Saturday, December 13, 2014

Advent Calendars

My apologies for not blogging sooner. Time is just flying! Christmastime is busy around here. I am SO glad we planned to take off six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's this year. 

I am still continuing the family tradition of advent calendars each year. I don't have time to make a new one for every member of the family every year, so some are repeats from past years, but I was able to make a few new ones. 

For my husband



For Solomon



For Isaac
 


For John
 

For Miriam
 

For Becky
 


 For Anna 
(made by my friend)



For Stephen
(made by Solomon)
(we fill the same one each day, because he would otherwise try to get into them all at once)

 
 


In addition, the kids each have their own chocolate advent calendars, too.

And then, I made this scratch-off activity calendar, that has something for every single day during our six week Christmas break.


You can see why we have been so busy!




Friday, November 21, 2014

Miracle Paste for staph and MRSA boils

Since discovering essential oils, and reading and learning about them in my copious spare time (bwahaha), I have been having fun making up concoctions for other people.

Here is a recipe I made up for someone at our church that had a MRSA (staph) boil that would not clear up with anything else. For the carrier lotion, I used my trusty Whipped Body Butter.


After 24 hours of using this lotion, the boil was greatly reduced, and the accompanying low-grade fever was gone. Within 1 week of applying it 3-4 times daily to the boil, and to the bottoms of the feet before going to bed, the infection was completely cleared up. 

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, CDC, NSA, SS, Obama, or any other loving government organizations concerned with your health and well being. Therefore, please understand that this blog post simply reflects my entirely worthless medical opinions, and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or otherwise interfere with any illness the government wants you to have. Have a nice day! :)

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Video Recording of Q & A session

Well, that was fun! :) If you missed it live, you can watch it here:



We did go into overtime, thanks to Boaz sleeping longer than expected, and being so cooperative after he woke up.

And hey, was that a sweet intro/outro or what? My husband surprised me with that. :)

So, whaddayaallthink? Should we do this again sometime? Please share your feedback below.


Reminder - live Q & A session this afternoon!




For more details, please click here.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Essential Oils

I have, of late, discovered my love for essential oils. The thing that had held me back for years was the fact that the "BIG" companies like DoTerra and Young Living are all based on multi-level-marketing schemes, something I positively avoid at all cost. Each middleman = more overhead = higher final market price. No thank you!

Still, I ended up ordering some basic oils from DoTerra, as well as their flagship book "Modern Essentials", and loved their impact so much that I was positively and irreversibly hooked on the use of essential oils. 

But... still not so much on the price.

Then I discovered Eden's Garden, and life has been rainbows and unicorns ever since. Seriously - to be able to order the oils I needed and wanted - at affordable, direct marketing prices? Yes, please! I am not a sales rep for Eden's Garden, they do not pay me commission, I am simply here to say: I have been using their essential oils, and am extremely pleased with them. As are thousands of other reviewers on Amazon.




Thanks to essential oils, our family has averted coming down with not one, but two cases of the flu that were going all around. They are used daily for bumps, bruises, cuts, mosquito bites, fussy babies, stressed mom, and on and on. How did I ever live without them?

My favorite book on the subject of essential oils is "The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy." 

In addition, I have also discovered the ease and convenience of making up mixtures we use frequently (such as for mosquito bites), putting them into roll-on bottles, and having them ready at my fingertips any time.

If you have been thinking about giving essential oils a try - please do! You will likely come to love and depend upon them. But please remember - I am not a doctor. I just play one on the internet.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Recipe for Whipped Body Butter

Today, I would like to share my recipe for a decadently rich and nourishing, whipped body butter. I do not use this daily or even regularly, but it is wonderful to have in the winter when the air here gets incredibly dry, everything is brimming with static electricity (I think that's a desert-in-the-winter thing), and my skin gets itchy. 


Also, our family uses this lotion daily as a carrier / base for applying various essential oils (more on that in another post).

