What's Lurking in the Air?

Spring Break is over and we are getting back into routine. After dropping Emily off to school this morning Sahara and I went for our daily walk. I truly felt liberating to be in the brisk air. However, we didn’t venture to far before I was consumed by an odd scent attacking my olfactory system.

I looked around for fresh mulch… nope. We passed a few more houses and I thought that it might be our neighbor's paint fumes; I saw the professional painter’s truck in the driveway as we passed. They must have the windows open for venilation… nope. (Well, they should.)

What was it?

Sahara seemed oblivious to the familiar yet undefined smell. She laughed as she chased birds in between driveways, she hesitated while she pointed to an airplain in the blue sky, and stopped to sit on a bench in someone’s yard for a rest. That was when I noticed a truck down wind of us. Pesticides! The wind was blowing the fumes right in our direction. I couldn’t help but notice the rest of the way home that the neighborhood was riddled with signs posted in the post-winter yards. I had flashes of facts flashing before me as I nudged her to hurry home.

Did you know that these pesticides are actually cousins to the government Agent Orange – a nerve gas? Some of these chemicals are not even permitted to be sprayed on government lawn because of its level of toxicity. The label is not allowed by Federal law to say, “Safe when used as directed", yet some labels do say, "This pesticide is toxic to birds and extremely toxic to fish and aquatic organisms".

(read more at http://www.cqs.com/elawn.htm or read The Autoimmune Epidemic by Donna Jackson Nakazawa.)

SO, why do we continue to spray this substance on our lawns? The same lawn our children and animals play in, roll around on, and sometimes chew like a piece of straw?

I have to wonder, if I could smell this substance 2 blocks away how potent is this stuff? What are the side effects of breathing it in? Is it necessary to have a perfectly manicured lot? What environmental backlashes might occur? Will this compromise our health? It did for Brenda Jones.

I don’t have the answers to all of these questions, but I do know I am not willing to take the risk of applying those chemicals to my lawn just so it can look pretty and I will be mindful to keep the girls and cats inside when the neighbors lots are being treated.

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Tweety Breaks Through Austim's Glass Wall

I have vivid 30 year old memories of Saturday morning cartoons. Mom would wake us up; still in our pajamas we would race to the front room to the “DA DA DA DA DA DA” of Looney Toons. We weren’t inundated with cartoons 24/7 like our children; this was a two hour excursion after a long week of work and play.

We only had one opportunity a year to see Mickey and Minnie. After our last class of catechism before summer break, we would gather with our classmates in the church basement to watch this yearly flick. I remember the chips and hotdogs; somehow those dogs were the best. I am sure Father Ott prepared them no differently than mom, but I can still smell them in their doughy bun as if it were yesterday.

These fond memories have been embedded in the recess of my mind.... so, when my daughter’s friend gave her a DVD of Looney Toons, I became excited. Finally, appropriate viewing for our kids who have access to cartoons day and night. It was kinda surreal to prepare my own kids to get a glimpse of my past. We popped some popcorn, climbed in our sleeping bags, and the familiar “DA DA DA DA DA DA” began.


But I was surprised! This experience was so different through my mom eyes. I was astonished at the violence and the message of immortality. I found myself interjecting, “Now girls, you know that would really hurt you if you did that.” – Or – “Hmmm, do you think a cat could really come back to life after having dynamite blow up in his belly?”

SHHHHH! (So much for processing.)

I tried to convince myself I was making it a bigger deal than what it was until last night... My youngest daughter was quietly playing in the kitchen while I was on the computer, or least I thought. Suddenly I felt a big “WHAP” on my head; I spun around to see her laughing as she raised the broom back up preparing to whack me again. Then she said, “Bad ol’ putty tat.”

As I stood up in shock, she missed my head but the broom handle came down and smacked my toe, “OUCH... that hurt mama!” I sat back down not knowing if I should laugh or cry. She climbed up into my lap with her head hanging low.

She looked me square in the eye and said, “I sorry!”

Wow... this was the first time I had heard her say something so enduring and heartfelt with such eye contact. I looked deep into her eyes and saw her intense concentration on the words she was articulating. And, again, she said, “I sorry!”

