Mother's Day Aftermath

Today is pretty dreary.  Today i'm feeling pretty down.  Yesterday was mother's day, and i was feeling ok about the day but in the back of my mind was all the pain i knew women in my life were feeling.  Women who have lost a pregnancy, a child, or the dream of having children.  The pain is deep, and the pain is mostly unrecognized. 

I read an article from Still Standing Magazine about healing mother's day.  It really touched me.  I made a comment about it to my family (I was out at my parents house yesterday)  about how mother's who have experienced a loss or have had problems just TTC in the first place feel very alone and alienated on mother's day. So my older brother makes a stupid comment (trying to be funny and be sarcastic) about you're only a worthwhile mother if you have kids (like, living kids). I told him if he had said that 4 years previous i would have punched him right there. His wife apologized for him but he never did. I don't think he realized how upset that comment made me.

It was a really stupid and hurtful thing to say to a woman who has a child in heaven.  Sure, i have a child here on earth, but part of our family is in heaven.  I am no less of a mother because of that.  But in our society there is just all this weirdness surrounding loss.  No one wants to talk about it, acknowledge it, and in that way, YOU are not acknowledged as a mother.  I hate it.

So today i'm just feeling very depressed.  I'm hurting and i'm not sure exactly why, just that I am.  Our daughter's birthday is coming up at the end of this month.  FOUR YEARS.  It's so hard to swallow for some reason.

so far this year i've been doing pretty well.  I haven't been feeling too funky or upset.  I guess i just saved up all those feelings for now and they all are fighting to be let out.

so not sure why i'm posting today.  I guess i just want to try sharing a little bit of how i'm feeling...
Read the article I posted.  Maybe you can help a mother in your life that is hurting more than you know.

Spring E-Book Sale on must have titles!

As a reader reminded me, i promised to do better on posting and would try to post once a month.  I guess that month is up! lol  I've been a bit busy.  At the beginning of the month i actually traveled across the country to visit a new friend and her new little one.  It was great to see her, and great to have a mini vacation (10 day!), but it is good to be home again.

I don't have much time to talk though because i'm getting ready to do a Green Family Expo tomorrow (My booth will be H2O at Home which i STILL need to talk about). 

BUT i did want to share a great deal that i found with all of you.  Right now there is a sale going on until TUESDAY the 23rd.  You can get 30 e-books for only $39!  And they all sound pretty awesome!  I just ordered mine and i just need to dowload them now.  You can read them on your computer and you can send them to your e-reader (like the Kindle) for reading on the go. 

So go to Village Green Network and order yours now!

Here are the titles and descriptions of the books included in this sale (which is 90% savings!)

Grain-free Breads, Snacks & Desserts
Jill Tieman of Real Food Forager

Learn how to bake with gluten-free, grain-free flours in place of wheat. Properly prepare nuts and seeds for easy digestion. Make yummy snacks and treats that actually provide nutrients and are a positive addition to the diet.

The Eczema Cure
Emily Bartlett of Holistic Squid

Learn how to heal eczema from the inside out with real food. How to "put out the fire" that causes your itchy, red, oozing rash -- and step-by-step guidelines for how to get started. Includes detoxifying recipes!

DIY Natural Household Cleaners
Matt & Betsy Jabs of DIY Natural

Learn how to make all your own homemade cleaning products using simple, natural ingredients. These green cleaning recipes take the guesswork out of using essential oils so you can finally utilize their beneficial cleaning properties. Over 60 natural cleaning recipes for every room in your home!

Get Your Fats Straight
Sarah Pope of The Healthy Home Economist

Sarah identifies how the low-fat movement got its start and the devastating effects it is having today. She beats back the arguments for eating low-fat and presents simple, practical advice on what you need to do to regain your health.

Nourished Baby (Completely Revised)
Heather Dessinger of Mommypotamus

Did you know that feeding our children "sacred foods" often prevents the need for braces and can heal cavities? This completely redesigned book features 15+ brand new baby/toddler-friendly recipes including healthy chicken nuggets and bunless sloppy joes!

