A Safer Glass Cleaner

Part of my journey to becoming more aware and Mother Earth friendly is finding safe alternatives for everyday cleaning products and actually, switching out our cleaning products has been one of the easiest, green choices we've adopted in our home. It takes no extra time for me to buy a safer alternative. What took the most time for me was finding which alternatives were best and one of the inspirations for starting Life of A Hippie Chick Blog was to pass on what I have learned and maybe help you through your journey of being more aware and environmentally friendly. It's a long  road after all, so we may as well keep each other company and share what we learn. :)

If I am being honest this road was a bit frustrating in the beginning. It has taken time for me to find  safe products that are not only really effective but are COMPLETELY  safe. It was also incredibly disappointing to learn just how big of a pain in the ass it is to find out what chemicals you're actually being exposed to when using your common everyday cleaners because the manufactures are not required to list ingredients!! Say what?! I know, it's crazy. Buying some of these products can cost more but I think you and your family's well-being is worth it. Don't you?

I don't know about you, but I do most of the cleaning in our house which means I take in most of the chemicals that are being used.  When I opened my eyes to the risk I was taking and realized that I was putting not only my health, but my family and pet's health on the line by simply cleaning the house and not being aware of what I was really spraying to make surfaces "safe" seemed to be a little counterintuitive. Isn't it? Did you know that most All-Purpose Cleaners you have to let sit on for 10 minutes before you wipe off and then make sure it's rinsed well if it's a surface you plan to eat off of? I didn't. Like most, I would spray and wipe, that is how I saw every person in my life clean a countertop, and like most, I never read the instructions! Perfect, please come over for a delicious meal with a side of cancer causing, hormone disrupting, asthma inducing, pesticides and chemicals. YUM!

I could go on and on about this subject and I definitely plan to a little bit at a time. :) But, for now here are more facts about  women's health and chemicals and other helpful Info about toxic cleaners.

Keep in mind that just because a product is biodegradable does not mean it is safe around people and pets, so read your labels and do your homework. Also don't fall for companies that are marketed to the consumer as a “non-toxic,” “biodegradable,” and “non-hazardous” alternative to presumably more toxic products and yet, the ingredients tell a radically different story. The ingredients never lie.

Window products specifically can contain Propylene Glycol, a controversial compound commonly used in glass cleaners but also in toothpaste and cosmetics. It is considered safe by the U.S. FDA and the World Health Organization. But environmentalists point to studies showing it can cause skin irritation as well as liver and kidney damage. They can also contain; Ammonia, Ethanol, Isopropyl alcohol, and Methanol.  My family and I are not willing to be a guinea pigs to find out the long term effects!

Luckily, there are good guys out there that have a similar, green vision and are formulating some kick-butt, SAFE products!

Here are a few of my favorite alternatives for glass cleaner's  that are tried and true:

 
• Try this  homemade glass cleaner that is much more cost-effective if you prefer to make your own. If you do like the idea of making your own cleaning products here's a great Video of the 8 basic DIY cleaning ingredients.
• OR try Norwex Norwex Window Cloths they rock  and all they need is water!






Honest Glass + Window Cleaner Natural & Streak Free BUY HERE or find at your local Target store.




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• Better Life's I can See Clearly, WOW! BUY HERE or find at Harmons grocery store if you're in Utah

Ducks LOVE Peas!

While discussing how to get the ducks to get more comfortable with us my husband, Chris, suggested feeding them bread. We both grew up thinking that was OK because we saw others doing it so I guess we just assumed. I read a while back about how feeding bread is bad for ducks and other birds; if Chris still thought is was OK to feed them bread others probably still do, too. So, here's the low down on what is safe to feed ducks.

What Not to Feed Ducks

The most common items fed to ducks and waterfowl are also the least nutritious and most unhealthy: bread, chips, crackers, popcorn and other similar bread-type products. Feeding ducks bread is bad because the food has little nutritional value and can harm ducklings growth, pollute waterways and attract rodents and other pests. Similarly, ducks should not be fed and products that are spoiled or moldy; different types of mold can be fatal to waterfowl. 

