What would you like to hear about next?

I am totally, and regretfully, aware of what a bummer my post-infrequency has been lately.

Florida Sunscreen PROBLEMS

I don't think my life has been too busy (well, I am moving tomorrow) or that I've exhausted the list of topics I can write on (although I have almost 250 posts currently).

Maybe I'm just waiting to have the perfect idea for a blog post... Wanna help?

I'll start you off with a list of ideas. If you like one, comment below or email me. Or, feel free to suggest an idea of your own.

As for a quick update on my life, before the list to follow: we are in fact moving homes. From a 3+1 to a 3+1, detached to detached, small-ish backyard but really nice kitchen to medium-ish backyard with pretty nice kitchen. Not an up, not a down, just something new. It's the nomad in us - always moving. I was also major - like zombie - sick for a few days. Working around children has made my illness days per year rate fly through the roof - not pretty. Unsweetened applesauce kept me going. Oh yeah - and that's going to affect my Rockin' Wellness Challenge because I had to pause it for like 4 days. Have I even written about our Florida trip? Wow, blog shame. Well, we went and it was wonderful. Oliver turned 18 months and our marriage turned 3! Okay, on to the list!

So, do you like these ideas?

• The best natural makeup brands that you can find in a drugstore or Sephora
  
• Exactly how to make and store homemade baby food
  
• How to pack toddler lunches/snacks
  
• Menu planning for a family
  
• Why some people give up toilet paper (and how gross is that)
  
• How to get internet, phone & tv on the cheap! -- This probably only applies to Canada
  
• Amy's Insanely Awesome Egg & Cheese Popover Recipe
  
• Amy's Cuckoo Delicious Lemon Poppyseed Loaf with Ginger Glaze
  
• Amy's Blow Your Socks Off Tasterific Tuna Cakes, as stolen from Sprout Right
  
• Amy's attempt at "The Life Changing Loaf" by My New Roots
  
• My Garden 2013
  
• How to grow from seed, step by step
  
• What vegetables/herbs should I grow
  
• Daycare vs Stay at Home Mom
  
• Best Restaurants in London
  
• Best Restaurants in London if You Eat Gluten-Free
  
• Why I love the Fire Roasted Coffee Company (finally)

Okay, I spent a good 90 seconds on that list. Enjoy and give me your comments. And now I will go... you guessed it, put more things in boxes. Ack, pray for good weather in the morning.

LARABAR wrappers are now recycleable!

I just got word that LARABAR has partnered up with TerraCycle to make their wrappers recyclable.

It was exciting enough that I couldn't help but post about it!

So if you're a fan of their yummy date-sweetened treats, feed the trash no more.

Visit http://www.larabar.com/programs/terracycle for more details.

Rockin' Wellness Day 1

Somehow the stars aligned and today was the first day of my Rockin' Wellness Cleanse Challenge in which I use their nutritional shake every day.

Hip hip hooray! (Can you already see that it's boosted my mood?)

Rather than a lengthy commentary in paragraph form I'll just give you my literal first thoughts. Keep in mind I am bringing all of you along for the whole journey so in a week or so I'll have another update - wouldn't dare leave you hanging!

• This tastes great! It's actually sweet!
• I really wish I didn't find my mini-blender broken because stirring a powder into almond milk can be difficult or clumpy
• Why the heck do I already feel full? Wow

 And then about 10 minutes later:

• I feel strangely amazing right now
• I am going to start a DANCE PARTY with Oliver (I did)
• I don't need coffee today (I drank a few sips then left it)

I had prepared a berry muffin for a morning snack and although I did eat it, I probably didn't need to. I wasn't hungry at all, I just ate it out of habit.

My biggest observation was that I felt emotionally great - like it had boosted my mood. I felt happy, positive and unstoppable. If someone had been hosting live American Idol auditions right then I would have done it. If there had been an opportunity to climb a mountain right then I would have done it. Is that weird?

It's about 2 hours away from 'start prepping dinner' time and I'm half tempted to just have another couple scoops for dinner - maybe I'm addicted? I do, however, have a husband and son to think about so I'll plan to chop some onions in a bit.

Just thought I'd stop in and share my experience so far. I'm so excited for the next 44 days!

