Saturday, December 28, 2013

Flu Strikes.. At Least I Think it Was the Flu.

I'm pretty sure that the flu just visited this house. Thank goodness we have found a way to combat it so we sent it packing!  Yesterday morning my brother (who is visiting) and I just hit a wall.  We were both just bleh.  He was even grey colored, it was not pretty.   I suspected it might possibly be the flu so we started "bombing" and napping. Then more "bombing"  To refresh your memory, a bomb has 3 drops each of melaleuca, oregano and Shied or On Guard essential oils in an empty veggie capsule and swallowed.  By the evening we were still kinda tired but definitely better.  Today we felt fine.  Thank you mother nature!

Then this evening I get a text from a friend asking if I suggest the flu shot.  My answer?  "Nope, I'm into the cold and flu bomb kit."
Jump ahead about 3 hours later and it looks like I'm going to practicing what I preach a little bit more...

This evening while I was putting the boy child to sleep, he all off the sudden got very whiney, hot, and he said he hurt all over.  Oh yeah, and he was completely irrational.  That sound pretty flu like to me. That boy went from 60 to 0 in about 20 minutes.  At first I though he was just a mess because he was so tired but then I realized he must really be sick. If he has today what we had yesterday then he needs "bombs" too.  I started rolling his feet with a roller ball of melaleuca, oregano and Shied that is diluted 1:1 with jojoba oil.  He was also really upset that he could not breathe because he was so congested so I started the diffuser right by his head with Respire (similar to Breathe from dT) and eucalyptus and I put some Respire on his chest.  We tried to use the neti pot but he was too congested.  My poor boy. After lots of nose blowing and 5 or 10 minutes of diffuser time he was breathing normally.  Phew.  I gave him some elderberry syrup for its antiviral properties, put a cool towel on his head and he fell asleep.  I can tell already that his fever is coming down and he is sleeping.  I am "bombing" his feet every hour right now and I plan on doing it once or twice in the night so he can wake up feeling good.  I promised him he would feel better in the morning and I don't plan on disappointing him.

Times like this I am very thankful to have tools in my house that are natural, that work and are safe for all of us.  If I didn't have essential oils on hand for times like this we could have been sick for days or even longer.  I just saw on the news the other day that the flu killed a grown man.  That is scary stuff and I don't want to mess around with it.  What is amazing about using essential oils is that when you are sick and you use oils you are killing the viruses and bacteria that are making you sick not just treating the symptoms of a virus or bacterial infection like OTC medicines do.  That makes your recovery time much faster, especially if you catch it at the beginning. You never really get fully "laid out on the couch" sick, and we all know that kind of sick really sucks!

If you are not an oil user yet then cold and flu season is a good time to start.  The Cold and Flu Bomb Kit will make a believer out of you if you catch a nasty bug.


Follow this link to get your Cold and Flu Bomb Kit  ---->http://www.sparknaturals.com?affiliates=157
Use coupon code Crunchyurbanmom and save 10% on your order!

Remember, I am not a doctor I am just sharing what works for me and my family.

Be healthy!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

DIY Toothpaste

You are going to think I'm crazy I'm sure, but I am PUMPED about my new toothpaste!  I know, I'm a weirdo.  Read on though.

Here is the backstory.   You see, I have always been picky about toothpaste.  I don't like the minty kinds.  I always went for cinnamon.  Let me tell you, there are not  a lot of choices in cinnamon, I remember like one choice at Target.  Then several years back I discovered how nasty fluoride is and so finding toothpaste that is cinnamon, has no fluoride and tastes decent was really a chore.  I found a few and they were OK, but I was not really in love.  Plus they were expensive, like $6- $8 a tube.  I started using On Guard toothpaste and really liked it and then I learned about carageenan.  Do you know about it?  Briefly here is what I know - it is a food additive and it produces inflammation.  I don't need anything in my body that produces inflammation.  Grody stuff.  Sometimes I think I should get off the internet, I know Julie thinks I should.  I am constantly learning something new and saying, no, we can't have that either, "it's toxic"!  Then I switch us to something else.  I promise I am just trying to do what is best for us, but I know it drives her batty.  Ignorance is bliss is not a phrase that applies to me, that is for sure.

