What belief do you have that governs your life decisions?

What belief do you have that governs your life decisions?


This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 


What is a belief that grounds you? One that not only defines you, but governs your life decisions? Most of my core beliefs center around God and what He has said, about life. 


I’ll share two of those with you. The first is that life is precious. God has a high value of human life. As you read through the Bible you can begin to see how many of the laws He set in place in the Old Testament center around the value of life. Some of these are consequences for ending life, some are consequences for harming another person. But they center around God guiding us on how to love and respect each other. 


The second belief, I want to share with you, is one I have come to learn little by little in my own journey. God designed our bodies beautifully. They are intricately woven together and function beautifully. Sometimes things go wrong. We live in a fallen and sinful world. Our perfect design is now flawed by sin. However, God still designed the body to preserve and heal itself, if it is given what it needs. 


Sometimes this is eliminating things from your life that are slowly poisoning or disrupting your body. Sometimes it is adding key nutrients in, to let the body rebuild. Sometimes it is using nature to simply rebalance the body, giving it what it needs to clean itself. Sometimes it is specific exercises or movements to help the body do what it is designed to do. 


There are many different ways to promote the body and care for it. Most of the time it can be accomplished with things God already gave us in nature. The key, as it was for me, is learning how and what to use. And believe me it is a continuing learning process. That is why digging to the root cause is so important. Have I found all the WHYs? No, but I’m still digging and learning. Because for me, just letting something unnatural or not normal go, is not ok. 





Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 




The question that changed my course

The question that changed my course

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 


Have you ever had a time when you had a heartfelt conversation with a friend that challenged your belief of something? I had that several years ago when a friend challenged me to look into the safety of products I had always believed to be safe. She had recently made a discovery that shocked her, but knew me well enough to know I needed to research on my own. 


So what did I do? I started reading the book she recommended. Then started diving into numbers, research, safety studies, death rates, reaction rates, I looked at it all. I simply could not believe that a product that so many people used was not actually safe. How did it pass regulations?!?


What I found shocked me. The companies who made the products, weren’t even liable if there was a severe reaction or death from them. In 1986 all those companies were made legally exempt from liability, by congress! If a company isn’t liable for harm by their product, meaning they can’t be sued if harm occurs, how and why would they be guaranteed safe?


Then I started to compare the numbers. I looked at death rates prior to the product being released, and turned them into percentage (number of deaths in a year / US population that year). This made the number comparable across time. Then I looked at the reaction rates to the products once they were widely being used and turned them into the same percentage. You know what? The reaction rates were higher than the death rates on every one!


Knowing all of this I started to look into the safety testing of the products. They were only tested for less than a year usually before being marketed to the public! No wonder there were so many reactions. 


So what can you do? Do your research. Do not be afraid to question anything. Take your time to make decisions and use google.scholar for the real hard studies, not google. I am no longer afraid to challenge my own thought process and try and prove my opinion correct using science. One of two things will happen. Either I solidify my position, or I change my mind. 





Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


Is the way you are living reflecting what you say your priorities are?

Is the way you are living reflecting what you say your priorities are?

We have all heard about priorities right? Why are they so important? 


It goes back to life balance. When our priorities are out of alignment, our focus is on things that are not helping us with our balance, but possibly even contributing to the unbalance.  Take some time this week to evaluate your priorities. Do your actions reflect what you say your priorities are? 


I have found it is easy for me to say my priorities are first- God, second- family, third- fun, fourth- business. But do my actions actually reflect that order? Am I daily spending time with God? Am I really putting my family before my work in time spent? I challenge you to be honest with yourself here. 


Write down your priorities, number them. Then go through your day. Is your time reflecting those priorities? This is very difficult if you are a working parent. I’ve been there and the guilt is real. Give yourself grace. Look at the time at home, what is that showing you? Go through your expenses, what categories do they fall in? Are they lining up with your priorities, or are they off balance? 


Going through my day, I don’t always make the quiet time to read and connect to God like I used to. In 2020, I became better at confining work to specific hours, but I still tend to ignore my kids. This year I am scheduling play time with them (I realize I have no idea how to play with them). When we are working around the house, which happens a lot in the summer, am I including them? Or just trying to get the task done? 


