Here's my latest essential oil post for you: A Skeptic's Guide to Essential Oils: Choosing a Company (a.k.a. The Purity Issue) Are you interested in essential oils but confused about which company to buy from? It can be frustrating to navigate the thousands of blog posts and articles that talk about essential oil purity only to find that most of them are written by people trying to sell a particular brand. I’m sure many of them wholeheartedly stand behind the company they are promoting (and I personally know several people who resell at cost just to get the discount on a product they love), but it sure makes things ...Read More
Homeschooling Will Homeschooling Prepare My Child for College?
When it was time for us to consider schooling for Bradley, our oldest child, we debated the pros and cons of public school, private school, and homeschooling. Being a product of public school myself, I had no real objections to the idea of sending Bradley to public school. Homeschooling, by contrast, seemed like an interesting but nonetheless foreign idea to me. I knew zero homeschoolers growing up. When I finally did hear about the concept for the first time, I thought it was something for Amish people and homesteaders. I had a lot of questions. It took me a while to warm up to the idea of homeschooling, but eventually ...Read More
3 Steps to Finding an AWESOME Doctor to Treat Hypothyroidism
Finding an awesome thyroid doctor is some tough work! Do you know what I mean? Are you feelin' my pain? Doctors who don't believe you have a thyroid problem Doctors who only want to test TSH Doctors who won't prescribe natural desiccated thyroid Doctors who don't want to run the tests you request Doctors who under-dose I've experienced it all! I've experienced the frustration, the disappointment, and the exhaustion of going through doctor after doctor who just does not understand how to treat hypothyroidism. ...Read More
Foods Classic Homemade Hummus
Do you ever get hungry for perfect garlicy, smooth, classic homemade hummus? This is one of our family's favorite treats. My kids go bonkers over dips and this one is a favorite. Even the two little guys love hummus. With my Blendtec it's a breeze to whip up to smooth perfection. Looking for gluten-free recipes and resources? This Everything Gluten Free page is a library of everything gluten free we’ve worked on. Hummus makes a great base for an afternoon snack, party platter, packed lunch, or anytime treat. Since we're gluten-free we skip the pita and dip our homemade hummus in veggies, organic corn chips, ...Read More
Gardening for Better Health: For Beginners
Gardening season is approaching fast. It's the time of year that gardeners everywhere are giddy with all the possibilities and longing for the green of spring. We've checked on our seed supply and ordered our dependable standbys, plus some can't-wait-to-try-this new varieties. Are you a veteran gardener? Or does the thought of something else to add to your plate overwhelm you? Gardening is good for your health. Just look at it this way: Gardening = Better Food + Good Exercise. Could you use a little more of either of those in your life? ...Read More
13 Important Questions to Ask Before You Decide to Homeschool
So, you're thinking about homeschool for your kids, eh? Do you know what questions you should ask before you get started? And do you know where to find the answers to those questions? We're here to help! Who Is Homeschooling? Homeschooling is on the rise in America. There are 2.2 million home-educated students in the United States, and the number of students grows by 7% to 15% every year. Homeschooling is on the rise among a demographically diverse group of individuals. You will find conservatives, liberals, and libertarians who homeschool. Low-, middle, and high-income families who homeschool. And ...Read More
The Menu Planner Moms Need: Eat healthier, save money, save time
Wednesday. 4PM. Frantically searching the refrigerator to figure out what food can be combined to make a healthy, delicious dinner for my family. Once again, the thought flits through my head: I really need to start making weekly menus again. Thursday night. I've got dinner started, but realize I'm missing 2 vital ingredients. I call my hubby at work and ask him to pick up 2 tomatoes and parmesan cheese on his way home. And yes, again, I think about how much easier it would be if I did meal planning before I went to the store each week. I'm sad to say, this is a regular occurrence in my house. All too ...Read More
Living Gluten-Free in a Gluten-Filled Family: 5 Ways to Cope
Some have asked me, "How did your wife convince you to go gluten-free, despite the fact that you had no noticeable wheat-related health problems?" Aside from the fact that she's smokin' hot (which often makes me agree to anything she says), she's also a really intelligent person. Over time, she convinced me that gluten-free was the way to go. One of the biggest hurdles for those attempting to eliminate wheat from their diets is living with people who aren't doing the same. Many wheat-free people fall off the wagon when they see their spouse preparing a delicious looking pasta dish or when they have to prepare sandwiches ...Read More
