Back to my Roots

Every so often I like to reorganize my labels on this blog, this inspired me to read a couple posts from when I first started this blog over year ago.

Something caught my eye...

May 2009, I was trying to pull up roots from Alder bushes with a pick ax. I was hopeful that we could then just fill in the holes with some dirt and then grow some grass. I ended up taking a tumble down the hill... determined that this is how Jack and Jill tumbled down the hill, I walked home. I was dirty and disgruntled.

This May, I was working on my garden. Every day, while walking to my garden I would trip on these stumps hanging out of the ground. Alder stumps... make mama say GRRR

So one hot May afternoon, I found myself trying to dig up yet another stump with a pick ax. I was successful with this one... what was discouraging however was the fact that there are at least 20 of them to remove. Eventually that whole section will be garden, with some benches and a hammock. I have a feeling however that next May, I will be out there once again, tripping over stumps until I become frustrated once again.... Perfect example of history repeating itself, wouldn't you say!

Oh, here are some low quality picture of my garden flourishing... next year I will start earlier for multiple harvests.

 

 

I have Potatoes, Ambercup Squash, Cucumbers, a Salad Bush, Scotia Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Peppers and Celery growing. I do have a row of carrots with a few carrots in the row. I also planted a row of  Spinach but the seeds were not good. I tried to Chit some later and nothing sprouted... Next time. My mother told me of a local place that guarantees their seeds. I'm going to start collecting in the fall because I plan on starting some things indoors over the winter.

The Fire Element

The Fire Meridians:

4 different Meridians make up the fire element without our body. The Heart, Pericardium, Small Intestine, and Triple Warmer. The Heart Meridian regulates blood circulation and overseas the entire meridian system. It is also lovingly referred to as the Supreme Controller. The Pericardium Meridian absorbs what could damage your heart. It is also referred to as the Heart Protector and rightfully so because that is exactly what it does. The Small Intestine Meridian is responsible for processing the food that you consume, absorbing nutrients and discarding the waste left behind. The Triple Warmer Meridian is interesting because it protects 3 areas in the body that are prone to burning sensations; the chest, solar plexus and the abdomen. The triple warmer is the only meridian whose function is based solely on energy with no physical organ which to associate.

Emotions:
Joy

Colors:
Red and Pink

Taste:
Bitter

Sound:
Laughter

Season:
Summer

Fire in Balance:
There is a greater capacity to feel pleasure and excitement. Ability to enjoy a good laugh (this is also an indicator of health)

Fire Imbalance:
Humor which mocks or degrades, being happy only in the warm months, or not being able to handle warm weather, heart trouble, poor circulation, lack of sexual desire, depression, body temperature changes, skin changes, insensitivity to others, apathy and tension or pain along Fire Meridians.

Review - Hamadi Organic

When I was granted the opportunity to review some products from the Hamadi line, I jumped for joy! I have heard nothing but good things about this line. I like that the products are made in Canada and in the US and that all of the essential oils and plant extracts used are 100% certified organic. Hamadi's philosophy is "Replenish and nourish your hair and the earth."

I was sent a few different products to try: The Honey Soy milk Hair wash, The Lemon Mint Hair wash, The Ginger Hair wash, The Healing Serum, Shea Leave-In Conditioner, and Shea Rice Milk Conditioner.

First of all, I must say how much of a difference I have noticed in my hair since I have started using the product. I am on week 2 right now and my hair has never been more manageable. Flying hairs have been tamed and my mane smells delightful. Each product has a different blend of essential oils, making each product an unique experience. They are also gentle enough to use every day. The Honey Soymilk wash is probably the most suited to my hair type (which is fine) although I have had remarkable results with all of them.  I find that if you are seeking the best results that it is best to use generously, it is quick thick for a "shampoo" and despite using generous amounts I found that the Hair wash goes quite far. I also found that because of the thickness it is easy to be deceived by how much product you have actually used. I found the Shea Rice Conditioner didn't last nearly as long as the hair wash. The Shea Leave in Conditioner is very comparable to the Shea Rice Conditioner except I find it goes much further than its counterpart. It can also be used as a moisturizer, clever.

With the quality of the product and the fact that it is certified organic, I expected that the price would be far outside an affordable price range. To my surprise, the products cost less than most salon quality products.

The Healing Serum... made my hair really greasy. I think this would have been perfect if my hair was thicker or suffering from severe chemical damage. Fortunately, I was able to find an alternative use for it though. I am a razor burn suffering and the Healing Serum replenished my skin with the right amount of moisture to heal the old bumps and keep new ones from surfacing. This pleases me. Thank you so much to Hamadi for giving me happy hair and happy legs.

I personally find it a tad difficult to dislike a company whose slogan is "Tested on Actresses, not animals"

Winners Circle

Bath Salts from Body Luxe
Comment #213
Samy

T-Shirt from D_Luscious D_signs
Comment #4
Deanna

Soap Nuts from Buysoapnuts.com
Comment #45
Bao




All of our winners have been notified and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected! Congrats everyone and a big thank you to the sponsors and to everyone who entered!

Don't forget to enter our other current giveaways!

Eco Friendly Vegan Laundry Soap

Maylee's Garden Soaps specializes in homemade laundry soap made from Saponified Soybean and Coconut Oils, essential oils, borax and Sodium. She has many different scents available including "Tea Tree and Orange", "Patchouli and Lemon","Peppermint and Vanilla" and even an Unscented variety for those with sensitive noses or those who like to customize their own scents.

Each bag of laundry soap does between 30-35 loads for older style washing machines and around 70 loads in the HE front loading washers. The soap portion is made via hot process soap making method and works fine in cold water. I can testify to that method. I almost never wash cloths in hot water.

