Welcome Baby Grace!!!

I don't mean to have fallen off the face of the earth last week, but I've been a little preoccupied...having our baby! I am so excited to announce the arrival of our precious daughter, Grace Catherine, born on Monday, March 21st at 6:36 p.m. and weighing 8 lbs 2 oz!

I'll be sharing more about Grace this week (I can't help it, I'm in love!) and about the different products we are using for her, our third, organic, Maker's Diet baby! :)

Monday's Menu: Huevos Rancheros

(Photo courtesy of Opponent)

I make no claims to be an authentic Mexican cook, but we sure do love Mexican food in our home. One meal we love for a special breakfast (or as an 11 p.m. dinner when you are pregnant and starving!) is huevos rancheros, or over easy/fried eggs over corn tortillas. They are so simple and delightful!

Sprouted Corn Huevos Rancheros:

2 tbsp organic butter
Sprouted Corn Tortillas (2 per person)
2 eggs per person, cooked over easy in butter
Sea salt & pepper
Organic salsa
Organic sour cream
Organic grated raw cheese

In a cast iron or stainless steel skillet, melt the butter (divide the 2 tbsp for use in doing all the tortillas, don't use 2 tbsp per tortilla) and gently "fry" the tortillas until you achieve the consistency you want- leave them longer for a crispy finish, or shorter for softer tortillas.

Cover the tortillas and keep warm. Cook the eggs over easy in the remaining butter, and do not let the yolks harden. Spread the tortillas out flat and lay one egg per tortilla. Spoon some salsa, sour cream & cheese over the eggs, and serve!

The egg yolk will turn runny and make a wonderful sauce mixed with the salsa, eggs & sour cream. Yum! These are also delicious with beans.

My Adventure Meeting Jordan Rubin!!!

(Here I am with Jordan Rubin, author of the Maker's Diet, and founder of Garden of Life, in addition to authoring 19 other books!)

Guys! I had so much fun last night! I got to meet Jordan Rubin in person! He was speaking at an event about 30 minutes from our town, and my wonderful husband fed and put our kids to bed so I could go to the event without any distractions. :)

All I have to say is, Jordan Rubin is the healthiest looking person I have EVER seen. He's traveling all over the place and he didn't even look tired!

He gave an awesome talk about the 5 cornerstones of Extraordinary Health, and also talked about his new book, The Raw Truth, which you can get for free, and which we'll be talking about more in the weeks to come!

It was such an honor to get to meet Jordan Rubin! It's very rare that you get to meet such a successful businessman, author, and health expert in person, and I am really grateful to have had the opportunity. I am also so thankful for his work, since I don't know where I'd be without the Maker's Diet, and am now having the joy of watching our kids thrive because of it too!

I couldn't wait to share the details with you all, and I hope you have a great weekend! Here's to extraordinary health for all of you!

What Do You Want to Know?

(Photo courtesy of BerndH)

(I saw a purple crocus in my backyard today and it made me SO happy!)

Ok guys, I'm 6 days away from my due date with our third child, and my brain is on baby overload. I'm trying to think of awesome info to share with you and am only coming up with one word: BABY.

So, help me out! Is there anything you guys want to know, any questions you have about the Maker's Diet or a toxin free lifestyle that I can answer?

Reply by a comment or facebook post, and give me some ideas! Thanks everyone!

Food for Thought: Is this Modern Day Convenience Disrupting Your Sleep?

We all need a good night's rest to function optimally, but did you know that some modern day conveniences can interfere with your body's natural rhythms, making you hungrier, more forgetful, and plumper?

Check out this awesome article from Dr. Mercola to find out more, and get a good night's rest tonight!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/16/this-modern-day-convenience-can-disrupt-your-metabolism-and-interfere-with-learning.aspx

Food for Thought: How Dirty is Your Shopping Cart?

(Photo courtesy of Sandstein) Have you ever given thought to how dirty your shopping cart is? If you're a parent, you likely own a shopping cart cover, now as prevalent in babydom as sippy cups and pacifiers.

