Whether it’s taking a day off from technology or writing thank you notes, reconnecting to traditional forms of communication has been shown (scientifically!) as an excellent means for improving our health and well-being. Handwritten notes are also a way of connecting on a more authentic level. Let’s be honest, when I find a handwritten letter...
Continue Reading...The Importance of Writing Thank You Notes
Turmeric is a powerful spice with an impressive list of uses and benefits. It’s known for its antioxidant content and ability to work as an anti-inflammatory. This common culinary spice is prized in many cuisines around the world and with good reason. What’s So Great About Turmeric? In short…. a lot: The spice we refer to...
Continue Reading...Turmeric: 12 Practical Uses (& Benefits of Curcumin)
Our family loves this turmeric tea recipe and it is a favorite staple in our home. I used to mostly drink chamomile or green tea for the health benefits, but this tea with its earthy golden spice is perhaps an even more powerful (and soothing) remedy. In fact, turmeric tea (or “golden milk” as it’s...
Continue Reading...5 Minute Turmeric Tea Recipe (How to Make Golden Milk)
Ginger root is one of the oldest and most popular natural remedies, and in my opinion also one of the most delicious. Ginger root is very easy to find in most places both in fresh and dried (and even pickled and candied) preparations. This is one herb I always keep on hand (I know, say...
Continue Reading...10+ Ways to Use Ginger More (& Its Amazing Benefits)
A friend asked me if I had a DIY recipe for a natural version of shower melts (basically a bath bomb for the shower) since her favorite ones had been discontinued and she was looking for a cheaper and better homemade option. I’m so glad she asked because these little shower melts are a staple...
Continue Reading...Soothing Shower Melts for Colds and Flu (or Anytime)
Ever heard the saying “A bowl of garlic soup a day keeps the doctor away”? Ok, maybe that’s not exactly how the saying goes, but in my book this garlic soup is one case where good health and good taste unite! Garlic is a wonderful herb and culinary ingredient that I always keep in the...
Continue Reading...Soothing Roasted Garlic Soup Recipe
First, “Merry Christmas” from me to all of you on this blessed, happy, busy, chaotic, joyful, and sometimes stressful time of year! I know all of you as moms know exactly what I mean … Christmas is a day full of so much meaning and joy but also a million details to prepare and organize. May you...
Continue Reading...123: Sharing Gratitude, Joy, and Christmas Family Traditions
In the midst of holiday gift giving, I can’t help but think about the fact that often these well-intentioned gifts eventually lead to more stress, for the giver and the receiver. So much so that over time my husband and I decided to give experiences instead of materials gifts as much as we can. After...
Continue Reading...46 Ways to Give Experiences Instead of Stuff This Year (Even Last Minute)
My post on why I don’t reduce fevers (and what I do instead) is one of my most popular, and I totally understand why! What parent hasn’t gone through a sleepless night or two … or twenty … worrying about a child with a high fever? Thankfully, fevers aren’t as dangerous as many people fear,...
Continue Reading...6 Benefits of Using Herbal Tea During a Fever
Let’s face it, while the movies portray images of happy families laughing around the kitchen table or in front of the fireplace during the Christmas season, often moms end up more stressed out and busier than ever. I know I fall into the trap, and each year I have to try again to stay focused on...
Continue Reading...Dear Moms, Let’s Simplify Christmas (& Enjoy It) This Year!
I learned early on that when you get married, you also marry your husband’s sports teams (at least with my guy … Go Reds!). This extends to cultural traditions too, especially if he comes from a strong cultural background. That’s where one of our favorite traditions of a Christmas Eve dinner called “Feast of the Seven Fishes”...
Continue Reading...The Sicilian Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve Dinner
All that really matters is a healthy baby. Truer words were never spoken, right? But wait … if I’ve learned anything from my birth stories (and trust me, they run the gamut) a healthy baby is only part of it. Certainly a healthy baby matters very much, but someone else gets swept under the rug way...
Continue Reading...122: A Healthy Baby Is NOT the Only Thing That Matters (& Is Home Birth Safe?)
What is it about a Christmas stocking? Old or young, waking up on Christmas to a stocking lumpy with little surprises has its own special joy. Even if it’s something as small as a pack of gum or as practical as a pair of new socks! The Much Loved Tradition of Christmas Stockings Thanks to...
