Rebirthing The Home

For the last few years, studies done on home births have shown that birthing at home for low-risk pregnancies were just as safe, as if not better than hospital births. The most recent study, the Wax study, has tossed more fuel to the home birth debate. The conclusion of that study reports that less medical interventions result in “a tripling of the neonatal mortality rate”. Many critics are saying the study is flawed and an investigation was opened by the AJOG (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology). AJOG concluded that there were flaws in the study, but not enough to warrant a retraction.

Having had five successful home births, clearly, I disagree with the Wax study.

Hospital births are a recent phenomenon. Babies have been born at home with a midwife (or not) since the beginning of time, this is fact.  What is also fact is that humanity has managed to survive.  A Paradigm shift occurred. Attitudes towards birthing at home are uniform in perception that home births are dangerous and unsafe. Women who do them are selfish and crazy. How did such a shift take place? How has what’s been normal since the beginning of time, turn into something abnormal and wrong?

Is it the fear of nature and faith in science?

All cultures develop technologies. But most do not supervalue their technologies in the particular way that we do. This point is argued clearly by Peter C. Reynolds in his book, Stealing Fire: The Mythology of the Technocracy (a technocracy is a hierarchical, bureaucratic society driven by an ideology of technological progress). There he discusses how we "improve upon" nature by controlling it through culture. -  The Rituals of American Hospital Births

Is it a form of control?

In spite of tremendous advances in equality for women, the United States is still a patriarchy. It is no cultural accident that 99% of American women give birth in hospitals, where only physicians, most of whom are male, have final authority over the performance of birth rituals--an authority that reinforces the cultural supervaluation of patriarchy for both mothers and their medical attendants. -  The Rituals of American Hospital Births

Is it the American ideals for capitalism and production?

The rising science of obstetrics ultimately accomplished this goal by adopting the model of the assembly-line production of goods as its template for hospital birth. Accordingly, a woman's reproductive tract came to be treated like a birthing machine by skilled technicians working under semiflexible timetables to meet production and quality control demands. As one fourth-year resident observed:

We shave 'em, we prep 'em, we hook 'em up to the IV and administer sedation. We deliver the baby, it goes to the nursery and the mother goes to her room. There's no room for niceties around here. We just move 'em right on through. It's hard not to see it like an assembly line. – The Rituals of American Hospital Births

Something went awry, and home births became the pariah of normal birthing behavior. Whether you agree with the Wax study or not, the fact remains that 99 percent of women do birth in hospitals. Considering this, our infant mortality rank is abysmal. Studies like the Wax study are better geared towards the issue of our infant mortality rank in a standardized hospital setting.

Like breast feeding, home births require a change in perception, and cultural values. It can be normal, safe and empowering for the low-risk woman. I truly believe that the empowerment of a un-medically managed birth can facilitate a strong bond between a confident mom and her newborn.

However, unlike breast feeding, I believe this perception will be even tougher to change. Hospital births are not only ingrained in the American culture, but tie intimately into the capitalistic culture and turf of OBGYNs. You can bet that they will not relinquish it without a fight. I believe the modern culture of hospital births are geared towards money and control. It is by no accident…while we rank poorly in infant mortality, we also spend the most money on births.

Hospitals may be the modern standard, but do you believe in the safety of a home birth for low-risk pregnancies?

Out Blog Hopping! ~ 4/29 - 5/1

I love blog hops! I've found come really cool blogs that way! 

• If you're following me and want a follow back, please leave your address (so important!) so I can find you and reciprocate :)
• If you'd like me to join your hop leave a comment with the address. 
• If I'm participating in your hop and you'd like to see your button listed here, leave a comment with the html code. 

I'll be tweeting this post through out the day!

 Don't get too dizzy from hopping!







































Claim token: 3VPVW6FSQGFN

Breast Feeding For Dummies

According to a new study that was released breast feeding women are seen as less intelligent and less incompetent as women who do not breast feed.  When reading this headline a month ago, I was not interested in reading the story at all, nor was I inspired to blog about it, after all there are just some things that are not worth blogging about. However, I keep seeing headlines such as these:  “How Breastfeeding Can Hurt Careers”,  “Breast Feeding Moms Must Be Warned of Bias Backlash” or “Breast Is Not Always Best”, resurfacing over and over again.

