Easy-Peasy Homemade Salad Dressings

I promised this post awhile back, but with all the hustle and bustle that has been going on these past few weeks I haven't had a chance to sit down and get this out. Here it goes!

This post will share some recipes for very easy, healthy, homemade salad dressing. I typically make my own dressings because its cheaper and much healthier than buying store bought. Salad dressings are top offenders of GMO and MSG, two yucky ingredients I try to avoid at all costs. My family and friends always rave about how yummy and fresh my dressings taste.

Ranch Dressing:

1 cup of Greek Yogurt
1/2 juice from medium sized lemon
Seasonings: Dill, Garlic, Salt and Pepper

So anyone who knows my recipes knows I'm the worst about providing amounts for seasonings. I feel like everyone has different tastes so I suggest that you start light and add to appeal to your flavor.  You can use fresh dill and garlic or powdered seasonings. Your choice. I prefer the fresh herbs if available. You can mix with a spoon or add all ingredients into a food processor.

Lemon Tahini Dressing:
1/4 cup Tahini
2 tbs of olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of nutritional yeast
salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients into a food processor to mix. You can add water as needed to thin out. This is great on a yummy kale salad!

Italian Vinaigrette:

Olive Oil
Red Wine Vinegar
Basil
Garlic
Salt & Pepper

This one is simple and easy! Who doesn't like a vinaigrette?

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt & Pepper

You can also add herbs to this if you wish. Some garlic, basil, thyme. Whatever tickles your fancy!

Creamy Avocado dressing:

Avocado
1/2 cup of greek yogurt
Lime juice
Garlic
Salt & Pepper

This one is yummy on pretty much anything. You can add some paprika, cumin and/or a little bit of cayanne pepper for a taco salad! Add shrimp, ground turkey or chicken!

I love salads! I love adding more and more ingredients until it is a yummy combination of greens, cheese, fruit, seeds or nuts, and even more veggies. They can be the perfect side, or even a whole meal. The possibities are endless!

What would love for you to share what your favorite type of salad is!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Homemade Vietnamese Pho Soup

I love Pho! Oh man, do I love it. Even on a hot day I will crave this delicious, Vietnamese soup.  Pho is pronounce Fa, not Foe, and there are many different versions of this noodle soup from chicken to shrimp to tripe (cow belly). My favorite is the Pho Bo (Beef Pho), preferably the rare beef soup. This post is going to share with you my Pho-nomenal homemade Pho Bo recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4-5 Beef Bones (knuckle or leg preferably, but any will do. Including Oxtails)
1 whole yellow onion
about 4 nubs of fresh ginger. For this recipe I used one large piece
Spices: 2 Cinnamon stick, 1 tsp Cloves, 1 tsp Fennel Seeds, 1 tsp Pickling Spice, 5 Star Anise, Salt to taste
Chopped Green Onions
Chopped Cilantro
1 gallon of water
Fish Oil
Flank Steak (1-1.5 lbs)
Rice Noodles

Garnish Tray:

Mung Bean Sprouts ( Try sprouting your own like I did!)
Thai Basil
Lime wedges
Jalepeno slices (optional)

Condiments:
Hoisin Sauce
Sriracha Sauce

The first step in making the Pho is to par-boil the bones for about 10 minutes to remove all the yucky stuff. There will be a lot of scum in this process. After they are done boiling you can dump out, rinse the bones and rinse out the pot. Fill with a gallon of fresh water and get ready to make the soup.

Charred onions and ginger

The next step is to cut the yellow onion in half, cut the fresh ginger in half lengthwise and char them. You can either hold them with tongs over an open flame, or I moved my open rack up to the top one and placed them on a cookie sheet under the broiler. Allow ends to get black and charred. It takes about 15 minutes. When finished you can remove from the oven and let cool. Once cool you can remove the oven skin. I pierced the ginger and onion with a knife to help release the flavors.

Now the soup is ready to begin. Put the onions and ginger into the water with the bones, and place the spices in a mesh bag, or cheesecloth and place in the water. Add about 1/4 cup of fish oil and bring to a boil. Add some salt (you can keep adding to taste during the process so start out with a low amount at first) Once it starts to boil turn down to a simmer, cover and let simmer for anywhere from 3-5 hours. Watch it occasionally and stir it, taste it and you can add seasonings accordingly.


When you are almost ready to eat, cook up the rice noodles following the instructions. Remove the beef bones, onions, ginger and spice bag so that all is left is the broth. You can leave it as is, or I like to add chopped green onions and cilantro because I like a lot of veggies in my Pho.

Yummy Extras

Turn the broth back on till it begins to boil for a minute or two. Slice the flank steak, or whatever kind of meat you are using and cut it against the grain while the meat is uncooked. Add the noodles to a bowl, add the hot broth and add the meat in immediately so that it cooks in the broth. I was a little scared of this at first, but I promise you it's so Pho-king good and cooks up perfectly. If you wish, you can sear the beef on each side before you slice the meat. You can then begin to customize your soup by adding all the fixings. The bean sprouts, some lime juice, yummy basil. I've even heard of people adding more cilantro and mint. You can also season with the hoisin sauce and Sriracha making a nice little balance of sweet and hot.

Now for how cheap Pho is, it's probably easier to just run out and pick some up, but it's so fun to make your own, and you can impress your friends!

I would love to hear if any of you try this and what you think of it!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Frugal Friday- Mommytime!!

Being a mommy is a very giving, selfless job. I can hardly remember the last time I got a mani-pedi. Or a massage. Those days are long gone! Not that I'm complaining. I'm a pretty low maintenance girl when it comes to beauty stuff. Being at home with the kids all day working and homeschooling, most days I don't  even wear makeup. Or put it on right before I'm expecting my husband just so I don't feel like I've been a mess all day (Which usually I am, between dirty grimy kiddie hands and trying to clean, etc.!)

Thanks to our beloved Pinterest, I have found so many great ideas of how to stay looking good without having to spend time and money. This post will share with you some healthy, home beauty products that have amazing results!

Bentonite clay mask- I have a love affair with bentonite clay. It is a definite must have for the house as it has so many uses. It's a powerful poultice and makes a great facial mask. Rumored to have been used regularly by Cleopatra, as well as ancient Aztec warriors it has age reducing benefits and works well to restore youth and beauty. You can find this at most health food stores (not at Trader Joe's) or online. Most jars have the instructions on the package. You mix some powdered clay with vinegar or water (I prefer vinegar) and put it on as a mask. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes. The mask will get really hard and may even itch a bit. When you wash your face it will be bright red and pulsating for a bit. Don't worry! This is normal. The clay and vinegar mixture works to remove deep impurities. This mask works best when done once a week.

Microdermabrasion- The recipe is simple. One part water, one part baking soda. mix it together and scrub all over your face. Rub in circular motions paying particular attention to areas where you have blackheads or clogged pores. Wash it off and dry. Viola! Your face is bright and beautiful! Just like the mask, I try to incorporate this scrub into my weekly facial routine.

