Wellness Mama®
Simple Answers for Healthier Families
I always prefer natural remedies for illness when it’s appropriate since they often shorten illness (rather than just relieve symptoms). Hand, foot, and mouth disease (strange as the name may be) is just another illness that is usually best tended to at home. What Is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease? Hand, foot, and mouth disease …
If you’re looking for an interesting variation on coffee, give coffee kombucha a try (it’s an interesting taste for sure!). But if you’re looking for healthy coffee alternatives, keep reading. Why Not Drink Coffee? You all probably know I love my coffee. (So much so one of my DIY projects was a coffee bar!) Still, …
Ask any mom… laundry is a never-ending job in a family! I am always looking for a way to save time on laundry and I certainly like helping the environment, so these wool dryer balls made it on my DIY project list. These wool dryer balls are easy to make and serve a very practical …
I love calendula for its beauty and its healing properties. Calendula tea is just one way to harness the healing power of this amazing herb. While you usually just think of tea for drinking, this particular tea is so versatile there are a million different ways to use it. Well, close to that anyway! Marigold Tea? Yes, …
It seems like there’s much better awareness these days about the importance of vitamin D. However, the tide of public opinion is yet to shift on the importance of sunlight in this equation. While scientists debate the topic, perhaps we can reach a conclusion with some good old-fashioned logic. A quick stroll around any Walgreens shows …
It seems like everyone these days is talking about the amazing health benefits of a ketogenic diet. The benefits range from feeling more energetic to losing weight to having better mental clarity. (All categories we moms dream about…) Restricting sugar and consuming plenty of healthy fats (as recommended in the keto diet) does show benefits …
Sometimes a plant holds a lot more than meets the eye (many times, actually). I’ve written before about the health benefits of herbs and spices, and today I’d like to cover an herb we don’t hear about every day but that every woman should know about. Ever heard of vitex? Also called chaste tree or …
Pregnant women may have that healthy glow, but there are plenty of skin issues that can also accompany motherhood. From hormonal acne to stretch marks and everything in between, it helps to know the ins and outs of pregnancy skin care. With each kid I learned a little more about which products were best to …
Coffee is a controversial topic in health circles and I could write equally supported posts about why coffee is great for you and why it is horrible. The bottom line is that when sourced correctly, coffee can have some health benefits, but there are also people who should avoid it. Like most aspects of health, …
I’ve written about how to make just about every natural beauty product I can think of, from deodorant to mascara, but one thing I’ve never been able to find a DIY recipe for is nail polish! While I still believe consuming gelatin is the best way to get beautiful nails, I do love a nice manicure …
I’ll never forget when a video called “The World’s Toughest Job” went viral. In this video, people came in to interview for a job for “Director of Operations” and were told that it required 135+ hours per week with no vacation, no sick days, and no pay. They were told it would be physically and …
Ahhh newlywed life… I loved that blissful time before our first child was born when my husband and I were newly married and sharing our first home together. I have fond memories of that time, and now I love celebrating other couples as they begin their married life together. We’re entering wedding season, which means there are …
My breakfast horizons have really expanded now that my autoimmune condition is under control (thanks to diet, fasting, and help from a great doctor). I’ve started reintroducing some select dairy to my diet, especially since I found a new brand of grass-fed cottage cheese I can actually get behind. One of the first recipes I …
You can switch to natural cleaners, run an an air filter, and even use probiotics in the name of improving your home’s microbiome, but if you wear shoes in the house it may be undoing all your efforts. It took some time and research convince me, but there are many reasons to have a no shoes …
Grilling season is a great time of year because it makes my husband love to cook! Plus, fewer dishes and mess in the kitchen is a bonus. This grilled pork loin recipe is one of our favorites to make and an easy alternative to the typical burgers on the grill. Pork loin is a relatively …
My first introduction to witch hazel was not a pleasant one. I remember when I was given a container of witch hazel pads after the many hours of pushing that led to the eventual birth of my firstborn. As I sat there on my ice pack and felt pain in places I didn’t know could feel pain, …
If you’re anything like me, honey already has a permanent place in your kitchen and natural remedy cabinet. It helps soothe burns, calm coughs, and even makes a great natural face wash. But it isn’t the only beneficial substance that honey bees make! Propolis is the “bee glue” that protects and holds together the hive but this …
Once upon a time, a well-meaning landscaper offered to do some work for our yard. He suggested spraying the yard with glyphosate to “get rid of all the unsightly dandelions and weeds (*ahem* like plantain) to grow a beautiful lawn. The poor guy didn’t quite understand why I was so adamant that there would never be glyphosate …
Many conventional beauty products contain hidden (or not so hidden) harmful ingredients and many are also super expensive. I started making DIY beauty products at home years ago for these reasons, and now… I’m addicted! But the extra work/time/money you say? It doesn’t take as much time as you’d think, and it certainly costs much …
Most of my younger years were spent in Texas, where I developed a love for all things Mexican food. Even now I often make Mexican recipes and Tex-Mex food for my family that feature healthier ingredients, like my homemade taco seasoning. This gluten-free version of homemade enchilada sauce tastes great on enchiladas (and a lot of other things!) and is the …
A heavy metal detox is a good way to reduce heavy metals in the body, but keeping them from getting in to begin with is an even better strategy. One way to do that is to be aware of the various ways toxins enter the body. For example, arsenic can accumulate in the body from …