Goo Tube
Anyway...so I came across this post from Wellness Mama about DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste.  I was pretty excited so I pinned it and went on my merry way.  Well, now I'm almost out of toothpaste so it was time to whip up a batch.  I had everything I needed except the calcium/magnesium and a container so I picked up the calcium/magnesium at Whole Foods for about $7 (I'm sure it would be cheaper anywhere else) and at Target I picked up this little guy -------> It is called a Goo Tube.  They are kinda pricey (like $7) but I will use it for a long time and it is perfect.  It will not leak, it squeezes great and is made of food grade silicone.  I have a smaller set of 3 for other things and I love them so I knew this would be perfect.
Mixed it in a bowl, no fancy tools needed

I followed her recipe (without the DE) and used 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil essential oil and 3 drops of wild orange for flavor.  OMG it was so yummy!  I was so excited!  I wish I could say I am exaggerating but I brushed my teeth 3 times because I was enjoying it so much. My teeth felt wonderfully clean!  I know it is crazy but it was cheap, easy, effective and finally tasty toothpaste!  I will never again buy a $8 tube of toothpaste.

So is this something you would be willing to try?  Let me know your thoughts.


Oh, and if you are curious about carageenan, check out this article in Prevention.   This is just one article but there is lots more info on it if you dare to Google.  It is pretty nasty stuff and it is in all kinds of food.  I sure don't want it in me or my kiddos.  Go check it out.  Knowledge is power.

If you are not an oil user and you are interested in learning more let me know.  The two brands I know, love and trust are doTERRA and Spark Naturals.  Message me and I can help you.

Be well.
Jen

Friday, October 18, 2013

Monster Cookies

If I have made you a cookie in the last 4 years it was probably a Monster Cookie.  They are delicious!  I named them Monster Cookies after my wonderful step monster who gave me the recipe.  Don't let the name fool you, she is an awesome person, definitely one of my favorites in my world.  Although when I was kid I may have called her a step monster a few times and meant it.  But we all do that as young people right?  Say things we don't mean to our parents.  I know I did.  Fortunately I now have great relationships with all 4 of my parents.  I'm a lucky gal indeed!

Anyway, on to the yummy stuff!  The recipe was not originally gluten free nor did it have chocolate chips but I can't imagine a cookie without chocolate chips, it just seems wrong.  So the chocolate has been permanently added to the recipe.  I always make a double batch and freeze what does not fit in the cookie jar.  They thaw quickly if you need them in a pinch and are actually quite tasty straight from the freezer.

Here are the specifics.

2 C oats
½ C WW flour
½ C white flour
(If gluten free use 1 cup gluten free flour and 1/2 tsp xanthan gum)
1 tsp. baking soda
6 Tbsp. oil ( I use coconut oil, make sure it is warm enough to be a liquid)
1 C brown sugar
1 egg (3 if you double the recipe)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/2 -3/4 C chocolate chips
1/2 C chopped nuts


Mix all dry ingredients in a big bowl including the chips, cranberries and nuts.  In a separate bowl mix wet stuff.  Add wet to dry and mix well.
Use a ice cream scooper or something small and rounded to scoop out dough and drop onto cookie sheet. 
Bake at 375 (or 350 convect) for 8-12 min and they are golden brown.

With coconut oil, cranberries, nuts, dark chocolate chips and not too much sugar these are practically a heath food so you can eat lots and not feel guilty.  That is what I tell myself anyway.

Enjoy!

A full treat jar makes for a happy house, I think so anyway.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

My New Cleaning Schedule

It has been several months since my last post (sorry if you felt I abandoned you, I promise I didn't).  Boy how time does fly!  Here is a quick run down of some stuff that has happened in the last few months.
-Mallory got 6 teeth, is nearly walking and can say Mama while chasing me down.
-Maddox started kindergarten and soccer and LOVES both!
-The kids and I spent the whole month of July in Oklahoma and had a great time with friends and family.
-The kids and I got in a small fender bender and the person that hit us did not have insurance (really??)
-The next day (and coincidentally Julie's birthday) our basement massively flooded and it was NASTY.  It was so bad we had to hire a crew to clean it, we had no clue how to handle that one.
-I got an 18in tattoo of a skeleton riding a Harley on my back.
OK, that last one is not true, I was just feeling a little wild just now.

I recently realized recently that since I had baby numero dos I have been in a bit of a rut.  It has taken a while for me to get back in the swing of things with two kids, much longer than I had anticipated.  Mallory is a really easy baby and Maddox is a pretty easy kid but taking care of two kids is a lot more difficult than one. For me 1+1 > 2.  I have pretty high expectations of myself and I was getting a little frustrated that I was struggling to keep up with all of my duties.  I mean come on, when I was a working gal I was very organized and extremely on top of my game, surely I can handle a couple of kids, feeding us all and some chores???  Think again sister.