I knew instantly that she truly meant those words; they were not just rote words that she had imprinted in her memory, they had meaning and feeling behind them. I felt my eyes swell up. This was a huge milestone, an instant I will imprint in my memory forever nestled between hotdogs and Sylvester.

Looney Toons was able to inspire a fond memory after 30 years had past. Only this time instead of it being Saturday morning curled up with my sister, it was the catalyst that broke my daughter through her glass wall to meet me in a moment. It ended as quickly as it came, but imprinted in my heart forever

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The Mouse Vs. The Butterfly

So... I broke down! I figured it was spring break and we needed to cut loose a bit. Preparing for the 3^rd grade proficiency tests, going to tutoring before school, 2 hours of homework every week night, bi-weekly trips to private occupational therapy and speech, aikido, horse lessons, a trip to the emergency room, the new neurologist, doctor visits, home visits, publishing my first book, dad working late most nights plus an episode of the influenza had all created an intense winter for us all. So, mom and girls kicked back and headed for Chuck E Cheese.

What was I thinking? It really was a glorified excursion in my mind. The first day of spring break; kids laughing, playing, and de-stressing; pizza made for you (not by you with special ingredients) with no dishes to wash all appealed to the exhausted side of my essence. We barely made it through the front doors before shoes went flying off and hands were reaching for the magical gold coins. I was trying to order pizza with my head cocked to keep an eye on the two of them running off in different directions. As I handed the bank card to the annoyed cashier, I couldn’t help wonder what else we could have done with that $20.38.

As I found a booth conveniently located in the middle of the restaurant (so I could see all 360 degrees) I noticed most of the moms had brought a book, lap top or much needed paper work to be completed. I even saw a mom and dad sitting huddled in a corner, obviously a rare moment of intense conversation. Somehow they all found comfort in the neon numbers on their child’s little hand and found themselves immersed in their own world blocking out the obnoxious bells, screeches, cries, and bright colors. Not me, I knew better; it wasn’t long before I was re-directing Sahara away from the front door – every time I go there I end up wondering, “They should have staff vigilantly watching this door!”

The past few months we have been phasing out all gluten and casein laced products with some resistance, so I tried to hide my fear that this experience was going to open Pandora’s Box, however I was pleasantly relieved when the cardboard looking pizza arrived. (I silently praised myself for having created a recipe for a GFCF pizza that looked wonderful in comparison.) But I knew the jury was still out. Emily ate two pieces carefully avoiding anything that resembled the crust; she snapped her head up and declared, “This pizza sucks!” and off she went. Yes! I now was able to confirm I had one converted, but our pizza addict was yet to communicate her feelings. She diligently took a tiny bite of the tip of 4 pieces, got up and ran off to play. On her visits to the table the rest of the time there she eyed the pizza while consuming only the water we brought with us. I was pretty sure she was conveying her dissatisfaction, with that, I was pleased.

The girls had fun climbing through the tubes, riding rides, playing the games and collecting tokens (I even snuck a game of Deal Or No Deal in – I won them 20 tokens). I knew they were done an hour into this adventure, I saw them playing tag in between the equipment that was brilliantly designed to entice them to feed it coins and imprint warm fuzzy feelings so they would beg to come back. Marketing executives are good at this; consider the jungle gyms at fast food restaurants and happy meals. These are not designed with child’s interest in mind, but how can ‘they’ make these kids addicted to their product and crave more. Remember Joe Camel? I felt pride as I watched my girls not get sucked into this propaganda.

As we cashed in our tickets, Sahara looked up at me and said, “Hungry”. I am relieved she was hungry for real food and not for the overwhelming enticements in this establishment. They left with no complaints or tantrums. On the ride home Emily was being goofy (I am sure it was the potassium sorbate in the pizza cheese) and Sahara egged her on by laughing so hard that I thought all three of us would pee our pants!

