Happymomblogger

I learned how to cook mostly from my mom who is an excellent cook. She won many cooking awards in the past and has taught me some of those winning recipes. But it was both my parents who taught me how to shop for certain grocery items for a certain recipe. I learned from them the different kinds of root vegetables and what seasons the harvest will most likely produce. I learned that not all apples taste the same nor do they yield the same results when cooked. And I learned among many other things, that buying the right produce at the peak of the season is the secret to a successful and delicious recipe.

Many years ago, before the USDA regulated the use of the term “organic” for any product, most of the food found in grocery stores were either from locally-grown farms or were mass manufactured products that were genetically-modified for faster production.  Local farmers who didn’t spray their crop with chemical pesticides were lucky enough to have their products sold at supermarkets without having to compete with the bigger companies. Only problem was, produce that came from locally-grown farms were extremely expensive and hard to find. And most of the time, you’d have to get them right when they’re being delivered or they were sold out or couldn’t stay fresh because there were no chemical preservations used.

But farmers markets have been around for a long time, and I remembered going to the local farmers markets with my mom and helping her pick out the freshest produce available. It was there that I also learned about what real and fresh produce were all about and I could instantly taste the difference between produce that were ripened in the store and produce ripened on the tree.

My parents also grow their own vegetables and fruits and they don’t use any kind of toxic chemicals on the produce or in the ground. It was quite convenient for us to go to the backyard and snip off some green beans or pluck some apples and pears for that night’s dinner. For me, homegrown fruits and vegetables seemed like the perfect answer to eating healthier. But as years went by, and people became more aware of the importance of eating better, organic and pesticide-free products started showing up more readily in supermarkets.

However, organic and locally-grown produce can still be moderately expensive, depending on where you shop. And where you buy your produce and dry goods is crucial in how much you’ll end up spending on organic food. If you want to start buying more organic food or just starting out, your best choices in organic produce are the natural food stores or farmers markets. However, if you don’t have any of those nearby, then here are some tips in buying organic at supermarkets.

Supermarkets back in the day rarely carried organic and all-natural food and products and if they did, it was very limited and very expensive. Nowadays, whenever I visit my local supermarket, I can see most of them dedicating a certain section called “natural” and “organic” where only natural and organic products are sold. Cheers for them for thinking more abou their health conscious customers. So how do you choose where to shop for the best value and the best selection of organic and natural products? Well, you can start by looking at the ads produced by the store you regularly shop at. Most every market will have their own store circular either mailed to you, online, or available in their stores. If you want the best prices and selections in organic produce, then take a look at their ads. Decide which organic produce you need for that day or week and compare between the different markets. You’ll probably find them competitively priced nowadays but that’s good news for us since we want to save a ton of money when we’re buying all or mostly organic products. After you’ve made your list of what organic produce you want to buy, then list the other organic or all-natural products such as dry goods, snacks, drinks, etc. Once again, look at your stores circular and find out if the product you want is listed or on sale. If they aren’t listed, go online and you’ll most likely find a “secret” ad that is available only online. Very tricky of these markets, but they’re also hoping you’d buy their groceries online as well.

The next step in saving even more money on organic and natural products is using coupons. Where do you find coupons for organic and natural products, you say? Well, most likely you’ll find them from the companies direct websites. Many of them offer coupons for their products if you sign up for their newsletter or simply just visiting their website.  Otherwise, you can always give them a call or send them an email requesting some coupons. Organic and natural product companies love hearing from people who want to buy their products so most of them are more than willing to send you coupons. If you use their coupons, then you’ll most likely end up buying more, right?

There are also several stores(smaller natural grocery stores and mass supermarkets) that offer store coupons instead of manufacture coupons and most of them will allow you to “stack” coupons – which means even more money saved! These stores include Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Henry’s Farmers Market, Mother’s Market, and even certain supermarkets that carry a wide selection of organic and natural products. The bottom line is that these markets, whether small or big, want to try to appeal to a wide array of customers and since organic and natural products are becoming more popular, they want to lure their customers into their stores with money-saving opportunities. With the economy the way it is right now, it’s a win-win situation for the farmers and manufacturers, the markets, and the consumers.

