Bedtime Foot Rubs
#wordlesswednesday
Essential Oils Cape Cod
#natural #diy  #recipe
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By: Maurene Merritt, RN

Truly, we are so fortunate to have an experience in life that gives us still another opportunity to test the very one in us that believed that we can do or be anything, and if in that moment we have someone courageous
enough, committed enough, clear enough to let nothing, absolutely nothing prevent us from the challenge, then such a moment is a blessed event that is a gift to both the giver and the receiver, because in order
for the teacher to provide such alchemy, she herself  in that moment will need to remember her own strength seen by her own teacher, when all else failed her. 

Chandra articulated beautifully how powerful such a connection can be. She gave up several times in the midst of pushing, exhausted, the words barely audible beyond her eyes sunken in the tears of despair, and the beads of sweat formed on her brow, "I can't do this anymore", and even asked her physician to take her baby boy out of her body as he descended closer to her vaginal opening.

I was able to reconnect with Chandra the next day and inquired about her experience. She said, "I was so unprepared for the pushing stage. I felt confident for the first stage, working like it was an extension of my
daily yoga practice, holding steady to the breath with each contraction. But I had no idea how hard pushing was going to be. By far, it's the hardest thing I've ever done".

If you welcome childbirth with an open heart and a positive mind, it's an experience that can reward you with the gift of what was one of Chandra's original intentions, to feel triumphant.

Then comes the real challenge, will you put forth enough effort to keep your towering inferno of awe for yourself  from cooling to a dancing, struggling tear shaped flame too deep in to grow? Or will you tend to yourself enough to provide for a gentle, soft breeze that will help sustain the flame to a steady, still white glow? All too often we are so absorbed in mothering that we fail to receive the fruits of our labor and they go unpicked and rot on the vein; and it's the very substance that can help us to remain confident and inspired to grow deeper in our understanding of how brightly lit up we all are.

Consider that the experience of feeling triumphant is about as  rare as how often it's sought after and in terms of priority belongs in  the front row seat cozy up with mothering. 

Together, forever, in our hearts,
Maurene 
In my next blog we'll look to the universal, developmental movement patterns to help give more power to our push.
*reprinted with full permission from http://www.birthblessingsyoga.blogspot.com/

By: Sung Bin

In an effort to save some money on organic baby care products, I set out to make my own shampoo for my household. I wanted to make something that was natural and  organic with ingredients that I could name and know. The California Baby Shampoo  that I have been using for my toddler was great but the price tag for a family  size bottle was not. Plus I wanted to be able to use it too so we would just use  one kind that was safe for all. Anyway, this turned out be a pretty humorous  task. I experimented with a few recipes I found online, mostly using  Dr.  Bronner’s Castile Soap as the base. There were quite a few concoctions, some  were too watery, too oily, too messy, but my toddler bared with me through it  all. She was my guinea pig in my quest to make the perfect natural shampoo and  at certain times her hair was a bit too scraggly or oily.
While, I haven’t found  a perfect recipe yet, I have found a decent mix that kept our hair clean. The  castile soap was also amazing for other uses so we use it as a body wash and  hand wash.  You can probably try any brand of castile soap for a shampoo but I  liked the Baby Mild Shikakai from Dr. Bronner and I purchased a larger size  bottle.  For my coarser hair, I use the soap full strength with a few drops of  rosemary essential oil in a small pump bottle.  For my daughter’s hair and for  a bubble bath I use a foam soap dispenser since she does not need as deep a  clean for her fine hair.  For her shampoo/bath wash I dilute the baby castile  soap about ¼ part soap and ¾ part distilled water and a drop of vitamin e oil,  and a few drops of lavender
and orange essential oils.  My husband was not as  excited about using a few pumps in the water for a bubble bath because it wasn’t  like a typical bubble bath wash. It does not make suds but it does lather pretty  well. I got the foam dispenser idea online too and since you use less soap, it  lasts longer. The best part of making my own shampoo is that I can add any  essential oil.  Just a few drops of eucalyptus is great for a bath wash for  colds or I can make a batch with lavender for relaxing. I’ll have to keep  working on the
bubble bath but so far the shampoo has been great and the  economic bottle will last us quite a while.

By: Sung Bin

I think I may have found my new favorite hideaway. It's not exactly a secret but the Spohr Gardens, located at 45 Fells Road in Falmouth, has all the makings of  magical retreat. I was able to join in my daughter's preschool trip to the  gardens and the view was fantastic.

There were plenty of daffodils and although  they were all not in full bloom, the small clusters that were interspersed here  and there were like little visual treats. The dock and pond was the perfect  backdrop as we sat picnic style on the grass eating snacks and singing songs. It  was a perfect place for little ones to discover because of its windy paths and  sculptured treasures such as ringing bells and giant anchors. It wasn't hard to  let your imagination run wild in a place like this. 

