Hundreds of People Show Up to Support Santa’s Gift Shop

Hundreds of People Show Up to Support Santa’s Gift Shop

This past Saturday, the 1^st Annual Santa’s Gift Shop raised $1879.45 for Riverview Pro Kids, as the result of a tremendous turn-out and incredible community support.

After years of hosting a Santa Mart for kids, to purchase Christmas gifts from a selection of donated items, the YMCA had to cancel their event due to lack of donations. They received less than half as much stuff as they had in previous years and roughly half of what they did receive wasn’t in adequate condition to include in the sale. When it was cancelled, my children were very disappointed, as this would have been our 3rd year attending their event. So, with simply 9 days to make a miracle happen, I took it upon myself to plan Santa’s Gift Shop.

The support I received from the community was above and beyond anything I could have hoped for. Every single business I approached, with one exception, was extremely supportive and excited to be involved. Most things that I gathered from businesses became part of the silent auction and raffle, which only came into fruition after the donations far exceeded my hopes.

Then came the donations from individuals. On Thursday and Friday of last week, we accepted donations at the Chocolate River Station. Thursday, at 1pm, we opened the doors and had a steady stream of people stop in for 2 hours straight. The donations ranged from new to gently used and included things like mugs, ornaments, jewelry, gift baskets, toys and so much more.  People even donated entire collections of things like porcelain dolls, etc. On Friday, we had a similar turnout over a 2 hour period. Literally thousands of items were donated and less than one garbage bag of things were un-sellable. It took a team of 12 people roughly 11 hours to sort through all of the amazing items.

With every item donated, came words of encouragement and also stories of how certain items had come into these people’s lives. One woman hand written a special note, explaining the story of a hand-woven tray that she and her husband had purchased in Africa years ago during their travels. It was all so touching.

Saturday morning at 7am, many of the volunteers arrived to help with the set up and by 9:30am, there was a full line-up of eager children and their parents waiting to come in and take part in the event. Once inside, the kids were each assigned a personal shopper to help choose their gifts and the parents were ushered over to the waiting area with music, refreshments and a small shopping area designated just for them. Once the kids selected their gifts, they headed over to gift wrap. The smiles on their faces, the sense of accomplishment and the fact that they had very important secrets to keep, made all the hard work worthwhile. There wasn’t an unhappy face in the crowd. The best part is still to come-the look on their faces when their families open their special gifts Christmas morning.

I have every intention on holding the 2^nd Annual Santa’s Gift Shop next year in Riverview. I’ve already had people approach me who would like to be a part of such a worthy event and cause. Thank you to every single person and every business in the community that helped make Santa’s Gift Shop such a wonderful success, both for the children and for Riverview Pro Kids. We were also able to contribute many excellent items to the Salvation Army.

Stay tuned for next year and Happy Holidays!

Santa's Gift Shop-Letter to the Editor

After years of hosting a Santa Mart for kids, to purchase Christmas gifts from a selection of donated items, the YMCA has had to cancel their event due to lack of donations. They received less than half as much stuff as they had in previous years and roughly half of what they did receive wasn’t in adequate condition to include in the sale. This event, to my knowledge, is not advertised and was simply donated to and attended by those who had heard of it through the grape vine. Its’ success was 100% dependant on donations of household items and of people’s time.

Having children able to purchase gifts for their family, for very minimal expense, and have their purchases all wrapped up for Christmas, gives a child a great sense of pride and accomplishment. I know my kids looked forward to this event every holiday season and were very disappointed to learn that it had been cancelled.

So, instead of sitting around sulking, I have organized Riverview’s 1^st Annual Santa Gift Shop, to be held December 15^thfrom 10am-2pm at the Chocolate River Station. To make this event a success, donations are essential. Items such as household goods, golf balls, jewelry, books, puzzles and gift wrap, in new and gently used condition can be dropped off at the Chocolate River Station on Thursday December 13^th from 1pm-3pm or Friday December 14^th from 4pm to 6pm. All proceeds from the sale will go to Riverview P.R.O. Kids and remaining items will be donated to the Salvation Army.

If you don’t have any items to contribute, we are also looking for gift wrappers, personal shoppers and a musical guest(s) to contribute to the festive atmosphere.

I am confident that my family isn’t the only one disappointed about the YMCA. So lets come together and make this event something special! The look on your child’s face when they pass you the gift they shopped for themselves is something you won’t ever forget.

Santa's Gift Shop

Riverview’s 1st Annual

Santa’s Gift Shop

Chocolate River Station

December 15th

10am-2pm

 

Come bring your children to Santa’s Gift Shop and let them enjoy doing their very own Christmas shopping. Gift wrapping is included! Items range from 50¢ to $2.

Items to bring: pre-labelled gift tags, small change and reusable bags to carry their gifts home.

