Growing Little Sprouts Blog

Garden Delights - It is THAT Time of Year Again!

It is amazing how relative time is! One week vacation goes like the speed of light, yet one week with the flu seems to last an eternity!! Yep, I was literally in bed for a whole week with the worst flu I have ever experienced. Watch out, because I am back and ready to make up for lost time!!

As I lay in bed, we had our first touches of spring weather and I listened from the open window as the kids played outside, this time on their bikes instead of in full snow gear! Just the day before the flu hit, I twittered about recommitting to my daily walk in my exercise routine and wanting to get away from my exercise bike...so that daily walk will be on my agenda beginning this week!

Now that I am better and roaring and ready to go, we have rain, wind, and cooooollllldddd! I thought it wiser to wait until the wet cold stuff goes away before I head outdoors considering I am still trying to regain my full strength!

I had to do something today with my springtime energy, so we all piled into the van and headed to the home and garden store to pick out the seeds for our veggie garden! We have a good sized garden in our back yard and the kids will each plant their own section this year. They get to choose the plants they want to grow, do the actual planting, and keep it weeded and watered, and help with the harvesting as the time comes around.

The 'harvesting' part is always the best and usually amounts to the kids eating straight from the garden - can't get any food more alive and fresh for your body than that! I love going out and picking my own food...makes me feel like I actually know what I am doing when it comes to gardening! I am a total novice, and just wing it, even though this is the third year we have had our own garden! We use our own compost dirt and some organic fertilizer, but you never know what we will decide to plant each year!

I can't stop dreaming of spring and summer! To help bide our time, we planted our seeds earlier than usual in small pots indoors. That way, when it is warm enough for the plants to survive outdoors without threat of frost, we will have small plants to transplant. When we transplant this early round, we will plant some fresh seeds, too, so that we have a rotation of fresh foods throughout the season.

Today, we set ourselves up at the kitchen table and filled the little pots with organic dirt. Each of the kids got their own set of pots, and a big spoon to dig out of the huge bowl of dirt I set in the middle of the table. (We really didn't need those spoons in the end, since digging through the dirt is such a great sensory activity anyway!) As much dirt ended up on the table and floor as in the pots, but we just scooped it back together and it to top off the pots after the seeds went in!

Erik chose carrots, spring onions, chives, and radishes. Emily got spinach, dill, cucumbers, and beets. Kieren rounded out the choices with peas, lettuce, basil, and more cucumber! In the other sections, we will plant kale, swiss chard, romaine, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes, and other herbs like oregano, cilantro, and lots and lots of parsley! We already have peppermint, mini-strawberries (mmmm...they taste just like sweet tart candies!), raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries growing from previous years.

Our garden is usually heavy on the greens...can you tell? :) It is the one thing that I can't get a good organic variety of in the stores here in Austria. Speaking of organic foods...for a family of 6, we spend a loottt of money on organic produce. We get what is available in organic, which makes it really nice in the summer to grow our own food. Between the garden glory and our fruit and nut trees (cherry, plum, apricot, and walnut) we love, love, love summertime! For our bellies and our wallets! :)

We had so much fun planting today! Now, the kitchen windowsill is covered with platters topped with small pots of dirt, freshly watered and waiting for the little surprises to start finding their way through! Now the fun begins as we wait for our sprouts to start showing up!

What will you be planting this year?

The flu isn't funny!

I can't believe I am here to say this, but yep, I am down for the count! I have been in bed for 3 days fending off the flu!

Just when I thought we were ready for spring and I have big plans ahead for some great things around here, I get knocked down. After all, I was the only one in the family who did NOT get sick with the nasty stomach thing that went around.

Some might say that this is my body saying STOP! Some might say this is a way for me to unintentionally slow my progress down. Why would I do that? I am excited about what is to come, yet in all honestly, a bit afraid of stepping into my new "place."

Some might think it is just my way to relax! :) No really, I would love to relax, but I can think of a million better ways to do it!

So, that is it for me now. Going back to my warm bed. I just wanted to update you here to let you know I am not gone!

Large family and the sickness domino effect

I have been quiet for the last few days. Our kids got hit like dominoes crashing with the stomach flu that has been going around the school and kindergarten. The school (which is already extremely small in our rural Austrian town) has been practically deserted during this winter season between the flu, chicken pox, and now this terrible stomach flu. Some kids even had to go to the hospital because of it!

