My Idea of Happiness

Brushing Baby's Teeth

2012-03-06T11:30:00.001-08:00

What a day of perfect timing. You know one of those days? You walk downstairs and the washer just finishes its cycle. You put the recycling bin at the curb just as the truck starts coming up your road. For me it was raindrops beginning to fall just as Oliver and I got in from our walk to the library.

And this:

Today I noticed Oliver's first tooth. He was gnawing on my finger as we watched Property Virgins (so good) and a little sharp edge poked me. Upon looking inside I noticed his front bottom right tooth peaking out. Very exciting.

Here's the perfect timing part. I went to the mail box and found a package from Radius (a loyal supporter of my blog) and inside was one of their incredible baby toothbrushes.

Dentists recommend brushing your baby's teeth as soon as they have them. You can even begin before teeth emerge with just a clean cloth on your index finger, rubbed on their gums. For formula-fed babies and those eating sweet solids (Ollie loves him some bananas) the sugars can be troublesome if left in their darling little mouths overnight.

The Pure Baby toothbrush by Radius is designed for little ones age 6 - 18 months. It is nice and small and has ultra-soft bristles. The toothbrush is BPA-free and dye-free as wall as cruelty-free. It features vegetable-based bristles (castor bean), is recyclable and the packaging is also sustainable.

You can use a baby toothbrush with nothing, with water or with baby toothpaste - I recommend Lavera. They say it's best to brush twice daily (one of those times being before bed) on the inside and outside surfaces of the teeth, and the tongue. The brush will be good until the bristles look worn, and can be replaced by a Radius Tots brush at 18 months old.

It is best to book a dentist appointment when baby has his or hee first tooth. Once two teeth are touching side by side it's time to start flossing. Remember treats like fruit juice are just as bad for baby's teeth as they are for mom and dad's.

The Healthiest Dinners

2012-03-05T16:10:00.002-08:00

Let's be honest - I don't make lentil-walnut loaf with chilled millet salad every night. Sometimes I need to do a little nutritionist handy work and health-ify the somewhat junky items that make their way onto our meal plan. But it isn't hard.

Wait, hold on, you don't make a meal plan? I can't recommend it more. Using a meal plan may be fairly credited with ensuring my marriage stays a solid 10 out of 10. It helps grocery shopping, being thrifty, avoiding waste and planning timing, and we're always excited when the clock starts rolling around 5pm. You don't have to plan breakfast and lunch, or even the specifics (just write fish + rice + veggie). But back to good choices...

There are many dinner options that sound, well, pub-esque but actually pack a nutritional punch. Here are a few of my favourites:

bean, chicken or fish tacos/fajitas - serve with lettuce, tomato, onion, pepper and olives, and a side of guacamole or salsa, skip the cheese and sour cream
Asian stirfry - don't worry about the strips of pork and sweet sauce when you've got a bed of brown rice and a wok full of red pepper, snap peas and bok choy
pad Thai - I add copious amounts of bean sprouts, scallions, carrots and peanuts
nachos - go easy on the shredded cheese and top heavily with jalapeno and onion, served with homemade refried beans
homemade pizza - a whole grain pita crust with tomato sauce, broccoli and pineapple can hide the naughty of shredded mozzarella
breakfast for dinner - swap in turkey bacon and add spinach and zucchini to your eggs, and serve with a strawberry smoothie
lasagne - believe it or not it tastes better with eggplant slices and basil overload

Don't give up the dinners you love before attempting to convert them into a canvas for yummy vegetables.

The Thrifty Preggo: How to Save Money + Have a Baby

2012-03-04T07:27:00.001-08:00

If there's one time in your life you wanna practice money-saving, let it be during pregnancy. Okay, maybe upon being proposed to also. Not that I believe the popular notion that babies are expensive (they are not! in my experience) but I do think being prepared for whatever your new journey throws at you is best.

There are plenty of ways to get ready for your little mini-on-the-way without breaking the bank.

Make a list. Of everything you need and everything you want. Then pick your pen back up and get ready to scratch things out.
1. Do you already have something that serves this purpose? (A change table and a changing-station-addition to your pack n play? A carriage and a stroller that your car seat fits into? A co-sleeping side car and a moses basket?) Cross it out.
2. Will the need for this item not arise for six months? (Baby gates for crawlers? A lego set? A bath tub insert for babies that can sit up?) You can buy it later, with gift cards... or, at six months reevaluate all the things you have and anything you don't need that still has a tag on it, return!
3. Are you being realistic with amounts? A baby that can't walk can probably cool it with the snazzy shoes. Most babies choose 1 or 2 teddies that they like and the rest sit there. Also blankets.

Next, where to get it.

1. Buy it used. Try Kijiji or consignment stores.
2. Hint at generous family members.
3. Add it to a registry.

We've found that adding Oliver to our family has been a real pleasure and no financial strain at all. It just takes some thrifty-thinking!

My Whole Foods Pantry

2012-02-29T07:23:00.000-08:00

Healthy eating is worlds easier when you cook at home. These days food that strengthens, heals and nourishes the body is pretty hard to find in fast food restaurants and donut shops.

If you want to increase the number of meals you make at home you'll need a stocked kitchen. Local, humanely-raised meats, fresh fruits and vegetables and free-range eggs are great staples to have. These can be picked up weekly at a farmers' market. But there are a number of things you can store to have on hand whenever you need them:

Oils: olive, grapeseed, coconut
Vinegars: balsamic, red wine, rice, apple cider
Seasonings: Himalayan salt, black peppercorns, fresh and dried herbs, spices, chili flakes, garlic, ginger
Grains: quinoa, millet, whole-wheat couscous, brown rice
Seeds and nuts: sunflower seeds, walnuts, cashews, chia seeds, flax, hemp
Beans and lentils: small bean mix, pinto beans, green lentils, beluga lentils
Sweeteners: raw sugar, agave nectar, honey, maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar
Other: popcorn, baking soda, vanilla extract, spelt flour, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, coconut, dates, prunes, alfalfa seeds for sprouting, cornmeal, carob chips

With these ingredients you can feel confident preparing healthy meals (even without a recipe).

Healthy Routine for a 7-Month Old

2012-02-23T13:41:00.000-08:00

Oliver is coming up to 7 months now.

