The Cottage on the Hill

It was bound to happen. With 4 children taking turns catching every bug that swarm around the classrooms, my poor immune system was bound to fall victim, even with diligence. With so many wonderful academic upsides to the children entering public school this year, this is one of the downfalls.  They have caught germs never caught before.  Strep throat, impetigo... Strep throat is the one that claimed me. I suspected as much and started hammering the germ with my natural remedies, as described in this letter to Mrs. Rothwood. I also researched Dr. Google on strep throat since we've never had it before.  Natural remedy articles are quick to demonize antibiotics and encourage sticking it out to build natural immunity. Conventional articles are quick to scare you with threats of worse diseases possible with untreated strep. I used to be fully intent on doing every crunchy thing possible when ill. I still am to some extent. But, I am no fool. And I ...

For several years now, every winter I get a bad case of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). This winter is different! Here it is the end of January (and where I live, winter usually starts around Nov. 1st, though we did have October snow this season, too.) and I do NOT have SAD this year!! What's different about this year? I attribute it to two things: 1. Less stress (not homeschooling has helped me have the time and peace to heal overall). 2.  Immune Booster supplements!  The kind I have contains not just Vitamin C, but Zinc, and Echinacea. I also added a women's vitamin supplement to my diet and that seems to be helping my other SAD (Social Anxiety Disorder). Take care of yourself, ladies.

The ingredients list on commercial mayonnaise jars is enough to send any health-conscious person running. For me, it was more than that.  I avoided mayo because my gastronomy became my enemy. Mayonnaise can seem daunting to make, and it is most costly to make homemade mayo than it is to buy commercial mayo, but the benefits are big, especially if you are on a GAPS/SCD, Whole30, Paleo, or other low-carb diet. Utilizing ingredients from Aldi can help keep costs down. Homemade Mayonnaise Put in a blender: 1 whole egg 1 egg yolk  (for eggs, I recommend not buying the Aldi egg, but spending the money on local, high quality eggs to reduce risk of contamination from using raw eggs.  Wash the eggs before cracking.) 1 1/2 tsp. fresh squeeze lemon juice (You can buy lemons at Aldi, usually, or use their bottled lemon juice.  The fresh lemons are better for you, though.) 1 tsp spicy brown mustard (Or dijon mustard.  You can buy both at Aldi.  I ...

(The recipe makes more than this, but we've already eaten a bunch by the time I just grabbed the jar and snapped a picture!) 1/4 cup organic unrefined sugar (I used Florida Crystals) Approx. 1/2 cup organic brown sugar 1/2 cup organic almond butter 1 egg 1 stick butter, melted 1 cup organic buckwheat flour 1/3 tsp aluminum free baking powder 1/3 tsp baking soda 1/3 tsp salt 1/4 - 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut Enough coconut flour to make a good cookie dough...I think approx. 1/4 - 1/3 cup Cream almond butter, butter and sugars together.  Blend in egg well.  Mix together with buckwheat flour, powder, soda and salt.  Stir in shredded coconut, then blend in coconut flour until you have a good cookie dough.  You should be able to form balls without the dough being too sticky or too dry.  Form into balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 5-10 minutes. Keep in mind that I'm guessing a little on the...

www.robynobrien.com Why do so many kids have food allergies these days? What's up with the genetically modified crops? Why is organic food so expensive? Robyn answers these questions in this must-watch video. Watch and share....it must go viral.

Thanks to THIS RECIPE from Bulk Herb Store, I started making my own herbal smoothies at breakfast time. I am following the herbal blend portion, but not necessarily the smoothie portion of the recipe. Instead this is what I'm doing: banana frozen fruit homemade yogurt raw milk organic unrefined coconut oil acerola powder herbal blend Whirr away and enjoy! Yum yum yum! And filling! The herbs in this smoothie are all considered safe to consume during pregnancy, though if you're concerned, please contact your appropriate health care provider. The herbs are considered a great alternative to consuming synthetic vitamins. The neat thing, too, is that I didn't have my major afternoon crash like I usually do! That's a HUGE plus for me!

I have to be honest with you. If you want to eat better and you have a limited grocery budget, not only do you have to simplify, but you have to work harder. Yep. Make your own. Hate the idea? Well, if you want to eat better, then get over it. Life takes work and getting where you want takes work. Convenience costs one way or another. Hard work pays one way or another. It's daunting at first, I know. But once you get into the swing of things, it isn't so bad. It's ok to pick and choose, too. It may behoove you to make your own yogurt, but making your own bread is just too much. Just figure out what works for you and go with it, so long as you are actually saving money. Another thing to consider when making your own is the total cost of the end result. Remember, when comparing how much it costs to make your homemade bread that you don't compare it to Wonder Bread, but rather the finer, natural loaves. Sure, it may cost you more than a loaf of cheap Aldi...

