Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food

We got to try some brand new freeze dried dog food by Stewart Raw Naturals. And by "we" I mean my gorgeous Boxer, Aegis.

He normally gets grain free kibble only, and no wet food. We feed him organ meats occasionally, along with marrow bones. But since we are giving him pills (glucosamine/chondroitin, fish oil, and an herbal supplement) for his partially torn ACL, we have been giving him a teeny bit of wet food in his bowl (to mask the flavor of his pills, otherwise he won't eat them, the scoundrel!)

For the past month he has been spoiled rotten with his "wet food" for both breakfast and dinner that even my cat comes to see if she can have some.

This was an extra special treat to get some freeze dried raw dog food for him. I opened the box and took a picture of him sniffing the "patties" that I pulled out:

Aegis wants to EAT THEM ALL!

Then, I added some warm water to a patty, and let it soak for a minute or so, and put it in his dish, for this picture below:

Here is a freeze dried raw food patty

I added some kibble and his pills, and mixed it all up. 1 patty is equivalent to 1 cup of kibble in this instance (there are 3 different sizes for small, medium or large dogs. The large size contains 8 patties, and the small one contains 32 patties (1/4 cup each). I believe the medium one contains 16 patties (1/2 cup each). I feed him just under 2 cups of kibble morning and night for a total of about 3 1/2 cups of kibble per day.  On the weekends when I make eggs, I usually make an additional egg for him (see what I mean -- spoiled rotten!) and I give him a quarter cup of raw milk kefir every day for his probiotics.

These freeze dried patties can be used in combination with kibble like I did (you don't even have to get them wet, you can just crumble them in the dish), or you can use them as a whole meal.

Aegis could barely wait and was whining and whining while I prepared his food. He usually waits patiently, but he REALLY wanted to eat the freeze dried raw food patties.

Aegis scarfing down his food... Don't forget to chew!

Stewart Pet Food company is a leader in freeze dried food products and they have an assortment to choose from. Everything is made in the USA with all natural human grade ingredients.

They are from a single source protein (beef or chicken) and are great for dogs who may have an allergy or intolerance to a specific ingredient. They also have some fruits and vegetables in them.

They are grain free and gluten free, and ready to serve -- the moisture is removed, making it shelf stable raw food, the best diet for your dog!

I have to say that I believe any dog would LOVE this food. Aegis is super picky, and he turns his nose up at some treats that the mail carrier brings him. He LOVES the mail carrier and gives her kisses, but refuses her treats. But he LOVED this raw freeze dried food. Yes, even the most picky eaters will like this.

Water Away Natural Water Weight Pills

I have been taking Water Away supplement for about a week now. I have been bloated and think that I am carrying some excess water weight. So I wanted to give it a try. It has some pretty decent ingredients, including apple cider vinegar (this helps boost metabolism!), dandelion (which helps support the liver), cranberry (which helps support the urinary tract), and more!

I am taking only 1 capsule per day, around lunch time. So far I have gone from 59.7% water weight, to 59.2% water weight. It could be random and a coincidence, but for the past 6 weeks (since I got my scale that measures water weight, muscle mass, bone mass and fat percentage) I have consistently been close to 60% water weight.



Basically what the concept behind these "water pills" are, is to remove the excess water in your body tissues, and remove it through urination. You may find that you are going to the restroom maybe one or two more times per day, but you won't be going every 5 minutes, so don't worry about that.

It is also supposed to help with bloating, swelling and puffiness. Some people may be concerned about losing electrolytes, but this has potassium in it to help replace what may be lost when you go to the bathroom.

Water Away has a 100% money back guarantee if you aren't 100% satisfied, just contact them and they will give you a full refund.

Can Kids Wear Detox Foot Pads?

Many people continue to ask me if the detox foot pads can be used on children. They wonder if kids can wear detox foot pads.

The answer is a GREAT. BIG. YES!

 Please, use them on your children. Kids tend to detoxify quickly.... and a lot at first! You may put them on one of your kids and be astonished at the goo that comes out the next morning. But don't worry... after a few days most likely the foot pads will be almost completely clean.

They don't take months to detox like adults do. They haven't had years to pile that garbage into their bodies. Granted, they are exposed to many more toxins than we were at their age, but most of them are able to get it out of their systems with the detox foot pads.

