FLORA 101

Taking a good probiotic is essential for good health. Here is why:

Your gut has three types of bacteria.

1. Beneficial Flora- Friendly bacteria that do good in our body.

2. Opportunistic Flora- These microbes/bacteria are normally limited and controlled by the good flora in a healthy person.

3. Transitional Flora- We ingest these daily. When we have a good amount of beneficial flora, we are able to digest these and pass them through without harm. However, if we do not have a healthy amount of beneficial flora, these microbes cause illness and disease.

Lack of beneficial flora causes illness (stomach virus, common cold, etc.) disease (cancer), autoimmune disease, and mental illness. Basically everything is linked to our gut. It is the root of your immune system. Being on antibiotics and even certain vaccines kill our gut flora. That is why kids who are on several rounds of antibiotics continue to get sick over and over again. The antibiotics keep killing their healthy gut flora making them more susceptible to illness. It is a viscous cycle.

Some of the books I am currently reading also discuss the link between your gut health and mental health. Many doctors believe Autism, Add/ADHD, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, OCD, etc. are all linked to your gut health. This theory is called GAPS- Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It makes so much sense and is fascinating to learn about.

If you are not on a good probiotic, look into getting one from a health food store. Try to get one in the refrigerated section. Infants to elderly people can all benefit from being on a probiotic.

Extreme (GREEN) Pantry Make-Over

My sister inspired me to do an extreme pantry makeover this weekend. However, it was a lot more time consuming than I anticipated. It is so hard to find time to do organization projects, now that I am mother. All of this stuff gets pushed to the back burner. I finally made it a priority and boy oh boy....I love it! Things are sooo much better when they are visual appealing! Every time I open my pantry, I feel a sense of pride and happiness versus stress and anger as a box of cereal is falling on my head.

I decided to take my organization project one step further and make some green changes. Here is a list of ways you can do an extreme (GREEN) pantry.

1. DO A MAJOR CLEANING OVER HAUL: Be sure to use green products to wipe down your cabinets. The pantry is no place for harsh chemicals.

2. TOSS EXPIRED FOODS: I was surprised to find cans from 2008! I thought I was somewhat on top of things before my makeover...but I was WRONG!

3. READ LABELS: In the process of going green over the last few years, I am not one to toss the naughty food or chemical ridden products. It is a huge waste of money. I like to use things up first and then make my move to a better product. However, there are some things I will not knowingly consume, now that I know how toxic/harmful they are. For example, to start, foods you should toss/use up and then switch (your preference) are foods that contain any of the following: A) High Fructose Corn Syrup B) Sodium Nitrate (This chemical is used to preserve processed meats and is linked to an increase in cancer, particularly stomach cancer), C) Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Fats or Trans Fats (Linked to heart attacks and cardiac deaths) and D) MSG. I like to keep little sticky notes in my cabinet or purse as a personal reminder of which ingredients I should steer clear of.

4.BYE-BYE PLASTIC: Over the last year, I have switched my Tupperware to glass containers. Recently, I purchased some glass Fido jars at IKEA and Crate & Barrel for my oats, nuts, seeds, quinoa, rice, etc. Be sure to recycle the boxes you empty. I just love the way it looks! Plus, Miss Lana loves to rearrange my pantry during dinner time and usually spills quinoa all over my kitchen floor. Not any more!! :)

5. ORGANIZE: Rearrange your pantry like the grocery store. Put all of the baking stuff together, the cans, the pasta, etc. Also put the older cans in front and the newer ones in back. Use up the old stuff first.

6. LABEL: Labeling your pantry will help the entire family know where various items are located. Use a label maker if you have one. For the little ones who can't read yet, put little clip art pictures next to the words. The kids love helping me unload groceries. I am sure that won't last forever, but for now it is a fun game for them. However, I usually find sour cream in my pantry a week later. :)

PS) Confession: My pantry is not 100% green. My hubby still requests certain naughty foods like good old toxic Ramen noodles. I still can't believe we lived off of this devilish food in our college years. I should have known how bad they are when you can purchase 100 of them for $10.00!

Taco Stew

This meal may be as good as the tortellini soup. It certainly is as easy, if not easier. We served it with shredded cheddar cheese and crunched up blue tortilla chips on top.

An easy-to-throw-together, affordable stew that feeds a crowd. Top bowlfuls of this beefy tomato and corn stew with dollops of sour cream and spoonfuls of your favorite salsa. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available as Whole Foods Market Brands.

Ingredients

1/2 pound 85% lean ground beef or turkey
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tablespoons taco seasoning (gluten-free)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth*
1 large zucchini or summer squash, cut into small cubes
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added black beans*
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes*
1 cup frozen corn kernels*
1 cup medium salsa*

Method

Brown meat in a large pot over medium high heat. Drain, remove and set aside. In the same pot, sauté onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add meat back to pot and sprinkle mixture with taco seasoning to blend. Add remaining ingredients and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes.

