Neurotic Nurse

Green Drinker’s Best Friend! Affordable Kyocera Ceramic Knife Review!

2012-02-10T02:23:00.001-08:00

If you juice as many veggies as I do (Why I Drink My Veggies,) or just need a reliable knife that isn’t going to dull out after a few short months of labor… The Kyocera Revolution Series 5-1/2 Santoku Knife might just be for you!

I bought this knife in the combo above. I really like the ceramic slicer/mandolin that’s included in the combo, but the knife itself is the real gem! If do a lot of slicing for salads or veggie tray, then I would definitely spring for the combo (it’s only about $15 more.) If you’re just interested in the knife itself, you can purchase the knife up by itself. The slicer is actually great and is better than any similar slicer that I have ever used (once you figure out how to adjust it properly and get used to the action.)

Be careful! The knife and slicer are incredibly SHARP! Take it easy with the slicer until you get the hang of it and use the safety hand as much as possible. I would almost recommend picking up a cut-resistant glove (see bottom of post) if you are going to be using the slicer regular so that you have more control of the mandolin and what you’re slicing.

The Kyocera Santoku is a dream for slicing veggies, which is where I spend the majority of my time in the kitchen. When you’re juicing several pounds of veggies at least every other day, you can make your job (and life) significantly more pleasant by purchasing a quality knife that is going to keep it’s edge. I’ve purchased quality steel knives in the past, but I really haven’t been able to maintain them adequately so that they keep their edge longer than a few months. So far, this Kyocera Ceramic blade has been going strong for the past 6 and still seems as sharp as the day I brought it home.

The blade is extremely light. This is a blessing when you’re slicing more than a few fruits or veggie. Other, heavier knives have almost been a chore to use due to weight alone, even if the blade is sharp. With a ceramic knife, the blade should hold its edge much easier than a traditional knife. We still try to baby this knife and wash it by itself and store it in the knife drawer wrapped in a wash cloth. Over-kill? Perhaps…

Another Accurate and Consistent Digital Bathroom Scale!

2012-02-10T01:47:00.001-08:00

A couple years ago, I got fed up replacing cheap bathroom scales that I would pickup from places like Wal-Mart and Target. Sure, the prices were great, but the quality definitely left something to be desired. I ended up finding an amazing bathroom scale from EatSmart and blogged about how amazing its accuracy and consistency were.

I still have and love my original EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale and it’s quality and performance have definitely stood the test of time. I had one small issue when I first got the scale and the EatSmart folks were amazing friendly and fast with a replacement and the new unit has been rock solid for over two years now.

We moved a while back and have a need for a 2nd bathroom scale. My immediate impulse was to buy an exact copy of the original scale, but being the product review monger that I am, decided to shop around a bit… Enter the sexy, new and improved, EatSmart Precision Premium Digital Bathroom Scale!

That’s right, after all of my shopping around, I settled on another EatSmart scale rather than buying the same older model. The price is still amazing, but the new scale is smaller, sexier and has a few extra features including their Step-On technology. I’ll admit it, the step-on feature was appealing because the old model required me to tap the scale with my foot or my hand and waiting a second or two before hopping on. No more! This scale allows you to step-on and get instant readings.

The accuracy and consistency of this product rivals the original. Step on the scale, get your reading and hop off. Step on again in the near future and the scale will give you the same reading. No more hopping on 5 times and getting 5 differing weights! The LCD display is large and easy to read from any distance. The unit feels durable and is covered by Eatsmart’s 100% satisfaction guarantee. No risk here.

Why continue to waste your money and time on Wal-Mart specials that aren’t doing the job when you can pay the SAME price on an EatSmart and enjoy your product for years to come. We’ll see if this unit actually stand the test of time like the original, but EatSmart definitely has my loyalty at this point. Especially considering the alternatives I found on the market in this price range.

Does your hand soap really need to be antibacterial?

2011-07-18T12:32:00.003-07:00

Being a part time neurotic nurse and full time neurotic mom, I used to think hand soap needed to say antibacterial or it wasn’t doing it’s job. Then I discovered the truth about triclosan (the antibacterial agent used in my old favorite hand soap). While it’s true this chemical will kill most germs, it doesn’t kill 100% of them. This means that the small percentage left will then breed and become antibiotic resistant organisms. In other words, antibacterial soaps could actually be doing more harm than good.

Triclosan rates a number 7 in the costmetic saftey database. This is not a good number (7-10 being high hazard numbers). It is a known endocrine disruptor (messes with hormones), skin irritant and systemic toxin among other things. Wow, sounds pleasant! It’s hard to believe such a harmful chemical is even allowed in products people use on a daily basis. Great, I’ve been using a skin irritant to wash my hands and body for the past several years. That makes a lost of sense. Triclosan is also found in many other items such as toys, cosmetics, toothpaste, deodorant, food storage containers, and mattresses to name a few.

One of my favorite companies used to be Bath and Body Works. This was before I knew better, and started educating myself on the many hazardous chemicals found in products I once used everyday. Now I read their labels and cringe. There’s way too many ingredients on their soap labels, and I can’t even pronounce many of them. Who knows if they’re even listing all the toxins used? I wish I would have realized sooner that just because a product is made to put on your body doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Out goes Triclosan infested products (and other numerous horrible chemicals), in comes Bubble and Bee Organic. Now my new favorite company, they offer many personal care items including deodorant, shower gel (which doubles as hand soap), lotion sticks and body butter, lip balm, shampoo, face cream, bar soap, salt scrub, and even bug spray. I own and love all the products they create, and I’m happy to know I’m not slathering on chemicals with their use. I’m also excited to know I actually save money in the long run with organic products that actually work. The products may seem more pricey in the beginning, but I can assure you a little goes a very long way. These creations contain no water, just pure awesome ingredients. So even with daily use, they will last you a very long time.

Take for example my old favorite company, Bath and Body Works. An 8 oz bottle of their hand soap costs around $5 when bought at regular price. Why buy this bottle of water topped with toxins when you can buy a 16 ounce bottle of shower gel for $22 from Bubble and Bee. You can then turn this 16 oz bottle into a whopping 80 oz of shower gel or hand soap. All you need is some distilled water and a foamer soap pump. The pumps are also sold by Bubble and Bee. Now that’s what I call one stop shopping. Or better yet, you could dump all your Bath and Body Works crap and reuse that foamer pump. I however had to buy new ones because I wanted no reminisce of Bath and Body Works in my home. Do the math and you will not only save yourself from potentially hazardous chemicals, but save lots of money too! With as often as I make my family wash their hands, I’m glad I have found something not only effective but safe.

Are you worried you won’t have a hundred billion non natural/chemical scents to choose from by giving up Bath and Body Works soap? Don’t worry, you can mix and match, or even add your own essential oils to Bubble and Bee shower gel. You can even brew tea and use in place of distilled water for variety. Since using Bubble and Bee, I’ve realized the chemical laden brands are way too strongly scented anyway (headache inducing). Plus it’s fun to come up with your own concoctions. I love hand soap making day! It’s the little things in life that make me happy!

Check out www.bubbleandbee.com, one of the few stores I truly trust now. They have awesome organic products that really work, are very knowledgeable, have great customer service, and prompt shipping. Need an awesome excuse to stock up on wonderful products? They even have free shipping when you spend more than $99.

You may also like this blog post: Bubble and Bee – Amazing Organic Personal Care Products

Easy and Effective Homemade Hand Sanitizer

2011-07-01T01:46:00.003-07:00

Ever since I had kids my hand washing neurosis has stepped up at least 95%. I’ve always been a bit of an obsessive hand washer, but now I have a better reason to make safer choices for my family. I make my kids wash their hands after just about everything, so I need to have a safe hand sanitizer when plain ol’ soap and water isn’t available.

Read the label of your current hand sanitizer, and you’ll likely find several ingredients you can’t even pronounce. Many brands don’t even list all the ingredients, because it is not mandatory to do so. After reading all the synthetic and potentially toxic ingredients on the label of my Purell hand sanitizer, I decided to toss it and make my own after a little research. Ingredients in Purell: Ethyl Alcohol (62%), Water, Isopropyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Fragrance, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Propylene Glycol (aka antifreeze), Isopropyl Myristate, Tocopheryl Acetate, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Blue 1. Seriously, why does hand sanitizer need food coloring first of all? And antifreeze? No thanks, I think I’ll save that for use in my car.

Alcohol is the main ingredient used in hand sanitizer to kill germs . You need at least 60% alcohol for it to be effective. I use 3 simple ingredients in my homemade hand sanitizer: Vodka, pure aloe vera juice/gel, and essential oils (my favorite being lemon and orange, but it’s fun to experiment occasionally for a different scent). Just fill a small spray or squeeze bottle with 60% Vodka and 40% pure aloe vera gel or juice, add several drops of essential oils, and start killing those nasty hand germs. I’ve found aloe vera juice works better than the gel if your using a spray bottle as a dispenser, otherwise the pump gets clogged easily. Alcohol is a natural preservative, so I don’t worry about the aloe vera going bad. I usually make small batches anyway so this isn’t a problem. Remember, it’s always a smart idea to label any homemade products.

