Stay in Shape During Pregnancy & Ease the Pain of Labor

We all know the importance of staying fit during pregnancy. Your OB or midwife will tell you to eat right, get moderate exercise, and of course drink lots of water. While walking, spinning class, or even prenatal yoga are great ways to maintain prenatal health, one of the best ways to actually prepare your body for birth is through dance. I grew up attending the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Pre-professional program. During these...

The Truth Will Set You Free

I've fallen off. I take full responsibility for it. Actually, I've taken no responsibility for the fact that I got off track, lost my way, and have been doing a disservice to you, my lovely crunchy friends. But that stops now. You see I think there's a part of every one of us that wants to be "perfect". Seeking that impossible dream is bad enough, but what makes it harder to swallow is that you were doing it for someone else. A boss you are...

6 Foods For Glowing Skin

Whether you're slathering them on your skin or including them in a fresh meal, these 6 foods will have lasting health benefits for your body. Avocados Eat em': These buttery fruits are leading the pack of superfoods. With their richness in antioxidants and essential fatty acids they will keep your skin supple and be great source of healthy fats. Spread on a sandwich or diced into a salad they are a delicious addition to many meals. Wear...

5 Foods For Healthy Hair

My hair has been on my mind recently. Far more than I care to admit. 8 months ago I took the leap and cut off all the processed ends to reveal my curly, soft and natural texture. Since then I've been doing everything in my power to maintain length and keep the overall health of my hair. I've had good days and bad, but I have to say this natural hair journey has really made me take stock in more than how long it is or the products I put in it. I...

DIY Natural Sunscreen

You might be looking at my cartoonishly dorky logo and notice that yes indeed...I am Black. This comes as quite a surprise to many people, especially when they speak to me on the phone (what is a "Black" voice anyway?) But I digress. Growing up, because of my cocoa-brown complexion, I was under the impression that getting sunburned was not possible. Red skin, painful to the touch, only plagued my fair-skinned friends, not me. Apparently my...

8 Steps to Growing An Organic Garden

There's something about this time of year that always excites me. I don't know if it's the potential that seems to blossom in the Spring, or the green buds peeking through the ground. Whatever it is I get pumped when I can dig my hands in the dirt, and start planting! Creating your own organic garden can be a fun weekend project that takes little more than some elbow grease and a plan. Whether you are looking to put in a large plot or...

10 Natural Ways to Ease PMS

Yesterday I was possessed. Not by some mythical creature, alien life form, or demon from the depths of Hell...well maybe it was a demon. (Men keep reading...this information could save your life too) I should start by saying I've become a pretty patient person, but please don't ask my husband to confirm that. Actually, for a woman living in a household with 4 boys (yes the hubby is included in this count) I should get Sainthood for all the...

26 Things You Wish Your Kid Said on Mother’s Day

Sometimes I want to change my name, but not tell my kids.  That way when “Mom” gets said on constant loop I can just ignore them. Other times I think about how long I can hide out in relaxing places like the grocery store. I don’t want it to sound like I don’t love my kids, because I do. But sometimes they make it very hard to focus on the task of making them into upstanding men, instead of running away, screaming into the night.... Their...

Planning a Medicated Birth? You Can Still Benefit from Hiring A Doula.

"F-this, give me the drugs!" That seems to be the general feeling whenever the leading lady in a movie is about to push out her baby. While sometimes having a medicated birth is what a woman chooses, does that mean having a doula becomes obsolete? I've talked about a few of my experiences as a birth doula, but generally I'm kinda mum on the topic. That's pretty interesting considering I could talk about vaginas, babies, birth, and boobs, ALL...

5 Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids

“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.”  So today is Earth Day, but I only recently realized how awesome this planet really is. Maybe it's because I'm getting older or because I get to watch my 2-year-old discover things like mountains and worms. Whatever the reason, I've begun to notice the beauty...