Young Living Essential Oils

I've been wanting to write this post for months now, but never knew where to begin to express my love for Young Living essential oils.  Finally, in the famous words of Nike, I decided to just do it.  And so, without further ado, I give you my thoughts on what essential oils are, why my family only uses Young Living essential oils, and where you can find additional information.

Therapeutic grade essential oils contain healing nutrients, oxygenating molecules, trace minerals, enzymes, vitamins, hormones, and more all while being 50-70 times more therapeutically potent than the herbs and plants they are derived from.  And unlike antibiotics that are proving to be more and more ineffective in battling super bugs and viruses due to their mutations, the oils are constantly changing alongside the climate, geographical region and soil they are grown in, making their extreme effectiveness consistent and constant. 

Essential oils are anti-bacterial, anti-cancerous and have been shown to destroy all bacteria and viruses while simultaneously building up the immune system. 

Why did I chose Young Living?  After days of research, I discovered Young Living essential oils are the only oils that can be taken internally because they are so pure.  They are the only oils that never expire because they are not cut with synthetic chemicals.  Young Living is not an oil broker, but are the only company that owns their own farms, distills their own oils and rigorously has them tested by a 3rd party.  They are the oils you'll find being used in hospitals and cancer research centers around the globe.  And they're the only ones I will use on my children, myself, my husband, and our two dogs.  Yes, I use oils on my dogs.

We use essential oils in a few different ways.  We apply them directly to sore muscles, upset stomachs, to our wrists and necks and to the bottoms of our feet (where the largest pores are and therefore enable the oils to reach the entire body quickly).  We also diffuse them throughout the house and take them internally in gel capsules. I also use them to clean, cook/bake, and add them to homemade beauty products. 

If you'd like to learn more about Young Living essential oils, there are a few things you could do:

• "Like" Shannon's CommonScents, a Facebook page I recently started where I am posting information* on specific oils as well as other essential oil-based products.  
• Email me at shannonscommonscentsATgmailDOTcom with specific questions or to set up a free virtual Introduction to Essential Oils party for you and your friends and family.  
• Sign up to become a Young Living member and receive a lifetime discount of 24% off all products after the purchase of a starter kit (I recommend the Premium Start Kit which includes a diffuser, 11 essential oils and blends, as well as samples of some other great Young Living products all for only $150!). 

* - Below is a sample post recently added to the Shannon's CommonScents Facebook page.

"You smell really good...really happy!"

I can't tell you how many times I've been told this when wearing Joy, a luxuriously exotic blend of Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Lemon, Mandarin, Jasmine, Roman Chamomile and Rose.

I use Joy each morning by rubbing two drops between the palms of my hands cupping them around my nose and inhaling deeply (this enables the oil to reach the limbic system in the brain) and then applying it to the insides of my wrists, behind my ears and over my heart.

The uplifting overtones of Joy exudes an alluring and irresistible fragrance that inspires romance and togetherness and brings joy to the heart. And who wouldn't want more of that in their life?!

Homemade Deodorant Recipe

I have tried just about every natural deodorant on the market in the last 20 years...all with disappointing results.  Six months ago I whipped up my first batch of homemade deodorant and have been thrilled with the results!  It even works on my husband.  Even through summer.

I'm not exagerating when I say I whipped it up...it takes minutes to make and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand:  coconut oil, baking soda and arrowroot powder (or cornstarch).  If you want to get fancy, you can add some essential oil (I prefer peppermint, but lavender and rosemary are nice too).  

Once you've mixed it together, you can either keep it in a jar and apply it with your hand or a cloth or you can refill traditional deodorant containers like you see in my photo above.  No matter how you apply it, you'll need to be sure it's either rubbed in completely or blotted prior to putting your shirt on to avoid staining.  Coconut oil stains are difficult to get out...the earlier they're treated, the better.  But the best is to avoid them altogether.

My other tip is to use caution when in a hot climate.  Coconut oil melts quickly so you may want to store it in the refrigerator during summer if you don't have air conditioning.  Also, I use a small jar when traveling to avoid getting coconut oil throughout my toiletry bag (I learned the hard way).  It solidifies again within a couple of hours of unpacking.