Continue Reading...57 Stocking Stuffers (Ideas to DIY or Buy)
Anyone else feel like you spend half your time cooking some days? I definitely feel that way at times with so many mouths to feed three times a day. I’m a big fan of the many benefits of preparing food at home with the family. Not only is the food typically much more nutritious, but...
Continue Reading...121: Cookware Problems: Understanding What’s Hiding in Most Cookware
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: every holiday season about 4 million tons of gift wrap and decorations end up in U.S. landfills. Wrapping paper and gift bags for birthdays and Christmas aren’t just hard on the environment, but they can be shockingly expensive to boot. I’ve made these reusable gift bags and DIY produce bags in the...
Continue Reading...How to a Make a Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth
I’ve shared my holiday gift guide, but many of you have asked for a gift guide of unusual ideas that aren’t the normal kitchen gear, clothing and toys. This list of gift ideas is just that… a compilation of unusual and creative ideas that your recipient definitely won’t already have! All of these gifts are...
Continue Reading...Creative & Unusual Gift Ideas (They Don’t Already Have)
I love the Holidays because this time of year is all about gift-giving (and experience sharing) but unfortunately, there is a dark side to holiday giving that many people don’t even think about: the amount of extra waste produced by the gift wrap, bags and ribbon. Christmas Waste? Consider this, In the US alone, we use 4...
Continue Reading...Eco-Friendly & Reusable Gift Wrap Ideas
Sorry to say, but sitting may be worse for you than donuts. Thankfully there are plenty of healthy alternatives to the modern day office chair. With so many options to choose from though, which desk chair alternatives are best? The Consequences of Sitting Before I get into alternatives for desk chairs, it helps to know...
Continue Reading...Alternatives to Using a Chair at a Desk
It is no secret that I’m a fan of elderberries for their natural immune-boosting powers. I make elderberry syrup in batches during the cooler months to keep the flu at bay, but my favorite way to take it is actually a warm, comforting cup of elderberry tea. Imagine for a moment … six small children …...
Continue Reading...How to Make Elderberry Tea (Powerful Natural Remedy)
I’m so pumped about today’s episode! I found the amazing Dr. Libby Darnell through my own research into the best ways to start reducing EMFs in our home. Dr. Libby is a Functional Medicine Practitioner and Doctor of Chiropractic who found out firsthand just what a bad effect EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) can have on our...
Continue Reading...120: A Real-Life Approach to Reducing EMFs with Dr. Libby Darnell
I don’t know about you, but this time of year can be a little hectic for me! With Thanksgiving, Christmas, and several family birthdays, there is a lot to plan and a lot of gifts to wrap. We try to stick to experiences instead of stuff as much as possible (here are some of my best ideas),...
Continue Reading...2017 Ultimate Holiday Gift Giving Guide (For Everyone On Your List!)
Let’s talk about alcohol for a minute… On the one hand, blue zone studies show that most healthy populations consume moderate amounts of alcohol (usually wine). Yet, other researchers (and my mother-in-law) call alcohol toxic and say it should be avoided at all costs. So who is right? Turns out… they are both partially correct....
Continue Reading...Is Alcohol Toxic? (How to Choose Safe Options & Amounts)
It seems like there’s a news story every other day about a data security breach, and when pretty much our entire lives are online, it’s important to keep up with the speed of technology. Patrick McFadyen is a digital security expert with a degree in computer science and years of experience in the tech industry....
Continue Reading...119: Cyber Security Tips to Keep Your Family Safer Online
Every time the Christmas season rolls around, I start to have visions of a peppermint mocha. (Yum!) Seriously, I unapologetically enjoy all things coffee, but fancy coffee drinks can be a real budget breaker. (Not to mention full of sugar.) Thankfully, there is an easy and delicious peppermint mocha recipe you can make at home with...
Continue Reading...Make Your Own Peppermint Mocha (Delicious & Healthy)
McCall McPherson is a PA and functional medicine doctor who is passionate about helping others with balancing thyroid hormones because she has suffered through thyroid problems, too. When doctor after doctor failed to help her, she decided to take matters into her own hands and founded the Modern Thyroid Clinic, a patient-focused functional medicine clinic. Balancing...
Continue Reading...118: An At-Home Approach to Balancing Thyroid Hormones with McCall McPherson
What do Olympic athletes, astronauts and grandmas in nursing homes have in common? Scientific studies have shown how these groups have all benefited from wave vibration platforms. I rely on easy home workouts like these to stay in shape, but wave vibration is an easy way to gain more health benefits without extra time. What...
