Let me try to do this one more time... Last year, I was wishing for the 'greenest' Christmas ever! Unfortunately, I didn't have enough support from my husband so it was hard to accomplish a total eco-friendly Christmas. As some of you may already know, there has been a lot of controversy with toys 'made in China' or other part of the world that manufactures toys for cheap, with very low grade standards and ethics. If you Google it, you'll find that even the 'Hottest Toy of the Year' is toxic for our children and still makes it to the shelves and hands of thousands of children in America and probably in the world. Are we really that worried about all of this? Why do we continue to sell these toys regardless the toxicity found in them?
If you go to HealthyToys.org, you can probably search the toys you've bought and check out the level of toxins in them, but why are we taking ANY chances at all?
This year I have my husband FINALLY on board with the decision of buying ONLY wooden toys, handmade, made in America or Europe, IF made in China they NEED to have good standards and use ONLY safe materials in their factory. I am NOT taking chances, so I have been cleaning up my kids' room for the last year and every month I have been donating a set of toys with the permission of my own children.
Here are the things that Santa are bringing them this year:
For the Baby:
A handcrafted car bought through Etsy (love supporting artisans!)
A Wooden Tricycle
A wooden train from Ikea
A set of 24 creative blocks with wagon from Ikea
A wagon/walker from Ikea (I am still battling who is going to get a real good kick out of this toy, the baby or the girls? Not sure yet!)
A furry friend from Ikea (a ferret)
For the Girls:
A bed from Ikea for their dolls (Waldorf style) that are being handmade by a generous friend :)
Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Castle
Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Barn
Furry friends from Ikea
F.A.O. Vanity Set
Wonderworld Eco-Friendly My Portable Cooker Stove
A bookshelf found at Michael's will be used as a dollhouse! :)
And bendy dolls for the dollhouse - these were bought through Etsy (but I am hoping I will be making some of these myself, they are sooo cute!!!)
I also got them a few stocking stuffers from Michaels. They have cute wooden kits for a $1 each and I could NOT resist to buy some, crafts items are always great gifts!
For ALL of them:
2 sets of Play Clips just like these ones for creative playing, building forts and camping.
(A good talented man sells them through Etsy - the price is unbeatable compared to many places out there!)
A coral playsilk! (hoping to buy more of these and hopefully make a canopy size or 2 myself)
Wooden Puzzles
Stuff made by mama:
Got this beautiful horse pattern through an Etsy seller - GREAT intructions!!!
And lots of eco-fi felt food for the kids' kitchen:
and more kitchen items to come (working on it)
and dollhouse furniture will also be made out of felt.
Natural toys not only provide safe play for our children but also it encourages creative play and imagination!
You can find good quality toys through Magic Cabin, Bella Luna Toys, Nova Toys, Three Sisters Toys, Nico and Zoe, Blueberry Forest Toys, Plan Toys, Haba Toys, and even Etsy stores! Or even better, why don't you go Handmade this year?
Taken from http://www.mothering.com/health/fever-guidelines
Fever should not be regarded as a dangerous or unhealthy process in the body. If we feel uncomfortable, achy, or even delirious during the course of a fever, these sensations are due to the toxicity that the fever is working to rid us of. The fever isn't the problem: it's the solution. Giving Advil or Tylenol to lower it is akin to killing the messenger.
Many parents' dread of fevers has to do with the fear of fever convulsions or brain damage. This fear is unfounded. The great majority of fevers are perfectly benign, and the majority of children is not susceptible and won't develop fever convulsions, even with very high fevers. Children who do get convulsions naturally have low thresholds to them, and even in this small segment of the population, convulsions will occur only once or twice between six months and six years of age, and are harmless. Lowering fever with Tylenol, Advil, or baths will not prevent fever convulsions in children susceptible to them. Such measures may even increase the risk of brain damage by hindering the immune system from discharging the body's toxins. This would explain the relationship between aspirin and Reye's Syndrome.
In rare cases, encephalitis or meningitis can result from a toxic inflammation, which may settle into the nervous system and possibly lead to brain damage-with or without fever or convulsions. The guidelines in this article for bowel cleansing, diet, quiet, and warmth are designed to prevent encephalitis, meningitis, and other toxic complications. Unless high levels of retained toxins are irritating and inflaming the nervous system, fevers and fever convulsions will not cause brain damage-not even at 105° F. A fever very rarely goes over 106° F; if it does, you should call your doctor.
For further discussion of these issues, see the book Healing at Home by Sandra Greenstone and Dr. Incao's chapters in The Vaccination Dilemma, Christine Murphy, ed. (see "Bibliography").
Yesterday afternoon, my daughter came back from school with a mild fever that escalated throughout the evening. Honestly, I didn't notice she had a fever until bath time. Thankfully, I always keep fresh fruits and a kiddie herbal tincture that I get at Whole Foods. It's amazing but it really works, it has always worked for us. I've used this for over 5 years on my girls and they seem to react pretty fast if I act fast enough. We decided to keep her at home until the fever subsides --so glad it was Friday! So I ran to Whole Foods pretty quick and got 2 bottles of Strawberry Kefir (probiotics) which you can get in pill form as well (though I prefer Kefir for its protein - great way to get them to eat something so healthy for them). Then I mentally prepared myself for a long sleep-deprivation night!