 So in attempt to get a little bit of my organized self back I started cleaning stuff out and making lists.  Oh how I love to do those things.  I know, I'm weird, I actually like to clean out closets.   In the last two weeks I think I have dropped off 4 or 5 trunks full of stuff at the thrift store.  It feels so good to clear things out of my house.  I have a very strong connection to the spaces I inhabit and if they are cluttered and messy then so is my head and the opposite is true.  Clean and organized house = clutter free mind for me!  One thing I have always struggled with is cleaning, like scrubbing things, you know dusting, mopping, scrubbing toilets.  It is NOT on my list of things I enjoy.  I know I'm not the first person in the world to love a clean house but hate actually cleaning it.  Until now I had no system for keeping everything clean.  Why no system?  As someone who wants to be a professional organizer when I grow up I have always said you have to have systems set up to make your life easier.  The solution?  A cleaning schedule.  Why, why, why did I not implement a cleaning schedule before?  I didn't invent this, there are many much smarter people than I already using this idea, but I am jumping on to that train now.  So far my schedule is very simple.  Maddox and I talked about all the things we need to clean during the week and based on what other activities we have during the week we came up with this.  He did a decent job of helping me too and I suspect as time goes on he will get better and better.
So here are our duties.

Monday - Clean car and change all bed linens
Tuesday -  Dust, including fans
Wednesday - Detail kitchen (move everything and clean behind, stove, cabinets. all stainless steel, vacuum crumbs from drawers, etc)
Thursday - Bathrooms
Friday -  Clean floors (for me this is on my hands and knees with a baby on my back - yup it was tough!)

Usually the weekends are for bigger projects and yard work that the whole family does so those stayed off the weekly list.  Laundry did not make it to the list either because I have been working very hard at not letting more than 2 loads pile up at a time so basically it is ongoing.  I detest laundry so I could not bear to do load after load on one day, it would just make me hate that day and so far I kind of like all the days in the week.
This is not a thorough list but I felt like I needed to start small.  I have a tendency to "go big, or go home" and I start out very gung-ho about something then burn myself out quickly (just ask Julie, I'm bad at it).  I really want this new approach to work so I am doing small workable chunks to start.  This past week after I finished my chore for the day I would find myself wanting to move on to the next day's task.  I would make myself stop and find something else to do because I don't want burn out.  It worked pretty well and I felt like I had a little time for myself and to just play with Mallory one on one while Maddox was in school.  It was nice!

Did you struggle getting back to normal after having kids?  How do you manage your house?  How do you keep your house organized and functioning for your family?  Please share any tips and tricks.  Moms gotta be helping other moms!





Sunday, May 19, 2013

Something a Little Different for This Sunday

Normally Sundays are pretty lazy around our house.  We sleep in, read the paper, work on the house and maybe, just maybe, change out of our pj's.  Today was a different kind of Sunday.  Today I put on the ole' fancy pants and I worked at an event for Ergobaby downtown as a Brand Ambassador at the Best of Bump Club . I got to talk to lots of moms and dads about why Ergobaby is such a great product.  As most of you know I don't normally "bring home the bacon" around here but it sounded like a fun opportunity so I jumped on it. Although I'm pretty sure Julie and Maddox spent all my
my handsome guy on a boat 
"bacon" galavanting the city today.  They went to Navy Pier, the Lego Store, H&M, took a boat tour, played in a fountain and of course got a few treats. They both had an awesome day and Maddox chattered about it the whole way home.  I love it when they get to spend quality time together without me, I think it is so sweet and such good bonding time!

I really enjoyed talking to grown ups all day, even if it was about babies! I felt a little like my former, working girl self.  Mallory went with me and OH MY GOODNESS she was PERFECT!  She was in the Ergo from 9am to 3pm and got out a little to eat, be changed and play, but she slept and just chilled about 90% of the time.  She was the best-est baby model ever!
It was fun to talk to other moms, and I actually found a few similarly minded people who were into cloth diapers, essential oils and all around green living.  I love running into fellow crunchies!  Ha, ha.  And go figure, I forgot to take pictures of us working hard today.  Oops.

I struck up a great conversation with a few moms about cloth diapering and they wanted to see some pictures.  I promised I would share some of my home made creations.
When we are out and about we usually use pocket diapers but when we are home I like to use fitted diapers with wool covers.  I use pockets when we are out because they have PUL on the outside and they are waterproof and faster to change.  At home I like fitted diapers because they are much more breathable and I think more fun but not waterproof unless you put a cover on them.  I like wool, again because it is more breathable and a natural fiber, but also because I like making covers and I think they are adorable.  The white fitted diapers are from Green Mountain Diapers and are called Worhorse fitteds.  They are awesome!  They are absorbent, soft, fit very well and not too expensive.  Plus I like the simplicity of a classic looking diaper.   So here you go ladies that I met today, my latest creations made from my scraps and thrift store finds.
Fitted Woof, Woof

Fitted Birdies

Fitted flowers and owls
Brown flower was from leftover PUL, green flower was a  pillowcase and pink plaid was a table cloth

Mallory in upcycled wool

More upcycled wool on the cute baby model

Workhorse fitted - such a cute bum!

