Happy Birthday, Kathy!

Today is your day!

Happy birthday, Kathy! I hope you're having a wonderful day and a wonderful week.

3 years, 18 months and counting!

In relation to Rachel's post on Monday, (and to toot our own horn ;) ) as of yesterday Isabelle and I have been nursing for 3 full years! Beautiful Blissful Birthday, Belle! <3 And in 2 more days, it'll be 18 months of nursing for Sebastian =)

I have loved (almost!) every moment of our nursing relationship and I look forward to many more years with each of them. Tandem nursing, especially, has been one of my most enjoyable nursing experiences. I love how they look into each others eyes, hold each others hands, and, yes, bicker over whose side is whose or straying hands! :P Every moment is unique and absolutely adorable. As for the "almost" above, I'm still not a big fan of the night wakings, hehe ;) Both Belle and Sebastian get up on average once a night still for a few moments. :)

Gynosaur.com has some cute little breastfeeding achievement buttons you can display on your blog, in a forum signature, etc. I use them and think they're super cute :)

Older SIGG Bottles Contain BPA

Reusable aluminum bottles are an eco-friendly alternative to wasteful plastic water bottles. My children had some from SIGG and loved them! They claimed to be not only eco-friendly, but healthier as well, assuring everyone that there was no BPA (Bisphenol A) found in their bottles, as there is in plastic.

So I was so very disappointed to hear that if you purchased a SIGG water bottle before August 2008 (we did), the liner in that bottle may actually contain BPA after all...

SIGG has posted an image and description of the new vs. old liners. If your liner looks like the OLD version, you can contact SIGG to have it replaced with a NEW version.

New SIGG EcoCare Liner

* Dull pale yellow coating

*Special powder-based co-polyester liner certified to be 100% BPA and Phthalate Free

*Utilized in the manufacturing of SIGG bottles since August 2008

Former SIGG Liner

* Shiny copper bronze finish

*Proprietary water-based epoxy liner thoroughly tested and showed absolutely no leaching of BPA

*Found in SIGG bottles manufactured prior to August 2008

While many people are outraged over the perceived misleadings, SIGG has posted a letter from their CEO to try and explain just what they were thinking: http://www.mysigg.com/bulletin/

In the meantime, you can find some wonderful BPA FREE bottles over at Nubius Organics, such as Kleen Kanteen, EcoUsable, EarthLust, Crocodile Creek and more. (I think I might just have to get one of those gorgeous EarhtLust bottles, myself!)

Super Summer Savings Sale!

Super Summer Savings Sale going on NOW at http://www.crunchybunch.com!

Find babywearing, organic children's clothing and more at awesome prices!

Plus ~ save 20% on ALL EclipseSpa products! Check it out =D ♥ ♥ ♥

Join the EclipseSpa Team!

Join EclipseSpa as an Independent Spa at Home Tonight Consultant

Are you looking for a great part-time job to make extra money? EclipseSpa wants to empower 25 women with a wonderful opportunity to make extra money and have fun selling organic bath & body products for women and men to create the spa experience at home.

Email Katherine Clay for more information and to get started today!

Why EclipseSpa?

EclipseSpa creates organic and natural bath and body products that people can use to relax & rejuvenate right at home. Our products will remove the days effects and re-introduce you to the body you live in....connect with it, feel it, reward it.

We use only the best ingredients science has to offer to soothe and protect your skin, leaving it velvety soft after you bathe or shower. Our natural fragrances have the power to transform your emotions, and heal your body.

EclipseSpa is committed to sustainable practices and providing the best ever natural and organic bath & body products for you to turn your bath into an organic spa experience. Plus, we hand-pour all of our 100% soy wax candles in house using only the freshest and purest essential oils for eco-friendly light and comfort.

Our Business Opportunity Offers:

* No quotas
* No Inventory to stock. We'll ship every order to you to distribute to your customer or we can ship directly to your customer
* Create your own demo kit by purchasing products on sale along with your personal discount
* OR purchase a "Sample Kit" that contains 5 retail size products of your choice to use for demo's.
* Share our Spa at Home Tonight story
* Receive a 25% personal discount on all our products
* Receive referral rewards for any new consultant you refer and has 2 months worth of commissionable income
* Work one-on-one with customers or have "Spa at Home Tonight" parties
* You'll have your own consultant link to enter orders into our system
* Get paid immediately through your own PayPal account or we'll mail your commission check to you.
* Earn a 30% commission on your orders. Reach $2500 in orders and you'll start earning 35% commissions


You can decide how you want to work:

* Spa at Home Tonight Parties with a Hostess Rewards Program
* One on One: Present the products to individual prospects at any time,any place
* Online: Bring your customers directly to you. Work your business from home
* Online Parties: Host an online party.