Every four hours I administered 2 droppers of Herbs for Kids (either Echinacea with Astragalus* or Echinacea with Goldenroot*), every two hours I gave her sips of iced water and Kefir. Two room temperature baths waist down throughout the day and really cold fruits (in cubes) to munch all day, whenever she was in the mood to eat something --her favorite were some delicious orange wedges! I made sure she was hydrated with really cold-fresh water and that she had very little clothes. Wearing too many layers of clothes will agravate the temperature, undies and a shirt works fine! And of course, some cuddling is needed too :-)
It's hard to know why fevers occur. The fever is a sign of the body doing its job, so let it be just don't wait for it to pass on its own. Help the body to get the nutrition and the hydration lost during these high temperatures. You want to be able to treat the BODY not the illness. Sometimes homemade chicken broth works great also! Add a little oregano and you are good to go! Oregano is a great plant with healing properties, appropriate to treat mild fevers and other common colds, pain and even pain related to menstruation! (Though she is too little young for that - hehe!)
*Used to Treat Infections
How do you think she feels now? (Same day - different times)
Robertico started playing like a real boy now! So cute to watch him playing with Serena's horses (her favorites). This reminds me that I should be sewing some felt horses I promised to her... Bad mommy! Sent from my iPhone
It's been a while since the last time we took a picture of the whole family. One of us has to be behind the lens but thanks to my dear long time friend Alejandra, we were able to get a nice looking family portrait at her Wedding day from a professional photographer. Boy, I love this picture and I can't believe everyone is looking at the camera! LOL Thanks my friend! :)
I decided to change the layout of my blog from 2 columns to 3. SO much better! I can add information in one table without worrying about being so long for others to scroll down. Is there anything I should add? I will love to add a blogroll, so if we share the same parenting style let me know I will love to link to your blog - we could swap links! :)
It's amazing but it's true. I've worked out on and off since I was 14 years old. I joined my first aerobic gym class at that age thanks to a free week that I won on the radio. It was the hottest gym at that time. My mom used to drop me off after school throughout my school vacation then she continued to pay for the gym membership because she knew how much I enjoyed working out. I used to spend about 3 to 4 hours in there (no kidding!), doing aerobic classes back to back and some weight training. I have to admit that I have always been a bit curvy, nothing too chubby but nothing too skinny. I love to eat, but not a huge fan of junk food or sweets. I think if I have never worked out throughout my teenage years or after, I would have had a huge problem with weight because I SERIOUSLY love food and I love cooking!
Funny picture of me with Shaq (I felt the tiniest girl!) 24 Hour Fitness Shaq-Sport
Few years ago, I worked at 24 Hour Fitness as a Fitness Counselor and I learned (and makes a lot of sense) that as long as you keep yourself burning twice as much the calories your body takes, you will lose or maintain your body weight. I mean, if you think about it --it's a no brainer! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to work out as much as I want in the last few years because of my new responsibilities of being a full time mother but I tell ya... it's so worth it. Though I am finally finding a good medium between good eating habits (lots of raw foods) and working out every once in a while and still manage to loose a little weight here and there. I am not in a rush, I am still breastfeeding and that's what matters to me. The weight... it can wait. It will eventually melt down. In the meantime, I will enjoy every second of my motherhood, the womanly art of breastfeeding and getting myself into a nice work out routine that I can work around my [mothering] schedule without going insane or doing too much of it. Life is one :-)
"When considering routine infant circumcision, ethical concerns have focused on recognition of the functional role of the foreskin, the non-therapeutic nature of the operation, and the psychological distress felt by some adult males circumcised as infants. The possibility that routine circumcision contravenes human rights has been raised because circumcision is performed on a minor for non-clinical reasons, and is potentially without net clinical benefit for the child."
In another paragraph, it talks about the possible health benefits (HIV or UTI), and the frequency of these conditions, the level of protection offered by circumcision and complication rate of circumcision do not warrant a recommendation of universal circumcision for newborn and infant males.
"One reasonable option is for routine circumcision to be delayed until males are old enough to make an informed choice."
In my previous blog I talked about getting to eat healthy foods, reading labels, organic, etc... Well I have decided to post the recipe of today's dinner! I did the math, and this meal including a healthy organic leafy salad comes out just under $3 per meal (including leftovers for tomorrow daddy's lunch). Honestly I buy in bulk, is a great way to save money. I've also joined an organic co-op where I get my produce at a discount price. A huge box of baby spinach normally cost $7-8 at the supermarket, well I get it for $4.60 each box. I believe Costco and BJ's has something similar and it is ORGANIC.
I made some primavera spaghetti with whole grain pasta and organic produce.
Here are the ingredients: 1 box of spaghetti 1/2 of small sweet onions 1/2 of red peppers 1/2 bag of organic baby carrots 1/2 box of organic grape tomatoes oregano to taste sea salt to taste olive oil
Follow the instructions from the spaghetti box and set aside. Cut up veggies (don't cut the carrots), place in a large baking sheet, drizzle a little olive oil, salt and oregano. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes. When veggies are done, add them to the spaghetti and mix. Voila!
For the salad, simple add baby spinach, one (thin sliced) cucumber, and one thin sliced (cut each slice in four) tomato. Add a few cherries or cranberries for a tangy flavor to it. Make a homemade onion-vinaigrette and you are all set! You can omit the salad and it will come out less than $2 per meal. See? Fresh and Delicious! :)
One of my pet peeves is watching someone feeding their kids foods that lack nutritional value, foods that are filled with empty calories and/or toxic preservatives. I just wish I could be brave enough and reach out to them: Please Mom, READ labels before buying stuff like this! -- without offending anyone. I do care and I cringe every time I see kids eating foods that lack nutritional value.
Our children are constantly growing, they need a balanced diet for their brains and bones from the start, for healthy growth and mind. Some of us assume that because these foods are sold in our supermarkets, they are safe for our family. When I started reading labels I noticed that most of our (processed) foods are full of dangerous additives and preservatives that are essential for cheap production and preserve shelf life. If we take each of these ingredients individually, I bet you would hesitate to eat them because these are NOT food. Most of these ingredients are linked with many known diseases like Diabetes, behavioral problems (ie. ADD or ADHD), Cancer, Heart Disease, Digestive problems, Allergies, the list goes on...
