ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO

It was 8:45 in the morning when my doorbell rang.  A friend of mine had kindly agreed to take my son to preschool so I wouldn’t have to load all three kids up to do so.  I answered the door in my nice jeans, grey sweater, cute hat, and favorite necklace.  Her response, “You’re dressed up.  Where are you going today?”  I paused for a moment, tilted my head up, and pondered that question.  You could actually see the little thought bubble over my head reading “To the grocery store if I’m lucky.”

Gone are the days where women actually dressed up when they had nowhere to go.  Looking put together as if they were headed to a dinner party but really just doing laundry.  That generation is still committed to that mentality.  When visiting my great-grandmother, I could always find her in a nice blouse and jewelry to match.  Walk across the street to the local grocery store and I’d find women still wearing their pajamas and slippers.  Seriously, they muster up enough energy to put their keys in the car and drive to the store, but can’t put their shoes on?  Maybe the 1950’s housewives did have it right when they wore their pearls while vacuuming.  Most of us grow up wanting to be a princess…become one on our wedding day… and then when we get back from the honeymoon it’s back to Cinderella scrubs.  Please hold your feminist thoughts right there…. Sure, burning bras was a way to “stick it to the man,” not sure how men tricked our mothers into that one, but I feel better when the ladies are hoisted up.  Maybe those housewives weren’t looking good for their husbands… but for themselves.  Did we ever consider that?  Don’t you feel better when you look good?  There’s an extra little strut in our walk when we are looking our best.  Please join me in starting a new women’s movement.  The, “I still look put together even when my day is falling apart” movement.

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking…. “But I’m covered in peanut butter, spit-up, poop, or all three at any given time. Wearing sweats is just my way of dressing for the occasion.”  To which I respond… cotton is cotton.  A nice pair of jeans or pants is made with the same kind of fabric sweatpants are.  You pull both up one leg at a time right?  I have to admit that I didn’t have this attitude before using Norwex laundry soap.  That stuff really gets stains out.  Allows me to be a little more carefree about my clothes.  Contact your Norwex consultant to get “the scoop” on that product.  But I digress.        

Next you’re probably asking, “I don’t have the time to stare at my closet and put something nice together.”  But alas! I wouldn’t suggest something to you without providing a solution.  Get a personal stylist to help you pick out outfits.  Then getting dressed is like putting on a uniform.  Except that you look fabulous.  Did I lose you at personal stylist?  This is where I let you in on a little secret.  There is personal stylist in Federal Way, WA who styles regular people like you and me.  She charges $20 an hour to make you look amazing.  I have found that this has actually SAVED me money.  Before, I would spend a little here and there on clothes, and then get home and end up regretting my choices.  Soon after I stare at my closet and say, “I have nothing to wear.”  After meeting with stylist, Krista Olufson, I know exactly what to wear and feel great wearing it.  The BEST PART….she can tailor your closet with your wallet.  You can do one or all three of the following services.

1.)     A New You.  Krista will meet with you and find out what your needs are.  She researches what would look best on you and provides you with some shopping suggestions.  I loved this because she gave me pictures of items that I could take with me shopping.  Also, my list had ten items on it that included everything from hats to shoes.  This allowed me to buy one thing at a time as I could afford it.
2.)    Coming Out of the Closet Session.  Krista will go through your closet and suggest what to donate and what you could be pairing together to make a new look.  I also enjoyed this because I was holding onto clothes I knew didn’t look good on me but couldn’t bring myself to give away.  Having another person give you their honest and professional opinion freed up some closet space.

3.)    Group Therapy.  I absolutely hate to shop and hate spending money to do so.  Not to mention the fact that I get a little bit of anxiety as I stand in front of a clothing item and wonder if it would look good on me or not.  Shopping with Krista and a friend was such a fun experience.  I think I ended up spending $150 on the shopping trip and was able to get several different outfit pairings.

I share this information with you as a friend and have no financial stake in this recommendation.  Krista has not purchased add space and I’m not getting a discount of any kind for writing this.  This is something I just had to share with you all since it really impacted the way I felt after hiring Krista.  Feeling put together when days spins out of control still leaves me with a good feeling at the end of the day.  Since I am seriously fashion challenged, I plan on using Krista’s services twice a year.  Once in the Spring/Summer and once for Fall/Winter.  Sure your husband, children, and eventually your work will benefit from this new look…but do it for yourself first.  This is the part where I add a disclaimer.  There is a time when you may excuse yourself from this new women's movement. Like when you’ve been up all night with the baby, cleaning your oven, doing your laundry, and writing a blog. (Hypothetically speaking of course)  Then by all means, throw that Nike hat on.  But other than that…. The next time I see you in running clothes I’d like to think that you actually went running.

To assist you in this new women's movement, contact Krista Olufson. 253-815-1987 or Krista.olufson@comcast.net

YO MAMMA

It seemed appropriate this week to give a shout out to moms everywhere for the wisdom they bestowed on us.  So, here are five things your mother said to you growing up that still apply today.

CHEW YOUR FOOD
One of my children stuffs his face with food as if what he fits in his mouth is all that he will receive for dinner.  I am constantly telling him to take smaller bites and chew his food.  But then I proceed to shovel in my own food and swallow before it actually reaches my tongue.  You know exactly what I'm talking about mothers!  Racing to eat a meal before the next diaper change.  Or maybe you have one lunch hour to which you need to write a presentation AND run to Target to get new underware because you sneezed and had a little accident.  Either way, you're not chewing your food.  Besides the obvious of not choking, chewing your food is very beneficial.  When you chew the enzymes in your saliva help break down the food which allows for better digestion.  This allows the nutrients to be released better and reduces indigestion and flatulance.  A win-win for everyone.  So what does it mean to chew your food?  Well, I once read that you need to chew 30 times before swallowing.  I tried counting how many times I actually chew my food.... One, Two, Three, down the hatch.  I'd like to think the answer is somewhere in between.  The next time you eat try 15 chews times before swallowing.


DON'T PICK YOUR NOSE
You'd think this is an obvious one, and yet I still see people picking their nose at the stoplight as if we don't see what their doing.  Get a tissue people!  Our hands are not the cleanest part on our bodies and inserting them into your nose is like spraying bacteria up there.  This results in more colds and sickness.  Next time you get a twitch...reach for the tissue.
 
EAT YOUR VEGETABLES
Do I really need someone telling me to eat my vegetables at this age?  YES! I know we ar to get 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day but I still struggle with this.  See chewing paragraph above for reason why.  Try pre-cuting your veggies on Sunday for the week to come. Plan out your meals ahead of time so you can calculate how many veggies you're getting.

GO TO BED
My oldest son has grown out of naps and yet I have tried to grow back into them.  Sleep is so important for your health.  It effects your mood, immune system, and general well being.  Try to get 7-9 hours a night.  If this means DVRing your favorite show so you can get to sleep... so be it.  It's also important to get the same amount of sleep a night.  The more your body can expect what time it is to sleep AND wake up, the better rest you will get.

CLEAN YOUR ROOM
And by room I mean your house.  The purpose of having a clean home is not for the times when people stop by.  It's for your own health.  Fewer home accidents, fresher air, less germs, and that feel good factor are to name a few.  I recomend looking around the house at night and picking up a little.  Go crazy and wipe down the kitchen counter and sweep the floor.  You'll feel great when you wak up in the morning.  To learn how to cut your cleaning time by 50%-75%, contact your Norwex consultant.

Thanks mom for all the good advice.  My daughter sits on my lap while i write this. Maybe one day she'll appreciate all of this wisdom I am passing down.  For now she just loaded her diaper once again...gotta go.

