Birth Story film: “Your Body is Not a Lemon” ~Ina May Gaskin
The story of my son’s birth is not one I’ve discussed on this blog, and in truth, is a bit painful for me to tell, despite having a flawless pregnancy and relatively easy birth. Our plan had been to birth at a freestanding, midwife-owned birth center two hours from our home (the closest option for a woman-supported, non-hospitalized, natural birth scenario). However, as the “recommended” gestation period of 42 weeks drew to a close, Little B, otherwise known as genderless “Sprout,” had no intention of moving and instead remained floating around inside of me...
Read MoreGift Picks for the Natural Mama in Your Life–Discounts, too!
Flowers, jewelry, a card…please. Woman, you are a GODDESS, a VIXEN, a LEADER, a MOTHER. You conquer the world of intuitive thought, of physical abundance, of soulful joy. You have the ability to create life, to nurture it, to heal. If that doesn’t deserve a little deep-muscle massage or, at the very least, two full hours of SILENCE in recognition of your supreme power, well, then, maybe this list will spark some ideas in the minds of those who call you, or made you, MOM. And, girl, if no one is patting you on the back–do it your damn self. Gift Picks for the Mama in Your...
Read MoreStop the Spray! Spray sunscreens are awful for your health.
Crashing waves. Sand warming your toes. Bright rays of the joyful sun. Vibrant laughter floating on the seabreeze, as well as….PSHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhsssssssssssssssst! Oxybenzone entering your lungs… Without fail, each summer, beaches up and down the coasts (and playgrounds, sporting events, picnic areas, and campsites across the country) are infiltrated with families who insist upon using spray sunscreen. The invention of sunscreen in a can revolutionized the sunscreen application process. Parents of wriggly, excited children everywhere found a quick, simple way to protect their...
Read MoreTop Articles Debunking the CDC’s New Study About #Vaccines & #Autism
Piggybacking news this week that the incidence of autism in the U.S. is now 1 in 50, the CDC released a study that claims that vaccines are NOT the cause of autism. Media outlets slurped up this seemingly-definite conclusion, spreading the study’s results far and wide. As a vaccine skeptic, I had my doubts that this study was truly the final answer on anything in the realm of autism, and my hunches proved correct once I took a closer look. A few details stood out to me in this study: 1) the researchers focused only on the antigens, not the ingredients in vaccines, 2) unvaccinated...
Read MoreConfessions of a Former Food Snob: I Owe Some Apologies
My closest friends and family will tell you I’m a horrible sympathizer; I can’t put myself in someone’s place unless I’ve been there myself. For instance, I couldn’t gently smile at parents of unruly toddlers until I HAD ONE. I had trouble understanding why anyone would willingly be a stay-at-home parent until I ENDED UP THERE. And I didn’t comprehend what life is like for a family living on a less-than-average* income until we WERE LIVING IT. So much of what I’ve written on this blog (or said out loud to people) revolved around food choices,...
Read MorePicky Eaters: Doing Battle with Dinner (and Breakfast, and Lunch)
Our baby’s first food was sweet potato that he grabbed from my plate at 5 months old. A few months after, he began a wholesome diet of grains, vegetables, and fruits. Once the kiddo was eating solid foods full-time, he loved anything we put in front of him: curries, sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, Mexican food, pâté (okay, not really). But when I heard people talk about how their children were such picky eaters, I laughed that inner, haughty, naïve laugh of a first-time parent and thought, ‘”Psht. These people must not be introducing their children to diverse foods. They must...
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The Book That Changed My Life and Influenced My Health Philosophy