Many essential oils have disinfectant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. As an extra bonus essential oils make your hand sanitizer smell delicious, not chemical laden like most store bought brands. And who doesn’t want a delicious smelling hand sanitizer?

I love my new hand cleaning concoctions, and it’s nice to know I could safely take a swig if deemed necessary. I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you were desperate it could work. I was a little worried the smell of vodka would linger, but the scent completely disappears once your hands are dry. This mixture also leaves my skin surprisingly soft. Now my only worry is getting busted for having an open container since I keep a small spray bottle in my car. That would be a fun one to explain! I’m content knowing vodka is made by distillation of fermented grain (or other substances such as potatoes or molasses), and pure aloe vera comes from an edible plant. Both items are intended to be consumed, and therefore rubbing a few drops into my children’s hands is not concerning to me.

What you'll need.

Cute little travel bottle

You may also like: Does your hand soap really need to be antibacterial? http://neuroticnurse.com/blog/2011/does-your-hand-soap-really-need-to-be-antibacterial/

How To Save $200 A Year By Switching To Soap Nuts

2011-05-24T05:58:00.003-07:00

You might also be interested in reading: Why Organic Soap Nuts Repalced My Laundry Detergent

Two months ago I purchased a 4 pound bag of organic soap nuts for just under $50. This week I finished using an eighth of my bag (half a pound). This small jar of soap nuts lasted me 2 months, and cleaned 152 loads of laundry (Yes, I counted). Mid way through my soap nut experiment my 7 year old standard washing machine sprung a leak. I find I get a few more uses out of these cute little nuts with my new HE washing machine. Bonus! Here is my huge 4 pound bag, and a quart sized Mason jar which nicely fits 1/2 pound soap nuts.

Let’s compare: You can spend $23 and saturate 90 loads of laundry with hazardous chemicals using Tide (or a similar chemical laden detergent). Or, you can spend $6.25 and clean 152 loads of laundry without chemicals using Soap Nuts. So, I figure it costs 4 cents per load of laundry using soap nuts, and 26 cents per load with Tide. This is a savings worth bragging about. If I continue doing an outrageous 152 loads of laundry every two months, my four pound bag of nuts should last 16 months. Now, if I could just get my family to quit wearing clothes…….

In my last post about soap nuts, Why Organic Soap Nuts Repalced My Laundry Detergent I wrote about using soap nuts to clean my home as well as laundry. I did make the soap nuts liquid for general cleaning. Although I didn’t love the smell, it worked really well on every surface I tried (kitchen counters, bathroom fixtures, tile, even hard wood). From my research, the homemade soap nut cleaner only lasts a few days (since it doesn’t contain preservatives), and can mold quickly. This is worrisome to me since you may not be able to see the mold and bacteria forming. The homemade soap nuts liquid will work great for those times I want to make a big batch and clean everything in the house in a few days. But, I want something that will keep well in a spray bottle to use when needed. So for now I’m sticking to vinegar and water for cleaning, which also does a great job.

Overview Of My 10 Day Master Cleanse Experience

2011-05-03T10:08:00.003-07:00

You might also be interested in Master Cleans - Day 1

Day 1 (4/28/11)

It’s the end of day 1, finally. My stomach is growling like crazy as I sit typing, waiting for my tea to brew. I could probably drink another lemonade to stop the growling, but I just don’t think I can squeeze one more lemon today. I didn’t have great results from the salt water flush, which makes me think, “is all that salt water still lingering in my intestines?” Gross! Supposedly the salt water is the same specific gravity as blood. Basically that means the body cannot absorb the salt water. So where is this morning’s 32 ounces hanging out? Maybe that’s why I feel so bloated. I think I need to add more salt to make it effective. The lemonade actually tastes decent (nothing I would ever crave), although it’s a bit spicy from the cayenne. The spiciness hurts my throat, and makes me have to chug the lemonade. I’m sure it will become more annoying over the next 9 days, since I have several gallons of this wonderful lemonade left to consume. I managed to drink 7 glasses of lemonade today and a few glasses of extra water. No horrible “detox symptoms” happened to me today. I do feel a bit bloated, I’ve been freezing more than my usual most the day, my teeth feel gross like they need to be brushed, and my tongue is yellow and rough feeling. Oh, and I’m starving! I’ve been craving cookie dough and mini Cadbury eggs most the day. I’m going to bed now to forget how hungry I feel. The day hasn’t been too bad really, I just want to eat because I like eating.

Warning of the day: Do not leave the house for at least 3-4 hours after drinking the salt water.

Day 2 (4/29/11)

Making a birthday cake for my kid really sucks when I can’t help lick the beaters. Good thing my 3 year old offered to do this horrible task without hesitation. I guess since one of my goals after this cleanse is to cut way down on crappy for you foods (i.e. cake), this is a good test for me. I found that using 3 tsp of salt in my salt water flush was more effective then the recommended 2 tsp. Stanley Burroughs, the author of the book The Master Cleanse, states you may have to adjust the salt to water ratio for results. The salt water is definitely the most dreaded part of this whole experience. I was really nauseated for about 20 minutes after drinking it this morning. I think it’s because the water was too hot. I’m already tired of the lemonade. It tastes pretty good, but the cayenne is annoyingly hot. The cayenne is necessary since it helps stimulate the body’s cleansing process, and breaks up mucus. I drank 7 glasses of the lemonade today. Somehow I also managed to exercise for 50 minutes tonight. Just some cardio, but now I’m really hungry. I guess I’ll drink this here Smooth Move tea before I head off to bed. That ought to help curb my craving for a PBJ and ice cream right about now. This tea is actually pretty good. It tastes like sweet black licorice to me. Hopefully I won’t be rudely awakened at 3:00 am with cramps because of it, like last night. I’m still freezing beyond my normal, my tongue is still rough and yellow, and my teeth are all slimy. Gross, I know. Your welcome for the visual.

Warning of the day: Do not sneeze, cough, laugh, or otherwise fart on accident while on the Master Cleanse.

Day 3 (4/30/11)

I really can’t stand the cayenne pepper. Today with each glass of lemonade I drank a “shot” with the 1/10 tsp of cayenne pepper first. This way was definitely much more tolerable. Now I don’t have to taste the cayenne throughout the entire drink several times daily, just the lemon and syrup. The lemonade is pretty sweet tasting, almost too sweet. I drink it quickly just to get it over with because I’m already bored with it. I had a cup of peppermint tea today. Although I don’t love the taste of peppermint tea, I’ve never been so excited to drink it. It was nice to have something new to taste. Every time I see something delicious in a magazine or on TV I literally start salivating, especially anything chocolate. MMmmmm…… I heart chocolate! I miss you chocolate! I don’t feel especially hungry, I just miss the taste of food. Unfortunately, I still have 7 full days of the cleanse to go. It’s difficult making food all day for 2 hungry toddlers. It’s hard not to lick the knife after making them a sandwich, or eating their slobbered on leftovers just out of habit. It was definitely harder to frost my daughter’s birthday cake today, then to make it yesterday. I really wanted to lick the spoon. One little lick won’t ruin the whole cleanse would it? I really wanted to, but I was strong. Instead of licking the spoon, I just smelled the frosting container for a good 10 minutes. I must continue on my Master Cleanse journey. It’s not like I’ll never have food again, right? Not only did I have to watch everyone eat cake and ice cream in front of me today, I also offered to pick up my husband’s Café Rio meal after I stalked up on lemons for myself. My husband claims he’s going to try 1 day of the cleanse tomorrow with me. I can’t wait for this!! It’s now midnight and I’m starving. Goodnight!

Warning of the day: Do not attempt to blow up birthday balloons while on the Master Cleanse.

Day 4 (5/1/11)

My husband completed a full day of the cleanse today. I’m impressed, and jealous he gets to eat real food tomorrow. He was exhausted and asleep by 8:00 pm. =) This is torture! I would love nothing more than a bowl of warm brown rice right now, or a banana with peanut butter. I’m surviving on toothpaste residue. I used my daughters Dora bubblegum toothpaste today just for a different flavor. Mmmm bubblegum! I feel like I’m the star of the movie Groundhog Day. I’m not having as bad of cravings today. Don’t get me wrong, I still really want to eat. But I would take something healthy in a heartbeat over cookie dough, which I love. I’m already at the end of day 4, so there’s no stopping me now. As bad as I want to eat, I want to finish this cleanse just as badly. So far I’ve tried 3 types of non iodized salt in the salt water flush (Real Sea Salt, Celtic Sea Salt, and Himalayan Pink Salt). All three taste horrible and seem to have the same effectiveness, but I’ve found the Celtic Sea Salt is easiest for me to tolerate and drink fast. I did 45 minutes of cardio exercise today and feel great overall. I’m still waking up achy and tired after a decent night’s sleep, but this is normal for me. My lower back is especially sore. I hope I’m not killing my kidneys or something awful. Supposedly this is just detox symptoms and I’ll feel better in the days to follow. I’m constantly cold (especially my hands and feet). This is not new with the cleanse, but definitely intensified especially after each glass of the lemonade. I had 9 glasses of lemonade today. I almost dread the taste anymore. Now I just have to drink my cup o’ poopie tea, and I’m off to bed. Yay me! As I sit here looking at a pantry full of delicious looking food, I have to ask myself, “why am I doing this again?” I could so easily make a fantastic meal for myself (since my husband passed out 3 hours ago from day one Master Cleanse exhaustion). Instead, I will brush my slimy teeth and yellow grainy tongue and go to sleep. Hopefully the teeth/tongue issue will end soon too! Apparently it’s a good sign you’re done detoxing when your tongue is a nice healthy pink color.

