My New "Clean" life

I debated posting this because I doubt anyone really cares, so this is more of a "get if off of my chest" post! You have been warned :)

I mentioned in my last post how I have been introduced to all of the Rules of Pregnancy. The rules are great in number and I feel like they change every day causing all sorts of confusion and frustration. I do like to research claims and the like, so I have spent lots of time on the internet looking up supportive data for these so called rules.

What I have found? A whole bunch of contradicting statements, articles, studies, etc. Very seldom is there anything definitive. It is beyond annoying.

One that amused me from the start was: Don't use lipstick. .....What? They say this because of potential effects of everyday chemicals as they may cause harm to your baby in utero and even once they are born. And they aren't saying just lipstick, there are apparently lots of harmful everyday chemicals. By everyday chemicals, I mean the ones found in food, body products, cleaning products, etc.

Now, I've never been one to go along with hype. In fact, I hate hype. I hate hype because it usually stems from one person's or group's idea with little or no basis behind it, then attracts a bandwagon of followers who will believe and do anything they are told.

Case in point:

But the lack of information on the effects chemicals have on your body is astonishing. We are living out each day using products and putting chemicals on our bodies that could be harmful to us, and - here is the kicker - we really have no clue what chemicals are bad, or why! 

So, I decided to approach this the same way I do what I eat: Do the best you can with what you know to be true. 

There are a few chemicals that we do know are bad and that have had research done supporting their damaging effects: parabens, triclosan, and oxybenzone. All three are known to be endocrine disrupters, and parabens have been linked to cancer. Another one is PEGs. Any ingredient that has 'PEG' in front of it can be converted into a carcinogen during manufacturing, and this ingredient is the one I see the most.

You'd think it would be easy to just avoid things with chemicals like the three mentioned above, but no. Its incredibly difficult. AND there are multiple companies out there that "greenwash," or say they have pure/organic/natural ingredients but might not. I won't mention them unless asked because I have plenty of friends who swear by their products, and that is fine!! It's all a matter of belief.

I set out to find natural alternatives of products that I use on a daily basis and it turned out to be a nightmare. I couldn't find anything that only had ingredients I recognized or trusted. I spent a lot of time on the EWG website comparing products and trying to find what worked. And let me tell you, all of these products get expensive!

I have a friend who sells an organic line through direct sales, and I had bought some bathroom and window cleaner from her a while back. I took to researching (shocker!) and found that the company she sells for has very clean products. AND they are the kind of products I use; like makeup,  body care, and cleaning supplies.

There are a few organic direct sales lines out there, and I did look into all of them. I decided to join my friend and sign up for Ava Anderson for a few reasons:

1. I actually trust the products. Other organic lines often had questionable ingredients, or were too expensive.
2. Using them makes me feel better, not only about my own health, but the health of my family and dog (she likes to lick windows...)
3. I need the discount to be able to afford natural products!!

Ava Anderson is my attempt at "cleaning up" my life in a way I can afford. At this time, I don't really plan on doing the direct sales thing of pushing product. However, I am all about sharing what I have learned and the products if someone asks. I absolutely love the products and will most likely talk about them a lot in the posts to come.

If you'd like to look at the Ava lines, you can visit my page HERE!

I'm excited about this new direction with my personal care. It is helping my self esteem and trust in my motherly abilities, knowing that everything I do right now affects the little guy inside of my belly.

If you would like to join me on this journey, please let me know :)

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Dietitian vs. Nutritionist

I went to a book store the other day, and as always, I was drawn to the food/health sections. I love looking at the crazy claims some books make these days. People will really do anything for a buck. I was drawn to a Paleo book in the new releases section. It was pretty. I mean nice, big, hardcover with great pictures all over it. The author, standing, smiling on the front cover, had the letters BS, NC after her name. I literally laughed out loud (which caused many heads to turn..awkward) and left the store shaking my head.

Why?

It wasn't that the book was on the Paleo diet...(which is a whole other can of worms I'd rather not open)

It was the letters NC, which stand for Nutrition Consultant. Nutrition Consultants usually flaunt the name "Nutritionist". You might be thinking, "Well aren't you a nutritionist?" No. I am a dietitian.

What's the difference? I have a bachelor of science degree pertaining to the study of food, completed a supervised practice of 1200+ hours and have passed a written registration examination (boards) to obtain my credentials. I now have to complete a set number of continuing education hours to keep the hard earned letters behind my name. Nutritionists? They pay a fee to an organization who mails them a certificate. For some types of membership, there are no prerequisites, not even a high school degree. Theoretically, this means a dog can be credentialed as a nutritionist.

I am not trying to argue that nutritionists don't have a love for food or nutrition. I'm sure most of those who go by "nutritionist" are likely more enthusiastic about nutrition than I am at times. Some are highly educated even, but not always in the field of nutrition. I just want to point out the difference in background.

There are few things that push my buttons enough for me to raise a stink. One such subject is the public's extreme readiness to believe anything that is told to them. Usually, I keep it to myself. But being in the field of nutrition, it is becoming increasingly difficult. People seem to believe everything they hear; especially when HUGE promises are made (i.e. lose 15 lbs in 30 days, trimmer waist guaranteed, etc etc). So here is my plea:

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE look in the credibility of whoever is making these promises and claims before you believe them.

