Home Tour Day 2: Bedroom!

Again, the challenge is, post photos of your home in the following categories: 

Day 1: Where you and your family eat

Day 2: Where you and your family sleep

Day 3: Where you and your family work/play

Day 4: Where you and your family relax

Day 5: Favorite parts of your house that make it YOUR home

 The charger station and my closet door.

My side, that I tend to share with Oliver.

The bed (a present from my parents) - on the side from left to right is Cal's TV and DVD's, the bathroom door and then obviously our nightstands and bed.

You can also see our clothing steamer and the door to Calvin's walk-in closet.

I like the double door into the room, and we still haven't hung our mirror! So bad!

We don't sleep here, but the bathroom doesn't fit in any other category, so here it is. On the counter is our toothbrushes (mine's a Radius, see previous post), homemade wintergreen toothpaste, homemade soap, sink, and a hand towel.

Not cute to post but we got the pail as a wedding gift and the flower was also from a friend.

Where Oliver sleeps (kind of). We're transitioning him from co-sleeping/Montessori floor bed, into his own room. This crib is natural North American FSC-certified wood, hand-made from my Grandpa! The black bear is from my Opa. The art is from Ashley. The mobile, sleep sheep and monitor were all gifts from baby showers too. My mom made the moose/owl quilt. The hint of wood rocking chair you can see on the left was refurbished from the garbage by my dad (a fellow eco-friend) and it houses a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey that Oliver hasn't grown into yet. My dad also refurbished a change table for Oliver. Handy guy.

 This is Ollie's view. So many owls!

Make it Monday: Homemades for your Mouth

Toothpaste:
6 T baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp vegetable glycerin
15 drops peppermint oil

Lipstick:
1 T sweet almond oil
10 cranberries
1 tsp honey
Heat, mash, strain, apply

Lip balm:
2 T olive oil
1/2 tsp honey
3/4 tsp beeswax
1/2 tsp cocoa butter
1 vitamin E capsule, emptied
3 drops any essential oil

Mouthwash:
1/4 c water + 1/4 c vodka - boil down
Add 4 tsp vegetable glycerin, 10 drops peppermint oil, 5 drops myrrh oil

Radius Toothbrushes

Following my homemades for your mouth post yesterday I want to tell you about the best of the best in toothbrush options. (On this theme, I have a natural, dental health post planned as well.)

The Radius toothbrush was the brain child of architects living in the Caribbean who were annoyed with a few things about conventional toothbrushes: first of all, the small head which causes high pressure, harmful brushing (they made theirs big and therefore gentle); the thick bristles (Radius bristles are 1/4 the size of Oral B); the uncomfortable handle - especially for lefties (all of their handles are interchangeable and mundo-comfortable) and the "throw away" nature (theirs have replaceable heads, so you use the same main product forever). Using replaceable heads eliminates 93% of the waste associated with toothbrushes.


Radius is committed to being eco-friendly. My toothbrush is made of bio-plastic recovered from old American dollar bills (they also offer flax and wood handles). The packaging is 65% renewable resources. They are cruelty-free. They are manufactured on low-energy machines and everything is recyclable. They are BPA free. What more can you ask for?

For me the most exciting thing is that they now make baby toothbrushes (which I haven't tried yet - Oliver's teeth are still on their way).

Product Review: J.R. Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve

Company: J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary, American (Winona, MN)
Product: Hand & Cuticle Salve (in Lavender), 59 grams
Claims: 99.5% natural, soothes and protects dry, rough skin, "never doctored up like big city, factory products", natural since 1868, not tested on animals, SLS free, paraben free, phthalate free, mineral oil/petrolatum free, dye free

Ingredients: Canola oil, sweet almond oil, beeswax, lavender oil, chamomile oil, eucalyptus oil, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) - Also comes in Lemon, and Aloe/Green Tea


Certifications: Natural Products Association
Price: Around $10

My review: 

 

