Who's Your Crunchy Momma? {A GUEST POST SERIES} Featuring Karrie from Mostly Crunch

Be sure and check out our GIVEAWAY while you're here.

Hello! Happy end of March. I am SO excited for spring. 

I don't know about you, but I've really been enjoying getting to know like-minded mommas through this guest post series so far. In January I loved introducing you all to my friend Teri who blogs at Homestead Honey and in February to a new friend, Ashlee from Live Essentially.

Today I am excited to introduce you to another new friend. Without further ado... 

Hello from Karrie of Mostly Crunch!

Hello! My name is Karrie and I blog at Mostly Crunch. My husband and I live (and grew up in) in a south suburb of Chicago…but our hearts and plans are of a small homestead off the grid near some mountains!
I have a couple science degrees that I’m using to be a stay at home mom. :D Prior to having kids I was working in the Biological Sciences division of the University of Chicago and finishing my masters with plans to be a wildlife biologist. 

Since having kids my plans have changed to going back to school to become a naturopathic doctor. In the mean time I just share share share natural health info via my Facebook group (“Natural Living”) and my blog…and emails, and when I open my mouth to talk. 

A Little Background

I’m married to my high school sweetheart; our lockers were right next to each other as well as our pictures in the yearbook! We were together for 15 years before getting married. We have two boys, who will be 4 and 2 in the spring and we have another baby arriving in July! 

I started blogging because I needed another way to share natural health information to anyone and everyone interested in learning! And I love to write, which is a nice bonus.

My grandma was into herbs and essential oils and I have just always been drawn to natural anything, something innate perhaps. I was a veterinary technician for a holistic vet for a few years and learned quite a bit and that fed my passion even more. Then I had kids and there was just no turning back from a natural path as I had to make decisions about what goes in their little bodies. 

About my most popular post on Mostly Crunch...

I shared the birth story of my second son on my blog because he was the first"gentle cesarean" in the Chicagoland area. (Which means we got on the news for 45 seconds.) I went through a difficult time accepting he was going to be a cesarean. God taught me a big fat juicy lesson when I was trying to get him to turn for weeks upon weeks and the day after I was finally at peace my water broke and he was born. Amazing. 

I hope my birth story helps expecting moms to push for that type of cesarean if it's medically necessary for them to avoid a vaginal delivery. He was never separated from me for which I am just so grateful. My doula whose second son was an emergency cesarean, who has seen many cesareans and who was with me when he was born said 1) it was a very healing experience for HER regarding her own cesarean experience and 2) it wasn't a "c-section," it was a "cesarean birth." For that I am very grateful and very blessed.

What is a"Crunchy Momma"...?

To me being "crunchy" means (to whatever degree we are comfortable…crunchy mama wars need to stop) using what God provided us for health and well-being. Because the sheer volume of plants He provided and all the different things we can do with them (spices, herbs, seeds, fruits, essential oils, homeopathics) to heal and or strengthen our bodies leaves me in awe and basically feeling a little “duh, that’s WHY it’s all here!” Every time I read something about the benefits of another plant/spice/food or another benefit of an already beneficial one I think (and it has become a running joke when I share the “new” info on social media) “It’s as if He thought of everything we need and provided it.” :D 

The best part of being a momma is...

What I love most about being a momma is watching my kids learn things; seeing that light bulb go off. Plus, the laughs of course. These boys are pretty hilarious. 

The hardest part of being a momma is...

Ha! I don’t even know how to answer. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had and will ever have. I guess I would say patience and sleep, or rather the lack thereof both of those things! 

A few of Karrie's Favorite Things...

See it on Amazon.

See it on Amazon.

I love BOOKS! A few of my favorites are: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon, Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy,

and of course the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling!

We eat a lot of snacks at our house. We love homemade kale chips. We finish the batch basically as soon as they come out of the oven. We’re also partial to homemade granola bars! 

