The Long Answer

I get lots and lots of emails from women with health issues either for themselves or their children. From my end of it, it seems like almost everyone is dealing with something ailing somewhere in the family. I am sure that history didn't have what we have now. I know there were terrible plagues and diseases but not the type of self-inflicted problems that we have now through our diet and medicine. When I get these emails or phone calls, I run into to two different sort of people; those wanting the short answer and those wanting the long answer.


The short answer is the answer many are looking for. It is the pop the pill, take a nap and all your troubles are over type of answer. I can promise you will never get the short answer from me. Short answers yield short lived results. That is our world. We want it all now without the work. 


The long answer is hard. I can usually tell when I start the long answer if I have the short answer mom or the long answer mom on the phone. The long answer causes anxiety. The long answer usually brings tears and lots and lots of questions. The long answer is just that....long and involved. I know lots of people who asked me years ago about their child or themselves and didn't want to hear the long answer. They tried the short answer; the multi level type miracle supplements or medicine and most of them are worse off for the wear at this point. I do not know ONE SINGLE CHILD on the autism spectrum who was every recovered with a short answer. I do not know ANY SINGLE WOMAN with endometriosis, MS, depression, IBS, chronic Fatigue Syndrome or any other auto immune disease that was ever healed with the short answer. Barring a miracle, it won't happen.


So what is the long answer? It begins with understanding where the problem began. For kids, it will begin with the gestation and health of the mother. By getting this history, it is often quite easy to understand where the problem began. Lots and lots of times I hear about mothers with yeast infections during gestation. A child born who would vomit everything they ate as an infant. Bowel issues. Chronic ear infections and antibiotics. Allergies and eczema. Sleeplessness. The list goes on. Their is always a trail but usually we wait until the trail is long before it is addressed. Boy how I wish I knew all this 6 years ago. I see children on this trail and I want so badly to tell this mother what needs to be done to stop the train wreck. But, so , so many only want the short answer.


For moms, the trail to demise has been going on for years. We are good to neglect ourselves and not listen to what we need. We can add so many things to the mix to really mess up our systems. After thousands of dollars spent at Naturopaths and Dr.s and thousands of hours spent on research, there are always basics that almost everyone of these health issues we are plagued with can be linked to: yeast, bowel issues, allergies and protein issues and diet. The problem is that these situation don't heal themselves. The problem starts small and builds until we now have no energy, depression, stomach issues, etc. The problem is that when we get to this point, the energy to fix it seems to be a problem.


What do we do? Take heed of the small signs. If you think there is something wrong with a child or yourself, take action. Don't just wait and see. Stay off the antibiotic train. Change your diet. Get sleep. Address allergies.


Don't take the short answer. I believe there is a natural way to heal about anything, especially if addressed early. You don't have to live with ailments; unless you want to. If you don't want to take the hard road to fix the problem, you will stay on the hard road of living with the problem. I promise it is much easier in the end to do the hard work now. 


If you want the long answer, I would be happy to talk with you. I will never profess to know all the answers but I will be happy to tell you all I know and point you in the right direction. Everything in babysteps. You can do it! Let's end the trail of destruction in our society. Start by cleaning up your diet. It is the single best thing you can do for yourself and your family. If you aren't willing to do that very first step, you will always, always pay the price. Everytime.


My speech for the day.

Vaccination Information

If I say the word "vaccination", the flood gates open of comments. I am not reopening the conversation, I am merely passing on a great website to help educate you a little so you may make your own decisions. My friend, Linda, passed this on to me and I thank her for it. I reiterate to you all, I am not against vaccines. I am, however, for responsible vaccination which is something that is not practiced in this country. We have to take this into our own hands. I am very thankful that I don't have little ones to worry about these vaccines anymore. It is absolutely ridiculous the amount of injections they want to toxify their systems with. Please think about it. I urge you especially to not vaccinate your newborn in the hospital. Please. At least wait. They don't have the immune system to fight off what you are putting into them. I am always in favor of waiting several months at least. 


