Is Master Tonic For You!?!

This past week I have been doing a lot of late fall/winter preparations. Putting up some of the last ends of the harvest, making laundry soap to last until spring and even delving into making kombucha at home. (Have you ever priced that stuff?!? It's outrageous.) 

Here in the upper Ozarka winters can be harsh. They can literally throw you into the 1900s with no electricity, water or internet. So the preparations have to start early, because without running water or heat, there can be many opportunities for  catching some nasty bug. 

Perhaps the biggest preparation I have started was my Master Tonic. While this is mainly for myself to use as a preventative to not catch anything (never know when a mama is going to go into labor) that might come floating around. 

So what is Master Tonic?

Master Tonic is a potent blend of food ingredients that are known to hold anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. Very similar to the concoction of herbs used by thieves during the Black Plague to prevent people who came in contact from catching it. 

What is in Master Tonic?

The blend can vary a lot depending in the region and the creator of your blend. Personally, I like to use all fresh ingredients either grown in my garden or wild crafted to get the most benefits out if them. Dry herbs can be used for just the plain herb version, but you will sacrifice some of the potency of your tonic. 

The list of herbs used in Master Tonic is considerably shorter and uses more common kitchen ingredients than Thieves   Vinegar, they can be used interchangeably with some discretion. **You would want to exercise caution in using anything on your skin or internally that could cause a reaction.**

Herbs/Ingredients Traditionally Used:

White Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar

Red Wine Vinegar

Wormwood

Meadowsweet 

Wild Marjoram 

Sage

Cloves 

Campanula Root

Angelic

Rosemary

Horehound

Camphor

Lavender

Rue

Thyme

Mint

Garlic

Ginger

Onion

Horseradish

Hot Peppers (cayenne, Thai, jalapeño, etc.)

**Please research any ingredient before you use. Some are not intended for use in people with health condition, pregnant or nursing moms or with certain medications. Consults a physician or pharmacist with any questions. 

So do I still have you interested? Want to make your own version of Master Tonic? I'll provide two versions that I use. I like to start them on a New Moon and finish them up on the Full Moon. Make sure to shake vigorously atleast once a day. 

Standard Master Tonic

Garlic

Onion

Ginger 

Horseradish

Cayenne Peppers -Seeds and Gills incld. 

Apple Cider Vinegar

Use equal parts of food ingredients. 

Grate or chop all ingredients into small pieces. Put in glass jar to about 3/4 full. Cover with ACV and put a lid on and let sit for 15 days. 

CVM's Ultra Potent Master Tonic

Cayenne Peppers

Ginger

Sage 

Mullein
Garlic
Onion 
Clove

Apple Cider Vinegar

Equal parts on all ingredients except the ACV. 

Chop or grate ingredients. But all ingredients into a glass jar to about 3/4 full, cover with apple cider vinegar and put a lid on it. Let sit for 15 days. 

To Finish

Strain "pulp" in a cheese cloth over a bowl and squeeze pulp to remove extra liquid. (Wearing gloves is smart!! This is super strong.) Put your liquid in a jar with a lid and store in a cool dark place. Out pulp in another jar and save for salads and such. It is still very potent and adds zing to meals. 

To Use

Take 1 ounce and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds and then swallow. Use 2x-3x daily as a preventative during cold an flu season. 

You can also put it on your hands to help prevent contracting any bugs when interacting with people. 

Master Tonic is a great preventative that packs a potent kick in upping your immune system and fighting bugs while still supports your overall health. So, is Master Tonic for you? 

Send in your pictures of your completed tonic to share!! I'd love to hear how yours turns out! 

(sources)

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thieves_Vinegar

http://heal-thyself.ning.com/m/blogpost?id=2814160%3ABlogPost%3A10555

The New Norman Rockwell

There is this idea out there that moms (and especially WAHM/SAHM) moms are supposed to be perfect. We're supposed to have our shit together and dinner ready when our husband/boyfriend/wife/etc walks into our house. Society tells us that all we do is sit merrily in our rears eating Pinterest inspired meals while our children happily play together in the corner- oh wait, they're playing on iPads and cell phones these days.  A modern day Norman Rockwell. 