My favorite quote:

“Do not go where the path may lead; 
go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can find Karrie on her blog, Mostly Crunch, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Are you a crunchy momma? Do you run a blog or other website? Are you interested in submitting a guest post? Please PM me through the LittleOwlCrunchyMomma Facebook page. I would love to get to know you. 

(Note: this post may contains affiliate links. Meaning, if you shop after click on them you might be helping to support my blogging endeavors. Thank you!)

Who's Your Crunchy Momma? {A GUEST POST SERIES} Featuring Ashlee from LIVE ESSENTIALLY

Be sure and check out our GIVEAWAY while you're here.

Welcome friends! Very glad you stopped by today. This is the second post in a Guest Post series titled, "Who's Your Crunchy Momma?" Last month I was excited to introduce you to my friend Teri who blogs at Homestead Honey that I have known since I was a little girl. 

Today, I am excited to introduce you to a new friend! One very wonderful and unexpected thing that has come from starting this blog is getting to know other crunchy, naturally-minded mommas who have similar passions. Ashlee is one such momma. I have been enjoying getting to know her through her blog and I know you will, too. 

Now, without further ado...

Hello from Ashlee of Live Essentially!

Photo used with permission from Ashlee of Live Essentially

Hi there! I am Ashlee from Live Essentially. I am a huge advocate of natural living and passionate about all things green and crunchy. I am a mother of two beautiful children. They are my entire world and keep me on my toes each and every single day. My only hope in this world is to give them back everything that they have given me.

A Little Background

I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, but my heart longs for warm weather and sunshine year round. We have been having some severe winter weather here lately, and it is inspiring me more and more to relocate.....

What a Typical Day Looks for Ashlee 

I have many jobs! The most important is being a mother to my two spunky kiddos. I also own my own massage practice where I work as a massage therapist. I am an Independent Product Consultant for doTERRA International (I love essential oils!), and I have just recently decided to join the blogging world to help inspire others to live a more natural lifestyle.

I became a massage therapist, because I wanted to help heal others in a natural way that didn’t involve medicine and surgery. As a massage therapist, I began experiencing essential oils which lead me into the wonderful world of doTERRA where I enrolled as a consultant. 

I am the wife of an intelligent, hardworking, and caring husband and father. We have two beautiful children, our daughter Marli (4) and our son Silas (19 months). We also have two 80lb dogs named Aydia and Ares, a bunny named Bunny Boy, a turtle named Simon, and a fish named Tealy. We like to keep things interesting around here....

How Live Essentially came to be...

After becoming more and more aware of the toxic and processed world we are living in, I decided to start living a natural lifestyle for the sake of my health and the health of my family. After everything that I have learned along the way, I want to share my knowledge with others and help them make changes that will make a difference in their own health, which is why I have decided to start blogging, in hopes to really get the word out.

What is a"Crunchy Momma"...?

To me, “crunchy” is a lifestyle. It is researching everything to avoid falling victim to mainstream beliefs. It is educating yourself in every decision that you make and being your own person regardless of what is popular. It is eco-friendly, health friendly, non-toxic, non-harmful, conscious living.

Photo used with permission from Ashlee of Live Essentially

The BEST part of being a Momma is...

I love EVERYTHING about being a mommy. I love the cuddles, the breastfeeding, the co-sleeping, and the handholding. I love being able to watch my children grow and become amazing individuals. I love nourishing their bodies and mind with real food and kind words. I love being able to comfort them in every way that they need it: wiping away the tears, kissing boo-boos, rocking, and hugging. I genuinely love it all.

The HARDEST part of being a Momma is...

The hardest thing about being a mom is time management. When my children are awake, I want to spend every moment with them, which can sometimes lead to a very messy house, mountains of dirty laundry, and a mile long to-do list, but at the end of the day, I know what is most important and that I spent my time wisely.

A few of Ashlee's Favorite Things...

See it on Amazon.

When I was a teenager I read the book, The Giver by Lois Lowry. It inspired me to start living against the grain and conforming to the “norm”. It was life-changing. It helped me step outside of my shell and become my own person. I think every young adult should read this to understand that it is ok to stand out and stand up for who you are and what you believe.

