HAPPY EASTER!

Hello everybody!!!

HAPPY EASTER!!!

We just wanted to share a little part of what our family did today!

I always thought that the moms that didn't want their kiddos to have candy were super uptight or weird. Now that I have a little one of my own and I care about his perfect little body and I want him to be happy and healthy, I completely understand!!! I want him to grow up knowing that "healthy" food is delicious!! So when I was trying to figure out how to make his first real Easter awesome....I wondered what I could fill his eggs with so that he could still enjoy the surprise of the hunt and open the eggs and eat it himself. Then it hit me.....THRIVE!!! He loves it and it is healthy, and if we lose one....no biggie!! It won't spoil!! So I proceeded to fill his little eggs with Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Pears, Pineapple, Peas, Corn, Blueberry Yogurt Bites, Strawberry Yogurt Bites, Cherry Yogurt Bites, Pomegranate Yogurt Bites, and Vanilla Yogurt Bites.

 

AND HE LOVED IT!!!!!

 

I Love how THRIVE Life has changed our lives!! Our journey is just beginning but I am making efforts towards our family being Happy and Healthy!

Shopping Saturdays: Laundry List

Welcome Back!
If you followed along on our Laundry Series for the month of March 2013 and are wondering, okay, what all do I need to get started, here is a printable shopping list for you to take so you can stock up on the supplies you'll need.

1 Time Trial or Year Supply
I have it broken down into 2 lists... the first column being if you would like to purchase items to try these things one time before committing, or the second column which tells you all of the supplies you would need if you were trying to build your Thrive Life Home Store and have a full year supply of items ready to go.

These estimates are for an average family size of around 4-5 people washing 400 loads a year.  This breaks down to about 8 loads per week.  If you know that you are doing more than that, buy accordingly!

Click to view shopping list

Do you have 15 Minutes of Time?
These simple switches that will take you less than 15 minutes total to make all 3 should save you around $175 if you were an honest measurer of laundry soap or even more if you just poured until the cups were full.  We can't wait for you to tell us how much you've saved by making the switch.

We are hoping that the average family will see that there is plenty of money that is going down the drain that can instead be used to build your home store.  Whether you are looking for emergency supplies, or more mullah to boost your pantry with the Q, these tips will be well worth your time (that is unless you make more than $175 in 15 minutes on a regular basis... yah, me either :)


Some ways to spend around $175:
2 Buckets of Instant Milk
1 Volcano Collapsable Cooking Kit
12 pack of THRIVE Whole Egg Powder
Sawyer Point 2 Bucket Kit + 2 Buckets w/ 2 Gamma Lids
Aqua Pail 1000 + The Kitchen Sink

So there's an endless amount of ways to spend it, right?!

Strawberry Banana Bread

I was looking for low sugar recipes and I came across this bread recipe. I have made it several times and it is delicious! I went to make it once and I was so bummed to discover that the strawberries I had just purchased from my local grocery store were not very "fresh" looking. Then I remembered my THRIVE strawberries! I was able to make a beloved recipe with the addition of one or two food storage items and it still tasted delicious.

It's really easy to make and literally takes 10 minutes to throw together, and an hour to bake.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups plus 3 Tbs whole wheat pastry flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 brown sugar or 1/4 agave nectar (what I usually use)
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 6 oz Strawberry Banana Chobani (my grocery store only had strawberry this time and it worked just fine)
1 cup rehydrated strawberries

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 and grease a loaf pan.
Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
In a separate bowl mash the bananas really well.
Add the sugar and eggs to banana and mix well.
Whisk in the yogurt, and try to get out as many lumps as you can.
Add your wet ingredients to your dry and mix until just combined.
Fold in your strawberries.
Distribute batter evenly into loaf pan and bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool on a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes.

I love this recipe and I hope you do too! I usually spread peanut butter on it...mmm yummy!

Thrifty Thursday - Laundry Series: Using Vinegar for Fabric Softner

Welcome Back to our Thrifty Thursday Laundry Series!