Lunchables pre-packaged meals are unhealthy for both children and adults. These include sodium nitrite, artificial flavor, refined flour, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil (trans fat) and high fructose corn syrup.
12 Dangerous Food Additives: The Dirty Dozen Food Additives You Really Need to be Aware Of by www.SixWise.com
In the United States, more than 3,000 substances can be added to foods for the purpose of preservation, coloring, texture, increasing flavor and more. While each of these substances is legal to use (at least here in the States), whether or not they are all something you want to be consuming is another story all together.
The food colorings that make candy pretty colors have been linked to cancer and tumors of the brain, thyroid, adrenal gland and kidney in animal studies.
With any processed food you run the risk of coming across additives, and reading through ingredient labels can be like trying to decode a puzzle.
Of course, eating largely fresh, whole foods is the best way to stay away from unsavory additives, but, assuming you do include some processed foods in your diet, the following additives are ones you surely want to stay away from. Look for them on ingredient labels and if one turns up, take a pass.
Propyl Gallate
This preservative, used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, might cause cancer. It's used in vegetable oil, meat products, potato sticks,chicken soup base and chewing gum, and is often used with BHA and BHT (see below).
BHA and BHT
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are used similarly to propyl gallate -- to keep fats and oils from going rancid. Used commonly in cereals, chewing gum, vegetable oil and potato chips (and also in some food packaging to preserve freshness), these additives have been found by some studies to cause cancer in rats. If a brand you commonly buy uses these additives, look for a different variety, as not all manufacturers use these preservatives.
Some food additives are neurotoxic, which means they're capable of altering the normal activity of the nervous system -- and even killing neurons. Symptoms include:
This additive is used in breads and rolls to increase the volume and produce a fine crumb structure. Although most bromate breaks down into bromide, which is harmless, the bromate that does remain causes cancer in animals. Bromate has been banned throughout the world, except for in the United States and Japan. In California, a cancer warning would likely be required if it were used, which is why it is rarely used in that state.
Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
MSG is used as a flavor enhancer in many packaged foods, including soups, salad dressings, sausages, hot dogs, canned tuna, potato chips and many more. According to Dr. Russell Blaylock, an author and neurosurgeon, there is a link between sudden cardiac death, particularly in athletes, and excitotoxic damage caused by food additives like MSG and artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are, according to Dr. Blaylock, "A group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die."
Many consumers have also personally experienced the ill effects of MSG, which leave them with a headache, nausea or vomiting after eating MSG-containing foods. To find out more about the side effects associated with MSG, as well as a complete list of which foods contain it, see our past article MSG: If it's Safe: Why do They Disguise it on the Labels?
Aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)
This artificial sweetener is found in Equal and NutraSweet, along with products that contain them (diet sodas and other low-cal and diet foods). This sweetener has been found to cause brain tumors in rats as far back as the 1970s, however a more recent study in 2005 found that even small doses increase the incidence of lymphomas and leukemia in rats, along with brain tumors.
People who are sensitive to aspartame may also suffer from headaches, dizziness and hallucinations after consuming it.
Acesulfame-K
Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that's about 200 times sweeter than sugar. It's used in baked goods, chewing gum, gelatin desserts and soft drinks. Two rat studies have found that this substance may cause cancer, and other studies to reliably prove this additive's safety have not been conducted. Acesulfame-K also breaks down into acetoacetamide, which has been found to affect the thyroid in rats, rabbits and dogs.
Olestra
Olestra is a fat substitute used in crackers and potato chips, marketed under the brand name Olean. This synthetic fat is not absorbed by the body (instead it goes right through it), so it can cause diarrhea, loose stools, abdominal cramps and flatulence, along with other effects. Further, olestra reduces the body's ability to absorb beneficial fat-soluble nutrients, including lycopene, lutein and beta-carotene.
Sodium Nitrite (Sodium Nitrate)
Like diet soda? The aspartame that's used to sweeten it increases lymphomas, leukemia and brain tumors in rats -- even in small doses.
Sodium nitrite (or sodium nitrate) is used as a preservative, coloring and flavoring in bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, corned beef, smoked fish and other processed meats. These additives can lead to the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.
Some studies have found a link between consuming cured meats and nitrite and cancer in humans.
The process used to make hydrogenated vegetable oil (or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil) creates trans fats, which promote heart disease and diabetes. The Institute of Medicine has advised that consumers should eat as little trans fat as possible. You should avoid anything with these ingredients on the label, which includes some margarine, vegetable shortening, crackers, cookies, baked goods, salad dressings, bread and more. It's used because it reduces cost and increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods.
Blue 1 and Blue 2
Blue 1, used to color candy, beverages and baked goods, may cause cancer. Blue 2, found in pet food, candy and beverages, has caused brain tumors in mice.
Red 3
This food coloring is used in cherries (in fruit cocktails), baked goods and candy. It causes thyroid tumors in rats, and may cause them in humans as well.
Yellow 6
As the third most often used food coloring, yellow 6 is found in many products, including baked goods, candy, gelatin and sausages. It has been found to cause adrenal gland and kidney tumors, and contains small amounts of many carcinogens.
Here is a list of a few products that may contain one to five or more of these ingredients above:
I could go on and on...
