroidery machine, or a sewing machine with an embroidery function, take some time to figure out all the different ways this tool can allow you to be creative. If you’re interested in finding an embroidery machine, check out embroiderywithstyle.com.

available here

One of the most incredible functions on an embroidery machine is the ability to create freestanding lace patterns. Every machine has its own process, but the overall steps to creating freestanding lace are choosing your thread and fabric, creating a lace pattern or finding one online, loading the pattern into the machine and allowing it to go to work.

You’re left with a beautiful applique that you can use on anything, from pillows to clothing and everything in between.

4. Embroider a New Fabric

Once you become familiarized with embroidery, it can be easy to fall into a rut about what you want to create. Take this summer to really experiment with different materials and fabrics to place your embroidered creations on. For example, if you often find yourself framing the pieces you create, try embroidering clothing, or hats or pillowcases. Remember, this may require thicker or thinner threads, bigger or smaller needles and some patience until you discover what looks best. You may even end up with some new favorite creations!

available here

Once we get the basics down in any hobby or skillset, we may feel like experts. However, by challenging yourself with new and interesting techniques, you’re not only growing as an embroiderer, but also as a creative artist overall. Don’t be afraid to push yourself this summer with different and exciting projects like the four we listed above!

Lots of love

26 comments

, by M. Akamatra

craft

Mess free Screen Printing for beginners

Hello darlings!

You know by now how I love to try it out every and any craft I can get my hands on, right? That's why I jumped at the chance to play around with screen printing. The Screen Sensation System is very easy to use and the results are professional. Want proof? Keep reading!

The Screen Sensation Starter kit includes everything you need to start screen printing at home. The main unit is made of sturdy plastic and is very straightforward to use. I also got 4 paint colors, 3 mesh screens and a roll of fixing tape (reviewed here by my little helper, Natalia).

As I am a newbie at screen printing I read the instructions carefully and decided to start with something easy. I was going to print on card paper.

So I set my the unit with a screen that had the most cute bear and the saying "Dream big little one". I choose that for obvious reasons. I wanted to make something to put on Natalia's room. Little did I know I was going to be making this on repeat for all our friend's kids!

Anyway, I used the fixing tape to tape both the screen and the paper on the unit. There's a very handy grid on the unit so that you're printing medium is on straight.

Then I closed the lid and applied the Buttermilk color paint at the top of the mesh.

Then I used the squeegee and pushed the paint down to the other end of the frame. Whoosh! It was so fun!!! I strongly recommend using plain paper or other cheap medium before you are confident that you'll get it right. It took me a couple of tries but I did it! I screen printed a very nice print!

You can save the extra paint left in the squeegee for your next tries too. Then I opened the lid and ta-da! My very own handmade screen printed at home, print!

I washed everything with lukewarm water and layed the mesh screen flat to dry. Everything is very easy to fold and store away, something crucial when you ~~have filled your craft room with tons of yarn~~ don't have a lot of space.

I have made a couple of dozen of them already all of them in cardstock. I framed them with a cheap IKEA frame and given them as presents. They were very well received and no one could tell they weren't professionally printed!

All in all I love this kit. It's robust, easy to use, mess-free and easy to clean. I can't wait till I will have time to play with it again. I want to try it on other materials too, especially leather. I think it would make exceptional bags!

Have you ever tried screen printing? What's a new craft/hobby you'd like to take on?

Lots of love

40 comments

, by M. Akamatra

Pages

Sugar free cinnamon cookies recipe

Sugar free, cinnamon cookies!

Jacksonville, Florida. A two day itinerary

Day 1:

Go to the Beach!

Get Lunch at Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House

Take a Walk Along the Boardwalk

Grab Dinner at Poe's Tavern

Day 2:

Riverside Arts Market

River Walk

Friendship Fountain

Visit a Museum

Cummer Museum of Art

MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)

MOSH (Museum of Science and History)

Go Get a Burrito at Burrito Gallery

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Jacksonville

Jacksonville Is Huge

Water and Snacks

Please, Don't Feed the Seagulls

Wear Sunscreen

Recap

Summertime Plumbing Tips You Need To Know

How to get your kid to love books

Πως να βοηθήσετε τα παιδιά να αγαπήσουν τα βιβλία

4 Challenging Embroidery Techniques to Try This Summer

Mess free Screen Printing for beginners

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Crochet amigurumi little stars - Free pattern

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Sugar free, cinnamon cookies!

Day 1:

Go to the Beach!

Get Lunch at Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House

Take a Walk Along the Boardwalk

Grab Dinner at Poe's Tavern

Day 2:

Riverside Arts Market

River Walk

Friendship Fountain

Visit a Museum

Cummer Museum of Art

MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)

MOSH (Museum of Science and History)

Go Get a Burrito at Burrito Gallery

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Jacksonville

Jacksonville Is Huge

Water and Snacks

Please, Don't Feed the Seagulls

Wear Sunscreen

Recap

Featured post

Follow

Instagram

Subscribe To

Popular Posts

About

Labels

Follow by Email

As seen in

Like us on Facebook

Important

Subscribe