Email Katherine Clay for more information and to get started today!

Changing Blog Look ~ Comments welcome!

Hi everyone! I think that our blog could use a little makeover ~ make it cleaner, easier to read and navigate. As you've probably noticed, I've made a few changes already and I'll be making several more over the next few days. What I'd like to know from you is:

** What features of our blog look do you like and which would you like to see improvement on?

Any and all comments about our blog look are most welcome :)


Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it!

The Healing Benefits of Coconut Oil

Ok, it's no secret ~ I *love* coconut oil! It has *so* many uses, and the really good raw stuff, is really good for you! I use it for so many things ~ a butter replacement on my children's popcorn, a skin moisturizer (I have eczema that flares up now and then), in my hair, on owies, you name it!

I came across this article I wish to share with you that explains some of the benefits of coconut oil. Yes, I know it's from a company (Vivapura) that carries a coconut oil product for sale, however, I have found it to be very accurate. As always, of course ~ do your own research and don't take my word for it ;) Of course, I personally stand behind this company 100% ~ they're a fantastic example of ethics, purity, and really tasty foods! I picked up some of their dried jackfruit once and *oh*my*yummers* =D If you get a chance, do check it out!

Coconut Oil Health Benefits

The Healing Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been used as cooking oil for thousands of years.

Popular cookbooks advertised it at the end of the 19th century. Then came the anti-saturated fat campaign and the promotion of polyunsaturated fats, such as flaxseed, canola, soybean, safflower, corn, and other seed and nut oils plus their partially hydrogenated counterparts (margarine, "I can't believe it's not butter", etc.) as the way to go.



Indeed, saturated fats have been supposedly causally linked to high cholesterol and heart disease, multiple sclerosis and other bad health conditions. I don't know how anyone came to this conclusion, since it would be hard to find a person in America who has a high saturated fat diet. Why? Because nearly all commercial foods, including bread, crackers, chips, dips, many candies, zero cholesterol coffee creamers, all mayonnaise and all salad dressings, many pastries and ice creams, most dietetic (for weight loss or diabetes) "foods", many cereals, and nearly all crunchy snacks contain either polyunsaturated or partially hydrogenated fats (which contain some margarine and some of the unsaturated fat mixed together).



These foods are often advertised as healthy "all vegetarian," "no-cholesterol" foods. Even the so-called saturated fat in commercial meat is partly unsaturated because most cows are fed corn and soybeans, both of which contain unsaturated oils. Are there any people who live on saturated fats who are healthy? Yes! People who live in tropical climates and who have a diet high in coconut oil are healthier, have less heart disease, cancer, colon problems and so on, than unsaturated fat eaters. Two such groups of people include those from Melanesia and the Yucatan. These people are slightly hyperthyroid because of the thyroid stimulating effects of coconut oil plus a diet which includes protein (fish) and adequate fruit (stimulates thyroid function).


Can you eat unsaturated fats and get away with it?

It all depends. The Eskimos ate cold-water fish, high in unsaturated oils BUT they also ate the whole animal, including the animal head, brain, thyroid glands, etc. and got the hormones from these glandulars. This caused them to become hyperthyroid, 25% higher than Americans, and they were classified as "pathologically hyperthyroid" by standard medical definition. However, this so-called pathological condition allowed them to burn the unsaturated fats in the foods they ate. If you are not an Eskimo and eat mainly an unsaturated fat diet, you may be in trouble.


Now you know why I wonder how anyone can associate high cholesterol or saturated fats with heart disease, multiple sclerosis or any disease. Over the past 40 years, Americans have increased their consumption of unsaturated fats and partially hydrogenated fats and have decreased their consumption of saturated fatty acids and butter. Lauric acid, the major fatty acid in coconut oil and breast milk, is rarely present in the American diet.