Here is the link: http://www.nvic.org/Downloads/49-Doses-PosterB.aspx


Take the time to really explore the site if you have little ones. Be educated. 


Please, no nasty comments. I know this is a heated topic but I am really tired of the same comments. I am posting someone elses site so you can leave nasty comments for them on their site. Thanks.

New B complex from New Beginnings

I was pretty excited to see that New Beginnings is now carrying a B-complex vitamin as I went to place my order today. I think every woman should be taking a little extra B vitamins as we deplete ours so easily. I wrote a little bit about it a while back. Here is a little taste of what I wrote:


The B vitamins are a group of 8 vitamins that aid the body in cell metabolism. Of course we all know that cell's are what make up our body so it is probably a good thing to keep them in shape and metabolising properly. The B's also keep our skin and muscle tone healthy, our immune and nervous system in check and helps us combat the stress and anxiety in our lives. When you are really stressed out, your body actually depletes itself of B vitamins so you should make sure you take extra at this time. For children with disorders such as Autism and ADHD, many times a huge culprit is the way their body handles their B vitamins. Almost all of the time, they need major B supplements. For my son, I inject him with B12 vitamins to help his body work properly. Without these vitamins, the system can't work right and the brain will then suffer. Anxiety levels and depression levels are greatly affected when we don't get the vitamins we need. Another great benefit of B's are that they help the metabolism to speed up to aid in a healthy and lean body. Who doesn't want all this? It is like a little miracle pill. Yes, you still need to eat foods rich in B's like lentils, bananas, tuna and potatoes, but we all need a little help. Grab a bottle. Pass it a round. Take care of yourselves ladies! 


The great thing about this B-Complex is that is so cheap! You get a bottle of 90 capsules for $19 bucks! Woo Hoo! I ordered a few extras for any of you wanting to amp up your energy. 


It is always important to get our vitamins naturally so eating a rich, colorful diet is important but you can never get too many B vitamins. It's good to have a little extra help sometimes!

Last claim on order....

I have placed the orders for the bulk items and due to ordering requirements, I will have an extra 4 gallons of coconut oil left, 7 tubes of toothpaste and 1 gallon of shredded coconut. First come, first serve or I guess I have restocked some of my year supply items!  

Prevention....a refresher course

It is that time of year again...back to school which means the proliferation of germs. 3 days into school I already had the note home that there is strep in the classroom. School = Germs. But, it doesn't have to be. Really. We didn't have any sick days last year from school. That is really important since I teach preschool and can't have sick kids home. Kids can be surrounded with germs and can actually ward them off. It isn't to say they aren't going to feel a little "yucky" for a day , but the full fledged , in bed type sick really can be avoided. The body needs to build up an immune system by being exposed and fighting it off but you don't have to let the germs win the fight. Let's refresh ourselves on the basics of a healthy immune system:


First off, SUGAR. Sugar lowers the immune system which invites the germs to hang out and multiply. That is why illnesses spike in the fall and winter right around the holidays. We eat lots of sugar at this time with Halloween being the kick off. I have just figured this out first hand. In my quest to really listen to my body and note how food makes me feel, I have made a crystal clear correlation with sugar and my tonsils. I am pretty good about not eating much sugar EXCEPT when my daughter makes my favorite cookies (here). 
I tend to eat a few too many bites of the dough and a few too many cookies. What happens EVERY SINGLE TIME is my throat will be very sore the next day. Without fail. I never put this together before. I take my special remedies (to be discussed) and it goes away but the sugar allows the germs to attack my throat. That is my weak point. I think I have learned my lesson in this area. Hopefully.


Second, you need to pump up the immune system. This is critical in children who seem to have a weak system to begin with. I am an absolute huge believer in vitamin D3 as a daily supplement except when you are out all summer getting it the natural way. When school starts, I start the D3. I use the ionic liquid D3 and put it right in their drinks in the morning, at least a few times per week if not daily. You can search D3 on my site and gets lots of info on that, including recommended dosages. You can give it to all ages. I also pump the vitamin C, especially when they feel something coming on. If their is an allergy issue, it is important to address that as an allergic, inflamed body loves to invite the germs. It is a moist, mucousy environment that is a petri dish for germs. I love the New Beginnings A & I to help with this along with Cod Liver oil to help get the histamines out. Also important is clearing yeast from the body which also attracts the bugs, especially congestion.