Donations and volunteers needed! Donations may be dropped off at the Chocolate River Station lobby on Thursday, December 13th between 1pm and 3pm, as well as Friday, December 14th between 4pm and 6pm. Donations may be made outside of these times by calling 382-0052 or emailing jacqibu@hotmail.com

 

Suggested donations: new and used household items, golf balls, jewelry, games, gift wrap, etc. No food items please.

 

Proceeds will go to Riverview P.R.O. Kids and remaining items will be donated to the Salvation Army.

 

For more information, please contact Jackie at 382-0052

or jacqibu@hotmail.com

 

Fluoride Rinse Program in Elementary Schools

Yesterday, my son's school sent out permission forms for the kids to receive weekly fluoride rinses. The campaign's slogan is, "Be Healthy. Fluoride Mouthrinse Program" and is a province wide initiative.

What a joke! Fluoride will not make my son healthy and in fact, if he ingests any, which some percentage that remains in his mouth would be, it could actually make him sick. The pamphlet makes claims, such as, "Prevents tooth decay." No, sorry, it does not prevent it. It may contribute to the prevention, but it does not prevent it. That's like saying, as long as you do nothing but fluoride rinses once a week, you'll never have tooth decay. Give me a break.

I am also completely uncomfortable with the teachers and/or parent volunteers doling this out to the kids. Supposedly this is "safe", but I would like to at least see a dental assistant, or someone trained in some way, administering the fluoride. The kids are told to rinse with the solution for 1 whole minute, before "discharging" of the solution. I am yet to meet a 5 year old child who would keep a liquid in their mouth for a whole minute and not swallow any of it. I would like to see some stats on what percentage of kids accidentally swallow the solution each week.

 People are way too quick to follow the masses when it comes to issues like this. Just because you are told something or offered something deemed “safe” and “healthy” for free, doesn’t mean that it’s right or good. Do your own research and decide for yourself. Needless to say, I checked the "no, I do not give permission" on my son's slip. We will continue to eat health supportive foods and practice good dental hygiene in our home, but it will not include fluoride, not even in our toothpaste.

Feeding Baby

In just a few weeks, I will be having my third child. After taking my Natural Nutrition course, I feel significantly more prepared to nourish this child, but at the same time, I almost feel like I know too much.

I know too much about baby formula. It is all irradiated, leaving little to no nutritional value, not to mention that it has been exposed to radiation. In addition to this, most formulas are either cow's milk based or soy based...neither of which I would like to feed my child. Finally, there have been many cases of formula being recalled because of foreign substances, such as crushed glass, being found in batches. Why would I want to feed this kind of product to my child?!

Mother's breast milk is perfectly formulated for baby. It increases in supply when needed and changes in composition as needed. No baby is ever allergic to their mother's milk. They may be allergic to something the mother is consuming, but not the milk itself. Breast feeding may not always be the easiest route, but it's definitely the best. For those who are unable to breast feed, there are organic formulas available, that have a much higher standard of quality than most of what you see on the shelves.

I also know too much about baby food. All baby food, unless labeled as otherwise, has been irradiated as well. Again this means it has been exposed to radiation and possesses very little nutritional value. It has also been recalled on many occasions for containing foreign substances, such as crushed glass, etc. Baby rice cereals also contain heavy metals that are unnecessary. Some brands are now using iron filings. Get a strong magnet and test the theory. You will be disgusted.

In the case of baby food, there is no reason to purchase food in jars or cans for baby. Buy the fruit or vegetables, cook them and puree them. Voila! Baby food! You can even make a large batch and freeze it for convenience purposes. Some people use ice cube trays, etc. This is very easy, cost effective and much healthier for baby.

No one is perfect and we've all taken the easy way out on many occasions, but we shouldn't be lazy with the health of our children. Take the time. Do the research. Feed your child the best way you can.

Grad Speech: The Importance of Zinc

The Importance of Zinc

Ode to the Students and Teachers of the Grad Class of Twenty Twelve

We showed up Day 1,  

On the day of orientation.

I looked all around me

And saw great anticipation.

As we started the year
it became easy to see
just how much fun
this "nutrition" could be.

Our teachers brought knowledge,
experience too,
and my fellow students...
I'll get to you.

One teacher, a superhero
would tell us her rhymes.
Hollie gave us great notes,
and much of her time.

Next, from Great Britain,
a writer named Jane.
Her teaching and clever "hints"
helped us stay in the game.

Judy ran the school smoothly

Like a good dose of fibre

She would always make time

For us to run ideas by her.

Martin, oh Martin,
you sure know your stuff,
but keeping a straight face
when you say sphincters is tough.

The thought of taking chemistry

Made me feel queasy,

But with Rebecca as teacher

It was actually easy.

Joanne taught us how

to live well through the years

Through activity, community

and avoiding the beers.

