Excited!!!

Okay, so this past week, I got a call from a local pregnancy to toddler hood magazine.  I got a call to do a short article on placenta and it's benefits and on all the blessings that come with working with them.  I am so excited!!

My dilemma, it has to be done and submitted by December 2.  And it has to be kept under 600 words.  Which, is not too bad, but I have no idea how to fit all of the joys, and benefits, beauty, and love into it!  Aaaggghhhhhhhhh!

I haven't started yet, I don't know where to start.  I am just so excited that I will be published on something I love.  I love to write anyways, and often enough I do so out of the need to put my thoughts into sentences.  The problem with my sentences is that, I'm sure, they don't always make sense to the general populous.   I want to make sure that this article makes a statement that other people are interested and educated from it.

Well, I suppose, if I am to accomplish my goal, I should get started.  If anyone has any ideas on what they want to really know, please let me know!!

Please enjoy the recent placenta prints  :)

Simple Things

The truth of the matter is nothing starts off simple.  The day your mom holds you in her arms for the first time, the day you start 1st grade, the day you meet your love, the twilight bliss of having your own baby snuggle to your breast, nothing, is simple.  The art of life, is to make it work, simply for you.  I will admit, I haven't entirely figured that out yet.  However, I am gaining speed in that direction. 

I think about all the mildstones I have passed, failed & even just snuck through, and even if, at the time, I wasn't proud of what I had done, I can look back now and be.  I know I haven't always led a normal path, but who wants to do that.  I think, along with everything I have done "wrong", I have done a thousand things right.  And, I'm sure I'm not the first to pass this bridge of clarity.  I'm sure other people see the crystal in the shatters of paths failed and bumpy roads walked.  I'm trying to get to a point here, so please, bare with me.

I am 29.  I have been a mother for longer then seems right, but I made that decision, and walked it through.  The simple part, is obviously, now I can look back and see that I didn't ruin anyones life by owning up to my right.  I have held many jobs, wanted many careers, and have finally, somewhat settled into understanding that we all have a purpose.  And, I am now only seeing, that the only person I need to please is myself.  Funny 'eh. 

My goal, is to focus on raising happy, well-adjusted, un normal children, as there are too many normal people in the world.  After all that is complete I think I'll have found peace.  The tricky part will be getting there.

The point I am trying to make, I think, is that we never really need to hate ourselves for taking a trail instead of a jet.  I still don't always know exactly what I am doing from day to day, but I am listening more to my inner voice, and following my instincts.  That, has made my life simpler.  Enjoying the sunsets with my husband, colouring with my children, singing loudly to teen music with my daughter. 

Take comfort in the simple things.

Fall Joys with a Little Baking

I got up this morning with renewed energy.  Fall is almost gone, the smell of snow is in the air, but I'm pretty excited.  The last couple days I've been feeling pretty sluggish.  Growing accustomed to the darkness in the morning, and the darkness settling in sooner in the evening really drags me down.  I think for people who have ever suffered some form of depression, this could be the worst time of year.  I have been through the depression hell spiral a couple times.  And, I hate it any day that I seem less perky, because I am always afraid that it's gonna be the day my world falls apart.  I guess, though, I've been looking at life a little more optimistically the last while.  I believe that because I have been through it, I know what to look for, and I steer clear of the triggers, as best I can.  And I'm actually so very much enjoying the colours change in the trees, and the excitement of the kids for Halloween.  I find Fall such a transitional time, and with every transition, comes new and interesting opportunity.

My beautiful kids in the leaves.

I've been baking a ton lately, and I have found a new joy in it.  I've never been one to cook, well, other then the necessity of having to eat, and feed my family.  My husband is the cook, or chef, of the family.  He can create fabulous gourmet dinners out of anything.  But he isn't home right now.  So, I google stuff to try, and to my amazement, it turns out edible.  Well, to my kids it is, and they are the toughest of critics!!  I've created a pumpkin muffin recipe that I just have to share! 

Longridge Choc Chip Pumpkin Muffins
Makes approx 4 dozen

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
3/4 cup wheat germ
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp allspice
6 eggs
2 tbsp honey
1 lg (29oz) can pumpkin
1 cup applesauce
1 cup choc chips (or raisins, nuts . . .)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease or line muffin tray.
In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients: flour, wheat germ, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon & allspice. 
In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients: eggs, honey, pumpkin, applesauce, until smooth.
Add wet mixture to dry ingredients, stir thoroughly to make a smooth batter.  Stir in choc chips (raisins, nuts).
Spoon into muffin cups, about half full.  To make larger muffins spoon in a little more.
Bake for 30 - 35 mins or until toothpick poked into center comes out clean.

