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