According to this study the average American Family does 400 loads of laundry per year... ouch.  That's a lot of laundry!  With my sister and her kiddos living here I am sad to say that I definitely surpass this amount. But, just because there are alot of clothes to be washed and folded, doesn't mean that it has to be a huge budget breaker when I hit the store.

LAUNDRY SOAP
So far we have told you how we wash laundry for a WHOLE YEAR for under $20. (For my current household it would probably be closer to $30, but still... AMAZING!)

This independent study completed in Feb 20102 shows that when you shop at the store, even the absolute cheapest laundry option will cost at least $44.40 for the average household 400 loads.  If you are using a nicer, more popular brand, you will be paying upwards of about $124-$168 just for the laundry soap. Plus, this is if you accurately measure the amount.  It was found that many people use 1.5-2 times the amount of soap per load so some people can double this cost.

LAUNDRY SHEETS
We've taught you how to skip out on laundry sheets and dry your clothes for less that $5/ year.

FABRIC SOFTENER
And today, we will talk about this super quick and easy switch that takes no prep time at all!  The average family buys fabric softener for between $6-$11 per bottle.  These bottles last for between 40-50 loads if measured out correctly, you should be using between $25-$45 per year of fabric softener.  Let's cut this down by almost a tenth of the cost!

Option 1
Just add vinegar! For all of you worriers that think your clothes will smell funny, just know that the vinegar smell disappears as soon as it dries.  It also serves as a deodorizer for your washing machine.  I can dilute mine to make it stretch further but even without doing so, I typically put about an 1/8 cup in per load which comes out to about 64 loads of laundry per gallon ($1.84 at Walmart) which comes out to less than 3 cents per load or $11.50 a year.

Option 2
If you are willing to put in a little prep time, you've got to try out this simple recipe for laundry softener that allows you to keep your clothes scented, but stretches the cost of the vinegar even further because of the addition of water so that the cost per load is only about 1.6 cents per load. That's only $6.40 over the course of the year!

You will need a mixing spoon, bucket for mixing and a bottle to store the mixture in.  I split up my mixture into an old conditioner bottle with a pump that can premeasure the usage for me and put the remainder in a re purposed container (aka old applesauce jar).  It makes about 88 oz.

Recipe:
6 c warm water
2 c hair conditioner (1.00)
3 c distilled vinegar (.50)

1. Pour warm water into a container.
2. Add conditioner and vinegar and stir until few clumps remain.
3. Pour into your storage containers. And you're done!

View original post here.

Option 3
Want to keep it green and have just family friendly ingredients that are proven to be safe on your clothes?  If you already have essential oils in your home, just add a few drops of oils to your jug of vinegar and you have yourself some awesome smelling clothes for a fraction of the cost.  Note: DO NOT use lemon as lemon is know for its ability to eat through certain things like plastic and styrofoam.  That would be a sad thing to find out later down the road :)

Thanks for following along in our series.  Check back Saturday for the Shopping List that lists all of the items you need for all three swaps coming to just $30 for a years supply of products! Be sure to tune in next month to find out how we save money in a whole other arena.

The NEW Q!

The New Q has several advantages over the previous version.  It is more navigable, fresh looking and meal friendly. Check out a few reasons why:

     1. The simple green click to add button makes it so effortless to put products in the cart.
     2. Monthly Specials are highlighted there on the dashboard so you can see at a glance if you'd like to use the monthly coupons in your grocery cart.
     3. As requested by thousands of customers, emergency products, shelving and other non-food items can now be added to the Q to be shipped with your food.  The REALLY cool thing about that, is if you are on the Q-Club (which will now be free for anyone with a budget greater than $100), you earn Q points towards free product off of these non-food items as well!
     4.You can also see what Thrive Life has added to their wide variety of products since your last order by viewing the New Products tab.

Adding products is a breeze now as you are able to stay on the same page after hitting the green add button. You will then have a pop-up which allows you to choose the desired package size.