It is incredibly easy to make up, and keeps very well at room temperature. A small amount goes a long ways, and while it is oily at first, it absorbs very quickly, and does not leave a shiny residue.

Best of all, it smells just like a bar of exquisite chocolate, thanks to the cocoa butter in it. 

Ingredients: 

equal parts (by weight) of:

coconut oil

(typically, I use 4 oz of each) 


1. Heat the oils over very low flame until just melted; stir gently. I do this right in my stainless steel mixing bowl, which I set on my stove top on the lowest heat. 




2. Allow to cool down in the fridge until solid but still soft.


3. Whip with egg beaters on high until the body butter is white, soft, and fluffy - much like marshmallow creme. 



4. Transfer to containers, and store away from heat.



Tips:  
  • If you live in a very hot climate, use 2 parts each of shea and cocoa butter for every 1 part of coconut oil to make the lotion more robust.
  • If the lotion does get too warm, it will melt and lose its "whipped" consistency, but is still every bit as nourishing. If you like, you can whip it up again. (I have never had this happen, but I know it's possible if left out in the heat or direct sun.)
 

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Another Q & A - with a twist!

My previous Q & A posts have always been popular, and I really enjoy doing them. The reality, however, is that writing up answers and posting them in a blog post is very time consuming, and I don't get to do them as often as I would like. 

Sooooo, I thought of a fun and much faster way to do this. I will be hosting my first (and possibly only!) LIVE Q & A session. It will be streamed through YouTube on my husband's channel next Tuesday, November 18th, from 2-3 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.



To submit a question for me to answer, please leave it in the comments below. In addition, I will also be taking as many questions as I can from those submitted live during the event in the comments feed. If you submit a question here, but will not be able to watch the session live, you can still get the answer on the video recording which I will put up on the blog to view later. Does this all make sense??!? 


Hope you will be able to join us during that most restorative of all hours - nap time!  




Friday, October 24, 2014

Photos from my childhood - Part One

I was born in March of 1979 in what was then Eastern Germany, part of the Communist Block. My father was Hungarian, my mother German. They had met in my mother's home town while Dad was working there. I was the third child after my two older brothers, who were 1 and 2 1/2 years older than me, respectively.

When I was about 6 months old, our family moved to my Dad's little home village in Hungary. Thus, my earliest memories all date back to Hungary, and Hungarian was the first language I ever learned.



Our little abode was very modest compared to the standards of the Western world in the early 80's. To me, it was home, and I loved it. We lived in the back half of this "duplex" - in the above picture, everything to the right of the fence. The house was generally dark and narrow, and from what I can remember, it only had two rooms: the kitchen when one first entered through the door on the left, and a single bedroom beyond that, which is on the right in the picture above. We had electricity, but no running water or indoor plumbing. Water was fetched from a central pump on the main street. There was a well right in front of our door on our own property, but it was defunct, and we children were strictly forbidden to get anywhere near the pile of rocks and the deep pit that remained of the well.

 My mom painted this dresser, as she did much of our furniture.

I don't know how my mother managed with three little kids and no running water, no disposable diapers, no washing machines or bathrooms, but somehow she did, because we all made it. I'm guessing she did her laundry in a big wash tub with a washboard, because that's the way my grandma was still doing it as long as I can remember. The diapers I think she boiled in a large pot on the single electric stove plate we had in the kitchen.


My Grandma's house, in 2004

My grandparents lived just a few houses up the only street in this village. That is my Grandma's house above, where she continued to live even when we visited her there in 2008. By that time, the house had been upgraded with limited indoor plumbing, and my Grandpa had passed away and been buried in this same village where he was born and had lived his entire life.

This house brings back so many wonderful memories. My grandparents, as well as my great-grandmother, lived there my whole life. My brothers and I spent countless weekends there as children, and much of our summer breaks. I can still smell their pantry (which made up a large part of the house) filled with all sorts of dried and cured goodies, loaded each fall during harvest. My favorite were the fresh walnuts, spread in the attic to dry. I also remember shelling beans of every type and color with great-grandma, watching grandma kill and pluck chickens for dinner, and watching the men butcher a pig and process it into meat, sausages, etc all right there on the little farm.

