Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review

I LOVE using coconut oil in my homemade beauty products. I have a hard time locating places to buy it in person, or even online. Then I started to hear a lot about Tropical Traditions, and their own gold label coconut oil. I was so thrilled when I got the chance to try out a jar of it, and review it on my blog.

When I got the awesome, 32 oz jar, I was anxious to find fun new ways to use it all. I was only familiar with using it for beauty products and toiletries. Then, I went to check out the Tropical Traditions food recipes, for other ways to use my jar of oil. I searched through the recipe blog to find not only the recipes that sounded yummy, but ones that were intended for use with mainly just the oil, since it was the product I had to review. I made quite a few dishes with it (and used a huge portion of the oil), most of which tasted amazing. One thing to keep in mind though, most of the recipes call for using the coconut oil as a cooking oil in place of your olive or vegetable oil. But, anything you cook in the oil is going to have that subtle yummy flavor.

I made...


Coconut Rice - (I made it without lime juice and added sweet coconut on top, made a great breakfast rice)

Coconut Mashed Potatoes - (I didn't have coconut milk so I used canned. I think it'd be better with coconut milk, but my son really loved them as they were)






**Forgot to photograph**

Three Cheese Tomato Garlic Grilled Cheese Sandwiches - (These were an amazingly delicious lunch for my son and I)




Cheesy Fried Rice - (This wasn't such a good mix to me, little too much coconut oil)

Coconut Oil Flour Tortillas - (I made these with the chicken below, for us and my sister and her two kids. Everyone gobbled them up)

Mexican Style Pepper Chicken - (I used bell peppers in three colors, and then cut up the chicken and made it a taco filler to go in the tortillas above)

Beauty Products I made

Deodorant
1 part coconut oil
1 part cornstarch
1 part baking soda

This deodorant caused my sensitive skin a little irritation at first, now I'm used to it and it smells great (Less baking soda might prevent the irritation). I have to reapply again during the day, now that's it's all hot and sweaty, but it's 100% natural and I love it.

Lip Balm
1 part coconut oil
1 part beeswax

Melt beeswax and coconut oil together. Pour into container (or old chapstick tube) and let cool.

I really love this lip balm because it never leaves a nasty thick white residue, and it stays on for a long time. The blend is simple and effective when warmer (like if you hold it on your lips a minute to melt the coconut oil) When it gets too cold (and the oil solidifies) it can be too hard to use. A really quick zap in the microwave will fix this.

Coconut Sugar Scrub
Mix sugar and coconut oil together until blended to favorable consistency. Tastes great, but try to use it in the shower for soft glowing skin.

Last but not least, using coconut oil as an all over body moisturizer feels and smells divine.

Overall, there are so many uses for coconut oil, these are just a few. (Check out these FAQ's) Tropical Traditions provides a clean, pure, virgin coconut oil for all the uses you can come up with, for a pretty reasonable price. The jar is made of glass which makes me feel better either to re-use or recycle it. And, compared to the places I have actually found coconut oil for sale, I honestly feel they offer an excellent price. Not only is it hard to find coconut oil, but most places will not offer you the large amounts that they. Say goodbye to puny 8 oz bottles, and say hello to 32 oz or even a gallon!

If you'd like to get your hands on some of this great stuff!...

Visit the Tropical Traditions website. When asked how you heard about them, check "referred by a friend" and then kindly add in ID number : 6412314 and you will receive a free copy of the virgin coconut oil book. Right now they have a promotion going that you can buy one pint and get one pint free!

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free 
sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if 
I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return 
for the free product.

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Raising Kids in This World

There is this one dilemma that I have thought of on numerous occasions. I spend quality time with my son, continuously teaching him to be kind, gentle, polite, and nice to everyone around him. We both take the time to enforce this, especially when it comes to his peers. I am proud of this, and my husband is right there by my side teaching the same principles. As hard as we do try to bring up a great, well behaved child, we are learning there is a certain negative factor that comes into play by doing this. Not one that would keep us from doing what we do, though. That is, many other people in this world do not have the same values as us, and are raising rude, punk kids.

