Baby Wearing

Baby wearing is the oldest form of baby transport and has been practiced around the world for centuries.  There are photos that show mothers wearing their babies in China, Mexico, Indonesia, Europe, Ethiopia, and many other places that are over 100 years old!  It is super practical; baby is safe and close to you, while having your arms free (something that a stroller does not offer!).  Beside the practicality, there are many reasons that it is a good for both mom and child.

• Mother's oxytocin is increased through physical touch, lowering postpartum depression, making breastfeeding easier, and strengthening the maternal bond.  Similarly, the paternal bond is strengthened through baby wearing!
• Infants who are carried tend to be calmer because all of the primal/survival needs are being met.
• Parental rhythms (walking/heartbeat) have a soothing effect on children as they mimic being in the womb.
• Babies are "humanized" earlier; Being close to another person allows them to study facial expressions and language in depth.
• Children who are worn actually tend to learn to be independent more quickly.
• Attachment between child and parent is more secure.
• Decreases risk of "Flat Head Syndrome"
• For mom's trying to lose baby weight, the extra weight of carrying a child definitely helps!

I did not know all of these things when Kennedy was born, but by instinct I learned very quickly how powerful carriers can be.  Kennedy was colicky for the first 8 weeks of her life and the only thing that seemed to calm her and help her sleep was baby wearing.  I wore her (what felt like) around the clock for those first two months.  She loved it and I loved being close to her.  Now, at almost 2 years old, I still wear her around the house on occasion when I see that she is feeling "needy," and it usually does the trick!  Even though she weighs 26 pounds now, I still love the extra snuggles.  I have used three different types of carriers and I will review each of them below!

ErgoBaby Carrier

This is by far my most favorite and the only everyday carrier I still use!  As you can see, it can be worn on the front or the back and is suitable from birth (with infant insert) to 45 pounds.  The material is very comfortable and the carrier is really easy to use.  It also has a hood that can cover your baby's face when it is sunny or they are sleeping.  The hood is also a great way to discreetly nurse in public.  I find it a bit difficult to put Kennedy in the carrier on my back, but it can be done.  

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $115 for the Original, $135 for Organic Cotton, $25 for Infant Insert

Where to Find: From Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, and many baby product retailers

www.ergobaby.com

Balboa Baby Adjustable Sling

I only used this sling once or twice, but could never figure out how to properly position it, so it always felt uncomfortable for both Kennedy and myself.  I have read mixed reviews online, some who love it, some who feel the same as I do, so I am sure some people have figured this sling out!  All in all, I can't recommend it because it never really worked for me.  (I gave this to a friend whom I hope has had better luck with it than me!).

Product Rating: ♛

Price: $59.99

Where to Find: From Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby

Baby Bjorn Original Carrier in Mesh

I purchased this carrier when Kennedy was about six months old because it allows baby to face forward and inward, which I thought would be a great thing.  Around this age, I started to notice that Kennedy was always trying to look around in the Ergo carrier and it seemed really uncomfortable.  It is rated for babies up to 25 pounds and is really comfortable to wear.  The mesh material is great for summer because it is breathable; something I hadn't found with other carriers.  All of the great things aside, after purchasing it, I found out that it isn't ideal to carry your baby in a forward facing position, and here is why:

• It adds pressure to the groin and can chafe the baby's thighs.
• It puts pressure on baby's hips and does not support the legs.
• It doesn't support the head or neck.
• Puts pressure on the baby's spine because he/she is in a "hollow back" position.
• Puts pressure on caregiver's back

 I did not feel like I was as connected with her as I was when wearing her inward facing.  The design of the Baby Bjorn carrier has a thick piece of fabric in between mom and baby, which doesn't give the same "connecting" feeling as physically touching each other.  

Product Rating: ♛♛♛

Price: $79.99

Where to Find: Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, and many online retailers

So, what will I try if there is a next time?  The Moby Wrap or the K'Tan both look amazing and I may  be in the market for one of those in the future.  I have also heard great things about the Lillebaby carrier, which competes with Ergobaby in this particular style.

What carrier do you use?  Feel free to comment below about your love for baby wearing!

(Safe) Fun in the Sun!

Now that it is getting warmer outside, here a few things to keep baby safe in the sun!