Warning of the day: If it feels like a fart, it’s probably a shart.

Day 5 (5/2/11)

There’s nothing more annoying than doing dishes all day when only a few of them are mine. OK, there’s a few more annoying things I guess. Like people eating in front of me all day, or shopping for food other people will enjoy. I’m grouchy today, but still on track with my detox. For 5 full days I’ve been surviving on salt, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, cayenne pepper and herbal tea. Oh, and residual Bubble and Bee lip balm. I’ve used every flavor I own today. I’ve been waking up really tired and achy since day 1 (more than my usual tired and achy self). I’ve also been waking up with more eye boogers than usual for those who’ve been wondering. I still haven’t received the “burst of energy” I’ve read about people experiencing on this cleanse. I’ll be patient and wait for that. I drank 8 glasses of the lemonade today. I bought a billionty more lemons today and the thought of juicing them is nauseating.

Warning of the day: Do not drink the salt water too hot or it may not stay down.

Day 6 (5/3/11)

I worked last night (a graveyard shift from 7pm-7am). I sipped on the lemonade whenever I got hungry through the night, and ended up saving my Smooth Move tea until this morning’s drive home. I didn’t want to have any embarrassing side effects while at work. Because of this, I decided to omit the salt water flush for today. Darn, I was really looking forward to that disgusting glass of sea water. Somehow I was even able to keep my hand out of the caramel popcorn bag that kept ending up in front of me all night at work. Thank you coworkers, I appreciate you! When I woke up this afternoon I felt bloated and horrible. I was contemplating stopping the cleanse. That is until I eliminated something I swear I ate in Elementary School 25+ years ago. Awesome! This is the first day I feel like the cleanse might actually be doing something for me. So far I’ve lost 5 pounds since day one. I usually fluctuate between 5 and 7 pounds on a given day, so I probably didn’t really lose 5 pounds. I’m definitely not doing this cleanse to lose weight, since I generally weigh around 125 pounds. But, I can’t expect not to lose weight when my main calories are coming from maple syrup. Don’t worry mom, I plan to gain back any weight I lose! The cleanse is actually not supposed to be a reducing diet, it’s just a natural side effect. It feels great to have completed 6 days out of my 10 day goal. It’s all down hill from here. I’m looking forward to drinking the fresh orange juice that’s recommended on day 11. It will be a welcome flavor change.

Warning of the day: Do not preform cartwheels while on the Master Cleanse.

Day 7 (5/4/11)

Today has been especially hard in the wanting food department. I went shopping, and made some raw food items that will help me with any cravings when I’m done with the cleanse. The goal is to eat more vegan/raw foods, and cut way down and possibly cut out dairy and processed sugar. From all the research I’ve done, I believe a diet with mostly raw foods is the healthiest way to go. It’s also the absolutely delicious way to go in my opinion. I love chocolate, so I made a few things from my raw food books like “chocolate cookies” and “freezer fudge.” These treats are made with raw cocoa instead of milk chocolate. Other ingredients are raw nuts, raw oats, vanilla, maple syrup and sea salt. They are really good, and even get the toddler approval. My kids love them! I love how there’s no processed white flour, sugar, dairy or eggs in them. I could go on and on why I love raw food, but I’ll save that for another blog post. A few of my favorite raw food books are RAW the UNcook Book, Raw Food Real World, and Everyday Raw. I feel good today, but am ready to taste something other than lemons and maple syrup. 3 full days to go, I can’t wait! I just enjoyed a good workout, while watching a good chick flick. It’s hard to walk on the treadmill at 4 mph while crying to a good show. Now it’s off to bed after my nightly tea. Yay!

Warning of the day: Do not run out of toilet paper.

Day 8 (5/5/11)

“You’re hardcore woman!” That’s the first thing my husband said to me this morning while I was gagging down my quart of salt water. He’s right! This cleanse is definitely not easy, and I’m so ready for it to be over! I think everyone needs a good spring cleaning though, and that’s exactly what this is for me. A clean slate so to say, a new start to eating healthier. My tongue is looking better for the most part. Instead of yellow, it’s white so I think that’s a good sign. Still far from pink. Apparently when you tongue is back to pink you’re done detoxing. I’m done mentally after the 10 days regardless of my tongue appearance, and I’m ok with that. Maybe I’ll do the cleanse again in the future until my tongue is totally pink. Maybe……. The excessive eye boogers in the morning have ended, the achiness continues and is focused on my shoulders, although I do feel a bit more energetic today. I’m still feel freezing most the day, mostly my hands and feet, and especially after a glass of lemonade . I drank 8 glasses of the lemonade today.

Warning of the day: Do not go farther than short walking distance from a bathroom.

Day 9 (5/6/11)

Thank god! Only 1 more full day of this cleanse left. I can’t wait to eat. The crazy thing is I want healthy food, not the candy and crap I was craving the first few days. I made some more raw food last night. The house smells like delicious granola with cinnamon, which is in the dehydrator 2 feet from me. Today I drank all the salt in my salt water flush in 16 ounces water, then chased it with the other 16 ounces plain water. It was still horrible, but at least the salty taste didn’t last as long this way. I find the hardest part of my day (besides gagging down the morning salt water) is watching TV at night with my husband. This is when we usually have a meal or snack together. Now I just get to watch him eat. Thankfully he usually partakes in meat eating, which is not at all appealing to me (more like appalling). Today I had 9 lemonade drinks and plenty of extra water.

Warning of the day: Do not laugh while drinking your “shot” of cayenne pepper.

Day 10 (5/7/11)

Today I woke up at my all time low weight (since high school) 116 pounds. I am extremely achy all over, especially my back and shoulders. It’s a great feeling knowing I’ve completed my goal of 10 days on this cleanse. I keep having thoughts and emotions like, should I keep going on the cleanse? I wonder how many days it’ll take for my tongue to be totally pink? I wonder when the achiness will reside? But, I think I’m more curious how good that first sip of fresh orange juice will be tomorrow morning. I wouldn’t be surprised if with the first taste of orange juice I drool all over myself. I drank 12 glasses of lemonade today. Mostly because I have a few lemons left since my husband was going to do my last day with me, but wimped out. We also had a busy day tending our 2 nieces. Lots of activities today with 4 kids can make a girl hungry. Overall (besides being so achy), I feel great and am glad I finished this experience. It was a very long 10 days, but I’m proud of myself! I’m currently drinking my last lemonade while my husband eats ice cream in front of me. What a douche!

Day 11 (5/8/11)

Finally, orange juice day is here! Fresh squeezed orange juice never tasted so good! Tomorrow, I’m starting a month long course of probiotics now that I’m done with the cleanse. This will help to replenish the “good” bacteria lost during the 10 day cleanse. I’m also planning on cutting way down (and possibly eventually completely cutting out) all animal products and white carbs.

Warning of the day: Do not over eat today no matter how bad you want to.

My Next Adventure: The Master Cleanse

2011-04-28T03:34:00.003-07:00

For the next 10 days (at least) I will be ingesting nothing other than filtered water, fresh organic lemon juice, organic grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, sea salt and herbal tea. Weird, I know! Why would anyone choose to do this to themselves? Especially someone who loves food as much as I do. I generally make healthy food choices, and find plenty of time to exercise, however Ben and Jerry have been welcoming themselves to my house too often lately. It’s time I gain some will power, and cleanse my body of these cute little pints of ice cream.

I’m always out for an adventure when it comes to attempting to get healthier. Recently I finished the Isagenix 9 day cleanse. Although I felt great during this cleanse, I’m ready for something a bit more challenging (and cheaper). In an interest to cut down on obvious forms of white sugar and dairy from my diet, I’m going to embark on the “Master Cleanse.” This cleanse is also known as, “The Lemonade Diet”. There have been many reviews on this cleanse, and how it can help adopt a healthier way of eating by reducing cravings. Although I’m not a nutritionist, and find it hard to believe you get all the nutrients your body needs during this cleanse as the author states, there’s plenty of people who’ve tried it and lived to tell about it. I did it myself a few years ago, but only for 6 days.