My recommendation to you is to buy a 100 pack of the detox foot pads. Then you can use them on your whole family for the first while. See who has the most goo, what areas of the feet pull out the most toxins, use the reflexology reference chart to figure out what areas you want to target. If your child's foot is small enough, you can put the foot pad lengthwise down the foot, and get the whole body detoxified!

YES. They are safe for kids and babies.

YES. You can wear them every night.

YES. Kids tend to detox quicker than adults.

YES YES YES! The foot pads can be worn by the whole family!

Check out some adorable kiddos wearing the foot pads:

one foot pad practically covers the whole foot!

wearing foot pads before bed

sleeping baby feet

horsing around

Racheting Pruning Shears

I am an avid gardener and LOVE to help make things grow. I love rose bushes and flower gardens, but my favorite is my herb and vegetable garden.

I feel at home outside in the dirt.

These pruning shears are a great addition to my garden tool collection. While I haven't been able to use them yet (thanks to mid-winter blues and 2 feet of snow), I look forward to using them when the time comes.



The unique features help make pruning bushes a lot simpler with less strength required due to the ratcheting action. Some of the features include:

1. High carbon steel blade that cuts wood up to 1" in diameter

2. The carbon steel blade stays sharp and requires less sharpening over its lifetime

3. It has a teflon coating that prevents sap and goo to stick to the blade. This also helps prevent it from rusting.

4. While it is a heavy duty tool, it actually is very lightweight.

Pick one up today HERE, and get ready for Spring!

Really Cool Therapy Cold/Hot Brace for Ankles, Elbows or Knees

This is a really neat Hot/Cold Brace from Acu-Life! It offers a unique 3 in 1 design -- it can easily fit your ankle, elbow or knee. When I first got it I didn't believe it would really fit all three joints comfortably... but it does!

You can use it for hot or cold therapy. For the cold therapy it can help reduce swelling and inflammation. It is useful even for tendonitis or bursitis, sprains and strains.

You will want to keep it in the freezer to use it as ice therapy.


The heat can be used for sore muscles, tightness and cramping. You can just stick it in the microwave for this.

The brace can help protect a soft tissue injury, such as a sprain or strain, while it heals.

It is a pretty cool, multi-purpose item to have in your first aid kit (or just keep it in your freezer for quick use as needed).

Cellulite Cream from Body Merry

I have to admit that as you get older, sometimes the cellulite just creeps in. I have a little bit of cellulite on my thighs and am not impressed at all! So I decided to try some cellulite cream to see if I can get rid of it.

When I first opened it and put it on, it smelled a LOT like an ItWorks! body wrap. I have tried those years ago and this smelled brought back that memory. I am guessing that they have some of the same ingredients.

When I woke up in the morning I DID notice smoother skin in my thighs. I am going to continue using this and hope that my cellulite will be gone after a week.



You can reduce cellulite with this unique Caffeine + Retinol + Seaweed formula. It also contains potent natural and organic ingredients such as algae extract, kelp, coconut oil, Japanese green tea leaf extract, and cayenne. And best of all, it is free from harsh chemicals such as parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

The gel-cream consistency is designed to spread over large areas and it absorbs quickly into your skin. The cream is infused with a refreshing 100% natural ‘mint - green tea - lime’ fragrance, that barely leaves a trace once fully absorbed.

In a nutshell, Body Merry’s Cellulite Defense Gel-Cream is your ticket to visibly reducing the appearance of unwanted bumps and lumps and getting skin that feels and looks tighter, smoother and younger!

Beautiful Skin Thanks To Argan Oil

The Argan tree originates in Morocco and the fruit seems to be so tasty that goats will actually climb trees to eat them! Isn't that adorable?

Goat's climbing the Argan tree to reach the delicious fruit

Inside that tasty fruit is a nut that is pressed to give us Argan oil. The oil is high in vitamin E and vitamin A.

This oil is used for so many things and should probably be re-named as the #1 beauty oil for its comprehensive benefits. Here are just a few of them:

1.Your skin's best friend. Argan oil is a miracle moisturizer, can be used for scars, stretch marks, and even as a toner or nighttime moisturizer.

2. Can soothe razor burn! Yes, just rub some oil on your legs after a particularly harsh shaving session.

3. Hair conditioner. You can use Argan oil as a leave in conditioner -- but just a note that if you have fine, thin hair you may not want to do this, or do it only on the tips and use only a drop or two and rub on your fingers and then rub your fingers through the ends of your hair. But definitely try it as an overnight deep conditioning treatment if you have split ends! Wash out the next morning.