But do you really know what you're protecting your little one from, or did you just buy it on principle? Turns out that shopping carts are even more gross than you thought! Check out this great article from Fox News, which will disgust and disturb you!

If you see me shopping with a cover over my cart, in addition to using eco friendly antibacterial wipes, AND gloves on, you'll know why- it's because of this article!!! Thanks to my good friend Angela for sending this on to me!

Enjoy! If you can! ;)

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/03/03/fecal-matter-72-percent-grocery-carts/#

Toxin Free Body: Why You Should Always Brush Your Teeth

Here's some food for thought for you: Did you know that when you sleep at night, your body releases toxins from your liver, and that they come out coated on your tongue?

( I know, it's not a pleasant thought, but your body has to get out bad stuff somehow!)

And did you know that if you wake up and take a drink of water, or swallow, you reintroduce all those toxins into your body that your liver worked so hard all night to eliminate? Interesting, huh?

So make it a point to brush your tongue every morning as soon as you wake up, before eating, and give your liver a helping hand! ;)

Toxin Free Home: Dr. Bronner's Hand Soap

In our house, it seems like we go through hand soap on a weekly basis. It gets expensive to keep soap in the bathrooms! While browsing our co op magazine, I came across Dr. Bronner's soap. I had seen it in Whole Foods before, but never bought it, because we dearly love using Miracle Soap as our body wash.

I decided to give the soap a try and use it as our hand soap. We LOVE it! I have been using foamer bottles and mixing it with water- about 75% water, 25% diluted soap, maybe even less soap than that. It foams beautifully and smells delightful- such a nice, minty fragrance.

And it's totally toxin free- the soap is made with organic coconut oil, organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, organic olive oil, and organic peppermint oil.

You can also use it as a body wash! Let me know if you try it and like it!

Monday's Menu: Slow Cooker Chicken with White Wine Sauce

(Don't mind my glass of raw milk in the background!)

This is a wonderful recipe that I originally used in the oven, but have adapted it to the slow cooker. It has a lovely, creamy sauce, and the tarragon gives a nice, very faint anise taste! Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Chicken with White Wine Sauce

1 whole organic chicken, or 4 organic chicken breasts, shredded or cut into 2-3 inch pieces (I will usually cook these in the slow cooker all day, shred them and then add the sauce)
1/2 cup dry organic white wine
2 cups organic chicken broth (if you're using your slow cooker, just use the broth/juices that accumulate in the bottom of the pan!)
1 cup organic sour cream
Sea salt to taste (I'd say about 1/2 -1 tspn)
Black pepper to taste
2-3 teaspoons organic dried tarragon
Optional: 2 organic onions, cut into rings & caramelized in a pan separately

In a 6-7 quart crockpot, cook the chicken on high until it is done. (Usually 6 hrs) Shred the chicken and return to pot. Add salt, pepper, sour cream, wine, and dried tarragon. Let the sauce cook with the chicken at least 2-3 hrs, stirring occasionally. Serve with steamed green beans and brown rice for a lovely dinner!

Note: you can also cook this in the oven- just cook the chicken until it is done on about 350, then shred or cut into pieces, and return to the oven with the ingredients for the sauce at about 250-300 degrees for another hour or so.

Bon Appetit!

Meet Jordan Rubin in the Midwest!!!

As you can imagine, I am SO EXCITED that Jordan Rubin will be in the Midwest next week! If you live out this way, you have got to come hear him speak! Check out the details below- this is an email I received this morning!

It is such an honor to have the rare opportunity to listen to such a successful author, businessman, AND health expert! Bring your family, friends, and a notepad to take notes!

See you there!!!!

http://www.pantry.biz/event/jordan-rubin-the-raw-truth/

March 17th at 7:00PM

Hilton Garden Inn Sponsored by Nature's Pantry Book Signing from 6:00 to 6:30 PM 19677 East Jackson Drive Independence, MO 64057 (816) 478-1990

Toxin Free Home: Organic Mattresses

Formaldehyde. Antimony. Boric acid. Polybrominated diphenyl ether, or PBDE.

