Inexpensive Toy Solutions: Baby-Doll Bed

My sister Heather, came up with this great idea, so I thought I'd better share!

Inexpensive Baby-Doll Bed(Click on the pic to read about how she did it.)
Cute huh?

Poison in You Protein Powders?

I've been using protein shakes and meal replacement shakes (like instant breakfast) off and on for a long time. Not as a dieting solution or meal replacement, but more as a supplement to have with a meal to help beef it up since I tend to eat small amounts, especially in the morning when one should have a big healthy breakfast. I have a hard time eating that much.

When I started breastfeeding my first child I noticed that I was feeling really weak a lot and I knew it was because I was having a hard time feeding myself enough calories to give me the energy I needed for the day.

So I started buying instant breakfast to help supplement my meals if I knew they weren't particularly large or rich in nutrients. After having my second baby this past December and starting up the old breastfeeding thing again I decided it was time to supplement my meals again and sent my hubby to Costco to pick up some instant breakfast. My main concern was getting extra protein because meat and dairy are so expensive that we don't eat a ton of those things.

My hubby compared prices on the various options there and the amount of protein per serving and decided Muscle Milk's chocolate protein powder made the most sense money and protein-wise. So yeah, I've been taking that occasionally for the past nine months. Not every day, more like once or twice every 2-3 weeks when I remember.

Anyway, we had some friends over last night who, when they saw the muscle milk sitting on top of our pantry, asked us if we'd heard that it had been recalled because it had arsenic in it. I hadn't heard about it, Jake was about to toss it but our friend suggested we look it up ourselves just to verify since they couldn't remember the details. I found it just now.
So yeah, the most important info to me is that you'd have to be having 3 servings a day for the levels to be high enough to be a problem. So, since it still cost some money to buy it, and it really does help supplement my protein, I'm not going to just toss my muscle milk. It's good to know though. I probably won't buy it anymore ever again.

Interesting too, that all those other brands of protein powder drinks have the same toxins in them. Crazy. I noticed instant breakfast wasn't mentioned among those other brands too, so I guess I'll just go back to using that once the muscle milk is gone. Anyway, just thought I'd share so you all know what your drinking in case you are using any of this stuff.

Have a great, healthy life!

~Julie :}

Life Changing

So far this year (2010) has been pretty good. (knock on wood.)
Lots of life improving things have come into my life within these past few months. Mostly in the form of great books. I went through a bit of postpartum depression after my baby was born last December and I really feel like one of the main things that helped me pull out of it was reading lots of good, and/or fun books.

Aside from all the fun one's like books by; Jessica Day George, Gail Carson Levine and of course the final Fablehaven (Brandom Mull), the new "Theif" book (Megan Whalen Turner), as well as listening to Harry Potter, and Spiderwick on CD . . . There are a few books that truly have been life changing.

Some life changing novels I've read include:

Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

A great book to help one see life through a new perspective.

The Enchanted April, Elizabeth von Arnim

A beautiful book that might help you find the happiness that is hiding within you.

Now to some more self help style books that are truly life changing.

It's Just My Nature, Carol Tuttle

Discover the nature you were born with and learn how to be true to all your natural positive, in born talents. Also understand those around you better. Learn what element best represents you, and how to enhance it. Energy Profiling is amazing! Everyone in the world should read this book!

The 7-Day Back Pain Cure, Cannone Jesse

I'm all about alternative health care and finding out how to care for myself by working with and not against mother nature. So anything drug free is always interesting me me. This book has helped me understand why I have had so much pain and so many problems with my back for most of my life. It all makes so much sense, but the best part is all the natural, reasonable solutions that the author offers. I haven't had a chance to implement most of them yet, but I look forward to a pain free future!

Now for more visible, tangible life changes, I give you . . .

Creation Plan: A Seven Day Approach to Guilt Free Homemaking, Betty Meyers

This book makes every day tasks actually seem possible and helps this very disorganized person feel like organization is possible and even exciting!

So if any of you are looking for something good to read, here is a great list! Enjoy!