Skintervention
Liz Wolfe of Cave Girl Eats

All you need to know about healing and beautifying skin, hair, nails, teeth, and everything in between. Whether you deal with acne, eczema, or weak hair or nails, or you simply want to know what to use and why, this guide can help you. It's about taking care of yourself from the outside-in AND the inside-out.

Real Food Nutrition FOR KIDS!
Kristen Michaelis of Food Renegade

Want to teach your kids about real food? Child-friendly lessons inspired by the work of Weston A. Price. A beautiful book full of fun illustrations, coloring pages and activities for younger children.

 

Awaken: 30+ Egg-Free and Grain-Free Breakfasts
Karen Sorenson of Living Low Carb One Day At a Time

Breakfast ideas for those with egg allergies -– perfect for low carb, Paleo, Primal, gluten-free, grain-free, egg-free or dairy-free diets. Takes the guess work out of stocking your grain-free pantry.

Eat For Heat
Matt Stone of 180 Degree Health

Are you tired all the time? Have cold hands and feet? Lost your sex drive? Eat for Heat teaches you how to feel better by reducing beverage consumption, and to overcome your phobias about salt and sugar.

Diet Recovery 2 (Completely Revised)
Matt Stone of 180 Degree Health

Can "eating healthy" make you sick? Diet Recovery 2 is the completely revised guide to breaking free from the empty hunt for the perfect diet and the counterproductive pursuit of losing weight. Learn how to ditch dieting, relax and "eat the food" -- and balance your metabolism and get healthy.

Real Food For Real Life
Emily Benfit of Butter Believer

If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the "food rules" out there, you'll love this brand new book about eating healthy, without letting food take over your life. Real food is supposed to be simple! Get back to the basics and check perfectionism at the door, while learning the hows and whys of feeding yourself and your family healthy, whole nutritious foods.

Indulge and Heal: 40 Treats Without Grains, Dairy, Nuts and Refined SugarLauren Geersten of Empowered Sustenance

Discover new grain-free recipes for the SCD, GAPS, and Paleo Diet! Resources and tools for natural healing -- and support and encouragement for a holistic lifestyle.

The Homemade Handbook
Lindsey Gremont of Homemade Mommy

If you want to be inspired to learn to cook real food and to have the courage to experiment in your kitchen with new flavors and techniques, this e-book is for you! Packed with real food cooking tips and techniques from roasting to fermenting + 60 real food food recipes to get you started and test your new skills
 

Fast Paleo Top 100 of 2012
James Gregory of Fast Paleo

The 100 absolute best Paleo and Primal recipes from Paleo bloggers and enthusiasts around the web in one great e-cookbook. Fast Paleo Top 100 of 2012 includes everything from breakfast to slow cooker meals to baked goods and desserts.

From Your Freezer To Your Family: Slow Cooker Freezer Recipes eCookbook
Stephanie Brandt Cornais of Mama & Baby Love

This e-cookbook is full of great recipes that go straight from the freezer to the crockpot. It's also a complete beginner’s guide to real food. All recipes are 95% grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free.

The Nourished Metabolism
Elizabeth Walling of The Nourished Life

Want healthy hormones? Learn why you should stop dieting TODAY, how to balance nutrients and energy for the optimal metabolism, a balanced eating plan that doesn’t restrict food groups, myths about sugar, salt and water -- and much more!


 

Real Food Ingredient Guide
Kelly the Kitchen Kop

Do you want to use more nutritious ingredients in your kitchen, but feel confused about which ones to choose? Do you need help deciphering food labels at the store, or knowing which foods to buy at your local farm? Get Kelly's help in this eye-opening, handy referenece manual.

