Tumeric paste for YOU

Delicious golden milk...

the drink that feels like a comfy blanket for your belly

   Tumeric…..that lovely spice from India that creates heat and stains everything a buttery golden hue. Tumeric has become a staple of my life! It is the Goddess of ayuda that assists in everything from inflammation to treating little nicks and cuts on my body. I LOVE IT! If you have enjoyed the savory food of the curry variety - then you already have enjoyed the benefits of this lovely tuber.

CELEBRATE! Tumeric got me

down to my pre-pregnancy dress size

this month!

  Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Hashi's- to those of us who have the autoimmune condition can be prone to developing inflammation throughout the joints in our bodies. Inflammation can be painful ….downright annoying and studies from around the world have shown that over 90% of various types of cancer BEGINS with inflammation.

 "Chronic inflammation is known to drive many cancers, especially liver cancer. Researchers have long thought that's because inflammation directly affects cancer cells, stimulating their division and protecting them from death. But researchers have now found that chronic liver inflammation also promotes cancer by suppressing immunosurveillance -- a natural defense mechanism in which it's thought the immune system suppresses cancer development."
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171108131856.htm

Tumeric helps me

keep up with four

active daughters!

   I get inflammation...I can weigh around 5-6 pounds more in excess water if inflammation is being an issue. That's when I looked into the benefits of Tumeric and how to incorporate the spice into my life! Inflammation makes my joints feel stiff and sore and every movement can be uncomfortable. Try this simple recipe for a Tumeric Paste to mix in your food or with your morning cuppa. Actually our little family enjoys a cup of golden milk (warmed milk with 1/4to 1/2 tsp. turmeric paste) before we retire for the night. The ingredients are perfect for calming tummies and easing digestion, relieving inflammation and aches.
   Tumeric Tea also known as Golden Milk, gives your immune system a great boost, tastes amazing AND makes you feel great! The oils are necessary for your body to accept the turmeric as is the ground pepper. Another amazing benefit of this paste is it can be given to your four legged friends! Dogs will take this paste willingly in their food and can really help with arthritis, injuries both internal and external!

Golden Paste

1/2 cup turmeric powder 

enough water to make a good paste

2 tbsp. coconut oil or olive oil

1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger root

1/2 tsp. cardamom powder

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

Mix together over heat until well mixed. Store in an air tight container in your cooler for up to two weeks.

The paste can then be used in teas, assorted milks, and coffees to the ratio of anywhere from 1/4 tsp or 1/2 tsp per servings having 2 to 3 servings per day as needed.

I usually begin my day and end my day with this luscious golden paste in my bevies. You really will notice a huge difference in stiffness in your joints or aches in your body of any kind.

Blessings and enjoy the luner eclipse and happy full moon :)

Milk...going, going, gone

   Milestones, milestones....our American culture thrives on that. An infant's first few years are jammed packed with milestones for development and everyone is always eye balling to see if things are measuring up. We have lots of milestones happening and one in particular makes me kind of sad....so we flew kites today on this loveliest of spring days.

   My goal with each of my children was to breastfeed for their first year of life. That time frame seemed appropriate for me as their immune system is functioning quite well at that point. Two out of four times I have hit my goal! With my first child, everything had worked itself out and things were going strong until I started getting nauseated with each feeding. Even though I had not yet started my period after  having her, I was pregnant again when she was nine months old. She was weaned ASAP, the vomiting was too much during feeding. It was a horrible time for everyone. With the next little bundle, we were living on a farm. When she was five months old, I ran out to a commotion in the chicken coop only to be sprayed head to toe by a started skunk when I rounded the corner. I tried everything to get the smell off for a few days, but it overwhelmed me and she absolutely could not feed. I ended up having to supplement with formula but the process was enough to disrupt my precious and now skunky smelling milk supply. Our breastfeeding journey was over....and I smelled that wonderful skunk aroma in my nostrils for over a month! The last two daughters took full benefit of the breastfeeding and enjoyed every day of it.