Without further ado, I present my homemade deodorant recipe:

Ingredients:

• 6-8 Tbsp coconut oil (solid state)
• 1/8-1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch (the fine texture of arrowroot is preferred)

Directions:

1. Combine your baking soda & arrowroot powder/cornstarch. Some people's skin can be sensitive to baking soda resulting in a rash.  If your pH level is affected, use less baking soda.
2. Add coconut oil, working it in with a spoon or an immersion blender (pulsing, so as not to melt the coconut oil) until it maintains a firm but pliable texture similar to commercial deodorant.  If it is too hard, add more coconut oil.  If it is too wet, add more soda/powder. Once it's the correct texture, add it to your container of choice. 

Dry Brushing

I first heard the term dry brushing a few years ago, but at that time, I only learned of the exfoliation benefits.  When I started incorporating the process into my morning routine a few months ago (to prep my skin for bare legs and tank tops), I was pleasantly surprised to discover the additional health (and beauty) benefits.

In addition to removing dry skin (think knees, ankles, elbows...), it also evens skin tone, stimulates blood flow, aids in cell renewal and tighter skin (goodbye cellulite), and helps the lymphatic system with toxin release, digestion and kidney function.  All of that for an inexpensive two minute morning routine!

The only tool needed is an inexpensive, natural bristle brush (not synthetic) that is sturdy, but not too rough.  One with a long handle is great for hard to reach areas.

When dry brushing, start at your feet, working your way up, you make long sweeping strokes with enough pressure to feel it, but not hard enough for it to be uncomfortable.  Always sweep towards your heart.  The first time I dry brushed, I was shocked by the initial blood flow to my heart...it certainly works!

Since adding this to my morning routine a few months ago, I have certainly noticed smoother and tighter skin, and continue to feel that initial jolt of energy each time I do it.

If you'd tried dry brushing, what has your experience been?  And if you try it for the first time, report back...it would be great to hear your thoughts! 

Natural Cold/Flu Fighters

Over the years I have learned a few homemade cold and flu fighters.  Today, when a friend emailed me for a recipe, I realized I had never shared them here.  My husband teases me about the jars of potions in our pantry...until he needs them, that is.

First up is a remedy for adults (perhaps a child-friendly one could be made with less cayanne).  This powerful mixture is great for coughs, stubborn congestion and sore throats.  It is best used when you first feel something settling in.  I quadruple the recipe to last the winter and keep a jar in our pantry.  The ingredients seem strange, but taste surprisingly good. 

Cough Remedy

• ¼ teaspoon Cayenne
• ¼ teaspoon Ginger (ground)
• 1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar (Bragg’s is preferred.)
• 1 Tablespoon Honey 
• 2 Tablespoon Water

Directions

• Combine in a jar.  When needed, shake the jar to combine and take one tablespoon, twice daily.

The second recipe is for the entire family.  Again, I make a large batch and keep a jar of this pre-mixed and to spread on toast and add to oatmeal and hot drinks throughout the day.  Most morning we enjoy it with warm milk alongside breakfast as a preventative measure. 

Honey/Cinnamon Cold Remedy

• 1 teaspoon Honey
• ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon

Directions

•  Mix the honey and cinnamon together to eat or spread on toast...or mix into warm milk, tea, or chai.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Flu season is in full swing.  You can't turn on the news without seeing signs of it everywhere.  Here to combat this monster is a homemade, non-toxic, chemical-free recipe for hand sanitizer. 

This version was created by Dr. Lawrence Rosen, a nationally recognized expert in Pediatric Integrative Medicine, and holistic-minded parent Jeff Cohen.  It is simple to make and smells great!

Homemade Hand Sanitizer Ingredients

• 3 oz. filtered water
• 1 tsp. aloe vera gel
• 10 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 10 drops clove essential oil
• 10 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 20 drops lemon oil

Instructions: Mix ingredients in a 4-ounce spray dispenser (avoid plastic, if possible), and shake gently. Spray on children’s hands, and teach them to massage the spray into their hands for 30 seconds. The result is a natural, chemical free, hand sanitizer to keep germs at bay.