 My uncle with Grandma. The ladder in the back goes to the attic, and I have climbed it countless times.

 Grandma in her pantry. By this time, she was an old lady and living alone, so it was no longer in its hayday.

I once tried to show Grandma that I could walk down the stairs to the porch backwards, but missed the steps, and tumbled down instead. I bust my head open and had to have stitches, which are still visible on my forehead today. 

When my brother, who took these pictures, told her he'd be sending these on to me, she made him wait while she put on her Sunday best. 

 I don't think this dear lady ever wore anything but skirts and dresses. It was a very different time, even just a few decades ago.

Grandma was a great cook, and we never lacked for delicious food at her house. My favorite were her cakes. She cooked everything on an old wood stove. 

The electric stove in the back was not there when I was a child. Rather, this big cupboard was against that wall.

 The wallpaper, on the other hand, was the same they had when we were little.

My Grandpa was strict (I remember he spanked me once for refusing to take a nap!), but according to my Dad and my own memories, he loved me dearly. Him and Grandma had two sons, then there were my two brothers, and finally at long last I was the only girl to come along. I remember watching him wash up and shave in the mornings, then he'd take his cap off the peg by the door, and head out to his day's work. In addition to their little subsistence farm, and their own little vineyard, both my grandparents worked in some sort of rock quarry. Grandpa would often bring home pretty glittery rocks for my brothers and I.

Grandpa knew I loved sunflower seeds, which are abundant in Hungary, and which they grew themselves. He would spend his free time all week long shelling sunflowers one at a time, so that by the time I came on the weekend, he would have a little cup full sitting on that cupboard, waiting for me to eat them. After he had worked so long and hard, I would put the cup to my mouth, and "drink" it down in no time flat. Yet, he never did tire of shelling them again the next week. 

My brothers and I had a favorite snack he would make for us, called "Little Soldiers". Basically, Grandpa would take down a piece of smoked pork fat from the pantry, cut it into small cubes, top each with a dollop of mustard, salt them, and we'd pop them in our mouths as quickly as he could make them. We also loved roasting the pork fat over an open fire at night. We would let the fat drip onto thick slices of white bread until they turned into crunchy pork rinds we would eat with fresh tomatoes and peppers from their garden.

My parents soon moved to the big city nearby, but we continued visiting our grandparents every week until we left Hungary. More on that next time.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Trim Healthy Mama - Facts and Fiction

To read my previous posts on all things THM, please click here.

- This is just another low carb diet. - Fiction

The plan is about separating carbs and fats, as well as eliminating unhealthy versions of these. So no sugar, sodas, juice, and other simple, empty carbs. Healthy carbs are encouraged in the right proportions and settings.

- You have to buy a bunch of specialty ingredients. - Fiction

It doesn't take any special ingredients to keep your carbs and your fats separate. Anyone can get started on plan with simple foods they already have in the house, such as eggs, cheese, butter, oats, etc. The more "exotic" items can be purchased over time as the budget allows. They are only for making the plan funner and easier, but not necessary. I personally know several people who have lost large amounts of weight on plan without ever buying hardly any of the specialty items.

- You are required to eat processed junk food. - Fiction

Just not true. We eat virtually only whole foods around here (please ignore my post on Krispy Kreme below...), and the plan works just fine for me. To join my Facebook group of THM - whole foods style, please click here.

- You have to use only zero-calorie sweeteners. - Fiction

While the book may insist on using only stevia, xylitol, or erythritol, the plan works just as well with whole, low glycemic sweeteners. Again, if you join the THM - whole foods style Facebook group, you will find lots of others who are having success on plan, minus questionable sweeteners.

- You will gain the weight back immediately after going off plan. - Fiction

This plan does, in fact, reboot your metabolism for the better. I have gone off plan for months at a time without gaining the weight back (except for during pregnancy) or suffering any other ill effects.