I've mentioned before that my daughter is a VERY picky eater. She refuses fruits and vegetables 99% of the time to the point of rather going hungry than being subjected to eat them. It boggles my mind because when she was an older infant, she ate it all! I have a chart made for her hanging in the kitchen where she gets a sticker every time she eats something listed on it. It's a slow process. I also sneak fruits and veg in where I can, though she can usually tell. On top of it, I limit her intake of junk foods since she isn't getting the good foods. I'm trying to get her to ingest more vitamin-rich plant-based foods. She also needs to drink more water. She prefers milk and will refuse water. She'll drink juice, but commercial juices aren't exactly healthful. (I'm looking into a juicer.) My next idea is herbal teas. Of course, I'll make sure she only drinks teas that are suitable for children. She has recently become fond of tea parties, and...

I am desiring more and more for my family to eat as healthfully as possible, especially since 2 out of 3 of my children are very picky eaters. Unfortunately, our grocery bill is through the roof and I STILL pass up important organic foods because of the expense. So, I am starting this series, Budging the Organic Budget, as a sort of brain storm of ways to keep the grocery budget down and healthful foods up. Part 1 Eat more simply. Variety is the spice of life, but now that I am a busy mom of 3 going on 4, variety can be an added burden. I used to love making all those ethnic, different and gourmet dishes. Planning all those different meals is time consuming and expensive, not to mention all the leftovers that go bad in the back of the fridge because heaven forbid you eat chicken twice a week. With 2 picky children, making dinners such as casseroles, or gourmet flavorings means a lot of waste. They don't eat it. So, I am taking inventory of simple, healthful meals my children...

During my second pregnancy, I gave up on prenatal vitamins. Forget those giant horsepills that are impossible to swallow, especially during the first trimester! Instead, I found Nature's Plus Children's Chewables, a whole foods multi-vitamin. I compared labels, found that I should take two of the chewables and supplement with folic acid. This is what I've been doing, but now I am considering giving them up, too. The Healthy Home Economist posted THIS ARTICLE that discusses secondarily that synthetic vitamins are not good for you and not assimilated properly. I became very concerned about the Vitamin A, as too much synthetic vitamin A can harm an unborn baby. I am taking fermented cod liver oil and x-factor butter oil this pregnancy, so vitamin A really isn't needed in pill form. Not to mention that carrots are a staple in this family. So, as an alternative, I'm looking into making my own herbal smoothies based on THIS RECIPE . I think, overall, I may find it...

Let's face it. Spa treatments and a jacuzzi aren't in the budget. To top it off, it is getting harder and harder to find a trustworthy babysitter these days. Mine ate a multi-vitamin and grew up all of a sudden and is off to college. Don'tcha hate how fast kids grow up? Anyhow, a couple years ago, hubby treated me to a day spa. 1 hour massage, full mani and pedi treatment. Oh, I loved it. LOVED IT! I decided after that that the only way I'd support Obamacare would be if such treatment was included. ;b I've been wanting to treat myself again, but let's face it (again), it ain't gonna happen. I compromised by having my son drive his toy tractors on my back and taking showers while laying in a tub with the plug in. I guess I got spoiled because it wasn't enough. 2011 Christmas season gave me an upgrade for my "home spa." My parents got me the Conair Hydrotherapy Footbath Massager with Heat. Oooohhh....that was the springboard into my oth...

In my ideal world, I'd be eating 99% local, organically grown foods, many that I grew or raised myself. As it stands today, that is not the case, so I shop by some food rules and compromises. 1. Buying local doesn't work to well in the great northeast when you're dying for citrus or bananas. In this aspect, I try to at least buy USA only products. 2. Because we eat apples frequently, I have begun buying organic apples when I can. As for local, I don't know of any apple orchards in my local area that doesn't spray. 3. I have decided to buy tomato products in glass jars the best I can to avoid the BPA leeching from the acid. 4. I won't buy tomato soup, sauce or ketchup made with high fructose corn syrup or canola/soybean oil. (I did have major sticker shock when I bought a small glass jar of pasta sauce made with sugar and olive oil. Around $5.00!! Thankfully, my local Big Lots had larger jars of other brands, many organic for only $2.50. That still seem...

This weekend I woke up to a toothache. In between two of my bottom right molars it hurts. I'm not sure if it is a cavity in one of the molars, or the gums are infected. Until a see a dentist, I'm trying some at home remedies. The first thing I did was begin oil pulling . Using extra virgin olive oil, I swish and pull it through my teeth. After just one session, the pain went from sharp to a dull ache. I am continuing to oil pull 2-3 times a day. I'm also making sure I don't eat on that side of my mouth. I'm brushing, flossing, mouthwashing, and hydrogen peroxiding at least twice a day. So far, the pain is gone unless I touch that area. Pressing on the teeth is just a tiny bit uncomfortable, but when I floss between, it hurts. So I'm stumped. Is it my gums, or an in between the molars, gum line cavity? I guess only the dentist would know. I am also planning on starting a course of x-factor butter oil and fermented cod liver oil. The Healthy Home Econ...

As public school begins, even though we homeschool, I begin my germ warfare against the common cold. It is inevitable that as soon as large groups of children join together, illness breaks out. So, I started this September with adding an immune booster to our diet. Unfortunately, the common cold still got a hold of us. It took advantage of our weakened states from suffering the ill effects of contaminated well water after the massive rainfalls of Tropical Storms Irene and Lee. It took advantage of my 3 year old's weakened immune system from her extremely picking eating habits and gut problems. Thankfully, even in her weakened state, the immune boosters (and simply being a child) helped and she recovered within 3 days with nothing more than plenty of nose rubbing and fussing. The baby got it next with tell-tale fussiness, congestion that kept him up all night, and a runny nose. Although he's too young for me to comfortably give him supplements, he recovered quickly, too, t...

