Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 135

success story: carol heals her baby's eczema

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Kind Lifer Carol's life was being turned upside down by a hidden culprit that couldn't be pinpointed. Check out how she turned her life around:
 
"I happened upon your book at the library when I was searching for vegetarian/vegan cookbooks. My daughter Georgia has had a very strong aversion to eating meat ever since we introduced solid food. You see she's only two years old so getting her to eat a balanced diet is difficult enough but throw in a lackluster desire for meat and mealtime is beyond difficult. So I set out on a journey to find meatless recipes to cook for my family. Little did I know that picking up your book would change our lives in more ways than one."
 
"At the time I picked up your book my daughter was suffering from chronic rashes. We had been to the doctor six times in two months. They just kept saying 'It's dermatitis' and 'wait and watch' but nobody had ever pinpointed the culprit. A dermatologist had diagnosed her with eczema and a staph infection but again the culprit remained at large. As a mother nothing is more torturous than watching your baby suffer. My daughter was so uncomfortable all the time. Her skin was rough and dry no matter how much lotion we applied."
 
"When I read pages 39 – 40 of The Kind Diet where you talk about how undiagnosed milk allergies can be the cause of other conditions such as eczema a light bulb went off. I called and left a message for my daughter's pediatrician that night. My daughter was diagnosed with lactose intolerance when she was a few months old and I wondered if it was in fact an allergy. The next day with her doctor's approval we started her on a two-week dairy free trial. The day we started the trial her skin felt like Braille. It was rough and red and flaky. It took a mere 48 hours of a dairy free trial for her skin to clear up 80. I am not exaggerating; 80! By the end of the two weeks her skin was completely healed."
 
"Countless doctors and specialists and none of them ever mentioned diet. Your book your words changed our lives. Your book helped me find the culprit. We have started making the transition to a kinder diet for the whole family. Thank you so much for this book. You have truly made a difference in the world."
 
I can't tell you how happy I am that your little baby is feeling better. This makes me so happy! Thank you so much for sharing your story.
 
If any of you kind lifers have a success story to share private message me or upload your story to your profile and "like" it. I may feature you on the homepage of  The Kind Life!

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beautify your underarms for summer with geodeo

Ugly underarms can be easily hidden under winter's bulky sweaters. But when temperatures rise and that cute sundress is begging for a summer appearance what's a girl to do? Nearly all women consider their armpits unattractive. It's easy to see why when over 60 of women report problems like breakouts discoloration and itching. Prettying your pits for the warm months ahead can be easily done without harmful chemicals...all while keeping body odor away!

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Brand-new GEODEO deodorant with Detox Complex is a 97 naturally derived invisible solid that goes on dry clear and smooth leaving no stains or residue. This kind combo is why Alicia herself uses it! GEODEO is specially formulated to help you reach a new level of purity to keep you fresh from the inside out. Volcanic minerals and Icelandic algae help to remove toxins and fight the daily buildup of impurities. Bamboo and aloe extracts moisturize and strengthen skin while promoting healing from shaving and razor burn. Vitamin E fights free radicals from the onslaught of pollution.

Beautiful underarms become flawless with 24-hour odor protection that doesn't let you down. Eco-technology developed ingredients zeolite and enzymes target and diminish odor-causing bacteria instead of simply masking odor.

Enter to win DEODORANT FOR A YEAR and request a FREE sample by visiting our Facebook page.

And as always beauty should not be cruel. Because we directly manufacture on the same site of our South Florida corporate headquarters we can guarantee no animals have ever been tested with our products. Our products are certified by both PETA and Leaping Bunny as cruelty-free.


Available at Duane Reade select Walmart Canada stores select Whole Foods stores and online at www.mygeodeo.com.

Today's post is proudly sponsored by

a must have for mamas

On a trip to the city to see a friend's play my husband and I forgot our little black diaper bag in a taxicab oops!.
 
On my quest - to buy new stuff I didn't get anything except for this treasure I stumbled upon. It's made of plastic boo! hiss! and it's not made of recycled materials even worse! but it has one amazing redeeming feature – it saves your milk!
 