With Alyson GMOs were hotly debated
Who knew it would turn out
We are actually related!

Jen came on board late

But she completed her mission

And now we can help athletes

improve their nutrition.

And last but not least
was a free spirit named Lise.
She's a great cook you’ve discovered
and easy to please.

Now, my fellow graduates,
let's talk about you.
Youth before wisdom?
Don't mind if I do.

First, there’s Larissa.

Not enough can be said

About how she remembers

Everything that shes read.

Next up is Meghan
My unique little roomie
She helped me calm down

When my kids made me looney.

Thank you to Laura
my friendly competitor
It is because of you
that we are valedictorians together.

Quiet confidence is Natalie.
Leah dresses the best.
The one with the dreadlocks
that's good ole Janice.

Melanie's always sleepy,

Laura V is the chef,

Crystal juggles so many things,

Did she ever rest?

Amongst this diverse group of women,

I didn’t see the link,

Until our friendship was stimulated

By discussions of zinc.

To the grads of twenty twelve,

I say congratulations.

It is up to us now

To provide nutritional inspiration.

We Don't Choose Who We Love

When you had your first crush, did you wake up one morning and say to yourself, "Today's the day I decide to be attracted to boys (or girls)!" I'm so tired of people trying to convince me that being gay or straight is a choice we as individuals make. We don't choose who we love. If we did, I'm sure many of us would choose differently. Not differently because of our sexual preference, but simply differently because sometimes the people who we love make our lives...complicated.

Why do people get so caught up in who we choose to spend our lives with? What happens behind closed doors is no one elses' business. It doesn't make you more or less of a person if you are in a same sex relationship. It doesn't make you more or less of a person if you're with someone of the opposite sex.

It is so sad to me that people are still teaching their children to hold homophobic views. Often, sadly, it is Christian people who hold these beliefs. What I don't understand is that part of being Christian is being all accepting and forgiving, yet these people who simply have a different sexual preference are treated as though they have a curable ailment. GIVE ME A BREAK!

Why are we, people across the entire world, not campaigning more against violent and abusive relationships? Why aren't we more concerned with things like incest, molestation and things that are actually harmful in relationships? Why do people fixate on something so silly as the gender of a couple? I will never, ever, understand this.

The Consequence of Hiring "Under the table"

We all have been warned and reminded not to hire people "under the table" for various contract work, but lets face it, we've all done it at one point or another. A family member of mine was recently reminded why saving a few dollars by hiring this way can cost us more money in the long run.

She hired a man to re-sod a lawn, the sod never caught and when she tried to contact him to discuss what had happened, she wasn't able to reach him...ever. So she was left with a lawn, no better than before, and now down multiple hundreds of dollars. Years past, and she finally found out, by chance, that he had switched businesses and was attempting to run a seemingly more honest operation, despite claiming to not recognize her when she confronted him. To confirm that he had in fact recognized her, he has called her friend repeatedly, who has coincidently hired him, to ensure she was happy with his work, etc.

Good for this man that he has seemingly turned his practices around, but how many people did he rip off in the process?

I have to ask myself as well if this family member of mine was targeted, both because she is a woman and a senior. I am forever hearing stories of seniors, in our community, who are taken advantage of. For example, a 93 year old female neighbor of mine went shopping for a base model Sedan, and came home in a  $30,000, souped up Sedan with specialty rims and sun roof and didn't know how to operate 90% of the vehicles functions. Was she taken advantage of? Most definitely.

Let this be a warning to you. Have a legitimate contract with those whom you hire, for whatever handyman type jobs you need completed. Hire reputable people with real company names behind them, supporting and guaranteeing their work. Don't just accept a business card as legitimate proof of business. Do a little research before you hire. As much as I would like to support "the little guy", working on the side to top up his income, it's not worth the risk of being left with a mess and then ultimately having to hire someone else to clean it up. Finally, if you know of a senior, living on their own, in your community, consider reaching out and offering them some assistance. I'm sure the little elderly lady next door would appreciate it.

Hospital Food-What a let down!

Over the winter, a close family member of mine had, or what was called at the time, a heart attack. She presented with nausea and radiating pain down her arm. I took her to emergency, where they have her medical history, list of ailments and medications, etc. Typically her troubles are entirely surrounding Type 2 Diabetes...so there is a lot of stuff about diabetes in her files. Anyway, they conducted an array of protocol tests on her and then it was time for supper. What did they serve her you ask? The Cardiac tray, consisting of white bread (converts to sugar), jam (made of sugar) apple juice (loaded with sugar), tea (with a side of sugar), white potatoes (converts to sugar), glazed carrots (MORE SUGAR) and a piece of unidentifiable "meat". Were they trying to make her worse?!