   Lots of people think breastfeeding is easy and you automatically know how this process goes...yeah that's only in the movies....if movies even talk about such things without making it sexual, that is. It's a test of patience, sometimes pain, sometimes frustrations, sometimes joy, sometimes laughter, sometimes confusing, etc. It is a GRAND ADVENTURE in life truly and there is much fulfillment in continuing to provide the nourishment for your greatest achievement (baby) after they are out of the womb. Even though they aren't with you constantly anymore, you have those few moments during the day and night of truly unique bonding and special time. You examine each other's eyes, feel each other's breath, smell each other's smells, skin to skin is comfort, laugh together, sometimes cry together LOL and experience your baby like nobody else in the world gets to. Being a breastfeeding mom is empowering!

   As of yesterday, our journey of serene togetherness and intimate nurturing is over. We have been feeding less and less each day in preparation of these times. She eats very nutritious food and has for a very long time. For over a week we were just doing one feeding in a 24 hour period to prep for no breastfeeding time. The last to go was the feeding right after her bath, directly for bedtime. It was the one you use to calm and send her off to her sweet dreams with, the last bond before your evening shifts of parenting begin. The last feeding before we stretched out in our bed and giggle, discussing the details of the life we've built for ourselves. I love that time of day :)

   Don't get me wrong....we've celebrated this milestone intimately as a couple as well. It's refreshing to not have wet shirts or sheets, not smell of past ripe milk that has spilled somewhere. It's super  nice to have those two things of mine be just purely sexual again! I did miss that life too. Last night, during my favorite time of day, my husband quietly  watched us as we struggled to change up our bedtime routine as I rocked and held her in our dimly lit bedroom. She fell sound asleep after letting out soft whimpers and I placed her in her bed. He held out his arms to me and asked how it was for me. "Awful..." and I collapsed into a heap in his arms .Our favorite time of day was spent in  quiet reflection as he stroked my hair with the occasional honking of body parts with assorted noises. :)

Blessings everyone!

Our rainbow is one...of us!

   It happened! Our rainbow baby turned one over the weekend!  A year of surprises, moments, memories, and love. It was BIRTHDAY WEEK!  Her sisters, along with us, reflected on the events leading up to her arrival, laughing at the memories.  What a blessing she is for all of us. She has unveiled herself to us this past year....aaaah we are a wonderful clan with amazing depth! We are the lucky parents of children from young adult to toddler :) HOW BUSY ARE WE?!?!

In Finn's first year, she has learned so much! She loves many things this life has to offer and we can't wait to see what she learns this next year.

Finn has learned:

Some challenges are worth the effort...

Breath is life

Climbing stairs

Food is WONDERFUL

Anytime is a good time

for breastfeeding.

Her sister Sydnie Jo hates feet...

Love....

A new perspective brings new surprises....

Love is sharing yourself....

You can love, but it's not always given back....

Blessings! Be want you want the world to be...spread joy.

Old ways won't open new doors

IT"S 2018!!!
What a great year it is going to be!

I would like everyone to take a moment and think about this..........

Old ways

won't

open

new doors....

Many people like to start a brand new year off with hopeful intentions toward their life goals (New Year Resolutions) ....a house, maybe a spouse, weight loss, repair a damaged relationship, better health, learning to read, maybe not living paycheck to paycheck, achieving their diploma or starting a family....the list is endless. All that I've mentioned, incidentally,  is possible to anyone with the correct recipe.

I rarely make new Year resolutions. If I want something to change in my life, I can and will just  do it at any time, not just at the start of a beginning. My year is full of lots of beginnings, middles and ends. The cycle of things is what I love about life. The lows make the high moments even more memorable!

So let's get back to the saying "Old ways won't open new doors".

If you have a dream or a goal,
                                               realize it,
                                     recognize 
                                         and implement the necessary changes.

I would not be where we are today, had I not believed I could achieve my dreams or that I deserved them! We welcomed our little rainbow Finn as she entered our realm in our very own bed! In post partum state, I hiked over sixty-five miles with the majority being above 6,500 feet and with our 14 year old and newborn in tow! We had some amazing conversations! I am now producing enough thyroid hormone ON MY OWN that I am off all medications! I was chosen by a company to highlight my artwork on their apparel and accessories! I am 60% fluent in a aecondary language!  I kept up this blog and talk to people all over the world answering questions  about thyroid issues, fitness, energy work or just making a human connection that they arent alone with their health issues.