I was reminded about what  wonderful places Cape Cod has to offer and I have only begun to discover them.  If you haven't had a chance to visit Spohr Gardens, the end of April from the  20-27th is the best time to see all the daffodils come to life and to take  advantage of some of their special activities. There is also a great companion  book, My Spohr Gardens by Elizabeth Saito, showcasing some of the flora you will  encounter there. 

See more pictures and Read more about Spohr Gardens in Falmouth from a Hidden Freebie post Cape Cod Mommies here.

We are excited to feature a giveaway sponsored by California Baby®!  California Baby® is one of the most popular and complete all natural and organic baby product lines!

Babies and our wee ones can be so sensitive and in today's day and age when chemicals and man made toxins can be found in almost everything we eat, use or touch; it can really be enough to make any parent's head spin!

But California Baby® is here to the rescue!  Their baby products are all natural and chemical free!  Personally my faorite product by far is their bug spray so I was really excited that they included some in the prize pack!  Good chemical free bug spray that actually works is hard to find! 

Seriously have you seen the mosquitos this fall?  They are ENORMOUS!!!  It's like the mosquitos are on steroids or something because they are massive and I have seen both kids and adults walking around with giant bite marks on their bodies!  The mosquitos spray is DEET free and only has the active bug repel ingredients of:  cedar, citronella and lemongrass in it.  I use it all over my toddler and all over myself!  We have spent a lot of time outside this past summer and fall and we have constantly covered ourselves in it and NOT once have we been bit!  So thank you California Baby® for your amazing bug spray!

If you want to enter to win the California Baby Prize Pack giveaway, make sure you enter below!  Stay tuned for more in the near future!

Today we are featuring 3 Questions to Cape Cod Mom Advisor: Heidi Ingram.. If you have questions for Heidi or ANY of our Cape Cod Mom Advisors, please e-mail them to: info@ccmommies.com and we will get them answered.

I was wondering if you could discuss GMO foods and how they affect our children, whether we should exclude them completely or limit them since it may be hard to avoid completely. ~ Emily, Truro

Genetically-modified foods (GM foods) have made a big splash in the news lately.  European environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting GM foods for months , and recent controversial studies about the effects of genetically-modified corn pollen on monarch butterfly caterpillars have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) held three open meetings in Chicago, Washington, DC and Oakland, California to solicit public opinions and begin the process of establishing a new regulatory procedure for government approval of GM foods.  

What are genetically-modified foods?  The term GM foods or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques.  These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content.  The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time
consuming and are often not very accurate.  Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy.  For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant.  The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well.  

What plants are involved?   According to the FDA and the USDA there are over 40 plant varieties which include tomatoes and cantaloupes that have modified ripening characteristics, soybeans and sugar beets that are resistant to herbicides, and corn and cotton plants with increased resistance to insect pests. While there are very, very few genetically-modified whole fruits and vegetables available on produce stands, highly processed foods, such as vegetable oils or breakfast cereals, most likely contain some tiny percentage of genetically-modified ingredients because the raw ingredients have been pooled into one processing stream from many different sources. 

What are the human health risks? Allergenicity...many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods.  There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.  Unknown effects on human health...there is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health. A recent article published by Lancet examined the effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats. This study claimed that there were appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes.

Conclusion...Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful but scary technology. 

Bottom line use your gut instinct, there is too much unknown about these foods to give a definitive answer as to whether we should exclude them completely or even know if we are consuming them...be your on advocate!

My son likes to eat the same thing for breakfast every day, eggs.  Should I be worried about cholesterol with the amount he is consuming? ~Molly, Wareham

 The myth about the link between eating eggs and their effect on blood cholesterol has been a hard shell
to crack and a topic registered dietitian Keith Ayoob, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of medicine and the Director of the Nutrition Clinic at the Rose Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, often address with this clients.  When it comes to assessing the risk of heart disease, the ratio of "bad"  LDL-cholesterol to "good" HDL-cholesterol is one of the best known and proven indicators.  " It is important that we clear up all the confusion that surrounds what people should or shouldn't eat to reduce their risk of heart disease" says Ayoob.  "Egg consumption does not significantly impact the LDL:HDL ratio, so enjoying an egg or two a day can fall within current cholesterol guidelines,
particularly if you eat lower-cholesterol nutrient- rich foods throughout the rest of the day, like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.  Follow these guidelines with your son and he should be fine but feel free to check with your physician.

