Written by Rachel, Contributing Writer

Everyone loves brownies or at least everyone that I know. There is something about that rich, chocolate-y, fudge-y taste. Most brownies are about 400+ calories per serving, loaded with unhealthy fats and are carb rich most of the time.

For a while, I have been wanting to try black bean brownies but I was skeptical that they would actually taste good. After looking through several recipes, I decided to make my own batch. While making them and smelling the aroma while they baked in the oven, the house smelled delicious! However, I was still a scared-y cat to try them once they were finished... needed to see someone else eat them first.

My kids tried them and loved them! My hubby tried one and he said "aren't you going to try one?" I did after hesitating for a couple seconds and they truly are good, not GREAT like the bad brownies we're used to but they would definitely satisfy a chocolate craving. After my husband and I ate ours, we discussed ways to make them have a more traditional feel/taste toward them and decided that adding a gluten free flour and chopped up walnuts into the batter would make them even more tasty!

If you're like me, you just have to get over the weirdness of it!

What You Need:

• 1 can of 16 ounces of organic black beans, or cooked soaked beans
• 3/4 cup Sucanat (or sweetener of your choice)
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla (if you have homemade that would be best, I'm going to be making some myself very soon!)
• pinch of salt
• chocolate chips (optional)
• walnuts (optional)
• For a more cake-like brownie, add 2/3 cup flour (gluten free or whole wheat) and 1/4 cup water

Ingredients Key Step: Rinse the beans *you don't want to be having a beany taste while eating these* Mix ingredients in a food processor or a blender Mix well, you don't want beany chunks, do ya? Add optional toppings and place in preheated oven at 350 degrees All done!

What to Do: 

1. The first thing you need to do is to rinse your canned or cooked beans thoroughly. This is extremely important as you don't want that beany liquid taste!
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Next, you pour the beans, eggs, vanilla, coconut oil, sucanat, and cocoa powder into a food processor or blender.
4. Blend until smooth, add the pinch of salt (and flour and water if you want to add it) and pulse until well mixed.
5. Grease your a 8x8 baking dish with coconut oil and pour batter into dish.
6. Top with optional walnuts and chocolate chips.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until middle is done.
8. Cool before serving and enjoy!

Stephanie's note: I can attest to the fact that these brownies are GOOD! Are you looking for other healthy treat ideas for this Valentine's Day, or just to replace conventional treats in general? Check out the recipe eBooks Smart Sweets and Treat Yourself: Real Food Desserts. Both are full of delicious sweet recipes, made with whole, unrefined ingredients.

Have you ever made a dessert with non-traditional ingredients?

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If you were to come over to my home and complain of an ailment, or your child got an injury while visiting, you may be surprised to see me open up my "medicine cabinet" and proceed to pull out various natural remedies to treat what ails you.

I'm no expert, but I have a love for alternative, natural treatments and have been studying them casually for the past 7 years or so.

A friend was asking me what I would use for such-and-such a while back, and as I rattled off some suggestions and talked about the things that we keep in our home, she suggested that it might be helpful to other moms to know the types of things that I keep and use on a regular basis.

What's in My Natural Medicine Cabinet?

Vitamins and Other Supplements

• Cod liver oil: Usually a supplement for us, but I "prescribe" extra during illness because Vitamin D is so good for the immune system.
• Vitamin C (with zinc and echinacea)
• Vitamin B : This has proven to be very important for my husband, and I take it occasionally when I'm really dragging and want to ensure that my B vitamins aren't too low.
• Calcium/Magnesium tablets: These are great for headaches, for relaxation when having a hard time sleeping, and especially for muscle cramping. I've been taking mineral supplements and cal/mag specifically this pregnancy and it's the first time I've never had a single leg cramp.
• Probiotics (such as acidophilus, though there are many strains to choose from): To boost immunity, good for tummy troubles.

Herbs

• Oil of Oregano: My husband's favorite. He can handle way more drops of this strong-tasting, concentrated herbal oil than I can. It really shores up the immune system and helps to fight off viruses quickly. We take it at the first sign of sickness.
• Mullein: This herb is very soothing for the throat and for coughs. I use it in boiling water to create a mullein steam. We put a towel over our heads and breathe in the steam for several minutes at a time to help with really stubborn coughs.
• Garlic: I've written an entire post about using garlic. It's worth a read.
• Ginger: Same as garlic. See the post!
• Chamomile: I make this soothing tea for my children, if they have an upset tummy or are having a hard time calming down or going to sleep.
• Peppermint: This is also very soothing on an upset digestive system. Teas are wonderful to sip on.
• Astragalus: We only have this in capsule form, but my husband and I take it sometimes to boost our immune system when we're fighting something.

