My Favorite [Natural] Stain Solution!

I have tried everything from vinegar to Dawn to lemon juice & hydrogen peroxide....Baby A's clothes were so stained I couldn't get the stains out.

I refuse to use Shout or any other "chemical" commercial stain remover. I don't wish to place these toxins on the clothing that sits so near to her skin.

Baby A is an active toddler who enjoys the dirt, loves to smash her food into her clothing despite wearing a bib, and is always finding some way to stain her clothing. I think that it is wonderful she is so adventurous, and do not worry about being overprotective of her clothing.

However, I really wanted to get the stains out.

Borax is my solution...and it is working quite well. 

I still use the vinegar and peroxide for the smaller stains, but Borax has been a lifesaver on the big stains.

I just use a scoopful ( I use an old protein powder scooper, it works great!) to warm water in my wash ( I switch to cold once I get enough warm in there to dissolve it), then add in my laundry soap and wash! It is that easy!

What are your stain solutions?

Have you tried Borax? Do you like it?

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Health & Fitness with Fibromyalgia.

not my photo. image googled from around web.

When I was 16 years old, I couldn't walk up the stairs at school without falling. I was dizzy. I didn't notice when classmates said hi to me in the hall...I was in a fog. I fell asleep in all my classes. I couldn't sleep at night because I was in pain....all the time.

I went to a specialist and found out why I had all these symptoms.

I have fibromyalgia. 

17 out of 18 "tender points" ( tender points are a  part of how they diagnose)

Fast forward to today. I am 27 years old. I am so much happier and healthier than I was at 16. I would never go back to 16.

I still have problems though.

At 24 years old....

After figuring out that I had Celiac & removing gluten from my diet, a lot of my symptoms nearly disappeared. I was exercising  5 days a week, sometimes twice a day. I felt good. I did have days where I was sick, but they were few and far between.

When I was pregnant with Baby A at 25, I started to feel fibro symptoms on a more regular basis. Pregnancy aggravated my health condition quite a bit. This made exercise hard, so I relied a lot on yoga and walking in the later part of my pregnancy.

Since having Baby A, my fibro has remained aggravated. I believe that breastfeeding had some to do with it. Simply because my body was working so hard to make enough milk for Baby A. This winter has been a hard winter. The back and forth weather, the air pressure and temperature changes have really taken a toll. As a result my workouts have also taken a hit.

I missed a cardio workout and a weightlifting workout this week. I didn't feel well enough to run 6 miles or leg press more than my body weight. I couldn't even stand for more than a few minutes.

My hands and feet felt like they were on fire, and they were so swollen ( like if I was 9 months pregnant swollen!). I had pain over my entire body, and the worst part I was so exhausted, yet I could not sleep through the night. 

It can be difficult to stay fit with fibromyalgia, but I am dedicated to my fitness plan.

Eating a clean, healthy diet and taking my vitamins has made a dramatic impact. Even though my fibromyalgia has been bad this winter, it doesn't even come close to what it was when I was a teenager. 

If I didn't eat clean or workout, I wouldn't be able to be a good mom to my daughter. 

Do you have fibromyalgia? What do you do to help yourself?

I went the pharmaceuticals route when I was younger, and it was a big disappointment. There was no relief at all. Now, I am looking for natural ways of relieving that pain and swelling and exhaustion. I have found that yoga helps on the days I do yoga. I am also looking into essential oils for relief. I have read that eating pineapple and avoiding eggplant can also be helpful. I will be exploring these natural options further, and hopefully posting about them on my blog if interest is expressed in reading it. 

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Oil Cleansing!

You may wonder what "oil cleansing" is.

I did when I first heard the term.

Then after I tried it, I wished I had done it all along.

Oil cleansing is the act of washing your face with oil, instead of soap.

As someone who struggled with horrible acne for years, and tried every anti-acne & oil free wash on the market that I could find...I was surprised when oil cleansing worked for me. 

A while ago hubby and I switched to natural soap, however, my face was still dry & oily at the same time. That horrible combination skin that every one dreads having.

