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!

Ignite Your Flame - Celebrate with me!

A view from our front porch

Such a fantastic winter sky

   Hey peoples from near and far! I have had lots of goings on since 2018 started and I've been keeping my long term goals in mind. Those of us with autoimmune conditions tend to do just that. Sometimes we need to take a "time-out" to recoupe because life just gets too taxing....and I'm ok with that! Keeps my long term goals on my mind! Finn and I have been doing yoga daily since the year began and I will be posting more videos on my YouTube channel soon! Subscribe ... so my older kids will stop making fun of me! :)

Baby aerial yoga

   Which brings me to my latest accomplishment...DRUM ROLL.....something I have been working on and off again for over 12 whole years! I've published another children's book called, "A Princess Pirate Tea Party" that was written for our daughters when they were younger. I have dedicated the work to all of our four daughters. It is about our tea party times and how one afternoon we needed to get created so the event wasn't ruined in their eyes. Our girls spent lots of time drinking imaginary tea and all the fun that goes along with that.

   Also, I have been furthering my knowledge in the energy medicine field and am participating in classes that focus on the body's meridian systems. I'll let you in on more of that soon! It's fascinating!

   I just wanted to celebrate with you and give someone inspiration for achieving things however long it may take you! There were many times I needed to put this project on the back burner because I was sick AGAIN or too fatigued to even deal with another project, especially when life was kicking my butt. Sometimes you need to take time to deal with your health so you can enjoy the fruits of life maybe even years later. Yes it took over two years to healing to get to the place I'm in. It's completely worth it...you are worth it!

We took a business trip to North Dakota....

it was a regular -21 degrees every day,

so we swam in hot waters!

   So, please click this link, check out my new book and the others I have in my online bookstore! Write me a message on there to let me know you visited!

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!