Continue Reading...Benefits of Wave Vibration And How To Try It At Home
Cleaning a house naturally is not any more difficult than cleaning it with harsh chemicals. It improves indoor air quality and is much safer, especially for children. We’ve switched entirely to natural cleaning products and our house is just as clean (or cleaner!). I don’t have to worry about the kids getting sick if they...
Continue Reading...19 Natural Cleaning Tips (+ Easy Recipes)
Thanks to a European influence on both sides of the family, my husband and I both grew up celebrating the tradition of St. Nicholas Day on December 6th. Many people just know St. Nicholas by the name Santa Claus. While the modern figure of Santa derives from St. Nick, you’d hardly find this patron saint...
Continue Reading...The Tradition of St. Nicholas Day Around the World (December 6th)
We strive to make the holidays less stressful and more enjoyable. In an effort to pare down on the holiday crazy, we vowed to give experiences instead of stuff whenever possible and give only a couple high-quality gifts. We wanted to lessen the focus on gifts, and instead place it on the meaning of Christmas and...
Continue Reading...Advent Family Traditions (+ DIY Wreath & Calendars)
I’m a sucker for curried Indian dishes and Butter Chicken has long been on my list to recreate at home in the Instant Pot. This dish is much more budget-friendly made at home and is a great change of pace from chili, soups, and more common winter staples. Traditional recipes like this one use heavy...
Continue Reading...Better-for-You Butter Chicken Recipe (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot Option)
Debra Atkinson is a life coach and master personal trainer who helps women embrace their 50s and beyond with vitality and energy, especially during and after menopause. Debra shares her inspirational message through her website FlippingFifty.com, which offers exercise programs and health coaching specifically for women over 50 wanting to look or feel their best. I...
Continue Reading...117: Fitness at Any Age with Flipping 50s Debra Atkinson
I’ve never understood the idea of running out early on holiday celebrations with family to go shopping for gifts for those same people. No judgement from me if that is your thing, but this year, why not have the turkey and eat it too? (Literally and figuratively). I’m doing my early shopping from the...
Continue Reading...Best 2017 Cyber Monday Discounts on Natural Products
I’ve never understood the idea of running out early on holiday celebrations with family to go shopping for gifts for those same people. No judgement from me if that is your thing, but this year, why not have the turkey and eat it too? (Literally and figuratively). I’m doing my early shopping from the comfort...
Continue Reading...The Best Black Friday Sales & Deals on Natural Products
How wonderful it is to have one day a year dedicated to gratitude and thankfulness! Many of us are well aware of the spiritual benefits of cultivating gratitude in our lives, but it turns out that these benefits can even extend to physical health! Gratitude Reduces Stress It is no secret that stress has a negative...
Continue Reading...The Health Benefits of Gratitude
With exposure to things like the weather, less than great water, hair care products, and heat tools, your hair can take a beating. I use plenty of homemade hair care products to keep my locks healthy, like this herbal hair rinse. But this strengthening DIY hair mask is a great addition to any natural hair...
Continue Reading...How to Strengthen Hair with a DIY Hair Mask
Everyone knows that kale is nutritious, but it can be a little hard to swallow sometimes. Prepare it right though, and kale is a nutritious and delicious dish! This shaved apple and kale salad recipe has crisp yet tender kale and a sweet and tangy taste that appeals even to young taste buds. My kids are...
Continue Reading...Shaved Apple and Kale Salad with Pecans
Today I have the honor of interviewing one of my original mentors on my own journey to wellness. Mark Sisson is the founder of MarksDailyApple.com, a mainstay of the paleo community, and the author of The Primal Blueprint and now The Keto Reset Diet. Mark’s ideas shaped my decision to learn to eat mindfully, ditch the...
Continue Reading...116: How to Reboot Your Metabolism Using the Keto Reset Diet With Mark Sisson
“Detox” is certainly a buzzword in the health world. It can mean anything from eating extra greens and sipping apple cider vinegar to fasting and taking a pile of supplements. In addition, external detox methods I’ve tried and love are epsom salt baths, detox foot soaks, and dry brushing. I’ve tried plenty of ways to detox but never...
Continue Reading...How to Detox Heavy Metals Safely (& Get More Energy)
At our house, we love lotion bars. In fact, we rarely use regular lotion anymore since these lotion bars are so much easier to make and work so much better. They are also mess-free, even when the kids use them! Even though I could buy lotion bars at the store, making beauty products and toiletries...