- The THM principles are based on the Bible. - Somewhat true

Personally, I don't really find that it goes against the Bible (except for making honey off-limits), nor that the principles in the book by and large come from the Bible. I do agree that bread, butter, salt, etc. are all foods the Bible speaks highly of as being important and healthy, and THM incorporates these, so I guess that could be considered as "biblically sound"

- The book is poorly laid out. - Somewhat true

Yes - but there are lots of great resources online, both for how to "tab" the book, as well as oodles of recipes and other tips/tricks. I wish the ingredients for recipes were listed better (with amounts would be a great place to start!), but none of that makes the book unusable. For being self-published by two SAHMs, they certainly did better than I could have done.

- The book is wordy and long. - Somewhat true

If you are the chatty kind, you might like their style. If you just want the straight dope on the plan, you may find the book to be a bit slow-going. In spite of having lost a combined total of 50 lbs on plan, I have never yet finished reading it because I just haven't had the time to do so. But - who cares. Even reading over select parts is doing the job for me.

- The book is full of sound nutritional advice. - Fact

Except for the funky sweeteners, yes, the book has much to teach in the way of sound nutrition. I think for most of us, the revelation that fat does NOT make us fat is an important one. Realizing that juice is not a healthy food, and that it's simple carbs that are growing the obesity epidemic, is monumental. There in an emphasis on fermented food, sprouted/soaked grains, etc.

- The plan is easy to follow. - Fact

Yes. Is it ever! No calorie counting. No starving and depriving yourself. No daydreaming about food while your stomach grumbles on and your metabolism tanks. The authors like to talk about "food freedom," and it's so true. Once you learn the basics of separating carbs and fats, and have a feel for how to "THM-ify" recipes, it's a cinch.

- The plan works. - Fact

Just go to the official Facebook page or the website for lots of testimonials. A friend of mine has lost almost 50 lbs in the last 7 months, without using the sweeteners recommended in the book (her sweetener of choice is coconut sugar). I am currently scratching on 30 lbs lost in 5 months while exclusively breastfeeding, a time during which I usually could never even attempt to lose weight without ruining my milk supply. 

Friday, September 26, 2014

Baby shower gift ideas for moms of many

We host many baby showers at our church, as it is our custom to have one for every baby born to our church members, and not just the first. We like to celebrate mom and baby every time! 

Of course, many babies means many growing and large families. Giving a gift to a mom of many who likely already has all the gear and clothes she needs can be a bit tricky. Below are some of my favorite ideas. 

(I can post this now that I am not pregnant, so it won't sound like I'm trying to drop hints of things I want for myself - ha!)

- Flowers, chocolates, balloons! So simple, and yet always loved. High-quality dark chocolate is not just a delicious treat, it is also great for bringing in mom's milk supply, too. My midwife gives me the baby chocolates and flowers after every birth when she comes for the 1-day checkup.


- Paper plates, cups, plasticware: Many large families, used to living frugally, will not splurge on these, no matter how convenient they would be after baby. Mom will think about you with gratitude every time she uses these!


- Diapers & wipes: Every baby needs these, whether it's baby number 1 or 10. Find out first if Mom prefers fabric or disposable, or certain brands. You can make your gift more fun by making the diapers into a cake, wreath, or other elaborate item like a stroller.


- Frozen meals: A cute idea for a shower of a mom of many is for everyone to bring a frozen meal to keep on hand for after the baby is born. Pinterest has a wealth of freezer meal ideas.


- Lactation-boosting cookies: An economical, yet highly appreciated gift. They can be baked, then frozen, and enjoyed straight out of the freezer. If you prefer them soft, they only need a few minutes at room temperature. Personally, I absolutely LOVE eating nursing cookies during the first month or so of having a newborn. Nothing like sitting down with a couple of cookies and a tall glass of raw milk to recharge mom AND her milk supply during those first busy days and crazy nights of adjusting to a new family member. Click here to see my favorite recipe for these. Only changes I make is to reduce sugar/honey by half, and to use 1 cup each of dark chocolate chips and walnuts. Or, you could try this "Lactation Cookie in a Jar" mix.
- Stuff to keep the older kids busy: This need not be a purchased gift or toy. In fact, the last thing most moms with lots of kids want or need is more toys! It could be a simple consumable like playdough, bubble solution, sidewalk chalk, sticker books, etc. Basically things that don't require mom's help and are not too messy (or intended for outdoor use).


