Put Some Breastmilk on it! (Seriously!)

I know, maybe that sounds crazy, or gross, but I swear I have that thought so often when I hear mamas complaining about certain things their children (or even they themselves!) are struggling with. Breastmilk has antibacterial properties, (link to sciencey stuff here)  so it's useful for lots of everyday owies! Like what, you ask?

Well... 

-minor cuts and scrapes- I used some on Baby Duck when his cord stump was bleeding, and it healed right up, and I've used it on cuts and scrapes of my own and on Ladybug too! 

- yeast rashes- Ladybug had a nasty nasty yeast rash on her bum on her first birthday,and after trying so many things over the next week and a half, I finally put some milk on it, and it cleared right up in a few days. 

-nasal congestion- this one I discovered when Ladybug was a few months old. I'd heard that milk was better than saline for this, so I gave it a shot. It worked great when Baby Duck had his first stuffy nose too, just a couple drops in each nostril, and it was much easier to use the Nosefrida (buy here) to clear him out. 

-ear infections: now, I don't have personal experience with this one, (my kids have never had an ear infection, maybe because breastfed babies don't get as many?)  but I've read many times that a few drops in the ear can really help heal an ear infection. Maybe not all are this easily solved, but in this age where antibiotics are so overused, I think I'd give it a try before heading to the doctor! 

-pinkeye: another I've read about but never used- a few drops in each eye is supposed to help! 

Those are some uses for your milk you may not have expected-do you know any others? Please share in the comments! 

Elderberry syrup

I've been using this elderberry syrupto boost Ladybug's immune system since she was about 15 mos old, and recently a friend mentioned she usually makes her own. My first thought was, "Wow! I wonder if that's any less expensive than buying it!"  And...I promptly forgot about researching it, because, y'know, mommy brain. Then I came across this post that has tons of info on the benefits, instructions, and a recipe! I finally looked into the cost of the berries, and found that I could make a batch of the stuff for about 1/8 the cost of what I was buying pre-made, using these elderberries.

Yesterday, i made the syrup, and boy was it easy! It took about an hour, but most of that time isn't hands-on time, so it was easy to manage, even with little ones. Here's a photo of the bubbly goodness in progress: 

And here's my pretty purple jar of finished product: 

It tastes fantastic, and is Ladybug approved! Just today, someone shared

this post with me, and I'm eager to incorporate some of these ideas! 

What about you? Have you used or made elderberry syrup? What's been your experience with it and how has it helped you?

Commit30

So, this isn't all that crunchy, but it's going to be a huge part of my Mama life starting in 2016! 

I came across the Kickstarter for this product in October, and it hooked me! It's a planner/organizer, which is wonderful, but the coolest part is that it's centered around committing to one change or focus for 30 days. For a mama like me, who is fighting her way back from postpartum depression, this is perfect. It will allow me to change/add one thing to my life/routine each month, one day at a time. Here are some pictures of the layout: 

Cover: 

Vision for the year:

Monthly motivational quote: 

Monthly commitment:

Monthly calendar:

Weekly planner:

I'm very excited to use this, and if you are interested in using it too, you can get yours at www.commit30.com - and save 10% with the code C30RPC ! 

Disclaimer: I purchased this product with my own money and am not being compensated in any way for this review. (If I'm an Affilliate I will always inform you!)

What is a Crunchy Mama?

Well, there's no one size fits all answer, and that's what this blog's all about! I follow a bunch of "natural mama" blogs, and I love these ladies and learn so much from them on my crunchy mama journey, but I also sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by everything they are doing and maybe a little guilty that I'm not doing it all. You don't have to be living full on organic, chemical free (what is that, even?), cloth diapering, practicing extended (or as I like to call it, full-term) breastfeeding (or breastfeeding at all), cosleeping, using essential oils, attatchment parenting, raising chickens, or anything else to be a crunchy mama! To be a crunchy mama, you just have to be seeking the healthiest, most natural lifestyle that works for your family! Maybe you're like me, or you're even newer to trying to live a bit crunchier or more naturally in this overstimulating, overprocessed, overcomplicated world. If you are, I hope this blog is somewhere you can find ideas, encouragement, accessibility, and fun! I'll write about what we are doing, products we are using and loving, challenges we face and their solutions! I can't wait!