Natural Mama: Natural Living on a Budget

Cloth Diapers: Another Option

2008-07-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

A mom in a mom's group that I am a part of recently mentioned that she had bought Kushies brand cloth diapers for her kids. And she bought them from Wal-Mart!?? So I checked it out and sure enough there are now cloth diapers available at a really good price on www.walmart.com My first instinct was to try them out, but then I wasn't so sure....see, I don't generally shop at Wal-Mart...it's kind of a personal preference (see "Story of Stuff"), but a deal that good on 100% cotton AIO (all-in-one) cloth diapers and extra liners/doublers was too good to pass up (It ends up being about $8.50/diaper for my ds size-which is 1/2 the price of the previous cloth diapers I purchased). So I bought some, I chose the site-to-store option for free shipping (of course) and so it'll be a week or two before I can try em out. But I'll let ya know what I think...

I also bought the flushable biodegradable liners for when we are on the go, or for times when I know he's going to poop, or to have people who occasionally watch my son (who aren't so comfortable with cleaning cloth diapers). Those are a much much much cheaper option than using disposables, you get like 200 liners for around $12. Here's what's available on the website: http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=Kushies&search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&ref=+125863.302439

I'll let you know what I think :)

My Favorite New Snack

2008-06-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

It's hard when you're on the go alot to find foods to feed your children that don't have lots of added sugars, artificial ingredients, added colors, etc. I think it's crazy how many of the kids "puffy" snacks out there have little, if any, nutritional value...plus all the artifical stuff, you're not even really eating sweet potatoes anymore!!

My mom actually introduced me to this product last year, but at the time my son wasn't eating much solids and so it never crossed my mind that this would be a great snack.

A few weeks ago I came across them again and my son loves them!! Just Tomatoes are dried fruits and vegetables and they even have organic! They have nothing added to them, no sugars, nothing artificial, just the good old dried fruit! http://www.justtomatoes.com/ I myself find them very tasty and my son loves the peas, but we haven't had a chance to try them all. I've tried the peaches, which were still a bit chewy for ds, and the cherries, which are absolutely delicious, but might have to wait a little longer until ds has more teeth. The mixed veggies and fruits are something I am looking forward to trying.

I also think it would be great if I could get a dehydrator and make em myself, but right now we don't have the time or space to do that and these Just Tomatoes treats are so darn tasty :) I've seen them available online and in some natural food store and even some grocery stores...you can check their store locator for one near you. Hope you enjoy them too!

Stuff

2008-06-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

This week my Holistic Mom's Network meeting theme was "Avoiding Consumerism" with a guest speaker/professor talking about Voluntary Simplicity. It was a very interesting talking with some great stats, but a lot of learning came after the talk when we were able to ask the professor how he chooses to live simply and other group members shared their ideas.

Some of my favorite ideas were shutting off the tv...not only shutting it off, unplugging it, and putting it in the closet...only to be brought out for the occasional movie. You know, that actually sounds really good to me! I find that I mostly watch tv when I feel tired and I don't want to deal with what's around me...so I turn it on, tune out, and find myself watching stuff I am not really interested in, especially the violence...what's up with the violence anyways??? Do we really need to see all the violence, does it really make people feel better after a long day of work, does it really instill a sense of optimism in our world? I personally don't think so....so I am thinking maybe I will put that tv away sometime, try it out...I rarely watch it anymore anyways, I don't think I'll miss it. Besides with all those darn commercials every few minutes I am constantly having to look at "stuff"....

So I've got a son who's still young and I know as he grows older he'll see and learn about the consumer driven nation that we live in....he still young and I feel like I still have time to set boundries. Another great idea brought up at the meeting was presents, many of the mom's there said they'd put on recent children's birthday invitation that they'd prefer their guest's "presence" instead of "presents". Time spent with family is really important to me and on my son's birthday, that's what I really wanted and he really enjoyed was seeing everyone.

Also brought up were "experiences" as a gift versus the typical wrapped present. Like maybe you could plan a special trip to the zoo, or a nice park, go on a vacation, or go camping, or something fun like that...something that involves interaction and creates memories, instead of just taking up space. Someone also mentioned that a couple who recently got married requested that instead of gifts for their wedding that they donate money to some special charities. And for those guests who really wanted to "give a gift" they could put money towards their honeymoon registry...which including buying a special bottle of wine for the couple when they came to their room, or a special meal, or tickets to an event on their honeymoon. Isn't that a fun idea??

One of our group leaders posted the link to this website, which I'd heard of but never actually saw, it's The Story of Stuff http://storyofstuff.com/ One of the most alarming things the speaker had to say was that "99% of what we buy is trashed within 6 months..." I highly recommend checking the video out :)

I am working on stuff, I am, it's a hard battle for me and I am trying to change my ways. I feel this conflict because I want to get rid of things that I don't really want to have more space and not so much stuff...but then I immediately feel bad for throwing something away or even just getting rid of something that I could have potentially used.

I think a major thing for me is to try and not go shopping as much. I find that if I buy online or thru the co-op it gives me more time to think of what I really want, to not just impulse buy, and I can usually find better quality natural products anyways. If I want less stuff, I have to be the one to decide what comes in my house, be it gifts, junk mail, shopping, etc. I have to be the one to stand up and say "No more stuff!!!"

Wholesale and Co-ops

2008-06-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered buying wholesale through a co-op provided by my local Holistic Mom's Network group...and I love it!!! I used to spend a lot of time searching for good natural products that I knew had to exist, and usually if I did end up finding them I thought they cost too much...so I would wait and continue to buy conventional products that really didn't suit my needs. But not anymore!

The co-op we are currently part of sells not only baking and cooking basics (flours, sugars, seasonings, etc.) but also natural and organic beauty products, home care, cleaning, animal care, and treats! Yea!!! And the prices are almost all at least 30% to 50% off retail price. For example, organic shampoo that would normally retail in a store for $8.99 a bottle is $5.39 instead. They also have monthly specials, so the pasta seasoning mix packet that's usually $1.39 in the stores is on sale for $.88! I love getting a good deal and I love getting a good deal on natural and organic products even more :)

If you are interested in joining a group (there is sometimes a small fee-around here it's usually less than $10 to join) my advice would be word of mouth. Ask around, check with people you know are interested in natural products, or do a search for local co-ops online. You can check out http://www.localharvest.org/ for some places to start.

Around where we live there are also farm co-ops that you can join and have a two week or month supply of produce or even meat that you might have to go pick up yourself, but for many people gives them an oppurtunity to experience a farm. It's not always cheaper to go this route, but I think there is something really nice about knowing exactly where your food comes from.

I Will Return...

2008-06-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long delay in posts, it's been a crazy month full of traveling, birthdays, sickness, and an absolutely full schedule, but I keep finding myself thinking of what I would be writing on this blog if I only had the time....I wanted to let you know that I'll be back to writing soon!

Sign Language for Babies

2008-04-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

We started doing some signs with my son when he was about 6 or 7 months old. It took a few months, but then he started to respond and I have to tell you that's it's been great! It's so nice to know what he wants when he doesn't have the words to say it yet. His two most commonly used signs are "drink" and "all done", which is extremely helpful! I really think that being able to communicate through signs has helped him to not only have his needs met easier (less tantrums), but in early language development. Everytime we say the sign, we say the word as well, and he now also will try and say the words along with us.

We have some books on the subject of baby sign language, but it's sometimes hard to judge what exactly you are supposed to do in the picture, so having someone show you is extremely helpful! I saw the link to this website in a forum I was looking at today and I thought it was so great that I had to pass it on! http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi This link is for the baby sign language, but you can click on the main dictionary to learn more about other words.

If you aren't already doing sign language with your children, I highly recommend trying it out!

Natural Health Remedies for Kids

2008-04-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

Saw this story in my Parent's Magazine last month and just had to pass it on! I love natural health remedies and I believe as long as you know it's safe (check with the Dr. if you are not sure) then why not try that first??

I love Parent's magazine stories and I recommend the magazine as a nice gift idea for new parents. Here's the link for the full story and all the details:
http://www.parents.com/baby/health/sick-baby/natural-health-remedies-for-children/?page=1

Here's a quick overview of the ideas:
1. Honey and Lemon Juice for a sore throat-Remember not to give honey to kids under 1!
2. Chamomile Tea for Colic
3. Baking Soda for Bug Bites
4. Cayenne Pepper for Nosebleeds
5. Duct Tape for Warts
6. A Bubble Wand for Anxiety
7. A Bandana for Headaches
8. A sock for neck or tummy pains-I gotta tell ya that when I was pregnant I had some really bag backaches. So I took my warmed rice filled heatwrap and stuck into a long tube sock and tied two of em together and tied em around my waist (or what I had of a waist then) and I could wear it around the house-worked like a charm! (Just be sure to not overheat the rice!!)
9. Your blow-dryer for Swimmer's Ear
10. Contact-lens solution for Congestion
11. Fresh Ginger tea for Car Sickness-I would recommend adding the honey!
12. Cucumber for Mild Swelling
13. A Credit Card for a Bee Sting
14. A Stick of Gum for Indigestion

Let me know if you have any ideas of natural remedies for adults and kids. Have a beautiful day!

