Spring...Err, Fall Cleaning

I know what some of you are probably thinking. Wait? Don't people usually clean in the spring, not fall? Well, yes and no. Most people do clean out their homes in the spring. It's such a refresher after being cooped up all winter. It feels nice to air out your house and clean it up! We do a certain amount of that in our home each spring. However, I never really feel like doing it. Here in the southern Indiana/western Kentucky area, 'spring' is a relative term. I've lost count of how many years we've almost gone straight from winter to summer. Fall seems to stay a little while longer. And I think it's that cool, crisp, open-your-windows weather that makes me want to organize and clean! So, with a mini vacation coming up and fall weather in full force, we've been doing some serious "Fall Cleaning" in our home.

What does fall cleaning look like for my family? Well, here are some great ideas for fall, even if you don't go as crazy as I will. But if you feel like going crazy (who doesn't every once and a while), I'll have links at the bottom on organization, cleaning, non-toxic cleaners, etc!

1) Shake out those blankets! Nothing makes me want to snuggle up under a blanket like fall weather. But if your house is anything like mine, they've been packed away all summer. We store our heavy-duty blankets in our linen closet and under Isaac's bed so they get 'stale', if you will. They aren't dirty, they just feel like it. So, each fall we drag them all out (good time to try out your fort making skills), give them a good shake and/or toss them into the wash so they feel and smell fresh. After washing, we take our blankets and layer up our beds to stay warm this winter. It's common knowledge we keep our house pretty cool in the winter but we don't want to freeze at night.

2) Open those windows! It feels good to give your home one last air-out before locking up the windows this winter. This airing out is why most people spring clean and it's great to open the windows back up after winter is gone. But we like to give ourselves as much fresh air as we can before we can no longer leave the windows open.

3) Drag out those winter clothes! Maybe my favorite part of fall, I love getting out my long sleeve shirts and sweaters! Like blankets, most clothes are clean when you get them out but just feel like they've been stuffed away with no circulation. We usually wash ours so, again, they feel fresh but you don't have to. This is also an excellent time to go through last year's winter clothes and donate anything you no longer fit into or want to wear. As we put away our summer clothes we make sure to set aside anything we know won't last until next year (ripped or stained clothes...we have two little boys) and organize what is left into boxes. It feels good to have summer clothes organized. This makes my job next spring much easier!

4) Throw away those dust bunnies! Personally, who wants to be stuck inside with dust and dirt all winter. Fall is the last chance to clean out your home and feel like it's easy to get rid of. Once winter sets in, hauling your clothes to Goodwill and your trash to the dump just isn't as easy of a job. Too, it feels good to get a head start on the holidays by cleaning all the spots I don't normally get to. Later when I'm cooking and decorating, I have the pleasure of being in a clean home!

I hope everyone has fun this fall decorating, opening the windows, carving pumpkins...and maybe doing a little organizing. Don't forget the links at the bottom and check back in a few days as we say farewell to our 30 Day No Sugar Challenge!

List PlanIt review at Keeper of the Home

Real Simple's Fall Cleaning Checklist - I knew there was a reason I loved this site

How to Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit

9 Days and Counting

Well, there is only 9 official days left of the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge. If you decided to do this with me, way to go! You've come so far!

A little run down on how my family is doing with no sugar...Isaac was having a sort of meltdown about half way through. Which is funny since he probably ate the least amount of sugar pre-challenge. He was asking for candy, cookie bars, juice, chocolate...like every day! Aside from small amounts of juice he doesn't regularly eat candy and chocolate (cookie bars are actually fruit bars, he just doesn't know it). So at some point, although I'm not exactly sure where, we started giving him a very small amount of Organic Apple Juice each day. Like the juice fiend I knew he was, he literally giggled when I gave it to him. Otherwise, his sugar intake has been reduced to what he can mooch off sweet ladies at church (or snatch from their purses when they aren't looking, no joke).

Rod has done wonderfully. He never had to do the No Sugar Challenge and I have to say, he's been a huge encouragement to me! Daily he has come home and told me how many grams of sugar is in a particular food item.Way to go, honey!

So how have I done? I have mixed emotions about this month. I think overall, I've done pretty well. The big habits I've wanted to kick, like eating chocolate every night and drinking sodas all day everyday, are gone. But I have to be honest and say there have been a couple times I wasn't as dedicated as I wanted to be. All those times fall under social events - visiting churches where they would graciously feed us and our Pumpkin Carving Contest where I consumed my most sugar to date on Julie's chocolate dessert! Shame! Rod and I agreed to have a free pass that day. And I paid for it later by feeling like I'd been run over by a truck (and then backed over...you get the point). All of my posts came back to haunt me because I felt the exact effects I have been talking about. Lesson learned! Whew!