Why is this such a problem for us? It becomes increasingly harder to find good friends for our son to play with, because he either gets beat up on, or gets his feelings hurt by them. Some might say our son is too sensitive, but I of course, will argue this because he is a sweet caring boy who shares love and joy in his life. When someone snatches that away from him, in one way or another, he cries. I understand because I too, have been sensitive like that. Most often the case is that people who's children act in such rude ways, are the type of parents that just don't care enough to teach and/or discipline their children.

So, with this I wonder, how can we teach our kids to have these principles and values, while still teaching them ways to defend themselves against the mean in this world? How can we feel that what we are doing with our children is vital to the future generations, when so many others are taking the opposite, and most often, negative road to behavior? Why have so many people given up on respect and the simple ways of life? Is this just an American thing? So many questions arise with this subject, these are just a few.



How do you handle bullying kids? Is your child a bully to others, and if so how do you handle that?

No judgment here, I'm just curious, and learning to raise a toddler.

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2 Kids, and Double the Work Load

The workload has gotten heavy around my house. I've been very happy since my daughter was born. I love doing a lot of chores to keep me busy, and I have also had a lot of time to myself and even alone with my husband. I will admit I haven't been sleeping as much, which is certainly starting to take it's toll. There have been quite a few days where the chores just seem to never end. This past weekend was a bad one.

We were getting ready to go camping with my dad for the weekend. I had my list of things that had to be done outside the house and inside. There are definitely levels of priority, and I tried my best to follow them. After eating out for lunch, which wasn't planned, we did our Target household shopping, went to the bank, and then came home. I left out the post office for stamps, the gym to renew, and Trader Joe's for laundry soap. At home I had a bunch to do and I ended up working and working and working to get it all done, but it never happened.

I'm not good at asking for help from the husband. I am an Aries, I want to get it all done myself and feel empowered that I could. I asked him for help though. I did as many of the most important chores as I could, but when they just kept coming I had to let it go. It is so hard for me, being a perfectionist and a control freak. I wanted everything to be done and clean so that I could just relax and settle down with the kids once we got back home. I started to get so stressed out I had to call it quits and just leave town for the weekend on a much deserved break. We left the house with dishes in the sink, laundry on the floor, our sons bed unmade (clean bedding sitting on it though) and the floor un-swept. This is something that has never happened in my adult life away from home. It was very hard, but I knew I had to let go. Camping was fantastic at helping me unwind after a very hard very busy 6 weeks. But will life with two kids always be this way?


What are your tips for chores and two kids?



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Bad Epidural?

It's been 6 weeks now since my daughter was born. My back still hurts at the epidural site. I'm a little worried.

When I had my son, everything went beautifully with the epidural. I never experienced one bad thing from having it done. Just awesome pain relief at a time when I couldn't get a hold of myself.

This last time (just like with my son) I didn't WANT to get an epidural. In fact, I told myself, if I got the hospital and they told me I was at 8, that I wouldn't get one. I was 8 ½ when I got there, and hadn't yet experienced the pain I did with my son. I was in great shape and I felt confident I could handle the remaining labor and delivery.

My experience with hospitals (both times) are horrid, mainly due to my natural “midwife” take on childbirth, and even parenting for that matter. I wanted a midwife real bad this time around, but we just couldn't afford it :(. Anyway, the hospital experience sucks, but it is a whole entire blog worth of vents which I will currently refrain from. The main point here is, once they feel they need to make you sit still, on your back, because it is “unsafe to move anymore” that's when pain sets in. I was great while walking and moving. As soon as I sat still, around 9 cm, pain literally doubled, if not more. I got worried quick about the pain intensifying to the extreme I (thought) I felt with my son, and knowing there was only one centimeter to go made the decision a little harder. However, that one centimeter could be hours long and I had to make an immediate choice to get an epidural, so I went for it.

While I was getting it, a contraction came on, and something made it all go into my back for some reason. Made my back stiffen so bad, the doctor yelled at me not to move. Well, even though I couldn't control what happened, I think I might be suffering for it. For quite a few days after, I felt a sharp pain in the site of the epidural, and I could not lie on my back or even put pressure on it. It has gotten better since, but I still feel it now. I still can't lie on my back on anything firm. I feel a sharp pinch pain. Even if I poke the area I will feel pain. Considering I never had a side effect with my son, I worry a little that the whole spasm thing somehow messed me up. I hope I can still get a massage because I really need one. I will talk to my doctor about it, and see whoever I need to see, in order to figure it out. One more reason though, why I am thankful I feel complete and won't be having anymore kids.