There are many other herbs that I use, this is just a handful of them. See this post I wrote on herbs that I have and what I do with them for a more detailed discussion.

Essential Oils

I have plenty of oils that I keep to use in cleaning supplies, homemade beauty and skin care, and anywhere that I want something that smells beautiful. I also have a handful that are most commonly used for medicinal purposes:

• Peppermint: I put a couple drops in water to help with indigestion. It can also be used straight on skin (with caution- it is a strong oil) as a muscle rub. A friend rubs it on her neck to help relieve her tension headaches and she swears by it.
• Eucalyptus: I make a very simple chest rub with this, for coughs and congestion. You could also use it to make more of an ointment-style herbal vapor rub.
• Tea Tree: For infections.
• Rosemary: My midwife turned me on to this for rubbing on my temples (a few drops in a carrier oil, like olive or almond oil) for headaches. It's pregnancy and nursing safe.
• Lavender: Anti-bacterial and soothing as well. I often add a few drops to baths.

First Aid Kit

I have a natural first aid kid called a NaturoKit, which I LOVE and use all the time.

It contains 9 basic remedies, put together by two moms who are also naturopathic doctors. There are 5 homeopathic remedies (for different types of pain, bites, allergic reactions, etc.), 1 floral (Crisis Calm), activated charcoal (more on this below), a herbal healing salve, and Calendula Success tincture (for cleaning/treating wounds and preventing infection). It's perfect for those who want to learn to use more natural remedies, but aren't quite sure where to start.

I keep my kit in my medicine cabinet in my kitchen and pull it out at least once every week or two. I often refer to the helpful list of ailments and which remedy to use for what. When we go out, especially on something like a camping or hiking trip or when travelling, I try to remember to bring it with me.

Homeopathics

• Flu nosodes: These are homeopathic drops created specifically to help prevent strains of the flu that are common. I first got them the year that swine flu was a big scare, and have since used them to help keep us from getting the flu each year.
• Hyland's Kids Kit: With 7 different homeopathic remedies and a helpful book that tells you when to use what, these are great for those with babies and toddlers (I find they aren't effective on my 7 year old anymore, who seems to need adult strength doses). I use these to treat fevers, runny noses and congestion, emotional agitation, coughs, sleeplessness and more.
• Bach's Rescue Remedy: I like the spray and my husband prefers the lozenges. These are great for calming in stressful, tense, nervous or emotional situations.
• Hyland's Teething Tablets: They don't take away all the pain like Tylenol would, but in my experience with 3 babies, they take the edge off, for sure. I find the teething gel useless, and I didn't like another brand that I tried called Humphrey's. I've been using these particular tablets for 7 years and swear by them.

Other:

• Activated Charcoal: For upset tummies, bad gas pains, etc.. For the kids, I break open a capsule and mix it up in a spoon of applesauce or honey. For my husband or I, we take two capsules with water. I also use this to make poultices for drawing out toxins, like in a skin infection or a bug bite.
• Bentonite Clay: We use it in detoxifying baths, and also use in poultice for infections and bites (it really helped a bad spider bite my husband got this winter). I give spoonfuls of a liquid suspension of clay (which I mix myself) for upset tummies, when those in need don't want to take charcoal. The liquid form is also excellent for diarrhea and for stomach bugs while travelling (or to prevent getting the bugs in the first place).
• Melatonin Tablets: Not something that I suggest using on a regular basis, but I will take it occasionally if my sleep cycle has gotten out of whack due to travel, or if I'm struggling with insomnia even though I'm sick and tired and need the sleep. I will also sometimes give a half of a 3 mg tablet to my older children if they are sick and really in need of the extra sleep, but they're fighting it. They usually fall asleep within 20-30 minutes of taking it and get the rest they need. We buy the sub-lingual ones, which dissolve under the tongue.
• Colloidal Silver: This tasteless clear liquid is very anti-bacterial and anti-viral, and super easy to give to children when they are fighting something to boost their immune system's response.
• Herbal salve: I have the one in my NaturoKit, and another new one from Apple Valley Natural Soap that I am loving. I put this on any sort of wound, on chapped lips, on infected skin ,etc. to soothe and help it heal faster.
• Emergen-C: These powdered vitamin and mineral drink packages are great for dehydration, either in sickness or in high heat (like when we travelled to Arizona, we drank these to keep our electrolytes up in an unfamiliar hot and dry climate).
• Epsom salts: For relaxing baths while sick, especially if one of us has a fever. I also add extra to baths for detoxification purposes. When I had an awful 24-hour migraine earlier this pregnancy, my midwife recommended an epsom salt bath, as the extra magnesium would help to relieve the headache (and magnesium is helpful for headaches in general).