Teeth Whitener- Mix a small amount of water and a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into a glass. I like to use this as a mouthwash before I brush. I just swish and swirl it around for a few minutes and then brush my teeth. The hydrogen peroxide helps to brighten and whiten your teeth and is a common ingredient in most whitening products.

Detox bath- This can be a nice, relaxing little escape. That is if you don't have interruptions by crying children over someone not sharing, not wanting to go to bed, etc. For me it seems like even if they are asleep, the second I get into the bath some major disaster occurs! HA! Anyways, this bath can be done two ways, you can use either epsom salts or some of the powdered bentonite clay. Either one has beneficial affects for the body. The epsom helps to draw out toxins while also replenishing magnesium (a common deficiency in most people) while the clay works well to remove toxins and heavy metals. Detox baths help to stimulate the lymphatic system and cleansing our largest organ, our skin. Drawing out these impurities often is a great way to keep your body fresh and functioning well.

Now don't get me wrong, these in no way substitute a kid free, husband free, dog free spa pampering session! But I think most mommies would approve at how easy, cheap and accessible it is to do these at home on a regular basis. Besides, what about the fact that just one of these treatments at a high-end place would be probably double of what you can get all the ingredients combined to DIY? You can get hydrogen peroxide, epsom salts and baking soda all at the Dollar Tree. That right there saves you a ton!

Do you use any homemade beauty products? If so, please share!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Fermentation Fun!- Homemade Sauerkraut

My name is Victoria, and I'm a fermentaholic. Seriously, I'm obsessed in a where-has-this-been-all-my-life, type of way! I started about 6 months ago brewing my own Kombucha and have been experimenting since.  It's such a fun easy way to make your own food and the health benefits of fermented foods are tremendous.

My most recent experiment was Sauerkraut. It was very easy, with the hardest part being patient and waiting for the food to naturally do it's thing! I always get a little nervous when I ferment. We have all been conditioned to believe that pasteurization is necessary and to be fearful of all bacteria. The truth is that fermented foods have lots of health benefits, and can increase vitality and wellbeing. This post is to share with you how easy it is to make your own sauerkraut!

Homemade Sauerkraut:

• Head of green cabbage
• Sea Salt
• Filtered water
• Jar
• Cover- Paper towel, tea towel, coffee filter, cheese cloth, etc. 
• Rubberband
• Something to weigh down the cabbage to stay submerged (right now I use a plastic baggie filled with water but am still searching for a better alternative that is nonplastic) 

Shred the cabbage and place into a bowl and cover with salt. Massage and knead the salt into the cabbage to bruise and help to release the juices needed to help ferment. Pour the cabbage/salt combo into the container and fill with water enough to submerge the cabbage. Place the weight on to help hold the cabbage under the water.  I cover my container with a paper towel and use a couple of rubber bands to keep it safe and clean from bugs, dust, etc. 

Let your batch sit for 7-14 days and it will be ready to bottle. Now beware! This is a stinky, smelly process. My fermentation station is setup in the garage because, although I've grown to love that smell, I don't want it in my house. I check on my brews every couple of days, testing and trying until it matches my taste. That is the beauty of fermenting. You can extend the process if you want it more sour and tart, or shorten if you want it more sweet tasting. 

Now chances are there will be some sort of whitish scum on the top of the batch- Don't despair! This is "The Mother" a sign of healthy bacterias infusing our food creating your own homemade probiotics! Amazing isn't it! You can just scoop off and discard a bit of the top layer and below should be beautiful, yummy sauerkraut! When bottling leave just a little room for air at the top and the batches will continue to ferment until placed in the fridge. They can be stored in a pantry almost indefinitely!

Fermentation is one of the safest and healthiest ways to preserve food. Many people fear bacteria in their food but good bacteria, lactic acid producing bacteria, can be used to extend the life of your food.  Warning signs to look for when fermenting are: pink cabbage, mold, slime, and a yeasty odor. If you see a white film on top- Smile! You are fermenting! You want to allow your food to ferment for at least two weeks when its warm out and even longer when the weather gets cooler. Allowing it to fully have time to ferment increases the Lactic Acid Bacteria lowering the PH and preventing spoilage.

Im hooked and so excited for all the possibilities that lacto-fermenting has to offer. I can't wait for all the future experiments such as making my own yogurt, adding veggies and other ingredients to future sauerkrauts, fermenting salsas and chutney's! Who knows, maybe even trying to brew my own beer and wine!

Have you tried fermenting? We would love to hear all about it!!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Maniac Monday

It's Monday! Instead of waking up feeling inspired to start my week I felt tired and worn out! This past week of traveling back and forth to celebrate two thanksgivings with both sides of the family has me longing for nap time (Please oh please let my kids nap at the same time today! Mama needs it!) My house is a disaster, I haven't even begun anything in the form of Christmas presents and I'm really starting to feel the financial pressures of the holidays along with the fact that I'm making a lot less money now that I'm able to stay home with the kids as opposed to working full time.

As my morning started out rough I began to panic about how things such as how fast the year has gone by, how much more I would like to start contributing financially to the family, what to get this person and that person for Christmas and finally had to take a step back. Why all the stress? It's completely unnecessary and does no service! BREATHE! Everything is gonna be alright!

I took the kids and the dog for a walk outside and it was so refreshing. The air was cool and crisp, and the birds were chirping. We stopped at our favorite little spot for the kids to run around for a bit. As I just stood and watched the kids play I remembered something I had read over the weekend about Earthing.  Earthing is the belief that modern lifestyle has us disconnected with the Earth and it's beautiful energy, which causes us to be stressed out and vulnerable to illness.  Simply walking barefoot on the earth for a few minutes a day can absorb the energy helping to feel more grounded and connected. So I took off my Uggs and walked around barefoot on the cool damp grass for about 15 minutes. Will I sound like too much of a hippie when I tell you how amazing it felt. I could literally feel the energy being drawn up through the soles of my feet. I began to feel energized and motivated. I used this time to meditate with the universe and ask it to guide me and reveal what I am supposed to be doing. At the end of the short session I felt so much better about where I am in my life. It helped to answer some of my questions as to what I can be doing differently while also showing me that patience is key.

Being a mommy I don't get as much quiet alone time to be with just myself, my thoughts and the universe. Today was a great reminder of finding solace in a very simple way, just by walking barefoot on the dewy grass while watching my kids enjoy life. It helped me realize how I need to open my eyes and take advantage of moments like this when I can rather than being over consumed with the pressures and duties of everyday life. Instead of waiting till I get some peace and quiet without coming up with one of the million of excuses of other things I should be doing rather than meditating, I need to create more time to connect with myself and nature. I look forward to including earthing in my daily rituals and feeling more grounded and stable.

Have you tried Earthing? We would love to hear all about it!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Pumpkin Trifle Recipe

I have wanted a trifle dish for the past couple of years after regretting not registering one for our wedding. At the time it didn't cross my mind and as I began to cook more, and of course thanks to some   Pinspiration (inspiration from none other than Pinterest!) it became something I longed for. While going through my late grandmother's belongings, I acquired her trifle dish, and began to think of all the yummy possibilities that were in my near future.