The one place we should be able to count on being "prescribed" appropriate food for our ailments is the hospital! When our bodies are already struggling with whatever ailment we're fighting, we should be able to trust that the hospital will provide us with food to support us and help us heal, not cause us further damage. Whether you're visiting someone in the hospital or a patient of the hospital, healthy food should be readily available. Food that will support our bodies when we need it the most. Next time you're there, check the selection in the cafeteria and tell me what you find. Chips, cookies, brownies, pop, fried foods...so called "comfort" food. Sure the odd piece of fruit is available, but this does not make up for the downfall of everything else.

Many people would argue that this sort of thing happens because of cost and because of the quantities that need to be prepared, but I would disagree with them on both accounts. Beans and lentils are some of the least expensive foods available and provide our bodies with a clean, alternative protein and fibre. When soaked overnight, the cook time is no longer than a batch of rice. 

There are so many things that we can do to improve the food in hospitals. I can't be the only one out there who feels this way.

Good things come to those who make them happen!

I am totally inspired by a Steve Jobs quote today. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

I have been in a constant state of settling for about 5 years now, with the exception of 8 months while I was in school this past year. Seven years ago, I was enrolled in the Bachelor of Public Relations Program at Mount Saint Vincent University. I did well in my courses, but had a very poorly matched job placement and everything went downhill from there. I ended up dropping out and working for Bell Aliant for 8 months, before moving to Riverview, NB. There I spent a year on maternity leave with my son and didn’t make any attempt to find work or make new friends. I just settled into a comfortable rut. Nearing the end of my maternity leave, I was offered a position as office assistant at a local golf course. At the time, I needed a job and with the nature of the business, I would have my winters off. I meant to stay 1 season. Six seasons later, I’m still in the same position, even after having gone to school to take Natural Nutrition, which I love and really excel at.

I can easily say that my biggest problem is fear of debt and failure. I have so many big ideas that I can’t decide which to pursue, and without a wealthy supporter in my back pocket, I get very intimidated with the idea of a huge loan to pay back. All this said, none of this gets me to where I want to be.

So, recently, instead of sitting around not pursuing any of my goals and ideas, I started to write. I have this blog and also submit letters regularly to the local newspaper. So far I have submitted 3, and 2 of them were published and printed under “Letter of the Day”. The 3^rd was only submitted recently, so it may still get in as well. I have always loved to write, especially when I feel passionately about something, so I figured that this was a good place to start.

The next step, on my journey out of “the rut” will be to choose one of my many ideas and take a chance on it. Otherwise I’ll never know how it would have turned out.

Some say that “Good things come to those who wait”, but I’m going to try and start living by “Good things come to those who make them happen.”

The Power of Positive Thinking

Ever notice how the more negative your mood the more negative stuff seems to happen? If your day starts out on the wrong foot, it seems to set the tone for your entire day, but this doesn’t have to be the case.

Next time you wake up and trip over your slippers, brush it off and don’t let it dictate how the rest of your day is going to play out. If you are in a foul mood, as a result of something so silly, you are going to draw negativity towards you all day long. So instead, turn it around, put a smile on your face and draw in the positive instead.

Have you ever heard of a vision board? Some people believe that having a vision board is all about “The Secret”, but what if creating a vision board just plain and simply makes you happy and gives you focus? Does it not then give you extra drive to fulfill these visions you have for yourself? Either way, creating a vision board can be very therapeutic.

There’s nothing hocus pocus about being positive. The fact of the matter is that positive people tend to be healthier, happier and also more content with what they have in their lives. Instead of living in a constant state of unfulfilled expectations, create a vision board, keep a positive attitude and be grateful for all the good in your life. Don’t be negative and don’t let negative people bring you down.

I challenge you to smile and say hello to at least a handful of grumpy strangers each day and help turn their frown upside down! Your smile may be the one thing they needed at that very moment.

Click here to learn more about Vision Boards.

The Power of Stress

Everyone knows that exercise and eating right is an integral part of being healthy, but how many people stop to consider all of the other factors that contribute to our overall health and well-being?

One of the most important things we can ever do for ourselves is have good stress management in our lives. Everyone has a certain amount of chaos in their everyday life, but it's those who choose to manage it well that are much better off. Whether it's through exercise, prayer, walking barefoot on the beach...whatever works for you. Stress management is essential to good health.

Eating while under stress, or in a stressful situation, impedes on the digestive process. So, for example, if you consume the most nutritious meal, while pacing back and forth across your kitchen and stressing about the days events, you will be missing out on much of your meal's nutritional value. Your body is basically in fight or flight mode at this point and simply isn't focused on or committed to good digestion, just quick digestion.

In addition to how stress negatively impacts digestion, it is also a contributing factor to essentially all major disease. Supressing negative emotions alone can cause major upset in the body. There are many stories readily available online to read about success stories of women who stayed positive throughout their battles with cancer, versus women, battling the same illness, who had a very negative outlook and aren't around to share their stories.