Oh how I am having fun with fluff!  It is becoming an addiction.  A bad one.

Jen


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Diapers Out of Pillowcases

Sorry I have not posted much in the last few days.  Back in mid April our basement flooded, along with the rest of Chicago so I have been dealing with that. I have also been working out almost everyday (with the help of some accountabilit-buddies), planning for Maddox's 5th birthday and making diapers for our chubby girl who keeps growing out of everything I have previously made.  This time I got smart, I am making one size diapers that should last for the long haul.  I am using scraps that I had here and a few upcycled things I found at the thrift store.  So a diaper that would normally cost $15-$25 is costing me practically nothing, just my time.  The first diaper took me nearly half a day to figure out but I think I have it down and I made these three so far.

This one was a vintage pillowcase.


I'm pretty excited about how they turned out and I have enough fabric cut for about 6 more so I have some work ahead of me in the next few days.

This on was an old tablecloth - I think she likes it!




Friday, May 3, 2013

Ergo Love

In preparation for the month of July, when my kids and I will be away from home for 33 days, I have been looking for things that are travel friendly and will make my life easier with a baby and 5 year old.  I am an avid Ergo Baby Carrier lover. I have 2 already, but I stumbled across this bad boy and I could not pass it up.  It is a packable Ergo they call  the Stowaway.  It folds up into that tiny little rectangle that you can toss or hook anywhere.
My first pack job, so easy!
The material is different that my other Ergos. The shell is made of 100% recycled materials and it is kinda of slicky.  It reminds me of the outside of a sleeping bag.  The shoulders have less padding than the other ones, which is expected because it is much lighter and packs inside itself.  It still has a hood that hides inside a little pocket (which I love because I don't use it much) and it still has my favorite Ergo feature - a pocket!  This has been one of the reasons I have not even tried any other carriers because I need a place for my phone and keys.  Thank you Ergo!

Eeewww, baby slobber.
Since little Mrs. Drools-a- lot has been doing this  ---------------->        
 to my straps I decided to jazz them up with some cute sucker pads to combat her slobber.  I think they turned out pretty cute and they were easy.  I made 3 sets in about an hour.  Organic, reversible, adorable.  Go me!
I think she likes our new travel arrangement!


Here is a little demo.


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Buckwheat

So what do you know about buckwheat?  2 weeks ago I would have said nothing, but a fellow mom and I were talking about food and gluten free alternatives and she brought up buckwheat.  She is from Russia and she said they eat lots of it there and I should give it a try. Always down for something new, I picked some up at the grocery store and here is what I have learned.

Buckwheat although looks and acts much like a grain it is actually a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb.  
It is - 

  • Gluten free
  • Linked to lower LDL(bad cholesterol), serum cholesterol and higher HDL (good cholesterol)
  • Rich in flavanoids which are phytonutrients that protect against disease by extending the action of vitamin C and act as antioxidants
  • Helps regulate blood sugar
  • Helps prevent gallstones
  • Surpasses rice, wheat and corn in almost every measure of healthfulness
  • High in the amino acids lysine and arginine
  • Buckwheat proteins reduce the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), thereby reducing hypertension
  • High in minerals, especially magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese
Buckwheat is sold in 3 forms. Groats, grits and flour.  Groats are the hulled seeds.  If you roast the groats they are called kasha and they are tastier roasted.  Very fine unroasted groats are grits and are
often used as breakfast cereals.  Flour can be light and dark.  The darker it is the more hull is ground into it and the more nutritious.  You should store your buckwheat in a sealed container in a cool place like the fridge or freezer because they are seeds and they can go rancid.

The buckwheat I got was unroasted groats (because I didn't know at the time it came any other way) so dry roasted it which is a fancy way of saying I put it in a skillet with nothing else and cooked it till it got darker.  Then I cooked it like I would rice.  In my house that means I threw it in the rice cooker.  I used the same proportions as I would with rice, so 1 part buckwheat 2 parts liquid.  I used some leftover chicken broth from a soup I made last week and threw in some mushrooms and garlic and flipped the switch.  If you don't have one you are missing out...the rice cooker rocks!  We use it for all kids of stuff, rice, quinoa, now buckwheat.  I love it!  I'm pretty sure I could not make rice on the stove, it would burn, ah, but not in the rice cooker!  Anyway, back to buckwheat...it turned out great!  
Then the next morning we had a recipe for some gluten free griddle cakes that happen to call for what? Yup, buckwheat flour.  So I ground some up in the Vitamix and and we made breakfast.  They were tasty too.
So here is a new food to try that is super healthy, easy and tasty.  After you try it let me know how it turned out.  Maybe we can all share some yummy new recipes.

