tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18152078177212290532024-03-06T11:04:47.028-08:00Seeking Eco-ChicTricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-74806283323944449242013-01-24T14:40:00.000-08:002013-01-24T14:40:02.032-08:00GAPS school lunchesPacking GAPS lunches aren't the easiest, especially making sure it gets eaten. I planned the intro diet to start during break to get through the first detoxing and to have more food options. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of packed lunch. <br />
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1. Talk to the school about incentives. <br />
It's very important to let your child's school know that they are on a specific diet. No candy or sugar treats. I asked the lunch crew to offer tokens for my son if he shows them an empty container. <br />
It's not too much effort for the school if by putting the responsibility on the child to check in. <br />
2. If you can visit durning lunch time. I plan on twice a week on days I send soup. Soup is the hardest for my son to eat. <br />
3. Snacks at school need to be GAPS. I send ground beef, soft vegetables, and later when he is ready, scrambled eggs. <br />
4. Keep communication open with the teachers. When my son has a poor day I get an email about his behavior. This has been important to see how new foods affect him at school. I recently introduced eggs for breakfast. Later that day the teacher emailed me to let me know. I would not have known that eggs should be held off for a week longer with our the detail from the teacher.<br />
5. Snacks like beef jerky or nuts are great for afternoon on the bus.<br />
Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-20574495491245049972013-01-08T13:09:00.001-08:002013-01-08T13:09:33.265-08:00His and Her book signsHere is a craft I did several months ago and finally getting to posting. I love books and love using for crafts! <br />
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For the wedding I made some His and Her signs. I chose some white books from the Dollar store and made each sign from my Silhouette. <br />
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<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-20771519862059397592013-01-08T13:07:00.002-08:002013-01-08T13:07:41.280-08:00BrothBroth is an important part of the GAPS diet and easy to make. Even if its only used for soup base, for making rice or occasional drink, it is a great source for fats and minerals any family needs. <br />
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Being on the Gut and Psychology syndrome diet (GAPS) we use a lot of vegetables. During the first few weeks of the diet only the top parts of cauliflower and broccoli can be used. That leaves for a lot of wasted parts we usually eat. <br />
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One great way to reuse all those vegetable parts, ends, and peels, that are usually thrown out; save them in the freezer until there are enough to make vegetable broth. They also can be thrown in to bone and meat broths for extra flavor. <br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every morning I<span style="font-size: small;"> start a pot of broth. I pack it full of <span style="font-size: small;">vegetables</span> and a few <span style="font-size: small;">pieces</span> of meat. Dark meats make the best broths with the most flavor. <span style="font-size: small;">I pull out the </span></span></span></span>meat and vegetables for breakfast and snacks as the broth continues to simmer for 4-6 hours. It also makes it easier to serve broth through out the day if it is warm on the stove. <br />
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With using scrape parts and even the bones from meats the family has eaten off of, the broth simmers through out the day and I serve the broth from the pot. I strain and reuse the stock parts for a second batch of broth. In some cases I can make 3 or 4 batches with the same bones and vegetables. <br />
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Using what you have to make broth can start saving quite a bit of money. <br />
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Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-9767442640044799062013-01-05T22:26:00.001-08:002013-01-08T12:59:27.941-08:00Day 4 Detoxing <span style="font-size: small;">GAPS intro diet is designed to give a gentle detox of the body. There are so many things we introduce to our system that overloads our organs. Detoxing is also killing bad bacteria and yeast in the gut and through out the body.<span style="color: #0b0000;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i>Here are some resources for the Intro Diet</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i> http://gapsdiet.com/INTRODUCTION_DIET.html</i></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><i> http://www.gaps.me/preview/?page_id=28</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">However, when detoxing a <b>Healing crisis</b> can occur and last night it did. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">My 6 year old has been doing great. He loves eating the food with minor complaints. Usually I offer a game or activity after he drinks the broth or eats the soup and that works well to motivate him. He had a reaction around 7pm with leg cramps. He has had severe leg cramps at night since he was one. The doctor said they were just "Growing pains" but they miraculously went away shortly after we started on GAPS last March. Last night they came back at the worst he has ever had. On top of that he also got very itchy all over his body. Fortunately, I was able to treat him with essential oils and detox baths that helped reduce the reaction and pain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b>Reactions happen for </b><b>several reasons</b>. It may be a new food was introduced that they are not </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">ready for or detoxing is going to<span style="color: #0b0000;">o</span> fast. I was a little surprised, I have not added in other detoxing things like pro-biotics, fermented foods, or garlic. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">I did carefully look at our day of food to make sure nothing new was introduced today. <span style="color: blue;">If I had given him </span><span style="color: blue;">garlic, pro-biotic, </span><span style="color: blue;">or fermented foods, I would have decreased them the next day and more slowly introduced them</span>. <i>When ever introducing a new food like dairy or fresh foods, a sensitive test should be done.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b>Sensitively testing: </b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Mash up food and place a small amount on the inside of the wrist. Let it dry on the skin at night before bed. Of the area is red or irritated in the morning, the person is not ready for this food yet. Try testing again in a few days. I also use this test on my youngest</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>. </b>When he was just starting foods at 6 months, I used the test for all new foods added to his diet. It is a great way to test for sensitivities for infants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="color: #0b0000;">Drawing out the toxins is important to feel better each day. Once toxins are being released into the system reactions can occur like sleepiness, skin irritations, cramps, bloated, and even flu like symptom. Helping pull those toxins out of the body can reduce those symptoms and help your body work more efficiently.</span></span> <br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Here are some things to do to lessen reactions to detoxing:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"> </span></span><span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b>Ginger tea with a little honey between meals.<br />