"FACING" THE TRUTH

While seven months pregnant I was hovering around the Clinique counter trying to find something to fix those dark circles under my eyes. A very polite woman approached me and asked if she could help. “Do you have something that will fix these dark circles under my eyes?” I said. Yes, she replied. It’s called not being pregnant and having kids.” Hmmn. That wasn’t the answer I was looking for. She actually talked me out of buying the under eyes cream and said to just drink more water and try to get as much rest as possible. Nice thought as I sit here at 6:00 in the morning drinking my second cup of coffee and writing to you while the natives are not being restless.

After walking away from the beauty counter I did possess a secret weapon to combat the fact that I had kids. Turn around cream. Sure, I’ve read that there is some pretty bad stuff in there and that I’m bound to get cancer, but my vanity outweighed the environmentalist in me. At age 33, I don’t feel the need to have my skin “turn around” or “turn back.” More of a “Hold it right there or else” kind of scenario. Seriously, am I putting a gun to my face and ordering it not to age? Using the mainstream products to get these results isn’t too far off. Does the turnaround cream work? Absolutely. You can see results in a matter of days. But every night when I put it on my face I hear a little voice saying, “Don’t do it! Don’t you know what’s in there?” “To which another voice responds, “Yes. But there is no reasonable alternative.” Ok. So I don’t hear literal voices in my head just to be clear. But alas! There is an alternative, a lifting serum straight from the Swiss Alps.

Norwex, as part of their desire to reduce the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning, created a guilt free serum containing high concentration of Swiss Alpine plants: Imperatoria, Marrubium, Edelweiss and Artemesia. These wonderful little plants might be hard to pronounce but at least I know I’m putting something natural on my face. This product is also ECOCERT certified organic. Meaning, a third party has certified this product as being free from formaldehyde releasers, preservatives, synthetic perfumes, and other bad stuff.
Now let’s see if it beats my, “Sure it’s good for me and the environment, but does is it worth the cost?” test. This plant based lifting serum costs $39.99 for 1.07 ounces. Clinique’s turnaround cream is $36 for 1.7 ounces. Although you’re paying four dollars less with Clinique’s cream, in return, you’re getting a combination of Salicylic Acid, Glucosamine and Cholesterol Sulfate. I’d pay an extra four dollars to stop hearing those voices lecture me about what I’m putting on my face. However, now that I’m using my Norwex facial cloths, I never have to use facial cleansers or toner again, saving me a lot of money. In fact, I gave away what I was using to wash my face because I have no need for it anymore. The cloths clean and exfoliate my skin like no other facial cleanser has done before. I rinse the cloth out after each use and it’s good for an entire week. Then I put cloth in laundry and it’s ready for another go around. Although this cloth has a two year warranty, people who launder it once a week report a 4-7 year effectiveness. Hmmn… I’m no rocket scientist but… great looking skin, saving money, and making the environment happy is a win-win.  If you would like to try these products contact me at michellestender@yahoo.com.

I’d like to go back to that Clinique counter and show that white robed, well rested, woman my skin now. Oh, and on a side note. If you see me out in public with my three children who are under the age of four, please don’t say to me, “You sure do have your hands full.” That’s stating the obvious...but at least my face won’t show it.

CLEANING REVOLUTION

I stood in front of my kitchen window shaking my head in disbelief. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, this skeptic would never have believed it. A cloth that just cleaned my windows using only water? And not just any kind of clean… the cleanest, streak free, windows I’d ever seen. This same cloth proceeded to remove the dust from my antique table, cleaned and sanitized my kitchen counters, and removed month old stains from my carpet using only water! You might be thinking this is the point I woke up from a fabulous dream. Au contraire mon fraire. I’m here to tell you this product does, in fact, exist, and will save you Time, Money, Health, and the Environment.

In my quest to find a non-toxic and cheap way to clean my house, my sister-in-law, a superhero to all who know her, told me about this magical cloth. I figured anything that didn’t require me to use vinegar or a carcinogen to clean my house, was definitely worth a try. Sure enough, it cleaned everything from my leather couch to my kid’s dirty faces, with different cloths of course. Revealing the science behind this magic cloth is quite simple.

This cloth originated in Norway and comes from a company called Norwex. It’s made of microfiber, but not just any microfiber, it’s made with fiber that is 1/100th the size of a human hair. Most other microfibers out there are made with 1/6th the size of a human hair. Just one square inch of this cloth has fiber that stretches the length of three football fields. This allows the cloth to pick up dirt and grime like a vacuum, leaving the surface 99.9% free of bacteria and viruses. The absolute best part of this cloth… the antibacterial component. Sure it cleans like no other, but you can use it over and over again before washing it. I use the same cloth in my kitchen all day long for an entire week! At the end of the week, I throw the cloth in my washing machine and it’s ready for another go around. This is due to the antibac agent that is embedded inside the tiny microfiber. It inactivates the bacteria that are picked up by the cloth. Meaning, you won’t have bacteria growing on it or that terrible mildew smell 24 hours later. If you were to wash this cloth five times a week, it would be effective for two years. However, most people who use this cloth wash it once a week, making it effective for 4-7 years. The benefits of this science are outstanding.

TIME: It has been proven that Norwex products decrease your cleaning time by 75% or more. The simple fact that you don’t have to spray anything on a surface, reduces your time by 50% at the least. It also keeps your house clean for a longer period of time, another time saver bonus.

MONEY: This cloth allowed me to ditch almost all of my cleaning supplies. When I priced it out, this $15.99 cloth replaced over $100 in cleaning supplies. Except this cloth can last 4-7 years compared to the cleaning products you have to keep replacing throughout the year. It’s estimated that the average household spends $450-$600 a year on cleaning supplies. Norwex products will allow you to reduce the use of these supplies by up to 90%. As I pass up all those coupons on cleaning supplies, I can’t help but smile at all the money I’m saving. When I push my grocery cart past the cleaning supply aisle, I beam with pride that that I never have to go down that aisle again. Then when I see others in that aisle I can’t help but think, “Suckers!” Sure, that’s probably not the nice thought to have, but I’m being honest.

HEALTH: I once read that the average home has more carcinogens inside than a science lab. Many products we use in our homes contain ingredients linked to or suspected to cause cancer, not to mention other ingredients that can cause allergies, asthma, and other health problems. According to the EPA, indoor air pollution is one of the nation's most pressing personal health concerns. Peak concentrations of 20 toxic compounds - some linked with cancer and birth defects - were 200 to 500 times higher inside some homes than outdoors, according to a 5-year EPA study that surveyed 600 homes in six cities. Then there’s the kid factor. The US emergency departments from 1990-2006 reported 268,000 children under the age of 5 were treated for household cleaning product-related injuries. Norwex products have left me with a piece of mind about what I have under my kitchen sink. (Not to mention the amount of space it has saved me)

ENVIRONMENT: I’m all for being good to the environment, but at the end of the day I have to balance it out with what it’s going to cost me in money and time. With this product, I have the satisfaction of saving the environment and my money. But honestly, not having my kids inhale these toxic products is priceless. Oh, and now that I’m using safe cleaning products, I’m utilizing my child’s labor. They are learning the important lesson of helping the family, and I’m learning to have a little more mommy time. It’s a win-win.

