Natural Sunscreen

I just made a large batch of natural sunscreen that I mentioned in my last post. If anyone wants to buy a couple ounces to try, there is plenty. Its a recipe I found in the same magazine as the green cleaners.

The sunscreen contains: coconut butter, beeswax, sesame oil, zinc oxide, and water. I also added citronella, rosemary, and eucalyptus essential oils to deter mosquitos and ticks. It seems to go on nicely and you only need a little bit. The directions say to reapply after swimming, but after the time I had cleaning this stuff of my kitchen equipment, I'd say the beeswax makes it fairly water resistant. It also left my skin nice and soft. I'm asking for $3.00/oz to help defray the cost of all the ingredients. Which if you buy California Babies ($9/oz) it's a bargain!

Greener Cleaner

I used to be a very cluttered person. And I never really knew how to clean. But as I have begun to cleanse internally, the mental and emotional clutter has started to clear and naturally, I now desire an external space that reflects my internal space.  Suffice it to say, I now can be found cleaning and tidying a lot more often than I ever thought I would. When things are in order it gives me a sense of peace. It is very calming.  Cleaning gurus "as seen on TV" often speak to the opposite order of things, that organizing your space will give you mental clarity. While that may be true, I see that as more of a band-aid. A symptom reliever - like taking a pain reliever for a headache.  Something that masks the symptom but does not heal the source.  From my studies of homeopathy, I have learned that we heal from inward to outward, therefore permanent change can only start on the inside. You know, the same that any weight loss program will tell you. You have to heal the deeper problem to be able to truly heal and ultimately achieve a healthy body.  

Ok blah blah blah, fast forward. I clean a lot now and obviously I want to move away from chemical cleaners so that when I do so I am not giving us or our planet a dose of toxins.  I have switched mostly away from paper towels, though I find them quite necessary for dog accidents and other equally foul jobs.  I use micro-fiber towels and rags for all of my wiping needs these days.  They work well and can be thrown in the laundry with our abundance of dish towels and cloth napkins.  

I have found that pumice stone, the one made to scrub callouses off your feet, does a fantastic job at removing hard water stains from the toilets, tubs, and showers.   I still use a commercially prepared green cleaner for general toilet scrubbing. Well, let's just call it yellow- green, because its made by Clorox and I intend to stop purchasing their products sooner rather than later. But the ingredients are natural so at least it has that going for it.

I use a lot of lemons. At least a dozen a week, probably more.  I felt bad throwing the rinds in the compost knowing they contained all that lovely lemon oil that could be used if I could only get to it.  Thank goodness for Google.  I learned that throwing a bunch of rinds in a bath tub overnight could then be drained and shined to a gleaming finish. I was skeptical at first and so was Evan when he saw our tub with floating with the beginnings of lemonade. He was gracious enough to shake his head and dismiss it as one of my odd experiments.  It turns out it really did leave the tub sparkling and I got one more use out of the lemons before they were retired to the compost bin.

When we visited Vermont this winter I picked up a local green magazine called the Green Living Journal.  It was really a great little periodical. I really wish one existed in our area.  In it was a list of green cleaner and cosmetic recipes. I have tried a few so far. 

Tub Scrub:  Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda and enough liquid soap (I use Dr. Bronner's) to make a frosting-like consistency.  Great for scrubbing sinks, showers, and the like.   I then was informed I could add this mix to my dishwasher along with plain vinegar in the rinse cup. This worked very well but I should issue the caution that only a tiny bit was needed.  The first time I had a bit of a bubble-overflow all over the floor.

Spray Cleaner:  1 tsp Borax, 1/2 tsp detergent, 1/4 cup distilled vinegar and 2 cups of hot water. Mix and add to a spray bottle.

There are also recipes for floor shine, linoleum spray, window wash, toilet bowl, oven cleaner, drain cleaner, facial astringent, and lotion.  They also have a sesame oil sunblock which I plan to try very soon. I'll report back on that.

Attitude Adjustment

After several days of power struggles, tears, and way too much yelling I decided someone needed an attitude adjustment.

