Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
Vitamin C has a rich and surprisingly controversial history. On the one hand, science is clear that the body needs it, but the type, dose, and frequency are all up for debate. When the common cold is making the rounds, many people turn to vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, to help ward off …
There are plenty of underlying causes (and treatments) for acne, but when it comes to blackheads, they’re more of a cosmetic nuisance than a deep health problem. Still, blackheads are unsightly and I’m sure we all would prefer not to have them! Luckily these homemade blackhead removal ideas can help reverse and prevent blackheads without …
If there’s one guilty pleasure all moms enjoy, it’s wine chocolate! Thankfully there’s a way to justify indulging a little because chocolate (like wine) has some fantastic health benefits. The key is to choose quality chocolate from the right sources … or make your own homemade chocolate. It’s easy and you have total control over …
I love few things more than a basket full of colorful Easter eggs. Easter is important to our family and one of our favorite times of year, but I often find myself annoyed with the over-commercialization of what I consider a religious holiday. I also get peeved when Easter gets turned into an excuse to …
All living things eat, so Everyone Poops. – Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi Who hasn’t read that literary masterpiece to their kids at some point along the way? As parents, we spend the first 3-5 years of our children’s lives handling poop. Every. Single. Day. Poop. Between diaper changes and snack time, it’s easy to …
As many of you know, I’ve had six children in nine years. I’m certainly open to having more children in the future, but I feel like my body would benefit from a break from pregnancy/nursing, especially as I am working to overcome my autoimmune disease and heal my thyroid. Why Not Hormones? I’ve written before …
A decor diva I am not, but decorating for seasons and holidays with kids is definitely a lot of fun. When I found myself admiring the cute front door wreaths and decorations in the neighborhood, I got an idea … why not try to make my own homemade burlap wreath? Here’s how it went… Make …
I’ve tried my best to resist the slime craze in our house … but the day has finally come. (Cue sinister music.) Seriously, messy projects don’t bother me (we homeschool … need I say more) but what does bother me are the ingredients kids all over the globe are using to make slime. I’d rather my …
Everyone lately is talking about the benefits of a ketogenic diet and how research shows it can reduce inflammation, increase energy levels, speed up weight loss, and improve focus and concentration. If you’re contemplating trying it, mastering a good fat bomb recipe is a must! What is a Fat Bomb? The name “fat bomb” may …
The cost of taking a family of eight out to eat means I’ve pretty much made my peace with cooking at home, other than the occasional date night out. I’ve made it my mission to recreate my former favorite takeout dishes in a healthier, real food style. This healthy Thai chicken curry recipe is the …
Healthy baby food is a topic I feel very strongly about and will definitely step onto the soapbox for! Like many aspects of life, convenience doesn’t equal quality (although I argue homemade baby food can be very convenient if you take a simple approach) and many of the current pre-made baby food options are definitely …
If you’ve ever heard of sulforaphane, you’ve probably heard about broccoli sprouts and why they are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. If you haven’t, let me provide a brief case for why these humble sprouts should be growing in all of our kitchens. Broccoli Sprouts = High in Sulforaphane I wrote an …
There is a substance called sulforaphane (also called SFN) found in cruciferous vegetables and especially in broccoli sprouts. It is well studied to be anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and may even protect against aging and diabetes. The best part? It’s available from a simple, inexpensive food you can grow on your counter… sprouts! Want to skip the …
Oh, seasonal allergies. They truly can make life miserable. The good news is, there are things we can do! Many people unnecessarily suffer from seasonal allergies when a few simple natural remedies can offer a lot of allergy relief. Studies estimate that over 25% of the population suffers from allergic disorders and climate change theories …
Making your own face scrub (or body scrub) is one of the easiest ways to get started making natural beauty products at home. I already make this DIY Oatmeal and Lavender Face Scrub but I’ve seen several face products lately featuring spices like turmeric and was intrigued by the idea of adding natural antioxidants to …
Corned beef & cabbage is a favorite meal of ours (as it is for most Americans of Irish descent) and a tradition in our house on St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve found that it’s surprisingly easy to brine my own homemade brisket too (here’s how I do it). Brining your own corned beef makes this a …
I’ve always been a budget shopper and a DIYer. No matter my budget, I actually prefer to shop at consignment sales for the kids (the clothes are actually more natural than new). And when it comes to decorating my house, I’ve never been one to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on art. Heck, my …
Tell your kids it’s “skeleton powder.” Or that it slashes and dehydrates bugs to death! If you have boys especially, they may look at your natural pantry with a whole new respect! You won’t be lying … Diatomaceous Earth (or DE for short) is all that and more! Here are all the (not so gory) …
There are few things in life as soothing and relaxing as the warm glow of a campfire, and a Himalayan salt lamp offers a similar ambiance at home. I’ve talked before about how I use them to help keep the air fresh and for their soothing red glow. Salt lamps have exploded in popularity over the …
There is a lot of evidence, most anecdotal, some scientific, about how gardeners live up to 14 years longer than non-gardeners. That’s a pretty impressive life extension and it certainly warrants further research. National Geographic author Dan Buettner has studied this in depth by visiting what he called “blue zones” around the world- places where …
The infamous McDonald’s Shamrock Shake makes its rounds once a year at the Golden Arches. Over 60 million of them have been sold since they were first introduced. With 54 ingredients in each shake, though, they are pretty much the opposite of real food! It might come as a surprise that I’ve never actually tried …
This cilantro pesto recipe is a mainstay in our house! I adapted it from my more traditional basil pesto recipe and now it is a daily go-to for our family after going through Christa Orecchio’s Soup Detox. What is Pesto? Pesto is a traditional Italian no-cook sauce. It is usually made with basil, parmesan, pine …
A mother’s job never ends and nowhere is this more true than on vacation! I’ve always thought it was ironic how much work it requires to go “relax” … planning where to go and what to do, packing bags and gear, and making all the healthy meals for vacation. I once read a satire article called …
I mentioned in a few recent podcast episodes and Instagram posts that I’ve been experimenting with water fasting, and immediately received a lot of questions about the specifics. I’ll answer all those questions here. The short answer is that overall, water fasting was an amazing experience and I’ll definitely do it again. But before we …
