Natural Toothpaste

I have recently become a huge fan of natural toothpastes. Several months ago, I bought one for my son. Besides being healthier, I liked that it has a big cap that is stuck to the tube. That means it will not disappear or fall down the drain and clog up the sink, which he has managed to do before. A few days ago, a report came out about regular toothpastes that has convinced me that my daughter and I need to be using natural toothpastes too.  I've tried his and it tastes great. 

Check this out:
Polyethylene in Crest

I also found this:
Best Selling Toothpaste Contains Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical

Essential Oils for Pregnancy

Essential oils can be a wonderful tool to use during pregnancy.  I have been asked by several different women what oils I would recommend. Sadly, this is not a topic I can share my personal experiences with. It has only been a year and a half since I first started using essential oils and my baby is 6 1/2 years old.  Picking an oil or several oils really depends on the exact issue someone wants to address.

Here is a quick breakdown of these oils:

1. Geranium - This is a powerful floral oil. It supports several systems in the body including the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and kidneys. It has been known to help with emotions, hormones, and oil on skin and hair.

2. Ylang Ylang (I love the way this one smells) - It is commonly used as an aid with hormones, libido, mental fatigue, anxiety, frustration, stress, stomach issues, oily skin, and emotional balance.

3. Lavender - The top uses for this oil are sleep issues, stress, anxiety, teeth grinding, focus, concentration, pains, headaches, and emotional balance. It also promotes skin healing.

4. Grapefruit - This oil is cold pressed from the rind of grapefruits. It is often used to aid with weight loss and cellulite, sugar cravings, oily skin and acne, detoxification, lymphatic and kidney systems, breast and uterine health, hormones, gallbladder support, and emotional well being.

 5. Roman Chamomile - This oil is steam distilled from flowers. It has been known to assist with stress and shock, dry skin and sore nipples, sleeplessness, cramps, anger and irritability, and emotional balance.    

While I have no intention of getting pregnant again (I'm 41 years old), I wish I had been using essential oils back when I was pregnant.  I can see that Ginger (aids with nausea), Peppermint (relieves digestive upset) and wild orange (energizes and lifts mood) could be on the top of the list too. Here is a picture of me when I was pregnant:

I still remember being horribly uncomfortable and exhausted. I made a decision to avoid caffeine, soda, and pain killers, which means I would have LOVED using essential oils for little pick-me-ups. Oh well, live & learn, right?

Hidden Freckles

It is no secret that I have freckles. In fact, there are many people at my family reunions with freckles. I have gotten use to them over the years and have even grown to appreciate them. I realize, however, that it is a visual sign of sun damage. The video above shows that people often have sun damage that they aren't even aware of. Sun block is great for preventing future damage, but what about what has already occurred? I'm sure it is no surprise to anyone who is learning about oils, that there are oils to support healthy skin! Here are the a few of main oils that seem to make a difference for me:

Geranium
Lavender
Frankincense

A Steaming Mug for Sinus Relief

Many of us like to try different things when we are stuffed up. I sometimes drink hot
lemon water. Another thing I like to do is get a mug of water with boiling water and add 1 to 2
drops of these oils:
Oregano
Lemon
Melaleuca
Peppermint
I put my face over steaming mug and breathe the vapors in deeply. It is nice to have a little support when you are miserable.

Homemade Hummus

I lived in the Middle East for a while and learned to love the food.  One of my favorite things to eat is hummus.  I am happy to see it is gaining more and more popularity here in the US.  When I saw this clip, I knew I had to share it.