I've been a loyal Burt's Bees Gardeners Hand Salve customer for many years but when I saw Food Inc and realized that many seemingly harmless companies are owned by big bully corporations I looked further into this trend and found out that Burt's Bees was purchased by Clorox Bleach. (Tom's toothpaste is owned by Colgate, Kashi is owned by Kellogg's, Naked Juice is owned by Pepsi, The Body Shop is owned by Nestle... to name a few.) J.R. Watkins is an awesome alternative because they have been run by sweet people near the Mississippi River for over a hundred years and aren't stopping anytime soon. Their ingredients read like a dream - nothing suspicious or unneeded. I could make this product in my bathroom.

The salve goes on smooth and somewhat oily, which is its job. It acts as a protective layer against the elements. While we're still braving winter and all the cold, blustery winds that come with it, I've found it great for keeping moisture in my hands. This spring when I break ground and start gardening again, it's going to be perfect. 

It does double duty, smoothing out cracked and dry cuticles, which instantly transformed the look of my hands. I think the nail area can have a huge effect on the look of your hands (much like eyebrows on your face). 

The smell is out of this world. That's what happens when you use real ingredients that speak for themselves. I keep this on my nightstand so that I can rub a little on before I fall asleep (and to help me fall asleep! It is very relaxing). A little tin full of aromatherapy - and don't think I don't have plans for this tin when I run out of product. 

J.R. Watkins never fails to impress me. I love this product and it makes me want to stock a whole bathroom full of their apothecary treats!

Home Tour Day 1

So the challenge is, post photos of your home in the following categories: 

Day 1: Where you & your family eat

Day 2: Where you & your family sleep

Day 3: Where you & your family work & play

Day 4: Where you & your family relax

Day 5: Favorite parts of your house that make it YOUR home

 

I have a massively busy weekend (birthday dinner for my dad tonight, then a CD release concert for my friend Zach's band after, lots to do tomorrow which I'll post about and a packed day after church on Sunday too) so I'm going to split this up into a delayed schedule.

But here's day 1!

Our kitchen... we've always stood by the fact that we want to design our own kitchen since we're self-proclaimed foodies and my grandpa owns a cabinetry business, but this one is nice enough that we can handle it for now. I keep my espresso machine and preserves on top of the fridge as you can see. There's always 2 coffee makers on the far counter (one whole-bean brewer, one Keurig quick brew), and always a skillet and kettle on the stove. From there we've got a zesting plane, pepper grinder and wood spoons on the oven top, the Kitchen Aid architect-series stand mixer, a toaster, wood cutting board, Henckle knife plane, and far over past the sink there's a magnetic board above the phone.

 We eat a decent amount at the island bar. I read magazines there too.

This stove needs to be re-calibrated - I think it's baking about 50 degrees lower than the read out.

Under the sink we have reusable bags, a bunch of homemade and store bought cleaners, garbage bags and essential oils.

My baking cupboard. You can see wheat germ, popcorn, baking soda, molasses, coconut and agave.

The actual dining area. Right now it's being used for a really hard puzzle. On the far right you can see Oliver's high chair.

 

How and Why to Take Vitamin D

CBC News reported last year that only 1/3 of Canadians have enough vitamin D in their blood for good health. Why is it such a problem in Canada? Sunlight. Vitamin D is found in food (fatty fish, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks...) and it is also fortified in our milk supply but in much smaller quantities than we'd like. The best source of vitamin D is sun exposure, because when the UV-B rays hit our skin it activates a conversion of stored cholesterol into pre-vitamin D. In places like California, where people can roam in a tank and shorts for much of the year, this is an excellent source and supplementation is not as much of a concern. However, in Canada we have many problems: short days for much of the year, cloud cover (reducing rays by 50%, as does heavy pollution), staying covered up (optimal conversion rates are based on being 80% naked), staying indoors (UV-B does not penetrate glass) and obsession with sunscreen (also blocking the rays). For this fact, despite my feeling that nutrition best comes from whole foods, I suggest a vitamin D supplement for all Canadians.

Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. If you take calcium (or intake it through food) and it doesn't get absorbed into your bones, it stays in your blood and can cause arterial plaque. For this reason alone, vitamin D is extremely important. It has also been cited as a cancer preventative nutrient, and has been used in diabetes treatment.

If you attended one of my lectures on Identifying Quality Supplements last year, you'll know that there are many factors to finding a good vitamin D.:

The first thing to look at is dose. Here in Canada we cannot sell anything higher than 1000 IU but you are free to (even encouraged to) take more than one capsule/tablet/liquid dose per day. Many now come in dropper forms so taking a high dose is easy and convenient. Breastfed babies should take 400IU per day.

Next, the company making the product needs to be considered. One way to look at quality is to check the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements (click the link and choose "search inside this book"). This is a great resource and I suggest looking through it, but if you'd like to save some time, the company that consistently comes out on top is Usana.

You must also look at the form. There are two: D₂ (ergocalciferol) which is made from yeast and D₃ (cholecalciferol) which is made from lanolin. D₃ is the one I recommend, as all vitamin D is converted to this form to be utilized.

The last thing, and arguably most important, is the non-medicinal ingredients. I was taught by a friend and mentor to always cover the ingredients you're looking for on an ingredient list, and instead read the other ones. If your supplement contains artificial colours, flavours or preservatives like parabens, it isn't a good choice and it doesn't matter how great the vitamin D portion of the supplement is. Choose something unflavoured and unsweetened or naturally flavoured and naturally sweetened (with stevia or xylitol).

Vitamin D is not expensive but the benefits are incredible. I can't stress enough that this is the one supplement you need to be taking. If you do not currently have one, or are looking to try something new, click the above link (Usana) and read more about their products. They ship to Canada.

You can read more information about vitamin D here.

Gluten Free, Low Fat, No Sugar Added Cake... in 3 minutes!

My sister invented this whole foods based cake recipe that is so easy you will be eating cake twice a day!

In a coffee mug, whisk together:

1 T melted coconut oil
1 T yogurt
1 T orange juice
1 T maple syrup
1 egg
1 splash vanilla extract
3 T brown rice flour (or oat flour)
The zest of 1 orange, or lime

Microwave for 2 - 3 minutes (depending when it looks solidly cooked). Top with a splash more maple syrup.

Make it Monday: A Simple Scarf

My friend Kayla, the one who inspired me to make Oliver's drool scarf, has taught me another scarf...

Find a used men's XL t shirt with no side seam.

Cut the tummy section away from the shoulders section by cutting through both latest from under one arm pit to under the other. You'll have a tube.

Give it a good hard stretch. Use it for a yoga move?

Loop it around twice, snood style.

Spring Detox

A detox diet, or cleansing period, is an incredible gift to your body if you do it right. As we look toward the onset of spring (a girl can hope) the optimal time draws near, so I wanted to lay out how to do... and how not to do it.

How to Choose a Cleanse

Cleansing is a two-step process: detoxification and elimination. Any system that does not address this issue will not be effective. If you detox without eliminating (as is the case with any detox that doesn't make use of your colon) the toxins will continue circulating around and may make you feel worse. The theory behind low-calorie detoxes (burn fat, which is where toxins are stored) is a perfect example of this flaw. A detox with elimination but no detox (a high-fiber, laxative system) will fill your toilet, but leave your major organs messy as always. Make sure your system does both by checking that its theories and/or ingredients address at very least your liver and your bowels.

A store-bought product should have research behind it. Foot patches that you stick on overnight that turn brown by morning (yes, this is a real thing) have been proven bogus. Keep in mind, your skin is not your best detox organ.

A detox diet should have enough calories and other nutrients to sustain you. Your body wasn't designed to survive on such an extremely low-calorie diet. While consuming only maple syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper will trigger your body to burn fat, it will also shift you into fat deficiency which means bad skin, bad mood, bad memory, hormone problems and ultimately weight gain in the stomach region. Don't you think a balanced diet is the best one no matter if you're cleansing or not? (Note: if you are fasting for religious reasons that is a completely different story. Consult with God and your doctor before fasting if you are pregnant because the little one growing inside of you may have different ideas.)