Fun? That doesn’t happen much, if I’m honest. I tend to put everything else ahead of fun. Is my work done? No, then you can’t do x,y,z. Truth is I need to make time for fun, even if the work isn’t done yet. Fun is part of life balance and if you are withholding fun, you are out of balance. 


Where are your priorities lining up. 




Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


Get the Naturally Healthy Birth Course here:

https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/naturally-healthy-birth

 

Get the Healing from Birth Trauma Course here:

https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/recovery-from-traumatic-birth

 

Get the preventing Preeclampsia course here:

https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/preventing-preeclampsia

  

 


Creating your vision for 2021

Creating your vision for 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 

 

The new year is here! What are you envisioning for you this year? What are you wanting to accomplish for your health, finance, family, career, faith, friends, and fun? As the year begins, I challenge you to talk some time this week and take a deep look if you haven’t already. Create in each of those categories. 


For me this year I will have more peace in my life and less stress. How am I going to do that? I am going to focus on each of those 7 areas and set goals specific to them. This will bring balance to my life. 


Health: First I am going to make time to go on walks and enjoy my horses again. Both of these help with my health and stress levels. 


Finance: My husband and I are going to secure ample funding for our business together. We are going to stick to our business financial plan and stick to our personal budget. We are going to invest wisely with new opportunities as well. 


Family: I am going to play with my kids more and not work as much. I am going to get back to taking twice the time to complete the task, just so they can help me and learn beside me in the garden. 


Career: I am growing my personal side business and sticking to 2 hours of work a day and no more. I am focusing on my people and serving them in my work. 


Faith: I am making Bible study a priority again. Not just listening to the word, but actually reading it. 


Friends: I am taking more girls nights and more play dates in 2021. 


Fun: I am committing to more fun, by scheduling date nights, and fun getaways, with the whole family. 


By balancing life areas, you are able to have peace and reduce stress. Everything really wants balance, but it requires work to get there. Sometimes you just need a little direction on where to start. 


Share your 2021 vision with me!




Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 

 

Get the Naturally Healthy Birth Course here:

https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/naturally-healthy-birth

 

Get the Healing from Birth Trauma Course here:

https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/recovery-from-traumatic-birth

 

Get the preventing Preeclampsia course here:

https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/preventing-preeclampsia

  


How to Snack Healthy in the New Year

How to Snack Healthy in the New Year

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 

 

You’ve made the goal to eat healthier,  but where do you even start? Go back to Easy Whole Cooking for tips on cooking. Snacks are also important, with the holidays, food all parties, and general need for snacking with young ones, you cannot forget the importance of snacks. So where do you start?

 

To keep a healthy snack routine, stick with the whole food guidelines. Avoid foods/snacks with preservatives or are highly processed. This includes most crackers (triscuits and a few others like Off the Beaten Path maybe the only exceptions). The beloved summer sausage or beef sticks that show up at parties are also a no go. They are full of preservatives, nitrates, and junk. Sugar is another thing to avoid. Yes that includes the leftover Christmas cookies. 

 

As with all food, read your labels. More than likely if the snack comes ready out of a box or bag, it is not going to be that healthy. Check each label for ingredients you are unfamiliar with and look them up. We are blessed to be able to look information up on our phones. Every now and the. I find a surprise treat that I can pick up for my kids, that is still healthy. 

 

So what can you have? Foods that are close to nature and unprocessed. Fruits are huge! You can dehydrate them if you find a case of sale for later use or eat them fresh.  Vegetables are another big one. Grab a bag of carrots and cut them up. Store then in cold water for freshness and easy quick snacking. Peas work fantastic right out of the freezer well. Nuts are another food that is usually easy to come by and snack on. 

 

In our house I have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand most of the time for snacking. Summer is no problem as many times we are outside and the kids get what they want out of the garden. In the winter months, I use dehydrated fruit that I picked or found on sale. Bananas are easy to dehydrate. You can get instructions on how to dehydrate them here. You can usually buy dehydrated fruit, but again check the labels! Most of them are covered in sugar and dyes. I have found some dehydrated fruits without the sugar and dyes, including: applespeaches, pineapple, mango, and banana. Carrots and peas are some favorites in our house, along with bananas, grapes, apples, and oranges. 