Baby Bum Sunscreen (by Sun Bum)

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $17.99

Where to Find: From Nordstrom, Amazon.com, and other online retailers

Baby Bum sunscreen is an all natural sunscreen, protecting your baby's skin without harmful chemicals.  I found this sunscreen on my recent vacation and fell in love.  My favorite thing about this sunscreen is that I can read the names of the all of the ingredients (woohoo!).  If you aren't aware, 99% of the sunscreen you find in stores is somewhat "poisonous," soaking into your skin and staying in your system for up to 2 days after a single application.  There are over 15 chemicals in sunscreen that are known to be "endocrine disruptors," that is they disrupt your natural hormonal balance, which can lead to ovarian, breast, and prostate cancers.  To read more, go to Dr. Oz's latest article on the subject.  The good news is that Sun Bum makes sunscreen for your whole family, so everyone can be safe and healthy!

SunglassWarehouse.com

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $5-$12

I found this website over Christmas when putting together a "Dress Up" Box for Kennedy and now I am obsessed.  I love dressing Kennedy like a tiny grown up and most kid's sunglasses are not very fashionable.  I love this website for the price and selection of their products!  Check it out! www.sunglasswarehouse.com

Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) Swimming Lessons

Kennedy took ISR swimming lessons last summer and I am still debating how I feel about them.  On one hand, she learned the skill I signed her up for (to float for an indefinite amount of time in the water/self rescue) but on the other hand I still wonder whether it was truly "worth" it.  Before taking ISR, Kennedy took 2 months of "Mommy & Me" swim lessons that were nothing more than play time in the water... it was fun, but she learned nothing and I wasted $140.  I learned about ISR through a YouTube video that I found truly amazing; An unattended baby falls in a pool, rolls over, floats, & cries for help until the parent comes to rescue.  While we do not have a pool, my parents do, she is around water all of the time, so I thought it would be an excellent thing for her to learn and put my mind at ease.  Lessons are everyday, Monday through Friday for 10 minutes each day, usually lasting 4-5 weeks.  From 6 months to approximately 16 months, babies learn to roll over and float for an indefinite amount of time in all types of clothing (simulating a real life fall into the pool).  After a child has been walking for a few months, they can learn to "swim, float, swim."  Kennedy did not like the lessons, crying everyday during her 10 minutes, but as I said, she did learn the valuable tool that we were seeking.  While she was upset, I looked at it as one of the many hard parenting decisions that have to be made; she also does not like to nap, eat vegetables, change her diaper, or be in time out...was this any different?  As this summer approaches, I have found a teacher who appears to be more gentle, but will still teach her how to actually swim at her age (2)... we will see how it goes.  I considered putting her back in the ISR lessons, but it just did not work with our schedule, so I guess it was meant to be.  My advice to any parent would be to wait until your child is 1.5 or 2 and start the ISR with "swim, float, swim."  The older children seemed to be better at dealing with the stress of learning and learned how to actually swim, not just float.  I see much more of a need to learn as she has become a full toddler, opening doors is rather simple and she is into almost everything!  If you want to find an instructor near you or have more questions go to www.infantswim.com

Kennedy's First Birthday

As I am beginning to plan Kennedy's second birthday, I started reminiscing on her first birthday which made me want to blog about it!  In college, I minored in Horticulture with an emphasis in Floral Design/Event Planning... my major was Psychology, obviously my career track was not well thought out, but that is a story for another day.  Anyway, my minor has actually become my passion in life and I worked as an event planner and florist in college and a few years thereafter.  Those who were close to me during my wedding planning process know that I was extremely meticulous about every detail and I treated Kennedy's first birthday party the same way.  Party planning is my favorite way to be creative and I hope you get inspiration from my ideas!

I started planning the party in February (her birthday isn't until June); my biggest piece of advice is never to procrastinate.  Crafts, phone calls, decisions, etcetera always take longer than expected and it is best to be calm and have fun with the process.  Procrastination leads to stress!

Alice in Wonderland is one of my all time favorite movies and because Kennedy didn't really have any preference in the matter, I decided it to be the theme.  And the Pin-teresting began!