- Membership to a warehouse like Costco or Sam's club if you want to be practical, or the zoo or some other family place if you want to make it fun.


- Magazine subscription for mom to enjoy while sitting down. Again, this could be something strictly for mom (cooking, crafts, homeschooling) or something the whole family might enjoy.


- Professional services: If you are a photographer, offer to do a photo shoot of the family. If your husband does landscaping, he could offer to take over lawn care for a limited time. Alternatively, you could pool resources with others to hire professionals, such as housecleaning help for the first few weeks after baby.


- Stuff for pampering mom: Likely, mom will use her time and resources on herself last. Which, in a large family, may mean practically never. Some ideas are: high quality teas and supplements, body care products, a gift card for a massage or spa treatment, etc.
 

- Small luxury items for mom or baby: There are always plenty of nifty new gadgets and accessories being invented to make taking care of a baby easier. Since many of these might fall into the "would like to have" rather then the "must have" category, even a mother of many may not have them. For example, Bumbo seats were not mainstream until our 4th baby. An amber teething necklace is both cute on baby, and a sanity saver for mom. Another fun new baby item is teething jewelry from brands such as Chewbeads and Nixi. My husband recently bought me one of their necklaces, and I just absolutely love it!



What are your favorite ideas of baby gifts for Moms of many?

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Mom tip: Ear infections

Ear infections - they are pretty common for babies to get, even exclusively breastfed ones. It has something to do with how much of their time they spend lying down or even just reclined. If their sinuses are already backed up from having a cold (which can happen even if they are still able to breathe through their nostrils), they are even more prone to getting one.
 
So we all know about the downsides of overusing antibiotics, which are the typical cure for ear infections. In response, more and more pediatricians are in favor of waiting a few days to see if the infection clears up on its own, which it usually does. But who wants to be home with a baby that cries and fusses in pain all night, right?
 
That's where my tip comes in: a natural, safe, and highly effective cure for ear infections.
 
 
 
The product is called "garlic mullein oil" and is made by HerbPharm. You could make your own, though I only ever buy the one pictured above. It is a critical staple item in my at-home natural home remedy kit. One drop per ear for babies and children under 10, two drops for anyone above that age. I usually stuff a little cotton into the ears after I put the oil in, as the extra warmth seems to be both soothing to the ear, as well as helping the oil do its work. Important: do not add ear drops if you suspect the ear drum might be ruptured.
 
The ingredients are all organic or wildcrafted.
 
In my experience, this works better than any antibiotics I ever used back when Solomon was a baby. I remember one time, he went through three courses of antibiotics before they finally started working. This oil, on the other hand, has never yet failed me. I typically notice almost immediate relief of the ear pain (some of the ingredients have analgesic properties), reduced symptoms within 8 hours, and the infection completely cleared up within 24-48 hours (though treatment should continue for a couple days more to prevent a relapse). Also, be sure to treat both ears, even if you think only one is infected.
 
Just this past week, with a cold making its way through the kids, the baby had been incredibly fussy. Particularly at night, he would not stay asleep for more than minutes at a time, and even then only in the swing, not actually lying down. During the worst night, I got 1 (!!) hour of sleep total. While his nose was just a little runny, I didn't even think about the possibility that he might have an ear infection until yesterday afternoon. I treated his ears immediately, and slept well for the first night all week. Today, he was back to his usual happy and mellow self.
 
If you have a baby or toddler, and do not already keep this in stock, I highly recommend buying some right away. You don't want to be at home with a crying baby at midnight without this, when no health food store is open.
 
