Daily Detox & Health Restoration- Apple Cider Vinegar & Probiotics

So, my husband and I are currently in the middle of a juice cleanse but I wanted to share a few things that can be done daily to help keep your body clean and restore good health.

 Most people have heard that Apple Cider Vinegar is good for them, but I wonder if most people know just how good it is for their bodies.

What are the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

• Rich in potassium, a mineral that is often times lacking in adult diets. This mineral is key for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity etc. It also helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.
• Rich in acetic acid. This acid is said to slow the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.
• Rich in ash which gives ACV its alkaline property. This aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state. (It is particularly important if you drink a lot of coffee or wine.)
• It can help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Rich in malic acid which gives ACV its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
• May help improve bowel irregularity and helps to remove toxins from the body at a faster rate.
• It can help clear up skin conditions and blemishes.
• ACV helps with weight loss by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.
• A few lab studies have found that ACV may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.

I usually mix 2 Tbs into a small glass of juice and down it. It is stout, but the juice helps with that. And truthfully, knowing how good it is for my body, I can handle a little shot of Apple Cider Vinegar.
I have noticed when I take this on a regular basis that my skin seems extra nice. ;)

Now, most of you have probably heard of probiotics as well but I think most people just think of yogurt when they hear this word.
The word "probiotic" is a compound of two Greek words: "pro," to signify promotion of and "biotic," which means life. Their very definition is something that affirms life and health. That's true even by modern standards: the World Health Organization defines a probiotic as any living microorganism that has a health benefit when ingested.
You can buy them in pill form, powder form and/or eat them:

• Plain unflavored organic yogurt
• Kefir
• Sauerkraut
• Miso
• Pickles
• Tempeh
• Kimchi and
• Kombucha tea.

This is the bottle of probiotics that you will find in my fridge.  Rumor has it that the better probiotics will need to stay refrigerated but there seems to be some debate on that. I don't know that answer but I'll go with refrigerated.
Ideally, I would take two of these of day; one in the morning and one at night. However, I almost always forget the morning pill and end up only taking one before bed.
You need to follow the instructions on these and take them in between meals to get the most of them.

Probiotics can help with a number of health problems: digestive health, urinary health, allergies, women's health, immunity, and obesity. (click on the links to read in depth information pertaining to each one of these)

So many of our health problems and disease begin in the "gut". Probiotics help to restore the good bacteria that our body needs to thrive and to fight off sickness; the good bacteria that all of the antibiotics are killing in our bodies.

We have all heard the saying, "You are what you eat." It's true and our bodies are hurting from it.

When it is all said and done, I believe that God is sovereign and in complete control of everything but I also believe that He expects us to take care of the bodies that He has given us.
I want to be healthy so that I can do all that the Lord has planned for my family and I but I also want to raise my children in such a way that they have healthy lifestyles/patterns set for them.

Do what you can and trust Him.
-Jenny

*Disclaimer: I am not a licensed anything. I am simply a wife and mother trying to take good care of my family and myself. I am sharing what I have learned through my own research and experiences in hopes that it might help someone else. Please do your own research to find what is best for you.

Delightful Grapefruit Juice (Juice Cleanse/Detox)

Well, it is day 3 now of our juice cleanse and I have to be honest, it has been really hard for me this time. I am so stinkin HUNGRY! It has actually never been this hard for me and we have done many of these over the years.
I have been thinking on it all day today and am a bit baffled.
Over the last, almost a year now (WOW!), I have made several changes to my daily life; in the way I eat, exercise and take of myself and my family's overall health. Maybe I have just taken so many things out of my diet that this is harder to do now. Or maybe, my body just needs more right now. I really don't know. But one thing I do know is that through all of these changes, one of the coolest things has been the ability to listen to/read my body better and know what it/I need.
I only eat when I am hungry. If I am craving something, it is always something good for me now, so I just go with it. Seriously, I don't crave the bad stuff anymore. I don't pay much attention to what time it is and eating because I know what I am eating is low in calorie and good for me. So, if I am hungry, I just eat. I don't count calories. It is so freeing to not think about all of these "rules" and obsess about following them!
Last night I found myself really hungry and could tell that my body was really struggling so I ate a few celery sticks and slices of cucumber. Today, after several glasses of juice, I was still struggling so I ate a few carrots and some more cucumber slices.
The point of this whole cleanse is to detox and cleanse your body so if you find yourself really struggling, then grab a few pieces of fresh veggies and you can still stay on track.
The cleanse will be hard at times, but only you know what your body needs so if it needs something, just be and sure and stick with fresh veggies and keep them minimal.

