Five Fun Facts on Friday

Without further ado….here are five fun facts from my little world.

1. Thrift Store Madness

Thrift stores can be both good and bad. Good, because you can find all kinds of great things at some really good prices. Bad, because well I have a tendency to want to visit 2-3 times a week. 

Well this cold weather tends to paralyze me and in return I want to stay home and do nothing. Bundling up the kids and loading everyone up in the car turns into a two hour process and sometimes brings me to near tears. I finally had enough of being held hostage in my own home and it warmed up to 60 degrees so I decided to visit  a nearby thrift store called Thrift Town. 

Boy am I glad I made that little trip because I came home with $30 worth of some exciting treasures. The most expensive thing I bought was $2.99! I bought both Sophie and Jack a few items of clothing. I also found a Dora Memory game that I thought would be a good family night treat. I also found some great activity books for Sophie. I’m always on the hunt for these things! She loves learning and doing activities. My favorite….a cook book by the Pioneer Woman for $2.99! My items ranged from $.29-$2.99. I couldn’t have been happier!

2. Tea Mania

A while back I mentioned that Zulily was having a sale on Numi Organic Teas. I took advantage of this deal and bought a 3 pack of their assorted collection for $13. I’m loving the variety. The assortment has Green Teas like Jasmine Green and Mate Lemon. It also offers Black Teas like Early Grey and Golden Chai. Pu-erh Teas like the Chocolate Pu-erh and Cardamom are some of my favorites. There’s also White Tea and Herbal Teasans. What I absolutely love is there is a variety from no caffeine, medium caffeine, and high caffeine so you have some great choices to pick from.

3. Silicone Ice Pop Makers

After reading a post from 100daysofrealfood I fell in love with this idea so much I went on Amazon and bought two packages. I’m happy to say we’ve already experimented with these and absolutely love them! They are easy to use and clean. Gear up for spring and summer with these and you won’t be disappointed. Here's a recipe we’ve already tried.

4. Yoga is my new friend

If you’ve been reading my posts and you follow me on Instagram then you already know about my new affinity with yoga. For one, I love that my YMCA offers yoga classes so I can drop off my kids in their child care program and be in bliss for two whole hours! Second, it is a great workout. I do a fitness yoga so I’ve woken up sore but it is completely worth the pain. I also love how we focus on our breathing, flexibility, stretching, and balance all in one session.

5. Super Bowl Sunday is Near

I love watching football. Not so much college, my apologies to all the fans. This Sunday my family and I will watch the game and eat some great food while enjoying the company of others. I’d also like to add that my hubby had the incredible opportunity to do a commercial for IDEA public schools with NBA legend, David Robinson (GO SPURS). The commercial will be aired at some point during the Super Bowl but it will only air in the RGV. So for all my friends in the RGV be on the lookout! FYI, any other commercials you may have seen he’s done those too but this one is special due to the fact he got to meet a legend. My husband won’t brag about it so I will. :)

Well there you have it friends, my fun facts on Friday! Have a good weekend! 

*The above products and business are my own personal reviews and opinions. I did not get paid for this advertisement. *

Herbal Remedies for Infants

The last few days I have found myself intrigued by herbs and its natural healing abilities. For the last few months my 8 month old baby has had congestion. I do believe a big part of the problem is an allergy to cow's milk so I have switched his formula to soy. I wish I could wave a wand and speed up this process but he's only been drinking it for about 2-3 weeks so I won't be seeing any results until a few more weeks of consistency. 

On top of this annoyance my baby along with my other two kids have suffered stuffy noses, running noses, and coughs with this crazy weather change. If you are a mother of an infant you know then that you have very limited resources to help them out. Today I'd like to share with a you a few of my favorite remedies that seem to be helping my kids out (especially the little one).

*Please note, like anything else please use caution, do your research, and/or ask your physician. *

1. Gaia Kids Sniffle Support Herbal Drops

This one has been great for my infant. The label gives instructions on how many drops to use based on the age of the child. I add the suggested amount into his bottle and I do that 2-3 times a day. So what's in it? 7 herbs, water, and pure vegetable glycerin. That is it! They are all words I can pronounce and easily research. Here's what I've found about them and believe me there is so much more benefits to each of them.

 - Elderberries

Used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, improve vision, boost the immune system, improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. 

