Ask Me Monday! : Stay at home mom?

"What made you want to be a stay at home mom?"

Honestly, when I was a child my mom was a stay at home mom, and for a short time my dad was a stay at home dad while he went to school for his second career. 

I really feel like I benefitted from this as a child. I remember wanting to be there for my child (ren) the way they were for me when I was little. 

There was a short time when I was a child that neither parent stayed at home and I remembered hating having some one else watch me. 

I feel that parents are the best teachers for their children. I also believe that we can be a great safety net while they are young.

I want my daughter to grow up feeling secure and confident. I feel that by me staying home with her, I can help with these things.

I teach her a lot during the day, and we get a lot of quality time together because of this. She is a very happy child, I credit a lot of this due to my husband's and my parenting style. Attachment parenting has really helped her to flourish. There are times when she is clingy, but she is also only 13 months old. 

I think that every parent should do what is best for their family whether it is staying at home or working. Each family knows what is best for them.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Ask Me Monday : Natural Parenting!

It's Monday again! Time for an Ask Me Monday question. The first question of 2013!

" Do you find people accepting of your natural parenting style? Do you have any advice for a mom to be?..."

Our natural parenting style tends to be more accepted and supported by those our own age, and those my grandmother's age. People my parent's age (45-55) are the ones who have given me the most trouble about our parenting style. Although I am sure each person's situation is different.

I have had some people try to convince me to feed my daughter formula or french toast, others wanted me to feed her Gerber baby food. Of course, I believe in breastfeeding, avoid sugar, and make our baby food at home.

The most issues people tend to have is with the attachment parenting side of things. Our daughter still doesn't sleep in her own bed. People have told us to let her cry it out (we refuse, that is nonsense in our house), & are worried she will never sleep in her bed. My thoughts of this? I am sure that by the time she is school age she will want to be in her own bed. I am not worried if she sleeps in her co-sleeper beside our bed, its not hurting anyone's sleep.

My advice?

• Go with your instinct. Do what works for you.
• We chose breastfeeding, cloth diapers, safe co-sleeping, home made organic baby food, delayed vaccines, and baby wearing. This is what works for us.
• If receiving unwanted advice, graciously say thank you and move on. You don't have to take the advice. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for what is right for your child.
• Parent with love. Follow your parenting instincts, and let every decision be made with love.
• Talk to other natural parents and share your parenting experiences with each other. A lot can be learned this way!
• Pick up books and magazines from your local library on natural parenting/attachment parenting.
• Don't stress, your baby will tell you what they need as they grow. They may not be able to talk, but they communicate their needs.

I hope this helps!

I am so happy we chose natural parenting. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Ask Me Monday!: Tap water or bottled water?

" What is your opinion on drinking tap water ?Bottled water? Which one is better for me?"

This is a question that I am going to answer with out picking either option for you. Truth is it depends.

Some bottled water is merely unfiltered tap water, while other bottled water is pure spring water.

I don't suggest drinking plain unfiltered tap water. There is a lot of chlorine and other contaminants in there.

Instead, if you want water from the tap, invest in a water filter. There are many kinds. I have used the Pur faucet filter for years and it filters the water nicely. The downside is these filters don't remove fluoride from the water. You would have to get a reverse osmosis system for that. There are water pitchers that filter your water, but they don't filter as well as many faucet or under the counter systems.

I drink filtered tap water and we give baby a bottled spring water ( to avoid fluoride).

There is another great option.... You can go to a website to find a spring near you and get fresh spring water yourself!
http://www.findaspring.com/

I am not a fan of all the trash that drinking bottled water creates. We recycle Baby A's bottled water bottles, however she's a baby and only goes through one bottle of water a day ( still nursing), where as an adult would drink much more than that.

I hope this helps to answer your question.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

ASK ME MONDAY: Favorite Sites.

" What are some of your fave health websites? Beauty sites? Any sites you go to just for fun?..."