Finally, the new Q will allow you to create whole meal plans and to shop by our online recipe database with just a few clicks.  You are able to search for product type, meal type, food allergies, time it takes to make the dish and ingredient wanted to find delicious, tested recipes your family will love.  Click the Advanced Search link to start searching to find what you need.  Click on the green my Q I have circled to be taken to the meal planning page.

Well, this is only a basic line up, but as you can see, this program has gone through some big changes.  Want to check the Q?  We hope that you will enjoy it when it becomes available to the public on April 1st.    You are welcome to watch this short video about the basics.



Finally, here are the points that you can earn from being on the Q-Club.  The different levels or tiers will no longer exist... it will either be that you are on the Q Club or not.  Anyone with a budget over $100 gets this membership free automatically upon sign up.  To stay on the Q-Club, you only need to make at least 11 shipments a year.  Thrive Life will send you a reminder email if you are behind on shipments and there are no penalties at anytime for stopping.

Click to be taken to the site with clearer images.

VIva Italia! Outstanding Product Announcements

The much anticipated event of convention has FINALLY come and gone.  With it came many announcements including the new company name Meilea mentioned yesterday.  I feel like although it is a very fitting change, it was a lot to take it.  When the founders first begun their journey 8 years ago, their only ambition was to make a self rotating food shelf- thus Shelf Reliance.  Now, our company is sooo much more.  With freeze dried food, emergency products, the Q and other products being added everyday, SR has become more than a shelf, it has become a lifestyle. We hope that you will join us in our quest to help our top-notch product become a beloved household name.

Along with the new name, some fantastic new products and tools were released.  We will be going over these in the next couple of days.  First on the list are our new Gluten Free, Freeze Dried Spices! There are 9 in total:
Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano, Chives, Peppercorn, Italian Seasoning Blend, Salad Seasoning Blend, and my personal favorite... Chef's Choice aka THRIVE Spice.  I know many of you have wondered how to get your hands on the special blend he uses to garnish many of his Thrive Live (Now Thrive it UP!) recipes...well here it is.  We all know that spices tend to lose their flavor over time, but these spices have a sealed shelf life of 25 years just like most of our other products so you will not have to worry about seasoning going bad once you've got your THRIVE supply!

Next... you requested, Chef Todd obliged.  These 4 Gluten Free, GMO free, Just-Add-Water sauces were created in house by our very own Thrive Life Staff.  At convention we were able to test each of them and WOW were they amazing. The 4 sauces include:

Bechamel: Creamy White Sauce
Veloute: Rich Chicken Gravy
Espagnole: Savorty Beef Gravy
Tomato: Classic Tomato Sauce

This 4 pack of sauces is just waiting to transform your dish from good to AMAZING!

These are all of the product announcements for today, but stay tuned to learn more about our New Q program that allows you to grocery shop and organize your menu at the click of a button.

Thanks for stopping by!


Question of the Day:
What product are you most excited to try? What do you hope they introduce next year?

Why I LOVE THRIVE Life!!!!!

So I had the opportunity to attend the 2013 Shelf Reliance Convention this past weekend. I have to say...I have never been so blown away in 3 small days!!! I feel like I am a completely different person! I have learned so much about this amazing company that we are a part of in a very short amount of time!!

The Biggest impact of the convention was when they announced that they were changing the name of the company! Shelf Reliance would be no longer!! A bittersweet moment turned to pure excitement when they unveiled that we would now be THRIVE Life! I love the direction that this amazing company is headed and I am so grateful to be a part of it! We are also excited for a new direction for our blog and all of our wonderful costumers!! We cannot wait to share with you all the new things we have learned and pass along the new products that we saw launched this weekend!! These are life changing!

Let me tell you, the founders and executives of this company really care about us! And not in the "I am running a business, so I care about my customers kind of way". They have a genuine love and concern for each of their costumers! Never have I worked with such wonderful people who are so ready to help!