A whole stalk of celery, 8-10 organic carrots, 1 whole bunch of kale, 1 whole bunch of spinach, handful of fresh parsley, 5-6 organic apples, and 1/2 lemon= a pitcher of fresh juice (about 6-7 glasses)
That's a lot of goodness in one glass!
This was dinner for my husband and I and my kiddos all got a small glass with their dinner too. My littlest one LOVES the fresh juice! As soon as I flip the switch on the juicer, he comes running from across the house, finds his sippy cup and hands it to me with a "peas!"

The first morning of our juice cleanse, I was craving some grapefruit so I threw some in my juicer and it was not the best combo, but I drank it all anyway.

This morning, I made some delightful grapefruit juice! 

Delightful Grapefruit

1/2 large grapefruit

3 apples

*I even thought about adding a small amount of fresh ginger. Think I might try that one for tomorrow morning.

Remember, if you are doing a cleanse/detox:

-drink lots of water

-get plenty of rest

-& listen to your body

Check back later today for more ways to not only cleanse and detox your body, but also restore your health on a daily basis.

Enjoy!

-Jenny

*Disclaimer: I am not a licensed anything. I am simply a wife and mother trying to take good care of my family and myself. I am sharing what I have learned through my own research and experiences in hopes that it might help someone else. Please do your own research to find what is best for you.

DiY iPhone Exercise Armband

Jenny mentioned to me a little problem a while back…she couldn’t find a case that would hold her iPhone in its case while she ran on the treadmill. Most cases require that the phone come out of its case and she didn’t want to do that every day. She kept trying to come up with solutions but really wanted an armband and all the other solutions weren’t working out (plus there was talk of a fanny pack as a last resort and I couldn’t have that). So, I set out to fix her up. I made her this armband out of some leftover chevron duck cloth and a stretch sock.

You’ll need:
iPhone in case.
Material of Choice
Slicky Material (Similar to a plastic tablecloth but thicker. This helps the phone slip in and out easier -optional)
Sock (coordinating color or pattern if possible)
Velcro
Sewing Machine
Scissors

In advance sorry about the lack of pictures, I was in project mode and failed to snap many. Also, I’m trying to write directions by memory so I hope they aren’t too difficult to follow.

To make:

1.      Take your iPhone/iPod in its case and measure by folding the material over the phone and leaving a extra on each side for a hem.

2.      (Optional if you don’t have or don’t want to use this linning)Cut another piece the same size out of the slicky material.

3.      Laying the two pieces of material with the chevron on the outside and the slicky on the inside, fold the top over twice and hem.

4.      Then fold them in half. Stitch around the outside edges on the sides and the bottom. Turn right side out.

5.      Take the sock and wrap it around your arm so that it is stretched pretty snug and won’t slide while you are exercising. Once you have your measurement cut the sock. Then bring the two ends together inside out and sew them together.

6.      Stitch the sock loop to the back of the pocket with the loop seam against the back of the pocket. Only stitch the top and bottom but do not stitch the sides. This allows for a better stretch when pulling it onto your arm.

7.      Stitch the two pieces of Velcro on either side of the opening.

This is Jenny sportin it during a workout!

Pretty simple project really. I’ve added a couple additional links to a couple other tutorials. Enjoy!

Daspri

Elastic and Materials

No Sew Tube Sock Version (this one is quick and easy with one cut and a fold)

Juicing Recipe & Green Tea

Remember how I told you that my husband and I were doing a juice cleanse beginning on last Friday? Well, for various reasons, we didn't begin until today. But, now, it is on!

This is my breakfast and lunch today; carrots, apples, kale, celery, grapefruit and lemon. Not a huge fan of the grapefruit in it, but I was really craving grapefruit and we had some so I threw it in.
In between my glasses of juice, I will be drinking lots of water. I always drink a good amount of water a day but it is especially important during a cleanse to drink lots of water. The goal here is to detox and cleanse your body.

I decided to enjoy a cup of hot tea as well, mainly because I cannot seem to get warm today. I am freezing!
I am trying a new one today and it is super yummy.  It is Acai, Pomegranate & Blueberry Green Tea. For those of you who have a Kroger nearby, it is their Private Selection brand and it's on sale right now.