Yet saturated fats are still being called the health culprits while grocery stores abound with many kinds of seed and nut oils. Many have been told that if the unsaturated oil is unprocessed, it is safe. This is untrue. The harmful effects of unsaturated oil lie in their unsaturation, or the presence of many double bonds, which are very labile and easily peroxidized (become rancid inside the body). Details of this are given in the report on unsaturated oils. Here is a summary of the health benefits of coconut oil. In general, coconut oil stimulates thyroid function and has wonderful antiseptic properties.


The Stability of Coconut Oil

Unsaturated oils in cooked foods become rancid in just a few hours, even in the refrigerator, one reason for the "stale" taste of leftovers. However, according to Peat, eating fresh unsaturated fats is even worse, because once inside the body, they will oxidize (turn rancid) very rapidly due to being heated and mixed with oxygen. Not so with coconut oil. Even after one year at room temperature, coconut oil shows no evidence of rancidity even though it contains 9% linoleic (omega - 6) polyunsaturated acid. Peat theorizes that coconut oil may have antioxidant properties, since the oil doesn't turn rancid and since it reduces our need for vitamin E, whereas unsaturated oils deplete vitamin E.



Anti-Aging Effects of Coconut Oil

Many researchers have reported that coconut oil lowers cholesterol (Blackburn et al 1988, Ahrens and colleagues, 1957). In 1981, Prior et al. showed that islanders with a diet high in coconut oil showed no harmful health effects. When these groups migrated to New Zealand and lowered their daily coconut oil intake, their total cholesterol and especially their LDL cholesterol - the so-called evil one - increased. The cholesterol-lowering properties of coconut oil are a direct result of its ability to stimulate thyroid function. In the presence of adequate thyroid hormone, cholesterol (specifically LDL-cholesterol) is converted by enzymatic processes to the vitally necessary anti-aging steroids, pregnenolone, progesterone and DHEA. These substances are required to help prevent heart disease, senility, obesity, cancer and other diseases associated with aging and chronic degenerative diseases.

Weight Loss Stimulating Properties of Coconut Oil



In the 1940's farmers tried coconut oil to fatten their animals but discovered that it made them lean and active and increased their appetite. Whoops! Then they tried an anti-thyroid drug. It made the livestock fat with less food but was found to be a carcinogen (cancer causing drug). In the late 1940's, it was found that the same anti-thyroid effect could be achieved by simply feeding animals soybeans and corn.



Anti-Cancer Effects of Coconut Oil

In 1987 Lim-Sylianco published a 50-year literature review showing the anti-cancer effects of coconut oil. In chemically induced cancers of the colon and breast, coconut oil was by far more protective than unsaturated oils. For example 32% of corn oil eaters got colon cancer whereas only 3% of coconut oil eaters got the cancer. Animals fed unsaturated oils had more tumors. This shows the thyroid-suppressive and hence, immuno-suppressive effect of unsaturated oils. (Cohen et al. 1986).



When Albert Schweitzer operated his clinic in tropical Africa, he said that it was many years before he saw a single case of cancer. He believed that the appearance of cancer was caused by introduction of the European diet to the Africans. Many studies since the 1920's have shown an association between consumption of unsaturated oils and the incidence of cancer.

Antimicrobial (Antiseptic) Effects of Coconut Oil



Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids such as lauric (C-12), caprylic (C-10) and myristic (C-14) acids. Of these three, coconut oil contains 40% lauric acid, which has the greater anti-viral activity of these three fatty acids. Lauric acid is so disease fighting that it is present in breast milk. The body converts lauric acid to a fatty acid derivative (monolaurin), which is the substance that protects infants from viral, bacterial or protozoal infections. This was recognized and reported in 1966.



Work by Hierholzer and Kabara (1982) showed that monolaurin has virucidal effects on RNA and DNA viruses, which are surrounded by a lipid membrane. In addition to these RNA and DNA viruses, in 1978, Kabara and others reported that certain medium chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid have adverse effects on other pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast and fungi. These fatty acids and their derivatives actually disrupt the lipid membranes of the organisms and thus inactivate them. This deactivation process also occurs in human and bovine milk when fatty acids are added to them.

For further reading try the

Coconut Oil White Paper by John Kabara,

an internationally recognized expert in tropical oils.

The Importance of the In-Arms Phase by Jean Liedloff

The Importance of the In-Arms Phase

by Jean Leidloff


In the two and a half years during which I lived among Stone Age Indians in the South American jungle (not all at once, but on five separate expeditions with a lot of time between them for reflection), I came to see that our human nature is not what we have been brought up to believe it is. Babies of the Yequana tribe, far from needing peace and quiet to go to sleep, snoozed blissfully whenever they were tired, while the men, women, or children carrying them danced, ran, walked, shouted, or paddled canoes. Toddlers played together without fighting or arguing, and they obeyed their elders instantly and willingly.