Where to Buy These Things

Helpful References to Have Around

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I recently shared a very popular $250 sample grocery budget, and mentioned that one of the ways that I would stretch things out was with the use of vegetarian meals, most of which feature beans and legumes. Katie has written an incredible recipe ebook called The Everything Beans Book (keep reading for a coupon code!), which is chock full of recipes to help even bean-loathing families learn to happily eat more beans, up their nutrition, and keep costs down. And now, I'll pass it over to Katie to share some of her tips with you...

Guest Post by Katie Kimball of Kitchen Stewardship

Can you live a life with beans on more than just rice and beans?

I believe you can, and although I have beans and rice recipes to share for Mexican and Cuban style, plus a homemade twist on rice-a-roni, imagine 27 more ways to cook with beans. Definitely one way to cut your budget while using whole foods!

Keeping the Food Budget in Check

I dearly miss my coupons now that I make almost everything from scratch. Avoiding processed foods sometimes means forfeiting couponing, which takes away that receipt-loving triumph of, “I saved more than I spent at the grocery store!!!”

I've had to find other ways to trim the food budget, and cooking with beans is surely one of them, even though canned beans have doubled in price in a decade – doesn't that make you want to cry?

Certainly a can of beans is still more frugal than a pound of meat, and you can cut the cost even more by using dry beans.

If you don't know how to cook with dry beans, my frugal friends, now is the time more than ever as grocery prices continue to rise.

Why Beans?

I choose beans for equal parts nutrition and frugality, which isn't something you can say often.

My frugal eBook, The Everything Beans Book, not only has 30 beans and legumes recipes but also 20 pages of information.

I'll teach you:

• How to cook with dry beans to maximize BOTH cost savings and your family's health
• Tips for bulk cooking beans to cut your time in the kitchen
• How to pair beans with other simple foods to best utilize the protein (including some you may never have heard of even if you're well-versed in complementary proteins)
• Why you want to embrace beans in your meal plan
• Ideas for picky eaters who hate beans (I was one of them not long ago!)
• Frugal tips with every recipe to cut costs on all the other ingredients
• And even a few tips on the whole flatulence issue

Lesson One: Three Ways to Sneak in the Beans

1. Use Lentils to Stretch the Meat

My husband hates when I reduce the meat or add fillers, especially in his favorite meals. He has stamped the seal of approval on tacos with lentils, however, so you can believe that they're top notch. It's simple: cook up some lentils (I do a huge batch and freeze them) and add them in a 1:1 ratio with a pound of ground beef for tacos. Use seasoning equivalent to two pounds, and I promise, no one will be any the wiser.

You've slashed your cost for a rather meat-based meal without compromising nutrition, and you might even have leftovers (which makes my husband very happy). This trick works just as well with really, really well-cooked white beans. They turn into mush and your taco meat looks surprisingly like a certain Mexican fast food chain that my husband may just be in love with.

2. Puree Beans in Spaghetti Sauce

Start with about a half can or one cup kidney or pinto beans and puree before adding to any spaghetti sauce. Protein boost!

3. Make a Sauce Out of Beans

This recipe is the free download from The Everything Beans Book, and it's perfect for the bean haters:

Recipe: Pasta with White (Bean) Sauce

If you don't tell your dinner guests you're serving beans, they'll be hard-pressed to figure out the difference between this protein-packed white sauce and a standard Alfredo. You can choose to leave the beans whole for a lovely texture, too.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• ½ c. chopped onion
• 1 4-oz. can diced green chili peppers, drained, or 1 chopped jalapeno or
• Anaheim pepper
• 2 Tbs butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 Tbs whole wheat flour or arrowroot starch
• 1/8-1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 ½ c. whole milk
• 1 ½ c. shredded cheese (any kind works, but Swiss or Monterey Jack is great)
• 1 15-oz. can white beans, drained and rinsed, or 2 cups cooked dry beans*
• salt to taste, likely about a ½ tsp.
• ½ lb. Linguine or favorite pasta, cooked according to package directions
• *If soaking dry beans, start with 1 cup before soaking.

