Sheet pan dinners are a fairly easy fix it and forget it dinner. Prep everything, throw it in the oven, maybe turn things half way through, then it’s done and ready to eat without making 5 pots dirty or having to hand wash a pan because you didn’t load the dishes last night. It may have happened a few times.
Anyhoo, for this deliciousness, you will need
1.5 lb chicken breasts cubed
1 red onion cute in chunks
1/2 head broccoli cut in florets or frozen
1 lb brussel sprouts, trimmed and halved
1/3 c balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves minced
Salt and pepper
Small handful fresh basil
Place cubed chicken, onion, broccoli and Brussels on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
Menstrual cramps are a pain (pun intended), and we all know it. But taking Tylenol or ibuprofen regularly is not good for our bodies. Midol also has less than ideal ingredients. So what ways can we go about this naturally?
There are items you may already have at home to help, and others you may want to consider adding to your Aunt Flow arsenal.
• Heating pad — I love the king size. It wraps around more of the abdomen and feels so good!) A flaxseed heating pad is a great natural alternative • Fair trade chocolates — chocolate just makes everything better. I get the soy free, they are trade chocolate. Soy and I do not get along. • Cloth pads — I had far fewer cramps with much less intensity, as well as a less heavy flow once I ditched toxic tampons and pads, and switched to cloth or at least organic cotton pads. • Menstrual cup — this is the best eco-friendly option (besides free bleeding). This prevents any waste. • Earthley’s Ease the Ache — amazing for cramps! I’ll give a testimonial below as well as details of how to save 58%. But if you have cramps, this is a must have. • Kombucha this is a great fermented tea with beneficial probiotics do you help keep your gut health and check. • Soothing music — I Carmens tend to peek during her your menstrual cycle. Bring a little calmness to your day with soothing music. • Herbal bath — Who doesn’t love a nice relaxing bath? These beneficial herbs can help bring relief to cramping as well as help heal after birth, plus it’s safe for baby!
Earthley’s Ease the Ache was formulated for women who need some help during menstruation. The herbs help to ease cramping and pain, are rich in vitamin K to slow heavy bleeding, and help to smooth out mood swings. It’s also great for postpartum mamas to deal with pesky afterpains! Try it for just $5!
My teen and I have used it the last few months and I can tell you, this works! I no longer have painful cramps, and my teen no longer complains either.
Here’s more to consider to have a more natural menstrual cycle.
Have you considered what the tampons you are using are made of? How they affect your body? Would they be causing more intense cramps? The materials used to make pads and tampons are often bleached, and because tampons and pads are considered medical devices, manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients. Check out this article for more information. And 7 reasons why you should ditch tampons here.
Are you an Amazon Prime member? If so, each year, Amazon has Prime Day with special deals for Prime Members. There is typically a limited quantity or limited time, so don’t delay in snagging a deal if you see one you like.
Here are some deals that are natural products or products for kids. Follow this post or keep coming back as I will continue to add items as I find them. Happy shopping!
Kids smartypants vitamins. These have folate and not folic acid, great for people with the MTHFR mutation, which is most of the population https://amzn.to/3cZPS6D
Murphy’s Mosquito Sticks. These are great to stick in the yard and repel mosquitoes. They are like burning an incense stick so keep out of reach of children and pets when using https://amzn.to/3zKcZvL
Zinus mattresses are CertiPUR certified. They have couches and loveseats too. I’m verifying the foam in these are also CertiPUR certified. https://amzn.to/3xEtzvf Couch https://amzn.to/35UWMXb
InstantPot 11 in 1 system including pressure cooker, air fryer, steamer, rice cooker, and more! https://amzn.to/3gQybHY
Cuisinart air fryer, convection oven and toaster, all in one. I have this and love it. This is a great deal on this. About $75 off! https://amzn.to/3xERMSi
These are just some of the common underactive thyroid signs. Underactive thyroid is a condition also referred to as hypothyroidism. It is when the underactive thyroid does not produce enough hormones, which slows down your metabolism and causes things like fatigue and constipation. Also, a common outcome of an underactive thyroid is chronic inflammation.