And while soda shops and homemade apple pie are all peachy kin and shit, we've created a monster. We've set our future generations up on the front line of the mother of all wars. To fight the battles  of living their lives with their families without Facebook induced judgement and unwarranted DFS calls. 

I want to say we fueled this war on moms. This saga of never ending guilt and shame by putting other mothers down. We've all done it. We've all made the snide comment about how Mary parents or how Jan and her clan always look perfect so she must be up to something. We relish in the reality TV version of other women's lives, not realizing our actions and reactions are what is fueling this war on moms. 

We've become so desensitized to cruelty and judgement. It's a part of our everyday life. We are teaching it earlier and earlier in our children's lives by just our normal actions. We are literally teaching our children the battle strategies to continue an industry created war on parenting, especially mothering. 

All of a sudden, ever little parenting move you make is judged. Gauged even. We are defined by a series of government and society approved ideas and standards that really do not fit most of us. Yet we don't change them. We work to change ourselves into something we do not even recognize. 

Again, we fuel the war. 

We refuse to be unique (who wants to be labeled something far worse for walking to your own drum) and conform. Even when we are walking our own path, we receive even more criticism. We are in a giant catch-22 of craptastic values, morals and ideas spoon fed to us by the international giant of society. 

Breaking free is hard, but doable. You might get yelled at, name called or unfriended on your social media site of choice. But breaking free is the best thing for your sanity, your children and future parents out there. 

And in the meantime, let whatever flag you relate to, fly!!

Friday Prep Day

So I don't know about you, but one of our family's biggest goals is to not rely on the major corporations or government to meet any of our needs. We desire to build close ties to small producers in our community (we have a very large local Amish community) and solely support those who truly stand up for American. 

Since my family is still in the semi-early stages of making our giant transition to not being dependent on anyone, I thought maybe you might want to join in. 

So. 

Each Friday I am going to share my "Friday Prep Day Tip" of the week and how I am putting it into action for the week, month and long term. 

I encourage you to actively participate in the conversation and each week, I'll feature my 3 favorite tips and who sent them at the top of the post. 

I look forward to learning, growing and prepping with you. 

So for this week, 

What is your favorite Heirloom seed company? 

Another Monster Giveaway

It's happening again! A ginormous giveaway with some amazing companies! You know you want to enter!! 

This fabulous prize is valued at $500+

• Yummi Pouch - Little Munchkin Set with Yummi Pouch Brights. ($29 value)
• Gibout Toys - 4 pack of blocks ($119.96 value)
• New Jammies - 3 pairs of New Jammies ($105 value)
• Milkin' Cookies - 2 week supply of Milkin' Cookies ($21.99 value)
• Wristy Buddy - Teething wristband ($14.95 value)
• Ah Goo Baby - ARK changing pad ($49.95 value)
• Bumkins - Dr. Suess Gift Basket
• KinderStuff - Organic t-shirt ($32 value)
• Poopsies - Dakota style Poopsies 3-6mo ($35 value)
• Wishy Life Buddies - An Easter Tradition Book + Buddy ($30 value) 
  
• Buttons Diapers - 3 cloth diaper covers and 6 daytime inserts ($54 value)

So what are you waiting for? Enter now before time runs out!! And make sure to show some love on all the pages involved and companies sponsoring!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YzkyMTI0MjdiOWY0NzFmZjQ2ZTc2NDU5MmUxYjFmOjEy/

Wordless Wednesday

New Baby Necessities Giveaway!!

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Hop on over and join in this BIG giveaway! Loaded with amazing products when you're expecting a new baby, this package will have you up and off to a good start! 

All by small companies driven to make sure each family can provide exactly what they need without all the extras and junk we don't want in our home or lives!! 