He talks. Well, he yells "mama" but I'm pretty sure it's a catch-all word for things like "look I can do push ups", "give me more apple puree" and "I'm stuck under the rocking chair".
He eats. Well, about 1/2 the food goes in his mouth and the other 1/2 forms a food-beard
And he crawls. It's an interesting technique we call the slingshot where he gets on all-fours, rocks his body back and forth gaining momentum and then shoots himself forward, ending in a face plant but that much closer to whatever he's hunting.

We're not ones for schedules. In fact pretty much everything we do, including nursing, sleeping arrangements & introduction of solids, can be considered "baby-led". That being said, Oliver has given me some clues as to what type of routine he likes for the day. He's not too fussy about it - the guy's been known to willingly (and on good behaviour) attend rock concerts, movie theaters and hockey games. But in general, here's what we do:

Morning
- Wake up around 8am
- Nurse and a much needed diaper change
- Play!
- Nurse and nap from around 11am - 1pm
Afternoon

- Eat a fruit or veggie (he likes carrots, apples, squash, yam, avocado, banana, mango)
- Play, nurse

- Nap from around 4pm - 6pm
Evening
- Eat a protein (lentils, egg yolk, beans)
- Play, maybe a bath, nurse
- Around 8pm: pj's and a diaper to last the night, then nurse and sleep (he doesn't always go in his own bed, he might continue sleeping in the family room until we go up)
- Around 11pm when I go to bed I might nurse him once more
- Sleep! (Oh yes, sometimes there's a night-nurse)

The most important things are he still gets at least 5 nursings a day (more if he wants it - he's the boss!) and 2 long naps. So far I've only implemented lentils as a protein but the fruits and veggies are much enjoyed. As he gets older it'll be imperative that his 2 solid meals contain iron. He is still on a vitamin D supplement as well.

So that's our day! We have a blast and love every second of it. If you have questions about your baby, ask away.

Free Lecture Tomorrow: WEIGHT LOSS

2012-02-21T12:45:00.001-08:00

I will be presenting a free lecture tomorrow (February 22nd, 2012) on:

Weight Loss - What Works, What Doesn't

At the Stoney Creek YMCA - 920 Sunningdale Road at Adelaide, London ON
In the London Life room (ask at the desk)
Sessions at 11am and 7:30pm

You do not need to be a member of the gym to attend

How and Why to Take Vitamin D

2012-01-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

CBC News reported last year that only 1/3 of Canadians have enough vitamin D in their blood for good health. Why is it such a problem in Canada? Sunlight. Vitamin D is found in food (fatty fish, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks...) and it is also fortified in our milk supply but in much smaller quantities than we'd like. The best source of vitamin D is sun exposure, because when the UV-B rays hit our skin it activates a conversion of stored cholesterol into pre-vitamin D. In places like California, where people can roam in a tank and shorts for much of the year, this is an excellent source and supplementation is not as much of a concern. However, in Canada we have many problems: short days for much of the year, cloud cover (reducing rays by 50%, as does heavy pollution), staying covered up (optimal conversion rates are based on being 80% naked), staying indoors (UV-B does not penetrate glass) and obsession with sunscreen (also blocking the rays). For this fact, despite my feeling that nutrition best comes from whole foods, I suggest a vitamin D supplement for all Canadians.

Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. If you take calcium (or intake it through food) and it doesn't get absorbed into your bones, it stays in your blood and can cause arterial plaque. For this reason alone, vitamin D is extremely important. It has also been cited as a cancer preventative nutrient, and has been used in diabetes treatment.

If you attended one of my lectures on Identifying Quality Supplements last year, you'll know that there are many factors to finding a good vitamin D.:

The first thing to look at is dose. Here in Canada we cannot sell anything higher than 1000 IU but you are free to (even encouraged to) take more than one capsule/tablet/liquid dose per day. Many now come in dropper forms so taking a high dose is easy and convenient. Breastfed babies should take 400IU per day.

Next, the company making the product needs to be considered. One way to look at quality is to check the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements (click the link and choose "search inside this book"). This is a great resource and I suggest looking through it, but if you'd like to save some time, the company that consistently comes out on top is Usana.

You must also look at the form. There are two: D₂ (ergocalciferol) which is made from yeast and D₃ (cholecalciferol) which is made from lanolin. D₃is the one I recommend, as all vitamin D is converted to this form to be utilized.

The last thing, and arguably most important, is the non-medicinal ingredients. I was taught by a friend and mentor to always cover the ingredients you're looking for on an ingredient list, and instead read the other ones. If your supplement contains artificial colours, flavours or preservatives like parabens, it isn't a good choice and it doesn't matter how great the vitamin D portion of the supplement is. Choose something unflavoured and unsweetened or naturally flavoured and naturally sweetened (with stevia or xylitol).

Vitamin D is not expensive but the benefits are incredible. I can't stress enough that this is the one supplement you need to be taking. If you do not currently have one, or are looking to try something new, click the above link (Usana) and read more about their products. They ship to Canada.

You can read more information about vitamin D here.

Spring Detox

2012-01-19T12:41:00.000-08:00

A detox diet, or cleansing period, is an incredible gift to your body if you do it right. As we look toward the onset of spring (a girl can hope) the optimal time draws near, so I wanted to lay out how to do... and how not to do it.

How to Choose a Cleanse

Cleansing is a two-step process: detoxification and elimination. Any system that does not address this issue will not be effective. If you detox without eliminating (as is the case with any detox that doesn't make use of your colon) the toxins will continue circulating around and may make you feel worse. The theory behind low-calorie detoxes (burn fat, which is where toxins are stored) is a perfect example of this flaw. A detox with elimination but no detox (a high-fiber, laxative system) will fill your toilet, but leave your major organs messy as always. Make sure your system does both by checking that its theories and/or ingredients address at very least your liver and your bowels.

A store-bought product should have research behind it. Foot patches that you stick on overnight that turn brown by morning (yes, this is a real thing) have been proven bogus. Keep in mind, your skin is not your best detox organ.

A detox diet should have enough calories and other nutrients to sustain you. Your body wasn't designed to survive on such an extremely low-calorie diet. While consuming only maple syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper will trigger your body to burn fat, it will also shift you into fat deficiency which means bad skin, bad mood, bad memory, hormone problems and ultimately weight gain in the stomach region. Don't you think a balanced diet is the best one no matter if you're cleansing or not? (Note: if you are fasting for religious reasons that is a completely different story. Consult with God and your doctor before fasting if you are pregnant because the little one growing inside of you may have different ideas.)