The sensationalization  of  this bias in the media has me sitting down writing this post. I see it as nothing more than attempts to spotlight breast feeding in a negative light. In order to write an effective post, I had to read some of these stories and it’s just as bad as I thought I would be. Some of the stories I’ve read sugar-coat these “warnings” as concerns that breast feeding moms must be made aware of, while maintaining breast is best, but if you just scan the study, the focus of the study is not to “warn” breast feeding moms of such prejudices and perceptions, but to expose these prejudices.

Finding ways to change society’s perception of the breastfeeding mother is a lofty—and ongoing—goal for future research. In the meantime, our data suggest possible interventions that can empower the mother who wants to breastfeed to deal with the bias or objectification experiences she might encounter. One possibility is to teach pregnant women about the sexism they might encounter and how this “stereotype threat” experience might affect them (Johns, Schmader, & Martens, 2005). An alternative approach would be to teach
potential mothers how to “self-correct” for the influence that negative breastfeeding expectations (related to sexism, embarrassment, or otherwise) can have on actual breastfeeding experiences (Handley et al., 2009). The goal of either intervention would be to increase initiation of and duration of breastfeeding, without sacrificing people’s perception of the mother’s competence. – Spoiled Milk – An Experimental Examination of Bias Against Mothers Who Breast Feed

I, for one, am tired of the back-handed compliments when it comes to nursing. I’m tired of  eagerness to report the slightest hint of negativity when it comes to breast feeding. The media focuses it’s negativity towards the breast feeding mom (as evident by various headlines), but the study focuses on the perceptions of society. This study is a very positive one, and is evidently very true by negative spin done by news reports in general.

 

Having said all this, I question what the big deal is about this study? It’s certainly nothing I’ve heard or haven’t known of beforehand. Breast feeding moms considered dumb and incompetent?? Get out of town!

 

Are we not a society that has normalized bottles and formula? Are we not a society where even hospitals promote bottles as well??  Of course the society thinks we’re dumb! After all, its not “NORMAL”.

 

What IS a nursing mom to do? Keep on nursing! Going against the “norm” is never easy, and requires thick skin, but the rewards are absolutely worth it. Who cares what others think? I say, Hear me speak and you’ll know exactly what kind of person I am…intelligent, kind-hearted, caring and tough.

 

Are you a mom who is, has or plans to breast feed and/or home birth? Join the directory/blog hop and find other bloggers who do the same!  Feel free to grab the button from the sidebar as well.

 

A HUGE thanks to fellow breast feeder iNeedaPlaydate in creating this beautiful button. ((HUGS))

Punctuality Tips

We're on our way back from walking the older children to school. This my
newly five and (very) free-spirited son! He's wearing his back pack
although he's not the one attending school, he's not to be left out.

I've been asked on occasion how I get all six and myself out on time so
I thought I'd share. Now mind you, it doesn't always happen, but I'm
known for my punctuality. So here goes...

K.I.S.S.

Keep it simply sublime! Determine how long the walk/outing will be. Keep
it basic while prioritizing your must haves on your walk. Over packing
what you want to bring, can add minutes to your preparation, and make
for a burdensome trip.

DETAILS, DETAILS

As mothers we know that its all in the details! A missing jacket can
make for wasted time. You don't need to lay out outfits the night before
as long as you know what outfits will be worn on the outing, and where
they are, the battle is half won.

It is vital to have socks, shoes, scarves, mitts etc. in one place. It
can mean the difference between being late or on time. This can be done
the night before. Or you can get up earlier than usual and collect what
you need.

SCHEDULE YOUR GOALS

Set loose, short-term goals at 30 minutes or hourly increments. For
example: breakfast by 7:00, dressed by 7:30, hair by 8:00. What ever
works for you, always give your schedule a lot of breathing room for
that last minute diaper change that's guaranteed to work its way in from
time to time.

