You can make bath time more fun with these Essential Oil Bathtub Crayons. Your kids will love being a part of the creation and then playtime during bath time.
When a rainy day strikes, bring the fun inside with bathtub crayons. Add a little Essential Oil for play time that can be as calming or energizing as Mom wants!
The girls have really enjoyed these, and sometimes it’s nice to have something that can be messy in a controlled way!
I’m sharing a simple and effective way to cool off quickly with these cold eucalyptus towels. These are perfect for sore muscles or to get quick relief from a hot summer day. Keep reading to learn how to make cold eucalyptus towels.
Angela of Grassfed Mama shares healthy tips for busy moms.
The Magic of Eucalyptus Essential Oil: A Mom’s Must-Have
Today, let’s talk about a little bottle that packs a big punch – eucalyptus essential oil. This refreshing and invigorating oil is a true multitasker, and it’s about to become your new best friend!
Refreshing and Invigorating
First things first, let’s talk about the refreshing properties of eucalyptus oil. Just a whiff of this crisp, clean scent can help wake up your senses and give you a much-needed energy boost – perfect for those days when you’re running on mom-power and coffee! read more
Here are 3 easy Ways to Make Your Halloween Pumpkin Last Longer Naturally so you can enjoy your carved pumpkin throughout the season.
It’s Almost Halloween!
If your house is like most, then you are likely hitting up the pumpkin patches and picking out just the right ones to decorate your home!
Can I share a little confession?
Until this year, we had NEVER actually carved a pumpkin. Not since we were kids ourselves.
The reason why? The pumpkins always ended up rotting within a few days, and decomposing vegetables on your front porch isn’t a great way to welcome Trick or Treaters!read more
When I became I mom, I started doing a lot of research about how to clean my house without chemicals. I was really worried about what was in the common household products and I started searching for natural ways to clean. What I found was that there were natural ingredients that I could use to make a DIY Multi Purpose Cleaner using essential oils!
Angela of Grassfed Mama shares healthy tips for busy moms.
What is an essential oil?
An essential oil is a natural oil typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.read more
Coconut oil has been praised recently as something that every household should have… but what should we actually do with it? In this post, I’m covering 6 different ways you can use coconut oil on your skin to add this amazing oil into your daily routine.
What we LOVE about Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a pretty special ingredient because it is naturally antibacterial and antifungal. Coconut oil is AMAZING for your skin because it is an excellent moisturizer. It can penetrate hair better than other oils (and I use it for chapped lips too!.)read more
This is a simple recipe to add to your beauty routine. With this DIY Make-Up Brush Cleaner recipe, you can keep your brushes clean and bacteria free.
I’m not someone who wears make-up every day… most days you will find me with my hair in a pony-tail and just a little mascara. When I do wear make-up I LOVE using brushes!! I use them for my concealer, powders, even applying my favorite primer. I must admit that I didn’t know how I was supposed to clean my brushes at all!
Why You Should Clean Your Make-Up Brushes
When I started thinking about my brushes and keeping them clean… I started thinking about all the things that can live in them:read more
We all love a delicious Thanksgiving dinner, and it wouldn’t be complete without the turkey… But many of us have left overs that we aren’t sure how to eat. Here is an easy left-over turkey soup recipe perfect for the holiday left overs.
When Thanksgiving is over, and you are putting away all the left-overs… wondering what you are going to do with all the turkey???
Congratulations! You just had your first baby. It’s a proud moment, isn’t it? There will now be a range of bonding and exploring adventures awaiting you with your newborn. One of the most fun – introducing your baby to the pool. Here are a few safety tips for that first experience with the water:
Prepare for the pool. The first thing to do is get ready with the practical details. There are a number of items to remember:
Try to go out to the pool after your baby has taken care of her “business,” to limit accident possibilities.
Wear approved infant pool diapers, because not all accidents can be predicted or avoided.
Limit time outdoors – usually under 30 minutes, so the baby doesn’t get overexposed to the sun.