I have so many favorites. I visit a lt of websites for research, but here are a few of my favorites:

- naturalnews.com

- www.naturalhealth365.com

-inhabitots.com

-www.thesuzanneshow.tv
-cutandjacked.com
-bodybuilding.com

Beauty Sites:

-ecostiletto.com

For fun I like:

-facebook.com

-theberry.com

I go to a bunch of different websites and check out new ones every day, these are just some that I really like now. 

I also read a lot of blogs, check out my blog button page to see some of the blogs I read.

What are some of your favorite websites?

Be Happy Healthy and Strong,

Lolli

These are just websites I like. I am not responsible for content of any websites listed in this post. Please read my full disclaimer on my disclaimer tab.

Ask Me Monday! : Eco-friendly Cleaning!

" What are your favorite household cleaners? What are good eco-friendly ones?"

I am not one to buy the latest green fads in the store. I like to make my household cleaners out of simple things that are easy to find and do not cost a fortune.

I clean my house with these:

1. Hydrogen Peroxide
2. Rubbing Alcohol
3. Baking Soda
4. Vinegar
5. Tea Tree Oil
6. Dish soap
7. Water
8. Lemon Juice
9. Olive Oil

#7 is beccause I use my steam cleaner a lot. I steam clean the carpets, couches, bed, curtains, baby toys, etc. The list goes on. It is wonderful for cleaning the shower as well. A good steam cleaner makes eco-friendly cleaning much easier.

I am often asked how I treat laundry stains. It depends on the stain, but I often find a mix of Dawn Original dish soap and white vinegar do the trick! If it is a light/ easily removed stain, sometimes I will just put laundry soap directly on the spot and rub it in, before washing.

You don't need fancy stain removers to keep your clothes spot free! The sun is an amazing stain remover too! I love to hang my whites on a drying rack in front of the window for extra stain removal.

I will sometimes use baking soda and tea tree oil to clean my mattress. Rub into mattress in circular motions ( be sure to spot test on your mattress before doing the whole thing), and then vacuum up. That easy. I keep my mattress clean in between with the steam cleaner.

I polish the wood in our home with juice from a lemon and some olive oil.

My multi-purpose kitchen cleaner is 50/50 vinegar and water mixed.

My bathroom cleaner is 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water, put in a spray bottle. I use it to clean counters, shower, toilet seat, etc.

1 cup baking soda & 1 cup vinegar poured down tub drain clears out many clogs. No need for expensive drain cleaners. Let it sit in drain for 10-30 min then pour boiling water down the drain ( be careful not to burn yourself!) and voila!

I use rubbing alcohol on faucets and on mirrors to make things clean and shiny.

There are so many other ways that I clean my home natural. If you have a question about how I clean a particular area of my home, please leave it in the comments and I will get back to you!

I hope this helps! There are many inexpensive and non-toxic ways to clean your home :) 

Be Happy Healthy and Strong,

Lolli

This post is for entertainment  purposes only and not intended as advice of any kind. Use common sense when cleaning your home. I am not responsible for actions taken as a result of reading this post.

Ask Me Monday: Supplements!

" What kind of supplements do you take?"

I actually was preparing a post on supplements when a good friend submitted this question. I am so glad she asked!

Many people say if you eat healthy then you get all the nutrients you need from food, well, in my opinion, that is not entirely true.

Our soil has become so depleted of nutrients due to our lack of care for the planet, not to mention we buy our food from grocery stores in many cases. Once the food hits the grocery store, it usually has travelled a bit and the veggies are already losing nutritional value...even if you buy organic.

This is where supplements come to the rescue.

Hubby and I have been taking supplements for several years now.

Since I am nursing I have had to cut back on a few, but will start back on the others when done nursing.

Here's what I currently take:

Prenatal w DHA

Vitamin C 1000mg

Calcium with D3 1000mg/400IU

Organic Maca capsules 500mg

RAW Protein Powder 17g protein per scoop. Contains probiotics.

Spirulina ( powder to mix in food & smoothies)

Other supplements Hubby currently takes and I will be taking again soon are:

Resveratrol 500mg

CoQ10 100mg

Vitamin B Complex

Fish Oil/Omega 3 1000mg

Silica 500mg

BCAA with Glutamine & Vitamin C (powder to mix with juice)

Hubby also takes Creatine but its not something I am planning on taking at this time.