Now, when things do go awry, as they will, and a child comes home saying they don't fell so great; nip it in the bud asap! There are so many natural things to do so it is important to keep some remedies on hand. I am a big fan of rotation so your body doesn't get used to one certain thing. I LOVE Spice of Life by BeYoung oils. I put it in a capsule for the older ones or put it on the feet of the little ones. I give extra C, use garlic, Elderberry, Golden Seal, Colloidal Silver, Oreganol, etc. Sometimes I use it all! There are so many things for so many different situations. Grape Fruit Seed Extract should be a staple for any home. I use it for everything from cleaning to sore throats. When there is a sore throat coming, we gargle 3 drops of GSE in 4 oz of water several times a day. Tastes absolutely horrible but it works. Big time. I just used some on my chickens infected foot. It is cheap and lasts forever. Of course, there is the ever popular Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar to help the body become less acidic which breads the germs as well. 1 tsp daily is always a good practice. For chest issues and snotty noses, I love the Breathe essential oil.


The last bit of advice, which I am finally doing better at, is sleep. If you don't get your Z's , your immune system will not be in top form. I have always been one to sacrifice in that department but after feeling so good on vacation this summer, I realized how bad I feel daily on 5 hours of sleep. I have , for once in my life, been really trying to get almost 7 hours of sleep and I feel like super woman. I am getting too old to live on 5 hours anymore. Plus, it keeps the eye bags away.


Keep those kiddos healthy. Sick days are no fun...for mom or kids! I promise, you can keep them at a minimum.


I am ordering today if anyone wants to stock up. I will order a few extra to have on hand. 


D3 $20
Spice $29
Vitamin C chewables $7
Carlson's Cod Liver Oil $32
A & I chewables $15
A & I capsules $34
GSE $12
Allimax (garlic) $32
Oreganol $29
Elderberry $28
Breathe $29

Shredded coconut and toothpaste order

I am placing an order for 1 gallon containers of organic, pure shredded dried coconut. No sulfites, pesticides or sweeteners. This is hard to find. I usually order from Azure but they have been out the last few orders. This coconut is the best you can get. I cook with coconut a lot and have missed my supply. These gallons are usually $25 and are on sale right now; with shipping , they are $20. Let me know if you want one asap. Your cost will be $20 out the door. I order in bulk to get the prices so let me know if you want to be included in the next order.


I am still ordering the coconut oil as well for $60 a gallon. 


In addition, I am also placing a group order for my favorite toothpaste: 

Sweet living peppermint 


$2 per tube. Floride, sulfite and sugar free. My very favorite. Tom's brand runs you about $4-$5 per tube. Super great deal. Get as much as you want. The tube is about the same size as the Tom's tube. 


The essential oil liver cleanse paks (lemon and peppermint oil) are also still on sale for $25.


I will be ordering by next Friday all products, oils and supplements.


Have a great day! More posts coming soon....

Summer Sides....

If I was cooking for myself only, I would live on fresh side dishes. I really have no interest in heavy, meat dishes any longer. This is definitely an evolved taste. But fresh, flavorful sides just make my taste buds and body happy. I only wish my kids shared my enthusiasm. They do like the side dishes but it doesn't seem like a meal to them. I am glad they indulge me anyways.

I had a vegetable drawer full of veggies from The Backyard Farmer that had to be used asap. I had one big yellow squash, a sweet onion, 2 Armenian cucumbers, corn and some red potatoes. Yum. They were all delicious served up in just the right format.

This is how it went down; simple and refreshing:

The potatoes were quartered (they were small) and tossed with fresh pressed olive oil and some Herbs de Provence. They were roasted in the oven until lightly golden at the edges and fork-tender.

