health

gluten and grain free baking

March 8, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

If you’re new here you may not know this, but if you’ve looked at the recipes here, you will notice that they are all gluten free. That’s because in 2007, right after our miscarriage, I found out I had Celiac’s Disease – which is basically a fancy way of saying I am severely allergic to gluten (wheat, barley, rye, and some other grains). I never was before, at least not that I was aware of, but after the miscarriage I had what I thought was kidney infection after kidney infection and severe, chronic pain in most of my joints, and crazy fatigue. It went on for months. I had several CT Scans of my kidneys and other areas, and the doctors could never find anything. One doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. Then, one of my best friends suggested trying a gluten free diet to help the fibro. Turns out, it was Celiac’s all along (fibro, ibs, and other unpleasant things are very often misdiagnosed and are actually celiacs). Within two weeks (although it takes 2+ months for all gluten to be flushed from your body), I felt so much better. That wa 6 years ago now. It was definitely a HUGE learning experience. I could no longer eat the things I normally bought. And back then, there wasn’t a whole lot of options and brands offering gluten free substitutes. Now, it is much easier to find, and now I know what brands I love and what has and doesn’t have gluten, so shopping is a breeze.

Baking on the other hand has been a challenge. There are so many different flours and they each have a different purpose, texture, taste, etc. I use to stick to a Betty Crocker or Trader Joe’s gluten free mix, if I had to have something sweet, but they were always gritty. Andrew wouldn’t even eat them. But now, after some experimenting and great resources, I can bake most everything I use to bake. And now, you can too!

Stephanie from Mama and Baby Love has done it again! Most of you will know her from her Freezer to Your Family; Slow Cooker Recipe Book. Well, this one is just as great. In Gluten-Free Gran Free Baking, Stephanie takes you through what and how to bake healthy treats without feeling guilty. She talks about how intimidating and frustrating it can be to try grain-free baking, and how she overcame that and is now making amazing treats for/with her sweet girl. I LOVE this book. Things I had to learn the hard way (and some things I didn’t know at all) are all laid out for you in this 30 page book full of photos and recipes! AND… she is offering my readers (that’s YOU) 30% off for THIS WEEKEND ONLY… Just enter code RING30 at checkout!

Yesterday, Elizabeth and I made her amazing chocolate chip cookies from the book. It is better than my original recipe and will replace mine for sure. They are the perfect texture. Not gritty. I like mine a little soft, and they are just right! Plus, they made my house smell like Heaven.

I hope (and I think it’s Steph’s hope) that it inspires you to do a little guilt free baking with your littles. The book is full of healthy, and yet yummy treats! Can you tell Elizabeth loves them? I love to make a big batch and pack them in Andrew’s lunches throughout the week, and when Elizabeth goes to school (soon) I will include them in hers. Trust me, your kids & hubby will thank you!

so snag your book here and don’t forget that this weekend only you get a special discount with RING30.

Filed Under: Food, health, recipe, sponsor

turnaround challenge update {my weightloss story}

March 4, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 7 Comments

Several of you have emailed and posted comments asking how my “turnaround” is going. For those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, I vowed to lose 80 pounds in 2013, and finally take control of my life and health back.

So here it is… As HARD as this is to post, I’m going to lay it all out there.

I haven’t really lost any weight, surprisingly, from the picture. I seem to gain and lose the same 4lb every week. BUT, I am losing body fat and replacing it with muscle, resulting in lots of inches lost!

Before I go into HOW I’m doing this, I first want to share with you WHY. I think that is always the most important issue. If you don’t have a “why” for each of your actions (especially big goals such as massive weight loss, growing your business, making big decisions, etc), then the results don’t really matter, and let’s be honest, the chances of reaching your goals are slim to none.