Real Food 101
Kendahl Millecam of Our Nourishing Roots

Are you new to real food? Real Food 101 is a visual companion to Nourishing Traditions-style foods full of step-by-step tutorials with color photos that will teach you how to prepare real food easily and confidently!

The Almond Flour Sweet Treats Cookbook
Stacey Duncan of Nourished For Free

More than 100 delicious and Paleo-friendly sweet recipes using almond flour, coconut flour, natural sweeteners such as raw honey, coconut sugar, stevia, dried and fresh fruits... pastured eggs, coconut oil, coconut milk, fresh and dried coconut, grassfed raw butter, milk, and cream, sprouted nuts and seeds.

Toxic Free: 70 Recipes for a
Toxic-free Home
Robin Konie of Thank Your Body

Many of the ingredients found in commercial cleaning and personal care products have been linked to health problems. From infertility to cancer, the toxic chemicals that threaten our health are some of the most common things we put directly on our skin! Are you ready to ditch the toxic garbage for good?

Nourishing Our Children
Sandrine Love of Nourishing Our Children

Based on the nutritional principles of Dr. Weston A. Price, this book covers dietary principles for parents before and after conception, problems associated with modern processed foods, and vital information about water and fluoride, traditional fats and oils, milk, soy, vital nutrients, and healthy meal preparation.

Indulge: 70 Grain-free Desserts
Carol Lovett of Ditch the Wheat

Take all the guesswork out of making scrumptious baked goods that are grain-free, dairy-free, cane sugar free, and Paleo/Primal friendly. Over 70 + recipes and 162 pages of content. All recipes are dairy free and adhere to Paleo principles.

Simple Natural Health

Nina Nelson of Shalom Mama

A simple, comprehensive guide to natural health: nourishing your body with herbs, nutrition and fitness. Use herbs for upset tummies, sore throats and a whole host of other ailments – and in conjunction with diet to prevent illness.

Afternoon Tea: Grain, Nut, Dairy and Refined Sugar-Free

Suzanne Perazzini of Strands of My Life

107 pages of beautifully photographed treats that are all grain-free, nut-free, dairy-free with no refined sugar. Every recipe includes two photographs alongside clear and easy to follow instructions.

Toadally Primal Smoothies

Todd Dosenberry of Primal Toad

Do you enjoy smoothies? Do want to feel awesome and be able to do the impossible? Toadally Primal Smoothies contains 150 mouth-watering, healthy smoothies that follow Primal/Paleo/WAPF eating guidelines, including 70 low carb smoothies.

Garden and Preservation Planner

Brenda Scott of Well Fed Homestead

Planning, planting, growing, weeding, tending and harvesting a garden is a lot of work! This guide will help you think through what you really need to grow, where to grow it, how to grow it, and how to preserve it.

Restocking the Pantry

Kresha Faber of Nourishing Joy

Make your favorite condiments at home -- without sacrificing the store-bought flavor you love! Avoid high fructose corn syrup, preservatives, and food additives. Save money, have fun, and teach your children how to cook. These recipes are all easy to make & kid-approved!

The Grain Free Lunch Box

Jolene Sloam of Yummy Inspirations

Lunch Box Nutrition – what to include plus tons of tips. Lunch Box Organization & Planning – strategies to keep you organized. 50+ Grain, Gluten, Nut, Dairy & Refined Sugar Free Recipes – kid-approved meat, chicken, fish, egg recipes and a rainbow of vegetable and fruit ideas and delicious baked treats.

It's been a long weary journey

Hello followers!

  I wanted to make a quick blog post just to say that no, i did not die :)  Good new huh?  But of course, i have not been posting much, in fact, my last post was about 6 months ago.  Pretty pathetic.  Yes, life has been busy, as it always is, but that is no excuse not to post.  I promise, i will really try to do better, at least one good post a month (at least!).