The notion of punishing a child had apparently never occurred to these people, nor did their behavior show anything that could truly be called permissiveness. No child would have dreamed of inconveniencing, interrupting, or being waited on by an adult. And by the age of four, children were contributing more to the work force in their family than they were costing others.

Babes in arms almost never cried and, fascinatingly, did not wave their arms, kick, arch their backs, or flex their hands and feet. They sat quietly in their slings or slept on someone’s hip - exploding the myth that babies need to flex to “exercise.” They also did not throw up unless extremely ill and did not suffer from colic. When startled during the first months of crawling and walking, they did not expect anyone to go to them but rather went on their own to their mother or other caretakers for the measure of reassurance needed before resuming their explorations. Without supervision, even the smallest tots rarely hurt themselves.

Is their “human nature” different from ours? Some people actually imagine that it is, but there is, of course, only one human species. What can we learn from the Yequana tribe?

Our Innate Expectations

Primarily, we can try to grasp fully the formative power of what I call the in-arms phase. It begins at birth and ends with the commencement of creeping, when the infant can depart and return at will to the caretaker’s knee. It consists, simply, of the infant having 24-hour contact with an adult or older child.

At first, I merely observed that this in-arms experience had an impressively salutary effect on the babies and that they were no “trouble” to manage. Their bodies were soft and conformed to any position convenient to their bearers - some of whom even dangled their babies down their backs while holding them by the wrist. I do not mean to recommend this position, but the fact that it is possible demonstrates the scope of what constitutes comfort for a baby. In contrast to this is the desperate discomfort of infants laid carefully in a crib or carriage, tenderly tucked in, and left to go rigid with the desire for the living body that is by nature their rightful place - a body belonging to someone who will “believe” their cries and relieve their craving with welcoming arms.

Why the incompetence in our society? From childhood on, we are taught not to believe in our instinctive knowledge. We are told that parents and teachers know best and that when our feelings do not concur with their ideas, we must be wrong. Conditioned to mistrust or utterly disbelieve our feelings, we are easily convinced not to believe the baby whose cries say “You should hold me!” “I should be next to your body!” “Don’t leave me!” Instead, we overrule our natural response and follow the going fashion dictated by babycare “experts.” The loss of faith in our innate expertise leaves us turning from one book to another as each successive fad fails.

It is important to understand who the real experts are. The second greatest babycare expert is within us, just as surely as it resides in every surviving species that, by definition, must know how to care for its young. The greatest expert of all is, of course, the baby - programmed by millions of years of evolution to signal his or her own kind by sound and action when care is incorrect. Evolution is a refining process that has honed our innate behavior with magnificent precision. The signal from the baby, the understanding of the signal by his or her people, the impulse to obey it - all are part of our species’ character.

The presumptuous intellect has shown itself to be ill-equipped to guess at the authentic requirements of human babies. The question is often: Should I pick up the baby when he or she cries? Or should I first let the baby cry for a while? Or should I let the baby cry so that this child know who is boss and will not become a “tyrant”?

No baby would agree to any of these impositions. Unanimously, they let us know by the clearest signals that they should not be put down at all. As this option has not been widely advocated in contemporary Western civilization, the relationship between parent and child has remained steadfastly adversarial. The game has been about how to get the baby to sleep in the crib, whether or not to oppose the baby’s cries has not been considered. Although Tine Thevenin’s book, The Family Bed, and others have gone some way to open the subject up of having children sleep with parents, the important principle has not been clearly addressed: to act against our nature as a species is inevitably to lose well-being.

Once we have grasped and accepted the principle of respecting our innate expectations, we will be able to discover precisely what those expectations are - in other words, what evolution has accustomed us to experience.

The Formative Role of the In-Arms Phase

How did I come to see the in-arms phase as crucial to a person’s development? First, I saw the relaxed and happy people in the forests of South America lugging around their babies and never putting them down. Little by little, I was able to see a connection between that simple fact and the quality of their lives. Later still, I have come to certain conclusions about how and why being in constant contact with the active caretaker is essential to the initial postnatal stage of development.