Continue Reading...How to Make Soothing Natural Lotion Bars (Recipe + Variations)
I’ve managed to tackle homemade laundry detergent, but homemade liquid dish soap for handwashing dishes has been on my DIY list for some time. Making a natural dishwashing soap that works and is the right consistency can be tricky. Fortunately this version is natural, easy, and it really works! It’s not difficult to pick up...
Continue Reading...Easy-to-Make Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Holidays are a time to honor traditions, break out our best recipes, and celebrate in high style. Still, it can’t be denied that the usual Thanksgiving menu is rough on those with dietary restrictions, and generally leaves most of us feeling as overstuffed as the turkey! Years ago I decided to reinvent our Thanksgiving menu...
Continue Reading...How to Plan a Healthy Thanksgiving Menu (Recipes + Printable)
Most of you know about my (not so fun) journey with Hashimoto’s, a challenging autoimmune disease. It’s been a long road with more questions than answers at times. I’m so fortunate to meet people like Dr. Tom O’Bryan along the way to help me understand this silent driver of so many modern diseases. Not sure...
Continue Reading...115: Decoding Autoimmune Disease with Dr. Tom O’Bryan
I love Thanksgiving and how it gives us a day together as a family to pause and reflect on all the things we’re thankful for each year. In fact, it’s not long into the Fall before I start thinking about Thanksgiving and start working on my meal plan for the big day. I don’t start...
Continue Reading...How to Brine a Turkey Before Roasting (for the Best Thanksgiving Meal Ever)
Chocolate is a delicious treat, but it also doubles as a skincare ingredient. There’s chocolate in my homemade foundation powder and even in my dry shampoo recipe for those busy, greasy hair days. This edible chocolate face mask features raw cacao powder and other ingredients right from the kitchen that make skin healthier, the tasty way. Hmm,...
Continue Reading...Exquisite Chocolate Face Mask Recipe
Did you know that when prepared correctly, mashed cauliflower has a very similar texture to mashed potatoes, not to mention a sweet and buttery taste? I happen to love potatoes, but most of us in the U.S. are getting way too many starchy white foods in our diet anyway. (Fries anyone?) This cauliflower mashed potatoes recipe...
Continue Reading...How to Make Creamy Garlic Mashed Cauliflower “Potatoes”
You’ve heard the saying, “Know your farmer”? Today’s podcast episode is all about getting to know your fisherman too! As a self-proclaimed seafood addict, I’m very interested in what our guest Randy Hartnell has to say about hot topics like mercury in seafood, sustainable fishing, farmed vs. wild seafood, and how to know which seafood is...
Continue Reading...114: Do We Need to Worry about Radiation and Mercury in Seafood?
I warned everyone the cottage cheese recipes might be coming, and they are! Ever since I discovered a better-for-you brand cottage cheese brand without fillers or carrageenan (Good Culture, in some grocery stores), our menu includes cottage cheese once again. This easy one-pan breakfast casserole recipe capitalizes on the creaminess of blended cottage cheese to create...
Continue Reading...Easy Breezy (and Cheesy) Breakfast Casserole Recipe
As the mother of daughters with long hair, I know the battle of the brush all too well. At certain times my daughters have had hair down to their waists, and their hair tends to be thick and wavy. To make matters more difficult, they are the most tender-headed children alive. How do we make...
Continue Reading...Natural Hair Detangling Spray (You Can Make at Home)
Cuticles are one of those things that are easy to overlook. Cover them up with some cute, non-toxic nail polish and carry on, right? Unfortunately, cuticles can split, peel and even get infected if ignored or mistreated. This natural cuticle cream gives cuticles the love they need and helps avoid or even reverse damaged cuticles. Why Do...
Continue Reading...How to Make a Nourishing Natural Cuticle Cream at Home
I grew up drinking apple cider and homemade wassail (a spiced cider/tea with citrus) around the holidays, so when I had kids of my own I wanted to come up with my own apple cider recipe to keep the tradition going. Plus, given the cost of a gallon of organic apple cider, I thought I could...
Continue Reading...Fresh Spiced Apple Cider Recipe (Crock Pot or Instant Pot)
Are you tired of being tired? I know tiredness seems like part of the package when you’re a mom, but if you live a healthy lifestyle and still suffer from chronic fatigue, brain fog, irritability, headaches, and other unpleasant symptoms, toxic metals could be the hidden culprit. Detox specialist Wendy Myers is here today to help...