But what should we do? Should we just stop eating? How about making a change? My mom always cooked for us, we rarely ate out - I mean, it was a real treat to go out to McDonald's or eat those prepackaged foods once in a while, but my mom (or grandma) always made sure to give us a nice homemade cooked meal everyday (made from scratch!). And what happened to fruits for dessert? Why do we have to cave in, and eat all this processed - sugar coated or artificially colored baked goods instead of munching on a nice red juicy apple or watermelon? What happened to us? Do we care enough about our children or family to make a change in our diets so we can live longer and healthier? So we can live happier? Eating this stuff doesn't make us happy. We are so addicted to this junk, when our bodies crave it we are crabby, depressed and as soon as we indulge ourselves in it - we are happy again (so we think). This is a well known reaction called: Addiction.
First, you need to become familiar with the unwanted additives or preservatives and start reading labels. Food manufacturers are known to use "clean labels," in which they hide ingredients they know consumers would rather not have in their foods under names they won't recognize.
For instance, if you're trying to avoid MSG, you need to look for all of the following terms, as they all contain MSG:
Autolyzed yeast
Calcium caseinate
Gelatin
Glutamate
Glutamic acid
Hydrolyzed protein
Monopotassium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate
Sodium caseinate
Textured protein
Yeast extract
Yeast food
Yeast Nutrient
Sometimes, foods that claim to include healthy ingredients actually don't contain them, or only contain them in miniscule amounts. Common offenders are blueberry waffles with no blueberries and strawberry yogurt with no strawberries. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recently asked the FDA to "immediately stop misleading food labels," including:
Kellogg's Eggo Nutri-Grain Pancakes: The label says they're made with whole wheat and whole grain, but they're made primarily of white flour and contain more high-fructose corn syrup than whole wheat or whole grain.
Betty Crocker Super Moist Carrot Cake Mix: Contains only carrot powder as the 19th ingredient on the label.
Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Fruit Juice Snacks: The primary ingredients are corn syrup and sugar.
"Food manufacturers are shamelessly tricking consumers who are trying to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains," said CSPI director of legal affairs Bruce Silverglade. "Too many processed foods contain only token amounts of the healthful ingredients highlighted on labels and are typically loaded with fats, refined sugars, refined flour, and salt, in various combinations."
It's funny because I've heard many moms telling me they have no time to cook a homemade meal, they work or they go to school, or they just don't know how to cook. Well, let me tell you that I didn't know how to cook until I started cooking. If you know how to follow instructions you can easily find free healthy recipes throughout the internet, some websites even have ratings in it just to give you an idea how good the dish was. Keep it simple, that's all I want to say. Whole Foods came out with a great iPhone app for healthy recipes, it's one of my favorite apps so far, get it!
Leftovers are GREAT! Get a Crock Pot.
Before I got pregnant with my boy, I worked. I worked hard and my two girls always took their own lunchboxes with homemade meals everyday to school. It is so easy to make extra batches to pack these for their lunchboxes, VERY EASY. Another great idea is to utilize a Crock Pot. You can leave your Crock Pot on before leaving to work in the mornings, so you can have a nice hot homemade meal when you get back for dinner time.
I will have to admit, there is only one day of the week that I let my kids eat from the school menu which is Pizza day. The rest of the week, they have a nice variety of meals in their lunchboxes, like cold sandwiches, cold or warm pasta lunches, boiled eggs, cheese sticks, organic yogurts, whole wheat bread, raw veggies like baby carrots or grape tomatoes, a fruit (everyday they get a piece of fruit of any kind, whatever we have available) with every meal, most of the meals are left overs from the night before and we only do Spring water. Juices are very rare in our household, they only add sugar to their diets which leads to hyperactivity and lack of attention in class.
Don't pack too much food.
If you are packing healthy foods and snacks, your children won't need to be fed so much since they are getting enough nutrients from those food you are giving them. The less food you pack the more chances their lunchbox will come back empty. You can also apply this at home. We eat to live not live to eat.
Set an example.
YOU need to make a change in your diet as well, the more likely your kids will want to do the same. It works for us, and they always want to make us proud by eating the same things we eat. Eat salads for dinner, they are very cheap and easy to make. Learn how to make your own dressings, and one of my favorite dressings is a homemade vinaigrette I make every night we have leafy salads:
Thin sliced sweet onions (half onion)
Lemon juice (one lemon)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 sea salt
1 oz cold pressed olive oil
1 oz white distilled vinegar (optional)
Mix all in a crystal bowl and let it sit until dinner is served. You can also squirt some Bragg for added flavor, the kids LOVE this stuff! We use it on everything: Potatoes, rice, soups, beans, pasta, salads, anything you can imagine!
Go organic!(when possible)
When I mean to go organic, doesn't mean that you are going to buy every single bottled/canned item labeled organic. The idea is to buy (probably join an organic co-op) organic produce and make everything from scratch! Learn how to make your own tomato sauce, dressings with herbs, buy dry beans instead of canned, make your own soups from scratch with simple water and fresh produce. The ideas are endless! If you skip the junk isle, including all the processed stuff, you can save a ton of money this way. Find coupons online for your dairy items, shop at your Farmers Market instead and bring with you the top 15 non-organic foods to eat and avoid list! This way, you won't feel the need to buy everything organic and save money.
Eat less:
When we eat organic (or from scratch), we tend to eat less everyday. This is because our bodies are receiving the nutrients the body needs for survival. Remember, quality is better than quantity. Recent studies indicate cutting your diet by 30 percent of what you're supposed to eat can extend your life, but you need to make sure that what you are eating is high in quality.
Breastfeeding is not enough
It seems that a lot of people know how beneficial Breastfeeding is for our children and mothers, but if we don't practice healthy habits in general; these benefits will be thrown out the window. Why are we taking any chances? In the old days, both parents worked hard to support their families, they were still able to make homecooking for the whole family each day when convenience-foods was pretty much non-existent! Why do we keep making excuses about how difficult our lives are, and we are not creating time to cook for our loved ones? We take the time to find the best car seats for our children to protect them from car accidents, or child-proofing our homes or making sure they don't get sunburned by applying sun block right before a nice day at the beach yet we forget about the food that it is feeding our family, going inside our bodies and it is making us sick.