I have battled my weight my ENTIRE life. I was always “chunky”. My mom (and grandmas, and pretty much every woman in my life) was an absolutely incredible Southern cook. Meaning, we had full meals on the table at least twice a day. And not just a quick meal, I mean homemade biscuits, gravy, sausage or bacon, eggs, fried potatoes… the whole deal. And then there would be fried pork chops, creamed potatoes, squash casserole, green beans with smoked jowl, cornbread, and maybe even a peach cobbler…At least 5 days of the week. I was never taught “portion” control. I was always encouraged to go back for seconds, for there was always “plenty more”. The only sport I was ever active in was softball. I played for 12 years, sometimes year round, ‘til I was 18. Thankfully, there wasn’t a whole lot of conditioning or running involved, and when there was I always heard my dad cheering from the stands, “watch it wiggle, see it jiggle” from the jello commercials. I was chunky. Other then that, there were no hiking trips, or family walks. My mom was disabled. From the time she was born, the doctors told her she would never walk (although she did at 8 years old). So there were no active family lifestyle (at least in the physically active sense). My mom and dad were both very overweight. And then there was the junk food. My mom always had a pantry full of stuff. My friends always hung out at our house, because it had lots of food.

But I was secretly always miserable. I couldn’t wear the cute jeans, because I don’t ever remember a time where I could wear sizes my classmates wore. I was shopping at Lane Bryant in middle school. We’d go to the mall, and I’d go in Lane Bryant, while all my friends would go in American Eagle. I was always terrified of changing in locker rooms. Afraid of wearing shorts during PE. I wanted to play Volleyball and Soccer with my best friends, but settled for being president of the Pep Club for fear of all the exercise. I am fairly certain I was the biggest girl (with the biggest hair) at Senior Prom. Never mind the fact that a dress in style to fit someone my size cost $280.00.

And then I went to college, and all of my suite mates ran and went to the gym. I tried, but I couldn’t keep up with them. That’s when my weight started really bothering me. My mom had just had gastric bypass – she couldn’t even walk around the whole campus on tour day. It was a wake up call for me – I did NOT want to be in the position ever. Not for me, not for my future children, and not for Andrew who I had been dating for about a year. Fast forward several months, and I got engaged (Christmas day 2005, even though the pic says 2003).

By this time, Andrew & I were living together in Connecticut. I was a manager at Victoria’s Secret, and let’s just say those girls intimidated me. I had the highest conversion rates of any manager or associate, but I so wanted to look like them. So one night, I had finally come to my breaking point. I could NOT go on like I was. I was super unhappy. I weighed well over 200 pounds. And I had a wedding dress to fit into. I started going to LA Weightloss twice a week for weigh ins. Basically, they tell you how much food to eat, and I weighed/measured every ounce of food I put in my mouth. And then the weight started coming off. In 2006, before my wedding in October, I lost 60 pounds. I had my wedding gown altered three times. It was a size 18, and by my wedding day, it was taken in to a size 12.

Soon after my wedding, the twice a week visits got to be too inconvenient with our super busy work hours. Before we got married, we bought a house in a different town, that had awesome roads and sidewalks for running, so I decided after quitting LA Weightloss to take up running. I maintained my weight pretty well that way, and by keeping my eating the same as while I was doing LA Weightloss. In 2008-2009, some weight slowly crept back on. Although, I felt much healthier, and was exercising much more frequently, we were also eating a lot of Italian and dining at fancy restaurants weekly. Mid 2009, after a bout of shopping for our second cruise, I knew I had to shape up. I started the 30 Day Shred on June 22, and here you can see my 30 day results.

And, a month later, I got pregnant. A month after that, we both lost our jobs. Two months later, Mom & CJ were killed. We started eating out more. We were in between living in Connecticut, living with my dad, and completely remodeling the house we now live in. I was super depressed (imagine that). I had a chocolate banana milkshake at least once a day. I pretty much ate whatever the heck I wanted, and my Celiacs flaired up big time. I ate just to comfort myself, and shove my feeling farther down. I gained a LOT of weight. Like 70 pounds.

I lost a little after birth, but I did not experience a ton of weigh loss from breast feeding like everyone said I would. And you want to know the saddest part, today, 2.5 years after giving birth, I am only about 15 pounds lighter then I was then. It makes me sick.

I literally hate my body. It keeps me from doing things I want so desperately to do. It holds me back from a lot of things that are on my list (like doing news segments. more video blogging, and more public speaking). It is hard to chase Elizabeth on the park. I can’t climb in her bed at night for fear of being to heavy for it. I can’t fit on the slide to go down it with her. It is debilitating.

And that is WHY I need to lose 80 pounds once and for all… And putting it all out there, for 30,000+ subscribers to see, will be the motivation and accountability I need…

So now, for the WHAT part, you all really want to know about.