Good Foods for Ducks

The best food  are those that provide the nutrients, minerals and vitamins the birds need for healthy growth and development. Many of those foods are similar to the natural seeds, grains and plants birds will forage on their own. As omnivorous birds, ducks will eat a great deal of different foods, and the best foods to offer ducks include:

• Cracked corn
• Wheat, barley, or similar grains
• Oats (uncooked; rolled or quick)
• Rice (cooked or uncooked)
• Milo
• Birdseed
• Grapes (cut in half)
• Frozen peas or corn (defrosted, no need to cook)
• Earthworms
• Mealworms (fresh or dried)
• Chopped lettuce or other greens or salad mixes
• Vegetable trimmings or peels (chopped)

Tips for Feeding Ducks

• Stop feeding if the birds appear uninterested or are leaving the food uneaten
• No matter what foods you provide, only offer foods in bite-sized pieces the birds can easily consume without choking or struggling.
• Litter can hurt birds in many ways, so be sure to dispose of all trash properly, including bags, twist ties and unsuitable scraps.
• Do not allow pets or children to chase or disturb the birds, particularly young birds or families that could become stressed or injured more easily

I tested the theory of peas today and our ducks went nuts for them. I hope this helps you become better aware about what is safe to feed birds. After all, I don't think any of us have the intention to hurt the birds we are trying to feed. I certainly do not want to harm our duck friends!

Roasted Tomato Soup

There's nothing I love more then a warm bowl of soup on a rainy day. Lucky for me I just so happened to have a bushel of tomatoes my best friend since childhood gave us because they might have been a little overzealous and planted 35 tomato plants this year! So, when I saw that the weather for Northern Utah called for a dramatic drop in temperature and 100% chance of precipitation I figured this was the perfect time for a good old bowl of delicious roasted tomato soup.

I adapted this recipe from Swiss Paleo  and have made it before and have never bothered looking for another because it is so good. Don't skip the roasting of the veggies as this gives them a deeper, richer flavor. If there is one flavor I couldn't live without it would be the caramelization that happens when you roast vegetables, Yum! This recipe really is quite easy and takes about an hour to make, most of that time is down time. You can also play around with this recipe and make it a spicy version if that's your cup of tea. I serve this with what every bowl of soup should be accompanied by; grilled cheese sandwiches! I plan to make a big batch of this and freeze it for those days that I just don't feel like cooking,

Ingredients:

6 whole tomatoes
6 cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 onions
sea salt and pepper
olive oil
4 cups of bone broth or chicken stock (can also use vegetable stock to make this vegetarian)
2 tablespoons ghee
fresh basil
1 tsp dried thyme
optional:red chili flakes
optional: Parmesan cheese

What to do:

1-Chop and core the tomatoes and onions into quarters
2. Spread them out on a baking sheet and throw 6 unpeeled garlic cloves onto the sheet as well.
3. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and sea salt.
4. Drizzle them with olive oil and place in a 400 degree F oven and roast for 30 minutes.

5. Once your tomatoes, onions and garlic come out of the oven, squeeze the garlic out of its skin.
6. Put tomatoes, onions and garlic into a soup pot and add 4 cups of broth, bring to a boil.
7.Once it's reaches a boil, add your ghee and reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
8. Now add your fresh basil and thyme to the pot.
9 Use an immersion blender to puree your soup. You can transfer everything to a blender or food processor if you don't have an immersion blender. Blend until smooth. Taste and add additional salt to your liking.
10. If you tolerate dairy you could garnish with freshly grated Parmesan or a splash of cream.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins-Grain Free

I, like most of you, love the fall. The colors makes everything look stunning, the food is supremely comforting,  I get to break out all of my comfy knit sweaters and hoodies that have been gathering dust all summer long, sipping on a steamy beverage in the crisp fall air feels like heaven , and the sound of a crackling fire is extremely soothing. This time of year also includes my all time favorite holiday-Halloween! I just love this season! I have been trying to hold out on the pumpkin flavored goodies as long as possible as to not start the season too early but on Sunday as Chris and I drove through the canyon that was plastered in orange, red and yellow I realized, it is time.

So, yesterday I tried out a new recipe; grain free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. I found this recipe on The Ancestral Body Blog  and just so happened to have all of the ingredients on hand. This recipe was so easy and I whipped up a batch in less than 15 minutes, (not including the baking time). Boy, we were not disappointed and I don't think you will be either! I tend to have a pallet for healthier versions of food but my husband on the other hand loves his refined sugars and grains but to my surprise when I got home from work without me even asking if he had tried one he said, "those cupcakes are delicious!" Even after I told him they were a much healthier version then what he is used to he gobbled them up. The key to eating healthier is finding good recipes. As long as you have an arsenal of great recipes your family won't even know that you are feeding them REAL food! I hope y'all enjoy these as much as we did.