This cleanse was invented by Stanley Burroughs in 1940 (book published in 1976), and can safely be done for up to 40 days and beyond according to the literature. For 10+ days you start the day off drinking a salt water flush. Make sure you drink it on an empty stomach, and drink it fast because it’s horrible! Then, drink 6-12 glasses of fresh “lemonade” throughout the day with additional water if desired. End the day with a cup of herbal laxative tea (such as Smooth Move by Traditional Medicinals). You may also drink an occasional cup of Peppermint Tea.

Salt Water Flush:

32 ounces warm filtered water
2 tsp un-iodized sea salt (never use normal table salt)

“Lemonade”:

1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce pure Grade B maple syrup (not the delicious sugar kind you smother pancakes in)
8 ounces warm filtered water
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper

Hopefully I’m not too ornery for anyone who has to deal with me over the next 10 days. Wish me luck, I’ll probably need it! And………… go!

Also read my follow up: Overview of my 10 Day Master Cleanse Experience: A Brief Overview of my Master Cleanse Experience

Follow up: Dehydrated Kale Chips Stinking Up My House

2011-04-13T00:54:00.003-07:00

After a few hours in the dehydrator, the kale chips were now ready to taste. My first thoughts were, “crunchy and weird.” Just like potato chips, I couldn’t just eat one. I didn’t love them, but was so intrigued by them at first that I ate at least 10 in a row. This morning however, I can barely smell them. I tasted a few more just to make sure I didn’t love them on day 2. Definitely interesting, but I can’t see myself craving these crunchy little chips, or making them again. They also do not pass the toddler test for anyone curious. I really want to like these chips, but it’s just not happening. I guess I’ll continue eating kale in the juiced form. I must admit, I’m half tempted to throw the chips in the Vitamix with a little water and drink them.

Check out my first blog post on kale chips: Dehydrated Kale Chips Stinking Up My House

Dehydrated Kale Chips Stinking Up My House

2011-04-12T15:51:00.003-07:00

My most recent purchase of kale came with a free slug. Disgusting! This little guy was actually pretty cute, but he freaked me out since I wasn’t expecting to see him while rinsing off my produce. At first I thought he was dead, but he was apparently just in a coma from being in the fridge. He soon started crawling all around and crapping all over the leaf. That particular leaf was thrown away, and the slug currently resides in the pile of dirt outside my window. I wonder how many slugs have met their demise in my Omega Juicer. I wonder how many I’ve drank? I guess I can think of a few worse things to ingest. At least he’s organic, right?

I bought this kale to make kale chips in my trusty Excalibur Dehydrator. Sounds delicious right? I guess we’ll find out in 12 hours or so when they’re done dehydrating. Right now my kitchen just smells like a big douche (since I seasoned my kale chips with apple cider vinegar). The pungent aroma of the dehydrating kale is killing my nostrils and eyes as I type. I’m becoming slightly nauseated at this awful scent. I shall soon find out if drinking this beautiful green leafy vegetable is the way to go, or if the chips are as addicting as some raw foodists state.

I love trying new "raw food” recipes and thought I’d try something different with the green leafys other than juicing them. Here’s how you make an easy variety of kale chips:

First remove all slugs from 2 bunches organic kale, rinse, cut out stems, and rip into medium sized pieces (the chips will shrink quite a bit when dehydrated).
Place leaves in a large bowl with lid.
Add 1 Tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil, 1 Tbsp organic apple cider vinegar and sea salt to taste (I like pink Himalayan salt).
Replace lid and shake well to thoroughly combine.
Next, place leaves on dehydrator sheets in one layer and dehydrate at 115 degrees for a few hours until crispy.
Enjoy…. Or at least I hope. I’ll find out in a few hours.

I usually fill the dehydrator full (all 9 trays) but I’ll hold off this time since I don’t want anything else to absorb this awful scent. They surely have to taste better than they smell. I can’t wait to taste these cute little green chips!

The No Shoe Rule. Because Wearing Shoes in the House is Downright Filthy!

2011-04-12T10:00:00.003-07:00

When it comes to trying to keep a clean house, I’m admittedly a bit compulsive. One of my major obsessions is making people remove their shoes before entering my home. This is a rule my parents always had when I grew up, to keep the carpets clean. Although it can be truly annoying at times, I feel better knowing the filth on the bottom of shoes is staying on the shoes. I also remove my shoes when entering someone else's home. I consider it a common courtesy.

If you stop and think about the places you go, you may also decide to adopt this rule in your home. Let’s see, today I worked a 12 hour shift at the hospital, used the public restroom a few dozen times, stopped at Walmart on my way home, then walked across the freshly fertilized (and probably pooped on by the neighbors dog) lawn to the mailbox. My shoes then came off in the garage and will stay there till my next outdoor adventure. I don’t even want to think about what crap (literally) and chemicals might be on the soles of my shoes.

As the dirt and grime builds up on our shoes, bacteria multiply rapidly. Then at home, we track the stuff across our floors and carpets. If you have kids this should be an even greater concern, since they play on the floor and everything kids touch eventually finds it’s way to their mouth. Carpet is gross enough on it’s own without shoes tracking filth across it. Just thinking about what might be lurking in my carpet that even the Dyson misses makes me sorta sick: sloughed off skin cells, hair, food, cat vomit residue. You get the picture. One day I will have my dream home without any carpet and antibacterial floors, but until then I’m sticking to the no shoe rule. If you don’t like it, don’t come to my house. =)

How To Help Your Child With Nighttime Coughing

2011-04-06T15:37:00.003-07:00

Every time my toddler goes to a public kid place, you can almost guarantee a bad cold a few days later. In addition to a horrible cough, congestion, fever, runny nose, sore throat and pure misery, she also comes down with a case of the Ornery McOrneryPants from lack of sleep. The daytime symptoms don’t seem to bother her too much, but at night she literally coughs non-stop. Cough medication is not recommended for children under 4-6 years old, and I generally try to refrain from giving my family medication if possible.

If you research nighttime cough remedies, you will likely find several sites telling you to apply Vick’s Vaporub to the soles of the feet. When I first read this, I thought it sounded absolutely ridiculous. When my child had her first bad cold and literally could not stop coughing, I decided to give it a try. Since I was constantly slathered from head to toe in Vick’s as a kid, and lived to tell about it, I figured a little on the feet would be ok. My poor little girl is miserable, and I must admit that her coughing is driving me nuts. So at 2 am, my toddler awakens to me rubbing Vicks Vaporub on the soles of her feet. I just knew it wasn’t going to help, but I figured at least her feet will smell minty fresh. Five minutes passed, then 8 minutes and I was mad at myself for waking my still coughing child for this stupid remedy. To my surprise, after 10 minutes or so, the coughing completely stopped, and she slept peacefully through the night. She’s been sick 3 times where I’ve tried this remedy, and it works every time. Amazing! You simply rub a pea sized amount into the soles of the feet, put socks on, and wait a few minutes for relief.

Lately I’ve become more cautious about the products my family uses. I found a product similar to Vick’s Vaporub called Congest Ease made by Morocco Naturals. I’m more comfortable with the ingredient list, and it’s not as greasy or strong smelling. My child is now recovering from her 4th cold and this time I tried the Congest Ease for her non-stop nighttime coughing. It worked just as well, if not better than the Vick’s. I applied it to the soles of her feet at 7pm and didn’t hear any coughing until 3am. I then applied it again, and she slept the rest of the night without coughing. I don’t think it’s a great idea to suppress a cough during the day, since it’s your body’s natural defense mechanism, but if it helps the family get some much needed rest at night, I’m all for it. Congest Ease is a great product! It’s a little more expensive than the alternative, but I’m happy knowing my coughing kids won’t be bathing in petroleum and unnecessary artificial fragrance/chemicals all night.

Ingredients in Congest Ease: palm butter, mango butter, shea butter, avocado butter, aloe butter, almond butter, eucalyptus, menthol, camphor, and tea tree essential oils.

Ingredients in Vick’s Vaporub: camphor, eucalyptus oil, menthol, cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, special petrolatum, thymol, and turpentine oil.

Turpentine, are you kidding me, that’s paint thinner? And petrolatum (otherwise known as petroleum jelly), a cheap, potentially toxic complex mixture of flammable hydrocarbons. I’m not comfortable slathering these chemicals on my child’s skin.

Finally! An Accurate and Consistent Digital Bathroom Scale

2011-04-06T13:38:00.003-07:00

I just purchased the EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale and am loving it! Our current scale had never really been a stellar piece of technology to begin with, but recently, it had become a total douche! Step onto it 5 times and I guarantee that you’ll get 5 different readings. Fortunately, with the EatSmart scale, I get an accurate and consistent reading every time.

I recently finished the Isagenix 30 Day Cleanse and realized that trying to track my weight had been a total nightmare with our old scale. That experience is what prompted me to finally break down, do the research, and find a replacement.