A detox system should not cost more than $50. It should not take less than 2 weeks at a time, or more than 10% of your year (yes, there are detoxes that instruct you to do them once a week, every 4 weeks). Lastly, don't buy anything that only eliminates toxins through your bowel (Yikes!): your body is made up of many detox organs: liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, colon.

What I Recommend

I suggest setting aside 21 days to focus on a completely raw, vegan diet. This means unheated plant foods only. When food has not been heated, it contains the maximum amount of nutrients (the exception: I think tomatoes and spinach are healthier when cooked). Eliminate sugar and caffeine. Try to eliminate other forms of chemicals too (conventional makeup, heavy car pollution, etc.) Eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, nut butters, whole grains (quinoa, millet) and herbs/spices. Make your own nut milks by soaking 1 cup of your favourite nut (cashews, almonds, etc.) overnight, then discard that water, add in 4 cups of fresh water, blend, and strain. Make sprouts by soaking seeds and grains in water, then rinsing twice daily. Make salad dressings with raw apple cider vinegar and cold pressed olive oil. Add some homemade mustard too (ground mustard seed + raw honey + apple cider vinegar + water). This kind of diet takes dedication and a ton of planning. Look up raw, vegan meal plans and experiment with new recipes.

Drink lots of water. This will flush your kidneys.

Get lots of sleep. Throw some long walk and yoga in there too. If your calorie intake allows, try some hard exercise - sweating is a form of detox.

Take long Epsom salt baths. This practice, if done often, can help pull heavy metals from your body. I have seen it help people (blood work proved it).

Most importantly, use herbs to activate your detox organs. They can be made into a tea:

• Alfalfa
• Black walnut if you are detoxing from parasites
• Burdock
• Chamomile
• Dandelion
• Marshmallow root
• Milk thistle
• Mullein
• Red clover
• Slippery elm (to aid elimination, go easy)

If you want an easy mix buy Flora's Floressence liquid. You can mix it with hot water to make a detox tea. It is incredible - tastes good, is soothing and provides all the right ingredients for detoxification and elimination. It was an originally a native American healing mix (Ojibwe blend) that was passed along to the nursing staff at a hospital that eventually used it with cancer patients.

The only store bought boxed detox I'd really recommend is Renew Life's First Cleanse. If you suspect parasites, try their ParaGone.


What cleanse do you like?

Make it Monday: Homemades for your Face

Homemade Toner:
1 oz vodka
3 oz witch hazel
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
5 drops tea tree oil
5 drops cypress oil

Homemade Makeup Remover:
2 T sweet almond oil
2 T green tea
1 T vegetable glycerin

For puffy eyes:
Blend 1/4 of a cucumber, add 1 oz aloe Vera, apply

How to Make it SWEET

Sugar can come from so many places - sugarcane, beets, corn - and it can also be faked like in the case of Splenda. With all of these options, how do you choose a sweetener?

When evaluating sweeteners there are so many things to consider. I like to look most at its source and processing, as well as its nutrient content and its resulting effect on your health. Those focusing on weight loss may look at calories, diabetics may look at its glycemic index. It's also good to consider the ease of use and versatility, the availability, the taste, the shelf life and, of course, the price.

White sugar is a highly processed product refined from the sugarcane plant. It is terrible for your nervous system and kidneys, and negatively effects your mood, metabolism and ability to absorb nutrients from other foods. It has 45 calories per Tablespoon. It comes in different forms for different purposes: granulated is the regular stuff, castor is a bit finer and powdered (confectioner's or icing) is very light. The nice thing about white sugar is that since most recipes call for it, you don't need to figure out a substitution.