Tonight, I will juice an even greener juice for dinner for both my husband and I; kale, spinach, celery, apples, parsley, carrots, and a bit of lemon.

Check out my last post on the benefits of juicing here.

Enjoy!
-Jenny

DiY Envelope Clutch

I love making, well lots of things but time doesn't always allow to make a project completely from scratch.
You can add your own touches to most things you can buy.
I had a sweet friend's birthday approaching and I still wanted to get her a little something more to go along with a necklace I had already made for her. She is a busy, on the go kind of gal and mom to two young boys, so I wanted fun but also practical.
I love fun and practical.

Who doesn't love a cute clutch?! You can grab it quickly as you run out the door or you can place your personal items in it and throw it in the black hole, commonly referred to as your diaper bag.

I got this khaki linen clutch at Hobby Lobby. It was plain but had great texture complete with lining inside and a magnetic closure.
I got out my box of fabric and ended up with this lovely combination. I love mixing colors, patterns, and textures!
I knew I wanted a pop of red in it somewhere and when I put the purple and red side by side, I was in love.

 

Now that you have your fabric choices, you will need to decide what size and shape you will be working with. I chose to go with a mod flower design.

Next, you will simply cut out your fabric.  I cut leaves from my red fabric and a portion of the floral design from my purple fabric. 

I put my design together and laid it out over a piece of gray duck cloth. I traced around the design and cut the duck cloth to serve as the backing and the border.

Now you'll grab your trusty sewing machine and stitch all the way around it and anywhere else you desire. I love to stitch within my design as well, adding more detail.

I chose to add a fabric rosette (in a lighter shade of purple) to my piece as well. Once I had finished sewing my design, I hand stitched the rosette on my piece.

Lastly, you'll heat up your iron and cut strips of stitch witchery to adhere your design onto your clutch.

I also added a dab of Fray Check around the edges of my design. I like the look of the frayed fabric but I also wanted to make sure that it would be nice and sturdy for lots of use.

Supply list:

clutch

fabric

scissors

stitch witchery

fray check

glue gun & card stock (if you are also making a rosette)

I really love the way it turned out! Now, I want to make one for myself.

Enjoy!

-Jenny

Making Time

Life is busy. Whether you are single, a student, a career woman, a wife, and/or a mother....life is busy. There is always something to be done and someone always needs something from you.

I am wife to one amazing man and mommy to four beautiful children. I am wife, mommy, teacher (we home school), daughter, and friend. I am overwhelmed most days with how blessed I am. God is good....too good to me.

While I am so incredibly thankful to be needed in so many ways by people whom I love so very much, sometimes, I need a little time to myself.
I think so many times, especially as mothers, we feel guilty for having time to ourselves. If your heart is in the right place, then a little time for yourself is a very healthy and needed thing.
It takes work, planning and effort sometimes to make it happen, but when I do it, I find that I am actually a better wife and mom for it. I feel refreshed and strengthened.

My heart is to be the wife and mother that God has called me to be; to love and support my husband; to love and train my children in His ways; and to be a blessing to all others that the Lord brings into my life, ultimately bringing Him glory.

Life keeps moving. Laundry keeps piling up. Dishes keep getting dirty. People keep getting hungry so meals need to keep getting made. The house will always need cleaning. The children will always want your time and attention and I always want to give it to them.
But sometimes, when I don't make that time for myself, I don't always feel like I have much left to give.

 A sweet friend of mine blessed me with this time recently. She watched all four of my children for several hours, during the day! I never get day time alone.......ahhhh, it was wonderful.
God made me and He made me creative. Now, I don't say that as talking myself up at all. People may or may not like what I create but nonetheless, I love to create things. My mind is always swirling with ideas of things to make and try. I could literally sit all day, surrounded by brightly colored fabrics, papers, fibers, metal scraps, sharpies, paints, etc.. and create until my fingers hurt! I love it! But not only do I love it, I actually need the time to be able to do it and use what God has given me.

Sometimes, my mind is swirling with creative juices, but my body is just exhausted. But I have learned that if I make the time for it, even if there is only time for a 10  minute project on that particular day, it is well worth it. I walk away from it feeling energized and instantly refreshed.

