Functional Friday; Mostly Homemade Meals {Falafel and Hummus}

Recently, I've been trying to be more effective at my meal planning.  A huge component of that is not only budget but also time.  Sometimes convience is worth paying for, other times, cooking is actually easier, so I've started documenitng our mostly homemade meals, or partially homemade meals.  Meaning the time consuming ingredients are purchased premade, while the easy stuff is done at home with fresher ingredients.  This technique has been saving me a decent amount of time, and time is money, so it's good for your budget too.

This first meal I'm sharing is a falafel and hummus dinner I made last week.

The homemade items included veggies we already had, cucumber, tomatoes and green tomatoes.  It took all of five minutes maybe to cute FRESH organic veggies and add them to this meal. 

I bought this $10 hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh salad combo which is the perfect amount of variety and zero prep work for a meal like this.

Store bought pita bread but heated in the over for that fresh out of the oven home made vibe.

falafel from a box mixed and fried at home, in about a half inch of coconut oil, fried in a skillet I was able to get all the balls fried in one round so it was pretty quick. 

here's a look at my toddler's plate perfect portions and variety for their expanding taste buds, protein, veggies, leafy greens and just a few carbs. Well balanced and pretty quick to make.  I feel really good about the components of the meal and I think it was close to $20 for the whole meal and it was enough to feed a family of four and have plenty of leftovers.

The girls seemed to enjoy it.

What are your meal prep. and food budget tips? I'd love to hear how to be more efficient at this whole making dinner and feeding my family thing.

Functional Friday no. 36 Essential Oil of the week - PEPPERMINT

Peppermint is a plant. The leaf and oil are used as medicine.1

Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen

According to webMD, "peppermint can be used to protect against seasonal threats, irritated throats, assist sinuses, and promote lung health. It can also be useful in conditions affecting your digestive system, gastrointestinal tract, sinuses and respiratory system, muscular system, and pretty much anywhere else you want to use it. It can help with morning sickness, relieving nausea, soothing an upset stomach after overeating. It can soothe spasms and discomforts in muscles, joints, teeth and gums, [head or neck tension], skin abrasions, seasonal threats, and can even relax the colon."

Peppermint oil can be applied to the skin for head or neck tension, muscle, tooth and nerve discomfort, ache or soreness, irritation of the mouth, joint conditions, itchiness, allergic skin reaction, dry or irritated skin, unwanted bacteria or pathogens, relaxing the colon during barium enemas, and for repelling mosquitoes. Some people inhale peppermint oil for treating symptoms of cough and runny nose, cough, night sweat, or seasonal or environmental threats.

How does it work?
 Peppermint oil seems to reduce spasms in the digestive tract. When applied to the skin, it can cause surface warmth, which relieves discomfort beneath the skin."

My family uses peppermint oil relatively frequently.  I diffuse peppermint oil {heavily diluted} in my home to help freshen up the odors in the air. I have also diffused peppermint oil into a room when I've been nauseous and during pregnancy I would inhale spearmint or peppermint to settle morning sickness.  I have also dropped 1-2 drops into the shower {or on the cloth shower curtain} to diffuse with the steam, to help when not feeling well.  In addition to peppermint oil, peppermint tea is a great way to settle the stomach.

 I also use peppermint oil in combination with lavender and frankincense {in a carrier oil, applied to my temple and neck} to alleviate some of the pain associated with head or neck tension.  I also use peppermint oil in my homemade bug repentant, because it is known to have natural pesticides.  I do have to be careful how much peppermint oil I am exposed to because I'm still breastfeeding and some studies show that peppermint can decrease milk supply for nursing mothers.

And of course, there are risks with any supplement, and peppermint is fairly potent, 1 drop of oil is equivalent to 27 cups of peppermint tea.  Some warnings include; "Due to the menthol constituent, topical use of peppermint oil around the facial or chest areas of infants and young children, especially around the nose, can induce apnea, laryngeal and bronchial spasm, acute respiratory distress with cyanosis, or respiratory arrest"2  So, of course, I do not put peppermint on my kids faces or on their skin directly anywhere, if I do use it for any reason on my kids, I dilute it heavily with about 1 spoonful of coconut oil and 1 drop peppermint oil, and only apply to their feet.  Also some medications can have interactions with peppermint oil, so it's important to research and ask your doctor before using any essential oils.  And remember I'm a blogger, not a doctor, I do not suggest any of the above uses for you to try, I'm simply sharing what works for me and my family.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Federal Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. 