These aren't supplements but they are foods I consume on a daily basis that I think makes a difference:

Organic Extra Coconut Oil

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Decaf Green Tea

Combine these with exercise, yoga, meditation, and eating clean organic foods & I am confident that I am taking good care of my body!

I will hopefully be doing posts on these individual supplements soon.

This is just what works for my family. Everyone Is different. I do not recommend taking any supplements without talking to your doctor first. Always consult a healthcare physician before making any major lifestyle changes and especially if pregnant, nursing, or taking any medications.

Do you take supplements? If so what kind?

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

ASK ME MONDAY! #10

" What all do you eat on an average day? What does your average eating schedule look like?"

Great question! I am really happy to answer this one, because I am always sharing with others what I do, and listening to what others eat as well for new ideas!

An average day looks like this for me:

Breakfast: 2 Bananas 

*Before I was healthy I was not a breakfast person, so I do not eat a large breakfast.

Lunch: 6-7 eggs, spinach, tomatos, seasonings. I spray the pan with olive oil. (Omelette style)

Snack: 1 1/2 scoops RAW Protein Shake made with unsweetened almond milk ( Usually after gym on cardio days, on weight lifting days this is at 7 am)

Snack: Salt free Brown Rice Cakes with  honey, raisins, cinnamon, peanut butter.

Dinner: Cajun Chicken, asparagus, brown rice. Occasionally I will add some Daiya Mozzarella.

Snack: Chocolate Ice cream made out of bananas, cocoa powder, stevia. (OR Strawberry Sorbet made out of frozen strawberries & bananas)

Some days I will eat a little more or a little less, lunch is always the same and so is breakfast. Dinner changes night to night. On the weekends I might make a different snack like a gluten free dairy free sugar free dessert. I also tend to like to make fresh juice on weekends, although I haven't done that as much as I would like.

My favorite meals are:

Spaghetti ( gf brown rice pasta, spaghetti sauce, ground turkey)

Chili (made with lean ground turkey)

Tacos ( lean ground turkey and spinach, homemade seasonings, corn shells)

Various stir fry's, chicken stew, stuffed peppers and stuffed eggplant are also some favorites here!

People have asked me "do you have cheat days?". The answer is no. I used to but now I love my healthy eating plan, it is delicious and satisfying. I never feel deprived. 

What are some of your favorite meals?

Be Happy Healthy and Strong,

Lolli

ASK ME MONDAY! #9

" Why should I buy organic? What is the difference between that and regular veggies? How do I know it's really organic?"

Great question! I had the same question several years ago. I am so happy to be buying 90% of our produce organic. Some things just aren't available organic in the stores near me. I live in a "food desert" so-to-speak. Getting healthy organic food requires trips to 3 grocery stores for us to get our weekly groceries.

However, it is worth it.

What is so great about organic?

1. No toxic pesticides
2. Not GMO ( it hasn't been genetically modified in a lab)
3. No chemicals

These are 3 really important reasons to buy organic. Pesticides, chemicals, and genetically modified food can be dangerous to our health. 

Organic food is food the way it was meant to be eaten, pure and clean from the earth.

When looking for organic foods whether it be fruits, veggies, milk, meats, etc. Look for the words "certified organic". 

This symbol is important:

not my photo.
image from http://www.ecologycenter.org

It means that the food has been grown under strict standards. You can trust that food with this label is organic.

Don't just take my word for it though. 

Do some research of your own.

Here are some links to help get you started:

http://www.ecologycenter.org/bfm/whybuyorganic.html

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?page_id=323

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-buy-organic-dairy-meat.html

http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/slowfoodorganiclocal/a/organicproduce.htm

http://www.greenster.com/magazine/why-buy-organic/

http://www.nofanh.org/whyBuyOrganic

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

I am not a Dr. These are not suggestions. I am sharing what has worked for me and my personal opinions on a topic. See my disclaimer tab for more disclaimer information. When seeking lifestyle changes always consult your physician.

ASK ME MONDAY #8!

I got this question from a new mama.

