LICE!!.....not so very nice!

Any blogger moms out there will probably agree that they dread the school nurse calling to say "Come pick up your child, they have lice".  Just thinking about it makes my head itch!  

Every year around this time, word gets out around school that the dreaded lice epidemic is spreading around classrooms faster than the flu.  Now, the thought of this throws me into a sheer panic.  Not because lice is a b!itch to eradicate without using harmful/toxic chemicals; worse, my daughter has hair down to her waist!!  It's hard enough to comb it with a wide-toothed detangling comb, never mind a nit comb!!

Since my daughter has had long hair since birth; I have been using a homemade spray to help detangle her long locks and keep away these nasty little buggers.  So far, I have had great success with it and wanted to share.

Lice-Away Spray:

Purchase a small spray bottle at the dollar store, add some unscented or mildly scented hair conditioner (filled to about 1/4 full) try to use the unscented if you can--artificial scents will only hinder the "job" of the essential oils,  Add the following essential oils:

10-15 drops tea tree 
10 drops lavender
10 drops lemon
10 drops geranium
10 drops thyme
10 drops rosemary
10 drops pine

Don't be worried if you do not have all of these oils on hand.  I ran out of the pine essential oil when I mixed my last batch and just used the others.  I would say that the tea tree is the one "must have" of the bunch though, they really hate that stuff!  

Add water and fill to (almost) the top, give it a really good shake and spray away!  If you find that there is too much conditioner for your liking, then add less next time.  The conditioner is being used mostly as an "emulsifier" for the essential oils (to  keep them blended in the water)--without it, they will just float at the top and not be effective at all.  

A wise hairdresser once told me that lice absolutely loathe any "product" in the hair.  They prefer nice, soft, clean hair to build a house in.  This may explain why the elderly rarely suffer from infestations (not to suggest they are dirty people, but older/wiser hair is very textured, not at all soft and sleek).  If you find the smell of essential oils offensive or off-putting, then try applying some gel, pomade, textured mousse to your child's head daily and this may be enough to keep them away also...Just a suggestion.

A quick note:  I know that essential oils can be on the "pricey" side, but they are really worth purchasing and having on hand.  All of these listed oils have many, many uses for beauty and in the home.  You can also blend this recipe into some coconut oil and use it as a mosquito repellent/black fly repellant in the warmer months.  

Eating healthy while eating out...

One of the biggest challenges I've had to face while on a strictly healthy (vegetarian) diet is the dreaded "eating out".  I absolutely love trying new restaurants (especially if they serve local, craft beer!)--but eating at a restaurant is usually a pretty stressful event.  I cringe at having to "special order" my meal with a less than enthusiastic waitress or having to play I-Spy with the menu for the one healthy item on it.

Lately, the name of the game for me is "being prepared".  If I know I'm going out, I grab my little squishy portable salad dressing holder , which looks like this one, ( I scored mine at TJ Maxx on clearance!), and fill it with my favorite, healthy dressing, grab a handful of sliced almonds in a ziploc, and keep them both in my purse.   Then, I will go for the best salad they offer.  It's normally NEVER the regular salad (believe it or not, I'm not a huge fan of tomatoes, cukes and iceberg lettuce--BORING!).  I love salads that offer nuts, olives, apple, anything that deviates from a normal, plain-Jane salad!  Then, I will ask them to add a veggie burger on top of it (if they offer one, which most places do).  I order some extra salsa and guac. or avocado and viola!  an instant, tasty meal.  I love adding my own dressing to this, but for most, the salsa/avocado may be all you need.  Most of the dressings that restaurants offer are laden with sugar, HFCS, terrible oil, etc...so avoid them and go for the salsa, or even ask for plain oil and vinegar.  A quick note:  Be sure to tell your server that you do not wish to have your veggie burger grilled with butter.  Also, some home made veggie burgers are surprisingly made with butter!  Please ask if you have any doubts about dairy/fat content.

Coconut Oil....taking it out of the kitchen in into your beauty regime.

If you are into natural products, I'm sure you've heard all the hoopla regarding coconut oil as of late.  If not, than you are most certainly missing out!  Let me fill you in.....

After removing all of my potentially toxic beauty products, I was in dire need of an all natural moisturizer that I could use post-shower.  Now, if you browse the beauty aisle at any natural food store, you will see plenty of all natural body creams and moisturizers.  All of which are chemical-free, healthy, and pricey.(you get what you pay for!)--My problem is this:  I have a vitamin E allergy.  Unfortunately, most all natural body products are loaded with it because of it's amazing antioxidant properties (it helps the shelf life and keeps them from going rancid).  So.......I needed to find an alternative.

After doing some research online, I found organic coconut oil and figured I'd give it a try.  That was a few months ago. Lately, with the harsh, cold Maine winter we've been having, coconut oil has been a miracle for my dry hands and hair.