The cucumbers were served sliced, as is, next to a homemade dill dip.

The corn, cut off the cob, sauteed in some butter with sweet onions, Celtic salt and fresh pepper. I never cook my corn in water. It ruins the corn. It needs very little time to cook.

Easy stuff.

My very favorite dish was the photo above of the yellow squash side dish. I absolutely despise soggy veggies. The old school version of squash that is mushy in a pan with butter and cheese makes me rethink my love for veggies. It really is an act of disservice towards this beautiful creation. You zap the life and goodness right out of them that way not to mention any desirability. Many people don't realize that a squash can be eaten raw with great taste if the seasoning is right.

This was yummy. Everyone ate it up. 

1 large yellow squash or two small

3 T. of lime juice (lemon ok too)

3 T. olive oil

1 thinly sliced or diced shallot, white only or      about 2 T. chopped onion.

1/4 tsp dried thyme

feta cheese

chopped pecans

salt and pepper as desired

Slice the squash, peel on, very thinly and then cut in half. Whisk the lime juice, olive oil, thyme and salt and pepper in a bowl. Add squash and shallots and toss several times so that marinade soaks in. Add the

chopped pecans and feta. I left some without the nuts and feta for those who didn't like nuts and for those who are dairy free right now at my house. It still tasted great. Let sit for a few minutes for flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.

It was a perfect summer side. 

Book List

I get great emails everyday and many of them are my blogging prompts. One email that I get often is where I get my info and what I suggest for reading. That is always a little tough for me to answer because I have read everything I could for at least 25 years so to go back and say where I learned it all, is impossible. However, there are some basic "food bibles" that I think everyone should read to get a good understanding of the truth of food. They are overwhelming but you take it one step at a time. Work on one principle and then move to the next when you are ready. There is so much false information out there so you need to be careful. Many times you will get information that is backed by a certain group trying to push their product. These books aren't affiliated with products. They speak the gospel of nutrition and I love them for that.


My top picks:

Nourishing Traditions 

by Sally Fallon

This is the best book I have ever read on food. She has lots of crazy recipes that i probably won't try but the information in the sidebars and everywhere else helps you understand how our ancestors got it and we have lost it. LOVE this book to pieces.

In Defense of Food

by Michael Pollan

Super great book also about the true value of food. This is usually at Costco and I read most of it on multiple visits there before I finally grabbed it to take home.

The China Study is a great book to read especially if you want to understand the role meat plays in the diet. It is a great book if you are on the fence about becoming a vegetarian. It helps you understand the diet and long term health. 

Nourishing Hope

by Julie Matthews

This book is for anyone who has kids on the spectrum from autism to ADD or even gut issues. It clearly explains the role of supplements and food relating to the gut. It lists the various diets and how they work. It is scientific and brings hope. I have read this book so many times that I think I could teach it for a living. 


My other daily feeds are my email subscriptions to Dr. Weil and Dr. Mercola. Keep in mind that these two are always trying to sell something but their daily news topics are always informative. I don't buy any of their products but they do usually have some pretty good info backed by research. They keep my mind going and usually spur me into further research.


Anyone have anything else they would like to add? There are so many great reads out there. The world is waking up. Slowly.


If you need a book , click on my amazon link. Amazon is the best place to by books! I usually buy them used for about half the price.


Happy reading!


PS, I have two more gallons of Coconut oil for the next order. Any takers? $60 per gallon.

Back to School Breakfast

    The kids are back in school. This summer was a blink. I had planned a lazy summer with lots of "kid time" but it didn't really go as outlined. My sweet grandmother broke her hip and I was blessed to be able to spend the days with her. I felt bad that the kids were minus a mom for most the summer days but thanks to good friends and fun vacations, they had a good summer. I am also thankful that they were able to learn the importance of service and that we take care of our family. Life isn't all about playtime and life certainly doesn't always go as planned. In the end, the summer was still a good one and today it all ended. Happy school days ahead!