Sugar alcohols are refined from fruits and vegetables. Because the body doesn't absorb them as well they only contain 29 calories per Tablespoon. They're also slightly less sweet, but don't have a bad aftertaste. Xyltitol is the most common one, and has a glycemic index (GI) of 13 which is very low. They can pretty much be substituted 1 to 1 in all recipes. The good is: since yeast and bacteria can't use it well, it's a good choice for Candida diets, and for oral health. The bad is: being poorly absorbed it can end up having a laxative effect if you use it often.

When sugar is processed there is a syrupy byproduct called molasses. It tastes strong and sort of burnt due to its high mineral content - higher if you choose black strap over fancy. You can use 1 1/3 cup in place of 1 cup of sugar, but try to reduce the recipe's other liquids by 1/3 cup. It has 58 calories per Tablespoon.

Raw sugar, or cane sugar, is a broad term that means different things depending who you ask and where you are. The most raw sugar is succanat which is made from sugarcane juice that has been filtered, evaporated and crystallized. Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added so it technically contains minerals but they aren't naturally occurring. The different classes - demarara, muscavado, turbinado - all have varying levels of molasses. They can all be substituted 1 to 1 and have about 51 calories per Tablespoon but I'd recommend succanat as the best. They all taste great!

Then there are powder-style sugars made from other plants - coconut, dates, corn... They typically taste like their source, which can be great, are subbed 1 to 1, and have about 45 calories per Tablespoon. Coconut sugar is somewhat expensive. Corn syrup is the liquid form and has been criticized in the media - for good reason: it has been linked to many health problems and ethical/social issues with world food distribution and agricultural politics.

There are many delicious, sweet syrups that come from natural sources. Honey is made through beekeeping and is therefore not considered vegan. When raw or unpasteurized it is antibacterial and can even help alleviate environmental allergies if it has been produced locally. Honey has a relatively high GI (75) and caloric value per Tablespoon (64) but because it's nice and sweet you can use it sparingly. About 3/4 cup will replace 1 cup of sugar in a recipe. Honey contains many nutrients and is a good work-out food. Maple syrup is the result of boiling down tree sap. It has my favourite taste of all sweeteners and contains many important minerals. It has 65% sucrose but a hefty dose of zinc and also the much coveted manganese. It has 52 calories per Tablespoon and you'll need a bit more than a cup to use as a sugar substitute. Once opened it'll keep in the fridge for a long time. Barley malt is made from a grain and is similar to other syrups except that it is very low in sucrose. Same substitution as maple syrup but it has closer to 60 calories per Tablespoon. The biggest downfall? It is not gluten-free. Brown rice syrup is gluten-free and contains great nutrients including many minerals and sugars that are 50% in the form of maltose. It has 55 calories per Tablespoon, requires 1 1/2 cups to sub a cup of sugar and is often expensive. Agave nectar is extracted from the same cactus that they make tequila out of. It is low in sucrose and has a low GI. It tastes great! You only need 2/3 cup to substitute. My favourite thing about agave, other than memories of Mexico, is that it dissolves easily in cold liquids. It has 60 calories per Tablespoon.

Stevia is a super sweet plant sold in three forms: a spoonable powder (subs cup for cup), an extract (use only 1 tsp per cup) and a liquid (also 1 tsp per cup). It doesn't taste perfect but it does have 0 calories. It is my go-to sweetener for lemonade.

Lastly there are sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet n Low), aspartame (Equal) and more, but frankly I don't like them! They are created in labs with chemicals and do not fare well in studies looking out for your health.

So which sweetener do you like?

Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals

Company: Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals, American (California)
Product: The 7 Essentials Collection
Claims: Natural; "Chirally Correct"*; free of chemical parabens, added fillers, artificial colours and artificial fragrances; no animal testing

* Chirality is the duality of each molecule - having 2 sides - and Sircuit Skin uses this technology to ensure each ingredient is in its correct, most-active form. Attention to this detail is pretty rare in the cosmetics industry. It is a very cool feature of their products.