So, my day looked like this: Me sitting at my dining room table covered in art/jewelry supplies, worship music and Some Guy Named Robb blaring in the background, and a cup of hot chai tea and a bar of dark chocolate by my side.

I got to create until I had broken a few nails, exhausted my dark chocolate supply and then still had the privilege of tucking my kids in bed for nap time.

Pure bliss. :)

Make the time.
-Jenny

Juice Cleanse/Fast

We all know how great apples are for you, but they are even better for you  when they are juiced. Apples can help detox your body, support a healthy heart, aid in digestion and are naturally sweet.

 I am a firm believer in juicing and the incredible health benefits that it provides.

“With a juicer you are separating out fiber so the nutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream and it passes into your stomach and gives your liver and kidneys a rest. And you are flushing your cells with nutrients.”  ( Judy Creighton, The Canadian Press)

Juicing allows you to take in more vegetables at one time than you would by eating raw or cooked vegetables. The concentrated vegetable mass in liquid form is easily assimilated, thus making juicing daily ideal for health problems.

The body is more able to metabolize nutrients into the body's cells, especially since uncooked vegetables retain their enzymes. Raw vegetables provide all the enzymes you need for optimum assimilation. (natural news)

Carrots are a typical base for juicing and there is good reason for this. The two obvious nutrients most are aware of are vitamin A and beta carotenes.
 Beta-carotene is also a major antioxidant. The vitamin A and beta-carotene help maintain vision along with the carrots' fair share of lutein. Beta-carotene also maintains epithelial tissue, the tissue surrounding internal organs. Epithelial tissues are susceptible to cancerous growths.

Carrots are also rich in poly-acetylene anti-oxidant falcarinol. Research at the University of Newcastle has shown carrot falcarinol destroys pre-cancerous cells in tumors. Carrots do help keep cancer away.

Carrots are deep soil root vegetables, and this enables them to absorb an abundant array of minerals. They are also rich in other vitamins, including the B vitamins and folates. Folate is the natural and safe provider of folic acid.
Drinking carrot juice cleanses and restores the liver. The liver is our body's master cleanser - without which we would die from internal toxic buildups while detoxing all those external toxic sources we've taken in. Carrot juice has been called the golden juice of healing. (natural news)

Lemons or limes are amazing at eliminating the bitter taste of the dark deep leafy green vegetables that provide most of the benefits of juicing. In addition, Health benefits of lemon are due to many nourishing elements like vitamin  vitamin B, phosphorus, proteins, and carbohydrates present in it. Lemon is a fruit that contains flavonoid, a composite that holds antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.

We have done many juice cleanses/fast around here ourselves.  We try and make it a practice to do one at least twice a year. We have done it for one week and we have done it for two weeks before as well. If you don't think you are up for a whole week, try it for a few days first. Some is better than none. However, I feel like you need at least a full week to really fully benefit from it. I am no expert by any means at all, but from my own experience and research, the longer you are able to go, the better your body will detox and the better you will feel. Those first couple of days can be rough on someone who has never done a cleanse/fast like this before or even on someone who has if it has been a while. Once you get past the feeling of being hungry and tired (which for me is usually half way into the second day) then you start to feel really great; lighter and energized!

 As you can see from our large amounts of apples and carrots, we are about to begin our first juice cleanse of 2013.  My husband and I will be doing this together, beginning tomorrow. We will drink only fresh vegetable/fruit juice and water for one week. We may occasionally allow a cup of hot green tea.

I get really excited about these because I love how it makes me feel and I know how great it is for my health.  After the first whole day of no coffee/caffeine, I usually start feeling pretty wonderful!
And not to mention, the juices are delicious! My children love them as well. They obviously do not fast with us but they do get to enjoy fresh juice throughout.

Here is a great basic recipe if you would like to try it out.

Carrot Apple Juice

5-6 organic carrots
3 organic apples
1/2 lemon

Green Juice

3 green apples
stalk of celery
bunch of Kale
1/2 lemon  

Juicing can get pretty expensive. As you can see, you use a lot of fruits and vegetables when juicing which is also great because you are taking in all of the nutrients from them. We would juice a lot more and on a daily basis if it weren't for the expense. However, when we schedule a juice cleanse, we order our base fruits and veggies (apples and carrots) in bulk here. They are organic and priced wonderfully!

Do you have a favorite juice? Share with me! Do you have questions about juicing? I would love to try and help.
-Jenny