I chose to review the "Hippie Mama Detergent" which is made from Patchouli and Ylang Ylang with a touch of Lavender, Bergamot, Clove and Tangerine.  I have hard water, an older style washer and smelly preteen boys, I found it necessary to increase my soap amount from 2 teaspoons to 2.5 teaspoons. Which is still pretty good. My clothes came out clean and smelling fresh. Tough stains may need some assistance, but for the most part, the majority of those were coming clean without assistance. Which makes me very happy. Because they are saponified oils they do not lather like traditional "soaps". Instead the water looks a little cloudy. Rest assured though, your cloths will be clean!

I do not have a front loading washer, but there is a note on the Etsy site stating that others have reported the detergent can be put in the tray where the liquid detergent goes and it works just fine, but unfortunately she can not verify this and neither can I.

One thing that I can attest too is how wonderful my cloths feel free from all the harsh chemicals. I love that she does not use any palm oils as well.

Giveaway: 
Maylee's Garden has offered to my American readers one bag of Laundry soap in the scent of their choice!

To Enter:
Visit Maylee's Garden and comment back with your favorite item or scent!

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow Music and Mommies via Google Friend Connect
2. Subscribe via email
3. Subscribe via RSS
4. Like Maylee's Garden on Facebook
5. Like Music and Mommies on Facebook
6. Follow me on Twitter
7. Tweet the Giveaway
8. Grab my button and place it on your blog (3 comments)
9. Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link (5 comments)

Giveaway Rules:
Open to US Residents only, Sorry everyone else!
Giveaway ends August 12, 2010. Winners will be selected via Random.org and have 48 hours to respond to the winning email before a new winner is selected!

Disclaimer: I received a bag of this product for the purpose of this review. All opinions belong to me.

Get your health UnderWAY - Blog Tour

I was invited by Mom Central to participate in a blog tour for underWAY. It is that time of year too where I become a little more conscious of my weight and just healthy living in general. Something about the heat just makes me want to be outdoors and active. Perhaps, I am part bear and require a certain amount of winter hibernation... doubtful though. So, I immediately said yes!

I was quite surprised with the quantity of products that I was sent to review. I received eight bottles of underWay (4 Acai - Pomegranate and 4 grape). I also received a few different Smart for Life products like cookies, cupcakes, soup, cereal, a vanilla shake, a bagel and crunch!

UnderWAY and Smart for Life are all natural products containing 60% organic ingredients. They were developed by physician Dr. Sasson Moulavi. The foods and drinks are appetite suppressing, they work by making us feel fuller longer. The underWAY tastes pretty yummy. It contains no sugar, instead a small amount of Sucralose which I could taste. Not as bad as the aspartame but the taste still bothered me. Although, by the time I drank the second bottle I noticed it a lot less than before. My favorite was the grape. Right now UnderWAY is offering free shipping on cases of their product.

The Smart for Life products were pretty incredible. They are known for their "cupcake and cookie" diet. They taste different. The cookies had a "rice crisp" taste to them. I haven't really figured that out yet. But they were yummy and the first couple times I ate them I noticed that they did keep me full longer. The cereal was absolutely delicious. There is something to be said about a healthy low calorie chocolate berry cereal. The bagel was a little bland but would have been perfect with a hummus dip. Unfortunately according to the diet instructions that come with it, Chick peas are to be avoided for the first little while. The carrot cake mini muffins were probably my favorite. Something that did cross my mind while trying out these products was would I be hungrier when I switch back to "real" food. If so, how can I train my brain in the meantime to feel full.

Don't forget though, aside from eating healthy it is important to get the right amount of exercise. I spend quite a bit of time at my computer sometimes so little things like yoga, random dancing while I clean the house and Nerf gun wars with the kids help keep me within a healthy weight range.

Don't forget to check out the Smart for Life and the UnderWAY website to learn more about their products!

Giveaway:
10 lucky winners will each receive a case of Underway and Smart for Life products to try! It is exactly what i received! So 2 packs of UnderWay (4 Grape, 4 Acai Pomegranate) and an assortment of Smart for Life (Bagel, Crisps, Cereal, Soup, 2 Packs of Cookies, 2 packs of cupcakes and a shake)

To Enter: 
Please visit the Smart for Life website and the Underway website and tell me something that you learned about the products!

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow my blog on GFC
2. Subscribe to my blog via email
3. Subscribe to my blog via RSS
4. Like Music and Mommies on Facebook
5. Follow me on Twitter
6. Tweet the giveaway
7. Grab my button and place it on your blog (3 comments)
8. Blog about the giveaway (5 comments)

Giveaway Rules:
You can enter on Multiple blogs but you are only eligible to win once. Giveaway is open to Canadians only (sorry everyone else!) Giveaway ends August 4th 2010

Disclosure: I am participating in the UnderWAY program by Mom Central on behalf of Better Health Beverage, LLC. I received a Mom Central gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Nature's Magick Review and Giveaway

A few weeks ago I reviewed and held a giveaway for D-Luscious D_signs! If you remember, I mentioned that Tracy also had an Etsy shop called Nature's Magick. Today I will be reviewing Muscle Massage Soaking Salts and a Body Buffing Sugar Scrub both in the Bahama Blend scent. I must say first of all that I am thrilled with the size of the product and I love the fact that they come in Mason Jars. It is cute, practical and they are well branded.

As many of you know, I went away with the hubby this weekend for a wedding. We slept in the back of the truck in a nice padded bed that we constructed with lots of comforters. But alas, all the padding in the world still left me feeling the grooves underneath us. Combine that with driving for 5 hours... and most likely random dancing with the hubby after a couple drinks and know we have a small understanding of how the trigger points in my shoulder blades and neck became active.