What I was looking for in a bathroom scale

Consistency: It must be consistent! This is even more important that accuracy to me. I could deal with it being a couple pounds off as long as I can accurately track weight loss/gain.
Accurate: I wanted it to be as accurate as possible for the price range.
Stylish: I wanted something that could be proudly displayed in the bathroom. Not something hideous that you feel the need to hide under the sink when you’ve got company!
Price: While I don’t mind paying for quality, I didn’t want this purchase to break the bank!
High Rating: I generally over-research my online purchases and use online reviews and rating heavily. The new scale had to have a stellar track record!

With those requirements in mind, I started looking at high end scales like the HealthOMeter 349KLX. While the scale met all my requirements, who has $150+ to spend on a bathroom scale? If you’ve got the cash to spend and wanted the best accuracy and consistency, then I believe the HealthOMeter is definitely your best choice. For the rest of us with slightly shallower pockets, you can definitely find a quality scale in the $30-50 range. After ruling out the high end scales, I quickly found the EatSmart scale, which seemed to be the be choice in the $25+ range.

Features

Step-On technology. No more tapping the scale to turn on. Step on and get an instant reading.
Large back-lit digital display
Precise and Accurate
Sturdy glass platform
Most stylish bathroom scale in my opinion
Company seems to care about customer satisfaction

Ultimately, I based my decision to purchase the EatSmart Scale on it's customer reviews. Very few people seemed to have reported issues with the EatSmart scale, and those few that did have problems were quickly contacted by the company. I definitely like proactive customer service!

The best part of the new scale is… If I drink a glass of water, my weight changes accordingly. Just like you’d expect. Assuming this doesn't change as time goes on, I love it. The price is affordable and is actually lower than my previous two inferior scales.

Make Your Own Organic Baby Food & Save Big

2011-04-02T14:32:00.003-07:00

Have you ever actually looked at the price of jarred baby food? Or do you just buy it because your baby needs to eat, and it’s available? Before I had kids I’d always heard about making your own baby food and thought I’d give it a try. I found a very informative book called Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron, and read it in it’s entirety. Depending on which expert you talk to, it’s recommended to start babies on solid food between 4-6 months of age. They generally eat pureed food for a few months, and gradually upgrade to thicker textures. At 76 cents per tiny little 4 ounce organic, mostly water filled jar, you will spend hundreds of dollars by the time your baby is ready for solid food.

Although making your own baby food is a little time consuming, it is relatively simple. Things you’ll need to get started: Quality produce (my kids favorites were butternut squash, apples, and sweet potato), a fruit/vegetable peeler, a sharp knife, food steamer, food processor or blender, large ice cube trays, Zip lock bags, and a few hours of your time. You can make enough baby food for several weeks in just an afternoon.

I’ll show you how to make butternut squash and apple sauce in a few easy steps.

First, wash produce thoroughly and peel off the skin.

Next, cut into large pieces, remove apple core and all seeds, and steam till soft.

Then, puree in a food processor or blender (either works well, but I’ve found the Vitamix blender gives a much smoother consistency) adding small amounts of water as needed.

Scoop puree into large ice cube trays, cover with tin foil or plastic wrap and freeze.

Pop the cubes out of the trays, and store in a Ziplock bag in the freezer until ready to use.

You can then heat up a cube or two at a time in the microwave as needed. Make sure to stir well and test before feeding your baby to make sure it’s not too hot.

Each cube is approximately 2 Tbsp (1 ounce). So, 4 cubes is the same quantity as a 4 ounce jar of store bought baby food. I spent $5.43 on 3 organic apples and a medium sized organic butternut squash, which made 48 cubes. This is equivalent to twelve 4 ounce organic jars, which would cost a total of $9.12. Let’s face it, kids are picky, and you will end up wasting a lot of food. I can’t stand wasting food (thanks dad), and I’m all for eating my kid’s leftovers, but not when there’s excessive drool or kid snot in it. There will obviously be times when jarred food is more convenient, but you’ll definitely save money making your own baby food. Plus, you’ll know exactly what your baby is eating. One of the best parts of making the cubes is you can heat up exactly what you need with minimal waste. If your baby is still hungry, simply defrost another cube. It’s fun to mix cubes for flavor variety to give your baby a new tasty experience. When your cute little baby grows into a picky, know it all toddler it’s also fun to hide little cubes of fruits/veggies in their food. My favorite is to throw a few butternut squash or sweet potato cubes into their beloved mac and cheese. It’s actually pretty good, and they have no idea they’re also getting a healthy dose of vitamin A!

Make sure before starting on your own baby food making adventure, you do a little research. Pick up this great book as your guide: Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. There are a few important things to know that she explains in great detail, such as: How to store certain foods, what baby foods you shouldn’t make at home (such as carrots), and at what age you can introduce certain foods. She explains how to make your baby fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, nut butters and many other items, with plenty of recipes. There’s also a great deal of non-food related helpful tips and ideas for babies and toddlers in this book.

Isagenix 30 Day Challenge Follow Up

2011-03-24T16:35:00.003-07:00

Also read about My First Week of the Isagenix 30 Day Challenge! and What the hell just happened? Day 7 Isagenix Challenge Breakdown.

On day 11 of my 30 day program I decided to start over with a 9 day cleanse instead. The 9 day is more intense than the 30 day, and I felt I would benefit from this more since I’m not trying to lose weight. I guess you could say my whole first week was my practice/warm up week, then I started over with the 9 day cleanse. I did this in hopes of greater results since the cleanse days wouldn’t be so far apart. Four of these nine days (the “cleanse” days) I wasn’t allowed any food (you can have a few Isagenix “snacks”, but I didn’t feel like I needed any). Except for the speck of parmesan cheese I accidentally ingested when I kissed my kid on the cheek, I had two 60 hour stretches with no food.

On the cleanse days I only felt slightly hungry on occasion. I never felt hungry enough to breakdown and eat, even while grocery shopping and feeding two hungry kids all day. I definitely wanted to eat, because I love food, not because I was truly hungry. If I started feeling hungry I just drank more water. I managed to drink between 4-5 liters of water daily. I also had the energy to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, even on cleanse days without food. I found myself cleaning the house more than usual on cleanse days. Maybe this was to keep myself entertained so I wouldn’t want food, but the house is now spotless.

I never did experience any extreme unpleasant side effects like I was hoping for when I started. Isagenix is considered “nutritional cleansing” which means it combines detoxing on a cellular level with nutritional replacement. You are definitely not starving yourself even without solid food. Nutritional cleansing removes toxins from the body in a safer and more gentle way. This means more mild side effects as compared to other dangerous cleansing products you may find. I do have freezing cold hands most the day. The cold hands seem worse within a few hours of using most Isagenix products. On cleanse days I feel slightly buzzed/drunk (which isn’t exactly unwelcome), and I’ve noticed a light film on my teeth during cleanse days, which may be simply from not using my teeth to eat. How do I know toxins and impurities are being removed? I don’t know this for a fact, but It definitely feels great to give the digestive system a rest on occasion since it’s always so hard at work.

Things I have learned while using Isagenix products:

Other than freezing cold hands most the day (and constant complaining about it) I feel fantastic. I’ve found it’s sorta fun to randomly touch my family with my freezing cold hands to piss them off, and give me a good laugh.
When I feel hungry I drink a large glass of water and wait at least a half hour before eating. This helps me determine if I am indeed hungry or just in a snacking mood.
I feel less inclined to randomly snack.
Shakes must be consumed in a timely manner (within 10-20 minutes) or will lose beneficial enzymes. Trust me, this is usually not a problem.
I will no longer take food for granted.
It’s helpful to pick up a few extra shifts at work to help pay for my new healthy habit.

I absolutely love the IsaLean Shakes, especially the creamy chocolate flavor. Since I’m not trying to lose weight on the cleanse, I’ve found a few delicious things to add to increase my calories in a healthy way. I like my shakes the consistency of cake batter, and truly crave them. It helps to have a high quality blender like the Vitamix, or items like flax seeds, nuts, coconut butter, and spinach will not blend smoothly. Here’s a few of my favorite things to add to the shake mix along with some crushed ice.

1/2 avocado
1/3 frozen banana plus 1 Tbsp flax seeds
1 Tbsp coconut butter
1 Tbsp Adam’s peanut butter
Small handful (about 10) of any raw nut (walnuts, almonds and cashews are my favorite)
1 Tbsp raw cacao nibs
And of course a large handful of spinach (although this doesn’t add many extra calories)

I love the Isagenix products and will continue to buy Cleanse for Life, Ionix Supreme, Want More Energy Drinks, and of course my beloved IsaLean Shake mix. Overall I feel great! I feel less ornery, with more energy, and better mental clarity. I have more patience with my kids and with daily life. Unfortunately, this plan did not make me more tolerant of my feline son who wakes me each morning at 4 am. I now wake up feeling less tired and achy than I used to. Before using Isagenix products I would just think about exercising daily. Now I finally have the energy, and want to exercise almost daily for at least 30 minutes. This could also be related to new exercise equipment and being able to catch up on my chick flicks. Either way, I’m now exercising more than ever and it feels great! My 2 1/2 year old also looks forward to doing Pilates with me on occasion. I even had to get her a mat of her own. It’s pretty cute! I’ll spare you all the before and after pics, but I’m definitely noticing positive changes in my body as well. I did manage to lose 5 pounds in the 9 days without even trying, or wanting too. But, you’re bound to loose weight with reduced calories, healthier food choices, daily exercise, and increased water intake. I’m sure the awesome Isagenix products played a role as well. My plan is to gain at least the 5 pounds back through exercise, in the form of muscle instead of fat.