Green Self Tanner

I have been struggling with awful pasty skin this winter. I swore off tanning beds about a year ago. Yes, I had an addiction to tanning beds several years ago! I admit it. I can't stand how pasty white/gothic looking I get in these cold winter months. Being sprayed down with chemicals did not seem like a better option.... Sooo I found the product below. I have not tried it yet but am excited it will be a quick fix for my Marilyn Manson look. :) However, if the next time you see me, I look like a pumpkin...you will know it did not work so well. I am happy to be the guinea pig and will keep you posted on how it works.


"THE PERFECT SUNLESS TAN We all know how dangerous the sun’s UV rays can be for our skin. With that in mind, do you expose your skin to get that perfect tan, hold your nose and subject yourself to that foul smelling chemical tan, or avoid the sun altogether and miss out on that sun-kissed summer glow? You’ll be pleased to know there’s a safe, natural and fabulously scented alternative! There are now two organic self tanning lotions from Lavera - one for the face, another for the body, that’s completely chemical and toxin free.

Two natural ingredients, vegetable-derived DHA (Dihydroxyactone) and the sugar agent Erythrulose, give your skin a wonderful fresh tan on a natural basis. These two ingredients react with the amino acids of the skin, resulting in a brownish tint of the pigment. This reaction is completely harmless and a safe alternative to chemical tanners.

This unaltered photo shows a smooth, natural tan develop on the right arm only 3 hours after initial application, compared to the untreated left arm.

As with all Lavera products, our self tanners are certified natural by the BDIH, contain organic ingredients and are free of parabens and other synthetic ingredients."

"Special Innovation Prize 2002" Winner.

Website: http://www.lavera.com

Valentine's Day Idea

I always talk about my green mentors, health mentors, etc. I also have a craft/Martha Stewart mentor. :) My long time girlfriend, Maria, is the ultimate crafter! Very talented! She always sends me great ideas for various events. Earlier this week she sent me the cute craft shown above. The boys have to bring in one Valentine for each classmate and I thought these would be perfect. The candy in the little plastic bag is Sweedish Fish and the tag reads "You are O' Fishally a super Valentine!" It was a fun Sunday afternoon project. :)

An Alarming Statistic!

Once in a while I catch a Dr. Oz show. I really like Dr. Oz and actually got the pleasure of meeting him and participating in one of his health studies about four years ago. Kevin got me tickets to the Oprah show for my 30th birthday and we were randomly selected to fly down early and go to Harpo studio for a health study. It was a really interesting experience. Dr. Oz was sooo kind in person and a wealth of knowledge.

My point of telling you this long, drawn out story is that Dr. Oz had a show on this week about Pancreatic cancer...the most feared, deadliest cancers of all. He said that drinking 2 cans of pop a week DOUBLES your risk of pancreatic cancer!!!! What an alarming statistic. If you know an extreme pop drinker, risk being that annoying friend and tell them this scary statistic.

I love this article! Check it out:

How Eating At Home Can Save Your Life

"The slow insidious displacement of home cooked and communally shared family meals by the industrial food system has fattened our nation and weakened our family ties. In 1900, 2 percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50 percent were eaten away from home and one in five breakfasts is from McDonald's. Most family meals happen about three times a week, last less than 20 minutes and are spent watching television or texting while each family member eats a different microwaved "food." More meals are eaten in the minivan than the kitchen.

Research shows that children who have regular meals with their parents do better in every way, from better grades, to healthier relationships, to staying out of trouble. They are 42 percent less likely to drink, 50 percent less likely to smoke and 66 percent less like to smoke marijuana. Regular family dinners protect girls from bulimia, anorexia, and diet pills. Family dinners also reduce the incidence of childhood obesity. In a study on household routines and obesity in U.S. preschool-aged children, it was shown that kids as young as four have a lower risk of obesity if they eat regular family dinners, have enough sleep, and don't watch TV on weekdays.

We complain of not having enough time to cook, but Americans spend more time watching cooking on the Food Network than actually preparing their own meals. In his series, "Food Revolution," Jamie Oliver showed us how we have raised a generation of Americans who can't recognize a single vegetable or fruit, and don't know how to cook.

The family dinner has been hijacked by the food industry. The transformations of the American home and meal outlined above did not happen by accident. Broccoli, peaches, almonds, kidney beans and other whole foods don't need a food ingredient label or bar code, but for some reason these foods -- the foods we co-evolved with over millennia -- had to be "improved" by Food Science. As a result, the processed-food industry and industrial agriculture has changed our diet, decade by decade, not by accident but by intention.

That we need nutritionists and doctors to teach us how to eat is a sad reflection of the state of society. These are things our grandparents knew without thinking twice about them. What foods to eat, how to prepare them, and an understanding of why you should share them in family and community have been embedded in cultural traditions since the dawn of human society.

One hundred years ago all we ate was local, organic food; grass-fed, real, whole food. There were no fast-food restaurants, there was no junk food, there was no frozen food -- there was just what your mother or grandmother made. Most meals were eaten at home. In the modern age that tradition, that knowledge, is being lost.

The sustainability of our planet, our health, and our food supply are inextricably linked. The ecology of eating -- the importance of what you put on your fork -- has never been more critical to our survival as a nation or as a species. The earth will survive our self-destruction. But we may not.