Buying organic and natural products and food takes some practice because you can always go to the most convenient store nearby, but you may not be getting  the best price. Of course, if you have to drive 20 miles just to get organic grapes for 10 cents cheaper, then it’s probably not worth the gas money unless you’re planning on buying other things. Get to know your local supermarkets as well as the natural food stores and soon enough you’ll know where to get the freshest produce at the best price.

The key is to know what you’re buying, why you’re buying it, and then have fun shopping for them! When you buy organic and natural products, your body will thank you and your planet will reap the benefits as well. By eating organic produce as much as possible, you’re ensuring that your body doesn’t contain toxic chemicals that can store  inside your system for a long time and those with fragile immune systems (for whatever reasons) or young children especially need to eat more organic foods. Organic products also help the environment in that the farms and manufacturers uses sustainable methods to help improve the conditions of  the environment and in long-term health, the less toxic chemicals in your body, the better.

If you want more information on organic and natural food and products, take a look at my blog titled, “Living Organically and Naturally” and you’ll find a good list of organic and natural companies to choose from.

 

Who likes to have clean hands? Raise your hand if you do – and hopefully they’re not dirty. But if they are and you don’t have soap and water handy, then reach for your CleanWell hand sanitizers.

Hand sanitizers have come a long way and there are so many choices out there. The gamut runs from antibacterial to organic to alcohol free.  There are also many fragrances to choose from, including fragrance-free which is a better choice for families with young children. But if you do use  fragrant hand sanitizers, it’s best to use those that contain essential oils extracted from flowers or plants because it’s non-toxic in the sense that it’s not chemically-made scents.

CleanWell hand sanitizers are made from botanical ingredients such as Thyme, Lavender, and Lime and include herbs such as Bergamot, Spearmint, and Ginger. All the scents blend well naturally and without any toxic residues left on your skin. CleanWell’s patented blend of essential oils harnesses the natural antiseptic power of thyme which can destroy 99.99% of germs including MRSA (resistant Staph) , E.Coli, and Salmonella. With the recent salmonella scare going around, it never hurts to have a CleanWell hand sanitizer nearby. It sanitizes on contact so instant “kapow” on those pesky germs.

CleanWell’s products are also biodegradable so you know it’s better for the environment.  They don’t contain harsh toxic chemicals such as Triclosan, Benzalkonium, and Alcohol so they are naturally non-stinging as well. I’ve used alcohol-based hand sanitizers before and if I had a paper cut somewhere on my hand that I wasn’t aware of, it was an instant ouch factor.

I was given the CleanWell travel-size hand sanitizers in Original Scent and Orange Vanilla to try. I could instantly smell the fragrance of Thyme when I sprayed my hands. The travel-sized hand sanitizers come in a flat, easy-to-carry spray bottle with an easy and mess-free lid. In fact, the packaging is so unique, you can probably stick the travel-sized hand sanitizer in your pocket without it looking obvious (and men – if you don’t think hand sanitizers are “cool”, then you’ll definitely like these cool-looking travel-sized hand sanitizers). The Original Scent doesn’t have much of a scent to them except Thyme and their patented blend of essential oils. It’s actually quite strong of a scent and if you’re accustomed to the smell of herbs, then it’s a rather refreshing aroma. The Orange Vanilla has a slightly sweet scent to it and since both orange and vanilla emits such stimulating scents, they harmonize well together. I could instantly smell the aromatic herb, Thyme  as well as orange oil and vanilla lingering in the background.

CleanWell also produces hand soaps and pocket wipes and they also come in an assortment of great scents! For more information on CleanWell, please visit: http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/

 

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form.As always, please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). 

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Hi Folks! Keep checking back on my blog. There will be several exciting and wonderful giveaways coming soon! The giveaways will give everyone an opportunity to win some fabulous prizes from companies who are willing to share their products with you – free!