"What is your favorite place to buy Baby A clothes?...Nothing too pricey!"

I love this question! Truth is, you can find a ton of great baby clothes with out breaking the bank.

Babies grow out of their clothes so quickly, that I can hardly justify spending a fortune.

I love Once Upon A Child. It is an amazing store. People can sell their gently used baby items, and buy gently used baby items as well. We bought a lot of Baby A's clothes there, and her swing too! We even found a couple of brand new outfits for Baby A there also!

Whenever we don't find what we need there, we go to Burlington Coat Factory, there is a ton of nice stuff there too! 

Last on our list is Target, I love when they have sales! It's an easy place for us to shop as we buy baby wash and her shampoo there, so we usually browse while in the store.

Another wonderful thing when Baby A was born was hand-me-downs from her cousin! It was really wonderful the first 3 months having been loaned clothes so we didn't have to buy so many.

My favorite part about hand-me-downs and re-sale shops, are that they are great for the environment & there are less chemical pesicides on the clothing as they have already been washed at least a few times.

I hope this helps!

Can some of my readers help her out? Where are some of YOUR favorite places to get baby clothes?

Be Happy Healthy and Strong,

Lolli

Do you have a question? I am taking questions all week long on health, fitness, natural living, parenting, beauty, and more!

Email me through the Contact me tab, or leave it as a comment on facebook or my blog!

ASK ME MONDAY! #6

" What keeps you from indulging when you are reallllly craving something bad for you? I mean, something really bad..."

We all get cravings at times. It's super hard sometimes! However, there are many things that keep me from eating treats that aren't good for me. I found that for me personally, not indulging at all works, however for some people having a "treat" day every week where they can have one item they crave really helps. 

I have found that if I don't eat it, I don't crave it so bad. 

What really keeps me from indulging?
I want to heal my body, I want to be as healthy as I possibly can, I want to live a long time for myself, my hubby, and my daughter. I want to feel good, and treats are good for a second, but I don't feel good after eating them. 

Will power. We all have it. Tap into your will power.

When a craving is really strong,  I make one of my healthy treats! Ice cream used to be a huge thing for me, so now I make it out of bananas! Check out my recipe page for treats that won't be hard on your body, and you won't have to feel guilty about.

Remember that you are worth it! Worth the sacrifices to be healthy!

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

ASK ME MONDAY #5

"If  I were to only want to change one thing about myself to make myself healthy. What would you suggest?

It seems like getting healthy is complicated, maybe picking one thing would help me get started?"

First, I want to say Congrats on the decision to get healthy. Yes, it can be a tough road at first, especially when trying to figure out where to start. However, it can be very rewarding and gets easier with time.

I would like to tell anyone looking to start out on a healthy journey to talk to their physician, a nutritionist, or a personal trainer. I am not an expert, I am just sharing my opinions and what works for me. 

All that being said. If I were to suggest any change, it would be....

Get rid of Sugar.
(this includes high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, corn sugar, molasses, and evaporated cane juice as well)

This is huge. Read all your labels, if sugar is an ingredient, then don't buy it & don't eat it. 

This eliminates a large percent of junk food. Most junk food has some form of sugar in it. 

I had mentioned in my "Where Sugar Lurks" series that I even saw sugar in ketchup!

If you make a cake or snack at home, use Stevia or honey instead. Don't use sugar.

A lot of people start their journey with exercise which is a great thing, but I honestly believe that nourishing your body first is important, then finding a exercise you love can be the next step. If someone is eating junk food and exercising, it is my belief that they aren't doing their body much good because they are not giving it the fuel it needs.

Best wishes and good luck!

Please use this as a stepping stone to a healthier life, don't let the change stop at just one thing.

Be Happy Healthy and Strong,

Lolli

ASK ME MONDAY # 3

"What made you decide to have a drug free birth with Baby A? So many people use epidurals these days.

Why did you choose a hospital instead of a birthing center?"

This is a  great question. I actually have not been asked this question a lot surprisingly.

First, I have to say that I personally don't believe in over use of medications. I believe that we should take the natural course of action whenever possible with our bodies. 