Effervescent Troubles

Hello, my name is Shannon, and I am a worrier. 

And I married a worrier.  And we have three children to whom we unfortunately passed the gene on to.  And we have two anxiety-ridden puppies.  I wouldn't be surprised if even our fish worried from time to time.

That's the bad news.  Now here's the good:

Because we're aware of our worrying tendencies, we have developed many proven methods to combat our concerns.  We pray, practice yoga, and take hot chocolate breaths: in through your nose (to smell the make-believe cocoa) and out through your mouth (to cool down said cocoa).  But when we have an especially big worry, or if I feel our family is out of synch, we call in the big guns: effervescent tablets (denture cleaner). 

We fill a large bowl with water and unwrap a tablet for each worry (family's health, soccer game, money, new art class, siblings or spouses fighting more than usual, etc.) and we write each doubt, fear, trial and woe on a tablet.  And then we drop them into the water and watch them melt away.  Physically seeing the problem disappear has helped us to let go of things out of our control.  I hope it will ease your family's anxiety as well. 

Do you have any other tips to help overcome worry?  If so, please share in the comments.


Effervescent Tablet Dissolving in Water from Andrew Scholbrock on Vimeo.

Physical Fitness

I was more than disturbed this morning when I read that more than 2/3 of Texas schoolchildren flunked their state's physical fitness test. The report says that third graders tested the best with only 37% passing. Bringing up the rear were high school seniors...only 8% of each gender passed!

Each of my children have different physical strengths, weaknesses, and interests. August really enjoys playing team sports and is in soccer and baseball. And although he's not the best on either team, he really has a great time and an even better attitude. My husband and I have had many discussions, however, and believe he'll thrive more in individual sports like tennis, golf, and running. This summer I got him in tennis lessons and he's become so much more confident and enthusiastic about sports. He's also asked to start running with me. I think he's coming into his own.

Hazel is both physically strong and amazingly coordinated. At a year she was dribbling a soccer ball. Now at 19 months she's passing. I think her sport future will be quite different than the others.

And Martha, she just loves to be outside running around. She doesn't thrive on structure, lessons, or practices. She's signed up for a few things this summer and fall, but I feel her long-term future may not be tied to many organized sports...although, who knows. That girl keeps me on my toes and surprises me each day!

What I'm saying, is that you have to know your child. You need to study their strengths, weaknesses, and interests. And regardless of what you come up with in the end, you need to get your kids moving!

When I think of only 8% of the high school seniors in Texas passing the state physical fitness test (which I'm sure isn't that strenuous), I feel sick inside. I feel bad for those children and what kind of future they'll have. And it reminds me that scientists predict this is the first generation believed to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. That is just too sad.

This 4th of July weekend, get your family up and moving! Go for a hike. Buy a hula hoop or jump rope and teach your children (and reteach yourself) how to play some classic games. Go for a bike ride. Get a sprinkler out and run through it. Go to a park and play. Go for a walk. Just get up, get moving, and enjoy some physical activity with your children!

And going forward, keep the following in mind to encourage lifelong physical fitness:

1. Model good physical fitness for your children. Get outside yourself and get moving.
2. In your family's daily life, incorporate activities your children can take into adulthood. Take nature walks, swim, take long bike rides, or go for nightly walks around your neighborhood after dinner each evening. The extra time bonding will be a meaningful bonus.
3. Turn off the TV. Encourage less lazy forms of entertainment.
   
4. Visit your local Parks & Recreation Department and see what kinds of classes they offer. It doesn't have to be expensive to get your children involved in organized activities and sports.
5. Make physical fitness fun. Play games like badminton, bocce, and others as a family.
   

No Silver Lining on BPA

For the last few years my husband and I have discussed the bisphenol A (BPA) located in the lining of food cans. We only purchase and use canned tomato products and beans (seeing as four of the five of us are vegetarians) but still, it's troubled us. We've tried to distance ourselves more and more...and I have a feeling many more people will be joining us in this attempt. Why? Because a new study was just released outlining the risk associated with pregnancy and BPA...although obviously, this should be applied to everyone, not just pregnant women.

