The Great Soap Adventure! Part 1

So I took my class and bought my supplies and now its time, time to make some soap! My friend and I get all the supplies ready, mix the Lye and get it and the oils (Coconut, Palm, and Olive oil) to the right temperature. At this point our essential oils and botanicals are out and ready.

We begin to mix the Lye and oils and get the perfect consistency.  Now to add the goods, in goes the scents and botanicals. The room smelt heavenly as we mixed the two parts into the soap mold. Our next step, WAIT!

This is the hardest part! Waiting! After the soap is placed in the mold it's ready to come out and be cut in 24 hours. Although, if you wait to cut it 3-4 days you get a better soap.  So come Wednesday we will see what we made. During this time the soap is covered and you can't see it.  So Wednesday can come and we find out it didn't mix right or at all. Or it smells horrible! You really don't know what you are getting!

So we wait till Wednesday. Too bad it doesn't stop then. After cutting the soap you have to wait till it cures! UGH! That takes 3 weeks! So we really won't know what we get till December 11th! I'll keep you posted on each step but till then we just wait and hope it turns out awesome. :)

Egg yolks increase brain development

Many cultures encourage pregnant and nursing moms to eat as many eggs as possible because they are considered brain food.  Studies show that eggs richer in certain special long chain fatty acids (found in hens that are allowed to eat bugs and graze on green pastures) are needed for optimal mental development of infant's brain, nervous systems, and visual activity. The fatty acids that they are talking about are arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Researchers have warned that adequate EPS and DHA in the diet of infants is needed to prevent learning disabilities and defects in visual function. Its recommended that an egg yolk per day be given starting at four month.  Egg yolk also supplies the cholesterol needed for mental development as well as important sulphur-containing amino acids.

Its important to know that its not recommended to give the egg whites to infants.  Egg whites contain difficult to digest proteins and can be hard on the immature digestion system.  After a year of age you can add in the egg white if you like.  Small amounts of grated raw organic liver can be added after six months. Liver is rich in iron, the one mineral that tends to be low in mom's milk

Also, a pinch of salt should be added to the yolk. This will facilitate brain development as well.  Salt is necessary to activate the formation of glial cells in the brain. These cells make connections and help us think faster. Salt should be unrefined sea salt.

Here is the the recipe:

1 organic high-omega-3 egg
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon grated raw organic liver, frozen for 14 days(optional)


Boil egg for 3 1/2 minutes. Place in a bowl and peel off shell. remove egg white and discard. Yolk should be soft and warm, not hot, with its enzyme content intact. Sprinkle with a pinch of salf


If you wish to add liver, grate on the small holes of the grater while frozen. Allow to warm up and stir into the egg yolk.

Best Bottom Diaper Video and Review

I've been using the Best Bottom diapering system for two months now and love them! During these two months, I haven't experienced many leaks. The only time we leaked was when my little guy was between sizes. I was trying to prolong the use of his size smalls. 


These diapers are overall great! They travel and wash very well and are super cute! My husband likes them and favors the Orange Sherbet and Moo-licious covers. We prefer the Hemp insert as it holds more and is breathable. I have used the Micofiber Stay Dry insert and liked it but prefer natural fibers. I have not used the Hook and Loop covers because we prefer snaps, we feel they last longer. I recommend these diapers to anyone who is or wants to cloth diaper. Check out how they work in this video:

Treating Congestion in Babies Naturally

It's hard to see your little one struggling to breathe. The best way you can help your little one is in the bathroom. Heres what you can do:

Dress your baby in light clothing to prevent overheating. Turn the shower on Hot and let the steam accumulate in the bathroom.  Sit in the steam filled bathroom with your baby for about 10 minutes (if your baby is still congested stay a little bit longer). You may want to cuddle your baby to help them be more comfortable. Some say to use saline nasal spray, then suction out the excess saline nasal spray (after 10 minutes)  with a bulb syringe after your steaming session.  I personally have not used saline, but I do suction out my little guy's nose after we are done in the steamy bathroom.  

Another thing that works REALLY well are Essential Oils! You can use them while in the steamy bathroom and during nap time or at night.  Take a few drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil with some olive oil or coconut oil (I prefer coconut oil) and rub it on your little one's chest. You can put some under their nose too.  It also helps to have your baby sitting up or at an upright angle so everything can drain out. You can put a few pillows under their mattress or sit them in a boppy.  Also, make sure their chest is bare where you rub the oils in.  This will clear up your little one in no time! 

Coconut Oil the natural remedy

Finding a diaper rash cream can be the hardest journey we as moms and dads embark on. Search no longer! Coconut oil is a great natural cure for diaper rash. Most people calm that it heals our little one tushies in half the time of most prescription rash creams.  Coconut oil is also an anti-fungal and clears up diaper rashes cause by candida
(yeast) overgrowth too. So next time your you little one gets one of the those nasty common rashes try slathering on some coconut oil and watch the magic happen! 

Babies need solids earlier than six months...new findings?

Researchers look at the past studies in the areas of infant infection, nutritional adequacy, iron intake, allergies and concluded that solid food need to be introduce before six months. Time to break it down.  After reading this from the Natural Parenting Group I had to say something.  

When they look at the studies in regards to infant infection they found that kids who were exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) got fewer infections. No news here.  They did say that the benefit might taper off after three months. Really? I have never heard this before from my mom circles or from any professional. Formula feed babies had the highest rate of infections. Does this surprise us?! Nothing against the moms that formula feed but we have know for some time now that EBF is the best for our little ones.


Then the researchers look to see if breast milk can sustain an infant's needs (nutritional adequacy).  nI my opinion they didn't find anything new.  They stated that breast milk was nutritionally adequate for babies who were EBF for six month. Then they go on and say that if babies got solid foods earlier breast milk may not have been enough for them. This makes no sense! Seems to me that they didn't find anything but because of the pressure to present finding they had to come up with something. 


When they looked to see if babies were getting enough iron all they could say is if you had a low birth weight baby and you plan to EBF then you need to think about an iron supplement and watch out for anemia. This seems like common sense to me. 


Now for the area of allergies. The researcher found that kids who had gluten allergies were more likely to have gotten them before three months or after six months. They stated that kids who started gluten type solids between four and six months have fewer gluten allergies and lower incidence of celiac disease. But the Natural Parenting Group makes a great point that kids now a days seem to have more sensitives then when we were kids. Could this be due to the change of living and all the processed food we consume.  Maybe its from all the chemicals that are surround our selves with. Of course that is all speculation but it gives you something to think about.


So overall, This study doesn't seem to bring us any ground breaking news. EBF is still the way to go! I wouldn't worry about giving your baby solid foods before they are three months. We are make for this and our breast milk provides everything that our little cuties need.  If you baby shows signs of wanting solids between four and six months then you can begin to introduce them.