What is your epidural story, if you've had one?





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Defend My Ways, or Smile and Nod?

I had my dreaded WIC appointment today. Going there is never fun. Waiting around for a couple hours, while you deal with several different people who talk to you like you are an idiot about raising kids, even if you do bring along your happy, healthy toddler. This time, I had an experience that, although stupidly funny, really got me thinking.

While talking to my "nutrition consultant", she had to ask questions about how we were feeding the baby. I told her I mostly breastfed, but in the evenings she is just too hungry and so I supplement with a bottle of formula. She takes about 2 ounces after breastfeeding, and to this the lady responds, "Babies don't know when they are hungry, they only cry when they need to be held by their mother". Oh, really? Babies don't know when they are hungry huh? I told her, "When my baby shows the signs of being hungry, one of the classes you made me sit through three months ago, such as turning her head looking for a boob, sucking on her hand, and tongue thrusting, then I feed her more. She stops eating when she is no longer hungry." She goes on to tell me (and show me a display) of how a newborn baby only has a stomach the size of a small ball and they can't eat more than 2 ounces at a time. My response, "Well, take into consideration I do have a larger than average baby" (She weighed in at 12.10 lbs today at 6 weeks old) Her reply? "All babies are the same". Wow, this woman has got to be joking with me. How does SHE work for this government program promoting good health and parenting and yet she says such false statements as these??

I started to tell her how I didn't agree with what she was saying, and then, as many people older than me do, she shoots back with how she knows not only from her training, but from her own experience as a mother and grandmother. Oh bother! Pulling out the "I'm more experienced than you, youngin'" card. Well, I ended up biting my tongue and leaving without much else said. Sure, she thinks I'm an idiot, and I feel the exact same way about her. We clearly had two different styles going on... I mean, she even dissed my pouch sling to say her daughter's wrap around carrier was way better. WTH!? Baby wearing is baby wearing isn't it? I didn't even pull out the, "Yeah, well we cloth diaper!" LoL.

What I got to thinking about was at what point do you decide whether to stand up for your parenting ways, while others criticize it, or choose to just let them speak their nonsense and let it flow in one ear and out the other. I suppose, had it been someone I knew, I would defend my points a little more so they knew where I stood and not to mess with me any more about it. On the other hand, I really despise how many people in this world try to change others and/or neglect to realize some people do things differently and that's just OK, so leave it be.

How do you respond to people trying to "force" their ways on you about parenting?



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Inside a Moms Day

I was tired this morning, after getting up every two hours to give my feverish son medicine. Then I got up at 6 to feed the baby. I got another hour nap right after that, which helped, but I guess I'm still tired because I have no memory today.

After a series of events leading up to me getting a little stressed, I told my husband I needed to go to lunch (it's my thing for a good time and stress reduction). Got in the car, thought I forgot my phone, went back in to get it and noticed my package that needed to be shipped. Turns out I didn't forget my phone. Then I headed to Mc Donald's to get my son's lunch on the way to the restaurant (which he won't eat at) and I ended up going to the Mc Donald's in the opposite direction. There was one other thing too.... but I forgot haha.

After lunch, and back home, it just continues.

**Disclaimer:: Mommy Moment ahead***
(They say all moms experience it, but honestly, I usually don't. I am still partially normal I guess)

I started a load of laundry, mainly to wash our two throw rugs. On the way to the bathroom to get the rug in there, I passed the closet. I remembered I had I to take a dress out of the closet for my daughter to wear for pictures. While there I remembered the time and told my son it was nap time. He asked to read a book, so we grabbed "Green Eggs and Ham" and he started reading it to me. Just as I was sitting there thinking how adorable it was to have my two year old read me a book, the baby started to cry. I put the book on "pause" and went to get her to join us. After picking her up, I passed the washing machine and saw it running with nothing in it, because I got distracted earlier. I tried putting some clothes in with my free hand (baby in the other) and I accidentally squished her foot between me and the washer. I put her down, finished loading it, and went back to my son. We finished the book, he went to bed. I sat down to feed the baby, then the washer got off balance. I tried to balance the two rugs in it, when I realized.... the bathroom rug never made it in. Oh well, next load. On the way to get the rug to remember it next load, I remembered I never took out the dress....


this will continue all day so I will stop there.

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