Be healthy!
Jen


Saturday, April 27, 2013

Do You Neti?

It was almost 70 here in beautiful Chicago yesterday, oh it was glorious!  After a long, cold and rainy winter there is nothing better than a warm spring day.  With all that great sunshine comes, of course, allergies!  So besides hitting the lemon, lavender and peppermint a few extra times my other go to is the neti pot.  I have been using a neti pot for probably seven years or so now and Maddox uses it as well.  I started him on it when he was around two I believe, and it has been great, especially when he has a snotty nose from a cold.  It really cleans him out.  It is totally disgusting...the things that come out of a snot nose boy...but well worth it.  I would rather the snot come out in the shower than all day and it be crusted up on his face.  Eww, I just can't handle crusty faced kids.

Neti pots have been around for centuries and they are used for nasal irrigation which is a fancier term for rinsing out your sinuses. Why use a neti pot?  By rinsing the sinus cavity you can help with environmental allergies, sinus issues, alleviate congestion, facial pain and pressure.  It is a very simple, yet effective process.  

Here is what you need:

Neti pot - you can get at most pharmacies now a days.  Of course mine came from Amazon.
1/4 t salt
8 oz warm distilled, sterile or previously boiled water (I keep a tea pot on the stove that always has water in it)
Optional : essential oils - my favorites are frankincense and eucalyptus

Make sure the water is body temperature and the salt is dissolved.  I also like to add 1-2 drops of frankincense and eucalyptus when I need a little extra umph.  It really helps open you up and breathe
much clearer.  Even Maddox does it with the oils, at first he said he didn't like it but after he realized that it helped he would ask for it that way.  When you are ready just tip your head to the side and pour it in one nostril and let it drain out the other side.  Switch sides halfway through and use up all the water.  If you are congested then blow your nose first otherwise the water will not come out.  Also, after you are done make sure you blow out any excess water in your nose.  This is most effective by holding one nostril closed and blowing, then switch.  I personally think this whole process works better in the shower, especially if you are helping a kid.  Over the sink, at our house anyway, just turns into a mess.  In the shower it is no biggie!  Remember, as with most things, consistency is key.  This is safe to do everyday and there have been times I have done it 2 times a day when I was really battling the sinus demons.

Here are some more technical instructions on how to use the neti pot.

Here are a few neti pot pictures.
I used to have this red one but it had an untimely death.  It was my favorite but I could not find it again.  Sniff, sniff.
This one I got free for liking their FB page.  I  works fine.  I like that you can  close the lid and not spill.
This is the one I use most although you have to be careful not to spill.  Somehow I feel a little fancier with this one.

So there you go, a simple yet very effective way to naturally combat sinus and allergy problems this spring.

Be healthy, 
Jen






Monday, April 22, 2013

The Move

So this (Blogger site) is my new home now and I promise not to move again!  I am glad you found me here and I apologize for the old posts being out of order.  This is all new to me and I can't figure out how to change the order.  Oh well.

Have a great week and happy Earth Day!