Here are some more signs of an underactive thyroid:
Yellowish skin
Low, hoarse voice
Enlarged tongue
Thick, “doughy” skin with swelling
Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
Slow reflexes
Heavy menstrual bleeding or other menstrual cycle problems, low fertility
Erectile dysfunction
Lethargy
Depression or other psychological problems
Have you experienced any of these signs? I have most listed on the graphic. It was missed by my doctor. I went to a functional medicine dr who finally was able to diagnose me. I also was diagnosed with Hashimotos. My thyroid antibodies were 419. They are now down to 123 using natural methods. Thankful for natural supplements and lifestyle changes that really work.
What should you do if you have these symptoms? Talk to your doctor. Ask for a FULL thyroid panel. I learned the hard way many doctors don’t do a full bloodwork panel for thyroid. Strange. There are natural desiccated thyroid medications, like NP Thyroid and Armor. Many hypothyroid patients are deficient in Vitamin D, iron, and magnesium. Many also benefit from Omega 3s. Ask for bloodwork to determine any deficiencies in these areas as well. I get many of these supplements from Earthley. They are plant-based, and work!
Fermented foods are the way that people have historically gotten their probiotics. And, these foods contain far more than just probiotics…they are a combination of different strains of bacteria, yeasts, and most likely other “things” we don’t even know about yet. They produce beneficial acids and bioavailable vitamins and minerals, too.
Brewing/fermenting foods or drinks at home is not hard, it just takes a little bit of time. It’s also much cheaper, and you can include flavors you really love! Many ferment salsa, fruits, spicy cabbage, and lots more.
Everyone is on their own path and some are more ready than others to accept that their health needs improvement.
If you aren’t in a place where you are completely ready to take the dive but do want to begin doing something, here are some simple ways to help your body with detox.
Doing a little can help a lot over time!
1. Drink filtered water to flush out toxins
2. Eat organic leafy greens
3. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to water
4. Practice oil pulling. It’s so great for oral health.
Check out this great list of topics we feel every new expecting mother should look into. It’s great to be informed in advance to be able to make the best decisions for your family.
Also, check out these groups, pages and websites that provide additional information and support:
We’re not saying that all social media is bad; it certainly has it’s place, but it can get a little daunting when you are subjected to the thoughts, feelings and views of others many times per day, as well of course, as media manipulation.
Social media has also proven to be highly addictive and is by design, supposed to suck you back in every time you log off.
Tensions can run high, relationships can be lost, anxiety can sky-rocket, and it can honestly just be a good idea to take breaks and time for yourself to recover your mental and emotional wellbeing.
It’s that time of year for bugs and poisonous plants! 🌿🐝
The Great Outdoors are full of wonder…and also full of things that bite, sting, and create rashes. Don’t stay inside, grab this Black Drawing Salve from Earthley and get back out there! Bentonite clay and activated charcoal can soothe the irritation of any minor skin concern. Mosquito bites, poison ivy, and bee stings are no match for this herbal salve! Enjoy the season knowing you’ve got a remedy for any minor annoyance.
This salve can also be used as a spot treatment for acne! It comes in a mess-free tube for maximum tote-ability. I keep one in my purse and one in the house, so I always have one handy.
You can also add baking soda to the bath to help neutralize the sting. Diluted apple cider vinegar applied with a cotton ball is also helpful. Diluted lavender and frankincense essential oils can help with itching and promote healing. My mom always taught us to make an “X” on the nite with our fingernails to help stop the itch.
Earthley has put together a list of what you can use to help you deal with bites, stings, and rashes in our Untoxic Summer Guide!
I’m a sucker for animals. I know God made everything for a purpose, but if ants infest my kitchen, well sorry ants.
Sugar ants love sugar. So that’s our bait. For this you will need:
🐜 Borax 🐜 Sugar 🐜 Water 🐜 Small containers like baby food jar size (lids are great too but not critical to have)
You will need 1 part borax to 3 parts sugar. I used a tablespoon, so 1 tablespoon borax and 3 tablespoons of sugar. I mixed this in a wide mouth mason jar until no clumps were visible. Then I added water slowly until it was a syrup consistency. Stir until the powders have dissolved. Then pour a small amount into the containers and place them where you have been seeing the ants (but out of reach of children and pets). I did put the lid on ajar so ants could easily enter. Now wait. Some ants will meet their demise there in the container. Others may take it back to the nest to share and that’s ok, the colony will die or move on.
Natural families and lifestyle 