A detox system should not cost more than $50. It should not take less than 2 weeks at a time, or more than 10% of your year (yes, there are detoxes that instruct you to do them once a week, every 4 weeks). Lastly, don't buy anything that only eliminates toxins through your bowel (Yikes!): your body is made up of many detox organs: liver, kidneys, skin, lungs, colon.

What I Recommend

I suggest setting aside 21 days to focus on a completely raw, vegan diet. This means unheated plant foods only. When food has not been heated, it contains the maximum amount of nutrients (the exception: I think tomatoes and spinach are healthier when cooked). Eliminate sugar and caffeine. Try to eliminate other forms of chemicals too (conventional makeup, heavy car pollution, etc.) Eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, nut butters, whole grains (quinoa, millet) and herbs/spices. Make your own nut milks by soaking 1 cup of your favourite nut (cashews, almonds, etc.) overnight, then discard that water, add in 4 cups of fresh water, blend, and strain. Make sprouts by soaking seeds and grains in water, then rinsing twice daily. Make salad dressings with raw apple cider vinegar and cold pressed olive oil. Add some homemade mustard too (ground mustard seed + raw honey + apple cider vinegar + water). This kind of diet takes dedication and a ton of planning. Look up raw, vegan meal plans and experiment with new recipes.

Drink lots of water. This will flush your kidneys.

Get lots of sleep. Throw some long walk and yoga in there too. If your calorie intake allows, try some hard exercise - sweating is a form of detox.

Take long Epsom salt baths. This practice, if done often, can help pull heavy metals from your body. I have seen it help people (blood work proved it).

Most importantly, use herbs to activate your detox organs. They can be made into a tea:

Alfalfa
Black walnut if you are detoxing from parasites
Burdock
Chamomile
Dandelion
Marshmallow root
Milk thistle
Mullein
Red clover
Slippery elm (to aid elimination, go easy)

If you want an easy mix buy Flora's Floressence liquid. You can mix it with hot water to make a detox tea. It is incredible - tastes good, is soothing and provides all the right ingredients for detoxification and elimination. It was an originally a native American healing mix (Ojibwe blend) that was passed along to the nursing staff at a hospital that eventually used it with cancer patients.

The only store bought boxed detox I'd really recommend is Renew Life's First Cleanse. If you suspect parasites, try their ParaGone.

What cleanse do you like?

How to Make it SWEET

2012-01-17T06:31:00.000-08:00

Sugar can come from so many places - sugarcane, beets, corn - and it can also be faked like in the case of Splenda. With all of these options, how do you choose a sweetener?

When evaluating sweeteners there are so many things to consider. I like to look most at its source and processing, as well as its nutrient content and its resulting effect on your health. Those focusing on weight loss may look at calories, diabetics may look at its glycemic index. It's also good to consider the ease of use and versatility, the availability, the taste, the shelf life and, of course, the price.

White sugar is a highly processed product refined from the sugarcane plant. It is terrible for your nervous system and kidneys, and negatively effects your mood, metabolism and ability to absorb nutrients from other foods. It has 45 calories per Tablespoon. It comes in different forms for different purposes: granulated is the regular stuff, castor is a bit finer and powdered (confectioner's or icing) is very light. The nice thing about white sugar is that since most recipes call for it, you don't need to figure out a substitution.

Sugar alcohols are refined from fruits and vegetables. Because the body doesn't absorb them as well they only contain 29 calories per Tablespoon. They're also slightly less sweet, but don't have a bad aftertaste. Xyltitol is the most common one, and has a glycemic index (GI) of 13 which is very low. They can pretty much be substituted 1 to 1 in all recipes. The good is: since yeast and bacteria can't use it well, it's a good choice for Candida diets, and for oral health. The bad is: being poorly absorbed it can end up having a laxative effect if you use it often.

When sugar is processed there is a syrupy byproduct called molasses. It tastes strong and sort of burnt due to its high mineral content - higher if you choose black strap over fancy. You can use 1 1/3 cup in place of 1 cup of sugar, but try to reduce the recipe's other liquids by 1/3 cup. It has 58 calories per Tablespoon.

Raw sugar, or cane sugar, is a broad term that means different things depending who you ask and where you are. The most raw sugar is succanat which is made from sugarcane juice that has been filtered, evaporated and crystallized. Brown sugar is white sugar with molasses added so it technically contains minerals but they aren't naturally occurring. The different classes - demarara, muscavado, turbinado - all have varying levels of molasses. They can all be substituted 1 to 1 and have about 51 calories per Tablespoon but I'd recommend succanat as the best. They all taste great!

Then there are powder-style sugars made from other plants - coconut, dates, corn... They typically taste like their source, which can be great, are subbed 1 to 1, and have about 45 calories per Tablespoon. Coconut sugar is somewhat expensive. Corn syrup is the liquid form and has been criticized in the media - for good reason: it has been linked to many health problems and ethical/social issues with world food distribution and agricultural politics.

There are many delicious, sweet syrups that come from natural sources. Honey is made through beekeeping and is therefore not considered vegan. When raw or unpasteurized it is antibacterial and can even help alleviate environmental allergies if it has been produced locally. Honey has a relatively high GI (75) and caloric value per Tablespoon (64) but because it's nice and sweet you can use it sparingly. About 3/4 cup will replace 1 cup of sugar in a recipe. Honey contains many nutrients and is a good work-out food. Maple syrup is the result of boiling down tree sap. It has my favourite taste of all sweeteners and contains many important minerals. It has 65% sucrose but a hefty dose of zinc and also the much coveted manganese. It has 52 calories per Tablespoon and you'll need a bit more than a cup to use as a sugar substitute. Once opened it'll keep in the fridge for a long time. Barley malt is made from a grain and is similar to other syrups except that it is very low in sucrose. Same substitution as maple syrup but it has closer to 60 calories per Tablespoon. The biggest downfall? It is not gluten-free. Brown rice syrup is gluten-free and contains great nutrients including many minerals and sugars that are 50% in the form of maltose. It has 55 calories per Tablespoon, requires 1 1/2 cups to sub a cup of sugar and is often expensive. Agave nectar is extracted from the same cactus that they make tequila out of. It is low in sucrose and has a low GI. It tastes great! You only need 2/3 cup to substitute. My favourite thing about agave, other than memories of Mexico, is that it dissolves easily in cold liquids. It has 60 calories per Tablespoon.