Look into the person's education, their scientific support, and their professional background before you go buy their books and contentions.

And as always, feel free to ask me any burning questions you have about nutrition. I will always do my best to answer them.

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Fail.

This isn't a post about vegetables. Sorry to disappoint.

I'm not even going to try to make excuses for failing to post for (ahem) four-ish months. Let's just say a lot has happened and blogging just didn't cross my mind. My life is changing so rapidly, I can hardly keep up. But that's what blogs are for right? It's the 21st century diary of sorts...except its completely public.

I've never been one to share my feelings or thoughts freely with complete strangers, but hey why not? I'm sure someone might have some insight for me as I continue on this crazy roller coaster of a life. There have been good's and bad's in the past few months. I hesitate to say "bad" because I know my life isn't all that tough. I am incredibly blessed, and I often take it for granted. I guess my bad's are really just trials; things that God throws in our mix to test us and see how we handle it. I think we are doing ok. So I'm going to ramble a bit and share with you why I haven't gotten to blogging.

So here's what has been happening. I'll start with the not so good:

• My husband's grandmother passed away. I work in long term care and deal with death every day. But the passing of a family member is never easy.
• My husband's company was bought out. This isn't exactly a bad thing, but it is a very uncertain thing. We have no idea what the future holds for his job, and it stresses me out to no end. It is a test of my faith for sure.
• I realized that I've gained 10lbs. Okay okay, I know this really isn't something to complain about since it is totally my own fault, but that's why I'm so upset about it. I should know better. 
• We have been looking for a house. Anyone that has gone through this process can agree that it is STRESSFUL. There was one point when we were told that we couldn't get approved for a loan until June...our lease is up in May. 
• My student loans kicked in. We knew it was coming, but it has been a huge adjustment and honestly I've had to readjust all of my meal planning tactics. Part of me felt like I couldn't blog about food and savings because I felt like I knew nothing all of a sudden. I'm getting my groove back though...I think...

But here's the good and exciting things

• I started selling Gold Canyon candles! I wanted to explore the option of a second income, but my schedule just wouldn't allow it. I learned about this company from a friend, and I must say that I'm very happy that I chose this sales company to work for. The products are great and I have a lot of fun sharing them with others.
• My dream job opened up. I applied, that's the extent of that. I'll keep you posted if anything happens.
• My husband decided that he wants to pursue a different path in his career. Usually, this would really freak me out. I don't handle change very well, but this is a good move and will be great for him. I'm happy for him!
• I turn 24 tomorrow. I know it isn't old, but I feel like it is. I found a gray hair the other day and I felt very indifferent about it. Weird? Maybe a little. 

And lastly...We got a house!!! We scheduled our closing date tonight and will be closing Friday! Not moving too far away, only 10 minutes. But we have a 2 acre lot and plenty of space for our dog to run around (and room for babies...our mothers are ecstatic).  I cannot wait to get out of this apartment! Also it will give me so much more to blog about since I have a gigantic list of projects that I want to do in this house and can't wait to get started!

I think that's it. I'll get back to food eventually. But for now, I'll leave you with this pic of dinner that I made tonight. It may have been one of the easiest things I've ever made. Served with a side salad, it was perfect.

Until next time!
<3

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Here Goes Nothing!

Hello Blogging World!
Never thought I'd start a blog, but hey why not? A little about me: I'm a recently married 20-something, God-fearing, Registered Dietitian. I grew up in Southern Ohio, so no, I am not a health freak. Where I come from, fried chicken is a food group. I do enjoy food, and I think that is what the health industry forgets to remind consumers. Food is not evil! Many people today seem to be afraid of food; buying expensive supplements and overspending on "healthy food" because we live in a society that makes people afraid of their body and what they put into it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think all food is good for you, I just think there are some HUGE misconceptions out there.

My husband and I

I finished school at the beginning of this year, and have a hefty amount of school loans. I try not to think about it because it triggers an anxiety attack. I'm not quite to the level of "Extreme Cheapskates," but I do like to save a buck here and there. I go to some lengths with meal planning, coupons, deals, and DIY projects in hopes to save enough so I'm not still paying off my loans when I'm 80 (although I probably will be).

I recently met a prominent blogger, and he believes I could post some things that could help others when it comes to meal planning, grocery shopping, and food in general. I like the idea of teaching others ways to approach food that can be beneficial in their lives. Needless to say, he talked me into it.

Here's the link to his blog! Think extreme couponing

Ideally, my blog will be about nutrition for the family, meal planning to save, grocery shopping tips and tricks, easy recipes, and maybe even some crafting.

As this is my first post, I really have no idea what to say except that I'm excited to see where this little adventure takes me. I don't believe I am smarter, more creative, or frugal than any other person out there. However, I do believe that the more minds at work, the better. Please feel free to comment and share any opinion or thought you might have! Hope you enjoy the craziness that is about to ensue.
~Mallory

P.S. I'm awful at writing, so that will not be my strong suit. I plan to cover the flaws with pretty pictures and creative recipes!

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