Dangers of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Please take a minute to read this article. The dangers of SLS are really scary and yet it is still legal to use these drugs in everyday beauty/ cleansing products. Check your shampoos, moisturizers, kids products, it's in everything!!!! I have found some great, inexpensive products to replace the dangerous ones in our home.

If you want a list of the product brands I switched to , just post a comment and I will blog an entry with all of their names. There is another great website that you can use to plug in your cosmetics and see how dangerous they are for you and your family. I did this with mine and found that many ranked on a 6 or 7!

There is so much more I could do for the health and safety of my family but this is just one more little step;)

Coconut Oil saves the vacay :)

We've had many uses for coconut oil during our vacation.

1. Lauren got stung by a bee and had a horrible welt for days. Coconut oil soothed it and helped the itch a lot.

2. Lucy has a suspected ear infection (or ear irritation from teething). I didn't have my Wally's Ear Oil so used some coconut oil instead. Withing a day, the ear tugging stopped.
http://www.coconut-oil-central.com/coconut-oil-ear-infection.html

3. I've converted 1 sister to coconut oil on her body & face :)

I love coconut oil!

Best Nipple Ointment for Nursing-- APNO

When Lucy was 2 weeks old, I got mastitis, horrible nipple "trauma" (lol), and I'm pretty sure I had thrush also. I got some suggestions for Dr. Jack Newman's All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO). My lactation consultant agreed it was the best thing and would help my nipple pain immensely. My MW put a call into a compound pharmacy and I finally had some relief. A friend of mine just had a baby and she is dealing with the same issues :( I suggested the APNO, but she has yet to get it because it's a bit of hassle having to get a prescription & then go to a compound pharmacy. I then remembered a friend who gave me the OTC ingredients so that you can make it yourself. Hopefully the new Mommy will have some relief soon!

Here are Jack Newman's ingredients (compound pharmacy necessary)
-Mupirocin 2% ointment (15 grams)
-Betamethasone 0.1% ointment (15 grams)
-To which is added miconazole powder so that the final concentration is 2% miconazole. This combination gives a total volume of just more than 30 grams. Clotrimazole powder (not as good as miconazole) to a final concentration of 2% may be substituted if miconazole powder is unavailable, but both exist (the pharmacist may have to order it in, but compounding pharmacies almost always have it on hand). Using powder gives a better concentration of antifungal agent (miconazole or clotrimazole) and the concentrations of the mupirocin and betamethasone remain higher. Sometimes we will add ibuprofen powder to a final concentration of 2%.

Here are the OTC ingredients and supposedly it works just as well :)
Mix equal portion and store in an airtight container

1% hydrocortizone cream
Clomitrazole cream (such as the brand name Gynelotramin)
Lanolin (lansinoh is good b/c it is sterile)
Neosporin (you can use with or without the pain killer)

Kiddie Meatloaf

I have really been experimenting with my kiddie meatloaf to try and get it the right consistency. The first time I made it it was extremely mushy (not enough breadcrumbs). The girls still downed it, but it bothered me that it really didn't have a meatloaf consistency. I made my 2nd batch a few weeks ago and it turned out YUMMY. I liked it so much I even ate what the girls didn't finish. I love making it and freezing it in small portions just to take out in a pinch. Here's my recipe:

-1lb grassfed no antibiotic/hormone ground beef - I use HEB brand
-2cups of steamed pureed frozen organic veggies-- any you have! i used peas & broccoli--- steam & then puree
-1+ cups of bread crumbs.. I eyeballed it to get it to the consistency I wanted it
-1 egg
-garlic & onion powder & italian seasoning for flavor
-4tbsp of ketchup

Mix everything together (with hands:)) and transfer to a loaf pan. Bake at 375 for 1-1:15 hours or until it reaches 170degrees.

I think next time I will add very finely chopped spinach to add even more veggies. Enjoy!