As I stated last month, February I started the Body Turnaround Challenge, with my Shaklee team and hundreds of our members. I am following the Shaklee 180 program as closely as possible. It is amazing, really. So simple for busy moms to follow (and it has incredible 10 minute burst workouts, and a full mobile app).

click here to learn more

I also started attending bootcamp classes twice a week. Monday and Thursday morning at 5:00, you can find me sweating my butt off and doing things I would never imagine being able to physically do with a bunch of women who are older and much more in shape than I am, but I LOVE it.

After bootcamp, either once or both days, I use a body wrap from here.

So that’s it. Clean eating with the Shaklee 180 program, exercising, and occasional wrapping…

and now, I look like this

If you want more information, or if you’re looking for an accountability group, I’d love to help you! Just email me or leave a comment below.

I hope that helps some of you too… Thanks for being such an influential part of my success this year…

Filed Under: health, weight

the most depressed week of the year

January 21, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 3 Comments

Did you know this is the most depressing week of the year?

It’s true.

The holidays are over.

The bills are likely rolling in.

You’ve possibly already failed or given up on your “resolutions”.

It’s cold and the days are long and dark.

You probably don’t have any fun vacations you’re counting down for yet.

There seems to be an overall uncertainty in our country right now.

You feeling it?! I think we all are in our own little ways.

So what can you do!?!

Figure out what it is you really want this year. How do you want to feel? Then, break it down and set small quarterly goals instead of an entire year’s resolutions. But in order to be successful, you HAVE to put it on the calendar! And you also HAVE to write down actions you are willing to do to meet those goals – and put them on your calendar too! And seriously commit to doing them in order to achieve what you really want.

Andrew and I often sit down just to talk about the above. We keep each other in check and help each other reach our individual goals and overall goals for our family. We create plans of action together. Whether it’s financially or whatever. We talk about our priorities and correct each other when we are distracted. Defining your priorities together is huge. It allows you to have intention and boundaries. (we’ll be talking about those holiday bills and debts in a later post).

Make sure you are taking a great Vitamin D supplement. I cannot tell you the difference it will make, after all – you’re probably not soaking up too much sun during the day right now. Also, if you are a woman, chances are you need additional Vitamin B during the winter.

Schedule fun little things throughout the week that you can look forward to. Maybe a family movie night, a date night with your spouse, a trip to an indoor park or museum.

Take time just for you! I know you don’t think you have time, but if you don’t take time to rest for yourself, you cannot give your best to everyone else. That may mean a soak in the bath tub, going to bed early to read or watch your favorite show, getting your hair or nails done, or going for a long walk. You deserve it, girl!

Pray. Even if you’re angry, or don’t necessarily believe in prayer. Trust me, just saying it, or screaming your thoughts and hopes can make you feel better. I use to pray out loud on my drive to work, and now I do it when I run by myself. Even if you don’t “know how” to pray, just saying your thoughts and feeling out load can help!

Don’t let your to-do list bog you down! You are human, and there are only so many things you can physically get done. Pick just three tasks that HAVE to get done each day, and focus on them. Anything else, is extra.

Choose to have fun! Choose to be optimistic! Choose joy! This is your own life. Make the most of it. Live the life YOU want, not the life you think others want you to live. The choice is all yours.

Filed Under: balance, health, simplify

coming soon

January 8, 2013 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 2 Comments

Imagine This
You lose your fat FOREVER!!!
We tell you exactly what to eat & show you how to exercise (in 3 minutes a day) for 90 days
AND
We show you how to maintain it for another 90 days!

PLUS, I am doing it right along with you!!! I have 80 pounds to lose this year to be a “healthy” weight!

You will receive your favorite flavored, yummy health smoothies and snacks. The ones that actually fill you up but don’t weigh you down! They are designed to help burn the fat while maintaining your muscle. (You need the muscle to keep your metabolism up- that’s a great thing!)

You will not go hungry!! You will not be hungry while you turn your body around! We provide a simple meal by meal online program…Basically, you will not need to think about it. You just start losing the inches.

You set the goals, we set the plan! Each plan is designed for you! We have plans for you to turnaround your body and shape, stay lean and mean AND a maintenance plan so you never gain it back….EVER!!!

You will also get an accountability online program to keep track of your progress. You will also be able to post updates directly on to Facebook (with pictures if you want-we know how you like posting pics of food!)

