Whole 30 Ranch Seasoning Mix

You guys! This ranks up there as one of my greatest food discoveries so far. One of the big things I’ve missed since having to give up dairy is ranch dressing. The good stuff…Hidden Valley deliciousness. Of course, it is really super delicious because it is loaded with MSG. In any event, I stumbled across this recipe on Pinterest for a Whole 30 Ranch Seasoning Mix that could be mixed with mayo.

Here’s the recipe, courtesy of The Pinning Mama. Click here for her post about this.

• 2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp parsley
• 3 tsp dill weed
• 2 tsp dried chives
• 4 tsp garlic powder
• 4 tsp onion powder
• 4 tsp dried onion flakes
• 2 tsp black pepper

To be honest, I didn’t follow it exactly. I didn’t realize it would need so much parsley, so I ended up using just 1 TB. I also forgot it called for onion granules AND onion flakes. I just used a little more onion flakes and it was still delicious. I mixed 1 TB of this mix with about 1/2 cup of regular mayonnaise.

It is delicious and very authentic tasting, perfect for dipping veggies or chips. I would probably thin it with a little lemon juice or almond milk if I wanted to make dressing.

3 Ways to Stay Sane as a SAHM

For those not familiar with the lingo, “SAHM” stands for Stay at Home Mom. And that’s me. Lately it’s been feeling like an incredible amount of work and I’ve been rather overwhelmed. We were sick with various viruses for nearly 2 months, which put me farther and farther behind on cleaning and various household tasks. I’ve really had to sift through my task list and prioritize to keep myself but going crazy and becoming too exhausted. Here are 3 things I’m doing to stay sane.

1. Napping or resting during naptime. It’s so tempting to run around getting stuff done while the kids are out of my hair. However, that means that when they wake up I’m exhausted from all the things I was doing. Even if I don’t nap, I force myself to lie down on the couch. I either read, watch a show, or surf the internet.

2. Writing things down the second I think of them. There are so many little things I have to do, some more important than others. Long ago, I abandoned the idea that I might actually remember things on my own, and the second the thought occurs to me, I write it down. I have a grocery app on my phone where keep a list of food I need to buy. I have several task lists on my phone and one on the fridge.

3. Clocking off when the kids go to bed. Generally, I stop all work when my kids go to bed. I think of it as clocking off. I stop running laundry. I stop trying to do dishes. I stop making phone calls. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and enjoy some tea or a treat while reading or watching a show.

What keeps you sane during the week?

The Molly Murphy Mysteries

Blogging has fallen by the wayside lately, partly because we’ve had so much illness and partly because I’ve been doing a lot of reading. The series I wanted to tell you about today is the Molly Murphy Mysteries by Rhys Bowen. I actually stumbled upon one of these mysteries at the library in the new fiction section. 

I don’t typically like mysteries actually because they are too factual and gritty without enough story and appealing characters. This series however, is a historical mystery series about Molly Murphy, a woman from Ireland, who decides to become a private investigator in America. This series is almost squeaky clean and thoroughly enjoyable. The best part is there are 16 books in this series and Rhys Bowen is still writing them! This isn’t her only series either. I’m about to start the “Royal Spyness” series.

If you like a female heroine with a lot of spunk and curiosity who can’t like a mystery go undiscovered, you will enjoy the Molly Murphy books.

 

Why Essential Oils Aren’t a Cure

One of my Facebook friends brought some FDA regulations about essential oils to my attention. Let’s be honest, this totally stresses me out since I’m just trying to share my experience on a blog I run for fun. I’ve deliberately chosen not to monetize my blog. I signed up to be an Amazon affiliate, but decided not to pursue it because I didn’t want to worry about all the disclaimers.

I realized that this topic was a blog post all by itself. Why would I use essential oils and what purpose do they have in my life? The statements I’m about to make are completely personal and are intended to reflect no opinion except my own.

I am not using essential oils to cure a disease.

I would not use essential oils in a life threatening situation.

In the case of a serious illness, pneumonia, sinus infection, etc, I would not rely on essential oils or plan on them as a cure. I would go to the doctor, emergency room, or urgent care to get proper diagnosis, care, x rays, and/or antibiotics.

I do not believe essential oils are a “cure all.”

I would use essential oils to support and assist my immune system.

I would use essential oils to alleviate itching from a minor bug bite.

I would use essential oils to help relieve nausea.

I would use essential oils to relief cramping and pms symptoms.

They are a lot of aches and pains that are not doctor worthy. I’m not going to rush to the ER because I’m itchy from a bug bite. I’m not going to the doctor because I have some nausea from an ordinary stomach bug. This is where essential oils fit into my life. I want to use them to support healthy living and help with mild maladies.

So there you have it!

Disclaimer: I am not an aromatherapist, and I have no formal essential oil training. This post (and all other posts about essential oils) should never take the place or be considered a substitution for a doctor’s advice. The information contained in these posts are for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or ailment. Please do your own research and make your own informed decisions when you are considering lifestyle and health changes.

 

Essentials Oil and Why I’m Still a Skeptic

I have heard essential oils referred to as “snake oil.” This basically describes something that people think of as a magical potion. I’ve seen folks apply this idea to a lot of things. My chiropractor’s office for instance, thinks they can heal all problems with adjustments. I’ve read books on how magnesium can fix all your problems. I’m very cautious when people act like one thing is a fix all.

While I do feel my family has been helped by the essential oils I’ve tested and tried, I’m still keeping a close eye on the results as I try different oils. I’m keeping a little journal of sorts to track when and how I use an oil and whether it was effective. As time passes, I plan to share my findings here.

The first oil I ever used is Young Living’s “Thieves” oil. It’s a blend that supposed to be great for immune support. I have noticed a difference, particularly for myself. I apply some to my wrists every day and I’ve been sick the least of all of us lately. Immune support is one of the hardest things to measure or quantify in my opinion. Maybe I wasn’t going to sick anyway and the Thieves oil is getting the credit. Maybe I just think it’s the Thieves oil that is helping me and this is a placebo effect. This is an example of my skepticism when it comes to things like this.

I found it much easier to measure the effectiveness of the DiGize oil I used this last weekend (see my last blog post). I noticed my pain was better within 15 minutes from ingesting this oil. I feel certain the oil was the cause of my pain relief. 

If you are considering essential oils for your family, I encourage you to do your research and approach with a critical eye. I found one blog in particular to be helpful with my own research. Rebecca is the author of “A Beautiful Ruckus” and she posted her research and facts. She has quadruplets and has had enormous success using these with her kids, several of whom have special needs. Follow these links to read more.

http://www.abeautifulruckus.com/2014/01/essential-oils-do-they-really-work-or.html

http://www.abeautifulruckus.com/2014/06/essential-oils-how-i-saved-money-switching-to-young-living-essential-oils.html

Disclaimer: I am not an aromatherapist, and I have no formal essential oil training. This post (and all other posts about essential oils) should never take the place or be considered a substitution for a doctor’s advice. The information contained in these posts are for educational and entertainment purposes only. They are not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or ailment. Please do your own research and make your own informed decisions when you are considering lifestyle and health changes.