Jen


Oregano - Nature's Antibiotic


Oregano - Nature's Antibiotic


ImageOregano is a doTERRA essential oil I will never be without.  I was reading this article on the Huffington Post about antibiotics and it got me thinking about how overused they are.  I know for many people they are sometimes not even effective.  I find that very scary.  Just thinking about taking my sick baby to a doctor, getting medicine to help and then getting medicine that does not work makes me very uneasy, out of control and even helpless.  Fortunately this has never happened to me but I know it has for others. I am also much more at ease now that I have found essential oils and I am empowered to care for my family when we get sick. So why do antibiotics sometimes not work?  There are a couple of reasons.  1 - Antibiotic resistance.  The bacteria evolved in a way that it is now resistant to that type of antibiotic.  This is what is causing super bugs, which are drug resistant and can cause illness to last longer and even cause death. 2- The wrong type of antibiotic for the type of bacteria.
What I love about plant based medicine is that it is far more complex than what can be manufactured and therefore much more effective at killing bacteria AND viruses.  What?  Viruses too?  Yup.   Essential oils can penetrate the cell wall and kill viruses and bacteria unlike what you pick up at the pharmacy.  So when you get the flu and the doctor says, "wait it out" and tells you how to manage your symptoms you could be rolling oregano on your feet 2-3 times a day or taking it an Imageveggie cap and significantly reduce the intensity and duration of the illness.  Oregano is antiviral, antibiotic, antiparasitic, antibacterial and an antiseptic.  That is some powerful stuff!
A few weeks ago Julie was out of town for nearly 2 weeks and I had both kids on my own for the first time.  On one of the first nights Maddox woke up about 3 am crying and saying he needed to go potty but it hurt.  He kept trying and nothing would come out.  He was crying really hard and kept running back and forth to the bathroom. He kept saying he was scared.  My poor sweet boy.  It killed me to see him so scared and in pain.  At first I thought he was a little dehydrated and had him drink some water and eat some blueberries.  He was not getting any better and kept trying to potty so I decided to get out the trusty ole Google.  I put in his symptoms and it said possible UTI.  Well, they run in the family so this was not surprising.  I headed over to everythingessential.me and the protocol listed oregano as an oil to use.  I rolled some on his feet and I swear to you he was asleep in 5 minutes.  He slept all night (even though I woke up and put more oregano on his feet) and the next morning he woke up and pottied like normal.  I kept the oregano on him 2-3 time a day for the next few days and he only complained of it bothering him maybe one other time.  So it was stinky oregano to the rescue! Maddox named it "stinky oregano" and before he had this issue he would not let me put it on him because the smell was so strong.  What does it smell like?  Dang strong oregano!  Not nearly as yummy smelling as some of the other oils so I would definitely stick to the feet or internally with this one.  But this time when he was in pain in the middle of the night and I told him it was stinky but it would help him, he let me put it on him.  Now he is fine with it, I guess he knows that the smell is worth it, we just joke about his stinky feet!
There is lots more info on uses for oregano oil, if you search, you will find it.  The only brand that I trust to put on my family is doTERRA and this is one oil that even though we don't use every day, I would never be without because when someone is sick, you need it now.
Oh, and in case you didn't know, oregano is considered a "hot" oil and should not be used unless diluted with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, almond, jojoba or olive oil.  Also you should not take it internally for more than 2 weeks without a break.
If you have questions, feel free to ask them!  I love to help.
Be healthy!
Jen
More info on oregano
Need some?  Get it here!

Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Beginning


If you are reading this you probably already know who I am so I will not bore you with those details.  If you don't know who I am then head on over to the "about" section to get some deets.
After having a friend call me for some advice and tips on how I use my doTERRA essential oils I realized I know quite a bit and I have lots of knowledge to share.  I really like sharing my knowledge and teaching people how to make improvements in their everyday lives.  Also I am not the best blogger, I try, I really do, but I was never a good writer.  I have always found it frustrating because I have so many thoughts going on in my head and I can't get them out fast enough.  Then I forget all my genius thoughts and wind up with nothing.  Alas, I have decided that Facebook may be a better avenue for me to share.  Plus it allows a little more "audience" participation, and that is way more fun than just writing.  So I have this blog now so that both my blog and Facebook page have the same name but I will mostly use Facebook to communicate and use the blog when I have longer (and probably super important) things to say.
The things I will be talking about on my snazzy new FB page will be - becoming more healthy and doTERRA essential oils, ways to be more green, attachment parenting, budgeting and finance stuff, organization.  These are the things that I'm passionate about and that are very pertinent in my life right now.  I will also say that I am an expert in nothing but I have practical experience and passion for each of these topics.
My hope is that by talking about things on Facebook we can create more dialogue than just a blog so that we can hopefully learn from each other.  So please participate, it will be more fun!
Here are some important links for my stuff
Crunchy Urban Mom Facebook
Crunchy Urban Mom Blog
doTERRA Retail Sales Page
Jennie made presentation on essential oils
Much love and talk to you soon,
Jennie
Crunchy Urban Mom

