Healthy Crafty Mom

Soul Memories

2025-10-01T19:51:00.030-04:00

Soul Memories 3D Ornaments

www.JulieGregson.com

Welcome!

I first began making ornaments as gifts for my family, and when I shared a few on Facebook, I was blown away by the response—so many people loved them and started asking if I could create custom ornaments for them too!

Now, what began as a simple family project has grown into something truly special. Creating these keepsakes brings me so much joy, and I love helping others capture their cherished memories in a unique and meaningful way.

Made by Hand, One at a Time

Every ornament is handmade by me with love and attention to detail. Because of this, I can only take on a limited number of orders at a time. This ensures each piece receives the care it deserves and truly reflects the memory it’s meant to capture.

If you’d like to order, please don’t wait too long—spots fill up quickly, especially during the holiday season!

How to Order

Price: $25 each

Ordering your custom ornament is simple:

Send Your Photo

Email your photo to HomeFreeMoms@gmail.com Not sure if it will work? Don’t worry—I’ve worked with all kinds of photos, even older or less-than-perfect ones.
Choose Your Background

You’ll have the option to pick from 3 festive backgrounds to personalize your ornament:

A. Christmas Gate - Peek through a white picket fence to a snowy pond with cardinals.
B. Winter Forest - Step into a serene, snow-covered woodland
C. Christmas Window - Glimpse a snowy night with a gnome, candy canes, and Santa’s sleigh.
Not sure which one will look best? No problem! I can send you a preview of your photo in each background so you can decide before we begin.
Get a Preview

Before I finalize your ornament, I’ll send you a preview for approval. You’ll have a chance to request any changes.
Delivery or Pickup

Once your ornament is complete, we’ll arrange a time to meet for delivery. Local pickup is also available!
To reserve your custom ornament, a 50% deposit is required. The remaining balance can be paid at pickup or delivery. Deposits help secure your personalized order and cover materials.

Once you’re ready to proceed, you can send your deposit via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or cash. I’ll provide the payment details when you’re ready. After the deposit is received, I’ll start creating your ornament and send you a preview before finalizing it.

✨ Your memories deserve to be celebrated in a way that lasts. Let’s create something special together!

BACKGROUNDS

Christmas Gate

Winter Forest

Christmas Window

Gallery

Christmas Window Background

Winter Forest Background

Christmas Gate Background

Winter Forest Background

Winter Forest or Christmas Window?

Welcome to My Blog!

2025-04-18T22:33:00.001-04:00

About Julie

A CHILDS' HEALTH
CRAFTER'S JOY
HELPING FAMILIES WORK FROM HOME
PROLAPSE...EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW

I’m so excited that you stopped by!

My name is Julie. I've always loved natural healing and have been studying herbs and nutrition for years. I love that we have just about everything we need for healing on this planet. Some people take what a doctor says as gospel and don’t investigate. I hope to share on this site just some simple alternatives to help in our everyday lives.

Another thing I love to do is crafting, it kind of runs in my family. My sister is an artist. I've made all my kids costumes over the years and more! I’ll be posting crafts as I’m inspired. Hope you'll be inspired too!

Finally, my life changing moment. I had tried different “work-from-home” opportunities. I always had to buy expensive products no one would normally use or buy. Over 16 years ago, I found something that changed my family’s life, especially my son who has asthma and eczema! I never thought that I could do something I loved and help so many people!

I look forward to connecting with you!

Fiber! No More Cravings!

2018-01-25T13:27:00.001-05:00

When trying to eat right and be healthy few ingredients are as beneficial to our bodies as fiber. Fiber or roughage is the portion of plant-derived food that can’t be completely broken down by digestive enzymes and absorbed by the body. It can do some great things that positively impact our health!

There’s 2 forms of fiber, insoluble and soluble and they’re both important in maintaining your best health.

Insoluble fiber never dissolves. It acts like a sponge soaking up to 15 times its weight in water. Its primary benefit is to provide bulk which helps promote a feeling of fullness while speeding up the movement of food through the digestive system and makes the bowels move regularly.

Soluble fiber absorbs water turning into a gel-like mush (think of what happens when you add water to oatmeal).This form can trap excess fats, cholesterol and sugars as it moves through the intestines and sweep them out of the body. It can lower LDL blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels after eating.

The simple ingredient for Healthy Weight Loss
Fiber can simply help support your weight loss. There’s so much research being done on it. One recent study at in The Journal of Nutrition, was conducted to determine whether changes in fiber intake (total, soluble, and insoluble) influence risk of gaining weight and body fat over time. Researchers at Brigham Young University followed the eating habits of 252 middle-aged women for 20 months. They found that the women who increased their fiber intake generally lost weight. Those who lowered their fiber intake gained weight.

How does fiber help you lose weight?
It just makes you feel fuller! The researcher who led the Brigham Young study, Larry Tucker, PhD. said that “Fiber has no calories. Filling up on high-fiber foods crowds out less-healthy foods. And as every dieter knows when you feel fuller it’s easier to say not to extra snacks, bigger portions and second helpings”

Preparing a Fiber Rich Diet
All different kinds of foods, beans, fruits, grains and vegetables naturally contain fiber. Adding fiber to every meal and snack can be easy. Just substitute high-calorie, sugary foods in your diet with fiber rich foods. Do a search online for high fiber foods and see which ones you’d like to try. Have some carrots for a powerful crunch instead of cookies. Have a salad before your lunch and dinner to feel fuller. Have a small entrée on a bed of quinoa or brown rice. Breakfast can be whole grain cereal topped with blueberries or apples instead of a donut.

How Much Fiber Do You Need Every day?
The recommended amount of fiber for women is 21-29 grams and men 30-38 grams. Most people barely get half that amount. You can boost your fiber intake by eating fiber rich foods but those foods contain calories. Remember the fiber does not have calories. The last thing someone who’s watching their weight wants to do is eat excess calories.

It can be challenging every day to get all the fiber you need. The seven natural soluble and insoluble fiber sources in FiberWise are balanced in just the right amounts to maximize the bull-body benefits of fiber- including healthy weight loss support.

While there's plenty of other fiber supplements out there, FiberWise is different. Inside is a scientifically balanced blend of seven soluble and insoluble fiber sources that

Evening plans
Here’s a tip: Try taking your FiberWise in the evening. Not only will it give you a feeling of fullness (because of the 12 grams of fiber with herbs) to help dampen late-night snack cravings, but it can help dilute your evening meal and sweep out toxins fat and waste while you sleep.

There’s really nothing comparable to FiberWise on the market. It provides a broad spectrum of fiber benefits you just can’t get from traditional fiber products. In addition to its seven fiber sources, FiberWise also contains a proprietary blend of beneficial vitamins, antioxidants, soothing herbs, and probiotics to make it a truly one-of-a-kind health supplement.

For many people, a great-tasting bar is their favorite way to get fiber. FiberWise Bars are simply delicious. Each appetizing bar gives you 10 grams of fiber and is bursting with tasty whole grains, real fruit, and only natural flavors, colors and sweeteners.