Method:

In a medium-sized, heavy bottomed pot, cook onion and peppers (if using fresh) in melted butter until tender, adding garlic at the last minute. Stir in flour and pepper and cook two minutes. Add the milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until bubbly and thickened, taking care not to scorch the bottom.

Cook one more minute, then add cheese and stir to melt. Add the beans and canned chiles (if using canned) and stir to heat through. Feel free to add extra milk at any point if the sauce is too thick for your tastes. Serve over linguine or your favorite pasta. You might include steamed veggies right in the sauce for an all-in-one meal.

For the bean haters of the world: If you use an immersion blender and whiz the sauce, the beans (and their taste) disappear. You might want to add a bit of extra milk to thin it out, up to 1/4-1/2 cup.

For a printable version with all the frugal tips and ingredient variations, check out the free download of the beans recipe.

If I had time for a fourth, I'd share the amazing Black Bean Fudgy Brownies with you – guaranteed that no one without prior knowledge would guess that the main ingredient is beans, and there is zero flour involved! (Stephanie's note: These brownies are SO good!)

Get a taste of what's in the eBook with these other frugal bean recipes:

Meatless Chickpea Wraps

Veggie Bean Burritos

Tuscan Bean Soup

Katie's Simple Cabbage Soup with Secret Super Food 

Take $4 off The Everything Beans Book!

Katie has generously offered a coupon code for Keeper of the Home readers to save on The Everything Beans Book. Regular price is $9.95, but you'll get 40% off with code FRUGALBEANS, making it just $5.95!

How do you use beans in your meals to save money?

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Here's the scenario: Your young son or daughter has been invited to a friend's birthday party. You know this family to some degree and are aware that their eating standards aren't the same as your family's.

The party will likely include white-sugar and food-dye cake, chips, pop and candy in the goodie bag, all foods which are standard no-no's in your own home.

What do you do in this situation?

1. Remember that birthday parties like this happen only occasionally, you eat well at home 90% of the time, and allow your child to eat freely at the party.
2. Try to fill your child up on good, whole foods at home, prior to taking them. Remind them on the drive that the foods that will be served aren't ones that will keep their body healthy, and that while it is ok to accept a piece of cake when offered, they should try to avoid other junk foods if possible, and look for better options (fruit or veggies, crackers and cheese, etc.). (And if you're with them at the party, this becomes easier to enforce).
3. Stay at the party with your child and bring along your own snacks. Inform the hosts prior to your coming that your child won't be partaking of the food offerings, and that you will be bringing them food from home instead. Tell your child that the foods at the party are yucky, and feel free to get into a discussion with the other parents at the party about why your child won't be eating along with everyone else.

Last week I was reading a book I picked up on sale while on summer vacation, but haven't gotten around to reading yet. It's called The Great Physician's Rx for Children's Health by Jordan Rubin. I have previously read and enjoyed The Maker's Diet (it was quite influential for me in my real food journey, actually). I knew that he would have solid information and suggestions, geared towards children's health in particular.

I was surprised to be so immediately turned off within the first chapters of the book, however, by the "holier than thou" attitude that I perceived in Dr. Rubin's and his wife's approach to shielding their young son from the dangers of processed foods. When their 3 year old son was invited to a birthday party, they came prepared with all of their own snacks from home.

He even proudly states at one point that their son has never eaten anything in his entire life that they do not consider to be "real food" (nothing processed or refined, no pasteurized or homogenized dairy products, no commercially raised grain-fed meat, no white sugar or table salt).

I'm not quite sure what world they live in, where they are able to have such complete and utter control over every single thing that ever enters his mouth- has he never been to a relative's home with different eating habits or to another family's home for dinner? Have they never been on the road or on vacation and needed to simply eat the best they could with the restaurants and choices that were available?

But I digress... back to the birthday party.

I know this is a hard area to deal with. I don't like allowing my children to eat processed, refined, toxic foods in the slightest. It makes me cringe, and as their mom, it's my job and responsibility to steward their health and train them in their eating habits.

Yet, as I've said many times before, people matter more than food.

Personally, I would opt for something along the lines of option #2 in the birthday party scenario, sending them with a full tummy and some words of wisdom, yet allowing them to graciously accept something celebratory like a piece of cake to enjoy with their friends. When I accompany them to parties, I encourage them towards the better options that are available, and allow them very limited amounts of the not-so-great options. But that's just me.