Purchase here: http://www.rwshake.com/dfLT

Cleansing with a Nutritional Shake

A few weeks ago I read about an awesome product on the blog that a friend of a friend of mine writes - Raw Judita. (You should check out her page - it's sweet - she's a gorgeous red head who eats only uncooked food. Yay.)

The product is called Rockin' Wellness and they make a super foods shake powder that you can drink to replace one meal a day as a sort of cleanse. After talking to them they challenged me to do a 45 day Rockin' Wellness Cleanse. And I couldn't say no!

So (starting shortly) I will be following these directions, for a month and a half:

• 2 scoops every morning before or instead of breakfast or lunch
• Mix with 14oz of almond or other non-dairy milk

Note: even when a product is fantastic, a "cleansing challenge" is best if you modify your diet during it too - so I'm going to make an attempt to eat extra raw fruits and vegetables during the 45 days. Also note: I'm going to be using mainly homemade nut milks with no added sugar. This will decrease the amount of calories from carbohydrates, but it'll also affect the taste.

The shake contains tons of amazing stuff like cacao (the rawest form of chocolate), goji berries, yerba mate, chia, maca... I'm in heaven. As a veteran health food store associate - I know the benefits of taking these foods daily will be incredible!

So I'm looking forward to sharing my journey with you. I do have some worries. Let me share.

Worry #1

I am a "salty" person all the way. Give me a piece of toast vs a fudgy brownie and I'll take the toast every time. So how am I going to do on the days when I have only a chocolate shake for breakfast? Will I be left craving my usual poached egg, avocado sandwich, etc?

Worry #2

Will I still feel hungry? I have the metabolism of a ravenous cocaine addict. I am constantly eating - this has to do with being a breastfeeder too. So I hope that 2 scoops of this shake will keep me going until lunch.

Worry #3

Will I see a difference? Not to sound vain but I do feel that I'm in good health. I am at a healthy weight, feel good, have many of the indicators of good health (clear skin, afternoon energy, light coloured pee, quickly growing hair...) Often when someone has great success with a program like this you'll hear claims like "I lost 15 lbs! I went off of my diabetes medication! My doctor said my gout was gone!" but what will I say? We'll find out...

So here's my starting point. I am not beginning the 45 days today but I will very soon and I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Height: 5 foot 8 inches - I don't suspect this will change :)

Weight: Around 128 (I was last weighed at 120 but I was under a lot of stress then so I think I was lower than usual)

Energy: Pretty good, especially in the morning, but only lasts until about 9pm and then I crash

Hair/skin/nails: Great I think... My hair grows quickly. My nails are average. I guess my hair and skin sometimes feel dry but I credit that to the weather.

Usual diet: "Salty breakfast" with a coffee. Bits and bites here and there throughout the morning (I work around food). A healthy, balanced lunch around noon with fruit for dessert, and water to drink. Another snack in the afternoon that may or may not be healthy. (It can be anything from hummus and cucumber to leftover chocolate cake.) Sometimes a second coffee. More water. Dinner is almost always a protein, a grain and a veggie. I might find a piece of chocolate to eat for dessert. Actually, I do totally crave sugar when I'm done dinner. It's a weird Pavlovian response.

Other concerns: My hormones are weird because I'm breastfeeding. My "moon cycles" are like every 3 months. (Every girl's dream?) My immune system is actually kind of bad right now - most of my life it's been good but the past year or so it's been failing me. Bathroom stuff is all good. I don't exercise much but I still feel strong and flexible.

So I think that's about it! It will be fun to see what happens because of adding this.

Purchase here: http://www.rwshake.com/dfLT

Cricket's Eventful BIRTH STORY

Anyone who knows Cricket knows she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to natural pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting.

As a Doula and breastfeeding advocate, her willingness to support mothers in every way has been a huge help for years.

But as every informed mama knows, birth (like life) doesn't always go as planned. A little bit of positivity, prayer, and the cheering of friends can go a long way.

Here is Cricket's story.

Please be aware: I have included photographs that may "show more skin" than you're used to. I think birth and breastfeeding are beautiful so I choose not to censor them - but it's up to you whether you'd like to view them as well.


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