Now that baby Evan is sleeping better (for the time being, at least!) and spending more time with Daddy, one of my goals is to participate in blog challenges that help rekindle my creative side. I’ve been a lurker on many blogs for the better part of one year but this week’s You Capture challenge, hosted by Kidnapped by Suburbia inspired me because the theme is Comfort. Here are recent images that represent the comforts in my life.

Blueberries are a never ending source of amusement. Thankfully they always comfort Evan.

Olivia’s gives her Na-Na some milk. Watching her nurse and carry her dolls is a comfort to me.

Yay for Grandma! Need I say more?

And Sleeeeeeeppppppp. I love sleep more than anything. Evan sleeping on my chest and in our bed will always be some of my fondest memories. OK, so obviously I didn’t take this shot…but I edited it in Photoshop!?

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You Capture: Comfort

The importance of living a healthy lifestyle for maintaining general good health and preventing chronic diseases has been well established. A healthy lifestyle is quite simple to achieve – one does not need to take special supplements or do anything “crazy” to adopt a healthy lifestyle. I will say that a certain amount of independent thinking is required to separate truth from fiction in most modern health advice currently being delivered.

The most important thing you can do is eat well. Avoid toxins in your food as much as possible and consume plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and whole grains; exercise moderately a few times per week; avoid smoking, including secondhand smoke; and avoid gaining too much weight (which should come naturally if you eat right and exercise). Ideally, you should also avoid environmental toxins as much as you can.

If you are already taking steps to improve your lifestyle, I cannot recommend Nourishing Traditions enough – a 700 page health manual and cookbook that blasts most health advice and diets out there. It’s a great dose of common sense! It will not only show you what to eat, but HOW to prepare it in a way that you benefit from all the available nutrients. It is the only cookbook I recommend nowadays as it has totally transformed my concept of what is healthy and what is not. Always learning….I have made numerous changes to our lives since reading the book, even though many would consider our healthy lifestyle quite an accomplishment already. Seriously, get the book, it will transform you.

Our modern lifestyle is very convenient – but it is also extremely unhealthy. Most of us eat too many processed foods and too few fruit and veggies; we rarely exercise; and when we develop chronic conditions such as diabetes, we rely on conventional medications to make us feel better – but these medications often have devastating side effects. Instead of accepting the importance of living a healthy lifestyle for us and for future generations, we continue with our bad habits – then take potent, toxic medication to treat our inevitable symptoms.

Of course, not all aspects of living a healthy lifestyle are in our control. We are going to be exposed to certain environmental toxins whether we like it or not. But many of these factors are absolutely in our control. Whenever we can, we should be responsible and make the right choices.

Living a healthy lifestyle, free as much as possible of toxins (in our environment and in our food) and of stress, is important to us – but it’s also important for future generations. The results of years of living an unhealthy lifestyle are obvious. We are currently faced with a sharp increase in chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, with an obesity rate so high it’s considered an epidemic, and with growing rates of infertility. The number of children diagnosed with autism, Asperger’s syndrome or ADHD is alarmingly high. Something is very wrong with our lifestyle – yet we are doing very little as a society to change it.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is not just for us – although it would certainly make us feel much better – it’s also for future generations.

Scientists are also now discovering the impact nutrition has on our DNA! Healthy trees bear healthy fruit. A continued lifestyle of sickness will have a lasting effect on future generations and on our planet.This is major stuff to consider, especially if we look ahead at the human race 100 years from now. Read about the scientific discoveries Weston A Price made while he analyzed healthy societies from around the globe.

We should also remember that our children carefully watch us and emulate us. If they see us act responsibly now, they will likely adopt a similar approach of taking care of themselves and of the planet when they become adults.

We must each ask ourselves if we are modeling the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to our children. If we do not show them how to care for themselves, they will likely turn to the food corporations instead.How will they know the difference between real food, “food like substances” and the growing concern over who has control of our food supply if we do not lead the way. Sadly, when parents to not take the lead in modeling a healthy lifestyle, poor habits are often repeated from generation to generation resulting in chronic health conditions later in life.

I suggest the following ways to help model a positive approach to food:

• Young children especially learn about the world through imitation. How do you feel each day as you prepare your family’s meals? Are you hurried, frustrated, and disconnected? We can show our children that eating healthy is important by the way we approach our meal times. If we are happy and engaged in making a meal, and then take pleasure in eating together we affirm that food is more than something to fill the hole but is a necessary part of a happy and healthy family life. In short, your children will imitate what they see so make sure you are placing a positive value around the activities involving healthy living.

• Involve your children in meal preparation, even once or twice a week. By discussing how good certain foods taste and by letting them help you cook you will show that it’s important to take the time to prepare a healthy meal instead of throwing something in the microwave. You never know, you may inspire a future chef!

• Make a plan to eat together as often as possible. By each decision you make to eat together, you are casting a value judgment on the importance of  healthy living and that it involves more than just eating a few more vegetables.