So with 9 days left I guess you could say I have renewed commitment to see this through. It was never intended to really last only 30 days. The No Sugar Challenge is my way of quitting sugar overdose, cold turkey. Treating myself, every once and a while, to a dessert or sweet tea is not bad. Eating it everyday, when I know the damaging effects it can have on my body, is bad enough for me to take 30 days to teach my body to live without it.

I will leave you with a link. I made these "cookies" and they turned out pretty good! No they don't taste like White Chocolate Macadamia but that would probably make me sick....

Sugarless Banana Oatmeal Cookies

Immune Boosting Ideas When Your Kids Start Getting the Sniffles

This week has been a battle with runny noses. And it's hard to get anything done when you have to take periodic (as in every 5 minutes) breaks to wipe a snotty face..and I say 'face' because Isaac, in his frustration, rubs his snot all over his face. It's disgusting. But he's smart and learning quickly not to do that. Maybe we should start calling him Mr. Snotty Face...just joking!

With stuffy noses and coughing and fevers, it's tempting to dose the kids up with all sorts of over-the-counter medications. And don't get me wrong, we do use fever reducers and allergy medications when our children are so miserable they can't function. However, no sickness in our house is without good home remedies and lots of Vitamin C. So here are some ideas to try before you reach for Tylenol or in combination with it.

1. Hydrate. If your kids are like mine, they don't feel like eating or drinking much when they're sick. However, as parents, we don't want our kids to get dehydrated. Usually Isaac drinks water and juice is a rarity. But when he's sick I'm a little more lenient on his juice intake with these rules: It has to be organic and it has to be in small amounts. I say organic because ingesting refined sugar when your sick will only make you sicker. Processed sugar breaks down your immune system and causes inflammation so look for an organic brand (Walmart now carries some good options) and check the ingredients to make sure they only contain juice. We also water Isaac's juice down to almost nothing but it's enough he still wants to drink it. This way he stays hydrated but doesn't pay for it with bad sugars.

2. Vitamins. Vitamin C is a wonderful option when kids have the sniffles. Vitamin D, as well, is great for building up your child's immune system. Have you ever noticed how sickness goes up when the days get shorter and we stay inside more? If you find your kids stay sick all winter, try giving them Cod Liver Oil which is full of Vitamin D. There are brands available just for kids that have a tolerable taste. But if you find they can't stand it, try finding an immune boosting Vitamin complex at your local health food store. 

3. Elderberry Syrup. Before last fall, I had never heard of Elderberry Syrup but once I learned about how effective it is for warding off the flu and colds I was hooked! This amazing little berry packs a punch against viruses. I was sick last winter and pregnant so I couldn't take hardly anything over the counter. After several days of hot tea and honey, I took a teaspoon of Elderberry syrup and started feeling better that same day. I also give it to Isaac when his immune system is most likely to be down...during flu season, when he's been around someone who is sick, if we've been busy and his body is tired. Here is a quick tutorial on how to make your own syrup if your interested!

4. Probiotics. Nothing gives your body a good defense like a healthy gut! And especially for kids that often have to take antibiotics, it's important to build up some good bacteria in their bodies. Not all children like yogurt and when they're sick sometimes they won't eat it anyway. So bring the probiotics to their level! If Isaac wants applesauce, I simply take one of my probiotic capsules, break it open and sprinkle about half into his sauce. He can't tell the difference in taste but it makes all the difference to his body!

5. Avoid sugar like the plague. Wait, you knew I had to talk about sugar, didn't you? I can't help myself since we're smack dab in the middle of our No Sugar Challenge. I can't say enough how much better your body will function without processed, refined sugars. But when your kids are sick, it's especially important to avoid them. Like I said above, refined sugar will only suppress your immune system and make it harder to get well. But one better, have your kids avoid it when they're healthy so it will help keep their bodies strong to fight off getting sick. A lot of people have told me I picked the wrong month to go without sugar: Halloween, Fall Festival, etc, etc. I keep thinking, I know! It's so tempting. But on the flip side, this is the perfect month to avoid sugar since it's also the beginning of flu season. Jump start your immune system by not suppressing it in the first place.

There are so many other natural ways to keep your kids (and yourself) well this flu/cold season. I've included some links below for you to check out that have helped me a lot in my journey to wellness. If you have some ideas or personal experiences to share, I'd love to hear them! The best way to learn is from each other! Until next time...