Voila!  They are pretty hearty, and not too un healthy, and without nuts, safe to send to school.  The choc chips makes it a little more appealing to children.  I make smaller muffins, I freeze them and pull them as needed for kids school snacks.

A couple pics of last nights batch with 2 dozen wrapped for freezing.

And for those of you interested, this was the original recipe Addictive Pumpkin Muffins.

My Thanks

After a long weekend, and a busy one, I am so very thankful to have such a wonderful husband.  We have been together almost 11 years, and time flies.  Being with the same person, for so long has never been boring to us.  He has always been a great support to me, and I have been his level head.  We have had so many things to be greatful for, and we have been blessed.

This is just a little story about his thoughtfulness.

I had been sick for about 2 friggin weeks, and my laundry pile had grown to epic proportions.  Or, if quoting my oldest, "it's an epic failure".  I had been washing all the clothes, but they hadn't made it to the dressers in ages, and were starting to take over my livingroom.  Shameful, I know.  My little ones didn't complain, they would get up in the morning, dive into the depths of the laundry ocean, and grab what they found to wear.  And of course, the dogs thought it was a great napping place as the sun would warm the sheets through the window.  I however, was getting pretty tired of seeing it evolve, as was my hubby.  This weekend, he folded and put away about 6 loads.  I'm so happy!  It means more then just the help, it means I get to start my week fresh.  Awesome!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.  Dinner with family, great food, amazing people.  I had a placenta, and we got to enjoy the long weekend pretty calmly.

So, in short, I am thankful to my hubby.  He may never read this, but I want to let the rest of the world know, he is the best.

Placenta Truth

Okay, so I'm a little unnerved this morning.  I'm seeing more and more negative media regarding placenta encapsulation.  What I'm finding hard to swallow, is not that there is negative coverage, as that happens with anything, but that it seems all so one sided.  I thought, part of being involved in professional media coverage, was gathering facts from all sides.  Some of these stories are not that, they are trying to present the side that best suits them, or that best makes placenta encapsulation unworthy of notification.

I was first disturbed by this pleasant little article Don't forget to take your placenta pills.  This is actually what first got me thinking on how to better educate women/men/the world on the whats and whys of encapsulation.  I am not going to get into a fight with the author, there are many interesting comments already posted on her blog by many women on both sides of the fence.  But that is also the problem, why are we fighting each other?  Why, when something seems out of the norm, do people react negatively?  Why should anyone, judge, put down or shame something because they do not understand it fully.  I would also like to make a small point, that for any of us who do this, we are not getting rich.  I often  provide the service for free, for trade, or at a reduced rate, because not everyone can afford the standard rate.  We provide encapsulation service because we value the placenta and what it can offer new mothers.

I am a placenta encapsulator.  When I tell people that is what I do for a living, I get a crap load of different stares.  I get people who straight out say "that's gross, why would anyone do that".  I like these people, at least they gave me a reason to explain the whys and hows.  They are the people that walk away from the conversation knowing more.  Most people though look blankly, and discontinue the conversation.  Oh, and I have had a few that have out right laughed in my face.  These people just snap judged me, and what I do.  These people, who I'm sure are very intelligent, educated people, reacted in an extremely ignorant, rude fashion.  Not cool.  And, then,  believe it or not, more and more people are looking for information, and are excited about being able to ask me what I know, and what my clients are saying.

I am not going to force anyone to do anything, I am not going to try and change your mind, I feel though, that the best way to educate yourself, is to look at all sides.  This little "news" clip is infuriating!  http://www.albertaprimetime.com/  How can something be put on mainstream media that is only one sided?  How, because we let it.  We are pretty much content to sit, and let whoever, tell us whatever, and believe it.  But that is another topic for another time ;)

Placenta encapsulation is not a fad.  Acid wash jeans were a fad.  Tickle Me Elmo was a fad.  Placenta encapsulation, is a tradition, and has been used for hundreds of years Many Cultures Revere Placenta.  Calling it a trend, and a fad, put down the real value of what each mom and baby are given.  Some women choose to use it, others do not.  But do not put down that it has helped hundreds, even thousands of women and their families during the postpartum period.  There is research out there.  You just have to read it.  There is also alot of anecdotal evidence shared, and truthfully, why shouldn't we count that?  If you think your friends haircut looks great, you ask where she got it done.  If you want to find a good restaurant, you read a review, even choosing a doctor is based on what you hear.  So, if my best friend says nothing but good about taking her placenta, then why not look it up, and determine if it's my best option. 