Stress management and a positive attitude will take you further in life and in health than the most healthy eating, negative, workaholic will ever get. Remember this next time you eat on the run or during a fight with your spouse. Sit down, take a deep breath, inhale the aroma of your meal, relax and enjoy! Your body will thank you.

Decorating a Nursery

Decorating your baby's nursery can be such a fun project and a great way to bond with your baby before they arrive!

Start off by picking a theme. This can be anything from nautical, modern, princess or simply your favourite colour. For my daughter, due in October, I decided on nautical. The initial challenge was to create a nautical and beachy feel, while still keeping it girly. I found some very inspiring ideas on Pinterest and had a couple of great suggestions from friends and family along the way.

I began by choosing the wall colours, Provence Creme and Old Fashioned pink, painted in stripes as the focal wall and Lively Tune for the remaining 3 walls.  I always use Behr paint in our home, as I find it has the best coverage and the least odour.
The next challenge was to find the perfect oar to mount and suspend her name from. I started off looking at antique shops and my Uncles old cottage barn, but ended up purchasing this one at Walmart for $20 and found the letters, which I'm thrilled with, at Michaels. The letters were a little more than I wanted to spend, at $6.99 each, but after using a 40% off coupon, it was worth it. I hung the oar on 2 simple hooks and used rope to suspend the oar and then hemp string to suspend the name. I have since added a floating corner shelf to the right of the crib for the baby monitor and a toy net in the upper left corner. The net was a great addition to the room. You can either purchase a fishing net or a coordinating toy net and add accents like starfish and sand dollars. Be creative!

Next off, decide what pieces are essential in the room, before adding things that aren't. For Olivia's room, I knew I needed the crib, change table, diaper disposal and dresser for sure, but this left me with little storage space and nowhere for books. After what felt like endless searching, I found the above piece at Wicker Emporium. It came with bright yellow, red and blue drawers. After a suggestion from a friend, I used the "ombre" look and started with the middle drawer, using the Old Fashioned Pink wall paint, and kept aside enough to mix 2 additional colours. One I added white and one I added red to create the above look. I love how this turned out, but it still left me short on book storage..and every child's room needs books.

I had seen book sling, free standing units at Toys R Us, but wasn't thrilled by the colours or quality. After a little searching on Etsy and Pinterest, I discovered wall mount book slings. Greatest idea and takes up very little space! Click here for a free tutorial on how to make a book sling. All you need is 2 double curtain rod braces, 2 wooden dowels, fabric, thread and a sewing machine. (I will post the picture when mine is finished)

Finally, every baby room should have a comfortable place to sit. Since I was working with only a small remaining space to incorporate a chair, I thought small and found a club chair and will be having it recovered to coordinate with the book sling. As an accent on the chair, I will be making Olivia a name pillow. If you have the space, you may want to consider a glider or rocking chair to help soothe the baby in the wee hours of the morning.

When I picked out the crib, I didn't notice that a typical mobile wouldn't attach to the wide design...so I had to think outside the box. I am currently making seahorses and startfish (from stencils I found for free online)out of felt and will hang them from the ceiling on a pulley and rope. Using the pulley will make it adjustable for when Olivia is able to sit/stand in her crib. Mobiles can come in all shapes and sizes. There are a ton of great ideas out there. Check out Pinterest for some inspiration or Etsy for someone to custom design one especially for your baby's room.

For random accent pieces, I have made a life ring, using an inflatable ring, paper mache, a little paint, rope and ribbon. I ordered, from Etsy, a 24" in diameter ships wheel wall decal. I purchased, on clearance from Wicker Emporium, a nautical picture frame and model ship. From Michaels, for only $1.50 each, I picked up 2 wall mount anchor shaped hooks and a little "Ahoy!" sign. From Pottery Barn, in Toronto, my brother picked up a seahorse nightlight, fish crib sheet (100% organic cotton), angel fish pillow and 2 paintings (starfish and seahorse) done on wood. Finally, I found a set of decorative 12" wooden oars on kijiji for $2, which I painted white with pink stripes.

The room is really coming together and has been a ton of fun to create! I'd love to hear your ideas and see the picture of the nurseries you've created!

*More pictures to come as the room develops.

Public School is becoming a luxury

How can people afford to send their kid, or kids, to public school in New Brunswick? The school supplies lists are up now for most schools in the area. For my son to attend grade 1, he is required to purchase markers, pencils, coloured pencils, highlighter, erasers, a bottle of glue, 4 glue sticks, safety scissors, dry erase markers, a white board, lined paper,2 boxes of ziplock baggies, 2 box of tissues, unscented baby wipes and headphones. In addition, he must bring $35 on the first day of school for the remaining "necessities" that the school will provide, have non-marking soled sneakers, a change of clothes and of course, a backpack. To add to the expense, the supplies list is brand-specific (ie Crayola markers, etc), with few exceptions that may be purchased at the Dollarstore.

