A Post About Health From Hawaii

So it dawned on me that I never really shared some medical news with many people in my life. Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with arthritis in my low back. I have suffered from chronic back pain and inflammation in my low back since a car accident in 2004, weeks before my 21st birthday. Shortly after my car accident, my mom flew me to Hawaii with her as my 21st birthday present. Now, nine years later, here I am again, in Hawaii, wrapping my mind around this diagnosis and what it means. I’m not even 30 yet (I have 6 more days in my 20s).

Most people who know me know that I have always been committed to a healthy lifestyle and this has never been more true since I had R. Now, I realize just how important this lifestyle is going to be to manage my pain and the deterioration of my joints. It dawned on me on the airplane yesterday: being healthy is expensive. I asked if it was possible, for future flights, with a doctor’s note, to reserve the bulk head seats. The very kind West Jet flight attendants informed me that it was, but like anyone else, I would have to pay a premium. I would have to pay to help reduce or avoid pain on my flight.

While running this morning, the same route I run every time I come to Hawaii, I realized how ridiculous this is. I have to pay to see my trainer (Kat, you’re worth every penny, I swear), I pay to eat healthier, mostly Paleo  foods, I pay to maintain the alignment of my joints, I pay to seek natural health remedies: health costs. In our Canadian Universal Healthcare System, I alone have the potential to cost the system MILLIONS of dollars. So much of this money could be saved by helping me invest in a healthy lifestyle that would keep me out of specialists offices, emergency rooms, surgery rooms and so on. My husband and I watched a documentary film last week on Netflix called Food Matters and although we see some perspectives in the film as a bit extreme, it makes sense. With healthy diet and exercise, so many chronic and life threatening illnesses could be avoided or at least managed, and yet little to no money is invested in these fields. Health doesn’t make money.

Wordless Wednesday: Some of My New Paleo Favourites

Whipped coconut cream, cocoa powder and strawberries

Fresh strawberries and cocoa powder.

Kale chips glazed with oil, baked at 300 for 20 mins, with salt, garlic and curry powder. 

Frozen banana pureed with cocoa powder and almond butter.

Fresh grape tomatoes, avocado and basil with balsamic reduction.

Finds from my local Winners (Canadian TJ Maxx).

So I’m Opening a Store!!

I must hereby renounce my lack of bias in terms of cloth diaper products and EMBRACE being a small business owner. Remember my review of Bumby Wool ? The one where I basically raved about the product, the company and the owner? Well, I’m now a retailer. That’s right, I’m hoping to bring Bumby to BC. It all started with me slowly building networks in the cloth diapering community. Despite spanning the continent and even the globe, when it comes to products like wool, the community really isn’t that big. Since I fell in love with Bumby, I have been spreading the love by literally packing my PPB Boxy Backpack full of my child’s wool bottoms and taking them to various locations to have people touch, feel and even try it on their babies. It’s that good. That’s when the owner, and now good friend said, “Hey, you like it so much and you’ve built such a good network in the Fraser Valley, why don’t you just sell it?”

WHY DON’T I?!!!

So I downloaded the BC Small Business Information Package and the Small Business Name Approval Form and started to get to work!! It is a bit time consuming, hence my lack of posts of late. Eventually, my goal is to have my own domain with my blog AND a small little online store of AMAZING natural parenting products available for pre-order and in stock purchase. My target audience is the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, but shipping can be arranged as well. I’m hoping to have all this set up within the next month or two. I’m starting with a Bumby Pre-Order right now on my Facebook Page and will grow from there as the paperwork gets processed. So bear with me if I’m a bit absent right now, but there are BIG THINGS IN THE WORKS WITH MAMA TENCH!!

Product Review: Stoneworks Jewellery

I must start this post with a preface: my mother is the creator of this company and makes this product with her husband, BUT, my review will still be honest and integral. Scout’s honour.

I remember when my mom made her first piece of jewellery. I assumed, like many people no longer occupying their time with work every day, that this was a new “hobby,” much like golf, or knitting. As she started building more and more pieces and extended her clientele beyond just friends and family, it became clear that this was more of a calling than a hobby. For as long as I can remember by mother has always loved jewellery... like a lot... more than most people. I never really understood why, being a tom boy and everything. It wasn’t until she started crafting her own that everything clicked for me. This was her passion, a way to express herself and wow, along with partner Bob, they make some gorgeous stuff!!

Their company is called Stoneworks Jewellery and they hand craft their unique, guaranteed one of a kind pieces from only the finest metals and genuine gem stones. Initially, Jane only worked with sterling silver, but since meeting Bob, they’re jumped head first in to using copper and brass as well and the copper pieces are stunning. The two source on the finest of rare and top quality gem stones to incorporate in to their artwork. Not only is each piece guaranteed one of a kind, but they offer a lifetime warranty on their work as well. My favourite aspect of their company is that they will do custom designs. I described to them last spring what I envisioned for my bridesmaid’s and they nailed it!!

The final point I would like to make about Stoneworks Jewellery is the price. Somehow, Jane and Bob have managed to maintain reasonable pricing as their business grew. You can always find pieces starting at $10.00 (which I always appreciated as I shopped for friends on a student or mat. leave budget) right up to their elaborate pieces that are still offered at a fraction of what you would pay from a jewellery store or high end boutique; and yet, the pieces are made from the same high quality materials and are also completely unique.

Too see more of what Stoneworks has available, check them out on their website or their Facebook page.