They are really concerned with what you as the customer wants, and how we can make things better and easier for you and your families! Become excited and get ready for the wonderful things coming our way!

The new Q is life changing! Just a small teaser....you can pick a recipe and the new Q will add all the ingredients you need in order to make it! I will save so much time!! Great for all of our busy families right?

Stay tuned and we will keep you updated as we all keep moving forward and Help your Families THRIVE!

Thrifty Thursdays: Laundry Series - Homemade Laundry Detergent

This is my laundry detergent. I love it. I made it at the end of last Summer and this is what I still have left.

It was super easy to make and super easy to use!

You can find the original "recipe" here.

You can find all of the ingredients at your local grocery store. I went to my Walmart this week and price checked all of the items used. I'm hoping not to have to make another batch until this Summer. 1 year's worth of laundry detergent for less than $20? Yes please!

Ingredients:
1 box of Borax - $3.38
1 box washing soda (Arm and Hammer) - $3.24
2 containers oxygen bleach or 1 large one (I used Oxiclean) - $7.52 (for the 3# tub)
3 bars Fels Naptha - $0.97/each
2 cups baking soda - I forgot to price this one but we'll just ball park $0.50
Optional- Purex Crystlas or Downy Unstoppables. I didn't use them this time but plan on doing so next time.

Total cost: $17.55 not including the optional ingredient.

You'll also need a large container to store it in. I bought a large glass jar for $10 at Walmart.

Grate the Fels Naptha. You can use a food processor or a cheese grater. I used a cheese grater. Then put a trash bag in a 10 gallon bucket or trash can. Basically you just pour all of your ingredients in the bag and mix thoroughly. I suggest layering and mixing as you go. It's hard to mix everything up all at once. Store in your designated container.

To Use:
Just add 1-2 Tbs to your laundry load. If you have an HE washer this works great because it doesn't make a lot of suds. If you have a front loader place the detergent directly into the drum.

I bought this scoop for cheap at Walmart also. I use the larger scoop to kind of break up the detergent and the smaller scoop to measure it out. It works perfect and fits nicely in the jar.

Cinnamon Bread

I have major issues. I tend to be really spacey, and a procrastinator. Not a good combination. Add in pregnancy brain and it's a disaster. I found myself washing my hair with body wash Sunday. Body wash! I totally dropped the ball last week on posting. Luckily Tiffany is amazing and filled in for me. Then when I went to make my recipe for today's post I was missing the most important ingredient...the Strawberries! My THRIVE shipment should be here any day and there is a can of Strawberries in it just for me and I am so excited! So be on the look out for my next post about Strawberries.

I found this recipe where I find all my recipes these days, Pinterest. I made it for the first time last week for my Father-in-law's birthday. It was so good and easy that I made it again! And once again I have to apologize for the pictures. I don't know what's going on but they uploaded terribly!

You can find the original recipe here.

This bread is easy and delicious and definitely NOT diabetic friendly. It makes two loaves and you will have a hard time not cutting into that second loaf right away.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs (I used fresh the first time, and THRIVE the second and it turned out delicious!)
2 cups buttermilk
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cups sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 and grease or spray 2 loaf pans.
Cream together the butter, sugar, and eggs.
Mix in buttermilk, flour, and baking soda.
Spread 1/4 of the batter into each loaf pan.
Mix the 2/3 cups sugar and cinnamon together.
Sprinkle 1/3(ish) of cinnamon sugar over batter.
Spread the remaining half of batter in 1/4's again.
Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar over batter.
Use a knife to swirl the batter around.
The batter is really thick so it's kind of hard to do and it doesn't look very pretty. Just kind of spread it out when you're done swirling. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. It smells like snickerdoodles, heavenly!

Volcano Stove Giveaway Begins Today!

Getting together all of the preps that are needed for your family can be tough on a limited budget, especially when it is a big ticket item.  I am grateful that we at Shelf Reliance Mom are able to follow our company's example and pay it forward a bit by offering an awesome giveaway every couple of months.  In order to show appreciation to our faithful readers, customers, and friends, I am pleased to announce the giveaway for this month to be the Volcano Collapsible Cooking Kit.  This kit retails for almost $170 but can be yours for free.

