More Than Moms — Natural Living

I have recently stepped into a leadership role for a group that meets once a month at Destiny Church called More Than Moms.  I’m honored and excited to be able to lead this group because the purpose is very near and dear to me.  As moms, we find ourselves caught up in the daily routine of meeting the needs of our children and keeping our homes running.  Oftentimes it can feel like we lose our identity outside of being a mom.  Also, thanks to the explosion of social media…Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, etc…there are many opportunities in which we can find ourselves feeling that being “just a mom” isn’t enough.  Both of these realities can lead to feeling insecure, overwhelmed, fearful, lonely and many other things.

The heart of this group is to help combat those negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions by having a monthly meeting in which moms can connect and fellowship with other moms, get a break form normal routine, and have FUN while getting helpful tips about hot topics in our day.

There are several women who have expressed interest in our group but can’t make it for a variety of reasons.  So, I decided I would share notes and pictures here on the blog so women who can’t come can get the information that was shared.  I didn’t decide to do this until AFTER our meeting Monday night, so I only have one picture to share 😦

Everyone went home with a reusable grocery tote.  I bought them in bulk for $.88 each from http://www.cheaptotes.com.  They were plain black so I decided they need a little embellishment.  I added birds, flowers, and stars.  So fun!

We had 2 wonderful guest speakers, Jamie and Jill.

Jamie shared first about natural eating.  Here are her notes:

I.  What You Eat & Drink

1. Remember that your body takes something from what you put in it – good & bad.  God gave us all of our food in its purest form for a reason – to help heal our bodies and give us energy. You are what you eat!

II.   Compare Nutrition Labels

1. The shorter the list of ingredients – the better!
2. You want to recognize most of the ingredients.
3. “All Natural” doesn’t mean much.  It means an item is slightly less processed than another (ex: Sargento cheese vs. Cheez-Whiz).

III.  Making Organic/Natural Eating Budget Friendly

1. Wholefoods.com and Target have coupons.  A lot of time, items that have coupons will already be marked down.
2. Don’t worry so much about planning meals in advance. Buy what’s on sale, keep staple items in your pantry, and develop meals from those items.  Foods that are in season are plentiful and usually go on sale for that reason. You need to get into the mindset of eating fresh not “convenient.”
3. Yes. Organic foods are more expensive, but there are many advantages that save you money. For example, you will not be as sick as often!
4. Have staple recipes that can work with ingredients that can be switched in and out.  Stir Fry, Vegetable Soup, Pasta dishes, etc.

IV.   Take Baby Steps

1. Cut out the biggest “trouble maker.” Coke, candy, etc.
2. Switch to organic by food group – dairy, meat, etc.
3. A realistic goal is to one day be at 80 percent fresh and/or organic foods and 20 percent other.

Jill shared next about natural living.  Here are her notes:

I.    Facial Cleaning

1. Dessert Essence (cleaning)
2. Witch Hazel (toner)
3. Coconut Oil (moisturizing)

II.   Chemical Free Shampoo – “No Poo Method”

1. Begin with 1 tbsp baking soda to 8 oz (1 cup) of water.
2. Separate your hair into sections & apply this mixture to the scalp area, working in well with fingers.  Repeat with all sections of hair.
3. Rinse well.
4. Take 1 tbls of apple cider vinegar with 8 oz (1 cup) of water.
5. Divide hair and pour apple cider vinegar over.  Let sit for a few minutes (this works as a detangler).  I personally also us a wide tooth comb and comb through my hair since it’s long before rinsing out.

• Note – This is a trial and error method.  Depending on your hair type/length will depend on how much you use of each ingredient.  If it’s not working for you, try adjusting something. Also, your hair will go through an adjustment period and be greasy for awhile.  This is because you are no longer stripping out the natural oils and your scalp takes awhile to get used to not producing so much.

III.  Natural All Purpose Cleaner

• 1 tsp borax
• 1/2 tsp washing soda
• 1 tsp liquid castille soap
• essential oils–ex: 4 drops lemon or 4 drops lavender & 10 drops orange
• 2 cups warm water (distilled or boiled)

IV.   Cloth Diaper Options & Chemical Free Wipes

1. Recipe for homemade wipes:  http://wellnessmama.com/1459/homemade-baby-wipes-recipe/
2. Site to find used cloth diapers on:  http://www.diaperswappers.com/

V. Other Helpful Links

1. http://wellnessmama.com
2. http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/keeping-expenses-low-while-eating-a-healthy-diet

Remember, God is in control, and He knows your heart!!!

We had a great time!  I’m looking forward to our next meeting at 7:00 on Monday, September 24th.  Our topic will be FASHION!  Our guest hosts, Vivi and Kara, will be sharing important tips and tricks to look our best on a budget and at any size.  I can’t wait!

---