I guess that I can say we were lucky even though it took us a full week to get over it. That is, a full week for all of the kids to trade it off. Most people getting this one were very sick for a full week. Ours only got it for 2 to 3 days each. As soon as one was getting better, the next went down.

With four kids to go through, it seemed like a prison sentence being couped up in the house. We had a fresh blanket of snow with beautiful sunshine-filled days. Were we out in it? No, we were holed up inside and I spent my days cleaning up puke buckets (no, there's nothing nice about this topic), washing bedsheets, and an enormous pile of laundry.

On the other hand, meal-times were super simple as we ate lots and lots of fruit meals to go easy on the little tummies and not everyone was eating. I forgot how yummy it is to eat to your heart's content on nothing but mangoes in one sitting!

Do I dare say that I can't help but appreciate the quiet calm it brought to our house when my son was laying in bed or on the couch for 2 days straight? A sickness like this is horrible with the little ones who can't make it to the bathroom or even a bucket in time (hence the piles of dirty laundry...), but at 8, our son is big enough to 'keep it clean.'

Am I a terrible mom because I can find the beauty in this situation??

When each day is usually filled with lots of noise, energetic movement, chatter, and busy goings on (which I adore because it comes from my amazing kids), I do appreciate the quiet moments in life that I just don't get enough of!

So, instead of blogging, writing for my upcoming book, and other evening activities, I have been keeping my head above water around the house and taking care of the little ones literally around the clock. One day this week, on my husband's day off, we took turns napping because I hadn't slept in about 48 hours and him not much more!

On the brighter side, I spent lots of time snuggling with my kids, reading stories, watching a few dvd's, and just enjoying this rare time together without other agendas.

I am thankful that we really don't get sick that often and like to view these times as life's special reminders of how good the good times really are!

"Accidentally Playing" - our ADHD theme of the day!

My son summed it all up today!

After a Friday night family game evening, the kids were all wound up and silly (what's new?). When the time comes to put 'jammies' on, the typical response is, "Awww, not yet!" For us, this is a huge step up from the possible rages we would get from my son before our diet change. He still has difficulty in transitions, but nothing like it used to be, where a simple instruction to stop one thing (even with a time warning or two) would send him over the edge in frustration and anger. But, I am getting away from my point!...

So, after the initial plea for more play time, the kids all went into the bedroom to get their pajamas on and get ready for bed. A simple task, it seems, but of course they spent the next fifteen minutes goofing off and came out half dressed and pretend fighting with a missing piece of clothing! When I asked what they were doing, they looked confused as if there was no question about what should be happening.

I asked if they finished getting dressed, putting their clothes away, and brushing teeth (even though I knew the answer!) and my son looked up at me with the sudden realisation of what I was talking about. "Oooops! Oh yeah, we were supposed to be doing that. I must have been accidentally playing!!"

All I could do was laugh. (After all, it is a much better reaction than frustration, right?!) Then I realized, this is his theme! He had a great week at school, but I learned today (from the regular talk I have with his teacher after school) that instead of completing all of his school work, he had another difficult time staying on task.

I guess making a catapult out of his pen and ruler, with the eraser as his launch missile, was a much better use of his time! She caught his fantasy world activity just in time to prevent him from actually launching anything and get back on task, thankfully, but in times like these, he just doesn't get it that he wasn't concentrating. There is that, "Oh, yeah, that's what I'm supposed to be doing!" surprised reaction again!

This afternoon, the big kids were having a quiet reading time while I put the baby down for her nap. When I came back to check on them, Erik was upside down in the chair, yes, technically doing what I asked because he was still reading! He is found upside down very often! (That is why his hair was so crazy in the other picture! The book was tossed aside by the time I got the camera out.) Accidentally playing, or just needing that sensory input? :)

I wish we could spend more time playing and less time "doing" - that way we wouldn't have to play accidentally! We try to make any task fun, but the fact is, there are times when we just have to "do" things in life. Staying on task is a hard lesson to learn, even if it means something simple like stopping the continual chatter so he can actually finish a meal!

So, we say yes as much as we can, we try to help him change behaviors without continual, no, no, no's, and we try to laugh and see the fun side of things. Yes, we try. Sometimes we struggle and sometimes we don't.

And my goal is to spend more time accidentally playing!

Mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup, Chemical Overload

Wow, wow, wow!

That is all I can say about THE CHEMICAL EDGE: Pollution and Our Fragile Health, a new website I discovered today. It is a must read!

