Christmas Trees

This post is a little late for this year but its something to think about for next year.

Did you know that many artificial trees contain lead?????

Children who touch the tree and then put their hands in their mouth, or eat without washing, can ingest the lead. It can also be inhaled through dust in the air that comes from the tree. Lead is a neurotoxin and should be avoided at all costs, especially with young children.

What you can do:

- Buy a real tree! :) Artificial trees end up in landfills eventually.

- do not let children play with Christmas lights either as the coating on the wire USUALLY contains lead because its made from PVC (like the tree). Unfortunately so do many ornaments "made in china". Even trees made in the USA can contain lead.

- buy a lead test online for about $15 to test your tree. I found a kit at my local hardware store as well but Im not sure if they are as accurate

- if you have an older artificial tree, throw it out and get a newer one which should have lower levels of lead.

- gate the tree or put it somewhere that in inaccesible to your children

- If your child touches the tree, have them thoroughly wash their hands

- Do NOT put presents beneath the tree. dust containing lead can settle on the presents. Just store them somewhere else (this helps keep the focus off presents as well!)



This year we got a real, potted table-top tree that we can plant in our backyard after Christmas. Its a green idea and the kids love it!

Merry Christmas!

ARTICLE

BBQ Sauce

My husband loves BBQ sauce but the regular stuff is FULL of HFCS, sugar, soybean oil, etc. I searched and searched for one that doesnt contain HFCS or soy. Well I finally found one and its also organic! Its about $4 a bottle and its delicious!

It still has sugar but its great for the occasional use. And since it costs slightly more than regular BBQ sauce we tend to use less anyways. I think I found mine at Central market - hopefully it will be more readily available soon!

Another Shameless Marketing Scam

These big companies blow me away.

yesterday I was at the grocery story and saw a canned fruit by DelMonte that said "Healthy Kids".

Surprise, surprise. Its in a "light syrup", not even 100% fruit juice (fruit juice isnt great, but its at least healthier than sugar) It has 49 grams of sugar to be exact. Its so much healthier to eat a peach - or apple - or whatever - something not in an aluminum can. "Enriched" just means they added in vitamins - but vitamins and minerals found in nature are always better used by the body.

Canned foods are great occasionally. We use canned organic beans a lot since I cant cook beans without burning them horribly. But fruit is so easy, why eat canned??? (my husband loves it but the kids rarely, rarely have any)

The point is that they are trying to market to parents who want to be healthier. That is a GOOD thing but they are taking advantage.

Safer Dishwashing Soap

This is a follow-up. Ive finally found a safe soap to use in our dishwasher that WORKS. I am careful to rinse my dishes after use so I dont expect to much from something without bleach and nasty chemicals but the pay-off is worth it. It is SO nice to know that my plates/silverware, etc. are safe when I pull them out of the dishwasher. And this BioKleen powder is working great for us! I got mine at Kroger. Here is an online merchant that carries it.

Two thumbs up from me!

How They Make the Flu Shot

This is hilarious.

"How they make the Flu Shot"

makes you think twice (I hope).

The flu shot is an easy NO for us. We do use a homeopathic treatment called
Influenzium. You take two tablets, one time a month, during flu season. I got
them from my Dr but Ive heard you can get them online (I couldnt find it but its late and Im tired). Homeopathic treatments are safe, so even our 1yr old takes two tablets like we do. It cant hurt! ;)

Flu —The homeopathic flu remedy is reformulated each fall using the current viral strain—just as is the flu vaccination. In fact, the Influenzium remedy protects better than a vaccine—it's safer and more effective. A dose of the remedy can be taken once a month as a preventative. If you have symptoms take the remedy every hour for four hours until symptoms ease. Or if you've had the standard flu vaccination and it made you ill, the Influenzium remedy will help you get well. The French flu remedy Oscilliocossum has been used by 63 million people, and I always have a course of it in the homeopathic drawer during the flu season.

source

Awesome, Yummy, Healthy Muffins!

Thsi morning my oldest told me he was "sick of eggs" so I dusted off an old muffin recipe Id tried before and made it our own. They are delicious - and have no refined sugar and are dairy, soy and egg-free! Try them out and let me know what you think :)

1/4 cup Coconut Oil
1/2 cup Honey (or molasses/agave/etc)
1 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
1 tsp real vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup Whole wheat flour (i used freshly ground organic whole wheat hard white berries - yum!)
1/2 tsp aluminum-free Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp aluminum-free Baking Powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg or cloves (opt)

3/4 cup Organic raisins

Combine wet ingredients in one bowl
Combine dry ingredients in seperate bowl and whisk together.
Add wet ingredients until moistened. Add raisins and stir gently.

Bake 375 for 18-20 mins in greased muffin pans (i used coconut oil to grease my silicon muffin pan)

Delicious! :)

Jud :(

Jud (see original post) has gone to be with the Lord

Parent's Journal

I am so grieved for his parents and family :(
But I rejoice knowing he has a new body and is dancing in the streets of heaven! Praise God!