See it on Amazon.

I have an old, old cookbook that belonged to my great grandma, Betty Crocker's New Picture Cook Book. It’s my favorite because of it’s sentimental value, but also because all of the dishes are made from scratch. It was printed before processed food, GMO’s, food dyes, and chemical concoctions took over the shelves of the grocery store.

My favorite quote:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.” 

– Dr. Seuss' The Lorax 

Photo used with permission from Ashlee of Live Essentially

You can find Ashlee on her blog, Live Essentially, find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, and LinkedIn 

Are you a crunchy momma? Do you run a blog or other website? Are you interested in submitting a guest post? Please PM me through the LittleOwlCrunchyMomma Facebook page. I would love to get to know you. 

(Note: this post may contains affiliate links. Meaning, if you shop after click on them you might be helping to support my blogging endeavors. Thank you!)

Who's Your Crunchy Momma? {A GUEST POST SERIES} Featuring Teri from HOMESTEAD HONEY

Be sure and check out our GIVEAWAY while you're here.

Welcome friends! I am very excited to be starting this Guest Post series today. Throughout the next year I will be introducing you to fellow crunchy mommas who have a passion for sustainable living, taking care of their children, and who want to share their vision with other mommas.

To start off the series I have asked my friend Teri from Homestead Honey to share a little bit about herself and her family. I actually know Teri outside of the blogosphere. Aside from having a passion for all things crunchy, Teri and I both share a love of musical theatre! We actually met years ago when she was choreographing "Oklahoma!" at a local musical theatre. 

She is an inspiration to me onstage and off, and I am very excited for you all to get to know her a little bit, too.

Photo used with permission from Teri of Homestead Honey.

Hello from Teri of Homestead Honey!

Hello LittleOwlCrunchyMomma readers! I am Teri Page, from Homestead Honey. I live in Northeast Missouri with my husband Brian, and our two children, ages 3 and 6. My professional background is in nonprofit management, dance education, and arts administration. 

These days, I use those skills as the coordinator of our Waldorf-inspired homeschool cooperative; a children's musical theater teacher; and as a writer, both on my blog and as a frequent contributor for homesteading and natural parenting magazines. For years, I have been active in dance and musical theater (which is, in fact, how I first met Jackie!), and I still love performing, teaching, and choreographing in local productions.

A Little Background (and where we are now)

My family lived in the Eugene, Oregon area for 13 years, renting a 30 acre property, growing gardens and fruit trees, and raising chickens, ducks, bees, dairy goats, and pigs. We desperately wanted to steward our own piece of land, but the real estate prices in Oregon were prohibitive for the type of debt-free life we wanted. 

In 2012, we packed up our entire homestead, and moved across country to NE Missouri, where we bought 10 acres of raw land next door to good friends.  For the past year, we've been building our off-grid homestead, planting fruit trees, creating a sheet mulched garden, starting a new laying flock of chickens, and most importantly, building a 350 square foot house. 

We camped very rustically on the land all summer, and in late October, we moved into our (not quite finished) home. Our homestead is a work-in-progress, and while we someday plan to install a photovoltaic system, for now we are living electricity-free, and using a water-catchment system for our drinking water needs. 

What a Typical Day Looks for Teri on her Homestead

Because of the rustic nature of our living situation, our typical day is full of chores such as purifying drinking water through our Berkey filter, collecting wash water from our pond, charging our phone with a solar charger, cooking whole foods meals from scratch, and splitting firewood for our woodstove. 

My husband and I both work from home, so we balance work time with kid time. It is a joy to be able to spend so much time with our children, together as a family, but it also involves a lot of juggling! We are also preparing to launch an Etsy shop in the next few days, so we've been very busy making products and setting up the store. 

We try to share each meal together, so our meals serve as anchor points throughout the day where we can regroup and reconnect.

How Homestead Honey came to be...