We celebrated the end of the summer with a little back to school Peach Breakfast Cake. In my effort to create new breakfast recipes, I put this little summer fresh piece of yum together with some heavenly peaches sitting on my counter. We are dairy free around here so cooking is a little more challenging. You don't realize how much you use dairy until you stop. It just takes a little variation now and then but the end product is still great. The cheese part is the hard thing but so far, so good.

The peaches were so sweet that this tasted like dessert. Normally I would have had a little dollop of whipping cream on the side but honestly, I never missed it. It was perfect as it was. 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you aren't on the bandwagon yet, please oh please make that your goal for the year. Keep it wholesome, hearty and homemade. Send them out the door with a full belly and a head start. Get the cold cereal out of the house and banish the pop tarts.

Try this out on the little ones:

Peach Breakfast Cake

1 egg

1/2 cup coconut sugar + 1/3 cup for topping

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup milk or milk substitution (I used almond milk)

5 drops of lemon oil (you can also use zest or omit)

2 cups fresh peeled and sliced peaches

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp vanilla

1 C. whole grain flour ( I used sprouted kamut/barley)

1/2 tsp. salt

3 T. coconut oil

Preheat oven to 375. 

Beat the egg and add 1/2 cup of coconut sugar. Stir in the flour, baking powder and salt. Gently fold in oil, lemon oil, milk and vanilla. Spread mixture on the batter on the bottom of a greased 9 X13 pan and top with fresh, sliced peaches. They should cover the batter. Sprinkle

mixture of 1/3 cup coconut sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon over top of peaches. Bake for about 30 minutes or until done.

P.S. I have a third group wanting coconut oil. If you are interested, email me asap. Thanks!

San Joaquin Gold

San Joaquin Gold. My new Costco find. It was one of those rare moments where I was alone at Costco and had a moment to spare....rather took a moment since I was too tired to move any faster. 


I was looking for some Parmesan cheese and took a gander at some of the other cheeses in the case. There are so many out there and I really try to go for the more wholesome varieties. That usually means expensive and rare to find. I was lamenting over the fact that Parmesan is so expensive when I saw this little San Joaquin Gold wedge. I had never heard of it and even from the label, I still had no idea what it was. It was hard like Parmesan and was made from cows milk but what caught my eye was the statement, "raw milk cheese". Sold. I decided to take a gamble. It came home with me and into my spaghetti and meatballs.


It did taste like Parmesan. It was delicious and fresh tasting. I fell in love. I did a little research and found out a little about this cheese. Let me share: (off itscheese.com)

San Joaquin Gold is a cow's milk cheese made by Fiscalini Farms in Modesto, Californio, in the United States. It is named after the San Joaquin Valley in central California. It is a relatively recent cheese, but has already won numerous awards, including gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in London in 2004 and 2005.

The cheese is a pale yellow that darkens to a golden color as it ages. San Joaquin Gold has a thin, natural rind, that has the shape of a cow stamped on top. The cheese is made in 32 pound wheels.

The cheese was an attempt at making a cheese like ItalianFontina. San Joaquin Gold has a harder texture and is saltier, making it a cheese of its own. The texture is firm and granular. It has been described a a cross between Cheddarand Parmigiano-Reggiano. It has a sweet, salty, buttery taste that becomes nuttier as it ages. The cheese is very flavorful, but still mellow. It is at its peak at about 16 months.

Fiscalini Farms uses unpasteurized milk from their own Holstein cattle to make the cheese.

San Joaquin Gold is a very versatile cheese. It grates well and melts easily. It is good for snacking, as a table cheese, or for a topping for soups or salads.

Are you with me? Costco has impressed me time after time with it's natural, organic and healthy choices. Definitely one of my BFF's! Take time to look deep into the shelves for new and healthy choices. Leave the kids home one time and see what treasures you can find! Please share.

Coconut oil order

I am trying to get a bulk coconut oil order together and need 6 gallons minimum. The gallon of Tropical Traditions Gold label coconut oil would be $60. Please let me know asap if you are interested.


Also, I will be ordering essential oils and supplements next week if you need anything.


Thanks!