The following steps work with many scenarios - the only exception being repairing a broken relationship or anything to do with the free will of someone else. You cannot nor “should not” want to control other people. Nothing good or fulfilling can come from such an act. You can heal yourself from damaged relationships or change  the way you exchange with other people by acceping that it is futile  to resort to categorizing instances of being  “ right or wrong”. You can choose to argue or not argue and you can choose to be open or to just be passive aggressive, never being direct about your requests besides complaining  and allowing yourself to falsely believe that your behavior is giving you an edge. But those behaviors will not repair or rebuild. You continue to allow yourself to wear your mask.

So on to the positive lesson of wchieving your goals....realize. Allow yourself to explore your desires. Even if they seem unattainable or far from reach! Dream! It doesn't have to be big - maybe you've been quietly watching life all around you and you just want to participate! Maybe you've always been meaning to learn a new hobby. Maybe you need to feed your body different fuel to be healthier. Or you might want to learn a new language or take that trip you've talked about.

Recognize and rationalize the goal and visualize success. Look at all the parameters, obstacles and time associated with a plan. Read and explore. Be realistic. There may be several steps to make a little forward movement.

Lastly, implement those parameters that you need to achieve! THAT'S IT! Admittedly, saying it out loud is the first step...words have power! Believe! Now go achieve and celebrate all the small and big victories along the way!

So what new doors are you looking for in 2018?
Drop me a line and let me know! Connect!

From our family to yours....May your 2018 be everything you could possibly imagine!

Biscuits are for Rainbows!

   Fall is upon us in the Northern hemisphere - chill is making an appearance as the leaves invite us to see the beauty of the changing cycles of our world.

My ad campaign for October :) I designed

check me at Crisawesomeness Designs 

     October marks the time for us to begin slowing down, earlier evenings, warm meals and hearty laughs, sipping hot tea and cocoa, settling in on the American League's  pennant race in the hopes of another NY Yankee win....walking in nature and enjoying the last fleeting moments before the snow falls and silences the landscape.

Hiking in the beautiful 

Black Hills, South Dakota

St. Elmo's Peak

 October is also a month to spread awareness for Miscarriage and Infant Loss with  pink and blue ribbons.

I

am

1 in 4.

   Those are words I don't take lightly, I am the face of miscarriage and so is my husband.

We are survivors, we are warriors. My family is the face of Infant Loss.  I want  to spread awareness for those who suffer  agonizing over  the loss of their baby, whether their baby was full term,  or just innocently hanging out in your womb, whether you held your baby or just heard a heartbeat. We are a part of a community that knows how to proceed on, live and think of the could haves. We are part of a family that silently gets annoyed by those who unknowingly say phrases to make themselves feel secure when you finally  let your true feelings come out and exhibit uncomfortable sorrow that day. We have heard other people's reasons for our babies leaving too soon, and not finding comfort in any reason that is presented to us. We quietly reflect on the anniversaries of our baby's birth and death every year whether it happened last year or 30 years ago. We move on somehow and little things trigger a memory that transport us in time for a moment. We are no longer the person we used to be - and that is hard for some people who know us.

  

Some days we shine.

Some days we try.

Some days we struggle

and some days we don't. 

Fun with Autumn Leaves!

   We welcomed our rainbow baby this March and we feel overwhelmed ....  so fortunate, so lucky, so blessed. There are so many families that are still trying for their rainbow, or have decided the road to rainbow is too difficult.  However, we  still are a part of this beautiful community of hopeful and strong  people and forever will be.
   In honor and to raise awareness, here is a delicious herbal teething biscuits recipe I tweaked  for nearly any little one....they are gluten free, egg free and nut free :) The coconut flour provides a wonderful source of fiber (it doesn't add a coconut flavor either), molasses  is rich in  Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Copper, and Vitamin B6 while coconut oil provides medium-chain fatty acids!

Rainbow Biscuits
1 cup gluten free baking flour
1/2 cup coconut flour 
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup pear puree
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or cardamom seeds (powder)
1 1/2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
Herbed sugar for dusting

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and shape the biscuits by hand for easy grabbing. Lightly dust with herbed sugar - we used lemon verbena sugar I made from our garden last week for a nice citrus twist. Place on cookie sheet and bake one and a half hours at 275 degrees.
Let cool and then pop them in the freezer and use as needed for sore gums!