I was like "what the heck" I will give it a try. After all, nothing else had worked over the years.

Guess what?

Washing my face with oil....is working!!

My skin is sooooo much better than it was before! It has mostly cleared up and is not combination any more, and it's not oily. It is balanced!

It even removes my stubborn waterproof mascara easily!

How do you do oil cleansing?

Different oils work for different people, the nice thing about oil cleansing is there aren't a ton of hard fast rules.

#1 rule: Do not use canola oil.

Use a natural oil.

Some oils people like to use are:

Grapeseed oil

Jojoba oil 

Avocado

Olive Oil 

Argan Oil

Coconut Oil

not my photo. image googled from around the web.

I personally wash my face with a 50/50 mix of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Organic Coconut Oil.  I blend the two oils in a jar and keep it by the sink for face washing.

I apply the oil to my face in circular motions like a face wash, then  I take a wash cloth with hot ( not scalding hot, more like really warm!) water &  remove the oil with the washcloth and water.

Afterwards if my skin feels balanced, I do not use moisturizer. If my face feels dry, I apply the tiniest but of the oil mixture as a moisturizer.

The idea behind oil cleansing is LIKE DISSOLVES LIKE.

I just wanted to share, it doesn't mean it will work for every one,  but it works for me! 

There is a lot online about oil cleansing, google it and see what you find. Different people like different oil mixtures :)

Be Happy Healthy & 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.

Why I Love Dr. Bronner's!!

A little while ago, we ditched traditional soaps.

We were faithful Neutrogena & Softsoap users in the past.

We didn't use their soaps containing triclosan, as I long ago read the carcinogenic effects of triclosan which is found in numerous anti-bacterial soaps.

We don't use face soap, we don't use body soap, we don't use hand soap.

We use one soap for these 3 things.

That's right, only one.

My skin is clearer and body gets clean without my skin getting dried out. My hands no longer start to crack from all the hand washing. 

It's wonderful.

We use Dr. Bronner's soap full strength as a body wash ( it suds up nicely on a poof),  and well diluted  with water in a foaming pump to use as both face & hand soaps.

Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Castile Soap

It works like a charm.

It supposedly has 18 different uses in this 1 soap!

Ingredients from their website:

"INGREDIENTS: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut*, Organic Palm* and Organic Olive* Oils (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Essential Oils**, Citric Acid, Vitamin E"

Other Claims from their site:

Completely Biodegradable and Vegetable-Based

Made with Certified Fair Trade and Organic Oils

Multi-Purpose: 18-in-1 Uses

No Synthetic Foaming Agents, Thickeners or Preservatives

• 100% Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Cylinder Bottles and Paper Labels
• Simple, Ecological Formulations Based on Old-World Quality and Expertise
I love how eco-friendly this company is! They make other products too! 


I am so happy we switched to castile soap as it is making a world of difference in my skin. 


I read somewhere a long time ago that your skin absorbs 60% of what is put on it, so why not put something natural on it?! 


If you are putting yucky chemicals on your skin, then your skin is absorbing those yucky chemicals. 
However if you are putting natural oils and soothing ingredients on your skin, then that is what your skin is absorbing instead. Isn't that wonderful?!


Anyway, this is just my experience with the soap. 
I am reviewing this product from a product I already own, of my own free will! 


Have you tried Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap?
Which kind? What is your experience?


Be Happy Healthy & Strong,


Lolli

Disclaimer.

Healthy Teeth Series: Fluoride is a No-Go.

I have always had sensitive teeth, but they were becoming more and more sensitive and brittle over the years.

I had my suspicions that my toothpaste was causing an issue. I used a major brand recommended by many dentists, but every time I brushed my teeth were more sensitive right after. I even had tooth pain.

This is why I don't use conventional toothpaste. 

I switched to a natural toothpaste with no fluoride. My teeth feel stronger, they don't feel sensitive after I brush & I don't have tooth pain anymore. My teeth aren't breaking. 