Please, mama, take charge of your family's dinner... read every label!
I haven't been paying attention to my diet lately, but I am not really worrying about it too much since I am still breastfeeding and going strong! Though I do know that I have lost 2 lbs already. I honestly don't want to compromise my milk supply just yet, because Robertico still breastfeeds and it is his main source of food so far. I am very happy to be able to be the one giving him all the necessary nutrition for a great start and that he will benefit from it later in life! :)
However, I did start my Team in Training sessions and my first run went pretty well! We met at at 6:45 am this past Saturday for a 40 minute run and so far so good. My body responds very well to the heat and the humidity of South Florida and I made it through without any problems. I didn't slow down a bit! yay! Here are some pictures of my training day:
I have to say that I do see a huge difference in my jeans or any other pants. My waist has gone down immensely and the 'muffin top' is melting. This means that I am not going to be focusing in weight or pounds I should be losing but in how my clothes are fitting, specially because I have been training really hard lately. Running 3/4 times a week and Swimming once a week.
Here is another picture of the beautiful Leah, the girl I am honoring this marathon. Please don't forget to visit my Fundraiser Page and help me reach my goal.
I have also added Gustavito Alexis, born the same year of my oldest daughter. He battled with Leukemia for several years and passed away days before my son was born last year 2008. Gustavito was part of our family and a special boy we will never forget. He will always be in our hearts:
November 2002 (3 months old)
December 2007 (5 years old)
Your name will automatically appear in the page indicating that you have collaborated and helped me with this great cause, and also, you will receive a receipt for your tax return. I will make sure to update you about my trainings and all the details of this journey! Thank You so much!!! http://pages.teamintraining.org/sfl/wdw10/enithhernandez
I've been wanting to blog about the good bugs for a long time, and finally I am able to sit down and make a nice post about it... One of the tricks to get my kids stay healthy throughout the year is to get them to digest probiotics year round. There are so many brands now, flavors and forms - that it is very easy to get your kids to eat them without any problems. They do not only come in a pill form anymore, but in smoothies, yogurts, cheese, ice creams and even bars!
The balance of probiotics in the body is disrupted by antibiotics, poor nutrition, stress, alcohol, smoking, pollution, surgery, and aging. Replenishment is necessary to maintain the balance. Having a healthy gastrointestinal tract helps prevent the onslaught of pathogenic bacteria that can make us sick including urinary tract infections! (UTI)
Even though, some yogurts may contain live bacteria or many cultures, they are not sufficient to meet the needs of live bacteria found in the gut. Make sure the product says: Probiotic. This will ensure that you are getting enough beneficial bacteria if that is your concern.
You can also make your own yogurts or kefir. There are many websites out there with easy-to-follow instructions and equipment to buy if you really want to get serious about getting your whole family to get the good bugs. Heck, I am even thinking about getting my own yogurt maker machine since we eat this stuff everyday. They rarely get sick, and if they do, it will only be for one day and quickly they recover without the need of over-the-counter drugs or crazy medications, as many of you know that we only do herbal tinctures and whole-raw-organic foods!
A new school year started today and the girls couldn't be happier! It is very nice to see my girls motivated to go to school as I am fortunate to have them in the same school Robert works. My initial plans were to homeschool my kids but after many debates with my husband (the educator) I gave in and we decided to place them in the same school he works and I cannot tell you how happy I am for that decision. This time around, Robert, you were right! ugh! LOL ;-)
I woke up early to find the biggest challenge: Their long hair! I refuse to cut my daughters hair and I rather spend 45 minutes between them two by making braids and get their hair looking all pretty than chopping it off. I just think long hair in little girls give them the opportunity to be more lady-like specially during these growing years of learning and finding out who they really are as a person, as an individual.
The sun was amazing and the girls were giggling throughout the whole ride to school. It is Sabrina's first year in Annunciation School and Serena's 2nd grade! WOW, where did the time go? :(
I know... Serena is not even supposed to be in that booster seat, neither Sabrina! The correct car seats are usually in Robert's car but he needed to get there early so we couldn't transfer the seats. It is a MUST to have Sabrina riding in a 5 point harness car seat and normally Serena rides on that red w/back booster seat. After that accident 3 years ago, we must take any possible precaution - Safety first! (can't you see the baby in the mirror looking at his sisters? - too sweet)
We enter Serena's class and there was a good amount of kids already sitting down and parents coming in and out, greeting other parents and the teacher and her assistant. Serena got a seat right in front of the board (good!) and she was just excited to finally meet her classmates once again after a long hot summer!
We said goodbye with a kiss, to drop off Sabrina's at the Pre-K classroom!
She met new friends and was able to interact right away without any problems. What a proud mama I am! :-)
What was for lunch? Spring Water, 12 Grain Bread Chic-n-cheese Sandwich with a cheese stick and grapes for dessert. No left overs!
So I finally finished the video in response of the radio interview I had a few days ago regarding a guy who was horrified by a breastfeeding woman! This guy happened to be the host who also brought up the subject on his show and defending himself why he was against it. He called her "crazy" and "rude" through Twitter because she was not breastfeeding in "private" as if breastfeeding is a sexual act?
Remember the complaint I filed against The Block FM and the host's remarks about Breastfeeding in public is rude and should be done in private? Well, in today's show they had co-host Cassie and she was 'somewhat' FOR breastfeeding in public BUT she said that women need to cover up when breastfeeding a child. Seriously? Are we still dealing with the mentality that breasts are sexual objects and breastfeeding a child in public should be hidden because is obscene? I mean, we are mammals - we have breasts - we make milk. It's what breasts are for!