Most importantly, when everyone is ready to go, give yourself at least
30 to 40 minutes of "get out the door" time. This is when strollers/car
seats are set up. Jackets/coats, shoes are put on.

Do you have any punctuality tips? Please share. :)

*Blogging on the go!

How Constructive Is Your Criticism?

As a mom of seven, it is so vital that my children learn how to communicate with one another. Respect is the ultimate rule at here. Respect in words. Respect in behavior. When someone does something that offends another, they are to express themselves in a way that respects both parties. In other words, yelling, saying nasty words or making put-down comments are not allowed. They can say what they feel that achieves a mutual understanding peacefully. We have showed them how to do just that. The results of this has been  a peaceful home. I’m not saying my children never yell at each other (in anger or joy), but over a period of time of showing them how to communicate, it is a habit they mostly have.

One method I’ve taught my children to implement in their communication is constructive criticism. If they have a complaint about their younger sibling, I would ask them how can you help them improve?  What information can you share?  I maintain that children are very emotionally intelligent, they relate easily to emotional concepts, better than most grown adults I know!

We are all non-entrants in this societal contest of life. Ours is a society full of critics and judges. Add one part “free speech” and two parts of technology, and we have a rude mess of insulting and degrading  words thrown around at lighting speeds.

I’m going to share an unpopular idea. I don’t believe speech is “free”. I believe speech always has consequences to it…good or bad. Just ask “Kramer” Michael Richards. ( I had to Google Kramer, I’ve completely forgotten his name!) I believe it is extremely vital to express one’s self… but never at another’s expense.

In this sense speech is limited. If it is limited, then it should be constructive. Let’s face it, saying whatever you feel, simply because you can, does not always build relationships. It does not always create a respectful, peaceful environment. Especially if your speech or criticism is one that simply gets issues “off your chest”. Then what?  You feel great after you’ve “expressed“ yourself, a freeing feeling, but the other person is left with a boatload of issues. I have to be honest here…one of my pet peeves are children allowed to “express” themselves without guidance. My children have been on the other end of those types of expressions (often), and I’m left holding the bag and devastated child. What good does it do? Good for the express-or, but does nothing for the express-ee.

Speech can only be free if both parties benefit from constructive criticism. If feelings, knowledge and wisdom is shared in a way that enlightens all involved. Truly free speech leaves both parties in a better place than they were before.

How constructive is your criticism? What do you do to problem-solve any complaints you may have with another in the blogosphere…at home…at work?

Determine Where Your Head/Heart Is At.

Is the other person the source of the problem or are you just having a bad day? If that’s the case, then other methods of self-expression need to be applied! My favorite way to unwind is by prayer/mediation. Works every time. You can also…

• Journal
• Sing (preferably in a private setting if your pitch is off!)
• Dance (preferably in a private setting if you have two left feet!)
• Talk to a neutral party (spouse/friend)

Choose Battles Wisely.

Many a times, I’ve wished I kept my mouth shut! Sometimes bringing up a critique is just not worth it. This is where wisdom and experience need to be applied.

Share Concerns With Humility.

No one likes a bossy, know-it-all! I am constantly advising my children on how to deal with these types of personalities! It’s not cute at a  young age (sorry people!) and it’s certainly unattractive in an adult form. This attitude does not lend any empathetic value to a conversation, which is so vital to the enlightment of both parties. Share concerns with the intention of learning and self-improvement.

Share Concerns With Positivity.

This can be tricky. It requires creative, positive thinking  with a dose of self-control, and a touch of class. If the conversation is approached  with the intention of self-improvement, the focus is placed on you and not the other party, that in itself can be positive.

Another way to be positive is to Offer Help Rather Than Criticism.

Let’s face it. We could all use some help. Sharing knowledge, helping another is so much more productive and constructive than just telling someone else your opinion on what you think may be wrong. This can also be a good guideline…if help or a solution cannot be offered, then don’t say anything! This is also a bit tricky as you can come off as arrogant, again, wisdom is to be applied and words should be chosen carefully.