Yesterday, we went to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Butterfly exhibit. This, by far, was a much calmer environment that seemed to naturally feed our spirits. We slowly strolled through while talking and taking in the beauty of different climates and nature. Each of us able to absorb whatever we individually desired. We were tickled; well really, Emily was tickled to have 3 butterflies land on her. As she slowly walked over to us, Sahara was alarmed that her sister was being attacked by these vicious creatures. It was so funny! I hope next time I get the brilliant idea of de-stressing and chilling out with the girls, I remember this and take them to the park for a picnic and reconnect with the earth and nature. Maybe I’ll remember the lessons of what really nourishes their bodies, minds, and spirit.

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Recipe of the Week: GFCF Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

10 oz. GFCF Chocolate Chips
7 oz. Smooth Peanut Butter
1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk

Microwave Chips and PB for 2 minutes. Stir with wooden spoon until incorporated. Add powdered sugar & almond milk. Pour into 8x8 pan and refrigerate until set - I found it is best if left in refrigerator over night. Cut into bite size pieces and enjoy.

Not only is this recipe easy, but it is rich enough that you could hide some veggies in it (or vitamins). Last week I substituted !/2 the almond milk for 1 sweet potato and my youngest daughter devoured it. Yummy!

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10 Simple Detox Strategies to Promote Wellness

1-Buy organic foods as much as you can: meats, fruits, vegetables, & dairy. Yes, they are more expensive, but as the demand increases the more companies will jump into the market causing the cost to go down.


2 – Decrease stressors in your life: physical, chemical and emotional stress all take their tool on your body's system.


3 - Avoid chemical exposure as much as you can. There was a study that showed that by the time the average American reaches the breakfast table he/she has been exposed to 70 chemicals.


4- Start organic gardening. This is even possible in the city. Buy flower boxes and grow your own select veggies and herbs.


5- Take anti-oxidants to promote a healthy immune system.


6- Eliminate Tobacco, Sugar and Caffeine: It goes without saying that if we want to “detoxify” our systems & get well that we should first stop putting toxins into our bodies.


7- Dry Skin Brushing: Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which enhances the body's natural detoxification processes. It also helps the body eliminate toxins through the skin.


8- Massage: Massage in all forms is beneficial, but a form known as lymphatic drainage massage focuses on stimulating the lymphatic system and flushing out toxins, by using light pressure and massaging certain points. It stimulates the immune system and is said to increase energy and help fight infections.


9- Exercise: Some experts say that just 100 minutes of walking per week (or 15 minutes a day) for those who have previously been sedentary can have excellent benefits.


10- A detox Breath: Inhale on 1, exhale on 2, 3, 4… this will bring oxygen in and release carbon dioxide and toxins.

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Spring Equinox Meditation for Life, Substance and Peace

Lady Spring we thank you for bringing together the male and female creatures of the sky and earth in order to create more life and abundance. It is in our quietness that we are able to recognize a more profound spiritual message within this cycle of life that you lovingly offer to us; the merging of our own feminine and masculine parts within ourselves and our communities — The Yin and Yang dancing in the unity of peace. Now more than ever, it is apparent that the people of today need to recognize that our differences are in fact no cause for war, hatred, or strife, but an opportunity to seize the inherent beauty that each part of us makes the whole. By reuniting we can heal our much needed wounded planet; the giver of life, substance and peace.

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How do Toxins Enter your body?

By definition a toxin is a biological poison… possibly bacteria, virus, or snake venom. When people refer to toxins in our environment like pesticides, parabens, or radiation they are actually referring to free radicals. Like most people, I use the two terms interchangeably.

Regardless, we are living in a world overloaded with these harmful substances. And if taken in large amounts they can either cause serious illness or even death. It is important to understand how these toxins the human body so you can eliminate or reduce your exposure.

Mouth- There are countless toxins that are consumed by mouth.

• The foods we eat are laced with estrogen- a growth hormone in meat and dairy. Farmers feed animals estrogen so they grow more quickly, and then they have a higher value to sell. We try to buy free-range, organic meats to avoid hormones and antibiotics.

• There are 15,000 chemicals that the FDA doesn’t require the food industry to display on the labels of the food we consume. We try to avoid any processed foods with 'natural flavors' on the ingrediants list. Ther are no regulations on the word natural in the industry.