 


 

Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


Quick Whole Food Meals for Farm Moms

Quick Whole Food Meals for Farm Moms

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 

 

If you're like me, trying to juggle farm life while keeping the family well-fed can feel overwhelming. But there's a solution that aligns with our busy schedules and tight budgets—whole cooking. It's more than just a health trend; it's a way to bring nature's best to your table without the fuss of processed foods.

Understanding Whole Cooking
Whole cooking is about preparing meals with foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. This means saying goodbye to preservatives and boxed meals, and hello to fresh, wholesome ingredients. If you're wondering how to whip up quick, last-minute meals with whole foods, I've got you covered with a couple of my favorite, kid approved, recipes down below.

The Secret Ingredient: Preparation
The key to whole cooking is being prepared. Stock your pantry with essentials like fresh or frozen vegetables, potatoes, rice (avoid instant), dried beans, meats, eggs, and olive oil. Add in fresh fruits, your favorite herbs, and spices. Always check meat labels carefully, especially ground meats.
Whenever possible, buy local. It’s not just a trend; it’s a safeguard. Recently, regulations have allowed food processors to add fillers to meats, so buying directly from local farmers ensures you're getting pure, quality meat. Investing in a freezer for bulk purchases can save money and guarantee that you’re serving 100% beef, lamb, or pork. My favorite beef comes from 76 Cattle Company

Meal Planning Made Simple
To make meal prep easier, plan your meals ahead of time. Chop carrots or other vegetables for multiple meals, at once and store them in the fridge. When I preserve food from the garden, I keep this in mind as well. Carrots are chopped so they are ready to simply pull out of the freezer. Consider making simple casseroles and freezing them, so you have ready-to-go meals for those hectic days when cooking feels impossible.

Quick Whole Food Meals for Busy Days

Skillet Dinners
Skillet dinners are a lifesaver when everyone’s "hangry." They’re quick, versatile, and easy to customize. Here’s one of my go-to recipes:

I use taco seasoning a lot, and Italian herbs. I make my own taco seasoning so it is easy to use. You can find that recipe here. Italian herbs I use include basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Add each to your preferred taste.

Potato Skillet
  • 1-2 pounds of ground meat (beef, lamb, or pork)
  • Potatoes (one per person)
  • 1 package of frozen vegetables
  • Herbs and spices to taste

Instructions:
  1. Brown the meat in a skillet.
  1. Add potatoes and cook until they’re tender.
  1. Toss in the vegetables and your choice of herbs and spices.
  1. Stir well and serve!

Rice Bowls
Rice bowls are another quick fix, perfect for a nourishing meal in minutes:

Rice Bowl
  • 1-2 pounds of ground meat (beef, lamb, or pork)
  • 1 package of frozen vegetables
  • Herbs and spices (Bragg Liquid Aminos is a great addition)
  • Cooked rice (use a rice cooker for faster cooking and convenience)

Instructions:
  1. Brown the meat in a pan.
  1. Add vegetables and seasonings, then stir well.
  1. Serve over a bed of rice.

These meals aren’t just about addressing hunger; they're about nourishing your family with love, even when times are tough. Remember, you’re not just feeding bellies, but also creating a home and memories around the dinner table.

Whole cooking offers a way to simplify your life while ensuring your family eats healthy, tasty meals. It’s one step toward living the peaceful, thriving life you dream of. 
If you need more tips or support, remember that you're not alone on this journey. Reach out to our community of farm moms, in the Facebook group below, who share your values and challenges. Together, we can overcome obstacles and create the fulfilling life you deserve.


 

 

 

 

Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Thriving Through Farm Life: Wife’s Support Network! In our community, we embrace the challenges of farm life and provide a supportive space for wives facing the complexities of managing a family farm. Whether you're navigating financial pressures, day-to-day operations, or seeking ways to create a thriving home, we're here for you. Explore gardening and preserving tips for cultivating your own oasis, share insights on animal care, and discover practical family budgeting strategies. Together, let's grow through challenges, flourish authentically, and sow the seeds for a resilient and thriving farm life. Join us on this journey of resilience and abundance! 
 