First, I found the invitations that I liked (Etsy has some amazing printable packages) and went from there.  The invitations help to decide the exact color scheme and direction of the decorations.  The invitation should set the tone for the event; guests will assume the dress and imagine the decor from the style of the invitation.

Again, Etsy printable packages are great.  Printable packages, for those who don't know, usually include a custom invitation and an array of matching paper goods like banners, cupcake flags, straw flags, signs, quotes, and others.  The packages come to you in the form of PDF files so that you can print them yourself; which saves a lot of money and still looks professional!  My advice is to buy 100 weight+ cardstock and either print at home or take it to Kinko's.  If you bring your own paper to Kinko's it can save a lot of money.

You can pretty much rent and hire almost anything you can think of.  In my experience, people often forget about renting things that would be so useful at a party.  Things you can rent include: tables, chairs, Igloo coolers, fans, cups, plates, silverware, tablecloths, decorations, high chairs...really anything.  The average rental company will charge you under $15 to rent a table, under $5 for a basic wooden chair, and around $15 for a basic tablecloth.  I rented several high chairs for Kennedy's party and they were so helpful with little ones!

Think about matching everything to your theme... not just the decorations.  Think about translating the theme to the music, the food, the games, etcetera.  With the Alice theme, we decided to serve "Carrot" Chicken Salad Sandwiches (Chicken Salad in a carrot-shaped and colored croissant), "Magic Mushrooms" (Tomato Caprese), Mad Hatter Cookies, and Scones.

Always think of what would make your guests feel comfortable.  In having a first birthday party, we expected several guests that were around the same age.  I purchased Plum Organics pouches, Annie's Cheddar Bunnies (Kennedy's Favorite), made toddler-friendly sandwiches (Cream Cheese & Carrot), rented high chairs, and made each child's seat "baby proof" (i.e. Sippy Cup, paper plate, & place mat).  I also thought of the Moms & Dads and had Champagne Cocktails for all those of age.

One of my favorite touches that I add to every party is a sign-able photo book.  Before the party, I made a photo book on Shutterfly (if you haven't done this before, it is life-changing!  And only about $30-$40) and intentionally left several random pages blank.  Instead of having a traditional guest book, I had guests sign anywhere on the empty pages.  This makes for guest book that doesn't get lost in a closet somewhere!

Anyone who reads this in the baking industry may hate me for this tip, but cake prices are probably the thing that (in my opinion) varies most among different bakeries.  I definitely believe that there is a difference between cakes and bakers, but I have never truly had a bad cake.  It is sugar, flour, egg, and butter...how could it be bad?  Really do some research and you can find a small baker that will be very reasonable with pricing and you can get the cake of your dreams without blowing the budget (I only paid $150 for Kennedy's 3-tier cake).

I also made a slideshow of photos set to music that I played on one of our TVs during the party.  I set the slideshow on a loop so that everyone could see it.  It was a great touch, especially for family, and I now have the slideshow as a keepsake!

Take birthday photos before the party and have the theme incorporated into the photos.  Display the photos around the party in frames you have around your house.

Don't forget about the ceiling!  Hanging paper lanterns, pom poms, or flags from the ceiling helps to solidify your theme and create the mood.

A few more details:

• I found cardboard cutouts of the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, and Caterpillar and placed them throughout the house. 
  
• I made arrow signs (like the ones the Cheshire Cat refers to) from card stock and glitter pens and placed these below the Cheshire Cat cutout.
• Being a florist, I had to incorporate flowers into the event.  Of course, "Painting the Roses Red" was the most obvious way!  I bought red floral spray paint, white and red roses, some floral foam, and got to work.  I used 1/3 white roses, 1/3 "painted" white roses, and 1/3 red roses to make topiaries.  I used the rose leaves to fill in the space between roses and bought some sticks at Hobby Lobby to create the topiary look.
  
• Colored paper straws in Izzy Soda with flags saying "Drink Me"
  
• Paper Flags on toothpicks saying "Eat Me" were placed on sandwiches
• I loaded my iPad with the soundtrack to the movie (available on Spotify!) and played it at the entrance to set the mood.
• I played the movie on a loop in the living room as well
  
  
  
• I made a sign (printed off line and blown up on a copier) saying "Down the Rabbit Hole," placed in a frame, and hung on the front door.
  