• Plastics- Dioxin is released when warmed up in the microwave. The dioxin, a toxin, leaks into the food we eat. Always use glass in a microwave and never warm up a baby's bottle this way. The microwaves also change the energy of the food resulting in poor assimilation of the foods we eat.
• Smoking, Recreation & Pharmacy Drugs and Alcohol.
  

Skin- It is important to remember that your skin is the largest single organ in your body and an important part of your body’s detoxification system.

• Your skin can release toxins via sweat. But if you have a petroleum based product or lotion on your skin can block this natural process. Look for lotions labeled paraben and petroleum free. Baby oil is petroleum based, it is a cheap product.

• The EPA states that it takes 26 seconds from the time you put something on your skin to reach all of your organs… take a clove of garlic and put it between your toes and see how long it takes until you can taste it.

Nose- If you can smell something then the particles are entering your body.

• This includes mold, dust, pollens, fumes from carpets, paints and mattresses.
  
• Walk down the store laundry aisle and you will be overwhelmed by toxins through your olfactory system. In order to achieve chemical free laundry washing we use laundry magnets.

Eyes- Similar to the skin, the eye membranes allow toxins in.

• We also take in stressful images. We don’t watch the news or read the news paper in the morning... good news doesn't sell as well, so we are loaded with violent and negative images which have an affect on our immune system.

Ears- Substances can enter the ear canal, but I am more concerned with sounds.

• What kind of music are you listening to?
• What kind of tv are you watching?
• What kind of video games are your kids playing?

Electromagnetic chaos- Today we are bombarded with cell phones, satellites, radars, cell phone towers, computers, microwave ovens… this is almost endless in today’s culture.

Adjusting your lifestyle to reduce just a few of these toxins will improve your health and well-being. Take baby steps!

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Recipe of the Week: GFCF Ranch Dressing / Dip

1 cup Tofutti Better than Sour Cream

1 cup Vegenaise

1 teaspoon Dried Basil

1 teaspoon Dried Cilantro

¾ teaspoon Raw Sea Salt

2 teaspoon Onion Powder

½ teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Cracked Pepper

½ teaspoon Dried Leaf Marjoram

1 teaspoon Tamari Wheat Free Soy Sauce

3 tablespoons Clean Pure Water (more or less depending on use and desired consistency.)

Whisk all of the ingredients together and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

This is so easy... and by far one of the best GFCF dressings i have created. My daughter immediately grabbed a bag of mini carrots and devoured this.

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Learn to Deal With Stress Naturally

We all experience stress, Right?

Stress can take form in three manners; emotional, physical and chemical. Let’s take a look closer at each of these.

Emotional Stress can consist of fear, regret, anger and is usually associated with a negative feeling. BUT it can also take form when we are having positive experiences too like anticipation of the new baby coming, worry about the new job, or pre-occupation with the wedding. Those are all good times, but can cause stress in our systems.

Physical Stress can occur from a physical trauma like a fall, an auto accident, or surgery. BUT this stress also can come from positive experiences like child birth, hang gliding, or sex. Again, these are positive experiences that can put tension in our systems.

Chemical Stress is all around us; pharmaceuticals, alcoholic beverages, and the pollution in our air. BUT what about the adrenaline rush, or the chemicals and additives found in the food that nourishes us?

The bottom line is that if you live and breathe you are exposed to stress daily and that stress has to go somewhere. Our brain perceives and processes the stress sending it down the spinal cord. If we overload our system with stress the spinal cord will respond by twisting (like wringing out a wet towel), a twarking (bend), or by becoming ridged; all impeding the flow of communication from the brain to the rest of the body. This is not good.

When this occurs the muscles receive signals from the nervous system causing tension to be stored within them. This tense muscle pulls the vertebra causing a misalignment of the spine. This subluxation causes more disruption on the flow of communication to the rest of the body. When you have stored stress in your nervous system you are going to feel symptoms.