You will be part of our exclusive Body Turnaround Challenge online forum! You will join other like-minded and focused women AND men to keep you on track. You will have access to a personal trainer and LNP so you can ask fitness questions and get the right answers! You will also receive daily motivation and support so you will stay motivated and not fall off.

You will finally be able to wear your skinny jeans again! This is the only program that guarantees that you will burn ONLY FAT! So, you know your efforts will not only show it on the scale but you will literally see the inches falling off. You will exercise 3 minutes a day!

You will feel strong, motivated, and determined! You will feel the best you have in a really long time. You will be happy!

This program works and is doctor recommend!

Here’s what others are saying…

"I lost a total of 50 pounds, 22 pounds in my first 90 days!" ~Lori

"First 90 days, I lost 38 pounds. Our new baby gained a fit new daddy!" ~Zack

“I think the hardest part about this is when I look in the mirror I don’t see me as a big person, I see me! Then the pictures roll out and I think my god how did that happen! Where did she come from! My 6yr old watch Bonnie’s "suprise video" with me she said "mom go do your measurements you can do this!" So this is for my baby!” ~ Jennifer

The first Body Turnaround Challenge is already underway, but if you’re interested in joining the next one, be the first to know more, so get on the list today!

In the meantime, for more information on the program we’re using, check this out.

Filed Under: health, Shaklee, turnaround, Uncategorized, weight

simple steps to creating a greener, healthier home (even if you rent)

November 12, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 5 Comments

I have been chosen to participate in Apartment Guide’s “Repurpose or Recycle: Environmentally Friendly Tips for Renters” Blogger Program. Apartment Guide offers tips on how to make your apartment greener and make the most of your space on the Apartment Guide blog. I am super excited to share some of my own ideas with you!

As you know, green, more natural living is one of my passions. Not only for the Earth’s sake, but more importantly (to me), for our families sake. I know a lot of people are thinking, “well I won’t make the difference”, or “It doesn’t matter anyway”. To that, I simply ask you to reconsider. I know small things can makes a huge difference. Just as they have for our family.

It can be intimidating and overwhelming if you try to do everything at once, so I have come up with a few simple things that have worked for our family, even as renters in our current home.

1. Recycle. Everybody says that. It can seem like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep a paper bag or box at home for your paper goods and glass. Take them out at the same time every week that you take your garbage out. Our first home was in a condominium, and while we had dumpsters on site for our garbage, there was no recycling. One thing some of the neighbors did was come up with a recycling program. We simply established a place within the gate of our dumpster area to place recyclables. It was great to come together as neighbors for the good of something!

2. Share. We have been richly blessed with hand-me-downs for Elizabeth. I highly recommend sharing clothes and baby items as they hardly get used otherwise. If you don’t have other kids around, there are a lot of great freeshare sites out there, and even creeping up on facebook. We have also got a lot of things for our home off of Craigslist.

3. Use it up. There are few things that I am anal about, but using up what I have is one of them. I hate wasting things. I can remember my great grandma cutting open a bag of flour or sugar to get the last grains out. That’s because she lived through the Great Depression. However, people my age are so quick to toss out the last cup of something. Why do we let food go to waste and continue to buy more? Because we have the money to. Doesn’t mean we should. We are such a wasteful nation. Same goes for shampoo, soap, and all other products. There’s no need to throw it out if it isn’t completely gone. Don’t buy 3 or 4 types of Shampoo. Buy 1 (or 2 if you have special hair needs), use them all up, replace them…

4. Switch your cleaners. This is a huge one. Actually, it’s a pretty small task, but it makes a huge difference. If our home should be the safest place on the planet, why are we constantly poisoning it with toxic cleaners? I challenge you to look beneath your sink and check out the label of your favorite cleaners. Chances are you’ll be surprised to learn that most of them can’t be disposed of in the trash – yet we use them in our home every day. I get emails every day from moms who tell me they no longer have to buy allergy medicine or that their kids haven’t had to use inhalers in weeks since switching to cleaner products!

5. Unplug! This sounds so silly, but Apartment guide recently published an article that shocked me! You will actually save money by unplugging appliances around your home. I always thought as long as it wasn’t on, it wasn’t costing anything. Now I will rethink that! Look how much money and energy you can save and put towards creating something better for your family!