Common sense and scientific research lead us to the conclusion that if we want healthy bodies we must put the right raw materials in them: real; whole, local; fresh; unadulterated; unprocessed; and chemical-, hormone- and antibiotic-free food. There is no role for foreign molecules such as trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup, or for industrially developed and processed food that interferes with our biology at every level.

That is why I believe the most important and the most powerful tool you have to change your health and the world is your fork. Imagine an experiment -- let's call it a celebration: We call upon the people of the world to join together and celebrate food for one week. For one week or even one day, we all eat breakfast and dinner at home with our families or friends. For one week we all eat only real, whole, fresh food. Imagine for a moment the power of the fork to change the world.

The extraordinary thing is that we have the ability to move large corporations and create social change by our collective choices. We can reclaim the family dinner, reviving and renewing it. Doing so will help us learn how to find and prepare real food quickly and simply, teach our children by example how to connect, build security, safety and social skills, meal after meal, day after day, year after year.

Here are some tips that will help you take back the family dinner in your home starting today.

Reclaim Your Kitchen

Throw away any foods with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats or sugar or fat as the first or second ingredient on the label. Fill your shelves with real fresh, whole, local foods when possible. And join a community support agriculture network to get a cheaper supply of fresh vegetables weekly or frequent farmers markets.

Reinstate the Family Dinner

Read Laurie David's "The Family Dinner". She suggests the following guidelines: Make a set dinnertime, no phones or texting during dinner, everyone eats the same meal, no television, only filtered or tap water, invite friends and family, everyone clean up together.

Eat Together

No matter how modest the meal, create a special place to sit down together, and set the table with care and respect. Savor the ritual of the table. Mealtime is a time for empathy and generosity, a time to nourish and communicate.

Learn How to Cook and Shop

You can make this a family activity, and it does not need to take a ton of time. Keep meals quick and simple.

Plant a Garden

This is the most nutritious, tastiest, environmentally friendly food you will ever eat.

Conserve, Compost and Recycle

Bring your own shopping bags to the market, recycle your paper, cans, bottles and plastic and start a compost bucket (and find where in your community you can share you goodies).

Invest in Food

As Alice Waters says, food is precious. We should treat it that way. Americans currently spend less than10 percent of their income on food, while most European's spend about 20 percent of their income on food. We will be more nourished by good food than by more stuff. And we will save ourselves much money and costs over our lifetime.

To learn more tips for taking back the family dinner and using your fork to effect change in our world visit www.drhyman.com."

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

Mark Hyman, M.D. is a practicing physician, founder of The UltraWellness Center, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and an international leader in the field of Functional Medicine. You can follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, watch his videos on YouTube, become a fan on Facebook, and subscribe to his newsletter.

An Assembly Line Lesson

The kids had to come up with a snack that had an "M" in it for school this week. We decided to make trail mix with M&Ms. I thought this was a good opportunity to teach them about an assembly line. Each kid had a specific job and had to measure a certain amount of food for the mix. I used old Tylenol/Motrin measuring cups for the measuring tool. It seemed to be the perfect amount for our trail mix concoction. I thought it would be fun to take a kid grocery shopping and have them pick out the ingredients for our next trail mix assembly line. I like how this activity also incorporated a measuring lesson.

Winter Time Blues!

Anyone else feeling cooped up?? Today we decided to do a fun craft to kill the mid-afternoon slump. These little puppets were such a hit. I piled up some old Highlights magazines, family pictures, and some ratty paper back books that were missing pages (and were basically headed toward the recycle bin) and we cut out funny faces/characters and made our own puppets. All you need is faces/characters, construction paper, kabob sticks and tape. You could also color pages from coloring books and use those shapes for your puppets. Great fine motor activity too! :)

Meal Idea: Super Healthy Oatmeal

Did you know the package directions for oatmeal (rolled oats) used to include directions for soaking? Eventually these directions were removed as it’s not critical if your goal is to have hot, edible cereal and many consumers are only interested in convenience. Here is a brief description as to why it is so important to soak your oats:

"All grains contain phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorous is bound) in the outer layer or bran. Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron especially zinc in the intestinal track and block their absorption. This is why a diet high in unfermented whole grains may led to serious mineral deficiencies and bone loss. The modern misguided practice of consuming large amounts of unprocessed bran often improves colon transit time at first but may lead to irritable bowel syndrome and, in the long term, many other adverse effects. Soaking allows enzyme, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to break down and neutralize phytic acid. As little as seven hours of soaking in warm acidulated water will neutralize a large portion of phytic acid in grains. The simple practice of soaking cracked or rolled cereal grains overnight will vastly improve their nutritional benefits. " From my favorite cook book: Nourishing Traditions.