4. Lips and nails. Put a drop on your lips for soft, luscious lips, and another drop on your nails and cuticles.

5. Dry feet and cracked heels? No problem. Put some Argan oil on before bed, and then put some socks on overnight.



As you can see, there are a ton of things you can do with Argan oil. It is a true beauty oil, no harsh or toxic chemicals, and extremely affordable. One bottle should last you quite awhile.

Turmeric The Super Herb

I love all the benefits of turmeric. The compounds inside turmeric are called curcuminoids, of which you are probably familiar with curcumin. While it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is a strong antioxidant, the curcumin content of turmeric itself is not very high... so while it is still nice to eat turmeric / curcumin in your food as a spice, you won't be getting the therapeutic levels you probably are looking for.

Which is why it is important to supplement with turmeric if you are looking for health benefits. The spice from the plant contains about 3% curcuminoids, and True Synergy Turmeric contains 95% curcumindoids.

I personally have used turmeric to help fight inflammation in my body. It has been known to be about as effective as taking other OTC anti-inflammatory drugs and has helped people with arthritis.

Another benefit of turmeric is the antioxidant properties. Turmeric will destroy the free radicals in your body and can help you fight against viruses and colds that come your way.

Also, turmeric may be beneficial for brain health, and heart health. The risk factors seem to increase every day with our daily living, and so giving ourselves another tool in our arsenal to protect against these diseases, is awesome. We definitely want to try to avoid Alzheimer's disease, as it is one of the worst things that could happen.

Some people have said that turmeric also may help prevent and/or treat cancer. Can it also treat depression? Some studies have shown that it may be effective in treating depression.




So, why should you buy True Synergy Turmeric?

• Powerful Antioxidant
• Potent Anti-Inflammatory
• May help prevent diseases like Alzheimer's

• Supports Joint, Heart & Brain Health

Support Your Body with this all natural Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant Miracle herb.

Yay! The Dentist Said My Teeth Were Amazing!

Today I went to the dentist for the first time since 2012 for a cleaning and exam. It isn't like I purposefully went without seeing a dentist, as I DID make an appointment for a cleaning and exam while we were living in Panama.

Here is how it went:

I emailed for an appointment and was confirmed a date and time for my husband and I to come in. The dentist gave us her phone number and said she would see us then (she had limited English knowledge, and we had no Spanish knowledge, but the appointment was made).

We show up at the appointed time. The place is locked and dark inside. There are two other people waiting outside. They both have appointments at the same time. We went to the store next door and they said "oh, she (meaning the dentist) went to the city today, and she will be back about 45 minutes late).

We left.

We didn't try again while we were in Panama.

Now we are back in the states. We got a Groupon for a dentist that uses digital x-rays (I usually get dental x-rays every 3-5 years, my last x-rays were at the end of 2011 - a little over 4 years) so we got the Groupon and I made the appointments.

And for more than 3 years I have been making my own homemade toothpaste. I don't use anything commercial for my teeth except dental floss. I also oil pull. Not every morning but about 5x a week...

Nonetheless, today when the dentist told me my teeth were in EXCELLENT condition and to keep doing what I was doing, I felt great.

I LOVE it when I choose a natural alternative and get rewarded!!

Before, the history of my dental health was not necessarily a good one. I had cavities as a child, as a teenager and even as an adult. I have on average had a small cavity about once every 2-3 years since in my 20s. I have had a total of 3 root canals. One of the root canals ended up being a pulled tooth (couldn't be saved) and now in its place is a dental implant.

But my last dental exam was good, too! I hadn't been making my own toothpaste at that time but I was using a fluoride free toothpaste that I got at Trader Joe's.

In fact, my last TWO dental exams (2011 and 2012) were perfect. I had some tartar buildup, but not much. The hygienist told me today that I had about the same amount as someone who comes in once a year. I LOVE PRAISE LIKE THIS! Seriously. I take my health pretty serious and so these are my ego boosters.

My conclusions are that you don't need fluoride for great dental health as long as you take care of yourself and eat well. I try to be 100% gluten free and processed sugar free. I have the celiac's gene so the gluten free eating is important to me but occasionally something sneaks its way in. I am pretty sure that helped, too! When I am not eating sugar or drinking soda pops or juices, my mouth will reap the benefits.