Functional Friday no. 35 Essential Oil of the week - LAVENDER

Lavender is an herb.  The flower and the oil of lavender are used to make medicine. 

{image source}

This is one of the first oils I started using and when asked by friends it's one I suggest acquiring right away.  The most common use of Lavender is for relaxation, either topically or aromatically.  Now some people are allergic to lavender and I've found testing a small amount of any new oil on the skin is best before bathing in a tub full of the oil, also some people {like my kids} can become energized by the oil {if this is the case, I've heard an energizing oil like peppermint might work to calm them instead}  I often add 5-8 drops to my bath with a cup of epsom salt to detox and relax.  This weekly routine helps keep me calm.  But that's not all Lavender is good for...

Lavender can be used for restlessness, sleeplessness, nervousness, and sadness and for loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, and upset stomach. Some people use it for toothaches, sprains, nerve discomfort, lesions, and joint stiffness.

I use Lavender in combination with Peppermint and Frankincense to calm my severe head discomfort. According to WebMD, early research suggests that rubbing 2 or 3 drops of lavender oil on the upper lip, so that the vapor is inhaled, might reduce heightened discomfort and nausea, and help stop the head discomfort from spreading.

Lavender can be applied {topically} to the skin for hair loss and pain, and can be used to repel mosquitoes and other insects. Some people add lavender to bathwater to treat circulation disorders and improve mental well being and some people use it in homemade deodorants.

By inhalation {aromatically}, lavender can be used as aromatherapy for sleeplessness, discomforts, and agitation related to memory loss or forgetfulness.

I also made lavender playdough with my kids and they love the smell.

Another friend of mine said her favorite topical use for [lavender] is, "Lavender with a hint of patchouli...perfumes, lotions, sugar scrubs and of course in the diffuser. I have an addiction to it! To make it manly, use patchouli with a hint of lavender"

Besides the common uses of Lavender for relief properties, I also use a calming blend, as a natural 'perfume' I add a drop or two to my lava rock bracelet and the oil's scent is strong for a few hours, and because I find Lavender calming, it soothes me to smell the blend throughout the day.

The healing properties in Lavender come from it's oil that seems to have sedating effects and might relax certain muscles. {source}

I also grow lavender in our backyard, I can harvest the flower and make extracts and simple syrups, it is an herb that can be cooked with! I actually get a latte from a local cafe that serves lavender simple syrup and I love the complex flavor it creates with the slightly bitter espresso.  I think it's really important to remember that food comes from nature and food is what allows our bodies to thrive, without a full range of foods, we wouldn't be able to get all the nutrients we need.  I find Lavender an essential part of my health and think it's great essential oil to start using aromatically and topically, while the flowers are edible, I would not ingest Lavender essential oils. You can find more information about essential oils here.

I also found some Special Precautions & Warnings:
Children: Applying products to the skin that contain lavender oil is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for young boys who have not yet reached puberty. Lavender oil seems to have hormone effects that could disrupt the normal hormones in a boy's body. In some cases, this has resulted in boys developing abnormal breast growth called gynecomastia. The safety of these products when used by young girls is not known. 
Surgery: Lavender might slow down the central nervous system. If used in combination with anesthesia and other medications given during and after surgery, it might slow down the central nervous system too much. Stop using lavender at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Anyway, I hope you find Lavender as functional as I do, and if you do, what do you use it for? Did I leave anything out?  I'd love to hear of any additional resources in the comments below.

Disclaimer; Once again I'd like to clarify I'm a blogger, not a doctor, I do not suggest any of the above uses for you to try, I'm simply sharing what works for me and my family.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Federal Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. 

Functional Friday no. 34 {Thieves Oil}

Last week we were supposed to go on a date, and Husband's dad was going to babysit.  However, when I noticed Sonja had a slight fever I decided we shouldn't leave her and instead brought her with us.  Before we left she kept trying to go to the bathroom but nothing came out, so we left, but I had a hunch something wasn't right.  I brought a bag in the car with us, just in case.