Recipe from the nourishedkitchen.com:

To prepare this soaked oatmeal recipe, you’ll need:

• 1 Cup Rolled Oats
• 1-2 Tablespoons Raw Cider Vinegar, Whey, Yogurt, Lemon Juice or Kefir
• 1 Cup Whole Milk
• Pinch of Salt
• 2 Teaspoons Cinnamon
• ¼ Cup Nuts and Seeds
• ¼ Cup Raisins

Instructions for Preparing Soaked Oatmeal:

1. Soak rolled oats, seeds and nuts overnight in enough water to cover – adding lemon juice, kefir, whey, yogurt or cider vinegar to the water.
2. In the morning, drain oats and rinse them well.
3. Add milk to a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. Immediately turn down heat and add remaining ingredients.
5. Stir frequently and continue to simmer until oatmeal has thickened to your liking.
6. Serve with yogurt, kefir and natural sweetener of your choice.

** Personal Notes about soaking: Soaking oats is not a timely thing. In fact, they cook much faster (maybe five minutes) if you have soaked them overnight. I am talking about large rolled oats that would normally take 20 minutes to cook. Buying large rolled oats from a bulk section at Whole Foods is much more cost effective and way healthier then purchasing instant oatmeal. Also, when soaking, I prefer whey (the watery stuff on top of the yogurt) or vinegar. Lemon juice gave the oatmeal a citrus flavor.

Enjoy!!! :)

Homeopathy

(Before I begin this post, please consult a doctor and/or certified homeopath
before taking homeopathic medicine.)

Homeopathy has helped our family with several different aliments. It has also helped several friends of mine. I recommend seeing a certified homeopath for your first experience with homeopathy and then once you have a comfort level with it, you will be able to treat your family's acute health issues. Acute meaning: colds, flu, injury, etc. Chronic pain or illness must be handled by a professional. If you are familiar with homeopathy, check out this website: http://www.abc homeopathy.com/go.php. You enter in your aliments and then it will suggest a remedy that may be helpful for you. Again, I would use this site for acute health issues. I mostly use homeopathy for colds and flu. It works wonders with helping the kids power through a virus. My new favorite remedy is Chamomile. I administer it to Lana when I suspect she is teething. It relieves her discomfort and irritability. I also use it for an upset stomach. It has been known to help with colic, as well.

I believe there is a place for conventional medicine. My preemie twins are living proof that modern medicine is a necessity. However, my homeopath has taught me that a lot of medications suppress an illness versus curing an illness. I like to use my homeopath in addition to our pediatrician. She is my go-to-gal for second opinions/alternative care for my family. Her website is: http://www.transformationalhealthpc.com. Check it out! :)

Jake's Favorite Christmas Toy...His new scooter!
Lana's Favorite Christmas Toy...Anything that wasn't hers! :)

Ben's Favorite Christmas Toy...A Spiderman Playdoh set!

Lukey's Favorite Christmas Toy...Spiderman dress-up gear!

Kevin's Favorite Christmas Toy...His self-made ice skatting rink in the front yard!

Lana's first sled ride.

The kids first time on the rink didn't go as well as we hoped! Kev basically had to carry them around the rink. He was exhausted. :)

Happy New Year!

The holidays were wonderfully chaotic! We had a great time. I am still trying to organize all the gifts and make room for new toys. This year I started a new tradtion that before Christmas, the kids have to donate the number of toys that is equivalent to their age. For example, Jake and Ben had to pick out four toys and Luke had to pick out two. We were going to donate to a women's shelter near by but ended up finding a family with a little boy (the same age as my kids) that needed some donations. It worked out well and the kids seem to feel good about their donations. Hoping everyone had a nice holiday.

Happy 34th Birthday to a

great hubby and daddy!

I don't care who you are, birthdays are special!!! 4 or 34..it doesn't matter. We were in Chicago for a wedding on Kevin's birthday/New Years Eve. He got the best gift of all...sleeping in!!! :)

Tea Tree Oil & Castile Soap

I have two green mentors, Christina and Amy. These two gals have done their homework. A few years ago, they decided to rid their homes of harsh chemicals and did a lot of reading on the subject area. The rest of their friends got to benefit from their new found knowledge, including me! :) I so often email them asking what do you use for this or that? They have given me sooo many recommendations over the years...I am eternally grateful for their willingness to share their knowledge. Here are two of my all time favorite products they have recommended:

1. Amy: Castile Soap- The soap can be used for anything and everything. From cleaning your kitchen to washing your hair. You can purchase it at Trader Joes, Whole Foods, etc. You only need a little tab and it will go along way. Amy had the great idea of buying one hand soap pump and keep refilling it with the an ounce or so of castile soap and water. I wash my hair with it 75% of the time and then rotate in my naughty shampoo once a week. Even my hubby uses it for his hair. I think it is so important to use green products in the shower. You ingest sooo much of those nasty chemicals in a hot, steamy shower when you use the chemical ridden products. THANK YOU AMY!

2. Christina: Tea Tree Oil- I recently started using Tea Tree Oil for acne and it really works. I know my friend Maria puts a few drops in a spray bottle with water and cleans Ruby's toys with it...such a great idea. I know there are a million uses for Tea Tree Oil..my Holistic Mom's Group uses it for everything. THANK YOU CHRISTINA!