After falling in love with this new product, I felt compelled to scream its praise from the rooftop. Since my roof still has moss on it from the winter, I opted for the modern equivalent… social media. This led me to ask the question, “If I’m going to be telling everyone I know about this amazing product, shouldn’t I get something out of it?” So began my new business as an “Independent Sales Consultant” for Norwex. Since I have absolutely NO desire to sell anything…I prefer to view this as an amazing product that I use, and want to tell everyone I know about it. If they happen to buy something…great. If not, no rejection issues here. What I’m finding, however, is these friends and family who have tried the product, are expressing their amazement and are grateful that I told them about it. Although saving people time, money, health, and the environment makes me feel like a superhero, I’m not quite ready to put spandex on with a large “S” on my chest. However, I am ready to sell you these amazing products. If you are interested in learning more about this product or purchasing an item, please e-mail me at michellestender@yahoo.com. I will send you a catalog via e-mail and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

FLAX ME

I’m super sleep deprived these days and find myself a bit delirious. As I opened my refrigerator this morning, one eye barely open since I hadn’t had my coffee yet, a little black container sparked my attention. It had a blue label on it that read “Flaxseed.” Oh yes. I remember. I’m suppose to put that in my food because it’s good for me. Honestly, sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of all the things I want to do to stay healthy. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember why I should be putting it into my food. Hoping caffeine would spark my memory, I decided to find out the why and share it with you.

Due to time constraints, need to feed family in 20 minutes, I’ll get to the point. According to WebMD, studies have shown that flaxseed can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Now I remember! Cancer bad. Flaxseed good. Here are a few interesting facts on flaxseed that WebMD pointed out.

(1) Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.

(2) Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods.

(3) Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

Our eggs appear to be one step ahead of us. We now have the option of buying eggs that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids. This leads me to ask… What do those chickens know that I don’t? Turns out, farmers are putting flaxseed in the chicken’s diet to make their eggs extra nutritious. Sneaky little farmers. I too try to sneak nutrition in my little chicks so can understand. Point being, it’s easy to get flaxseed in your diet.

It’s recommended that you consume 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day. Piece of cake, or muffins if you prefer. Try adding flaxseed to foods like oatmeal, smoothies, soup, or yogurt. It’s also easy to toss some in while baking. You can also substitute ground flaxseed for part of the flour in recipes. How cool is that? For example, if the recipe calls for two or more cups of flour, replace it with ¼ to ½ cup of flaxseed. Storing this stuff is also very simple. Freeze pre-ground flaxseed in the bag it came in or a plastic sealable bag. The greener method would be to store it in a glass container. The freezer will keep it from oxidizing and losing its nutritional potency.

After the caffeine set in, I was reminded why this cancer fighting food had sat in my fridge so long. Doctors recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women shouldn’t use it. (As oppose to pregnant and breastfeeding men?) Basically, there is conflicting studies on the issue, so to be on the safe side they say to refrain from it while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Now that you’re fully educated on the subject of flaxseed, or at least know why you should have it in your freezer, try it out. As they say…what’s good for the goose. Uhm. I mean chicken.

It IS easy being green

Last week I was plowing through the dairy section with my family when I ran into a friend of mine. Our children exchanged pleasantries, in their own little way, while I grabbed our usual bag of string cheese. Her daughter asked if she could also have a bag of string cheese to which my friend quickly responded… “That’s not good for the environment honey. It’s wrapped in a lot of plastic. I will get you cheese that isn’t packaged like that.” I walked away shamefully with my large plastic bag filled with 12 individually plastic wrapped cheese sticks. Knowing that this kind of plastic isn’t good for the environment or my children’s health, I chose simplicity over a green decision. Did I feel guilty? Yes. Will I continue to buy the string cheese? Probably. My point to this story is this… It IS easy being green when you don’t beat yourself up over the little things.


What’s the definition of being “green” anyway? Do we have an agency that approves a “green card”? Oh wait, we do have one of those…but I digress. I’m here to officially anoint you “green” if the only thing you do this year is switch out your toilet paper for the recycled version. Sure, going green is a noble thing to do, but let’s face it, saving the planet is not on peoples top priority list. Saving money, however, is. I read a fabulous book titled, “Going Green, Saving Green.” Although my family isn’t going to do everything the book suggests due to comfort reasons, there were simple things that could save us money and the environment. In fact, I calculated the simple things we were willing to do and it is estimated to save us $5,000 a year!

Below are a few simple things you can do to save money AND wear that green badge of honor. The cost savings are expected savings for one year. Start with one thing and start to add additional tips as you’re comfortable. Some of these might not seem very “green”, but the less stuff we buy, and how we buy it, can make a big difference to the environment. Before you know it, you’ll be calling yourself an environmentalist!

DON'T SPEED, OIL CHANGED, TIRE PRESSURE $634
BRING LUNCH FROM HOME $400
PURCHASE CLOTHES AT GOODWILL $500
GROW SUMMER VEGETABLES $300
TURN THERMOSTAT DOWN 3 DEGREES $200
TURN LIGHTS OFF WHEN LEAVING ROOM $40
TURN FRIDGE TO LOWEST SETTING $50
CLOSE FIREPLACE DAMPER WHEN NOT IN USE $100
SPENDING FREEZE ONE WEEK MONTH $600
BORROW MOVIES AND BOOKS FROM LIBRARY $160
BUY FOOD IN BULK $260
BAKE OWN BREAD $208

MEAT ONCE WEEK $624

SHOP WITH LIST STICK TO IT $26

DON'T THROW AWAY EDIBLE FOOD $600

BRING OWN BAGS TO STORE $20

PHOSPHAT FREE DISH DETERGENT

USE KITCHEN CLOTHS RATHER THAN PAPERTOWELS

USE MATCHES NOT LIGHTERS

BUY RECYCLED PRINTER PAPER

USE POWER STRIPS TO REALLY TURN OFF STUFF

WASH FURNICE FILTER

TURN WATER TO 120 DEGREES

UTILITY AUDIT BY PSE

MORE INDOOR PLANTS TO CLEAN POLLUTANTS

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK...

Ok… so I enjoy quoting infamous rappers from time-to-time. But isn’t that part of my charm? It’s been a long time friends since we last spoke. Well, technically, since I last typed and you last read. My excuse? Third trimester and new baby. But hey, baby girl is one month old today so I thought it was time to get back into the swing of things.

As for the future of this blog, you will continue to learn new and interesting things bi-monthly. My plan is to post articles Monday morning so you can have that cup of coffee and ease into your work week. If you enjoy reading this blog please share with your friends. If not, go ahead and share with your enemies.

TREAT OR TRICK?

I write this article as I’m anxiously awaiting little children, dressed in costume, to knock at my door asking for crack. Ok, so not crack exactly, but close enough. The sugar high they are about to experience will lift them up, let them down, and then leave them wanting more. Halloween is also a night where I go completely against my personal beliefs for the sake of the neighborhood. Giving children highly processed sugar is something I don’t normally support. Frankly, I’d rather pour pure maple syrup in their mouths than give them a snickers bar. Why so sensitive…because white sugar is truly the evil one on Halloween.

WHITE SUGAR IS…

Highly processed. White sugar comes from refining the sugar cane crystals to remove all the sugar cane juice flavor, and with that, all the nutrients. Your body knows what to do with food that is natural. Put something processed in it and it gets confused. I believe it goes something like this… “Hey, there aren’t any nutrients in this! What the heck am I suppose to do with it now?” This confusion creates an imbalance in your body that causes havoc. TRICK!

Leaches vitamins and minerals from your blood and bones. As mentioned above, your body recognizes that white sugar is missing vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This causes it to take vitamins and minerals from your body to process the sugar. In essence, white sugar is a thief that is stealing good things from your body. TRICK!