I started blogging in January, 2012, but began blogging in earnest about a year ago. It's been a fabulous way for me to document and share our experiences building an off-grid homestead from scratch, and to connect with a community of like-minded people. My ultimate goal is to inspire people to pursue their own radical homestead dreams. 

What is a"Crunchy Momma"...?

I have been called "crunchy" for many years, beginning when I enrolled in college in Maine in 1992!  In those days, crunchy meant that I wore Birkenstocks and studied ecology. Nowadays, I view crunchiness less as a function of what I do, and more as a reflection of being a questioning, thinking woman and momma.  

Camping on a piece of land without electricity, creating a home-based economy so we have more time for family and community,  homeschooling, breastfeeding well into toddlerhood, eating whole foods, not vaccinating my children, practicing elimination communication...these actions are all expressions of my inner knowledge that what our society and culture says is "right" is not always right for me and my family.

Photo used with permission from Teri of Homestead Honey.

The BEST part of being a Momma is...

Being a mom has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. My two children have taught me to be more playful, to view the world with wonder, and to get in touch with my creativity.  But what I love most about being a momma is that I get to practice patience and peaceful parenting in a way that I never dreamed possible.  I am helping my children connect with their own emotions and feelings, and in turn, they will be the future peacemakers of the world.

Photo used with permission from Teri of Homestead Honey.

The HARDEST part of being a Momma is...

The hardest thing about being a mom is balancing my needs as an adult woman who loves to connect with other adults, perform in musicals and dance performances, and work on my own projects.  I love staying home with them, but I also love the stimulation of work in the nonprofit arts world, and hope to find a way to integrate this passion into my life.

A few of Teri's Favorite Things...

Learn more

My favorite book is Radical Homemakers by Shannon Hayes. To say that this book changed my life would not be an overstatement. When I first read this book a few years ago, my husband and I were deep in discussion about a vision for our lives. Reading Radical Homemakers re-framed the discussion for me, opening up a whole new world of possibilities about what my life could look like.

Learn more

Learn more

I have a lot of favorite cookbooks. These days my top two are Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair, and Eating Close to Home by Elin England. 

My favorite quote:

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

- Anais Nin (1903-1977)

Photo used with permission from Teri of Homestead Honey.

You can find Teri on her blog, Homestead Honey, follow her on Facebook and Pinterest, or visit her at her Etsy Shop. Stop on by and say hello!

Are you a crunchy momma? Do you run a blog or other website? Are you interested in submitting a guest post? Please PM me through the LittleOwlCrunchyMomma Facebook page. I would love to get to know you. 

(Note: this post contains affiliate links. Meaning, if you shop after click on them you will are helping to support my blogging endeavors. Thank you!)

How to Clean the Kitchen Sink

Be sure and check out our GIVEAWAY while you're here.

Ugh. Just looking at that "before" picture makes me shudder. I can't believe I let the sink get that disgusting. I think it was mostly coffee stains, but still, no, just no. So gross. I guess the one good thing about it is that it gives you a good idea of what the natural cleaning tip I am going to share with you can do....

(This is a guest post for Sustainable Fitness. Find the article in full on her site.)

(Source: The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel Maier)

Guest Post at Naturally Mindful: Tips for Traveling with Cloth Diapers

Be sure and check out our GIVEAWAY while you're here.

With the holidays right around the corner lots of folks are thinking about packing up and heading out to get in cars, in planes, on trains, etc. Traveling during the holidays is never the most fun of times. Traveling with children makes things even more complicated. Traveling with a baby in cloth diapers? Forget it. 

At least, that's the way a lot of parent feel about the matter.

But there is no need. Traveling with cloth diapers can actually be quite painless and simple.... 

(This is a post written for Stephanie of Naturally Mindful. Visit her site to Continue Reading...)

A Nourishing Progressive Dinner for the Holidays

Be sure and check out our GIVEAWAY while you're here.

This post is a part of 'A Nourishing Progressive Dinner for the Holidays', a fun set of link-ups started by Katie of Nourishing Simplicity.

