To the Formula Feeding Mama on my Facebook

Dear Formula Feeding Mama,
Maybe you had some free time while baby was napping today and you were scrolling through Facebook, saw the image and post of my nursling and decided to report just because you didn't like it. How do I know it was a formula feeding mom? You messaged me with your story and told me I was making the formula feeding world of mothers look bad. Maybe, maybe it brought back bad feelings from when you tried to nurse. Maybe you never had the desire to nurse because you just didn't want to... whatever it was...I am absolutely surprised that the very first time I decided to post a single, discrete image of my baby nursing I get reported. Really, you can't even tell he is nursing. I have almost 1,000 people on my Facebook..and I am glad you are no longer one of them. You are entitled to your thoughts and I will listen if you want to tell me your story..but I won't stand for you telling me that I am making other mothers look bad and telling me I should be ashamed.
       I am sorry that you felt the need to report an image that I personally find beautiful. When I look into the sleepy eyes of my baby boy nursing himself to sleep...I am in awe of what I have achieved. I am almost certain that while holding your baby in your arms with the bottle you just mixed, you feel the same way. If you posted that image of your baby filling his small belly and feeling sleepy..I probably would be one of your first friends to "like" your picture. When you look past what is nurturing your child, whether breast or bottle, you are seeing your baby...being lovingly cared for - THAT is what I see. You and I alike spent 9 painfully pregnant months growing and carrying our beautiful baby, my pregnancy was very hard, was yours? If you made a post about your ability to wear heels while pregnant would I have the right to report you because I could hardly wear shoes at all?
    I miss the days when motherhood was embraced fully. I am impressed at mothers who can do so much, at the mothers who seem to have it all together...a reason to be offended? Not hardly. I am in awe of the mothers who are able to manage home and work long hours, a reason to be offended? Nope. Nor should another mother be offended that I cloth diaper, or breastfeed, or co-sleep. I co-sleep not because I want my baby to be attached but because he won't sleep any other way and I am so dead tired during the day that I soak up any opportunity to get some sleep. Period. that's the reason. How does needing sleep make anyone better? It's crazy.

    Feed the baby, diaper the baby, clothe the baby - LOVE the baby.

      Some mothers are forced to embrace the natural life. Not all of us woke up one day and said I am going to do everything the natural way, which is definitely not the easy way. I did not know a thing about cloth diapers when our 3 year old was born. He broke out at every single diaper we tried on him, and after a lot of research and painful diaper rashes, we decided to try cloth. The environment had nothing to do with it, neither did cost, neither did being natural. In fact, it took over two years for me to even enjoy washing, folding, figuring out the damn things...throwing a diaper away seems so much easier for me. I breastfeed because it is good for baby to eat..and why pay for formula if I can make milk for free? If I couldn't make milk? Hell yes we would use formula. Would I resent a woman who could breastfeed? NO. Not her fault I couldn't do it. With my first son, I actually had to stop nursing. He had failure to thrive (so they said) but after going back to the doctor a few weeks later and still not weighing much after being on formula, they said "well, he must just be small, he's fine". At that point I had already transitioned to formula..a reason to hate a doctor who tells a woman breast is best? nope..it's not. Why do I like to make our own baby food? Cheap/easy..and of course the idea of not having glass in his food by accident is quite an appealing thought. Why do I like to breastfeed? Free/easy. Does that make me better than anyone else. Not a chance. I have embraced the natural life, and now I love it...but it wasn't always that way.
    It seems everyone gets offended by everything these days. We are angry at other peoples achievements instead of embracing our own. I can't drive a manual, I've tried but I really can't do it. I am IMPRESSED by women who can, I'm not angry, not offended, not jealous. I don't understand this age, everything is a competition. I send hope off into the universe and ask for understanding and love to all styles of parenting. That just because one does something different it doesn't mean they're trying to be better than anyone. I send hope that we will be proud of each others accomplishments rather than make people want to hide their amazing achievements. I send love to all those who feel differently, who feel like it's a competition. I send love to those who feel someone else doing one thing means they are doing wrong. Feed the baby, diaper the baby, clothe the baby - Love the baby.

Just some random thoughts, I guess. It's not right for ANY mother, regardless of how they parent to judge another based on their choices. Natural, not natural, part-natural...who cares. Feed the baby, diaper the baby, clothe the baby - we all love our babies. Really...I just send love. Here is my image..that offended someone.

My Fed Baby

Love,
Mama Bea

Tuna Parsley Puppy Breath Sticks

**Ben and Brady Approved**

 
    Puppies LOVE to give kisses...and truthfully I love it when our puppies smother me in their loving puppy kisses but I do NOT love dog breath lol! So, I was doing some reading and found that parsley actually helps eliminate the odor of a dogs breath. Now, they're still puppies so their breath really just smells like concentrated hot dogs right now (am I the only one who thinks this?) but I know as they get older their breath is really going to need freshened. So, I thought I would try these treats just to see if they would like them...and of course how can you go wrong with tuna? This is another fairly simple recipe, it takes about 20 minutes start to finish ....you can go ahead and add another 10 minutes for clean up. You'll thank yourself later for keeping it up while you bake.