• I found black and white check wrapping paper that I used as placemats, silver tray liners, and table runners.  Definitely best bang for the buck!
  
• Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter Tea Party should be fancy and whimsical so I rented table cloths, vintage china, chairs, and silver trays.  I definitely think that the rental items are what made the party such a "wow".  Plus, there is not so much waste to the environment when you use re-usable items!
  
  
  
   
  
  

Traveling Baby Part 2

I always get tons of questions about traveling with Kennedy and over the last 20 months, traveling with her has changed dramatically.  Because of this, I am going to break the post up by ages and method of transportation (car vs. plane) and give tips, tricks, and gadget recommendations along the way...enjoy!


Traveling with Baby Age Newborn to Crawling:

I found that traveling at this age is much, much, much easier than it is today.  Although at this age babies typically require more "gadgets," their lack of desire to move makes being on the move a little less challenging.

Traveling by Car:

When traveling by car, I feel like I am less restricted by space than I am on an airplane (suitcases can only hold so much!).  Here are the things that I typically carried at this age:

• Inflatable Bath Tub (See Traveling Baby Part 1)- It is so much easier to bath a baby in a small tub.  Inflatable options are very portable and make life easier.
• Baby Bjorn Travel Crib (See Traveling Baby Part 1)- Babies typically sleep better when they are in familiar surroundings.  If you can bring your own play pen or travel crib, it can make for an easier transition.
• Sleep Sheep On-the-Go- Portable sound machine that comes in a cute little stuffed animal!
• Folding Rocking Chair- I love to rock Kennedy before she goes to sleep (I don't rock her to sleep, but it is part of her "relaxing" nighttime routine).  You can buy a folding rocking chair (like a folding lawn chair) from Wal-Mart for $40 or so.  I bring it with me if I have room in the car!
• Medela Microwave Sterilization Bags (see Nursing Essentials)- These bags are great for on the go cleaning of pacifiers, bottles, teething rings, etcetera.  Almost all hotels have a microwave in room, which makes this a great way to keep all the feeding accessories clean.
• Englesina High Chair- Foldable and portable way to feed your baby in the hotel room (once they start eating solids).  Many hotels charge extra for delivering a high chair to the room, and many relatives don't have one!
• If nursing and traveling with another adult who is driving, I usually pumped while we we drove and fed Kennedy a bottle of the expressed milk.  Afterward we would stop to burp her and change the diaper, but this saved a lot of time, especially on a 3 day road trip to Colorado when she was 3 weeks old (yes, I was that crazy!).

Traveling by Plane:

From Newborn to approximately 8 months, I never had much of an issue traveling by plane with Kennedy.  The loud humming sound of the plane engines coupled with the fact that she was inevitably going to miss a nap when on such a lengthy trip made her fall asleep almost instantly on this method of transportation.  My advice to new parents is to relish this time and travel as much as they desire before the baby starts really moving!

• I always packed many of the things I traveled with by car excluding the travel crib and rocking chair.  
• Bring your own sheets and blankets if using a hotel crib; it can make your baby feel more at home.
• When traveling from the car to your gate, I always carried Kennedy in a baby carrier (Love my Ergobaby Carrier!).  At this age, it helped her to fall asleep and kept my hands free.  Strollers and car seats are free to check, and if your baby is in a carrier, security will let you go through without undoing the carrier.  If they are in a stroller, however, you have to take them out, fold the stroller, and send the stroller through the Xray machines... a challenging effort especially when traveling alone!  Bonus:  If you are nursing, you can nurse while they are in the carrier.
• Nurse, offer a pacifier, or give a bottle upon take off and landing.  It helps to equalize the pressure in the child's ears.
• Children under 2 years old can sit in the mother's lap for free and at this age, it is totally unnecessary to buy an extra ticket (especially if you have a family member with you).