(And I'll even confess that although I'm usually the mom that makes the "weird" homemade spelt carrot cake with cream cheese icing colored pink with raspberry juice, this year I came down with an awful flu and was completely debilitated the day before my daughter's 7th birthday. We bought a store cake, for the first time ever. Sometimes, life happens, and my husband and I both felt that it was a priority for our daughter's party to continue as planned, whether mama was up for baking healthy cakes or not.)

I'm curious (and yes, I know this might spark a heated debate, so let's just use our big-girl words and keep it polite)...

What would you (or do you) do in this kind of scenario? How do you balance celebrations with others, while still guarding your child's health and nutrition?

Image by andy_carter

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Written by Stacy Karen, Contributing Writer

Essential oils make home remedies quick and easy to prepare. With a select few on hand you will be able to create all manner of healing products and all-natural cleaning supplies.

When it comes to using essential oils with infants and babies, it can be daunting (and should be approached with caution). I have often wondered how much to use, or if certain oils were safe for young ones. After all, essential oils are extremely concentrated and powerful substances.

The following are some simple guidelines and recipes that I hope will be helpful to you.

Which Essential Oils are Safe for Babies?

In The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Valerie Ann Worwood recommends the following essential oils:

For infants, zero to two months of age:

Chamomile, Roman and German
Lavender
Yarrow
Dill

For babies, two to six months of age:

The above, plus Mandarin and Neroli.

For babies, six to twelve months of age:

The above plus Calendula, Grapefruit, and Tea Tree.

(A few others are also recommended for these ages, but none that I have used myself.)

What to look for in an Essential Oil

It is important to get the best quality oil possible. Make sure it is 100% pure essential oil and not a massage or perfume oil.

Many bottles of essential oil display the words: therapeutic grade. However, since there are no official standards for essential oils, buying one that states it is therapeutic grade does not a guarantee that the oil is actually good quality.

Knowing the source is the best way to ensure that the oil you buy is high quality.

Do a little research whenever possible.  It is usually safer to buy organic essential oils since there are some official standards for using that term (although it's still not a guarantee).

One company I have been very impressed with is Young Living. They readily share information about their sources and methods.

Cautions

It is very important to use caution when beginning to use essential oils with a baby. Essential oils are very strong, so be sure to use a light hand; only one or two drops need to be mixed with water for diffusing or oil for massage.

A few points to remember:

• Do not place undiluted essential oil close to baby's face.
• Never used undiluted essential oil directly on baby’s skin (it can burn and cause irritation).
• Never use undiluted essential oil in a diffuser (the scent will be too strong).
• Never ingest an essential oil.

When in doubt, don't. It's better to be safe than sorry. Test remedies containing essential oils on a small area of skin to see if any reaction may occur.

{Image credit}

How to Use Essential Oils with Babies

Two of the easiest and most effective ways to use essential oils with babies are:

1. Diffuse essential oil in a diffuser or oil burner so it disperses through the air and is inhaled.
2. Mix essential oil with a carrier oil to create a massage/body oil for baby which will penetrate the skin.

The general guidelines are as follows:

To Diffuse Essential Oils for Baby

Add one drop of essential oil to two teaspoons of water and add to diffuser.

To Make a Massage Oil for Baby

Add one or two drops of essential oil to two tablespoons of sweet almond oil and blend. Use this mixture to give baby a relaxing massage.

Once baby is over two months old, essential oils may be increased to three to five drops per two tablespoons of oil.

A few other helpful remedies:

Bedtime Massage Oil - Using the method above, blend one drop of lavender or chamomile essential oil with two tablespoons of carrier oil.

Diaper Rash - Add one drop German Chamomile essential oil and one drop Lavender essential oil to a pint of warm water. Store in a clean jar. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and use to wipe baby's bottom.

Homemade Calendula Salve with lavender oil is also excellent for treating diaper rash.

Herbal Baby Powder is also useful in keeping babies bottom dry while bringing the healing power of herbs to the affected area.

Colic - Diffuse one drop lavender and two drops peppermint in an oil burner filled with water.

Severe Colic - Add one drop of dill essential oil to one tablespoon of sweet almond oil. Stir to blend. Use this massage oil to rub baby's tummy gently. Also rub oil on baby's back with circular motions. (This recipe was found in The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy).

To Soothe and Calm - Add a drop of lavender or chamomile essential oil to a cotton ball and place inside your shirt. Hold baby and rock next to you. They will smell the scent as they are comforted by your warm body.

