Coco Loco

So I've been rediscovering the magical world of COCONUT OIL recently and just can't help but share.

Have you heard of this gift of nature?? Did you know that virgin coconut oil is like a miracle drug for a plethora of ailments? Tropical cultures have thrived on it for centuries. All natural, edible, side-effect free, and cost-effective, seriously, you must try it before heading to the doc or medicine cabinet. Here are a few surprising powers virgin coconut oil possesses:

- aids weight loss (or gain, ie: balances metabolism)
- lowers blood pressure and bad cholesterol
- balm for the skin (dry, itchy, cracked, flaky, oozing, brown spots, bumps... disappear)
- clears up acne/coldsores/eczema/dandruff/shingles/hives/diaper rash/athlete's foot
- prevents heart disease
- can be used as natural sunscreen
- can replace your deoderant and hair gel
- anti-aging effects
- helps prevent stretch marks and boosts milk supply
- anti-inflammatory (from swelling to arthritis to general aches & pains)
- prevents migraines and "brain fog"
- anti-bacterial AND anti-viral (not even meds claim to be anti-viral, we're talking flu here)
- aids digestion/acid reflux
- controls yeast and infections
- regulates thyroid function

So how do you utilize this amazing stuff? Simple.

You eat it (2-4 T per day.) 

You rub it on (anywhere you want.) 

You cook with it (healthier than all other oils.) 

You USE it. 

Be sure to purchase VIRGIN coconut oil, not some nasty processed, manipulated, augmented fake. It should be clear liquid or white solid with a mild coconut smell/taste. Glass jars are best and raw/organic is a plus, but as long as it's virgin, you'll be right. A little goes a long way and it lasts forever so go for the big jar.

Many people have purchased the stuff but are at a loss as to how to use it. Really it couldn't be easier. Here's a link to 52 Uses For Coconut Oil to get you started.

Want to get it in your diet but can't handle putting a spoonful of oil in your mouth? Try it instead of butter on your toast. Stir a spoonful into your tea, cocoa or morning oatmeal. Bake it into your breads and cookies instead of the oil/shortening. Amazing in homemade sweet potato fries. Use it to boost your yogurt or smoothies. Have a coconut aversion? Hide it easily in any Indian/curry dish or soups and stews. Make your regular rice "coconut rice." Whip up AMAZING raw desserts. My next try is in my homemade granola and granola bars. YUM.

Here are a few other ways we used it in the last 24 hours:

on blisters/cuts

as lip balm

child's rash and skin abrasion

infected hang nail

smoothest shave on the planet

mysterious skin bumps

facial moisturizer

dry, cracked heels and fingers

Of course there's plenty o' research to back this all up - I'm just serving up the highlights. Surf the web for the science/testimonials (people cured of everything from chronic fatigue to depression to AIDS) or check out any of Dr. Bruce Fife's books (the leading coconut expert):

Eat Fat/Look Thin
Coconut Cures
Virgin Coconut Oil: Nature's Miracle Medicine
The Coconut Oil Miracle

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POST EDIT: In answer to some questions... It is a tad expensive. About $20 for a 650 ml jar, but some shops here can order larger containers for better value. And if you compare it to a nice bottle of olive oil it's pretty comparable, (but way better for you not to mention more versatile.) One guy said he hadn't been sick in the year he'd been using it - so there's some savings for you!
      Also, you may want to consider working up to the "3.5 Tbsp per day for 150 lb adult" mark. I haven't experienced this but some people get the opposite of constipation when they jump straight to 3 spoonfuls a day. Start gradual with a teaspoon and work up from there if you want. Also, it's used often to "cleanse" or flush out toxins in the body - so if you're using it for acne, you may experience an increase for a week before it clears up. Or in the case of oil-pulling (fascinating oral application I've gotta try) you may feel sick at the start as your body begins flushing out the bad stuff. 
     But remember, being all natural, this is not a product you need to be too careful about. Some people take a tablespoon full every few hours if they feel like they're coming down with something. As an immune system boost it can knock it right out without risking nasty side effects. That said, it can also be an energy boost on those midday slumps so maybe don't try it right before bedtime :)
     A friend just sent me this other post with 70 more uses - one of which I just discovered last night. You know those curry or spaghetti sauce stains that stay on your spatula or plastic high chair tray for a few days? Summer was playing with her spoonful of oil on her tray and it took it right off. 

   Have fun going coco loco then come back and tell me about it!

Crafty Nesting

Darren tends to observe my obsessive cleaning spurts, cooking adventures, and kids projects as "nesting." True or not, we certainly all benefit from this stage of pregnancy. You'll probably recognize many of these ideas, but we've thoroughly enjoyed getting artsy and crafty, especially over the break. (And it doesn't hurt that they have these great art/writing competitions around Australia that offer $500 prizes and game consoles and such...)

 Fingerprint, Q-tip and bottle art...

Contact paper with tissue art (can be made shapeable as "sculptures" by hangers/wire as seen here.)

 Good old sharpie and tin foil art (their fave.)

Summer can eventually be found drifting back to her color sorting, (and has become a gracious playdate host of late.)

 They also discovered this awesome aboriginal hosted funky dance show - HILarious to see them try to catch on.

 And we've enjoyed a few field trips... this particular one out in the boonies where we toured Canberra's Deep Space Communication Complex.

 It's truly hard to capture the size of this dish. It's one of three largest in the world. You can fit a whole football stadium in it with ease and it moves with hairwidth precision to see out deeper in space than any place on earth.

Next year is a big anniversary year with some fun celebrations and even an opportunity to watch a new rover landing live on Mars.

Followed up by an impromptu FWD adventure. They got nervous when mom checked the manual... (nervous enough to GET OUT OF THE CAR before I drove down this hill - steeper than it looks since they couldn't even walk down and had to slide down on their bottoms) but I sufficiently won their trust in the end as we drove through rivers and bounced up and down hills.

Probably not my smartest move prego with 4 kids and far from cell service, but we did have fun.

An Ode to D

Darren's been back at it and I must say, his skills are improving. Don't you think??

Would that we all could discover hidden talent at 37. (Sure beats a mid-life crisis...)

His other new hobby (read, obsession) is geneology and family history research. Once he realized he could put his superstar tech skills to work solving all sorts of family tree mysteries, I basically haven't seen him since (we're talking staying up til 3am night after night after night...)

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We love days when Dad is home.

Kids coerced him onto FreeFall at Questacon then eagerly showed him the new exhibits. They just adore that guy joining in the fun.

Top it off with the National Museum, McD's and relaxing in the sun and you've got a recipe for memories.

Nothing thrills them more than him getting silly or wrestling them to the ground or giving them special treatment when they're sick. But I'd have to say their new favorite thing about Dad is when he paints them a picture or writes them a silly song, (and better yet, records it with them.) He's a creative one, that D-Man.

Happy BDay Buzzy! You just keep getting cooler and cooler with every passing year.

xoxo

Apple-ville

My new favorite morning activity with Sum Sums. She sees the signs and yells "Apple! Apple!!" so I call it Apple Lane. Being right in Costco's neighborhood doesn't hurt...

 There are 3-4 growers along the lane and the orchards are just beautiful. I love tasting all the exotic apples (and other fruits) I've never heard of.

Plenty of crafty garden places there as well - that giraffe is made of shells and stones.

These nets over the dwarf trees prevent birds from stealing the bounty.

 Wish I had a picture of their faces when I came home with one of these to make "apple slinkies" like they sell at school. (You know the apples are good when they're eating the peels like candy.)