Continue Reading...113: Toxic Metals That Cause Fatigue – and How to Detox Them
A high-quality water filter is an important element of a healthy home and one of the easiest switches to make for a healthier life! There are now great water filters available for any home type. From countertop units that work great in apartments to full under-counter and whole-house filters, you can find a great filter...
Continue Reading...The Best Water Filter For Home Use (Pitcher, Charcoal, Under-Counter)
It only takes a brief scroll through my home remedies and DIY recipes to know that lavender is by far one of my favorite herbs. Not only is lavender beautiful and fragrant in the garden, it has hundreds of uses (literally). It’s the constant staple in my essential oil stash and I use it just about...
Continue Reading...How to Use Lavender (Grow It, Make Natural Remedies & More)
It’s no secret that I love coffee, and nothing says Fall like a warm Pumpkin Spice Latte! Seeing them on every Starbucks sign makes my mouth water, but I can’t justify consuming that much sugar (50 grams in a grande size), plus all the junky additives. Not to mention it costs about $5 a cup to...
Continue Reading...How to Make an Amazing Pumpkin Spice Latte (at Home)
Halloween and I have a complicated relationship, at least since I became a mom. Take trick-or-treating, for instance. It’s a fun tradition, but there certainly aren’t too many healthy Halloween treats (or even close to it). Easter and a few other holidays require some similar soul-searching. So what’s a health-conscious mom to do? As I...
Continue Reading...26 Healthy Halloween Treats Kids Will Love
Ali Bouzari is here to talk about food and the way we think about it, and he’s incredibly qualified to do so. As a chef and culinary scientist (literally, he has his PhD in Food Biochemistry), Ali knows exactly how food works and what it’s made of. Companies, restaurants, and culinary programs all over the...
Continue Reading...112: The Only 8 Ingredients any Cook Needs with Food Scientist Ali Bouzari
Oh, relaxation, that elusive activity that is often talked about and rarely achieved in today’s world. We all know we have too much stress and need to reduce it, but the execution is so elusive! Most of us probably know that our cortisol levels may be off, but fixing this takes more that just a...
Continue Reading...How I Reduced My Cortisol Levels Naturally With Food & Light
I have a confession… I love seafood and could easily live on oysters and salmon for the rest of my life. My kids eat these foods but definitely don’t love them as much as I do. I’m always looking for ways to make seafood delicious and easy to eat for kids. Plus, it turns out...
Continue Reading...Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe (With Cottage Cheese)
Last week Heather from MommyPotamus.com and I had the chance to attend Dave Asprey’s Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in California. We noticed some fun new trends, tried some unusual health treatments and met some incredible people. We also got to try a bunch of treatments that we would never be able to try in the normal...
Continue Reading...111: Biohacking for Moms – Lessons From the Bulletproof Conference
The itchy, uncomfortable feeling and unsightly flakes that come with dandruff get old fast. Conventional treatments like shampoos, steroids and coal tar can help, but they’re far from natural or safe. Natural shampoos are hard to find and the few decent options are really expensive. These natural dandruff remedies use effective ingredients like apple cider...
Continue Reading...Effective and Easy Natural Dandruff Remedies
I may not have as much time to make things from scratch as I once did (six kids, homeschooling, and a business will do that!), but when apples are in season we always find time to make homemade applesauce. Unlike some other canning adventures of mine, I always feel like homemade applesauce is well worth...
Continue Reading...Homemade Applesauce Recipe from Scratch (Fall Favorite!)
Ever heard of sending someone good vibes? Or being on the same wavelength? What if I told you could see a picture of your emotions—gratitude, peace, anger, joy, and so on—just by measuring your vibrational frequencies? Would you think I’d really lost it? Is it really so crazy though? The more I learn about it, the more I’m...
Continue Reading...110: How Vibrational Frequencies Affect Our Daily Lives
It’s always fascinating to me to learn about the powerful health benefits of common kitchen spices. We use ground cumin powder when we make chili, tacos, curry, or fajitas (which is often!). In fact, cumin is the star in a whole host of Mexican, Spanish, Middle Eastern, and Indian dishes. (In the US, cumin is...
Continue Reading...How to Use Cumin for Digestion, Immune Health, and So Much More