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Who I Am

So I've talked before about being on my path. Knowing things that shape who I am and who I want to be on my journey. And the longer I listen to myself, the more I find out who I really am. The only problem with finding who I am is finding I'm nowhere near who I thought I was and nowhere near what society and other people would consider “acceptable”. Now though, I am okay with that. I have finally made my peace with who I am and it is more freeing than I ever thought possible.

So who I am, you ask? Well, grab a mug of coffee or tea and a comfy seat and I will share who I am and how I managed my journey. Because life may be a highway, but all highways have on and off ramps for amazing, sometimes challenging detours. Sometimes they are beautiful, sometimes mournful and then sometimes they are so awe-inspiring that you feel goosebumps when you mention something that resonates with your heart?

Religion is often something that makes up the majority of people. Following God, being a Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, Pagan or Gnostic. It's such a variety and there is a war with all of them. We're too worried about the terms to worry about the bigger picture. For me, I identify myself as a God and Goddess loving, Jesus following, nature loving, tree hugging hippie Kitchen Witch. Why all these things? Because I believe in the duality. I don't feel that God would be just male. I really believe that everything on Earth is made in “Their” image so it would have to be a duality. I believe in Jesus and His teachings, yet I believe He was our Earth-bound teacher. He respected the land, the people of different faiths and especially those who were different or not considered equal to other people. His teachings are basic life lessons that teach you how to be a good person. And yes, He did say that you should love your God with all your heart. But I feel my God is both a God and a Goddess. Two entities who form one.

So the nature loving, tree hugging hippie Kitchen Witch part. I really feel like a God/Goddess who put us on this Earth and talks so much about it in the beginning that They wanted us to have everything we need to take care of ourselves. Herbalism, Divination, Respect, enjoyment in the daily tasks are parts of me that are most important. Healthy living. Living out the role of a mom, healer and care provider for my family is best done in my Kitchen. Growing nutrition {aka a garden/herbs} and using that to heal my family. Using my energy and praying for guidance in my kitchen while I prepare things to nourish my families bodies and souls. Respecting nature. Giving back to it when I can by recycling and composting. Loving Earth by treating her with respect and teaching my children to respect and love it. Leaving a better Earth for my children and leaving better children for the Earth.

So we've covered the religion part. The next part is where I have finally have come to realize anyone who has a problem with who I am, really isn't accepting of themselves. When we finally accept ourselves as a whole and no longer worry about what others think of us, then we can do the same for other people. To find acceptance for other people, we have to look deep inside ourselves and find out who we really are. Admit our flaws {I'm horrible at follow through, talk a lot and might need to tone my arms and belly.} and acknowledge our strengths without feeling like we shouldn't brag {I'm a great doula, an awesome researcher and a fun mom.} then we can look at others and only see their strengths. When we knit-pick others we are doing it because we are projecting our thoughts onto them. Sometimes this can be a good thing. It gives us a chance to really see what we need to work on or let go off. Where we can further grow in our lives and where it is time to let the plant die so that we can make room for a new one. For a long time I have projected my problems and flaws onto other people. I never stop to consider that it was something I need to work on. Finally realizing that has set me free.

I don't like wearing makeup. But I look really amazing in it. So I do it to make myself feel beautiful when I want to. And only when I want to. Never more, never less. I do however, like wearing dresses and skirts all the time. I feel more like myself when wearing them. I went all through high school wearing pants and really was never comfortable. If I had known that I would feel a million times more comfortable in my own skin wearing dresses I would have done it ages ago.

And I like to make things, but my follow through sucks. I keep saying I want to open an Etsy shop, but I'm afraid that if I did I wouldn't keep up with everything. I'd forget to mail stuff or I'd suck at it. Honestly, I'd really love to open a shop up like the one in Practical Magic. Maybe I should work on that next. Add it in with my doula and midwife work. We'll see.

So I've shared who I am and where I am considering going, so sound off in the comments who you are and where you are going. Have you found out who you are? Are you working on it?


-The Anti-Mainstream Mom