Ready to learn how?  Of course you are!

Please leave a separate comment for each thing that you do to enter so it is easier to tally the entries at the end of the giveaway.  No purchase necessary!

Follow us! (Up to 4 pts)

There are a few ways to follow us.  Choose as many as you'd like and you will get 1 point for each.  If you are already doing any of these, just say so! You must do at least one of these to qualify as this contest is for my loyal readers:

1. Follow our Blog Posts by email.

2. Follow our Monthly Specials Newsletter by email.

3. Follow us on Facebook.

4. Follow us on Pinterest.

Tell us why. (1 pt.)

Why would you like to win this prize? (1 pt)

Sharing is Caring! (Up to 8 pts)

1. Share this page on Facebook by liking it at the bottom of the page, then  copying and pasting this link to your status. (1 pt.)

2. Pin the Giveaway Announcement on your Pinterest. (1 pt.)

3. Copy and paste a link of your favorite post to your Facebook. (1 pt.)

4. Pin your favorite links to Pinterest. (Maximum of 3)

5. Email your friends and family about this opportunity. (1 pt)  If they put that you referred them on their post, you will receive an additional point.

6. If you were referred here by someone else, list them as your referral and you and they will both receive an additional point. (1 pt.)

Finally, help us improve. (2 pts)

Either email us at ShelfRelianceMom@gmail.com or leave a post suggesting some things that would be really helpful for you to learn about in the future.  

-Do you need more recipes? 

-Are you just getting started in the emergency prep side of things?  

-Have some products that really stump you?  

-Have an emergency prep item you've been drooling over that you'd love for us to offer in the future? 

We'd love to hear about it and learn what we can be do to better serve you.

Rules and Regulations:

- You must make a comment for each entry you do so it is easier to tally up.

- You must be living within the Continental US as this product is not offered in Alaska, Hawaii or Canada.  Sorry :(

- You must be entered by April 1, 2013 at 11:59 pm.

- Winner will be announced on April 2, by 8:00 pm.

We do have some ideas of series we are going to start offering that have been requested by readers in the past... 

Momma Mondays Lots of women ask about the health benefits of these foods and how to make things for their families so they can start rotating their Q groceries into their regular food supply

Chef Todd Tuesdays These days will be devoted to product announcements, Q sales, new product announcements, and Chef Todd Tips that strike a chord with us

Whimsical Wednesdays Hodgepodge of emergency tips, how products are used, storing the food and other advice

Thrifty Thursdays How we save money and make additional funds available for prepping

Freeze Dried Fridays A Large Variety of New Recipes 

Why is it important to share this opportunity with others?  

Something thrilling to think about is that the winner of the previous giveaway, Meilea Hester, actually joined our Shelf Reliance Team and is now a coauthor on the blog.  She is a fabulous cook and inspiration to all so we are happy to have her here.  She is ready to start teaching others the same self reliance principles she is adapting in her life and will be running the Momma Mondays.  Please spread the word and allow others the same privilege of getting their families prepared to weather life's storms.

Healthy Mama Top Tips

Happy Monday Everyone!!! We are on a mission to make Monday somethin that you look forward to instead of dread!!! Hopefully this post is a good start!!!

I have been working on a list of the best tips and advice that I have received or things that have helped me on my journey as a mama. Here goes:



Handy Dandy Water Glass!!

1.   Good ol' H2O!!!

Water is so important!!! Not only is water important to a healthy pregnancy, but also to a breastfeeding mama! You need so much water in order to make milk or keep your amniotic fluid goin strong, but also to keep your own body hydrated. I find that the best way to make sure that you are getting enough water during the day is to make yourself accountable! You will need 2 Liters everyday while pregnant or nursing (4 oz. extra for every 20lbs. overweight) What works best for me is to get a water bottle or cup that is around 1 liter. Then I divide up my day in 2 (I go from 6am-12noon and 12noon-6pm). that way you curb your intake before bed so you are not up all night! Then I just make sure that I drink the entire glass or bottle before that time! Also, I drink so much better if it is from a straw, so if that helps you, make sure to get a cup or bottle that has a straw. The idea here is to make it effortless!!!