What is your favorite green product?

A Fascinating Find!

When I am done with my schooling, and acquire more knowledge about nutrition/health, I would love to write a book called "Roots." Roots would be about finding the cause of our health issues versus putting a band-aid on them.

As I have mentioned before, I have Grave's disease and have been under a lot of pressure to have my thyroid removed and then be placed on a synthetic hormone for life. I am excepting of this but first need to see if I can some how uncover the real reason I suffer from this autoimmune disease. I have been consulting some wonderful health care practitioners that are teaching me a lot about my disease. My nutritionist ran several tests only to find out that I have food sensitivities and a yeast overgrowth in my intestinal track. This is soooooo gross and probably way too much information. However...we need to get real here. This is what it is about...trying to find the root of our health issues. Anyway, she put me on some supplements to help kill off the yeast and parasites. Food sensitives and a yeast overgrowth can be linked to autoimmune disease so it was something I felt I needed to do. Even if it did not cure the disease, I knew it would improve my overall health at a minimum.

I ended up having a pretty intense die-off reaction called Herxheimer reaction. This reaction causes fatigue, flu-like symptoms, anxiety, etc. It was very unpleasant to say the least and lasted several weeks. I ended up seeing a holistic MD recently to assist me with me thyroid disease and the die-off reaction I was experiencing. He put me on charcoal for three days and told me to take an Epsom salt bath every day. He also told me to put a pinch of Celtic sea salt under my tongue 3-4 times a day. With in three days, my headaches were gone and I felt great. So great that I am going to continue to do the baths and the salt treatment.

My fantastic find is the Epsom salt bath. My nutritionist and Md were both in agreement that these baths are so beneficial. Not only would an Epsom salt bath 3-4 times a week force you to carve out some time for yourself, it would be extremely beneficial for your health. Please read the article below I found online that would better explain the tremendous health benefits of an Epsom salt bath:

"Most of us know about the importance of iron and calcium for our bodies, but what about magnesium? It is the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth most important positively charged ion in the body. It helps the body regulate over 325 enzymes and plays an important role in organizing many bodily functions, like muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins.

Most of us are deficient in magnesium, so I’m going to put on my wise-granny hat on here and tell you this: soaking in a bath with Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium, is one of the easiest ways to get a boost.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, American’s magnesium deficiency helps to account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a number of other ailments. Who knew?!

Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil and the typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. And in fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up the depletion of magnesium from our bodies.

Another factor in decreased magnesium levels has been our focus on getting enough calcium. It’s a delicate dance–calcium depletes magnesium yet calcium functions best when enough magnesium is present. Studies indicate that taking a calcium supplement without enough magnesium can increase the shortage of both nutrients. Researchers have found that many Americans have five times as much calcium as magnesium in their bodies, although the proper ratio for optimum absorption of both minerals is two to one.

With such widespread magnesium deficiency one might think that magnesium supplements would be called upon, but studies show that magnesium is not easily absorbed through the digestive tract. The presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions, and the chemistry of a person’s stomach acid can render magnesium supplements ineffective.

This brings us to Epsom salt. Known scientifically as hydrated magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is rich in both magnesium and sulfate. While both magnesium and sulfate can be poorly absorbed through the stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin. Sulfates play an important role in the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. They stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help detoxify the body of medicines and environmental contaminants.

Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulfate levels, as listed on the web site of the Epsom Salt Industry Council:

• Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
• Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
• Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improved oxygen use.
• Improved absorption of nutrients.
• Improved formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.

All this from a bath? Hurray! While there are many different brands of Epsom salt, they are all the same product chemically, and can be found at most drug stores. Add two cups of Epsom salt and soak for at least 12 minutes. Do this three times weekly.

If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, please check with your doctor before using Epsom salts."

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/health-benefits-of-epsom-salt-baths.html#ixzz19ZHZ7cAs

Americans consume a ½ pound of sugar a day.

1 tsp= 4 grams

1 cube =1 tsp

SugarStacks.com provides a great visual for children and adults of how much sugar is in certain foods. Have your child look up certain foods they enjoy to see how much sugar is in those selected foods.

Excessive sugar is the culprit of so many health problems ranging from obesity, diabetes, cavities, heart disease, suppressing the immune system, etc. etc. Even complex carbohydrates have sugar, like vegetables. That is why it is important to monitor your sugar intake and be sure to include fruits and vegetables in your tally.

Try to substitute refined sugar and artificial sweeteners for a better sweetener like maple syrup, honey or stevia (or stevia extract). Rapdura is a good alternative for baking. It has a lot simpler processing then evaporated cane juice and even has some health benefits. You can buy it at Whole Foods but need to ask for it. It has a little stronger flavor but is not that noticeable. Agave is not a good alternative. It is similarly processed to HFCS and has more fructose that HFCS.

Information taken from Kelly Scanlon and Sheryl Shenefelt at the Growing Connection Conference/2010.