The Food Babe Way - Get Yours Now!

I felt so lucky when The Food Babe sent me a pre-release copy of her new book, The Food Babe Way, which will be released February 10, 2015! I have not finished reading it but should be done within the next week. However, I am in love with it!

She is such a role model for me. I have been following the Food Babe for about 4 years now, and really love how much energy she has for the things that she believes in -- and consequently, they are things I believe in, too!

But, I don't have the stamina that Vani, the Food Babe has, to spearhead these causes. So I am standing behind her, and want to help spread her message.

 You can buy the book here:

 Here are my comments about the book so far:

1. On my way home tonight I stopped by Sprouts Market and picked up some cayenne pepper. Just this morning I took a lemon juice ice cube (we previously squeezed a dozen lemons and made ice cubes out of the juice so that it would be easy to pop in to some water). This morning I put a lemon juice ice cube into some hot water and added a teeny bit of pure organic stevia to sweeten. It was delicious. Tomorrow I am going to add the cayenne pepper! This is just one tip that she gave in her book that I am going to start doing!

The benefits of drinking warm lemon water with cayenne first thing in the morning is to clean your liver, and give your digestion a boost to start the day. I sure need that!

2. The Food Babe really knows how to get to the real issues, and shares some great tips on how to start if you are new to this, or even some great ideas if you aren't such a newb. For example, I have been eating real food for years now, and even use non-toxic personal care products and products for my home. But I am definitely not perfect. In her 21 days challenge in the book, one thing she recommends is to stop drinking a beverage with your meals! I always seem to have a beverage when I eat, so even I have room for improvement!

3. The book is such an easy read! I know I will definitely be done with it within the next 5 days. (I have more time to read on the weekends...) You don't need to know any scientific terminology, and she gets right to the point. It won't waste your time at all, and you will learn a ton of information.

Vani, the Food Babe, is amazing. She is a huge role model and teacher for all of us who want to live a healthier lifestyle. She is a great activist and willing to stand up for what she believes is right -- facing huge conglomerates like Kraft and Subway -- so that we as consumers can know what is in our food! She also is beautiful!

Buy the book here. It is not only a great read, it also is one that you will want to keep forever. That is why I recommend the hard cover edition instead of the eBook edition. You will want to earmark pages and write notes, and it is easier to do with a physical copy.

You can visit The Food Babe blog HERE.

The Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing

Your skin is your body's largest organ. And there are many ways that it helps you. The most important way is to detoxify and eliminate toxins. Some say that up to 1/3 of the toxins in your body are excreted through your skin.

Skin brushing is not anything new, but it seems to be gaining some attention the past couple years. No wonder! Here is a list of many of the benefits:

• Skin brushing helps to clear away dead skin cells on the surface of our skin!
• Not only does it help with the surface of the skin, it helps increase circulation in our bodies
• Some say that it helps reduce cellulite
• Stimulates your lymphatic system
• It is supposed to help with ingrown hairs! So, be sure to brush your thighs!

 How do you start?

1. Start with dry skin. Don't use on wet skin.
2. Always brush toward your heart, starting at your feet and working to your torso... then your hands and again, working toward your torso.
3. Brush in mid to long strokes that are firm, but not hard.
4. Brush each area with 3-5 strokes minimum.
5. You should do your armpit or groin area to stimulate the lymph nodes, however, do not brush over any open sores or wounds.
6. Drink a full glass of water shortly afterward.
7. Brush daily.

Don't: 
1. Don't brush your face
2. Don't share your brush. Each family member should have their own.


This is one of the many ways to detox. Because we are exposed to so many toxins in our daily lives, I recommend using my detox foot pads as well as other methods like dry skin brushing, to support your body's natural detoxification methods.

My Beloved Boxer Boy

We had a stressful move back to the states from Panama last month. The biggest thing was that United PetSafe left my dog and cat on the hot tarmac before loading them into the cargo hold of the plane -- for over 30 minutes -- in Panama City. I was furious and caused a stink -- the Director of Operations for United Cargo called me personally a few days later and tried to give me a $150 voucher to make up for it. No, thank you. Keep your pittance!

Nonetheless, with lots of prayers and faith, we made it safely here to Colorado.