Safe Surface Cleaner - Add eight drops of mandarin essential oil and one cup of water to a spray bottle. Use this mixture to wipe down surfaces in baby's room.

Further reading:

Using Essential Oils with Babies and Children

Essential Oil Care for Babies and Children

Natural, Homemade Baby Care

Have you used essential oils with any of your babies? If so, what are your favorite remedies?

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From my 4th month of pregnancy onwards, most early mornings would find me sneaking downstairs in the dark, donning sweatpants, a t-shirt and hoodie. After drinking half a glass of water, then filling my large glass back up to the top, I entered my private exercise studio, otherwise known as my husband's freezing cold, converted-garage music school studio.

Pointing the space heater directly at me (until I warmed up enough each morning to push it away), I would stick a pregnancy exercise video in to the computer and spend 20-40 minutes pumping iron. working up a huge sweat. doing mild cardio and toning.

My Personal Experience with Exercise in Pregnancy

It works. It really does.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was very good about spending 30-60 minutes almost every single morning doing pregnancy yoga, or else going for a long walk in the park or along the river. I had nothing to compare that pregnancy with, but I diligently kept up with my workouts because that's what the books told me to do and the yoga made my aching muscles more bearable.

With my second and third pregnancies, I wasn't very disciplined. I tried to stay active by taking my kids on walks to the park, gardening and other physical activities, but nothing consistent. I struggled with a great deal of sciatica and some minor blood sugar issues (with my second only), even though my pregnancies were still wonderfully healthy overall.

I'm not always good about including regular exercise in my life, but during the month before I found out I was pregnant with baby #4, I had set some exercise goals and was pushing myself to truly get in shape. I bought Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred. I didn't do it every single day, but at least 4 days a week. It was brutal, but I felt that my endurance and strength were increasing and I began to love doing it.

Once the first trimester morning sickness and fatigue hit this time around, I realized that although I had little energy to exercise, I really missed it and how good it had made me feel.

I found that I lacked the energy to do much those first couple of months, but once the nausea began to decrease and I wasn't dragging myself through each day, I knew that it was time to return to my morning exercise ritual.

Image by sean dreilinger

How I Worked Out This Pregnancy

I had already ruled out going to a gym, because I find it too impractical trying to get out of the house as a mom of littles, and after doing a trial week at the gym my husband attends, realized that I didn't like feeling self-conscious with others looking at me. The privacy of my own home felt best.

I compared a lot of pregnancy videos, looking at video length, type of exercise, intensity, and video reviews. After coming off of the 30-Day Shred (which is very intense and pushes you hard), I knew that I didn't want something too slow or gentle. I wanted to find an exercise video that still challenged me, pregnant or not.

After much searching, I settled on Lindsay Brin's Complete Pregnancy Fitness 4-DVD Workout Set. It includes cardio and toning routines for first, second and third trimester, as well as a post-natal bootcamp DVD to help you get back to your pre-baby body. Each video is about 40 minutes long, give or take. Some days I did a whole video, other days only half (due to lack of time, not because it was too strenuous).

Overall, I'd give these videos a 7.5 or 8 out of 10. I still felt that I could have worked out at a higher intensity, and would have liked more intense cardio portions. Most days, I would follow whichever version of an exercise was the most intense or difficult, rather than doing any of the modifications, and sometimes I threw in a few extra reps of something if the transition between exercises felt too slow to me. By doing this, I was able to mostly achieve the intensity that I wanted, and still had the flexibility to choose something more moderate on days when I was really tired or feeling sore.

I definitely appreciated that the videos went along with each trimester. This made it easy to figure out how hard to push myself at each stage of my pregnancy, plus the variety was nice.

There are plenty of other videos out there, and next time around (God willing), I'll probably add another video or two to my repertoire just for variety. I still have my original Gaiam Pregnancy Yoga DVD, although I have to confess that I have only touched it twice this entire time. I prefer the cardio and toning much better. I liked that all I really needed was the video and a set of weights (or you can also use two sets- heavy and light).

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What Are the Benefits of Exercise in Pregnancy?

• Improved circulation
• Healthier placenta
• Helps to moderate weight gain
• Easier recovery post-partum
• Increased energy
• Less back pain

For me, the most noticeable benefits were having more energy, and definitely decreased back pain and post-poned sciatica (it didn't come until around 35 weeks this time, compared to 24-30 weeks in previous pregnancies).

I also found that I was able to sleep more soundly than I have previously, and didn't even start sleeping with an extra pillow (for leg/back support) until this past week, at 37 weeks. I've been completely comfortable with no extra support at all!