$43 to complete the classroom supply list, $50 for the backpack, $25 for sneakers and the $35 set aside to bring on day one. This is before factoring in any clothing he will need for the fall, which I'm sure will add up quickly. You cannot tell me that every family can afford this expense. Next year I will have 2 children in school and therefore will be buying duplicates of the previously mentioned items. How does the average household afford this great expense?

 If the government continues to make cut backs in the schools, it will get to a point where people can't even afford to send their kids to so called "free" public school. Education in this country is a right to all of its' citizens but it's starting to seem more like a luxury.  If a teacher is only given a classroom budget of $50 for the entire school year, they can't very well be expected to pay out of pocket for the children whose families couldn't afford these expenses. Who is buying the school supplies for the children who show up empty handed?

Yet another major issue to add to my topics of discussion for the Home and School Association this year. Won't you join me in this debate and help ensure that every family can afford to send their children to public school?

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups peanut butter (I use unsweetened organic)

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs, beaten

1 cup chopped pecans (optional, but delicious!)

1/4 cup ground flaxseed (for fibre and omega 3!)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease cookie sheet (optional-I find the peanut butter has a high enough oil content that this step is not necessary)
2. Combine peanut butter, eggs, and sugar and mix until smooth. Stir in chopped pecans and ground flaxseed.
3. Bake for 10 -12 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

*Note: For an extra sweet treat, add a gluten-free chocolate molding wafer to the top of each cookie when they are fresh out of the oven.

Healthy Snacks-Kid Approved

Without fail, everyday I'm getting supper ready, my kids are pulling at my pant leg saying, "Mommy, I'm hungry. Mommy, I want a snack. Mommy, what's for dinner?" Instead of  relating "snack" to something full of sugar or highly refined, why not try one of these ideas?

-Fruit Kabobs (Wash and cut up fruit. Hand it over to the kids with a few skewers and let the creating begin!)
-Homemade trail mix (Feel free to be creative! We use sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cranberries, raisins and whatever else we have for nuts/seeds/dry fruit at the time)
-Hummus and veggies
-Homemade date bars (This can be as easy as pitted dates, seeds, nuts and ground flax-Healthy and delicious! I often serve them as dessert to company and add a tablespoon of organic cocoa-delicious!)
-Unsweetened peanut butter on celery with raisins (aka "Ants on a log")
-Unsweetened peanut butter on celery and a couple of pretzels (Stick the pretzels in the peanut butter and use them like wings. Makes a cute butterfly/dragonfly snack!)
-Smoothy pops (Blend together your favourite smoothy ingredients and freeze in a popsicle tray)
-Cucumber/Carrot bites (Use an apple corer to punch out a hole in your cucumber slice and insert a slice of carrot. Dip in a little homemade dressing or hummus-so good-and looks great!)
-Apple slices and unsweetened peanut butter
-Grapes (Wash grapes, grab some toothpicks and pass them over to your future architect to create a masterpiece! They'll love the activity and it'll keep them busy while you make supper!)

The possibilities are endless. Have fun inventing healthy snacks with your family and help start your kids off on the road to nutritional success!

For recipes or more complete directions, feel free to contact me!

Instead of Popsicles...

This summer has been a scorcher! I don't know about your kids, but mine have been asking constantly for popsicles and ice cream to help cool off. Instead of always turning to store bought popsicles, made of sugar, water and food colouring, why not try something a little more nutritious?!

Pick out your favourite smoothy ingredients, blend them together, pour them into a popsicle tray and a few hours later you have smoothy pops! So tasty and a much healthier option. Do your kids prefer ice cream over popsicles? Follow the same instructions, but instead of using a popsicle try, freeze single size servings in small tupperware containers and voila!

For our smoothy pops, we use orange juice (not from concentrate), mixed berries, plain Greek yogurt (for protein) and a banana. I also tend to sneak in a little ground flaxseed for an omega boost.

Have fun with this! The possibilities are endless!

Listen to your kids! What they say matters!

Where did all the good customer service go?

The customer service in the Moncton area, generally speaking, is an embarrassment.

Recently I attempted to shop at a big box hardware store and waited 15 minutes for assistance before leaving for the competition, only 2 minutes away. Not only did they lose that particular sale, but they lost any future business from me and potentially those who I inform of this lack of service.

Yet another shining example is a coffee chain I frequent to order a Strawberry Banana smoothy. Without fail, every single employee there roll their eyes when I place this order because no one likes to make them. The product is there, it is your job to make it, so put  a smile on your face and fulfill the request. I didn't decide what your employer chooses to serve.