No, an attitude Overhaul. 

And that someone would be me.

Motherhood offers numerous personal growth opportunities as our children offer us a crystal clear mirror of who we are and who we present to the world.  Last week was a rough one for Ian and I.  I felt as if he were turning into an all-out brat. Screaming, power struggles, melt downs and then just down right meanness. There were moments I wanted to check out of the whole mothering thing and often I was mentally and emotionally checked out.  I was meeting these encounters with brute force. I was stuck in a mindset of winning. Like engaging in a struggle for power with him. I had to win because if I didn't he would "win" and then be empowered for a longer more drawn out display next time.   When the power struggle reduced to his tears and my yelling...and then eventually my tears of frustration, I still powered through. Firm I stood,  impenetrable to his efforts to manipulate me with his tears and anger. I am embarrassed to admit that I had made it practice to send him out of the room to cry and scream by himself.   While this never quite sat right with me as the best way to handle things, it was a far better option than to let his screaming start aggravating me so that we both lost it.  This happened too.  And from this I concluded that HE was turning into a brat and an angry child.  Talk about being a completely unconscious parent. 

  What I came to realize is that we were both miserable.  And what dawned on me one early morning was that I was modeling for him the very behavior I was trying to teach him not to do.   I want to raise a man who understands compromise, who not only treats people with kindness and respect, but who feels compelled to serve and protect those who can't do so for themselves.  Who listens to people, comforts them, and handles disappointments with dignity.  I was SAYING these lessons, but I wasn't living them.  As a family, he will learn how to navigate socially in this world based on the microcosm of our family dynamic. It is my role with my son to model desired behavior and I was failing to show him this example in our relationship.  How can a teach empathy and compassion unless I show him it unconditionally?

I want to raise a great husband for someone.  What I was currently doing was showing him BY EXAMPLE everything I didn't want him to be. Someone who argues, stands firmly against emotional outbursts, someone who abuses their power over people.

When this lightbulb lit up, I realized I was being given a glorious opportunity to grow as a human being.   "Be the change you want to see in the world."  Didn't someone quite evolved say that?  Oh yes. Ghandi.  

So I immediately made a shift.  When Ian seems to need attention or comfort from me, I give it  When he has something to say, I listen and validate.  Its not that I never did these things before, but often my own daily agenda would keep me from truly being present.  That's really all it is. I realized that when I was biting back or "standing firm" it was really just a matter my not being present with him in his moment. I was frustrated because he was putting a crimp in my routine. I am learning that when I am present, those struggles seem to melt away. 

Thanks to my friend Erin Goodman's beautifully written blog, she opened my eyes to my role in helping Ian re-center himself after a meltdown.   Particularly this entry.  Why hadn't it occurred to me before? He is relatively new here, to this place called earth. He's been here for 3 years. He doesn't have the experience or neural connections to handle disappointments in a graceful way and it is my unique privilege as his mother to teach him these things.  So now when he is melting down, I try to listen. To validate, to be present and hold him.  And then if he still just needs to cry, I hold the space for that.  Isn't that what we want when we are upset?  Sometimes I just want someone to listen to my rant and not judge it, fix it, or rush it along.  This is very challenging but have found the more present I am the quicker it passes.   

Filling my role as his mother in this way has also been more gratifying for me.  I am enjoying being his mother again.  And I think he might be enjoying being my son again.  After a rough few days, that is a very good thing.   There is a fine line between allowing him to run the show and allowing him to feel empowered and heard.  But in each interaction, I have a choice. I have a choice whether to meet him with anger or sweetness. I have a choice whether to respond with kindness or impatience. Either route will lead me to my end goal, but one way is a whole lot more enjoyable for everyone. Why not take the time and choose the one I hope he chooses as an adult?  Choose kindness. Choose peace. That's what I want him to learn.  This new approach seems to be paying off. My sweet, thoughtful, intelligent and generally happy child has re-emerged.  Ian is so forgiving of me as I stumble through parenthood.   For that I am truly grateful. 

