Got this in my email this week from Above Rubies. Thought I'd pass along the useful information!

BEAT THE FLU THIS WINTER!

Dear friends,

As we approach flu season, it is good to be reminded of ways to prevent it. There are better ways to prevent the flu than being vaccinated. Check out the following points to keep yourself and your family in good health during this winter season.

1. AVOID ALL SUGAR

This means to not only refrain from sugar, but all foods containing sugar, which are most foods on the shelves of the supermarket. Read labels very carefully. In fact, when you read the labels first, will find that you will have to put most foods back on the shelf.

Sugar makes a perfect environment for viruses. Sugar completely destroys your immune system. It destroys the germ-killing ability of white bloods cells to kill bacteria and viruses up to five hours after intake. It interferes with the transport of vitamin C which is needed to fight the flu and robs the body of nutrients such as zinc that are vital for the immune function.

Sugar affects everyone, but has more serious consequences for children. Keep your children away from all sugar and especially when flu viruses are around. That means at Christmas time too!

Also, please reduce carbs as they turn to sugar in your body. Especially eliminate all whites--not only white sugar, but white flour, white pasta and white rice. Completely eradicate pop and sweet teas. I refuse to have sugar in my pantry.

2. BUILD UP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

The stronger your immune system, the less likelihood of getting the flu or any disease.

Here are some ideas for building up your immune system for you and your children. You can do what suits you best--or do them all!

My daughter, Serene, who has eight children, gives herself and the children the following once a day or more as needed.

COLD AND FLU FIGHTER
½ cup chopped onion
A whole bulb of chopped garlic
2 TBS chopped fresh ginger root
1 chopped jalapeño

Put all ingredients in a quart jar, cover with raw vinegar and let sit 4 - 6 weeks. Strain out vegetables and use 2 TBS. or more each day. If you do get a cold or the flu, take every hour. Serene gives her children 1 TBS. each day as a preventative.

VITAMIN C
1, 000 mg morning and evening

GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT
Give children three drops in water once a week. If you notice any signs of flu or colds in the family, give three drops in water once a day. Adults should take 10 - 15 drops in water at the slightest sign of a cold or flu. You can obtain this extract at a health food shop.

TODDLER MIX
To make it easier for toddlers to take these vitamins, mix the following:
1 TBS. or more of yogurt (no sugar added)
Crushed Vitamin C tablet, smaller dosage for toddler
Juice of ½ orange
2 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract
Stevia for sweetening
Mix together and give to toddler as needed.

VITAMIN D3
1,000 mg each morning to children
1,000 each morning and evening for adults. Most adults need much more than this. The consensus is that anything up to 5,000 mg a day is safe and beneficial for most people. After a hydroxyl test, most people find they need more than this. The optimum levels for the body are 60 - 90 ml. Vitamin D builds the immune system and also fights cancer.

COCONUT OIL
This is a marvelous food that builds up the body's own natural defenses against viral infections, disease and cancer. Take as much as you can each day. You can't take too much. Use the Extra Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil for medicinal use. Put 1 TBS. or more in your smoothies. Use it for all your cooking instead of other oils. You can use Expeller Pressed for cooking.

If there are any signs of flu in even one of the children, Serene gets her children to take a banana and dip it into coconut oil (about 2 TBS coconut oil). This is an easy way for the children to eat it. You can also get the children to put the coconut oil behind their ears and massage it into their lymph glands and also in their nose.

Use coconut way every way you can. Use it for all cooking instead of other oils. To try some delectable recipes with Coconut Butter (it is called butter when it is cold and goes hard, and oil when it is soft in the summer or heated) you can order COCONUT RECIPES by Serene Allison from the Above Rubies website: www.aboverubies.org

RED PALM OIL
This is another super oil. I only use Coconut oil or Red Palm oil for cooking in our home. Every other oil turns to Trans fat when it is heated. Not only are these safe oils to cook with, but they add many nutrients to your body. Both Coconut oil and Red Palm oil strengthen the immune system.

You can put a little Red Palm oil in your smoothies. My husband spreads it on his bread, but I have to admit, I cannot take it that way. But use it as much as you can in your cooking. The following is a smoothie recipe to try:

Ginger Sunrise
2 fresh oranges
2 lemons, peeled with knife, removing yellow rind, but keeping the white pith
1 - 2 bananas (great for children, eliminate for adults as fattening)
2 TBS. Red Palm Oil
1 large handful of flax seeds or chia seeds
2 TBS. Coconut oil
2 chunks fresh raw ginger (about 1")
Sweetening - Stevia
Ice cubes
Blend very well in Vita Mix or good blender until smooth.