As soon as we arrived home, I jumped in the tub and decided that it was the perfect time to try out the Muscle Massage Soaking Salts. The jar of salts comes equipped with a cute shell to scoop out your bath salt serving. I was immediately captivated by the Bahama Blend aroma. It is very strong and quickly filled the entire house. The name is accurate to the aroma. I find it smells like Fa, only without smelling chemically laden. It has a very unisex and slight perfume smell. Without doing trigger point therapy the salts were very effective and it definitely helped remove some of the "surface" toxins. I felt great until I started moving about, thus aggravating the spots further. The deeper pain, still would require pressure therapy but I am pretty sure that this would be a remarkable and soothing replacement for the Epsom salt baths that follow any massage therapy.

I followed up with the Body Buffing Sugar Scrub. I figured since I have been outside in the sun for the last couple days that Exfoliating and replenishing the moisture that my skin had lost would highly benefit me. After initially giving it a good stir, I scooped up a bunch and proceeded to.... lather?? It lathers! This surprised me. It was welcomed and I must say, this is probably the best sugar scrub I have used to date. It didn't leave me feeling overly greasy, my skin was hydrated and I smell fantastic. Here it is the next morning and I still smell fantastic! I am so happy to tell you all that Tracy has offered this exact prize to 1 lucky winner :)

Giveaway:
That's right, 1 lucky winner will receive 1 jar of Muscle Massage Soaking Salts and 1 jar of Body Buffing Sugar Scrub!

To Enter: 
Swing by Nature's Magick on Etsy and comment back with one scent that intrigues you.

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow my blog on GFC
2. Subscribe via email
3. Subscribe by RSS
4. Like Music and Mommies on Facebook
5. Tell me what scent or scent combination you would like to see Tracy create?
6. Follow me on Twitter
7. Tweet the giveaway
8. Grab my button (3 comments)
9. Blog about the giveaway (5 comments)

Giveaway Rules:
Giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the United States and will close on August 11th, 2010. Winners will be selected via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to the confirmation email before a new winner is selected.

Disclaimer: I was sent these two products to review in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Birthday Giveaway Magic

Today is my birthday and as promised I will be putting up giveaways throughout the day! You will have to excuse me for starting so late, but we got back from our weekend adventure around 9 last night and just had a relaxing evening with the hubby. I got up fairly early this morning and I have spend the last couple hours listening to the excited birthday chants from the children, which includes the youngest walking around the house singing "Happy Birthday to you, you're a hundred and two," cute, funny and inaccurate.

Today I am 30. 

When I turned 29, the idea that my "youth" was over was a prominent fear. I almost believed that once I turned 30 my life was over and things would never be the same. You can't go back.  I managed to convince myself that I must remain 29 forever. Each year of my life would be the anniversary of me turning 29. This became my fountain of youth and I was content with that. 

But... things never are the same... they are always changing. 

So, what do I honestly have to fear? Getting old? Death? Bah, what is the point of fearing the inevitable? Seems like a waste of good energy. 

30 is fantastic.

This is a new chapter to a wonderful story. I am excited to watch as the words get written on the page. I am excited to narrate my journey. Most of all, I am excited to live it. 

Hello life, my name is Crystal Marie... today I am a little wiser than I was yesterday and a little more naive than I will be tomorrow. In this moment, I AM.

Different ways to brew Herbal Teas

There are two primary ways to brew herbal teas.

Infusion:

The method used to brew fresh or dried herb leaves, petals and flowers. Can also be used to brew crushed berries and seeds. These ingredients release their essential oils and valuable nutrients while steeping in hot water. The basic rule of thumb is to pour boiling water over the herbs, cover the pot and allow to steep anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. The longer the tea steeps the more potent it becomes.

Decoction:
This is the method used to brew roots, barks and the woody parts of herbs. The plant material must be simmered in boiling water for at least 20 minutes and as long as 60. The total time really depends on the size of the pieces being used.

If you are using a combination of roots and leaves, Decoct the roots first and then throw the leaves in for the last 10 minutes after the pot has been removed from the heat.

Etsy Review and Giveaway - Virga Botanicals

Virga Botanicals specializes in Skin Care formulations from the East and the West. Virga means "a newly green branch" in Latin and perfectly symbolizes the freshness and quality of the ingredients used in Kirsten's products. One thing that I really enjoy about Virga Botanicals is the product descriptions that are listed with each product. Not only does she list the ingredients but some interesting tidbit about the ingredient, its history or a specific eastern or western benefit of that ingredient. This appeals to me greatly because I LOVE absorbing new herbal information and I find for me it generates a stronger desire to try out the products!

Kirsten sent me a lovely package filled with assorted products to try out.
Neroli Extraordinary Day Cream, Triple Rose Day/Night Cream, Green Tea Light Facial Serum, Eye De-Puffer Mask, Chinese Herbal Exfoliating Grains, Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion, Goats's Milk and Honey Soap

Sometimes it amazes me when handmade creams are able to withstand the Nova Scotia humidity. The creams from Virga Botanicals are no exception. The Neroli Extraordinary Day cream is amazing! I find it a little heavy for me personally as a face cream but it is brilliant for the dryer areas of my combination skin. It has a very uplifting aroma! The Triple Rose Day/Night cream is not recommended for oily skin and I can see why! This stuff is powerful. Its smell is very pungent and not as sweet as one would expect but it is still very lovely. I found the most success using the Rose cream on days where I had been out in the sun long enough to dry out my skin. The Triple Rose Cream also contains Aloe and my skin would feel hydrated for hours afterwards. It does a fantastic job of replenishing my skins natural oils.