What tips do you have for constructive criticism? Please share. ;)

Breast Feeding Mix Up

What would you do???

 

As reported by NyPost.com:

 

A distraught Brooklyn woman says hospital workers accidentally switched her daughter with another baby just after birth -- and the other mom wound up breast-feeding her child.

Devastated mom Lynda Williams, 33, who said she never smokes or drinks alcohol and wouldn't even sip soda while pregnant, sued Long Island College Hospital after the 2008 incident, demanding to know if the other woman who breast-fed her daughter was healthy.

"I asked, 'Did she smoke during pregnancy? Did she drink? Does she have any disease? Can I meet her?' " Williams told The Post yesterday.

 

CHANGE-UP: Lynda Williams, at home yesterday, says she was traumatized when nurses switched baby Jalyn (now 3) with another newborn in 2008. But Williams said hospital staffers refused to divulge anything about the other woman because of privacy laws, and the courts have since sided with LICH, noting the child, now 3, is healthy, so it's a nonissue. Read More

I feel sincerely for this mom! The first time nursing a child is so important for bonding and nutrition, and I understand her anguish.  The hospital is completely at fault in this instance and should responsible for any and all compensation. However, the other mom is an innocent party to the whole situation and I think her demands to meet her is unreasonable. She DOES have a right to know what kind of health the mom as in at the time.

What do you think??

 

In other news:

Carmen @ ClusterLove would like to share this news with the BF/HB directory.

A midwife in her area was charged with involuntary manslaughter of a baby who died during a complicated home birth.

Karen Carr, a Baltimore midwife who has delivered more than 1,200 babies and is well known in the childbirth community, was indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, as well as charges of child abuse, neglect and acting without a license. She was indicted by a grand jury last week on an additional charge of negligently allowing a child’s life to be endangered. Read More

If you wish to support Karen Carr during this time, her website is accepting donations for her legal defense. You can also blog and post the link on your blog.  A death of a child is a horrible thing whether you have a planned home birth or a hospital birth. My prayers are with the family of the child and Karen.

 

Link up to the BF/HD directory to share, interact and follow other moms who float in the same boat.

The Case For A Lotus Birth

My sweetest darling baby is a bubbling seven month old girl. One year ago, she nestled safely in my womb. My sweet little secret. A secret in the sense that, she was undiscovered, an unwrapped present, if you will. A secret in the way you know the present exists, but you don’t know what you’re getting.
It was amazing to me because, planning my 5th home birth, I really believed I’ve done it all! I was confident and strong! I was going to birth my baby with grace, dignity and empowered the way I have done the last four home births, but this time around, I discovered something not so new about birth!
Oh how little did I know, that my best birth was yet to come! It started a few pregnancies ago, when I stumbled upon a strange term when surfing online. Lotus Birth. Curious, I decided to check it out. The blogs I visited spoke about Lotus birth as a spiritual experience done in  a variety of cultures. Now, I am Believer in Jesus Christ of Nazareth, not in a religious way i.e, church-going etc, but spiritual, as I believe the Word of the Living God says:

“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:23-24

However the equation of Lotus Birth to a spiritual experience conjured up images of  me sitting in a pretzel form and my hands in the ohhhmmmm  pose and  I abandoned all vestiges of the possibility of it as I believed it was unnecessary and burdensome (carrying around an attached placenta).
So when I became pregnant with baby girl, it occurred to me that I should find out if there were any health benefits to a lotus birth. With that in mind. I was on a mission. What I discovered tickled my joy! I was intoxicated with the possibilities of the blessings that I knew could come with a Lotus birth!
What I’ve learned about a Lotus Birth:

• Contributes to the peace and well being of the baby (less stress)
• Baby gains the full blood volume
• Placenta helps the liver with processing – its considered the reason why LB babies don’t have breast feeding jaundice as often.
• Baby retains birth weight  (does not lose weight!)
• Placenta continues to provide vital nutrients

Observations and experiences of other Lotus Birth-ers:

• Babies are peaceful, happy, little to no crying after birth.
• Babies become upset when detached from the umbilical cord.