Healthier Snacks!

2008-04-21T18:10:00.001-07:00

I like to snack...for those of you who know me well, that will come as no surprise. I enjoy eating and I like to do it often, but even though I sneak in chocolate, etc. here and there, I try to make healthier choices. I came across this list today of healthy food choices and thought I would pass it onto everyone.

The forum that I read it on was from the Holistic Mom's Network (HMN) http://www.holisticmoms.org/ which is a group that I recently joined in my area, but they have groups all over the USA. It's a great resource for moms, dads, grandparents, and caregivers to learn about more natural alternatives for parenting. It's been a great resource so far and I am looking forward to all I can learn from them!

Some good snack ideas:
1. I've read this before, but the forum today mentioned using a muffin tin as a snack tray (you can use a larger muffin tin for bigger kids or a smaller one for younger kids or if you want more variety). In the morning you can put in liners and fill the tray with a variety of different healthy items that kids can serve to themselves! Yea!
2. Individual Trail Mixes: Buy foods in bulk, like cashews, almonds, pecans, peanuts, soy nuts, dried cranberries, apple chips, pumpkin seeds, pretzels, cereal, etc., Have each child decides what she wants in her own container, write name on it, and take it along in the car for trips or other outings.
3. A Big Old List of Healthier Snack options (From HMN Forum):
*Baby Carrots
*Red seedless
*GrapesPineapple
*Korean Pear cut-up
*unsalted pretzels
*crackers
*cheese
*nut butter
*nuts
*seeds
*dried fruit
*raisins
*cherry tomatoes
*dates
*rice cakes
*olives
*unsweetened carob chips
*orange sections
*berries
*snap peas
*frozen veggies (yep, still frozen!)
*popcorn
*figs
*organic cereals
*hummus
*Homemade granola
*puffed rice/millet (or kamut/wheat)
*Blueberries
*Beans
*baby spinach leaves
*apple pieces
*grapefruit
*Edamame (cooked & shelled)
*Nori (strips to chew on)
*Sweet Potato (cut into chunks, toss in oil, roast)
*hard boiled eggs
*piecesfrozen blueberries
*cooked pasta
*cucumber slices
*pita wedges
*fruity booty, veggie bootie, pirate's booty
*toast
*tortillas
*healthy mini muffins
*stuffed grape leaves
*cheerios
*banana pieces rolled in oatmeal
*cooked beans
*toasted English muffins
*avocado chunks
*steamed broccoli
*cooked yucca chunks
*nut butter balls (rolled with pretty much whatever your child likes)
*black bean patties (homemade)
*cantaloupe
*Honeydew
*Mango
*Fruit leathers
*dried cranberries
*little beef jerky bits (depending on # of teeth and age of child, of course)
*cut up cherries
*Pear slices dipped in fruity yogurt
*prunes (not too many)
*sliced Nectarine
*sliced plum
*croutons (homemade)
*diced lunchmeat
*leftover pizza
*cut up fruit and grain bars
*Annie’s bunny grahams
*Barbara’s Bakery cheese bites
*Annie's Whole Wheat Bunnies
*Whole Grain pancake strips
*Whole Grain waffle strips
*canned, rinsed mandarin oranges
*diced watermelon
*Clementine slices
*pieces of a Larabar
*homemade baba ganoush
*chicken taquitos
*bagel pieces

So the next time you're looking for some snacks, I hope you can find some ideas here!

What does "Raw Food" mean anyway?

2008-04-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

It is my opinion that the concept of raw foods is largely misunderstood by the general population. My recent readings have started to open my eyes to this concept and it's not at all what I expected.

Wikipedia's defination is "raw foodism is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. Depending on the type of lifestyle and results desired, raw food diets may include a selectıon of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (including sprouted whole grains), eggs, fish, meat, and unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk, cheese and yogurt)."

Now, you are not going to catch me eating raw eggs, fish, meat, or dairy products anytime soon...just not my cup of tea. But the first few foods on the list: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Those are foods I think we should be eating anyways and lots more of it. The thing I like about raw foods cookbooks is the way they make food taste good by using sweeteners found in nature (honey, dates, agave) and avoiding sugars, flours, etc. What's so bad about that?? And most of the cookbooks that I've read so far don't even include recipes for the raw eggs, meats, etc. They are mostly fruit and vegetable based recipes and they are simple, and I like simple!

A recipes that I've seen over and over again is for "Banana Ice Cream" and all it includes is bananas broken into chunks, frozen, and then blended. It makes a nice little smoothie type dessert and you can add flavors, like vanilla, berry, or peaches. Or what about salads, or guacamole, or dried fruits? All can easily be made "raw" and you've probably had it that way numerous times. So maybe "raw" is not so weird, in fact maybe I'll incorporate a little more "raw" in my diet.

Wikipedia says that it is believed that "raw foods contain enzymes which aid digestion, meaning that the body's own enzymes may work unimpeded in regulating the body's metabolic processes, and heating food above 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit degrades or destroys these enzymes in food." So basically when we eat foods like fruits and vegetables that are uncooked we are getting the best we can from many of those foods. I thinks it's good and simple to be able to eat things the way they come from nature.

I think what it all comes down to is that we should listen to our mothers..."eat your fruits and vegetables".

Green Spring Cleaning: Natural Alternatives

2008-04-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

We've had some pretty beautiful days in the last few weeks and lots of rainy days as well, but everything is starting to turn green around here and I'm pretty darn excited!! It's spring!! So if you're ready to start your spring cleaning, here are some great ideas for going green!

I recently read that most of today's commercial cleaning products are simply chemical versions of what older generations used to clean, for example, lemon juice. But when someone figured out they could make a cheap synthetic version, bottle it up, and sell it for more, chemical cleaners took off...so why not take a step back and use the real, natural and homemade versions. They work great too and they are better not only for your health, home, but the environment too.

Need more convincing?? This link tells which chemicals you should try to avoid in common household cleaners and the reasons why. Green Cleaning: Common Household Hazards

Make It Yourself: Supplies
1. Spray Bottles or Glass Jars
2. Cotton rags and cloths (microfiber also works nice for dusting)
3. Distilled White Vinegar
4. Baking Soda
5. Lemon Juice
6. Liquid Soap (for some mixtures)
7. Essential Oils (optional)

Vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and water can make most of the cleaning products you'll need, in fact you probably already have them in your house! Now I was planning to list all of the different cleaners you could make yourself, but these websites that I'll provide next, have already done it!! So here they are:

1. This link has a ton of great Green Cleaning Ideas to make yourself. Clean and Green: Making Your Own

2. Here's a great link for natural cleaning products with ideas on products to buy or ones to make homemade. Eurphoric Organics Green Cleaning Solutions

3. And this is a pdf format buyers guide to some of the "greener" household cleaning products. The Green Guide Smart Shopper's Guide

Books to Read:
1. Better Basics For the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond One of my absolute favorite books that I have read on creating your own non-toxic products. I love all of her simple (usually less than 4 ingredients) recipes for everything from cleaning products and hair care products to moisturizers, deoderants, and art supplies. I love the way she lays out the book, it makes it easy to find what you are looking for. She also gives recommendations for how to keep and how long to keep any product that you make. An absolute read for anyone interested in making your own products.

2. Home Safe Home by Debra Lynn Dadd A really nice book that goes through each area of your house and helps you identify potential toxins and gives safe solutions to each. Talks about foods, pesticides, fabrics, cleaning products, beauty products, and medications, along with many other topics. I like all the information in the book, but it's not as easy to read as the previous book.

Happy Spring Cleaning!

My Current Way of Grocery Shopping

2008-04-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

So I promised that I would update about how I am eating more natural and organic foods now, but actually spending less on my groceries. It's all about choices and going for the fruit and vegetables.

My favorite quote from Marion Nestle's book, What To Eat, is "the basic principles of good diets are so simple that I can summarize them in just ten words: eat less, move more, eat lots of fruits and vegetables". And so I took that same philosophy and applied it to my life and my way of shopping for groceries....I have decided to try and eat less in general and of the things that I know are not good for me, exercise more (which includes moving through the aisle of junk food faster-or completely passing them by) and eating lots more fruits and vegetables.