They're enjoyable at breakfast or any time of day, can go anywhere you go, and leave you feeling satisfied. There are four tempting varieties to choose from: cranberry, oatmeal raisin, peach cobbler, and blueberry cobbler.

A delicious, refreshing, gluten-free source of fiber, FiberWise Drink comes in great-tasting orange and peach flavors. A single glass provides 12 grams of healthy fiber to help you meet your optimal daily fiber requirement. And new sugar-free FiberWise Drink—at only 30 calories per serving—now provides a low-glycemic option for those concerned about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. *

It's delicious! Lots of customers are already calling sugar-free FiberWise Drink the best-tasting FiberWise ever.

I use it for prolapse.

There's so much more to see!

julie4js@msn.com

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

†Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 7 grams of soluble fiber per day from psyllium husk may reduce the risk of heart disease. One serving of FiberWise Drink provides 3.4 grams of this soluble fiber.

Why are you still using harmful, unsafe products like Clorox in your home?

2017-07-20T12:47:00.001-04:00

I wanted to share this testimonial because so many people unknowingly are harming themselves and their families with common household cleaning products that are dangerous but also don't even work! Chlorine bleach aggravates the membranes in the lower respiratory system causing shortness of breath and wheezing.
Chlorine bleach is not a cleaner. It doesn’t get rid of grime, dirt or stains. What it can do is make color invisible to the naked eye, making us think it’s getting rid of stains.
But can it truly disinfect? Can it kill germs?

This is after checking the test samples the next morning.

Let the science experiment begin!! A friend of mine has a friend who is a pharmacist & wanted to put the SAFE disinfectant I use to the test....

She ordered some Petri dishes and swabbed the absorbent pad that comes under your raw chicken. One was left untouched (control).
One was sprayed with the Dept. of Health standard sanitizer mixture of bleach and water.
One was sprayed with the safe disinfectant I use, Sol-u-guard.
She then put them in a warm spot next to her computer. The photo you see is after checking them the next morning. As you can see the bleach and water sample has overgrowth of bacteria and the Soluguard has no growth at all.

(Soluguard can be used to replace bleach and Lysol in daycare centers, hospital rooms, etc...
EPA #'s: 66251-2, 66251-ID-001, 66251-ID-003, 66251-TN-001
Patent #'s: 7642227 & 7851430)

For many years I have been shopping directly from an online manufacturer. ALL products are safe, non-toxic and they work! Sol-U-Guard Botanical:

►Kills over 99.9% of common household germs
►Powered by thyme oil and citric acid
►Cleans & disinfects without chlorine bleach, harsh fumes, or harmful residue.

So why are you still using harmful, unsafe products like bleach and Lysol in your home?

There are safer options that work better and are EPA approved for use in hospitals and schools!
True SCIENCE!

Dirt-free doesn't mean germ free. An everyday cleaner doesn't kill bacteria and viruses. In fact, using an everyday cleaner and a cleaning rag or sponge, you could simply be spreading the germs around. That's why the final step in any cleanup-and a great thing to do between cleanups is to get out the Sol-U-Guard Botanical disinfectant. It kills the germs that normal cleaning doesn't get rid of.

It's that time of year again! Dealing with Colds and Congestion...

2016-12-08T11:32:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year! Mucus symptoms, such as runny nose and nasal congestion, are most commonly due to allergies or viral infections like the common cold. Bacterial, viral and fungal infections leading to sinusitis, bronchitis or pneumonia can also cause mucus symptoms of the respiratory system.

If sinuses and throat are irritated by cigarette smoke, polluted air or chemical fumes, mucus can also settle on the lining of the throat and nasal lining.
Throat mucus causes bad breath because it contains high protein content and produces anaerobic bacteria.

•Post Nasal Drip: Post nasal drip occurs when an excessive amount of mucus accumulation in the nose and throat creates phlegm and causes coughing. Phlegm seems to build up in the throat overnight, which leads to congestion in the morning.

•Cold or Flu: During a cold or the flu, there is a production of clear, thin mucus in the nose and back of the throat. When the body starts to react to the virus, the once thin mucus thickens and turns yellow or green. This is one of the noticeable symptoms of the cold or flu virus.

•Seasonal Allergies: A number of people suffer from seasonal allergies every year. Unlike the common cold, the symptoms of seasonal allergies such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, and of course throat mucus, will occur all at once. There are many different types of allergens that cause these symptoms to occur, ranging from late winter to summer. Tree and flower pollen is one of the major culprits of seasonal allergies, and the symptoms will last until the allergens have dissipated.

There are a number of ways to prevent and soothe mucus and includes:

•Inhale steam from a tub of boiling water or hot shower to loosen mucus in the throat and sinus congestion. You can add a 10 drops of Melaleuca oil. Melaleuca oil is a powerful antiseptic and germicide.

So many uses in such a small bottle.

Breathing in the vapors will clear the sinuses and kill any infections in the sinuses or bronchial tubes. It will kill the air-borne bacteria and even mold spores. Breathing in the vapors will help open sinuses.

Numerous medical journal articles, including the Journal of Hospital Infection, the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and the Applied Letters to Microbiology describe Melaleuca oil to be effective against hospital resistant staphylococcus areus and in many studies it has been shown to be as effective, if not more effective than the antibiotic Methicillin. E. Coli, strep and pseudomonas are a few of the other bacteria that Melaleuca oil has been shown effective against.

•Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to loosen phlegm and thin mucus – it is also good for your overall health!

•Blow your nose frequently to prevent mucus from draining into your throat

•Gargle regularly with warm water and salt or a drop or 2 of Melaleuca Oil.

•Add a few drops of Pure Melaleuca Oil to a vaporizer to loosen phlegm and relieve congestion

•Avoid eating foods such as dairy products, meat or fried foods that increase mucus production

•Drink hot liquids such as herbal tea or chicken broth to moisten the airways and break up the mucus

•Add a teaspoon of turmeric to half a glass of milk – turmeric contains antiseptic properties that fights infection

•Use a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer in your bedroom at night to thin the mucus – this helps to moisten the air and is particularly helpful during winter

•Stop smoking as it irritates the throat and worsens respiratory conditions

•Eat spicy foods, horseradish or hot chili peppers to loosen mucus. I give my kids in a little bit of warm water, 1-3 drops of tabasco sauce and this gets everything running!

My daughter likes to eat a slice of garlic with apple. This of course helps with your immune system and also gets things running too!

Boost your immune system with clinically tested ingredients.
More vitamin C than Emergen-C!

•Limit exposure to irritants such as household cleaners, paint fumes, chemicals or cigarette smoke

Learn how you can clear your home of toxins.

Don't go crazy using Lysol or chemical disinefectants. These are neurotoxins!

Make it a great day!

Alternatives to Expensive Medicare Drugs?