I am still devouring the wealth of information that is there waiting for you to discover it, too. I was looking for articles about chemicals and their effect on health and environment when I happened upon this gem!

My top picks among the articles there for the day:

Corn Syrup and Mercury Contamination: Just when you think you are safe by avoiding vaccines and tuna, here is another frighteningly widespread mercury contamination from daily processed food consumption. From the article: “Mercury is toxic in all its forms,” said IATP’s David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. “Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered." Just one more reason to eat whole, fresh foods!

Chemical Overload: This is based on a Canadian newpaper article written last year, but is a wealth of information on chemical overload in our environment and the current measures (or lack of!) attempting to control it. From the article: "Only now are governments beginning to examine the dangers posed to human health and ecosystems. Many western governments are initiating new chemical controls as part of an international Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management agreement signed in Dubai in 2006. The agreement was sparked by the realization that nearly every square inch of the planet is now contaminated to one degree or another with a chemical pollutant. What’s more, over the next 15 years, chemical production is expected to climb 80 per cent."

Studies and reports like these continue to back up the importance of a raw, vegan, whole foods, organic diet and the use of non-toxic household and body care products (like Miessence).

It is easy to become overwhelmed at the thought of chemical dangers lurking around us, especially if you are trying to recover from the health effects of chemical overload. We must take it one step at a time. Every choice we make is important, and any time you can choose a non-toxic product or food, it takes you one step closer to living a healthier, cleaner life from the inside out.

The more you make these choices, the better you will feel. The better you feel, the more it will motivate you to continue to make more informed, healthier choices. Once you realize how far you have come, you will rejoice in the changes and wonder (like me) why you didn't do it sooner! So, don't despair, get started today, with your first step.

Which choice can you start with?

Tooth Soap Special - Don't Miss Out!

Deals, deals, and more deals! This seems to be the time when everyone starts a special promotion...so I am here to pass them along to you! See down below this special deal, but first here is why:

Have you checked out the link over to the left for Tooth Soap? It is a great product I discovered last year to replace chemical-filled toothpaste. We have been Tooth Soap converts for over a year now!

If you read a post I wrote last year called "Screaming Clean Teeth," you might remember that our son with sensory issues has problems brushing his teeth. The result of his resistance to teeth brushing has been some cavities forming because those back teeth just don't get clean enough - no matter how hard we've tried!

Two years ago, he had to get some cavities filled. I know, toxic, mercury-fillings are the last thing his body needs. Over here in Austria, the dentists don't use metal fillings, but I am just as skeptical about the alternate filling choices available, especially after learning so much about alternative dentistry.

His filling fell out anyway. At first I was worried about it, but then after discovering Tooth Soap, I was happy to have the chance to put it to the test! Call me crazy, I know... I am ecstatic to report that we are seeing new tooth forming over the original hole! Yes, the claims are true that teeth can remineralize and heal themselves - after the damage has been done. We have seen the proof first hand, even though we are still working on teaching him to brush thoroughly!!

Our winning combination has been the Black Cherry Liquid Tooth Soap and the Lemony Lime Tooth Swish. According to their website,

"Just a pinch of Tooth Swish powder helps to neutralize food acids, promote salivation and remineralize teeth with 84 ionic/colloidal minerals and trace elements, stimulate the gums, correct pH and freshen the breath, all in one simple SWISH!"

Best of all, right now the company is celebrating its recent acceptance into Green America Today's Green Business Network! For all of us, this means an AMAZING SALE!!

BUY ONE GET ONE F*REE NOW on:

ALL PERFECT PRESCRIPTION PRODUCTS!

For every Perfect Prescription Product you purchase, you will get another of the exact same item F*REE!

That's right - and you don't need to do anything. Simply place your order and for every item in your shopping cart, another of the exact same item will be added for free.

The F*REE item will not show up on your email order receipt, but will certainly be included in your package. This offer is valid until February 8th at midnight, EST.

Don't wait to try it out for half-price! Let me know what you think!

Free Teleclass from Karen Knowler, "The Raw Food Coach"

It seems as though there are a lot of opportunities for me to pass along to you lately! Read on for today's special event...

It isn't too late! TODAY is the day to take advantage of Karen Knowler's wealth of information. I have worked with her before (and currently...) so I know first hand that she delivers more than what you expect from her services.

Today's FREE teleclass (you can also listen live by webcast or later by audio recording) is all about:

“How to Design and Create a Raw Food Class that Fills Up Every Time!”