For one thing, it appears that the person carrying the baby (usually the mother in the first months, then often a four- to 12-year-old child who brings the baby back to the mother for feeding) is laying the foundation for later experience. The baby passively participates in the bearers running, walking, laughing, talking, working, and playing. The particular activities, the pace, the inflections of the language, the variety of sights, night and day, the range of temperatures, wetness and dryness, and the sounds of community life form a basis for the active participation that will begin at six or eight months of age with creeping, crawling, and then walking. A baby who has spent this time lying in a quiet crib or looking at the inside of a carriage, or at the sky, will have missed most of this essential experience.

Because of the child’s need to participate, it is also important that caretakers not just sit and gaze at the baby or continually ask what the baby wants, but lead active lives themselves. Occasionally one cannot resist giving a baby a flurry of kisses; however, a baby who is programmed to watch you living your busy life is confused and frustrated when you spend your time watching him living his. A baby who is in the business of absorbing what life is like as lived by you is thrown into confusion if you ask him to direct it.

The second essential function of the in-arms experience appears to have escaped the notice of everyone (including me, until the mid-1960s). It is to provide babies with a means of discharging their excess energy until they are able to do so themselves. In the months before being able to get around under their own power, babies accumulate energy from the absorption of food and sunshine. A baby therefore needs constant contact with the energy field of an active person, who can discharge the unused excess for each of them. This explains why the Yequana babies were so strangely relaxed - why they did not stiffen, kick, arch, or flex to relieve themselves of an uncomfortable accumulation of energy.

To provide the optimum in-arms experience, we have to discharge our own energy efficiently. One can very quickly calm a fussing baby by running or jumping with the child, or by dancing or doing whatever eliminates one’s own energy excess. A mother or father who must suddenly go out to get something need not say, “Here, you hold the baby. I’m going to run down to the shop.” The one doing the running can take the baby along for the ride. The more action, the better!

Babies - and adults - experience tension when the circulation of energy in their muscles is impeded. A baby seething with undischarged energy is asking for action: a leaping gallop around the living room or a swing from the child’s hands or feet. The baby’s energy field will immediately take advantage of an adult’s discharging one. Babies are not the fragile things we have been handling with kid gloves. In fact, a baby treated as fragile at this formative stage can be persuaded that he or she is fragile.

As parents, you can readily attain the mastery that comes with comprehension of energy flow. In the process you will discover many ways to help your baby retain the soft muscle tone of ancestral well-being and give your baby some of the calm and comfort an infant needs to feel at home in the world.

Copyright ©1991 by Jean Liedloff

Earth Day Sale at CrunchyBunch.com! Save 20%

Just a quick announcement to let everyone know that we're having a fabulous STOREWIDE sale in honor of Earth Day!

Head over to http://www.crunchybunch.com and save a whopping 20% on everything ~ yes, even clearance! Just use coupon code "EARTHDAY2009" at checkout :)

Thanks and enjoy your most beautiful day!! <3

And the winner is...

*drumroll please!*

The winner of our Organic Mei Tai giveaway is....

Stefanie S.!

A super duper huge big awesome Congratulations to Stefanie and her little one/s!!! =D

Stefanie was one of several who entered our contest using the alternate entry form ~ glad to know it worked properly! Yay me! ;) hehe

As a side note, I apologize for the delay in announcing the winner of our giveaway. Mommy things came up that required my attentions away from the computer for a bit (I'm sure you can all relate!).

Stefanie, I'll be sending you an email to find out which color you desire, and where to send your new organic mei tai ~ be watching for it!

And as a great big huge THANK YOU! to all who entered, I will be sending each of you a $10 Crunchy Bunch Gift Certificate via email! (So please make sure I have your email address ~ if I don't, I can't send it to you!)

Again, thank you to all who entered and Congratulations to Stefanie! I really enjoyed reading all your babywearing stories and gardening going-ons and everything! =D

(Winner was drawn using Random.org's third party draw. Each person was entered the corresponding number of times according to the number of entries they received via the giveaway details. You may view the entry and winner details here: http://random.org/draws/details/?draw_id=527)

Organic Mei Tai Giveaway!

After such nice warm weather, it's suddenly cold and rainy here in East Texas. As I sat here sipping my yummy Mother's Milk Tea (with added Radiance C and Orange Essential Oil to keep myself and my sweet nurslings healthy!), I decided I needed a little extra something to warm me up. ;)

So to bring back that spring mood...