Our bodies were designed to have babies, so our bodies know what to do.

I believe that epidurals and C-sections should only be done on an absolutely necessary basis. I definitely didn't think that getting a needle in my back or having a major surgery was necessary for me.

I also didn't want Baby A to have medication in her system that was not necessary. Anything we put into our bodies affects the baby even if just a little bit. I felt no need to medicate my baby un-necessarily.

Thankfully Baby A came out into the world as planned, as she was supposed to. I didn't need any medication. After having Baby A drug free, I did end up taking 2 regular strength Tylenol so I could rest. 

Please read Baby A's birth story here.

In addition, I chose a hospital because there were no birthing centers close by ( closest one was 1 1/2 hours away) . Good thing I did not choose a place far away as I had a fast paced labor and would not have made it there. Secondly, I truly wanted a water birth, but the hospital was not allowed to have birthing tubs of any kind in their facility, so I went the next best route for me and had a completely natural un-medicated birth in a hospital. If I were to do it over again, I would have given birth to my daughter at home, however it was my first baby, and knowing that my mother had emergency c-sections with her 3 children, I did not want to take major risks.

I now know though that my body can handle labor, and that I can handle myself laboring at home. IF I were to ever have another baby, it would be at home or a water birth, or a mix of both :) 

I hope this answered your question. I really found natural labor a very positive experience for me, I realize it is not for everyone or those with complications, but I enjoyed it every step of the way and would do it natural the next time around ( if there is a next time).

Baby A is healthy & happy.

Be Happy, Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Please keep the questions coming! Next week I will be answering another question on my blog! 

Have a question for me? 

Put it on facebook, my blog, or email me! 

I love talking to my readers!

Like what you read?
Vote for me on Picket Fence! ( right side bar)

These are my personal opinions and are not intended as advice of any kind.  Please consult your Dr. when making your birth plan.

ASK ME MONDAY! #2

This week's question is a great one, I honestly hear this all the time, whether I am the one being asked or I hear some one asking some one else.

" How do you stick to your work out routine? I am always starting one, falling off track, and having to start over again."

Firstly, I want to say GREAT JOB on starting over again! Some people don't, and just let fitness slide all together. 

I personally stick to a fitness routine by being motivated to be healthy and take care of my body. I also find that it helps having some one to support me in my goals (aka. Hubby). I also love how lifting weights and running makes me feel.

The key (in my opinion) to sticking with a work out regimen is this:

1. Find a type (or types) of exercise you love. Anything from swimming to weight lifting to yoga or dancing! Pick what interests you.

2. Schedule it! Make a schedule and stick to it. Treat it like an appointment at the office. You want to show up on time. It's an appointment with yourself.

3. Keep track of your progress. Progress pictures can help on days when you feel less motivated.

4. Make a fun playlist to listen to every time you work out!

5. Reward yourself with a non-food item when you reach your goals! Whether it be a manicure or a handbag, or even a spa day at home.

No matter what, if you fall off track, just start back over again.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong!

Lolli

Please keep the questions coming! Next week I will be answering another question on my blog! 

Have a question for me? 

Put it on facebook, my blog, or email me! 

I love talking to my readers!

These are my personal opinions and are not intended as advice of any kind.  Please consult your Dr. before starting any diet or exercise.

Ask Me *Almost* Anything!

Starting on Monday I will be doing a segment on here where 

every Monday I will be picking one question to answer from the 

pool of questions I will get over the course of the week.

Questions about my personal opinions on topics like Health, 

Fitness, Nutrition, Parenting, Celiac Disease, organization, etc. Ask away! 

I will answer one question with my honest opinions ( I don't claim these to be facts, they will be just my personal opinions on what works in my life!)

And that  one lucky person's question will hopefully be featured each Monday on my blog/fb page!

So start asking away. I will be posting the questions anonymously unless told otherwise, and then I will post your questions by first name or nickname provided ( on my blog ).

I want to hear from you!!!! Ask me ALMOST anything!

You can post questions here, email me reinventinglolliatgmaildotcom or post them on my fb wall.

If you aren't already, please follow me on facebook and join in on the fun!

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli