So, you know you need 7-8 hours of sleep. If you missed it or need a quick recap, check out our post on why you need your beauty sleep. But the question becomes, just how will you get that beauty sleep?

In today’s world many of us struggle with insomnia, waking in the middle of the night, or needing a cup of coffee to get us going in the morning & a glass of wine to unwind us at night. Our busy schedules keep us going all day, and when we finally make it to bed our brains don’t turn off. So how do we make those 7-8 hours a reality?

the most important step...

First, you have to make a commitment to help yourself. Being sleep deprived—especially when it’s chronic sleep deprivation—brings a host of troubles with it. You’re at risk for disease, premature death, memory loss, poor decision making abilities, decreased resilience, and many other problems. NOT sleeping is more selfish than sleeping, as you put yourself and those around you at risk & decrease your own ability to show up & contribute. So schedule your time for sleep—ideally 10pm-6am, as each hour of sleep before midnight is worth 2 after midnight—and guard it zealously! Keeping your body on the same schedule, even on the weekends, helps your body get in the right rhythm for healthy sleep & an energetic, vibrant life.

eliminate blue light

Next, turn all your electronics off at least an hour before you go to bed. This means reading a physical book, doing your evening social media scroll earlier, and not bingeing on your latest show in bed. Develop an evening routine, starting with your skincare so that your skin can absorb as much as possible before your head hits the pillow and the process will relax you as well.

The blue light from electronics stimulates your brain, suppressing your body’s melatonin production. Melatonin relaxes the brain, helping you to fall asleep, so when your brain is racing at night? You probably have low melatonin. This can be from too much exposure to blue light late in the day, or it can be caused by gut dysfunction. Most of your melatonin is produced in the gut, where it helps protect and relax the walls of the gut. If the gut is in trouble, your melatonin levels will be, too. Trouble sleeping? Try running a pathogen screen or leaky gut test to see if your gut could use some support.

cultivate routine

Remember that evening routine we mentioned in the last above? Start with your skincare and then spend an hour or so relaxing & getting ready for bed. Find something that creates a vacation in your day, as self-care for one person could be self-torture to another.

Some relaxing ideas to get you started: gentle yoga, read a (physical) book, journaling, bath, conversation with your partner, prep your lunch & lay out your clothes for the next day, pray, practice diaphragmatic breathing (deep, belly breathing), write a letter, light a candle, or diffuse some essential oils. Doing the same routine, rhythm, or ritual, whichever name you prefer, every night helps signal to your body that the day is ending and it’s time for bed.

eat a {balanced} snack

Do you wake in the middle of the night? Many people find themselves waking for (apparently) no reason sometime between 1 and 3 in the morning. If that happens, don’t stress. Honor that time and practice some diaphragmatic breathing (deep belly breathing) until you fall asleep again. Then, the next night, grab a handful of salted cashews or another snack with a balance of healthy fats and protein before bed. Often, that middle of the night wakefulness is caused by a blood sugar crash. In order to raise blood sugar, your body produces cortisol, which initiates a stress response & wakes you up. A healthy snack before bed can stave off the crash and keep you safely slumbering until morning.

hydrate

We’re pretty big on hydration around here and hydrating before bed is an important one. 7-8 hours is a long time without water, and you lose water just by breathing. Help your skin stay hydrated & fresh by downing a bottle of water earlier in the evening and using a more hydrating night cream to restore moisture on the skin (We recommend RESTORE).

darkness

Turn out the lights, close the blinds, draw the curtains, and put on an eye mask if all else fails! Darkness signals to the body that it’s time to sleep, and any amount of light can disrupt sleep.

final thoughts

Do you have any favorite tips or evening routines? Leave them in the comments to inspire others in their sleep routine journey!

Everyone knows about getting their beauty sleep, right? But just how much truth is there to the claim? Does the amount of sleep you get actually affect your appearance?

You need your sleep

The benefits of sleep are myriad, although there is such a thing as too much sleep. Consistently getting more than 9 hours of sleep can actually be unhealthy. A lack of sleep, on the other hand, increases your risk by 12%. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night contributes to a healthy immune system, better decision making, better memory, lessened risk for obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Collagen and repairs

But where skin is concerned? At night, your body transitions to rest & digest mode, repairing and restoring from the damage of the day. Part of that process includes producing collagen. Collagen is what gives the skin strength, elasticity, and helps with hydration, all of which help to prevent and reduce wrinkles. Want to reduce sagging? Schedule more sleep & watch your skin plump up (ok, so it might not happen like that but sleep is very good for healthy skin).

Blood flow to the skin increases at night, creating a glowing complexion come morning. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, leaves skin dull and lifeless. Plagued by under-eye circles? Sleep can reduce those, too, as will sleeping with the head slightly elevated. Dark circles can be caused by poor circulation, one of the side effects of sleep deprivation. Taking the time to get a good night sleep improves circulation, dark circles & leaving you bright eyed & bushy tailed come morning!

Lack of sleep, even for one night, can take a toll on your facial expressions. Onestudy looked at fatigue, facial cues, and sadness, consistently noting that sleep deprived individuals look the part. Pronounced wrinkles & fine lines, swollen & red eyes, droopy eyelids, pale skin, and frowns were increased in people low on sleep. They were also observed to appear sadder. Want to look your best? Make sure you’re getting enough sleep consistently.

Our favorite reason for getting your beauty sleep? It makes your skincare products more effective (if you are using the right ones ;). The increased circulation, protection from the elements, and repairing & restoring that goes on at night make your skin better able to use the healing products you apply. Check out our suggestions for the perfect evening routine here.

Just knowing that you need more sleep isn’t always enough to make it happen though, is it? Stay tuned for tips on taking those 7-8 hours from dream to reality.

Want to support your body’s collagen production? Check out our bone broth recipe here. Don’t have time to make bone broth? Here is our favorite collagen product that can be added to water (no, really you can't taste it), coffee, tea, anything. It has no flavor and is a staff favorite of ours.

Did you know that the health of your skin is connected to the health of your gut?

You can put all the healthiest products (ahem…) on your skin & have the perfect routine, but if your gut is in poor condition you may find a limit in your skin’s ability to heal.

What really goes on in your gut.

The lining of your gut is known as the mucosal barrier. Problems in the lining can affect other areas of your body. Essentially, it’s like having skin on the inside of your body. Running from your mouth to your anus, it processes the external inputs (food, drink, non-food substances), and breaks them down into particles your body can use. Any toxins, pathogens, and non-useful particles are kept moving through until they’re eliminated.

In this post, we’re focusing on the small intestine, located between the stomach & the large intestine, and the workhorse for breaking down nutrients so they can be absorbed in your body.

The chemical barrier acts as an additional line of defense against the pathogens & toxins that pass through. The cells of the gut lining produce Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), which works as a chemical barrier along with the physical barrier of the enterocytes (see below). SIgA is an antibody that binds to toxins, pathogens, bacteria, and viruses as they move through the gut, neutralizing them & preventing them from ever coming into contact with the mucosal barrier. While several antibodies are produced, SIgA is the most abundant.

In a compromised gut, the amount of SIgA being produced is greatly reduced, thus allowing more toxins to come in direct contact with the walls of the gut, and for pathogens to take up residence or toxins to accumulate. Over time, the increased wear & tear break down the already compromised walls even further.

The physical barrier is known as the mucosal barrier and is lined by a single layer of cells called enterocytes that, in a healthy gut, are joined closely together (the connections are known as “tight junctions”). This keeps toxins, large food particles, etc., from getting through and into the rest of your body. However, 20 feet of small intestine is not enough to absorb all the nutrients your body needs, so it increases its surface area with tiny, finger-like projections called villi. As food is broken down into usable particles by digestive enzymes, they are absorbed through the villi and into circulation, nourishing your body.

One of the ways that the mucosal barrier becomes compromised is through flattening your villi. This reduces the amount of nutrients that your body absorbs, resulting in malnutrition. More importantly for our purposes, the tight junctions between cells loosen up in a compromised gut, allowing antibodies, toxins, pathogens, large food particles, etc. into the body. This provokes an immune response as your system leaps to respond to the unwelcome invaders.

What the gut has to do with your skin.

Some signs that you may have issues in your gut are acne, eczema, psoriasis or other skin irritations, belching, heartburn, gas, stomach irritation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pale floating stools, and brain fog.

If you are dealing with skin issues, we have RELIEF for that. But, if the above symptoms seem way too close to home, see your doctor and try some of our suggestions to make changes today.