2016-04-06T11:56:00.000-04:00

A recent news article shows the millions and millions of dollars spent on how much the Medicare program pays for medicines under Medicare's Part D prescription program for seniors. The most commonly used medicines include those for high cholesterol and high blood pressure. In New Jersey, that translated into 2.5 million scripts written for hypertension drugs.
"In theory, diet and exercise could lessen the need for such medications", Hempstead said, program director at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, where she specializes in health insurance and price transparency and value."Although I'm not quite sure how preventable these conditions are by the time people are on Medicare."

Lowering Blood Pressure, A Journey: Part 2

2015-11-21T15:20:00.006-05:00

A CHILDS' HEALTH
CRAFTER'S JOY
HELPING FAMILIES WORK FROM HOME
PROLAPSE...EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW
Archived Articles

UPDATED: Foods clinically tested that lower blood pressure.

Here's part 2 of what I found helped me lower my blood pressure. In addition to the Heart Pack (Contains CoQ10 and other important nutrients for blood pressure and cholesterol.)( Link to the study on the nutritional pack: www.FreiburgStudy.com)
I did more research about diet.

When dealing with high blood pressure, a major discipline to change is diet.

Most people with high blood pressure are told to stay away from salt but the major problem not mentioned is how sugar will raise your blood pressure! Including carbohydrates.
My doctor told me to "cut the carbs".

Be sure you have a blood pressure machine that has been tested at your doctor's office.

"In a research review published Dec. 11 in the BMJ journal Open Heart, James J. DiNicolantonio, PharmD, of Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Mo., and Sean C. Lucan, MD, MPH, of Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York argued that the emphasis on lowering dietary sodium in guidelines aimed at reducing hypertension is misguided and not evidence-based.

"Added sugars probably matter more than dietary sodium for hypertension, and fructose in particular may uniquely increase cardiovascular risk by inciting metabolic dysfunction and increasing blood pressure variability, myocardial oxygen demand, heart rate, and inflammation," the authors wrote."

I used to get terrible sugar cravings but now I drink shakes that curb the cravings. They're engineered specifically to help actively support a healthy weight, strong cardiovascular system and normal blood sugar metabolism. This has helped me tremendously! I also take another supplement with turmeric that specifically addresses inflammation.

I think doctors have dropped the ball. Everyone should take VITAMIN K2-MK7!
It takes calcium out of the blood and arteries and into the bones. I had a cardiac calcium check and showed some calcification. This is what kills people. I found a clinical study that found 180 mcg of Vitamin K2-MK7 actually reduced the calcification and helped with flexibility of the arteries.

What foods contain VITAMIN K2? Eggs and butter. Everything the doctors have telling their patients NOT to eat! Everything in moderation.

If you have a thyroid condition, Hashimoto's don't take the Natto soy vitamin K2.

My doctor also told me not to take a calcium supplement. We get enough through our diet. Many people go over board taking 1000 mg plus a day and then get calcium through their diet. It's too much and then you get the calcification of arteries.

In my journey to find alternatives I learned that I needed to also add different foods. There's a reason doctors, nutritionists and healthcare providers recommend fruits and vegetables...it's because they contain inorganic nitrates which convert to nitric oxide which relaxes and dilates blood vessels which voila! Lowers Blood Pressure!

Celery contains a phytochemical called phthalides. As an extract, it’s called NBP, and it relaxes the tissues of the artery walls to increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure. Eating the whole food, though, is better. Celery stalk salt content is low, and you also get fiber, magnesium and potassium to help regulate your blood pressure, as well.

“To get the benefit, you should eat roughly four stalks – one cup, chopped – of celery daily,” Dr. Shafer says.

Celery seed - Celery seed contains a compound call 3nb that has a beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure. this is particularly helpful for those individuals who are taking a diuretic type of blood pressure medication. It acts in 2 way: 1) as a vasodialator - it acts like a calcium channel blocker balancing prostaglandins. In a research study the dosage was 150 mg per day. (Prostaglandins are chemicals that control many important body processes, including regulating inflammation, pain and swelling, blood pressure, and heart, digestive and kidney function. 2) It acts like a diuretic reducing the volume of fluid in the arteries, but it doesn't alter the ratio of potassium and sodium in the blood.

A video on YouTube shows a man who simply started taking celery seed and found the amount that worked for him. Start with a 1/4 teaspoon. I bought organic. Simply sprinkling it on your food like a salad, chicken salad, salmon etc.

Reference:Moghadam MH1, Imenshahidi M, Mohajeri SA. Antihypertensive effect of celery seed on rat blood pressure in chronic administration. J Med Food. 2013 Jun;16(6):558-63.

My doctor put me on a prescription diuretic and my legs felt weak and my heart was pounding 80 beats a minute. I spoke with the pharmacist and they said my blood pressure was probably going too low and my heart was trying to get it back up. So here is a natural way to lower blood pressure either the celery stalks or celery seeds.

Beets lower blood pressure because of the nitric oxide.

"This interesting study builds on previous research by this team and finds that a daily glass of beetroot juice can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension - even those whose high blood pressure was not controlled by drug treatment."

The researchers publish their findings in the journal "Hypertension".

Beetroot contains high levels of inorganic nitrate. Other leafy vegetables - such as lettuce and cabbage - also have high levels of the compound, which they take up from the soil through their roots.

In the human body, inorganic nitrate converts to nitric oxide, which relaxes and dilates blood vessels.

When preparing the beets; steam, roast or juice raw as boiling removes the nitric oxide.

Hibiscus Tea

Recent studies show that hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure as effectively as some standard hypertension drugs can. What I like about Hibiscus is that it is safe and, unlike most blood pressure drugs, rarely causes side effects. Plus, hibiscus plants can be grown in much of the United States, so you can actually grow your own blood pressure medicine. several additional studies have confirmed this effect, including two that tested hibiscus head-to-head against standard blood pressure medications:

Scientists in Mexico gave 75 hypertensive adults either captopril (Capoten; 25 milligrams twice a day) or hibiscus tea (brewed from 10 grams of crushed dried flowers — about 5 teaspoons per 1 to 2 cups water — once a day). After four weeks, the herb had worked as well as the drug, with both groups showing an 11 percent drop in blood pressure.
In another study, the same researchers gave 193 people either lisinopril, (Zestril, Prinivil; 10 milligrams per day) or hibiscus (250 milligrams in the form of a capsule). After four weeks, the herb had worked almost as well as the drug: Blood pressure decreased 15 percent among those on the drug, and 12 percent among those taking hibiscus.

How does hibiscus lower blood pressure?

It has diuretic properties, it opens the arteries, and it appears to act as a natural angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which means it slows the release of hormones that constrict blood vessels. In addition, hibiscus boosts immune function and provides valuable antioxidants.

Dose recommendations vary from about 1 teaspoon of dried “flowers” - the calyxes surrounding the flowers per cup of boiling water up to the 5 teaspoons used in one of the Mexican studies. Steep five to 10 minutes. If you have high blood pressure, you should own a home blood pressure monitor. Take readings before different doses and retest an hour later to see what works best for you. Check with your doctor prior to taking hibiscus if you’re currently on medication to lower blood pressure — often a combination of an herb and a lower dose of a pharmaceutical provides the same benefit.

