Happy Independence Day!

Yes, that's right, I said it: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

I know, "happy 4th of July" is sooooo much easier to say than "happy Independence Day". It's a mouthful, I get it! But what other holiday do you give greetings by the date? No one says "Merry 25th of December!" or "Happy October 31st!". It just doesn't make sense.

When society embraces calling our nation's birthday "July 4th", rather than Independence Day, we easily lose the meaning of the holiday. I asked my kids what we're celebrating on July 4th and they had no idea. They know that fireworks are a big part of it. But when I asked them what we celebrate on Independence Day, I could see the wheels turning in their minds.

What is it that we celebrate on Independence Day? We celebrate our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. If you love this country and our Constitution as much as I do, I urge you to push out that extra syllable and exclaim

Happy Independence Day!

Here's a great history of Independence Day and here's a video to share with the kiddos!

Health has to Start at Home

With all the noise about a national sickcare bill, the elephant in the room is WELLNESS. Taking care of oneself is a basic responsibility of freedom. Somehow, our food system in America got hijacked. Over several generations, we've replaced local, sustainable, homemade, fermented, fresh food and drink with an over abundance of boxes and jars and cans and tubes and tubs and pouches and bottles.

Brewing Kombucha - an inexpensive way to boost immunity

If we want to be a free people, we cannot depend on government to keep us healthy. We must get healthy at home. We've been trained to depend on health insurance for our "well visits", our "immunity shots" and our "co-pay sick visits". We have been led down a scripted path to "health" because we think it costs less money. All the while, we get sicker and sicker.

The so-called alternative ways of healthcare - chiropractic, essential oils, fermented foods, natural fats, natural meats, exercise, acupuncture - aren't covered under insurance.


Our primary care physicians often don't know about these options and patients don't know who else to ask. Americans must seek out a better way to stay healthy if they want to remain free.

      •  •  •

Every little thing we can do in our homes to be healthier will create lifelong habits for our children and help prevent disease. It was only a handful of years ago that I learned of the detriment of antibiotics on the human body and that we can help heal ourselves with PRObiotics. Starting as a teen, I was on a daily antibiotic for acne (deep cysts) for about 5 years. This kept the cysts away but ruined my gut health and led to annual illnesses that required more antibiotics. The kicker with the acne cysts is that I more than likely could have controlled the outbreaks, which were so painful and caused scarring, if I had only known that my body was reacting to my diet. Anyway...

I wanted to start healing my gut and our family began drinking GT's Kombucha. I was buying it by the case. While I got 10% off the case, it was still $42 a week in kombucha! I'd ration the brew between the 5 of us so that it'd make it through the week. Then I learned that my friend Cyndi made her own kombucha. She taught me how to make it and even shared her SCOBY with me.

I've been brewing kombucha on a weekly basis for nearly 3 years now!

What is kombucha you ask? It's a fermented sweet tea drink that is chock full of probiotics. Each week, I brew tea and add about 3 cups of sugar. I pour this solution into a large glass vessel with more water and then place my SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) on top of the mixture. The SCOBY eats all the sugar and ferments the tea into a delicious concoction. I leave the brew in the back of the pantry for about a week for Princess SCOBY to do her thing. Then it's time for the second fermentation... I funnel the brew into glass jars with fruit and leave on the shelf for 2 more days.

And Voilà!! My my labor of love is complete. Probiotic drink for the entire family for a week at under $5 and about 30 minutes of my time.

      •  •  •

GT's Kombucha is still my favorite store bought brew. There are different brands and flavors popping up everywhere and even at Farmers Markets. Make sure it's RAW and ORGANIC and check the sugar content. Some flavors are higher in sugar - skip those.

I am equal. I am strong. I am a woman.

I'm trying so hard to understand these women who feel they are not treated equally to men. But I don't get it. Do they really think Trump will take away their voting rights? Do they think that the government ought to make all pay equal despite experience? Do they think Trump can single handedly overturn Roe v. Wade? Are they upset because late term abortion is debatable? Or that the government shouldn't pay for birth control? Do they believe they didn't get a job in the past because of their gender? Do they think there will be more discrimination in the future because of this president? Why don't they see Trump's daughters as successful businesswomen?