Ingredients: (click each product for a page listing more information, including ingredients):

• X-Trap™ | daily gentle face wash
• Molecular Mist™ | hydrating moisture care
• White Out™ | daily under eye care
• Day Care™ | protective day moisturizer
• SIRCUIT® Addict™ | firming anti-aging serum
• Cloud 9™ | intensely protective moisture creme
• Sir Activ™ | zeolite invigorating scrub. Great for all skin types

Certifications: Cruelty-free, Safe Cosmetics, Recyclable
Price: $68 for the entire collection

My review: 

The first thing I noticed about my Sircuit Skin collection was: awesome packaging! They've done a great job at branding this line with catchy names, cute boxes and practical containers. I get a good vibe from a company when I see that their products are stored in containers that don't promote bacterial growth (if you have to stick your fingers in a pot and then apply it near your eyes, it's risky - choose products with sprays or other application methods). The relative sizing was just right too: who wants a skin care regime that features a teeny tiny day cream and a giant bottle of toner when you know you'll go through the cream quicker? Considering these facts, their pronounceable ingredients and the science behind their website's information, this is a company I can trust.

Sircuit Skin uses ingredients that practically make the formulas look homemade. They are real life, wholesome ingredients that do a good job and aren't toxic. 

X-Trap is a super gentle face wash. I often come across cleansers that I consider "shower-only" which means they're so sloppy or foamy or sticky, or just won't wash off easily without residue left behind, that you need to use it only in the shower when you can really give your face a solid rinse. That's not the case with this one: I just apply a small amount to my face, give it a rub, and rinse it off easily, and the feeling after is pure refreshment. I was really excited to find a product that smells not only good, but natural. Some products smell great, but they smell fake - like a pineapple breeze hair treatment - something about it makes you leery that it's full of chemicals.

Molecular Mist is a genius product. I've had fun showing this to friends that have come over to my place. It is literally a moisturizer that sprays onto your face in a light mist. It smells great, contains natural products and it's just what my face needs. Imagine just the lightest little drink that your skin is calling for - not a heavy lotion that makes you look greasy. This I love, I want to take it with me everywhere. Day Care is somewhat of a more intense moisturizer but still very lightweight and Cloud 9 is the night-time version.

Addict is a pre-moisturizer serum that comes in a super apothecary-chic dropper bottle, almost tincture-style. You can feel it working and my skin looks amazing after a drop or two. Sir Activ is another one that makes me feel good about the look of my skin - it's a scrub that has the perfect amount of grit to remove dead skin but keep the live stuff intact. It contains zeolites which are like little minerals from volcanoes that act as cages to pull pollutants and toxins from your skin. Probably the easiest detox I've ever done!

Lastly, my favourite, White Out: an under eye lightening treatment. There truly are so many brilliant things in natural to help with under eye darkness and puffiness, but we so quickly go to super-chemical-laden solutions because it is such an annoying problem. White Out uses certain nutrients to reduce inflammation (very logical!), others that disperse light (high-tech!), detoxify and protect against future toxins (so smart!), heal and firm the skin (why didn't I think of that!), and boost collagen production to yield that smooth, young look (outright brilliant!). As a girl who deals with the problem of dark under eye circles, who doesn't want to resort to icky drugstore products - I'm so happy White Out is around.

One of their very helpful reps also sent me this lip balm - Mangilla - to check out. Though good natural lip balms are pretty easy to find these days, I'm always on the look out for one with the right consistency. So many of them are too hard (during cold weather especially) and nearly the rest of them are too soft (requiring you to constantly ask friends if you have anything on your lips), but this one delivers that smooth, not-too-soft, not-too-hard texture that I'm always hunting for. Thank you Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals - you make amazing natural products!

Post-Holiday Weight Loss

For most people the next few weeks could be described as a holiday-recovery period. Wrapping paper is recycled, over-sized turkey roasting pans are put back into storage, and quiet meditations are spent rehabilitating from extended family-overload. However, if you’re like most you also have something else to deal with: holiday weight gain.