TO ORDER COCONUT OIL AND RED PALM OIL:

Also www.TheHomeGrownFamily.com
Charity Callis, Toll Free: 1 877 841 2861

Go to http://www.rainforestcoconutoil.com/ and check out their website.
Email: rainforestmkt@gmail.com 
Toll Free: 877-558-5518

To find out more about these immune boosting oils, check out THE PALM OIL MIRACLE and THE COCONUT OIL MIRACLE by Bruce Fife.

3. SLEEP

There is nothing like lack of sleep to run down your immune system. Sleep and a healthy diet are your best preventatives against the flu and colds. Make sure you have adequate sleep, especially during flu season. Try to get to bed early.

I grew up with the old wives' tale that the hours of sleep before midnight are the most beneficial. Science has now proved this adage, although I must admit I have broken the rule most of my life. I am now trying to go to bed earlier. The plan is to go to bed no later than 10.00 pm--9.00 pm is even better.

Staying up much later than 10.00 pm causes your adrenal glands to make cortisol. This is taxing on the adrenal gland and can lead to adrenal fatigue. Does this sound too hard? It is actually better for your health, and you will accomplish just as much by getting up earlier in the morning. And remember, I am preaching to myself!

4. OTHER PREVENTATIVES

I have a friend who uses the following for her family. The taste is wonderful.

ELDERBERRY COLD AND FLU FIGHTER SYRUP
½ cup elderberries (check the Internet for dried elderberries)
4 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 TBS grated fresh root ginger
2 cups water
Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes. Add ½ cup honey. Store in refrigerator. Take 2 TBS. each day to prevent colds and flu. If you have the flu, take every hour. This recipe only keeps two weeks in the fridge so you will need to make a fresh batch every two weeks.

CHOPPED GARLIC
Any easy fighter is to chop up 1 or 2 garlic cloves very, very finely. Pop in your mouth and swallow before you have a chance to taste the flavor or imbibe the smell. This is an easy and wonderful way to fight the flu. I find this simple and effective.

THIEVES OIL
Many folk use the following Natural Antibiotic Recipe using Young Living Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils. Here is the recipe from Quick Reference Guide for Using Essential Oils, compiled by Connie and Alan Higley, 10th edition.

12 drops Thieves Oil
6 drops Oregano Oil
2 drops Frankincense Oil
Put drops in a "00" size capsule and ingest one capsule every 4 hours for 3 days, then every 8 hours for 4 days.

To purchase oils, go to Amazon.com

BURIED TREASURE - ACF (Acute Cold and Flu Formula)
This is highly effective for fighting colds. You can purchase it as your local health food store or online. Our daughter, Pearl, always has it on hand for use at the first sign of a sniffle.

HORSERADISH

Horseradish root is a powerful antibiotic and useful for fighting the flu, as well as urinary tract infections and even cancer. I have just harvested the roots from m y garden and am getting ready to prepare it as a sauce and to use in other recipes. Check the Internet for all kinds of wonderful recipes.

Prepare the following to use as needed. Slice or chunk the horseradish root, place in blender and grind, adding small amounts of vinegar for a good consistency, about 1 TBS vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) to 1 cup horseradish. The vinegar preserves the horseradish and enhances the flavor. Vinegar stops the heat-building enzyme activity that grinding causes. If you want hotter horseradish, wait before adding the vinegar. Adding the vinegar right away will make the horseradish milder.

Horseradish will take your breath away, bring tears to your eyes, but at the same time clear all your sinuses, help ward off the flu and make you feel great!

You can add 1 TBS. of horseradish to your coleslaw or even to your meat loaf you are preparing.

CUT AN ONION
This is another old wives' tale that I grew up with, but I still do it and believe it works. If someone gets a cold or flu in the house, I cut an onion in half and put it in a strategic place. Supposedly the germs go to the onion. If my husband has a sniffle, I cut an onion and put half by his side of the bed and half by my side of the bed. He complains of the smell but puts up with it!

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
A lot of germs come through the ears. As a preventative, pour a little Hydrogen Peroxide in the ear. I love to feel it bubbling in my ear. Do it once a week (perhaps on the weekend), one night in one ear and the next night in the other. I find it easier to do it this way as the peroxide doesn't run out from one ear when pouring it in the other ear.