Household Chores/Allowance

Anyone have some good tips on chores/allowance?? I had this one parent when I was teaching that did this amazing allowance program for her kids. I remember that she read some book about the wonderful lessons that come from instituting an allowance. I don't remember what age she recommended to start the program but she made it very clear that a child should not get an allowance for chores... Her big thing was that chores are required and every family member needs to contribute to the household. You should not pay your kids for chores. That was her take. I like the idea of not paying them to clean their room, do the dishes, etc. She gave them so much money every week and they had to put a certain amount in long term savings, short term savings and for donations. If the kids wanted a toy, they had to pay for it. My four year old twins are probably too young for such an extensive program but I was wondering if anyone had some good tips on how they orchestrate chores in their household? What type of responsibilities do your toddlers/kids have around the house? The kids love to do certain chores, like setting the table (as seen above) but picking up their toys is a battle everyday. I sometimes feel like a broken record. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. :)

PS) Any tips on getting a "spiderman crazed" four year old to wear something other then his spiderman pjs, underwear and socks? God help me...he is obsessed!!!!!!!

Unbleached Parchment Paper

Unbleached parchment paper is a cleaner, greener substitute for aluminum foil. I read that cooking acidic foods, like tomato based products, on aluminum foil/cooking equipment doubles the aluminum content in your food. Pretty gross!

Girl Stuff 101

Maddie gave her cousin a lesson in girl stuff today! Thanks Maddie
for sharing your fun dress-up stuff with Lana! :)

Hot Topic: Farm Raised Fish

This hot topic has been circulating for a while however, after I read this Dr. Mercola article, I am going to be a lot more selective about which fish I purchase. The only adult interaction I get during the day, other then some random calls to friends, is the meat/fish guy at Whole Foods. :) Sad..I know! When I get brave enough to take the kids with me, he is extremely patient with my little crew and ALL of my questions. He told me that it is imperative that you buy your fish from a reputable vendor. Recently, he was telling me that Tilipia is typically a dirty/bottom feeder fish and he wouldn't buy it from anywhere but WF. Now, he is an employee of WF so I am taking that into consideration. It definitely made me think twice about getting my fish from Kroger.

Dr. Mercola said he would depend on getting his Omega threes from a clean fish oil versus from fish. He recommends Krill oil. I personally take Carlson's Cod Liver Oil. This brand/oil has come highly recommended by MANY experts. The kids take a 1/4 t. a day and I take 1 t. a day. Typically, you take a 1/4 t. per 25 pounds. Again, please check with your doctor if you are going to supplement.

It is most important to take CLO third trimester of pregnancy and while nursing. Studies show that it (Omega 3) has a significant impact on I.Q. until the age of two. Once you stop nursing, give it to your baby in their water/juice.

I do love fish and can not give it up. Soooo I will be doing more homework on the fish we purchase/consume. Check our part of the article from Dr. Mercola for more information:

"Farmed Fish Also Pose Additional Human Health Hazards

In addition to being an unsustainable practice and an economic disaster, farm raised fish can also spell disaster for your health.

It's important to understand that ALL farm-raised fish – not just salmon -- are fed a concoction of vitamins, antibiotics, and depending on the fish, synthetic pigments, to make up for the lack of natural flesh coloration due to the altered diet. Without it, the flesh of caged salmon, for example, would be an unappetizing, pale gray.

The fish are also fed pesticides, along with compounds such as toxic copper sulfate, which is frequently used to keep nets free of algae.

Not only do you ingest these drugs and chemicals when you eat the fish, but these toxins also build up in sea-floor sediments. In this way, industrial fish farming raises many of the same environmental concerns about chemicals and pollutants that are associated with feedlot cattle and factory chicken farms.

In addition, fish waste and uneaten feed further litter the sea floor beneath these farms, generating bacteria that consume oxygen vital to shellfish and other bottom-dwelling sea creatures.

Studies have also consistently found levels of PCBs, dioxins, toxaphene and dieldrin, as well as mercury, to be higher in farm-raised fish than wild fish.

This fact alone would be cause to reconsider consuming farmed fish!

Wild caught fish have already reached such toxic levels, it's impossible to recommend eating them with a clear conscience anymore. For example, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study, mercury contamination was detected in EVERY fish sampled in nearly 300 streams across the United States!

More than a quarter of these fish contained mercury at levels exceeding the EPA criterion for the protection of human health. Another study on fish from US lakes and reservoirs found that more than half contained excessive levels of mercury -- so much so they were deemed unsafe for children and pregnant women to eat.

So, when you consider the fact that factory farmed fish typically are even MORE toxic than wild caught fish and also contain an assortment of antibiotics and pesticides, avoiding them becomes a no-brainer – at least if you're concerned about your health."

Meal Idea: Mexican Casserole

My friends and I have passed a few versions of a Mexican casserole back and forth and this one I came up with as I was experimenting with some left overs. The left overs were actually from the stuffed cabbage recipe below. This recipe is great if you have left over ground beef or rice.

