Wilma Oakes

Having Fresh Eggs Isn’t the Only Advantage to Keeping Chickens

It seems that keeping chickens is becoming very popular. Quite a few of our friends have chickens, and they supply them with fresh eggs. But having fresh eggs is just one of the great reasons for keeping chickens in the backyard. Here are a few more. Some of the advantages of keeping chickens Children learn ...

Wilma Oakes

Free-range chickens.

Have You Discovered the Wonders of Lavender Lemonade?

Just the sound of lavender lemonade has me wanting to make this delicious drink. Not only does it taste good, but this amazing drink has so many health benefits. Lavender lemonade First, you have beautiful lavender, which: Reduces anxiety and stress; Cures insomnia, and Reduces depression. Added with the superpower of lemon, which: Increases your energy; Boosts your immune system; Fights viral infections; Aids ...

Wilma Oakes

A glass of lemonade with lavender and lemons.

Do I Really Need to Wash New Clothes?

Why do I need to wash new clothes? When I used to buy new clothes, I would put them on in the changing room and then wear them that day. Well, never again, not now that I have learned of all the things new clothes can have on them, from lice to fungi to scabies to toxic chemicals. They look ...

Wilma Oakes

A young woman puts clothes in a front-load washing machine.

Do You Know That Children With Asthma May Also Have a Peanut Allergy?

A study that was presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference in Denver has found that children with asthma may have a peanut allergy and not know about it. Parents may also be unaware their child has a peanut allergy, as symptoms are similar to an asthma attack, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. ...

Wilma Oakes

Peanuts in the shell.

What Magic Ingredient Makes This Jam Healthy?

I love jam; it’s so delicious. You can have it on your toast, on a scone, or put it on a sponge cake, yum! Unfortunately, the main ingredient in it is sugar, which is not good in high amounts, so I’ve had to use it sparingly, until now. I have found a recipe for a healthy jam that includes vegetables. ...

Wilma Oakes

Beets with leaves.

Children Learning to Use Mindfulness to Navigate Complex Feelings

When listening to children, you always hear something you just don’t expect. They can be unexpectedly articulate about their emotions and often have a grasp on understanding feelings better than most adults. In the short film Just Breathe, children learn to use mindfulness to navigate complex feelings. ‘Just Breathe’ Filmmakers Julie Bayer Salzman and Josh ...

Wilma Oakes

Young girl.

Preserve Your Kidneys’ Yang Qi to Resist Spring Diseases

Preserving your kidneys’ yang qi is important for resisting spring diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is said that winter is a time for the kidneys. The kidneys are very important in TCM as: They store your essence from your parents; They store the “jing” that is responsible for your mental and physical development, and is the basis for whether you can reproduce; ...

Wilma Oakes

A frozen winter landscape with a golden sunset.

Eat a Rainbow of Colors to Keep the Doctor Away

To keep healthy, it’s best to eat an abundance of fruits and veggies every day. Which are best to eat? What does it mean to eat a rainbow of colors a day? It means you need to eat foods that are red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. Well, it’s good if you can eat all of ...

Wilma Oakes

Fruits and veggies grouped by color sit in bowls on a wooden surface.

Are These Life Lessons Really From a 90-Year-Old?

With age comes wisdom, but Regina Brett, the author of a popular list of life lessons, is only 54 years old, not 90! When she was 45 years old, Regina wrote down 45 life lessons that life had taught her, and on her 50th birthday, she added 5 more. Her life lessons were emailed around the ...

Wilma Oakes

Elderly woman with blue denim shirt stands with an electric scooter at the base of some concrete steps.

5 Super Simple Ways to Make Your Life More Sustainable

Have you ever thought about how you can make your life more sustainable? To be honest, I never really gave much thought or even wanted to do something about my impact on the environment, until I had children. I grew up enjoying clean beaches and beautiful rainforests, and I am hoping that they can enjoy that ...

Wilma Oakes

A woman holding a bin of fresh picked vegetables.