</b> Ginger is a great way to help your body eliminate toxins from your body. Ginger can also be added to bath water with salts or soda. Ginger makes you sweat out the toxins.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Detox baths</span></span></span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Whether it is a foot soak or full bath, they should be done daily for the first week or so. When ever my kids have mood swings, I sit them down and soak their feet.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Essential oils </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Essential oils are a great way to help treat pain, and illness with out introducing toxins in the body. They can also aid in detoxing the body and helping the liver work more efficiently.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"> (More on Essential oils soon)</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Baking soda Baths </span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Baking soda is great for balancing the ph of the skin and helps to gently pull toxins from the body. I also use it to wash my youngest boys hair and skin. No soap is needed. It also makes thier skin amazingly soft. It can be purchases at Home improvment stores in very large bags for $7 or so.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Apple Cider Vinegar </span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Add in 1/2 cup for a full bath, 1/4cup for foot soak. Another form of detoxing. <b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"> </span></span></b></span></span><span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Also relieves pain and aches of the muscles.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b><span style="color: #0b0000;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Epsom Salt</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Epsom salt is good for muscle pain and absorbing magnesium. It also pulls toxins from the body.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">All three should be used in rotation. Each have different detoxing benefits. They can be combined. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b>Magnetic Clay Baths</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b> </b>You can find them here:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"> http://www.magneticclay.com/store/</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;">Clay is a great toxin puller and easy to use. It is also a bit more detoxifying then the three above. I use them weekly on my boys. (<i><span style="color: blue;"> Clay baths on first use can loosen bowels and cause frequent bowel movements the day after. They can be great for those that have a constipation reaction when on GAPS)</span></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b0000; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #0b0000;"><b> </b> </span></span> Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-76205276708945164452013-01-05T00:22:00.002-08:002013-01-05T00:22:45.605-08:00Day 2 & 3 ConvenienceStarting the GAPS diet at stage 1 means a lot of kitchen time. It's best to not use the microwave as it damages the nutritional value of foods, pots and pans stack up quickly. The kitchen is a mess and our of clean dishes. Paper plates makes the first few weeks a huge time saver. I still hand wash the pots and pans right away but now I don't have the run the dishwasher 3 times a day. <br />
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Some other conveniences are having grass fed hamburgers frozen. They are easy to pull out for a quick snack or easy breakfast. Chicken parts preferably with skin and bones on and pre chopped vegetables.<br />
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I am not much of a breakfast person and don't want to make much in the morning so I try to keep it simple. <br />
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Today we started with putting broth in a skillet just enough to cover the bottom of the pan and placed the hamburger patties in. I added some chopped cauliflower on top and put the lid on. I additionally heated 2 cups of broth so everyone could have 1/2 cup each with their meal.<br />
I often will pull out a few peices of frozen chicken place it in a pot of water and make a quick pot of soup. It is easy to reheat for snack and easy to throw in extra vegetables. <br />
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A few tips:<br />
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<b>*Make soup each morning.</b> <i>It is an easy way to have the broth and the vegetables can be pulled out to eat easily. That way my kids can decide on soup or just the meat and vegetables with broth on the side.</i><br />
*<b>Have frozen meats in small portions easy to grab. </b><i>One child might be hungry and no one else is. I can grab one hamburger or chicken piece and heat with broth and chopped vegetables.</i><br />
<i>*</i><b>Make broth from the bones.</b><i> After you either cook or boil the whole chicken, remove the meat and boil the bones. This can be done 2 or 3 times. Clean off the remaining soft meat parts for soups. </i><br />
<br />*<b>Pre chop vegatables for the day.</b> <i>Having the vegetables ready to grab, it is much easier to throw in with water and meat or already made broth. </i><br />
<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-76156794215206805892013-01-02T17:07:00.001-08:002013-01-02T17:08:00.066-08:0030 days on GAPS intro Day 1Start of the new year and after all the holiday treats, gatherings, and outings, is a great time to start over. GAPS diet is not new to my family, I started my kids last March on GAPS. The more I learn and experience I become more and more committed. My kids are well versed with what to eat and do fairly well with the food; where as, my husband and I not so much. Since we started this last year, we have learned how to treat ourselves out of sight of our kids. Now it's time the while family is on board. <br />
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As for my kids running through the stages again. We have all turned to the most convenient foods available on this diet. Yogurt, cheese, eggs, and fruit. I do my best to limit them but they are easy to grab while waiting for that fresh cooked meal. I see that my sons are still having reactions to dairy and sweets ( like fruit and honey). Fruit in the summer is all to available and yogurt is so easy to grab instead of heating up vegi's and meat on the stove.<br />
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Generally we don't go off the diet much, although I have made some decisions on what I accept thy is outside the strict diet. But starting the intro diet is still hard to do. Our family has been on full GAPS since school let out in June. I wanted to make sure we could eat salads for the summer.<br />
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<i>Over the next month I wanted to post on our experiences, choices we have made, and how to make it easier for your family. Those who are considering GAPS, Paleo, Caveman, or Traditional, these tips can help save time and know that it can still heal your body even with some mistakes.</i><br />
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<b>Our first day one the Diet</b>:<br />
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Today I started with a turkey soup. Simple and easy to make and lasted for snack and lunch. Day 1 is very restricted to soup, broth, and about 5 vegetables. Since the holidays were so close, I saved the turkey bones and made 3 batches of broth from just the bones.<br />
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<b>Simple turkey broth</b><br />
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After cutting away the meat put bones and drippings in a large stock pot or crock pot and cover with water.<br />
Celery<br />
Sea salt<br />
Pepper <br />
Parsley and any other herbs desired<br />
Bring to a boil and simmer for 4-6 hours.<br />
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Strain broth off into a container and start again with bones. Save any meat and soft parts attached to bones, for soups. <br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000;">Simple Turkey Soup</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000;">Turkey broth</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">turkey meat </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Parsley</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Sage</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Salt and pepper</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Carrots</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">celery</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">half of leek chopped</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">bring to a boil and simmer 20 minutes</span><br />
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My daughter loves to season our soups, I keep several fresh and frozen herbs around.<br />
I also like to pack the soup with meat and vegetables. This way it is easy to pull them out for a snack or if the kids just won't eat soup, I can strain a cup of broth out of the soup and pull out the vegetables and meat they can still eat with it not being soup. For the first week we will be eating soup for breakfast either separated or as soup. I make sure to make enough for snack.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><i>For the most of the 6 stages of the diet everything needs to be cooked with broth. Having enough to use in soups and cook other things in is important to have stocked up. By making a turkey plenty of broth and meat can be used to last a family for several days. </i></span></span>Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-56582985075466021552012-12-30T11:02:00.001-08:002012-12-30T11:03:43.263-08:00Mantel designAfter Christmas came down the mantel was bare. All year I have had temporary designs and seasonal decor only because I did not know what to do. Now that I have had some time I put together a new mantel for the new year. ( of course it will change for the holidays but have a back design that stays ). <br />