Dress your baby in long sleeved clothes, and have her wear a hat, to minimize that sun exposure.
Avoid being out at the pool between 10 AM and 4 PM, when the ultraviolet rays are the strongest.
What you need to have for your home birth kit in 20 items! Prepare for your home birth by collection this home birth kit.
How to Build a Home Birth Kit in 20 Items
I have been blessed to be able to have 2 home births now. You can read my two birth stories by clicking here: Annaleigh’s Birth and Aidalyn’s Birth.
Both experiences were amazing and there is very little I would change about either. I was fortunate to have 2 amazing midwives attend my births and felt very prepared for when the time came.
My first home birth was in 2010 (Aidalyn’s). I was able to have her in my master bathroom’s garden corner tub. It was easy clean up and a really a great experience. For Annaleigh’s birth we were in a rent house, so my midwife brought a large tub for me to use to birth in. It was even better because the water was able to be deeper. I wasn’t in the tub for more than 10 minutes though because she came so fast.read more
The painful and inflamed breast. The chills. The fever.
I have had full blow mastitis 3 times now! I had it both after the first few days after childbirth and now today…
What causes mastitis?
Mastitis is usually caused by a clogged milk duct that isn’t draining properly. Mastitis can come when you are not resting enough or drinking enough water – Hello, Holidays!
This time it developed from a milk bleb – a clog right on the nipple. I noticed a slightly painful white dot on my nipple about 2 weeks ago, but I thought it honestly went away… Until last night.
Last night when I went to bed, I noticed my breast was tender. I tried to compress my breast to get any milk flowing, didn’t make much progress so I just went to sleep. I had trouble getting comfortable because it was tender.
I had a lot of trouble sleeping and finally got up at 3 am. I was feeling light-headed walking to the bathroom and almost passed out when I was trying to put in my contacts. I had to wake my husband so he could help me get some meds and vitamins, plus see what my temperature was.
We have a forehead scanning thermometer and it read 102.0 and 105.0… who knows.
I had a fever!
I couldn’t sit up in bed without getting light-headed. It was already serious.
I immediately took 2 Tylenol gel caps (which I NEVER do!), but I kept thinking… If I can’t take care of myself, who is going to take care of my babies?
I also took garlic tablets, vitamin C, and lecithin (a fat emulsifier to help break up any fat in the clog). The vitamins are immune boosters and should help fight off any infection.
Then I nursed, expressed milk, and nursed some more.
I stayed in bed until 9:30, then felt like I was at least well enough to come downstairs.
I fixed myself a large glass of echinacea tea, also full of antioxidants and immune boosting properties. I also took probiotics and cod liver oil.
I continued taking the vitamins and nursed more often to help keep the milk moving and clear any infection.
The Keys to Treating Mastitis:
1) Catch it early!
Mastitis is an infection that can get out of control quickly. As soon as you notice a clog, be proactive about trying to get it cleared before it escalates into Mastitis.
2) Take your vitamins!
Focus on vitamins to strengthen your immune system. I took garlic, echinacea, and vitamin C. These will help you fight off the infection – or prevent one from happening if you catch it early.
3) Use hot compresses.
Hot compresses open up the ducts and pores on your breast and help you clear the clog and drain the breast more effectively. You can even take a hot shower and use the warm water to help while massaging the clog.
4) Nurse, Nurse, Nurse
Keep that milk flowing! Babies are the most effective at draining the breast. You can also use a pump to help get any extra milk out between feedings. Also, when you nurse, remember to change the baby’s position each time (or even during the feeding). I always found that nursing while hovering over the baby laying on a bed was the fastest way to clear a clog (looks funny though!).
5) Rest
Mastitis usually happens because you aren’t resting enough. You need to take a break and stay at home while you heal. Also drink plenty of water and recuperate.
I hope you never have to deal with mastitis. It is not fun to have to deal with. Thankfully with these tips, you should be able to clear it up quickly and be back to normal.
If you don’t find relief in a few hours, you may need to call your doctor. read more