When we got to the restaurant we thought we'd be able to eat, since she was acting fine. But as soon as we sat down, I noticed some drool and as she started to cough, I was already rushing her to the bathroom.  She threw up in my hand and then into the toilet.  After she was done, I asked her if she wanted to go home and she said, "No, I want to stay here a while and eat."  We decided to order our food to-go and Husband waited outside with her while the food was being prepared.

All this stressed me out, because I was scared we were all going to get the flu or something awful.  So, I texted my midwife to see if there was anything else I could be doing to avoid vomiting.  I did NOT want to throw up at 34 weeks!  I already take probiotics, garlic and drank some apple cider vinegar {diluted with water}.  She texted back "thieves oil" but I wasn't sure what that was or how to use it...

When I googled Thieves Oil, I found this post on making Thieves Oil and what to use it for.

I rushed to Sprouts to pick some up, but they didn't have any. Luckily, I had the recipe on my iphone and was able to grab all the essential oils listed.  When I got home with the ingredients, Sonja's fever was gone and she was playing like normal.

Thank goddess I was just being dramatic, and we didn't NEED the oil, but I've been adding drops to our feet before we go places with germs like the gym, children's museum or park.  And it's not just for the body, it's also super great for cleaning with!  Simply dilute the oil and clean surfaces like normal to kill all the germs!

Hope you find it just as helpful in preventing illness as we do!
-Jenn

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Functional Friday no. 33 {What to do with all that citrus?! edition}

Here in Phoenix, we've got a lot of citrus showing up at our farmer's markets and in my own back yard.  Since I've been a little preoccupied with pregnancy and my daughter, my life has been documented solely through instragram.  {The new DSLR only makes it way out for special events}  Anyway, here's what I've been doing with all our citrus!

I got 10 lemons from the farmer's market on Saturday and juiced them all by hand with this $3.99 juicer from target.  It's plastic on top which I dislike and was worried about even lasting one juice, but the bottom is glass and it actually was very sturdy for it's first run!

my Lemonade Recipe is sort of go with the flow...
I used all 10 lemons, 2 LARGE spoonfuls of Organic Raw Honey, and added water to taste {maybe 1/2 gallon water?} I would have added rosemary or lavender but I didn't have any fresh herbs.  I'm still trying to decide if I should mush up some strawberries and add it to the mix... just some variations to think about.



All these {above} oranges are from our little tree in our backyard and I've been enjoying one a day.  That's a lot of peels to compost.  So instead, I grabbed a ball jar filled it half way with vinegar and instead of throwing away the peels or composting, I add them to the vinegar.  When my sister-in-law mops the house this week, she'll use the citrus vinegar instead of the regular stuff and if pinterest isn't lying to me; our house will smell like oranges instead of the usual vinegar...

And, that's what I'm doing with all our citrus.  Do you have any functional uses for citrus?  Link in the comments!

-Jenn

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Functional Friday no. 32: How to clean up spilled paint on tile.

My Brother and Sister In Laws moved in this past weekend and they helped us paint their new room a light shade of gray.  It turned out awesome.  What wasn't so awesome was the paint my sister in law spilled, she and my husband sort of freaked out and were about to wipe it up with towels, but I quickly stopped them!

The best way to clean up a large amount of spilled latex or acrylic paint is to LET IT DRY!

Husband doubted it would dry because it was so much, but by mid afternoon the next day it was dry, I suggest putting a box or something on top of the paint so no one steps on it {we had to keep redirecting the dogs} but once it's dry it will literally peel right off the floor...

Mid drying state.

 checking to see if it was in fact dry...

 Once you're sure it's dry lift the whole blob of paint slowly so it comes up in one piece.

It actually cleaned some of the grout too.

Ta Da!

...and just throw it in the trash.  Easy Peasy.

Happy Painting!

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Functional Friday no. 31

Cake Stand Storage.

Smart storage is extremely functional, that's why this week I'm sharing how I store my cake stands.  I've developed quite an addiction to collecting cake stands.  So, I've got to be smart about storing my glassware.

Here's my trick:

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Functional Friday No. 30

Midwives.

Newborn exam performed on the bed, near mama.