What to do about it

[hint: you could start today]

Since we love helping you get the skin you’ve always wanted, here are some ways to make those changes. Because everything in your body is connected (the thigh bone’s connected to the…), below are a list of ways to detox and support your whole body which will in turn support your skin. Woohoo.

Feeling lost?

No worries. Over the next few weeks we'll go into greater detail on our blog, so follow along.

If you are dealing with skin issues, we have products for that. But, if the above symptoms seem way too close to home, see your doctor and try some of our suggestions to start making changes today. Making one little change today can help change tomorrow.

You've got this.

I get asked a lot!

I often get emails asking what my favorite products are (outside of skin care), which laundry soap I use, shampoos that work (testing out a few but the jury is still out), green powders, etc.

So, I thought I would compile my list of favorites for you. These are products I have used and continue to use in my home.

So I'm frugal. Not cheap, frugal. There is a difference.

It took me years to get a Prime Membership. Sure, my sisters told me but still.

Now I look back and it seems silly. I can get stuff a lot cheaper and without needing to drive all over town to get it. Plus, the plethora of reviews help me to make great decisions on the best products.

So, try it.

So, here is the list...

Personal Items

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

Amazing Grass Raw Reserve

Ancient Nutrition SBO probiotic

That is all I have for now. Live green and help save our planet and make your life a little easier.

Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Some of my favorites.

Yesterday you got to hear the compelling story and honest principles behind Molly’s Suds from their founder, Monica. Today, I am sharing my top 3 Molly’s Suds products not because I am trying to sell you something but because I truly and passionately believe in their products.

It wasn’t too long ago when I first made the switch to Molly’s Suds and I started with All Sport, I vividly remember after the first load I pulled one my husband's [near retirement] t-shirts out of the dryer and exclaimed out loud, “Holy cow it’s back to life.” You see, after years of trying natural laundry products that only worked for a little, Brad's t-shirts had a coating of build up and even if it's natural, it doesn't feel great. I often laugh about this initial experience with Molly’s Suds but to be honest, still to this day when I am washing those almost-ready-for-the-trash t-shirts I pull them out and declare “oh they feel so soft” over and over again.

This is what toxin-free living is all about, striking gold with a product that not only tells a compelling story but also has products (without nasty toxins) that work. This is the exact approach we take at Bloom Naturals, I hope you can clearly see the similarity. We are wildly passionate about bringing you a clean, toxin-free product that actually works. No marketing gimmicks and no yucky gunk in our recipes.

This is why Molly’s Suds has become a trusted brand for me and an everyday product I use in our home. I trust their heart and I trust their ingredients with my own family and that is why I love that I can recommend it to you and yours.

While I haven’t tried each and every product Molly’s Suds has to offer (though I'm well on my way) I can recommend the ones you’ll find in my home.

My Top 3:

• All Sport | This is the first product I tried from Molly’s Suds and I recommend the same to you. If you’ve been stuck in the Tide troop for too long and are looking to break into the natural side of things, this is a smooth first step. You will not be disappointed with the level of clean your clothes come out with-- layers of grim and build up are resolved with a round of All Sport.
• Laundry Powder | After running all of our laundry through a round of All Sport to rid it of residues, I switched to the classic Laundry Powder (well, aside from the smelly sport stuff that still needs extra strength) and have been continually surprised at the affordability and effectiveness this powder pack. A small scoop will do with this soap.
• Sweater Wash | It may be “summer” where we live but that doesn’t mean our sweaters are tucked away just yet (sore subject, i know). There isn’t much I buy in the dry clean only camp but I love this gentle soap I can use on all of the cozy sweaters and delicates I do have. Bonus, it has a wonderful and subtle lavender smell.

BONUS: because who doesn’t love bonuses? One more thing I want to highlight is the Oxygen Whitener, it isn’t a product that will leave you at a loss for words but it is a classic and faithful whitener that doesn’t include bleach (yay) or leave your skin itchy.

Did I mention it is all toxin-free?! That is what I love most, I can trust the integrity of Molly’s Suds labels just like you can trust mine. As a mom of 5 and wife to one, being able to bring honest products that are chemical-free and safe for my family into the loads of laundry I do each week is a huge win. I hope you enjoy Molly’s Suds as much as I do, I look forward to hearing your thoughts, leave them in the comments below!