Blessings!

Life's twists: Keeping your stress in check

Hi my fellow warriors, family and friends new and old!

First off - our love goes out to our friends in Florida & the Carolinas-heck, all of  the areas affected by Hurricane IRMA!

The world is with you.

   It's been a while since my last post....there has been much to process for our little family! No worries - everyone here is healthy and that is the best thing in the world! Our children grow and grow each day it seems and Clayton and I are too (in other ways). When life gets too cozy, curve balls are a must to keep things interesting, I guess.

   It's easy to get overwhelmed by the stress and let my autoimmune condition get the best of me. For those unfamiliar, anyone with an autoimmune condition that has a tremendous stress mounted on them  will begin to have immune system problems if steps aren't taken to relieve it. Sickness will mount in the form of  colds and flus until you can get back in control and put your stress in check. It's not only important for me but also my family that we spend a few moments every day for ourselves without the thoughts of what might be.

   There are strategies we can all utilize when life's situations can get up in your face and shake things up. Stress cannot be avoided, but it can be dealt with in a healthy manner.

Some tips from the National Institute of Mental Health include: 

• Recognize the Signs of your body's response to stress, such as difficulty sleeping, increased alcohol and other substance use, being easily angered, feeling depressed, and having low energy.
• Get Regular Exercise. Just 30 minutes per day of walking can help boost your mood and reduce stress.
• Try a Relaxing Activity. Explore stress coping programs, which may incorporate meditation, yoga, tai chi, or other gentle exercises. For some stress-related conditions, these approaches are used in addition to other forms of treatment. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy and relaxing activities.
• Set Goals and Priorities. Decide what must get done and what can wait, and learn to say no to new tasks if they are putting you into overload. Note what you have accomplished at the end of the day, not what you have been unable to do.

   A big change for me is not being employed at all this year besides the occasional freelance work....I've always held even a part-time job  (usually 2-3) as I raised the older girls and this is a new concept! How exciting and FUN it was to be able to just be a mom for a while. And then this happens--- your partner's position of over five years gets yanked with less than a week's notice..right 

around the day after his birthday. Sometimes timing stinks.

Thankfully, with both of us used to living on the edge with no real salary to speak of, we had a nice little cushion in the bank. After the initial panic subsided (and let me assure you - we are talking a few days), we tried to enjoy a little vacation time. It has been literally years since we've enjoyed even a weekend off together and even with the arrival of Finn, Clayton was granted three days off of work only. Such is the life of the hourly employed.

   This happened August 1st and it is now mid-September. We couldn't afford to spend too much while we wait for our opportunities to reveal themselves, so we chose to enjoy the scenery around the area we live. Hiking seemed to revive us and open our minds to big changes.

Chica, Finn and I

Lost Cabin Trail, Black Hills, South Dakota

     Clayton has secured a temporary position through a Veterans program  and we are so grateful for that. It is, however, significantly less an hour than what we are used to making and he has an hour commute each work day. We have all switched over to days....that's a big change. We always have enjoyed operating on a schedule that less people take. We loved operating in the minority.  Now we are a weekday family. I have lost my yoga and swimming partner for the time being. We get to swim together once a week - sometimes less due to our new schedule.

   There are positives that we have found with this scenario, however. We really had to sit down, examine  and be open about things we really want. We looked at  what we thought of ourselves, see how we saw ourselves in the mirror...our qualities, our experiences. We actually used this as yet another way to learn more about each other and somehow I think we appreciate the other even more....if that was possible! This was another instance that we were each other's solid foundation in another one of life's lovely whirlwinds. 

My person :)

   We both have been offered job opportunities and we are carefully deciding  if that is the direction we are thinking is best for us and our family. Some of my fellow Hashi warriors have reached out to me and I might be joining up with them on a little business venture....if I pull the trigger, you'll be hearing about it for sure!

    Hiking has been a great tool for me...I feel grounded, stronger, get fresh air and our girls really love being in the wilderness. It's great for all of us! We also have connected with friends with hiking - it's been a win/win.

Hiking a National Park a few hours

away from where we grew up.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Black Hills, South Dakota

Mommy & Me yoga at home

Hiking the Badlands with my pal Amy

Until next time!

Blessings!

Stay strong, my friends!