I Heart Amazon


I'm going to make an admission here today.  I'm pretty sure the most uncrunchy thing I do is shop on Amazon.  I know...bad carbon footprint...but I love it, and I promise I make up for this naughtness to Mother Earth in other ways.  I have Prime and have for about 2 years now and I'm pretty sure I can't live without it.  It is $79 a year which is only $6.58 a month to get free (or a better word may be included) 2 day shipping  on TONS of stuff on Amazon.com plus lots of free movies and shows online.
$6.58 a month to not have to drive around to look for whatever it is I am looking for?
$6.58 to not schlep my kids in the Chicago weather into whatever store across town in traffic.
$6.58 a month to have my coveted purchase at my door in 2 days (sometimes less).
Yes please!!!  
What do I buy on Amazon.com?  Books, movies, baby stuff, toys, industrial floor fan, vacuum, phone accessories, essential oil case, our favorite chapstick that I can't find anywhere else.  You get the idea... you name it, you can probably find it on Amazon.  My favorite is food though.  Since I am gluten free it is hard for me to find dry goods and snacks that are A-tasty and B-not a ridiculous price.  Amazon has all kind of gluten free stuff and it is usually a good deal if you buy it by the case.  I don't mind storing it (yes, I have been called a food hoarder before) so it is not a big deal.  And honestly most of the stuff we buy we go through pretty quickly.  The reason I tell you about this is that there is this great feature called Subscribe & Save.  It allows you to get automatic shipments of items you use a lot.  You can set the frequency of your delivery and change it or cancel it whenever you want.  So for me, I have Charlie's Soap (laundry detergent) set to ship every month but the water filter for our fridge is set to ship every 6 months.  If I need more sooner or need to skip a shipment I can do that too. Also you save 5-20% off the item when you set it to auto ship.  Now here is the cool part.  If you have 5 items set to ship in one month on your Subscribe & Save then you get 20% off the entire order!  I love it!  For many things it winds up being a great deal.  I even get rechargeable batteries this way.  Check it out, there is all kinds of great stuff, even diapers and wipes.   Ok, so this post was not supposed to be all about Amazon and my deep love for them, I just got excited.  Sorry.
What I wanted to show you was this  -------------------------->otoscope                   it is my new otoscope.  What's an otoscope?  It is that thing with the light on it that the doctor looks in your ears with.  Mallory has been pulling at her ears the last few days and although I am 99% sure it is because she is teething I thought that this would be a good idea to have in the house so I could check out the situation inside her cute little ears.  The next time we go in for her well baby visit I'm going to take it with me IMG_20130419_234051and have the doctor show me what I need to know (in case I miss something scouring the internet).  We sure did have fun with it tonight though!  We all looked in each others ears and said, "eeewww, you have wax".  Well duh, we are supposed to have wax.  Read here to find out why.
Now, I can't take credit for this idea, I read it on some eles's blog but I don't remember where so I can't give credit.  Sorry, smart lady.
So where did I get this awesome little tool?  Why Amazon.com of course!  For a mere $26 with Prime.
Be healthy.
Jen
Click here for otoscope on Amazon

Thursday, April 18, 2013

101 Uses for Lemon, Lavender and Peppermint


Yesterday I talked about how we use lemon, lavender and peppermint to combat our allergies.  Here are 101 other ways to use them in your every day lives.
We call this the beginners trio and these three oils are a great way to get your feet wet and try these 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils.  In addition to using them for allergies all three of these get used in our house every day.
Check it out.
Jennie