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The clock was a great find, only $14 at Burlington coat factory. <br />
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I used spray starch to try to attach the fabric to the wall but to no avail. I did just leave it up with push pins instead ( I like the color and design, breaks up the plain walls). <br />
I love old books, clocks, and owls. I got everything squeezed in for a cohesive design. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNElxlP28gz7T9FQ_jc5MMX2grptgLYDnVV1XlBpo3Z0LEQKOb69HXWIJserxYVQDW1sjPnBD7FBPTylCtcVBI8gHeW4bLJQ5jpMnDDqzPEhlfVkv5NEWPalfIe1XGmMWqicVrYO8FAhtw/s640/blogger-image--1837866208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNElxlP28gz7T9FQ_jc5MMX2grptgLYDnVV1XlBpo3Z0LEQKOb69HXWIJserxYVQDW1sjPnBD7FBPTylCtcVBI8gHeW4bLJQ5jpMnDDqzPEhlfVkv5NEWPalfIe1XGmMWqicVrYO8FAhtw/s640/blogger-image--1837866208.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_kRhjbqEPjxCf_3K5Pvfw5raBVVH8zbWwZjboXUs4U746FL-W8_MomHVJPDDD4ZrKteLbMH50EkGnku6JijpvBacAoiiJfIGH3KEhyphenhyphenOOr8Tvz2XFFULV7uM3fderOFaY2wNFjCCke7BU/s640/blogger-image-638590271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_kRhjbqEPjxCf_3K5Pvfw5raBVVH8zbWwZjboXUs4U746FL-W8_MomHVJPDDD4ZrKteLbMH50EkGnku6JijpvBacAoiiJfIGH3KEhyphenhyphenOOr8Tvz2XFFULV7uM3fderOFaY2wNFjCCke7BU/s640/blogger-image-638590271.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv8HJd2oApmvwACM0bJby0ohWUdfRMlrZWIGoBtgDv54U4ZrcVsQ4sf0_0Toc-YXrcHEQMqW2Ha6yXC-aR24NIh-DVpvdI2Y-JL75KJXvwWmXJTvErZ8lyGfMB2MOxl1sdIKe2gjc2HMI/s640/blogger-image--749165617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv8HJd2oApmvwACM0bJby0ohWUdfRMlrZWIGoBtgDv54U4ZrcVsQ4sf0_0Toc-YXrcHEQMqW2Ha6yXC-aR24NIh-DVpvdI2Y-JL75KJXvwWmXJTvErZ8lyGfMB2MOxl1sdIKe2gjc2HMI/s640/blogger-image--749165617.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKt1kO4o_LorLEGsita7RKfXjzsZWlAQ5pZgsWXyYZE6M_sfo0vz9qye9C03VF2w7UMnhF3XYBPfuiRRG0G1fMWlWKA02Jum9UiYRHV3xC1q7Sa2MtlYxAfy3rMZ-0WBY1GWmC0iBdoF7/s640/blogger-image--1603823723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKt1kO4o_LorLEGsita7RKfXjzsZWlAQ5pZgsWXyYZE6M_sfo0vz9qye9C03VF2w7UMnhF3XYBPfuiRRG0G1fMWlWKA02Jum9UiYRHV3xC1q7Sa2MtlYxAfy3rMZ-0WBY1GWmC0iBdoF7/s640/blogger-image--1603823723.jpg" /></a></div>Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-86518514606036109742012-11-09T12:52:00.001-08:002012-11-09T12:52:10.968-08:00Lunch on GAPSMeal planning on a special diet can be a chore. With each season I find ways to make meals easier and enjoyable. Some of the American staples of macaroni and cheese, spaghetti and fries we are not able to eat. Vegatbles and meats are our family staples. Soups are a good choice for lunches and with fall, squashed can make meals easy as well. Speghtti squash is one of my favorites and gives the kids a comfort style food. I like to put a squash in the oven at 350 in the morning for about an hour. Then when I am ready to use it, I sauté with plenty of butter or ghee, then cover it with tomato sauce. We do eat tomatoes sparingly, but they are nice to have once and a while. Cooking vegetables in broth or butter for the side with broth to sip. A great quick lunch for kids at home. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqOzuT7PO7-8-SEm-kaji9OYFLIgOvLhoBgTnvA6dtCeQ1S_F-3vAINtk0coM8vsB2_32-1ZbEMjZQfOVNCkzJfKZwSxK83MX1bvNEbWX3Hs8xo8HynuYxDpjzdfpDD9H_K6VXppl8LeM/s640/blogger-image--345723802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqOzuT7PO7-8-SEm-kaji9OYFLIgOvLhoBgTnvA6dtCeQ1S_F-3vAINtk0coM8vsB2_32-1ZbEMjZQfOVNCkzJfKZwSxK83MX1bvNEbWX3Hs8xo8HynuYxDpjzdfpDD9H_K6VXppl8LeM/s640/blogger-image--345723802.jpg" /></a></div>Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-40127777924758105652012-10-31T20:03:00.001-07:002012-10-31T20:05:49.419-07:00Happy Halloween!!Halloween fun has started with door to door treats. With kids on special diets this is one night they get candy. So how I the best way to handle holidays? I decided to give my kids one day of all out candy and then donate what's left. This weekend we will be stuffing piñata and donate them to the local family housing. As fat as the aftermath of sugar in my children's system detox baths and charcoal tablets to help absorb the grains and sugar tonight. It certainly is so much more of a treat when candy is so rare in our diets. Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-12956470884447390832012-10-25T14:04:00.001-07:002012-10-25T14:14:23.753-07:00Portland Art MuseumToday with school out I took my family to the Art museum. To my surprise was the Greek exhibit. This meant an education on the body. At first my boys were a bit embarrassed but quickly it wore off. Being able to talk about the form of body and sculpture changed how we looked at the body in the eyes of the Greeks. <br />
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Quietly going through the museum we found pieces that we liked and some we didn't. It's amazing how some art affects us differently. <br />
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Pictures of:<br />
Dionysos god of wine.<br />
Two boys fighting over knuckle bones<br />
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Today I came up with a good reward treat that works for us. Homemade pop. It's simple and unsweetened. Root beer extract and carbonated mineral water. Other extracts can be used like cherry, anise, or vanilla. I prefer essential oils like grapefruit or wild orange. The root beer really offers the flavor without sweeteners. <br />
For those of you that just can't quit pop or want to offer your kids something other than pop or treats this works well for my family. <br />
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Now I just need to find a pure organic extract for my family.<br />
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Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-65178801765583714562012-10-02T22:33:00.001-07:002012-10-02T22:33:22.792-07:00Fall DecorationsI am so excited for Fall and most importantly Halloween. I love decorating for this season. I thought I would even change the blog for the month. I wanted to show off my fall decorating. I kept it simple and more fall this year. Less skeletons and more leaves and pumpkins.<br />
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I love the new banner looks. I had this from a swap party and thought it would work well. I also used my Silhouette to create bats that are all over our house. <br />
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Dollar tree is great for the little things like these hanging skeletons. <br />
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Happy Harvest!!Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-56188631747398013352012-09-15T22:58:00.001-07:002012-09-15T22:58:21.238-07:00How to paint a DoorPainting can be frustrating but once the basics are understood, it can be quite easy and rewarding.<br />
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My front door was in need of renewing. Black doors always look nice and I decided it was the way to go. There are a few things to consider when painting a door.<br />
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Weather exposure can determine what colors should be avoided. Full sun, whether it is day or evening doesn't matter if it is long hours of sun. This sun can cause bubbles in paint, glue oozing from joints or window inserts, and warping. Dark colors will increase these problems. Especially black!<br />
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Sheen is also something to consider when painting a front door. Flat is a standard for exterior painting and flat or a low sheen for a front door is becoming more popular right now. Often times a satin door is better to improve fade resistance and wash-ability. This door is going to be satin black.<br />
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My maroon door was faded, otherwise in good shape. I removed the kick plate to paint and cleaned the door.<br />
It is best to do any brush work first to limit the brush strokes. <br />
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Painting in the panels and then around the door handles. Next use a small cat paw roller. Always paint with the grain up the vertical grain (otherwise known as rails) and then the horizontal grain (skids). Rolling over areas that are brushed to get a smoother finish. <br />
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Once paint is dry an hour or so, a second coat can be put on. A second coat will ensure a good coverage and offer longevity for the finish. <br />