And please remember: This post is purely informational, and not intended to cure, diagnose, or treat any disease. I am not a licensed medical specialist, I just play one on the internet.
 

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Bible Memorization

This week, I came across this old video clip, made by the American Bible Society about my husband's Bible memorization plan.



Of course, my favorite part starts at 3:44. Isn't Solomon so cute with his little voice? At the time of this recording, at age 5, he had actually just finished up memorizing the entire book of Ecclesiastes (12 chapters). His reward was the nice wooden swing set we still have in the backyard. I am kicking myself even more now that we never recorded him quoting the whole thing. It would have been cool to watch now, all these years later. 

And yeah, my husband without a beard also looks pretty funny. And don't even get me started on him doing yard work... there's no truth in television! ;)

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Babywearing Jackpot

You may think that after having a number of children, I am some sort of baby care expert. While I like to think that I know more than when I started, there is so much more yet for me to learn and discover. 

Last week for our 14 year wedding anniversary (insert happy cheers), my husband and I went on a date that included a few necessary errands, some gelato, and a stop at Zoolikins, a local store I highly recommend. I had just earlier that day found out about a particular type of baby sling/wrap, and wanted to try it out in person at the store. 

The brand of carrier is called Baby K'Tan. I had heard of it before, but did not know anything about it. 

Basically, there are a few different types of baby carriers. The most common type are what are known as "soft structured carriers" (SSC), with their straps and buckles. This includes anything from a Baby Bjorn to an ErgoBaby carrier. Another common type of carriers are slings. They either have rings and are adjustable (known as ring slings), or are custom fit to the wearer in a set size (like Hot Slings). Finally, there are wraps to carry babies in, which are basically just a very long (15+ ft) pieces of fabric that can be tied in a number of ways depending on how you want to hold the baby. 

Personally, I find wraps the most comfortable by far for extended carrying. They keep baby close, and distribute the weight evenly, freeing up both hands/arms. However, the length of the fabric is very cumbersome. If baby is already fussy, s/he will not enjoy being wrapped up (which takes a couple of minutes for a beginner). Also, the wrap has to be re-tied every time after baby is taken out for a diaper change, feeding, etc. Trying to use a wrap in a public spot such as a parking lot without letting the ends touch the ground is near impossible. Removing a sleeping baby from a tight wrap to lay him/her down is tricky. For all these reasons, I have used ring slings almost exclusively for carrying my babies around for nearly 13 years. 

Ring slings are great for discreetly breastfeeding, and carrying a baby securely in a variety of positions. They can be slipped on and off quickly within seconds, don't require complicated wrapping techniques, and are just all around user-friendly. The only downside to them is that most of the weight will be on one shoulder only, which can become uncomfortable with extended carrying. They also do not fully free up both arms, as the arm opposite the supporting shoulder has to kind of keep close to the baby.

Well, the Baby K'Tan basically takes the best aspects of a wrap and a ready-made sling, and combines them into one. I absolutely LOVE it!!! The carrying comfort of a wrap, with the ease and speed of a ring sling. 




If you are one who enjoys carrying your babies close while you homeschool, run errands, do chores, or otherwise go about your day, you may want to give this carrier a try! I have been carrying Boaz more this week than ever before, and enjoy it so much I'm wanting to carry him even if he would be happy to sit in his swing or bouncy chair.

Please be advised that it is best to try these on in person, as sizes are custom-fit to the wearer. According to their sizing chart, I should be using a size "large", but actually fit much better with a "medium." When you put it on, it should feel a little tight. The fabric is knit jersey, and just like a shirt, will stretch with wear until you wash it again. If you are local to the Phoenix area, I highly recommend you buy from Zoolikins. Not only would you be supporting a local, independent business, but they are also exceptionally knowledgeable and super friendly :)

 Face out, known as the "adventure position"

 I posted a second picture just because the little guy is so cute :)


Facing in, blissfully asleep. While it's recommended, I do not use the additional sash, as I find it unnecessary for a secure carry. That makes using this sling even faster, and a bit cooler in the Arizona heat. Obviously, use at your own discretion. 