One Mom's Guide  - Stephanie at Keeper of the Home shares her list of ways to avoid the flu this season. Be sure to check out her site overall since she regularly includes ways to stay healthy.
Sambucus Elderberry Syrup for Kids - The brand of elderberry syrup we use. Isaac loves the flavor!
Immune Function - a great article by Green Mountain Health on boosting your immune system this fall & winter.

12 Days In....A Blog about Artificial Sweeteners

We're 12 days into the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge! Way to go! On day 1 I promised to post information on artificial sweeteners and that day has arrived. But like most of my blog posts (cause I'm still a newbie), confession time comes before the information. Up until today, I knew artificial sweeteners where quite less than ideal but I couldn't tell you why. Um...maybe they are bad...because....well...they're just bad! That's lame and I don't live my life like that. I want to know why I live the way I do. I want to be informed. But it wasn't until I sat down to write this post that I realized how uninformed I was on this issue. But no fear! I have literally spent a few solid hours of my life researching artificial sweeteners. I'm no expert. I still don't know everything but I did learn some really important things and I'm going to share those with you!

Several days ago, Rod was reading an article on the Internet that stated the body doesn't know the difference between high fructose corn syrup and regular sugar or any artificial sugar. I remember my jaw dropping to the floor. It doesn't take much reasoning to know our ingenious bodies can tell the difference between two different substances just like my body can tell the difference between white bread and wheat bread. I say this because one of the biggest lies since the 80's is that your body can't tell the difference between aspartame and regular sugar. 40% of aspartame 'make-up' is aspartic acid. Research is showing that regularly ingesting aspartic acid can lead to neurological disorders. Aspartate is also on the same level as glutamate...hello...as in Monosodium glutamate or MSG. More and more people are realizing the harmful effects of MSG but very few people know the correlation between aspartame and MSG. Please see the link below for a more in depth look at how aspartic acid effects the brain and why it and MSG are labeled as "excitotoxins".  Aspartame exposure can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue and depression, just to name a few (taken from the FDA's list of complaints submitted attributed to aspartame).
10% of aspartame is made up of methanol, an known toxin. While fruits, for example, contain trace amounts of methanol, they also contain ethanol to prevent it from converting to formaldehyde and formate. It is also interesting to note the effects of methanol are much greater when aspartame is heated above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The FDA approved aspartame for food that could be cooked and baked in 1993. How nice of them...

The other 50% of aspartame is made up of phenylalanine. This word was familiar to me right away. Having two young children, I remember having a PKU test done at the hospital when they were born. PKU is a disorder in which a person cannot metabolize phenylalanine. While phenylalanine is an amino acid found in the brain, too much of it can be lethal. You do not have to have PKU to have dangerously high levels of phenylalanine in your brain. Through consistent use of aspartame, especially over long periods of time, it can raise your levels as well. What I found interesting in my reading is that the higher your levels of phenylalanine the lower your levels of serotonin in the brain. Interesting since many people complain of depression when they've consumed aspartame.

So that's the run down on aspartame, although there is so much more information available to read. While aspartame may be the most dangerous sweetener available, questions have been raised to the safety of all artificial sweeteners. Splenda, while relatively harmless every once in a blue moon, if used on a regular basis is showing a correlation with migraines. And because it is newer than aspartame (approved in 1998), we just do not know all the ramifications of long term use.

Those are the reasons why we're choosing not to substitute artificial sweeteners for regular sugar this month.  I have eaten Splenda once so far but I don't have a taste for it. Rod, I think has eaten it twice. But overall, we strive to avoid artificial sweeteners as much as possible, especially aspartame. I hope after doing some research on your own, you will make that decision too!

Let me leave you with a verse:
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's". - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

At the end of the day, that's my goal! Whether I'm doing a No Sugar Challenge, speaking encouraging words to my toddler or eating foods I know will make me healthy. If you're doing the No Sugar Challenge with us, congratulations! You've made it for 12 days! I hope you're feeling as good as I am and having just as much fun.

Links to Look For:
Study on Splenda
A whole website on aspartame. Explains how it is made in the easiest terms & why you should avoid it.
Aspartame & Pregnancy

Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia

I'm traveling off the beaten path today from sugar updates to talk a lot about chronic pain and specifically Fibromyalgia. Many of you probably know I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2007. Sadly, I know a lot of people, mainly women, that suffer from Chronic Pain and/or Fibromyalgia and the list is growing every day.There is still a lot of research being done to determine what causes chronic pain but studies as well as personal experience are showing there are some ways to help ease the pain, no matter what the cause.