Stevia is a super sweet plant sold in three forms: a spoonable powder (subs cup for cup), an extract (use only 1 tsp per cup) and a liquid (also 1 tsp per cup). It doesn't taste perfect but it does have 0 calories. It is my go-to sweetener for lemonade.

Lastly there are sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet n Low), aspartame (Equal) and more, but frankly I don't like them! They are created in labs with chemicals and do not fare well in studies looking out for your health.

So which sweetener do you like?

Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals

2012-01-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

Company: Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals, American (California)
Product: The 7 Essentials Collection
Claims: Natural; "Chirally Correct"*; free of chemical parabens, added fillers, artificial colours and artificial fragrances; no animal testing

* Chirality is the duality of each molecule - having 2 sides - and Sircuit Skin uses this technology to ensure each ingredient is in its correct, most-active form. Attention to this detail is pretty rare in the cosmetics industry. It is a very cool feature of their products.

Ingredients: (click each product for a page listing more information, including ingredients):

X-Trap™ | daily gentle face wash
Molecular Mist™ | hydrating moisture care
White Out™ | daily under eye care
Day Care™ | protective day moisturizer
SIRCUIT® Addict™ | firming anti-aging serum
Cloud 9™ | intensely protective moisture creme
Sir Activ™ | zeolite invigorating scrub. Great for all skin types

Certifications: Cruelty-free, Safe Cosmetics, Recyclable
Price: $68 for the entire collection

My review:

The first thing I noticed about my Sircuit Skin collection was: awesome packaging! They've done a great job at branding this line with catchy names, cute boxes and practical containers. I get a good vibe from a company when I see that their products are stored in containers that don't promote bacterial growth (if you have to stick your fingers in a pot and then apply it near your eyes, it's risky - choose products with sprays or other application methods). The relative sizing was just right too: who wants a skin care regime that features a teeny tiny day cream and a giant bottle of toner when you know you'll go through the cream quicker? Considering these facts, their pronounceable ingredients and the science behind their website's information, this is a company I can trust.

Sircuit Skin uses ingredients that practically make the formulas look homemade. They are real life, wholesome ingredients that do a good job and aren't toxic.

X-Trap is a super gentle face wash. I often come across cleansers that I consider "shower-only" which means they're so sloppy or foamy or sticky, or just won't wash off easily without residue left behind, that you need to use it only in the shower when you can really give your face a solid rinse. That's not the case with this one: I just apply a small amount to my face, give it a rub, and rinse it off easily, and the feeling after is pure refreshment. I was really excited to find a product that smells not only good, but natural. Some products smell great, but they smell fake - like a pineapple breeze hair treatment - something about it makes you leery that it's full of chemicals.

Molecular Mist is a genius product. I've had fun showing this to friends that have come over to my place. It is literally a moisturizer that sprays onto your face in a light mist. It smells great, contains natural products and it's just what my face needs. Imagine just the lightest little drink that your skin is calling for - not a heavy lotion that makes you look greasy. This I love, I want to take it with me everywhere. Day Care is somewhat of a more intense moisturizer but still very lightweight and Cloud 9 is the night-time version.

Addict is a pre-moisturizer serum that comes in a super apothecary-chic dropper bottle, almost tincture-style. You can feel it working and my skin looks amazing after a drop or two. Sir Activ is another one that makes me feel good about the look of my skin - it's a scrub that has the perfect amount of grit to remove dead skin but keep the live stuff intact. It contains zeolites which are like little minerals from volcanoes that act as cages to pull pollutants and toxins from your skin. Probably the easiest detox I've ever done!

Lastly, my favourite, White Out: an under eye lightening treatment. There truly are so many brilliant things in natural to help with under eye darkness and puffiness, but we so quickly go to super-chemical-laden solutions because it is such an annoying problem. White Out uses certain nutrients to reduce inflammation (very logical!), others that disperse light (high-tech!), detoxify and protect against future toxins (so smart!), heal and firm the skin (why didn't I think of that!), and boost collagen production to yield that smooth, young look (outright brilliant!). As a girl who deals with the problem of dark under eye circles, who doesn't want to resort to icky drugstore products - I'm so happy White Out is around.

One of their very helpful reps also sent me this lip balm - Mangilla - to check out. Though good natural lip balms are pretty easy to find these days, I'm always on the look out for one with the right consistency. So many of them are too hard (during cold weather especially) and nearly the rest of them are too soft (requiring you to constantly ask friends if you have anything on your lips), but this one delivers that smooth, not-too-soft, not-too-hard texture that I'm always hunting for. Thank you Sircuit Skin Cosmeceuticals - you make amazing natural products!

Post-Holiday Weight Loss

2012-01-08T14:33:00.001-08:00

For most people the next few weeks could be described as a holiday-recovery period. Wrapping paper is recycled, over-sized turkey roasting pans are put back into storage, and quiet meditations are spent rehabilitating from extended family-overload. However, if you’re like most you also have something else to deal with: holiday weight gain.

The New York Times recently reported that gains aren’t as bad as previously calculated - more accurately about a pound per person, each holiday season - but the problem is that most people never lose that pound. Year after year they accumulate, and for those already overweight the average gains are worse: about five pounds per holiday season. But if your snow pants are feeling a little more snug than before eggnog hit the shelves, perhaps some unconventional methods may help your cause.

Photo credit: Sarah Goertz

Here are some tricks to losing weight that go beyond calorie restriction and exercise:

- Have your thyroid checked

- Keep blood sugars in check with a chromium-cinnamon supplement

- Stay hydrated

- Have a Naturopath assess your hormones

- Have a Holistic Allergist assess your food and environmental sensitivities (my recommendation: http://www.inspiredhealth.ca/alla.html)

- Do a spring detox to rid yourself of harmful chemicals

With all the candy canes and fruit cakes, it’s no wonder holiday weight gain happens. What’s important is that post-holiday weight loss is achievable with these handy tips.

A New Year's Reflection

2012-01-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

I got this idea from Feeding the Soil.