No affiliate links or commissions, I just love this carrier so much I wanted to share!


Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Pink Stork Morning Sickness Solutions - A Review

Some time ago, I was contacted by Pink Stork Morning Sickness Solutions, asking if I was interested in reviewing their natural product line for treating morning sickness. After having suffered through Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) with most of my pregnancies, anything claiming to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) immediately has my interest. Especially products that are natural, and even more so if these products address what I believe to be the true underlying cause of morning sickness and hyperemesis - Heliobacter pylori. 

I first blogged about the connection between H. pylori and NVP/HG about 9 months in my blog post, The Cause and Cure of Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum. With a view count of over 52,000 to date, it is THE most popular post on this blog, bar none. I have heard from scores and scores of readers who reported that their NVP/HG greatly improved by addressing the underlying issue of H. pylori colonization. During my most recent pregnancy, not only was I able to reduce my symptoms of hyperemesis and morning sickness by about 90% by following the protocol outlines in the blog post, but I was able to do so while expecting twins, which typically is accompanied by exacerbated nausea. Personally, as well as based on the testimony of others, I am convinced that gastrointestinal issues, more specifically an over-colonization with H. pylori, are the true cause of morning sickness. I just wish there were more doctors and researchers studying this subject in depth, and developing natural, safe, and effective treatment methods.

Pink Stork Morning Sickness Solutions promises to do just that with their line of natural products to relieve anything from morning sickness to hyperemesis by way of healing the gastrointestinal system, killing off the H. pylori, and addressing nutritional deficiencies.

One month supply of the full product line

1) Probiotic: Probiotics are healthy bacteria - billions of them. Taking them as a supplement helps swing the balance in favor of good vs. bad bacteria in the gut. These are to be taken ideally on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. The capsules are small, but you could also open the gelatin caps, pour the contents into some water, and take it that way.

2) Foundation, i.e. prenatal multivitamin: This is an organic, whole foods based, liquid multivitamin made from various plant extracts. The flavor is very pleasant, and I can tell that (at least for me) it would be palatable even while pregnant. If you have ever tasted the iron supplement Floradix, it has a similar taste, but milder and fruitier, and without the "blood" aftertaste. 

I was very excited about this prenatal multivitamin, and love everything about it, but then noticed that sadly, it contains two artificial preservatives: potassium sorbate, and potassium benzoate. I react poorly to both, and it was this reaction that led me to look for and discover the preservatives in the list of "other ingredients." Also, the sweeteners used are erythritol and stevia leaf extract, both of which I stay away from whenever possible. For me, this means that I would not be able to use this particular supplement in the Pink Stork line.

I have brought these issues up to Pink Stork Solutions, and they are working on re-formulating this supplement in the future. Most women will not be as sensitive as I am to these ingredients, and would probably benefit overall from this whole food nutrient based supplement. Especially since pharmaceutical solutions to hyperemesis contain their own cocktail of chemicals that are probably far more harmful than the preservatives in this product.


3) Organic Liquid folate supplement: Folate is the natural, plant based version of folic acid, which is a synthetic imitation not found in foods. Pink Stork folate is derived 100% from food sources (organic lemon peel extract).

The flavor is very pleasant. Sadly, this supplement, too, contains potassium sorbate and potassium benzoate, making it a no-go for me in spite of all its other wonderful ingredients and their health benefits.


4) Cocolaurin: This is a highly concentrated form of monolaurin, a fatty acid and form of lauric acid. It has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, effectively fighting harmful bacteria such as H. pylori, among many others. Monolaurin is a key component in breast milk. Pink Stork believes it to be the best and most natural way to combat H. pylori during pregnancy, and from my research on the subject, I must say they are probably right (though I have yet to try it during pregnancy myself).


At first I was a little baffled as to how to take this supplement, since it comes in the form of little pellets that are not to be chewed up (they are waxy).


