THE GREAT WIPES GIVEAWAY

It’s giveaway time.

Today I have something to offer that will be great for parents. You guys are mostly parents right? See, some fancy-pants blogs have this analysis ability to find out cool information about who reads their posts – me, I just get a number of page views and a rough listing of what countries you guys might be from. I am using my intuition in assuming you would be interested in something that all parents of young ones need…

Wipes - for kids!

Only the classiest here at My Idea of Happiness. It’s true, I will be giving away 2 packs of 30-count Boogie Wipes (choose from fresh, grape, menthol, or unscented; or go for a combo) as well as a separate prize of 1 pack of 42-count Kandoo-brand flushable wipes with a Kandoo Hand Sanitizer or Hand Soap.

Wanna know more?



Boogie Wipes are awesome for cold and flu season. Older kids love to have their own pack so they can feel grown up when, well, the need for a boogie wipe arises. No one likes that scratchy feeling of an over-tissued nose so using something gentle and moisturizing can make all the difference for this season of sickness.

Oliver loves his pack so much that we have a new going conversation in the house:
Oliver: Mama, Ollie boogie. Wipe?
Me: Truth?
Oliver: Yes mama, truth! Boogie!
Me: Okay, take a wipe.
Or, he says: no truth mommy. Sorry. (Honest kid.)

Click to enter the Boogie Wipes giveaway here:

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Open to readers in the US, Canada and Australia.

Check out their Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest or their website: www.boogiewipes.com. 

And Kandoo's bum wipes are equally great for a child's independence. Because they are safe for septic-systems and therefore flushable they are a perfect option for potty trainers. Not quite ready to be trusted to do a thorough job with toilet paper, and also the same concept of using something moisturizing for these oh-so-sensitive areas of the body.

Oliver loved his pack of them one day that came with customizable stickers to write his name and add some animals to the container. He still uses it for collecting wood clothes pins (he has inherited my sense is awesome.) 

You can enter this one by clicking here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Open to readers in the US and Canada.

Check out Kandoo on Facebook.

My Travelling Medicine Cabinet

A few things about me:

1. I love to travel.

2. I do not love to carry heavy luggage around the airport.

3. I do not love to pay for extra checked bags at the airport.

4. I pack light.

Now when I say pack light, I don't mean I only bring one pair of heels and I limit myself to a medium sized makeup bag. I mean my entire family of 3 can fit our things for a 10-day vacation into one suitcase and the carry-on only has snacks and books in it. This includes diapers for the vacation. So, bottom line: I bring almost nothing.

The fact is a bottle of Dr. Bronner's pure castile soap (for makeup removal, laundry/dishes if you're staying in a condo, bathing, etc.) and a good pair of jeans go a long way. I typically call up any other females travelling with me and ask if they have plans to bring: a blow dryer, an aluminum-free deodorant... you know, those share-able things. (Ha ha.) And if Calvin has toothpaste along, well then we're good to go!

There's one place I won't skimp though. I mean, I'd rather wear the same pair of socks all week than forget this little detail. And that is: my travelling medicine cabinet.

Ollie has a monster immune system, so we don't use these medications on him very often but for the few times we have, the majority have been while we're out of the country. A bad flu in California. Trouble sleeping in Chicago. I think he was teething Brazil. Oh the joy!

And if I crossed my fingers that whatever international pharmacy we're near would carry my homeopathic brand of choice, well, I might end up with empty hands & a crying toddler. So we just bring three things along where ever we are staying.

1. Homeocan Kids 0-9 CALM - This is the child equivalent of a nice glass of wine and a bubble bath. Oliver will literally go from turbo-wrecking ball to cuddly bed-ready-babe moments after drinking what he calls his "purple juice". It's great for those hysterical moments, for too-late nights when your child gets overtired and they can't sleep, or for long flights.

2. Homeocan Kids COUGH & COLD - I pack our tiny sampler bottle because it's never been opened and is that less likely to spill it's magical juices all over my clean clothes. It soothes a cough, and even a cold - aptly named.

3. Homeocan Kids FLU BUSTER - I owe this product my life. It brings down a fever and a grumpy pumpkin in no time. I use it before I even think about Tylenol for Kids. If Oliver is sick and I need to work, therefore sending him to Grandma's house I send him along with a bottle of Flu Buster to continue giving him doses to make both their lives easier.

To this day Oliver has come down with a handful of things, but for the most part he has spent his "under the weather" days more, what I would call "fighting the bug", than actually being down & out. He's never sick for long. And I thank these glorious products for that. They make my life as a mama easy and have NO CHEMICALS.