Most people think Chiropractic is the snapping, crunching and popping of these bones back into place. However, Network Chiropractic, an approach addressing the tension and stress in the nervous system by using gentle tapping along the spine allows the body to unwind this tension. This unwinding might bring about a breath, a stretch, or moan all in which are dissipating the stored stress allowing the body to regain its true level of health.

What about your kids, do they have stress? Absolutely! To name a few their stress can result from peer pressure, test anxiety, sport injuries, birth trauma, vaccines exposure, food sensitivities, ear infections, anti-biotics, and sensory sensitivities. All of which contribute to tension stored within their delicate nervous systems. My girls have received Gentle Chiropractic care since birth and have had their health enhanced exponentially.

I encourage you to entertain having a Chiropractor check your nervous system for stress.

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Stimulate and Integrate your Child's Brain

An art journal can be a very powerful tool — especially for those with special needs.


An art journal is like a regular writing journal with the exception that you use expressive arts to produce your entries. This is especially useful for individuals who lack the ability to articulate with words or lack speech all together. However, it seems that an art journal can help not only with communication, but can improve brain function as well.


I have utilized art journaling in many therapy groups with my former clients and one technique I had the most fun with was the Non-Dominate Hand Technique. Of course the clients thought it was fun which improved their mood and stimulated socialization, but there is a larger benefit occurring as well.


The Non-Dominate Hand Technique is unique because it utilizes both sides of the brain: verbal, critical thinking left hemisphere and the artistic, intuitive right hemisphere. Using the non-dominant hand helps to INTEGRATE the two brain hemispheres. For kids who have mis-wired brains or brain dysfunction this activity can stimulate the various functions of the two brain hemispheres.


Stimulate and Integrate your child’s brain—start an art journal.

Left Brain Functions
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe

Right Brain Functions
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

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Laughter is the Best Medicine

What do preschoolers do hundreds of times a day, but adults typically only do fifteen times a day? Laugh.

Children laugh easily and use their body actions to change their state of mind — this playfulness helps express their emotions and develops better learning and cognitive skills.

Benefits of laughter for children and adults:

Boosts self confidence
Lessens anxiety and stress
Enhances lung capacity and increases circulation
Strengthens immune system
Creates mind/body balance
Massages internal organs
Builds social bonds
Encourages release of endorphins

Rekindle your childlike playfulness and release you own healing potential —Laugh!

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Money Saving Tip 1: Coupons for the Health Conscious

I recently started using coupons and I was amazed at the amount of money I could save! On my first two bi-weekly shopping trips I saved $65 and then $80. That was a $145 saved the first month with coupons alone. As I surfed the net I realized I have a long way to go in order to capitalize upon this fine art, but I think I am well on my way.

The first challenge I was able to overcome was finding coupons for GFCF and organic items. Firstly, I contacted each company I regularly buy from to request coupons. I included my name and address with each contact. I was astonished when I actually received some coupons in the mail. There are plenty of companies that let you sign up for an e-newsletter and in turn will send you coupons as well.

Visit Frugalliving.about.com for a list of some of these companies. Other web-sites that offer e-coupons for organic and GFCF foods are:

Nature’s Oasis

Mambo Sprouts

Lifestyle Markets

Delicious Living

Whole Foods has a coupon book published by Mambo Sprouts. You can get one at the cash register. The only down side to that is the coupon HAS to be used at Whole Foods, which doesn’t double coupons. But it is still money back in your pocket.

The Sunday paper is a hit-n-miss for the health conscious and those on a special diet, but you can still find some useful coupons there. I still cruise through the regular on-line coupon sites and am able to find coupons for several items that we can use. Some of the sites I have found useful are:

Slick Deals

Coupons.com Be sure to click on the RSS Coupons button on the tool bar as well.

Smart Source

Happy Saving!!

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Recipe of the Week: GFCF Gourmet Chicken Soup

In a large stock pot combine:

1 gallon of water
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1# carrots diced
2 cups celery diced
1 cup onion diced
1 large turnip diced
3 potatoes peeled and diced

Add Seasonings to pot:

1 Tablespoon Chicken Better than Bouillon Bouillon
1 teaspoon raw sea salt
1 teaspoon cracked pepper
1teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried cilantro

Bring to boil then reduce to simmer until veggies are tender. Remove chicken and pull with fork and return to pot.