After having the dish for over a month and still not having used it I decided to make a yummy pumpkin bread trifle to bring to Thanksgiving. I was ecstatic and couldn't wait to make it. It turned out so amazing that I wanted to share the recipe!

Pumpkin Trifle

Buy some pumpkin bread or Trader Joe's box Pumpkin bread and muffin mix (which is what I did). Cut the bread into cubes.

Buy a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk and boil completely covered for 2 hours (make sure the can is completely covered at all times. Do not let the water even get to the top of the can or it can explode!) I cooked mine for about 2 1/2 hours just to make sure since it was my first time. You need to keep watching the water level to make sure that it is always higher. That was probably the hardest part of this  recipe. I was VERY excited to try this. Once it has boiled pull it out with tongs and set aside to cool off. Once it has cooled place it in the fridge.

You can buy candied walnuts or I made my own by turning a pan on medium heat and toasting them slightly and then poured about a 1/4 cup of sugar with a cup of chopped walnuts and a dash of salt and some cinnamon. I stirred frequently especially when the sugar started to melt, until the nuts were coated and then took off the stove to cool and set aside.

I used a can of organic pumpkin and mixed some cinnamon and a dash of vanilla extract.

I bought a box of storable whipping cream from Trader Joe's to use as a layer. Make sure you store this in the fridge at least 6 hours before you want to make it! I whipped it up with a teaspoon of brown sugar, a dash of vanilla and some pumpkin pie spice. It didn't whip up as nicely as I hoped it would, but I didn't beat up on myself too much because this was my first time using whipping cream.

I layered the pumpkin bread with the candied walnuts drizzled some caramel and topped with canned pumpkins. Then added another layer of bread, nuts and caramel. For the final layer I mixed the rest of the canned pumpkin with the whipping cream to make a pumpkin mousse. Then topped with the rest of nuts and drizzled some caramel. The dessert was a hit, so fun to make and doesn't it just look beautiful! Grammy would be proud! This recipe will definitely be made again!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

A Time for Gratitude and Love

I LOVE the holidays, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I am so fortunate to have been born into and marry into amazing families. This year we are celebrating two Thanksgivings, one on Thursday with my In Laws out of town, and then heading back home to celebrate again on Saturday with my family. I love it, double the food, double the crazy family time and double the time to be thankful for all that I have. 

For this post I wanted to share a list for all that I have to be gracious for this year. 

1. My family- I love my big crazy family! And we just keep on growing!! With my sister getting married and my other sister getting ready to have her first child I am so excited for the new additions to our clan. I am thankful for my grandparents and all they did to make sure that their family was surrounded by love showing us the true meaning of family. Even though I don't see them as often as I would like I am so thankful for all my cousins who were like brothers and sisters to me growing up! I look forward to celebrating the holidays with my husband and two babies and watching them experience the holidays with newness and wonderment. 

2. My friends- I have been blessed with the greatest friends I could ask for. Even though our lives are much different than when we began our friendships, I love that we can pickup the phone or meet-up after not seeing each other or talking for awhile and it is like nothing has changed. Each and everyone of my friends has a special place in my heart and I enjoy the memories we share with one another. 

3. My health and wellbeing- The breath in my lungs, a sound mind and body and the ability to use the knowledge and experience I have to make decisions regarding my health and the health of my family. I love to learn especially in regards to healthier living and love having the means to research natural health information and share them with others around me. 

4. Food and Shelter- As much as I would like a little bigger house to accommodate our lifestyle I am very grateful for having a roof over our head and healthy food in our bellies. I am thankful for my ability to cook yummy, nutritious meals for my family and friends providing food for our bodies and souls. I enjoy entertaining and spending time with loved ones and having a place for us to gather and spend time together and create memories.

5. Yoga- This could be integrated into #4 but wanted to give it its own special spot on this list. I have been doing yoga for over 20 years and love it more and more each day. I don't get to have a solo practice as much as I would like, but love the fact that I have shared this practice with my children and get to do yoga with them daily (even if its not as quite and serene as my solo practice) I love teaching them about what their bodies can do and hope that they carry this knowledge with them throughout their lives.

There is so much more I could add to this list, making it more and more refined and whatnot, but in a nutshell these are the things I am thankful for. I love the life I live and everyone who plays a part in it. Sending out lots of love and positive energy to everyone during this season of gratitude and love!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Why wouldn't the shrimp share his treasure?

Because he was a little shellfish!  HA HA HA Okay no more bad jokes I promise! (at least for this post!)

I made the yummiest pasta dish for dinner a few nights ago. I got the inspiration from Pinterest, it was originally listed as a shrimp fettucini soup but as always I read the recipe when it was time to cook and came up with my own original recipe. It turned out delicious and it was so easy!! Of course I knew once I tasted it that I had to share. My recipe did not come out like a soup, the sauce really reduced and once I added the pasta it really soaked up the liquid and made it like a sauce for the pasta, which I actually think I would like better than if this had been a soup.


Shrimp Fettuchini

Chop 3 cloves of garlic and 1/4 of a white onion in some butter and olive oil in a large saucepan for about 5 minutes. Chop one and a half large tomatoes and add to the garlic and onion. Add some salt & pepper, a dash of red pepper flakes and a pinch of brown sugar. Stir for about 5 minutes until the tomatoes start to get soft. Add a cup of half and half cream and 1/2 a cup of white wine. Zest a small lemon and squeeze the juice into the saucepan. Add shrimp. Chop up some fresh basil and add. Turn the heat down and let everything simmer so that the sauce starts to reduce. Add one tablespoon of flour and continue to let it simmer. Boil fettucini or linguini (I used basil and chive fettucini from Trader Joe's) Drain the pasta once it has cooked and add to the sauce and mix. Let it all marinade for about 5 minutes. Garnish with some basil leaves and enjoy!

Some people may want to tone down the garlic a bit, I happen to LOVE garlic. In fact, my motto is- If your lover doesn't love garlic, find another lover! (okay maybe that's a little harsh!) I would give this recipe a 5 out of 5! It was bursting with flavor and I can't wait for the leftovers which will taste even better with all the flavors marrying.

Buon Appetito!!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Potty Training 101

The title of this post implies that I am a potty training expert, which is by no means the actual truth! Potty training was a lot harder for me than I originally anticipated. I was under the impression that because she seemed advanced for her age, that the task would be no problem! Boy was I wrong. I tried almost every method out there, including the Naked $75 method.

This post is to provide information on the methods that I tried as well as some advice based on what I learned from this experience. Hopefully my next attempt will be much easier, although Ive heard that boys are a whole other animal (no pun intended) and look forward to see just how different the experiences are.


I wasn't sure which technique would be the easiest so I wanted to try a little bit of everything until we figured out what worked for us. I bought a seat for the big potty as well as one of the mobile baby potties. She took to the smaller, travel potty first because I she felt scared of sitting on the big one.