2. Be prepared!

The easiest way to eat healthy foods is to have them ready and at your disposal. The reason that most of us eat junk food is because we have it lying around and it is usually in a nice little package that is easy and convenient. If you plan ahead a little bit and make sure that the healthy snacks are easy and convenient, you are much more likely to choose those. This is also why I make my Breastmilk Boosting Breakfast cookies! What I did was picked 1 day a week, usually Sunday because the hubby is home and can help, to pack snacks and plan meals. Make the snacks something you already like! My favorites are the THRIVE fruit line. Strawberries, Pineapple, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Blackberries are my favorites!! I usually make a "trail mix" type of snack bag by throwing in some of my favorite freeze dried fruits, nuts, and granola or yogurt chips. This way when I am out and about, I can just grab my snack bag and enjoy instead of being tempted by my other choices! :) These yummy granola bars are also an awesome option! Be creative and add what you like!

These are so yummy!!! We eat them right out of the can!

3. Indulge!

I cannot stress enough how important it is to treat yourself to something nice! It does not have to be food (although it certainly can be)! Get a pedicure, take a bath, rent a movie! It doesn't matter what you do, just do something! I have a sweet tooth the size of Texas, so for me, sweets are my indulgences! I love the THRIVE macaroons! Dipped in a little chocolate and I am in heaven! That is all it takes to make it easy for me to eat well the rest of the time...1 little macaroon...or maybe 2!

4. Find yourself in Awe...

Take a little but of time to think about just what we are doing here. If you are pregnant, just take a little time to think about what a miracle it is to be helping your little one grow! It takes a LOT of hard work to make a tiny person, and it truly is amazing! If you are a nursing mama, just think about all the steps your body goes through in order to make milk for your little one. I am still dumbfounded that it even works in the first place! Once you think about how amazing all of this is, eating healthy and taking care of yourself really doesn't seem so hard anymore!

And Last but certainly not least...

5. Catch some ZZZ's

I know that as a pregnant or new mama, sleep is something of a precious thing! However, it is one of the most important things that you can do for a healthy body. Do whatever you need to do to relax yourself and get some rest. If that means napping while your little one naps, then do it! Do not let anyone make you feel like a slacker for taking care of your body. After all, it is the only one you get!

Don't forget to check us out tomorrow for info on our big giveaway!! Happy Monday!

 

 





Spelt Cookies: Q Recipe of the Month

Now that Shelf Reliance offers so many whole grain options, I am frequently asked by people how in the world they are supposed to use some of these things.  Most people are anxious to try new grains that they know are health beneficial, but scared that it will taste foreign or strange.  Well, one way to solve that is put them in a dessert, right?!

I know I haven't posted a lot of desserts, so here is one for the books.  I'll try to start posting more sweet tooth recipes.  This one caught my eye because it already won Recipe of the Month so SOMEONE had to think they were delicious, and they use the March 2013 Q Club Special of the month: Organic Spelt.  This recipe is especially great for all of you viewers who are allergic to wheat... cookies are back on the menu? Yum :)


Read more »

Thrifty Thursdays: Laundry Series - Foil Balls

This is what happened when I didn't do laundry
 for 5 days... not recommended!

Laundry is a part of everyday life.

Benjamin Franklin once said, "There are two things you can count on in life, death and taxes."  Don't you think he should have answered laundry to the list?  Of course if he did that, he would've had to add dishes... oh well.

I feel like if I don't do at least 1-2 loads a day, it stacks up super quickly...of course I have 7 people in my house so you may not have that same dilemma. With doing that many loads of laundry, we go through a lot of laundry soap, softener, dryer sheets and of course electricity.