As I've grown in my journey as an entrepreneur, mom, gardener, and livestock owner, I struggled to find a planner that met my needs and kept me organized. So, I MADE MY OWN. You can look at it on the link below and buy it on amazon below.
Don't want the whole calendar part? I got you! I pulled the gardening and animal care pages out and put them in a book all their own. 
 
Starting to garden doesn't have to be hard! I gathered all the tips I've learned over my gardening learning curve and made them into a simple course to jump start your gardening your life. 
 
Supporting Your Family Naturally from the Inside Out community!! This community is for Mommas, looking to Support Your Family from Nature for Wellness. Tips range from nutrition, herbals, detoxing, natural cleaning, and essential oils. Basically, all the things I’ve learned slowly over the past 5+ years of my journey. We have moved off Facebook, to better serve our community and be able to discuss openly options for providing for your family in the best way possible. 
 
Join the FREE Community
 
I've had 3 very different pregnancies. After the first traumatic birth, I learned better and how to care for my body naturally and prevent common pregnancy and birth problems before they arise. This quick course will get you the tools you need to have a naturally healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. My first pregnancy I had a normal western medicine all the things pregnancy. My second? I flipped to completely natural, no medicine. Bonus: Preventing Preeclampsia Without the Aspirin & Healing from Birth Trauma

4 Natural Sleep Support Tips for Kids

4 Natural Sleep Support Tips for Kids

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 

 

Whoever said “sleep like a baby,” obviously never had a baby, especially at night. There has to be some way to help kids sleep better, so you (the parent who is up at all hours with them) can sleep too. Right? Yes there are some things you can do. Keep reading for tips from one momma to another. 

 

Routine is key for kids, especially bedtime. This routine can start very young too, like months old young. Here’s the key, it is not necessarily the time that is important to the routine, it is what you do. Time helps kids to get enough hours of sleep, but what is done helps them fall asleep. Be consistent. 

 

Go through what all you do to get them ready for bed: bath, pjs, teeth, stories, prayers, oils, cuddles, rocking, good night kisses. Then figure out what is the best order for you to do them in. For our house it is the older child gets their pjs on, while mom fills the diffusers and changes the last diaper before bed. Then we come together to brush teeth, apply our oils, and read our bedtime stories. The older is then tucked into bed while the younger is taken out of the room to be rocked and cuddled to sleep. They know the order and it helps them prepare for bed, no matter how much they don’t want to go to bed. 

 

For the light sleeping children a sound machine can help immensely to hide the sudden night noises. Something that plays soft music, or nature sounds that is not distracting, but just enough noise, that a sudden dog barking doesn’t wake the child up. 

 

For children who struggle to stay still, but like tight spaces and cuddles, a weighted blanket may help if they already like blankets. Weighted blankets offer physical pressure in the form of proprioceptive and tactile input (input through the skin and the feeling of touch). This type of input is incredibly calming for most children. The weighted blanket acts like a huge hug that comforts them. You can find weighted blankets anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds. Proper weight guidelines for a weighted blanket is 10% of your body weight. 

 

My favorite tip that helps my kids sleep better, is to diffuse essential oils in their room. I start the diffuser at the beginning of our routine and it helps set the mood to calm down and ease into sleep.  Watch your oil sources here. Walmart essential oils is not going to cut it. Those are NOT pure essential oils contrary to what the label says. FDA does not regulate the essential oils well, so a bottle with even ONE drop of pure essential oil, and the rest filler and chemical, and still be labeled pure. I only trust the company with the Seed to Seal Promise (you can check out more about that here). 

 

My favorite oils for my kids are Gentle babyPeace and CalmCedarwoodWhite Angelica,  LavenderSleeplyze, and Geneyus. If one of them is struggling with calming down I will often apply one small drop of Sleepylze or Geneyus to the top of their head and gently massage it in. 

 



Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


8 Natural Sleep Support Tips for Adults

8 Natural Sleep Support Tips for Adults


 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 


As adults we all seem to struggle with sleep occasionally. However, sometimes those short spells seem to go on forever. How do you help yourself get a good night's sleep? 


The first thing you can do for yourself, is to keep your own routine. Routine is stressed for kids, but as adults we also benefit from a bedtime routine. Routine helps your body and brain recognize that it is time to wind down and get ready for sleep. As busy parents, often this routine is interrupted by kids needing things or that last minute calls you forgot about. A loose routine is good to get started anyway.