On November 19- served by Katie B. of Simply Food and Danielle of More Than Four Walls served APPETIZERS. 

On November 26- Shannon of Growing Slower served SALAD.  

See the recipe here.

Today (December 3) I am sharing my recipe for Cultured Cranberry Sauce as a part of the SIDES. Make sure and visit Virginia over at George Town, MN to see what she's whipping up, too!






Also, stay-tuned as there is more great stuff to come:

December 10- Cery of Life at Bear Creek Farm  and Chara of Stiching Hearts Together will be  be sharing two delightful homemade breads. 

December 17- Katie S. of Nourishing Simplicity will be sharing a main dish that has been a family favorite for years.  

December 24- Pour yourself a couple glasses of  the festive beverages being served by Virginia of George Town, MN and Sherry of Nourishing Faith and Family. 

December 31- Dessert will be served Mare of Just Making Noise and Sara of Simple Life Abondant Life 

Come back here each week for updated links for you to join us in the holiday fun. How does a real food recipe exchange sound? Each host will have a link-up live on her post where you can share your favorite holiday courses or grab some new recipes to try! 

Like what you read? Be sure and follow LittleOwlCrunchyMomma on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest.

The Scariest Moment: Mesothelioma

I hope you all are are having a wonderful day. I am enjoying the rain and anticipating a warm, cozy Thanksgiving with my family.

A couple days ago a fellow momma asked me if I would share her story with you all.

Please read. Please share.

I had no idea what Mesothelioma was until I met Heather.

Mesothelioma-The Scariest Moment

by Heather

I have had a lot of scary moments in my life, but nothing compares to the fear I felt when the doctor told me these three words: “you have cancer.” About 3 ½ months before hearing those awful words, I was the happiest person in the world because I had just had a baby. It seemed like in only a split second, I went from being happy to feeling miserable because I had just gotten diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma cancer, a disease that is directly linked to asbestos exposure.

People are so shocked when I tell them how I got my cancer. They automatically think that asbestos is banned, and then they wonder how I got it because I did not work in asbestos related areas. They look confused when I tell them that it is not banned and that I was exposed to asbestos by my father. My father would bring home asbestos every night. He worked in asbestos related areas because he worked in construction. He would handle drywall, mudding, and sanding. Throughout his handling of these things, he was in contact with asbestos. The asbestos fibers were found in the white dust that covered his clothes when he came home every night.

Since I was only 36 years old, I looked a lot different from the typical patient who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Most people who were diagnosed with mesothelioma made a living by doing plumbing jobs, heating jobs, electrical jobs, mechanical jobs, and jobs on ships. These were all areas that had high asbestos exposure. The wives of these people were diagnosed next. They would handle the clothes with all of the asbestos fibers still on them.

I do not look much different than the patients of today. Like me, they are in their late 20’s or early 30’s. We all are similar because we were exposed to asbestos the same way; we were exposed by our fathers. When our fathers came home from work, we would run to get a hug. We would follow them and hang with them as they insulated the pipes at the house. We would even put on their asbestos laden clothes to keep ours clean. We are also similar because mesothelioma caused our lives to come to a standstill. We were just getting married, having kids, and beginning new careers when mesothelioma entered our lives. Thankfully, treatment
advances have allowed all mesothelioma patients to increase their chances of surviving this disease.

Cancer is a horrible disease, and knowing that you have it makes it even worse. Like many other mesothelioma patients, I continue to have hope. Through the mesothelioma community, we are able to talk with one another, cry with one another, and celebrate the victories as we conquer this disease.

I share my story to make others aware. If my story helps people and brings more awareness to this disease, then I know I am doing the right thing.

All about P**p (Superfood Series)

Hello everyone! It's time to party again. Last month Linda from Axiom at Home partied with us and today it's my turn to party with her!

Previously when I talked about superfoods in this series I let you know about all about Spirulina and about my source for natural Vitamin C to help fight off colds this season.

Today, we are going to talk all about p**p. That's right. Not something we typically talk about every day, but very important. So, for your health and those of others... please join me now with Linda over at Axiom at Home where we will talk all about p**p...

