Kombucha is for lovers!

   Yes you heard me correct....Kombucha IS for lovers! Anyone I know that has indulged into the world of Kombucha  has that certain something that only folks in love can handle! And you don't have to be in a significant relationship with another person, it's mostly the love of SELF that brings people lining up for the tasty, fizzy bubbly delight. Kombucha comes in many varieties from the fruity to the plain taste of tea, some is sweet, some is a bit sour, all are pretty much delicious in my humble opinion.

Our very first bottling of Kombucha - this is the second fermentation 

to give it that special fizz like carbonated soda.

We made Orange Ginger!

What exactly is a Kombucha and what can it do for you?

     Kombucha is basically a fermented tea that has many beneficial nutrients that can aid our body in a variety of ways.  Let's begin with the SCOBY...by the way - I absolutely adore ours!

Here is our new baby SCOBY...

isn't it just the cutest thing!

So giving and wonderful! A SCOBY is a Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. Oftentimes called a "Mother" starter culture, a SCOBY is the focal point of making Kombucha or basically fermented tea with beneficial nutrients for our human bodies. And before you say "Yuck!" I'm pretty sure you are already consuming fermented food or drink. Do you enjoy pickles? Do you savor wine? How about Kimchi or sauerkraut....yogurt? These all are fermented and can benefit your health in the appropriate dosages.

This is our set-up for

a continuous brew of

yummy sweet goodness and

home to our 

    Kombucha is chalked full of probiotics for your ever important  healthy gut. Research has shown that poor digestion issues are integral in the development of many chronic diseases. For over three decades, I was plagued with digestive issues that were diagnosed as a possibly simple intestinal virus, to Irritable  Bowel Syndrome (IBS) to possibly  Crohn's Disease. I also had over 49 medically identified allergies to my environment. It all boiled down to me having gut issues that stemmed from early infancy. For more -information on gut health and how to know more about it, click here!
   Now, back to our beloved fizzy bubbly! Pictured is the system that we are using for brewing our Kombucha! It was actually a hand me down from my lifelong friend/spirit sister of over 40 years. Often, we will sort through our belongings and see if the other wants anything before we donate the unwanted to charity....her more so than me. I'm a pretty decent minimalist but that's a story for another time.
   To begin your journey on becoming a Kombucha brew master, you need a starter SCOBY. I actually bought mine at a food cooperative from a company called Eva's Herbucha. This woman started her own company after first becoming  a licensed natural health practitioner (“Heilpraktiker”, licensed in Germany), a polarity therapist, and reiki master. Being a fellow reiki master, I had to lend my support by purchasing her loving SCOBY! I suggest buying a starter kit, just so you can dive into the world of Kumbucha with a successful step. Unless you know a person that brews their own that you can trust, then maybe they will gift one to you!
   Don't take the nutrient facts from me. " Kombucha enfolds a range of yeast and bacterial species with polyphenols, amino acids, and organic acids. Post the completion of required fermentation process, kombucha drink develops into a nutritional powerhouse with the richness of various minerals, numerous beneficial enzymes, a range of vitamins such as vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, B9 (folic acid), B12, C, and many healthful chemical constituents such as gluconic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, glucuronic acid, usnic acid, fructose, and lactic acid." (Organicfacts.nethttps://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/beverage/health-benefits-of-kombucha.html) 
   Another amazing fact about Kombucha is that it has the awesome ability to detoxify the body in the area of the liver and pancreas. This wonderful drink also is an anti-inflammatory and is full of antioxidants! So before you turn your nose up at this elixir, read up on a drink that could potentially start the ball rolling for your health in the direction you want it to. You do not have to drink alot of it to enjoy the benefits and you will begin to notice changes in a few days.

Using one of my beer growlers

for second fermentation Kombucha!

   As with anything on your natural healing list, the best advice is to research further and consult your natural health care practitioner! As usual, I am not receiving any type of payment for my endorsements on anything here, just spreading a positive good word into the world.

We love our daily yoga!

Until next time...Blessings!

We are 16' goin' on 17 da-da dum da Dee daaah

  The Wee Baby Ness has made an appearance and even strangers can now see our delight. Rainbow babies are extra special and make everyone smile! If you aren't aware of what a rainbow baby is, it is a baby conceived after a loss or miscarriage. Using the universal sign of hope, a rainbow, symbolizes the beautiful part of making it through a terrible and powerful storm, of which we are so fortunate to have survived. We've been waiting for a rainbow for a few years.
   My shifts at the brewery have been shortened, to give more time to prepare for baby....and relax. I always have amazing stories though from the people I meet. The other day, as I explained our menu to a young couple, their inquisitive toddler sat there. Mid sentence, I felt a POKE POKE POKE on my belly and I looked down to see their little girl poking the Wee Baby Ness and smiling and blabbering on to the little occupant in my womb. I smiled as I felt the wiggles from inside me. I really enjoy the fact that everyone in my life, strangers included, treating me - us - as if the baby is a "somebody" already. My coworkers chat up the Wee Baby Ness, one always pokes, and all of them give affectionate rubs. Our family also takes turns chatting and caressing.