 

As part of your routine, start putting the devices (phones/tablets/computers) down earlier. The blue light that is emitted from these devices tells our brains to wake up, instead of allowing the brain to start slowing down for sleep. Similar to how daylight signals wake up, but darkness signals sleep. One thing that really helped me recently was to start keeping my phone out of my room. Even though it was on DO NOT DISTURB, it would still keep me up. Or I would be constantly checking on that one thing I forgot about and never go to sleep. 

 

When you are really struggling to wind down, you can drink a warm tea of lavender or valerian. Both of these herbs help to calm the mind and body, which allows you to begin the process of sleeping. My favorite premixed blend is Get Relaxed tea, by The Republic of Tea. 

 

If you are struggling with stress or anxiety that will not let your mind rest, magnesium CALM powder often gives the body what it needs to relax. Stress depletes your body of magnesium, which can trigger more stress or anxiety.  By giving your body the magnesium it is lacking it can naturally break the cycle and allow your brain to calm and sleep. 

 

In the bedroom, adjusting the environment can help you sleep better. Cooler room temperatures can help you sleep better. The cooler temperature helps to signal your body it is time to sleep. Your body's temperature naturally drops at night, which is why your metabolism rate slows down at night and you spend less energy. 

 

Weighted blankets can help calm you down and let you sleep. You can even find them with cooling cells so you don’t get as hot. You can find weighted blankets anywhere from 5 to 30 pounds. Proper weight guidelines for a weighted blanket is 10% of your body weight. I love cooling the room down and piling the quilts on for the weight that cuddles me in. 

 

Having a properly fitted pillow is near essential for a good night’s sleep. Having your neck and spine aligned helps you to sleep well and wake refreshed, without the sore muscles and achy joints. 

 

My final tip for a good night's sleep is diffusing essential oils. Watch your oil sources here. Walmart essential oils is not going to cut it. Those are NOT pure essential oils contrary to what the label says. FDA does not regulate the essential oils well, so a bottle with even ONE drop of pure essential oil, and the rest filler and chemical, and still be labeled pure. I only trust the company with the Seed to Seal Promise (you can check out more about that here). My favorite oils for diffusing at night are LavenderCedarwoodBergamotPeace and Calming, and Stress Away. I will often mix 3 drops of Cedarwood, bergamot and Stress Away and turn the diffuser on low 20 minutes before bed so the room is full of the oils. 

 



Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


Three Simple Things to cut to Improve your Health

Three Simple Things to cut to Improve your Health

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 

 

Everyone wants better health, but what are some affordable first steps? Keep reading and I’ll give you my simple, easy tips. Best part? They can actually help you save your hard earned dollar too!

 

First thing to cut is the sugary drinks. Pop is one of the worst offenders. A 16 oz of coke has 44g of sugar and it’s usually not even raw sugar. Much of the pop in America is actually High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). The body processes HFCS differently, absorbing it quicker and readily into the muscles. Gatorade has quite a bit of sugar as well, with 36g in a 20 oz. One cup of juice is 23g of sugar! Even most juices, even no sugar added, are loaded with sugar. Yes fruit is good for you. The problem with juices is none of the fiber or phytonutrients are in juice like they are in fresh fruit. 

 

Why is sugar bad? Sugar gives the body quick energy with a massive crash when it runs out. This starts a crazy roller coaster cycle trying to keep your energy levels up. Sugar also fights the body’s immune system instead of helping, and increases the inflammation in the body. This makes you more susceptible to disease and have a general ache all over. 

 

So what can I drink? Water. The occasional no sugar added juice is ok, but consumed with extreme moderation. If you are needing some flavor opt for fresh fruit slices soaked in the water. Or vitality essential oils like lemonorangeor lime work well too. One drop does a 32 oz yeti. Just make sure you are drinking out of glass or stainless steel, as essential oils break down the synthetics in plastic bottles. 


 

The second thing you can eliminate from your diet is highly processed foods. These include boxed dinners, canned fruits and vegetables, and foods with extra filler ingredients. Become a chronic label reader. If there are ingredients you are unfamiliar with, look them up. Avoid sugar substitutes, high-fructose corn syrup, MSG, Aspartame, sodium benzoate, sodium nitrate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, yeast extract, and dyes. 