- Elderflower

It has been used in traditional medicine all over the world in many different cultures due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The most common uses are for colds and flu, sinus infections, and other respiratory disturbances. Elderflower has antibacterial and antiviral properties and may also help alleviate some allergies and boost the functioning of the immune system. 

- Eyebright

It is used as an anti-inflammatory for hay fever, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and catarrh (inflammation of the mucous membranes). As an astringent, it is used for dry congestion. There is an herbal smoking mix of the dried herb that is used for bronchial colds. It also can be used for seasonal allergies and other nasal irritations.

- Plantain

The leaves as well as the juice have been widely used as topical substances for treating sunburns, stings, insect bites, snakebites, poison ivy breakouts, rashes, burns, blisters, and cuts. But it has also been used for many centuries in treating sore throats, coughs, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and mouth sores.

- Fenugreek seed

Its seeds have been used in many traditional medicines as a laxative, digestive, and as a remedy for cough and bronchitis. 

- Anise seed

Anise preparations are an excellent remedy for asthma, bronchitis cough as well as digestive disorders such as flatulence, bloating, colicky stomach pain, nausea and indigestion. Anise seed water is very helpful in relieving running nose condition in infants. 

- Thyme Leaf

Throat gargling with tepid thyme water or drinking few sips of thyme tea may help relieve coughs, sore throat, and bronchitis symptoms.

- Vegetable glycerin

This can be used as a substitute for ethanol — the chemical commonly called “alcohol” — in making botanical extracts, such as herbal essences. It acts as a solvent that dissolves the substances of interest from the raw plant material. There are also medical uses for vegetable glycerin. It is a common ingredient in cough mixtures, due to its soothing properties. 

2. Herbal Rub

Make your child an herbal rub by mixing 4 tablespoons of olive oil and 8-10 drops of Rosemary essential oil. Rub the child's chest or back and then cover or swaddle. 

Rosemary is a great natural remedy for respiratory problems. Breathing in the scent of the essential oil may help with congestion due to colds, allergies, respiratory infections, and the flu. You may also boil fresh rosemary in a pot of water, place it in a bowl, and breathe in the steam to help clear the lungs and throat. This will also help with any sinus or head pain associated with respiratory conditions.

3. Cool mist vaporizer at night with Eucalyptus essential oil

I use one of these on a dresser where my kids can't reach. You don't want it to close to the infant or child because the machine creates a steam and it could cause burns to their face.

4. Steam baths

If congestion is present with the cough then take the child into the bathroom, run a hot shower until the room gets steamy, and sit in the steam with the child to help loosen lung congestion. I like to put a few drops of Eucalyptus oil on the floor while the bathroom is steamy. By the way I've also used J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary Relief Mist for my showers. You spray away from face toward center of room or shower and the vapors bring relief especially during cold and allergy season.

5. Herbal Bath

Give the child a warm bath with essential oils of Eucalyptus, Sage, or Rosemary.

6. Chestal Honey Children's Cough Relief

Due to the fact that this has honey in it I've only used this on the two older kids. 

So what do you use for your little ones? Curious to know if there are more remedies out there that you'd like to share.

*The following links are resources I've found helpful during this research process.*

Holistic Mamas

http://holisticmamas.com/natural-remedies-for-coughs-in-babies

Green Med Info

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/medicinal-properties-plantain

Wellness Mama

http://wellnessmama.com/5193/herb-profile-rosemary/

Herbal Wisdom

http://www.herbwisdom.com

*The above products are my own personal reviews and opinions. I did not get paid for this advertisement. *

People + Lessons = What Kind of Response?

No matter where you turn you will be faced with a decision; you can accept the life lesson God has in front of you or you can ignore it. Warning: If you haven’t figured it out yet, if you ignore it chances are you’ll have to face a repeat until you surrender and change. God is pretty good at making sure you come out of the process refined and a “learned student.”

Our lessons come in all shapes and sizes. They come in forms of annoying co-workers, disobedient children, angry drivers, impatient spouses and the list can go on for eternity. 

So why does this happen? In my personal experience if my lessons were on repeat it was usually because I failed to respond in a way that proved to God I had cruised through it with flying colors. In those moments God is concerned with how we respond. It is tempting at times to point the finger and say, “hey God did you not notice how incredibly rude that lady was to me?” So maybe someone was rude, maybe that co-worker isn’t the finest individual, maybe you didn’t deserve that hurt or pain but the lessons are in the responses. 