This month, in hopes of reaching someone else out there who is struggling with the same problems, we are having March's Thrifty Thursdays focus on the greener, cheaper aspect of laundering.  There is also the added plus of zero fragrance for those of you who are allergic to all of the chemicals that are in the dryer sheets.

Who doesn't want to save a penny or two, right?!  Plus, if you cut out some of the pricier cleaners, it leaves more room for preps, if you are already living on a tight budget.

Read more »

Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

T

With 4 cute kiddos around the home, we go through a lot of snacks throughout the day.  These kids may seem tiny, but they have quite an appetite when it comes to granola bars.I have never been a fan of the "name brand" Chewy Granola Bars, but bought them for the kids at Costco a few times a year because they only equaled out to about 25 cents a piece.  Bingo...$1 and the 4 are fed, right?  Well, sort of...

Read more »

Chef Todd Will be heating it up tonight

Don't forget to catch your favorite Shelf Reliance Food Storage Chef set the stage on
THRIVE LIVE using this month's Q Specials 

TONIGHT at 7 PM Mountain Standard Time.  

If you haven't done so already, make sure to edit your personal Q to include the products 

that give you the steepest discounts for March.

Thanks for stopping by!

Question of the Day:
What is your favorite thing to sample at a Shelf Reliance food demo?

Breastfeeding Trial and Triumph!

So before we jump in to my recipe, there are a few things you should know about me...

1. Breastfeeding is the hardest, most rewarding thing I have EVER done.

2. I LOVE cookies. Love them!!!

3. I have a passion for natural solutions and taking charge of my own health.

4. I really love doing things the easy way...even if it means more work in the beginning.

So with that being said, let me introduce to you, my breastfeeding secret weapon!

I call them Breastmilk Boosting Breakfast cookies!

When I was working full time with an 8 week old baby and a hubby who worked longer hours than I did, these saved my life! Any mama knows that when you have a new baby...your focus is on them. However, mamas need good food too in order to make good milk! Take care of you too!! This is an easy way to do that! Let's Dive In!!!

What you are gonna need:

1 C. Butter

1 C. Sugar

1 C. Brown Sugar

4 Tbl. Water

2 Tbl. Flaxseed Meal

2 Eggs

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 C. Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Salt

3 C. Oats, or Barley Oats

2-4 Tbl. Brewers Yeast (I use closer to 4....)

Keep in mind that this is my base recipe. I add in different item for several different variations of this cookie. I love this recipe because you can do anything with it! Some of my favorites are Cran-Choco-Almond (white and milk chocolate chips, dried cranberry, and almonds-chopped), Reese's (I add milk chocolate chips, reese's chips, and 1/2 peanut butter), Tropical Paradise (Add coconut, pineapple, white chocolate chips, and i substitute vanilla extract with coconut extract), Smores (Milk chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, graham cracker crumbs), etc! Use your imaginations! You can add anything you really love to eat.

Combine flax seeds and water. Let sit for 5 mins.

Cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs 1 at a time. Stir in flax mixture and vanilla.

Add flour, yeast, soda, and salt gradually. Stir in oats and mix-ins!

Bake @ 350* for 10-12 minutes.

I get my handy-dandy cookie scoop (my favorite kitchen utensil) and make cookie dough balls that I can freeze and keep handy. This way I can just grab 2 (or 3 if I am feeling impulsive) in the morning and pop them in the toaster oven for breakfast on the way out the door. Or you can bake them all at once, just make sure to store them in the freezer. Don't forget the milk!

These little cookies are packed with tons of great things for mommies. They will help increase breast milk supply, regulate your digestive tract, and improve your mood! All great things for new mommy on the go! These are my go-to for my new mommy friends. I take them a full recipe to stick in their freezer so they can help get their supply strong from the get-go, instead of struggling like I did.

Hope you love em!

PS.  Don't forget to check out our Giveaway that's beginning in just a couple of days.