Long before I had my son, I worked at a department store. In the women’s shoe dept. to be exact. My usual customers were old ladies who were always receptive of suggestions and business women who knew exactly what they wanted; purchased their shoes and left. But I also had a distinct group of women whom I called “The Harried Moms”.  The Harried Moms were women who came in with their kid(s) and strollers laden with shopping bags and mocha lattes dripping down the cup holders. Harried Moms were women who knew what they wanted to shop for but has little time to make a good choice so they end up with something sensible.

Well, the other day I think I became a “Harried Mom”. I noticed this when my son and I were browsing around at our local farmers market with no intent on purchasing anything specific. It was more of a lets-get-out-of-the-house-on-such-a-beautiful-day sort of trip and my son thoroughly enjoys walking  around the farmers market and seeing all the different vendors. We stopped at practically every stand, sampling something if it looked delectable (and sanitary) and my son grabbing at every fruit and vegetable he can get his hands on.  We did however pick up our favorite pita chips and some huge organic peaches after my son exclaimed that he wanted some peaches. So I picked out a few peaches that didn’t have soft spots on them and as I handed the cashier my money, my son  pulled on a bunch of grapes next to us and out of the corner of my eye I can see the grapes about to topple off the table. I quickly grabbed the bag of peaches with one hand and with the other nimbly pushed the grapes back onto the table. I then quickly grasped my son’s hand and we took off. And then a sudden thought came into my head – I didn’t thank the cashier! Now some of you may be thinking what’s the big deal but it’s a big deal to me because it reminded me of my shoe selling days and those moms with kids in tow desperate to try on something cute but end up rushing out the shoe department in a huff. I never got “thanked” for helping them with their purchase and being a part-time babysitter while they were trying on shoes.

And as I think back to those “harried moms” I remember them hastily parking their stroller in front of the cashier station and throwing either cash or credit cards onto the counter hoping I would hurry up with the transaction. I remember commenting to my co-workers how those moms never bothered to thank me for helping them and I even got a bit spiffed now and then when I spent a major amount of time helping them. I never thought to sympathize with their plight although I did realize the situation they were in.

So although I wasn’t totally rude when I didn’t thank the lady at the farmers market but I did recall that she was rather pleasant and had thanked me and asked us for a return visit as we were scrambling away. But I figure I’ll make up the offense by thanking as many cashiers and salespersons from now on whether they were attentive to my agitated state of mind or not. After all, who knows more about being harried than a professed harried mom like me.

Here are some informative websites that I thought you might find good info on. I’ll add to this list as I find good articles and info. New sites will be on TOP.

Free Life Cereal bars from Walmart: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid89908.aspx

Interesting article on why men are more forgetful than women: http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/09/07/memory-loss-more-common-in-men-than-women/

Informative article on the health and environmental impact of eating meat: http://www.drgreene.com/perspectives/2010/09/08/fight-global-warming-eating-lower-food-chain

Want to try Nature’s Gate products? Here’s a coupon for $2.60 off any product. But hurry, coupon expires on 9/30/2010. http://www.kiwimagonline.com/EmailBlasts/2010/MomsMeet/naturesgatededicated/coupon.pdf

Here’s a list of WHY GO ORGANIC: http://www.organicvalley.coop/why-organic/overview/

Organic Strawberries: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-organic-strawberries-20100902,0,2328389.story

Toys and children’s products recall: http://www.toysrusinc.com/safety/

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It seems that more and more people nowadays are having a hard time conceiving a child. For some  it’s an ongoing battle, for others they have given up entirely and was probably told by their doctors that they’ll never be able to conceive. It’s immensely sad but very true. I’ve known people who have tried for many years and are still unable to conceive. Some are still unwavering in their mission to have their own child; others have decided to give up.

