Transitioning to Gluten Free

So, I know I mentioned earlier that here in the Edward's home we are now trying to eat healthier, mostly in part because of me. I have in recent months been diagnosed with several autoimmune inflammatory disorders and have been advised that a GF (Gluten Free) diet could help eliminate some of the inflammation from my body.  Jason and The Bubbs have been kind enough to agree to help me out with this and although it hasn't been easy for us, I have to admit that not going at it alone has made a huge difference for me.  Diet alone will not cure the inflammatory response, but with the addition of medication, supplements and exercise, hopefully it will give me and my boys a better quality of life.  There are many benefits to a GF lifestyle and not just for adults.  Studies have shown that children on a GF diet have improved attention spans and there are children with Autism and ADHD that have had major breakthroughs! While The Bubbs does not have either of these conditions, we have noticed a decrease in digestive upsets, a noticeable change in behavior and he has hit this creative burst lately and has been able to sit at the table for over an hour and focus on whatever task he is working on.  It has been really awesome to see. 
Starting out GF has had it's rough moments, but we are taking it a day at a time.  While my boys are not 100 percent GF, they are definitely headed in the right direction.  It's something to be said for eating healthier, it actually does make you feel more energized and proactive in your life.  I have some wonderful recipes that I have come across and will be posting those soon.  I would love to hear from any of you that have had to make changes in your diet and lifestyles, whether due to medical reasons or just as a resolution to become healthier in 2013.  If any of you have any questions about GF living, please feel free to let me know, I am not an expert, but would love to share with you what I have learned :-)
Below are a few links that you may find helpful.

                                                    This guy may still need some convincing!

 Happy Reading & Godspeed

-Kelly

 http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442464344

 http://www.sheletthemeatcake.com/2010/07/raising-gluten-free-kids/

http://www.celiact.com/blog/2012/01/04/79-best-gluten-free-blogs-and-gluten-free-info-sites

http://www.glutenfreeda.com/index.asp

Homemade Glass Cleaner

So... As a mom to a "busy" and by busy I mean, rambunctious and curious 5 year old, having dangerous chemicals around the house makes me nervous. Not to mention The Bubba now likes to "help" mama clean and the thought of him spraying his face and eyes (or the dog) just makes me freak. As I've mentioned before, the Edwards bunch is always looking for a greener, not to mention frugal take on just about anything. So when I started contemplating smaller changes we could make, I thought the easiest would be my cleaning supplies. After I used up what was remaining of my glass cleaner, I got to work researching some of the less toxic options and came up with this...(thanks Youtuber katulka2)

A nontoxic glass cleaner that I feel safe using in my house.
I took an empty Walmart glass cleaner bottle and filled it with this solution.
3 1/2 cups water
1/4 cup of alcohol
1/3 cup vinegar

This mixture should fill your bottle up. And to make it easier on myself, I just wrote the recipe on the back of the bottle, so I don't have to hunt for it later.

Now yes, there is that yucky vinegar smell, but fear not, after it dries, the smell goes away:-) It works really well and my doors, windows and mirrors look great! I have several other cleaner recipes that I'm trying out, so let me know if you guys would like to see more!
Happy Reading & Godspeed

~Kelly

Aaaaand...We're off!

So not only does today mark my first ever blog post, but it also marks my first ever YouTube video!!! As the title of the blog suggests... We kinda go against the standard status quo of things. We think somewhat outside the box on topics like politics, eating habits ( although that one is a necessity for me) social media, etc. We take the "green" approach whenever possible and are constantly researching ways to become more independently sustainable. I can't wait to see where this leads us and I'm so LOVING the idea of sharing it with all of you.
I have some new recipes (GF) (Gluten-Free) to share, some awesome homemade household cleaners to show you guys and some of my favorite craft projects to date so far!
As soon as the video is up and ready, I'll let you guys know, so until then...Happy Reading & Godspeed


~Kelly