Why we love Maileg Toys

Maileg, a Danish toymaker that manufactures whimsical and humorous soft mice, rabbits and dolls with a nordic and nostalgic look and feel. Each Maileg character is full of personality and charm, with hand embroidered details and friendly expressions.

Maileg toys are perfect for encouraging imaginative play in children.  Every Maileg character is put together by hand with incredible attention to detail, including delicate clothes and natural fabrics with ornate prints on them. Maileg mice come in a selection of different packaging, which actually form part of the toy, such as small matchboxes complete with bedclothes, pillows and blankets, there’s even a cardboard dance studio, complete with mirror and ballet detailing.

Maileg was created by designer Dorthe Mailil who, inspired by the fairy stories of her own childhood, set out to create the beautifully realised world of Maileg. The brand is now best known for is matchbox mice selection, but is forever growing it’s selection of highly collectable characters.

Maileg also have a new Christmas collection out! Just check out the Maileg Gingerbread House scene on the image below

Maileg image courtesy of @eva.and.rose

Photography by @LeonieJaneLee

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Why we love Maileg Toys published first on http://kaleandheartykitchen.com/

Mango and Coconut Bircher Muesli – Easy Healthy Breakfasts

Mango and Coconut Bircher Muesli

Very easy breakfast that can be prepared the night before. I love this as you can pretty much use any combination of fruit, nuts and seeds so use what you have in your cupboards. 

As well as being a good source of dietary fibre, oats contain slow release complex carbohydrates which will keep you full until lunch time.

“Oats, via their high fiber content, are known to help remove cholesterol from the digestive system that would otherwise end up in the bloodstream” (1)

Ingredients

• 50g gluten free rolled porridge oats (uncooked)
• 10g linseed
• 15g pumpkin seeds
• 2 teaspoons chia seeds
• 10g coconut chips
• 100 coconut milk
• 120g full fat yoghurt
• 1 mango (peeled) and cut into small cubes
• 1 teaspoon of honey (optional)

Topping

• Mango cubes and extra coconut chips

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Method

1. 1. Peel your mango and cut into small cubes. Set aside about a third to top your bircher in the morning.
   2. Mix together oats, linseed, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, coconut chips, mango, yoghurt and milk and honey if you’re using. Put in a container with a lid or cover your bowl with clingfilm and pop into the fridge overnight (or minimum of 3 hours).
   3. Remove from fridge and top with saved mango and extra coconut chips.

K&H Tip

This is so versatile – you can add any fruit combinations.

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Health & Wellness – What are Yoga Asanas? #1 Sirshasana, the headstand

“Yoga asanas are a posture in which a practitioner sits. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines “asana” as “to be seated in a position that is firm, but relaxed”. Patanjali mentions the ability to sit for extended periods as one of the eight limbs of his system, known as ashtanga yoga.”

There are 12 Yoga Asanas, or poses, that are practiced and each one is shown to help alleviate certain ailments, such as stress, back pain, depression, core strength disfunction and digestion (to name a few). In this, the first of 12 articles, we visit the headstand or Sirshasana…

Yoga Asanas 1 – The Headstand (Sirshasana)

Perhaps the most widely practiced of all Yoga poses – the headstand sounds basic enough, but there are several variations and adaptations that can be performed to focus on certain muscle groups and to build your core. A solid, stable headstand has been known as the “King of Asanas” because of its many benefits, the Headstand is the first of the 12 asanas and is considered by many to be a treatment for many ailments:

• Enables you to slow down, breath and focus on the present.
• Boost autonomic nervous function – for a stronger heart
• Reversing gravity can take a load off of your heart and circulatory system
• Improved upper and mid body strength
• Improved core stability

This pose is not an advanced asana; but it does require a level of core strength and control, and like a lot of Yoga poses can cause damage if you rush into it. To begin with, try the Child’s Pose or the Dolphin and gradually progress to a full headstand.

Remember – before you start doing headstands, you must have strong arms, shoulders and back muscles to lift your head off the floor, you must be careful not put your full bodyweight onto your head as you can risk damaging your neck and back.

The 12 Yoga Asanas are listed below, and we will be writing a separate article on each one over the coming weeks.

1. Headstand (Sirshasana)
2. Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana)
3. Plough (Halasana)
4. Fish (Matsyasana)
5. Sitting Forward bend (Paschimothanasana)
6. Cobra (Bhujangasana)
7. Locust (Shalabhasana)
8. Bow (Dhanurasana)
9. Spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
10. Crow (Kakasana) or Peacock (Mayurasana)
11. Standing forward bend (Pada Hasthasana)
12. Triangle (Trikonasana)

For more information on the health benefits of being upside down, I totally recommend you read “Gravity and Yoga: The benefits of being upside down” here. Beautiful photo is by Thao Le Hoang on Unsplash

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