If you have been into raw foods for a while then you know that there are so many great benefits to eating this way that you want to help others find this path. Even if you are new to raw foods and you learned from someone else how it all works, you might think that someday you would like to do the same thing. Then this is the class for you!

The best part is that she evidently has a special SECRET offer to announce at the end that will only be offered to those on this call, and this is the only time she will give this teleclass...sounds too exciting!

I will be on the line, as will several hundred others who have already signed up! Will you be, too?

Fantastic Free Webinar on Organic and Natural Living

Creating awareness that will further empower.

It is our great pleasure to invite you to attend a free dynamic organic information webinar.

If you are interested in hearing:

How to tell if the contents of what you are buying is really natural and organic and not some sophisticated “label” claim
Why it is legal to put a prohibited ingredient in a product
About amazing Worlds First breakthroughs in certified organic products
The medical evidence of how synthetic chemicals make you fat
About workable solutions for a healthier society
Organic probiotic super foods, the way of the future
How synthetic pesticides are as insidious as nuclear fallout.
About a revolutionary new and natural approach to business and like to support companies who maintain the ethical use of the earth’s resources

This seminar is for you!

In this short, remarkably informative webinar (live event online) we are privileged to have Australian International speaker Alf Orpen as our guest on the webinar. Professionals involved in the health industry are often amazed with the facts that Alf presents in his presentation, giving them a whole new perspective on a host of topics evolving around health and the environment.

Alf has a background in mechanical engineering with a love for chemistry. With over 23 years experience in the organic/health industry from its early days as a movement through to its growth into the US$30 billion industry it is today, Alf knows his stuff. Alf is a director of Organic & Natural Enterprise Group; an innovative company involved in the organic movement and is on the board of the Biological Farmers of Australia, a cooperative of over 1200 members with the majority being organic farmers throughout Australia, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Alf has travelled extensively educating companies, health professionals and individuals on the hidden health effects our modern agriculture has on us.

Thankfully, this fascinating presentation is not all bad news. Alf will introduce you to the revolutionary new (or revolutionary old depending on your perspective) ways to optimise your health and vitality.

For those interested, after the presentation Alf will speak about how we can all benefit financially from the next health wave.

Mark it in your dairy!

WHEN: Thursday 12th February 2009 (Brisbane Date)

TIME: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Brisbane Time - click here for your local time)

WHERE: http://onegroup.acrobat.com/organicnaturalwebinar/

Organic Business Opportunity

Do you want to create a more secure financial future for yourself?

Are you interested in joining a thriving ORGANIC business?

The following is an email I received from ONE Group, the company name who runs the Miessence line. Since signing up as a representative, I have not really talked much about the possibility for you to join as a rep yourself. All I wanted was to get a great discount on the products I already knew and loved. Aside from the discount as a rep, I now know the potential of making a great income from Miessence. This is a double win for me!

Check out their new sign-up offer valid in February only! If you have any questions about it, there is a lot of information on my Miessence site. If there is something else you need to know that isn't answered there, feel free to contact me on the link on this page and I will help any way I can.

So..here is that email....

Come celebrate with us as we roll back representative joining fees for the entire month of February to only 6 bucks*!

Everyone on the planet is looking to take more control of their own financial future in 2009. Why not experience ONEgroup during our 6th Birthday Blast! celebration for only 6 bucks - a limited time savings of over 75% off of our normal enrollment fee.

Save even more - It's easy as one, two, three!

1. Enroll as a representative for 6 bucks.

2. Place a Fast Start order of at least 250 points during your first 30 days and you'll receive a 30% discount off your entire order. Have fun filling your shopping cart with your choice of products while building your own personal testimony of the amazing results you'll receive from using the purest products on the planet.

3. We'll also include some free catalogs and brochures with your Fast Start order to help you get your business off to a quick start.

Special Bonus: You'll also be promoted immediately to the level of Senior Associate with your Fast Start order. This means that you'll receive multiple levels of additional business building income starting on day one.

Don't let the time run out on this special Birthday Blast! opportunity. Let February 2009 be the month that you get serious about building a sustainable financial future for you and your loved ones.

P.S. ONEgroup's Birthday Blast Promotion will end on February 28. Don't regret test driving the greatest organic business opportunity on the planet for only 6 bucks.