The one big box store, located in Moncton, that takes the cake, offers a wide variety of items...a "one-stop-shop" if you will. On one particular occasion, I visited this store to purchase a junior size sleeping bag. I asked one sales associate if they carried such a thing, they simply stated "No". Just to be sure, I asked another staff member and was given another quick "No". Just for the fun of it, I decided to take on the challenge of proving them wrong. Six styles of junior sleeping bags later, I politely took them to customer service to discuss my experience. My story was greeted with a shocked face and a tiny voice saying, "Sorry", but nothing further became of it.

Finally, most recently, and what put me over the edge, was at yet another hardware store, located in Riverview. I went in looking for a wooden dowel and was told they were "Over that way, by the plastic" and was directed with a lazy hand gesture and not so much as a look up from the counter.

Everyday, I experience some low level of customer service. Whether it's from a person who doesn't make eye contact or someone completely lacking manners and general customer skills, I am constantly let down with my shopping experiences. I am willing to pay a modicum more to receive good service elsewhere, or shop online for that matter...but I am left wanting. 

When I worked in customer service, during my university years, I would have never gotten away with this type of behaviour. Are staff members not receiving training anymore? Someone would be smart to start a business around here teaching manners and common courtesy, like holding the door for the person behind you and saying "please and thank you". Am I alone in thinking this would benefit the Greater Moncton Area?

Cow's Milk-Not our only option

Since we were kids, we have been bombarded with advertisements telling us that cow's milk is a necessary part of life, as it provides us with our daily calcium requirements. Who does this message benefit? Certainly not the consumers. We have had this message drilled into our heads to benefit the dairy farmers, because the fact of the matter is that processed cow's milk is not the best and/or only source of calcium and there is no good reason to believe that a human should ever even consume another animals milk, let alone that from a cow.

Cow's milk, at least what we purchase at the grocery store, is a highly processed product. By the time it reaches the store, especially skim milk, it no longer contains enzymes, which aid in its digestion, and it contains only a small amount of calcium. So for those who do not contain the enzyme lactase in their body, they are deemed "lactose intolerant" and for those thinking they are consuming a great source of calcium...well, they are simply being mislead.

Each mammal that produces milk, produces it specifically for their spawn and in exactly the correct ratios for what the baby/calf/etc requires. For example, when you feed an infant cow's milk, you are giving them fat, protein and carbs in incorrect proportion to their needs. A cow is significantly larger than a human and therefore it makes complete sense that a calf would have very different requirements than a human infant.

One mammals milk structure that is closer to that of a human is the goat. Goat's milk does not require homogenization and therefore holds onto its enzymes, making it easier to digest. This said, animal milk is not the only option out there. Other great replacement beverages are almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, hemp milk and many others. Some soy beverages may be ok as well, but read the labelling carefully to ensure that the soy has not been genetically modified and avoid soy all together if you have issues with your thyroid, as soy inhibits thyroid function.

Some alternative sources of calcium include kale, bok choy, collard greens, salmon or sardines (bone-in), sesame seeds (tahini),white beans, almonds, walnuts and blackstrap molasses.

Just because we have been told something, or believed something, our whole lives doesn't make it right, but it is up to you to decide what is right for you.

A Few Tips on How to Get Healthy

Drink lots of water (6-8 large glasses a day), but try and do it 20 minutes before a meal or at least an hour after. Drinking with a meal can negatively impact digestion.

The main things that anyone/everyone should avoid are refined oils (specifically Canola, Sunflower, etc). Use Cold Pressed Extra Virgin olive oil when possible. Also avoid: table salt (replace with sea salt), white flour and refined sugar. Refined sugar also includes things that are refined and convert quickly into sugar, such as white bread, fries and white pasta.

Read labels carefully. I can’t stress this enough. If something says “low fat”, chances are they have replaced the fat with sugar (as fat and sugar provide a lot of the flavour). If something says “low sugar” or “no sugar”, there’s either more fat or fake sugar. Avoid aspartame as much as possible, as it is a neurotoxin.

You also want to avoid fruits that are high on the glycemic index and eat your fruit either 30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after. Fruit digests very quickly and will ferment on top of foods that digest more slowly if eaten after a heavy meal (ex steak). The fermentation can cause stomach upset/gas/etc.

Avoid store bought salad dressings.
Try making one. Store bought dressings are very high in sugar/chemicals. I typically make one of olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, a little dijon mustard and garlic.

Remember: anything in a package is refined. Buying whole foods and preparing things from scratch is always going to be the best option and when you take the time to prepare your food, your digestive system actually starts working as soon as you start breathing in the aroma you create.

More soon!

