Handmade Lotion

I first got this idea from pinterest as a shaving cream. At Christmas time, I like to do something little for each of the kid's godparents. Nothing too fancy or expensive, just a thought and a reminder of those special people in their lives. Here is the original I used Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream. Now it came out great and was super easy to make. I tried shaving my legs with it and while it worked was not my favorite thing to do. In a pinch or for a quick touch up though, it was great! My husband also tried shaving with it and was not a fan. I have gotten him to use it on his dry elbows, yay!

After I had the twins I started getting these random (or so I thought) rashes. On my ring finger, under my lip... never putting together that the same thing could be causing it. Around the same time I started getting a headache. And I say A Headache because it never went away for over 2 years. Literally woke up with it and went to bed with it, every day. Some days were better than others, and most often the pain would fluctuate like a roller coaster. I had an MRI, Cat Scan, put on anti seizure meds, barbiturates, pain killers, and eventually nerve block injections that dulled the pain to a low 2 but never stopped it completely. Most days I pushed through, but some were rough to say the least. I couldn't wear my wedding ring anymore and we were in discussion with a jeweler to make some changes, thinking maybe I was allergic to the metal or something. But before we went and overhauled my ring we decided I should get allergy testing done to be sure the change in rings would work. Well, that was fun. 7 day patch test that marked hundreds of possible allergens on my back and I couldn't scratch or bathe. Fun times. Since I suppressed the rash on my finger and lip the dermatologist wanted to brush me off, but after some persistence she agreed to do the test and was quite humbled when the results were in. I am allergic to a chemical called chloroxylenol with about 10 other possible names and narcissus (daffodil's) which is commonly used in fragrance, but because fragrance is a blanket term there is no way of knowing what the specifics are. So pretty much anything that lists fragrance as an ingredient I can't use. Also this chloroxylenol is an anti-bacterial agent used in almost everything from detergent to toothpaste, to cleaners. I was given a printout the size of a textbook with known "safe" products. After 3 hours in the store searching for brand, type, and whatever; I haven't ventured past my original findings.

Even the original rash cream I was given had it in it. So I stopped using that obviously. The most miraculous thing happened. My 2.5 year headache started dissipating the day I stopped using that cream. My lips went thru withdrawal for weeks because of the prolonged steroid exposure as the Dr. never told me anything other than use this when it flares up and stop wearing your ring, you're a mother now anyway. And after a month my headache was all but gone. We had spent so much money searching for an answer as to why, so many specialists, and then more to alleviate it, and in an indirect way found not only the answers we were desperate for but a new plan to eliminate this "chronic tension headache" I was diagnosed with. In actuality I was poisoning myself. I saw so many Dr.'s all of which knew I was using this cream continuously for years (thru a pregnancy as well I was told it was perfectly safe to use) and not one had a red flag to the length of use, nor the fact that it was a steroid. Seriously I still fume about it if I let myself. My daughter is healthy and happy but I still worry that she may have been exposed to that kind of toxin without so much as a warning to me.

Little by little I am beginning to make my own products. Ones that I know are safe without all the added chemicals, fragrances, and junk that makes up 90% of the accessible products on the shelves. My daughter seems to have the same reactions to products. Even the baby lotions out there bother her and me even though my list says they are safe. So I use this for myself and the kids. A little goes a long way and it leaves your skin so silky without feeling oily, smelling sweet without the use of chemicals. You can buy all these products through the internet (I usually use amazon) at a fraction of the price you will find in a store.

Handmade Body Lotion

1/3 cup raw African shea butter

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup sweet almond oil

(You can do any combination of scents that appeal to you -- lavender, orange, the list goes on)

10 drops peppermint essential oil

5 drops rosemary essential oil

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the shea butter and coconut oil, stirring until just melted. Remove from the heat and transfer to a heat-safe bowl.

Add in the sweet almond oil and the essential oils. Stir to mix. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and chill until solid.

Remove from the refrigerator and whip using a hand beater or a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Spoon into a jar with a top and keep in a cool, dry place. Makes roughly 8 oz.

A Walk Through the City - Pt 1

New York City! Center of the universe and my first true love. The energy, the abundance, the memories evoked by walking a familiar path from my past. One of my closest friends played hookie with me and her sweet husband took lead with the kids so that we could go play...

I Guess I'm That Mom...

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love dressing up. As a child my best memories are running around my neighborhood Halloween night and being thrilled, excited, and a little scared. Living in NYC Halloween was epic; ridiculous costumes, watching the parade from a fire escape, and dancing the night away. As a parent it is a new excuse to enjoy the holiday, dress the kiddos in matching outfits. Then the parties and having fun with friends and their kids. Brilliant. Still one of my favorite holidays.

This year they are very much into deciding what they want to be (boo hoo) but, as my kids get older I dream of convincing them of the fun of coordinating costumes... pink ladies and t birds, Scooby Doo and the Gang, rat pack and hollywood icons... my list goes on.

Never have I cared much about the candy aspect.  I would hold onto that candy almost until the next Halloween, eating only a piece or 2 a week, mostly because I forgot about it. I would hide it from my big sister who loved to steal my best stash, so my hiding places would rotate trying to stay one step ahead of her. I would catalog my candy according to quantity to type. No doubt my love of spreadsheets began here as I would try to prove she was stealing it. Sibling fights and all, to be truthful I didn't really care about it I just needed to know it was being taken, and then I'd get mad that SHE took it. I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with this fun tidbit.