Frontier is one of the best suppliers or organic herbs. I get the loose tea here but if you don't want to be bothered with using a tea ball or strainer, Davidson's also makes an organic hibiscus tea.
I drink at least 2 cups a day of hibiscus tea and if I'm having a stressful day may have more. I fill a tea ball with the leaves so it's strong. It tastes really good.

Be sure to rinse your mouth with water to neutralize the high acid content so it does not erode the enamel on your teeth.

If you have no time to make tea, GAIA has an excellent hibiscus extract that has the same properties as the tea. You can shop around and probably find it cheaper.
UPDATE: GAIA has discontinued making the hibiscus liquid extract capsules. I recently bought the dried herb in capsules from Swanson Vitamins I haven't tested it yet. If you do try it please comment below with your results.

DIURETICS

I spoke with the most wonderful pharmacist recently and she explained to me that usually the first line of treatment for high blood pressure are diuretics. Diuretics help the body get rid of excess fluid, mainly water and sodium. Most stimulate the kidneys to
excrete more sodium into the urine. When diuretics flush away sodium, the body also flushes away water from the body, which helps to relax the blood vessel walls, thereby lowering blood pressure.

So this beautiful hibiscus flower has more than its looks. The “roselle,” a species of hibiscus, had significant diuretic effects in one recent study.

Because some diuretics can cause you to eliminate more potassium in your urine, be sure to supplement potassium in a natural form. I like V8 Low Sodium 8 ounces has 900 mg of potassium or home made tomato juice with 2 or 3 ripe tomatoes - 1 cup juice in my Vitamix has 437 mg potassium.

Hawthorn

This relative of the rose family is a powerful diuretic. Its can reduce fluid buildup, which means it can also improve symptoms of congestive heart failure. There are some great teas on the market.

AmealPeptide, a lactotripeptide derived from casein, a milk protein has shown through 30 published studies including over a dozen double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trials — AmealPeptide helps maintain both systolic and diastolic blood pressure already within healthy limits and promotes arterial elasticity. I take one morning and night.

The company Calpis has a beverage from Japan with the lactotripeptide or fermented drink which started 40 years of research and creation of Amealpeptide It is now available in the USA. It's available at Amazon.

CALPIS BEVERAGE U.S.A., INC.

3625 Del Amo Blvd, Ste 255. Torrance, CA 90503, U.S.A.
Tel. +1-310-324-5900

Learn more:: http://www.calpico.com/

ITALIAN GRANA PADANO CHEESE

I've been researching lactotripeptides and how the "soured milk" is made with lactobacillus helveticus. I wanted to find out; could I make this fermented drink? Is there some dairy product that contains these lactotripeptides? YES!
1 ounce of "Italian Grana Padano cheese will lower blood pressure. The study can be found here.

"Researchers from the Hypertension Unit of Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital and Catholic University in Piacenza, Italy, say consumption of Grana Padano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) can help lower blood pressure conditions due to the peptides (chains of amino acids) present in the cheese, which provide similar blood vessel relaxation effects as blood pressure prescription drugs."

"The effects are similar to what you would expect with antihypertensive medications," said the study's lead author, Giuseppe Crippa, M.D., of Guglielmo da Saliceto Hospital and Catholic University.

"Adding a little Grana Padano to a healthy diet may provide clinically significant blood pressure lowering benefits."

Journal of Dairy Science
doi:10.3268/jds.2015-10054
"Invited review: Fermented milk as antihypertensive functional food"

Take a vitamin D supplement - D3 2,000 iu's - vitamin D is turning out to be the superstar of nutrients. It acts more like a regulation hormone than a vitamin and tells cells how to behave properly. New research is showing it to regulate hypertension. D supplements are incredibly cheap! Get your blood work checked for Vitamin D levels. You want it to be at least 50 - 75 nanograms per ml. ( My doctor recently told me to take more - 4,000 units a day. )

FOUND IN MY GROCERY STORE!!

You can findit at your local grocery store, Whole Foods or Amazon.

MONTMORENCY CHERRY JUICE

Another study showed drinking 1/4 cup (60ml) of Montmorency Cherry Juice will lower blood pressure!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160505140055.htm

The Montmorency cherry is a variety of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) grown in the United States, Canada and France, particularly in Michigan and in Door County, Wisconsin. Montmorency cherries are part of the lighter-red Amarelle cultivar of sour cherries, rather than the darker-red Morello cultivar.
Do a Google search for the different brands and where you can purchase them in your area.

All tart or sour cherries are of the PRUNUS CERASUS variety. I think any tart cherry juice you use would have the same effect.
(Prunus cerasus (sour cherry, tart cherry, or dwarf cherry) is a species of Prunus in the subgenus Cerasus (cherries)

Dr. Oz did a segment called Tart Cherry Juice: The Ultimate Antioxidant. He said his grandfather has a Tart Cherry farm and recently scientists have been discovering that Tart Cherry Juice may be nature's ultimate antioxidant - even more so than blueberry, cranberries and oranges.

Dr.Oz also said that the Tart Cherry Juice reduces the number of triglycerides in your blood, therefore being great for fighting off heart disease.

Magnesium is a very important mineral in helping high blood pressure. Magnesium acts as an anti-spasmodic and relaxes the arteries. Magnesium levels have been found to be consistently low in people with hypertension. In one study, supplemental magnesium lowered blood pressure in 19 out of 20 hypertensives.

Magnesium can be found in foods such as whole grains, beans, nuts and green leafy vegetables. Side effects from taking too much magnesium are not common, because the body excretes any excess in the urine. But people who take too much magnesium from supplements can have diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramping.

After further analyzing the data, researchers concluded that taking 300 mg of magnesium supplements daily for one month could result in lower blood pressure and higher levels of magnesium in the blood.

"Our findings support a causal anti-hypertensive effect of [magnesium] supplementation in adults," the researchers wrote. In other words, magnesium helps to prevent high blood pressure. Journal of Hypertension July 11)

In researching ways to clear the arteries of calcification magnesium helps.

I like Natural Calm Anti-Stress Drink. 2 teaspoons has 325 mg of magnesium. They just came out with a chewable magnesium and it's great! But Dr. Ford Brewer says you must include vitamin D3 4000 to 5000 units and 400 MCG of vitamin K2 Mk-7. Vitamin K draws calcium out of the arteries and into the bones and teeth.

All these fortified milks with calcium carbonate, I say, will cause an epidemic of calcification of arteries. Find non fortified milks, orange juice etc. Get calcium from your diet. My own physician said to get my calcium from food after my calcium score showed elevated.

Subscribe for updates!
I'll be sharing more!
If you missed Part 1 here it is.

I hope this information helps you!

To your Health!