My view of our Fierce little Ness

Another month has flown by and we have seen our primary OBGYN again. I've been feeling pretty great although I've had a few episodes of heart palpitations and vision changes, both associated with m hypothyroidism. I'm still donning my own jeans with a belly band, despite the big growth expanse in my belly region. Again, I battled the terrible nerves of stepping on that scale at the doctor's office. But what did I really have to worry about...right?! The same smiling faces greeted us at the office and I turned the corner to see that silver menace...the scale. With a deep breath, I stepped on...drumroll....BOOM.....I gained a whopping 9 pounds over the last month. **sigh** Internally, I was/and continue to be ----devastated. My blood pressure was right on target, so that fact is awesome. Next stop, a meet with the OB and to listen to the heartbeat.
   We found the little pitter patter heartbeat immediately, and big smiles filled the room, but quickly the squirming began. It was as if the Wee Baby Ness discovered the hiding spot was comprised and said,"Ske-Daddle!!!" We all laughed as the baby scurried all over, running from the Doppler. The heartbeat was good, a moving baby is excellent! Smiles all around! Now....back to the weight gain. Where, why, how??? I'm gluten intolerant so that's usually where the bulk of most people's diet problems lie. We tested my TSH and that came back normal...Thank the Gods! They assured me they had no worries at this time and sometimes people gain lots one month and hardly any the next. We just need to wait it out and see if any more hypothyroid symptoms rear their ugly head.
   Of course my brain couldn't let it drop after we got home....I researched water retention remedies, and stumbled upon B complex vitamins. I had been taking them and just didn't pick anymore up when I ran out. I discovered this may contribute to a sluggish metabolism...hopefully BINGO!
   Time will tell if this helps at all or if more hypothyroid symptoms will begin creeping in. I'm so
thankful that the baby is healthy and growing...and that we are enjoying every moment of this
journey! Meanwhile, we keep preparing by making diapers and thinking of things we are going to
need when March 2017 arrives!

My champion family who I love with all my heart! My husband is helping me make cloth diapers and 

our daughter is building the chest of drawers for storage for baby.

Stop the Madness! Your hormones will thank you!

If you suffer from a chronic illness like diabetes, Hashimoto's or any other autoimmune disorder or disease, you need to know about endocrine disruptors (chemicals that are found everywhere when you look) that can wreak havoc on your well being.
To know how this can affect your life, we need to first talk about your endocrine system.
My wha?? Yes, you have an endocrine system that is a very important system in the human body.
I'm not going to go into a bunch of medical blah blah blah...here's some things you'll notice your endocrine system does!
You want to lose/gain weight? That's a part of your endocrine system. How about remembering where you last put your keys or about an upcoming meeting time? You guessed it, that's information that your endocrine system controls. Heart rhythms, skipped periods, low libido? That's part of your endocrine system too! Your endocrine system controls many many areas of your body and with out it or if it becomes severely damaged, the human body can decline rapidly. According to the medical staff on WebMD, "The endocrine system influences how your heart beats, how your bones and tissues grow, even your ability to make a baby. It plays a vital role in whether or not you develop diabetes, thyroid disease, growth disorders, sexual dysfunction, and a host of other hormone-related disorders." It's kind of a big deal.
So what can disrupt your endocrine system? Look in your medicine cabinet. Look in your make-up case. Do you put mass manufactured baby oil or lotion on your biggest organ - YOUR SKIN - daily? Anything we put on our bodies, gets absorbed into us and can disrupt an already faulty or struggling endocrine system. Even room sprays and air fresheners like Febreeze can harm a person trying to get their system back in line. Perfume, mass produced deodorant and laundry detergent can all disrupt your system.
So what is a person gonna do? My recovery plan for my flailing adrenals and confused hormones, I turned to cutting out all non-toxic cleaning materials, laundry supplies, body lotions, sprays, sunscreens and even shampoos. I make most of my own products for our house and if I don't have success making the products, I can usually find something in one of my natural stores or online to fit the bill.

People cannot argue with my results. In a year, I have overhauled my body internally. For the first time in over twenty years, I have been off allergy remedies and medications. And this is just one change that I've noticed. I've noticed several other things like not breaking out inexplainably in hives, I do not have dry itchy skin anymore and my brain fog seems to have loosed up its' grip on me! New lady!

Check out these great items!!

Things for dry skin:

• Coconut oil
• African Shea Butter
• Olive oil

Toothpaste replacement:
I love the brand Tom's, otherwise, baking soda with a dash of peppermint, tea tree or lavender oil will do in a pinch!

Hair care:
Coconut milk based recipes are amazing for hair. You can find some here.
Honey and eggs are also a great conditioner for your skin and they are affordable!

All natural deodorant:
When I first went off commercial mass produced deodorant, I was freaked out. I was having to apply it two or three times a day to keep up with the funky smell. Firstly, I detoxed my armpits using this recipe. Then I purchased a salt block and used that. After a few weeks, I detoxed the pits again. After only six months, I do not even need to salt to start my day and leave the house!

When cleaning your home, look for products that are biodegradable, earth friendly and use essential oils to disinfect and clean. Anything that leaves a trail or a chemical haze in the air is really off limits for a while.

Do you like to burn wax? Try using a soy based wax melt scented with all natural essential oils without artificial coloring. These smell great and our family has  no issues with allergies while using these. These are my current favorites and the product is awesome!

A special note about baby oil: Mass produced baby oil is petroleum or mineral based. These kinds of products do not allow your skin to breath. It coats your skin and disrupts the process to cell regeneration. It actually ages your skin. Your pores do not function as they should. Vegetable or fruit based oils are suggested in place of petroleum or mineral oil.

   In the United States, efforts have been severely hampered by chemical lobbyists to change laws or put statutes in place to  remove the harmful endocrine disrupting agents from the shelves of the stores. Despite the work of several hardworking individuals, over a decade has passed with the measures still awaiting to be carried out. European nations are in a much better lot with their governmental agencies taking the scientific data seriously. For more information on the measures, click here.

Blessings!

Ask me about Distance Healings

or need a consult?

Cris Ness