The New York Times recently reported that gains aren’t as bad as previously calculated - more accurately about a pound per person, each holiday season - but the problem is that most people never lose that pound. Year after year they accumulate, and for those already overweight the average gains are worse: about five pounds per holiday season. But if your snow pants are feeling a little more snug than before eggnog hit the shelves, perhaps some unconventional methods may help your cause.

Photo credit: Sarah Goertz

Here are some tricks to losing weight that go beyond calorie restriction and exercise:

- Have your thyroid checked

- Keep blood sugars in check with a chromium-cinnamon supplement

- Stay hydrated

- Have a Naturopath assess your hormones

- Have a Holistic Allergist assess your food and environmental sensitivities (my recommendation: http://www.inspiredhealth.ca/alla.html)

- Do a spring detox to rid yourself of harmful chemicals

With all the candy canes and fruit cakes, it’s no wonder holiday weight gain happens. What’s important is that post-holiday weight loss is achievable with these handy tips.

A New Year's Reflection

I got this idea from Feeding the Soil.

What did you create?

• Great family memories with our Florida vacation in February
• A big move to our new home on Feb. 28
• A full season of successful vegetable gardening
• New friendships with great girls - Megan, Jill, Jessica
• A baby boy! (also a nursery, a memory book, photo albums galore)
• A custom gluten-free bakery with my mom
• A volunteer nutrition educator position at the YMCA

What challenges did you face with courage and strength?

• A rocky start to breastfeeding (Oliver went from 6lb, 12 oz to 5lb, 15oz in 3 days)
• Being on maternity leave and feeling unaccomplished
• My cousin's cancer diagnosis
• Losing both grandmothers within 2 months of each other

What promises did you keep? 

• To give birth naturally
• To see Jillian as much as possible while in Canada
• To work as close to my due date as possible
• To never text and drive
• To never stop on a railroad track 

What brave choices did you make?

• Letting my little sister move away
• Giving a nutrition education presentation solo

What are you proud of?

• My son
• My marriage
• My sisters, my momma, my dad; and my grandpa for becoming one of my best friends in the past year
• My library book record
• My gluten-free baking (except for when I'm in charge of cookies)
• My blog!

What was disappointing?

• Everytime I put a darn frozen pizza in the oven
• Getting mastitis and a corneal abrasion needing antibiotics
• Not making as many homemade Christmas gifts as I would have liked

What was scary?

• The nutrition talk
• Oliver's birth mark and being unsure of its risks
• Every time my family's cat almost died by choking himself on his collar

What was hard?

• Not feeling like "All I did today was play with Oliver" (because that is good enough!)
• Driving with an eye patch

What can you forgive yourself for?

• Not having the competitive marks I should to get into a Masters program
• Not exercising a lot
• Practically never playing guitar

The next step is to say out loud, “I declare 2011 complete!”
How do you feel? If you don’t feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say…

2011,you brought me the greatest gift of all. My life feels perfect.

The final step is to consider your primary focus for the year to come. What is your primary intention or theme for 2012?

To raise Oliver in all the right ways!

How to Make ANY House Cleaner You Need NATURALLY

Apartment Therapy's "green" division, Re-Nest, just posted a neat article on natural cleaners and it inspired me to compile all my homemade cleaner recipes.

Everything used is cheap, non-toxic and easy to find (lemons are in the produce department, baking soda and salt are in the baking aisle, castile soap in the cleaning aisle or health food store, vinegar with salad dressings, borax is in laundry and essential oils are either in the home section or in a health food store, hydrogen peroxide may be in the pharmacy).

My favourite oils are lemon, oregano, pine, eucalyptus and tea tree.

If you make extra, store it in a labeled mason jar, or re-purposed spray jar.