I'm seriously considering venturing down the path of the GAPS diet. I just bought the book. My decision was made more firmly (though not set in stone until after I read the book) today when I suffered my 3rd bout of food poisoning in just over a year! (1/2 an hour in a public restroom and calling my mother to come rescue me befor I called an ambulance - yeah, it was THAT bad.) My poor insides are all inside out. I'm ready for a change, even if it involves a very strict, limited diet. Right now, a strict limited diet sounds good to me anyway. Are you or have you been on the GAPS diet? Do you know anyone who has?

I'm really hard pressed to continue spending $80.00 or more dollars every 4 months on products for my vanity. On top of that, I'm bothered by the amount of chemicals women so freely slather into their pores. I have gone more natural, but that comes with quite the price tag. In a continuing quest for simplicity, I wondered if there's a simpler way. I have found it in my kitchen! Makeup Removers ! Milk, yogurt, olive oil! I use rose water as a toner after washing my face (with Scottish Lye Soap ). I use sweet almond oil as my moisturizer. It works great as an after shave lotion, too. Here's a recipe for Homemade Deodorant using kitchen products. I haven't tried it yet since I still have some of my usual deodorant left. I've tried the cider vinegar and baking soda no-shampoo before, but I didn't like how it made my hair feel sticky and made it look filthy and twisted into little rat-tail dreadlocks. I may try it again sometime, but for now I'm hap...

Let's face it, eating healthfully can be expensive! Add organic to that list and your grocery budget goes out the window! I admit that it is easy to fall into grabbing the cheap stuff when you're trying to keep within a small grocery budget. I used to. But now I just can't bring myself to. On the other hand, I hate seeing hubby's hard-earned money slip through my fingers at the checkout line while I walk out with only two bags of groceries! Still, it's better to spend the money on good quality food, getting bang for your buck so to speak, than to waste it on worthless foods. Here's what I'm doing to feed my family better for less: Oatmeal for breakfast every other day. Soaked oatmeal, to be precise. On the other days, I make eggs. Sunday is for special treats like pancakes or french toast. I'm back to making homemade yogurt. Simple lunches of a good bread, cheese, and fruits and veggies, or peanut butter and local honey, or leftovers. More soups...

I haven't been blogging because I've been ill. For a while now, I've been suffering from dizzy spells, headaches, feeling very sleepy and not feeling like myself. I've been very moody, short-tempered and feeling like I am unable to shake my sour mood. It takes effort to get up and do anything. I wasn't really sure what was going on. In some cases it seemed like my blood sugar. I wondered if my iron levels were low, but I do get plenty of iron. I wondered if my vertigo was just acting up as it tends to do when I feel stressed out. It could be a mix of blood sugar and the vertigo. Then, my oldest brother called me today to see how I was doing. I told him my symptoms and my puzzlement at them and how I was planning on calling the doctor. I told him how I don't look forward to going to the doctor because of the gamut of tests he'll put me through. I have 3 children and no babysitters this week, so it would be a pain to get the lab work done. During...

Hubby got me the Wii Fit! So, I tried it out today. For an hour! And was disappointed that it said I only burned around 150 calories! I spent an hour of my day working out and only burned 150 calories?! C'mon! Granted, the Wii started me off slowly. After all, the Wii says I'm fat and my Wii age is 46! *rolling my eyes* My size 4 jeans need a belt and the Wii says I'm fat. LOL! Ok ok ok, I'm out of shape. I know that. For my size, my BMI is in the high end of the normal range. I'm just one of those petite people who's "fat" is other people's "skinny." Anyhow, the Wii warmed me up, but I didn't break out in one tiny little sweat. I didn't gulp for air. I need something a little more high intensity. And then the Wii gave me a little guilt trip for missing yesterday. I was at church, Wii! Yeah, I'm yelling at the Wii. Anyhow, it wasn't all few calories and fat. I really like that the Wii has the balance, stab...

No, not THAT Buckwheat, although, he is perfectly adorable and I just want to hold him and listen to him talk! A few years ago, I was given a prepared package of "buckwheat pancake mix." It was discusting. A couple weeks ago, I was in a store that had buckwheat noodles for a good price. I figured I'd try them as a substitute for spaghetti noodles. Expecting the same revolting taste, I was completely surprised at how good they were! My kids loved them, too, even preferring them over the usual spaghetti. Now intrigued, I looked up buckwheat as was pleased to read up on how healthy it is. It's gluten-free and LOADED with nutrition. So, I ran out and bought a small bag of organic buckwheat flour. I made buckwheat berry pancakes with no sugar or sweeteners in the batter and was floored at how tasty they were, even slightly sweet! I made a gluten-free fruit and veggie cake out of it (and arrowroot flour) and it was so good! I added some to my buttermilk biscuits and...