So here's what I do:
1. I try to spend 50-75% of the grocery money on fruits and vegetables alone. If they are in my house I tend to eat more (and if there not there, there's no way I'll go out of my way to get em).
2. I use the list that includes the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables, so I can spend the extra money on the organics that are more important and buy conventional fruit/veggies for those further down the list.
3. I have also stopped buying premade and prepackaged food almost completely (even if they are natural/organic-it's much cheaper and usually still healthier to make them myself).
4. I spend some of the remainder of the money on organic chicken and eggs. I do have a freezer full of natural beef, so that does help.
5. I try to get more iron and protein from natural sources, such as spinach for the iron and beans for the protein (which happen to be cheaper than meat anyway!).
6. I have stopped using coupons, except for the occasional items. They tend to make coupons for overpriced items that I don't really need and that have a lot of packaging! Besides store brands are usually cheaper even without a coupon.
7. I write a list of general things I need, watch for good sales on items I use regularly and try to avoid the aisle that are full of foods my body doesn't need.

At home, when I feel a want a snack I try to eat a fruit or vegetable first...that doesn't always fill me up, but then I don't eat quite as much of something that isn't as healthy. And eating the fruit and veggies first insures that I'll reach or get closer to the recommended daily value. Feel free to share you ideas for lowering your grocery bills while eating healthy.

Hope you are all having a beautiful spring day :)

Labels: Eggs and Meat

2008-04-01T19:57:00.001-07:00

If you choose to eat them, meats and eggs can be a costly part of your budget, especially if you want to go more natural or organic. I've been confused by all the different information out there about meats and eggs and all the labels (all natural, antiobiotic-free, etc.).

The ideal, for me, is straight from the farm....lol, and for a lot of people I know that's not an option. But I happen to live in an area and have family in areas that do have access to farms. I currently get our beef from a small farm that raises just a few cows and is not going to be using any growth hormones on the beef. This summer I hope to get access to farm fresh chicken and eggs. Even if you don't live in an area that you would think would have access to natural meats and eggs, you might consider looking into it. Here’s a link to get you started http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?id=Home Farmer's Markets are also a great place to get information about who might sell natural meats and eggs.

Now, just because something is grown on a farm and say, you've met the chickens :) doesn't always mean that something is "organic". How those farmers choose to raise the chickens and cows can make a big difference: what they are fed, what shots they are given, etc.

Here's what I've learned about what is important when it comes to going natural with meats and eggs. I'm no expert, so all my information is correct to the best of my knowledge and I hope it helps you with your food choices.

“Here’s what the government allows in feed or to be used in production of the following (conventionally grown) animals:
Dairy cows—antibiotics, pig and chicken byproducts, hormones (for growth), pesticides, sewage sludge
Beef cows—antibiotics, pig and chicken byproducts, steroids, hormones, pesticides, sewage sludge
Pigs—antibiotics, animal byproducts, hormones, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs Broiler chickens--antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs. Growth hormones are prohibited.
Egg laying hens--antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, sewage sludge, arsenic-based drugs” Source: http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=meat&pcat=food

So those items are what is allowed in conventionally produced meat and eggs. Those types of things are what made me start to look for natural and organic alternatives!!

“So what can you count on when you buy organic? No animals, except dairy cows prior to being moved to organic farms, can be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed made from animal byproducts, which can transmit mad cow disease. No genetic modification or irradiation is permitted, nor is fertilizer made with sewage sludge or synthetic ingredients, all of which are allowed in most conventional food production.” Source: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/diet-nutrition/organic-products/organic-products-206/overview/index.htm

Here's what I think is interesting when it comes to meat and eggs and their labels:

Cows, Beef, and Pigs—In her book, What To Eat, Marion Nestle says "beef producers use hormones to promote more rapid growth in cattle and sheep" and while it hasn't been definitely been proven as a safety concern, the European Union has banned the use of beef treated with hormones. (I tend to think that the European Union is stricter on what they will allow in their food and cosmetics and I think it's a good thing!)
-"Grass-fed, organically raised cattle are leaner and healthier overall...and their meat can have about five times the amount of brain-building omega-3 fatty acids as regular beef. Though the cost of organic meat can be double that of regular...treating it like a side dish and eating smaller servings to keep the meal cost the same. If you'd rather spend your money elsewhere, simply buy lean cuts of beef and stick to four servings or less a week." Source: http://www.ewg.org/node/26097

Chickens-- "No added hormones" labels are not important for chicken, they never have hormones added.
-“Human antibiotics are fed to chickens to speed growth. But bacteria in the birds’ intestines can develop resistance to them. People who eat chicken harboring those bacteria can fall ill if they don’t handle and cook meat properly, and they may not be cured by the drugs typically used to get rid of their illness”. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/food-safety/animal-feed-and-food/animal-feed-and-the-food-supply-105/chicken-arsenic-and-antibiotics/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=arsenic%20and%20antibiotics

Egg laying hens--"All-natural" doesn't really seem to mean much and does not seem to be regulated strictly on how it can be used.
-"Egg-laying hens aren't given growth hormones (like chickens raised for food)...nor are the eggs likely to be exposed to antibiotics. The birds stop laying if they are sick." Source: http://www.ewg.org/node/26097%22%3ehttp:/www.ewg.org/node/26097
(So when you see that certain brand of chicken in the grocery store that is labeled "All-Natural", "Antiobiotic-Free", and "Hormone-Free" you can choose to either buy the conventional chicken that is half that cost or go for organic chicken, which is definately more expense, but I have decided to go organic and simply eat chicken and other meat a little less. I've also decided to buy organic eggs and use them more sparingly-there is actually a lot of calories and cholesterol in eggs and I think I would be okay with a few less.)

Eggs-The term free-range as stated by the FDA, is that hens have access to the outdoors, even if they don’t actually go outside. Cage-free means they are not stacked in cages but allowed to roam in the barn, which can be important thing if you are interested in how the animals were treated. Check out this link for these and other labels for eggs: http://www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=aneggs&pcat=food

So I personally have decided to make the switch to natural meat and organic eggs and chicken. I feel that it is the best option for me and my family. But how will I fit it in our budget? Well, that answer is coming in my next post. Hope this information was helpful and I'll update it as I learn more.

Other interesting articles:
1. “You Are What They Eat”
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/food-safety/animal-feed-and-food/animal-feed-and-the-food-supply-105/overview/index.htm

2. “Label Report Card for Meat” (Which labels really mean something!)
http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/reportProductArea.cfm?productArea=Meat&mode=view

Getting Creative with Kids

2008-03-28T13:01:00.000-07:00

Whether you are just getting tired of a long winter or just looking for some new ideas for having fun with the kids, I thought this article had some great ideas. It's called "100 Ways to Keep Little Kids Happy" http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/parents/story/data/1205253638265.xml&psrc=fpparentsmag031208p3

I can remember my family building forts in the living room, using the couch cushions, blankets, and chairs. Those were great times and we had a lot of fun!! I also remember on Sunday evenings when I was really little we'd turn on the music and all of us would dance to John Denver in the living room. These memories and other's like it, are some of my favorite memories of childhood...and they didn't cost a thing. I sometimes walk into a store, see the huge areas devoted to toys and wonder if my son needs more...but I don't think he really needs the toys as much as he needs me and my hubby and some great interaction, playtime and some fun ideas to get his creative side going....someone is up from naptime, gotta go, it's time to play :)

All we need is given to us, we just need to find it...

2008-03-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

I was reading an online article today and someone had made this comment below: All we need is given to us, we just need to find it. And I stopped and read it over and although it's a very simple statement, it really says alot.

I believe that we, as humans, have always been able to nourish our bodies with food from the land, be it fruits, vegetables, or animal sources. In the last century though, the types of foods that we put into our bodies has changed. As we changed our ways of living, our food changed too, and so did our health concerns. I am currently reading What To Eat by Marion Nestle, which is a book that I highly recommend. Nestle teaches nutrition at New York University and she basically goes through all of the foods that are available to us in modern society and tells you more information about each (such as the true differences between butter and margarine or the big difference between natural and organic). She really gives you all the information you need to know about what food is good and what's not so good. It's a little slow reading, mostly because there is so much information, but it's definately been an eye-opener!

I'm about half way through the book and it kind of makes me want to move to the country, live on a farm, and grow my own fruit and veggies...and maybe raise some chickens and cows :) I find myself at this moment, trying to simplify my life...I am trying to simplify my stuff, my activities, and my food. I keep getting pulled back to the basics and what really makes me feel the best that I can.

I know not everyone has had to deal with stomach issues in their life, but maybe you can still relate on some level. The way you feel after you ate a greasy meal....queasy, sluggish, and feeling like maybe it was not really worth it... Last fall a friend made me some butternut squash soup and I loved it...so I decided to make my own after my MIL told me that she had a crop of them. It was a simple recipe, the only time consuming part was cutting the squash, it had a few ingredients, herbs, broth, and squash...but the best part of the whole meal was how I felt afterwards, I felt great....and that really hadn't happened all that often with food and me.

I grew up with a love/hate relationship with food-loved the way it tasted, hated the way it made me feel. But as I ate that soup I realized I could have both, have food that I loved the taste and the way I felt after eating it. Since then I've been on a search for more foods and recipes that make me feel that way. I find myself being drawn more and more to simple food, whole foods, and raw foods. I find myself feeling better, having more energy, and just feeling better about my life when I eat foods that my body needs (and not just thinks it wants).