 

Replace your processed foods with whole raw foods, as you use them up. Start by going through your current foods and looking up the ingredients you don’t recognize. If they have unhealthy ingredients out an X through the box and replace it with something better when you go shopping. 

 

 

Third, caffeine. Yep I’m coming for your coffee and pop again. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cup of coffee. However, excessive use of caffeine can have long term health effects. Caffeine is a stimulant and increases heart rate and blood pressure. Caffeine also gives the same  roller coaster up and crashes as sugar. 

 

Replace your constant caffeine flow with water. If you need the extra boost Ningxia Red or Ningxia nitro are my favorites for that energy boost. Ningxia is a fruit purée instead of just a juice. Meaning not only does it have the vitamin and minerals, but also the fiber, giving you a long lasting boost without the crash. Nitro is loaded with ribose, a key ingredient in ATP, your body's main energy source. 

 


 

Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


What is the difference between Midwife, CNM, OBGYN & Family Doctor?

What is the difference between Midwife, CNM, OBGYN & Family Doctor?

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, with NO additional cost to you. 

 

For in depth reading on midwife history and natural birth check out Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. This is a brief summary of different childbirth providers. 

 

Midwives specialize in normal pregnancy and birth. Individualized care, focusing on minimizing use of obstetrical intervention. Midwifery is associated with fewer episiotomies, forceps and vacuum-extractor deliveries, epidurals, and cesarean sections. They are trained to identify the small percentage of births which complications develop and refer these women to obstetricians. There are several types of midwives:

 

  • Certified nurse midwives (CNM) - These are registered nurses who have completed additional postgraduate training at an accredited institution by the American College of Nurse - Midwives (ACNM). 

  • Direct entry - Any midwife who did not become a registered nurse in the midwife training process. 

    • Certified professional Midwife- certified by the North American Registry of Midwives 

    • Certified Midwives - certified by the ACC (credentialing arm of ACNM)

    • Licensed Midwives - licensed by the state to practice. 

  • Lay Midwife - a midwife who learned through apprenticeship and not formal schooling. This does NOT mean UNTRAINED. 

 

Family doctors most prevalent in rural areas. May not have surgical privileges and refer to an obstetrician if c-section is necessary. Tend to have lower rates of intervention than obstetricians

 

Obstetricians (OBGYN) doctors who specialize in obstetrics. They are trained on detecting and treating the pathological problems of pregnancy, labor and birth. They are surgeons and can perform cesarean sections, forceps and vacuum-extractor birth. They outnumber family doctors and midwives in north American due to the past dominance over the other two professions. They design most hospital maternity rules and routines. 

 

Home births are usually attended by some kind of direct entry or lay midwife. Birth centers have all kinds of midwives, depending on the state regulations. CNM’s are usually found within hospital settings. Family doctors and obstetricians work within hospitals. 

 

Depending on where you live will often determine who is available to you as a provider. As with any provider, interview them before you commit to them in pregnancy.  It will make a huge difference in your pregnancy. 


For more on a Health Natural Pregnancy I have a whole course with all the details.  https://getoiling.com/CassandraRow/landing/naturally-healthy-birth







Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Courageous + Purposeful Mommas group! This community is for the Mommas, mommas to be, in the midst of raising, and kids grown, looking for tips on building your family up and providing for them through natural methods. Tips include: gardening, bulk buying, caning,/preserving, livestock, homesteading, and home remedies. Your family is precious, and this group is to help you gain the knowledge and tools to keep your family well and not reliant on outside professionals. Remedies and tips are easy and simple for the busy momma, time is precious after all, including pregnancy, birth, young kids, and illness. Trust your Momma gut again! This community offers the resources + community you need to help get started on your journey and prepare for whatever future you envision.

Join the Free Community

 

Click here to get the stories straight to your email:

Sign up for the Blog

 

For more on wellness tips click here:

Sign up for Wellness tips

 

For more on homesteading on your budget click here:

Sign up for Homesteading Tips

 

For more simple DIY updates click here:

Sign up for easy DIYs 


 
Read Older Updates Read Newer Updates