Potty Time!- It is important to make a simple act of using the bathroom a joyous one! I tried to literally make potty time like a party! I would invite her to come with me every time I had to go and talk to her about the process (sounds gross I know! Didn't get into any yucky details, just what and why I was doing it!) I tried to encourage her to try it and made a huge fuss when she would go in either the little potty or the big potty! When she would have accidents I wouldn't get upset, I would just reiterate what I  wanted her to do.

One technique said to place the portable toilet in the room that was most used. For us that was the living room as we don't have a playroom. I was a little hesitant to put the potty in the main room, but read about the whole out of sight out of mind theory and decided to try it. It actually worked really well, I would ask her every 10 minutes if she had to go to the bathroom and eventually she would go on her own but it was still intermittent, we had lots of accidents and she still preferred diapers. She actually told me she didn't like how panties felt because she loved diapers and wanted to be a baby like her brother. This was very frustrating to me but I had nothing to do but be patient and keep trying to encourage her to go in the potty like a big girl.

After about months of the off and on accidents I got desperate and moved on to bribing. I would bribe her with everything, show her pictures of Disneyland and let her know that once she didn't wear diapers anymore we could go and she could meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse! This offer intrigued her, but still didn't seal the deal. I decided to try short term bribes taking advantage of her sweet tooth, if she went #2 in the potty we would make cookies or cupcakes that day for her to enjoy. This started to work so I would switch up the prizes, sometimes it was a healthy sweet treat, sometimes it was stickers or a new coloring book (which you can get at Dollar Tree for a great price!) Every time she would go in the potty you would have thought she won an Olympic gold medal! I would jump up and down with excitement, sing, dance, whatever I had to do to show her praise and she loved it!

Even with all the headway we were making, I was still scared to take her out of the house without a diaper on. I was afraid that this was sending her mixed messages so I bought some training pants for when we would make our outings but tried to stay as close to home as I could until she was trained. I was terrified of being out grocery shopping or driving in the car and have an accident occur. I was very excited when we would go out and come back from being out for an hour or so and come back to dry training pants. Once I realized this I knew the dirty job was almost done! Within a few weeks she was completely potty trained (with the exception of diapers during nap time and at night- which we still have yet to master)

Potty training is no easy feat, at least it wasn't in my case. I had an extremely stubborn daughter and had to use a lot of time, patience and bribing to get where I am today. Ultimately I had to wait until she was completely on board for it to work. Even after months of being accident free there were  couple of days where she would have multiple accidents for whatever reason and we had to switch back to training pants for a day or too until we got back on track.

To anyone out there who is currently in potty training hell or getting ready to start the process, patience is key! Don't sweat the small stuff, there will be accidents, some worse than others. The important thing is to remember that it will eventually happen, maybe not in the time frame that you want it to, or even the amount of time it took your friend whose kid was magically potty trained in 2 days. But when was the last time you saw a teenager wearing diapers (I PROMISE your kid will be potty trained well before then!)

Good luck and I would love to hear any potty training stories (good or bad!) that you want to share!!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Keep Calm and Get Your Organic On!

So it's the day after voting day and most of America is waking up with a post election hang over. Whether you were really into the presidential portion of it or had a proposition that has a personal impact on your life election day can be both exciting and full of let down. 

I know many Californians who are saddened by the news that Proposition 37 did not pass. I myself am one of them. I was a huge supporter of this proposition for so many reasons- The non-existent testing on GMO affects, the evil corporations that were bankrolling the opposition of labeling, and the fact that I just choose to refrain from consuming un-natural substances and sharing them with my family. I don't care if GMO's are grown (that actually is a huge lie! I wish there were outright banned!), I just feel that as consumers we should have the right to know what we are eating. My GMO article published on NaturalNews.com on election day and I was hoping it would help to provide a little boost to anyone who might still be on the fence with their vote. 

Unfortunately, It appears that due to A LOT of misinformation surrounding this proposition (thanks to the No on 37 group, which is currently under the investigation by the FBI for misrepresenting the FDA and creating fraudulent quotes) the masses voted no. Perhaps it's because many people are so disconnected with their food and don't see the correlation between it and health or too many people were scared that it would raise taxes (a myth which has also been debunked). Whatever the reason, this post is to share with you how to avoid GMO with our without labels. (barring any major cross contamination that may occur in the future- God forbid!) 

Top GMO offenders: 

• Almost all conventional processed foods are GMO.  If it contains corn, soy or sugar (with the exception of 100% sugar cane) in the name- Sorry Charlie, but its been genetically engineered. Soybean oil, fructose, glucose, caramel color, soy lecithin, corn startch- Yep! All been genetically modified. Favorites such as popcorn, most salad dressings, Cheerios and highly processed honey all contains GMO. When you begin to read most labels you will see that its in about 80% of foods on the market. 
• Canola/Rapeseed oil- Canola is a GMO food derived from the rapeseed, which is in the same family as mustard gas! Canola is 80% of Canola has been genetically modified. This oil is cheap and most commonly used in restaurants (along with cheap corn and soy oil) which is why it is virtually impossible to stay GMO free when going out to eat. 
• Many conventional dairy, eggs, meat and any other animal products. This is because the animals diet consists of GMO corn and soy. It is also important to ensure that your dairy is rBGH-free- A GMO growth hormone created by Monsanto to increase milk production by up to 15%. 
• Farmed seafood has a higher GMO risk because most farmers feed their harvest cheap GMO meal so it's best to stick to wild caught.  
• Most fruits and veggies are GMO free (even conventional produce) with the exception of corn, soybeans, beets, zucchini, raddichio, Hawaiian papaya and yellow summer squash. 

Best Ways to Avoid GMO:

• Limit eating out. By cooking at home you can control what you put into your body. I cook about 6 days of the week for my family (3 meals a day) and we eat out about once a week, occasionally more if something pops up. It sounds hard at first, but with enough planning it becomes more manageable, rewarding and fun!
• Buy organic meat and dairy products that say the animals were 100% organic fed or grass fed/finished. 
• Shop at Farmer's Markets or your local Coop and support local farmers. Also avoid non-organic versions of the top GMO crops listed above. 
• Stick to organic grains, legumes, beans, nuts and seeds. Many healthfood stores have great bulk sections!
• Avoid processed and packaged foods and see how easy and delicious making your own is! Stay tuned because in the next few weeks I'm going to share some yummy salad dressings, breakfast bars and kids snacks that promise to be good, healthy and easy-peasy! 
• Buy food labeled 100% Organic or look for the Non-GMO project label- the ONLY label that right now guarantees that something is 100% GMO-free. 
• Grow your own food as much as possible. It can be a fun project for the family!
• Shop GMO free by checking out this GMO free shopping list

I hope you enjoyed this post and I would love for you to share how you avoid GMO's if you have any other ideas to add to the list I would love to hear them!  

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Flavors of Fall!

It's the end of October and San Diego is just now feeling the beginnings of Fall! My favorite season! Time to bust out the scarves, sweaters and boots! Time for Pumpkin Spice everything and lots of festivities with family and friends. Oh yeah, and who can forget Crock Pots!