In my case, as CEO of Idol Inc. and Home, my employees come in the form of demanding little people I call my precious children. Apparently I haven’t succeeded too well in the area of patience because this is a lesson I’m dealing with on a daily basis. As a parent I’m sure I will face this until the day I die, but in the tough moments when I want to yell and spank out of anger I need to step back and think about my response. Were my children out of line or am I grumpy by self-infliction due to a late night marathon on television? On a number of occasions it has been either one or both of those. Stop, reflect, and respond to the lesson.

Life is filled with these opportunities of growth. 

In my early 20s I used to volunteer with this other young guy. We had to work together a lot. We organized events and managed teams of people and for the life of me I could not stand working with him. Every time we were assigned someone to work with he was my partner. It wasn’t until one day I finally asked God why was I always put on this guy’s path. In that moment where I was clearly right and this other person was annoyingly wrong (so I thought) God’s response was shocking to me. You will work with him until you let go of your pride, humble yourself, and realize you have something to learn from him. Ouch! Once I did that our gatherings with one another seemed more pleasant. I realized I was the problem. The verse in Proverbs  27:17 was loud and clear, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

God is on a mission to mold and shape us to be more like him. We will never be perfect on this Earth but we are challenged to be a light, make a difference, be imitators of Christ, be a lesson to someone else, or learn a lesson from someone else. So the next time you see a life lesson coming your way take a deep breath and ask God to teach you something through it. May your response be the shock and awe factor that brings others to be mesmerized by what or WHO it is that makes you different.

Comfort in God's Consistency

Without fail the sun rises and sets; you can bank on it. What you can't predict is what it will look like. Some evenings when the sun goes down it paints the sky in the most beautiful shades of pink and orange. I've seen a few gorgeous sunsets but I've never been able to capture its glorious colors with my camera. Then there are some days that it just preforms its duty by rising and setting. 

The only time God has ever threw his people off their groove with the sun was thousands of years ago and it hasn't happened since. Joshua 10:12-14 says,

Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.

Pretty interesting story. During battle Joshua asked the Lord to not let the sun go down so they could continue to fight in daylight. We don't know why God chose to answer Joshua's request, but I do know that leading up to that moment Joshua had a proven track record of obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. I am not suggesting that everyone who is faithful and obedient will be granted every request by God, but I do know that when you walk with Him he hears you and he listens. And if you feel like you've been distant from Him know that He is still there; constant like the sun. 

I'm reminded of another scripture in Hosea 6:3, 

As surely as the sun rises he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Find comfort in God's consistency. The sun rises every morning and The Son will be there for you every morning. He will appear. There may be seasons of silence and if you've been in a place that seems alone and desolate He is still there. The Lord will fight for you as he fought for Israel. 

That is what I love about the Lord. You can find Him in all things; in stories, in creation, in silence, in chaos, and in the sun.

Five Fun Facts on Friday

Here are a few of my favorite things lately, five to be exact...

#1 - My Magic Cleaner
An episode on the television show Shark Tank won me over on this one. Better Life's natural all-purpose cleaner. The cleaner was created by two dads. One is a top formulation chemist and the other is a strong believer in a cleaner, greener world. It is safer and more effective cleaner that cuts through grease and grime. I spotted this 32oz baby at my local Sprout's Farmer's Market for $5.99

#2 - 100 Days of Real Food Website
I love this blog! It's the story of one family's journey who seeks out real food in a real processed food world. Available until January 27th only you can purchase "Real Lunches, Real Easy" a 6-Week school lunch meal plan for just $9! I recently purchased my E-Guide and I can't wait to use my kids as little guinea pigs. I don't know about you but seeking lunch recipes are always the hardest for me. I hate reverting to PBJ's and turkey sandwiches; I like variety in my menu. It is extremely well laid out and I love supporting other mommy bloggers!

#3 - Plant Fusion Protein
Without fail every night before bed my kids always sing the same song, "mom I'm hungry!" I read once that children typically have to eat snacks in between meals because their stomachs are small and can only hold in so much food. I hated always scratching my head trying to figure out what to feed them that was quick and easy. Behold, Plant Fusion Protein in chocolate flavor! I give them a cup of this with a piece of fruit and it works like a charm! It is free of all major allergens and it tastes yummy too! I bought mine at our local Sprout's Farmers Market for $21.99 and lucky for me they had all vitamin products at 20% off.