Don't these terms sound like some wacky experiment from your high school chemistry class? They should be relegated to experimental test tubes, but instead, they're lurking in your child's bed! And yours!

PBDE, in particular, is very dangerous because it accumulates in your body over time, when you inhale it- it doesn't come out, it just builds up. These flame retardant chemicals are so toxic they have been banned in Europe and in Canada. They have been linked to brain and reproductive damage, decreased sperm quality, thyroid problems and even cancer, according to this Dr. Mercola article.

Not to mention formaldehyde, a known cancer causing chemical, and antimony, a metal Dr. Mercola says could be more toxic than mercury.

Check out this info in his article, this is truly scary:
"The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has tested the fire-retardant chemicals currently used in mattresses and found the risks to be “insignificant.”

However, they also found that the chemicals do, in fact, leach from the mattresses. A person sleeping on a chemically treated mattress will absorb .8 mg of antimony every night, an amount that is 27 times more than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says is safe.

Five-year-old children, meanwhile, will absorb .5 mg of antimony every night, according to CPSC, which is 63 times more than the EPA’s safety limit!

Given the fact that antimony accumulates in your body over time, this could clearly present a significant risk over time."

Sounds like just the recipe for a good night's sleep, huh? Since we spend so much time sleeping, and since sleeping is the time that the body is supposed to be restoring itself, not storing up new toxins, we've gone all organic in our bedrooms for our family.

Our boys both have organic crib mattresses, and we've selected a great twin mattress that we want for Nathaniel's transition to a "big boy bed." This is the one we're looking at, by a company called Naturepedic:


Check it out at http://www.naturepedic.com/productsMA.php

This is an awesome organic company that makes a variety of mattresses- everything from bassinet/cradle mattresses to queen size.

I will be sure to let you know how we like their twin mattress once we're able to test it out!

For more info on the toxicity of mattresses, check out these articles:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/11/11/is-your-mattress-making-you-sick.aspx

http://safemama.com/2008/07/29/organic-mattresses-naturepedic-review/

Grow Your Own Strawberries!

(Photo courtesy of Kathleen5454)

Nothing says summer like the sweet juiciness of a ripe, sweet strawberry, and no strawberry could be sweeter than the one that comes from your own backyard!

I got an email from a company that sells some awesome fruit trees, that are very mature so you don't have to wait years to harvest fruit.

You can never have too many strawberry plants when you're growing your own, so when I got word of a great deal they are having, I had to pass it on to you! You can get 12 plants for only $1.99 each, 24 plants for $1.49 each, or 48 plants for only$0 .99 each!

Check out this awesome deal at their website, and have fun growing your own!

Check out my former post on more tips of how to grow your own organic garden!

Food for Thought: Grow Your Own!

I saw this video on Dr. Mercola's website, and had to share with you all- with spring coming it is the perfect time to plan a garden! Even if you decide that your family's garden will consist of some lovely summer tomatoes and herbs, you will benefit from food as local as you can get! (And organic if you grow it right!)

Enjoy the video!

Also, check out my series on growing your own organic garden for some great tips to get started.

Monday's Menu: My Mom's Slow Cooker Tamale Pie

(The picture above is courtesy of my Mom!)

I am always in need of good recipes, and lately- particularly ones tailor made for the slow cooker. (I use my slow cooker every day now!) So when my Mom raved about a new recipe she had for a tamale pie with cornbread on top, I couldn't wait to give it a try. Once I finally tried it last week, we all enjoyed it so much that I had to share it with you!

This recipe is awesome because it only took me 30 minutes of preparation before putting in the slow cooker, and it easily fed our family for 3 nights! And we still have some leftover!

If you make this recipe, please come back and let me know how your family enjoyed it. I'll post it below, and also give you the link to my Mom's website so you can see the original recipe.