I am really passionate about this particular subject (of course) but there are a few things I want to 'disclaimer' before I start talking about what I do to treat my condition. First, I understand everyone is different. No one treatment will work for every person. If you suffer from chronic pain, you will have to learn what works for your body. That is your journey. It's a hard one but very necessary. Secondly, I am not a doctor. This post is not meant to diagnose or treat what someone is going through. I am simply going to share with you what has worked for me and people close to me. It may work for you but I always recommend finding a good doctor to work with, one that listens and is opened to alternative treatment. I've shied away from blogging about this particular subject because it's extremely personal for each person. Giving advice on chronic pain can be personal as well. So, with that being said...here we go!

I have tried many alternative treatments for my pain. There are many I have yet to try. However, there are some basic things that have given me huge success in pain management.

1) Exercise. Studies are showing that exercise alone, without any other effort to treat your pain, can greatly improve your pain. However, going out and jogging 5 miles and lifting 50lbs weights won't make you feel better. It will likely land you in bed for a few days! The key with chronic pain is to take it easy, especially at first. I personally, get wonderful results from stretching. I try to stretch every day, even if it's a little. The greatest obstacle most people will face with chronic pain is never trying. It's hard. You don't feel good. Why on earth would you want to get up and move, at all, when your body hurts? Yes, it will probably feel worse before it feels better. But the point is to try. And keep trying. The first workout I did wasn't for me. I had to keep trying different things before I found one that helped.

2) Watch what you drink. Drinking water will help with inflammation, joint pain and help flush toxins out of your body. On the flip side, it helps to watch how many non-water drinks you're consuming. Coming from a person that has been addicted to sodas for years (and only recently stopped drinking them), it's hard! But if there is one piece of advice I could give to a person struggling with chronic pain it is this: Skip the soda. While not only having zero nutritional qualities, drinking sodas can lead to dehydration, drain calcium from your body and cause inflammation from the amount of processed sugars you would consume. Try tea or coffee for caffeine, if you so desire but try to steer clear of sodas.

3) Watch what you eat. This point can be divided two ways: First, Fibromyalgia and chronic pain usually carry with them digestive problems. It has helped me (and many people I know) to check for food allergies/intolerances. I personally, don't do much dairy. I doesn't just hurt my stomach, it makes my whole body feel bad. Other common allergies are eggs, corn, soy, & wheat, among others. Keep a food journal of everything you eat as well as how you felt soon after you ate it. Second, what we eat (whether it causes allergies or not) effects how we feel, no matter how insignificant.Without getting on my soapbox, I'll say, the way our food is grown and processed makes a huge difference in how we feel when we eat it. I always encourage anyone but especially those suffering from fibromyalgia to eat as organically as you possibly can. It can be expensive to buy some things organic, I know. Everything in my cupboard isn't organic. But there are some foods that are more important to eat organically because they have greater adverse effect on your body when they are conventionally grown. There is a link at the bottom with more information on how to eat organic foods, how to afford organic foods and the difference it will make on your health.

4) See a chiropractor. I have been treated by chiropractors since I was just a little girl. Of course, I didn't have fibromyalgia then, I had ear infections. Nothing helped my ears like chiropractic care. As I got older, I had migraines and headaches. Nothing helped my headaches like chiropractic care. And now, in the past few years, struggling with chronic pain I can honestly say, chiropractic care has played a big role in managing my pain! And hey, I worked for a chiropractor for 5 years so it wasn't just me I saw them help! If you decide to see a chiropractor, find one that offers help with chronic pain. Use their knowledge to help you where ever it can, it can be such a valuable treasure!

Ok, so those are my basics; things that may help you right away. For those of you wanting to dig a little deeper I would suggest you look into these things:
1) Metal toxicity
2) Detoxing your body - this has been a huge help to me!
3) Vitamin & Mineral deficiencies
fibromyalgia/chronic pain. While you may always struggle with getting a good deep nights sleep, look into ways to help you sleep better.
5) Essential Oils - more links below
6) Non-toxic cleaners, toiletries, etc.

Before I leave you with a huge list of links for further reading, I want to say this. You will most likely have days you may get discouraged, but never give up hope. Chronic pain often seems like a life sentence to misery but it doesn't have to be. It can be extremely hard at times but, through Christ, it can also become your greatest ally. While I would never have wished to have a chronic illness, I can give glory to God because it has taught me to trust Him. It has taught me humility (over and over again). It has taught me to lean on those around me. And it has taught me to Never. Give. Up.
I hope this post helped someone, in someway. If you have more tips and ideas for managing chronic pain, please share them in the comment box below! I'd love to hear from you!