6. Repurpose. I am semi-famous for this. Part of paying off our debt this year has been in “making do” with what we have. These shelves and our sensory tables have both been made for free with pallet wood. You can find tons of pallets for free on craigslist. The monogrammed plate was an antique plate of my moms. I simply added the “s” with a sharpie! (how’s that for free). The picture frames were all a hodge podge that I painted black to make them look uniform. In the bottom picture, I shopped my home for things to include on my summer shelves. I printed out my own art for the frames, used old candle holders for the flowers. The shelves (and everything on them) were repurposed and came together to create something unique and personal in our home.

For more tips and real-time tips and updates on how to make the most of your small space, “like” Apartment Guide on Facebook, tweet at them @AptGuideon Twitter, “circle” them on Google+and follow them on Pinterest. AND, If you’re ready for a whole new space or looking to move, ApartmentGuide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you search for green apartment communities.

Disclosure Statement:
Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. partner with bloggers such as me to participate in blogger programs. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any products and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. You can find all of my reader agreements and policies here.

Filed Under: cleaning, health, Home Making, organizing, sponsor

Homemade Pumpkin Oatmeal Facial Mask

November 9, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

Today I’m excited to have another new writer for you! Calie is a health and wellness expert! As you all know, I am a firm believer in natural living, and using only basic, natural ingredients throughout my entire home (from cleaners, to food, to beauty products)! I will be trying this over the weekend, and I hope you do to! Meet Calie:

Halloween may be over, but my obsession with pumpkin is only just beginning.

Today, we’re taking this antioxidant rich super food out of the kitchen and into the bathroom where we’ll whip up a hydrating fall face mask.

Pumpkin is known to help promote healthy skin, vision and immune function, which are all great reasons to eat more. But the beta-carotene that gives this fall fruit it’s rich orange color is also believed to help reverse skin damage caused by the sun and the alpha-carotene is thought to slow the aging process. Sounds like the perfect ingredient for face mask, right?

Here’s how you prepare it.

Ingredients:

· 2 cups canned or freshly pureed pumpkin
· ¼ cup oatmeal (exfoliating)
· 2 tablespoons almond milk
· 1 tablespoon raw honey
· ½ teaspoon cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

Whisk all the ingredients together in a medium size bowl until well blended. Apply generously to clean skin with fingertips avoiding the eye area and let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes.

While your pumpkin oatmeal mask is working its magic cleansing and moisturizing your skin, sip on a hot cup of roasted dandelion tea for an internal cleanse.

When the 15 minutes are up, wipe your face clean with a warm damp washcloth and enjoy soft, glowing skin.

Use this mask 2-3 times a week to heal summer sun damage and keep your skin exfoliated and hydrated throughout these cold, dry months. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

That’s it. One of my favorite homemade beauty products. All natural, no chemicals, healing and hydrating. It’s great for tired moms who need to be pampered for a few minutes.

isn’t that an easy, healing recipe? I encourage you to take some personal time this weekend to try this out! You deserve it!

Filed Under: calie, contributors, health, natural remedies, skin care

make your own mood spray

October 26, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | Leave a Comment

Today I am so excited to have my friend Alex guest posting! She has a fabulous blog over at Elven Eleven. Take it away girl!

Lift your spirits all day long with a simple and easy aromatherapy spray made with just water and essential oils. It is super easy and it really works! Spritz your surroundings when you need a mood-lift, lightly mist your linens to promote restful sleep, or spray a cloth a few times and toss into your dryer for day-long mood enhancement!

Certain essential oils have known effects on our mood – and many (including my favorites: lavender, peppermint, chamomile and sandalwood) promote a calming state. I am constantly seeking stress-busting and mood-enhancing strategies (aren’t all moms??), and I have found this to be an easy and effective way to immediately feel calm and less frazzled.

The recipe is beyond simple: water + essential oils. That’s it!

I use travel sized (2 oz.) spray bottles and fill them with distilled water (so they would last a while without mold or bacteria) and add 25+ drops of my favorite oils. Mix and match to your liking, and enjoy!!

Thank you so much, Alex! Absolutely amazing! I use lavender oil in water for a lot of things! I will have to try the others!

Do you use essential oils at home?

Filed Under: guest post, health, Home Making, natural remedies

naturally treating hand foot and mouth disease

September 26, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 6 Comments

Hand Food and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is very contagious. I honestly have no idea how Elizabeth ended up with it. The only place I can think of is the shopping cart at Target on Wednesday. It was the only place we went that week, and she wasn’t around anyone else with it. I will definitely be carrying around my non-toxic disinfectant wipes and wiping down the carts again.