I absolutely fell in love with the Chinese Herbal Exfoliating Grains and the Eye De-puffer Mask. The Chinese Herbal Exfoliating grains are harsh on the skin if you rub too hard. So let us be gentile. It doesn't take much effort for this mix of powdered coix seed (also known as Chinese Barley), pomegranate seed husk and vanilla bean to be effective. What I like is how fresh and rosy my skin is after. The blood is circulating to my face again and all of the dead skin has been washed away. I follow up with the Green Tea Eye De-Puffer Mask which is so beneficial to me. Between sleep and allergies, I am a puffy eye sufferer. I get nervous putting things near my eyes and to my delight there was no stinging. It was a very soothing feeling. I closed my eyes and relaxed. This would be the perfect time for some mindful meditations or to chant a soothing mantra of positive glee. After I washed it off, my skin felt very soft and smooth and my eyes were not puffy. Success!
I finished off with the green tea serum, a tiny spritz goes such a long way. It is refreshing and maybe it was my imagination but my face felt just a tiny bit tighter. The green tea facial serum would be the perfect addition to a hot day to cool off and rejuvenate the skin.

The Cocoa Butter Lotion and the Goat's Milk and Honey Soap are both gentle enough for baby but anyone can use them. The Cocoa Butter Lotion cannot take the humidity so I recommend storing it in the fridge if you live in a humid location. Just give it a good shake it it separates and it is good as knew. Cocoa Butter is very good for the skin. Neither the Cocoa Butter or the Goats Milk soap has any scent (aside from the mild smell of cocoa butter in the lotion) and both are so wonderful at hydrating the skin. The soap itself is very gentle and moisturizing and it shaped in such a fashion that the rounded "log" shaped curves nicely with the palm of your hand.

Giveaway:
Kirsten has offered to my readers a wonderful prize pack that contains everything in this picture below. It is worth $50! Thank you so much Kirsten.

To Enter: 
Visit Virga Botanicals and comment back with something that you like.

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow my blog via GFC
2. Subscribe by email
3. Subscribe by RSS
4. Follow me on Facebook
5. Follow me on Twitter
6. Tweet the giveaway
7. Place my button on my your blog (3)
8. Blog about the giveaway (5)

Giveaway Rules:
Open to everyone! Giveaway ends August 9th, 2010.
Winner will be selected via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email.

Disclaimer: I received product from Virga Botanicals for the purpose of this review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Off I go, I go, I go...

On my way out the door to go to a wedding this weekend across the Province. So the acupressure post that I did not have time to write will be posted next Friday instead! I have so many reviews to post for you all, oh if you only knew the stack of products surrounding me, each with a tale to tell!

There is a review and giveaway that will auto post tomorrow and I promised lots of giveaways on Monday and this is still true. Monday will indeed be giveaway madness! In the meantime, stop in tomorrow and have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Peace and Love and many blessings you, not you extreme sports calender (Mighty Boosh reference...)

This week in motion

I haven't been hiding, I swear!
I've been musical lately and enjoying the summer weather.
Last year the month of July was filled with rain.
This year it is beautiful.

My garden is growing and the crows are letting it be. We have come to an agreement (for now). I leave one piece of bread around the outskirts of the property once or twice a week and they leave my garden alone. If I neglect to leave this bread, they pull things up just for fun. Bread it is...
Hmmm, I feel as though... the crows are blackmailing me.

Yesterday was greeted with a group sunset yoga session in my back field, after a Nerf war with the children. It truly felt like summer. After the sun went down, Jessi and I finished writing our new song Crimson and Mauve.  It is a piano based song with a very retro feel, "Old fashioned" as my 11 year old lovingly calls it.

This weekend I will be away at an old friends wedding. Probably one of the oldest friends I have that I still talk to and hang out with from time to time. I've known him since I was around 5 or 6. I'm very happy that he has found his other half!

Don't worry though, I will have posts prepared for you all! Including a giveaway, so pop in over the weekend. Also, my birthday is coming up on Monday. My *gasp* 30th birthday. That means a new chapter in my life is being written and to celebrate the death of my twenties and the birth of my 4th decade of existence I feel like more giveaways are in order.

We shall see...
Peace and love!

Lavender Mint Tea

A tea that is wonderful for the digestive and nervous system. It calms both the body and the mind allowing you to savor this moment.

Mix one part dried lavender flowers and 2 parts mint leaves.

Let steep, and enjoy a lovely cup of heaven. Unlike this photo though, I recommend using one of those lovely loose tea infusers.

Thistle Delight Soapworks Review and Giveaway (CLOSED)

Thistle Delight is a shop filled with handmade sugar scrubs and cold process soaps with some pretty unique scents like "Daybreak", "Jewel of the Nile" and "Distinguished".  I chose the Black Licorice Love Anise (the hubby LOVES Black Licorice) and the Mayan Gold which has a combination of lovely woodsy scents.

When I first opened up the package my space was heavily dominated by the scent of black licorice in fact, it was so powerful that the Mayan Gold smelled like Black Licorice. So I separated both bars hoping that the licorice smell would wear off of the Mayan Gold. Within a couple days the licorice scent had worn off and the Mayan Gold was ready to appreciate in all of its glory!

The thing about licorice is you either really like it or really hate it. It was quite amusing watching the mixed reactions as people would come over and smell the soaps and either fall in love with it, or make a really funny face of disgust. I must say though, despite the unexpected strength of the licorice the soaps are pretty spectacular. I wouldn't recommend it for those of you with sensitive noses but goodness, everyone else should really give it a try! They are pretty to look at, they have lasted longer than most handmade soaps I have had the privilege of trying. The bars are large and easy to grip and they lather great.  The Mayan Gold soap is a much softer scent containing Patchouli, Sandalwood and Clary Sage, Mandarin, Grapefruit and Vanilla to name a few. I love it!