-- Molly

A few years ago I set out on a quest to find out whether or not homemade laundry detergent is actually a healthier option (read about it here)? AND, if it is healthier, can it be done more cost effectively too? Because with 5 boys, there is no shortage of laundry to be done and I am not in the business of laboring over a recipe if it’s not toxin-free and saving some dollars!

What I found at the time wasn’t very encouraging, I felt like even the “cleanest” of homemade detergents came with FELS NAPTHA in it (sorry to break the bad news), which by the way is on the list of top 10 most toxic ingredients in beauty products. It was a daunting realization and it wasn’t until recently I could wholeheartedly recommend a laundry soap that is a perfect fit.

Today’s blog is a feature on the founder, Monica, of a company that came around in a very unexpected way, Molly’s Suds.

As a fan and user of their products, a lover of the name (haha), and most importantly an admirer of their story, I encourage you to grab a cup of coffee or tea, kick back and read on to discover how this incredible woman and mother has launched into toxin-free living and invites us along too.

Monica, walk us through the journey you went through to get to where you are today with Molly’s Suds. Who or what has inspired you to do what you’re doing?

Our daughter Molly was born in 2005 but she never took a breath. As a pediatric nurse and mother to three other healthy children, this was not just a tragedy, it was a shock. We knew Molly was serving our mighty God, but the nurse in me yearned to know what could have caused her stillbirth. I began to read everything I could about stillbirths and uncovered a disturbing fact that would change our lives.

In the United States alone 80,000 chemicals were approved for use by the TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) and yet only 200 of the toxins were tested for human safety. Each year the list of chemicals change. Furthermore, a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services proves that mothers pass chemicals to their babies via pregnancy and breast milk. Newborn baby cord blood and amniotic fluid had multiple non-natural toxins detected in it! Traces of nearly 300 of the chemicals were from toxins in food, personal care, environmental and household products. I knew right then, we had a responsibility to teach others about these toxins, and to make a difference.

And you have certainly gone on to teach others and make a difference with Molly’s Suds, tell us about your wonderful products -- what makes them different? How will they change our readers day-to-day life?

Ingredient integrity is my sole passion and our mission as a company is to provide products that are both safe for people and the planet. We know our ingredient suppliers and the testing that has been done to assure human safety. Ingredients have to be free from carcinogenic additives, irritants, AND they must be derived from natural sources. Many times companies use naturally derived ingredients but they do not take into consideration the studies done to prove human safety, their toxic load on the body, if they are a known skin irritant, or if there are by-products and/ or contaminants commonly found in the ingredients. Nitrosamines and 1,4 dioxane are two commonly found contaminants in “natural” ingredients. Neither are listed on the ingredient list and neither are safe for humans.

We want customers to know that we take the extra step to assure that our ingredients are safe and they will not be irritating to the skin or persist in the fibers of their family’s laundry. The household cleaning industry is so loosely regulated and most consumers are not aware of that.

What is still your biggest challenge when it comes to toxin-free living?

If I’m answering this personally, I do not have any challenges. Whatever I bring into my household in and around my family, I do the research and know that the ingredients are safe and will not pose a risk for my family. I spent two years after the loss of our daughter Molly researching, digging, learning about chemicals. I have worked closely with the manufacturers of chemicals and chemists to truly understand their burden, safety, use, and function.

But, I think the biggest challenge to toxin free living is when customers believe what they read and see from marketing campaigns and entertaining commercials or ads or a smell-a-vision laundry scene and they do not do the research on their own. It is still believed that the more something foams or bubbles or has a certain fragrance it equals clean. We hope to shed some light on this and the importance of safe ingredients and what to stay away from.

Molly’s Suds goes even beyond the purest ingredients and cleanest products, your mission also includes a commitment, “ to be good stewards of the Earth and give back to our community and those in need” how do you do that? Can you share some fun examples.  

We are partners to The Laundry Project here locally in the Tampa Bay area. They provide free laundry to those in need, so we help twice a year by volunteering our time as the community comes to wash their laundry and we also provide the detergent and we pay for the washes at that location.

We also work with our local women’s shelter to provide detergent, it is typically not donated like clothing, food, and toiletries are.

Some of our products are packaged locally at a company that employs mentally and physically disabled. They are an amazing group of people that have the opportunity to use their skills and talents to help other companies!