The study, title No Silver Lining, found that over 90% of cans tested contained detectable levels of BPA (which all public health experts now say have been linked to abnormal behavior, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, developmental and reproductive harm, and obesity). The study shows that "meals involving one or more cans of food can cause a pregnant woman to ingest levels of BPA that have been shown to cause health effects in developing fetuses in laboratory animal studies." And BPA has been found in newborn babies' cord blood as well as in 93% of the US population's urine (a word I never thought I'd type for Ugga Mugga).

So, what can we do? Well, as I write time and time again, eat fresh food. Eat simple, fresh food. If fresh fruits and vegetables aren't a possibility, eat frozen. And if you must consume canned goods, use the Guide to Recycling Codes shown below as a guideline as to what's safest for both you and the environment. And then, discuss this study with your friends and family. It takes a village...

SodaStream

Whether your New Year's resolution is to be healthier, cut costs, or get a bit greener, I think I've discovered a product that will help. I know it's made many positive changes in my family! It's SodaStream.

SodaStream is a countertop appliance (the size of a coffee maker) that has enabled my family and me to make soda and sparkling water at home with just our tap water! It doesn't use any batteries or electricity...just a reusable CO₂ carbonator bottle (provided by SodaStream).

When you first receive your SodaStream, you simply screw in the carbonating bottle and fill the water bottle up to the line with your tap water. Then you attach the bottle to the machine (different methods depending on the machine you purchase) and then push the button (the more you push it the more your water will carbonate). Voilà! You have sparkling water! And there's no clean up required!

To turn your sparkling water into soda using your home soda maker you use one of the 25 different soda flavors available...just add a capful of the mix. And with SodaStream's mixes your soda will contain 2/3 less sugar, calories, carbs and sodium than regular store-bought soda. And there are diet flavors available as well that are of course sugar-free, and contain less sodium than store-bought diet flavors...and they contain no aspartame.

There are a few different models to choose from when purchasing a SodaStream. My family has the Penguin (we named him Petey). He is the most expensive of the models but he was chosen because of his great style (he has a permanent spot on the kitchen counter so I wanted something I didn't mind looking at) and because the Penguin uses all glass bottles.

My family is not a big soda-drinking one. It's not something we keep regularly stocked in the refrigerator and my children know it's a treat when they drink it (about once a month with store-bought soda but a bit more frequently since Petey joined the family). But we are huge sparkling water drinkers. And with cans of sparkling water costing a pretty penny, I appreciate that the cost of seltzer with SodaStream starts at just 17¢ per liter; soda starts at just 42¢ per liter. And if you're an energy drink purchaser, you'll want to know that you can make your own with SodaStream's Energy Drink mix for about 25¢ per serving.

In recent months, SodaStream products have appeared in Time Magazine, Food and Wine, Popular Science, The Wall Street Journal, and countless newspaper articles. I have a feeling SodaStream will soon be a recognizable counter-top appliance in the majority of homes. Especially those of families looking to raise healthy children, cut down on costs and unnecessary packaging.

Visit sodastreamusa.com to learn more and to see the various machines available. Prices start at $89.95 for the Fountain Jet and go up to $199.95 for the Penguin (there are two other options inbetween those models). And all starter kits are currently on sale so it's a great time to give SodaStream a try! And with coupon code AC you'll save an additional $10.00!

And post a comment if you have SodaStream or purchase one...I'll want to hear your thoughts and am sure other readers would as well!

Fight the Flu

So, the day after I had announced my family was finally healthy, my son woke up with a fever of 104.3°...of course. The pediatrician says that he has the dreaded H1N1 Swine Flu since it started with a cough and fever (and minor sore throat).

So for the last two and a half days I've been battling my son's body temperature that at one reading yesterday was over 105°...forcing him to say he was having trouble moving and was unable to stand. Not a great moment for a mother home alone with two additional younger children under foot!

I eventually put him on a steady stream of Tylenol (every four hours) and Motrin (every eight hours...thanks to a friend who went to the store and dropped it off for me). Even with both of those in his system his fever only dropped down to 102.4°.