On my journey to a Lotus Birth found a wonderful advocate for gentle birthing. Dr. Sarah Buckley has a website that is a fountain of resources. On it are some articles that she wrote herself, per her own personal Lotus Birth experiences, as well as information from other sources. She is the author of a book,  “Gentle Birthing”. I have not read this book, (this is not a sponsored post), only the website she hosts.  Here she explains why the “Active management” of the third stage labor creates problems for the mother and child.

“Active management also creates specific problems for mother and baby. In particular, use of active management leads to a newborn baby being deprived of up to half of his or her expected blood volume. This extra blood, which is intended to perfuse the newly functioning lungs and other vital organs, is discarded along with the placenta when active management is used, with possible sequellae such as breathing difficulties and anaemia, especially in vulnerable babies.” – Leaving Well Enough Alone… by Dr. Sarah J. Buckley

I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that this recent birth takes the cake. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had very successful home births with little problems. The only concern  I had going on this  journey was the possibility of my placenta taking too long to deliver as it has in the past. Now that I’ve experienced it I can testify to the fact that my daughter WAS so peaceful and content. With very little crying. She did not lose ONE ounce.  She had no jaundice at all.
And this…this was a shocker to me…I admit I brushed off the stories of babies crying when they finally detached from their placenta. My baby WAILED when her placenta detached! I was devastated  for her! It was such an emotional cry! I am totally convinced that babies ARE attached emotionally to their placentas. They need the peaceful, gentle introduction to life, allowing them to stay with what they have known their whole life is only but worth-while sacrifice of inconvenience of toting around a bulky placenta.
By the way, I delivered my placenta within minutes of birth! Something that has never happened in all of my birth experiences! It is clear to me that the Lord brought me on and through this journey and provided everything I needed to have a Lotus Birth, absolutely my finest hour (s).
How amazing is it that Life never stops teaching?

A Post of My Appreciation!

My lovely readers, I wanted to let each and everyone of you that I truly appreciate you and your support of my blog by your followship (Get it? Follow/Fellowship *snicker*) and the beautiful comments I've received!

Thank you! It makes staying up in the wee hours of the night and resulting the dark circles well worth it.

There is a whole other dimension to blogging that I've just embraced. The friends and connections I've made are so invaluable! When I thought of creating a Breast feeding and Home Birth directory, I thought it was a fantastic idea, but its seems like moms like me are coming out of the woodwork!

Its a "You too!?" surprise and now I realize this directory can be such a wonderful event and budding support community! I cannot wait to meet more moms this way! Sign up!

I'm blogging on my phone so forgive me for not providing the link here. You can find the directory at the top of my blog.

Thank you for stopping by. Thank you for following. Thank you for linking up. And Thank you for commenting! :) :)

(Please leave a comment with your address so I can follow back.)

Blog Hops ~ 4/20/11

The Versatile blogger Award!

A big THANK YOU to Diamonds at Sex`e Mamas who is determined to bring “sexy back, one mama at a time” for awarding me The Versatile Blogger Award! Check out her chic blog and find great tips on bringing your sexy back!

  

The rules after excepting this award:

• Thank the person who awarded you.
• Divulge 7 things about yourself.
• Award 15 discovered bloggers.

Seven things about me:

1. I’m on a weight loss journey! I haven’t blogged about this yet, because I decided NOT to weigh myself! I don’t know how many pounds I’ve lost. I’m going by sight and I’ve slimmed down quite a bit. It’s hard to journal when you don’t know how much you’ve lost  :). The numbers always mess with my head and I “feel” fat when I instinctively know I’m not. My husband looks at me like I’m nuts when I express this and I decided to focus on reality and not fantasy! So there you go!
2. I enjoy ironing! I wish I had time to do it! :)
3. The Big Man (my hubs) and I officially met at the age of 13.
4. My hubs stands at 6’4'” and I’m 5’4” (or something like that)
5. I’m hearing-impaired. I don’t think I’ve mentioned it :)
6. I love salads and make my own dressing
7. I don’t post too many pictures of my children, because I’m very protective. I have been accused of being over-protective. I say better super safe than super sorry. I also don’t mention them by name too often. :)

This award goes to :

i Need a Playdate

Cluster Love

ECWrites

CasinoFreebies3

Change. Wash. Repeat.