Brain Building vs. Brain Rot

My friend gave me a book, Endangered Minds: Why Children Don't Think- and What We Can Do About It.  I just started it last week and was immediately hooked. I still have a long way to go but the concepts, even in the first chapter or two are fascinating.  I've struggled with the whole concept of Ian and television. Should I allow it? Is it really that bad? Is it really harmless?  How much is too much?  So over the last year we have phased in a moderate amount of television time, usually about an hour on most days.  It's pretty limited to Curious George and Sid the Science Kid so there is some educational component.  Even this is concerning to me because it never quite sat right since I know that it certainly isn't adding value to his brain development.  Then I would reason that he is awake for 12 hours so what harm does 1 hour do? Ok occasionally it was more than 1 hour. The draw of TV is seductive to me too.  I'll just put on George so I can make dinner, I'd think.  Or worse, so I can check my email.  And other than his shows, the TV is rarely on during daytime hours.  It is saved for sickness or a stretch of inclement weather.

But then I read some of this book and realized how our children's ability to read and comprehend is quickly going down the crapper in this generation. The book includes fascinating observations from lifelong child educators and a smattering of examples of declining test scores. So in an effort to bring some balance to the TV watching in this house, I've decided on a potentially long term solution.  Ian may watch TV in equal time to how much we read together..and eventually how much he reads.  And night time stories do not count as they have always been part of our routine.  Ok, honestly long car rides also will not count, but using the Wii does get docked from earned book time minutes. I am sure in the future I will need to put a cap on the TV portion, but for now I figure this will inspire me to read more to my son and then also alleviate my guilt for allowing the boob tube for a bit of daily reprieve.  I'm reasoning that at least I will be helping build up some brain cells as fast as the brain rot tries to set in.  Ok, that may be a bit excessive but I do think that over time this practice will help keep in balance the whole TV issue, for both of us. . It will jut be The Way It Is.  Of course, I do have the hope that I will inspire in him a love for books and reading as the most intelligent people I have ever known are avid readers with impressive vocabularies. 

So this morning, when Ian awoke at a time no human should be awake which in our house is anytime before 6 am, instead of being cranky about it, I went and crawled in bed with him.  Figuring there was no time like the present, I suggested books.  He picked four and crawled up and we snuggled and read. We discussed the concepts, both obvious and abstract.  I tried to point out some lessons. Planting seeds of comprehension.  In no time 30 minutes had passed and he picked four more books.  So for one very enjoyable early morning hour, we enjoyed some quiet cuddling time reading and talking.  At one point he looked at me sweetly and said, "Thank you mommy for reading to me."  (Really, he did!) It was so genuine and touching so I know I am onto something. Maybe it will be our daily morning ritual.  A gentle way to connect and start the day. 

Keeping Hydrated

I've recently been making a bit of an effort to stay better hydrated. I've never been much of a water-drinker so this is more of a chore than anything else.  But I wanted to blog briefly about my new work-out beverage of choice: fresh coconut water.  This is considered one of the purest forms of water on the planet with an electrolyte profile and composition similar to human plasma, nothing hydrates quite like it. (It has been said that coconut water has been used for blood transfusions during war).  I've been hitting spin class 2-3 times a week.  From my experience, in order for it to be a good spin class, one must leave looking like they just took a shower.  Therefore, hydration is key.  Since starting to bring one bottle of coconut water and one regular filtered well water, I have noticed a marked increase in endurance. I feel like I can push myself harder and have more energy for the duration.  So I highly suggest fresh coconut water from young thai coconuts for all your aerobic activity needs.  If you can't or don't want to obtain fresh water, then there is a product called vita-coco that claims to be fresh and unpasteurized. Not sure if its any good but worth a shot.

Most Whole Foods carry young coconuts in the produce section. For my local readers, Puritan and Genesta in Mystic also carries them. I generally order them by the case (or two) from Whole Foods to take advantage of the discount. I have ordered through P&G, Sandy's Fine Food Emporium in Westerly, and Belmont Market in Wakefield.  And if you do order them be ready to use the meat too....if not, send it my way. I freeze it in 2 cup portions and use it for soups, desserts, smoothies and more! 