We also opened a Zero Waste facility in our Molly’s Suds Warehouse called the Refillery St. Pete. This is a fabulous store where the community can come, bring a container and fill it with our laundry and household products as well as other brands safe products like hand soap, body scrubs, toothpaste, baby wipes solution, shampoo, conditioner and so much more! It is for refilling your current containers or even a pasta sauce jar to help reduce your waste and need to purchase a new container of something every time you run out. Our landfills are filling up and this helps our local community to do their part! We also sell items to help reduce waste like unpaper towels, cloth napkins, Bee's Wrap and glass or stainless straws.

We can’t refill for customers that we ship to, but it is our way of doing what we can when we can. All of us have the power to create change. We feel it should start at home and in your own communities.

Is there anything else our people should know about Molly’s Suds?

We are a small but mighty team of people that not only love the mission of our brand, they all really love our customers, our products, and they all get so excited about awesome reviews, customers that share their stories, local love, and our (too much sometimes) fun atmosphere! I love coming to the office every day because we are making a difference and because I love my work family!

Okay, and one last question. What is a piece of encouragement or golden nugget you want to leave for our audience?

When you started your journey to a healthier you, it may have started with looking at your food. The way it made you feel, avoiding certain categories like dairy, soy or gluten, and slowly you started feeling better. This journey should involve your entire environment. Our skin is the largest organ and it is designed to both block us from harmful intruders as well as to absorb. While absorbing in Vitamin D from the sun is wonderful, our skin also absorbs in chemicals from our bath and body products as well as our laundry and cleaning products. When we sweat and create heat, our pores open inviting in whatever is in contact with our skin. Educate yourself on harmful ingredients and make a list on your phone of chemicals to avoid. Check labels. Be diligent. It is up to us to protect ourselves.

Oh, and for the love… do not believe everything you read or marketing gimmicks. Do your own research.

As you can see there’s nothing not to love about Monica’s story or Molly’s Suds mission to bring toxin-free living to your laundry (and cleaning). This isn’t a sales pitch, this is a product I love and USE in my own home with my own family. Try it out and let me know your thoughts!

P.s. Keep an eye out for my next blog outlining my favorites from Molly’s Suds, and in the meantime try out some of your own using the promo code Bloom25  before June 30 to earn 25% off your goodies!
 

For years, I have been on the hunt for a waffle maker that wasn't non-stick. We don't own a single non-stick item in our kitchen. I'm a cast iron girl.

I even tried the cast iron model of waffle makers but donated it because unlike the cast iron I use, it was so difficult to use and clean. I kept searching thinking that someone somewhere would have come up with this sort of thing.

Then one day, I threw all my concern over using non-stick out the window and bought one.

Once home I quickly google searched for an amazing recipe. I think I tried the first one I came to.

I don't like to follow rules.

Since, I don't like to follow the rules (sorry Mom), I decided to use Pamela's GF flour (which I use for most things I bake with) in place of regular flour. I began to feel more bold and that I was taking this recipe and making it my own. So, I decided to substitute the milk for...almond milk. I had just picked up a case of it from Costco (get it there).

Bam.

Biting my nails

We all stood around the waffle maker waiting for the timer to go off. Lifting the lid to reveal the crispy brown goodness was quite a moment. Eating it was entirely better.

We do big breakfasts

My husband should open a restaurant. His creations are unmatched. Prior to this, it was either oatmeal, pancakes {GF} or eggs done many different ways. It was time for something new.

Oh Baby!

These were so yummy with Kerry Gold Butter {please tell me you've tried it} and real maple syrup. They were so good that sometimes, for a snack for myself and not wanting to have sugar, I would slip some I had saved into the toaster, butter it up and add a little pink Himalayan sea salt on it. {I think I might go do that right now.}

Anyways, enjoy!

FREE Recipe

I'm an aesthetic person. Creativity and productivity flows most freely when I am in an ordered lovely space.

My husband is this creative home and community builder. His {our} business is creating beautiful places to live. Our "research" often takes us to HOUZZ or Pinterest for ideas of imaginative dwellings. His tagline is "The fine art of neighborhood." We have been blessed to build and move MANY times, each time honing our skills of crafting the best use of warm inviting spaces. Hang with me. I'm going somewhere with this.

I am a water snob and perhaps a water bottle snob, too. I just may have the single largest quantity of glass and metal water bottles on the planet. Maybe a slight exaggeration but, honestly, we have a large laundry-basket-sized bin dedicated to water bottles in our pantry.