Slow Cooker Tamale Pie

1 large onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 lbs ground beef

1 15 oz corn

2 15 oz cans of black beans (I used about 2 1/2 cups of cooked black beans)

2 15 oz cans of diced tomatoes

1/2 - 3/4 cup salsa

1 jalapeno, chopped

2 - 3 cups of grated cheese (cheddar or jalepeno pepper jack)

2 t. cumin

1 - 2 t. chili pepper flakes

cilantro

salt

pepper

Cornbread batter (recipe)

Sour Cream for topping

Extra Salsa for topping

Place olive oil, onion, celery, garlic & ground beef in a large skillet, Brown the beef and drain off any excess grease (if you use grass fed beef you won’t have much).

In a 6 quart slow cooker, pour in the corn, beans, tomatoes, salsa, jalapeno, spices and most of the cheese. Stir in browned ground beef mixture, top with the last of the cheese. Mix it well because once you add the cornbread batter, you won’t be able stir it again.

Top with the cornbread batter and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

Spoon up onto your plate, top with sour cream and salsa & dig in! My family also loved adding corn tortilla chips.

To see the original recipe, click here.

Friday's Food for Thought: Is Your Diet Soda Killing You?

(Photo courtesy of Sandstein)

Did you know that a widely used sugar substitute, found in diet sodas (among other places) can cause strokes, cancer, Alzheimer's, and even premature labor? It's called aspartame, and it's marketed as a "healthy" alternative to sugar- but it is incredibly toxic!

Check out this great article from Dr. Mercola explaining the dangers of aspartame, particularly relating to its use in diet sodas- based on a new study finding increased risk of strokes with those consuming diet sodas regularly.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/04/new-diet-sodas-can-cause-strokes.aspx

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tip of the Day: What's Your Nutritional Type?

Did you know that depending on your body's nutritional and metabolic type, you can eat foods that you may like, but that make you gain weight or stay unhealthy?

I was recently introduced to this revolutionary information, and had to encourage you to find out what your nutritional type is!

There are three types: protein, carb, and mixed. This information could seriously change your life! Get your free assessment, (and a free e-cookbook!) from Dr. Mercola:

http://products.mercola.com/nutritional-typing/

Once you find out what your type is, come back and let me know! I am a protein type to the max!

Toxin Free Baby: Heirloom Organic Baby Bassinet

When our first son was born, some close friends of our family offered to give us a beautiful bassinet that they had purchased for their twins. It was a gorgeous bassinet, but since we planned to use a crib I had my heart set on, we turned them down.

Once Nathaniel was born, and I saw just how small a newborn was, and how his crib seemed to engulf him, I regretted my decision to turn down such a generous offer! I still do to this day!

With baby #3 coming in only 3 weeks, I've been looking into organic bassinets again (there are not many options) and have added one to my wish list. It's technically a Moses Basket, by a company called Wendy Anne, and they are just so gorgeous I had to show them to you!Aren't they beautiful?!Look at all the lovely patterns!I'm smitten.
And all made from organic cotton! The mattress pad is made from organic cotton as well, and the Moses basket is hand woven in the USA.

They also sell stands to hold the baskets:

Be still my beating organic heart!

If I am able to get my hands on one, I promise you will get to hear all about it and see pictures of my sweet newborn sleeping in their cozy organic nest!

Check them out for yourself at their website:

http://www.wendyanne.com/_catalog_46486/Moses_Baskets

Tip of the Day: Preserving Bananas

I have a whole bunch of bananas that are turning WAY too quickly sitting on top of my fridge, and so I thought I'd share my favorite banana preserving tip with you: if your bananas are turning brown too quickly, and you find yourself avoiding eating them (but don't want to throw them out) just take the peels off, put them in a bag and freeze them.

The frozen bananas are simply lovely to add to smoothies, like my favorite protein lover's chocolate smoothie. They give a wonderful texture!

What about you? What is your favorite use for your overripe bananas?