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<i><span style="color: purple;">Primer? Exterior paints are self priming. It gives them the ability to cover evenly on all sorts of surfaces. The paint will look the same on wood as it does brick or cement. This makes it much easier to paint with dark colors. A good paint will cover in two coats without the use of primer. Some colors will do fine with out a second coat. </span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="color: purple;"><span><span style="color: black;">On a beautiful fall day the paint dries quickly but if the door needs to be closed the weather stripping may need to be taken off for several days. The avoid this try putting Vaseline on the rubber weather strip, this will stop the door from sticking.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="color: purple;"><span><span><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="color: purple;"><span><span><span style="background-color: white;">Vaseline can also be put on the hardware instead of tape. This will allow paint to be wiped of after the door has dried. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPSZwiF_DZX9-EJbkKzvXBP0md-40OXCa2mv8y39MjkHviMsxTej0zYyM_b2zZ8gxcjxIMHAr2JVfde2YZcU-Fdo5jQOr6ZJTIHHMqMWSrCUtK1tMbtYg_F8cb4Vb4Ooj2dwZfv7SAxZI/s1600/Summer+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPSZwiF_DZX9-EJbkKzvXBP0md-40OXCa2mv8y39MjkHviMsxTej0zYyM_b2zZ8gxcjxIMHAr2JVfde2YZcU-Fdo5jQOr6ZJTIHHMqMWSrCUtK1tMbtYg_F8cb4Vb4Ooj2dwZfv7SAxZI/s320/Summer+019.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
Now for the kick plate....<br />
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Once removed lightly sand to scuff finish and remove rust.<br />
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Prime with a spray can metal primer.<br />
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Lightly sand and paint using metal finish.<br />
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Coat with clear coat and install.<br />
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Just the right touch to finish off the front door. Now it is much more inviting. <br />
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Now I am just going to finish the fall decor. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tricia</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="color: purple;"><span><span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: lime;"><span style="color: purple;"><span><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span></span></span></span><i><span style="color: purple;"><span></span> </span></i></span><br />
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<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-57029843982087560022012-09-13T00:52:00.002-07:002012-09-13T00:53:01.495-07:00Cheated on GAPS<div style="text-align: center;">
Tonight has been a tough night. My son that is on the GAPS diet (<span style="color: blue;">please refer to <a href="http://gapsdiet.com/The_Diet.html" target="_blank">GAPS website</a> for</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"> details</span>) and needs to be on stage 3, has cheated. What does that mean? My daughter is selling candy bars for her school and while he was upstairs, he took one and ate it. I wasn't sure which one of my boys found her stash but tonight at 11pm I figured who it was. <i> My 6 year old.</i> My 6 year old has done well to stay on the diet, he struggles with wanting treats. He has accepted the diet because it stopped his acid reflux he had suffered from for a year. <i>He really misses sugar.</i> </div>
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After almost four months working through the Intro diet, I put all my kids on full GAPS. My 6 year was not ready. I just had a difficult time putting him fully back to stage 3. Now that he is back in school it is a bit hard to pack all cooked soups and then a snack. </div>
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It looks like that is what I need to do.</div>
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Tonight all of his symptoms have officially come back. A few weeks ago, with the summer of fruit, a cheats of fruit snacks, and what not the neighbors were giving him, his eczema behind his knee showed up. I almost had it cleared last week and now his allergies and croup have flared up. <br />
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His symptoms for my reasons to put him on the diet:<br />
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Acid reflux for more than a year. It has worn his teeth and medications had done nothing to help.<br />
Eczema in spots of his body<br />
Behavior was becoming more irritable with his tummy aches.<br />
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What I found cleared up:<br />
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His allergies that caused a constant runny nose most of the year and croup at night around 11-1am.<br />
His speech has improved.<br />
His Acid reflux gone by day 3 on Intro.<br />
Sleeping through the night. He woke up often since age 2, with "growing pains". He would often cry for an hour or so in pain. (Glad that's gone)<br />
His behavior has gotten milder. <br />
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It is amazing how much change I have noticed with him. It has been worth the extra effort.<br />
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With tonight's re-occurrence of waking at night with mild croup and night cries, I am planning a full soup week with many detox foot and full baths. I hope to get back to healing and overcoming my own lazy approach lately, on keeping my kids where they need to be to heal.<br />
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<img alt="" height="584" src="http://gapsdiet.com/images/7652ce00f8e468876a72c8819bc6bc0a.jpg" style="border: 0px solid; height: 322px; width: 277px;" width="476" /><br />
It is important to read through the book and prepare to start the Diet. It is a hard diet to get in the hang of and it does take time. Understanding detoxing and taking it slow is important not to over load the body. I am a believer on how important it is to heal the gut and all the problems it leads to when the gut is compromised. Some times I need a reason to keep going and tonight was my trigger. <br />
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There are some great blogs that support the diet and offer information on how to work through the diet. Here are some ideas for cheats offered on <a href="http://www.healthhomehappy.com/2012/02/gaps-cheats-what-to-do-if-you-cheat-how-to-cheat-with-minimal-harm.html" target="_blank">Healthy, Home, & Happy</a>. Making sure when cheating, to add in some extra detox, such as baths and foot soaks, plenty of water, and ginger teas can help off set the symptoms. <br />
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I would love to hear from you on your experiences with the GAPS diet, leave a comment.<br />
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TriciaTricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-9560134517705257592012-09-11T16:00:00.002-07:002012-09-11T16:00:09.132-07:00Homemade toothpaste with Essential Oils<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been fiddling around with essential oils for some time now. </div>
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I finally went and got some high quality ones that I am much happier with using. Slowly I am replacing much of our health needs with essential oils. Essential oils can be used in place of medications to treat anything from pink eye to headaches. One of my recent discoveries was making toothpaste using essential oils.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMFXXfdzOyxgTpc-R9fYgfQ-5kYBkKynubcUAgGZ5Rm89oUwJWG3QGHzod6viylmzEG2V4uSXLqFbIRmC9VwSAe1RvHrgJKLz1Z-kLkrdwRvN4ZqTKLKNWe-O_Zpi6VnDjh-m5YFXXCXv/s1600/Summer+2012+682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="homemade toothpaste" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDMFXXfdzOyxgTpc-R9fYgfQ-5kYBkKynubcUAgGZ5Rm89oUwJWG3QGHzod6viylmzEG2V4uSXLqFbIRmC9VwSAe1RvHrgJKLz1Z-kLkrdwRvN4ZqTKLKNWe-O_Zpi6VnDjh-m5YFXXCXv/s320/Summer+2012+682.JPG" title="Natural toothpaste" width="320" /></a></div>
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I would have never thought to replace my store bought toothpaste with homemade toothpaste and you may not either. Here is my journey to changing my mind.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbQKyThMItN4qp_8MO1imiCjVO116KltAjy8IXrj9-ATNwvDvAhiZua_o3NRjcSYvVfD5pXi7-i3bopYXZqIzIZ2kw1KZ4x-4CXqW8QbhRAckoBR2M9uxqDWGDCkKkl8bZ-83GFkIz5xq/s1600/tooth+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="sls in toothpaste" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbQKyThMItN4qp_8MO1imiCjVO116KltAjy8IXrj9-ATNwvDvAhiZua_o3NRjcSYvVfD5pXi7-i3bopYXZqIzIZ2kw1KZ4x-4CXqW8QbhRAckoBR2M9uxqDWGDCkKkl8bZ-83GFkIz5xq/s320/tooth+001.JPG" title="natural homemade toothpaste" width="320" /></a></div>