Crawling to Toddlerhood:

I remember the exact trip where this transition took place and I became "that mom" on the airplane.  Kennedy was 8 months old and I was traveling from Houston to San Francisco solo, just me and the baby.  In her defense, our first leg was delayed and then canceled, making the day much longer, but we were luckily rebooked on a direct flight.  During this flight, I fought a screaming child that was kicking me and everyone around us for the entire duration of the 4 hour flight.  This trip felt like we were flying to Hong Kong, literally the longest 4 hours of my life.  After getting there, I realized that although she wasn't 2 yet, she was too old to be a lap baby.  I need a seat with a five point harness to restrain this crazy 8-month-old who was resembling a 2-year-old more everyday.  We survived the trip, and she started crawling that evening in the hotel room.

Traveling by Car:

• I know it isn't recommended by the APA, but TVs are a moms best friend when it comes to travel.  It isn't fool proof... they don't necessarily zone out completely without a peep, but it makes the ride much more tolerable (especially if your child doesn't sleep in the car like mine!).  You can buy a mount for an iPad for $20, which can save you a fortune in sanity.
• Put toys or snacks in the front seat and hand them to your child as they get bored.
• Try to plan travel around your nap schedule.  If your child is still taking two naps, travel after the first so that they at least get one nap.  If they are only taking one nap, try to travel after the nap.
• I still bring almost all of the same things as I did in infancy minus the inflatable bath tub.  Now I have to bring a lot more toys though!

Traveling by Plane:

• Although it is bit of a pain, I recommend traveling with your child in a carseat.  At this age, it is really difficult to hold a child still for any length of time, so having them in a 5 point harness definitely helps.  The carseat is the most secure way to keep your child still and safe in the plane.  One tip:  If you don't want to pay for a seat for your child under 2 years old, if there are still seats empty on the plane, the airline will try to seat you in a spot with an empty seat next to you.  They cannot guarantee the seat's availability, but they do try to work with you!
• To get said carseat from car to gate, I recommend buying a Go Go Babyz Travelmate.  It is the best universal seat "stroller" I have come across to date.  It is reasonably easy to attach (although I wish it were a tad bit easier) and works very well.  I will have to say that the axle bent on my last trip through Denver Airport and I had to order a replacement; which is a definite negative, however the company sent me a new one at no charge because it was still under warranty (definite gold star for customer service!).
• Once your child gets a bit bigger (and won't wiggle out of the seat without the 5th point harness), I would try a KidCares Safety Harness.  It has a belt around the chest and lap of the child, but I have heard mixed reviews from moms with smaller children.  It is something I am very interested in trying, but just haven't yet!
• Bring lots of new toys and plenty of snacks.  Seems intuitive, but it definitely helps.  
• Load new games and favorite movies on an iPad.  
• Changing diapers on a plane is difficult, so try plan changes before and after the trip.

Other interesting or non-interesting gadgets for travel:

Flyebaby Hammock- I haven't used this and Kennedy is too big for it now, but it looks like a very interesting invention to keep mom's hands free during flight.  I found that at this age, they really like to fall asleep on the plane, so the child may or may not be comfortable in this/may be more comfy being held.  ($49.95 on Amazon)

Baby B'Air Flight Vest- I purchased this thinking that it may be a good way to keep Kennedy more "contained" while lap sitting.  I tried using it, and it was pretty much worthless.  Definitely save your money on this contraption.

Snack & Play Travel Tray- Just now remembering that I have wanted to purchase this for a few months!  Looks like a great way to keep kids entertained and keep all of their stuff close at hand.  Will let you know how I like it! (19.95 on Diapers.com)

Product Pictures from Above:

iPad Headrest Mount- A lifesaver for long rides with a toddler.  Totally un-crunchy and I know kids under 2 aren't supposed to have screen time, but sometimes, it is necessary.  ($15.99-$39.99)

Go Go Babyz Travelmate

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛

Price: $84.99

Where to Find: From Diapers.com and other online retailers

CARES Child Airplane Harness

Product Rating:  Haven't Tried Yet!

Price: $74.99

Where to Find: From Amazon.com, Diapers.com, and other online retailers

ErgoBaby Carrier

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $99.99

Where to Find: From Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Diapers.com, and other baby retailers

Great Reading for Moms

There are millions of books available to parents and I have not even come close to putting a slight dent in what is available.  But here are a few books I have read and can recommend…hope you enjoy!