So what's been going on in our neck of the woods?  Mostly a lot of self improvement.  The last year or so i've been dealing with a lot of depression (my post here explains it more) and working through my grief.  I know that my grief will never completely be over, but it has gotten much better.  I will always miss our daughter, but the pain has gotten easier to bare.  Giving myself actual time to work through my emotions, and having the support of those close in my life really helped.  I think that is what helped the most, to know those closest to me were no longer judging me and allowing me to be me.

Progress was slow, but it came.  One day while driving home from a party i was flipping through the radio looking for something to listen to.  I normally listen to pop, hip hop tops songs type stuff.  But i stopped on a station and started listening.  As the miles wore on (it was a 2 hour drive) i started to feel better and better.  The station i found was K-Love.  It made me feel amazing.  The music was so uplifting and the message i heard was just what i needed.  The DJs would come on between songs and just talk about how Jesus loved ME.  ME. I really needed to hear that, and hear it from someone other than my leader or my mother.  It was as if it was Christ's way of telling me himself.  That he cared about me, loved me and wanted me to succeed.

Since that drive K-Love and Positive Life Radio is what i listen to in the car 95% of the time.  I listen to it at home as well, but i also listen to the music on this blog or this blog.  The change in how i feel has been amazing.  There are time i'll listen to something else, some of the 'hits' and it's interesting how fast i feel crummy.  I don't like to feel crummy.  I love feeling positive and happy.  So i think i'll be sticking to my happy music :)

That was the turning point it seemed though.  From there i've been improving in all the other points of my life.  We no longer eat out 3-5 times a week but instead i am actually cooking homemade meal!  I know right!  I signed up for EMeals (Paleo plan) and it has been great.  No 'what's for dinner tonight' and everything tastes so good.  I've also been using essential oils to help uplift my mood.  My favorites are Lemon, Citrus Bliss, Elevation and Balance from Doterra.  I just put them in my diffuser, or place them in my hand and breathe deep.  So uplifting and refreshing!  Another things that has really helped me this last month has been i've started taking Juice Plus+.  And it has really been this last month i've seen some of the best changes.  I have energy, motivation and actually a pretty clear head.  My thoughts don't get muddled and i can see what i need to get done, and i have the motivation to do it, it's been great!  I have tried other "supplements" from other companies but nothing has helped me a much as the Juice Plus+, and i think it's because it's whole food nutrition from actual fruits and vegetables (they are juiced and then put into capsules).  I also preordered the book "Beautiful Babies" by Kristen Michaelis and because of preordering it, i got a lifetime membership to her online course worth $199! 

"In Beautiful Babies, nutrition educator Kristen Michaelis reveals the truth about diet and pregnancy. Based on her research of the nutrient-rich diets of healthy and fertile populations around the world, she lays out exactly what you should and shouldn't eat when trying to conceive, during pregnancy, and while breast-feeding. In the first half of the book she explains the ways industrialized foods can prevent pregnancy, how a low-fat diet can increase your likelihood of infertility by 85 percent, what to do if breast-feeding doesn't work for you, why babies can't digest cereal, and gives step-by-step instructions on how and when to introduce your baby's first foods. In the second half of the book she equips you with more than 50 recipes for incorporating traditional fertility-boosting foods into your diet. Beautiful Babies provides you with everything you need to know about having a healthy pregnancy and nourishing your growing baby."
If you would like to preorder and get the free course, just email your purchase receipt (i emailed the confirmation email) to booklaunch@foodrenegade.com.  So far the lessons i've watched/read have been amazing and i'm looking forward to learning more.

But every day now has been really good.  I wake up in a good mood, i have energy, i put on my music, dance around with my daughter and let the sun shine into our home.  It's all baby steps.  I know i have a long way to go still, but how much i've come is amazing.  I want to continue to eat better, i am going to be looking into MTHFR and see if it's something i have, i've going to work on reading my scriptures and saying my prayers, and being a better, more involved mother and a better wife. 

I really feel like there has been a change in my life.  It hasn't been easy, but it's happening.  I hope others can see the changes as much as i can.  but if they cannot, that's ok, what matter is that my daughter and husband can, and that Christ can.