Wall-E, a film for kids and adults alike...powerful message inside

Let me just start by saying we don't even own a tv. We don't watch much at all, but we do have some DVDs that we will watch together as a family on the computer. After being in Texas last summer visiting friends and family, we came home with a really big dose of remembering exactly why we choose not to have a tv in our home! Our kids picked up on so much that I would rather not have had them exposed to simply by being in other people's homes and around constant tv screens. We are still working on getting rid of some residual effects on the kids.

While I say that, I do know that watching a quality film or story can be a fun family activity. Since visiting NASA in Houston, we were (and still are!) on a space kick and chose to take the kids to see Wall-E in the theaters. I was absolutely taken over by the film. It was so impressive in its scope of being entertaining for kids and yet cleverly made to keep the adults interested, all while a powerful and insightful message was hidden inside.

So, why am I writing about this now, at least 6 months later? Well, we have been enjoying the DVD we got from my mom sent over to us here in Austria as a Christmas gift. I have been seeing all sorts of advertisements in the stores here about the DVD release that is coming up here on February 5....we are soooo behind the times. :)

Then I came across a review of Wall-E written by Mike Adams of Natural News, an online news source on natural health and living. He said everything that I would have said and much more! I just had to link to his review and let you decide for yourself. If you are a parent who is critical of what your children watch, like me, and you haven't yet seen this film, I consider it a must see!

So, if you aren't yet convinced, read Mike's outstanding review in the above link and then find out for yourself. It is interesting....with the theme of the film, the DVD was released in a new completely recyclable cardboard paper case. I wonder if this is just an advertising ploy or if it will be something Disney actually takes to heart and continues in the future.... ;)

Does the snowman's nose look tasty to you?

We just got a new blanket of snow yesterday and, of course, the first thing we did was get out there and make a snowman!

Kieren, our 3 year old girl (in the blue snowsuit) has been fascinated! After the full Christmas season singing along to Frosty the Snowman, reading the book, and even seeing a cartoon about it, she was absolutely SURE that our snowman (conveniently named Frosty - how original!) was going to start walking and talking! She got up this morning and went straight to the window to see if he was there. I had to lock the door just to keep her from running out barefoot in the snow, nightgown and all, to go give him a good morning hug!

The kids were out again this afternoon making snow angels, having snowball fights, and taking turns pulling each other on the sled like it was a wagon rolling behind them. I left the three big ones in the backyard to keep playing while I brought the baby in for her afternoon nap. I promised them some hot tea and warmed (but raw!!) apple crisp when they were ready to come inside.

After putting the baby down, I checked on them through my kitchen windows while preparing the tea and setting the table. I guess Kieren couldn't wait on our snack, because there she was, munching on the carrot of our now NOSELESS snowman!! :)

I just barely got the snapshot from the window before Erik came running over practically in tears yelling, "No, don't eat Frosty's nose!!" I saved the day with a new carrot nose (we always have lots of carrots in the fridge!) and told Erik, "See, Frosty doesn't mind...He's still smiling!"

I am still laughing...Is there such a thing as liking your raw veggies too much? :)

Love Sushi? You've Gotta Try a Raw Vegan Nori Roll!

I don't even like sushi, but I love these!

Nori rolls are so very yummy and super easy to make with a few ingredients I always have on hand. These are made with tomato, cucumber, avocado, green onions, and lamb's lettuce. Usually, I like to add sprouts of some sort, but today I was out and my new batch just wasn't ready yet.

I got this recipe idea long ago from Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach in England, who posted a video on her website about making these. You can view her video or read her written recipe to see how I made these. (By clicking on her name above, it will go to her website. Find the link to "Karen's Kitchen" where you will find her recipes and demos.) She recommended just eating it as a whole wrap and that is the quick and easy way that I do often. When I have a little extra time, I make sure the wrap is sealed well along the long side and cut it into bites with a serrated knife to resemble real sushi rolls. In the middle is a bowl of Tamari for a dipping sauce.

Nori is a seaweed that is dried and pressed into sheets. Normal sushi is made from toasted nori. In the package, the toasted variety looks green and the raw variety looks shiny black. A little opposite from what you would think! Nori is a great source of calcium, zinc, iodine, iron, Vit A and C, and cancer-fighting lignans. Besides all that, it is just plain tasty!

If you are not familiar with it, Tamari is a type of soy sauce. There is a raw soy sauce called Nama Shoyu. I choose Tamari, even though it is not actually a raw food, because all other varieties of soy sauce (including Nama Shoyu) contain wheat. That doesn't fit our gluten-free choices, so it doesn't come into our home! A little goes a long way with dipping the nori rolls, but it provides a delicious zing to the recipe.