As a follow up to last week's Functional Friday post I wanted to share the importance and function of a midwife.  Now many midwives are employed by hospitals and are a great option for a birthing woman, however this post is going to focus on home birthing Midwives and their function in a healthy pregnancy.

You know what an O.B. does right? Well, a midwife does that, AND MORE (and less).

I was visiting with my midwife and we were talking about Midwifery and Doulas and O.B.s and the whole lot of choices you have while pregnant.  And what it comes down to is you should choose whoever YOU feel best with because not a whole lot actually changes birth, you can eat better and do more or less but ultimately the outcome isn't going to change all that much, the thing that will change is how your pregnancy and delivery were handled and how YOU felt about them.

I, personally, do not like waiting HOURS to see my doctor.  Our first visit to the ob for my 1st ultrasound with my daughter was a 3.5 hour long process.  All I wanted was to get the ultrasound.  I knew I wanted a home birth and thought a doctor would know of midwives {they didn't, shocking} and wanted to make sure everything looked "right".  But after one appointment, I knew I didn't want to see nurse after nurse and wait for my doctor for hours, only to see the doctor for a few freaking minutes!

My midwife appointments were so much more.  We talked about my concerns, fears, and anxiety about birth, and she talked me through those issues. Part therapy, part healthy prenatal care.  She would give me nutritional advice, she would rub my feet, she would feel my tummy and listen with a fetoscope {no ultrasonic waves bouncing off my baby, I regret the first ultrasound very much, now that I'm more informed}.  The whole appointment would be about 30 minutes to an hour and ALL of it was with my midwife and her assistant, I NEVER waited more than 5 minutes to see her. She would meet with us after hours, after 5pm when Husband was able to join us.  He never missed work for an appointment with her, unlike the ob where he had to take the whole day off work!

For delivery, I called MY midwife, and she was at my house.  I didn't have to wait for my doctor to be on call to have him or her deliver my baby.  I know that doesn't bother some people, but when you have a midwife, you build a relationship.  So, naturally, you want that person to be the one with you in labor.  And while many friends have great obs, they are not guaranteed to have that doctor deliver their baby.  It could be a stranger! Granted that stranger may have an MD or CNM they are still a stranger, they don't know anything about my birth plan, nothing of my partner and mine's relationship, nor my personal faith or beliefs.

OBs are often directed through hospital policy.  Midwifes are directed by household policy.  My house, my rules.  With a midwife there is no threat of failure to progress leading to a C-section.  If a serious medical issue occurred my midwife would have gone to the hospital with me.  She would advocate for me.  A stranger or ob may be fearful of malpractice or their boss and therefore choose an option that is not in the best interest of the mother and baby, rather the best interests of the hospital or him/herself.  With a midwife, I'm the boss.  She listens to me, and wants me and the baby to be happy and healthy.  This is where the "less" from above comes into play.  A midwife will not use an electronic fetal heart monitor, they will use their ears.  They will listen with a fetoscope or Doppler device {slight ultrasonic waves}, if approved by the parents, to hear the baby's heart.  The baby doesn't just stop if something's wrong, they will give warning signs.  One warning might be the lack of increased heart rate during a contraction, the baby is saving energy so he or she doesn't increase his or her heart rate during a contraction, that's a warning sign.  You don't have to be hooked up to a machine to know something isn't right.  I prefer no machines and instead a well trained midwife with common sense.

Also, many obs will only catch a baby with a mother laying on her back, they are not usually trained on diverse birthing positions.  Midwifes are trained on how to catch a baby in whatever position the mom feels most comfortable in.  And while this may not seem like a big deal to someone who is not in labor, I can assure you; once you find a comfortable position as a laboring woman, god herself could not move you.  I promise.

Another advantage to choosing a midwife was the fact I didn't have to have an I.V..  I hate needles and the thought of pushing a baby with a needle in my hand made me anxious.  So, I choose the safe alternative.  A midwife.  I knew women had birthed for thousands of years without an I.V. and that I could too.  Now, if you're into having I.V.s, being in a unfamiliar environment, surrounded by strangers and being asked to undress in front of said strangers, then by all means an OB and hospital birth are probably the place for you, but as for me, I'll choose my home, germ free, and safe with the help of a Midwife.