I often get asked how I manage to make delicious, homemade dinners 6 times a week. With a little planning, it can become rewarding to prepare these meals rather than feel like a chore! This post will share one of my favorite fall Crock Pot recipes! As always I try to keep my meals as healthy and loaded with nutritious foods as possible! This recipe is low prep, easy and perfect for eating on a crisp fall evening!

My most favorite thing about the crock pot is its very low maintenance. After you throw everything in you can go about your day whether it be heading off to work or chasing the kids around and picking up your living room 900 times a day! It's so nice when at the end of your day your house smells as if someone has been slaving away over dinner, but you haven't done anything since morning.

French Dip Sandwiches

Place a roast in a crock pot and cover with water. Add a dash or two of red wine,  about 1/3 cup of soy sauce and some chopped garlic, sliced onions and maybe even some mushrooms and/or bell peppers. Let everything sit in the crockpot on low heat for 6-7 hours or until the meet is shredded.  With tongs remove meat and any other additions so that just the au jus sauce is left in the crock pot.

Place sliced rolls open faced on a baking sheet and place in the oven set to 300 degrees for about 5 minutes or so to warm the bread. Remove the bread, top with meat and cooked veggies, place a slice of pepper jack or swiss cheese and place back in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese.

Pour some of the au jus sauce in a small bowl and enjoy your delicious meal! You can always make, or buy some horseradish sauce if you want a little extra kick. My favorite is to spread some Trader Joe's Wasabi Mayo on the roll. Mmmmmmmmmm........................

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Don't Fear the Fever!!!

No one likes to see their little babies sick and in pain. This post is written as to share some information on how to naturally deal with poor, sick little munchkins, specifically to handle one of the most commonly feared symptoms, a fever. It will describe how this indicator should not be feared, but is rather a sign that the body is doing what it is supposed to in order to fight off a sickness.

We recently had a hard week! My son got his first real sickness. It came just after our first trip to Disneyland and I think just being exposed to a large amount of people and germs just took a toll on his immune system. About 2 days after our fun, family adventure he was very fussy and felt VERY hot. I took his temperature and the thermometer read 102!

No Mama likes to see their little baby in pain and a fever as high as that can be pretty scary! Being that my son is my second baby, I feel like I've been around the block and no longer panic when my kids are sick as I did as a first time mom. From previous research, and a quick read through of my homeopathic pediatric books I researched some ways to help make life a little more comfortable for my little man. His symptoms were a high fever, a slight runny nose with clear discharge and he was very very weepy and clingy (but then again aren't most men when they are sick!) My poor boy wasn't his usual happy, smiley self. He wouldn't walk, wouldn't play and had absolutely no interest in laughing at even the funniest behavior. All he wanted to do was lay on me, or lay in bed and sleep. I put him to bed in a onesie, gave him a few Belladonna tablets and put him down with a bottle of almond milk with some Vitamin D drops. I knew the most important thing to do was to monitor the fever (you should contact your doctor if the fever gets to be 104, continues to climb or is at 102 for longer than 3 days) and to make sure that he was getting enough fluids.

I continued to monitor him every hour or so, and gave him Belladonna tablets whenever he seemed really miserable. I have always read that you should let fevers run there course. They are due to the body fighting off a virus and the heat from the fever kills the virus. Breaking the fever before the virus has been killed can actually prolong the sickness. This is why its important to let the fever do it's natural thing and just try to make your itty bitty patient as comfortable as possible. I also gave him a bath with a few drops of essential oils added, Rosemary, Lavender and Tea Tree. These particular oils help the body to stabilize the fever naturally. I offered fluids to him often, most times persisting to make sure that he didn't get dehydrated and made sure to include his vitamins (Multi and D). I could tell he didn't feel good, but he wasn't miserable and suffering and I could tell it was coming to an end.

On the afternoon on the 3rd day of the fever, it was much lower that day and by evening my son was beginning to return to his happy, fun little self. Because he had slept so much those couple of days when it was bed time he wanted to play instead. I let him stay up for a few minutes more to play and put him down confident that the worst was over. When I went to pick him up the next morning and saw a red, bumpy rash all over his face, neck and torso I immediately got nervous and sent a text to my husband. Right after I texted him I remembered back to when my daughter experienced these same symptoms around the same age. I referred back to my books and the internet and knew that he was suffering from Roseola. A very common viral infection that typically occurs in babies 9 month to 2 years of age. The symptoms are actually a lot scarier than the actual illness itself, you just need to keep an eye on your little one and notify your health care provider if you child appears to be dehydrated or the fever is over 104 or persists for too long.

Even with having an entire rash my sweet boy seemed happy and not too uncomfortable. I did give him some chamomilla twice, once before nap and once before bedtime just to make sure he was comfortable and had a good nights sleep to help his body heal. By the next morning his rash was almost completely gone and if it weren't for the slight pink, bumpy spots you would have never known he was sick as he was back to full energy and had his appetite back. Illnesses like this are actually very healthy for children and help them to build up their immune system to develop into healthy adults.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Benefits of practicing mind body techniques to facilitate a natural labor

With so many medical interventions and use of drugs during labor it is no surprise that many woman are unfamiliar with the importance of mind body techniques and the benefits they have on labor and post-partum health. Educating women on these techniques early in pregnancy can significantly reduce unnecessary medical processes that are typically seen. For example, Cesarean and Pitocin rates are at 30%, with epidural rates at and astounding 80%. These interventions can cause complications during labor along with side effects in both mother and baby, which can result in trauma.

Pitocin is a synthetic form of Oxytocin and is released into the system via IV, delivering the drug in a steady flow instead of in secreted bursts, which is how the body releases natural Oxytocin. This results in stronger contractions, which may decrease blood flow and can cause distress to both the mother and baby increasing the likelihood of a C-section. Mind body techniques such as yoga, relaxation, imagery, and meditation offer both psychological and physiological benefits to both mother and baby. These techniques help to improve comfort during labor, and shorten the duration of the overall labor time.

Most popular mind body techniques

Yoga is one of the most popular forms of exercise during pregnancy and combines gentle stretching, relaxation and breathing techniques. This ancient practice increases internal awareness and focus that helps create confidence and trust in your body while also bonding with your baby. It can lower blood pressure and prevents and relieves aches and pains that impinge on the body during pregnancy. Yoga builds stamina, relaxes the pelvis, and helps the baby transition into an optimal birthing position.

The relaxation response can significantly improve your overall health and well being. Research has shown that when the relaxation response is used on a daily basis it can reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, as well as improve blood pressure, immunity, and self-esteem. Relaxation helps to create endorphins, which help to decrease pain during labor, whereas fear causes the release of stress hormones and catecholamine that can increase pain and duration of labor. Meditation and imagery can be effective methods of helping to achieve complete and total relaxation.

Meditation helps to create melatonin, which is released into the bloodstream during stress inducing times. It also produces endorphins that have very powerful pain relieving effects, similar to morphine. The more dedicated the woman is to her prenatal meditation, the less afraid she will be of preconceived pain prior to the onset of labor. This will allow the woman to be less disturbed by any actual pain felt which creates feelings of joy. Frequent practice results in higher levels of endorphins during labor.