Enjoy!

Miessence - Natural and Organic - What Does that Really Mean?

This video is an interview with Alf Orphan and Narelle Chenery, the founders of the ONE Group (Organic and Natural Enterprise) and creaters of the Miessence range of organic and natural skin, hair, cosmetic, and health care products.

Narelle describes the technical meaning of the words natural, organic, and talks about the process they use to create their wonderful product line. Take a look at the video and you will understand why I believe they have the highest ethical, ecological, and quality standards of any skincare company I know.

For more information, go to the Miessence homepage and try it for yourself. You will fall in love with their superior products just like I did!

Belated Baby's First Birthday!

They say that time goes by faster as you get older, but I am only 31! If it gets any faster, I am in some serious trouble!! I think my problem is not just age related...it is kid related. Being a mom of young children warps time in a whole new way, especially the more you have!

It was after we had number four that I realized time was moving at an extraordinary rate. I thought about it and Melina is now 16 months old and I never wrote about her first birthday!! (A first or second time mom would NEVER have done that!) :) Here she is on her birthday last September. Wow, she has already changed since then! (That is a NUBY BPA FREE No Spill Sippy Cup !)

The typical first birthday tradition (as I have always known it) is a big family party with chocolate cake and chocolate icing. Then the baby gets one all to himself, just for the pictures and fun memories! This summer during our trip to Texas, we got to spend lots of time with my family. My sister, Michelle, has a baby just one month older than Melina. We had a big party on Avery's birthday in celebration for both girls. Avery (in this picture) got her own chocolate cupcake.

No, I am not writing this to say how bad my sister is!! :) She even said I could use Avery's picture...she's a great big Sis! I do have a point to make, though! We had a great time together as a family with no one getting upset. (That is, I didn't get upset about the pressure to give Melina some some cake, and my family didn't get upset about me not letting Melina have it. At least not seriously, they did pout a little - but all in fun). The choice to eat a raw food diet does not have to be a struggle around others who don't. I admit that I did have a small internal struggle about doubting myself and my choices...but very small.

When we were back at home in Austria and celebrated Melina's birthday, I made a raw blueberry "cheesecake". It was based on the recipe from Alissa Cohen's book, "Living on Live Food." I blended the blueberries into the cheesecake mixture instead of leaving them whole. At one year, Melina did not like mixed textures (smooth and chunky together). It had an almond date crumb crust.

Since Melina had not yet eaten such a heavy food, I left out the crust for her and gave her a bowl of the filling to dig in to. And did she ever! She got as much on her as in her, but that is what we were hoping for, wasn't it? We got to enjoy the first birthday messy cake just like everyone else, but we just missed the big family gathering over here. If only I had this idea back then!

So, a little belated, but cute as ever!

Antipsychotic prescribed for kids - Zyprexa is out!

1 down....how many more to go??

$1.4 billion is one small victory when it comes to over $30 billion in sales... but one small step for the justice system will eventually lead to one giant leap for our children's health....

Interesting quotes from this news video:

"The risks are great, but that doesn't stop drug companies from trying to get drug companies from trying to get children to take them."

"Drug maker, Eli Lilly will pay $1.4 billion, the biggest fine in the history of the justice department for marketing its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa to children and the elderly, even though there is no proven benefit to either population."

"...Lilly promoted Zyprexa for rowdy children in schools....as a sort of chemical restraint."

Marketing slogan 5 at 5: "5 mg at 5 pm will put even most hostile person in compliance for the night."

"In terms of the drug industry, marketing and greed for money has over...consumed their desire to protect public health. They are no longer just in the business of providing drugs for people who need them, they are interested in making money. Greed has overcome their better judgement."

Need I say more?

Raw Taco Salad - It's not all rabbit food!

It is common that the longer you eat a raw food diet, the simpler your food tends to get. Since we have been eating raw food for so long now, we have lots of smoothies and salads and fruit type meals.

For a busy mom of 4 little ones all vying for my attention in their many ways, this is a nice trade off. No long hours baking or cooking, tending to the food while it cooks away - which for me usually meant letting something burn or boil over because my attention was somewhere else!

On the other hand, there are many of the gourmet raw foods that mock regular cooked meals that can take days to plan between soaking, sprouting, dehydrating and such. These aren't so bad because you don't have to hang over the food as it cooks. You only have to remember to rinse while sprouting or flip the food in the dehyrator when it is time. You just have to get the hang of planning ahead.