A thousand years ago when someone was sick, they called to their local shaman, midwife, elder, healer...."doctor".  Most of these healers did not go to university, the learnt from previous healers, from nature, from life and experience.  The art of placenta encapsulation, tinctures, salves, all are along those lines, ancient healing wisdom that still hold strong in today's society.  There is a need for placenta, or we would not be having this conversation.  Today, we have midwives, naturopaths, homeopaths, doctors from all walks, and we use them.  We benefit from them.  And, we are all grateful for so many of modern medicines contributions.  But we still go back to our ancestral roots.  When you have a cold, do you not want a glass of OJ?  Do you not crave a bowl of chicken soup?  These are things that are culturally acceptable, and suggested by medical professionals for helping ease a cold.  Why not continue to use our past to better our present?  Learning how to use what we are given is part of evolution.

Please, feel free to comment, or ask me a question.  I am posting a few other links for review if you are interested.  Thanks!

PBi, based out of Nevada, US,  tons of info on the benefits of the placenta, list of many placenta encapsulation specialists,and continuously doing research!
International Placenta Encapsulation Network, UK based organization with references, information, encapsulation specialist, trainings.
A short video as to Why Placenta Encapsulation
A local Alberta Mom says eating placenta helps cure postpartum depression

Bored

Alright, so where do I begin.  I'm frickin bored!  I have spent most of my summer cleaning and organzing my home.  Much to the dismay of friends when they walk in and see the well loved house I call home.  I absolutly can not keep it all together all the time.  However, I truly now know where everything I need on a daily bases is for me to function at appropriate speeds. 

I'm home this evening with the appropriate amount of laundry to fold, the dishwasher continuously going and the just enough of a messy floor to know that I did wash it this morning.  I crack a beer, cause if I don't I think I may just do the cracking.  I am so bored!  Summer is almost over!  The kids are in bed, the air is freash, the sun is going down . . .  I don't wanna be stuck in the house anymore!

I think, maybe, I should be greatful that my kids have let me play good mother and housewife so well this summer.  I should be happy that I have so much stuff to take care of and clean up after. I am all of these things, just a little overwhelmed too.  I think really, I am just getting a little depressed that fall is in the air.  I love the colours, and vibrance of the reds and yellows, but oh, come on!!!  One more week of hot would be bloody beautiful too!

ugh, oh well, enough complaining.  I am going to sit on my deck and enjoy the sun lowering while sipping on a smooth cold one.

Social Media

So, my oldest daughter is on holidays.  She is away from me for 10 days.  My husband is working out of town.  I am so abandoned!  However, the house has a quiet to it that it normally never attains.  The laundry gets done regularly, the dishes are done when I want to be done, and the kids are playing with whatever they like.  I'm not minding the "single" parenting, I'm minding the lack of daily adult interaction.  I find myself drawn to facebook, hotmail, twitter and google. 

I really don't have any more time in the day to waste, so I googled stats on social media.  I came up with tons of sites on stats, crazy! 25 Social media stats This one was pretty easy to understand without having to read a ton.  Which works great, cause I want to waste time on here, just not too much.

I wonder though, why we can't interact with people on a more "social" level.  I remember less then 10 years ago, not everyone had a computer, and when people wanted to talk to someone long distance they sent a letter.  I remember not having a cell phone, and not minding not knowing what was going on with everyone else I have ever met.  I have 400 "friends" on facebook.  And to be truthful, I probably only really know half, and half of that half I would consider a friend. 

I walk to work, and as I pass people I see them twittering, facebooking, and texting.  I often smile as I pass by.  I learnt that from growing up in a small town.  But I am saddened by how many people go out of their way to not even nod back.  Some would sooner trip you, and video it for you tube, then comment about the weather. 

Oh well.  I am not saying there is anything wrong with being able to connect with thousands of people who have similar interests, I'd just like to see more common courtesy amongst my actual, fellow neighbours.