Lowering Blood Pressure, A Journey

2015-10-20T18:17:00.003-04:00

A CHILDS' HEALTH

CRAFTER'S JOY

HELPING FAMILIES WORK FROM HOME

PROLAPSE...EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO KNOW

Archived Articles

A lot of times we get wrapped up in the routine of life, all the responsibilities and needs that swirl around our minds and lives every day. For 12 years I worked 2 part time jobs, one at home and one at night so I could be there for my kids. It wasn't all hardship. Most of the time I had fun with the wonderful people I worked with, but as life would have it, the stresses take their toll on our bodies.

After finding a different job with the benefits we needed, I found I had extremely high blood pressure. To be exact, 200/100. My dad had heart disease, but his diet in his younger life was terrible and he was over weight and died at 57. When the doctor told me how high my blood pressure was I freaked and said, "Do I have clogged arteries?" I said that because that's what I knew from my dad's health situation.
"No", the doctor said, "it's from stress".

Wow! I knew I would get stressed out and anxious but didn't know it could raise my blood pressure that high! I was put on a beta-blocker, Metropolol Succinate. It brought my blood pressure down but along with it came the side effects: tiredness, achy painful legs, extremely low pulse and weight gain. I didn't feel like myself. It stopped the adrenaline rush thereby stopping anxiety and lowering blood pressure. It was just a weird feeling. For sure, the medication did it's job but in the process I lost myself and feeling normal.

I knew I had to make a change and it was right in my face!

I had been shopping at the largest online health company for over 12 years. They have safer, better, less expensive patented products. I knew about their nutritionals so I started their clinically tested Heart Pack immediately. This heart health system is unrivaled using the very best natural ingredients!

Fast forward six months, and my blood pressure was going really low! The nutritionals helped! I incorporated the Heart Pack (read the clinical study - www.freiburgstudy.com)and did interval training on my Nordictrack.

That's where you exercise one minute or 30 seconds as hard as you can then relax and go easy for 2 minutes. Exercise is like a prescription drug. It strengthens the heart, thereby the heart doesn't have to pump as hard to push the blood through the body. I also used my stationary bike and Leslie Sansone Walk Aerobics. You can do any kind of aerobics to keep your heart rate up! I also eat Access Bars before working out which helps access fat before glucose, stop lactic acid build up in the muscles so no more sore muscles and also gives me energy!

Here's a great trainer that you can follow for an interval training workout on Youtube.The workout is 44 minutes but you just do what you can and build up. You don't have to use an elliptical machine. He shows you all the ways you can easily workout. He has so many great videos and also information on intermittent fasting which has been shown to help all areas of your health.

Here's another one that is 30 minutes. It shows a bicycle but you can do any kind of aerobic activity using his timing.

Long story short,almost a year to the day I started the drug and after explaining everything and showing the doctor the supplements, he allowed me off the medicine! The pharmacist said alarmingly, "What?? You're going off? Does your doctor know?" I explained to her how my pressure was going way low, my pulse was 43!! My BP would go 112/67 or lower. I had to go off very slowly, getting a half dose then skipping days. You MUST go slowly.

For several months my anxiety/fast heart rate came back because the adrenaline wasn't shut off anymore by the medication and so my heart was beating hard and fast when I got stressed.

I started my journey. What else could I do? In addition to the Heart Pack, I tried Luminex which I discussed with my doctor. It's a blend: dried griffonia seed, St. John's Wort extract, vitamin B12, and folate. It's used to help mild depression and anxiety. This helped!

You can make small changes in your life so you don't have to deal with the possibility of health issues! So do yourself and your body a favor, learn more about these wonderful products and store!

Peace of mind, period.

Here's Part 2 of this article with more information on lowering blood pressure!
Learn about sugar, celery, hibiscus and MORE!

Please comment and share!!

Have a truly wonderful and blessed day!

Lavender Essential Oil Secrets and More!

2015-08-05T15:32:00.004-04:00

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We're always learning something new! I wish I knew about this when my children were small. Actually just a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil on the bottom of your child's feet helps them fall asleep! Lavender is sometimes called the mother of essential oils and is one of the safest ones. That is another reason why I love it!

Babies-(0 to 12 months) Always use diluted oils. Lavender has been used safely on babies for years. You can put a drop in the bath or a drop on their favorite toy or pillow to relax.
(I like to back everything up for medical safety. Here's more information at WebMd.)
Use 1 drop of essential oil in 1 tbs. of carrier oils like almond or coconut oil (not mineral or baby oil) to help a fussy baby. Baby oil can be harsher on the skin then the carrier oils.

1 year to 5 years old- same as above except use 2 drops of lavender per 1 tbs. of carrier oil.

6 to 12 years old- use 1 drop of essential oil per 2 tsp. of carrier oil.

Pregnant- use 1 drop of essential oil per 2 tsp. of carrier oil. Again there is different opinions if essential oil should be used.

Normal adult- 2 to 5 drops of essential oil per tsp. of carrier oil. (1 tsp. = 5 ml)

Elderly- 1/2 strength of adult.
If you have asthma, don't use steam inhalation.

A warm bath with 6 drops of lavender oil in the water you relax and sleep.

Another great thing to do to go to sleep is to place lavender essential into a diffuser. The amount and way depends on the kind of diffuser you have, so go according to instructions. Diffusers break up the lavender into tiny little droplets that fill your bedroom with such a wonderful scent.

Lavender oil is also is a disinfectant. There's actually a study showing that lavender oil inhibited growth of both MSSA and MRSA by direct contact.

Anti-Depressant

Lavender can be rubbed onto the inside of the wrist, temples or just below the ribs. Just make sure you don't get any kind of essential oil in your eyes. It's absorbed into the skin and you get benefits from the physical properties of the essential oil. It helps you calm down and relax and also acts as an anti-depressant. The American College of Healthcare Sciences has excellent information on clinical studies. One was using lavender oil in a blend. (Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2008 Aug;38(4):493-502.)

bergamot
frankincense
lavender

Here’s the good news: all the patients who received the aromatherapy hand massage reported less pain and depression. However, no tests were done on the separate essential oils. The only conclusion that can be made is that aromatherapy massage with this essential oil blend is more effective for pain and depression management than massage alone.

A study conducted in Taiwan in 2011 ( Aromatherapy Benefits Autonomic Nervous System Regulation for Elementary School Faculty in Taiwan. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.)provided clearer and more powerful evidence how lavender helps anxiety. The authors selected elementary school teachers, who are known to constantly work under significant stress, and used an inhalation of bergamot C. aurantium var. bergamia essential oil as the method of administration; they focused on the physiological stress signals that are easy to record and straightforward to interpret. They found that even a 10-minute-long weekly inhalation of aromatherapy resulted in a significant reduction of blood pressure and heart rate, and drove autonomic nervous activity toward a balanced state. In addition, participants with moderate and high degrees of anxiety benefited more than the light anxiety group.