Exercising Safely

I'll be the first to admit that this is not an area of knowledge or expertise for me. These are just a few things that I've learned by reading some books on pregnancy exercise and through the DVD set I've been using.

• Drink extra water before, during and after your workout
• Particularly if you plan to do a long workout, eat something with both carbohydrates and protein before beginning. If I was only doing a shorter workout, I found that I could go without eating first, but would definitely need a hearty snack immediately after.
• Listen to your body. If you just don't feel well that day (even if it's something that you can usually handle without a problem), just take it easy.
• If something hurts, stop. I can usually tailor sit during pregnancy quite comfortably, but last week the baby dropped very low and it began to hurt, so I've taken it out of my routine.
• Always warm up, and finish with plenty of stretching. I began to find the stretching so beneficial that on days when I simply don't have time for a proper workout, I still ensure that I fit in 5-10 minutes of stretching.
• Use videos/exercises intended for pregnancy. There are a lot of things to take into consideration with a body that is changing due to pregnancy. It's best to follow the instruction of someone who is more knowledgable than you are about how to adapt exercises to make them safe.
• Expect that you will workout at a level slightly below what you are usually capable of. I was frustrated at not always breaking a sweat each time I worked out with my new videos, but the one time I did push myself to workout like I had before pregnancy (I definitely pushed myself too hard), I felt it and realized that I had to take it down a notch.

Here are some more tips for exercising during pregnancy, and how to do it safely.

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Now That I'm at the End

Exercising throughout this pregnancy was one of the best decisions that I made. I've been a bit busier since December and struggling to get in as many workouts as I did during the fall, and the difference is noticeable to me. I actually begin to crave it when I miss more than a day or two.

I'm 38 weeks pregnant now and plan to continue right up until the day I deliver. As soon as I get the go-ahead from my midwife, I will be back to moderate exercising for a faster recovery and to help prevent post-partum depression.

For me, exercise has made such a difference. It isn't miraculous and doesn't solve every pregnancy struggle. Have I finally hit a wall of exhaustion? Yes. Did I ask my husband the other morning whether I was this miserably uncomfortable and emotional at the end of my other pregnancies? You bet I did. (And his answer? "Yes, sweetheart, every time." It's good to be reassured that this is par for the course!).

Still, I'm a pregnancy exercise convert. You can bet you'll find me back in the garage with my videos next time around.

How about you? Have you exercised during your pregnancies and what results or benefits did you notice?

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Written by Mindy, Contributing Writer

This ooey, gooey cake is a chocolate lover's dream - specifically a dark chocolate lover's dream!  It's light and airy, but oh-so rich all at the same time.  A perfect ending to a lovely Valentine's dinner at home.

The key to this cake is using a very good quality chocolate.  If it's fair-trade and organic that's even better!  With so few ingredients, choosing the very best quality you can find will guarantee that this cake will taste amazing.

I included orange zest as an optional ingredient in this recipe, because I LOVE chocolate and orange together.  If you do too, then I highly recommend that you try it with the zest.  It's very yummy and the flavor is terrific!

Dark Chocolate Flourless Pudding Cake

adapted from Martha Stewart

Cooking this cake in a water bath keeps it moist and helps it to cook very gently.

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup powdered sucanat + 1 TBSP for baking dish
• 6 large eggs, separated
• 6 oz. very good quality dark chocolate, melted
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 TBSP orange zest, optional
• Freshly whipped cream for topping

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter a shallow 2 qt. baking dish and coat with the 1 TBSP powdered sucanat.  Set aside.
2. Get out a roasting pan that is big enough to hold your 2 qt. baking dish.  Fill a tea kettle of saucepan with water and place over high heat to bring to a boil.
3. Combine egg yolks and 1/3 cup powdered sucanat in a mixing bowl.  Beat vigorously with a wire whisk for one minute.  Mixture should thicken and get lighter in color.
4. Whisk melted (not hot) chocolate into the egg mixture and set aside.
5. With an electric mixer, beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form.
6. Whisk 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture.  (If using the orange zest, add at this time.)  Fold the remaining egg whites into the chocolate mixture just until combined.
7. Transfer the batter to the 2 qt. baking dish.  Place the baking dish in the roaster and then fill the roaster with the boiling water so that the water comes 1 inch up the side of the baking dish.  Be careful not to pour any water into the cake pan itself.
8. Bake 25-30 minutes or until just set.  The middle should still be slightly jiggly.  Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
9. Remove the baking dish from it's water bath in the roaster and serve immediately while warm or allow to completely cool and then serve chilled from the refrigerator.   Serve with freshly whipped cream.

