Natural Moms Podcast #105
November 24, 2008 | 1 Comment
This week we are talking with Peggy Webb of West River Academy. We are talking about unschooling and eclectic homeschooling and what it all means for your family.
You can listen to the audio below or read on for the transcript of our conversation.
Carrie: You’re back with Carrie at Natural Moms Talk Radio. My guest this week is Peggy Webb, Director of the West River Academy. Hi, Peggy.
Peggy: Hi, Carrie. How are you? Thanks for having me today.
Carrie: Oh, I’m glad to talk with you. I was browsing your web site, and you have the most interesting thing going on. I’m not even sure how to describe it, but I’ll let you do that. We’re going to talk today about your philosophies and thoughts about unschooling, and how it fits into the over all homeschooling picture.
Peggy: Okay. I can start maybe by mapping out a homeschooling philosophy continuum, so that the listeners know where we are here.
More Better
November 21, 2008 | 3 Comments
Yesterday while playing at the park with the kids, my 7 year old son approached me with a very inquisitive look on his face.
He said,
“Mommy, how come out of all the families I see in the world, you treat me more better?”
I’ve never cried at the playground before.
7 For the Price of One
November 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
Wow.
Talk about bang for the buck, Kelly over at Moms Talk Ebooks just announced that all 7 of her ebooks are available for the price of one.
If you want to know more about make ahead/freezer cooking, organizing, budgeting or kids health, go check them out here.
Review: Lil’ Dressers Drawer Labels for Kids
November 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
The folks at Mostly Organized Moms sent me these Lil’ Dressers Drawer Labels for kids. In a nutshell these are reusable, stick on/pull off labels that help your child identify the clothing in their dresser drawers.
It helps them remember where there clothes are and also make laundry easier because even a young child who cannot read can see the pictures and put laundry in their dresser without your help.
There are packages for boys and girls. Each contains 18 labels: for shirts (long sleeved and short), pants, PJs (summer and winter), long undies, underwear, undershirts, swimsuits, sweaters, sweatshirt, socks, tights, etc depending on the gender.
I let my girls color these with markers to their heart’s content then helped them stick them on their drawers. Even my 3 year old understands what goes where now, so when I give her a pile of clean folded laundry she no longer has to query me over and over, “Where does dis go? Where does dis go?” LOL!
Included in the package are blank labels for your own unique needs. They stick on and easily pull off without any damage to furniture. Anything that can help us moms stay a little more organized and make things go more smoothly is good in my book!
These will be available December 1 at the Mostly Organized Moms website.
Review: Labor Kit
November 20, 2008 | 2 Comments
The Labor Kit is a pretty nifty idea.
It’s a new product for pregnant moms who want to make sure they have everything they need for the big day.
It includes all kinds of goodies that women have traditionally packed for their trip to the hospital to give birth.
The Labor Kit I tested out looks like a handy canvas carrying bag (it can be reused as luggage later on) but inside it’s jam packed with the following:
* Tred Mates Pillow Pals non slip socks
* Kiss My Face organic lip balm
* Peri squeeze bottle (remember how nice these are in those early weeks?)
* Large Stay Dry ice pack (for perineum care postpartum – ouch!)
* Thank You cards
* 20 Newborn Pampers Swaddlers diapers
* 4 extra large postpartum pads
* Pen and Labor Kit spiral bound notebook
* Box of 36 Gerber premium nursing pads
* Full size Lansinoh medical grade lanolin for nursing moms (this stuff is a lifesaver)
* Hospital checklist
* Stress ball to squeeze during contractions
* 2 pairs mesh underwear (great until you fit into your regular undies and to hold pads)
* Share the Joy contact list
* Birth Plan
* Large blue under pads to protect your mattress
This particular kit was not even the top of the line. There are two more kits that have even more stuff inside.
I think this is a great idea for moms who are birthing in a hospital or birthing center, but I think it would be awesome to see a “Green” kit with NatraCare nursing and postpartum pads, for example. The disposable diapers could be gDiapers, Tushies or Seventh Generation. The rest is pretty cool though.
You can see more info about these kits here: http://www.laborkit.com
Camping Is…
November 19, 2008 | 2 Comments
Picturesque beauty
Easing nature … in nature
Your Herbal First Aid Kit
November 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Using herbs for your family’s everyday ailments doesn’t have to be a super complicated affair. While there are thousands of herbs and herbal remedies, you can get started using herbs with a very simple selection of the most commonly used herbal remedies. Most of them can be used for multiple purposes. Here are a few herbal cures for common health problems.