Let me back up for a moment and explain: when I first had Bear it took a few times of baby being wet for me to realize that my boobs were leaking - that clued me in along with the ants who moved into my house to drink my fabulous vegan milk. Anywho I asked a friend what to do. She said "stuff your bra with a big sock." That worked for the first eight weeks when I didn't leave the house but once I was out and about I needed a better solution.
 
This milk saver was the answer! While you feed your baby it collects milk from your other boob. Now instead of soaking it up with a sock I save the extra milk. Sometimes I save an ounce at a time maybe more.
 

 
I use it facing this way. The nipple goes inside the hole and milk collects in the bottom so you can save it. I put it inside my nursing bra to hold it in place. Just make sure to give it a cleaning a couple times a week. It's been a Godsend up until now.
 
It's so helpful because I'm with the baby all the time so sometimes I forget to pump. Now for times when my husband is withBear and needs milk he can just use the milk I saved. All those little drops add up! I love it and I use my milk saver everyday many times a day. The only problem is that I'm a klutz and sometimes I forget to take out the milk saver before I bend down…then I spill my precious milk everywhere. Makes me so mad every time…but then I smile.
 
Anywho I love to avoid waste wherever possible so this milk saver has been a treasure for me. Plus it keeps my bra dry and my or my husband's socks clean!
 
All you kind mamas is there a gadget you can't live without? Share what it is and why you love it in the comments below!

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thanks for joining my live chat about kind pregnancy!

Hi everyone in case you missed it here's the transcript from my live chat!

Thanks everyone!

join my live chat about kind pregnancy and newborn care TODAY at 2pm!

I just wanted to remind all of you my live chat is to TODAY at 2pm PST and I want all of you to join in! You've already submitted some great questions I'll be answering during our chat so keep the questions coming in the comments below!
You can ask me anything you want about pregnancy and living a kind life with your babies. Be sure to become a member of The Kind Life if you haven't already so you'll receive the email notification when the live chat starts.

I can't wait to talk to you all!

Share your questions in the comments below and I'll try to get to as many as I can during our chat!

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behind the scenes of suburgatory

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I've just recently finished working on the show "Suburgatory" Of course I took Bear to work everyday for some boobs in between scenes…I know I'm lucky! and I got to work with my Hideaway and Clueless acting mate Jeremy Sisto. It was hard to work with Jeremy Alan Tudyk and Gillian Vigman cause they had me laughing my pants off! I messed up quite a bit just giggling. They are hilarious and Jeremy is so playful and silly and fun. I would literally have to say "Stop talking to me." so I could concentrate. We loved working together again.

Also Jane Levy is adorable and lovely and strong and has it all together. I would stare at her because I wanted to kiss her face or squish it - she is a beautiful girl inside and out.

I am such a fan of the show. Check it out and see if you like it too.

Photo Credit: The Daily What

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my husband on being a dad

This is something my husband Christopher wrote a few months ago when we were living in Brooklyn and I was shooting Gods Behaving Badly. This photo is a paparazzi shot from around that time when Bear was between 2-5 months old. Bear is 10 months now – I will share more current pictures soon but I wanted to share this one since it is from around the time that Christopher wrote this – he wrote it then I forgot to post it so it's a little late but I hope you enjoy it:

Wow do I love being a father. Seeing my boy smile play and laugh is just the greatest thing in the world. From the moment we wake up it is just a joy. I love hearing sounds from the other room when Bear and Alicia are hanging out. They talk to each other even though Bear is only four months old. Bear loves me but he really loves Alicia. They have a crazy special thing. They flirt with each other like crazy.

When my head hits the pillow at night I'm usually exhausted. I love that feeling - to be exhausted over something you love to do is one of the great feelings in life.

Our boy is a traveling man. He does not like to be still. He wants me to keep movin' and see the world. When Alicia is working he loves going with her to the hair and makeup trailer because of all the lights noise mirrors and the funny makeup artist. He is fascinated by TV when it is on but Alicia just put the kibosh on him watching the tube.

