Good-day to you! Today is blog day, and Rose and I have decided to share some inspiration with you.

It’s true that without feeling inspired we can only achieve so much. The mundane can bring us to a standstill more often than not. But, with so many opportunities available to us, in our imaginations alone, we can achieve everything we set out to. The key, though, is to keep your goals small at first. When you do this, you are rewarded by the feeling of achievement, and this is what paves the way to achieving the next goal you set for yourself.

​And so, we’ve created these images with a few quotes that have inspired us, as individuals and in the communities we work with. We hope they’ll inspire you as well.
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After all is said and done, I know that without tenacity I would never be able to do everything I need to do in a day. The number of children I have to visit, to give them tiny gifts for their teeth that I use to build the castle – well, I do get tired but I know that even if one child wakes-up in a morning without their gift, they will stop believing in me. And so I go on… to see the smile in their eyes. I am a tooth-fairy, after all!

It reminds of one of Rose’s book, ‘The Lone Avocado Tree’. Rose wrote this story, which was one told to her by her grandmother. It’s a tale of how the Avocado Tree nearly met its end. But with the help of one small boy, the last Avocado seed was able to grow and grow and grow and make more Avocado trees around the world. 

Two things saw to the longevity of the Avocado tree in this story. Firstly, the tree accepted help from others and was not stubborn or too arrogant to try to make it alone. Secondly, the tenacity of the little tree is what everyone needs to cultivate, in order to achieve their dreams.

And so, we hope we’ve shared some inspiration with you today. Take a look at The Lone Avocado Tree on Amazon, too, and read this story to your child. We believe it will actually be inspiring to adults as well!

​Until next week, stay magical,
keep shining,
Sasha ~

​Avocados are not only delicious, they also add a nutritional boost to any meal as a healthy fat. Different cultures enjoy them in different ways around the world. From slicing and dicing them into your salads to spreading them over your toast; grilling them or pickling them;  mashing them to make guacamole;  using them as a base for chocolate pudding; on pizza... you can eat them any way you like, actually! 

But, have you ever tried eating an avocado straight from its shell with lemon and sugar? Sugar - oh my! Yup - that's right! Growing-up in Kenya we ate loads of avocados that we picked straight from the trees, as a sweet treat with lemon and sugar - like a lemonade avocado... if there is such a thing?  We thought there was anyway!

It's so simple - no mess, no fuss.  We'd cut an Avo in half, horizontally, and then remove the pip (as seen in the image above).  We'd sprinkle lemon over the flesh - like a drizzle - and then just a teaspoon of sugar, to each half.  Then, using a fork while the skin acts as a bowl, we'd mash the Avo inside its own shell, until all the ingredients were mixed together thoroughly.  

A refreshing, delicious, and filling snack... and no dishes for Mom - yey!  Next time you have an avocado, try eating it this simple way.  Feel  free to share your favorite avocado recipe in the comments - perhaps you know a secret we don't!

Of course my love for Avocados in Kenya prompted me to write The Lone Avocado Tree, which in truth is a tale of life and death, regrowth, appreciation, and joy in the simple things nature has to offer.

Thursday is blog day, and today Rose has a special blog for you about teeth.

Of course, being a dentist she is more qualified than me to tell you about teeth! I’m just her little helper, making sure that children around the world get to benefit from what she has to offer! Yes, yes - I’m a tooth-fairy, but I use teeth to build castles with, not eat!

​So, let’s get on with it and find out what each of your primary (baby) teeth are for, when they grow into the mouth (erupt) and when they fall out (shed).  We will also find out where they are located in your mouth (Moms and Dads, you may have to read this to or with your child – there are some big words in here that can be difficult to pronounce. I did my best to help with that, though)!


A Brief History of Teeth

Thousands of years ago people ate mostly meat like animals do. But, as we evolved, our jaw changed shape and size.  Our teeth were worn down from eating hard foods - trying to crack shells and nuts, for example. But as we learned to grow food and store it, the need for long sharp animal-like teeth lessened, until we find the teeth we have today.

This is called evolution and it’s happened to all species living today, to help us live a better life, as life around us changed quite dramatically over time.
 
There are two sets of teeth: primary (baby) teeth, and permanent (adult) teeth.  As the ‘baby’ teeth are shed, the adult teeth erupt into the mouth.  This set will remain with us for a lifetime, provided we take care of them.

​In this blog, we will discuss primary teeth.


​What is each group of teeth for?
Please refer to the chart below for eruption and shedding timelines.
 
Incisors –
The incisors are found on the top and bottom jaws. They are the four ‘front teeth’, and they are used for cutting. Of the four incisors, we find the ‘central incisors’ and the ‘lateral incisors’. 

​Canines -
The canines are found either side of the lateral incisors. They are also found on both the top and bottom jaws. They are used for holding food between the teeth, and also for tearing foods like meat. 

​Molars –
Molars are used for chewing food. Chewing with these teeth, mixed with the saliva in our mouth, makes the food softer and easier to digest. They are found on the top and bottom jaws, starting alongside the canines.

But teeth are not only used for eating. A secondary yet important benefit of teeth is that they help us to pronounce words. Without our teeth, pronunciations for words like these would not be possible.
 
Thanks
Fine
Phone
Very
Seven
 
As your child starts to show signs of teething, you can use this chart to determine the relevant stages with accuracy.

We hope this blog has helped you as you continue to raise your wonderful child! Remember that oral-health and dental-care are vital in children, to ensure that their teeth grow as they are meant to without difficulty. You can also prepare them for their first visit to the dentist by reading Rose’s book ‘My First Visit to the Dentist’ with them.

​If you have any questions about the blog above, don’t hesitate to drop Rose a line or leave your question in the comments below.
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​Until next time, keep shining,
stay magical,
Sasha and Rose ~