Add to pot:

½ bag of baby spinach
½ cup frozen peas
½ cup frozen corn

No need for noodles in this hearty soup. But... if you want them, break rice spaghetti noodles into 1 inch pieces and cook per package, rinse and add to soup.We have also pureed left overs and added 1/2 cup to brownie recipes for added nutrients for those picky eaters.

*Note: Chicken soup acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophilis-immune system cells that participate in the body’s inflammatory response. Secondly, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nasal lining.

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Rhesus-Negative and Gestation

Can an expectant mother's immune system attack her fetus? It is said that there is a potential risk if the mother's blood has a protein that her fetus does not.

Most people (85%) have a protein in their blood called rhesus-negative (Rh D-). When a person lacks this protein (Rh D-) and it (the protein) happens to enter their blood stream, the body will innately build antibodies against it and the immune system will attack.

Typically an expectant Rh D- mother is administered an injection at the 28^th week of pregnancy and within 72 hours of birth of a rhesus-positive birth, to prevent her antibodies attacking a future pregnancy resulting in a miscarriage. This RhoGam shot, also referred to as the Anti-D vaccine, is just that, a vaccine. It is designed to outwit the body’s natural reaction to the detection of this protein in the blood stream.

If an expectant mother’s blood mixes with her fetus it usually does so during or close to birth, unless there is a rare trauma or incident that may promote blood transfuses between the mother and child. Now, if a mother experiences a trauma and the blood of fetus mixes with hers prior to the birth her body could theoretically assault the current pregnancy. Remember, this only happens if the mother has negative blood (15% of women), the fetus has positive blood, and somehow the blood mixes.

Although, my husband and I were thorough in our research about the decisions we make regarding our health care, we regretfully did not research the RhoGam inoculation. I received these injections subjecting our unborn child to massive amounts of thimerosal while her brain and nervous system was developing in utero. We will never know whether or not this assault caused her autism, however we acknowledge that it most certainly contributed to the condition.

I hear individuals and organization protesting against childhood vaccinations, but I wonder why no one is talking about the vaccine that is directly injected into the expectant mother. I often wonder if that is why we saw symptoms of autism soon after birth, instead of the highly reported loss of developmental milestones during the toddler years.

At the 2000 International Public Conference of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) F. Edward Yazbak, MD, pediatrician and school physician in North Smithfield, Rhode Island (Dr. Yazbak also assisted his local board of health and CDC in conducting “mass vaccination campaigns”) spoke out about a revelation he uncovered while researching children of vaccinated mothers. He found that 85 percent of mothers who received the RhoGam shot during pregnancy had children with autism. 85%!

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of educating yourself before you make any decision- especially when it has a direct effect on your health or the health of your child. Often I see my friends and family going to the person in a white lab coat and taking their word as gold. I cannot go back in time and see if that is what caused our daughter’s condition of autism, but I can be proactive now and educate others to make a conscious choice instead of mindlessly obeying this authority.

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Fresh Air and Optimum Health

We are on the home stretch of winter with Lady Spring just around the corner. I was just feeling the confines of the indoors and longed for fresh air when we were given the gift of such a splendid weekend. After being cooped up for months, we undoubtedly took advantage of the beautiful weather.

With just a few minutes outside and we felt refreshed, invigorated, and alive. This longing to be outside is an innate knowing from within our bodies. Fresh air from forests, sea sides, mountains, waterfalls and nature contain anions (negative ions) which promote the human’s inborn natural healing power promoting...

• Increased Vitality
• Improved Mental Clarity
• Reduction in Pain
• Decreased Irritability
• Energized
• Improved Joints
• Enhanced Metabolism
• Improved Sleep
• Immune System Support
• Improved Sense of Well Being
• Improved Function of the Lung's Protective Cilia
• Improved Relaxation
• Decreased Anxiety
• Lowered Resting Heart Rate
• Decreased Survival of Bacteria and Viruses in the air
• Decreased Severity of Stomach Ulcers

Take advantage of all the benefits of fresh air... Take a daily walk and get outdoors for the health of it.