Cord Cutting Ceremony, involving the whole family, usually not an option in a hospital setting.

Just my thoughts and a little something to think about when considering how you want to welcome your baby into this world.  I was talking to my brother in law about the subject, and these were his thoughts, When you go on vacation, you can get there a lot of ways; planes, trains, driving, first class, coach; when you get there, you get there.  Sometimes you're greeted with refreshments and loving arms, other times harsh custom agents and sometimes {god forbid} thieves.  The point is you're still on vacation.  Same for birth.  The baby will get here.  It's just a matter of how you feel on the journey and the welcome team you choose for his or her arrival, that's what makes it a good experience or a difficult one.

Did I leave something out, or imply too much? leave a comment below with your thoughts on midwifery care.

Thanks for reading,
Jenn

Functional Friday No. 29

Doulas.

My favorite local doulas and their facebook page.

With all my pregnant friends around me and some of my favorite bloggers too (1.2.3. and 4.) I thought I should take a few minutes to discuss the function and importance of a doula in any birth setting.

I didn't even know what a doula was until I was pregnant.  I had read a few books and discovered the term.  I actually didn't have a doula, although my Midwife's assistant did act like one, if not better (if that's possible).  If and when I get pregnant again I will definitely have one or more doulas present at my birth.  I love them.  And no matter how supportive my husband was and or will be; he doesn't have a vagina, never had a menstrual cramp (let alone birth cramp in his life), nor will he ever understand the workings of a woman's mind in labor as well as another woman.  In effect, rendering him useless during labor. Oh wait, that's not true he did hold my legs up while I was pushing, and in some families I've know dads to hold cameras.

Anyway, a doula is a women who has been professionally trained on how to support someone in labor.  Now, I know many women like myself consider having a sister or mother present for labor and that can be just as good. IF that women has also attended dozens to hundreds of other births, is well knowledged on both the hospital or birth center policies and/or your birth plan.  If she's not, she may not be able to advocate for you in a hospital setting.  Nor may she be able to assist you in a home setting, if she's never seen a natural birth before.  So while I may ask my sisters and mother into the room at my next birth, I doubt I will ask them to support me as a doula would.

The amazing thing about a doula is her ability to reduce pain and rates for c-sections! A doula will make a cesarean section 26% less likely.  The use of forceps or vacuums 41% less likely.  The use of analgesia or anesthesia 28% less likely and reduce negative birth experiences by 30% (source).

If your first birth was a C-Section and you were told you HAVE to have another, you might want to think again.  Many women are choosing to have a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and a doula can help you accomplish this goal.  Depending on your health many doctors will attempt a VBAC on a case by case basis.  More information about Cesareans and VBACs can be found on the American Pregnancy Association's website.

And a doula doesn't just stop at the birth. Many doulas will come and check on mom and dad and baby at home, allowing mom to bath, or allowing dad to not worry about cooking dinner and instead enjoy his family.  Doulas' rates vary but for a small fee they will often help with cleaning and cooking if desired.

More information about doulas here, here and here.

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Functional Friday No. 28

Hydrogen Peroxide!

I almost forgot to share these photos from Hawaii! They're not pretty, but they're definitely something I remember from the trip!

In the middle of the night husband heard a sound (turns out it was the dryer!) and he grabbed his knife off the night stand and when he opened it, he cut his thumb.  While it's awfully embarrassing for him, that's not the point of the story.

The point?  How do you get blood out of a hotel/rented condo's carpet?

The answer? Hydrogen Peroxide...

Before: Dabbed with wet paper towel to remove any extra blood.

Hydrogen Peroxide from ABC store with in walking distance from our condo.

Spray on carpet an allow to soak until all the red/brown is gone.

use a paper towel to remove any moisture and spot clean the carpet.

After. No more blood.

I learned this trick from my midwife when a drop of the placenta and cord blood got onto the homebirthing family's white carpet.  Works like a charm!

The next day.

Unfortunately the thumb wasn't as easy of a fix.  Husband is, however, an expert with butterfly band-aids so no stitches were needed.  The moral of the story? Always have a well stocked medical kit when traveling to avoid the ER, don't open your fixed blade knives like an idiot, and make sure you have know how to clean blood off of any surface to avoid paying damages to the hotel.