And that is what matters.

Win a Combi® Coccoro Car Seat!

As many of you know, i'm 'big' on car seat safety.  This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week!  In honor of it, Combi® is giving away one of their Combi® Coccoro Car Seats!  (and you get to choose your color!

These are great seats for those who have small cars!

From the website:
"The lightweight and compact Coccoro convertible car seat is compatible with smaller vehicles. Three Coccoro seats can be installed in the rear-seat of many small, fuel efficient vehicles. A 5-point harness with padding, Tru-Safe® Buckle, forward and rear-facing lock-offs, energy absorbing EPS foam and 4 position height adjustments make for a safe and comfortable environment for your child. An adjustable infant insert can be accommodate infants starting at 3 lb. and position your child at the recommended 45 degree angle. The single-pull adjustable harness system, shoulder belt retainers and washable seat cushion add convenience."
http://www.combiusa.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12&Color=3



If you would like to enter to win your own Combi® Coccoro follow the instructions below!
To Enter our Giveaway:

Step 1: "Like Us" on Facebook (If you haven't already)

Step 2: Click on this link an submit your official entry
http://www.combicorner.com/promotionscontest.html

Tutorial: How to save your toilet paper from your toddler!

 

So i have an almost 23 month old.   If you have one of these around then you are probably in the same boat as me.  They find the toilet paper FASCINATING.  When they are going potty they have to use 1/2 the roll to wipe and when they are bored it always brings entertainment.  For my daughter it probably does not help that her grandma bought her the Curious George movie for Easter and in it is a scene where he fills the entire bathroom with toilet paper.  Monkey see monkey do lol!

Anyways, i'm fed up with the toilet paper waste (it would be one thing if she just unraveled it but most times she shreds it as well) so i started thinking of a plan.  I had this idea in my head for a while (i don't know if in the past i saw a picture of something like this or what), but i just haven't found the time yet to do it.  Well, this last weekend i've been working on re-decorating my bathroom and i figured that now it was time.  I had the sewing machine out, i had left over fabric from another project in the bathroom, there was nothing stopping me.

So i popped a movie in the my daughter and got to work.
(this is my first ever tutorial so sorry if it's not the best)

Materials needed:
Fabric
elastic
buttons (3 or 4)
Thread and needle (to sew on buttons)
Sewing machine (although you could do this by hand)
Ribbon

The fabric i had to work with.  I found it for $4 a yard at a local store and bought it to starch to the wall behind my shelves.  Part of my bathroom re-do.  I also painted the shelves and got the new shower curtain ;)

Cut your fabric out.  I don't know what size you'll need cause i wasn't smart enough to measure it LOL!  I just happened to have the EXACT amount of fabric left over to do this project.  Didn't have to cut or anything.  (Ignore the two strips on the bottom, i didn't end up using them.)

For you to do this project you will want one piece of fabric that will wrap around your roll of toilet paper completely (a new roll) with a little bit to spare (maybe 1/2 an inch) for a seam allowance.  And you want it twice as wide as the roll as you will be folding it in half.

For the 2nd piece you'll want it a little bit bigger.  You will see why in the pictures below. 

fold smaller piece of fabric in half lengthwise and then stitch around

when you get to the end, leave a gap, about 2 inches.

Turn right side out

Use long pointy thing to turn out corners.  Chopsticks work.  Or if you're lazy like me use what you have on the table, like a star on a stick.

If you just happen to have your iron out from other projects you can use it to press your fabric to make the next step easier.  Normally i don't even bother though.

top-stich around

add a loop of elastic at one end and stitch in place

then very precisely figure out where you want your button. 

sew button in place.  Ta da!!

I added 2 more buttons so as the roll gets used up the cover will still fit.  As i put my design to the test i might have to add another button.

cover in action!  on the last button.