I have never felt discriminated against due to my gender. The very opposite is true - I've felt empowered BECAUSE of my gender. I think differently, I do differently and I make things happen. Is this because I'm a woman? I don't know. It's probably because of my upbringing and my personality.

I was raised in a family of men (mom, dad, 4 brothers) and I NEVER felt less for it. Never was I given different responsibilities because of my gender. Never was anything less expected of me because I was the only girl. And now, I live in a house of men (husband, 3 sons) and if you ask them who rules the roost, they'll tell you that MAMA RULES THE ROOST.

My first two careers were in heavily male dominated industries: Natural Gas and Commercial Real Estate. If anything, being a strong, smart and motivated woman helped me excel in these businesses. Sure, there were jackasses who talked to me like Trump may have, but they didn't keep me from succeeding. I didn't go home and cry because someone thought I was hot and told me so.  And if they thought I was stupid for being a female, all I had to do was speak to prove them wrong.

Seriously, ladies, who are you posting sexual images of Matthew McConaughey or Vin Diesel or any other hottie sex symbol and then simultaneously getting upset when someone in real life thinks that a REAL WOMAN is beautiful, hot, sexy or "doable". Because Donald Trump said something obnoxious 10+ years ago does not make him a rapist, nor a sexist, nor a nazi or whatever you want to call him. I'll call him a jackass - that's for sure.


But for reversing our country 300 years like I've seen in the meme, GIVE ME A BREAK. No, Trump will not take away our voting rights, our right to drive a car, our ability for higher education, our ability to obtain birth control or our ability to excel in our careers. It just won't happen.

Please, take a long nap then wake up and understand that we still live in the greatest country on earth. I'm so thankful for the millions of women who are waking up to politics and want to get involved. Just dig a little deeper and make your minutes, your hours, your days and your emotions count for something. No American woman will stand for our equality to be stripped. Claiming that women who support Trump are okay with being second class citizens is just silly.

If we truly care for women's rights, let's stand up against spousal abuse and sexual harassment and sex slavery. Let's support women in other countries who must cover themselves from head to toe, who can't leave the house without a male escort, who are raped with no way to fight back, who aren't allowed to drive or vote or go to school.

American women protesting Trump sound spoiled and don't seem to appreciate what we have in this free nation. We have rights guaranteed by the constitution and we are equal under the law, just like every other American, thanks to brave women in our history. We are not oppressed.


I am equal. I am strong. I am a woman.

. . . 

Born in America - NOT FAIR

It came up again in conversation this holiday season - if you were born in the United States of America, you're better off than half the world. For goodness sakes, poor people in the US have cell phones, air conditioning and running water!


There's a cute little saying that has become popular... "first world problems". We say this when we realize what we're complaining about is an issue that many humans don't know about. Like poor cell service or the dishwasher leaking or DirecTV cutting out during a storm... FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!

On that note, can't we Americans be THANKFUL for these wonderful "first world creations"? Every day there are items in my home that I find nearly indespensible that didn't exist 100 years ago. On my FaceBook page (www.FaceBook.com/conservativehippiechick), I started a thread where we can be thankful for things other than "good health, a loving family, the sunrise..."

This will now be my ongoing list of First World Thankfulness. Add yours int he comments!

1. wireless trackball mouse
2. indoor pools in the winter months
3. disposable sponges for washing dishes
4. wireless internet
5. the USPS
6. calculators
7. Costco
8. chain saw
9. scotch tape
10. wood flooring
11. heated seats in my vehicle
12. 4 wheel drive
13. weather app
14. paved roads
15. business cards
16. the USPS
17. Mario Cart 
18. grocery stores
19. farmers markets
20. gas stations
21. gas powered leaf blower
22.  chiropractic care
23. fresh brewed coffee in my Bunn (4 minutes!)
24. the internet
25. the Constitution
26. free speech
27. the squeegee at the gas station
28. ziplock baggies
29. refrigerator
30. ball point pens
31. did I say the internet?
32. public library
33.  hot water
34. washing machine
35. sheets
36. pillows
37. disposable plates and cutlery
38. party store
39. color printers