HMN Blog – Holistic Moms Network

Natural Cold and Flu Remedies

September 12, 2023September 12, 2023 Gretchen

The change in seasons to fall often brings illness., but simple natural remedies and techniques can help provide relief and boost your immune system. Many plants and substances found in nature have been used for centuries to alleviate cold and flu symptoms and promote a speedier recovery. Look through our round up of simple ideas to find something to support your wellness this season Boost Immunity Work on the forefront to prevent illness to begin with! Proper sleep, diet and hydration can support your body’s ability to fight off infection swiftly and with fewer symptoms. Certain plants and herbal supplements are beneficial to consume to help support your immune system. Garlic is not just a kitchen staple; it’s a natural […]

Breastfeeding Your Newborn

August 7, 2023August 8, 2023 Gretchen

Of all the choices and stresses of bringing baby into this world, breastfeeding can be overwhelming to many new mothers. The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous but sometimes the support and knowledge that parents need isn’t available. Having realistic expectations can help families better manage the various challenges they might encounter along the journey. Ideally, breastfeeding should be initiated as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour. This early initiation promotes skin-to-skin contact, which helps stimulate the baby’s natural reflexes and facilitates breastfeeding. Newborns are alert and ready to nurse during this period, often called the golden hour. Understanding the cues and signals that indicate a baby’s readiness to breastfeed is important. Common cues include rooting (turning […]

Lactation Boosting Blueberry Muffins

August 1, 2023 Gretchen

Bake a delicious dairy free, gluten free and nut free treat that helps boost lactation and is safe for babies with sensitivities! The traditional combination of galactagogues such as oats, flax and brewers yeast make these perfect for nursing mothers but they are great to share with your whole family too! Want to lean more about galactagogues? Check out this resource from La Leche League Blueberry Lactation Muffins 1 ¼ cups gluten free oat flour ½ cup tapioca flour ½ cup ground flax 3 tablespoons brewers yeast ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 eggs ⅓ cup raw honey ⅓ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or coconut milk 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted and cooled 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar 1 ¼ cup blueberries plus more for topping 1 tablespoons oat flour Instructions Preheat oven to 350·F. Line muffin tins with […]

DIY Popsicles

July 8, 2023 Gretchen

Popsicles are a cool and healthy treat for kids and adults during the summer and are super quick and easy to make. Prep after breakfast for a late afternoon snack or freeze overnight. Stainless steel and silicone molds are available to make creating pops super simple but you can use what you have around the house too! Muffin tins, recycled yogurt containers, ice cube trays and even loaf pans work. Just partially freeze your popsicle mix then add a popsicle stick to the mixture. Loaf pans can be sliced into individual servings after removing. Here are 2 recipes you can try. Share with the family or make them an adult-only treat with an alcohol addition! Watermelon Lime Popsicles 3 cups […]

Reconnect with Nature: The Benefits to Getting Outdoors

June 6, 2023June 12, 2023 Gretchen

Many of us feel a deep connection to nature and can sense the calming effect that spending time outdoors has on ourselves and our family. Intuitively it makes sense, we evolved over thousands of years living among nature and have only recently have separated our daily lives from the outdoors. Its fascinating to learn the science behind why we feel that way and to hear about all the benefits that nature has on our minds and bodies that we might not immediately recognize. The amazing thing is that these benefits are so accessible, you might already be doing some of these things every day. Beyond our own awareness of the mindfulness and calm that being outdoors can bring, science has […]

Self Care DIY Ideas

May 15, 2023May 15, 2023 Gretchen

Self-care is about giving yourself a gift and making time to do the things that fill your soul so you can care for others. This month ask for help and make it happen! Perhaps you crave a long walk or run outdoors, time to create with a favorite hobby or quiet to read a book. Sometimes we have gotten ourselves to a point where we are so depleted we aren’t even sure what we want and lack the energy to make a decision when we get the time to do so. If you’re finding yourself uninspired, start here with a delicious tea designed to relieve stress Unwind Tea Blend (makes 1 cup) 1/2 tsp dried lavender flowers 1/2 tsp dried […]

Achieving Flow State

May 15, 2023May 16, 2023 Gretchen

It’s May, when we intentionally celebrate moms in every form. Mothering and motherhood is so much about caring for others, understanding others’ needs and wants, learning and doing for our kids, laughing and crying, investing time and energy, and giving of our physical and mental being. We wanted to talk about something that isn’t always part of the mothering conversation, but it can make it all even more rewarding and fulfilling: achieving flow state. This is, of course, beneficial to everyone, but can be particularly important for moms. Flow state, also known as being “in the zone,” is a state of mind in which you are fully immersed in a task or activity, experiencing complete focus and deep enjoyment of […]

Connecting with Our Mother Earth

April 18, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

As Earth Day approaches many of us focus on doing. Lists of ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle are abundant, and it’s a necessary piece of our responsibilities as we mark Earth Day each year. We created this resource a couple of years ago to help with just that. This year, however, we would like to go a bit deeper, and reflect on our relationship with the planet that sustains us, specifically from the perspective of mothers and motherhood. As mothers, there is nothing more precious to us than the bond we share with our children. It’s a connection that runs deep, built on a foundation of unconditional love, nurturing, and protection. As we celebrate Earth Day, we are reminded […]

Dandelion Recipes

March 31, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

Many early spring flowers and greens are edible and very nutritious. Pre-refrigeration these foraged crops were a welcome change to a winter diet lacking in fresh foods and provided a nutrient rich boost to spring diets before new crops came in. Dandelions, usually treated as a weedy nuisance, are wonderful perennial herbs widely spread across the world. When young, the whole flower, greens and roots can be used in a variety of recipes from jellies, honey, salads, baking, soups, even coffee substitutes and wine! Since these plants are so prolific, easily identifiable and their look-alikes are non toxic they are a great first step into foraging. You can identify dandelions by their hollow stem with a milky sap. They have […]

Seed Starting

March 15, 2023April 18, 2023 Holistic Moms

March is a great time for seed starting for many annual vegetables for most of the US! With seeds you have greater choice of the variety as well as the preparation and care of the plants used to generate your seeds at less cost than purchasing seedlings at a local nursery or farm. There are a few key things to consider when starting seeds. The first is timing! How long do plants take to germinate and grow into a seedling that can be transplanted? When can your plants go in the ground in relation to the last frost date in your area and how long will they take to mature? Working in a spreadsheet or notebook can help you keep […]