SpeechContacts

I’m a Full-Time Mummy

EvenAndy Revealed

Becoming Brea

A Nest For All Seasons

 

*Add your blog to the Breast Feeding/Home Birth directory if you are, have, plan to, or support breast feeding and/or home birth! This could be a great resource and support community. Find and follow your fellow breast feeding/home birthing bloggers!

The Breast Feeding/ Home Birth Directory!

Each week, I'll post a question, comment or opinion relating to breast feeding and/or home birth. Stop past and share your thoughts! My blog is a no-judgement zone. We are all here to support and share!

This week's question: Why have you chosen to breast feed/ home birth?

Snapping To The Beat

"Can I take pictures with your phone, Mom?"

Is the question I'm getting on a regular basis from my 8 year old son.
This seems to be his new interest in addition to beat boxing. I think I
just may have a budding, musical photographer on my hands.

What do you think?

Tuesday/ Wednesday Blog Hops ~ April 12/13

I'm blog hopping here! Come and join me :) Visitors from the blog hops, help me follow you back! Make sure you:

1. Leave your address. I may not be able to access your profile if it's private. If I do, please make sure your link is located in your profile
2. Confirm your GFC by clicking the "Okay" button before leaving the page. I've gotten comments from people who say they are following, but don't show up on my readership list. Please make sure you confirm all pages before leaving :) THANK YOU and happy following!

Celebrate Spring With Style

This post brought to you by Pier 1. All opinions are 100% mine.

My old friend Spring is back! How I've missed my Spring Time! She won't be around for long, after all she is a fair-weathered friend, but she is certainly welcome after that old tyrant, Winter brought with him his luggage, better known as the blizzard of 2011. It seemed as though he would never leave.

But He's gone. And she's here, and its time to spend some quality time with her! What better way to do it than with some new patio furniture? I've been checking out Pier 1 and I'm feeling their groove when it comes to their furniture. What I like about Pier 1 is the fact that you can purchase the cushions that comes in different colors and styles separately from the chairs. You can pick your pieces to created a customized look for "un-customized" prices. 

The Paisley Outdoor Accent Table is a good way to spruce up your existing furniture with a pop of color. How good would your tea tray look steaming on this table? With it's handcrafted ceramic tile and wrought iron, it'll inspire a pinky-raising, good time with your gal friends. What really works with these furniture is the fact that it can be used indoor as well! Bring it inside if you having an indoor soiree. At $89.00, you get a multi-purpose table. The majority of Pier 1 furniture are multi-purposed in the way of being indoor/outdoor "flexible".

Assorted Wall Art can give bare walls a pop of much needed color. At Pier 1, you can get these decorative wall art for $19.99, a mark down from it's original price tag of $30. I think it'll go well with the Paisley Accent Table color scheme. 

 

 

Personally, I LOVE the Ciudad Corner Chair. I love the clean lines and modern look. Interestingly, it's not my typical style, but is very appealing to me for whatever reason. 

It's going have to do on my "wishful thinking" list for a while, with seven children, I would be insane to buy something like this! However, the Papasan chair, otherwise known as the moon or dish chair, would be perfect for my snuggling my babes with.

 

You can choose from a variety of stylish cushions. The Red Rose Papasan Pad is so fun-looking, it would be a  good fit for a little girl's room. 

 

Whether you believe in evolution or not, this is it at it's finest... The Rockasan chair! It's the ultimate comfort chair! I can see it being a good nursing chair for me. Probably not for a first-time nursing mom, but more for moms who have established nursing an older baby 6 months and up. It's definitely a snuggle chair I'd love to have! 