Giveaway:
Sandra from Thistle Delight Soapworks has offered to one winner a soap in the scent of their choice!

To Enter:
Visit Thistle Delight Soapworks and comment back with your favorite item or scent.

Bonus Entries:
1. Follow my blog on GFC
2. Subscribe via email
3. Subscribe via RSS
4. 'Like' Music and Mommies on Facebook
5. Follow Thistle Delight on Facebook
6. Follow Sandra  and Music and Mommies on Twitter
7. Tweet the giveaway
8. Grab my button and leave the link (+3)
9. Blog about the giveaway (+5)

Giveaway Rules: 
Giveaway is open worldwide and will close August 2nd, 2010. Winners will be selected via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to the confirmation email before a new winner is selected!

Disclaimer: I received 2 soaps from Thistle Delight Soapworks for the purpose of this review.

The Wood Element

It is now time for another retelling of "Information I have about Acupressure", which yes... I DID make sound like "Pigs in Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace" when I silently said that. How did you know :)

The Wood Meridians
Governing muscular health and the health of your tendons and ligaments, the wood meridians are the Gall Bladder and Liver. When these meridians are functioning in balance, joints move effortlessly. The liver is in charge of assimilating food and purifying your blood while the Gall Bladder secretes bile to aid digestion and distributes energy from your food throughout the other meridians in your body.

Emotion:
Anger is the emotion associated with wood. It is an energizer that can propel you into motion or a constructive action of sorts.

Taste:
Sour

Sound:
Shouting

Colors:
Purple and Green

Season:
The season of wood is spring, a time of renewal when you grow as a person and let go of habits and ideas that no longer work for you.

Wood In Balance:
Wood is related to the ability to have a broadened/multiple perspective of a situation. Wood motivates and ages gracefully. A confident visionary.

Wood Imbalance:
Illnesses include headaches, impulsive, confrontation, aggression, spinal problems, bursitis, muscular spasms, indecision, allergies, tendinitis, eye problems, migraine, chronic rage, tension and pain along the wood meridians.

Book Review: Live Happily, Ever After... NOW!

About the Author:
For over 10 years, Terry M. Drake has been a family therapist, supervisor and life coach who specializes in teaching people how to get what they want. He currently is a Director of mental and behavioral health programs, as well as in private practice as a hypnotherapist, life coach and trainer.

About the Book:
Live Happily, Ever After... Now! Uses age old, time tested secrets (found in NLP, the Law of Attraction, Positive Psychology and Ericksonian Hypnosis) to teach you how to create the life you want. The key is learning how much control you actually you actually have over your life, you beliefs and attitudes about yourself, others and the world you live in. Once you understand that you are in control (and you will), then you can use the 9 simple steps to make changes and begin living the life you want.

My Thoughts:
I have been implementing changes into my life using the Law of Attraction and Positive Psychology, so I was very interested to see what additional information I could find within this book that would assist in additional transformations. I was very pleased with the food for though that is contained within these pages. It is a very easy read and everything is laid out in a manner that is straight forward and easy to follow. If you are new to some of these philosophies I would recommend reading each chapter individually and then attempt to practice those ideologies in your day to day life. Each chapter has a story (most of which are credited to unknown authors) that captures an idea that is contained within the chapter, one of those story is a favorite of mine about called Two Wolves. Each chapter also has a summary and a number of quotes. One of the chapters discusses the need for perfectionism and the fear of failure. Both of which, hit close to home for the hubby and I, in the form of personal limitations that we are trying to break free from. I would recommend this book for anyone who finds that their life is governed by negative thinking that has been keeping them from the happiness they so desire but might not feel they deserve.

Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy for the purpose of this review from Pump Up Your Book book tours.

Winners Circle

Giveaways are ending all over the place and I have winners to announce!

DICHROIC CREATIONS

The winner of the pendant from Dichroic Creations is comment #80

NGS

Confirmed!

FEATHERHEART TRADING SHOP

The winner of the Patchouli Salve and Harold and Maude tea is comment #54
Judy

CONGRATS to the both of you! 
Thank you to everyone who entered :)
Don't forget to check out our current giveaways and keep an eye open for more reviews and giveaways to be posted over the next few days. 

Do not ingest these plants

If you ever come across herbal recipes that contain these plants do not injest them. Don't even put them on your body. At one time these herbs were considered safe but nowadays are considered toxic. Some old world recipes may still contain them. So instead replace those herbs with something else that offers relief for what you are seeking relief from.

The plants that should be avoided are: Comfrey, Wormwood, Pennyroyal, Tansy and Sassafras.

Herbal information is always being updated, so even if something was commonly used in the old world, we do learn new things every day about the world around us... or the illusion around us as I lovingly refer to it.

Spiky Cuteness and Totem Teachings

I believe that everything happens for a reason, in other words everything that I choose to focus on is an opportunity to learn about myself and the world around me. So if I see an animal outside of my window and choose to focus on its behaviors, I can learn a bit about myself. This is the essence of how the natives perceived totem animals. They believe that spirit is presenting itself as an animal to teach you something about your life at that current moment.

A couple days ago, I put a little bit of bread in the backyard and a pair of birds came after it. The teamwork these two birds displayed was amazing. One bird picked up the food and would stuff it in the beak of the other bird. The second bird would try to refine the bread as much as it could and then the first bird would stuff more bread inside his beak. The birds eventually became spooked and the bird who had all the food flew off to the nest leaving the second bird to pick up bread remains as fast as it could. I had to give the hubby a hug after because to me it displayed the teamwork and support that we have been showing each other. We used that opportunity to show each other appreciation for all the things that we do to help each other out and how much smoother we make things around here when we function as one instead of separate entities.