THYM-UVOCAL
An herb which strengthens the immune system and fights off infections. Check the Internet for purchase. Adults only.

5. WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY

Wash your hands frequently throughout the day, especially before eating. Wash under running water for 20 seconds or sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY while washing. It is most important to train your children to do this.

6. DO NOT TOUCH EYES, NOSE OR MOUTH

I find myself doing this and am having to get into the habit of not rubbing my eyes, mouth or nose. Teach your children about this also.

7. NETI POT

Check the Internet for a Neti Pot to clear nose and sinuses.

8. AVOID FLU VACCINATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE H1N1 SWINE FLU VACCINATION

The H1N1 vaccination has many dangers. Check out more information before allowing yourself and your family to become a victim to these shots.

Squalene
The Swine Flu Vaccine, unlike other flu vaccines, contains squalene, an additive which when introduced into the bloodstream, causes crippling auto-immune diseases like Lou Gehrig's disease, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Squalene in vaccines has been strongly connected to the Gulf War Syndrome. The H1N1 vaccine contains 1 million times more squalene than the vaccine given to Gulf War soldiers (which resulted in 140,000 veterans contracting the auto-immune disease Gulf War Syndrome). The use of squalene is illegal in the USA and UK but is being allowed under the emergency pandemic decree. Dr. Russell Blaylock states, "If you receive the vaccine, there is little you can do to protect yourself--at least by conventional medicine. It will mean a lifetime of crippling illness and early death."

The US government has given vaccine manufacturers (Novartis, Baxter, Glaxo-Smithkline, CSL) complete legal immunity from any deaths or injuries resulting from their vaccines.

If you are interested you could check out some of the following sites which are listed below.

Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

Above Rubies is a magazine to bring strength and encouragement to marriage, motherhood and family life.

Internet sites to check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8riAeGh48U

http://www.naturalnews.com/027222_swine_flu_flu_vaccine_swine_flu_vaccine.html

http://www.medicalvoices.org/en/vaccination/articles/what-they-dont-tell-you-about-vaccination-dangers-can-kill-you-or-ruin-your-life.html

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/01/Swine-Flu-Shot-Linked-to-Killer-Nerve-Disease.aspx

http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/h1n1-swine-flu.aspx

http://swineflu.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/09/08/Another-Shocking-Warning-About-Swine-Flu-Vaccine.aspx

http://www.medicalvoices.org/en/vaccination/articles/swine-flu-and-the-swine-flu-vaccine.html

http://www.medicalvoices.org/en/vaccination/articles/flu-vaccine-exposed.html

http://www.without-consent.com/

http://www.openureyes.org.nz/blog/?q=node/2280

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14851

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/24/CBS-Reveals-that-Swine-Flu-Cases-Seriously-Overestimated.aspx

http://www.nvic.org

http://vran.org

http://www.PandemicFluOnline.com

http://www.vaclib.org

http://www.mercola.com

Meal Planning

Here's what's on our menu for this week:

Fri: Chicken curry and brown rice
Sat: Potato soup
Sun: (am) Egg & sausage casserole; (pm) lunch meat wraps
Mon: Chicken celery soup
Tues: Pan Burritos
Weds: Asian stir fry
Thurs: Pizza
*We're celebrating Thanksgiving this year on Friday. Here are the things we're responsible for bringing:
*Fri: garlic mashed new potatoes; spinach artichoke dip

Sides/Extras:
-applesauce muffins
-homemade cinnamon raisin bread
-pumpkin pancakes
-homemade chocolate pudding

Date Night

&

I'd post a little something more for today, but I'm running out of time. Hubby and I are getting ready to head out for our weekly Date Night here in a couple moments.

A few quick things on my mind...

1- the kids are doing FANTASTIC with their pictureless readers! They have both individually read through 5 books a piece!!! Arianna is absolutely ecstatic that she's reading and can't wait to read more! It's like all she needed was a bit of success and she's now off and running! I LOVE watching her develope a love for reading. Some day, once she's got a good hang of reading, illustrations won't be a problem for her (or Benjamin). But during these beginning stages, removing them has been the best thing since sliced bread over here!

2- I've got a twin in South Carolina! My sister found a comment on Passionate Homemaking (see comment #15) about a woman named MelissaD that nearly fits my own description as mom and homemaker. (She thought it WAS me until she followed the link.) I hope to get the chance to introduce myself to her when I've got a bit of time. Uncanny how closely our lives resemble one another!