Makes you fat. Fat free candy surely can’t make you fat right? TRICK! Excess refined sugar is immediately converted to fat. Moment on your lips and lifetime on your hips is no

Suppresses your immune system. My sister-in-law would always tell me to lay off of the sugar in the cold and flu months because it decreases your immune system. Is it a coincidence that the cold and flu season coincide with the sugar seasons? Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Valentine’s Day. I didn’t know why, until recently. The shortest explanation I have found is in the book “The Kind Diet.” (1) Essentially, our pancreas releases a hormone called insulin to deal with the excess sugar. Once this has been metabolized, there is too much insulin left over. This causes an imbalance in your hormones and particularly affects your immune system. TRICK! Although I do believe sugar decreases your immune system, I’m still sticking with my previous recommendation… that it’s more important to concentrate on your ph balance than how much sugar you’re consuming. (See article Balancing Act)

My 3 ½ year old is now asking me for MORE treats with a sparkle in his eyes that is more scary than cute. I do give my kids processed sugar every once in a while. My thought is that the more I forbid something, the more enticing it is. Halloween night is one of those exceptions. Normally, if he sees candy at the store and wants some, I explain that it’s “bad” sugar and then offer him “good” sugar when we get home. He’s not being deprived of anything and is very happy eating his good sugar.

So what IS “good” sugar? In my opinion, “good” sugar is anything you can find that is closest to nature. Meaning barely processed if processed at all. Here are a few examples: Agave nector, honey, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, molasses, stevia, barley malt, and sugar in the raw. THESE ARE REAL TREATS! They are delicious and much healthier for your body. I haven’t had white sugar in my house for several months now. There have been no complaints in my house over the cookies, pies, cakes, and muffins I make. Honesty, I bet my husband has no idea he hasn’t had white sugar in months. Well, at least when he’s home.

When it comes to white sugar, the trick is on you. Start exchanging your white sugar with the examples listed above, and you’re treating your taste buds and your body. Now that isn’t so scary, is it?


(1) “The Kind Diet” By Alicia Silverstone. Published in 2009.

SHEDDING SOME LIGHT ON VITAMIN D

As I lay in my bed with my first cold of the season, I couldn’t help but regret not taking my vitamin D supplements before the beginning of the cold and flu season. When I say “lay in bed,” I mean at 6:00AM in the morning with two sick toddlers jumping on me. Their colds don’t seem to slow them down one bit. This of course wakes up the baby in my tummy who starts to kick me excessively. This gets me thinking, how much vitamin D should I be taking right now?


Research on this topic has changed doctor’s opinions dramatically over the last few years. I’ve read articles that say adults need 400 IU a day and others that say 4,000 IU for pregnant women. I’m not about to recommend to you how much vitamin D you should be taking, this is something you should talk to your doctor or naturopath about. (Although I’d be sure to mention the recent studies in the past couple of years just in case your doctor isn’t up on it.) Each person is different and your vitamin D consumption will depend on such factors as how much sun you get to how dark your skin is. What doctors seem to be in agreement on is how important getting the right about of vitamin D is.


Researchers have concluded that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a person’s poor immune system. This makes it more difficult to recover from infection and makes it more likely to develop autoimmune diseases. (1) Other health problems could include heart disease, chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, hypertension, arthritis, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, PMS, Crohns Disease, cancer, MS, and other autoimmune diseases. (2) It seems that every month there is new research being published on the dangers of being vitamin D deficient. Common sense would tell you that decreasing your immune system could contribute to numerous health problems.

You may be thinking, great Michelle, now that you have me paranoid that I may be vitamin D deficient, what do I do now? Like almost anything, you can get your vitamin D levels tested and truly find out where you stand. I personally wouldn’t make an appointment solely for that, but the next time you see your doctor it wouldn’t hurt to get tested. Previous recommendations included 200 IU for kids and 400 IU for adults. Some recent recommendations have stated 1,000 IU for kids and 2,000 IU for adults. During last year’s cold and flu season, I was taking 2,000 IU’s a day. Since I’m pregnant this year, I’ll be talking with my doctor about how much he thinks I should be taking. My little guys are getting 400 IU right now, but I’d like to increase that to 1000 IU after talking to their doctor. The brand I use is Nordic Naturals and I’ve been very happy with it. I highly recommend talking with your doctor or naturopath and find out what’s best for you.

Working in the court system with those who have been charged or convicted of crimes, is like bathing in a petri dish of cold and flu germs. I just might start handing out vitamin D supplements to the regulars. Throw two toddlers in the mix and I’m prime target for getting sick. This doesn’t mean I won’t go down with a fight.

(1) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/64932.php

(2) http://www.fightingfatigue.org/?p=1220 I found this statement to be true from numerous other medical articles and used this one for concise purposes.

(3) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-d/NS_patient-vitamind (General information from Mayo clinic)

IS IGNORANCE BLISS?

Is ignorance bliss? Must be for the people who roll their eyes at me after asking why I do those “crazy” things. What’s so “crazy” about wanting to live a healthy lifestyle? So I don’t like my food to have chemicals in it. Is that so wrong? I am not writing this to criticizing others for their lack of knowledge or indifference. I'm also not writing this to vent, well, maybe to vent a little, but more to encourage you. If you’re reading this blog you’re probably not one of the scoffers, but rather someone who has been scoffed at. I’m here to say, keep up the good fight.


This fight doesn’t mean that you should think you’re better than your neighbor who still uses artificial sweeteners… but there’s also no reason to be embarrassed about your decision to live a healthier lifestyle. I have to admit, I do feel embarrassed when someone scoffs at the decisions I have made over the food or products I use in my home. According to Webster’s dictionary, embarrassment is “the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public.” What is so shameful about preferring to eat grass fed cows rather than non-grass fed ones? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll down a Red Robin burger whether that cow ate grass or not, but when making burgers at home, I use beef from grass fed cows or buffalo.

What this lifestyle really comes down to, is putting some thought into the food and products that you buy. If you asked me five years ago why I had a certain kind of flour in my cupboard I would have said, “Because I needed flour and it said ‘flour’ on the package.” No thought whatsoever. Today is a different story. My flour is organic, not enriched, and not bleached. In fact, I’d say 90% of the food and products I have in my kitchen are there because I researched them. Sure, this thoughtfulness takes some research, but this is why I’m writing this blog. I want others to benefit from the research I have done and use it as a short cut. You of course don’t have to agree with me, but I do hope to provide you with useful information, or at least be thought provoking.

Please join me in consciously choosing the food and products that you use and consume. There is nothing shameful about this. For those scoffers out there that buy food and products because of commercials and fancy packaging… you can keep your bliss to yourself.

BALANCING ACT

The most important balancing act you are doing right now is not what you think it is. Its balance is so important that it’s actually keeping you alive! Your body is currently balancing your pH levels to fight off disease and keep you alive. I have to admit, until recently, I thought pH balance had something to do with my hair.  Let me explain what pH balance is, and why you should care so much about it. 


Unscientifically speaking, pH is the acid/alkaline balance in your body. The “p” stands for potential and the “H” stands for Hydrogen. Your body won’t let you become too unbalanced or you would die. Instead, it uses precious minerals in your body to keep your pH balanced. Imagine a scale from 0 (Acidic) to 14 (Alkaline). A person’s ideal blood pH should be between 7.35 and 7.45. The next question you’re probably asking is, “Why should I care?”

As mentioned earlier, your body will do whatever is necessary to keep you from being too unbalanced. The problem arises when you force your body to work harder than it should. Disease, thyroid problems, poor bone health, and a slow metabolism are just a few problems that arise due to this inbalance. For brevity sake, I’d like to focus on the issue of disease and weight gain.