NOW, for the next little project.  A holder for your extra roll of toilet paper!  You will need that 2nd piece of fabric and then some ribbon. 

First you want to take your square of fabric and fold it in half right sides together and stitch around like you did before leaving a 2 inch gap (sorry i do not have pictures).  Then you want to turn it right sides out (use your star again for the corners!) and then press.

measure out your ribbon.  You will want extra length past the fabric like shown.

make sure before you sew the ribbon down that you seal the ends by burning them. Once the ends are sealed you want to top-stich around the entire square and by doing so stitch the ribbon down the sides.

Now all you have to do is tie the 'sling' to your toilet paper roll holder bar thing and then slip a roll in! 

And then the best part about the extra roll holder is that when your toilet paper is in use above it will hold your toilet paper cover so it will not fall on the floor :)  Easy-peasy!

And there you have it!  I haven't yet tested this against the toddler but i think it will work!  At least the cover should ;)  The extra holder might not work until she's a little older but we'll see.  But i love it!  So much that i took 1/2 my day (and 2 movies for my daughter) to make this tutorial for you :) Enjoy!  I would love to see your creations as well!  (and comment below and tell me how i did!)

Spring is in the Air!

*breaths in deeply*
Ahhhhhhhh, spring is in the air!  At least here it is! 

With spring comes all sorts of thoughts of what we want to do in our yard.  We bought our house the middle of last summer, but most of our work went into the house, not the yard.  But with the warming of the days comes the itch to get in the dirt and DO SOMETHING!

I have so many plans swirling around my head!

I have very large plans for our garden this year along with things to be more self-reliant.  I'm in the process of cutting out beds on the edges of our yard for garden beds and also making our existing raised beds larger.  I also want to make a patio, move our clothes line back some, make our compost pile better, build some privacy screens around our patio for things to grow on, do some AWESOME paths, build our chicken house, build some rabbit hutches (this might happen next year), and grow a variety of food including:
raspberries

 blueberries

strawberries

grapes

 apple and perhaps peaches

 asparagus

 lettuce

 spinach

 Kale

chard

 onions

artichoke

 carrots

 radishes

 tomatoes

 squash

 pumpkin

watermelon

 peas

 beans

 cucumbers

peppers

potato

mint

oregano

basil

tyme

rosemery

chives

cilantro

And we'll see if i add to the list. 

It's a lot, but i'm so excited.  And i'm excited to be able to do this all on a lot that is only .11 acres and has a 1,200 sqft house on it WITH a car port.  I will have to be creative and really utilize the square foot/intensive gardening technique, but i know i can do it :)

And now some pictures of the awesome things swirling in my head....

This is the best set up for sprouting seeds i've ever seen!  I actually purchased the supplies last night and have mine set up in our living room! SOURCE

Use your old bottles to water your plants down at the ROOTS where they need it most! SOURCE

Build a fence using wood pallets that you can normally find for FREE! SOURCE

a privacy fence that we could grow our grapes on SOURCE

Using ikea storage bins as nesting boxes for your chickens.  Easy to gather eggs and clean! SOURCE

a raised bed made from pallets.  You can find pallets for free all the time!  Just make sure they have HT printed on the side for 'heat treated'.  Others can be treated with chemicals which would leech into your garden.

Patio furniture made from pallets.  Again, could be made for nearly FREE!

Yet another way to use pallets in your garden.  can you tell i love pallets? SOURCE

square foot gardening.  Grow more food in less space! SOURCE

So i think that is it for now, at least for what i can find pictures for.  I'm very excited for the days ahead, it's just going to be a lot of work. 

If anyone has pallets, spare wood or glass bottles they are not using, i will gladly take them off your hands!

What are your plans for this spring/summer in your yard/garden?
Happy digging everyone!

My OB said WHAT?!?

I just wanted to share that i've been featured on the website, My OB said WHAT?!?

You can see the post here.

If you scroll down the pink comment is my story explaining.