Over my lifetime, I have not been very monogamous when it comes to water bottles {and ONLY water bottles}. When I tire of a container, I seek a new one. Perhaps I hadn't yet found the perfect mate. {We are still talking water bottles, here.}

Back six months ago, I found myself without a water bottle; the lovely dwelling for my source of hydration. I put my keys in the same spot each time I get home. My shoes are in the same spot so I always know where they are. You might say I am a creature of habit. I keep track of {most} things, except my WB. This time. And I had finally found the one I was willing to settle down with until we were old. It was beautiful {ok, nice looking} and lived in my creative spaces so well with it's bright pop of color. We were happy.

After about a week without my regular pretty companion, my lips started to get dry. {This is one sign that your cells are getting dehydrated} You might say I felt out of sorts in my daily routine without my trusty friend. I tried using cups. Nope. I tried using the plastic WB my husband uses for biking. Nope. I tasted plastic. This just was working.

To learn more about how much water to drink daily, click here. 

Finally, I ordered a new one knowing that this lost love was not returning to me. The writing was on the wall. I chose a larger one as my lost love was a tad too small for road trips to soccer games or my weekly trifecta of grocery store shopping.

One should have a functional, aesthetically-pleasing container or it won't become part of your lifestyle.
Consider it an accessory. A water bottle is the new black?

Here are the top 6 things to look for when dating for the perfect water bottle:

It keeps water cold for longer than you think possible plus, the mouth of the bottle is the PERFECT size so as not to spill even while driving. Yay! Yet the mouth is large enough to allow for cleaning and most ice cubes. The 25 oz. size seems the most functional.

Make sure to get the STONE COLLECTION as the finish is more durable. Much more durable. They have some lovely colors in the other options. Don't be drawn to their loveliness. Well, you can if you want but I bought one and it chipped after a week. It was dropped, yes but my stone collection one didn't chip even after a year. It was dropped, too.

HYDROFLASK is my second favorite* with an asterisk. I chose the narrow{er} mouth which is nice but still spillable when drinking. EXCEPT, they also have sports caps so there won't be any sloppy drinking and no more unscrewing the cap each time. That is a slight plus. The problem is that the sports cap can leak if not closed COMPLETELY. Again, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Make sure to close the sports cap all the way or it will leak. It keeps water nicely cold but SWELL might keep it colder longer. All Hydroflask bottles are made with a durable finish similar to the SWELL stone collection.

These WB range in price from $35-45 but are worth the investment in your health.

You can find the SWELL BOTTLE here, HYDROFLASK here, or a cheaper option here but I don't know how good the knock-offs are.

Purity.

I didn't really address my water snobbiness as far as purity of water. It will be saved for another time. But my favorite water purification "machine" (because that really is what it is) is the Berkey Water Filtration System. We have city water and this filters everything out so we always have fresh, safe drinking water. It is an amazing system.

Looking for some refreshment?

Add a little lemon to your water. Fresh lemon in your water helps detox your body, rejuvenate the skin, increase your vitamin C intake, boost energy and mood plus aids in weight loss. Need I say more?

What is your favorite water bottle and why?

Take a photo of your favorite and post it on Facebook page or in the comments below.

Actually, In the past, I have found that for all the work, chicken soup leaves me wanting...and regretting. After spending hours making soup, involving the hated chore of deboning the chicken, it seems to be a tasteless chunky liquid. Have you ever experienced that? 

Seriously, I had made it off and on for more than a decade and each time vowing never to waste my time on this again. Then every fall, I get inspired to feed my family "mother's penicillin" and try again. The cycle continued.

Last year, I purchased an Amish chicken from my local butcher, placed it in a crock pot, filled the pot with water, added onions, garlic, a bay leaf, a little apple cider vinegar, a bit of salt and let it cook for almost 24 hours. I set the crockpot on high for about 2 hours, debone the chicken, refrigerate the meat and throw the bones back in on low for the rest of the time.

{After Martha commented that she only cooks the meat for a few hours, I tried it. MUCH better. I've change the recipe as such. Thanks Martha!}

Just before it was done, I saute onions, garlic, carrots, and any other veggies we love in a cast iron dutch oven. {I love using cast iron but it sure is heavy. Look at it as a workout added to your cooking.}

Make sure the veggies get nicely golden brown and caramelized. Once the veggies were done, I removed the bones from the stock, added the chicken meat to veggies and poured the chicken stock into the pot of veggies, making sure to use a strainer to catch "extras." 