What you'll need:
1 Can Tuna
3 heaping tablespoons of coconut oil (this is fabulous for furbabies skin and coat)
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons fresh Parsley (you can also use dried but it won't freshen as well as fresh)
1 large egg

Preheat your oven to 400F Degrees

I won't make this complicated, you just throw the coconut oil, egg, tuna and parsley into a medium bowl and mix until well incorporated. Shouldn't take you more than a few moments. Add the flour in 4 parts. When it becomes a thick paste, you can stop adding the flour.

Spread the mixture onto a foil lined cookie sheet, about 1/2 thick and bake for 11 minutes.

Let the treat cool COMPLETELY before peeling off of the cookie sheet...if you neglect this step, you will be peeling little pieces off and it won't look right.

When the mixture is cooled, peel off and use a knife to cut into whatever size you and your furbabies desire. I have cut these into small training bites or as pictured below...a larger 3 inch stick which would be more like a treat for them. You can add another minute or two onto your baking time if your puppy enjoys more crunchy textures. Otherwise, it will be firm but flexible.

Love,
Bea

DIY Ache Rub with Essential Oils

    99% of Americans complain of discomfort...the other 1% cannot speak or ..something. Discomfort is something we ALL will deal with at some point in our lives. So it comes as no surprise that one of my favorite DIY recipes is for a ache rub. I have given away tons of this lovely salve because of how amazing it works. The recipe here will make about 5 ounces. I bought small 1oz containers (Here) because a little works very well and it works so well that you will want to share it with others. My biggest issue with sharing is that it takes quite a bit of essential oils to make, so I also made smaller containers that I bought (Here) and printed a recipe on a pretty piece of paper. I gave the bigger ones to close friends and family and the smaller ones, I was able to sample out for those I did not know or weren't that close to. My biggest goal for my wellness advocates is to thrive in a self sustaining business. So, unless you have a ton of money or you're making gifts - keep your samples smaller so you're not breaking your bank. We want to share the joy of these oils with others, but we cannot put ourselves into poverty doing so. They will understand, I promise! So, here is my favorite recipe for ache relief rub...make, use, enjoy!

You will need:
Makes about 5oz

You can get your essential oils by clicking Here.

3oz Coconut Oil (You can get this at most grocery stores and pretty much all health food stores)
1oz Cocoa Butter (I get mine: Here)
1oz Beeswax (I get mine: Here)

This is the base...now add any combination of oils you wish!
I like to choose some from each category so that it works for a lot of different things. I also found that I needed to add more peppermint but others say less is OK for them. The point is, please customize to what best fits YOUR needs.

Recommended Oils: Choose ONE from each category:

At least 30 drops of ONE oil to help with ache relieving:

-For bone pain - Soothing Blend or Cypress
-For joint pain- Wintergreen or Roman Chamomile
-For muscle ache- White fir or Clove

 At least 10 drops of ONE oil to help with tension relief:

-For shoulder, neck and back tension- Marjoram, lavender, Helichrysum or Massage Blend
-For a muscle tear - Marjoram
-For muscle spasms- Basil or marjoram
-for ligament pain- Lemongrass
 
At least 10 drops of an anti-inflammatory: 

-Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Melaleuca, Myrrh are all great for their anti-inflammatory properties

At least 10 drops of an oil to help support circulation:

-Cypress, Rosemary, Thyme and Massage Blend are all great for increasing circulation

 and- 

10 Drops of Peppermint- Peppermint is important to the recipe and it's recommended not to be omitted. Peppermint is considered a "driving" oil and helps "drive" all of the oils into your body

Directions: This is the easy part! 
   Combine coconut butter, cocoa butter and beeswax in a small glass bowl and put in a sauce pan with 2 inches of water (double broiler method). I recommend NOT using a true double broiler because the oil and butter is very hard to clean off the pans...so I recommend ONLY using glass. You can also melt this into a mason jar and omit the metal tins completely. Melt and mix in the Mason jar and just store in the same jar.
   After the ingredients are mixed and melted completely, pull off of the heat and let sit on the counter for several minutes - up to 45 minutes. You want the mixture to cool to the point where it just begins to harden and isn't so hot anymore. Essential oils do not thrive in heat, and the very hot mixture will compromise some of the therapeutic benefits of your oils.
    When the mixture is at desired temperature - mix in your oils. No particular order, and then mix well. Then allow the mixture to cool all the way...I put my mixture in the refrigerator so that it hardens quicker. And...Viola! Done! It's simple, effective and absolutely amazing! 

        My favorite combination and the one I use all the time now is Soothing Blend, Lemongrass, Cypress, Peppermint, Marjoram and Frankincense. I can apply to my very flared up sciatic nerve and literately within seconds - I can walk without pain. It works for several hours and you only need a wee little bit for it to work. Rub it in, and if you wish apply a warm compress to help the oils soak deep into the muscles.

    Let me know how you like this ache rub! If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at beavanhook@gmail.com - I would be happy to help you in any way that I can!Want the ache rub without all the mixing and making of it? Visit my website at www.inspiredbylife.bigcartel.com and purchase it there!

With a warm heart and oily hands-
Bea