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One evening my 6 year old lost one of his front teeth. I pulled back his lip to take a look and was surprised at what I saw. His lower front teeth {that had just come in}, had a severe receded gum line. I was greatly concerned and hit the internet for some probable causes. Receding gum lines brought all sorts of issues I did not want to know about. Gingivitis and periodontal disease to name a few. I was a good mom, washing teeth as often as I remembered. I knew it was often enough he shouldn't have those kind of issues. In my search I was <b>surprised</b> to read some causes of <i>receding gumlines. </i> I have had receding gums for years and this was of interest for me.<br />
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Two of my favorite sources for homeopathic remedies are <u>www.ehow.com</u> and <u>www.livestrong.com.</u><br />
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Both of those sites gave great information that changed my opinion on toothpaste.<br />
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<b>One of the common ingredients in toothpaste is SLS</b>, a surfactant that is used in everything from shampoo to conditioner. It is what suds up. Some claim it is natural derived from coconut oil but it is a know irritant and one of the worst. It is also the most commonly used. Here is a site that talks about some of the problems with this surfactant. <a href="http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.html" target="_blank">SLS</a>. The problem with it in toothpaste is receding gum lines. It is an irritant that causes inflammation in the gums causing them to recede.<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><i>{You also may be interested in Re-minerializing your teeth to help stop and prevent cavities and rebuild enamel. This will have to be a whole other post} </i></span><br />
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My son's gums were the cause of an under bite that pulled his gums tight around his lower teeth. Good news is it is not from poor maintenance, bad news is this means braces. So in order to save for this expense :) here is a great natural at home toothpaste to try.<br />
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The great thing about home made is variety. It is a simple recipe that can be adjusted to taste. You can also add in oils that fit your family needs.<br />
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I decided to use tea tree oil as it is great for killing germs and healing the gums. <span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">It is not an oil that should be swallowed. For children it may be best not to use Tea tree oil. There are several oils that can be used and swallowed safely.</span><br />
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<u>Reducing inflammation</u> use one or several drops of each.<br />
Cinnamon<br />
Clove<br />
Tea tree oil<br />
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<i>By boiling cinnamon and cloves together for 20 minutes to make a mouthwash that is great for killing germs and reducing inflammation. </i><br />
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<u>Pain and sensitivity</u><br />
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Clove oil<br />
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<u>Taste and freshness</u><br />
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Cinnamon<br />
Peppermint<br />
vanilla extract<br />
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<u>Minerals </u><br />
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Trace mineral 10 drops added<br />
Powdered Calcium Magnesium ( I use Cal-Mag Citrate by Thorne Research)<br />
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<u>Bases that can be used</u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Aloe Vera gel</b></span> is great for healing and reducing inflammation. It can help heal receding gum lines.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Sesame oil</b></span> fights gum disease and heals receding gum lines by strengthening the tissue.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>Coconut oil</b></span> <a href="http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/" target="_blank">{ greatness of Coconut oil here}</a> has anti inflammatory, anti fungal, and anti bacterial properties.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">{Can also be swished for oil pulling, more on that later.}</span></span><br />
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<i>I do not recommend Glycerin as it can stop teeth from re-mineralizing and often comes from sources that are not organic.</i><br />
Here is my recipe:<br />
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4 tablespoons coconut oil<br />
1 tablespoon of baking soda<br />
5 drops of tea tree oil<br />
5 drops of peppermint<br />
8 drops of On guard ( Doterra brand blended oil) optional<br />
5 drops Cassia or stevia sweetener, Xylitol (which has shown improvement in enamel) <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mUAxuQ8tK6NMHgTzchBnGXMp5oVsjqej2E6ofHX8IQ8AXNY0lxwj-aVEPNOJjpCWqv8wH1XnHu9XP4aq9e7pOWCFA2Z_Qfe5bgv_IQKSaDVgC76NAq78swOGvr-2dmvJSsRLWf3XmRyF/s1600/tooth+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="coconut toothpaste" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mUAxuQ8tK6NMHgTzchBnGXMp5oVsjqej2E6ofHX8IQ8AXNY0lxwj-aVEPNOJjpCWqv8wH1XnHu9XP4aq9e7pOWCFA2Z_Qfe5bgv_IQKSaDVgC76NAq78swOGvr-2dmvJSsRLWf3XmRyF/s320/tooth+002.JPG" title="coconut oil toothpaste" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>I am surprised how well it worked. </b></div>
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<b> No suds and my teeth felt clean. </b></div>
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I also noticed that my mouth did not have the inflammation I was used to after regular toothpaste. My mouth did feel clean and I like the soft taste. Toothpaste is very sweet normally and this has a subtle taste. I also feel the sweetness in toothpaste leads to sweet cravings. This just leaves your teeth clean with out the sweet toot. <br />
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For my Kids I made this:<br />
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5 tablespoons Coconut oil<br />
1 tablespoon baking soda<br />
5 drops peppermint<br />
1/2 tsp cinnamon or Vanilla extract<br />
sweeten with stevia or Cassia essential oil optional<br />
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<b>Mouth rinses can also be made very similar to toothpaste. </b><br />
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*Cinnamon and Clove rinse<br />
Add essential oils to distilled water or boil cinnamon and cloves in water for 20 minutes.<br />
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*Tea tree oil in water (2)<br />
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*Aloe Vera and peppermint rinse<br />
Reduces inflammation, kills bacteria, and restores tissue<br />
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*Sesame oil swish for killing bacteria and strengthening tissue. (2)<br />
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Using natural home care can take time for results. It takes time for the body to heal and rebuild. Give it time to see the benefits of using naturally safe products. <br />
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It does take some getting used to and my husband is not convinced. I suggest doing your own research and learn for yourself why this is a good choice for your family. <br />
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I am not a doctor, dentist, or a health professional. I am only a mom that is looking for natural and safe products to use in place of commercial products. I encourage doing your own research and making sure these suggestions are safe and appropriate for your family. <br />
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References:<br />
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1.http://www.livestrong.com/article/270335-tea-tree-oil-for-receding-gums/<br />