All we need is given to us, we just need to find it...I believe we may have already had it all and many of us just let it go, without really knowing it....but I know what I need now and so I will find it and I hope you will join me.

Recipes: Guacamole and Hummus

2008-03-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

I tried out the tumeric as an egg dye this past weekend and it worked great!! The eggs were a really nice yellow color. The only problem we encountered was pouring the leftover liquid down the drain, my parents have a white sink and it was temporarily stained yellow :) But don't worry, it came out! I also made the Apple Tart Recipe for my family and it went over great :)

I am on the search for recipes that are simple, require few ingredients, use natural and raw ingredients, and little prep time...I believe as our family grows (and I have less time) that will become even more important, so I am starting now!! I like to make appetizers and snacks to bring to different parties and get-togethers, but sometimes it's hard to find healthy choice. My favorite ones are items that can be made easily, but are still healthy and fresh.

I fell in love with Guacamole at my BIL and SIL wedding down in New Mexico. I had never thought of myself as a big fan of avocadoes, but they had this amazing guacamole at their recepetion and I was hooked! I bought it in the containers for awhile and used those little prepacked mixes, but one holiday my Aunt was making it and she showed me how easy it was to make (plus it tasted way better than the others!).

You can easily make as little or as much as you want. I'll start with using 1 avocado and you can easily just use more for a larger quantity. By the way, I try and pick fresh avocadoes that are somewhat darker skinned (unless you plan to wait to use them for awhile then choose greener). They should be relatively firm, but have a little give (if they are too hard, they might never ripen up). But they shouldn't be too squishy, else they are probably bruised and black on the inside.

Natural Mama's Guacamole:
1. Avocadoes
2. Salsa
3. Lime (or lime juice from bottle)

Just cut the avocado in half, peel the outside off, and take out the seed. Mash up the avocado with a fork (or you can also puree it in a food processor or blender). Then add a little salsa to taste (start with a little less than 1 tablespoon). Then add some lime juice also to taste (or about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon). See, that was easy!! Hope you enjoy it :)

My Favorite Hummus Recipes:

Low Fat Hummus Spread http://www.recipezaar.com/152291 I would recommend using a little less garlic than it calls for and I subsituted olive oil. This is a really easy and cheap option for hummus that I've made in my blender several times now.

But if you want a really genuine Hummus, imo, try adding tahini, you can find it in the natural food sections usually, but it does add to the total cost. Here's a favorite recipe using that: http://www.recipezaar.com/11424

Now, what to eat the dips with?? Well if you are searching for healthy chips make sure to read the label and opt for ones with no hydrogenated oils. I thought it would be nice and cheaper to make my own chips from corn or flour tortillas...but have you ever looked on those labels? I've had an extremely hard time finding tortillas that aren't made with partially hydrogenated oils/ lard. So I decided I will make my own, it actually looks pretty easy and will be a great deal cheaper.

Recipe for corn tortillas, haven't tried it yet, but it looks easy!http://www.recipezaar.com/50820 And then to turn them into tortilla chips, follow this recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/4378

Hope you enjoy!

Natural Products: Natural Mama Favorites

2008-03-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I started to look for natural cosmetics and personal care products...and I didn't find much and what I did was expensive!! I also really didn't know what to look for, but the more research I do, the more confident I become in finding products that are safe and good for my family and me (and are becoming more affordable).

The place to start is http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ They have a huge database with tons of different cosmetic companies and their products (if you don't see you product on there, you can search by ingredients). It'll tell you what's in your products you are currently using and then you can search by, for example "lotion" and it will come up with all the lotions in the database, from the least harmful to the ones loaded with chemicals. The lower the score, the better.

These are some of my current favorite cosmetics and personal care product lines:

Aubrey Organics is a company that I've heard a lot of good things about. They have been around for a long time and I believe were one of the first cosmetic companies to go organic. Here's their website http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ We use their baby shampoo and body wash for our son. It ranks a 2 on the cosmetic database scale, which is a good rating and means it is considered a very low hazard.

I am also planning to try out Aubrey Organics makeup when it becomes available again (they are currently repackaging their products and their website says it will be out sometime in 2008).

Another great company is Earth Mama, Angel Baby and we've been using their lotions with my son. I love their labels because I can actually tell you what everything is on it! Like calendula, aloe, vanilla, etc. Simple and really nice, but definately a little bit pricier, so I only use it on his face. Check out http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/ That lotion actually ranks 0 (zero) on the cosmetic database scale, which is the best you can get! It says it's good for eczema, skin allergies and diaper rash.

A company that does a pretty good job with most of their products, is easy to find, and a little cheaper is Burt's Bees. There products aren't perfect, but the ones I do use are phalate free and no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, which is always good to avoid: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?brand_id=141&&showmore=products&atatime=500 I've been using their shampoo and conditioner, but I also plan to try out Aubrey Organics as well.

I use The Body Shop's aloe facial care line, well mostly the Aloe Moisturizing Day Cream. It was rated a 1 on the cosmetic database. I like it because it's made for sensitive skin and I've never had a reaction to it.

I've learned to be really cautious when it comes to labeling on cosmetics and personal care products. Here is some info from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Website:

*Consumers use as many as 25 different cosmetics products in a day and up to 70% of what is applied to the skin is believed to be absorbed into the body.

*Almost 90% of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have never been evaluated for safety.

*Major loopholes in federal law allow the $60 billion cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of chemicals into personal care products with no required testing and no monitoring of health effects. http://www.safecosmetics.org/

You can't just necessarily trust a bottle that has "Natural" or "Organic" written on it, because there isn't much regulation on the use of those terms when it comes to cosmetics and personal care products. You really have to watch the labels and check for more information. I recently read that the term "fragrance" is especially tricky, because they can include a variety of chemicals under that one term. So I try and opt for fragrance-free when possible.

I will continue to update on cosmetics and personal care products as I find them. Have a great night :)

Holidays: Natural Easter Egg Dyes

2008-03-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

This year I am going to try dying my Easter eggs with nature's dyes! I think it'll be an interesting experiment. While I am pretty sure that the colors will not be as vivid as with commercial dyes, I am excited to see how they turn out!

Here's some ideas from http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm
To get Natural Easter Egg Colors:
Pale Red: Fresh beets or cranberries, frozen raspberries
Orange: Yellow onion skins
Light yellow: Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin
Yellow: Ground turmeric (this is what I am going to try)
Pale green: Spinach leaves (Parsley is also another option)
Green-gold: Yellow Delicious apple peels
Blue: Canned blueberries or red cabbage leaves (Blackberries might work too)
Beige to brown: Strong brewed coffee (or tea)

To dye the perfect Easter eggs the natural way, here's what to do:
1. Put eggs in a single layer in a pan. Pour water in pan until the eggs are covered.
2. Add about a teaspoon of vinegar.
3. Add the natural dye appropriate to the color you want your eggs to be. (The more eggs you are dying at a time, the more dye you will need to use.)
4. Bring water to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the substance you used to color the eggs. Put eggs in a bowl.If you want your eggs to be a darker shade, cover them with the dye and let them stand overnight in the refrigerator.

Another neat sounding idea: "Onion Skin Eggs...Gather lots of onion skins; the dry outer layers. (try to get a good variety of colors--I like plain brown best; red onion also makes a good color) Gently wrap them around*raw* eggs and hold them in place with rubber bands. Hard boil the eggs like usual. Unwrap them and WOW! Beautiful colors and designs! You may polish with vegetable oil for a nice gloss. This is a natural dye and the eggs are still quite edible. Happy eggs-ploration!" http://www.stretcher.com/stories/00/000410h.cfm

If you try any of the ideas, let me know how they turn out!

Toy Trades and More...

2008-03-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

It's been a particularly long winter around here and I know we are all looking forward to spring! I can't wait to walk with dh and ds in the stroller to our summer farmer's market. I feel like the end of winter is close....and it's a good feeling!

A friend also has a son the same age as my son and we decided that our little boys were just getting darn tired of their same toys (and frankly, we were too!). So we decided on a little temporary toy exchange in which we'd trade a few toys (not their absolute favorites) for a few weeks. It's a great way to try out some different toys, save money on new toys, and when the toy is returned it's suddenly fun all over again!

I heard about a lady who started a company that rents out toys, supposedly it's doing excellent! I am not surprised actually, it's very tempting to spend a lot of money on kids toys and for some people, renting them might be cheaper. But I prefer to share with friends, go to garage sales, inherit toys from family, and buy second hand. But before I give my son any toy I always check out the CPSC website (US Consumer Product Safety Commission). These are the folks who send out those recalls and you can get on their email list so that you can be notified of recalls immediately. Go to: https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx They also can notify you of things more than just toys, such as clothes, household items, sporting equipment, baby items, etc.-I think it's worth being informed.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend!