A friend of mine recently suggested that I do research on germs and how harmful or beneficial they are. This quasi-germ-a-phobic gal didn’t think that was such a good idea. I was really afraid of turning my “quirky” behavior into a full blown obsession. Sure I refuse to touch public bathroom doors and use napkins to pour my ketchup in restaurants, but that just makes good sense to me. Germs, in general, can be good for your body. But there is a reason why we wash our hands after we go the bathroom and require doctors to do the same before working on us. It’s all to prevent disease and sickness. What I found through my pH research however, is that I had the wrong battleground. It’s not about avoiding as many germs as possible, but rather creating a battlefield that uses germs for good instead of evil. This battleground is your pH balance.

To explain how this works, I came across an excellent analogy from The Wolfe Clinic. They explained that if you unplugged a sealed freezer for two weeks you’d come back to the food being covered in mold, bacteria, and microscopic bugs. Nothing got into the freezer of course, it was sealed. The point is that those things were already there in the first place. The only difference is that the environment changed. According to The Wolfe Clinic, “Maintaining proper alkalinity is essential for life, health, and vitality. Simply put - an imbalance of alkalinity creates a condition favorable to the growth of bacteria, yeast and other unwanted organisms."  (1) They go on to say that pH balance is the first major line of defense against sickness and disease and a strong immune system acts as a clean-up service. The Wolfe Clinic also provides a more scientific explanation, “The more acidic we become, the harder it is for oxygen to be present, so our biological terrain also becomes more anaerobic. Without adequate oxygenation, unfriendly bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungus can live and prosper. Then our cells cannot carry on their life-giving functions in a very efficient manner because our biological chemical reactions need oxygen.” (2) This explanation seems to make the most sense to me. Work on having a good immune system but keep your pH balanced and you won’t have to worry so much about those germs turning into something more dangerous in your body.

In a previous article, I wrote on how aspartame in diet drinks can make you fat. What I didn’t realize was that those diet drinks can make you fat for a whole different reason. A friend of mine shared with me a video on YouTube entitled, “How Diet Soda Causes Weight Gain.” What it really explains is the importance of your pH balance and how its inbalance can make you fat. I recommend watching the video after reading this blog. You can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpoAtwVyzZI

The Wolfe Clinic has an article that explains it in a more scientific way. I thought about summarizing the paragraph for you but it really was packed with interesting information. “The human body is very intelligent. As we become more and more acidic the body starts to set up defense mechanisms to keep the damaging acid from entering our vital organs. It is known that acid gets stored in fat cells. After all, if the acid does come into contact with an organ the acid has a chance to eat holes in the tissue. This may cause the cells to mutate. The oxygen level drops in this acidic environment and calcium begins to be depleted. So as a defense mechanism, your body may actually make fat to protect you from your overly-acidic self. Those fat cells and cellulite deposits may actually be packing up the acid and trying to keep it a safe distance from your organs. The fat may be saving your vital organs from damage. Many people have found that a return to a healthy inner biological terrain helps them to lose excess fat.” (3)

Now that you know an unbalanced pH can make you fat and bring disease upon you, let’s talk about what to do next. The first thing I plan on doing is testing my pH. Don’t worry, you don’t have to go to the doctor and get poked with anything. You would have lost me there. For $6 you can get your own pH test kit to monitor your pH balance. I plan on doing this every once in a while to see where I’m at and whether I need to make any changes in my diet. The next step is as easy as 1-2-3.

(1) Eat alkalizing foods. I’ve attached a website that has an excellent chart that lists food on a pH balance scale. This isn’t a list of foods to avoid, but will assist you in what foods you need to eat more of and some to limit. http://www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/pH.html

(2) Another tool is to purchase pH balancing products. I’m not sure I need to go down this path yet, but if my diet doesn’t assist me in balancing my pH I do plan on looking into some supplements. There are some out there that are just drops you can put into your drinks. For now I’m adding lemon to the water I drink and increasing the amount of water I consume.

(3) Less stress. Some scientists suggest that your stress levels can contribute to an unbalanced pH. Take time for yourself. I know this is easier said than done. I for one need to do better at this. Start out with 15 minutes a day and try to move up to 30. Try to think of at least three things that make you more relaxed and implement them in your daily life.

Sure this was another article telling you to eat your fruits and veggies and limit your fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. But I hope it gave you more of an incentive than just saying, “Because it’s good for you.” For those of you who read the food chart and notice that coffee is on the alkaline side, do not fret! There are healthy foods that are on that side of the chart. It’s not about staying away from those foods, it’s about balancing them with foods on the acidic side.

You still won’t see me use my bare hands to open public bathroom doors, but maybe I’ll grab that ketchup bottle without a napkin next time. Well, not until I get my pH balanced.

The Wolfe Clinic. http://www.thewolfeclinic.com/phbalancearticle.html (1)(2)(3)

SHOES OFF, PLEASE

Taking off your shoes when you enter your home has got to be the simplest thing you can do to live a healthier life. Not to mention that doesn’t cost you money or time. The Japanese were the first to introduce the “shoes off” policy and also happen to have the longest life expectancy. Coincidence? I think not.

Most people are concerned about toxins in their food, air or workplace, but don’t think twice about the ones they are carrying into their home. Parents want to take their children to safe playgrounds and yet have toxic playgrounds in their own home when they don’t take their shoes off. It’s the little ones who truly pay the price since they spend the majority of their time playing on the floor.

Shoes track in pesticides, fertilizers, lead and excrement. Yes, you read that correctly, excrement! We track in animal excrement which includes humans. Think of the last time you visited a public restroom and what you may have stepped in. Now think of bringing that into your home, having it turn into dust particles, and then inhaling it. The pesticides and fertilizers I mentioned earlier work the same way. They get trapped in your carpet and don’t break down as fast as they do outside in the sun. This leaves you with toxic dust particles that you inhale. In addition to taking your shoes off, it’s important to vacuum and wash your floors on a regular basis as well dust and clean those windows. These things aren’t about looking like you have a clean house, but about your own personal health.

Begin by making a commitment to yourself to take those shoes off. Some say that this can also be a good thing for your mental health. It’s a way to “take off” the outside and relax in your home. It can also be better for your back in the long run. Once you make it a habit, ask that your guests also take off their shoes. You can place a sign in your doorway simply stating, “Please take your shoes off.” If you’d like to be cheekier you could say, “You have two choices at my door. Take off your shoes or scrub the floors” or “Your soul is welcomed. Your shoes are not.” Do not, I repeat, DO NOT feel bad about asking people to take their shoes off. Your guests wouldn’t put their shoes on your kitchen table would they? If you have small children, that’s exactly what it would be like. My 1 ½ year old son will take his food, throw it on the floor, and then climb down and eat it. Doesn’t bother this germaphobe much since I know my floors are clean. Frankly, if that’s the only way he’ll eat his fruits and vegetables I might get rid of the kitchen table all together.

For those guests who do not feel comfortable taking their shoes off, you can offer them an alternative. Place shoe covers in a small basket and leave them by the door. This way your guests can choose whether to take their shoes off or use a slip cover. These covers are usually sold in the painting supply section of large stores. For guests that may be staying longer, you could purchase different sized slippers at a discount store.

Not to get all infomercial on you or anything, but one of my favorite household items is my carpet cleaner. It’s easy to use, cleans your carpet quickly, and pays for itself in one use. Not to mention it also prolongs the life of your carpet. I bought mine for under $200. You can use it once a year on the entire house and periodically for heavy traffic areas. No need to move all that furniture around when you can simply go over the areas that get the most traffic. We’ve also had disgusting accidents by dogs and kids where I was extremely thankful I had my carpet cleaner handy. Having a clean carpet will also make people less hesitant to take their shoes off. Who want to take their shoes off when the floor is dirty?

Now that you are in the know….begin your healthy lifestyle by kicking off those shoes. Before you know it, you’ll be doing yoga in your front room and drinking Kombucha. Hmmn… those are also Asian traditions.