Why I Drink My Veggies Follow Up

2011-03-23T15:39:00.003-07:00

I was asked a great question about Why I Drink My Veggies. By the time I got done writing a response, I realized it had turned into a post of its own. Her question and my response are below.

“My kids bought a juicer this last weekend and brought it over with a trunk load of veggies and fruit. They experimented with a couple of different recipes of veggie drinks and we all agreed that the one with the cubed pineapple had the best (less veggie) flavor. However, being of a different generation, I have always been told that the main nutrients we get from the fruits and veggies is in the skin so it kind of concerned me to see all of that go into the “pulp” pile. My daughter said they had recipes for making salsas and other things out of the pulp, but it makes me wonder about the nutritious value of drinking the juice as opposed to the real thing.

And, it seems to me like the cost for one glass of juice is pretty exorbitant.
Can you enlighten me on this?”

My husband and I did a lot of research before choosing the Omega Juicer. This is a brief rundown of what we found: There are two types of juicers, centrifugal and masticating (Omega Juicer). Centrifugal works at high speeds thus producing heat that may damage valuable nutrients. Masticating works at low speeds and doesn’t get hot, thus retaining more nutrients in the juice. Masticating juicers also tend to leave dryer pulp which means you get more juice for your money. Both types remove the fibrous portion of fruits and vegetables, and extract the juice.

It’s true you must eat the entire fruit/vegetable to obtain the nutrients in their entirety. But, I’m content knowing I’m for sure getting my 5-9 recommended daily servings of fruits/veggies by juicing. Although I’m sure there are some lost nutrients in the discarded pulp (from peel and seeds), I’m happy not having to digest all that fiber. I’m more apt to juice my veggies than my fruits. I enjoy the taste of fruit and thus can eat the entire thing without a problem. Veggies on the other hand taste great in their whole form as well, but I’m less likely to eat a ton. You will never see me eating raw collard greens or an entire cucumber, but I enjoy the benefit of drinking them. So as far as nutritional value, I’m getting a lot more nutrition by drinking a few pounds of vegetables daily then by eating only a few bites. Most people don’t spend the time to adequately chew their food, so 100% of the nutrients aren’t absorbed anyway even if the food is eaten in it’s whole form.

Juicing also makes the nutrients more digestible by the body, because the fiber has been removed. You can consume a wider variety of fruits and vegetables with a lot less effort by juicing. It’s important to know the fresh juice must be consumed immediately for maximum benefit. The nutritional value decreases by the minute.

You are definitely right about the expense. Fresh produce is far from cheap, especially organic. I generally try to buy organic if I would eat the peel (apples, pears, tomatoes, grapes, leafy greens, etc). I’m ok with non organic if I’m not going to consume the peel (bananas, avocados, carrots, etc). Many items are also not readily available organic. Either way, I try not to be too big of a spaz about it, and enjoy what I can get. You can stretch your dollar by using the discarded peel/pulp for other things. The pulp is a great addition to your compost heap. I’ve also used apple and carrot pulp mostly for raw dehydrator cookies/granola bars, but that’s another blog post for another time . =)

I’m sure the pineapple makes it much more palatable as do all fruits. I try not to do many fruits because it can quickly add too many sugars/carbs. Let’s be honest, the veggie juice really doesn’t taste that great to begin with. I don’t want to waste the fruit trying to make it more appetizing. I’d rather juice them separate and have one great tasting drink (fruit) and one less than pleasant drink (veggies). Pineapple contains a protein digesting enzyme called bromelain. Keep in mind your dark leafy greens are loaded with protein. This means when you combine the two you must drink them in a timely manner, or the pineapple will literally digest the protein in your greens.

For more information you can check out the following books, which give in depth explanations on why juicing leafy greens is so awesome!! Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko and Juice Feaster’s Handbook by Angela Stokes. I’ve read both of these books in their entirety. There’s also a few excellent resources I’ve found for nutrition facts, fruit nutrition database and vegetable nutrition database.

Bubble and Bee - Amazing Organic Personal Care Products

2011-03-22T15:00:00.003-07:00

Most people never stop to think about all the different personal care products they use, or are exposed to daily (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, bar soap, deodorant, body lotion, hand lotion, shaving cream, face moisturizer, lip balm, makeup, sunblock, bug spray, personal lubricant, and toothpaste to name a few). Most traditional brands contain several highly toxic and cancer causing chemicals. If you read the container of some of your favorite personal products, you most likely won’t be able to pronounce several of the ingredients. You can check out just how harmful your daily products are on Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database or Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, and you may think twice about your current choices.

An important thing to keep in mind is that companies don’t legally have to list all the ingredients they use. Even words you can pronounce like “fragrance” can be toxic. This used to be disturbing to me. That is, until I ran across a product called Pit Putty made by a local company named Bubble and Bee. I’d been looking for a new safer deodorant and thought it sounded interesting. Plus, the packaging was so cute I couldn’t resist. Now I’m convinced I’ll never use another deodorant. Even products claiming to be organic can be misleading, as Bubble and Bee points out in their blog post How to Tell if a Product is Really Organic.

Recently I’ve become a bit neurotic about the products I put on my body. I now choose products without toxins or chemicals in them. When I checked out the Bubble and Bee website, I was pleasantly surprised to find out this company had several other personal care products. They are also in the process of making many more. This is very exciting for me, since I’ve used most their products and love every one of them. Now I just have to be patient and wait for more. I now buy almost exclusively from Bubble and Bee. The only products I don’t buy from them are the ones they don’t make yet (such as makeup, toothpaste and cream hair conditioner). The store is located in Bountiful Utah and the website is very user friendly. They also have outstanding customer service. Let Stephanie Greenwood (owner of Bubble and Bee) do the research for you, and trust you are using the best organic and chemical free products on your skin. Stephanie also has a very informative website that helps you Get the real scoop about chemicals that are hiding in your favorite products.

Helpful tips for some of Bubble and Bee products:

I like to rub a little of the face cream under my arms before applying the Pit Putty, then rub the Pit Putty in well. This helps prevent white powder from flaking off or getting on your clothes.
Spritz your face and body with a little water before applying face cream or body butters. Make sure not to introduce water into the jars.
Use the foamer pumps (also sold from Bubble and Bee) for shower gels and shampoo. You can also use shower gels to make hand soap. The pumps let you get more use out of the products.
Make sure you buy every delicious item in every scent, so you can change up your routine daily. This will also help you share your products, and never run out.

Pros of using Bubble and Bee products:

USDA certified organic (which means no chemicals/toxins/carcinogens)
Ingredient lists that are short and sweet and I can pronounce every word
So safe you could eat them and I promise you will want to
Cute and funny packaging
Products smell great and are fun to use
A little goes a long way
I feel safe using these products on my kids

Cons of using Bubble and Bee products:

NONE!

Why I Drink My Veggies

2011-03-20T14:58:00.003-07:00

Ever try to consume a huge bunch of red chard, a cucumber, 10 stalks of celery, a red pepper, and an apple in one sitting? That is exactly what I had for lunch. I just put all the ingredients through my Omega Juicer and drank a plethora of amazing fresh nutrients. It made two large glasses of liquid goodness, so I shared it with my husband to offset his diet Pepsi addiction. I drink 1 large glass (16 oz) of fresh veggie juice almost daily. Occasionally I’ll add an apple or pear just for a little sweetener. I also try to buy mostly organic produce, especially leafy greens and items that aren’t easily pealed. I try not to be too neurotic about it. If organic is not available or is going to break the bank, I’m fine with conventionally grown.

Hard to eat veggies before…

Easy to drink veggies after!

There are many nutritional benefits gained from drinking fresh fruits and veggies. There is an abundant amount of protein in dark green leafy vegetables (kale, chard, collards, spinach, wheat grass, etc). Many enzymes (the living part of food), vitamins and minerals become damaged when food is cooked or processed. The best part is the nutrients are still alive and usable when consumed fresh. You may not crave the taste but your body will crave the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and energy. Drinking your veggies makes them more easily digestible, since the fiber is removed during juicing. You are able to obtain all the nourishment of the whole fruit/vegetable in its condensed form.

