Hi-larious!
First sighting of the Ritchie/Madden offspring. Click here for more celeb deliciousness. They are just like we are…
The Knitting Factory
No, no, this isn’t about a club in New York. Rather, it is the quip of a woman trying to go crafty.
I have always wanted to knit. Sure, I could turn a few charms on the crochet needles (and my mother can produce animated figures while yelling ‘I can’t remember how to do this! I can’t remember how to do this!) but I have never been able to master the double needles. Knitting, the elusive frontier.
In 2000, I brought back umpteen skeins of lovely Merino wool in shades of black, grey and taupe from my trip to New Zealand. I also garnered an autograph from the man I was named after, Sir Edmund Hillary. But every year I open the wool bag and look at it rather forlornly. “This year,” I tell myself, “this year I will make something exquisite”.
It hasn’t happened yet.
I had almost given up on even producing something like a patchwork blanket, consisting of multi-colored squares, when I found this: 
We’re talking tiny knitting looms that allow for flat edged squares, and no coordination needed for the pointy sticks. One kit comes with the loom and needle, yarn, cd and written instructions. 
Although my son has now disposed of the written instructions, I at least have the cd, and was perusing the website to make sure I do this right. A friend, who is a knitting fiend and makes tons of infant hats for a preemie charity every year, took a look at this and told me: “It looks harder than regular knitting.” Then, in an attempt to not discourage me, she qualified it with “Providing you are any good at regular knitting.” That was quickly followed by a “Good luck with that!”.
My husband echoed with “He needs a scarf? Buy one!”.
My son, none the wiser, believes the board is where all hats, gloves and scarves come from, and already tells people I’ve made everything he wears. haha, let’s hope he can’t distinguish storebought from mom’s hands.
The cure for what ails you
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Are you besting the cold & sniffle season, or is the cold & sniffle season besting you? An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure! Here are some favorites to be proactive (or if it is too late, to nurse back to health):
Traditional Medicinals: The Season Herb Tea Sampler gives a great selection with Gypsy Cold Care, Organic Echinacea Plus, Throat Coat and Breathe Easy
Note: Echinacea should not be taken when you are in the middle of a cold as it will prolong it. It is used at the beginning to stop the illness from taking hold. Also, avoid using cow milk to blend with your tea at this time as cow milk increases mucous production
Airborne: Amazing preventative, especially when flying, great when you start to feel something coming on.
Manuka Honey: I buy a 25+ grade now available at Whole Foods, and raised my son on this with Rooibos tea. Manuka has wonderful properties for internal & external use, and a delicious, almost chewy texture. Sorry, this is not a vegan option!
Tea Tree steams: Nothing unplugs the nasal passages (and clears those pores) like a good steam. Run the humidifier!
Sleep, sleep, sleep: Your body needs zzzzzz to stay healthy. Make sure you are getting your beauty rest.
Powtered Milk – Stop the Madness!
Last week I was having a conversation with someone who has a niece who has started her period at age 10. We bantered about how the ‘joys’ of experiencing womanhood used to be reserved for 11 – 14 year olds (around the time you would start giggling and whispering about boys), but now is showing up in girls as young as eight. We talked about how regular milk is one suspect in advancing the years of children due to the high hormone content from feeding hormones and antibiotics to cattle.
Later that day I was having my mani/pedi done when the nail tech mentioned her 7-year-old niece was having her period. Seven years old! Now,this story emerges of a girl who started with cramps and body odor on a regular cycle starting at age 3. Although the article is a bit misleading, it appears she did not actually have menses until age 8. Still, this is madness.
The article only suggests stress, stepdad pheramones and ‘calorie rich’ diet to blame, but again, hormones in conventional milk have been suggested for years to be altering growth in humans. Organic can get expensive, no doubt, but erring on the side of caution is worthwhile for your health. A great organic cow milk is Horizon. Another option is soymilk. For diabetics, soy milk is processed differently and is considered a different carbohydrate, so is better for your diet. In Taiwan, soy is made into wonderful warm and cold morning drinks for breakfast. Here in the states, my favorite is Silk Soy. This is a company that does not use genetically modified soybeans, which is really important. The outcome of genetically modified foods, even if listed as organic, have still not been deteremined in humans but has been detrimental to growth and life for unexpected groups such as the monarch butterfly. Genetically modified foods were initially developed to be heartier, easier growing strains, but as scientists continue to play with our food, they are finding that mixing and mingling plant dna could cause severe and deadly reactions in humans. It already has in lab animals.
Organic milks – they do a body good!
Another fierce family now official – Christina & Jordan
Christina Aguilera’s Gift – Max Liron Bratman…and a video!
“Dear fans,
Today is a very joyful and special day for Jordan and I as we welcome our first son into this world.
In honor of our love for each other and our growing family, I have put together a special video for the song “Save Me From Myself” off my Back to Basics album. This video is very dear to me as it includes actual footage from our personal wedding video!
Just a little something to say “thank you” for your undying love and support. It is in no small part because of you that I live such a blessed and wonderful life!
Please download and enjoy…
With all my love,
Christina”