HOW TO LOOK LIKE A DOMESTIC GODDESS WITHOUT WORKING LIKE ONE

On occasion, my friends have referred to me as a domestic goddess. Although I am always flattered by these comments, I feel a little bit dishonest. My dear friends, it is time that I finally came clean. Domestic goddess I am not. Overwhelmed wife, mother, and homemaker who finds the shortest cuts possible is more like it. These “short cuts,” are simple things that I have adopted over the years. I’d like to share a few of these with you so you too can appear to be a domestic goddess.


Cookies Anyone?
Nothing says homemaker better than a warm batch of cookies fresh from the oven. Who has time to put together the dough and watch over the oven after a long day of work? Work being a job that pays you, and/or the task of keeping your children from killing each other. (Not mine of course, they’re little angels) Solution…whenever you find yourself in the mood, make a large batch of cookie dough and roll them into small little balls. Spread them out on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer until they are no longer sticky. Then throw them into a large ziplock bag or glass container and put back in the freezer. When you have unexpected visitors, or are just in the mood yourself, take a few out and bake at 350 degrees for 13 minutes or so. Sure I just spent an entire paragraph telling you about cookies, but you’ll love how this simple thing can make you look great.

Crockpot Paradox
When my husband and I first got married, we had the pleasure of using a scan gun to zap away at our department store wish list. As I approached the two gallon crock pot, gun ready to fire, my husband seemed to think we didn’t need such a large one. I explained that we could throw large parties or bathe our future children in it. Should have guessed then that marrying a 6’7 man would not provide me children that would fit. From this large crockpot a paradox occurs. It’s an appliance that allows you to throw food into it and then push a button that spends all day cooking for you. Brilliant! Yet with very little work, spouses and guests seem to be impressed by whatever comes out of the magic box. It’s a win-win really. So please, dust off that old crockpot and let it make you look like you’ve been slaving away over dinner all day.

Thank you. No, thank you!
I’d have to say that 90 % of my mail is recycled without ever being read. The other 10% are bills that are still sent to me via snail mail. However, every once in a while a bright star will appear. It doesn’t look like a bill, it has handwriting on it, and I sit with giddy anticipation on what it could be. Feverishly, I open the letter to find a sweet thank you card from a friend for something very small I did for her. None-the-less, this made me feel loved and admiration for someone who took the time out of their busy life to purchase a card, hand write me a note, rummage around for a stamp, and then manage to mail the darn thing. The phrase, “It’s the thought that counts” doesn’t apply when you just think about sending a card to someone. So here’s a simple way to get it done. Purchase numerous thank-you cards at one time. You can collect them when they are on sale or just pick up a pack of ten. Then write your return address on them, put on a stamp, and store them in your kitchen junk drawer. If one were to have such a thing. You are now three-fourths of the way there when wanting to thank someone for their kindness. It shows people love and makes you look like you really have your act together.

Just the way my mom’s mom made it.
Most of us did not grow up in a home where fresh baked bread was the norm. However, with modern technology we can bring this tradition back. I can’t begin to tell you how many compliments I have gotten over my homemade bread. The oohs and aahs are something I absolutely love to hear... especially since I’m not the best cook. I won’t go into great detail on my bread making journey since you can read all about it in a previous article entitled, Not By Bread Alone…Need Bread Maker. The point I want to share is that it’s not me people should be praising, but my bread maker. I simply throw a few ingredients in it and push a button, yet I am the one who gets to look like Martha Stewart. I’m seriously considering hiding my bread maker. I don’t want people to see the little woman standing behind a curtain pushing a button, but rather the Great Wizard of Bread.

Fake it.
The shortest cut of all…fake it. Some domestic goddesses seem to always have their stuff together. They appear to have everything under control. This is probably where the lawyer in me comes out. If you look confident and say things with confidence, people will have confidence in you. Whether any of that is true or not, is a different story. If you act like you have things together, people will believe it. Now I don’t mean having your hair and make-up done. For those of you who see my smiling face, you will surely not see make-up on it. In fact, you don’t want to see me with make-up on. If I’m wearing my war paint, it probably means I’m in court representing you on a criminal matter. Looking like you have things together really just means taking everything in stride. Your muffins got burnt on the bottom? Serve muffin tops! Your child throws a fit in the store? Simply speak softly and carry them out like they were just an item on your list. The longer you fake taking things in stride, the more likely you are actually to do it. Before you know it, you look like you have everything under control because you do! Being in control doesn’t mean planning everything that happens in your life, it means having a plan for how you’ll react to things that happen in your life.

WHY DID THE CHICKEN CROSS THE ROAD? To bring me tasty eggs of course

When I first told my husband I wanted a chicken coop in our backyard, he laughed and said, “Oh, I would love to see you take a chicken, cut off its head, and pluck its feathers.” I found this amusing since I don’t even like to prepare chicken for dinner. After explaining it wasn’t for the meat but rather the eggs, his eyebrows were still raised pretty high. Since my husband and I are both lawyers, I knew ahead of time I was going to have to present my case to “the court” and expect cross examination. Please let the record reflect, defense council is entering three exhibits.


EXHIBIT ONE: Better Tasting and Healthier Eggs

The chickens that reside in your backyard are organic, hormone free, and are not given food with antibiotics or animal by-products. They will have a diet of grain that contains flax seed and grass from your backyard. This combination gives you better tasting eggs that are healthier for you.

“You are what you eat eats too.” So says Michael Pollan in his book, In Defense of Food. He explains that these types of eggs contain higher levels of vitamins, antioxidants, and has more omega-3 and conjugated lineoleic acid than those you typically see in the grocery store. Studies have also shown that those who have an ample amount of omega-3 in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure and may reduce their risk of cancer. (1) In his book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan states that you can actually see a vibrant orange color of the yolk when the chicken was given a diet that had grass in it. Apparently this color indicates a high level of beta-carotene. Beta-carotene, also known as vitamin A, promotes a healthy immune system and as well as healthy skin. (2) These factors make a healthy egg, but are more importantly known to taste better.

EXHIBIT TWO: Happier Chickens

I am sure that most of you have been on a freeway and seen a large semi-truck barreling down the road with thousands of chickens crammed in wire cages that are so small they can’t even stand up. It saddens me to say that their normal living conditions are not much different. I do not want to go into detail about the practices that large egg manufacturing companies subscribe to, but I will say it is very disturbing. For more information on this subject, I recommend reading the Michael Pollan books that I referred to above. When you have chickens in your backyard, living quietly I might add, you know that they are happy and healthy. Happy chickens make healthy eggs.

EXHIBIT THREE: It’s Easier Then Owning a Dog

I was recently asked where I find the time to research and write this blog while keeping house and raising small children. My first response was that I’m not sure where I find the time to pee…but I do. That being said, becoming a farmer is not something I plan to add to my responsibilities. This is the great thing about urban chicken farming, it’s easier than caring for a dog or cat, except the chickens actually work for you. You feed them once a day, get rid of their pellet like poop every two weeks, and they make it so you don’t have to mow your grass as often. The dog I own right now takes up so much of my time that I have begged my husband to give her back to the breeder. (Oh, and I’m a dog lover). He says it provides home security. I say let’s spring for an alarm system and obtain more firearms. I’ve been overruled on that argument for a while now, but I digress. My point is, these chickens provide you a service, are low maintenance, and make great pets for kids. Pets that don’t need to be walked around the block in the pouring rain to do their business.