Apple Pie for Breakfast

2008-03-07T07:33:00.001-08:00

Okay, so maybe it wasn't exactly apple pie, but that Bakeless Apple Tart from Wednesday's post sure tastes great!! I was really pleasantly surprised and since it doesn't have any sugar and just lots of great fruit, nuts, and seasonings, I figured, hey good breakfast :) You should definately try it out!!

My Quest for Healthy Desserts!

2008-03-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

I have a weakness for desserts...well, maybe I shouldn't look at it like a weakness. Maybe I'll call it a good appetite for sweet things :) I know that I shouldn't eat the sugar and chocolate that I do, but what to do? What are the alternatives? I have been working on coming up with desserts that are still healthy and it will be a work in progress, but I found this recipe for a Bakeless Apple Tart recently and it sounds great, and the best part is it's dairy free, sugar free, wheat free, vegan, etc., but it does have nuts in it. I'm going to try it out soon and I'll let you know what I think! Here's the link:
http://www.naturalhealthmag.com/apple_tart/healing_foods/healthy_recipes/140

My favorite healthier cookies are:

Healthy Honey Oatmeal Cookies (As modified by Natural Mama)
Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoons applesauce (or other fruit sauce)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup whole wheat flour (all-purpouse is good too) (I am looking into using oat flours, etc.)
1/4 rounded teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups rolled oats (aka oatmeal) (I use slightly more)
1/4 cup Ground Flaxseed
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raisins
And I usually chop up about 1/8 cup or less chocolate chips, cuz I really like chocolate!!

Other Optional ingredients:
chopped dates, figs, currants, chocolate chips, or chopped chopped nuts , etc.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Using a mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter, brown sugar, honey, egg and water thoroughly.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients then stir in the oats. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix. Add any additional ingredients you've chosen.
4. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the cookie sheet (I like to flatten them down a bit into a little disc shape, they seem to cook better). Bake 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on pan for a minute or two and transfer to a wire rack.

Here's the link to the recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/147497 It was originally from http://www.foodnetwork.com/

These are not super sweet cookies, but they are tasty enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. And they taste really good dipped in milk (that's soymilk for me :).

Let me know if you have great recipes that you'd like to share. Hope you enjoy!

These Ain't Your Mama's Cloth Diapers...

2008-03-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

When I told people that I was going to start using cloth diapers with my son, many of them were surprised. Why would I want to go back to the hassle of cloth diapers, pins, plastic covers?? Cloth diapers have come a long way and these sure aren't my mama's cloth diapers!! They are very similiar in design to disposable diapers and ease of use. There are lots of different varities and costs involved with cloth diapers, but I recommend that them to anyone who has kids or will be having them. Here's a link to explain the different varieties: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/DiaperDefinitions.php

I am currently using pocket diapers, called Fuzzi Bunz, with my son:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=70 Benefits for these are they dry quicker and are slimmer. I am also planning to buy the Bumkins, which are cotton and are in the all-in-one (AIO) category. These can take longer to dry, but are easier to use and I like the thought of him wearing a natural fiber: cotton.

They do seem like a huge cost initially and that is what originally kept me from buying them, but after seeing how many disposable diapers my son goes through in even a week's period, I've changed my mind!!! Still not convinced?? "Your baby will go through about 8 -12 diapers a day ~ or about 9000 diaper changes by the time he/she is potty trained. At $0.24 a diaper, that adds up to about $2,160! Disposable wipes will cost at least another $600-800. In contrast, purchasing your own cloth diapers and cloth wipes to wash them at home will cost somewhere between $250 and $750. Considering your laundering costs (about $.50 a load or $120 over the course of 30 months) you will still save about $2,000 - $2,500 over an average 2.5 year period! And if you reuse your diapers over multiple babies, you can multiply this savings!" Info from: http://www.babycottonbottoms.com/cloth_vs_disposable.htm

Since I have switched to using cloth diaper and cloth wipes, my son has not had any problems with diaper rash! (Using disposable diapers, we had an almost weekly occurance of diaper rash...which led to use of rash ointment...which of course costs more money and I don't even like to use chemicals on my son!). I highly recommend the cloth wipes and a little spray bottle of water to clean baby bottoms, it does a better job, imo (in my opinion) and they are so much cheaper in the long run! Even if you don't go with cloth diapers, at least think about cloth wipes.

Another popular, but somewhat pricey in my opinion, is gdiapers, which have a flushable liner that you just put right in the toilet and you reuse the cover until dirty http://www.gdiapers.com/.

How about washing them? After they are dirty I have a bucket that I keep the wet diapers in, with no water or anything to soak. The dirty diapers you just hold over the toilet and the waste generally just falls into the toilet and you flush, then put those diapers in the pail. When you are ready to wash, simply do an initial load in cold water, with an extra cold rinse and a tiny amount of soap. Don't use fabric softener with cloth diapers because it can mess with the absorbancy. Then I start a load with soap, vinegar in the fabric softener compartment (or one of those fabric softener balls if you have one), and hot water wash with an extra cold rinse. (The vinegar helps balance the ph level). Here's a link for more details and ideas: http://nickisdiapers.com/pages/WashingInstructions.php

I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy cloth diapers are to use and wash. And I love it every time that I don't throw another disposable diaper into the trash. I know my mama was impressed by the new cloth diapers and I highly recommend that you look into cloth diapers for your little ones. Feel free to email me or comment with any questions or your own recommendations.

Making Your Own: Dry/Wet Mops

2008-02-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

I know that a lot of people to really love to use the newest convience items out on the market. So I did a little research and there are lots of great ideas for cheaper and reusable alternatives. I'll start with one today and as I find more good ideas, I'll add to this list!

Here's some alternatives for dry mops (Swiffers):

*Cotton cloth diapers-they sell this in the baby section of most stores for a reasonable price. One person recommended putting them in a ziploc bag with a tiny bit of water and let them soak it up. They are just slightly moist and are supposedly a good fit for the swiffers if you already have one.

*Pantyhose wrapped around a broom is supposed also work well at picking up dust, etc. and you can wash and reuse those as well.

*Other not as friendly, but cheap, alternatives were: facial tissues with lotion and dryer sheets.

Sources: http://www.stretcher.com/

Convenience or the Environment?

2008-02-29T08:15:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I don't always think about the impact of the choices I make on the environment. But after having my son and seeing the amount of trash (think diapers) one little boy can create I am trying to be more conscientious about the environment.

I was listening to NPR (National Public Radio) this weekend and they were talking about carbon footprints. Wikipedia's definition of carbon footprints is a "measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide'. It is meant to be useful for individuals and organizations to conceptualize their personal (or organizational) impact in contributing to global warming." The example on NPR (I hope I have the details right) that the speaker had was flowers from Holland. They did a study on floral shops in Europe (I believe it was England) and then got flowers from both Holland and an African country. Although Holland was much closer and it would seem that there would be less of a carbon footprint, this was not the case. It turns out that because of the seasons most of Holland's flowers have to be grown in greenhouses and because of the cost of upkeep of those and other factors it's actually worse on the environment, even though the African flowers have to travel further.

It just made me think. I have slowly been switching Jacob over to cloth diapers and while I feel that there is less of a carbon footprint by doing this, I still have to remember that the cloth diapers must be manufactured, packaged, shipped, and will require the use of natural resources in order to keep them clean. But with the knowledge that cloth diapers can and will be used again for subsequent children, I still feel this is the right choice.

I just read recently that disposable diapers were never meant to end up in landfills with human waste in them. Our landfills were not designed to handle human waste-I think the original plan was that the dirty diapers would be emptied into the toilet, but obviously almost no one does. So, "3.5 million tons of diapers, or 18 to 23 billion, are sent to landfills each year" http://www.ewg.org/node/21581. Holy Cow!! And I am still learning more about the chemicals used to make disposables that are making the move to cloth diapers even more appealing.

So, when I started writing this post I was planning to give some ideas on altenatives to those convenience products that we all love to use. But somehow I got distracted, ah, the human mind :) So I'll be posting again shortly! Have a great Friday!

Oatmeal and My Favorite Granola Recipe

2008-02-27T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have pretty much made the switch from boxed cereals to oatmeal for breakfast and I love it!! I use the quick oats on the mornings that I don't have much time and it only takes a couple of minutes to warm up (and the price is definately right!). Oatmeal is low in fat and a pretty good source of fiber, plus it's a good way to get a whole grain without always having wheat. But what to do if you really like those cereals and oatmeal is just to boring? Try some toppings!

