I don’t know about you, but I’ve been hearing a lot about Vitamin D lately. But because I’m busy being a homemaker, working, and taking care of a 9-month-old who’s doing his best to walk before his first birthday, most of what I hear and read goes in one ear and out the other! I figured it was time to get my facts straight about Vitamin D.I decided to find answers to a few basic questions about Vitamin D, and I’m going to share them with you today. This is your crash course in Vitamin D – the “Cliff Notes” version for busy homemakers who care about their family’s health but don’t have hours to spend reading up on everything!**Head ... Continue Reading
Greatest Hits: Top 10 Posts of 2015
What a beautiful year was 2015! We welcomed our son into the world on April 2nd. (Here's his birth story!) That was the best part. I also said what I wanted to say about simplifying in my new book, Your Simple Home Handbook, which was released on March 13. (Yeah, I was cutting it close to Little Dude's birth day there!!)In the fall, we said goodbye to our cabin and moved down the driveway to rent my parents' basement! It's been a good change for us, as this new apartment has space for Little Dude to crawl and was much easier to baby-proof.As we continue our second year of living in Alabama, we're thankful for deepening friendships, ... Continue Reading
Give Yourself a Facial Steam with Essential Oils!
Today I'm posting at Keeper of the Home with a how-to for a simple, rejuvenating facial steam with essential oils! Here's an excerpt of the post:Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve enjoyed giving myself the occasional “spa night.” I would pick a night when I didn’t have any lingering chores–or competition for the bathroom–and set the scene for a relaxing, pampering experience. Spa night usually involved a bath with some special bath salts or sugar scrub I’d received as a birthday gift, plus an edible treat, a good book (usually an Agatha Christie mystery), and perhaps toenail painting afterwards.I also liked to do a “facial” before ... Continue Reading
20 Moms Share How They Managed Labor Without an Epidural
I didn't always want a natural birth, but I always assumed I'd have one. You see, when I was a little girl, I didn't know epidurals existed. People told me that childbirth was extremely painful, and I figured there was no way around that.Fast forward a couple decades and the situation was reversed: I knew I had options for numbing labor pains, but I wanted to feel them after all!And feel them I did, when our little boy was born in April, 2015. (You can read Little Dude's birth story here.) It was difficult, but I believe it was worth it.As my doctor put it, generally the women who are happiest with their birth stories are the ones ... Continue Reading
Homemade Peppermint Detox Bath Soak
Lately, it’s been my goal to be more intentional about keeping work and play separate. Rather than fritter away my evenings, I want to fully relax…and taking a hot bath is a great way to do that! It’s also one of my favorite ways to induce sleep naturally. I used to sleep easily, but after having my baby son I’ve gotten into the habit of waking often at night, even though he’s six months old now and he’s no longer waking!Since my goal with taking a bath is to relax–not get clean–I like to use the bath for gentle detoxing, too. I add Epsom salts to the bath water, which draw toxins from the body and allow skin to absorb minerals like ... Continue Reading
Avoid These 10 Ingredients (your body will thank you!)
Ingredient labels used to be a complete mystery to me. I knew there were certain ingredients I probably shouldn't be eating, but I had no idea what they were or what alternatives to look for. A few years ago, as I developed my approach to healthy eating, I gradually learned what many of the strange-sounding ingredients were and what they do in our bodies.Today I'm sharing a list with you of the top 10 ingredients I try to minimize in my diet. These are ingredients that are used by the food industry to make products look tastier, last longer, and be more flavorful. Unfortunately, they're also linked to serious health problems.To be ... Continue Reading
A Ready-to-Wear Wrap for Easy Babywearing!
Long before I became a mother myself, I heard many moms sing the praises of babywearing.As my due date for Little Dude approached, I asked other moms what type of baby carrier they recommended. I was told that it's really helpful to have two different babywearing options: a more structured carrier (like a Boba) that you can wear into toddlerhood, and a soft wrap or carrier for newborns and infants.Although there are tons of carriers and wraps on the market, I repeatedly heard rave reviews of the Baby K'Tan to fit that newborn/infant stage. After checking out their website, I was convinced!The main reason?Ease of use!Unlike ... Continue Reading
Two Reasons to Wear Amber Jewelry
Little Dude and I recently had the opportunity to try out jewelry from Spark of Amber. Spark of Amber sells authentic Baltic amber jewelry, which I've heard about around the blogosphere and been curious to try!Although there are lots of things to love about this jewelry, I want to highlight my top two reasons for wearing Baltic amber jewelry. At the end of this post, you'll have a chance to enter to win $25 to Spark of Amber so you can try some for yourself! Reason #1: Quality and Style Simplifying my home changed my perspective on the things I own and the way I spend money. I've put thought into what I keep, and I'm learning to ... Continue Reading
How to Naturally Treat Jellyfish Stings, Poison Ivy, and Other Summer Ailments!
Today I'm posting about summertime first aid over at Keeper of the Home! Here's an excerpt:It’s pretty much impossible to go through a summer and not come out the other end with a colorful array of scrapes, scars, burns, and bites. These things are just as much a part of the season as ice cream and paperback books. The welts on your legs from jellyfish stings mark the long days you spent at the beach; the rash crawling up your arm is the badge you earned picking fresh berries.But while these injuries and ailments blend into the fabric of a fully-lived, deeply-felt summer come September, in the moment they’re not too pleasant!Build ... Continue Reading
The 5 Easiest Green-Living Changes You Can Make
We've been on a mission to make our home more "green" and eco-friendly ever since we got married. For us, it's not about being on-trend, it's about being responsible stewards of Creation, and being frugal with our finances. The benefits of green living are three-fold, at the very least: green living respects the environment, saves you money, and protects your health from toxins.Just like taking your first steps to a real food diet or simplifying your home, I'm a big advocate of greening your life gradually, one area at a time. That doesn't mean doing it slowly, if you're really excited about it and want to jump all in! The key is to ... Continue Reading