There are many reasons that causes infertility. And the ironic thing is – age isn’t necessarily a factor in the inability to conceive. I’ve heard from friends who’s doctors have told them that they are past their “age” which I thought was pretty ridiculous. I told them to get a second opinion – or several more. Yes, age does matter in the whole biological-physiological spectrum and science has proven that the health of  the sperm and egg does decrease after a certain age and even the ovaries ability to release eggs for fertilization may become affected with age. But I have also met women well in their 40’s and 50’s who have conceived albeit with a little medical intervention. And then on the other side of the scale there are women who are in their early 20’s and 30’s who have had problems conceiving.

Infertility or any aspect of it is such a sensitive topic. No one really wants to discuss it outside of their spouses let alone hearing from their doctors that they are infertile. It’s a dreaded word for couples who so desperately want to have a child of their own. But the reason I’m writing this is because I want people to know that there is hope! First of all, the most important thing is to take a deep breath and realize that there are many options out there (besides adoption). You just have to find the underlying problem.

My husband and I always knew we wanted to have children. But before we started I knew I had to get my body and mental health in optimum shape. I’ve always considered myself to be pretty healthy – I try to eat well, I exercise, I don’t drink alcohol or smoke.  So I started to take my prenatal vitamins as suggested by my OBGYN, I practiced Dayan Qigong more regularly to enhance my internal health, I ate better, and I eliminated caffeine products entirely. After a few months of trying to conceive, I decided I needed an extra boost of help – and help came along the lines of my father and sister who are both doctors. I wasn’t infertile by any means, but with  certain obstacles in the way (such as age and stress) I wanted to be sure to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.  Realistically, getting pregnant isn’t as easy as you think – forget about soap operas where the girl spends one night with the guy and then discovers months later that she’s pregnant. That happens all too rarely. And if you happen to get pregnant on the first try – then that’s great news. So I decided to do a little research of my own and realized that the environment actually has a great part in this whole infertile scheme.

So you factor in age, and you factor in the environment, add a little prayer and what is the result? Well, the ability to conceive relies a whole lot on how well your body can ovulate, on the health of your eggs and your partner’s sperms, and timing. But there is more to that and most regular doctors won’t concede to the fact that our environment plays a key role in how our bodies work. Some fertility specialists have done research of their own and can count that as part of the reason and while recent research and data has supported the evidence that the environment and what we eat can contribute to infertility, I hope people can become more aware of what they do to their bodies prior to conception.

So you may ask why is the environment a culprit in infertility? Because the environment is the air we breathe and the atmospheric substances that travel into our bodies through our skin. If our bodies are consistently exposed to toxic chemicals whether through the foods we ingest or through skin contact, these toxic chemicals start to break down our delicate endocrine system thus resulting to various health problems. Toxins stay in our body and not all toxins can get eliminated through the daily excretion process. Our liver and kidneys work strenuosly to eliminate these toxins, but if one has an overexposure to certain toxins (like cigarette smoke and harmful chemicals), then those toxins stay in our body and eventually corrupt our major organs, including the ovaries and the women’s reproductive organs. Once these reproductive organs become compromised then it’s harder to reverse the damages.

My father who is a retired doctor has treated many women with infertility issues. He became worldly known as an infertility specialist although his specialty is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture. He explained to me that the kidneys govern the reproductive organs and if the kidneys are weak or hold too much toxins, then the reproductive organs will become greatly affected. I then went through a series of acupuncture from my sister (who is a doctor of TCM and acupuncture as well) and special herbs targeted at strenghthening the kidneys and the reproductive organs. I figure that this will give Mother Nature a helping hand and a slight advantage over other women who aren’t doing anything to help their fertility.

After a series of acupunture treatments and ongoing herbs, my dad read my pulse (proper TCM and acupuncture practice) and noticed that my kidneys have become stronger and my overall health better. By eating a strict diet, avoiding toxic chemicals in the house and in my body, and reducing my stress level, I felt it greatly increased my chances at conceiving.

So if you’re thinking about conceiving a child or have had endless problems, then examine your lifestyle first and do your best in eliminating all kinds of toxins in your body and your environment. I stayed away from people who smoked, stopped using my not-so-environmentally safe cleaning materials, and upped my intake of organic produce.

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