These are a few of my favourite things...

Is the song in your head now?? Sorry about that! But I really do want to share a few of my favourite things with you at the moment. These ones are health focused but I'll share some of my other favourite things another day! I have been fighting off a cold and sore throat for weeks and finally it got the better of me but I've found a winning combo for fighting bugs off - high doses of sodium ascorbate, colloidal silver and coconut oil!

Sodium Ascorbate (SA) is a buffered version of ascorbic acid, making it gentler on the gut. It is an awesome immune booster with both antiviral and antibacterial properties. So next time you're sick dose up until you reach bowel tolerance and kick that bug! I like having mine (and have heard it's best when done this way) dissolved in the juice from a freshly squeezed orange. 

Colloidal silver is amazing! This beauty was introduced to me a year ago and has served me well. For my wee girls it is magic medicine - almost completely flavourless (like slightly metallic water) - it is our go to for putting on chicken pox, infected spots, sore ears (unburst drums - do not put in ears if drums have burst), sore throats and lots of other ailments. Here's ten ways to use it but remember there are many more! http://www.naturalnews.com/038579_colloidal_silver_healing_water.html. And recommended doses, even for your pets! http://www.ephraimhealth.co.nz/content/Colloidal-Silver-Dosage/45.aspx This stuff is pretty potent though, even if it doesn't taste it, and can have the same effects on gut health as antibiotics (it acts in the same way but without all the nasties) so it's important to follow up with a good dose of probiotics. I use water and milk kefir to do this. 

Coconut oil! Ohhhh this stuff. My goodness - this has got to be the most versatile, yummy thing ever! Seriously more than 100 uses! Check this out: http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/. I use it for everything from baking, to moisturiser, eye makeup remover, and special cream for spots and sores. You can use it for oil pulling (http://www.mamanatural.com/how-to-do-oil-pulling-twist/) and sore throats (I just eat a teaspoon as is - yum!). It is incredible stuff with antiviral and antibacterial qualities and can fix all manner of things. Just make sure that if you're using it for medicinal purposes then you use virgin, cold pressed oil that tastes like coconuts. Refined versions of this oil don't have the same benefits, although being incredibly budget conscious I used cheaper, refined versions for baking and keep the good stuff for health purposes. 

I'd love to know what your go to products are that are natural and good for your health! 

Putting Me First

For the last few years my life has been about my beautiful girls. They are my world, just as I have been theirs. But now they are a little older, spending some time in a wonderful centre each week and happily spending time in the care of good friends and family on occasion, it is time that I take some time to focus on me and find my inner sparkle - the thing that makes me tick that isn't motherhood, the thing that is for me because I want to do it and it makes me happy! My focus this year is on simplifying our lives as a family in order to take the pressure off me as a mum, and finding the things that bring me joy. I sat and thought about what would bring me peace, joy and happiness outside of motherhood and these are the things I thought of:

- veggie gardening
- yoga
- time to write and reflect
- studying to further myself personally and professionally
- time with, or talking to, friends and family
- learning a craft (I'm so keen to knit or crochet!)
- learning to cook healthier, more interesting meals!

I also realised how much our environment is impacting on my mental health - I am constantly listing things that need to be done - painting, fixing, tidying. I'd like to get on top of those things this year and clean up our space, putting the personal touches onto a clean slate.

Taking time to clear my own head is becoming more and more important too. I'm finding myself emotionally drained by the events around me. At my age things such as death and divorce start to happen more and more often; friends struggle through illness, relationships change and kids are involved, and in general life can be just a bit more stressful. I'm realising that if I don't have a clear head space myself, then I can't help those around me. I also realise that I feed off the emotions of those around me and find myself feeling swamped. This is a huge focus for me this year as I head into studying social work. Distancing myself emotionally (without becoming an emotionless zombie!) so that I can leave work at work is incredibly important.

Lastly I'm focusing on whole, healthy foods as a means of improving my physical and emotional wellbeing and improving the lives of my family. This means focusing on my crunchy side - natural health remedies etc.

This blog is a way of me sharing my journey, but mostly it's for my own personal benefit - to reflect on my life and how to improve it and find my inner sparkle!

Feel free to share what makes you sparkle!