Dark leafy vegetables tend to be an acquired taste. You could always start out with lettuce if you’re a total wimp, or not quite ready for the stronger taste of dark leafy greens. Although fresh veggie juice tastes great to me, I can’t fool my kids with this type of drink. Kids tend to only eat stuff that tastes great and I’ve found that collard greens aren’t generally at the top of that list. I have found however, that I can hide a nice handful of spinach in their fresh fruit smoothie. They have no idea they are drinking spinach, except their shake is green. Making a veggie drink for myself is also a great opportunity to chop up all kinds of veggies for my kids. They are bound to eat a few, especially with some type of healthy “dippit” such as hummus.

If you’re looking for an amazing kitchen appliance, the Omega Juicer should be at the top of the list. Many juicers can’t handle leafy vegetables or wheat grass. This juicer is perfect for all fruits and vegetables including all leafy greens. I don’t recommend juicing spinach. Not because the Omega Juicer can’t handle the spinach, but because you can’t squeeze much juice from a spinach leaf. However, this is a great leafy vegetable to throw a handful of in the blender with fruit. I use the Vitamix blender because most traditional blenders will not blend as smooth and definitely can’t handle leafy greens. The Omega Juicer is omega quiet, fast, efficient, and is a cinch to assemble and clean. It doesn’t get hot like some lower quality juicers, thus does not destroy valuable nutrients. This juicer can also be used for making nut butter/baby food/frozen desserts, grinding coffee beans or flour, mincing/chopping/grinding, and extruding pasta. I have used mine almost daily for the past 2 years, but have yet to use it for anything other than juicing. It has a permanent home on my counter.

Be sure to check out my Follow Up To Why I Drink My Veggies.

Even cats like the Omega Juicer

Celery fears the Omega Juicer

Omega Juicer doing its thing

Pulp on the left, juice on the right

Kid Approved Blueberry Banana Pancake Recipe

2011-03-16T04:51:00.003-07:00

My kids absolutely love these pancakes and they have no idea what’s hidden inside.

1/2 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/2 Cups unsweetened soymilk (I like Silk brand).
- Add more if batter seems too thick.
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon Agave
2 eggs or egg replacement (I like Bob’s Red Mill Egg Replacer)
2 medium sized ripe bananas
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup almond flour (grind whole raw almonds in coffee grinder)
1/4 cup ground flax seed (grind whole raw flax seeds in coffee grinder)
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 cup fresh blueberries
Non stick cooking spray
Pure Grade B Maple Syrup to taste (I like Pure maple syrup because it tastes great without any added corn syrup, sugar, or artificial anything)

Mix first 6 ingredients in high speed blender until smooth (if using egg replacer just add the water to the blender. Make sure to sift the powdered egg replacer in with dry ingredients or it will be lumpy). Slowly combine blender ingredients with dry ingredients in a large bowl, then stir in blueberries and cook on stove top on low to med heat. A 1/3 measuring cup works well for kid sized pancakes. Because of the whole wheat flour, it helps to cook these on a lower heat, and cook longer then you would for traditional pancakes (otherwise they may not cook all the way through). This batter also works well in a waffle maker. Make sure to use nonstick spray. These pancakes freeze well in a large Ziplock bag and heat up nicely in the microwave on a paper towel to absorb moisture. Waffles heat nicely in a toaster. My kids go through these pancakes so fast I generally make 2 batches and freeze them. I have found if you let them cool for a few hours in the fridge before freezing, they break apart nicely if they happen to stick together. It’s fun to let your kids dip bites in a small cup of the syrup.

What the Hell Just Happened? Day 7 Isagenix Challenge Breakdown!

2011-03-11T11:15:00.003-08:00

Also read about My first week of the Isagenix 30 day challenge! and my Isagenix 30 Day Challenge Follow Up.

Wow, just wow. I failed miserably today. I decided to have just one cute little chocolate chip cookie for my first “snack”. It was only 60 calories. Then the unthinkable happened, I had another, and another, and another... Before I knew it, I’d eaten about 10 of these delicious little cookies. By this time I figured I’d ruined the entire day so I followed it up with a man sized bowl of cereal, and 1/2 a Café Rio salad by the day’s end. What else was I supposed to do? I’m only human. Of course I slacked on exercising today as well. Why bother? I also didn’t have my second IsaLean shake of the day. I didn’t deserve it. What a loser!!!

I have already dropped a few pounds in the first week. Since I’m not doing this program to lose weight, my pig out day was justified? Right? I’ll keep telling myself that. Thankfully, my built up cravings for the past week have now been taken care of. I’m now ready to finish the next 23 days of the Isagenix challenge as planned. From now on, when I get an unhealthy craving I will drink 2 large glasses of water and reevaluate.

I think I was just a little frustrated nothing cool had happened to me yet. No “detox” symptoms except the one niacin flush incident, and freezing extremities beyond my normal. I want something annoying and unpleasant to happen (like a splitting headache, horrific body odor, hacking cough, aches, pains, clogged sinuses, convulsions, liver failure or death). Something. Anything, just so I know it’s not a waste of cash. Ok, so I really don’t wish for the last 3, but the other items in the list would be welcome. I plan to do 2 cleanse days in a row next time to see if any unpleasant detox symptoms happen. So far, I do feel less irritable and weighed down. I also have an increase in energy. Is this from the products themselves, a decrease in overall calories, or an increase in exercise? The most likely answer is all three. Either way it feels great to feel a little healthier overall.

Working Out With The Motorola S305 Bluetooth Headset Review

2011-03-11T11:10:00.003-08:00

Now that I’m done sharing my body with tiny little humans, I’ve decided its time to get back into shape. I’ve busted out my old pilates videos and wiped down the dusty treadmill. We’ve also setup a computer near the treadmill so that I can watch Netflix or listen to some tunes while I workout. In an effort to limit the noise pollution coming from the basement, my husband bought me a Motorola S305 Bluetooth Stereos Headset. As an added benefit, I don’t have to worry about tripping on the cord which is attached to his precious computer equipment.

My old ear buds sounded great, but having to worry about snagging the cord on something and ripping them out of my ears was a total pain. With a wireless headset I don’t have to worry about that pesky cord and can bring my tunes with me wherever I go throughout the day (I can make it about 40-50 feet through the house without losing the connection.)

The Motorola S305 is very light weight, which makes them pleasant to wear for long durations. They are comfortable and plenty loud. More importantly, I have had no issues with connectivity or performance with them so far. They’ve been very easy for me to figure out.

This headset has also replaced my iPod Nano/armband combo that I have been using for working out for the past few years. I purchased an iPhone about a year ago and have never use it for working out for fear of damaging it. Now I can keep my iPhone in a safe place while working without cords or armbands getting in the way or restricting my range of motion. It’s also a great way to stream music from my iPhone while I workout instead of just playing MP3s.

I am definitely not an audiophile, but the sound on these headphones is more than adequate. They are plenty loud and don’t sound flat at all. The bass and treble are adequate and sound great even during vigorous workouts. Having built-in controls on the headset to interact with your music player is a great bonus. It’s nice to be able to adjust volume, play/pause and skip forward and back without having to interact directly with the actual player (assuming your player supports it.)

The only negative impression I had at first was how they almost felt flimsy/cheap right out of the box. I was really worried to shove them into my backpack with the rest of my stuff and was extra careful while pulling them out for a while. After getting used to them, I have realized that they aren’t quite as fragile as they seem and it hasn’t been an issue at all. If anything, the flexible design and low weight makes them incredibly comfortable. I also dig how the band goes behind my head instead of on top of it. Nothing like getting a nice crease down the center of your hair after listening to music for a while.

Another small issue is that I’ve only been able to get 5-7 hours of use out of a full charge. It’s not really a huge issue because you can plug them in while still using them incase they run out and you’re not quite done with them.

P.S. If you don’t have a Bluetooth enabled computer or device, you can use a USB adapter (IOGear USB 2.1 Bluetooth Micro Adapter) to connect the headphones to your computer. Great for streaming MP3s, Netflix audio, Slacker, Pandora or GrooveShark straight to the headset.

Pro’s

Light weight and comfortable
Built-In volume, play/pause, forward/back controls
Plenty loud
Sound quality
Adequate treble and bass
Low price
Good range
Works with iPhone/iPod
Includes a microphone for taking calls

Con’s

Feel a bit cheap at first
Less than 7 hours on a full charge
Worried about their durability if I continue to use them for workouts.