* For bacterial infections, use garlic. Eating raw cloves can help the body fight off almost any kind of infection. Add garlic to a simple vegetable or chicken broth for almost any sickness. For ear infections, put a few drops of garlic juice in the affected ear. This has been helpful for me when one of my kids had an earache. I warmed a clove of garlic in a spoonful of olive oil, then when it cooled to body temperature, dripped it into their ear. 
* Burns (including sunburn) and cuts can be treated with aloe vera. You can buy aloe vera gel or cream, or you can break off the leaf of an aloe vera plant and squeeze out the gel. Aloe plants are hearty and easy to grow, plus they propagate like crazy so you can give babies to your friends.
Aloe is very soothing to the stomach as well, great for anyone with an overly acidic stomach. You can buy aloe in a liquid form inexpensively to keep on hand for upset stomachs. I’ve been taking this recently for my nervous stomachaches and it works very well.
photo credit: califrayray
* For insomnia, drink valerian tea. You can make it by pouring a cup of boiling water over a teaspoon of chopped valerian root you’ve purchased bulk, or get prepared tea bags. Drink a cup each night at bedtime.
* For nausea and headaches, try ginger. Ginger can be harsh on the stomach when taken in capsules, so try making a fresh ginger, lemon and honey tea. Candied ginger was helpful to me for morning sickness. I wish it hadn’t taken me until my fourth baby to discover it!
* To reduce inflammation and promote healing of all sorts of booboos, especially bruises, use calendula. Pour a cup of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of chopped dried calendula flower heads, let cool, and soak a cloth in the liquid. Apply several times a day.
* For tummy upsets, try mint. Keep peppermint tea bags on hand for when someone has eaten too much and has an upset stomach. Peppermint is a digestive aid and is also helpful for pregnancy heartburn and nausea (try sniffing the tea bags to help morning sickness).
Peppermint tea is also an energizer and pick me up. The smell of peppermint helps you focus and concentrate. Try drinking a cup of mint tea when you have that mid afternoon slump.
photo credit: secretlondon123
* Lavender oil is a must have for colicky or teething babies (rub a drop on their gums for teething and on their belly for colic), anyone who is stressed or having trouble relaxing, it’s great for headaches and wonderful when added to oil for massages.
What are your favorite everyday herbal remedies?
Natural Moms Podcast #104
November 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
My guest this week is Sharon Silver of Proactive Parenting. The transcript of this interview appears below, and I really encourage you to listen or read all the way through because Sharon has some real gems to share!
Sharon is a mom and educator and has 17 years of experience counseling parents both in person and through her audio downloads on her website.
Carrie: You are back with Carrie at Natural Moms Talk Radio. I have with me Sharon Silver of ProactiveParenting.net. Hello, Sharon.
Sharon: Hi, Carrie.
Carrie: I’m excited to talk with you. I’ve been looking at your web site and listening to a bit of the audio you have there. I think that what you’re doing is great and very much needed. Tell us a little, briefly, about what proactive parenting is all about.
Sell Your Crafts Online
November 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment
This just in.
I know it’s not Wednesday (and therefore not Wahm Wednesday) but this can’t wait until then.
If you are trying to sell your crafts online or want to, you need to check out this special teleseminar:
Learn How To Market Your Craft Business Online…. Without Going Broke!
The host is Crissy Gipson, a work at home gal who has learned a lot since she started her business, Indie Biz Chicks, about how to get publicity without spending money.
The date is November 20 and it costs $1. She’s even allowing people to submit questions.
Check it out. 
Bad Job, Motrin
November 16, 2008 | 9 Comments
This video is offensive for several reasons. Bad, bad job Motrin. What’s next, a video selling us on using your product when breastfeeding hurts?
- Babywearing done properly doesn’t hurt your back and actually feels better than holding a baby for hours. If you’re having pain because of a baby carrier, get some help with it from other moms or buy a different style.
- A happier baby is a happier mom is a happier baby. Babywearing helps.
- Moms who choose not to babywear aren’t “official moms“? How offensive!
- Moms are crazy and tired? I just watch the video with my ten year old and asked him if I was crazy and tired and he said, “No!” My oldest just happens to be the one who was my high need, fussy baby. The one I used to have to walk the floor with for hours at night to help him get to sleep. The one who was on my breast for the first 18 months of his life and hardly came up for air. The one with pain in his tummy that was alleviated only by my body. If I had not had a sling and had not worn him, THAT would have made me crazy and tired.
These guys get a huge thumbs down from me for insulting the very market they are trying to sell to. Bad bad bad. I’ve never bought Motrin but I sure as heck won’t ever buy any now. Katja has put together a video capturing the responses of real moms to the motrin ad here.
It just happens to be International Babywearing Week. Could their timing have sucked any more?
And the ten year old child I mentioned earlier?
Let’s just say he has remained a babywearing advocate.