A study in 2007 (Int J Cardiol. 2008 Sep 26;129(2):193-7. Epub 2007 Aug 8.) also showed that lavender aromatherapy reduced serum cortisol—which plays a central role in the body’s response to stress—in healthy men. The researchers concluded: “These findings suggest that lavender aromatherapy has relaxation effects and may have beneficial acute effects on coronary circulation.”

Patch test- If you're not sure if you're allergic to an essential oil you should do a patch test. Put a diluted drop on your wrist and if the area gets red or itches then wash it off right away with cold water, and don't use that oil. This is an important part of essential oil safety.
Some oils can cause photosensitivity. (Sunlight and tanning booths) Lavender is not known to do this.

*******************************************

*********************************************

How can you know the Essential Oils you're purchasing are the best quality?

The manufacturer should be able to tell you the botanical plant source where the oil was extracted.

The manufacturer should use for testing purity:

GCMS testing (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry)
Chirality testing
Heavy metal/pesticide/herbicide testing
Organoleptic testing
Optical rotation and refractive index testing
Specific gravity testing
Microbial testing

Don't be misled by the exorbitantly high prices that other companies charge for their oils. Just because they’re charging an outrageous price, doesn’t mean that their oils are of superior quality.

I've found a company leveraging three decades of experience developing natural health and wellness products. It's introduced a new line of premium essential oils. The new brand, of Essential Oils, consists of 22 single oils, five exclusive blends and two carrier oils—fractionated coconut and sweet almond.

The customers equally benefit from pricing that is up to 50 percent below market leaders.

The Essential Oils product array offers these single essential oils:

• Bergamot

• Cedarwood

• Cinnamon Bark

• Clove

• Eucalyptus

• Frankincense

• Geranium

• Grapefruit

• Jasmine Absolute

• Lavender

• Lemon

• Lemongrass

• Marjoram

• Myrrh

• Orange

• Oregano

• Patchouli

• Peppermint

• Wintergreen

• Ylang ylang

Change Your Life by Writing About It

2015-06-19T10:49:00.001-04:00

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Did you know that writing unlocks right-brained capabilities, making way for unexpected solutions.

The practice of journaling dates back to at least 10th century Japan. While daily journaling provides an interesting history for your family or even the world—like Anne Frank’s and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s journals—private writings that no one else ever sees can also provide you with some surprising benefits.

Daily Journaling:

• Restores feelings of control—Journaling bridges internal thoughts with external events and allows you to see patterns in life and results of action.

• Aids problem solving—We generally solve problems from a left-brained, analytical perspective. But sometimes the answer can only be found by engaging right-brained creativity and intuition. Writing unlocks right-brained capabilities, making way for unexpected solutions.

• Reduces stress—People who journal every day cope much better with stress. While they don’t experience less stress, they are better suited to handle it when it occurs.

• Increases memory—The daily act of remembering and writing about events leads to a stronger memory and sharper cognitive skills.

• Improves health—University of Texas psychologist and researcher James Pennebaker asserts that regular journaling strengthens immune cells for better overall health. Other research indicates that journaling decreases the symptoms of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Helps with weight loss—A study published in the journal Psychological Science showed that women who wrote about their values in a journal every night lost an average of 3.4 pounds in four months while women who didn’t journal gained weight. Writing about values appears to give women a sense of self-integrity so they are less likely to eat to feel better. This focus on values and self-worth is believed to help with many obstacles in life—not just weight loss.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a pen and paper—or a laptop—and pour out your soul.

You’ll be a better, healthier, happier person for it.

Let's Make Earth Day Everyday!

2015-04-23T14:35:00.001-04:00

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We seem to be a society obsessed with cleanliness. We want our whites whiter and our bathrooms and kitchens hospital-grade disinfected. Industry has answered: today's cleaning products promise faster, easier, and better results with no scrubbing. But is our clean-freak streak harming our kids and our environment?

Many childhood illnesses are rising at a very worrisome rate. Respiratory illness is now the leading cause of admission to hospitals for children. Childhood asthma has jumped by 400 percent over the last 20 years. Learning problems like ADD are on the rise. After injuries, cancer is now the leading cause of death in children between the ages of 5 and 9. Incredibly, most of the 80,000 chemicals in common use today have never been checked for harmful effects to our children's immature brains and immune systems.

It's up to all of us to take care of this planet we call home and we invite everyone to join us in making a lasting positive difference. If we all make just a few simple changes in our daily routines, over time our world will become cleaner and healthier for generations to come.

WE HAVE A CHOICE with what we buy and what companies we support.

Did you catch the reference to TIDE Stephen Hawkings made in The Theory of Everything"?‏

2015-03-31T09:11:00.001-04:00

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In "The Theory of Everything", Stephen Hawkings talked about how the men and women in white, dancing... literally glow and attributes it to TIDE.

The reference made in the movie, time period 1963, shows that nothing really has changed over the years as far as unsafe cleaning products. Most laundry detergents clean by being alkaline so to create an illusion of whitening. They use a florescent optical brightener that remains in your clothes. This proves to be an irritant to lungs and skin, affecting those with allergies, asthma, ear infections, sinus, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin and more.

There are detergents out there
that do not use this method to clean.

WE HAVE A CHOICE with what we buy and what companies we support.

Enhance your family's lives with safer, healthier products for your home and environment!

To Your Health!

Antimicrobial Soap Ingredient Linked To Liver Disease...so what's the alternative??

2015-03-26T14:31:00.002-04:00

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It's always important to wash your hands after any encounter, be it the stylus to sign for your credit card, signing the UPS DIAD (Delivery Information Acquisition Device - bet you didn't know that one!!) shaking hands, whatever!

But a new study found that regular exposure to large doses of triclosan—a common antimicrobial ingredient in soaps and toothpaste, is a liver tumor promoter. It can aggravate liver fibrosis and tumors in mice. Robert Tukey of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine was senior author of the study’s paper, which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Triclosan’s increasing detection in environmental samples and its increasingly broad use in consumer products may overcome its moderate benefit and present a very real risk of liver toxicity for people, as it does in mice, particularly when combined with other compounds with similar action,” Tukey said in a press release. The researchers recommend investigating possible liver toxicity due to triclosan in human tissues.

The researchers report that traces of triclosan can readily be detected in the breast milk of nursing mothers, as well as in urine samples from 75% of adults.

“We could reduce most human and environmental exposures by eliminating uses of triclosan that are high volume, but of low benefit, such as inclusion in liquid hand soaps,” co-author Bruce Hammock of UC Davis added. “

We have a choice to use a moisturizing hand sanitizer

without Triclosan and other

environmentally safe personal care products for our family and our planet.

SAFER solutions for your home.
Can natural, biodegradable ingredients clean as well as harsh, harmful chemicals? YES! Even better!

To your Health!

julie4js@msn.com

ALONG FOR THE RIDE

2015-03-19T08:12:00.001-04:00

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Like the pilot says, "sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight."