Other Items Considered

Why Organic Soap Nuts Replaced My Laundry Detergent

2011-03-10T12:08:00.003-08:00

Finally my chemical laden laundry detergent is gone. I’ve been waiting for this day for months. I’ve been tempted to just throw out the old laundry soap, but I have a hard time wasting bad thing’s I’ve paid good money for. The chemical laden stuff hasn’t killed us yet, so I decided to finish it before starting with the Soap Nuts. Now I plan to use Soap Nuts indefinitely to clean our clothes and house. Yes that’s right, I said Soap Nuts. I bought a sample of these awesome little dried berries several months ago and was amazed by them. I recently purchased a 4 pound bag for $50. I’m fairly confident this bag will outlast me. Just 5 of these cute little organic berries cleans 4-7 regular sized loads of laundry. That’s a pretty awesome savings when a large jug/box of regular laundry detergent (Tide) costs $23, and lasts my family of four about 6 weeks. I’ve always heard money doesn’t grow on trees, but I’m going to save $millions$ with these little berries. What will I do with all my extra cash? Maybe buy some cute clothes, just so I can wash them with my new beloved nuts. This is my huge 4 pound bag which came complete with 4 muslin bags. I have separated a 1/2 pound from the 4 pound bag (nicely fills a quart sized Mason jar). Now I can easily see how long they will last, and just how much saved cash I’ll be able to spend on other things.

My 4 pound bag of Soap Nuts

5 Soap Nuts clean 4-7 loads of laundry

1/2 pound of Soap Nuts

I’m on a mission to find safer alternatives for cleaning/personal products for my family. Laundry soap is only one of my many changes. Sure, traditional laundry soap cleans my clothes and makes them smell good, but most are way too strong smelling to me. It actually is possible to be clean and not smell like you’ve just bathed in a bottle of perfume. Not to mention, most traditional laundry soaps contain several highly toxic chemicals. Soap nuts contain zero chemicals, just awesome cleaning power. Let me check, bathe my family in chemicals that can potentially mess with hormones, reproduction, and cause dry skin/cancer/asthma/allergies just to name a few. Um, no thanks. That doesn’t exactly sound pleasant. It’s important to remember our skin is the largest organ of the body, and is permeable to all chemicals. With repeated exposure, these harmful chemicals are able to build up in the bloodstream and cause illness. Most traditional laundry soaps are also harmful to the environment, and contain many ingredients that are not easily biodegradable.

Money really does grow on trees. Soap Nuts, also known as Soap Berries are produced from the Sapindus saponaria tree (Soapberry tree). They are actually the dried fruit from the tree. When the Soap Nuts become wet they releases saponin, a natural cleaner. They are extremely easy to use in the wash. Just place 5 nuts (or equivalent pieces) in muslin bag, tie closed, and toss it in the wash. Remove the bag before drying clothes and use for up to 7 washes. No mess, no measuring, no need for fabric softener, and best of all no hazardous chemicals. Your clothes will be truly clean, soft and fresh smelling. When your Soap Nuts are spent (when they no longer produce soap when rubbing them together, and turn soft tan/gray in color) just toss them in your compost pile. They are 100% biodegradable of course, therefore your local landfill will thank you.

Some important things to know:

Make sure you are buying seedless Soap Nuts. Seeds may stain clothing.
Leave plenty of room for agitation of clothes. I do mostly medium sized loads.
Don’t be fooled by low suds. The amount of suds is not necessarily an indication of cleaning power. We’ve just been falsely trained to think this.
Allow the Soap Nuts to dry between uses, unless you’re washing one load after another to prevent rotting (I just open the bag and dump them out on a paper towel in a well ventilated area to dry).
Keep unused nuts in a cool, dry place and they will last indefinitely.
As with any laundry soap I recommend pretreating stains.

I have yet to use them for anything but laundry, but I’m planning to expand my horizons very soon. Soap Nuts can be ground into powder for scrubbing needs. They can also be boiled and cooled to make a liquid cleaner. Other uses for Soap Nuts I’m excited to try are:

Washing fruits/vegetables
Car washing
Shampoo/body/hand wash (for people and pets)
Dish washing
All purpose household cleaning (windows, kitchen, bathroom)
Jewelry cleaner
Plant spray to deter pests in the garden
Insect repellent

I feel safe using Soap Nuts around my kids and pets. They are also husband approved, and by that I mean he can’t tell a difference with the feel or look of his laundry. Not that most guys would notice anyway right? I’m confident however he will notice a fatter wallet.

I like the NaturOli brand of Soap Nuts. They had great reviews and sell USDA certified organic Soap Nuts. These were delivered whole and beautiful in color (although pieces work fine too, I just like the whole nuts for ease). I’ve seen some other brands during my research that I’d be less likely to purchase. Many had seeds, and were very dark in color or sticky looking. If you’re still a little skeptical, try out a 1 pound bag or you can save lots of cash and go all out with the 4 pound bag. Happy cleaning!

My First Week of the Isagenix 30 Day Challenge!

2011-03-08T16:16:00.003-08:00

Preparing food ALL day is not an easy task when you’re not allowed to eat much of it. I’m generally what I would consider a healthy eater. However, just like most Americans, I love food and find myself grazing more often than necessary throughout the day. With two small children who are constantly hungry, I am always in the kitchen. I can’t stand wasting food, therefore, my meals usually consist of eating my kid’s leftovers. Sounds delicious right?

I was recently introduced to the Isagenix IsaLean shakes from a friend. I generally drink at least one a day for the past 4 months, and they are a fantastic meal replacement. I’ve been wanting to try some cleanses, but since I’ve been pregnant or nursing the past 4 years, I didn’t think it was the best idea. Now that I’m no longer sharing my body with another human being, I’ve decided to embark on the Isagenix 30 day plan. I don’t wish to lose weight with this plan, but hope to gain more energy and mental clarity, reduce cravings for unhealthy food, cleanse, and just plain feel better. I’m tired of waking up feeling sluggish and exhausted after a decent night’s sleep. Because I do not wish to lose weight, I’m allowing myself a few extra healthy calories throughout the day. I also plan to exercise most days for at least 30 minutes, and drink at least 4-5 liters of water/fresh vegetable juices daily.

I just completed day 5 of the 30 day plan. So far I have not given into any unhealthy cravings. I have worked out for 4 of the 5 days, and kept my water/fresh vegetable juice intake goal of 4-5 liters per day. I’d like to give a special thanks to the overflowing bucket of willpower that I had to purchase separately with this plan. I should also thank my wonderful husband for his never ending support, and willingness to eat my favorite foods in another room.

The 30 day Isagenix plan is relatively simple to follow. There are 4 “cleanse” days and 26 “shake” days. See below for a brief description of what each component claims to offer.

IsaLean shakes: Balanced meal replacement that helps burn fat and reduce cravings
Natural Accelerator capsules: Helps with fat loss and appetite suppression
Isaflush capsules: Helps with digestion and bowel regularity
Ionix Supreme: Rejuvenates, increases energy and reduces stress
Cleanse for life: Eliminate toxins while delivering nutrients to the body

Side effects I have experienced so far:

I feel very cold most the day. Especially my hands and feet which are absolutely freezing. I am generally a bit on the cold side anyway, but for the past 5 days it’s been bad enough to complain about it several times daily. From the research I have done, this seems to be a relatively common complaint while cleansing.
Strange almost metallic taste in my mouth that makes food taste “less than good.” Luckily this was only bad for the first few days and is slowly tapering off. I have been unable to find any information about this symptom in relation to Isagenix products. Perhaps this is intentional on their part to help with appetite suppression?
Niacin flush episode on day 5. I took the Natural Accelerator capsule (which contains niacin) first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with 16 ounces of water. (I usually drink 16 ounces water, then take the Ionix Supreme, followed by the Natural Accelerator 15 min later). My niacin flush symptoms started within a few minutes of taking the Natural Accelerator and included: lightheadedness, sore throat, warm and tingly flushed face, throat tightness and nausea. All symptoms were relatively mild and subsided within 15 minutes, except the flushed face, which lasted about an hour. From the research I have done, the niacin flush seems pretty common and is supposedly a “good” sign of cleansing. I have read of a few instances where the symptoms were not exactly mild and resulted in an anaphylactic type reaction. That seems a bit scary to me since anaphylaxis often results in death. I’m planning on taking this capsule on an empty stomach again tomorrow to see if its the cause of the niacin flush symptoms. I will make sure to keep my personal ambulance nearby in case of a worse reaction.

So far, I’m still somewhat skeptical of the whole thing, but since I’ve all but refinanced my home in order to pay for the 30 day plan (suggested retail $382), I am determined to finish. Overall, I feel great this week. Is this due to the decrease in calories and exercise, or the Isagenix products, or both? It’s obvious if you deprive yourself of calories, drink tons of water and exercise at least 20 minutes daily, you are going to lose weight and feel better. Whether I need special products for this or just more will power is the question. I’m excited to see how I feel overall after the next 24 days. Regardless, I love the IsaLean shakes and will continue to buy this great product for daily meal replacements. I should also mention these shakes are kid approved when it comes to taste. That’s saying a lot for my two picky toddlers.

By the way, if you’re not quite ready for the 30 day plan, you could take a look at the 9 day program. Or if you’re just looking for a great meal replacement, I highly recommend the Isagenix IsaLean shakes.

Also read about What the hell just happened? Day 7 Isagenix Challenge Breakdown or my Isagenix 30 Day Challenge Follow Up.