On Friday, she had a 100.4 degree fever most of the day. She was also teething, so I didn’t think much about it. I usually let fevers do their job and not fight them unless I have to. Saturday, her fever was gone, but she was drooling more than usual. Drooling was just another sign of teething to me. She acted normal otherwise.

Sunday, I got up and ready for church and then I got her up. Immediately, I noticed the rash. This is what it looked like:

She was okay most of the day. It didn’t hold her back from her normal eating and playing. Her bottom was also really bad. There wasn’t any on her feet, but there was a lacey looking rash on her chest and thighs. Thankfully, my cousin is a doctor who came by on Sunday just to confirm it was HFMD.

She woke up about every 2 hours that night, and would stay up for an hour at a time. It was pretty brutal for both of us considering she generally sleeps 12 hours straight.

Then came day 2:

And with day 2 came the sores inside of her mouth. She still played some, but she didn’t really want to eat a whole lot. Thankfully, I was well stocked with cold apple crushers and rooibos tea.

Night number 2 started out the same way as number 1. Two hours after laying her down, she was up. But this time she was screaming and thrashing. For the longest 15 minutes of my life, she was kicking and screaming and hitting and totally uncontrollable. It was awful. I couldn’t calm her down. Finally, she asked for her kitty and then she passed out in my arms. Whew. She didn’t wake up the rest of the night!

Tuesday, was better! I made her an anti-viral soup that she seemed to enjoy. It was pretty basic, something that wouldn’t hurt her mouth, and would help her fight the virus.

I made it with bone-in chicken broth, lots and lots of fresh garlic, sage, and a little brown rice. After crushing the garlic and in a tad bit of coconut oil, I just simmered it ‘til it was warm.

I bathed her twice a day, which she loved! I used Shaklee’s Basic H and coconut oil in the water each time. I also used coconut oil on her face afterwards, and on her bottom at every diaper change. She didn’t have anymore episodes with sleeping, and by day 5 her blisters were almost gone! I’ve read numerous places that you are still contagious up to a week after the blisters go away, so I didn’t take her out that entire time. Thankfully, Andrew stayed with her a few times at night so I could run and food shop.

On day 6 or 7, I disinfected our entire house. I didn’t want to risk another baby catching it from playing with her toys, or for Andrew to catch it either.

(I love that she can use Shaklee’s Germicide to help me clean! Never would you be able to hand your child lysol or bleach)

What is Hand Foot and Mouth Disease? It sounds super scary because it’s called a “disease”, but it is a virus. It is terribly uncomfortable, but not a serious concern. I suspect than in the next few years doctors will be offering you a vaccine for it, similar to chicken pox. It’s kind of the same thing, except it mostly effects the inside of your mouth, around your mouth, hands, feet, and baby’s bottoms. It isn’t itchy like chicken pox, but it can be sore, especially inside the mouth.

How do you Get it? It is usually passed through saliva or poop. Yes, that sounds super gross, because it is! Again, I am fairly certain Elizabeth got it off the shopping cart. Think anything a baby will chew on, or unclean hands may touch that your baby will come in contact with. It is very contagious! Especially for kids, but a lot of adults get it too.

What are the Symptoms? Elizabeth seemed to be the classic example of a child with the virus. 2-3 days after contact it usually starts with a fever, but no other symptoms. Then, another 2-3 days the rash/blisters show up. The rash/blisters usually get worse as day 1 and day 2 progress, but only lasts 5-7 days. 2 weeks after the rash first appeared, the skin on Elizabeth’s fingers are now peeling. I have heard that some people lose a finger nail or two a month later. Most babies will not eat very much because of the mouth sores, and some experience diarrhea.

How do you Treat it? There is no real treatment or medicine you can take to help it. It is simply a virus that must run it’s course. However, there are lots of things you can do to speed it up, comfort, and protect the immune system.

There are several things you can do to help your child. Anti-viral teas and soups are great for building immunity, fighting the virus, and soothing to sore mouths. I treated Elizabeth’s with Rooibos tea and the garlic/sage broth. Both have great anti-viral properties and are good for lots of other things too, including reducing inflammation. Rooibos tea is amazing!