Last night, I had a random urge to run out and check the garden. I do mean URGE. So I ran outside and started walking out back and on the other side of my pile of my compost pile there was some odd thing. I froze in my tracks. Is that a pile of sod perhaps blew off my compost pile? Is that moving? You see my glasses were in the house... I turned around real quick and noticed Fuzzy Phoenix the lovely kitty cat  following me as she often does. On the off chance that this was an animal that was beyond the hunting capabilities of the fuzz, I had to make sure that her and our other cat Scampy McScamperton Scamperoo were safely inside the homestead. So, I ran in the house and grabbed the video camera so I could get some stills. I let hubby know that their was some sort of animal outside. Which he then lovingly teased me about my eye sight and followed me outside. Of course, all of the commotion led our children to their bedroom windows to watch from a far as Mom and Dad went out to investigate this PORCUPINE BEAST. Good thing the cats are inside, the big fuzzy phoenix might have been a little too tempted by this giant porcupine. Porcupines as a totem animal are very curious and find joy in the small things in life. They teach you how to face your vulnerabilities and protect your inner self. People with porcupine totems are joyful people, who prefer to approach life at a slow pace. Fortunately for me porcupines don't have good eye sight either, it didn't notice me until I was ready to leave. So I was able to get pretty close. It wasn't until I stood up to leave because I ran out of storage space on my card that he stiffened up and his quills stood tall. Here are a couple still shots from the camera. Again, not great quality... but by now you know why :)

   

The Water Element

Over the last couple weeks I have briefly gone over the history of Acupressure as a means of healing and overall wellness. This week I thought it would be a good idea to start discussing the different elements associated with Acupressure. Since there are only 5, I thought we could have separate posts for each element (considering I have enough information for various posts...)

Today I would like to talk to you about the WATER element.

The Water Meridians
The primary water meridians found in the body are the Bladder and Kidney meridians. Essentially the water element is your reserve energy. It is the energy that you use when you are under prolonged stress or in a crisis situation. So the Kidney meridian stores energy for emergency use and the Bladder meridian regulates fluid distribution. Considering the amount of water in your body's composition, that is a remarkable amount of fluid to move around! Water is also associated with absorbing information, bone health and your sexuality.

Water the Emotion
There is a specific emotion that is also associated with water. That emotion is fear, which can be used in a positive fashion for survival purposes. Fear has an obvious negative side though, we become frozen by our own fears and in turn limit ourselves or become unable to realize our ambitions.

Colors
The colors associated with water are blue and black.

Season
The season associated with water is winter, a time when animals hibernate and the world is calm and at rest.

Water in Balance
Your thoughts run deep and you are articulate and introspective. Your energy is very calm and your mind is lucid and aware. Your will is strong and resilient.

Think your water element might be imbalance?
Cold appendages, PMS, brittle hair, slow healing fractures, absentmindedness, isolation, detachment, salt cravings, urinary and bladder infections, phobias, earaches, low back pain, infertility, pain and tension along the water meridians.

Greener Living Soap Nuts Review and Giveaway

Ever hear of soap nuts? Most likely the answer is no. Soap nuts are not nuts though, they are actually berries that grow on trees cultivated in India and Nepal and have been used as a natural cleaner for centuries. There are two varieties, Sapindus Trifoliatus (the small soap nut) and Sapindus Mukorossi (the large soap nut). The large soap nut is most commonly used in cleaning products although both are effective cleaners. Because they are grown in nature they contain absolutely no drying or irritating detergents. Babies everywhere are rejoicing and their mothers can rest easy knowing they can wash their babies cloths in a mild yet effective cleaner. This is also wonderful news for allergy sufferers, as well as those with eczema and Psoriasis. In fact, many sufferers of those ailments find that their symptoms lessen or disappear completely after converting to soap nuts.

First of all, I have been looking for natural based laundry products and cleaners. I have been replacing my old products with chemical free products whenever possible. It goes deeper than allergies, the more chemicals I remove from my home the healthier I feel. The air quality in this home has improved a great deal.

I contacted buysoapnuts.com to see if I could  review a bag and was very excited when I received a 500g bag of Greener Living Soap Nuts and a Safix Coconut Scrub Pad.

There are many ways to use soap nuts. The most common method is to throw a small handful (3-4) in a little muslin bag and toss right in the washer. Which I am sure works fine but I have hard water, so that often effects how our products lather or the effectiveness of the cleansing. Sure enough, I have to use about 5 or 6 depending on the load size. You can use the same nuts for up to 5 loads, at which point they are mushy and ready to compost.

When you first open up the bag you are hit with the pungent smell of vinegar. However, your clothes do not end up smelling that way. The clothing does come out smelling clean and fresh. If you prefer to use a liquid detergent you can make your own with the soap nuts. You boil down a few nuts in some water for half an hour or so. The concoction smells a little woodsy while boiling. This liquid soap can be used as an all purpose cleaner and even as dish soap. Each batch of liquid soap stays fresh for about 4 days when kept out of sunlight and longer still if you refrigerate it. I added my own essential oils to create my own custom scent. Again, I have hard water so I found myself using an extra teaspoon of cleaner here and there. I have cleaned my dishes with it and while it hasn't really lathered, it has indeed cut grease and left my dishes clean without odor or residue.

I also made a glass cleaner with a few tablespoons of the liquid solution, a tablespoon of vinegar and a couple cups of water. I even added a couple drops of Frankincense essential oil. I found the cleaner a little watery but it still works fantastic.