2.http://www.livestrong.com/article/277208-natural-remedies-to-strengthen-receding-gums/Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-50275687022184424102012-09-04T11:48:00.001-07:002012-09-04T11:49:31.796-07:00Time 4 Learning ReviewLast year I decided to pull my son out of middle school. For years we have been trying to work with the schools with IEP's and special education classes to no avail. He has been struggling in school since 3rd grade and just has had no interest in performing at school. I had fought with the teachers and principle at his elementary school and decided to pull him out of public to put him in private school. Though I really liked the private school, 2 teachers for 15 kids in 6th grade, it just wasn't working. My son could not concentrate or stay interested enough to work in school. He had made improvements from 20% activity ( basically writing his name on his paper) to 60%. That still means an F. Taking him out of school in March I needed to find a curriculum that would be interesting for him and allow for other activities through out the day. I had planned on some neurological training and exercising to increase his focus and concentration. Other programs just did not suit my son. Other online programs were sitting in front of the computer and being instructed for hours. This was no different than school. He needed something more interesting. <br />
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Time4learning.com was suggested to us by our Brain development specialist. It is a school cirriculm that is online. Similar to other online options, it had more flexibility for our schedule and was not as dry as others. I was happy with the low monthly fee and that we did not need to sign up for any length of time. I signed up quickly and my son started the lessons. <br />
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Last school year was his 6th grade year. He enjoyed going on his online learning sessions. He stayed interested and was able to go through several lessons and come back later in the day to do more. It was motivating for him to complete lessons for the game time after. It has not been a challenge to get him to start his lessons each day. <br />
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This year we started 7th grade and updated his lessons. The lessons are very interesting and interactive. As he goes through the lessons that offer reading through the colorful lessons, allow him time to read each multiple choice and choose and each character than commentate on the answers. The voices are fun to listen to and keeps his attention. I see that hearing and being able to read through each lesson makes a difference for my sons attention and focus. I do supplement the lessons with work books and other lessons, but do feel that Time4 Learning does offer much of the curriculum that he needs for this year. <br />
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Math and science are areas my son has struggled in. The schools have kept them dry and uninteresting. With Time4 learning he does stay more interested in Math and science but the science stops at 6th grade. My son does wish they were more interactive with animation. The math does not seem to be challenging enough as of yet. It keeps his attention and does help him catch up from all that he has missed in the past years of school. It seems to be right were he needs it to be.<br />
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Overall, I am happy with the curriculum it offers and how it keeps my son interested in doing his lessons. It also prepares him to complete other assignments I have prepared to supplement the online lessons. We are planning on using it for this year. <br />
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Time4learning goes through pre K to 7th grade. <br />
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Tricia<br />
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As a member of Time4Learning, I have been given the opportunity to review their program and share my experiences. While I was compensated, this review was not written or edited by Time4Learning and my opinion is entirely my own. For more information, check out their <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/education/curriculum_overview.shtml?ref=Review+Referring" target="_blank">standards-based curriculum</a> or learn how to write your own <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum-review.shtml?ref=Review+Referring" target="_blank">curriculum review</a>.Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-54523603568748727052012-08-30T22:52:00.001-07:002012-08-30T22:52:12.168-07:00School is almost here.Summer is closing in to a fall breeze and cooler nights. School is coming next week and I can not believe that the summer is gone. Every year I look at our summer and guilt sets in as I realize that I have done nothing I set out to do. We did not leave town, go hiking, fishing, camping, or swimming. My poor kids did nothing this summer. It has been no different every summer as my job is 80% completed in the summer so that does not leave me much time to plan fun events. I have been trying to get in some fun things this last week before school but I just don't know what to do. So like usual, I will plan activities after school starts. I plan on going out of town soon to relax. <br />
I also can not believe I have not had any time for any projects. Last week I did stain my front porch and short fence and that is the extent of it. I look forward to posting again soon with some projects {as they have piled up} but also about some new changes I have in my families life.<br />
First, I have decided to Home school my son and may bring home my other son soon. I am trying to pull together our schedule and hope to share my findings and what is working for him. My son has ADHD and other disabilities that I just can not ignore. I have pretended that school would work for him, but it has not since second grade. Now in the seventh grade he is struggling and time to bring him home. It won't be easy but I did choose to be a Mom and some days it is harder than I thought. I know I will go on a good, long vacation when my last child moves out. For now, it will be hard work ahead.<br />
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My other son has had GERT. I am not sure exactly what that pertains to and do not care for the diagnosis, only that the medication was not improving it, so I decided to try the GAPS diet. In three days his symptoms had gone and he was eating the food with no complaints. That was March and now we are having to plan for meals at school. I will be adding more on my adventures on the GAPS diet soon. <br />
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Finally, crafting... It's fun and I love it but it will be taking the back burner. I still have some projects but they will be infused with our family changes. Schooling and strict diets suck much of my time now. I hope you check in with our new adventures and I love to hear about your experiences with homeschooling or if you are considering the Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet. I have seen some changes I am excited about. <br />
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Tricia<br />
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<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-40589763553572999902012-08-10T23:48:00.001-07:002012-08-10T23:48:25.193-07:00Homemade Body Wash #3I have been experimenting on different ways not only to save money but also to reduce chemicals my family uses. What I have learned is liquid soap products have lots of bad stuff I do not want to use. Bar soap is generally safe, especially if you buy handmade. Handmade soaps can cost upwards of $4 and more. Lets face it, Bar soap is not fun to use. It gets slimy and tends to leave a film on my skin. Making liquid body wash from bar soap does work but again, still tends to be a bit drying and leaves that film. I wanted to make my own wash from scratch but if lye isn't used than all sorts of surfactants and fillers are needed to create the right slip and foam. In studying these fillers, they usually are derived and that is what makes them not natural and are toxins or irritants that I do not want to use. <br />
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Some of these products to keep an eye out for are:<br />
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SLS<br />
SLSA Both are surfactants that make washes sudsy. They are very irritating to the skin and can damage the cells. It is a good idea to do some research on sulfates to know for your self.<br />
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This site has great info about safer products to use <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/" target="_blank">http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/</a>. This site gives a list of ingredients to avoid and companies that they approve. However, I do believe making it at home can be cheaper and easier.<br />
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Here is what I have decided to use for our family body care product:<br />