 

Within the first few weeks, my beautiful boxer, Aegis, hurt his left hind leg. It could have been accidentally slipping on ice, or running up the stairs, or jumping and landing the wrong way. He is a few weeks shy of 7 years old, so he is not a baby anymore. But he acts like a puppy. He doesn't let anything like his age get in the way of his playtime.

Since he had a vet appointment to take care of some gingival hyperplasia (common in boxers -- but thankfully not too bad for Aegis -- he had only one area where the gums were growing and covering his teeth), we had the vet do some x-rays of his leg and also some physical manipulation test to see if his knee was stable or not.

The vet told us that it did appear that he had a partially torn ACL. This is dreadful news! Surgery would run around $3,000 on the low end (TPLO surgery) and that would require cutting his bone, inserting a metal plate, to stabilize the knee. And, chances are in the future, the other leg would go, too.

So, following my "mother's intuition" I decided I am not going to accept this diagnosis. I am going to do what is called "conservative management" and treat him holistically, with nutrition, supplements and so on.

 

Here is what I did:

1. I immediately started dissolving homeopathic arnica pellets in his mouth at night. Boxer jowls are perfect to stick 2 pellets in. He doesn't even know they are there!

2. Upped the fish oil capsules I was giving him. He thinks these are treats and he normally gets 1 or 2 per day, but they were not sufficient with the therapeutic amounts he should be getting. So I purchased some from NutriGold on Amazon and now he gets 2 of the double strength capsules, twice per day. They have a sufficient amount of EPA and DHA for him.

3. Dr. Christopher's Complete Tissue and Bone formula. Both the salve and the pills. I confirmed with the company that they are ok for dogs. He has no problem taking them in his food. I have not been consistent with putting the salve on his knee every day.

4. The first few days after his injury I did give him Rimadyl, which is a pain reliever / NSAID for dogs. This was to reduce the swelling. (I also had to give it to him because his gums were hurting after the oral surgery).

5. Initially I iced his knee twice per day for about 5 minutes, also the help with inflammation and healing and pain relief. He was pretty calm about that!

6. MSM / Condroitin / Glucosamine joint supplement for dogs. This will probably be one of the most important things to do, long term. The one from Condrobest is made in the USA, doesn't have any weird ingredients, and offers nutritional support for my dog as well as joint support.

7. AnimalEO -- this is a company founded by a holistic veterinarian who makes animal safe essential oils. I purchased the New Mobility oil, and the Any-itis oil to help repair soft tissue damage and improve mobility. I don't use oils internally and won't for my dog, either. So I put drops on my palm and rub together. Then I pet my dog in his hind legs. That should work!

8. A chiropractic friend of mine, who has experience adjusting animals, was able to give my dog an adjustment.

And of course, maybe one of the most important things: don't let him run around and act crazy. He was given free reign of the backyard to do his business, and then anytime we go out for anything else, he has to be on a leash, to prohibit him from straining his leg.

We will go to the vet next Thursday for a follow up of his dental surgery, and then discuss with the vet the next steps. The vet really wanted to push me to schedule a surgery, but right now he is barely limping, and he walks fine, no favoring of the leg at all. I would love for the vet to agree with me that surgery is not necessary. But nonetheless, unless it gets worse, I will still refuse the surgery.

Fire Talon Multi-tool Review

I am always of a preparedness mindset. I prefer to have my emergency car kit, 72 hour kits recommended by FEMA, and always stocked up with first aid supplies. One thing I always love to have handy is one of those "leatherman" type tools that has everything in it.


In the picture below I have my old "tool" on the left that I got a couple years ago -- it has a canvas carrying case and stated that it is made of stainless steel. Well, it has rusted, and was hard to open (you can't see very well in the picture) but it is very light weight and not usable if I can't get the different tools open!

On the right hand side you see the Fire Talon multi-tool. Now this thing is hefty in comparison to the small rusted one I had before. It has a stainless steel knife blade, scissors, wire strippers, a can opener, both a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver, even an LED light, and pliers.

It comes with a nice rubber handle that doesn't slip. And I can bet that it won't ever rust!




I am keeping this one in my truck -- in the glove compartment.

When closed, this tool measures 4 in. long and weighs 9.8 oz. It would be nice to have one for your

The Fire Talon Multi-Tool comes with a 1-yr warranty, so you know you'll have everything you need right at your fingertips.