When I tried the Coconut Scrub pad, I was equally amazed with the quality. Made with 100% coconut fibers that have been bound together with a non toxic adhesive. It will not rust and can be used for months. Because it is made with natural fibers it can be composted. I had the perfect test for this scrub pad. I have a heavily stained stove top. When we moved in our stove was still usable but I couldn't get the stains out. While I still could not get all of the stains out, I was able to remove about 2/3 of them. I'm seriously impressed. With a little more elbow grease, I will most likely be able to get rid of even more of the stain. This pleases me greatly. I am so happy to no longer have to clean up tiny little rust circles by the sink. This is by far the best scrub pad I have ever used. I am so happy! They may seem a little expensive at first considering you are paying $6 for only 2 pads, but when you consider the longevity and how beneficial they are to the environment it is quite economical.

Giveaway:
buysoapnuts.com has offered a 500g bag of soap nuts and a coconut scrub pad to one winner. Good luck everyone!

How to enter:
Visit buysoapnuts.com and comment back with one thing you learned during your visit.

Bonus entries:
1. Follow Music and Mommies via Google Friend Connect
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7. Blog about the giveaway (+5)
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Giveaway rules:
Open to residents of Canada and the USA. Giveaway closes July 22nd, 2010. Winners are selected via random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to the confirmation email.

Disclaimer:
I received the product to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Catch me if you can!

This morning, when I checked my email I noticed I had a new twitter follower. Pregnancy was following me on Twitter.

I have a large extended family. I have a brother and sister, 1 step sister and 2 step brothers. Right now, my brother and his lovely lady are expecting. My sister is expecting. My step brother and his lady are expecting. Not to mention very close family friends of ours who are also expecting. So, when I read this automatic email informing me of my new follower, it was an easy thing to accept. You see, pregnancy is following me in real life.

I have two boys, aged 11 and 7. The youngest was my hubby's brother. We took him in when he was four, he's a great little boy. Sweet, helpful... a little troubled though, but who wouldn't be troubled losing a father at such a young age... especially with a memory like his. My heart goes out to him, healing his troubles. I worry how much of his past he will carry into his adulthood.... anyway my point is that I was never done having children. Two boys and I really feel as though I've just begun.  Hubby took on my oldest son when he was two years old and we have never really had any children of our own together. "I've never made any from scratch" he likes to say. We have talked about it. We have talked a lot about it. It just hasn't happened yet.

I'm going to turn 30 in a couple weeks and I don't want to wait too much longer, but at the same time... I'm not rushing. I'm patient and things will happen when it is time. If it happens, that is perfect too. I can assure you though, there are many people in my life insisting that pregnancy quit dawdling and catch up.

Art Pod Studios Winner

The winner of the 4 Copper Garden Markers from Art Pod Studios is *drum roll please*

#15 Crafty Q

Thank you so much to Art Pod Studios for donating such a terrific prize and being so awesome to work with! 

Love, Love, Love! 

Crafty Q, you have 48 hours to respond to my email with your contact information or I will have to select another winner! CONGRATS!!

Winners Circle

I have winners to announce that probably should have been announced before I went camping but in the midst of our preparation it got neglected. So, lo' and behold, I present to thee the long awaited winners of these two book giveaways!

A Knights Life (2 winners):

#6.  Darcie

#4.  Kinsey

Babushka's Beauty Secrets (3 winners):

#18. Aero

#29. Kalea_Kane

#24. Cams

Thank you to Hachette Book Group for sponsoring these 2 giveaways! The winners were selected via random.org and have all been notified. Winners will have 48 hours to respond with their information and at that time I will forward the information off to the sponsor. Thanks to everyone who entered. Don't forget to enter our current giveaways.

D_lucious D_signs Review and Giveaway

Tracy is an artist/entrepreneur with an Etsy Shop called Nature's Magick and a Cafe Press shop called  Delucious Designs (or D_lucious D_signs). While I will be reviewing products from both shops, today I am going to focus on Delucious Designs.

Delucious Designs is Tracy's gift shop, she called it her work in progress. The products are screened with Tracy's artwork. When you find a design you like, click on the image and you will see a range of products available with that design. From T-shirts to aprons, mugs and clocks, there is a variety of gifts for all many different occasions.

I have a few favorite designs, including "Evolve", "Spirit", "Inspire", "Wander" and "Follow your Bliss". Tracy sent me a Women's "Evolve" Shirt to review. The shirt is made from 100% combed cotton and was assembled in Mexico from material from the United States. The stitching is higher grade than what is found in many department stores and retail chains. The print looks even more beautiful in person. I'm not sure how this little guy will make out in the wash cycle because I haven't washed it yet. It doesn't look like it will run or fade... My only real complaint is that the shirt is a little shorter than I am comfortable with, so I found myself adjusting the bottom frequently.  It is something I can live with though... I just put a slightly longer shirt on underneath and problem solved! It is hard to tell from this low quality picture below how nice the shirt really does look but it is something anyway. The shirt doesn't really look blue, that is how the camera is perceiving the lighting... the camera isn't good, but it is a photo none the less. I'm saving up for a nice amateur photography camera.

My husband complimented me in the shirt and said "Make sure you mention that it's husband approved."  So, in an effort to tease him and include the "man side" of my life a little more... I decided to make a button that signifies his seal of approval. This button will be displayed every time I review something that gets me a compliment from the hubby.

The Giveaway:  Tracy has so generously offered a "Follow your Bliss" t-shirt to one Music and Mommies reader! Visit D_lucious D_signs and comment back with which of Tracy's designs is your favorite.