We can and should make an effort to change our habits and accept the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. If society won’t make changes, then we as individuals need to make them. After all, if we leave our health to someone else guess what they have planned for you? Not much.

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The Importance of Living a Healthy Lifestyle

Thank you for entering the latest giveaways and taking part in my extended Babymoon! (a sweet smelling baby..can you blame me?)

Here are the names of the winner’s:

The Baby Organic Skin Care products go to commenter #6: PsychMamma!

The awesome Puddlegear Mudsuit goes to commenter #53: Sandra!

And the three eco books are for commenter #10: Gail!

Congratulations! I’ve contacted you by email. Please respond asap so I can get these prizes out to you.

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

Babymoon Giveaway Winners…

This weeks giveaway is just in time to celebrate the rain showers that bring spring flowers into bloom. Head outdoors and make a splash without compromising your healthy green values on your kids rain gear.

I’m a big fan of Vancouver based company Puddlegear for bringing a great play option to the North American market. They carry the European made Abeko rain gear that is free of PVC and Phthalates. Instead the gear is made with ATEK – a Polyurethane-coated stretch fabric. It’s a very light, soft, tear-resistant material that is wind and watertight and tolerates normal temperature changes.

I did initially have some questions about the ATEK fabric as it is  a Polyurethane. I was advised by the company that there are no Phthalates, no PVC coating (both affect sperm count and are known carcinogens). Also, the polyurethane in its fully expanded form is an inert chemical and so it has no smell and no chemical off gassing when properly done the way Abeko does it. This leaves no chemical waste  and is not harmful to the environment.

I find that this gear is a healthier and more environmental alternative to the traditional PVC coated rain gear that European companies have boycotted since 2001! North America??? We’re still waiting! (yeesh)

The Abeko gear has also gone through the ÖKO-tex process which tests for over 100 chemicals and guarantees that products passing their standards are much safer for your children.

A note about PVC from Puddlegear:

Puddlegear is PVC free – many Environmental groups concerned about chemicals in our world refer to PVC as poisonous plastic�many kids rain suits are made of this dangerous plastic. It poisons our world from the manufacturing practice until well… who knows because it’s not biodegradable… Scientist believe that it never stops off gassing. Without organs to filter these toxins out of your child’s blood these poisons go straight through your child’s skin to collect in the body. This is referred to as “toxic load”.

Liv got to test drive the Benny Jacket with the Olle pants on a heavy day of rain on the wet coast. The pants are just awesome because they have patches on the rear and knees (great for making  mud pies!) and with fully adjustable straps so they’ll fit for years.  I suggest getting the gear in a larger size and a neutral color like red, black or blue (I got pink!) so you can hand  the gear down to your younger children.

I also like this gear because it is light weight and breathes, unlike regular PVC rain gear. We will be able to layer clothing under the jacket to suit the variety of BC weather conditions. On an aesthetic note, I was stopped almost immediately by another Mom admiring her rain gear. It IS excellent quality and it shows. She also really liked the thoughtful reflective light strip on the jacket.

PuddleGear products are available for children from ranges from 6 Months to 9 years old. They carry jackets, pants, mitts and hats. Order from their website PuddleGear.com. You can grab a rain jacket for about $50-$60 and they will last a very long time!

WIN IT: My next Babymoon Giveaway is the Hilde “Muddy Buddy” one piece rain suit (compliments of Puddlegear!) Is this suit awesome or what?!!

This Muddy Buddy prize is available in sizes 70-90 (6 months to 2-1/2 years) Winner gets to pick the size in either Pink or Blue. This is a prize valued at $95!!

There are 3 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question: What is your favorite activity to do with your family during the spring and summer?

2. To get a second entry. Subscribe to the HealthyGreenMoms feed and then email me the “code” at the bottom of any article either in your feed reader or HGM email feed.

Email the code to healthygreenmoms (at) gmail (dot) com. Put the entire “code” directly in the subject line. (The subject line is all I need!)

(There is only one secret code and email required for all the “babymoon giveaways.” If you emailed me on this or the previous giveaway  – you automatically have a second entry for the rest of the “babymoon giveaways” There’s no need to email me again)

3. To get a third entry. Blog, tell your Facebook friends or tweet about this giveaway and leave me another comment telling me what you did!

Winner selected randomly. This contest ends next Monday, May 4th at midnight PST. Good luck!

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

Giveaway: Puddlegear Makes A Big Splash!

I’ve been using the Natures Paradise “Baby Organic” skin care line on Liv’s skin for a few months. After 2 years of trying everything under the sun (considered safe) I have finally settled on 3 brands.

The Natures Paradise “Baby Organics” line is one of the very few companies who have taken the initiative to capture 100% USDA Certified Organic seal. A product that is USDA Certified Organic means that it is the safest product you can buy. It is not made with any chemical or synthetic ingredients.

Natures Paradise recommends:  When you buy product, look for: “Certified Organic by *****agency.”  The certifying Agency must ALWAYS be printed on the back according to regulations. If a product claiming to be “organic” does not have a certifier’s name, then this product has NOT been certified or inspected by the USDA.