Today, I was in no mood for a light meal! I was also thinking of a good old Tex-Mex meal like I used to love from home. We had all the fixins' for a yummy Taco Salad! I would have made actual tacos if I had the dehydrated taco shells, but I didn't have them. And I wasn't about to wait another day for this meal because I thought about making it too late in the day to have the shells finished in time!!

What I did have was dehydrated corn tortilla chips. My original plan was to have these for a snack with my homemade salsa. I am sooo addicted to this! I don't think I could ever be 100% raw without knowing how to make my own tortilla chips so I could eat my salsa! :)

In the last minute, I turned our snack into a full, very filling, and oh-so yummy meal with extra things that I keep on-hand. With the addition of a bowl of lettuce, "taco meat" (walnut based), cashew "sour cream," and guacomole, the salsa and chips were turned into the best taco salad I have had!

And best of all, I made all this in less than half an hour. Fresh, raw, and homemade!

Vaccines...Poetically Deceiving

I have been researching the vaccine debate for my upcoming book on raising healthy children (coauthored with Monique Bastien from the Raw Divas team).

I made my decision not to vaccinate our children when my son was about 1 1/2 years old. He already had the beginning shots when I first became aware of the controversy. After much research to be certain about my decision, I felt confident to go against the doctor's recommendations.

This was about 7 years ago, so I needed to make sure I have my facts straight for the book, including the latest up to date information. It is so easy to get inspired when you reread all the reasons why you choose to do something and so easy to get incited about the reasons why you choose not to do something!

Tonight I had to stop writing for the book and pass this along to you. No, it is not data or research for or against either side. I will save that for the book. It is simply a point I need to make:

My trail of thoughts was this...go the the American Academy of Pediatrics website to get the most current recommended vaccination schedule. From there, I clicked the link to the VaccinateYourBaby.org website to see what they were about. (I am looking into both sides of the issue, not just all against.)

Right there on the home page of this site was a video of actress Amanda Peet giving a very compelling speech to "learn the facts," "explore this site" (not this one, but vaccinateyourbaby.org), because it "features the kind of reliable information we were looking for when doing research" and you should use the site to "make the best healthcare decision for your family." She also goes on to say that she is proud to be a part of the campaign, Every Child By 2.

What was my next step? Look up Every Child By 2 campaign, of course! According to their website, "The goals of ECBT are to raise awareness of the critical need for timely immunizations and to foster a systematic way to immunize all of America's children by age two." My first question was, "Who funds these campaigns and websites?"

The page named About Us says, "Every Child By Two's Vaccinate Your Baby campaign is made possible through an unrestricted, educational grant from sanofi pasteur." That sound pretty neutral and non-biased right? After all it is educational grant money...

So I Googled "sanofi pasteur" and you will never guess what the top result was. Let me just copy it here, straight out of Google:

Welcome to sanofi pasteur

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, is the largest company in the world devoted entirely to human vaccines.
www.sanofipasteur.com/ - 30k - Cached - Similar pages

Let me repeat that..."the largest company in the world devoted entirely to human vaccines."

Of course they are going to hire a beautiful actress to be just as convincing as Jenny McCarthy who is so actively speaking out against vaccines and about recovering her son from autism. Is this website a neutral, reliable source of information which you can use to make the best healthcare decisions for your family?

Or is this just another deceptive advertising scheme to convince parents to follow the crowd while the company grows richer off the health dangers to countless children....in fact, hoping for every single American child?

Ok, so I obviously believe that vaccines are a danger to our children (and I will blog a personal story on this topic soon), but I hope to present all the facts on this controversy in a straightforward and honest manner as I write this part of the book. I will share my opinion, but not skew the facts or sway the parent based on financial gain.

Don't we wish they would, too?

Spirulina Smoothie for Kids...Perfected!

I used to think that I would NEVER get my kids to like spirulina. It has a very strong flavor and even just a little in a recipe can quickly overwhelm the taste. And we are talking about kids who are well into their raw food diet and beyond transition!