Grain Free-Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yield: 1 dozen

Ingredients:

4  organic eggs 
2 TBS organic maple syrup 
3 TBS organic coconut oil melted
3/4 cup of pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin is just fine, BPA free if possible)
1/3 cup almond meal (AKA almond flour)
1/4 cup of organic coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 pinch sea salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips (dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs would make these even more guilt free)
1 tsp organic cinnamon
1/4 tsp organic ginger
1/8 tsp organic  nutmeg
1/8 tsp organic all-spice
(or... in place of all spices use 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice)

Directions:

Pre-heat oven 350 degrees F
Grease muffin tray with coconut oil or line with paper liners

1- Whisk wet ingredients together in a large mixing bowl
2- In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients together, add to wet ingredients combining
3- Fold in chocolate chips
4- bake for 20-25 minutes
5- Cool completely. Enjoy with a pat of organic butter or ghee on top!

POOP!
Do I have your attention? We are going to talk about a subject that a lot of people turn their nose up to as if it stinks or something?! But, it's soo important; poop and colon health. I am going to go into detail about this so reader beware.

Today I had my first Colon Hydrotherapy Treatment. I have heard for a long time about how the average person can have up to 10-20LBS of poop rotting inside of them. Yes, read that again, 10-20 POUNDS of POOP! I've wanted to do something like this for a while now for various ailments I have been dealing with and I have read and heard about the benefits but never knew where to go. Well, the other night I was watching a sweet friend and mentor of mine on Periscope (if you don't know what Periscope is it is a live stream app, It is so dope!) and she did a treatment live on camera! So brave! So to say I was inspired is an understatement. I called Lori at the  Inside Tract in Ogden and set up an appointment for the soonest she had and I was not disappointed.

Find out what Colon Hydrotherapy is HERE

I really wasn't nervous until this morning and mostly because of the unknown. The anticipation of how the process would go intimidated me. I arrived at the location and seriously thought about turning around and going home. Lori greeted me at the front of her home and instructed me to go around to the basement. Great, I thought. I am about to get a tube shoved up my ass in someones basement! Isn't she going to wine and dine me first at least? How rude! Haha. As I walked into her office it was very clean and professional and it didn't even smell like shit! :) I filled out some paperwork and answered some revealing questions about my pooping ritual all while Lori sat next to me and was talking as if this wasn't a big deal, I guess 23 years in the poop biz does this to you. It took all of my concentration to act as nonchalant as she did. She then escorted me to a bathroom where I was instructed to bear all under a sexy hospital gown. I undressed, emptied my bladder in fear that pooping on her would be bad enough let's not add pee to that list too! I snap-chatted a few friends who knew what I was up to and then looked in the mirror wondering what in the hell did I get myself into but thought, here goes nothing!

I entered the treatment room and saw a big machine with gages and dials on it and there was Lori, smiling, with a tube and lube in hand. Oh, my God! I reluctantly sat on the table and well, I think you can imagine what happened next. I do have to say for those who are wondering what it feels like, it doesn't hurt, but I am going to be real with you, it feels like you have to poop and it was in no way sexually arousing. I was then put in a comfortable position on my back and before I even realized it the treatment had started. Lori really made me feel comfortable and at ease. When the water is entering your digestive tract it kind of just feels like you're bloated or full. She massages your stomach to help things "move" along, then just when you think you are going to lose it and your dignity on the table she releases the pressure and out comes the waste.  And, you know, there is a lighted viewing chamber for your viewing pleasure and I really appreciated that, boy is it fascinating to see. I was a little caught off guard though when in the middle of our conversation about marriage, kids, career choices and colon health, she said, "Ah! You're a mushroom girl!" "What did you just say?!" I exclaimed in laughter (remember, laughing is probably not the best idea right now!) Yes, she can tell what you've eaten if you, like me, don't chew your mushrooms up all of the way before swallowing. All this time I thought our stomach acid breaks down the food but I learned today that the saying, "chew your food 20x before swallowing" holds true. Your stomach acid breaks down the food to a molecular level but can only do it with food that has been previously broken down into a paste, so our bodies are not even absorbing the nutrients from the foods that have not been chewed enough. Life lessons people-Chew your food!

After 45 minutes of this it was finally over. I ran to the bathroom gathered my things and my pride and met her in the waiting area, paid for the service and you bet, I rescheduled. I did not go through that one time to not finish it out to get through my entire digestive tract, 3-6 treatments is recommended.

Now, 8 hours later I feel a little crampy, which is normal but overall I feel great! I almost feel cleaner and lighter, maybe that's in my head but I do. I felt energized all day and I did not have to be confined to a bathroom for the rest of eternity or even at all today. I  kept my food choices light today and chose things that are easy on the gut like smoothies. I will do my best to journal my progress and if it helps some of the ailments I have been battling.

Happy Pooping!