The moisturizing lotion has been great for us. It is very rich and one of the only products I have found that keeps her skin soft and nourished through the next day or two. I would say it’s a very good choice for any child that has dry skin or eczema. (We also added Omega-3′s to Liv’s diet with great success)

The other product I love is their hair & body wash. With most brands I’ve tried, I find they leave her hair tangled and scalp dry. This wash is definitely the most moisturizing I’ve found so far.

The Baby Organic line comes in unscented or coconut. They boast: No Pesticides, No Parabens, No Artificial Ingredients, No Synthetic Preservatives, No GMO’s, No Fragrance, No Propylene Glycol, No Phthalates, No Sulfates, No DEA, No Nuts, No Animal Products

**Prize includes 5 products, not 6 as shown in picture**

WIN IT: To kick off my Babymoon Giveaways, I am giving away 5 coconut scented products from the “Baby Organic” line. The products include: 8 oz Conditioning Shampoo & Body Wash, 6 oz Moisturizing Lotion, 4 oz Baby Powder, 4oz Baby Coconut Massage Oil and 2oz Hand Sanitizer.

There are 3 ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post, answering this question: Do you think there needs to be more regulation for baby skin care products or do you generally trust the FDA’s guidelines for product safety?

2. To get a second entry. Subscribe to the HealthyGreenMoms feed and then email me the “code” at the bottom of any article either in your feed reader or HGM email feed.

Email the code to healthygreenmoms (at) gmail (dot) com. Put the entire “code” directly in the subject line. (The subject line is all I need!)

(There is only one secret code for all the “babymoon giveaways.” If you email me on this giveaway  – you automatically have a second entry for the rest of the “babymoon giveaways” There’s no need to email me again)

3. To get a third entry. Blog, tell your Facebook friends or tweet about this giveaway and leave me another comment telling me what you did!

Winner selected randomly. This contest ends next Monday April 27th at midnight PST. Good luck!

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

Giveaway: Baby Organic USDA Skin Care

I’m stealing a few minutes away from this amazing Babymoon to update you on the next few weeks here at HGM.

First, you’ll soon be reading some articles that I prepared in advance to coincide with our Babymoon. It’s springtime and commonly regarded as the optimal time to rejuvenate your health so I hope you enjoy what I have planned.

I also have some fantastic giveaways that I saved up to celebrate Evan’s arrival. They are, of coarse, all baby themed and there’s some pretty sweet stuff to win, if I do say so myself!

Lastly, I just wanted to thank all of you for your word of encouragement and support as I navigated through the roller coaster ride of emotions and scenarios of the last few weeks. There was so much going on inside of me, from frustration, fear and hesitation to sheer will, empowerment and elation. I appreciate you taking this journey with me and offering your wisdom from the time we found out about Evan’s kidney, to firing my doctor and embarking on the quest to have a pain free and unassisted birth.

I couldn’t be happier right now and having your support meant the world to me.

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

Help Me Celebrate During Our Babymoon!

(Image: Lavilleautady)

Here’s a few links I’ve saved in the last 2 weeks that caught my interest. This is my first week at managing my new (more balanced) schedule and I find I am actually sleeping much better! Yay.

I am counting the days to the ultrasound on Monday and busy sorting newborn clothes graciously given to me (I’d forgotten how small those sleepers are!) I also found a beautifully simple baby bassinet for our bedside. We’re soooo close…the waiting game is definitely underway!

And now for the links:

Verad from MomGrind talks passionately about the dangers of antibacterial wipes. What do you think, is this an appalling product or a valuable household item?

Evelyn at Attraction Mind Map discusses the parenting delima of discipline. Is spanking really effective? How about the naughty chair? Raising kids and removing fear.

Mike King guest writes over at MarkandAngel.com. He shows us 8 ways we can inspire others. Always a good reminder!

Sommer from Green & Clean Mom has a great project for Blogher09. Follow her journey, join in and get dirty with her!

Leslie from Recycle Your Day is only slightly further along than me in her pregnancy. She has a cool post about her up and coming water birth at home, plus a video. A great resource!

Gal Baras discusses how childen learn to edit their behavior in order to avoid perceived trouble, and raises the question, are your kids free? Great point to consider if we want to raise creative children for the future and worthy of discussion.

Daphne at Joyful Days has written a great post on how to write a personal creed. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and her post is a great first start. She even shares her personal creed with us. Thanks!

I recently created a HGM Facebook page, so if you use Facebook, come visit and add yourself as a fan! This is a great place to let me know about your cool discoveries or ideas and to start a discussion about hot topics. I have also updated my about page and created my profile at www.newbaby.com where I plan to vlog  the last few weeks of my pregnancy and hopefully to record some Hypno Birthing in action – from the waist up, of coarse!

Have a great (and relaxing?) weekend! Feel free to share any great reads you’ve come across or comment on today’s links.

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

Great Links: Ahhh…More time to read!