How do I control my night time hunger?  With all the stress of day to day life and raising my daughter the night hunger is getting to me! ~ Kirsten, Sandwich

Night hunger is generally in direct correlation to what you are consuming during the day. I would suggest you start a daily food diary of what you’re eating during the course of several days.  After reviewing what
you wrote down, take note of what you have and haven’t been eating and or drinking...often times people confuse hunger with thirst.  Generally I suggest you consume 3 to 4 small meals throughout the day
which include a good source of protein such as yogurt, peanut butter or cottage cheese as well as some carbs such as whole grain crackers or toast, pasta or cereal and a clean fat, (no partially hydrogenated fats) such as olive oil, avocado and all types of nuts but especially almonds and walnuts. Some fat is essential to keep you feeling satisfied and full longer and always eat as many fruits and vegetables you can stand. Finally be sure you are consuming enough fluids throughout the day, strive for at least 6-8 ounces of water three to five times a day as well as getting enough exercise to help curb those hunger pangs.

Cape Cod Mommies is excited to be co-sponsoring June's Giveaway with Bum Boosa Bamboo Products ! Bumboosa ws founded by fellow Cape Cod Mom, Sonja Sheasley.  A few years ago, Sonja took classes at the Sandwich Village Herb Shop (now closed) in an effort to make natural lotions for her children due to their sensitive skin.

As many of you may know, baby wipes and the majority of mainstream baby products contain harmful chemicals.  Many times these same products profess to be for "sensitive skin" or say they will clear up diaper rash.  I have found those products to be very misleading, often times finding that those products actually further aggravated sensitive skin.  I can usually be found on the weekend at local Farmer's Markets trying to track down homemade calendula oil or lotion to treat my son's excema and rashes.   So I was thrilled when I had the amazing opportunity to try out the Bum Boosa products!  Bum Boosa Products are eco-friendly anod not filled with ANY harsh chemicals! They get their bamboo from China but are made right here in the U.S.A.  and I always think it is nice to support local business, especially a Cape Cod business! 

Right off the bat, I was drawn to the fabulous smelling wipes!  A baby wipe that actually smells good even after it has wiped an atomic size mess up is a winner in my book.   The smell of lavender and citrus is beyond pleasing.  In fact, at a recent family cookout, I kept receiving compliments over my scent: "Wow, you smell fantastic! Is that lavender?"  Imagine their surprise when I informed them it was actually my sons' baby wipes!  I even gave a wipe to my son to play with and he was super excited by it.  He kept smelling it in true yogi style saying, "Mama, ahhhhh".  

When I first opened the package of wipes, I thought it was smaller than a standard wipe, but I realized it was just folded and shaped differently.  Oh Happy Day! Bum Boosa wipes still have the same surface area as standard wipes do!  And I managed to make 2 packs of 80 ct wipes last me 3 weeks!  Now that is bang for your buck! 

I am also totally in love with Bum Boosa diaper cream!  It is 100% natural and made from bamboo powder, oils and herbs!  It is completely free of any preservatives, synthetic fragrances and dyes!  This is a win-win and a little goes a long way!  My son is so sensitive to so many products and foods that he often gets a diaper rash especially after citrus or tomatos.  Since we started using a little bit of this cream, we have been rash free and smell fantastic!!! 

To celebrate Summer, Bum Boosa has generously donated a swag bag for a Giveaway to go to ONE lucky Cape Cod Mom! The Eco Baby Gift Bag comes with (3) packages of their bamboo baby wipes, a 4 ounce bamboo  diaper rash ointment, and a 10 ml bottle of pure grade lavender essential oil  with suggested uses and safety information.  This is valued at $39.99 and will  be delivered free of charge to the winner.  Bum Boosa will also be participating in the upcoming debut of the Cape Cod Mommies Discount Club (stay tuned for how you can save on Bum Boosa Products!)  There are lots of ways to enter and you can enter multiple days!  Goodluck and Happy Wiping!

·  Red cabbage, boiled or juiced 
·  Strawberries
·  Cherries 
·  Raspberries 
·  Beets/beetroot (boiled or juiced) 
·  Red bell pepper (roasted and pureed)
·  Paprika (add powder directly, or dissolve in water)

·  Red cabbage, boiled or juiced 
·  Eggplant/aubergine skin, boiled or juiced 
·  Blueberries 
·  Blackberries
·  Beets/beetroot (boiled or juiced) 

·  Kale, boiled or juiced 
·  Spinach, boiled or juiced 
·  Green tea
·  Water cress, boiled or juiced

·  Carrots, boiled or juiced 
·  Saffron (not our favorite choice as it
tends to be expensive and imparts a fairly strong flavor) 
·  Turmeric (either dissolve in water or
add powder directly - it has a fairly mellow flavor that is easily masked
·  Golden beets (they impart a very dark yellow color - almost brown!)
·  Turmeric