The Original Skinny Mom

It's so funny to me that all of a sudden there's a blogger who has become quite famous and who also goes by Skinny Mom. Close to 10 years ago when I was pregnant with my son and living in Portland, Oregon I started a little Cafe Press shop that sold mugs, t-shirts, tanks and hoodies with the words "skinny mom" emblazoned on them. I did it as a somewhat passive aggressive way to get back at all of the not-so-skinny moms that would always make comments about how I was too thin and my unborn baby was going to suffer, that I should "eat a cheeseburger", and just give me dirty looks at my birthing classes. I'm skinny. So what?

Everyone in my family is skinny. I DO eat cheeseburgers, often times several days in a row! I never really liked exercising, but just always managed to be thin. After I gave birth to my son I was back in my size 2 jeans within a month. After my daughter was born, not only was I back into my size 2's, I was back to modeling normal sized clothes (not maternity LOL!) 6 weeks post delivery! That's just the way my body works and I hated having to feel bad about it. So there I'd go with my "skinny mom" shirt pushing around a stroller and thinking, if they are gonna hate, then I might as well just wear my skinny loud and proud. ;)

I got over the insecurity of being given snarky remarks about my weight and about feeling self conscious about it when I moved back to Los Angeles, where most moms are fit and even when not, I have noticed they aren't as ready to say mean things about those of us who are smaller sized. Maybe it's the sunshine? Whatever the case may be, my "skinny mom" shirts and mugs are tucked away and I wear shorts now without feeling like I have chicken legs, and am embracing my skinny-fit mom self. I finally have started working out regularly at a CrossFit gym with a group of fantastic moms, I eat organic, Non GMO and use Isagenix supplements and work out shakes/protein because they too are non GMO and the highest quality around (as a matter of fact Isagenix is too good not to share and also makes a GREAT side income for other SAHMs http://morayma.isagenix.com). I have more muscle tone now than I did pre kids although I do wish my boobs would stop heading south so quickly, but time and lack of expendable cash flowage keeps me from surgically perking the girls up. I can live with that, and some good bras. All that aside, I just wish moms, no matter what their size, parenting persuasion, etc. could just bond together and form the village that is so important in order to keep motherhood sane. We need to team up, not snark at each other for crying out loud. Skinny or not, this is a tough job we are undertaking. We are ALL in it together!!

So kudos to the famous Skinny Mom blogger. I should've copyrighted my name before she did! LOL! I just like that another mom who probably went through similar moments of mean-mommyness has found a niche and run with it towards huge success. I may have to try out some of her recipes someday too! ;)

Fighting Off Cold & Flu Season Naturally!

Other moms have been asking me for the past few years how I've been able to keep my kids healthy during the school year and how I reduce the severity of their colds when they do get sick. I am finally going to write it all down....giving my secret witches brew away to the world! LOL! We do not use flu shots in our family, just all of nature's bountiful medicinal goodness. =)

One of the most important things I do to ensure my kids' health in general is to make sure that they get plenty of sleep, excercise, and healthy, clean foods. I buy organic and non GMO and make sure that they take a high quality multi-vitamin that is also whole foods based. Sugar is limited and we use gluten and dairy minimally. We make a habit of washing hands with soap and water after school, activities or just being out and about. I make sure that they stay hydrated with alkaline water also. The more alkaline your body is, the less likely disease will want to settle in it! The kids also get extra magnesium, probiotics, digestive enzymes, and cod liver oil year-round, and once school starts I start my cold & flu season protocol which goes something like this:

*up the amount of Vitamin D that my kids get by way of a non GMO liquid supplement (ask your healthcare practitioner what he/she recommends as a dosage for your own child)

*give one oz of Elderberry Syrup in the morning with breakfast along with a teaspoon of raw, organic honey with cinnamon in it

*give a daily teaspoon of organic coconut oil (coconut oil has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties and tastes great!)

*up the dosage of Vitamin C my kids get with a separate chewable (non GMO of course!)

*I use Thieves Oil (Germ Fighter essential oil, or On Guard by DoTerra are also great alternatives). I dilute this essential oil blend with organic olive oil and rub it on the soles of their feet in the morning before sending them off to school. This essential oil blend has been clinically proven to ward off over 90% of airborne viruses and bacteria....sounds too good to be true, but it really works!

*add High Vitamin Butter Oil tablets to their daily supplements along with their regular cod liver oil (they work syngergistically) which delivers Vitamin K in one of its most soluble forms and is highly recommended by WAPF (Westn A Price Foundation)

*if I sense that one of the kids may be sniffly or exhibiting the beginning of a cold, I give them 2-3 sprays (twice a day) of Isagenix's IsaMune Plus Spray which contains reishi mushroom, zinc, echinacea, proline-rich polypeptides, and colostrum from strictly non GMO, organic sources and available through Isagenix (http://morayma.isagenix.com)

*another excellent supplement to nip a cold/flu in the bud is Alli-Ultra Allicin extract which is expensive but is a miracle in a bottle.....so far the best prices I've found have been on Amazon....this is garlic extract in its most potent form and can work on anything from a cold/flu virus to skin infections to bacterial infections....it's amazing...at the suspicion of a cold I give them 3 drops twice a day in juice

*my 3rd defense for an oncoming cold/flu is 2 drops of Oil of Oregano in honey....oregano oil is antiviral and antibacterial, yet it is also a hot oil and you pretty much need honey involved unless you have very brave kids! LOL!

*Grapefruit Seed Extract is another great option if the Oil of Oregano is just too "spicy" for your kids....the GSE dilutes well and is basically undetectable in juice and is also antiviral and antibacterial.

*if flu-like symptoms start to pop up, I make sure to always have Oscillococcinum by Boiron on hand. It works!

That's pretty much it! Sounds like a lot to buy and remember, but in the long run it's worth the sacrifice to keep ourselves and most especially our bebes healthy and protected from all the nasties floating around this time of year!