Coconut oil is also an anti-viral and anti-fungal. It helps keep the blisters moisturized to prevent scabs or cracking. It also smells really yummy. I added a large spoonful to baths and also used it on the blisters themselves. In addition to using the coconut oil in the bath, I used Shaklee’s Basic H. Yes, it is an all-purpose cleaner, but I very often bathe Elizabeth in it. It is derived from coconut oil too, but it is great for baths and is unscented so that it won’t irritate anything.

As far as the discomfort goes, I gave Elizabeth Hyland’s teething tablets at night. They are all natural, and have been life-savers many times.

I hope that you will never need this information, but just in case, I surely hope it helps! HFMD is terrible!

I am not a doctor, and I always recommend consulting with one if you have questions or concerns.

Filed Under: health, natural remedies

transformation

September 18, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 31 Comments

This is probably the hardest post I’ve ever had to write. I have been putting it off for weeks!

It is no secret that I have battled my weight my entire life. It was pretty inevitable that I would always be “big”. I was always the “cute, but chunky girl” in school. My Dad is no less than 300lb at 6 foot tall, and my mom weighed almost that much my senior year in high school. She was only 5 foot tall. My mom was also born disabled. She had a crippling bone and hip disease. Her weight clearly didn’t help matters. She could hardly walk around my college campus on tour day (actually, she didn’t). I was embarrassed, she was embarrassed. And I knew I never wanted to get to that point. With the help of surgery, mom was able to turn her life around later that year. She lost over 100 pounds, and could finally semi-live the life she wanted to live, and shop at places other than Lane Bryant (she was a fashion diva)!

But again, I don’t want to get to that point.

Sadly, I find myself on my way there. I gained almost 70 pounds when I was pregnant with Elizabeth. SEVENTY. I had this whole goal of staying fit and doing the yoga and pilates videos I bought for mommys to be. And then I got hit with all day morning sickness. And then I lost mom & CJ, moved 1000 miles, completed renovated a house to move into…. blah blah blah.

I’ve only lost about 30 pounds in the 26 months she’s been born. I exclusively breastfed everything. I have done on and off exercise programs and have been running 6-12 miles a week since May. The weight is still there.

Why? because of that “on and off”. And, because I haven’t made a lot of changes in my diet. I justify everything I put in my mouth by saying, “oh, it’s organic so it’s healthy” or, “I can’t let it go to waste”, or “well, if I finish it tonight, it won’t be there to tempt me tomorrow”.

God bless my parents, they were great, but one thing neither of them had was will-power or self-control. Not an ounce. I was never taught those things as a child. My mom was addicted to food and shopping. My dad was addicted to alcohol.

But finally, enough is enough. I am sick and tired of being uncomfortable. I am sick and tired of having a closet-full of prebaby clothes I still can’t wear. I’m sick and tired of letting my size self-consciously stop me from doing things (even getting in front of the camera to do video posts for you). I am sick and tired of having to start all over because I don’t stick with my exercise routine. I am sick and tired of feeling like my husband deserves so much better. I am sick and tired of putting myself last. I am sick and tired of having a “pretty face”, and a less than pretty body. I am sick and tired of the fears that Elizabeth won’t have her mommy because her mommy didn’t take care of herself. I am sick and tired of being another statistic in America’s war on obesity!

I refuse to be sick and tired any longer. I will become my own walking billboard. I will show Elizabeth self-control and will-power! I will prove to her that anything is possible with hard work. I will give my husband the “hot” wife he deserves, and most of all, I will bless them both with a long-living, healthy mama and wife!

Enter: Project Transformation!

I have decided that since our life is finally back on track, that I will focus more energy on me! It is my goal to lose 78lb before August 1, 2013. Don’t freak out, I know that sounds like a lot of weight, but it is least I need to lose to be right where I need to be for a “normal” BMI.

I will be sharing much much more about my why and how in a later post

(I’m telling you, this is hard stuff to share)!

I can tell you that I plan on using my own Shaklee Cinch products to fuel my “diet”. And I will be exercising at least 30 minutes a day for 6 days a week. You already know I love the products. I just have to stick with the “Cinch Plan” and NOT the “Jaima Plan”. If you would like to join me, they are actually having a huge special right now (buy 3 months, get the 4th month free)! Email me for extra product specials exclusive for the transform project!