CH-CH-CH-CHIA!

And no, I am not talking about the pet. Well, ok, same seeds different purpose.  I have read about "chia seeds" on various blogs, in articles, and on message boards. Usually a reference to having Chia seeds stuck in ones teeth. Hmmm, ok. Another type of seed to make a milk out of or throw on a salad perhaps?  So the last time I did a raw food bulk order Chia Seeds were on sale so I bought a bag...not having a clue at how to use them.  

They arrived.

They are tiny.  For some reason, just tossing them onto a salad didn't seem right they were too small. Intimidated by how to use this new ingredient, I tossed them in the pantry closet until I was inspired to experiment with them.  I began searching for recipes online.  I found LOTS of information about Chia seeds and how fantabulous they are. Rich in Omega 3's. Score! I don't eat meat or fish, so these fatty acids usually have to be purposely consumed.  I found a great informational site here.  So if you interested, go and read about them.  Don't worry, I'll wait.

Back?  Ok.  So now that you know they love water and love to absorb water and athletes use them to stay hydrated and apparently warriors survived on just Chia seeds or something like that, so I figure I'll try them.  I made a simple nut milk, sweetened with dates and flavored with real vanilla bean. (Scrumptious, intoxicatingly scented soft, fresh organic vanilla beans from the same bulk order).  Then tossed the chia seeds in.  In 20 minutes, voila!  Yummy, raw vanilla "tapioca" only with chia seeds.  Ian gobbled his up after he added some strawberries that he cut himself.  I mixed some silky carob powder (another experiment the same order) in and added rasberries and enjoyed a chocolate pudding dessert. Delicious.  Ian is already excited for breakfast tomorrow as I am imagining a bowl of chia pudding with fresh berries and bananas and maybe a drizzle of the fresh, local maple syrup we picked up last weekend at Uncle Buck's in Ashaway.

That's if the pudding makes it until tomorrow morning. Good thing its quick and easy to make!   

There are two other new ingredients/products I tried recently and I hope to blog more about Kelp Noodles and Wild Irish Moss soon, so stay tuned.

Purely Delicious

A couple of weeks ago I finally had the pleasure of dining at Pure Food and Wine  (PF&W) in NYC when we visited our friends Keith and David and attended the Westminster Dog show, where our girl Camber was being shown.

PF&W, for those that don't know, is THE raw, vegan restaurant.  All menu items are completely free of animal products and are not heated to temperatures greater than 118 degrees to preserve the nutrient content.  Most are organic and locally sourced whenever possible.  The atmosphere is sexy and inviting and the fare, nothing less than magical.  

It should be said that being relatively comfortable in the kitchen myself, I am not easily impressed with restaurant fare as most things I feel I can make better and obviously cheaper at home. Though there is a lot to be enjoyed when dining out as I do love having meals prepared for me on occasion and that goes a long way contributing to my enjoyment factor.  

Last summer, my friends Kelly, Jennifer, and I dined at Grezzo, the raw vegan restaurant in Boston opened by raw food guru Alissa Cohen.  The food was ok. Granted, I ordered the most unique items on the tasting menu in the name of research and development for my own creations. I was underwhelmed with the creativity and most of all the lackluster flavor and textures. I had to actually ask for sea salt as the meals were not seasoned at all.  One dish was called "ravioli, yet was simply sliced tomatoes covered with a bunch of microgreens - hardly a display of culinary expertise. However,  Kelly and Jen seemed to enjoy their meals so maybe I was being overly critical as I was prepared to be dazzled.  It's fair to say that while I was thrilled to finally try the restaurant owned by one of my favorite raw cookbook authors, Sarma Melngailis, I was not expecting the magic about to cross my palate.

Our reservations were for 7 pm on a Sunday evening.  The mood entering the restaurant was cool and sophisticated with the black and red tones and dimmed lighting.  The owner was tucked into the corner at her table having an intimate dinner meeting.  Our server was informative and friendly and when asked for suggestions, its safe to say he did not steer us wrong.  We began with the most delicious fruited sangria I've ever had and the evening was off to a very good start.