So far, I have successfully used the oil for:

• Removing my makeup (careful not to get it into your eye while removing mascara, it does make things blurry, although it didn't sting).
• Deep conditioner for my hair.  I focus on the dry ends.  Apply and leave it for an hour (or overnight), then shampoo it out well.
• Daily after shower as an all over moisturizer.  Note, the extra virgin has a strong coconut smell, which some find harsh.  I am one of them.  I prefer the regular coconut which is less fragrant and can be purchased here.  I do use the extra virgin for my hair/makeup etc. that I am not wearing all day.
• As a facial moisturizer before bed.  I apply it over my vitamin C treatment, then let it absorb as I sleep.  I wake up with the softest skin ever!

Some people have posted that it helps clear acne.  Can't really say I've been blemish free for months.  Also, some say it makes a great alternative to shaving cream.  My only concern is that you regularly clean your drains with a vinegar/baking soda solution, because coconut oil does return to a solid at room temperature and WILL clog your drains if it's not cleaned correctly.  FYI

Have you used coconut oil?  How has it worked for you?

Smelling good, and feeling good about it!

I've always been a big fan of fragrances.  I truly believe that out of my 5 senses, the sense of smell has to be the one I'd miss most if I lost one.  I love candles, aromatherapy, perfume, incense, you name it.  I really feel that a smell can conjure up many memories in an instant.  Kind of like music, you know?  

I really struggled when I decided to eliminate all of my beauty products that contained harmful chemicals.  One of the biggest offenders is perfume.  Most of the ingredients I can't even pronounce, and putting them onto my skin (the biggest organ) is just a risk I didn't want to take anymore.

My dilemma went like this:  I was the biggest fan of a retail store (which shall remain nameless) that sold many types of body lotions, shower gels, and fragrances.  All of which I absolutely LOVED to wear.  And then I checked the ingredients.  Major bummer.....That was a really rough day :-(

Well, after some research, I found this really nice, simple fragrance while visiting Sephora one day.  The company is called Lavinila and they make about a half dozen vanilla type fragrances in spray and oils too.  

After trying a few of them, I really settled on the plain and simple "Pure Vanilla".  It smells so pure, not heavy, and it's completely natural with no unnecessary chemicals.

Here is the link here:

Lavanila Perfume Link

This is a really great company that promises to keep their products safe and healthy.  Check out their all natural deodorant too, I love it just as much as their perfume!!

Chia Seed Breakfast Recipe

Good Morning!

Today, I started my day with a new recipe that I found using my favorite new "super food", Chia seeds.  This was a welcome change from my typical norm....Oatmeal.  Very crunchy and fun!  I used coconut/almond milk, fresh banana & strawberries, walnuts & almonds, coconut & honey.  I omitted the spices today, but I'm sure they add some amazing flavor, too.  Here is the recipe:

Chia seed breakfast recipe. 

3 Tablespoons chia seeds

2/3 cup milk of choice

Handful of fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc..)

1 tablespoon of walnuts or slivered almonds

1 teaspoon of shredded or flaked coconut (optional)

1 pinch of cinnamon

1 pinch of cardamom

Drizzle of honey or sweetener of choice 

INSTRUCTIONS

In a bowl, mix the chia seeds with the milk. Let sit for at least 10 minutes so that the chia seeds soak up the liquid. If you are in a rush, you can heat the seeds with the milk in a pot which will expedite the absorption process. 

Once the liquid is absorbed, top with berries, nuts, spices, coconut flakes, and honey. Enjoy!

Here is some general info on the health benefits of Chia seeds:

1. Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
2. Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
4. Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
5. Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against  inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
6. Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.

Is cholesterol really the cause of heart disease??

I read this article today and found it interesting.  This is not the first time I've read an article like this, but it really does makes some sense to me.  Especially since I've known quite a few people who have suffered heart attacks/stroke that were healthy/fit/not overweight.

http://www.tunedbody.com/heart-surgeon-declares-really-causes-heart-illness/

My Latest Cholesterol Numbers are in.....ugh!

2 weeks ago, I had to go back to my doctor after suffering from some horrible side effects of the statin drug I have been taking for the past couple of years.  (skin numbness, headaches, memory loss....yeah, memory loss/fogginess!  I feel like I'm 90 some days!)

My last test was a year ago, and for the 1st time, my numbers came back under 200 mg/dl!  They were total 188 mg/dl...which, in my world, is amazing!!

So, I figured, that I could possible begin to add some of the unhealthier foods into my diet (just a little), like cheese, dessert, you know, the fun stuff... Well, a year and 10 pounds later, I'm at 264 mg/dl. (while still on meds)......... boooo!!!

So, I convinced my nurse practitioner to let me stop my statins for 6 weeks to help my nerve issues and memory "fogginess".  She reluctantly agreed, and I am now back to my strict vegetarian/vegan diet.  I'm hopefully optimistic that my numbers won't skyrocket, but the "realist" in me knows that the hammer will probably drop, and hard, at the end of my 6 week statin "vacation".  I feel so much better without the drugs, and feel amazing eating a cleaner diet.  We'll have to see what the numbers bring in 6 weeks.

For those interested:  My cardio exercise consists of 3-4 days of "Zumba" dance, and during the winter I snowboard pretty much every weekend. :-)