I loved this book because it was such an easy and fun read.  It was actually the first book I read after finding out I was pregnant and it offered a lot of great resources and tips.  Many pregnancy books, in my opinion, read so much like a text book and this was certainly a breath of fresh air in that respect.  I also love that throughout the book the author provides recommendations for "Moms on a Budget," "Eco-Minded Mamas," "Dads are the New Moms," and "Stuff to Drool Over." 

The Hot Mom To Be Handbook

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛

Price: $16.99

Where to Find: From Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble

Yet another fun and very easy read.  This book was truly a "page turner" to me.   This book follows the observations of the author as she lived in Paris with her young children and reads as a sort of memoir.  It is also not quite a "how-to" book and if you are looking for "all of the answers" to parenting, this isn't it.  I love the philosophies on sleep, eating, and treating babies with respect and giving autonomy. As I am writing this, I am actually having the urge to re-read it because I truly loved it so much!

Bringing up Bébé

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $25.95

Where to Find: From Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other Booksellers

This book was recommended to me by a parenting coach and it has a lot of very interesting and unique information.  For anyone who has had children, you realize how incredibly different they all can be at a very early age (duh, they are all human beings and all humans are different, but I have been very surprised as a mom how early the differences are evident).  The book starts out with a test that allows you to rate your child on the nine most inherent traits (ie. Sunny vs. Somber, Slow Adapting vs. Quick to Adapt, etc.).  Once rated, your child will typically fit into one or a few of the different personality types that you can read about.  Each personality is explained in detail and then the book gives tips on how to work with your child's temperament to receive the best results and have a more positive day!  

Temperament Tools

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $12.95

Where to Find: From Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other Booksellers

This book was recommended to me by the aforementioned parenting coach and was an equally great read. The only draw back to this book… it is over 500 pages (but at least 100 of them are recipes!).  Ellyn Satter is a world renowned expert in eating and feeding and has both an institute for research and has authored many books on the subject.  Her ideas around feeding are very different than anything I have ever read, but they truly make sense.  Ellyn's basic idea is that we create picky eaters and "favorite" foods (ie. mac 'n cheese, cookies, chicken fingers) by making them "special occasion" foods or having negative attitude about feeding our children (or ourselves) those foods.  She also says that we need the opportunity to overindulge in food to learn what moderation is and how to achieve it.  As someone that struggled with an eating disorder(s) for the entirety of my teenage years, I feel as though she is spot on with her studies and I am very much *trying* to raise Kennedy with this model.  

The Secrets to Feeding a Healthy Family

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $19.95

Where to Find: From Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and other Booksellers

Homeopathic Medicines and Remedies

As I have gotten a little older and slightly wiser, I have become increasingly more interested in homeopathic medicines and remedies.  While pregnant, I tried very hard to avoid all medicine (over the counter and prescription) at all cost and now seriously contemplate taking any medication unless it is absolutely necessary.  Don't get me wrong, traditional medicine can be a wonderful thing; it saves lives everyday, but the over and misuse of medicine is also a major cause of accidental death in the United States.  Did you know that over 1,500 people have died from taking an appropriate dose of Tylenol in the last 10 years?

With my research, I have found several amazing products that work amazingly well for different everyday ailments.  Check them out!

Elderberry:

Elderberry, also known as Sambucus, is an incredibly powerful antioxidant that comes in several forms and is excellent for a wide variety of problems.  My family has actually started to make fun of me because I have become an elderberry pusher.   

Here are a few of the amazing benefits of Elderberry:

• Boosts Immune System
• Improves Heart Health
• Treats all Viral and Bacterial Illnesses, including coughs, colds, flu, and tonsillitis
• Lowers Cholesterol
• Improves Vision
• Is also being used in clinical studies to treat Cancer and HIV

As I said, it comes in several forms: Syrup, Pills (or Soft Gels), and Extract.  The syrup is great for coughs, colds, flu, etcetera.  I take the pills when I feel like I need to boost my immune system or for more of an ongoing use.  One last amazing use for Elderberry; because of its very powerful antioxidant properties, it is an excellent way to feel a bit better if you drank a little too much the night before ;)!  Fun fact: elderberry is the flavor used to make St. Germain liqueur (and Gin too!), my favorite addition to almost any mixed drink. 