Imagery and visualization are other powerful tools for women to practice prior to labor. Envisioning a successful labor can help build confidence in the woman's ability to birth naturally without medical interventions coming into play. Tight and tense muscles can prevent the body from opening, which is essential in order for labor to progress. Practicing imagery and visualization towards the end of your pregnancy and during labor helps to condition the mind and reduce stress and anxiety.

In addition to helping make pregnancy and labor easier, these modalities also help the post-partum body recover quicker. These techniques prevent and treat post partum depression and anxiety by allowing the mother some time to herself to nurture her mind-body connection. With so many physical and hormonal changes going on during this time, it is beneficial for the mother to take some time to decompress and build awareness with her changing body to adapt to each new stage of motherhood.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.bidmc.org
http://www.bidmc.org
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17900044
http://www.birthresourcenetwork.org


Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Mi Gusta Tacos!!

I love tacos! So simple, yet so many different options. I wanted to share a recipe that I recently created with some inspiration from Pinterest (CLICK HERE to follow us!) As fall approaches I am ready to use my Crockpot to make yummy soups and stews, but since we have still been having a bit of a heatwave I have been looking for healthy dinners that are also light and summery!

BEHOLD! Lobster Tacos with a cilantro lime yogurt sauce and homemade Spanish rice and beans! Not to toot my own horn, but it was to die for! I keep dreaming about it and plan on making it again
real soon.

Ingredients:

Black Beans-

Dried black beans
Salt & Pepper


Place in a pot and cover with water. Soak the beans for 1-4 hours (the longer you soak them the less likely they are to cause gas and bloating) After the beans have soaked drain and rinse them and place them back into the pot and cover with water and add some salt. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat to low, cover and allow the beans to simmer until soft. You can season to taste.

Spanish Rice:

Basmati rice
Chopped tomato
Chopped carrot
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
A few Saffron threads
Salt & Pepper

Bring rice to a boil and add chopped veggies and seasoning and mix. Turn heat to low, cover and allow rice to simmer stirring every 3-5 minutes until ready.

Taco filling-

Lobster, shrimp or Longostino tails (from Trader Joe's)
Chopped garlic
Cumin
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper
Salt & pepper
Olive oil

Mix everything except lobster (or shrimp, etc.) into bowl. Toss the meat and coat and cover. Let it sit in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to marry.

Yogurt sauce-

Greek yogurt
Chopped cilantro
Zest and juice from a lime
Cumin
Salt & pepper

Mix all the ingredients together and cover. Let it sit in fridge until ready to use.

You can chop up whatever veggies you want to use as condiments to your tacos. I used chopped red onion and shredded cabbage and shredded cheese. You can change the intensity of the taco filling, and the rice by adjusting (or completely eliminating) the Cayenne pepper. I fried up some corn tortillas but it would also be good if they were just warmed. Either way this healthy, easy meal is sure to impress! Try it and let us know what you think!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Kick that Cold & Flu to the Curb!

With cold and flu season approaching I wanted to share some of my favorite natural remedies. These alternatives are cost effective, easy and all natural with no yucky dyes or additives that are added to many over the counter and prescription medicines.

The first step is prevention. Living a healthy lifestyle helps to build up your immune system so that when you do get sick, your body is able to overcome most illnesses. Eating lots of organic fruits and veggies help to ensure that your body has the essential vitamins and minerals to keep you healthy. Vitamins such a C, D and Probiotics help to protect your system and help to prevent and treat many sicknesses. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is detrimental to the body and can result in diseases such as cancer, diabetes and even depression. One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get an ample amount of Vitamin D is to go outside for 10-15 minutes and enjoy the sunshine!

Even the healthiest person is not completely immune to getting sick, but the healthier the person is the less severe the sickness will be. Using natural alternatives help to heal the body rather than mask them like many over the counter medicines like NyQuil and Robitussin do. Many of the options I am about to share are safe to use on infants and toddlers (unless stated otherwise).

All Natural Cough Medicine- 

Ingredients:
Honey (local organic is best)
1/2 an onion (any color)

Chop up the onion and place in a Tupperware or jar and cover with honey. Put the lid on the container and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. The next day strain the mixture saving the liquid and discarding the onions. You can keep this in your fridge for up to two months. I promise you this doesn't taste as bad as it sounds. It has no alcohol so you don't feel loopy, its safe on kids (over a year due to using honey) and works incredibly. My mom used to make this when I was little and it's has worked better than any cough medicine I have ever tried! I swear by it!

Herbs to have in your Natural Medicine Kit-

All of these herbs are safe and effective and can be found at most health food stores or online! Ever since all the Children's Motrin & Tylenol recalls since I had my daughter I swore off those commercial brands and have gone strictly homeopathic. The results have been great! Children can take 2 pellets every 30 minutes for acute symptoms and 3 times a day for less severe cases. Adults can take double the dose of children with the same frequency.

Chamomilla 6C- This homeopathic remedy is good to have on hand for irritability and digestive issues. It is also great to help with severe pain associated with teething, ear aches and gas pains.

Belladonna 6C- Helpful for fevers that come on suddenly as well as a clear runny nose. Also helpful in relieving headaches and inflamed, red sore throats.

Nux Vomica 6C- This is useful when a child has eaten too many sweets or has overindulged and has a tummy ache and nausea. Also works well to cure adults of the same symptoms (including hangovers!)

Pulsatilla 6C- This is to be used with nasal discharge is thicker and and children act clingy and weepy. Also helpful for earaches that are less intense.

Arsenica Album 6C- This is used to treat signs of food poisoning or stomachache accompanies by diarrhea. If your child vomits suddenly and its not due to overeating, Arsenica should be the natural treatment.

Natural Cold & Flu Buster (Adults Only!)-  

Ingredients:

Peeled Garlic cloves
Peeled Ginger
Cinnamon
Cayenne Pepper
Lemon
Honey
Water

Boil fresh, purified water as if you were making tea. Roughly chop up the garlic and ginger and add it to the water to boil. Once it comes to a boil turn off the heat and cover the pot to let it steep for about a half an hour. After it has stepped you can remove the garlic and ginger and discard. Add cinnamon and cayenne pepper and squeeze some lemon and add honey to taste.

This is a butt kicker but I like to get hardcore and try to kick the butt of whatever is coming after me! This elixir is awesome at soothing a sore throat, alleviating congestion and clearing out sinuses. The combination of these ingredients are strong and work well to boost the immune system. It's a little harsh at first but after the first couple of sips you should be fine and start to feel better pretty quick!

If you have any other homeopathic remedies that you use I would love for you to share them!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Healthy Trails to you!!!!

This blog will share with you a delicious Red Lentil Trail mix recipe. This is a new family favorite! Its so easy and so healthy. My kids want to eat it by the truckload, and I don't mind because its so healthy! Even my husband loves it and he doesn't even like lentils.