When you're on one of those Disneyland boats, it takes you where Disney wants you to go. That's why you got on. And so you are lulled, a spectator, merely a tourist.

So different, isn't it, from driving yourself, choosing your own route and owning what comes of it?

How long have you been along for the ride? When is your turn to actually drive?

Seth Godin

Take your turn and actually "drive" your life in the direction you want to go.
www.StartUpYourDreamS.com
We've got a great Navigation System!!!

You Could be Working At Home!

www.StartUpYourDreams.com

Meet my kids...They're my reason I Work From Home!

Questions You Must Ask When Looking into a Home Business

2015-03-08T17:20:00.001-04:00

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All too often I see people struggle in that "Get rich quick" business, and it is so unfortunate! Here are some questions you should ask about ANY home business. Check it out!

There are some questions you MUST ask… BEFORE getting involved.

The purpose of anyone starting to work from home is to earn an income… and yet so many people end up only spending money and getting hurt. It’s so sad.

Do yourself a favor… refer to this list of questions and get them ALL answered. If the business you’re looking into is legit, the person telling you about the company will be able to answer ALL of the following questions.

1. Has the company been in business longer than five years? Most companies will fail in their first 5 years. You want to get involved with a company that has a solid track record.

2. Is the company financially sound? Is the company debt-free? Do NOT get involved with a company that is already in debt!

3. Does the company have strong management? Is the company run by MLM people? If so, BEWARE! They own the “downlines” and will make business decisions based on making themselves more money, rather than helping everyone in the business. They will look for ways to line their own pockets.

4. Does the company manufacture unique consumable products? Are these products that people ALREADY need, use, run out of and already have to re-purchase?? This can’t be about people spending extra money that isn't already part of any everyday expense. Are the products better than what people can just go to the store to buy? Are the prices comparable or less expensive than it’s competitors?? If not… why would people switch from they already shop? There must be great value for the customer.

5.What is the company MONTHLY re-order rate? Meaning, what percentage of customers/business builders come back and shop EVERY month? If this percentage is lower than 95%… move on! If people aren’t ordering, they quit… and you will be spinning your wheels constantly replacing all the people who quit. There needs to be overwhelming value to be a customer and to keep wanting the products… even if they aren’t building a business and earning an income.

6. What is the monthly quota? Do I have to sell a certain amount each month? Do I have to “recruit” so many people each month to stay active? How much do I have to buy each month? This must be low – not spending extra money but rather buying what you normally would have to buy anyway. ~~No New Money~~

7. How much is the start-up cost? If this is over $50… SAY NO! There should be NO buying of inventory included with a start-up cost. The person referring you should NOT earn a bonus on this start-up fee.

8. What is the company attrition? Meaning… how many people are cancelling every month? This number needs to be low. If people are quitting, they are not ordering. Again, there must be overwhelming value in simply being a customer. This is what creates life-long residual income.

9. Is this a “ground-floor” deal? What happens when it’s no longer “ground-floor”??? Bad news travels fast! This is why most MLM companies get a bad name – when people get hurt and lose money – they tell everyone they know.

10. Are there breakaways?? If so, RUN! You should not be penalized for enrolling someone that does better than you. You should NOT lose a business partner because they do better than you! Leadership development should be REWARDED – NOT penalized! The company needs to be built on a sense of gain – not a fear of loss. Many MLM companies today use Binary Plans — They really go against solid business principles — they reward the non-producer in order to get paid.

11. Is there a 100% money back guarantee?? There MUST be a satisfaction guarantee on BOTH the start-up fee AND any products/services you purchase. If you aren’t happy, you need to ensure there is a no-risk, no questions asked way to get a full refund.

12. How much of the population already use these products/services? The products and/or services must be things the average person already has to buy. You don’t want a product that is specific to a certain market… Take the weight loss industry… There are already millions of products on the market all competing with each other… and this is a specific market… not everyone needs, uses and repurchases weight loss products… makes you limited to a certain market. You want to get involved with a company that makes products that EVERYONE already needs. Otherwise you will become very limited.

13. How much is the training material? Do I have to pay to be mentored? Do I have to buy books, CDs, any training materials? You should NOT ever be charged for training!!! You should automatically be guided, supported and mentored by the person referring you… they should be with you every step of the way. NOT get you in and leave you to figure it out on your own!

14. How long has the person referring you been with the company? How many companies have they been with over the past 5 years? If the person referring you has been with the company a short time… that’s ok… AS LONG AS THEY AREN’T JUMPERS — meaning if the person has been with several different companies over the past 5 years… why?? Are they someone who jumps from company to company to company? If so… you might want to steer clear.

I could go on and on… the bottom line is it’s up to YOU to ask the questions.

There is NO such thing as get-rich-quick… these are SCAMS! Stay Away!!

Make it a great day!

julie4js@msn.com

The Best Solution to Head Lice!

2015-02-12T17:54:00.002-05:00

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Over 10 million Americans are infected with head lice each year.

Is your child at risk?

Head lice is a common problem because of its highly contagious nature yet completely treatable. Pediculosis humanus captis, or head lice infestation affects most children at some time during their school days.

Unfortunately, most physicians prescribe toxic prescriptions to kill the lice.

Jesse's Story http://www.headlice.org/

SM

Jesse's Story

When treating my child for head lice, I never thought about the harm it might be bringing to him. I felt only the anxiety all mothers feel when they discover bugs in their child’s hair. It never occurred to me that a physician-prescribed shampoo could be a dangerous and potentially fatal pesticide.

Telling our family’s story is extremely difficult for me. It requires me to confront my demons. It is agonizing to accept my role in my son’s pain and suffering. The memories are vivid and haunt me through the night. If I think about my role in Jesse’s pain and suffering, I’ll never make it through the day. I fought so hard to keep Jesse alive; it is a daily challenge to handle the reality that I may have contributed to his death.

Our nightmare began in 1984. There was an outbreak of head lice in our local elementary school. Several children were discovered to have lice, including Jesse’s older brother Jason. Our children’s pediatrician prescribed Kwell shampoo with refills. He never mentioned it being a pesticide product..advising only that it could cause skin and eye irritation. The doctor ironically suggested “just to be safe” I treat the entire family, even though Jason had been the only member afflicted. I followed his recommendation shampooing my husband, myself, Jason (age 7) and little Jesse (age 2). I repeated the application on the following day as the prescription instructed.

Approximately two months later, Jesse was playing “Superman” and fell to the floor with extreme stomach pain. I rushed him to the emergency room. My whole world changed that night. A liver and spleen scan revealed enlargement. Blood work indicated unusually high amounts of lymphocytes and white blood cells. Blast cells were also present. A bone marrow aspiration test confirmed our fears – A.L.L. – acute lymphobastic leukemia.

Jesse was hospitalized and received chemotherapy for six weeks until he achieved remission. During this time, the doctors asked many questions.. “Had there been a family history of Leukemia?” “What about chemical or electromagnetic field exposures?” There were no questions concerning head lice shampoo or anything similar. The connection never even crossed my mind.