Although the judge hasn’t made his ruling in this house, if owning a small chicken coop is something you are interested in, it’s really easy to get started. Purchase a chicken coop, or build one yourself, and get some chickens. Personally, I wouldn’t want to spend the time researching the blueprints and painstakingly building it. EZCOOPS actually does all this for you at a really reasonable price. Their coop can be assembled with no tools and done under two minutes. I highly recommend watching their promo video at http://ezcoops.com. Mention this blog article and they will give you four free chickens. It’s important to have 3-4 chickens because they are a social bunch and would get lonely otherwise. After you’ve got your coop and chickens, sit back and collect your eggs. On average, chickens lay one egg a day. Times that by four chickens and you’ll have 28 eggs a week. That’s over two dozen eggs a week! You could sell those eggs to your neighbors and make a little extra cash. Cash I would use to pay for my coffee addiction. Ooooh, another argument I should present to the judge.

Whether or not you decide to get your own chickens, I hope you’ve learned a little more about them other than how they taste. Until I get a ruling on this from the husband, I will continue to buy my eggs from Organic Valley. Their chickens meet the criteria set forth above but are certainly not as cost effective has having your own coop. This young hen is “For the Birds” and hopes you are too, but in a good way.

(1) http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm
(2) http://www.thedietchannel.com/beta-carotenes-your-health

PLASTIC REBELLION

Stick it to the man I yell with my fist thrown in the air. In this case “the man” is plastic and by “stick it” I mean get rid of it. Plastic is dominating our homes and bodies and it seems that there is nothing we can do about it. I’ve been very reluctant to research and write on this topic because I know I wasn’t going to like the answer. Ignorance is bliss I say. Oh wait, that’s not at all what I say. Guess I’m going to have to shed some light on this confusing topic whether I like it or not.


So what’s the big deal anyway? It’s convenient, doesn’t break, and is cheap. The problem is that it’s also toxic to make, use, and dispose of. As Homer Simpson would say, “Doh.” The explanation for why it’s so toxic can get really scientific. But hey, this isn’t a science blog so I’ll spare you, and myself, from the scientific explanations. Feel free to research that aspect on your own if you’re really interested in PCB, PAH, PCDD/F, and PVC. Generally speaking, the compounds that make up plastic are toxic and those chemicals can leach out of the plastic and into our food. The simplest explanation I found was from Wikipedia. (1) It also explains that the more plyable the plastic is the more toxic it can be. This is due to the level of toxins that are used to make that type of plastic. The Food and Drug Administration use to call the plastic that got into your food an “indirect food additive.” They are now calling it “Food Contact Substances.” What does the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer call it? A KNOWN HUMAN CARCINOGEN!

Hopefully at this point you are convinced that plastic isn’t good for you. What carcinogen is? But surely I’m not asking you to completely get rid of all the plastic in your lives, am I? What about your sandwich bags, milk jugs, cling wrap? Alas, do you really think I’d leave you without a reasonable solution? If you’re really on board to sticking it to the man, you could completely remove plastic from your life. Apparently it’s possible because one woman is doing it. I’ve attached her story below for those who are interested. (2) Now if you want to stick it to the man without completely upsetting your way of life, there’s another answer.

I knew from previous research I did that there are different levels of plastic and levels of toxicity. What I didn’t know was what those little numbers on the bottom of our plastic containers were. Interestingly enough, it tells you what level of toxicity it is. Unfortunately, it’s not a system where 1 is the best and 5 is the worst. The levels to AVOID are <1>, <3>, <6>, and <7>. Levels that have been deemed “Safer” are <2>, <4>, and <5>. See this link for more detailed information. (3).

ATTACK PLAN
• Buy and store food in glass containers whenever possible.
• Avoid levels <1>, <3>, <6>, and <7>.
• Never heat plastic. Includes putting it in dishwasher.
• Recycle.

EXECUTION
• Take inventory of the plastic in your kitchen and what level it is. Think of simple ways to switch to glass containers.

• Bring a cheat sheet with you when you get groceries. It will help remind you which plastics to avoid. Grab that glass jar of mayo instead of the plastic one.

• Use cloth bags when grocery shopping. They sell them now for your fruit and vegetables.

• Try to buy your food in bulk and then store them in glass when you get home.

• No more plastic water bottles. Use water filter and stainless steel bottles. My kids love theirs.

• Wrap your food in butcher paper, waxed paper, or cloth alternatives. A friend of mine provided me with two awesome websites that help you pack lunches and snacks without using plastic. (4)

MY KITCHEN
Take a peek into my kitchen and see what levels I found and what I plan to do about it.
• Coconut oil <1> = Purchase different producer that uses glass.
• Natural peanut butter <5> = Switch to glass jars when I get it home and then recycle container.
• Gallon milk jug <2> = I use to buy our milk in glass containers until our Metropolitan Market went out of businesses. Since it’s a level <2> I’m not going to change this habit.
• Kids apple juice <1> = Purchase from different producer that uses glass.
• Kids apple sauce <5> = Will switch to glass container while at home but still use the plastic ones for when we travel since it’s a level <5>.
• Raisins <7> = Buy in bulk or purchase smaller cardboard containers.
• Cheese. No number listed. This one is what perplexed me the most. Come to find out, wrapping your cheese with cling wrap is a double wammy. Not only does it leach toxins into the cheese, but it’s also not good for the taste. I learned this from some cheese connoisseur blogs. One science article recommended cutting away the cheese that touched the plastic, wrap it in wax paper, then put in a stronger level plastic container.(5) The cheese connoisseur’s seem to believe that you only need to wrap it in wax paper. The technique is shown at this website. http://www.chow.com/stories/10878

By reducing our use of plastics, we can decrease the amount of pollution that is contaminating the air we breath, the water we drink, and most importantly, the food we eat. Let’s get those toxins out of our body. So go ahead, stick it to the man!

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#Toxicity
(2) http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2010/06/01/gupta.life.without.plastic.cnn?iref=allsearch
(3) http://healthychild.org/5steps/5_steps_5/?gclid=COWS3Kzd-KICFQQtawodsElQig
(4) http://www.kidskonserve.com/ and http://www.etsy.com/shop/RosyUndPosy?section_id=6024786
(5) http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=60

CUTTING THE FAT RATHER THAN COUPONS: Ten Ways to Save Money Without Using Scissors

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Let me begin with this disclaimer, I am not saying you shouldn’t cut coupons. If that saves your family money then by all means go for it. Here’s my issue, there usually aren’t coupons for whole organic foods. This means I spent fifteen minutes scavenging through a paper to find a coupon for $2 off razors. So began my quest for cost cutting without coupons.


REFINANCE
Whether it is your car, house, or any other kind of loan, take the time to see if refinancing is right for you. For example, I spent a little time finding a better car loan and reduced my loan by $50 a month! Same amount of loan time, just a better rate. That was time well spent.

GOOD COP BAD COP
When purchasing a large item or haggling over service price, I like to play good cop bad cop. It goes something like this. I’m usually the good cop when my husband isn’t around. I’ve done this with my cell phone service and cable company. I express how happy I am with our service but that my husband wants to leave because of cost. (All of which is true) Then there’s a little bit of “Help me help you” to the salesperson. At the end of the conversation I look like the good guy and get a lower rate. When my husband and I go to purchase a large item I get to play bad cop. That is, I express over and over how we don’t “need” it in the first place. (Which is also true) This also helps us get a lower price.

LIBRARY
There is this place where you can borrow books and movies for no money at all. All you need is photo ID and patience. It’s called a library and I am now a more frequent customer. I love books. In fact, I love books so much that I purchase them so I never have to let them go. With this economy, it’s time to save money and space and let go of the books. Even though I get a good price on Amazon, it’s still $6 bucks here, $15 bucks there. I’m finding that the library can get me the books I want to read for free! One of my friends is an avid movie renter from the library, something I’m not on board with yet since I don’t like watching movies that are 5 years old. But hey, it works for them and might for you too.