Links
12 Foods You Should Always Eat Organic 
Truth about Soy 
Organic Food on a Budget 
The Maker's Diet 
Blog of Alternative Fibro Treaments 
Detox E-Book 
Aspartame's Effects on Your Body 
Articles on Fibromyalgia Vitamin Deficiencies & Symptoms 
Vitamin Deficiencies & Symptoms 
Lab Testing for Fibromyalgia 

Three Things I've learned in Three Days without Sugar

Day 3 pretty much completed of the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge! You're not going to believe what I'm learning. I can't believe everything I'm learning! I actually sat down to blog because I need to get some of this off my chest! Whew...

So, number 1 on the list of things I'm learning: It's amazing how much word gets out when you're doing something like this. Everyone asks me about it. Everyone has questions. Thankfully, everyone has been nice :-) Although, a lot of people think this is unusual (side note: You may want to read my post "I'm sorry...You What?" for more on that subject). But I'm loving every minute of it.

Number 2: Those same people that are asking about the challenge, aka: all of you reading this - YOU keep me accountable to my 30 days! I can't count how many times I've wanted to cheat, "Just a little!"  But I don't, and that's because of you. I would loathe getting out my computer and sitting down to type, "I'm sorry but I totally blew the 30 Day Challenge...and it's only the third day". So bravo! Thanks for keeping me sugar sober.

Number 3, on a serious note: I've been living in a bubble. And no, not a sugar bubble. I've been living in an "Organic" bubble that assumes everyone thinks the way I do. Shame. It's only taken me three days to learn how different everyones views are of healthy eating and more specifically, sugar. A dear friend asked me a few days ago whether or not sugar would really effect how my body feels. She didn't know! And neither did I for a very long time. And even worse, I've known for an even longer time how much better off I would be without it...and I ate it anyway. But each morning brings new opportunities and we will learn together!

Ok, so most of those things aren't technical sugar talk...those are heart things... I'm slightly perplexed and completely amazed that I set off to rid my body of toxins and start new eating habits for my family but after only three days, my heart has changed more than my body. And I'm not really sure what else to say (I was in fact just stroking my chin) except this may be a great 30 days.

Day 1: 30 Day No Sugar Challenge

Well, it's official. The 30 Day No Sugar Challenge has begun! In fact, we have one day under our blog belt. But day 1 of anything is usually the easiest day. Your excited, pumped or nervous and cravings may have not set in yet. Well, let me tell you about my day 1 and we'll compare notes.

The day started off pretty good. Most people don't get up and eat chocolate cake and soda for breakfast (at least not both at the same time) so the morning went well. Some of you may know that I gave up soda last Saturday in prep for this and with recommendation from Caleb's pediatrician. The amount of caffeine I was consuming late at night was keeping him awake. And since I usually drink soda in the afternoon, for dinner, late night...well, anyway, I decided to cut them out all together. Let me tell ya...we have had a rough week. And I say 'we' because I'm sure my soda withdrawal (and yes, you can have one!) affected the whole family. Just in case your 'there', I'll have more about how to manage withdrawal symptoms coming up.

All of that to say, I got the really hard part out of the way. Soda's were my main addiction. And still are since I caught myself staring at a man's Coke tonight at the restaurant.

Today, I gave up the rest of the 'sugar', and so did Rod. We agree we both feel lighter. Cravings didn't really set in until this evening. I actually sat on my bed for 5 minutes before writing this blog, arguing with myself over whether I should buy some sugar free candy to eat tomorrow night! It's probably normal but it's ridiculous.

So just in case your just tuning in, here's the deal: No sugar for 30 days including all natural sugars (except Stevia and Honey in small amounts) and all artificial sugars. The goal is to feel and look better at the end of my 30 days. A friend asked me if sugar really contributes to health problems and feeling bad overall and my hearty answer was 'YES!' Sugar causes inflammation in the body (among other issues) which leads to a whole list of health problems. With my struggles of chronic pain and weight gain, giving up refined sugar is a great place to start!

In the days and weeks to come, you can expect updates on how the family is doing with the challenge, tips on eating healthy, encouragement from someone who knows how hard it is, as well as tons of links about topics such as:
what problems can arise from the overuse of sugar
why artificial sweeteners are worse for you than regular sugar
what types of sugar is healthy to eat...in small amounts
and much more!!!


If you decided to take the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge, great job! I'm excited you're doing this with us! Feel free to leave comments or message me on how your doing. If your just reading this, or haven't decided to take the challenge, I encourage you to try it! I'm sure there are a lot harder things you've done in your life than give up sugar for 30 days. Your friends may think your crazy (unless they already do), your family may revolt but do it anyway. Do it for you!


Good luck everyone. Now...on to day 2....