Be sure to follow me on facebook so that you catch all of my upcoming posts about this! I have a lot to share with you! A lot of good things! Including how I can help you start your own transformation!

Filed Under: cinch, health, transform, weight

Viva las vegas!

September 4, 2012 | posted by Jaima @ Ring Around the Rosies | 1 Comment

Holy Moly! I cannot believe this trip was almost a month ago already! It has taken a while for me to actually process everything. Let me start by saying: It was AWESOME!

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas though… Enjoy this little clip of our amazing team and then read on!

if you would like more information about joining Project Dream and living a Shaklee life, email me!
I LOVE helping other women!

It started out with a little invitation from Shaklee to join them for the Global Conference in Las Vegas, NV! I was both ecstatic and afraid! But you can read all about that here.

Wednesday started great! I had already packed and got extra snuggles from Elizabeth before heading to the airport!

I wasn’t sure what to expect! I had never met any of my team members before since we are all over the United States, but honestly, it was like reuniting with an old friend! It was like I already knew every single one of them (and their husbands) because our team is so close!

As soon as I arrived at the MGM, (minutes after arriving at the airport) I was swept off to the red carpet to register! Talk about wining and dining! They had massages set up for us, lots of drinks and snacks. The MGM staff that registered me commented, “everyone here is just so happy!” So true!

After registration, the Star Achievers from our team had an exclusive event with our CEO, Roger Barnett. It is always incredible to be in his presence! He is one of the nicest, most humble men I have ever met, and I am so honored that he is the future for Shaklee! One of the incredible things about him, is that of all 6,000 people there, he actually remembers you. In the past year, I have met him and talked to him three times now, and he remembers.

In fact, later that weekend, in his closing speech, our team was pictured with him from that Star Achievers event! It was pretty exciting to be recognized and be sort of “the face” of Shaklee!

Speaking of being recognized, on Thursday we had our official opening events and speakers and then I was recognized on stage for my 1st year’s success! It was definitely the pinnacle moment of my year and what will push me harder this next year! This picture isn’t vey clear, but here I am my “my hard work paid off” look with my prized Tiffany box!

During Thursday’s events, we got to watch a live interview with some of the Olympians from London! Shaklee actually sponsors nearly 20 olympians! Several of whom won gold medals this year! It is incredible to be a part of something so big!

Afterwards, our team went out on the strip to find dinner! I cannot say enough how absolutely amazing our team is! We truly are like one big family! Without all of the drama!

Friday was full of sessions and lots of learning! We got to hear from others who have been in Shaklee for 30 and 40 years. Such incredible people. This is for life, people. This isn’t just something that I’m doing for extra fun money. Shaklee is providing my family with generational income! And an opportunity that I can one day pass on to Elizabeth.

Friday night, we were invited to a Future Leader’s Event that was so much fun! Our team had our own private poolside cabana and drinks for being 1 of the top 15 leaders! Have I mentioned how awesome our team is?

We all have different stories. Different “whys”. Different goals. Different dreams. But we all have 1 thing in common: our desire for a healthier, wealthier life for our entire family! And a passion for helping other women have the same!

One of my favorite things about the conference was being able to see all of our products on display. My home is totally “shaklee-ized” as my family truly uses all of them, but there’s just something about seeing them all on display instead of on the website.

Healthy home and some of our amazing Get Clean products!

Healthy nutrition, our amazing supplements!

Healthy Beauty – our nutrition therapy for your skin (and hair)!

RX for Life including our #1 selling product: Vivix! This stuff is revolutionary!

And last but not least, our Sports Nutrition products!

Saturday, we had more sessions and our closing speakers! I just love this picture of Roger closing! Did you know that Shaklee is the NUMBER ONE Natural Nutrition Company? Not top 10, not number 3, we are number 1. And I am so pleased to say that I “work” for them!

Saturday night we went back out on the strip (with charged cameras and phones) for 1 last family dinner!

and Sunday, we got up super early and traveled back home! I met Andrew and Elizabeth at a birthday party! While it is amazing to be a traveling, working mom now: the best part is always coming home! After all, they are the reasons I do what I do!

If you would like to learn more about Shaklee, join our team, or hear how it has totally transformed my life I invite you to my free webinar on September 20! You can find all of the details here!
I will be sharing my personal Shaklee story of how I went from losing everything to finally dreaming again!
And learn how it can help you!