Some women may feel comfortable wearing a cover while breastfeeding, but to be honest, I have worn covers and they are uncomfortable not only for me but also for my baby. Covers are hot, they are inconvenient, they make the breastfeeding experience very difficult, not to mention that it attracts even MORE attention to the breastfeeding mother. Babies are annoyed by blankets over their heads when they are feeding from their mothers, sometimes they scream because they feel suffocated, I mean mine does! We are sending a wrong message when we tell a breastfeeding mother to cover up. We are telling them that breastfeeding is shameful therefore should be covered. Wait a minute? I thought breastfeeding is the most beautiful thing...?
Breastfeeding can be a challenging experience, so why adding another way to make breastfeeding a difficult task when it is supposed to be care free, natural and convenient? Many mothers give up so early because they feel pressured by society that breastfeeding in public is obscene or needs to be hidden, many cannot afford breastmilk pumps - they are expensive and time consuming, specially if you have several other children. How do we expect to continue to breastfeed our children and enjoy the benefits longer enough when we are put down by society because 'breastfeeding in public' is shameful and should be done in bathrooms stalls? Isn't that unhygienic anyways?
They also commented on how much breast the lady at the game exposed while she was breastfeeding. Tim said it was about 5 seconds before the baby latched back to the nipple which is VERY common in active babies or babies that are distracted by other activities while feeding, in this case = a ball game! Babies, ALL babies, are mobile - I believe there is no such a thing as discreet breastfeeding. It's hard to keep a baby in the breast the whole time. Just like another human, they take breaks after each mouthful, they breathe in between, they get distracted by other people around them and go back to their business, back and forth. It was not like this woman was topless showing off her package, she was just doing what nature intended us to do.
A discrimination like this should not be tolerated, even though they insisted that they did not "discriminate". Really? Let's change the scenario... How about if someone who feels uncomfortable of having a Latino man next to them and tweets that this man should go somewhere else because they don't like Latino men and they feel they should have their own place?
See?
SIGHS! Anyways... I was able to get a hold of Cassie and I was asked to be in their show 8:40 AM. PST 12:40 EST (my time!). I really think someone should defend our right to breastfeed in public, with a cover or not - it's not about the mother's rights to breastfeed, it's all about the child's rights to be breastfed! ANYWHERE!
Well, well, well... I haven't done much with this Body After Baby Challenge thing lately, but things have turned a different path and now I will be getting fit for a good cause - so that's a real motivation for me there! :-)
I recently joined Team in Training for a half Marathon that will be held in Disney World and couldn't resist to Vlog about my first day of training:
For the record: Team in Training is a charity sport training program supported by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Here is the 2009 Team In Training Information Video:
I just wanted to file a complaint about Tim Mihalsky co-host of the show The Block FM about Breastfeeding discrimination comments he made in his show and also Twitter.
According to http://www.firstright.org "Public disapproval undermines a mother’s confidence in her ability to breastfeed, which the medical community affirms is the best way to feed a baby."
also, "It is discrimination. Breastfeeding children and mothers are singled out when they are approached to cover, move, or be more discreet and can be made to feel that they are doing something shameful or inappropriate." Which he made real clear that breastfeeding in public is rude and should be done in private.
And... "Soundbites:
Breastfeeding mothers have nothing to hide.
Breastfeeding is a normal, natural, healthy part of parenting.
Breastfeeding is nothing to be ashamed of, and need not be covered up.
The only definition of “discreet” that should matter is that of the mother herself.
Mothers shouldn’t feel they need to hide themselves or their babies while the baby eats nature’s perfect baby food.
I don't eat under a blanket, and I don't expect my children to do so either.
Medical professionals all tell us breastfeeding is best for babies, but mothers still encounter significant cultural resistance to nursing in public.
Breastfeeding is what breasts are for.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least the first year and the World Health Organization recommends at least two years.
We’re working towards peaceful, respectful treatment of mothers and babies.
It's not about my right to breastfeed. It's about my child's right to eat."
I feel like this should be addressed appropriately. I am currently a breastfeeding mother of a boy and had breastfed my other 2 kids during infancy and his comments are totally inappropriate and shows discrimination to all breastfeeding mothers.
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Please read The Feminist Breeder blog, who was personally attacked by this man today during his radio show and who has no right to make such discriminative comments against a Breastfeeding mother. You can also read Eco Baby Steps blog, with details on some of this guy's tweets.
Mom of 2 Boys, Wife of 1 is doing an awesome giveaway, and you know me... I LOVE SUSHI!!!! Look at the prize :-)
The Asian Food Grocer has offered one of my readers their very own Silver Sushi Combo Set. This set includes: a Sushi Cookbook, Gourmet Roasted Sushi Nori, Calrose Rice, Wasabi, Sushi Powder, Ginger and a Bamboo Mat for rolling your own sushi. I LOVE SUSHI!
Every year, hubs takes me to eat Sushi to celebrate our Anniversary, but with prices of today, it's hard to frequent Sushi restaurants more often. I mean prices are insane!!! Though, I've always dreamt about creating my own Sushi, with my own ingredients. This way, I will know for sure the quality of the sushi I am eating. And get this! Asian Food Grocer has an organic section, beautiful!!! :-)
I gave birth to a beautiful human being... at home!
I can only describe the joy I felt just about a year ago when my son was born. I have always dreamt about having a boy - I had his name picked out since I learned that I was pregnant the first time, but obviously, she was a girl. Then of course, my second was also a girl so I gave up the idea of having a boy since I was not really planning on having anymore kids. We were really happy to have a nice family of four. My girls made me feel complete, they are my special pride!