Top 10 Healthy Oatmeal Toppings:
1. Raisins and brown sugar
2. Low-fat granola and skim milk
3. Raspberry nonfat yogurt and dried cranberries
4. Sliced strawberries and plain nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon
5. Canned crushed pineapple, sliced bananas, and chopped nuts
6. Strawberry nonfat yogurt and sliced kiwi
7. Sliced bananas and vanilla nonfat yogurt sprinkled with cinnamon
8. Chopped dates, raisins, and walnuts
9. Diced dried apricots and honey
10. Coarsely chopped canned peaches and ground ginger
Source: http://www.tasteforlife.com/content/default.asp?artid=627

And I mentioned Granola the other day as a nice snack and cereal choice. It's a little high in sugar and is does include oil, but I have been modifying the recipe and using less and less of those negative ingredients and still been really happy with the outcome. Here's the link: http://www.recipezaar.com/23108

Vanilla Scented Granola

Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
4 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup sliced almonds (I also use chopped pecans and walnuts as well-sometimes add extra)
1/2 cup golden brown sugar , packed (I used 1/4 cup and could probably do less)
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used 1/8 tsp salt)
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I added a little extra)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I use organic canola oil and I think I could get by with a little less than this)
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons sugar (used 1 rounded tablespoon instead)
4 teaspoons vanilla extract
(I also added 1/3 cup ground flaxseed in with the oatmeal)

Directions:
1. Position rack to middle of oven and preheat to 300*.
2. Lightly spray large baking sheet with nonstick spray.
3. Mix next 5 ingredients in large bowl.
4. Combine oil, honey and sugar in small saucepan; bring to simmer over medium heat.
5. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla.
6. Pour hot liquid over oat mixture; stir well.
7. Using hands, toss mixture until thoroughly mixed.
8. Spread granola on prepared baking sheet.
9. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionaly, about 30 minutes (but check after 20).
10. Transfer sheet to rack; cool granola completely-(granola will crisp up as it cools).
11(Can be made two weeks ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.) Makes about 8 cups.

This last batch turned out great, but I think I can still cut the sugar, oil, and honey and add more nuts, flax, and oatmeal and have a delicious tasting granola! I'll let you know how the next batch goes...I hope you enjoy it!!

Stuff...

2008-02-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

"The state of my house, is the state of my mind"...that's what I've been telling people for years now. And it's true, when my house is messy, my life seems to be a little out of control too! After my son was born, things really got crazy...papers piled up, things didn't have a home, and all that baby gear and toys began to take over. Personally, when my home is really messy I find it hard to concentrate and I feel somewhat defeated as I don't know where to even start...so I don't :)

My New Year's resolution, the first I've ever made I believe (and actually kept) was to get my house in order, regain control! I read "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh, a simple to read book that gives some great ideas on gaining "control" of the stuff in your life. He started his book with a little quiz on whether or not you keep too much stuff....and I thought, "hey, I'll do pretty good, I'm not so bad at that"...wrong...hmmm.

I tend to keep stuff for three main reasons:
1. Sentimental-they bring back memories.
2. They might be worth money-so it would be a waste to get rid of it.
3. I might need/want them someday.

Peter Walsh wrote that if things are too important to let go-if you truly value an item you need to show it honor and respect, otherwise it's really not that important to you. He also said we have to live in the present and make room for today, we can't keep stuff for somedays (plus it robs us of space and the things that are really important to us). Made sense to me :)

So, with the recommendations of Peter Walsh in mind, I started to purge. But being the natural thrifty mama that I am, I divided my stuff into categories...recycle, donate, sell (via garage sale or consignment), pass onto family/friends, and trash. And I went to work, one room to the next. And it felt good to let go of things, it really did!

*Papers-a big problem for me...but I decided that most of the info. was now available online so I didn't need it on my desk. My husband and I went thru all of our files and everything that wasn't current or important for taxes (keep back 7 years worth) we shredded or recycled.

*Books-I love to read and I love the feeling of having a big library in my house-you know some place for the kids to curl up and read someday. Well I decided to keep the most important books and let the library keep the rest of them for me! Plus using the library is a great way to save money anyway!

*Clothes-I've heard this before, but Walsh reminded me of the 80/20 rule-we wear 80% of our clothes 20% of the time...so true! I kept the clothes I wear the most, plus a few favorite outfits to show my kids someday and the rest we divided into sell, trash(we cut those up to use as cleaning rags), and donate. By the way, consignment is a great way to go for never worn or gently used items!! I've made enough money on selling my old/never worn clothes at consignment to buy new clothes each year (clothes are such a cheap thing, let em go!) And if you are keeping clothes around for when you'll fit into em "someday", just get rid of em, if you do get to the size you want you'll want to go shopping for some new ones anyway! Might as well make some money on em now!

I've still got some work to do on one closet and the garage, but what a difference! It felt so good to be able to find what I really wanted and needed. And as an added bonus, it became easier to clean each week when I didn't have all that stuff to move around or put away!

I think we live in a society deeply in love with our "stuff"....I really want to work this year on letting go of stuff and holding onto what I have right in front of me and what really matters: my hubby, son, family, and friends....now go start cleaning :)

Mama News-2/21/08

2008-02-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

I am always coming across little pieces of information that I want to remember or be able to refer back to but I can never seem to remember where I read them or what exactly they said, so I am going to start a little "Mama News" section.

1. Parents Magazine-March 2008 Edition

"Sweet Remedy-Honey may ease your child's nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough medicine, according to a study in the Archives of Perdiatrics and Adolescent Medicine. One crucial caution: Never give honey to babies under 1, since it can cause potentially fatal botulism in infants." I always love finding natural remedies!!

"Q. Would you recommend buying all organic fruits and vegetables? A. It may be even more important to buy American-grown produce....Imported produce is the worst offender and the most dangerous; it can contain particularly toxic chemicals that we no longer allow in the country, like DDT...."

2. New Beginnings-January-February 2008-La Leche League Magazine

From article "Healthy Home-Baked Treats"-"In many recipes...I find I can often reduce the amount of sugar by up to half without noticeable effect." "In many muffin recipes, up to half the fat can be replaced by apple (sauce)...." "Oat flour and potato starch can be substituted for wheat flour (note that this only makes it wheat free, not gluten free)."

There is also a book review on "Natural Baby and Childcare" by Lauren Feder, MD-looks interesting and has a section on the concept of holistic health and natural remedies.

3. Baby Talk Magazine-March 2008

"Clear the Air-...A study by NASA...found that the houseplants listed below literally reduce air pollution. How? All plants recycle oxygen, but these particular varieties break down pollutants, too, removing from 10 to 90 percent of harmful formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene chemicals from the 100 square feet surrounding them in just 24 hours! This flora isn't baby-safe, though, so position these (and any other) plants well out of your little one's reach. Here are five good choices for better breathing in your house; for more easy ideas on improving your home's air quality, go to www.epa.gov/iaq/homes.
*bamboo plant (Chamaedorea seifritizii)
*chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
*english ivy (Hedera helix)
*gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
*janet craig (Dracaena deremensis)"

Making Your Own: Some of My Favorites

2008-02-21T12:23:00.001-08:00

After my hubby and I were married I remember cooking two meals over and over again: chicken and spaghetti....and I thought I was doing pretty darn good with that. The rest of the meals were probably boxed/premade or we'd go eat out. Recently my husband mentioned that I had "become" a really good cook. So of course I asked him, "wasn't I always?" To which he replied "no, your food was really bad when we first got married"....he was honest and I had to laugh and agree. My spaghetti usually stuck together and my chicken was usually so overdone on the outside it was like jerky :)

The great thing about being human is that we are all always capable of learning....we can all change, grow, and become better at that which we lack great skill. And so I practiced, I read books, and I tried and tried again. I made mistakes (which my husband was kind enough to still eat) and I made wonderful things (that he requests frequently now). It always amazes me to hear people say that they "can't" do something, like cook, I believe it's a skill we learn...like riding a bike or tying our shoes.