The good news in the house is that after a solid night's sleep, his fever is significantly lower and he's toughing it out without either medicine, allowing the fever to do it's job since he's no longer in danger and has some energy back. He's comfortably living the good life upstairs in his room snuggled up with my laptop watching movies and his favorite programs. Thank you Wallace and Gromit!

And in between my many trips up the stairs yesterday, I found some excellent suggestions on Nonchalant Mom's blog gathered from some holistic doctors. These were some of my favorite H1N1 Swine Flu tips to practice at home to ward off and battle the flues going around:

1. Salt Baths - Put a handful of salt in your kid's bathtub at night, just use enough to make it as salty as an ocean. Let them take a nice long soak and try to get them to dunk their heads (so that their nose, ears, and eyes get clean with the salt water...probably best to do in the beginning so the water isn't so dirty). And make sure their hair is dry when they get into bed.
   
2. Netti Pot (best) or Saline Spray (at least) - It was suggested that these viruses nestle in the nasal passages and need to be flushed out twice a day. I can't picture my kids using a Netti pot but maybe if they watch us do it they will give it a try? Although I must be honest and say I don't know that I'll be doing this either...I may stick with the saline spray myself!
3. Gargle with warm salt water - This is easy and the kids get a kick out of making the sound! So make it fun and do it twice a day with brushing.
4. Essential Oils - Most essential oils are both antiviral and antibacterial. Before going out into any crowded area, dilute an essential oil such as peppermint, tea tree oil, or lavender with a little bit of olive oil, and massage the mixture all around the outside of your ears and down the sides of your throat. Also dab a little under your nose. We contract a lot of colds and flu through the ears when airborne bacteria land on them. The essential oils will provide a temporary barrier that may reduce that risk.

Some other great tips are to add Vitamin C drops into your day (adults can take the non-chew supplements...my husband and also swear by Zinc when we feel an illness coming on), and to avoid shocking your child's body when they have a fever. My son's pediatrician reminded me that if you put your feverish child in even a lukewarm bath that the body may send a message that it needs to warm up even more. Not what you want!

Do you have any other suggestions you want to share? Please leave a comment! Oh, and read Nonchalant Mom's blog for some other great ideas...many of them have nothing to do with the flu!

First-Hand Swine Flu Experience

Breezy Mama wrote a great piece on her son's experience with swine flu this summer. There is a great question and answer segment at the end with a pediatrician that covers a lot of topics I know are on parent's minds as school starts.

Visit breezymama.com to read this informative piece.

Swine Flu Vaccine

After telling my friends about my family's possible swine flu experience over the last month or so, discussions about the upcoming vaccination have began. Months ago when the swine flu first became news, my husband and I, who have vaccinated our children for everything else, discussed the vaccine and agreed that no one in our family would be inoculated for the swine flu.

We based our decision on the past, when in 1976, more Americans died from the swine flu vaccine than from the disease itself...and many, many more were left with neurological problem. And although we have learned a lot about medicine since then, the one sure similarity between the vaccine from 1976 and the one that will be given in 2009 is that they're fast tracked and not thoroughly tested (like the other vaccines given to our children).

Making parenting decisions in personal...you need to do what works best for your children and your family. Each parent should educate themselves and come to a conclusion they feel confident about. I am in no way trying to influence your decision whether or not you vaccinate your children against the swine flu...I simply want you to know there is a history here and I aim to arm you with the facts. With that in mind, here is one article from the UK's Daily Mail that discusses the 1976 and the 2009 vaccines. It's a starting point for your research.

Hello Strangers!

Hello Ugga Mugga readers! I just wanted to take a minute to explain why my posts have been far and few lately...my children and I have been sick. I mean sick! It's spread like wild fire through the house (baby included) and has lasted for quite some time. According to my children's pediatrician, the time frame and symptoms are consistent with Swine Flu, something which our area and doctor has seen quite a bit of. And you'll be glad to know she says all patients she's seen have "sailed through it."

As you may recall, I am not one to believe the hype or fear the illness any more than I do the regular flu. And if indeed what we've been battling in our house is Swine Flu, I can tell you that it's not the end of the world...at least it wasn't for us. It certainly wasn't fun, but we're on the other side of it now and are looking forward to enjoying the rest of our summer...starting with a much-needed vacation next week.