For the first course,  Keith and I shared the cheese plate.  Three types of nut-based cheeses were served along side rosemary crisps (a dehydrated raw cracker).  Now, I make raw cheeses from nuts. And so far, I have enjoyed them but they are decidedly more a spreadable cheese than a cutting cheese and the flavor is good, but its from the herbs I have added. These SLICEABLE nut cheeses tasted like, well, cheddar. So from the first bite I already had a clue that there were some seriously talented raw chefs hard at work in this place and I was increasingly excited for the remainder of the meal.  I have no idea how one creates a sliceable nut cheese so for now, I am on research quest to discover whatever this technique is.  The cheeses were also served along side an orange blossom honey which complimented the plate very well.  Evan ordered some form of cabbage roll containing a spicy fermented asian cabbage called Kimchee.  I apologize for my spotty memory of every dish on the table as it was a few weeks ago and I really should have taken detailed notes.  I do remember that Evan devoured his first course with gusto telling me between bites that I have to figure out how to make it.

For the main course I ordered a tomato tostada at the waiter's recommendation.  Honestly the details of this dish remain fogged by the euphoric enjoyment that ensued after the first bite.  The crunchy tostada layers, I assume made of dehydrated corn, were layered with delicious mexican ingredients including the most delectable southwestern flavored sauce. I dare anyone to try that and be able to distinguish a difference between it and a sour cream based sauce.  Try as I would to discern the components for future home re-creation, I couldn't. The flavors were too beautifully married, balanced to perfection and rather than dissect the ingredients I gave up and savored the experience.  

For dessert I ordered an apple galette with cinnamon ice cream and cinnamon syrup. Fully expecting it to be excellent, I was not disappointed.  The apples were tender, even though raw, as they seemed to be sliced very thin, possibly with a mandolin, to create the right mouthfeel of cooked apples.  Not sure if they were slightly dehydrated as well, but I am thinking no.  They were artistically pressed into a rectangle shape and served covered in a cinnamon syrup ( my guess, cinnamon and agave nectar) and cinnamon ice cream.  Raw ice-creams are generally made of young coconut meat and sometimes cashews.  I make these at home frequently and mine are never the correct texture for ice cream as the water content generally makes them freeze too hard so they lack some essentially creaminess.  Also the flavor usually carries a distinct background of coconut unless covered up by a very strong flavor such as chocolate or mint.  This however, was just ice cream. Indistinguishable from the very best of dairy based ice creams with the notable exception of them being easy to digest and, most of all, HEALTHY.  

After the ice-cream I was bowing down to the raw food gods and goddesses that work their magic in that kitchen because I was finally able to experience a restaurant meal that I did not feel I could duplicate at home.  I did quiz the waiter on the ice-cream components and technique however I was unable to figure out how to get my ice cream to be even a fraction as good as theirs so I am going to pass it off as they must have a really good commercial ice cream maker.  (After 2 weeks I am making some progress in this realm and am planning to try the cinnamon flavor today actually.)

I left the restaurant on a high...because that's what raw food does. It delivers the highest nutrient content, live enzymes and life energy to the body in the most easily digestible and delicious form.  As Keith most aptly stated, it feels like you had a decadent dining experience but without the aftermath of feeling bloated and lethargic.  You feel ALIVE just like the food. After all, you are what you eat.   Evan's comment was that we would need to eat there every time we visited the city. I heartily agreed.  It's not often that I am left in culinary awe and I will welcome that experience every chance I get. 

The following day I did take a walk over to Pure Juice and Take Away, the little juice cafe by the same owner.  I ordered a pint of cookies and cream ice cream and a raw mallomar. You know, those childhood favorite of graham cracker and marshmallow's covered in chocolate?   Well PF has taken these to a whole new level, a sophisticated, healthy level.  I enjoyed one with a cup of tea that afternoon.  Dessert that evening was my raw ice-cream....which I finished for breakfast on Tuesday morning.  Yes, raw ice cream for breakfast, what could be better?

Cookies 'n Cream

Raw Mallomar