#4 - Scrumptious Vegetable Lasagna
Food Babe has me on cloud 9 with recipes. So much to try with so little time. The other day we had a family over for dinner who have been on a vegetarian journey for three years now. Thanks to Food Babe's Vegetable Lasagne with No Noodles I hit a a home run with this one. This is a must try!

#5 - Ayurvedic Cures for your biggest health complaints
This here and here of Dr. Oz was extremely interesting. The ancient healing practice that treats your body type! They read my body type to a "T." I haven't tried the treatment yet but I'm sure you'll hear about it in a future blog post!

Happy Friday Friends!

*The above products are my own personal reviews and opinions. I did not get paid for this advertisement. *

Psalm 13 and a Mess of Thoughts

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. - Psalm 13

King David is the author of this passage of scripture. The entire passage except for the last two sentences sound completely depressing. The words he uses paint such a picture of despair, deep pain, and torn emotions. Based on commentaries I've researched the particular passage does not point to a specific event in David's life as to why he may have written this way but I love the raw emotion in it. I love it because I've felt exactly like that before. What I love even more is how he wraps it all up with hope. God I've babbled on and on about what I'm feeling but you get me and you know where I'm at (my commentary).

God wants to be the first one we run to when we are down hearted and hurt. This is not the time to impress or act like you have it all together. We forget He knows and sees everything anyway. He just wants the real you. Will the real Lora Idol stand up please? So let it all out. Cry. Write. Meditate. Let us all take a lesson from David and do whatever it is that pulls it all out of you.

But please don't forget that in the end there is hope. Like the Psalm says, trust because he knows better. His love is unfailing so don't worry, He'll be there. Rejoice, even when it's difficult because He is worthy. And don't forget to sing because in the midst of it all He's been good to you.

A Peek into Date Night

I have a feeling that from now on date nights with my hubby are going to be filled with mini adventures and splendid surprises. San Antonio is just filled with so many restaurant options and quaint little coffee shops. My husband and I decided since we are newbies to this amazing city our date nights would be comprised of new finds and new foods. Everyone has their "go to" restaurants and we absolutely love our favorites but we also enjoy trying new things. Well, this weekend we hit the jack pot!

For dinner we went to Cured Restaurant. The building reminds me of a court house. If I were passing by I'd never think it was a restaurant. The restaurant had an urban casual feel. The place is typically pretty hopping so if you don't have a reservation it is a bit difficult to get a table. Lucky for us they had two seats at the bar and were willing to serve us there. It is located right in the hub of Pearl Brewery.

Below are a few pics of our meal. As an appetizer we had the Pumpkin & Pepper Salad with smoked pecans, preserved celery, and local goat cheese. The insane flavors that rested on my tongue were just absolutely amazing. We shared the main course, Pork Cheeks "Poutine" and it was definitely enough to fill both of our bellies. The pork just melted in my mouth. It sat over a bed of fries and cheese chunks with bits of cauliflower. We had the Winter Dessert which comprised of a carrot and cardamom cheesecake with quince caramel and stuffed lady apples. AMAZING! My entire meal experience there was enough to brag about. I highly recommend this place. Just a note, it is the sort of place for special occasions and not kid friendly.

Because we still had time to spare we decided to hit a place for dessert. Even though we already had dessert at the Cured we figured a round two with a cup of something warm was in order. We came across Bird Bakery in Alamo Heights. When we arrived it appeared as though they were closing up shop but the staff was so friendly and welcoming they didn't turn us away. They insisted we stayed and enjoyed our treats while they cleaned up and put things away. It was actually really nice just the two of us sat and enjoyed one another's company all alone in this beautifully rustic chic bakery.

The hubby and I shared a half dozen of mini cupcakes (carrot and red velvet). I had a cup of tea while Mitch enjoyed an Americano. My tea was served in the cutest little tea cup and saucer. So cute I had to buy one for myself!

The bakery was filled with so many other cute things to buy from home decor to the neat paper place mats in my photo collage above. Since I'm on a tea kick I also purchased a tin of tea, Zhi Cacao Chai. Can't wait to try it!

So not only was this little piece of heaven quaint and divine and the staff were friendly and welcoming but the owners are also some pretty neat people. Have you seen the movie Lone Ranger? Armie Hammer and his wife Elizabeth Chambers, native of San Antonio, own this great bakery.

So there it is folks! You just traveled into date night with the Idols.