What did you create?

Great family memories with our Florida vacation in February
A big move to our new home on Feb. 28
A full season of successful vegetable gardening
New friendships with great girls - Megan, Jill, Jessica
A baby boy! (also a nursery, a memory book, photo albums galore)
A custom gluten-free bakery with my mom
A volunteer nutrition educator position at the YMCA

What challenges did you face with courage and strength?

A rocky start to breastfeeding (Oliver went from 6lb, 12 oz to 5lb, 15oz in 3 days)
Being on maternity leave and feeling unaccomplished
My cousin's cancer diagnosis
Losing both grandmothers within 2 months of each other

What promises did you keep?

To give birth naturally
To see Jillian as much as possible while in Canada
To work as close to my due date as possible
To never text and drive
To never stop on a railroad track

What brave choices did you make?

Letting my little sister move away
Giving a nutrition education presentation solo

What are you proud of?

My son
My marriage
My sisters, my momma, my dad; and my grandpa for becoming one of my best friends in the past year
My library book record
My gluten-free baking (except for when I'm in charge of cookies)
My blog!

What was disappointing?

Everytime I put a darn frozen pizza in the oven
Getting mastitis and a corneal abrasion needing antibiotics
Not making as many homemade Christmas gifts as I would have liked

What was scary?

The nutrition talk
Oliver's birth mark and being unsure of its risks
Every time my family's cat almost died by choking himself on his collar

What was hard?

Not feeling like "All I did today was play with Oliver" (because that is good enough!)
Driving with an eye patch

What can you forgive yourself for?

Not having the competitive marks I should to get into a Masters program
Not exercising a lot
Practically never playing guitar

The next step is to say out loud, “I declare 2011 complete!”
How do you feel? If you don’t feel quite right, there might be one more thing to say…

2011,you brought me the greatest gift of all. My life feels perfect.

The final step is to consider your primary focus for the year to come. What is your primary intention or theme for 2012?

To raise Oliver in all the right ways!

How to Make ANY House Cleaner You Need NATURALLY

2012-01-05T12:07:00.000-08:00

Apartment Therapy's "green" division, Re-Nest, just posted a neat article on natural cleaners and it inspired me to compile all my homemade cleaner recipes.

Everything used is cheap, non-toxic and easy to find (lemons are in the produce department, baking soda and salt are in the baking aisle, castile soap in the cleaning aisle or health food store, vinegar with salad dressings, borax is in laundry and essential oils are either in the home section or in a health food store, hydrogen peroxide may be in the pharmacy).

My favourite oils are lemon, oregano, pine, eucalyptus and tea tree.

If you make extra, store it in a labeled mason jar, or re-purposed spray jar.

All-purpose cleaner: 2 cups water + 1 cup hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup lemon juice

Bathroom
- Tub: 3 parts baking soda + 1 part castile soap + 1 part water + splash vinegar, apply with a cloth
- Toilet: 1 part borax + 4 parts vinegar, mix in bowl, let sit 15 min, scrub, flush
- Shower glass & mirror: 1/4 c vinegar + 4 cups water, spray, wipe with old newspaper
- Drain: Same as toilet, follow with hot water
- Tile floor: 1/2 cup borax + 2 gallons warm water, mop
- Soap scum: sprinkle of baking soda, scrub, rinse
- Calcium deposits on shower head: soak with vinegar
- Mold: 1 part borax + 1 part vinegar, scrub, rinse
- Shower grout: 1 part vinegar (or baking soda)+ 1 part water, scrub with old toothbrush

Kitchen
- Sink & stovetop: 1/3 cup baking soda + water to make a paste, scrub
- Microwave: 1 cup water + 1 T vinegar, microwave until 1/2 evaporated, leave for 10 min door closed, remove bowl carefully, scrub with baking soda paste on a cloth
- Burnt pan: 1 cup vinegar + 2 T baking soda + 1 cup water, boil in pan, scour (with baking soda if necessary)
- Silver: 1 piece aluminum foil + 1 L water + 1 T baking soda, boil, place silverware in solution
- Appliances: baking soda paste, scrub, rinse
- Stubborn grease: vegetable oil, followed by baking soda, rinse
- Stove: hot water, let soak to soften tough messes
- Oven: sprinkle with baking soda, leave overnight, scrub with damp cloth, use castile soap if necessary, rinse
- Cast iron pan: olive oil and coarse salt paste

Living Room
- Steam cleaning, vacuuming, dusting & sweeping are toxin-free!
- Wood polish: juice of 1 lemon + 1 T olive oil + 1 T water, polish with cloth
- Carpet stains: 1 part salt, 1 part borax, 1 part vinegar, apply, let dry, vacuum away
- Brass: 3 parts lemon juice + 1 part baking soda, work in with cloth, rinse
- Marble: spray with warm water, rub and dry with cloth
- Room Spray: 1 oz vodka + 6 oz water + 20 drops essential oil

Laundry
- Washing machine: 2 parts grated soap bar + 1part washing soda + 1 part borax, use 1 T per load, also: tennis balls in the wash cycle
- Pretreatment for grease stains: rub with white chalk
- Fabric spray (for freshening/dewrinkling): 2 T vinegar + 6 drops essential oils, mix in spray bottle, fill with water
- Whitener: (same as all-purpose cleaner) 2 cups water + 1 cup hydrogen peroxide + 1/4 cup lemon juice

Other
- To remove rust: salt and lime paste, let sit 2 hours, scrub, rinse, let dry

Great uses for olive oil:
- get paint off your hands
- scratches on leather
- protect wicker furniture
- shine stainless steel

Now I ask you: How often should you clean these things? Wood floors, oven, windows, linens, carpets, toilets, tubs? What does your weekly cleaning look like? Daily?

Updates

2011-12-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

We've just returned from a relaxing weekend at the cottage. Oliver and I are having a quiet day at home, and it is: MY MOM'S BIRTHDAY!

If you haven't already noticed, I have a fancy new banner at the top of this site. It was designed by one of Calvin's very best friends, Ren, and he can be reached at rpeers@rapiddelivery.ca if you have a design job for him.

Last night was my church's Christmas production and Bethany KILLED it. It felt morally wrong not to offer her a bouquet of flowers at the end. I felt like I knew a celebrity.