Elderberry Products

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $6-$15

Where to Find: From Amazon.com, Online Retailers, and Some Vitamin Shops

Coconut Oil:

By now, most people have heard of coconut oil in relation to health food, but I want to reiterate its amazing properties.  Coconut oil is actually solid at room temperature, but melts to a liquid very quickly with a small amount of heat.  At first glance, this oil could seem like an odd choice for a health food because of its very high amount of saturated fat.  However, the type of saturated fat contained in coconut oil (Lauric Acid) is an HDL fat (good type) and can reduce cholesterol and is also very easily accessible to our bodies as a source of energy.  Here are a few of its benefits:

• Promotes Weight Loss
• Can Improve or Reverse Alzheimer's Disease
• Improves Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
• Improves or Heals Many Skin Diseases including Eczema, Acne, Fungal Infections, Keratosis Polaris, Psoriasis, and Rosecea
• Provides Peak Performance Energy
• Kills Candida Fungus
• Helps with Hypothyroidism 
• Conditions and Strengthens Hair; Kills Lice, Improves Dandruff
• Fights off Bacterial and Viral Infections

I use coconut oil often as a substitute for butter or oil in cooking.  Kennedy, my husband, and I all have a mild form of eczema that we treat with generous amounts of coconut oil in lieu of lotion.  It has truly become a staple in our household!  A few tips: buy Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil (Organic if you prefer) in a glass jar… this is the highest quality form of the product and glass protects the oil without leaching chemicals into it.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $5+

Where to Find: From most grocery stores and many online retailers

Essential Oils:

I have recently become interested in essential oils and their vast array of types and uses.  I can admit that I did not delve into this realm quickly simply because it is very overwhelming to research.  My interest peaked because many people believe that essential oils are "nature's best kept secret."  These oils can be used for everything and can treat anything.  They can be used for medicinal reasons, for mood altering/boosting, cleaning, detoxifying, or simply to fragrance your house.  They are completely natural, completely non-toxic to our bodies/safe for use around children/pets, and have many benefits with very few side effects.  One tip: you MUST use therapeutic grade oils to reap their benefits.  I love Young Living for the quality and variety of their products.

• Lavender- Good for everything.  This would be my first recommendation for anyone starting their oil journey.  Lavender is used for improving sleep, hair loss, burns, nervous tension, respiratory infections, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, PMS, skin conditions, and cholesterol reduction.  It can be diffused in a diffuser, applied directly to skin, or even ingested.  Like all essential oils, a little goes a long way (2-4 drops!).
• Peace & Calming- This is a blend oil that is absolutely amazing.  It helps with insomnia, anxiety, depression, and promotes a healthy nervous system.  I use this for myself, my husband, and Kennedy anytime we are restless.  It is great to help your baby sleep a little better (probably the best use!).  I love to take it with me when traveling because it can be hard to sleep well in a different place.
• Thieves- This is an excellent blend oil that is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antiseptic.  Thieves will kill over 99.9% of airborne bacteria in less than 12 minutes!  It is most popularly used when you or another family member has a cold, flu, or other illness (diffuse it!).  It can also be used for headaches, an immune stimulant, toothaches, disinfectant, air and laundry freshener, or household cleaner.  
• Valor- Often referred to as the "chiropractor in a bottle" because it aligns our physical, mental, and emotional bodies with our body.  It is used for scoliosis, depression, nervous system, supporting immunity, ADD, conditions of the spine or skeletal structure, and stress.  It is truly an amazing mood booster!
• Purification- This is an amazing oil that eliminates home and/or pet odors.  It is also an antiseptic so it is great to diffuse for colds/flu/etcetera, kills mold, helps insect bites and works as a repellant, sterilizes wounds and cuts, neutralizes poison in insect bites, and works well as a household cleaner.  
• R.C.- A blend oil that helps bronchitis, allergies, colds, cold sores, pneumonia, sinusitis, sore throat, mucus, reparatory inflammation and infections, sleep apnea, snoring, acne, bacterial and viral infections, chronic inflammation, coughs, breathing, emphysema, fungus, Lyme disease, mononucleosis, among other things.  It is great to diffuse or apply directly to the skin. 

Young Living Essential Oils

Product Rating: ♛♛♛♛♛

Price: $30+

Where to Find: www.youngliving.com