All-purpose cleaner: 2 cups water + 1 cup hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup lemon juice

Bathroom
- Tub: 3 parts baking soda + 1 part castile soap + 1 part water + splash vinegar, apply with a cloth
- Toilet: 1 part borax + 4 parts vinegar, mix in bowl, let sit 15 min, scrub, flush
- Shower glass & mirror: 1/4 c vinegar + 4 cups water, spray, wipe with old newspaper
- Drain: Same as toilet, follow with hot water
- Tile floor: 1/2 cup borax + 2 gallons warm water, mop
- Soap scum: sprinkle of baking soda, scrub, rinse
- Calcium deposits on shower head: soak with vinegar
- Mold: 1 part borax + 1 part vinegar, scrub, rinse
- Shower grout: 1 part vinegar (or baking soda)+ 1 part water, scrub with old toothbrush

Kitchen
- Sink & stovetop: 1/3 cup baking soda + water to make a paste, scrub
- Microwave: 1 cup water + 1 T vinegar, microwave until 1/2 evaporated, leave for 10 min door closed, remove bowl carefully, scrub with baking soda paste on a cloth
- Burnt pan: 1 cup vinegar + 2 T baking soda + 1 cup water, boil in pan, scour (with baking soda if necessary)
- Silver: 1 piece aluminum foil + 1 L water + 1 T baking soda, boil, place silverware in solution
- Appliances: baking soda paste, scrub, rinse
- Stubborn grease: vegetable oil, followed by baking soda, rinse
- Stove: hot water, let soak to soften tough messes
- Oven: sprinkle with baking soda, leave overnight, scrub with damp cloth, use castile soap if necessary, rinse
- Cast iron pan: olive oil and coarse salt paste

Living Room
- Steam cleaning, vacuuming, dusting & sweeping are toxin-free!
- Wood polish: juice of 1 lemon + 1 T olive oil + 1 T water, polish with cloth
- Carpet stains: 1 part salt, 1 part borax, 1 part vinegar, apply, let dry, vacuum away
- Brass: 3 parts lemon juice + 1 part baking soda, work in with cloth, rinse
- Marble: spray with warm water, rub and dry with cloth
- Room Spray: 1 oz vodka + 6 oz water + 20 drops essential oil

Laundry
- Washing machine: 2 parts grated soap bar + 1part washing soda + 1 part borax, use 1 T per load, also: tennis balls in the wash cycle
- Pretreatment for grease stains: rub with white chalk
- Fabric spray (for freshening/dewrinkling): 2 T vinegar + 6 drops essential oils, mix in spray bottle, fill with water
- Whitener: (same as all-purpose cleaner) 2 cups water + 1 cup hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup lemon juice

Other
- To remove rust: salt and lime paste, let sit 2 hours, scrub, rinse, let dry

Great uses for olive oil:
- get paint off your hands
- scratches on leather
- protect wicker furniture
- shine stainless steel


Now I ask you: How often should you clean these things? Wood floors, oven, windows, linens, carpets, toilets, tubs? What does your weekly cleaning look like? Daily?

The Holidays, and, Becoming a Pirate

Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Day were incredible. Although only 4 months old, Oliver got the hang out gift opening and was blessed beyond imagine by family members. (Calvin and I were also.)

Then New Years Eve we took off to Niagara Falls for what I'd consider to be Canada's biggest party and got to see some outdoor rock shows including - my childhood favourite band - Our Lady Peace. Oliver slept from his 8pm feeding in Starbucks, until after the countdown when we were back at Grandpa's house for the night. That includes 3 large fireworks shows. He's the best.

In the morning we had some greasy breakfast at a local diner that was peppered with some attitude by the owner's wife - what a snoot! Then we attended my aunt's Family and Friends Skate Party which was thrown as a thank you to the people involved with Borscht for Ben. So fun!

Sadly, a day later I noticed a terrible pain in my eye and lots of fluid coming out of it. By the next day, Monday, I was in such bad pain I was gagging and couldn't keep my eyes open. The doctor told me I have a corneal abrasion and I need to wear an eye patch and take medication - which I hate! Does anyone have any natural suggestions for dealing with this?