1 lb. of ground beef (grass-fed beef would be the best)
1 serving of basmatti rice (cooked with chicken stock)
4 brown rice tortillas from Food For Life. (These are in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods with other tortillas. I do not like them uncooked. They are amazing when baked in casseroles, like this one. This is a healthy substitute for flour tortillas.)
handful of chopped spinach
1 jar of salsa
1 can of beans, black or pinto
shredded cheese

If meat is not cooked, cook and add salsa, spinach, and beans. In a bowl, add cooked rice and mix well. Layer a 9x13 pan starting with tortillas, meat/rice mixture, and then cheese. Repeat layers one more time. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Enjoy! :)

No Winter Groceries??

AMAZING....one last thing about my new favorite blog. The author of the blog cans, dehydrates, etc. so she can be fully stocked with seasonal food all winter. Its a no spending plan for her family but also an amazingly healthy and proactive plan. Check out this post:

http://www.nourishingdays.com/2010/12/no-groceries-til-february/

Wouldn't it be sooo cool if she taught classes on how to do this? Not sure I could give up the grocery store for the winter but how nice to be stocked with healthy, locals foods at your finger tips! :)

Food For Thought

http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/12/why-our-family-eats-animal-
products-part-one/

If you are like me, you may enjoy learning about food and healthy/green living. However, if you are like me, you may get confused from time to time on what's the right thing to do... I hope my 11 followers (HA! Didn't think anyone read this...but thanks for checking in! The blog is my tool for documenting my personal studies on nutrition, green living, and family tribulations) know that I am student...and that is it! I am not an expert!!!!!!!!! I truly have a passion for learning and hope that I still feel like a student when I am 90 years old! I want to maintain my curiosity. Again, my blog helps me document and record my own personal studies and finds. I also feel like it is a tool that allows me to connect with smart moms that are interested in the same things I am. Bottom line, I am an eternal student trying to learn about what is right for my family. Ok...point made.

Kelly, my mentor, sent me this blog the other day and I think it is wonderful. This woman is an expert who has done her homework...plus some. I will be spending a lot of time on her blog trying her recipes and learning more about soaking oats/nuts/seeds, making fermented veggies, etc. She shares a lot of the same views as my health mentors.

Our group of friends have recently converted to raw/whole milk, grass fed meat/eggs, eating butter, etc. Many people have asked me why? Why do you drink whole milk and eat butter? Why do you eat meat? This woman explains it all so well. Click on the link above to get a better understanding of why we/I do the things we do.

A Fun Challenge

Once a month, think about a vegetable that you do not eat and research a recipe that has the foreign vegetable in it, and give it a whirl. This month, I challenged myself with finding a cabbage recipe. I made the winter stew delight (with cabbage) from Emily and loved it, so I decided to go one step further and try stuffed cabbage. Maria's Busia has hooked us up with so many recipes! Thank you, Busia! :) Here is the delicious recipe:

PS) Next month, I am going to do something with leeks. I need to talk to my girlfriend Jodi...I think she has a potato/leek soup recipe. Stay tuned! :) (Aren't you on the edge of your seat?? HA)

Ingredients: 1 medium cabbage, 1 lb. ground beef/sirloin, 1 cup of cooked rice, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, dash of pepper, 1 sweet onion, 1 can of tomato soup, 1/2 can water, 2 TBSP butter, 1 egg

1. Cook your rice.

2. Bring a large, wide saucepan of water to a boil. Add cabbage leaves (after carefully tearing them off as whole leaves from cabbage) to water and cook 2-4 minutes until softened. Drain and cut the middle core so they are easier to roll.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine raw meat, rice, chopped onion, egg, salt and pepper, and 2 TBSP of tomato soup. Mix.

4. Divide the meat into balls and roll the cabbage. Place, seams down, in a large skillet over medium heat with 1/2 can of water. Mix the can of tomato soup with the melted butter and pour over the tops of the cabbage rolls. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir and baste the cabbage rolls with the liquid often.

Additions: You can also add other veggies to your meat mixture: chopped up peppers, kale, spinach, etc.

Healthy Substitutions

http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/common-ingredient-substitutions/Detail.aspx

I really like this article/chart on the above link. There are certain ingredients I try to avoid when cooking/baking and this chart will give you some good examples of alternatives. It would also be helpful if you or one of your family members suffers from a food allergy. For example:

1 cup of shortening = 1 cup of butter (use organic raw or cultured butter)
1 cup of corn syrup = 1 cup of honey (use raw, local honey)
1 cup of beer = 1 cup of chicken stock (use homemade chicken stock)
1 cup of mayo = 1 cup of plain yogurt

Meal Idea: Quinoa Salad

Moms always share dinner ideas, but we hardly ever talk about breakfast or lunch ideas. This salad is super easy and very healthy. I like to serve it with Mary's Gone Crackers, shown above. As I have mentioned before, I am trying really hard to limit gluten and make our snacks/meals more diverse. These wanna be crackers are so healthy. They are made up of brown rice, quinoa, flax seed, sesame seeds, etc. No oil, no gluten, all natural, healthy ingredients. When I first started giving them to the kids, they did not like them at all. After seeing me eat them, they decided to give them a try. Dipped in hummus or quinoa salad, they closely resemble a cracker. Warning: These do not taste like a Ritz cracker! They do taste different. My goal is to help my body learn to crave new/healthy foods. It requires work/effort/time/money to make your health a priority. We all like to complain (including me!) about how hard it is to make positive changes in our diet/life, but in the end, it is worth it.