Why did I keep trying? In short, it has everything! If you are not familiar with spirulina, here is what you need to know:

It is a group of microscopic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) that is found naturally in warm alkaline waters and has been used by ancient cultures, such as the Aztecs, as an important part of the daily diet.
It contains 60-70% protein, complete, and fully digestible. In fact, it has more digestible protein than beef or soy!
Rich in GLA, ALA, DHA...those critically important essential fatty acids that are found lacking in the typical diet.
Packed with Vitamins A, B (all, including B12), C, D, and E.
High source of both macro and trace minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc...and many more!
Chlorophyll (where the green color comes from) and a wide array of other photosynthetic pigments.
Has been shown to reverse cancer, type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Inhibits HIV.
Corrects anemia and malnutrition.
Aids in weight loss.
Improves joint and tissue inflamation and arthritis.
Improves asthma and hay fever.

Wow!! That's not even all - just the big stuff. The list is so long, I hope I did not forget anything!

Spirulina can be found in both powder and tablet form. With young kids, I prefer the powder. They cannot swallow the tablets....but the dilemma is the green taste of the powder, mild though it is!

I have had spirulina for a while now and only the baby and I have been willing to eat it. That is why I am so excited. I have created the perfect spirulina smoothie that the kids love, love, love! I have made it for about a month now and waited to write about it until I was absolutely sure it wasn't a passing thing. This is the smoothie that my kids ask for everyday!

Perfect Spirulina Smoothie (beautifully bright green)

2 to 3 bananas
2 C frozen fruit chunks: papaya, mango, and pineapple (mix I buy prepackaged at the store, but can easily be made at home)
1 heaping teaspoon spirulina
water or fresh squeezed orange juice to desired consistency (we like it thin enough to drink with a straw)

Both liquids (water and OJ) have been given official 4 thumbs up (approval from all 4 of my kids).

With this fruit blend, I have been able to increase the amount of spirulina from 1/2 teaspoon to over a full teaspoon.

You may want to start off with less if you are trying to introduce this for the first time. I hope to increase the amount up to 2 teaspoons eventually...we will see about that one!

Try it out and let me know what you think! You can leave a comment with your best spirulina ideas...I would love to have more!

Kid-Safe Chemicals Act

I just watched a video about the pollution in people and I was shocked. With all the research I have done on toxic pollution in the body and the damage it does to children, I was still shocked by this video.

Did you know the current law regulating toxic chemicals was passed in 1976? And it hasn't changed since, even though 20,000 new chemicals have come onto the market since then.

This video can be found on: http://www.ewg.org/kidsafe. From there, or the website below, you can sign the Declaration to stop pollution newborns. There is a second, shorter video to watch on the declaration page, but in my opinion, this longer video is a MUST SEE.

WATCH THE VIDEO: http://www.KidSafeChemicals.org
SIGN THE DECLARATION: http://www.KidSafeChemicals.org

People are polluted with hundreds of industrial chemicals. Babies are born pre-polluted with 300 industrial chemicals in their bodies when they enter the world.

We are at a tipping point, where the pollution in people is increasingly associated with a range of serious diseases and conditions from childhood cancer, to autism, ADHD, learning deficits, infertility, and birth defects.

It's time to step up and protect our children. Tell the U.S. President you won't stand for this any longer.

SIGN THE DECLARATION: http://www.KidSafeChemicals.org

Watch the videos and take action! Then share it with your friends. It's up to us to protect our children and make change happen.

After all this, I can't help but to remind you about the Miessence body care products...according to the figures in the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database and the quality of their products and care about environment and people, this is the only company I trust for hair, body, cosmetic, and skin care needs!

This post was partially created by the email letter the kidsafechemicals.org website asks the viewer to pass on to others. I thought I would reach many more people by blog than a few emails and decided to use it here!

Blogging break over! Get ready for lots of great stuff here!

I'M BACK!

After a series of events from personal reasons, internet issues, time issues, more internet issues, holidays, and such, I am really excited to write here again and I have a million things to say!

I hope you had a great holiday break as I have. Ice skating on the frozen arms of the Danube river here in our town tops the list of magical moments for me! My husband has been like a kid, playing hockey with some other families here, taking our kids out on their own ice skates, and pulling our 1 year old behind him on the sled.

Erik even joined in on the hockey game after learning super fast for his first time iceskating.

For a Texas gal who hasn't stepped foot on a frozen river in her life, I still am amazed at life here in Austria, even after 9 years of being here! For the past few years, it has either been too warm or I was too pregnant to go iceskating!

(By the time I thought of taking pictures, it snowed a little and the ice had to be cleared for the hockey game!)

I have been wondering what to start blogging about with so many ideas buiding up in my head...and today after viewing a video online, I knew it had to be about that. So without more off-topic discussions of winter in Austria, I will show you that video!