~INSERT NOTE~ Almost every recipe calls for cooling the stock then skimming off the fat. Feel free to do that. It seems like too much work, chicken soup takes long enough to make and this soup tasted AMAZING with the fat all in there. ~That's all.~

For the best flavor, I added turmeric, parsley, a bay leaf, salt, and pepper, making sure to simmer on low for ONLY a short time or the meat can get tough and dry out.

Here is a secret ingredient...Better than Bouillon. Yup. The thing with homemade stock is that, even though it contains amazing nutrients, the flavor is, let's face it, weak. So, Better than Bouillon brings your soup from average to wonderful with just 2 tablespoons. Yes, it contains less than great ingredients but it makes a killer soup and you use so little of it. Try it.

+1 grass-fed hormone-free whole chicken (or whatever chicken you have...no judgment. You are making homemade soup, right?)

+veggies like onions, garlic, corn, peas, cabbage (adds great flavor and nutrition)

+apple cider vinegar

+favorite spices like bay leaf, thyme, salt, pepper, and parsley

+better than Boullion (this is the one I Iike)

+filtered water

+rice if you need for texture (or for filling up 5 teenagers ;)

NOTE: This recipe is for a crockpot. If you choose to make this soup in the instant pot, the recipe will change. I do think the crockpot for broth is better as it comes out more gelatinous than the instant pot. Most other things, the instant pot is better and MUCH quicker. For the time, the difference is minimal.

DAY ONE MORNING: Rinse the chicken and remove the bag inside (if there is one). Place chicken, cabbage, onion, garlic, apple cider vinegar in your crockpot in the morning of day one or afternoon if you forget in the morning. It should be on high only until the water is hot and bubbly or two hours. Next remove the meat from the bones. The meat goes in the fridge and the bones go back in the broth. Keep it on low or simmer in the crock pot. Cooking on high dries out the chicken meat.

DAY TWO LATE AFTERNOON or EARLY EVENING: In a warm dutch oven, add olive oil and butter then onions, garlic until onions are translucent. Next add carrots, corn or any veggies you want and cook until browned. 

Using a strainer over the dutch oven containing the veggies, pour the chicken stock over the veggies. Add the chicken meat to the pot. Don't forget my secret ingredient, Better Than Boullion. Add about 2 Tablespoon to the soup mixture.

Cook on low heat for not more than 15-20 minutes to meld flavors.

I will say this is better the second day. Amazing really. Aren't most soups?

So, there you have it. Hope you enjoy a warm bowl of this soon. Happy Fall.

Molly

Is homemade laundry soap even safe?

It amazes me the work people put into making their own laundry soap, mostly for health reasons or to save money. Many of the recipes I found on the internet call for soaps that contain toxic ingredients.

(Remember to stay clear of ingredients that use CAPITAL LETTERS and ones with numbers after them. You never go picking for apples #5.)

Fels Naptha

FELS NAPTHA soap is one of those toxic soaps used in a great deal of the recipes online. There are so many harmful toxic ingredients in it like PEG and strong perfumes. PEG is one of the top 10 (although the list is growing) most toxic ingredients in personal care products and cleaning products. Plus, perfumes can affect the respiratory system and contain hormone disruptors. All the synthetic ingredients are meant to coat the fibers of your fabric which give you a false sense of cleanliness because they smell eternally "clean" and they can ruin the effectiveness of cloth diapers

Here are the ingredients of FELS NAPTHA: Soap (sodium tallowate*, sodium cocoate* (or) sodium palmate kernelate*, and sodium palmate*), water, talc, coconut acid*, palm acid*, tallow acid*, PEG-6 methyl ether, glycerin, sorbitol, sodium chloride, pentasodium pentetate and/or tetrasodium etidronate, titanium dioxide, fragrance, Acid Orange (CI 20170), Acid yellow 73 (ci43350).

Dove or Ivory

If you are a "purist" and IVORY or DOVE Soap is your thing, you may want to reconsider as the ingredients aren't that safe either. Honestly, we are a product of marketing ploys that have lulled us into believing the commercials of pure white cream being poured into luxurious bars of nourishing soap are actually healthy. CRUNCHY BETTY blogger posts about ingredients of soaps. You should read what she has to say here

Cost vs. Value

When considering the price of store-bought laundry soap, you will need to calculate the cost per load. If you just look at the cost of the product you can be swayed to buy the cheap toxic stuff even when it isn't a better value.

