Stop the madness

Enough already with kids bringing home 10 pounds of Halloween candy. This year go green on October 31. How about serving up non-candy items like feathers, polished rocks, and bubble bottles instead of 10 mini processed artificially flavored snicker bars? Better for the environment, our little ones tummies and easier on your wallet. Or if you are stuck on tradition, how about ONE mini candy bar or ONE organic lollipop instead of a handful of madness? Visit Green Halloween for more tips and treats. Boo.

Scratchy Scratch

Little Belle had a itchy rash all over her tummy and a little on her shoulders and knees. She would wake up in the middle of the night scratching so I started putting onesies on her so she couldn't lift her shirt to scratch. We visited the doctor a few days ago and she was diagnosed with eczema and prescribed a twice a day treatment of hydrocortisone cream. The itching and rash have almost disappeared although her skin is a little bumpy. Natural remedies include lemon, oatmeal soak, tomato juice, and sun bathing.

I heart Hormel

Finally you can go to a major grocery store and purchase natural affordable deli meat with no nitrites or MSG! I am loving the uncured bacon, and turkey and ham deli meats. I would love for them to create a natural breakfast ground sausage. The deli ham has no preservatives and just six ingredients. My 1.5 year old loves meat so I throw in some with her morning scrambled cheese eggs and with her whole wheat sandwiches.

The 4 minute cookie

After polishing the last three Nestle Tollhouse pre-made cookies, the girls and I were still hungry for more. I got online and grabbed a simple peanut butter cookie recipe that called for no flour. I ended up adding a little bit but I made the dough in ohhh 4 minutes and we were eating them in another 12. The best part is there's no hydrogenated soybean oil or other junk that's in the store bought version. Here is my recipe for the 4 minute peanut butter cookie: 1/2 c crunchy organic peanut butter, 1/2 c organic sugar, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp vanilla, 1/2 egg, 1 tablespoon flour. Pre-heat oven to bake at 350, mix all the ingredients together and then scoop out spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and criss cross fork with sugar. Bake for 12 minutes. Makes one dozen.