We're all very excited for next weekend. Christmas Eve will be at my parents' house, then Christmas morning with Calvins' parents. Then various extended family get-togethers including seeing long-gone cousins from as far as England and Korea.

I hope everyone has a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Product Review: Derma E Fruit Smoothee Facial Cleanser

2011-12-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

Company: Derma E Natural Bodycare, American (California)
Product: Fruit Smoothee Facial Cleanser, 175ml
Claims: Natural, Organic, "provides antioxidant benefits", "removes dirt and oil".

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin (naturally occurring component of fat, can be from plants or animals - in this case plants, is a moisturizer), Grapeseed oil, Calcium ascorbate (vitamin C), Sodium lauroamphoacetate (lathering and cleansing agent, considered low risk by EWG, often derived from coconut oil), Sodium cocoyl isethionate (a safe cleansing agent made from fatty acids found in coconut oil), 1,3 propanediol (a humectant, solvent, moisturizer and emulsifier made from corn sugar, note: in other products it may be made from a chemical process on petroleum feedstock - yuck!), Acai berry extract, Tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), Cranberry seed oil, Pomegranate seed oil, Citric acid, Xanathan gum, Sodium benzoate (a commonly used salt-based preservative), Phenoxyethanol (an anti-bacterial agent approved by the natural product industry), Potassium sorbate (an anti-mold and anti-yeast agent), Tangerine and grapefruit oils.
Click here for more information on Derma E's ingredients.

Certifications: Recyclable, Not tested on animals.
Price: About $15

My review: First of all, my younger sister (a former cosmetician) has used much more expensive products than this on her face, and she swears this is the best. I tried it purely because I packed only a toothbrush, toothpaste and my raw mascara for a weekend cottage trip and then realized I should have packed more. She said I could use whatever I needed and I was pleasantly surprised at how natural the ingredients are. Right away I was impressed by the citrusy aroma - it is hands down the best-smelling skin care product I've ever used. One small pump was more than enough for a single use. It lathered nicely (considering it's free of the harmful SLS) and left my skin feeling clean and fresh. I was really happy to find a facial cleanser that both works wonderfully and doesn't contain harmful chemicals. This is one I will go back to.

This review has been cross-posted to flaxlash - my new collaborative natural beauty website with make up artist, Brittanie Havens. It is still a work in progress!

Chipkos

2011-12-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

You may have seen a while back when I posted about a new line of sandals that I'm so excited about... well they are finally resting comfortably between my toes! I know it's funny to get excited about summer footwear in December, but hey - one of my latest posts was on when to plant seeds so I'm allowed to get excited about comfortable shoes that are appropriate in six months from now.

Chipkos specializes in eco-friendly footwear by protecting one hundred square feet of the rain forest per product purchased. I feel good about myself already.

Their sandals (I got them in red) are inspired by the classic Indian "Osho chappal" which, in India, represent a a connection with the Earth, spiritual awareness, and mindful thought. I already love how comfortable they are and how durable they seem. The bottom is super non-slip and appropriate for inside or outside. (As the website says "urban dwelling or outdoor adventuring" which I love). They are 100% vegan and are produced with low impact, environmentally friendly materials.

Click here and use code AHIMSA to get 10% off through me!

In other news, our fraiser fir is up. I have advent going and flourless gingerbread made and homemade cards as usual.

Oliver and I are off to the library to get magazines for our cottage trip.

How are you making Christmas planet-friendly?

Clean and Natural Baby Products

2011-12-05T17:45:00.000-08:00

I just received a request from an old friend, Saira, for natural and/or homemade baby products. There are some awesome options out there:

Brand Name

Many of the big labels have a natural line now. Johnson's Baby actually has some nice natural stuff - it's free of most harmful chemicals, but still contains some questionable things. Huggie's also has a natural line but I wouldn't recommend it.

Natural Lines

Popular natural lines like Burt's Bees and Live Clean now have a line up of baby products. I especially recommend Live Clean's non-petroleum jelly for an alternative to vasoline. My favourite brand is Weleda. They are hands-down the most natural products, they smell amazing and work great. You can buy them at Quarter Master Natural Foods in Wortley Village. Another good product is Baby Balm by Abundance Naturally.

DIY

A small skin rash or a case of baby acne can usually be cleared up with an application of breast milk. It sounds funny but the stuff is pure gold. When Oliver was congested as a newborn my midwife recommended using a medicine dropper to squirt breast milk up his nose. It is also the best remedy for sore, cracked nipples from breast feeding.

Organic coconut oil is a wonderful, pure moisturizer and diaper cream. It's a great food to eat to keep up energy and brain strength too. Pure sweet almond oil is equally good, but more liquid than solid, so it can be used for different applications.

Soap/shampoo is a little trickier. For the first while, washing with just warm water will be fine. When you start needing heftier cleaning power you can make a mild homemade soap (see my earlier post) or buy Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap.

Here's a great recipe for homemade wipes too.

Let me know if you need more help!

Planting Phenology

2011-12-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

I might be a huge gardening geek for reading a planting book in December but I've just learned a really cool science and it's worth sharing. Phenology. It's the study of indicator plants, used to determine weather conditions that guide your planting time line.

Here are some tips:

Plant chard, spinach, beets and onions when daffodils bloom
Plant peas when maple trees flower
Plant potatoes when white oak's leaves are the size of a cat's eat
Plant beans and cucumbers when apple trees drop their petals
Plant tomatoes and eggplants when black locust trees flower

And, most interesting - plant anything just before it rains because it will be well watered. How do you know when it'll rain?

Swallows will swoop low to the ground because the insects they eat fly closer to the ground (difference in air pressure)

Just a little early December gardening tip from your local geek!

Homemades To Do

2011-11-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

I just got home from my friend Rob's house and, boy, have I met my match! He threw on a expert batch of moka stovetop coffee as he told me about a from-scratch tiramasu he'd just whipped up and had me try his latest batch of habanero sauce and new method of fat-sealing pesto. If I am anything in the homemade world - he is king.