This post shared at: FarmgirlFriday, FreakyFriday, FoodieFriday, FoodtasticFriday, FreshBites, InspirationFriday, LinkyPartyPityParty, FridayFlair, FridayFavs, TickledPink, LovelyCraftyWeekend, FarmgirlBlogfest, FightbackFriday, NaturalLivingMonays, HomesteadBarnHop, BetterMomMondays, BusyMonday

Guest Post! Axiom at Home: Mushoom and Walnut Pate

Hey Everyone! Yesterday marked the one month anniversary of LittleOwlCrunchyMomma. I am so glad you have joined me thus far. It has already been quite a wonderful, exciting and fun adventure. 

To celebrate, I am having a party! Today I have invited Linda from Axiom at Home to join us. She has decided to share with you all a fabulous recipe. I love Linda. I love her blog. I love her sense of humor, her recipes, her tips on natural skincare, and all the other  great stuff you can find on her site. If you haven't already, I highly encourage you to check it out. Subscribe to her via email or "like" her on Facebook. 

And now, without further ado, I present to you Linda from Axiom at Home: (*insert applause here*)


Hello, I'm Linda from Axiom at Home. I am very excited that Jacquelyn asked me to stop by and share a recipe with you all. I hope you enjoy!

This post is evidence I am a chicken... You see, I've been trying to find a way to incorporate organ meats into my diet, but I have a lingering fear of all things subconsciously labeled "innards".

Okay, I know it's silly--I mean, I used to eat McDonalds for goodness sake... pink slime anyone? But that doesn't change anything now... So, after someone recommended a chicken liver pate as a good start on my journey to this interior realm, I chickened out, and made this instead. 

Ingredients:
1 cup walnuts, read about soaking nuts here
1/2 cup shallots, chopped
About 4 ounces Shiitake mushrooms, chopped
About 4 ounces white (Crimini) mushrooms, chopped
About 4 ounces baby Portobello mushrooms, chopped
4-6 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 tbsp of fresh parsley, chopped
5-6 pieces of fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 cup organic, grass-fed butter (try this if you cannot find a quality local source)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil (or walnut oil)

How To:
1. Toast Walnuts: Spread walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Set aside.

2. Cook Mushrooms: In a large saute pan, cook shallots in butter over medium heat until translucent. Then add mushrooms, garlic, and seasonings/ fresh herbs. Cook until liquid has evaporated, stirring occassionally. You'll probably want to lower the heat a bit as you simmer, down to medium low.

3. Process: Add walnuts and oil to a blender or food processor or magic bullet and mix until a paste is formed. Then add the cooked mushroom mixture and blend until mostly smooth. I like to leave a few chunks here and there, but it's mostly pretty smooth.

4. Cool: Fill oiled "molds", cover and refrigerate for a minimum of three hours or overnight. I used little ramekins, you could use little custard cups or small regular bowls, or get fancy and use themed molds/ bowls. Be sure to grease-- oil works better than butter. I filled three ramekins of the size shown in the picture below. 

5. Extract and Serve: When ready to serve, remove from molds and invert onto a serving platter. I use a skinny, sharp knife and a large, shallow serving spoon to extract my pate and that works great. Eat with crackers or use as a spread for vegetables, sourdough bread, hamburgers, etc. Get creative! 

Comments:
This is very easy to make and makes a nice presentation, perfect for a party or holiday gathering. Also, you can make it in advance and it should be fine about a week in the refrigerator, although I personally would probably not make it any sooner than a day or two in advance just to keep it as fresh as possible. Also, I think one of these times I make it I will try to coat it with crushed walnuts and see how that changes the presentation.

This recipe serves about 15-20 people as an appetizer, assuming of course that you made a few other appetizers. The amount made fills three of the ramekins as shown in the picture above, and I think that's about a perfect height. Try serving with rye crackers or this or this. Total time on this (chopping and cooking) about 30 minutes, probably a little more your first time.