Since becoming a mama, food and nutrition has become increasingly important to me. The more I learn about how the body is designed to utilize and process different foods and the affects of chemicals, pesticides, dyes, and sugars (to name a few); the harder it becomes to give them to loved ones as well as myself. I took my son and systematically the family off sugar maybe a year ago. He just doesn't handle it well. His eyes go blank, he looks like a zombie, he can't stop moving, and his behavior goes completely wacky. It was one of the few days that we allowed them to have dessert and we split an ice cream sandwich between the twins. About 10 minutes later Frankie started rocking and jumping and physically couldn't stop himself. I tried holding him and he still couldn't be still. He was so upset and kept saying 'I don't want to be wild anymore mama'; it broke my heart.  I promised him and myself to help him. So our quest of a no sugar lifestyle began. It's not perfect and I am still learning. I believe in moderation, and I can let it go once in a while I promise. I add something new when I am ready to experiment again and it has been a slow transition to find alternatives to what is forced upon us. I started with making no sugar ketchup. He eats a TON of it. Ketchup on his ketchup is an understatement. Then I added in a soda free of dyes and sugar; that is now affectionately referred to as "Jenny Pops". Then cookies. It took a few try's and involving the twins in the baking experience to even get Frankie to try them. Once he did though, he was hooked! I make a big batch once or twice a month and freeze them in small quantities. Then one or two nights a week we get cookies as a treat. To say I'm ecstatic that they love these doesn't even come close. So when Frankie's room mother requested a no nut, no dairy, no HFCS treat for the Halloween party I jumped at the chance to test them out on kids that were accustomed to what is considered normal cookies. I so wanted the kids to try them and love them, they are delicious! Whether the kids heard me say they were sugar free, or the look of them were different, or the domino effect of one kid not liking them; I couldn't say. Since we've cut sugar to next to nothing in our daily diets maybe our taste buds are skewed. Which ever reason they were a big fail on my part. Then, there sat Frankie with the biggest smile on his face loving every bite of his cookie. I could have run over and covered him with kisses. Don't worry, I restrained myself. Then after school as we were headed to the car, he says out of nowhere. "Mama, guess what? I love your cookies, they're the best!" I thanked him all the while choking back the tears. I was so incredibly proud of him. Since we had a bunch left over they get them for snacks and extra treats and every time now he says, I love these cookies mama! Such a sweet boy.

So my love of dressing up and wanting my kids to feel that excitement running around after dark getting candy runs deep. I don't want them to ever miss out on a great life experience. But my anxiety of them consuming that much candy (masked poison) kept me up at night literally. I was searching for a way around this pile of GMO, dyed, processed sugar, crap; when I found the Switch Witch (thank you FB!!) For those of you who don't know who she is, the Switch Witch LOVES candy, so much so that she is willing to trade prizes for it. Brilliant. I ran out to the dollar store the next morning and was ready to plant the seed when I picked them up from school. They tested her out after their Halloween party at school, each putting 4 pieces into a bag. They became worried about a witch being in their rooms so we settled on next to the front door so that she wouldn't know where they were sleeping. The next morning they ran to see what she brought them and were ecstatic to say the least, by Halloween night after consuming quite a few pieces they dumped their entire stash in for the Switch Witch. I was shocked and proud and so happy this worked. They woke up today to books and puzzles, and figurines and couldn't be happier. Brilliant.

So the other thing that was bothering me was actually handing out the masked poison to other kids. My husband had bought the usual goodies and I just couldn't get over the dread of personally handing out something I am so against. Again, I started looking for a way around this that was reasonable and affordable. To my kids a treat can be a new bouncy ball, tattoos, glow sticks, etc. All of which I had in mass quantities, left overs from various goody bag fills. I threw it all in a Halloween bowl and headed to a neighbors house to start the festivities. The kids had a blast running around the neighborhood, excited about what they got at each house and loving the freedom of such a wild night. I loved it. As we hung out with the littlest ones too young to brave the rain and wind, we handed out treats for 2 houses. I could be hated or not by the kids receiving an atypical treat, but I felt better that I was one less person giving out candy and making the holiday solely about that. I'm not judging anyone by saying this, I am just trying to do what I feel is right for my kids and those around me. I love a Reece's peanut butter cup as much as the next guy. But I've found a way to enjoy one without the GMO's, sugar, dyes, and chemicals that ruin the treat. My new indulgence when I have a craving... Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups! Made with organic, whole food ingredients; I can have my cups and eat them too. I would have no problem handing these gems out, but at upwards of $2 a pop, not a real option. So tattoo's and dinosaur squirt guns, glow sticks and bubbles, are my treat to your trick. Jokingly, (I think) my neighbors's teenage son heard about my "treats" and said "Oh, you're that mom." I certainly don't think I look like 'that mom' in my head but maybe it's time to reevaluate that visual. Well, yeah I guess I am. I hope that my kids will continue to look at me with that same proud look Frankie had eating my cookies. My next challenge is to figure out a way to make them look as good as they taste. Could take a while, but success will be sweet.