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Castile soap is made with vegetable oils or olive oil. It can have several beneficial oils and then made with lye for a true soap product. It does not foam much and is very thin. But it can be customized and using a foam bottle it does take care of the lather. Because it is thin it makes it perfect for a foam pump. Foam pumps are important as Castile soap is not tear free. The foam is easier to control. A little goes a long way. <br />
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Dr. Brommer's is easy to purchase in most stores. The most common Castile soap brand. <br />
I use one part soap to 3 parts water. Add fragrance in essential oils that you like and that are good for your family skin. Make sure to check on safety of use on youngsters.<br />
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Some good essential oil combo's<br />
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Lavender and vanilla for relaxing. Lavender is anti fungal and anti bacterial. It is a good all around choice for skin care. <br />
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Eucalyptus<br />
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Lemon or Orange for uplifting<br />
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Sandalwood is anti bacterial and anti fungal. It can be used for acne prone and oily skin.<br />
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Geranium has some "anti aging" qualities as it treats wrinkles. It is good for restoring skin and is good for sensitive skin.<br />
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Oils can also be added to the custom soap. Adding oils can help in moisturizing. Only small amounts are needed. Olive or grape seed can be added.<br />
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<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-2072065589222932722012-07-11T23:08:00.001-07:002012-07-11T23:08:44.897-07:00Table Terrarium<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Succulents are so easy to take care of and so nice to have around the house. Easy to cultivate and make a small terrarium. A simple glass bowl from the dollar store, dirt, and white sand {Dollar Store again}.<br />
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Layered the dirt and sand for interest, mainly for drainage as succulents like dry.<br />
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These succulents have over grown and are easy to pull out by the base to replant.<br />
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I chose several that I like and planted in the bowl. Arranged a few rocks and have a cute table top Terrarium.<br />
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<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-31322439696468548232012-07-05T23:49:00.003-07:002012-07-05T23:49:48.389-07:00Wedding Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently I was able to help creating flowers for a wedding. I spent many hours looking for the right flowers that the bride liked. I wanted to share them so it might save someone some time searching. Hydrangeas and mixed flower bouquets are very popular. With using a glue gun and silk flowers to make the boutonnieres they are nice and pretty.<br />
<i style="color: blue;">Hydrangea Boutonnieres made from Silk flowers. Hydrangeas do not last long and silk do look real enough. The rest of the flowers are real. The stem is ls wrapped with the leaves of the flowers.</i><br />
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Beautiful Bouquet made by my sister Christy. Hydrangea, Rose, Peony, and purple flowers. The stem is wrapped and pearl pins added for detail.<br />
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Here are the table centerpieces with out the water. They were prepared before hand and filled with water on site. <br />
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Several bouquets were made for display on site. Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-90290009207576663612012-07-04T23:17:00.004-07:002012-07-04T23:17:50.915-07:00Submerged Floral centerpieces and more<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have had the opportunity to do some decorating in a wedding and wanted to share some of the ideas we used. <br />
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This is a submerged dogwood. It really looked fantastic and lasted several days. <br />
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The final was a submerged purple orchid. Rocks covered the base we anchored the flower stem in. A floating candle lite the piece beautifully. The wind kept blowing it out, none the less it was beautiful.Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-14986970457405593772012-07-02T22:34:00.000-07:002012-07-02T22:34:53.919-07:00Easy Bridal Shower Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Theme gifts are easy for showers and wedding gifts. It makes it easy to have a bright and colorful gift with out the bag. Here is one I put together for a recent Bridal Shower.</div>
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Bright colored wash towels</div>
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Measuring cup set</div>
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Measuring spoons</div>
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Peeler</div>
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any small kitchen items</div>
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Strainer.</div>
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Wrap with a simple ribbon and small handmade card.</div>
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<br /></div>Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-89845927579329274892012-06-11T12:34:00.000-07:002012-06-11T12:34:42.464-07:00Ghee HomemadeI have never heard of Ghee or have never seen it at the store. I have heard some stores carry it for a hefty price but why would I want to use it. I have always had a reaction to real butter, so I did not use it. I have used fake, over processed, "You think its butter" products. Then I stumbled upon Ghee.<br />
It is just clarified butter but has some great qualities. If you have sensitivities to dairy and butter, ghee is the way to go.<br />
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Start with Butter, Organic is best if you can.<br />
Set in a metal dish or pan and place in the oven at its lowest temp.<br />
Set until it is fully melted, 1 and a half hours -3 hours to make sure the moisture is evaporated.<br />
Then put in the fridge to harden. Once it is hardened pull out and wipe off the white curds. They do not re harden, it will be drippy and easy to wipe. Some brands float to the top and can be scraped off when it is pulled out of the oven. The brand I used the whey sinks to the bottom. I have found it much easier to let it set then wipe off the whey.<br />
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The Whey is at the bottom. It is a white color, easy to see what needs to be separated.<br />
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The great thing about Ghee is it adds great flavor to cooking without burning like butter does. It also has great restorative abilities.<br />
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*My Norwegian ancestors used Ghee with Fermented cod liver oil on the bedsides of deathly ill patients to bring them back to health. <br />
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*It is an easily digested fat that can decrease the risk of cardio vascular disease.( if eaten in moderation)<br />
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* It has shown to improve weight loss.<br />
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* Helps improve digestion and aids absorption of vitamins and minerals.<br />
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* Has anti viral properties<br />
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* Immunity boosting<br />
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* a great fat for brain development in children. <br />
* It can last outside the fridge for long periods with out going rancid. Make sure it is kept away from water for long lasting Ghee.<br />
* Doesn't loose its flavor like butter does over time.<br />
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<a href="http://path2healthyliving.blogspot.com/2009/03/health-benefits-of-ghee.html" target="_blank">Source </a><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/ghee" target="_blank">source</a>Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-35192824430628234202012-06-09T14:18:00.000-07:002012-06-11T12:33:16.162-07:00DIY Vapor rubVick's vapor rub is one of my favorite products, I just do not think I can live with out it. But I just do not like the petroleum jelly it is made from. I have read about petroleum jelly and see that it has some great benefits. { I believe only come from its sealing ability on the skin} I think those benefits are the same for other oils like coconut oil and Shea butter.<br />