On Guard


on guard
One of my favorite oil blends is On Guard.  DoTERRA calls it the protective blend, I call it awesomeness!  On Guard is another oil that we use everyday.  It is a blend so it has several oils in it.  They are cinnamon, clove bud, eucalyptus, rosemary, wild orange.  I think On Guard smells pretty amazing and so does Maddox so we diffuse it pretty often.  It is a great blend to diffuse because it will kill bacteria and viruses in the air, so if you have sickies in your house you better get you some On Guard!  It also is great for boosting your immune system to keep you from getting sick.  This is another oil that we roll on our feet day and night.  We rarely get sick around here but when we do it is generally mild and short lived.  Another way we use On Guard every day is in a spray bottle with distilled water as a hand sanitizer.  I keep it in the diaper bag and use it while we are out to kill germs on hands, surfaces and sometimes in the air if it is stinky.  It is a great natural alternative to regular hand sanitizer and it smells good to boot!
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While writing this post I realized that I drank the proverbial On Guard "Kool-Aid" because not only do I love the blend and use it every day but I also use the cleaner, the toothpaste and the cough drops. I just recently got the cough drops and had them waiting in the medicine cabinet for illness to strike.  Sure enough it did.  Julie came home from a long work trip feeling sick and nasty and had a sore throat.  The next morning I could feel the beginnings of a sore throat so I took one.  Did I get sick?  No way.  I managed to talk Maddox into sucking on one for about 2 minutes and he decided it was not for him. Kids.... He and Julie are quite finicky when it comes to strong tasting things.  I don't mind the taste at all, but they are kind of strong.  I look at it as medicine and so it is pretty tasty compared to what other medicine may taste like, that is my opinion.  Plus I am willing to suck it up for the length of a cough drop versus getting sick.  But hey, that's just me.doterra-on-guard-drops-smlcleaner
Another way I like to use the blend is as tea.  1 drop (unless you have a giant glass like I do, then do 2 drops) with honey and lemon.  Great immune booster.  I love that I can use doTERRA oils so many ways, like drink in tea, and it is because they are so pure.  They are the only oils that are Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade and I would not suggest ingesting any other brand of essential oils.
Here is a list that someone smarter and more creative than me made that has 52 other ways to use On Guard.
ON GUARD® by Robert James
52 Top uses for On Guard antimicrobial blend of essential oils.doterra-on-guard-toothpaste-sml-500x500
1. Mix with a tblsp of water, gargle for 1 minute then swallow at the on-set of a sore throat.
2. Put 5 drops Oregano and 5 drops on guard in a 00 capsule and take 3 times daily at the on set of cold or flu symptoms.
3. Put on the soles children's feet at night during cold & flu season to support immune system.
4. Put several drops on a bowl of hot – hot water and Breathe in the vapors as it begins to volatilize when you have lung congestion.
5. Put 50 drops in a spray bottle with 30 oz of distilled water. Shake often and use to sanitize kitchen and bathroom surfaces.
og6. Add to your dishwasher for micro clean dishes.
7. Add to your laundry cycle for micro clean clothes.
8. Add to your mop water for cleaner floors.
9. Apply to bee and insect stings to neutralize the toxin and relieve the pain.
10. Gargle and brush daily for healthy teeth and gum's and to prevent and treat gum disease.
11. Apply to gum's and teeth, or swish with 5 drops of on guard & 1tbsp of water for pain relief from toothaches and after dental work.
12. Diffuse in homes or business to kill air borne pathogens, inhibit mold and build immune systems.
13. Put a few drops on air filters when changing them to kill pathogens in the duct work.
14. Add to Emergen-C or Orange juice to help congestion and fight flu and cold.
15. Put a drop in your mouth and push or squeeze it around to relive smoking urges. (enhance with an extra drop or two of Clove.)
16. For warts, apply topically, rotating between Oregano & Frankincense.
17. Apply a drop on a pets sore or wound to enhance healing.
18. Have the diffuser going in your home when the kids come home to ward off germs.
19. Make an anti-biotic blend using On Guard (12 drops) Oregano (6 drops) Frankincense (2 drops) in a 00 gel cap.
20. Add 15 drops to every cup of corn starch, mix and sprinkle on carpet. Rake, leave for 1 hour then Vacuum for micro clean carpet.
21. Mix a 2-3 drops of on guard and 2 drops of Lemon EO with honey or agave in a teaspoon for a cold or cough relief medicine for kids.
22. Gargle with 1 tbps of water and 1 drop each of Lemon and on guard hourly for laryngitis.
23. Put several drops on the HVAC vents of a hotel room or office to kill airborne pathogens and germs.
24. Mix with baking soda to clean bathtubs.
25. Apply neat to the toes and nails to combat fungus.
26. Combine 2 tbps of water with 5 drops of on guard in a small glass and store your toothbrush overnight to sanitize.
27. Use a 50/50 mix of on guard and purified water and spray onto oven interior. Leave for 15 minutes, then wipe away greasy spots.
28. Apply to hands to remove stubborn, sticky substances like tree sap.
29. Add to the water in your vacuum cleaner/steamer to disinfect the carpet.
30. Put a few drops in your vacuum bag to kill pathogens.
31. Put 15 drops in a 6oz spray bottle, shake and spray rooms, desks, or bed sheets to protect against pathogens.
32. Clean the upholstery and dashboard of your car.
33. Gargle with on guard and 1 tbsp of water prior speaking engagements or singing performances.
34. Rub on stains as a pre-wash stain remover.
35. Add 3 drops to your tooth brush and brush every day for a healthy mouth and to prevent cavities, gum disease.
36. Apply to teeth that have been damaged or broken to help them heal.
Make an On Guard® spray with 15 drops for every 6 oz of water, use the spray for:
37. Wipe doorknobs and other things touched by the public.
38. Wipe dirty piano keys to clean and disinfect.
39. Use to clean childrens hands when traveling.
40. Use on the steering wheel and gearshift of your vehicle.
41. Use on public telephones to remove germs.
42. Use on public computer keyboards and mice.
43. Use as an underarm deodorant.
44. Spray on hands before and after shaking hands with a lot of people.
45. Spray in public restrooms on airplanes to reduce airborne bacteria.
46. Carry for protection in countries with cholera, malaria or dysentery.
47. Use as an air freshener for cooking odors or other unwanted smells.
48. Take to the gym and spray all the equipment you use.
49. Take to the supermarket and use to disinfect shopping cart handles.
50. Use in the classroom for desks, tables and other items handled by children.
51. Spray in your mouth and throat at first onset of cold or bronchitis.
52. Spray on shower stalls and bathroom walls to disinfect and remove mold.
Stay healthy!
Jen