And once I'm back, I promise to once again post daily. And I have many great products, recipes, activities and parenting concepts in store for you! I hope you are healthy, happy and enjoying your last month of summer!

Palmer's Moisturizing Gel Oil

I purchased a bottle of Palmer's new Moisturizing Gel Oil last week and am really loving it! I've used Palmer's products for six years now, since I first became pregnant. The first product I purchased was their cocoa butter stick on a recommendation from a friend who said it was great at preventing stretch marks. I'm not sure if it was the cocoa butter or family genes, but I now have three children and not a single stretch mark.

Since those sticks, I have used a few other products and have been happy with them all...but this new gel of theirs is my favorite product thus far (unless it really was the cocoa butter sticks that has left me stretch mark-free)!

The Moisturizing Gel Oil smells like chocolate...like cookies! It also leaves a nice subtle sheen, feels great, and has an SPF of 15 making moisturizing and sun protection a one-step process! Gotta love that!

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Moisturizing Gel Oil is available at amazon.com for $8.33 and walgreens.com for $8.99.

Chickin Feed

My parents started me early down a healthy living path with my father leading by example. It was easy for him being a captain on the fire department in my hometown and as a competing body builder in my early years. But I also remember him often pulling the car over a few miles from home and declaring my mom would drive us the rest of the way because he was going to run home.

Although I don't go on impromptu runs while out driving with my family (what a silly thing to do, Dad!), I am setting my children down the same healthy living path. They are all, like me, vegetarians who are educated in food preparation, healthy choices, and the importance of physical activity. We grow almost all of our fruits and vegetables in the summer months, and I'm proud to say that they have never had a single bite of fast food.

With the basics of healthy living in our home, it's no surprise that they love our new Chickin Feed board and Primer! Those of you looking to track nutrition in your family's meals as well as looking to educate yourself on healthy living and starting your children down the correct path, will love them too!

Chickin Feed is dedicated to improving the knowledge children's (chickin's) health by providing families with simple, fun and effective nutrition tracking products and ideas! Products available include the magnetic tracking board shown here (which comes in a handful of stylish farm colors), The Chickin Feed Primer, A Useful Companion for Modern Families, shown above, which is full of many great ideas and recipes, along with portion dishes (Chickinware), tote bags, shopping list notepads, and bracelets reminding children to make good choices!

See all of the stylishly designed and healthy products at chickinfeed.com where you can shop their online feed store!

Swine Flu

We're parents, so we worry, it's just part of the job. But all of this swine flu news and hype is getting to be too much for me. I'm now receiving emails from friends that are forwards and full of worry, so I thought I'd put it in perspective for you, from the facts I've read.

It is estimated that each year in the United States the common flu affects an estimated 10 to 20% of the population...and an average of 114,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications. Approximately 20,000 Americans die from the flu each year!

There are now a reported 143 cases of Swine Flu and one Swine Flu death in the United States. Although there have been 46 deaths due to the common flu in the same week...that was the last statistic I read on Thursday morning...it may be higher by now.

I'm not wanting to have you take your children's health any less seriously, I just want to put all of the hype into perspective and ease your worry. Just continue on as usual...wash your hands, wash your kid's hands, stay home when sick, don't visit others when they are sick, and you should be just fine. As our wise friends in the United Kingdom said, Keep Calm and Carry On.

Belli

I watched my son in the inflatable jumping dome at our town's Easter egg hunt with fear...I was afraid he would get hurt and afraid that he was growing into a boy who actually enjoyed physical activities like inflatable jumping domes at Easter egg hunts. My husband, on the other hand, was taking photographs documenting each smile that swept across our son's face...and smiling himself the entire time.

That's the difference between mothers and fathers (I'm generalizing here, I know there are exceptions to the rule...there are at times, in my own home). For us mothers, from the moment you see the positive pregnancy test, you change...you become more aware of your body and everything you put in it and on it. You eat healthier and you learn you're not to use self tanners, that you're not to go in hot tubs, and that it's safest to visit the dentist during your second trimester of pregnancy. Your one goal is to have a healthy baby grow and develop. Belli gets that...and they're here to help you reach your goal!