Quinoa Salad:

I eyeball the ingredients.
Add more or less of the items you like.

-cooked quinoa
-leftover cubed chicken or salmon
-grape seed oil mayo
-chopped up celery or onion
-shredded cheese
-garlic powder
-celtic sea salt

Mix all ingredients and serve as a sandwich, in a tortilla or with crackers.

Shopping Tip of the Week:
Consider Grape Seed Oil

Grape seed oil is a great alternative to vegetable oil. It can withstand high heat and be used for baking, salad dressings, and pan-frying. I use it for anything that calls for vegetable oil. Making brownies, cup cakes, etc. You can't tell the difference at all. Its one more small baby step to better health.

Question?

How do you organize your recipes? Do you have a good system you could share? Please share in the comments section. Thanks!

Funny Pictures from our weekend!
We like to try to get around to see all of the local Santas and these were some of the pictures. The "professional" photographer took these outstanding pictures. Ha ha ha! In the first one, you will notice one of my kids is missing...you can just see his hat. Good memory for him! :)

I especially like this one, Jake is in it but now Kevin is cut off. Ohh and Josh and I are especially photogenic in this picture. :) We will be visiting Three Cedars soon for a second try.

And the last funny photo is one of my daughter Lana, who thinks her baby is Spider man. I hope this isn't going to cause long term issues for her... :)

Finally....A Mud Room!

The dust and chaos is finally settling. Our mud room is completed ...Hallelujah! We built our house five years ago and my husband would comment daily that he wished we had a mud room. So we finally decided to take the plunge and move forward with our dream mud room. We kept it simple and cheap but put a lot of thought into designing it. It is now my favorite room in the house. :) I can't believe how much a few extra square feet has organized our life. Now we need to retrain the kids to go in their and use their designated locker. Hopefully it will meet our expectations.

The last picture is this little photo strip I bought at Michaels for $4.99. I just love their cute pre-school pictures but never know where to put them. I thought this frame was a nice place to put their pictures.

Tortellini Soup

THANK YOU AMY! This recipe comes from my dear friend, Amy. We make this dish 2-3 times a month. The boys request this dish weekly. It is sooo good and easy to prepare. Enjoy!

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. butter

3-4 cloves garlic
1 can stewed tomatoes or chopped up fresh tomatoes

1 handful of baby spinach, chopped up

2 cans 14 oz. chicken broth or 1 box (or homemade chicken stock)

9 oz. cheese or pesto tortellini

1 tsp. basil

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Saute butter and/or olive oil & garlic in the bottom of the pot. Add 2 cans (or 1 box) of chicken broth and a can of stewed tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Add tortellinis and cook 10 minutes. Then add basil, chopped baby spinach and Parmesan cheese. Cook 10 more minutes and top with more cheese to serve.

Picky Eaters!

Getting your kids to eat certain foods can be such a chore. I have had people comment that they are surprised about the weird foods my kids eat but I take that as a compliment! My thoughts on this topic, from my own personal research/experience, is that kids are not genetically picky! It is a process. It should be a well thought out process.

One phrase that I try really hard to ban from our vocabulary is "He won't eat that" or "He won't like that." I don't want to put those thoughts in their head, before they even try a new food. Don't get me wrong, my kids have actually used the word "disgusting" when describing a meal that I've prepared. I tell ya...they are true food critics! :) We then have a discussion on how it is not polite to say things like that when someone works hard to make you a meal. I have also had kids turn away a meal twenty times before they finally get brave enough to try it. I really try to be consistent and reintroduce foods over and over until they decide it is worthy of trying. Kids need to feel a comfort level with food. It has to be familiar.

It is very stressful when a toddler turns away a meal. Some parents resort to making two meals every night. I am not a fan of making two meals. My husband and I have held our ground on this and it has not been easy. Especially, because one of my twins is very small for his age. If they don't want what I serve, they do not get dessert. I also explain to them that in order to grow and be big and strong like "spider man" they need to eat a healthy meal. Right now, they are obviously more focused on dessert! :) Dessert is usually a healthy treat like apples and peanut butter, organic ice cream with nuts and fruit, etc. Then, we usually do a healthy snack (leftover dinner, fruit, nuts, cheese, yogurt, etc.) before bed time, just to ensure everyone has a full belly before bed.

Meal time so often becomes a tug of war. I think the important thing is to keep meal time calm and enjoyable. We have to remember that there are nights we don't clean our plate or feel like eating all of our vegetables. Kids are entitled to the same rights. I never get upset or angry if they don't eat every carrot stick or their entire salad. I just compliment them on being brave and trying a new food. I just explain to them that they need to try every item on their plate, if they want dessert. They know the rules and I let them make the decision on how they want to proceed. Sometimes they are not happy with the consequences and that's fine with me.

If you have any other tips for meal time success, please share.