So it got me to thinking about what neat homemades I've done:

And ones I still hope to do (probably with his help!):

hot sauce
beer
wine
mozzarella, ricotta, mascarpone, paneer

It's amazing how many things in this life are readily available in a ready-made form. If we want a quick dinner we pull out premade and dried pasta noodles and a jarred sauce, we spoon some premade pre-grated parmesan cheese on top and bust open a can of ginger ale. We're saving money and time in the short run at the expense of losing money and life in the long run. As I continue to figure out time- and money- management I want to move closer to being someone who makes homemade pasta noodles, and sauce, and cheese, and ginger ale. I've actually done two of those things - noodles too if you count a failed attempt; and cheese as of noon today.

What homemade things have you attempted?

Twin Pines Orchards

2011-11-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday night Calvin, Oliver and I were invited by friends to attend Twin Pines Orchards' "Christmas Open House". Twin Pines is an apple orchard, cider house and estate winery (hard cider) in Thedford, Ontario. It is a 50 acre property full of incredible plant and animal life, that houses a flourishing business that now supports 3 generations.

As we pulled up to the gorgeous property we could already smell fresh apple doughnuts being fried for guests. We parked amid rows of apple trees and stepped into their market building. Warm cheese dips and homemade fruit preserves were out for sampling, and a jazz band was planted at one end of the building, making the whole event feel like a bit of a wonderland. Friendly faces maneuvered through the crowd, offering samples of hot apple cider - which truly tasted like biting into a fresh apple.

We got word that one of the family's grandsons was sampling ice apple-wines upstairs so we quickly found our way and were charmed by his incredible palate and knowledge of their operations. We tried 5 wines and were enchanted by their incredible flavour. We especially loved the Hammer Bent Red, a 6.8% alcohol apple wine that was very fruity and bright. They were reasonably priced at $10 for a 1 L glass bottle, or $20 for a liter of ice wine. You typically see ice wines sell at $50 for less than 500ml, so we vowed that this would be our new source.

We finished the night with a moonlit hayride that Oliver slept through, but what can you expect from a 3 month old baby?

After visiting I was excited to look further into Twin Pines' philosophies and was happy to discover that they have reserved a portion of the farm that is completely grown without pesticides. This area includes pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, strawberries, nectarines, peaches and assorted varieties of apples. The remainder of the farm is considered IPM (Integrated Pest Management). Through this commitment they are able to determine when spraying is not necessary.

I invite everyone in the area to take a trip to this inspiring orchard!

Borscht for Ben

2011-11-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

Mom and Julie

A few short weeks ago my mom and her friend Julie had a great idea. My aunt (a good friend of Julie's also) was weighed down with the burden of her five-year old son's cancer diagnosis and the financial stress that comes along with it. They decided that the emotional challenge was enough for her to weather and set out to plan a fundraiser that would alleviate the expense of driving to and from out-of-town chemo treatments, parking there, and the lost wages for her husband, Garry. My mom and Julie's idea was to cook borscht, a traditional German cabbage soup, and sell it at the local Mennonite Brethren church in St. Catharines. The price was set at $10 per 1 L jar, a Facebook group was made, and they quietly hoped that between the two of them purchasing the ingredients and finding a bit of chopping help, that maybe they would raise a bit of money to help the family out.

Too many cans!

And then something incredible happened.

Within days of the Facebook group going live, donors starting pouring in. A relative of a farmer asked if they'd like the last of the cabbage crop in the fields, free of charge. Women from the church began asking how many cans of diced tomatoes they would need to pick up at their next Costo trip. Doorbells rang off the hook and during the 24 hours before Borscht for Ben started, pounds and pounds of carrots and onions were graciously handed over.

And then the orders starting pouring in.

Head of can-opening

Just some of the chopped vegetables

What was designed to be a small operation of a few gallons of soup saw over 100 pre-orders in the first day of advertisement. People not only wanted soup - they wanted to help. "Can I help peel?", "Do you want me to shred cabbage?", "What time should I be there to wash your dishes?": the offers wouldn't stop.

So we met on Saturday. With boxes to our eyeballs full of produce and 12 industrial size (20 L) pots on the elements we let the beef stock simmer and got to work. My wrist secretly begged me to hand over the job of manually opening cans. One lady gracefully chopped ten pounds of potatoes with one hand as her other one was hurt. My mom danced around making sure things were going smoothly, all the while bouncing my son on her hip. Throughout the day we saw more kindness. Starbucks gave us free coffee. Not just a cup each - as much as we could bear to devour. Tim Hortons doughnuts found their way into the room. Then 2 plates of Mennonite treats. Then 2 trays of gourmet cupcakes, including a gluten-free variety. Someone donated a $100 giftcard to Wendy's so that all of the kitchen help could enjoy a lunch break. And by 2pm it was time to ladle the delicious finished product into the santized jars.

Thank you Starbucks!

You've heard of the parable of the fish and loaves... We lived it.

Stock boiling away.

From the first 20 L pot, or so we thought, we ladled 31 perfectly full 1 L mason jars full of soup. We had calculated how many vegetables we'd need to fill 200 jars. We filled 272 and then donated the weight of another human, in veggies, to a local shelter. God multiplied everything right before our eyes. Including the support.

Sanitizing lids

Some of our youngest helpers: Emma & Abigail

My sister, Angela, and our only male
helper: my husband, Calvin

Our doors were open from 3 to 5:30pm and jars flew off the shelves. Before we began my aunt Ursula said, "A few people gave donations from out-of-town (as far as Texas) and can't pick up soup, so they'd like it to be donated to the less fortunate. I'm sure we'll have lots, but in the event that we sell out, we can always join up again and make the soup for those orders. But so everyone knows, it's 23 liters that we owe to charity."

When the crowd left and we looked at what was left (including a perfectly clean kitchen - thank you helpers!) my sister counted 21.5 L of soup leftover. And then we all shivered as a moved a purse aside to display, one last 1.5L jar sitting on the counter. Twenty-three liters exactly were left over, as though God was saying "I will provide a customer for every jar you make, and I'll make sure the charity ones are there too. Don't you worry." We couldn't have had a better day.

Hugging Aunt Betty

Aunt Betty wants to thank everyone for their generosity. It isn't easy to find out your son has cancer. We learned it also isn't easy to understand the right way to deal with the overwhelming joy of people blessing you.

And that's what we did this weekend.

Comparing the quality of various diced tomato brands
The science geek in me lives on!

Dishes

Mumford & Sons to keep us going

Oliver decides he doesn't want to start solids yet.