Wellness Wednesday: How to Fight the Flu ... Naturally!

Let's get down to it right away. The flu is out there and you don't want to catch it. Here's what you can do, naturally, to fight it:

• Vitamin C - research is inconsistent regarding the effectiveness of vitamin C to shorten the duration of a cold, but most of the studies are in agreement when it comes to its ability to prevent catching a cold in groups under stress (the actual study I'm referring to was done on marathon runners). I love the dissolvable packets of Emergen-C that taste great and contain 1000mg of vitamin C.
• Vitamin D - a study by Nature Immunology discovered that T-cells (white blood cells involved with immune response) will extend a receptor, looking for vitamin D, when they encounter a pathogen, and it isn't until the T-cell receives vitamin D that it can be activated and fight the pathogen. You can find it in fish, eggs and fortified products (like milk) or simply bare some skin and get sun exposure. I take Now Vitamin D 1000 IU chewables and I give Oliver the liquid Baby D Drops, 400 IU.
• Probiotics - there's nothing like good bacteria to fight off bad bacteria. If you're the type that is constantly sick you may be in a state of good bacteria deficiency. I recommend a probiotic that is enteric-coated, refrigerated, and contains multiple strains of bacteria. Renew Life makes a great one with 50 billion CFU (colony forming units - a way to measure bacteria).
• Oil of oregano - a great little liquid extract to have in the house, it is anti-microbial so beyond fighting infection, it can sanitize your toothbrush, clean out a yucky wound, and add fighting power to your homemade countertop cleaner. Place 3 drops under your tongue (really, on your tongue is not going to taste pretty), allow to absorb for 30 seconds, then wash down with a glass of water.
• Netti pot - Many bugs going around have incubation periods, meaning they enter your body and then take a bit of time to actually infect you and begin producing symptoms. Flushing your nasal passages may rid you of a bug before it sets in. Do it every few days for best results. Each model is different in its instructions but you basically flush a saline solution up each nostril and allow to drain out. See below for my saline solution recipe.
• Echinacea - a prominent researcher, analyzing years of studies, concluded that taking echinacea cuts your risk of catching a cold by more than half, and reduces its duration by 1.4 days on average. Try an alcohol-based tincture or look for immune products that contain it. Because it is a product thats effectiveness is very much based on its quality, make sure to buy a reputable brand. I recommend A. Vogel: one of the single greatest supplement companies in the world.
• Zinc - a zinc-deficiency is probably the leading cause of immune dysfunction. T-cells cannot function without this mineral. You can find zinc in a variety of lozenges.
• Homeopathic "Influenzium" - this preparation is available as a liquid that can be taken (away from food and drink) to essentially immunize you from current flu viruses. Make sure the product you purchase is current or else it will contain ingredients not specific to this year's flus.

What might be causing you to be prone to illness? Here are some things that depress your immune system or promote the spread of illness, that you may want to consider addressing:

• Lack of sleep and high caffeine intake can cause adrenal fatigue
• Poor sanitation skills
• Over-sanitation (using chemical cleaners, alcohol hand sprays and constant antibiotics creates an overly "clean" environment which is just as risky)

And what about when it's already hit? Here are some nice remedies:

• Slippery elm is excellent for a sore throat, pick up a pack of the lozenges for instant relief
• "Oscillococcinum" is a homeopathic flu remedy that wows me every time I hear of its miraculous effectiveness
• Elderberry syrup is a delicious remedy that actually severs the flu molecule's ability to attach onto healthy cells
• Umcka Coldcare - anything from this line is pure magic and I have no idea how to explain the mechanism by which it works - just trust me

How to make your own saline solution for a netti pot:

Boil water in a kettle, then measure out 8 oz. Stir in 1/4 tsp salt (table will work, Himalaya is better) and 1/4 tsp baking soda. Allow to dissolve, then cool. Slightly warm water is most pleasant for using a netti pot.

Never Trust a Sickly Nutrition Coach

Hello to those of you who have stuck with me through the dry spell of monthly posts. I've been doing well - actually, I just sat down to a bowl of hot, whole-milk oatmeal with dates and walnut. It tastes incredible.

I thought it would be interesting to some of you to see which supplements I take on a regular basis. Keep in mind, this is additionally supplemented with things like oil of oregano when I'm worried about a virus going around, various herbal teas to get me sleepy if I need to and an assortment of freebies that I get at work just to try.