CrunchyBunch.com is giving away an Organic Mei Tai!!

To enter the contest leave a comment below. Tell us your favorite babywearing story, where you'll be hiking with your little ones when this cold front passes, what you planted (or will be planting!) in your garden, how you heard about our giveaway, anything! :)

Want more entries? Here’s how:

Receive *2* extra entries when you:

• Blog about this giveaway. Be sure to include a link to your blog when you comment to receive your 2 extra entries!
  
  
• Email 3 friends about this giveaway! (Be sure to CC those e-mails to kathy@crunchybunch to get credit!) And yes ~ that's 2 extra entries for each group of 3 friends you email!
  
  
• Member of an active parenting forum? Post about our giveaway on your forum and receive 2 extra entries! Include the URL to your post in your comment!
  
  

Receive *1* extra entry when you:

• Add our button to your blog. (You'll find it there on the left.) Add the link to your site in your comment so we can see the button in all it's glory!

  Note: To add a banner to your blog, the best way is this: Add an HTML gadget in the Edit Layout section of the blogger dashboard. Then, simply copy/paste the following code:
  
  <div align="center"> <a href="http://www.crunchybunch.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Crunchy Bunch ~ For your eco-friendly family!" src="http://www.crunchybunch.com/images/banners/crunchybunch125x125.gif"> </a> </div>
  
  and click save!
  

  
  
• Subscribe to our newsletter! (Click the link and scroll down ~ the newsletter button is on the left under our "Info" section) Tell us you subscribed in your comment!
  
  
• Become a “fan” of Crunchy Bunch on Facebook! Mention in your comment that you added us!
  

And of course, be sure to leave an email or blog link in your comment so I can contact you when you win!

The winner will be drawn on Monday, March 23rd, at 8PM, CST. I will tally up everyone's entries and the winner will be chosen at random using the random.org integer generator.

Happy Babywearing!!

Update: For those of you that would prefer to enter privately, I have created a form you may use to do so. Find that here: Alternate Entry Form.

Introductions!

Now that the blog is officially up and running, it's probably about time to introduce our bloggers!

Without further ado, here we go:

Rachel Payne

My name is Rachel. I’ve been married since May 2003. Before my children were born I taught math, but now I’m a full-time wife and mother. Olivia is 4 years old and Jesse is 6 months. I’ve had an unsatisfactory hospital birth and a wonderful home birth. Since I have more interests and hobbies than time to pursue them, I’m a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. In addition, taking care of my children has somewhat curtailed my involvement. I like to cook, garden (organically, of course), read, play mandolin and guitar (at least try!), sew, hunt, and play 42.

I'm hoping she'll share with us what 42 is ~ I've never even heard of it! A card game??

Alex Smith

My name is Alexandra Smith, but feel free to call me Alex. I'm a lucky mom to 3 monkeys disguised as children and wife to a lucky man! My children are currently 4 years, 2 years, and 5 months. I love to read any book and recently got sucked into the vortex of the Twilight series that all of the teenage girls are going gaga over. I'm passionate about unmedicated births, breastfeeding, and a holistic approach to life. The best advice that I ever heard? Take a deep breath and laugh because it's just not worth the energy to get mad. That has become my daily philosophy though somedays I have to remind myself of it more often than others!

I'm right there with you some days, Alex! I think it's no coincidence that family refers to my children as monkeys as well ;) *love*

Katherine Clay (That's me! =D)

I'm a single work-at-home mom to four wonderful unschooled children: Rickey - 9, Callie - 7, Isabelle - 2 and Sebastian - 9 months. (All ages current to today's date, of course ~ you know how fast they grow!!) I am the owner of Crunchy Bunch, and an independent rep for EclipseSpa. (If anyone's interested in becoming an indie rep for the best ever organic bath and body products, let me know!) [/shameless plugs ;)]
I love all things yarn (spinning, crocheting, knitting, it's all fantastic!), camping, hiking, walking, waterfalls, road trips, horseback riding, playgrounds, swimming, games, puzzles, singing songs, arts and crafts, being silly, learning, creativity, asking questions, connecting, making (and eating!) raw foods and much much more! I also have a huge soft spot for babywearing :) You'll find throughout my posts, that I am also quite fond of exclamation points!! and smiles =D
Most especially and above all, I love being and sharing with my children <3

Hope that gives you a good idea of who we are and what we're all about. Have a question for us? Ask! A comment? Post! We love to chat, and you just might give us a great idea for a new post, featuring You!