Ladling

The finished soup

Our sales manager

Our youngest helper gets some shut eye after a hard day

Ben's older brother, Jonah, approves of the borscht!

Borscht for him: Ben.

Eco-Friendly Footwear

2011-11-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

Shoes aren't the first thing that come to find when you resolve to making your life more environmentally-friendly. In fact, going shoeless is often my modus operandi when I'm at my hippiest. But every few days when the fruit basket gets low or some library books near their due date, my little size-7 feet need some cover to brave the sidewalks.

You've heard of Toms - the shoe company that vows to donate a pair to a child in need everytime you purchase one. Love them - own a pair in pop-bottle green. But here's another great company that I've stumbled across:

Where Toms promises a human-rescue-plan, Chipkos supports a planet-rescue-plan. I don't have a pair yet, but I'm able to offer 10% off to my readers using the code AHIMSA at the checkout. And I'm sure "my readers" includes myself :)

It's great when outer apparel can also help a cause. I can't wait for the day when baby onesies help save whales or something.. because with the way Oliver's growing we'd have the ocean saved in no time.

Everyone check out the link and use your feet to do the talking.

Try it Tuesday: Best & Worst Produce to Buy Organic

2011-11-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

Unless you're made of money transitioning to organic won't happen overnight. Despite my frequent fantasies of throwing out all of our things and restocking with organic, we still house garbage like Heinz ketchup and Old Spice deodorant.

So if you, like me, want to go-orgo over time you should know which fruits and veggies should be your priority and which can take some time.

The Environmental Working Group has come out with a list of 12 fruits and vegetables, known as the "dirty dozen" that should be the very first that you transition to organic with. They are notorious for high pesticide levels.

The offenders are:

1Apples

2Celery

3Strawberries

4Peaches

5Spinach

6Nectarines – imported

7Grapes – imported

8Sweet bell peppers

9Potatoes

10Blueberries – domestic

11Lettuce

12Kale/collard greens

Here are my suggestions.

There are 8 items on this list that you need to begin growing in your own garden right away (celery, strawberries, spinach, bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce and kale). If you don't have land, rent through the Community Gardens program in your city. Though they don't keep long fresh, most of these fruits and veggies can be put by with a few easy steps. Chop celery or bell peppers into the size pieces that you'd use for a stirfry or other similar recipe, then freeze as such in a freezer bag. Strawberries and blueberries can be made into jam or sauce and canned in mason jars. They freeze well also. Spinach and kale can both be blanched and frozen in glass storage containers. And potatoes should last in a cool, dark place but if they go green, throw them out. Lettuce is the only trick... try growing it indoors all year ground with a simple grow light that you can purchase in any hardware store.

Organic apples can be u-picked at Avalon Farms in Innisfil (near Barrie) which is my recommendation, or any organic farm in your area. Peaches, nectarines and grapes are often found organic in the grocery store. If you don't see them there, request them.

These 12 items are a great place to start when transitioning to organic.

Make it Monday: Compost!

2011-11-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

We have two problems: we waste too much and our soil sucks.

Luckily, if you have a box you have a solution.

I have been composting since I was old enough to throw a banana peel. When I was in elementary school our compost actually lit on fire due to an abundance of dry materials and a lot of sun, and it burnt down a tree and some of our neighbour's fence. This didn't slow me down. When I moved to an apartment in February of last year, I continued composting, although out of used ice cream buckets, and only enough to nourish a balcony sized garden.

I might not be able to convince you to eat wild mushrooms or throw out your shampoo, but I beg you to take my advice on this one. Start today. Never contribute perfectly good food scraps to an ever-growing land fill again.

Here's how.

Start with your box. You can buy one, or you can be that much more interesting of a person and build it yourself. Procure wood boards (ship wreckage or an abandoned barn will do) about 2 feet long each. Use a log cabin method to build up your composting bin, about 3 feet high. Long nails will be of help, and a solid, level piece of ground to work on will prove helpful also. You can also create a lid or simply deal with the ... aroma. But keep in mind: a good compost smells great. Keeping gaps between the boards will allow air to reach the lovely brew.

You may now laugh uncontrollably at my ability to explain carpentry.

At this point if a box has actually been created you're off to a good start. It's time to fill it. Start with a layer of bricks to further promote air circulation. Then alternate wet and dry materials.

Wet: any kitchen scraps such as vegetable peelings, spoiled non-animal foods, egg shells, coffee grinds, tea leaves, pet litter, failed plant growing attempts...

Dry: dead leaves, dead branches, newspapers, compostable coffee cups, cardboard...

You can add tiger worms to encourage the process but remember they're fussy. They need the right amount of light and moisture to really bury and thrive. Also, with this method your best compost is at the bottom and the top will take a long time to decompose, so it's best to have a box with a bottom feed opening. You can buy these at Lee Valley.

Your compost is ready when it is deep brown, crumbly, moist and earthy-smelling. You may want to have 2 composts going so there is always one ready (much like sprouting!) This delicious concoction will nourish all of your future plants and will constantly thank you for saving it from certain death.

How to Use Google Reader

2011-11-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

It won't boost my credibility but I'll say it: I learn a lot from blogs. Okay, okay, I also went to University for nutrition and am currently a student of holistic nutrition so don't lose hope in me, but truly: blogs are an incredible way to stay current and discover things that you otherwise wouldn't. As you can see from my Resources page I love food blogs. I also love to look at home design blogs, crafting blogs and anything about parenting pre-crawlers.

If you're not one to bookmark or memorize all your favourite links and visit them sequentially (be honest: how strange and dorky is that?) you should check out Google Reader. It keeps track of all of your most beloved blogs and shows you which have new posts. I recommend it to you, not only so that you'll add me to your queue and visit my posts more regularly, but because it's been a dream for me. It's easy to use.

1. Visit the link above, and sign into your Google account or make a new one.
2. Visit your favourite blogs. Check their page for an RSS link (Really Simple Syndication - it's a way of subscribing to a blog) and click it. Mine is here: My Idea of Happiness RSS Link. If given an option, choose Google.
3. Simply click Subscribe.

Now every time you visit your Reader page you'll get all the latest updates of new posts. For this blog, that's about 3 times a week so enjoy!

If you want suggestions for blogs to subscribe to, visit my Resources page. If you've got a cool blog I'd love to see it! Post your link in a comment below.