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DNA Imprinting and Positve Emotions

How much DNA do you have? Well... of course your answer is 100%. Now, the less obvious question is how much DNA does the average human being use? You may be surprised to learn that science has determined that we use a mere 25%! This has baffled the science community for some time now.

However, did you know that when you experience negative emotions (hate, fear, resentment, anger, jealousy, etc.) that the DNA actually gets wound tighter and we use even less? Yes, our DNA potential decreases when we are experiencing negative emotions.

Now on the flip side when we experience positive emotions (love, gratitude, joy, excitement, peace, etc.) our DNA unwinds a bit and we actually tap into additional DNA that the average person typically does not utilize.

We know that DNA has a direct effect on all of life. Right? And we know that light (energy) makes up 99.99999% of all we experience in this life. Everything IS energy, some just vibrates slower than others making them appear solid and tangible.

When Scientists put DNA into a vacuum test tube with just “light” the light photons formed into the DNA strands, when the DNA was removed…. Get a load of this- the photons of light actually stayed in the formation of the DNA after it was removed.

So consider this… wherever we are, whatever we are doing, thinking, saying, or being leaves an imprint of our DNA in the universe. This is science not theory… proven by physicists. If we leave an imprint everywhere we go, wouldn’t we want it to be the imprint of positive emotions and our true DNA potential?

LIVE LIGHTER, LOVE MORE, SHOW GRATITUDE, PRACTICE PEACE, AND EXPAND YOUR POSSIBILITIES....

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Jason McElway: Basketball Hero

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Floortime Approach to Autism

As a parent of a child with ASD I found it frustrating to implement some of the behavioral directives in treating a young child with autism. I wanted to find a way to have meaningful interactions with her that were not conditioned. This frustration ignited me to continue researching other viable options and that is how I stumbled across Engaging Autism: Helping Children Relate, Communicate and Think with the DIR Floortime Approach. This book was written by Dr. Stanley Greenspan after successfully working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Written in manner that it can be used as a tool for parents and providers, this book offers theories behind the causation of autism and strategies to help create meaningful interactions with a child with ASD. One of the things we were able to implement immediately was a concept within the Floortime Approach that allowed us to enter our daughter’s world in order for her to begin to enter ours.

The process was quite simple: Stop, observe the child, and then think of a creative way to be present in her activity of choice. This could be as simple as observing the child rubbing a blanket corner, then you sit down quietly next to the child and begin rubbing the blanket next to the child’s fingers. Observe the child, does she acknowledge you? If yes, even if it was a slight glance, you just engaged the child! The protocol guides you to do this type of interaction numerous times a day.

I was amazed that she responded immediately. I saw my daughter fiddling with the remote control of a fire engine, so I came down onto the floor with in the space she was playing. I “walked” a 3 inch baby doll closer to the fire engine; she spontaneously picked it up and started to move the baby up and down the fire engine ladder. WOW, she rarely used imaginative play!

I sat and watched her for a few minutes then picked up a small mommy doll and had her stand at the bottom of the ladder. My daughter stopped and looked at me, then moved the baby up the ladder and yelled, “Help!” I responded, “Baby, are you okay?” To my surprise she answered me, “Yeah, I ok.” This went on for about 15 minutes. Our first interactive play ever!

I found entering her world this way to be easy. Since that day we have had many meaningful play interactions through my entering her world through her interests while following her lead. I have found this to be a great technique with my older child as well. When she is doodling or journaling, I will sit down next to her and start doodling too... before I know it we are writing notes to each other or drawing on a single piece of paper. She is more apt to open up to me and share when I use this approach.

So often I see a therapist come in with an agenda. My advice to therapists, educators and to parents, whether you are interacting with a child with ASD or a typical child, try entering their world and see how much more you can accomplish.

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Recipe of the Week: GFCF Caesar Salad Dressing

Our family loves Caesar Salads! Our youngest child’s favorite meal was a Caesar Salad with a side of asparagus and strawberries. When we started to adapt the GFCF diet we missed this meal. I messed around a lot with a variety of ingredients until I found this combination and found it to be a nice substitute for Caesar Dressing!

2 teaspoon Minced Garlic
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
1 teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
½ Lemon juiced
1/4 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
3 Tablespoon Vegenaise*
1 teaspoon Tamari Sauce (don’t use soy, it contains wheat)
1/2 teaspoon Kelp Granules

1/3 cup Cold Pressed Olive Oil

Mix all ingredients together, except olive oil. Once you have a smooth blend, slowly whisk in the olive oil. Store dressing in a air-tight container for a couple of days in the refrigerator. If you want the dressing thicker sprinkle xantham gum in and stir.... Remember a little goes along way, so add it slowly.

*We have found Vegenaise to be useful in many of our recipes. We have substituted this ingredient in recipes that call for mayo, sour cream, and even small amounts of cream cheese. This is a very versatile food; add 1 cup to your favorite cake batter and you will experience a fabulously moist cake.

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Study Shows Doodling Improves Ability to Recall Information

Guilty as charged! I have always been an obsessive doodler. Whether in school, a business meeting, on the phone or simply watching television I have been known to have a pen in hand. Most doodles ended up in the trash, some inspired art work, and others just simply annoyed others around me.

I have noticed that my daughter has embraced this habit as well. She tends to doodling all the time. The margins of her homework are decorated with names, shapes, and abstract designs. I have wondered if this is getting in the way of her studies, but after a recent study, I am reassured that her habit is not inhibiting her ability to pay attention in class.

The study revealed that when you doodle you tend to recall almost 30% more than your counter-parts that are paying attention. This interesting study by Jackie Andrade, Psychologist, of the University of Plymouth will be published in the journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology.

It seems that doodling seems to occupy a part of the brain that doesn’t inhibit your ability to pay attention. However, if you day dream it seems to activate much more brain activity than doodling. For instance, if you start to day dream about what you are going to make for dinner, this simple thought turns into what groceries you have at home, which turns into a mental list of what you need to pick up from the store, which turns into another thought that turns into another and another and another. This thought process seems to take up more brain power than doodling causing you to lose the ability to recall what was going on in the presentation.

I was excited to hear about this study. As an Art Therapist I have always looked at doodling as more than an annoying habit. I have utilized ‘doodle journals’ with former clients and my children to process their emotions and to develop fine-motor skills. Now it seems that children with pictures in the margins of their work are capable of hearing information and better able to recall it later. So, it seems that the craft of doodling actually aids your child in improved academia.

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Co-Sleeping Promotes Security and Self Confidence

In the United States, prior to the 19th century, it was customary for an infant/child to sleep within close proximity to it's mother. However, it may surprise you that more cultures than not continue to participate in the parental act of co-sleeping with their young.

The mother co-sleeping is better able to attend to the child's needs when the child is placed in close proximity to her. This act tends to promote security and a sense of well-being within the child. Cultures that nurture their children 24 hours a day tend to produce more secure, balanced, and productive adults.

On the contrary, when a child is left isolated in a private room to cry itself to sleep, cortisol levels are raised creating a stressed immune response and higher blood pressure & insulin levels. A study was performed on baby monkeys that concluded that when a child is left in this manner, that even when it is able to self soothe it continues to have high cortisol levels.

So, our child is quite and we are all sleeping, but internally the child is experiencing biological stress levels even though it is not demonstrating an outward stress reaction. In the monkey study the monkeys cortisol remained high even after 80 episodes of being left alone. Could this contribute to some of the disorders and illnesses our children are experiencing now more than ever? (ADHD, autism, juvenile diabetes, violence, mental challenges?)

I don't know the answer to that... But I do know that when a child is soothed and it's innate cues (cries) are understood and responded to appropriately, the child will learn to trust and rely upon the mother and develop a greater self confidence. This trust and effective communication skill will transcend not only through infancy but through childhood and into the teenage years and adulthood.

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