It's to Live For!

It's a great snack that kids love, women desire and men search to find the best of. It's been known to help with depression, is good for your heart, brain, skin, and has even been used as an aphrodisiac. It contains antioxidants that lower your blood pressure, improve circulation and your digestion. It's simply irresistible. What is it? You guessed it: Chocolate, of course!

So what could make this yummy treat even, ..well, yummier? And not only that, but healthier as well? By making it *raw* chocolate! That's right, raw chocolate. Perhaps you've heard of the raw food movement, or superfoods, or maybe you're even a raw foodie yourself! If the latter, then I'm sure you're smiling by now, because you know the amazing power of this delicacy! If not, then be sure to read up on those links and find out ~ I'll probably be covering a lot of road on raw foods here ;)

So what's raw chocolate got that Hershey's ain't got? Well, in a nutshell: It's good for you! I know, I know... "But didn't you just say that chocolate was already good for you?" Well, yes... and Hershey's doesn't contain just the raw chocolate (AKA 'cacao', pronounced 'ka-kow'), either. They (and most other chocolate brands) contain many added ingredients and cook their chocolate, making it other than best ever.

So if Godiva can help bring you out of the blues, one must ask: What can the REAL, raw, unprocessed and natural thing do?? For this I can only answer: WOW. You *must* try and see for yourself! =D I've seen and heard so many people in such ecstatic states of bliss, simply from raw chocolate, you'd *have* to experience it for yourself to believe it! (I have!!)

Not only that, but this is seriously so good for you, you can eat it all day, every day and be in far better health than you ever had been! How awesome is that?? And better yet, you get to tell your kids, "YES!" Yes, you can have chocolate, yes you can eat it for breakfast, yes, yes yes!

"But chocolate is candy! It doesn't have any vitamins or minerals!" I hear what you're saying and my answer is "It might!" If you're eating a [Insert Your Favorite Brand Here] bar, then no, it probably doesn't have many; and yes, it is a candy. Please eat these in very limited quantities, if at all. However, raw cacao is certainly not candy, which is a concept it even took me a while to get past. Raw cacao is a food. Not a snack, a candy, junk food, dessert, etc. It's an actual food. Like a vegetable. (Except it's not, it's actually a nut.)

In fact, it contains lots of vitamins and minerals: magnesium, copper, iron, phosphorus, calcium, anandamide, phenylethylamine, arginine, polyphenols, epicatechins, potassium, procyanidins, flavanols, vitamins A, B, C, D, and E.

It has: alanine, alkaloids, alpha-sitosterol, alpha-theosterol, amylase, ascorbic-acid, ascorbic-acid-oxidase, aspariginase, beta-carotene, dopamine, fructose, glucose, glutamic-acid, leucine, linoleic-acid, lipase, lysine, niacin, peroxidase, phenylacetic-acid, phenylalanine, phosphorus, riboflavin, rutin, tannins, theobromine, thiamin.

And if you can even pronounce all (or any!) of those, then you win 10 Crunchy Bonus Points ;) In fact, research has shown that there are over 300 chemically identifiable compounds in cacao beans, making it one of the most complex superfoods on planet Earth!

Still not sold? (And as an interesting side note here, Cacao beans were even used as currency in some civilizations!) That's ok, it took me a while to get it as well, and I had to do my research first. I encourage you to do the same, and here are some references I found to start you on your way:

Wiki
Ulimana
Natural News
Archives of Internal Medicine (Note: this article doesn't specify, so I'm pretty sure they're using cooked cocoa, not raw cacao. However, I still thought it was interesting, and helps you understand the power of cacao, even in it's cooked form!)

And here's a recipe I know you and your family will enjoy!

Raw Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 cup Raw Cacao Powder
3/4 cup Raw Cacao Butter
1/2 cup Raw Agave Nectar
2 Tablespoons Tocotrienols

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. If you can keep everyone from digging in right away (good luck!), pour the mixture into molds, or (as in the picture) paper cupcake cups, and place in the fridge or freezer for an hour or so.

Variations:

You can add in whatever you like! In the picture, we added on top some raw cashews, goji berries, and dusted some with Tocotrienols. You can choose to add in maca, pecans, walnuts, etc., vanilla, peppermint, you name it!

Enjoy!! <3