Then I got pregnant again... with a boy! I never imagined that I was going to birth at home, it was pretty bizarre to hear that many women were giving birth in their homes -- with a midwife! And you know what? I will never trade it for anything in the world!
What was I thinking before? Why didn't I try this with my girls? I was alive throughout my labor and delivery. I was able to experience a real birth without pain medications, without feeling numb! I did it - and I am so proud to tell it to the world... That I feel empowered by this amazing experience - to have given birth naturally to my precious boy! :-)
If you rather avoid controversial blogs, please stop reading and get out of here! (lol) Seriously!
One of my Facebook friends created a video regarding Human Rights (Part 1) (Part 2) and she pointed out really good arguments about rights of a human. I really wonder if we forget that a boy or a girl will always grow into an adult with same rights - do we or not? Unfortunately, we all forget Children have rights.
She said, paraphrasing: "It is a crime to cut a man. If you walk up to a man and cut him, you've done something wrong. Consensual cutting is out of the evaluation. Except: Life saving in the event of an emergency if the man is incapable of consent. By saving his life you are securing his right (right to live). Let's change the statement: It is a crime to cut a baby, though we are obligated to act in case of an emergency."
Is Infant Circumcision an emergency? NO.
Many parents feel the need to do this surgery to their freshly (healthy) newborn boy because they 'believe' is cleaner and will prevent disease. Have they seriously research it? Do they believe that all boys are born with a birth defect? I have heard many parents saying they have researched it and they still decided to do it. What I don't understand is the reasons why they ended up doing it.
What about if we respect our sons rights and let him decide what to do with his own body when he grows into an adult? Besides, we still need to teach them how to wipe their butts, how to clean their ears or hands, or brush their teeth. Why do we need to amputate part of their genitals to make them cleaner or (the most bizarre statement) to look like them? Why is it that we need to modify their genitals to match daddy's when they could be different in other parts of their bodies?
Something (not) funny I've also heard, is that it looks better. Seriously? Why are you performing cosmetic surgery on your son? So if I ever wanted to modify my daughter's ears to look 'better' I could just go ahead and get her cosmetic surgery in her ears? NO.
There are certain things that circumcision prevents, which are so minimal - unfortunately, the chances of getting a botch circumcision is higher than preventing (if) ANY disease. Though, remember, amputating ANY part of the body will prevent them to have an infection of that specific part that was amputated. For example, if we remove breast buds of little girls may prevent them to suffer breast cancer, or removing the prostate will prevent prostate cancer, and so on... We cannot be removing parts of our children's bodies to prevent disease!
Circumcision is an outdated practice. We now have access to fresh water, we have a huge variety of soaps and bathing products - why do we keep amputating part of our sons penises to make them cleaner? Besides, an infant foreskin is naturally fused to glans preventing bacteria, feces or ammonia in urine to enter the urethra and will not be fully retractable until after puberty. The retraction mechanism (which is a sexual mechanism) works just like the hymen in little girls. NO ONE should retract the foreskin of the boy (except the boy himself) to clean up inside. Just wipe like a finger and you are good to go! How simple is that?
Photo of my intact son days afer being born who is now a year old healthy and whole!
I do have to admit that I have seen a lot of parents that are regretting their sons circumcisions and I do applaud that. I admire those that have come to the realization that circumcision is harmful for our society. How do we expect to respect the rights of the men if we have violated his right soon after birth? Should we blame society for having such a shallow mind about the foreskins of our baby boys? One of the reasons I cannot blame the parents that have already circumcised their babies, specially when they admit their regret and wish they could do better the next time, or they will tell people to stop circumcising their baby boys. Though I must say that I loose respect for those that do circumcise their sons despite all the information that have been given to them and they do it because they feel pressured by society and their family members to cut their sons. What about their sons wishes? What about HIM? Doesn't HE count? Besides, it's HIS penis.
Some of you may know that we are celebrating The World Breastfeeding Week from August 1st through 7th. How are you celebrating WBW? Are you supporting other mamas that breastfeed their children and educating others about the benefits of breastfeeding? or Are you helping other mothers to breastfeed their children or advocating that breastfeeding in public is normal? Normalizing Breastfeeding in Public is very important for many of us 'Lactivists' (though we do this year round), because we are living in a society where 'Breastfeeding in Public' is a taboo and still not fully accepted by many people and looked as 'obscene' sometimes. In reality, breasts are meant for BREASTfeeding a child. That's why we make milk. Nothing else. Period. We need to get our message out: "Breastfeeding is Normal" - "Breastfeeding is Natural" - "Breastfeeding is Best for our Babies". If we change our mentality regarding breastfeeding more women in this world will breastfeed more and longer. Our children will grow healthier and will grow into loving adults thanks to the "hormone of love" (Oxytocin) that is passed through the breastmilk. Please, take pictures of yourself breastfeeding your child and post it in your blog! We need to normalize Breastfeeding!
This is me breastfeeding my almost year old baby boy :-) Breastfeeding is Love!
Unfortunately, I have not been so good lately! NO EXCUSES! Though I do want to say that I had my mom and niece visiting from Panama and we went out almost every day and I just couldn't resist the temptations! I did try to eat the healthiest possible, most of the time I made smart choices but I did had some cake and pizza for my birthday. Oh well...
oops sorry! picture taken with my camera phone!
I may have lost a couple of pounds about 2 weeks ago but it seems that I've gained them back and I am still in my pre-BAB weight, sighssss! I did make the effort to go veggie during all this time, since I've been wanting to go veggie for a long time. I manage to eat chicken only one day, and that is GOOD! Though I think soy products are making me sick, I decided that I am not going to buy anymore of that and just eat as much raw foods as I can instead of processed fake-meats!