Here is the list form Vick's of ingredients:<br />
<b>Inactive Ingredients</b>
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"Regular: Cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, special petrolatum, thymol, turpentine oil<br />
Lemon: Cedarleaf oil, lemon fragrance, nutmeg oil, <b>special petrolatum, thymol, turpentine oil"</b><br />
Reference: http://www.vicks.com/products/vapo-family/vaporub-topical-ointment/<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Do you want turpentine oil on your skin?</b><br />
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You may not think that a topical use product needs to be organic or used from non petroleum products, I would suggest doing a test. Cut a clove of garlic and rub it on your heel. It takes a minute for the taste of garlic in your mouth. You can also do this with Vick's and feel the coolness go through your blood as it moves up your legs. Your skin is taking it inside your body. This means your organs have to clean it out of your blood. Another reason I did not want to use Vick's is that petroleum jelly should not be placed in the nose. Guess where everyone puts Vick's? <b> </b>If it is inhaled it collects in the lungs and can cause a rare disease called lipoid pneumonia.</div>
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Reference: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/petroleum-jelly/an00947</div>
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It is easy to make some at home and you can customize it for your family.<br />
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I started with an empty vitamin container and some coconut oil. Any oil will do to get the essential oils on the skin. Even a lotion base will work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xicOak7OAET_tbOnL5rdRVHEuaMkJKuM_RnOBi0jY5O0gH-_O2OMiijZG4XtpOoyfs07KfjwsUp_fzSaB3DlXzYjwcFFSIB7q9JXaHLlBNhIJBJJKdaALXGbAh4zKhAAlXtv26UXSLSr/s1600/may+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-xicOak7OAET_tbOnL5rdRVHEuaMkJKuM_RnOBi0jY5O0gH-_O2OMiijZG4XtpOoyfs07KfjwsUp_fzSaB3DlXzYjwcFFSIB7q9JXaHLlBNhIJBJJKdaALXGbAh4zKhAAlXtv26UXSLSr/s320/may+042.JPG" width="320" /></a>Coconut oil 2-3 tablespoons<br />
Rosemary oil7 drops Great for relieving pain and clearing congestion<br />
Eucalyptus oil 10 drops Great for clearing sinuses<br />
lavender 6 drops Clears sinuses and relaxes<br />
peppermint 8 drops Clears sinuses <br />
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You can also try Thyme, cedar, and campor { which is in Vick's} Pine, spruce.<br />
There are many oils that improve congestion, coughing, and asthma symptoms. I added lavender to help calm and help sleeping. I just used what I had on hand. You may try sharing your oils with friends to make all the different mixes with out buying it all yourself.<br />
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Once you choose your oils and carrier oil like Olive oil, Grape seed oil, Shea butter, Ghee {clarified butter}, or plain lotion. Add in your essential oils to your liking. I rub it on the chest and heels of the feet. It works for about four hours. I have been using it for Little mans teething. It clears up his constant runny nose from his new incoming teeth well.<br />
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I did melt my coconut oil and mixed in the essential oils. I wanted it to dry smooth to look more store bought. I am still a sucker for pretty things. <br />
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Soon to come is making <b>Homemade Ghee</b>.<br />
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<b>Vapor bath balms.</b><br />
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<b>Other uses for essential oils.</b><br />
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Eucalyptus Oil <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/700.html" target="_blank">Uses</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/natural-essential-oils/health-benefits-of-rosemary-oil.html" target="_blank">Rosemary Uses</a><br />
<a href="http://www.netherfield.co.nz/reasons-use-lavender.php" target="_blank">Lavender uses</a><br />
<a href="http://www.essential-oils-lifestyles.com/peppermint-oil-uses.html" target="_blank">Peppermint uses</a><br />
<br />Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1815207817721229053.post-28687922339379697492012-06-08T23:29:00.003-07:002012-06-08T23:29:49.315-07:00Homemade Greek YogurtI am back after taking a bit of a break. It seems that I can be too busy. I have had time to do some projects just not time enough to post. This week is my Algebra final, so my brain may again function normally. My next set of college courses are much more artistic, to my relief. Now that I am home with my children I have time to spend on our family health and improve our eating habits. One thing I decided to try is making my own Yogurt. Once you have made yogurt there are several things you can make from it. <br />
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I started with my favorite milk in a glass jar. I made sure it was not Homogenized, which is a process to make sure it does not separate. I wanted as little processing as possible for the best nutritional value. You certainly can use your favorite milk you have always used.<br />
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Recipe:</div>
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One gallon of milk</div>
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1/2 cup of Whey or plain yogurt store bought, or yogurt starter.</div>
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Yes it is that simple.</div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Put your milk in to a pan and heat to 115 degrees.</span> I used a candy thermometer but your wrist can give you a good indication of temperature. {You don't want it to boil, heat slowly} <span style="color: blue;">Let it cool to just above body temp at 105.</span> Then add in your starter of choice. I have made it from all three and it has always turned out. I mix the yogurt starter in some milk and add it in. Or just add in your plain yogurt. Whey can be made when you drip yogurt to make Greek yogurt or cream cheese.{ shown below} Once you add in your starter and mix it. <span style="color: blue;">You will want to cover it and set in a heater place. Using a towel to cover on a heat pad over night or in a lightly heated oven. I heated my oven and turned it off then placed the crock in. By morning I had a gallon of yogurt.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6OciA6OIVw-bmIOSDFZf8lGaWBHIQWPhdkiXjkpRCmE5LzxyybtrZPbkXFRCrhibk8LtRiL21N6gEKcDSu9FF_FthQT5m-5N_ZtLsC3pZvimVkZGZETp2naUil4PYz1ackQwSziPLPp9/s1600/may+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6OciA6OIVw-bmIOSDFZf8lGaWBHIQWPhdkiXjkpRCmE5LzxyybtrZPbkXFRCrhibk8LtRiL21N6gEKcDSu9FF_FthQT5m-5N_ZtLsC3pZvimVkZGZETp2naUil4PYz1ackQwSziPLPp9/s320/may+003.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEgkq6rrILXTYLs-Lk9O7qKp12h47_JDkyF1zMBCbJtFnVaFheDwM9zY_XPFdtKLGQ99EB8d2Dke54re7b53RPRyCPk-T5bkH9ni-Rfn01gBYTF3DMJ8yBZ7IvDS5v-1o7D_NLwoOQV2v/s1600/may+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwEgkq6rrILXTYLs-Lk9O7qKp12h47_JDkyF1zMBCbJtFnVaFheDwM9zY_XPFdtKLGQ99EB8d2Dke54re7b53RPRyCPk-T5bkH9ni-Rfn01gBYTF3DMJ8yBZ7IvDS5v-1o7D_NLwoOQV2v/s320/may+002.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Here is how you make Greek yogurt.</span> <span style="color: blue;">Once your yogurt is made use a coffee filter in a strainer, cover with wrap and place in the fridge all day. It drips off whey that can be saved in a glass jar for some time. It can also be frozen for use later. </span>Whey is a pro biotic food and is great to add over foods your family eats. I put a spoon full over vegetables and in soups. It can also be used for Lac to Fermenting foods. It is a way of saving money on buying pro-biotic pills, use whey in drinks or over foods instead. </div>
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Why Probiotic foods?</div>
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Pro-biotics are beneficial gut flora that breaks down your food and feeds the cells. This bacteria is very important in the digestive system to utilize nutrients from your foods. Adding in fermented (pro-biotic) Foods helps your digestive system work more smoothly. {I am sure you have seen the yogurt commercials} I wanted to make my own yogurt to ensure it had only healthy ingredients. It is easy to add fruit and honey to it. </div>
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Here is a resource on Probiotic foods. </div>
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http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/probiotic-foods/Tricia Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08409425382690086942noreply@blogger.com0