Jamie Oliver's Granola...sort of

Jamie Oliver's Granola...sort of

2 cups oatmeal (fast cooking, but not instant)
1 cup chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc)
1/4 cup mixed seeds (chia, sunflower,pumpkin, sesame)
2 tbsp ground flaxseed (Optional. Adds more fiber and Omega 3)
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup dried fruit (apricots, apples, raisins, cranberries)
5 tablespoons maple syrup (or dark Agave)
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Put your dry granola ingredients including coconut and cinnamon, except for the dried fruit on a cookie sheet. Stir well and smooth out. Drizzle maple syrup and olive oil over the mixture. Place in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon and return to the oven. While it is baking, chop up dried fruit. When the granola is golden, remove it from the oven and add the dried fruit. Once cooled, place inside sealed container for up to 2 weeks.

Tip: Instead of using cow's milk, I use unsweetened almond milk. Tastes great!!

Common Misconceptions & Baby Info

After taking a course in Holistic Nutrition this past year, and ultimately becoming a Holistic Nutritionist, I learned so many invaluable pieces of information that I wish every single parent in the world had access to. We, as parents, have many struggles and second guess so many of the decisions we make for our children. We want what is best for our kids, but we don't always know what that might be.

In an effort to help, even one person in one situation...here goes.

So many babies suffer with Colic (Colic is a condition in which an otherwise healthy baby cries or displays symptoms of distress frequently and for extended periods, without any discernible reason.-Wikipedia). Often this is regarded as a phase a baby will get through, and typically in time that is the case, but what if there was a simple solution to this problem? The #1 food intolerance in babies is dairy and this intolerance can come from not the breast milk itself but the dairy that the mother is consuming. Please note that no baby is ever allergic to their mother's breast milk, but may have an intolerance to something she is consuming. The #2 culprit is wheat. So, before you try anything drastic or assume the worst, have Mom do an elimination diet of dairy and or wheat and dairy and journal each day any improvement in baby's behaviour. Imagine if Colic could be resolved by simply adjusting Mom's eating? Lets just say there would be a lot less sleepless nights and a lot happier babies.

When is a baby ready to eat solids? Every baby develops at a different rate, but a good indication that their digestive system is ready to handle more than just Mommy's breast milk is by their teeth. If they're 6 months and still have no sign of teeth, their digestive system isn't ready to try new foods.

Breast feeding vs formula feeding- Although in an ideal world, babies would be breast feed for their first year of life, this isn't always realistic and/or possible. The advantages of breast milk are that it is custom designed for each child, contains exactly what they need, it increases or decreases in volume as per the child's requirements, forges a bond between Mom and baby and decreases the babies risk of a number of future ailments (ex asthma). The disadvantages of formula are many. One significant fact is that all infant formula, unless labelled as otherwise, is irradiated (exposed to radiation). This is done to kill of any bacteria that is present, which I understand of course, but how much better is the radiation than the bacteria?? Additionally, there are many ingredients that babies should not be exposed to, nor do they need them for any reason in their diet, such as high fructose syrup, hydrogenated oil and various heavy metals. So, if you are unable to breast feed, for whatever reason, just make sure that you do your research. Don't just select the cheapest brand on the shelf or the container with the fanciest labelling. The formula you feed your child will contribute to their health status for the rest of their lives. So be very thoughtful about the decision you make.

To be cont'd...

Adoption and Infertility Struggles

Something I have always struggled with is why good, caring and honest people have such struggles when trying to adopt. I have seen more happy, stable couples work within the adoption system over many years and still not ended up without a child to add to their loving family. In addition to this fact, many children are never adopted and have no choice but to spend their childhood in and out of foster care and group homes.

Why is it that some of the very best people I know struggle with infertility, constant miscarriages and premature delivery? Why can so many people, ill-equipped to care for a child, get pregnant by "accident" and bring a child into this world that they didn't even want?

If adopting is so extensive and complex, why then is it so simple to bring children into this world "naturally"? Why don't all potential parents undergo the same scrutiny? I know many couples, and individuals, who would never be permitted to adopt, yet they have 2 or more biological children. Why weren't they given physicals, extensive questionaires, home inspections, etc?

I would love other people's insight on this topic!

Food in the School System-What are they feeding our kids?!

In School District 2, in New Brunswick, there is a health initiative to improve the nutrition of the students. To acheive this goal, they let the parents know that they encourage healthy snacks and packed lunches for the kids. Where I get lost in this initiative is how their hot lunch program fits in.

My son was in kindergarten this past year and their hot lunch options were Burger King (a burger, half piece of fruit and white or chocolate milk) and Greco (1 or 2 slices of pizza, half piece of fruit and white or chocolate milk). In whose mind are these healthy choices?

In Nova Scotia, the school districts have a much more strict health initiative and meal plan. Options include things such as brown rice, chicken breast, salad, etc. They seem to have it all figured out. So why can't we, in New Brunswick, follow suit?

The increasing stats of childhood obesity is staggering here and across North America. Children are literally our future, yet some are dying long before their parents, of a healthier generation.

I can assure you that next year, as a Holistic Nutritionist and mother, I will be on that PTA, making sure that my voice gets heard!