You could read a book in or to (your child). Add the Red Rose Papasan Pad, and you have a fun chair for kids to sit and rock in. You may want a "no eating in the chair" rule, as I imagine crumbs would be a nightmare to clean out! The Double Papasan and Swingasan Chairs are new to Pier 1 as well. Stop past and check 'em out!

Pier 1 Tweetups is coming to NYC on April 20th. If you're in the area stop by and meet bloggers and tweeters alike!

 

The Last Hurrah

I made one of my favorite dishes tonight for the last time, until the cold weather season returns again. A last hurrah to cold-weather foods…because we will barbeque and grill our winter blues away soon! I wanted to share the dish with you guys. It’s called Chunky Chicken Chili and it is one of the most delicious chili I’ve ever had! I discovered it on the Food Network on a show called Big Daddy’s House hosted by Aaron McCargo Jr.

Chili powder, Cumin, Coriander, Pink Salt, Cracked Black Pepper

 
The dish is RICH to say the least, but soooo good! Here’s the ingredient list:

• 1 stick butter, divided
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup red pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup green pepper, diced
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained
• 2 (4-ounce) cans mild green chiles
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar, for garnish
• 3 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves, for garnish

You can get the cooking instructions on the site. I wanted to share a few tips. I replaced the butter with coconut oil for a healthier version. I also replaced Kosher salt with Himalayan Pink Salt. I used approximately 2 1/2 teaspoons of Pink Salt, you should salt to your taste.  You can use any kind of stock in this dish. I’ve used beef and turkey, I like turkey stock the best. If you’re a vegetarian, you can eliminate the chicken and add mushrooms instead, it’s just as good! If you don’t like parsley as a garnish, you can use cilantro! I’ve found cilantro to be much more in keeping with the harmony of the dish.  Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Chunky Chicken Chili,Aaron McCargo Jr.,Food Network,Recipe,Chili,Himalayan Pink Salt

Blog Hop Weekend! 4/9 - 4/10

Conquering the World “Two Boobs At a Time”

Dennis Lewis sent out this email in response to the continued, YES continued, fuss about the Breast Milk Baby Doll. In an email titled “World Domination…Two Boobs At A Time” He states:

Enough is enough...
Over the last couple of weeks we've answered over a thousand emails from people all over the country.  Lots were from supporters, and yes, quite a few were negative - from people who feel threatened by something so natural as breastfeeding.  
Good Morning America did a great report (thanks Mary) and we've been talking with reporters from TV, radio, newpapers and bloggers from across the US, UK and Australia.  
However, the only moment I've honestly felt insulted was when Bill O'Reilly trashed our beautiful dolls on nationwide TV without even bothering to pick up the phone and ask our side of the story -  and their slogan is "Fair and Unbalanced"?  So here's our response (please watch till the end):

I can almost understand how some uninformed people have been duped into believing that breastfeeding is something to be hidden, but a powerful organization like Fox News?  

Shame on you.
We want to teach them a lesson, and we need your help!

Let's face it.  Berjuan Toys is a tiny little speck of a company and Fox News is a monstrously big media machine.  But we're not about to stand down.
We genuinely believe in the product we've built and the purpose it serves.  Our dolls harm no one.Furthermore, breastfeeding is an important issue and we believe it's time America wakes up and shakes off all these stupid prejudices and backward ideas.
It's time for a few proud BOOBSUCKERS :-) (if you've watched the video you'll get the joke) to stand up and make ourselves heard.  

Bill O'Reilly may not accept our challenge (we actually don't believe he's got what it takes), but we can at least make him look as stupid as possible.
Over the next few days I may ask you for a couple of favors, but for the moment, we need to make this video go viral.  Please, watch the video. Send it to your friends.  Send it to your enemies.  Post it to websites, blogs and facebook profiles.If any of you belong to breastfeeding groups or organizations, contact me about working together to get the word out.

On behalf of our six little innocent baby dolls, I thank you SO much for your support.  
Now lets ROCK and ROLL.

Godspeed,
Dennis Lewis
The Breast Milk Baby

Thursday Blog Hops ~ April 7th