I love being able to have meals done quickly, especially on days when I don't have the time to be able to prepare something. Making meals ahead has become an enjoyable and valuable activity for me. I choose one day every week or two that my dh is available to watch my son and I do some prep work and cooking. My best advice for quick and healthy cooking is planning ahead. Here's what I recommend (much of the info. is from Dining on a Dime by Tawra Kellam and Jill Cooper):

1. To make things easier for the nights you want to prepare something quickly, items can be chopped and frozen in bags (I'm still debating the use of the little plastic bags as natural, but as far as space in a small freezer goes, they are great). Items that you can chop, freeze, and use in cooked dishes are: onions, green onions, green peppers, and herbs-I've chopped and frozen chives, parsley, dill, cilantro, and rosemary.
2. If you like to make items like muffins, pancakes, etc. but you tend to use the premade mixes, just make your own! They are much cheaper and you can avoid a lot of the negative ingredients. Just mix all the dry ingredients together and store (you can even mix the wet ingredients together and leave in the fridge overnight, so you can combine them easily in the morning).
3. Granola! I never realized until recently how amazingly easy this is to make! And I would sometimes pay $4 or more a box for this stuff! A huge container of oatmeal is very inexpensive and you can easily customize it to include your favorites! Check out http://www.recipezaar.com/ for recipe ideas (hint-try adding half the sugar it calls for or putting more honey in instead-it still turns out yummy!).
4. Pizza dough is super easy to make and delicious, plus you can customize your own pizza for a fraction on the price of delivery. My favorite quick recipe is http://www.recipezaar.com/13546 (Hint-make sure to check the temperature of your water so that it's not too hot or cold for the yeast to dissolve properly, it makes a difference in the rising of the crust.) I love to add cornmeal to the pan before I roll out the dough to give it a nice flavor on the bottom. I also mix pizza/italian seasonings into the crust as I am making it-gives a super great taste! (Hint-Pizza crust can be made ahead and frozen, then thawed or precooked-I like to use a pie pan because the crusts then fit easily in a gallon plastic bag-then you can either freeze them that way or put the toppings on, freeze for one hour on a pan and then packaged until ready to eat). I am hoping to find some new recipes that have alternatives to flour-such as gluten-free oat flour, etc. to avoid so much gluten and get more variety of whole grains.
5. Crock Pot-remember that thing in the back of your cupboard? You can put in veggies and meat in the morning and come home to a homecooked meal in the afternoon. No time in the morning? Try prepping the veggies and meat the night before.
6. Once a month cooking (OAMC) recipes-This is also a great way to look for recipes, especially casseroles, that can be made ahead and frozen. Check out http://www.recipezaar.com/recipes/oamc-freezer-make-ahead

Hope that these ideas and recipes help and I will add to the list as I come across good ideas! Happy Cooking :)

Thinking Outside the Box...cont'd.

2008-02-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

After I made my earlier post today I was talking with a friend of mine. I told her how I was finding so many articles about ways to live more natural and things to be wary of, etc. And I was starting to feel overwhelmed and somewhat defeated, but she reminded me, "You can drive yourself crazy trying to be a purist" :) And she's right, so I have decided that I'll start a little smaller with 3 goals to work on to change to a more natural life and here they are:

1. FOOD
2. BEAUTY PRODUCTS
3. STUFF

These are three important things that I feel will affect my life the most and that I want to focus on changing.

Food-Try and buy more natural and organic fruits, veggies, and meats especially.
Beauty Products-Try to find beauty products that are free from harmful chemicals or even to the point that they are food-safe (contain products that are actually regulated by the FDA) or to try and make my own whenever possible.
Stuff-To decide what is important in my life to keep and to sell or donate the rest. Then I want to change the kind of consumer I am and try and limit my buying to essentials...the more stuff I have in my house, the more potential for waste and chaos. Plus, the less I buy unnecessary items, the more room I have in my budget for natural foods and products.

Thinking outside the box...

2008-02-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a family that did usually cook homemade meals, but as I got older and started to make food on my own, I tended to opt for convenience food...they're convenient, right? But are alot of the foods really that convenient? Are they really worth the extra money and packaging? It wasn't until I started to read the labels on them that I truly decided "no"....It seems to me that a lot of convenience foods have tons of preservatives, hydrogenated oils, and other chemicals and fats that have no place in food.

The use of chemicals in the food we eat and the products we use, scares me....I honestly don't think our bodies were made for it...and in convience food societies it seems like disease and obesity have gotten out of control (what do we do to counter those problems? we take medicines that were made in chemical labs)....I am no expert by any means, but it just seems there are too many things going wrong to not question it!

As I started to write this post today I was planning to write about convenience foods and ways to make your own instead of buying them. And while I'll still probably pass that info. along, I have to admit I was distracted by this article...http://www.ewg.org/node/22655

Here's an excerpt:
"But Barry doesn't think about the food he consumes. He eats while he drives, while he works, while he talks on the phone, while he watches TV. He senses no connection between the food he puts in his body and the way he feels. Feeling tired, suffering from acid reflux and daily headaches, which he blames on his stressful job, Barry went for a checkup recently. The physical didn't go too well. The doctor told him his lifestyle puts him at risk for heart disease and type-2 diabetes. In other words, his diet is killing him. The doctor advised him to lay off the caffeine, soda pop, processed foods and red meat.
Barry listened politely and asked for medication to cure his ailments. The physician raised an eyebrow and wrote Barry three prescriptions as he warned him to take better care of himself. Since then Barry has ignored the advice. It's his life, his body, and he'll live anyway he darn well pleases. Barry is proud of his defiance. Nobody is going to tell him what to do."

I love to eat and this is a huge struggle for me to really eat right, there are way too many excuses that I come up with...but I am trying and we all have to start somewhere.

And then the author talks about convenience foods....
"It's convenient, to be sure. No slaving over a hot stove, no table to clear or dishes to wash, and fewer groceries to buy. But that perceived simplicity comes at a price. In our quest to make our lives easier, we have actually speeded up, becoming more harried. How many people can say that their lives are more content and fulfilled than their parents? We have fooled ourselves into believing that we are in charge of our lives, when in reality, we have simply opened up more time to work and less time to be with our families. Natural goodness and common sense have been sacrificed in the false name of convenience. Just two generations ago, nearly all meals were eaten together at home around the family table. The food was carefully prepared and leisurely conversation took place. Moments and ideas were shared. No more. These days, one meal a week with the whole family is a rarity -- and that's probably at a restaurant. As our pleasant childhood experiences of home-cooked meals are replaced with nutrient-poor fast food and snacks, our natural relationship with wholesome food is displaced by mass-produced substitutes."

I know what I need to do and I know I need to change my diet, but change is hard...and sometimes I just don't know where to start...and sometimes prepackaged food is just too tempting to pass up. But we are talking about our lives here...and change must happen. So although I'll be the first to admit it won't be easy, a change is a coming...I hope that you can come along with me for the journey and maybe we can both learn to think outside the box.

Keeping it clean...

2008-02-16T21:57:00.000-08:00

I am very sensitive....always have been. I have a sensitive personality, stomach, skin, and I am sensitive to my environment. I never liked cleaning with traditional cleaners, they tended to give me a headache and I always sort of felt like I was breathing in something that I wasn't supposed to. So this year I finally decided to try out the good old natural cleaners that most of us probably already have in our house: baking soda and vinegar! (as with all products please test in a small area before using everywhere)

I've been using baking soda to clean the kitchen sink and the tub. Just sprinkle a little around and mix in some water and scrub clean (you might have to be careful on certain finishes, since baking soda is considered abrasive). I've been using white vinegar in a little spray bottle to also clean the kitchen sink, countertops, and the bathroom sink (once everything dries the vinegar smell goes away, but I've read that some people like to add a drop or two of essential oils).

Another new favorite is homemade furniture polish, which I personally think does a better job than any spray I've ever used. I tested this one out in very tiny areas until I was sure it was okay with all my wood furniture. You have to spread it around and rub it in a little more, but it gives a great shine and seems to remain dust-free for longer.

To make homemade furniture polish, add two parts lemon juice to one part olive oil (for example 2 tablespoon lemon juice to 1 tablespoon olive oil) and mix it up. You can put it in a spray bottle or I just used a baby food jar and shook it up and put some on a dust rag. You do have to refrigerate it and it probably won't last longer than a month, but it's so easy to make you can do it in small quantities.

So, go ahead, try out that baking soda and vinegar and go polish some furniture, you've probably already got the supplies in your closet, and you might by pleasantly surprised, just like me :)

Let the Sales Lead the Way...

2008-02-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

In the past I had always decided what I wanted to eat or picked out a really neat recipe and then headed to the store to pickup all the ingredients. Not any more! After reading a variety of books on saving money, including Miserly Moms by Jonni McCoy, I've changed the order in which I do things.

I've found that the grocery stores in our area generally start their new sales on Wednesdays or Thursdays, so those are now my grocery shopping days. I check out the flyers first (not all of them offer many natural/organic foods in their flyer, but sometimes it's worth checking out) and plan where I am going to go. I go with a list of some of the basic necessities that we need and then let the sales dictate the rest. I pick the fruit and veggies that are in season and on sale and go through the store quickly checking for any other sales. Then, when I get home I decide our menu for the week. By simply changing the way I do things I've been able to save money off our bill each week and tried a lot of new great recipes along the way!

Now some people might say that they wouldn't know what to get if they didn't have a recipe to guide them. Go with what basic food you like and then head to the internet when you get home, there are some great recipe sites, my personal favorite is www.recipezaar.com You can search for recipes by food type, name, ingredients, etc. Then I personally like to sort them by "rating" and you get the top rated recipes and they are usually delicious!! This site also has a button that you can change servings and it will automatically change the measurements for you (great if you want to make extra to freeze or have leftovers for lunch). Another great feature is the substitution help...just click on any of the ingredients and it will tell you what you can substitute for it! Hope that helps :)

Know the prices...

2008-02-13T14:06:00.001-08:00

One of the best pieces of information I found while reading books on saving money was to figure out what the prices are for items you buy. Alot of people have a general idea of what things cost, but when it comes right down to it, it's hard to remember week to week what exactly is a good deal.