Many require you to use 1/4 cup (2 oz.) or more of detergent per load. It might seem like the container is cheap but if you calculate how much you need to use per load, it can be expensive. If using safe ingredients, making your own healthy laundry soap is a great way to keep your family healthy and save some dollars.

How does laundry soap affect the skin?

Most laundry soaps are meant to coat the fibers of your fabric. Since these products contain toxic ingredients, the toxins are also coating your fabric, constantly coming in contact with your skin. Think about how many hours (or minutes) your skin is NOT in contact with clothing or bed sheets.

If you suffer from irritated skin, take a look at your laundry soap to see what is in it. You may have to call the company and see what their soap contains. Many I have called on will not even tell me what their ingredients are since they are not legally obligated to. Honest.

If they won't tell you what is in it, then I would steer clear of it. In this day and age, if you have truly healthy products, you are going to shout it loud and proud. If you are hiding something, you are hiding something.

Don't want to make your own?

I don't blame you.

I have gotten SO many questions about laundry soap over the years.

Until now, I have not been able to whole-heartedly share one that works perfectly. I'm so excited to tell you that Molly's Suds is the BEST I have found. Ever.

Here's the real story. I test out LOTS of products. Lots. I'm always in search of products that are safe, that I want to have in my own home. Over the years of testing, my husband's t-shirt [the kind that really should be retired] bore the brunt of the testing. Although laundry products I tested were natural, they didn't really clean well long term and residue built up on some clothes. Do you know what I'm talking about? They feel kinda plastic-y.

Anyways, after using Molly's Suds All Sport, I mindlessly grabbed it to fold and thought "Whoa!" It was perfectly soft. The residue was gone. I knew this was a different product.

All that and they are a family-run company with a big heart and a cool story.

We interviewed Monica, Molly's Suds Founder. Her story and products are compelling. You will want to know about them.

You can do that here.

Let us know what you think about Molly's Suds!

My poor family.

They are my guinea pigs for new recipes.

Even the "natural" toothpastes are filled with junk that can be highly toxic.

Who scratches their head when they read the warning label of toothpaste {which goes in the mouth} "CALL POISON CONTROL IMMEDIATELY IF SWALLOWED?' Hmmmmmm...

That has bothered me for years. I don't get it.

When our first born was little and we were on well water, I was told to give him Fluoride drops for his tooth health. So I did. But, thankfully, I was horrible at remembering and one day did research on it. Those drops were tossed.

In full disclosure, while I may (happily) take my children to the local fast food joint on occasion, I cannot bring myself to purchase traditional toxic toothpaste. Strange, I know.

I have made a TON of batches of toothpaste in the past few years. Some (much) better than others.

I had them all try "oil pulling." Some gagged (I almost did) while others refused after watching others gag. After experiencing the benefits of oil pulling for a while, I have to say it has a lot of merit. It is a great habit to get into. That change alone could alter (for the better) the health of your teeth.

There are a few articles that have inspired me to begin caring for my teeth in healthy ways. Rather than restate all the good information they wrote I will simply link to them. {Why reinvent the wheel?}

Where to find more information...

1. Google search the following:

• oil pulling
• remineralizing teeth
• natural tooth care
• reduce tooth decay

2. You may find this blog post a bit radical but only because we cling to what we know, but see what you think.

Healing Cavities (A True “We’ve-Done-It!” Story!)

3. Here you will find information about the Toxins in toothpaste and other helpful things.

Rethinking Oral Health Care: A Homemade Toothpaste Recipe for Tooth Remineralization

4. More information from a wonderful blog, KEEPER OF THE HOME...

Can a Cavity Be Healed With Nutrition?

5. And lastly, a link to the website of the FUN book I read on vacation, "Cure Tooth Decay.

One thing I will say about this book is that there are so many things I simply cannot do because of time or the yuck factor in consuming raw meats/fish. But I did glean some helpful takeaways.

If you are a give-me-a-list-and-I-will-do-it person, then this book may be overwhelming. The blogs have much more practical advice. I just love learning about how stuff works so the book was intriguing for me.

Enjoy the reads and always remember: do your best, forget the rest.

We can't always do everything perfectly healthy. Just begin with something.