Every morning I spoon down the following:

I received this as a product swap with my friend/co-worker Andy for a bottle of AOR Advanced Orthocore multivitamin capsules that I won in a raffle draw at yoga. Due to a problem with the tipping of my epiglottis, and a lifelong fear of choking, I can't swallow any pills whatsoever. I was excited about this trade because I've always wanted to try Vitamin Code's products - they are raw, vegan, whole food plus well researched and most often sprouted. This one admittedly does taste terrible (a mix of orange and gasoline?) but I follow it with apple juice and that makes it bearable.

As someone who has only seen the other side of anemia once (it was the day I was schedule to give blood, my iron levels finally increased to an acceptable amount for the first time in my life, the lady said I was good to go, then ended up withholding my blood because I'd been on a vacation to Mexico in the past year - boo), I desperately require a daily iron supplement. The ones at the drug store - liquid Palafer was my go to - will make you sick to your stomach guaranteed. This formula contains vegetable juices to increase absorption and taste. I only take 1 Tbsp per day because I also keep a ton of iron-rich foods in my diet (molasses being the most frequent) and I drink nettle tea every morning.

I'm a big believer in the idea that our current North American diet contains a lot of bad fat and a sparse amount of good fat. I would never, ever recommend a low-fat diet, but I would suggest making conscientious changes to increase the ratio of good to bad fats. One of the ways I do that is fitting avocado, walnuts, coconut and flax in my diet. I also keep hemp and chia in the house and have started using more coconut oil. To make sure my essential fatty acids are in check I take a bit of Genestra's lemon flavor EFA liquid. It's made from fish so I may switch away from it in the future, but for now it's doing me well.

If you want probiotics to truly give your digestive system a boost the only way to do so is take a capsule that will make it through the stomach and work on the intestines. Because that's not an option for me, I do the next best thing and take a probiotic lozenge that will at least introduce healthy flora to my mouth and throat. That's good for breath, dental health and illnesses related to the throat. I like to think it helps my immune system.

Speaking of immune system, another product I haven't mentioned but is definitely deserving of a paragraph is Sambu. It is a concentrated syrup made from wild elderberries. The flu virus cannot live or reproduce in the presence of elderberry. I put a spoon of this in a mug and add hot water to make an out-of-this-world delicious tea that tastes like hot blueberries and apples. I wouldn't say I take it every day, but certainly 80% of the time between October and March.

So that's that. I hope you've enjoyed this peer into my refrigerator (can't say medicine cabinet because all of these liquids are perishable - darn). Feel free to ask questions.

The Homeopathic "Flu Shot"

Homeopathic medicine is something that deserves the following caution:

I don't understand as much as I'd like. I know that it's safe, I know that it works. Beyond that, I'm only attempting to be right.

The way I've been taught it, the premise of homeopathic medicine is the philosophy "like cures like". Some one, long ago, realized that things that cause symptoms (poison ivy causing a rash, for example) when diluted and taken as a small dose, can actually cure that symptom. It isn't really the same science as vaccinations that cause your body to react and then learn, this is on so much of a smaller scale that there's no way it could prompt your body's immune response. Rather the energies work to eliminate the symptom. (For more on my beliefs and struggles with energy medicine - request a blog about it!)

Certain ingredients (bee pollen, ragweed, tree bark) are put into a series of dilutions, are tapped when they decant, and are packaged as small pellets (there are liquids and others available) that you take under the tongue as various frequencies. For example, if I noticed bruising from an injury I might take 4 pellets of Arnica Montana, 30c (the potency), every 2 hours until I notice the bruising going down. I use a preparation called Traumeel on Calvin's foot inflammation after he plays hockey and I used other remedies when I was suffering from tooth pain. One that I know of, Acetea Ramosa (probably the wrong spelling, sorry) , can help induce labour in someone past their due date and even help with the pains of it.

Homeopathics are safe in every situation I can think of, including during pregnancy, and for young children. They don't interact with other medicines. And they work every time I've used them. The reason why they haven't received more attention is that there are no major companies backing them up with research and promotion dollars. Talk to anyone who has used them and they'll promote them for free.

One homeopathic remedy that really gets my attention is Influenzium. It is, more or less, an alternative to the flu shot. Depending on your preparation, you can take either one tube per week for six weeks and it will cover you for the entire winter season, or you can receive a one-time dose from a homeopathic professional, and it will also cover you for the season.

Today, the health food store I work full-time at is offering the flu dose for free from 11am to 3pm to anyone who wants it. A hospital in my home city that forces its workers to get the flu shot in order to work has recently recognized this method as a legitimate alternative and will allow their employees to work if they have chosen this route instead.

So if you don't want the flu, and you don't want the flu shot, try the homeopathic flu dose!