I first read about keeping track of prices in The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn. Her and her readers recommended keeping track of prices on items that you regularly purchase in a notebook. I can't tell you how much this has helped me. I'll go into a store, see something that looks like a good deal, but I'm not sure...so, I'll just check my handy dandy notebook and immediately I'll know if this is indeed a good purchase or I can find it cheaper at the regular grocery store. Doing this has helped me to cut my grocery bill a ton!

To start your own price book, find a notebook, planner, or whatever format works best for you and label each page alphabetically A-Z (make sure it's something small enough that you'll be able to take it along easily each time you shop). Then plan a special shopping trip where you can have a little more time to really check out the prices at the stores that you frequent.

Keep track of:
*The price
*The exact item
*The size (ounces, etc.)
*The location
*The date purchased (eventually you may see trends of when certain items go on sale)

Here's some examples:

Apples-
$1.19/lb Organic Golden Delicious-Sale Price-Grocery Store Name-2/13/08
$1.99/lb Organic Golden Delicious in Bags-Regular Price-Grocery Store Name-1/15/08

Soy Cheese-
$2.69-Veggie Shreds Bags-6 oz.-Regular Price-Grocery Store Name-1/27/08
$2.00-Veggie Shreds Bags-6 oz.-Sale Price-Different Grocery Store-2/10/08

By keeping track of each of the prices I know what the regular price is at the cheaper store, plus what's a good deal when there is a sale so I know to stock up. It's been extremely helpful to have everything written down and I highly recommend starting a price book for anyone who is trying to watch their budget!!

Natural on the outside...

2008-02-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

I know a lot of people who try and eat a pretty healthy diet, but never think twice about what they put on their skin. Our skin absorbs what we put on it and the scary part is that cosmetics companies are not held to the same standards as food products, even though both end up in our bodies.

According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "Neither cosmetic products nor cosmetic ingredients are reviewed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are sold to the public. FDA cannot require companies to do safety testing of their cosmetic products before marketing". Actually only about 11% of products have ever been tested!! Unfortunately with the variety of personal care products that we put on our bodies we are exposed to large amounts of chemicals everyday.

Finding safe cosmetics has been a huge passion for me for many years now and I continue to try and learn more about this topic all the time. Here's a list of 12 Major Toxins to Avoid (from Toxin-Free Basics website):

1: Propylene, Ethlylene and Butylene Glycol
Found in Anti-freeze. Acts as a “surfactant” (wetting agent and solvent). Penetrates the skin and weakens protein and cellular structure. Strong enough to remove barnacles from boats, factory workers are required by the FDA to wear protective clothing when producing products containing these chemicals and are required to dispose of PG as toxic waste.
Found in: baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotion, facial cleansing cloths, facial cleansers, body washes, shampoos, toothpastes, etc.

2: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Detergents pose serious health threats. Used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers and in 90% of all personal-care products that foam. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. SLS may damage the skin’s immune system.
Found in: baby body washes, baby shampoos, anti-bacterial hand washes, shaving cream, body lotions, shampoos, etc.

3: DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine) & TEA (triethanolamine)
Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois)
says that repeated applications of DEA-based detergents result in major increase in liver and kidney cancer. The FDA’s John Bailey says “the risk is significantly increased for children.”
Found in: body lotions, body washes, cleansers, shampoos, etc.

4: Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
Carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that reduces the skin’s natural moisture. Increases the appearance of aging and leaves you vulnerable to bacteria.
Found in: baby wipes, diaper creams, baby lotions, cleansers, body washes, deodorants, etc.

5: Sodium Hydroxide
This is a poison (caustic lye) found in drain cleaners. The warning label on sodium hydroxide products reads “POISON, May be fatal or cause permanent damage if swallowed. May cause blindness. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, mouth and clothing.”
Found in: toothpastes, baby lotions, hand and body lotion, etc.

6: Triclosan:
Synthetic “antibacterial” with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to human health and the environment. It is in a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Tufts University, School of Medicine says Triclosan can force the emergence of “super bugs” that it cannot kill.
Found in: anti-bacterial hand wash, antibacterial toys, etc.

7: DMDM and Urea (Imidazolidnyl)
Two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear
infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep.
Found In: body lotions, body washes, anti-bacterial hand washes, cleansers, shampoos, etc.

8: Parabens
Studies show that parabens - alkyl hydroxy parabens - alpha hydroxy benzoate (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butyl-parabens) are weakly estrogenic.
Found in: baby Wipes, baby body washes, anti-bacterial hand washes, facial wipes, body lotions, shampoos, etc.

9: Alcohol, Isoproplyl (SD-40)
Drying, irritating solvent that strips skin’s moisture and immune barrier, making you vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. Made from the same petroleum derivative used in shellac and antifreeze as well as personal care products. Promotes brown spots and premature aging.
Found in: lotions, creams, deodorants, etc.

10: Mineral Oil
Petroleum by-product that coats the skin similar to plastic wrap, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and
other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging.
Found in: lotions, Creams, etc.

11: FD&C Color Pigments
Synthetic colors from coal tar that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death.
Found in: shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorants, lotions, creams, etc.

12: Fragrances
Can contain up to four thousand ingredients (including animal urine), many toxic or carcinogenic. Causes headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions, skin discoloration, violent coughing, vomiting, and skin irritation. Fragrances affect the nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability
to cope and other behavioral changes.
Found in: shampoos, toothpastes, body washes, cleansers, baby products, wipes, hand washes, deodorants, lotions, creams, etc. From: http://www.tfbasics.com/the_big_12.pdf

I write these things not to scare people, but to provide awareness. We, as consumers, need to know what we are putting into and on our bodies. If the FDA is not going to make sure the chemicals are kept out of the products, then it falls to us to choose products that are safe.

Looking Out For the Little Ones

2008-02-11T14:08:00.001-08:00

I started this entry a few days ago and Deanna's comment prompted me to finish and get the info. out to everyone.

It is extremely important for me to use products on my son that I feel are safe. A report in the news last week of the use of phthalates in baby products just reaffirmed that we have to be careful what we put on our little ones. Basically it stated that what we put on our little ones ends up inside them and there our potentially negative long term effects. Here's the link for the report http://www.ewg.org/node/25964

For information on safe products for both children and adults go to http://www.safecosmetics.org/ or go straight to http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ to find out information on the personal care products you already use and to find safer alternatives.

I plan to post again soon with more information on this topic :)

Where to Start With Natural and Organic Food

2008-02-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

Before I get started with how to save money and live natural, I want to start with some info. about natural choices that are important to me. (And some of the things to avoid).

My mother has always told me to "do the best you can". So I uphold that same philosophy today when I try to give my family a healthy diet. I can't afford to buy everything organic, but I can do the best I can. Trying to give my family "whole foods" is something I am working on and I feel a good place to start is with fruits and veggies.

But which ones to choose? A ranking of fruits and vegetables was "developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG), based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. EWG's computer analysis found that consumers could cut their pesticide exposure by almost 90 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead." (info. from http://www.ewg.org/)

The Dirty Dozen (the ones to always try and buy organic) are:
1. Apples
2. Cherries
3. Grapes, imported (Chili)
4. Nectarines
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Raspberries
8. Strawberries
9. Bell peppers
10. Celery
11. Potatoes
12. Spinach

For the full list of 43 fruits and veggies go to: http://www.foodnews.org/

So I am going to try and buy those fruits and vegetables organically or through farmer's markets and when I can't find them fresh I'll look for organic frozens or other tasty fruit that is in season. I am looking forward to spring and the return of those farmer's markets!!!

The Beginning...

2008-02-07T18:25:00.000-08:00

My journey to living a more natural life started when I met my dh. I had spent my entire 21 years, until that point, with stomach aches, tums, and a bottle of pepto. It took my husband 2 dates and one look in my fridge to diagnose me with lactose intolerance. A doctor recommended that I take two weeks off dairy and see what happened...I never went back.

It was hard to give up dairy, I thoroughly loved cheese, milk, pizza, cottage cheese....but I loved feeling good even more. So thus began my quest to live a dairy free life. My journey for dairy alternatives took me into a realm of natural foods that I had never even heard of. Tofu? Soymilk? Organics?? And the more I read about natural foods, the more I started to incorporate them into my life.

Last year I gave birth to my son and my natural living took on a whole new meaning. My dh and I had always planned on me staying home with our children, so we started living on a budget even before ds came along. But as a I went through the pregnancy, childbirth, and first year with my son I began to realize just how important a natural way of life was to me. The only problem with living natural, though, was the money. Natural and organic foods and products can be really expensive. So I started to research ways to save money and I came across some great resources. The problem was they were about saving money, but not necessarily eating organically, etc. Sure, getting a great deal on cereal or crackers is nice, but not if their filled with hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup.

So I began to figure out ways to save money, but still live naturally and here I am.