Bonus Entries:

1. Follow Music and Mommies via Google Friend Connect

2. Subscribe to Music and Mommies via email

3. Subscribe to Music and Mommies via RSS

4. Follow me on Twitter

5. Follow Music and Mommies on Facebook

6. Grab my button and put it on your blog (+3)

7. Tweet the giveaway. You can use what is provided below...

T-shirt Giveaway - Follow your Bliss - @glittercinnamon from D_lucious D_signs http://tinyurl.com/32tar8d #Giveaway

Giveaway Rules:

Open to residents of the US and Canada. Giveaway ends July 17, 2010

As long as it is that day somewhere in the world... you can still enter.

Disclaimer:

I received product to review for my honest opinion. Check out my disclosure page.

Long Weekend Loveliness

I hope everyone had a great long weekend! I really enjoyed mine. It was filled with washers (similar to horseshoes for those who have never played), good food, good people and good music. I had a nice little dip in the lake too! The beauty of the lakes in the Tobeatic are captivating. There are some stones by the bridge that would be the "picture perfect" place to practice Tia Chi. It would be a little risky though, just getting to the rocks and then not falling off.... you would need to be professional.

There is a lot of Granite out there, which is full of quartz and feldspar. I brought a little bit home, I've had a fondness for different stones. In fact, I had a rock collection when I was a child. It was composed of different rocks that I had collected near bunkers island when I was a kid, before the sewage plant was built on the lower part of water street in town. I had a grocery bag filled with different rocks that I was drawn to as a child for whatever reason. My grandmother threw them out and I was devastated. Funny isn't it! To my grandmother it was just a bag of rocks, to me they were my Pokemon cards.

I absolutely LOVED having my banjo out in the middle of the wilderness. I am fond of just sitting under a tree a just fiddling with it, working out new ideas while I watch the birds and listen to the random commotion.

So, back again at the homestead, after a much needed venture into the heart of Nova Scotia (as far as I'm concerned!) after a nice little unexpected BBQ at my father's house on the way home. It was so nice of him and Patty to watch the kids for the weekend while we embarked on our adventure. They had a wonderful time.

I arrived at home to find that the crows had indeed left my garden alone while I was gone (it seems they prefer to play games with me when I am around. It is much funner after all to witness my reaction.) My remaining squash are in rough shape from the dry weather and lack of rain. So I gave them a nice bath and noticed.... my POTATOES are sprouting! YAY :)

A lovely end to a lovely weekend! Tonight I am off to see Eclipse with my mother, my dear friend Jessi and her mother. I am the one in the group who hasn't read the books and I refuse to read the books until I have seen the movies. I dislike comparing the movies to the books. So I read them afterwards and in my mind it is very much like visualizing the Directors cut. Jessi has read all of the books, so by averaging out our opinions we get a very accurate representation of how good the movie is.

The wonders of Violet / How to make Violet Vinegar

Violets have a long history of a healing . In ancient times the violet was used to treat liver disorders as well as bad tempers. I'm sure every one of us have had days where we all could have used a nice violet mixture! The violet was also later used to treat a variety of eye and skin disorders and constipation and congestion.

The facts are violets contain flavonoids, which act as a diuretic. They also contain alkaloids which allow the blood vessels to relax thus possibly increased blood flow. The saponins found in violets act as an expectorant.  Salicylic acid, a painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent, similar to the active ingredient found within aspirin can be found in violets. These are just some of the many health benefits found within this amazing flower.

I think I'm going to have a go at planting some around here... there are so many amazing things you can make with violets, including Jam and Honey and different teas. I want to share a recipe for violet vinegar with you though.

Combine 3 ounces of violet flowers and 1 quart of high-quality white wine vinegar together in a covered container and let sit for several weeks in a warm place. Shake the mixture daily. Strain the herb using a cheesecloth and then bottle. Store in a cool, dark location. The mixture will keep for two years and can be used as a base for salad dressing, drizzled over fruit and even splash a little on your face as an after-cleansing aromatic toner.

This recipe was discovered in Country Wisdom & Know-How on page 374.

Acupressure, Yet another tiny history lesson

You might remember my tiny history lesson in Acupressure history last week. Well since I have a ridiculous amount of information on the subject I thought I would continue where I left off.

So essentially, the ancient physicians (and Taoists) who developed acupressure believed that humans beings are an integral part of the universe. Like trees, clouds, land, animals, planets... we are all a part of one substance, one fabric. This belief can be found in various other religions and spiritual groups throughout the world and is the foundation of many different unity groups. So, humans are subject to the laws of nature and just as the physical universe we also continually move through a yearly cycle. So when we fail to adapt to these cyclical changes we are more prone to illnesses.

The Chinese philosophers believed in a 5-season year and each of those seasons were associated with one of 5 elements that compose the one fabric of the natural universe. Each element is as part of your being as it is a part of the world you live in. When your 5 elements are in harmony, you are balanced and healthy.

Canada Day, Camping Away

So today is Canada Day, or at least it was... it's nearly over. Still, I would like to wish a happy Canada day to all of my Canadian friends and to all my American readers, happy early 4th of July.

Tomorrow, I'm going on a camping trip with the hubby deep into the woods. We've been doing it every year for as long as we have been together. We have had our fair share of ups and downs associated with this place but they are all memories and a part of our life none the less. We weren't sure if we were going this year but in the end everything worked out. One thing is for certain, you can't beat being deep in the woods by a beautiful lake. The picture of this butterfly was taken by me at this very place about 4 years ago.

So among all the packing and cleaning today, I found myself in my garden when the sun had set processing my day and enjoying what is. Mathew met me outside and told me that he felt bad about what the crows had done to the garden and even if nothing grew he was proud of me for how nice of a job I did and how much work I put in it. Thank you, I felt good about it in the first place, a contentment. Knowing that contentment is shared makes me even more grateful.

Happy long weekend everyone, and if your weekend isn't long... I hope you have a wonderful one anyway :)