I did some research on fluoride and discovered that it isn't for me. I truly hope one day when I own a house, that we will have a whole house filter to rid our water system of fluoride as well.

I feel that it is that harmful. This is just my opinion & I am no expert, but I do know what does and does not feel good, and well, I have to say that fluoride free feels good to me :) 

I read a few articles that I will list as resources at the bottom, but the summary of what I  have learned is this:

• Fluoride is poisonous
• Fluoride doesn't prevent tooth decay
• Fluoride can discolor your teeth
• Fluoride dosage cannot be controlled person to person
• Fluoride can accumulate in a person's body
• Dental Fluorosis is not pretty (go here to learn more)
• It can affect your hip bones
• Fluoride has been associated with IQ "deficits" in children

Research for yourself:

• http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/health-hazards-to-know-about/where-the-yellow-went
• http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-p-connelly-dds/mouth-health-fluoridated_b_641767.html
• http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/why_fluoride_is_dangerous_and_should_be_removed_with_fluoride_filters
• http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/brain/

Be sure to come back for the next installment in the Healthy Teeth series!!!!!!!!!

Be Happy Healthy & Strong!

Lolli

Disclaimer.

Healthy Teeth Series: Taking care of your teeth naturally!

Things I avoid in caring for my teeth:

1. Fluoride

2. Chemical tooth bleaching products

3. Sugars
4. Chemical Mouthwashes

I recently ran across this video which is awesome.

I adapted my tooth care routine from his.

I don't personally use the zeo-light, however I do use a natural bristle tooth brush made from boar's hair. I also use a natural toothpaste that does not contain fluoride.

Before switching to non fluoride tooth paste I noticed that my teeth were getting more and more sensitive after I would brush & I even had some teeth in the back starting to chip!

I knew I had to do something. So I started researching natural tooth care and that is how I came across this video.

My teeth feel so much better now. I think 90% of it has to do with the new toothpaste I am using!

We all have to find what works best for us but my routine goes as such.

1. Sea salt water rinse

2. Tongue scrape

3. Floss

4. Coconut Oil Pulling

5. Brush with natural toothpaste

6. Sea salt rinse

If I am in a hurry I do steps 1, 3, 5.

My mouth feels sooooo healthy and clean!

Here's the tooth paste I switched to, I get mine at Vitamin Shoppe:

photo from vitaminshoppe.com

Here is the natural bristle tooth brush I use:

Record V from fuch's website. Only mine is pink!

The next part of the series I will explain more about why I don't use a conventional tooth paste & why I don't believe in fluoride.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Healthy Teeth Series: My Teeth's Journey to Health.

My teeth have always been sensitive. Not to mention there is a family history on my mother's side of teeth decalcifying & breaking. 

I have a slightly chipped tooth in the front & a tooth in the back that started to break. 

Interestingly enough I have not had any cavities that I know of and have never had a filling or any kind of work done on my teeth aside from a regular cleaning.

I do however believe that a lot of my issue with my teeth is due to having had major acid reflux from undiagnosed Celiac disease for many years, and on top of that a bad diet through out my childhood and teen years.

Which brings me to this....my teeth have stopped breaking, and a not anywhere near as sensitive as before. If I go from a bowl of hot soup to drinking ice cold water I will get a little sensitivity. However, I couldn't drink lukewarm water without getting tooth sensivity before, not to mention ice cold water which would send shooting pain through my jaw and face.

It was a total bummer.

My teeth are feeling better, and here is partly why:

1. Went gluten free/ dairy free to correct issues with Celiac disease & no longer have acid reflux.

2. I eat a healthy diet rich in veggies & don't eat sugar.

3. I take a calcium supplement.

4. I do not use chemical tooth whiteners.

5. I no longer brush with fluoride.

These are huge things in the transformation of the health of my teeth.

Through this series I am going to take you through various natural ways of taking care of teeth & certain things that I avoid in tooth care products.

I hope that you enjoy this series & maybe gain some knowledge on self  tooth car, as I am spending a lot of time on this series.

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli