This stuff is FOR REAL.  I bought it for the first time last week at Whole Foods.   Traditional mayo is just plain yuck... read the ingredients and you will understand why I feel that way.  This stuff tastes even better than "real mayo".  Not to mention I love the NON-GMO label on it :)  

Check out their sits @ Earth Balance Naturals

 I accidentally just made the easiest and most delicious lunch.  
- Trader Joe's Organic Pasta
- Cup or so of Organic Spinach
- Tablespoon of this Earth Balance OO Mayo
- a bit of turmeric (lots of health benefits)
- teaspoon of oregano

If I had made more pasta, I would be going back for seconds!

Scrub a dub dub
My new favorite face scrub is a DIY with easy ingredients we all have already in our kitchen.  Super easy, leaves my face soft and smoothe, and hubby says my skin looks better :) 

1 T of raw organic honey
1 T of sugar (cane or brown)
Mix, add a splash of water if needed
Scrub your face
Rinse
:D

Here are a few variations of the   honey + sugar = face scrub    I love.

http://nomoredirtylooks.com/2010/09/honey-and-my-new-diy-face-wash/

http://www.curlynikki.com/2012/02/raw-honey-healing-face-wash.html

http://www.natural-homeremedies-for-life.com/homemade-sugar-scrub.html

http://www.tipjunkie.com/all-crafts/sugar-scrub/

our wonderful friend jim turned us on to coconut oil a few years ago...it really is a delightful discovery :)  and there are soooo many uses for it. i buy mine at Trader Joe's.  check this out for lots of great coconut oil uses ...i think i will add some in my smoothie today :) 

Smoothies. 
I never use a recipe for my smoothies.
I just put in a bunch of whatever goodness that I have in my fridge/freezer/garden.  

smoothie essentials

1.  My new favorite addtion to my smoothie is coconut water.  I am not a big fan of the taste of it on its own.  However, it is a great, natural way to hydrate.  Here is what WebMD has to say about it.  As a nursing mommy and avid runner, I need to stay hydrated and I would much rather sneak this stuff into a smoothie than rely on sports drinks.  Trader Joe's seems to have the most reasonable prices :)

2.  Throw in some avacado.  I could just put in a tablespoon or so, but instead I use frozen avacado cubes.  I made them for Parker, but he isn't into them yet...so instead of wasting them I have just been putting one in my smoothie every day.  Good way to add some quick, healthy fats. 

3.  Kale.   Afterall, it is one of the superfoods.   And I currently have a small kale forest in my backyard.  I try to stuff as much kale I can into whatever I am eating.  I put some in my smoothie just about every morning when I was pregnant last summer/fall/winter.   I swear you can't taste it, but beware, you may have small kale chunks stuck in your teeth every morning like I did  :)  

momma essentials
I can honestly say I didn't know squat about babies when Parker was born.  Everyone said we would figure it out...and we are.  However, I have found a bunch of great resources online that I refer to often.  I am sure this list will grow and change as Parker does :)
Here is  list of my current fave momma sites.






,

Love this lavendar oil. 
I need a refill already because I have found so many great uses for it.

1.  couple drops on my bee sting & mosquito bites = totally stopped the itching..... I tried a bunch of other remedies for days, nothing else worked!

2.  4-6 drops in 8oz of water for baby butt wash (I use a spray bottle instead of wipes)

3.  couple drops on baby's feet before bed = calm baby (at least for a little while)  and helps momma stay calm too

4.  open up and take a sniff often = :D

Find out more information about doTERRA Essential Oils here. 

New Meditation App
Totally gonna try this one out tonight.  If you have never meditated it really is easy and completely refreshing.  I started out by just sitting still with no phone, no TV, no music, no nothing...just me and my breath.  Started out setting a timer for 5 minutes...worked my way up to 15 or so.   Totally helped me throughout my pregnancy :)  It may seem difficult at first, but don't be too hard on yourself... the benefits are amazing and there really is NO RIGHT WAY.  I kind of fell out of practice once Parker was born....I resorted to doing most of my meditating in bed and fell asleep :)  Trying to get back at it and this app just may help... a daily dose of meditation can only do me and family good :)

Yogamazing = one of my fave at home yoga practices
Plain and simple, I NEED yoga in my life.  Thanks to  Brian Granader and all of the people at Red Lotus Yoga (Rochester Hills, Mi), I have learned so much about myself, who I want to be, and how I can become that person...all through yoga.   Unfortunately Red Lotus Yoga Studio is about 30 minutes from my house so I have hard time getting out there these days because of my little sweet pea Parker.  However, I think of the people and use what I have learned from them daily.  Plus I get to keep in touch and follow them all on facebook :)  So to keep yoga in my life I frequently do at-home practices with Chaz on YOGAMAZING.  Chaz is also amazing and has a great app for the i-Pad that I use.  He also has some wonderful DVDs which my hubby got me for my birthday last year.  Here is his website with lots of other great info.

I bought Simple Abundance  back in 1999 right after I graduated from MSU.  My college years weren't so easy for me... had no clue what I wanted to study or pursue as a career, lacked self-confidence, and was a very unhappy & anxious gal.  This book was one of the first tools I bought to help redirect my thoughts and attitude.  I leave it on my night stand and read a few days worth from time to time.  Always brings a smile to my face and reminds me just how blessed I am.  Sarah Ban Breathnach has an entire series of these books.  Check her website out here. 

1.  Leonie Dawson =  Ok, if you  need a little inspiration in your life, this lady is the one to turn to!  She is  flipping A-MAAAAAAZ-ING! I don't remember how I stumbled upon her, but if you  don't know who she is I recommend you at least add her as a friend on facebook.   Her daily posts are beautiful and will make you smile :)   Once I get a bit more  time on my hands....Ok let's be real, I will never just get a bit more time on  my hands.... once I figure out how to use my time more wisely I hope to take one  of her courses.  You can access her lovely website here.