I also stopped working out (NOT GOOD!) but I am determined to get back in track and stay positive. I CAN do this!
Well, since I started a weight loss challenge might as well share my favorite raw recipe with LaMamaNaturale, and I found two videos that are basically similar to what I do...
I do some things differently like soaking oats longer and also use wheat berries. I do use brazil nuts instead of almonds, because they are cheaper! Also raw cacao to the mix before adding the liquid ingredients. I gotta have my chocolate sometimes :-)
For storage, I use huge mason jars since I make big amounts of gRAWnola everytime I make it - it's basically a 2 day process so might as well make huge batches of it...
Okay so I have decided to finally get back in shape! MamaNotes is organizing this great challenge between us, Twitter Moms! We will follow each other and will tweet with #bodyafterbaby hashtag to check up on ourselves and support each other...
Well I started with some work outs (today is my 2nd day) and Monday will start eating right. Let's see how far I go with this... My goal was set up to 10 lbs. of weight loss, tho I wish I could do more than that but who knows, for now, I'll stick to 10 lbs. and see from there... woohoo!
One of my Teammates Sarah posted pictures of herself
BEFORE baby - then AFTER baby...
she has inspired me to do the same :-)
One day I used to look like this:
After 3 kids I now look like this:
I will love to get back to the way I was... do you think I can???
F.A.O. Vanity Set
And lots of eco-fi felt food for the kids' kitchen:
and more kitchen items to come (working on it)
Yesterday afternoon, my daughter came back from school with a mild fever that escalated throughout the evening. Honestly, I didn't notice she had a fever until bath time. Thankfully, I always keep fresh fruits and a kiddie herbal tincture that I get at Whole Foods. It's amazing but it really works, it has always worked for us. I've used this for over 5 years on my girls and they seem to react pretty fast if I act fast enough. We decided to keep her at home until the fever subsides --so glad it was Friday! So I ran to Whole Foods pretty quick and got 2 bottles of Strawberry Kefir (probiotics) which you can get in pill form as well (though I prefer Kefir for its protein - great way to get them to eat something so healthy for them). Then I mentally prepared myself for a long sleep-deprivation night!
It's been a while since the last time we took a picture of the whole family. One of us has to be behind the lens but thanks to my dear long time friend Alejandra, we were able to get a nice looking family portrait at her Wedding day from a professional photographer. Boy, I love this picture and I can't believe everyone is looking at the camera! LOL Thanks my friend! :)
Funny picture of me with Shaq (I felt the tiniest girl!)
In my previous blog I talked about getting to eat healthy foods, reading labels, organic, etc... Well I have decided to post the recipe of today's dinner! I did the math, and this meal including a healthy organic leafy salad comes out just under $3 per meal (including leftovers for tomorrow daddy's lunch). Honestly I buy in bulk, is a great way to save money. I've also joined an organic co-op where I get my produce at a discount price. A huge box of baby spinach normally cost $7-8 at the supermarket, well I get it for $4.60 each box. I believe Costco and BJ's has something similar and it is ORGANIC.
Here are the ingredients:
For the salad, simple add baby spinach, one (thin sliced) cucumber, and one thin sliced (cut each slice in four) tomato. Add a few cherries or cranberries for a tangy flavor to it. Make a homemade onion-vinaigrette and you are all set! You can omit the salad and it will come out less than $2 per meal. See? Fresh and Delicious! :)
Well, let me tell you that I didn't know how to cook until I started cooking. If you know how to follow instructions you can easily find free healthy recipes throughout the internet, some websites even have ratings in it just to give you an idea how good the dish was. Keep it simple, that's all I want to say. Whole Foods came out with a great iPhone app for healthy recipes, it's one of my favorite apps so far, get it!
A new school year started today and the girls couldn't be happier! It is very nice to see my girls motivated to go to school as I am fortunate to have them in the same school Robert works. My initial plans were to homeschool my kids but after many debates with my husband (the educator) I gave in and we decided to place them in the same school he works and I cannot tell you how happy I am for that decision. This time around, Robert, you were right! ugh! LOL ;-)
I woke up early to find the biggest challenge: Their long hair! I refuse to cut my daughters hair and I rather spend 45 minutes between them two by making braids and get their hair looking all pretty than chopping it off. I just think long hair in little girls give them the opportunity to be more lady-like specially during these growing years of learning and finding out who they really are as a person, as an individual.
The sun was amazing and the girls were giggling throughout the whole ride to school. It is Sabrina's first year in Annunciation School and Serena's 2nd grade! WOW, where did the time go? :(
I know... Serena is not even supposed to be in that booster seat, neither Sabrina! The correct car seats are usually in Robert's car but he needed to get there early so we couldn't transfer the seats. It is a MUST to have Sabrina riding in a 5 point harness car seat and normally Serena rides on that red w/back booster seat. After that accident 3 years ago, we must take any possible precaution - Safety first! (can't you see the baby in the mirror looking at his sisters? - too sweet)
We said goodbye with a kiss, to drop off Sabrina's at the Pre-K classroom!
What a beautiful day in Annunciation School!
Every year, hubs takes me to eat Sushi to celebrate our Anniversary, but with prices of today, it's hard to frequent Sushi restaurants more often. I mean prices are insane!!! Though, I've always dreamt about creating my own Sushi, with my own ingredients. This way, I will know for sure the quality of the sushi I am eating. And get this! Asian Food Grocer has an organic section, beautiful!!! :-) 
I never imagined that I was going to birth at home, it was pretty bizarre to hear that many women were giving birth in their homes -- with a midwife! And you know what? I will never trade it for anything in the world!
Photo of my intact son days afer being born
This is me breastfeeding my almost year old baby boy :-)