Post more tomorrow!!!

Casseroles!

Taste of Home: 10 Healthy Casseroles

Spark Recipes

Cooking Light

Recipe.com

iFood

Kraft foods

Can't wait to give some of these a try! Also looking into healthy crockpot casseroles!

Misc.

-went to the midwife today and everything looks great! Yea! Good, strong, steady heartbeat. Measuring right at 17 weeks. Due date of April 22 still looks like a go. Have gained 5lbs total. Have only felt little flutters, but no kicks just yet. Usually happens anywhere between now and 20 weeks. Definitely got the belly bump going. Wearing exclusively maternity stuff now.
-call me a nerd, but I enjoy Nintendo Week videos with Gary and Alison on the Nintendo Channel. RD and I watch the new one every week.
-getting another big declutter bug. Arianna's got it, too. Tonight she went through all her crafting stuff and started organizing, sorting, throwing out, etc.
-we got a housekeeper!!! Laura, our childcare provider on Friday's when I work for RD, will be helping us. Awhile back she had mentioned that she was looking into doing housekeeping so we asked her if she wanted to start with our house. We feel very comfortable with her. That, and she takes initiative in things- if she sees something that needs to be done, she does it. It's wonderful!!! We still have to hash out the details, but sometime soon she'll be starting! Yippee!
-on a casserole hunt. Healthy casseroles, I should clarify. Got any good recipes?
-NaBloPoMo prize list.
-I love John Wayne movies. My father-in-law seriously looks like him. I'll have to post comparison pics between the two sometime. It's uncanny.
-am so tickled at the outcome of the Colts vs. Patriots game last Sunday night. It was incredible! Good reminder to never fall asleep on the couch during the last few minutes of any game!!!
-wondering if the Wii Fit Plus would work during pregnancy...

It worked!!!

The kids read through 3 books all by themselves today!!!
I covered the pictures and only revealed one sentence at a time. After they worked through the text, I revealed the corresponding pictures and we discussed. It worked wonderfully!
The kids even, individually, thanked me for a more simpler reading format. They said it made things a lot easier for them.
I'm so tickled it worked!
And they loved the Pathway book! We'll have to look into getting more of those.

Excited

My sister uses the Pathway Readers for her child who is in Kindergarten and her daughter loves them. Since she's completed Book 1 (<-- you can see a few sample pages here), I'm borrowing it to see how it works with Arianna and Benjamin. They're sort of like Amish Dick and Jane books. The kids are tickled to start working through this book at school today. Also going to try covering the pictures on their other readers and revealing it when they've finally worked through the text. Let you know how it goes!

Christmas coming around the corner...

... and for stocking stuffers, I can't wait to fill them with these!

I second Our Little Monkeys in my love for homemade natural soaps. They are just beautiful!

Bethany at Happy To Be Called Mommy has some tips on how to make homemade soap.

eHow tells you how to make it, too.
Someday, I want to make our own homemade soaps... :-)

Baby Steps to Eating Real Foods

I have totally been loving reading posts from Passionate Homemaking. Here's a link to her November 11th post on 12 Steps to Nutritious Eating. Eating healthy really is a series of baby steps. It is terribly overwhelming to jump on the "good food" bandwagon, only to get burned out after a couple months or weeks (or days!). But to start simple and build upon that- those are the habits that keep.

A few things we do to eat real and healthy:
-buy local honey
-eat farm fresh eggs
-stay away from prepackaged foods
-cook from scratch as much as possible, limit eating out
-only eat brown rice
-limit white flour and white sugar
-replace with whole grains and demerara
-drink water, 100% juice, and milk pretty much exclusively; little to no soda (I'm still a sucker for caffeinated coffee, though- but at least I drink it black- that makes it better, right? *grin*)
-try to eat fish at least 1x/wk
-salads mostly contain spinach or dark greens
-homemade oil & vinegar salad dressing
-fruits and/or veggies at every meal
-soak our oats
-eat whole wheat bread, pitas, tortillas, pastas, etc.

One area that I would LOVE to crack down on as a family is eating more organic and eating meats from grass-fed/pastured animals that have not been treated with hormones. Our biggest issue is with cost, BUT... we are also willing to crack down budget-wise and invest a bit more cash into our grocery budget. It'll be worth it, I know!