1 cup of organic red lentils
1/2 cup of raw organic pumpkin seeds (Pepitas)
1/2 cup of organic raisins
1/2 cup of organic dried cranberries
1/2 cup of chocolate chips
Sea salt

Soak the lentils for an hour and then drain. Preheat the oven to 350F. Place a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread out the lentils evenly on the pan/paper. Cook the lentils in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until they are crunchy and then let them cool off. Mix all the other ingredients, except for chocolate chips in a large bowl and add lentils. Add chocolate chips and sprinkle sea salt when lentils are completely cool and mix everything up. However, the last time I made it I added the chocolate chips while the lentils were still a little warm and when I was mixing the chocolate slightly melted which caused the chocolate to really hold the lentils. I liked this technique because my daughter is famous for picking out all the chocolate first (then berries and then not wanting to eat the rest. With the chocolate slightly melted it allowed her to get a good about of lentils.

You can make so many different versions of this! You can add or substitute with any of your favorite dried fruits. You can add other nuts and mix and match to create so many different, healthy blends of trail mix! We would love for you to share with us your favorite creations!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Get Your Kombucha On!

So here is another one of my obsessions. Kombucha!! For anyone who hasn't tried it, it's definitely an acquired taste. I will never forget my first sip! It tasted tangy and sweet at the same time with a bit of effervescence. I didn't know what to think. It took me a couple of bottles (on different occasions) to get a taste for it. But once I learned of all the benefits it offered I was hooked. Being  $5+ dollars a bottle it was something that I would get occasionally, but wanted to get my hands on more for a cheaper deal. That's when I looked into making my own. I was so excited when I saw how easy it was and how cheap! You can basically make a gallon for less than a $1 (not including supplies) I'm going to share with you my super fun Kombucha experience and I encourage you all to try it yourself (if you dare!) and share your story with us!

What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a living health drink that consists of fermented tea and sugar. It has been known to cure a wide range of conditions such as arthritis, intestinal disorders, cancer, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, baldness and much more. The tea has been shown to boost the immune system and even reverse aging due to being high in antioxidants that attack free radicals from damaging cells. It is especially beneficial in detoxing the liver and kidneys. Kombucha is high is glucaric acid which helps to ward off cancer, contains glucosamines which prevents and treats arthritis and is also a probiotic to improve digestion, fight candida and eliminate the symptoms of depression, anxiety and fibromyalgia.  All these wonderful benefits thanks to the living mushroom type bacteria culture that grows and makes this all possible!

That's right, a living growing culture that feeds off the sugar and transforms into all sorts of wonderful health benefits! Making it was a pretty cool process, very easy, and very much like a science experiment. If you are pretty squeamish I probably wouldn't try to make your own, but anyone who is up for it and enjoys Kombucha, I would totally try it!

What you need:

• One gallon of water (fresh purified) 
• One cup of sugar
• 10-12 tea bags or 1oz of self bagged tea
• One cup of Liquid Kombucha
• One piece of solid Kombucha Culture- "The Mother"
• Large glass 1 gallon brew container
• Cheesecloth or paper towel
• Rubber bands
• Dark warm place with good ventilation (I used a space in my garage. I wouldn't do it in my house due to the slight smell from the fermentation process.)

If you know someone who makes Kombucha you can ask them for a piece of their culture to start your own. If not you can purchase a kit that contains the tea, the culture and instructions. I got mine at People's Organic Coop in OB. The brand is Oregon Kombucha and I got the Jasmine Green Tea version (as opposed to black tea). I'm almost done with my second batch so if anyone in San Diego would like a little starter culture let me know! I would love to share!

To process is simple! Bring the water to a boil, brew the tea, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Now you just wait for the water to cool completely. It cannot be too warm or it will kill the culture. I let mine sit for about 2 hours just to make sure its nice and cool. You add the water to the brew container, add the liquid kombucha and culture. You finish by covering with the cheesecloth or paper towel and securing with a rubber band. Place the container in a warm dark place and wait for the magic to happen. The process can take 7-28 days depending on the heat and your taste preference. It grows fast at 80-85 degrees and much slower in cooler temperatures. 

In a few days you will see a solid film grow on top of your batch. This is the new "Mother" culture forming. It will most likely not be a pretty sight. It could be white, brown, lumpy and bumpy and slimy on the underside with strings of dark material. Smile! This is a sign of a healthy culture. It may float or sink and will eventually grow into thick layers which can be separated and used to batch more, shared with others or even composted. 

After 7 days you can try your kombucha and see if its ready. If you want it more bold and tangy you can keep testing it every couple of days to find the flavor that is right for you. That is the beauty of making your own! To taste, I would use a straw and a small glass. I would stick the straw in the brew with my finger on the top of the straw to capture the tea, and then transfer it over into the glass to taste. This helps to prevent contamination of the batch. 

Once your kombucha is ready you can remove the culture with clean hands (no gloves) and just place the culture in a bowl with about a cup of the kombucha and cover with a clean cloth until you are ready to make a new batch. Or you can store the culture and liquid in a closed container and even in the refrigerator for an extended period of time.  When you are ready to bottle the kombucha you can pour it into clean jars with tight fighting lids. Fill almost all the way to the top. Next store the kombucha at room temperature for another 2-4 days to allow for the second fermentation process. You can then store your kombucha in the refrigerator for months if needed and still enjoy the same yummy flavor and natural carbonation.  

I had so much fun brewing my own Kombucha and will definitely make it a habit (although will probably have to take a hiatus once it really cools down). Not only has it been a fun experience, I have felt so much more energized since I have been consuming the healthy elixir almost daily!

Supplies; Kombucha Starter kit: Culture from starter kit. 

The Brew and Storage Process

Finished Product

Kombucha with the new "Mother growing on top" 

The "Mother" removed and placed in a bowl with about a cup of kombucha. Ready for me to start my new batch!

All bottled up and ready for the second fermentation process before serving!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Mommy Love!

Very few people would argue that there is a more important job than being a mother. It's rewarding in the sense that you get paid with kisses and hugs but its also thankless in the sense that you are literally on call 24/7 and personally responsible for another human life. Mom's come equipped with super powers beyond belief from being able to heal boo-boos with a magic kiss to being able to see through walls and know what their kids are up to.

Lately I've experienced and heard of other's experiencing a kind of war between working moms vs. stay at home moms.  From working moms thinking that being at home with the kids isn't a real job to stay at home moms thinking that working moms get it easy because they don't have to deal with their kids all day. Really? Why the drama?

Women need to empower each other, be there for each other, share stories, offer advice and sometimes just lend an ear. In the past 3 years I have had the opportunity to be a working mom, a stay at home mom, and most recently a work from home mom. I can tell you that regardless of the situation, it's damn hard! Stay at home moms hardly get a break and sometimes very little adult interaction, while working moms often feel guilty missing milestones and being away from their children for the majority of the day. The bottom line is that no body lives the same life and everyone needs to do what is best for their situation. Their should be no judgement! Just because you see a mom at the grocery store with her kids wearing workout clothes and running shoes doesn't mean you should start filling your head with thoughts about how she spent her morning at yoga and/or Starbucks while a nanny watched the kids, but more likely because when running after little monkeys all day, that is the most comfortable attire.  Most stay at home moms make a lot of sacrifices to be able to be with their kids all day and usually aren't perusing around town while "real" people work. Just as a mother running by the store with her kids after work while wearing her work apparel isn't choosing a career over raising her children, but rather making a sacrifice to be away from them for the good of the family to ensure that they have a roof over their head and food in their bellies.