Belli has three lines: Belli Pregnancy, Belli Motherhood, and Belli Baby. All three product lines pamper and protect with thoughtful attention to the safest formulations. They go above and beyond with their teratology screening. If you're like me, you're asking yourself, "What's teratology?" Well, it means that the people at Belli search through over 16 million medical research articles in over 5,000 international journals and use all of the gathered information to exclude ingredients with even a remote link to birth defects or other problems with pregnancy and breastfeeding.

OK, so you know with complete certainty that they're safe. But how do the products work, you ask? They work wonderfully!

I've been using their Eye Brightening Cream and really love the feel of it...and the results. As you can imagine, with a 5 months old, three year old and five year old at home 24 hours a day, and my writing this daily blog, sleep is hard to come by...and dark circles are aplenty! But the Belli Eye Brightening Cream is helping...and making me feel like I'm pampering myself, which is always nice.

The other product I've tried is their Skin Smoothing Body Exfoliator which I really liked as well. I loved the invigorating scent of the green tea, ginseng and peppermint oils as well as the feel of my skin as I stepped out of the shower! If you're looking for a great Mother's Day gift, a set of products from Belli would be perfect!

There are not many times in parenthood where we have complete certainty that we're doing the right thing, complete peace of mind. But Belli is here to deliver that holy grail! I for one am thankful!

Visit belliskincare.com to learn more and to shop online.

The Bisphenol-A Free Portal

I receive a lot of questions regarding BPA...how to know what it's in, is it really as dangerous as we're led to believe, and where readers can get more information. To answer all of those questions, and more, you can visit The Bisphenol-A Free Portal, a nonprofit site that gathers all news relevant to BPA and posts it in one place.

Some recently added information is a list of all bottles and sippy cups outlining those with BPA and those that are regarded as safe, an article about the class-action suit against baby bottle manufacturers, and the latest study results on the effects of the chemical.

Visit bisphenolafree.org for more information.

Peanut Allergy Cure

I have a few friends whose children live with peanut allergies of varying degrees...some quite severe and some slight. No matter how intense the allergy and risk is, my friends need to be diligent not only with what their children eat but also ensuring their environments are safe. This is a time-consuming and tiring task. But there is now new hope that their children's allergies may be cured one day!

A new study is being conducted by doctors at Duke University Medical Center and Arkansas Children's Hospital that is giving hope to millions of families. One family has seen amazing results over the last few years.

"A few years ago, 6-year-old Justin Bernard couldn't touch, let alone eat, a peanut butter snack, reports CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano.

'A peanut allergy is a potentially fatal allergy,' said his mother, Meredith Bernard. 'With just a very small bite, it was nerve racking.'

But that all changed after Justin's mother enrolled him in the study. Over several years, doctors fed Justin trace amounts every day of the very food that made him sick. Slowly, his body built up an immunity to peanuts and now they are part of his regular diet, Solorzano reports."

If you're wondering how these great results have been reached, it went something like this: the children were given slowly increasing doses of a specially prepared peanut flour until they had a reaction. Then each child went home with a daily dose just under that reactive amount, usually equivalent to one-thousandth of a peanut.

"After eight months to 10 months of gradual dose increases, most can eat the peanut-flour equivalent of 15 peanuts daily, said Burks, who two years ago began reporting these signs of desensitization as long as children took their daily medicine."

There are other successful stories in the article as well as more details about the study and treatment. You can read the article in it's entirety at cbsnews.com. And if you know someone in my friends' shoes who has a loved one living with peanut allergies, please forward a article along to give them hope!

Cross Design Medicine Cabinet

Keeping medicine out of a child's reach is a no-brainer. And this Cross Design Medicine Cabinet is sure to provide some piece of mind...and vintage style.

This great cabinet features one of the world’s most recognizable symbols for safety and treatment in either aqua on white or white on red. Both feature working locks for safety and can be mounted on a wall (fitting screws on included).

Available at heals.co.uk for approximately $73.00.