Jesse sailed through the last of his chemotherapy, and remained in remission. He had been off treatment for over a year, and cancer free for several years when he started elementary school. Our family and his doctors were feeling optimistic that he had beaten his cancer.

A note from the school nurse was sent home a few months into his first school year. There had been cases of head lice reported. My reaction was panic. “Not again!” I brought out the lice shampoo and treated my family…as the doctor had said, “just to be safe”. Two months later Jesse relapsed. I am very sad to say this scenario played out two more times within the next five years. The fact that I did not get the connection is the guilt I must live with the rest of my life.

Jesse’s final relapse occurred after a bone marrow transplant. When the doctor called, he had more than the gut wrenching news of my son’s relapse. The doctor explained that this relapse had been very abnormal and unusual. In fact, only a handful of similar ones had been documented world-wide. Jesse’s relapse had occurred within the new donor marrow. He had received marrow from his baby sister Bobbie Sue – her marrow was female XX chromosomes. This was leukemia in the new XX marrow. This was scientifically profound because relapse by definition is “reoccurrence of the original cancer cells not eradicated by chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery”. There was none of Jesse’s old marrow remaining. This was not the original cancer: it was a new cancer in the new marrow.

My reaction to this news was complete panic. My concerns were that my daughter now also had leukemia. The doctor assured me this was not the case at all – Bobbie Sue was fine. He went on to explain that this relapse, however, did strongly indicate an environmental trigger. He asked me to try and recall if Jesse had been exposed to any substance prior to initial diagnosis and relapse. The only commonality I could remember was I had used the shampoo before his diagnosis and each subsequent relapse. It was very hard for me to believe, however, that head lice shampoo was a carcinogen. I embarked on research to prove to myself that I could not have possibly done anything to harm my son. My heart broke when I discovered how this shampoo was a neurotoxin pesticide and inherently dangerous. There was evidence strongly suggesting a link between this pesticide product, cancer and neurological problems.

Armed with this knowledge, I was convinced we could win this battle. I would help Jesse get well and protect him from this dangerous trigger. Unfortunately, I was too late. He passed away September 11, 1993. Jesse was and remains my little soul mate. There is not a day that passes that I do not think of him and deeply miss him.

Our family has felt betrayed by a system we assumed would protect us. Prior to using these FDA approved pesticide shampoo treatments, all members of our family were healthy. Following the exposures, Jesse was diagnosed with acute leukemia and passed away 09-11-93, Dale (Jesse’s father) was diagnosed with chronic leukemia – he passed away 02-12-98 and Jason (Jesse’s brother) has a diagnosis of chloracne, a condition associated with pesticide exposure.

For years I was unable to do anything but grieve, but I now know that it is critical to get this information out to other families so they can make the safest choices possible. I made a decision not to focus on how differently the lives of my family might have been if this information had reached us sooner. After careful thought, I decided to take that energy and direct it towards trying to educate and hopefully protect other children and their families by working with the National Pediculosis Association to promote their message of pesticide-free manual removal of head lice and nits. Jesse would want it that way.

I hope you found this helpful. :)

A CHILDS' HEALTH
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7 Steps to a Holier Life

2015-02-07T09:07:00.001-05:00

7 Steps to a Holier Life – by Mother Teresa

When we're stressed or feel overly burdened in life it’s usually because we’ve gotten our priorities out of order. Here are 7 of my favorite Mother Teresa quotes that will help. When read in this order, they are guaranteed to bring order and peace back to your life. Give them a try.

Step 1: Slow down.

“I think the world today is upside down. Everybody seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches and so on. There is much suffering because there is so very little love in homes and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other; there is no time to enjoy each other. In the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”

Step 2: Make some room.

“If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own power. Your self-sufficiency, your selfishness and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that.”

Step 3: Open your eyes.

“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

Step 4: Put great love into the small things.

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”

Step 5: Do not tire.

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”

Step 6: Remember – it’s faithfulness, not success.

“God doesn’t ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace.”

Step 7: Leave the rest to Jesus.

“Be humble and you will never be disturbed. It is very difficult in practice because we all want to see the result of our work. Leave it to Jesus.”

Radical tip: Give yourself 5-minutes each morning to read these again. It will change your life.

Metabolic Syndrome – Are you at risk?

2015-01-08T15:05:00.001-05:00

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a health condition everyone is talking about. It's not a disease in itself but a group of risk factors-- increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level,

Read more »

What's Your Positive Thought?

2015-01-05T10:36:00.005-05:00

How to Make 3D Ornaments Using Christmas Cards

2014-11-14T21:48:00.002-05:00

Magician's Rabbit in a Hat Costume

2014-10-31T11:43:00.007-04:00

How to make a Magician's Rabbit in a Hat Costume

Wet Boots? How to Care for Them

2014-10-29T09:07:00.001-04:00

Keep Those Boots Dry!

It's about that time again. The cold wet snowy weather is approaching! What to do with those beautiful expensive boots you bought and suddenly they've gotten wet! Ruined? Nah. Here's some tips on how to dry them and keep them looking like new again.

Allow your boots to dry at a normal temperature. Rushing the process is unhealthy for boots, particularly leather boots. Remove insoles and let them air-dry separately from the boots. Do not place wet boots close to a heat source (such as fireplace, radiator, sunny windowsill, etc...) as high heat:

Dirtiest Food... but Don't Wash It? Watch this video!

2014-07-23T10:51:00.003-04:00

When I saw this I thought, "How can this be?" But it's true! Just watch the video and the "Ah-Ha" moment will hit you!
Read more »

Megan Fox, "Sexiest Woman in the World" Her take on Pregnancy and Motherhood

2014-07-21T10:39:00.006-04:00

In Case of Emergency

2014-07-09T21:19:00.001-04:00

Healthy Crafty Mom

Soul Memories

Made by Hand, One at a Time

How to Order

Welcome to My Blog!

Fiber! No More Cravings!

Why are you still using harmful, unsafe products like Clorox in your home?

It's that time of year again! Dealing with Colds and Congestion...

Alternatives to Expensive Medicare Drugs?

Read more: See the 10 most expensive Medicare drugs in N.J.

Lowering Blood Pressure, A Journey: Part 2

Lowering Blood Pressure, A Journey

Lavender Essential Oil Secrets and More!

Change Your Life by Writing About It

Let's Make Earth Day Everyday!

Did you catch the reference to TIDE Stephen Hawkings made in The Theory of Everything"?‏

Antimicrobial Soap Ingredient Linked To Liver Disease...so what's the alternative??

ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Questions You Must Ask When Looking into a Home Business

The Best Solution to Head Lice!

7 Steps to a Holier Life

Metabolic Syndrome – Are you at risk?

What's Your Positive Thought?

How to Make 3D Ornaments Using Christmas Cards

Magician's Rabbit in a Hat Costume

Wet Boots? How to Care for Them

Dirtiest Food... but Don't Wash It? Watch this video!

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