I simply measure 3 scoops into a little paper cup like this, then pour them all into my mouth at once, and wash down with water. Very easy!


5) Organic apple cider vinegar: This probably doesn't sound appealing to a lot of ladies, but ACV even by itself is often enough to wipe out mild to moderate morning sickness. Pink Stork brand apple cider vinegar has a very pleasant taste to it, and does not taste overly acidic, especially once it is added to a glass of water. ACV helps restore proper balance and acid levels in the stomach, wiping out H. pylori thriving in the folds of the stomach walls.
Side note: If you suffer from heartburn (caused by pregnancy or otherwise), drinking 1 Tbsp of ACV in an 8 oz glass of water will put an instant stop to it. If you suffer from chronic heartburn, even heartburn so severe that you are using prescription drugs to control it, it can be safely and effectively overcome by drinking 3-4 cups of water + ACV every day for just a few days.

 

6) Magnesium Spray: This works along the same principle as the magnesium flakes, but can be used quickly and efficiently when taking a bath is not an option. Again, I had a liquid, spray-on magnesium supplement I used during my most recent pregnancy, with wonderful results. Anytime I felt my nausea increasing, I would spray it on my arms and legs, rub it in, and feel significantly better almost immediately.

 

7) Magnesium Flakes: There are multiple studies showing that magnesium deficiency greatly exacerbates morning sickness. Presumably, this is due to the electrolyte balance being out of whack, causing dehydration, which causes nausea and vomiting. 

Magnesium is best absorbed through the skin, as opposed to taking it internally in pill form. These flakes are to be added to bath water or foot soaks for quick, overall absorption and almost instantaneous relief. 

During my last pregnancy, in addition to supporting my GI system, I also used magnesium salts in my bath water with great success.




8) Organic Peppermint Oil: Peppermint helps quell nausea. This little bottle is for wafting under the nose when nausea strikes, as well as for masking unpleasant odors (you could put a few drops onto a tissue and hold it in front of your nose). Diluted with a carrier oil, it can also be applied to bottoms of feet or wrists for additional nausea relief.



9) Peach Ginger Tea: The typical suggestion of "try ginger to fix your morning sickness" makes me stabby, and I'm pretty sure that anyone who has ever endured hyperemesis will agree with me on this point. To be truthful, ginger DOES greatly support the GI tract, as well as help kill off H. pylori, but in a mom suffering from hyperemesis, it may only be a drop of water on a hot stone. Besides, the last thing I want to do is choke down a spicy-hot ginger beverage if my throat is already sore from throwing up.

So it was with some reluctance that I tried this tea, but a review is a review, right? Imagine my surprise to find I actually really, really LOVE this tea! It is neither spicy-hot, nor does it have an overwhelming ginger taste to it. Actually, it tastes like peach tea, which is the natural flavor it contains. 

 

Just to see how much ginger was in there (since I hardly tasted any), I tore open one of the used tea bags. Sure enough, lots of ginger in there! They are the little yellowish chunks in the picture below.


This tea has since become a treat for me. Each bag steeps up to 4 cups, so in the morning, I steep 1 bag in 2 cups of boiling water in a quart Mason jar, which I top off with cold water once the tea is done brewing. Then I sip on it throughout the day.


All these supplements come accompanied by a very readable booklet explaining each product in detail, as well as giving diet restrictions and recommendations (for example, cutting out sugar, processed foods, unprepared grains, etc.). There is also an extensive list of references backing up their claims.



Overall, I would definitely recommend these products to any mom suffering from hyperemesis or nausea and vomiting, with a word of caution regarding the preservatives in two of the products. I am excited about regularly incorporating the other products to my daily routine if and when I am blessed with another pregnancy.

To read more about Pink Stork Morning Sickness Solutions or to order their products, please click here. They are currently offering a 20% discount for first time customers! (Use discount code "first" at checkout.)


Note: I received a one-month supply of all of the above products for free in exchange for this honest, unbiased review.