The bottom line is being a mother isn't easy, but every mother I've ever met wouldn't trade it for the world! So ladies, love one another, send positivity and be there for each other! Work to build a mommy community and help each other out whether it be watching each others kids for a bit, getting together for play dates or even just lending an ear when someone needs to vent. Mamas are so special and need to be feel the love from each other!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Time to Detoxify!

After a long family vacation and really making an effort to enjoy our summer I felt as if all I had done for weeks was eat and drink wine (and basically I didn't do too much else!) After a while I began to feel really icky, grouchy, irritable and all over worn out. I decided to do a much needed cleanse, a detox to get all the bad stuff out of my system. I felt amazing and it was the best cleanse I have ever done! Many people began to ask which cleanse I was doing so I decided to write it out and pass along the information to whoever may be interested. I didn't follow any particular regimen and just listened to my body and tried to give it what it needed and felt satisfied for most of the detox. I believe the key was that I didn't go into the cleanse thinking of it as harsh, but rather nurturing- a way to give back to my body.


Here is my journal of the 5 day cleanse:

Goal: Juice fast/cleanse for 3 days then raw foods for 2 weeks. Meditate/Reiki nightly. At least 30 minutes of yoga/stretching a day.  Hoping to clean my mind, my body and my soul.

Day 1

•  AM- Lemon water*

•  Fresh Juice- Beets, Carrots, Broccoli, Celery, Kale, Parsley- 48 oz mixed with water

•  Apple Cider Vinegar- ACV Shot

•  Bentonite clay & psyllium husks*

•  Mason jar of iced green tea (no sweetener)

•  Evening- Fresh Ginger tea*

•  Water- 100oz+ a day

•  Extras- Spirulina; Multivitamin; Chia Seeds

Day 1 Experiences-  I feel optimistic and excited to cleanse. Im a little hungry starting out but feel that once I get past the first day or so it will be easier. I will be working to plan the next few days worth of juicing/fasting.


* Lemon Water- This was discussed in my previous blog posts. I have been doing this almost every morning since the beginning of the year. I love it and it makes me feel so great! I highly recommend adding this to your daily regimen.  You can get more information on how to make lemon water and it's benefits by clicking HERE.


* Bentonite clay & psyllium husks- This is another personal fave of mine. I have been drinking this concoction for years. It isn't tasty by any means, but its so good for removing toxins from your system through your intestines. It pulls out heavy metals, pesticides and herbicides among other pollutants. You add a tablespoon of psyllium husks to a glass of water. You then add a tablespoon of bentonite clay into the psyllium mixture. Make sure not to use a metal measuring spoon for the clay or to stir the mixture. Metal causes a reaction in bentonite which decreases its potency. I usually just pour a small amount directly into the mixture without really measuring and stir the mixture with a plastic or wooden spoon (or end of the spoon)


* Ginger tea- Peel fresh ginger and cut into pieces and boil in water. Once it reaches a boil you can turn off the heat and allow it to sit for about 20 minutes or so. Allowing it to steep will help extract the beneficial properties of the ginger. This tea helps to kill bacteria in the body, particularly the intestines. I thought this tea was so yummy and enjoyed drinking it nightly. 

Day 2 & 3

•  Drink 3.1 fl oz tepid water upon rising

•  20 mins of oil pulling

•  AM- Lemon water

•  Fresh beet juice- 64 oz mixed with water

•  ACV Shot

•  1 apple & handful of grapes

•  Mason jar of iced green tea (no sweetener)

•  ACV Shot

•  Water- 100+oz a day

•  Fresh Ginger tea

Day 2 Experiences - I woke up feeling great and more refreshed than I have in awhile. My husband said that I look more glowing too! It’s hard having to prepare food for the kids and husband while I am fasting, but I keep telling myself only 2 more days! Im sure I will be going crazy later tonight, but I will push thru.  I am very excited to eat a more raw, plant based diet than what I have been feasting on lately.  Its afternoon and Im pretty hungry. Its hard when Im preparing food for my kids or my husband I want to sneak a bite, but im trying to be disciplined. I look forward to my two hour yoga session tonight!

Day 3 Experiences- Felt great.  Lots of energy and not hungry for most of the day. When I did get really hungry cooking food for the kids/hubby I ate an apple and was fine. Drank 36 ounces of lemon water, ACV, cinnamon and cayenne pepper.  Tasted pretty nasty!

Day 4 & 5-

•  AM- 40oz of sea salt water.

•  24 oz of carrot, ginger, kale, oranges and apples.

•  100oz of water

•  32 oz Green tea

•  1 tomato & handful of grape

•  Homemade Ginger tea

•  Extras- chia seeds

Day 4 Experiences- Woke up feeling fantastic! Decided to do a salt water cleanse this morning. It was pretty crazy. You chug about 40 oz of water and 2 tsp of salt as fast as you can. You want to try to get it all down at once because it gives you an upset stomach for about a minute or so. I thought I was going to puke but got over it quickly. Then you need to stay very close to a bathroom for the next couple of hours. It definitely cleans you out. Today has been tougher.  I was only planning on doing the liquid cleanse for 3 days, now that its midday on the 4^th Im really craving a yummy, raw salad. Ive decided tonight after yoga I will reward myself with one and continue on with raw foods and juicing. Basically the regimin I have been following this week, giving my body what it needs and not being too rigid. If I deny myself food then it will no longer be enjoyable and that is not what I wanted. I really wanted to give my body a loving, nurturing cleanse. 

Day 5 Experiences- By the time I got back from yoga last night I wasn't hungry. I felt satisfied and was excited for my evening tea.  I woke up this morning and did another salt water flush and felt so great afterwards. Around 2pm I got pretty hungry and was really craving a yummy salad. I chopped up a bunch of veggies and made a dressing with olive oil, lime juice and a little salt and pepper. It was delicious and so fresh. Perfect for a hot, summer day. 

I really enjoyed this cleanse. Because I listened to my body and what I felt it needed in order to be replenished, I never really felt that I was being deprived. Because I had to still make food for my husband and kids, I faced some temptations where sometimes I just wanted to sneak a bite of food, piece of cheese, cracker, whatever. And if I did it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but I kept reminding myself to be disciplined and try to fully cleanse my body. Instead I would drink some juice or some water and try and go do something to get my mind off food. If it got really bad I would eat an apple because after a few days I was getting bored of liquids and the chewing sensation and the delicious taste of the apple was perfect and satisfying! By constantly consuming fluids I was able to control most cravings without feeling like I was being tortured. This was by far the easiest, cleanse I have ever done and really felt light and healthy after it was all over. I will definitely try to complete this same detox at least a couple times of year whenever I begin to feel like it may be needed.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.