What are some of your favorite desserts for Valentine's Day?

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Today I'm over at Simple Organic, sharing my two-week oil pulling journal, and more thoughts on the why's and how's and "does it work" of this truly unique (and only slightly crazy and gross) health practice.

A friend of mine is doing a lot of research on how to strengthen teeth, and both reverse and prevent cavities, naturally. Since I’m so busy these days, I’m happy to let her do the research and then I can follow her lead.

One of the things that she is trying is oil pulling, and when she mentioned it I was reminded that I had read good things about this bizarre health therapy before. It prompted me to start reading about it again, and to even give it a try for a couple of weeks to see what the hype is all about.

What is oil pulling?

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice, dating back thousands of year. It consists of using some form of a vegetable oil (coconut, olive, sunflower, sesame, etc.) and swishing it around in your mouth for a period of 15-20 minutes.

Read the entire post here.

Have you tried oil pulling? Your thoughts and results? Have you even heard of oil pulling or is this a totally foreign concept to you?

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The winners of The Money Saving Mom's Budget are:

1) Hannah (hsode)

2) Monique (maidenofhisgrace)

3) Rebecca (rite_as_rain)

4) Christa (Czgroups)

5) Clare (rdifonzo)

Congratulations ladies!

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Written by Erin Odom, Contributing Writer

My family operates on a tight budget. And since having children, there hasn't been much--if any--room in that budget for adding to mine or my husband's wardrobe.

But just over a year ago I discovered a way to increase my wardrobe--without spending any money: a women's clothing exchange. 

Image by agador

My Sister's Closet

A local church where I attend a weekly Bible study has hosted a women's clothing exchange called My Sister's Closet for several years. Although I never would have voiced that I didn't have the extra money for new clothes, the idea of the exchange excited me. It wasn't a program for a certain income level. My Sister's Closet is open to all women involved in the church's women's ministry--whether they be church members or Bible study attendees. 

And the atmosphere for the yearly event is like that of a girl's night out with friends. Women bring clothing a few days before and volunteers sort and hang the clothing. There are three rooms of clothing (sizes small, medium and large) and one room full of accessories and shoes.

Each woman is allowed to choose a certain number of items--depending on the amount of donations. There are even dressing rooms, so the ladies can make sure the clothing fits before they take them home.

I was so humbled and grateful after the first time I participated in My Sister's Closet. I was 9 months pregnant and felt very sure I wouldn't be fitting into my pre-pregnancy clothing any time soon. Yet, I knew I would need some clothes for the in-between stage. I walked away from the night with designer jeans, sweaters, blouses, a dress, and even some maternity clothes for my newly-pregnant sister-in-law. 

Image by shellgrand

Starting Your Own Women's Clothing Exchange

Are you intrigued by the idea of a women's clothing exchange? Why not start your own?! You can form one with:

• a group of friends
• the women's ministry at your church (or combine several local churches)
• a mom's group, or
• even your co-workers!

While developing a program that will truly help you increase your wardrobe--without spending any money, keep these tips in mind:

1. Decide on participation requirements (if any).

Must participants donate clothes in order to receive them? If so, will you require a certain number of donations? Must participants be church/group members, or will you open the exchange to the public? Must participants serve volunteer hours in order to benefit from the event?

Image by theswedish

2. Secure a location.

If your church women's ministry is hosting the event, then the logical location will be your church building. Other possible venues could be your workplace, a school gym, a community center or even at a participant's home.

3. Organize the clothing and accessories.

Part of what made me feel so special was that My Sister's Closet was very attractively organized. Donations weren't just thrown together or scattered all over the floor like in a garage sale. Think about consignment shops or consignment sales.

Make each women feel as if she really is spending a day with friends shopping. My Sister's Closet organizes the clothes according to size and season. Designate racks for dresses, skirts, blouses, pants, coats, maternity, pajamas, workout clothing, jeans, etc.

4. Provide a dressing room.

Since the clothing is free, there are no returns. There will only be so many clothes to go around, so ensure that each woman leaves with items that she can feel confident will compliment her body.

5. Determine what to do with leftovers.

Will donors be allowed to reclaim their items, or will you pick a local charity to receive the excess?

What are some ways you have increased your wardrobe without spending any money? Have you ever participated in a women's clothing exchange?

 Top image by jnnfrmarie

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