TRACK THOSE DOLLARS
Where exactly is your money going? I know one couple who began keeping track out of curiosity. They had no kids and both worked so had lots of money to burn apparently. They discovered they were spending $500 a month on restaurants and take-out. They put themselves on a budget of $200 a month for restaurants and put $300 more towards investments. I personally was shocked at how much I was spending on coffee, more on that later. Easy Envelope Budget Aid “EEBA” is a good way to help you track. You can use it on your computer and/or install app on your phone. It’s free on the web.

STOP SPENDING MONEY
Crazy idea I know. One idea I got from a friend was “No Money Mondays.” The idea is to not spend one penny on Mondays. I think this is very clever and sad at the same time. Clever in that it gives us a small goal that is obtainable, stop spending for one day a week. It also saddens me since there are so many people out there who would love the ability to spend money one day a week. Food for thought.

FIND FREE FUN
Who says the family needs to spend a lot of money to have fun. There are many free activities in your local area if you just search a little. Start Googling resources that can assist you. I subscribe to Parent Map and look at local park websites. Another trick is to pack your lunch when out and about. Free events are fun but they usually charge an arm and a leg for food.

MAKE IT YOURSELF
Take the time to sit down, look around your house, and think about what you could be making instead of paying full price for. Here are a few examples of things I do.

Make laundry detergent: I was spending $18 to wash 64 loads. Expensive because my family has skin allergies and I wanted environmentally friendly product as well. Now I spend $4 on 64 loads and that’s with me using an expensive bar of soap. Here’s the recipe: 2 Cups Borax, 2 Cups Washing Soda, and 1 bar of soap. Shave the soap into fine mixture, similar to parmesan texture. Mix all ingredients well and use 2 Tb. per load of laundry. For those nasty stains I throw a bit of Oxyclean into a load. Something I did with previous detergents too.

Make your own gifts: After tracking my spending a while back, I realized I was spending $50 to $100 a month on gifts. There are birthdays, weddings, showers, etc. Now I make my own gifts. It does require a little creativity, but hey, if this uncreative lawyer can do it, so can you. You’ll still need to be thoughtful in you’re giving. Although I usually give my homemade sugar scrubs as gifts, the men in my family won’t be getting them.

Bread and Jam: I started to make my own bread and jam. This saves me $3 on every loaf I make and $3 on every jar of jam I had purchased. That’s a $20 savings a month for us. You’ll want to see my previous article entitled, “Not by Bread Alone…Need Bread maker” for more information.

GROCERY DO’S/DON’T
The word loathe comes to my mind when I think of grocery shopping. It’s an evil necessity though since I don’t have a personal assistant. Here are a few suggestions on how to save.

• Don’t be fooled by the 3 for $5 bit. This past weekend I saw a sign for BBQ sauce that read 10 for $10. Seriously? Who needs 10 jars of BBQ sauce? I grabbed one for a dollar and moved on.

• Stock up, modestly, when there’s a good deal. Every time I see my organic frozen veggies go on sale I stock up. However, be careful not to buy something you normally wouldn’t just because it’s on sale.

• Leave the spouse at home. My husband was surprised while standing in the check-out line on what our bill was. Frankly, so was I. I turned to him and said when I go alone it’s around $25 less.

• Go less often. I swear you would see me at my local grocery store every day of the week. As you read earlier, I loathe the place, so why am I there so often? I decided to only go twice a week. I’d say one day a week but fresh fruit and vegetables will go bad towards the end. This will require you to plan meals ahead of time, another cost and time saver. Now when I say grocery shopping I mean picking up anything at the store. If you remembered you needed something on one of your non-shopping days, too bad. You’ll have to go without. Harsh I now, but couldn’t we all use a little lesson in doing without.

SUBSTITUTION
If you are able to make any substitutions for what you’re currently doing, go for it. One of my substitutions is my coffee run. I would spend around $4.50 on my favorite specialty drink at Starbucks. I’ve now switched to a tall latte with flavoring. Since I registered my Starbucks card online, I get free syrup. (.40 savings) Now I spend $2.50 on my delicious coffee, saving me $2.00 a drink. On hot days, iced coffee with cream and sweetener does the trick for about $2 less.

We also put our Netflix subscription on hold, and started using Redbox. This is saving us around $10 a month since we really don’t watch movies all that often.

PRINT COUPONS
Alright, so you’re probably wondering how coupons got in here since I said you wouldn’t have to cut anything. But hey, printing coupons is not cutting. Go find your favorite products online and check to see if they have any coupons. Almost our entire dairy comes from Organic Valley. This is because their cows are grass fed and pasture raised. The importance of this will be in another article. It is the most expensive dairy product out there, but a choice our family makes for our health. You will rarely find coupons for their products in the paper but can easily go online and print them off.


These ten ways to save might seem small… but that’s the point. They are not big life changes but can add up to a great deal of savings. Feel free to try one of these tips at a time or all at once. Any one of them will start you in the right direction.

TO GO ORGANIC, OR NOT GO ORGANIC? THAT IS THE QUESTION

As I devoir my spinach cheese enchilada casserole, I’m not considering whether my organic spinach tastes better than the non-organic kind. How could I tell anyway when it’s slathered with a delicious enchilada sauce? My body on the other hand is very thankful for my organic choice.

There continues to be debate on whether organic produce is better for you than non-organic. Not to get all conspiracy theory on you or anything…but let’s just say one side has more expensive lobbyists and the other has science and common sense on its side. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states, “By their very nature, most pesticides create some risk of harm - - Pesticides can cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms.” * According to the Environmental Working Group, the top 12 pesticide-contaminated produce contain 47 to 67 different pesticides per serving. But if the government says it’s ok, it must be safe right? The EPA also states, “Laboratory studies show that pesticides can cause health problems, such as birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effects that might occur over a long period of time. However, these effects depend on how toxic the pesticide is and how much of it is consumed.” ** Common sense makes the answer clear to me. Chemicals in my food are probably not good for me.

Organic produce has something else going for it other than being pesticide free, it’s more nutritious. There are numerous studies out there that confirm organic produce contains more nutrients and higher concentration of antioxidants. In fact, you’d have to eat three non-organic apples to get the same nutrients in one organic apple. When the produce doesn’t have pesticides to fight their battle against enemies, they are forced to be stronger. That strength translates to more protection for our bodies too.

There might be some of you out there who would like to go organic but get sticker shock when actually purchasing it. When my organic red peppers go for $5 each, I quickly push my cart right on by and revise my menu. Luckily for us, there is a middle ground. The Environmental Working Group compiled a list of produce that was safe to eat and those we should avoid. It was based on 96,000 studies done by the USDA and FDA between 2000 and 2008. The “Dirty Dozen” are produce that contained the most amounts of pesticides and the “Clean Fifteen” contained the fewest. The EWG has a handy dandy cheat sheet you can print out and hang on your fridge to help you remember.
http://static.foodnews.org/pdf/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdf

Health, environment, and finances are all things that one balances when deciding to purchase organic products or not. Hopefully the lists below will assist you in making those decisions. I would like to end this article on a funny note, but my morning sickness is preventing me from finding humor right now. When baby number three arrives and the sleep deprivation sets in, things might get more amusing. Either that or more confusing.

THE DIRTY DOZEN
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries – US Grown
Nectarines
Sweet Bell Peppers
Spinach
Kale and Collard Greens
Cherries
Potatoes
Grapes – Imported from outside US

THE CLEAN FIFTEEN
Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato

* http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/about/#what_pesticide
** http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/food/risks.htm