I can't wait to start playing sports and games with him. I'm gonna be one of those weird dads who doesn't let him win. He is gonna have to beat me fair and square at whatever it is. I can't wait to bore him with my stories of how daddy used to be in a band. I am going to constantly grope his mother.

I really do just love it. When I carry him around I feel so grounded and wonderful. I love taking him places with me. Going to breakfast with my boy is the best.

Babies are the true miracle of miracles.

I am one lucky mama! Do you have any cute daddy stories to share?

Photo Credit: GossipRocks

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artichokes with roast capsicum and sun-dried tomato sauce

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This recipe was submitted by Arly Littleone who swears by this dish to impress last-minute company. It's not superhero but looks like a pretty dish to serve guests.

Prep time: 1 hour Cook time: 25 minutes Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Servings: 4

1 artichoke peeled and quartered
1 capsicum halved and seeded
1/2 onion
2 garlic cloves
1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup of tomato passata
1 teaspoon of vegan brown sugar
1 cup of mushrooms finely chopped
1 dash of red wine
1 package of angel hair pasta
1 teaspoon plus one tablespoon of vegan butter
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F
Boil large pot of water for pasta and cook pasta to desired tenderness.
While water boils and pasta cooks roast the capsicum artichoke garlic and onion with olive oil at 350 degrees until corners are just browned.
Peel the burnt edges of the artichoke off and set the quarters and the baking tray aside
In a medium bowl combine the roasted capsicum garlic onion and sun-dried tomatoes.
Blend the mixture to taste and add in the passata the vegan brown sugar and the leftover oil from the baking tray stirring and seasoning to taste. Once you are happy with the flavors set the mixture aside.
Heat one teaspoon of butter and some olive oil over high heat in a frying pan. Fry the mushrooms until they start to become crispy.
Once the mushrooms are crispy add in the capsicum mixture to the pan with a dash or two of wine and let simmer long enough for the wine to cook off.
Once the pasta is cooked drain it and stir in one tablespoon of butter
Serve the pasta topped with the sauce and a slice of the artichoke.

What's your favorite recipe to serve guests in a pinch? And what the heck is capsicum? Tell me in the comments below! I've never heard of it before.

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kind classics: easy ways to conserve water!

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Everywhere the issue of water conservation is becoming more important. For example the average Los Angeles resident uses 155 gallons of water per day which adds up to 215 billion gallons of water used annually in Los Angeles alone. This is not sustainable!

The national average daily water use is 80-100 gallons most of which comes from flushing the toilet and showering. These numbers tell us loud and clear that we can all do more to conserve one of our most vital resources!

Because LA is a desert city that gets all of its water from other regions the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is extra conscious of promoting conservation. LADWP offers these water conservation tips that can be applied anywhere:

Install a water saving showerhead – LA residents can get one for free by calling 1-800-U-ASK-DWP
    Take shorter showers
    Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving
    Check faucets and pipes for leaks
    Use your dishwasher for full loads only
    Use your clothes washing machine for full loads only
    Don't leave tap water running
    Consider native and drought-tolerant plants and grasses
    Do not allow the hose to run as you wash your car
    Water your lawn deeply and less frequently
    Water early in the morning or late in the evening
    Change lawn and plant watering schedule seasonally
    Use a broom instead of a hose

These habits are just the bare minimum we can do to conserve water! Do you have any other tips for minimizing water use?

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have you seen year of the dog?

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Mike White director of School of Rock and The Good Girl among others made a cute film with Molly Shannon back in 2007 called Year of the Dog. If you haven't seen it yet it's a sweet comedy about a woman who kinda goes off the deep end after her dog Pencil dies. It starts when she adopts another dog in need then spins out of control as she rescues every animal she can get her hands on.

Mike thanks me in the credits of Year of the Dog because part of the plot was inspired by the story I told him about the time I went to the Lacy Street shelter in downtown LA and came home with eleven dogs who were scheduled to be euthanized that day. You can read the whole story of that day in the blog I wrote about it here. Lacy is my last dog standing. Anywho if you haven't seen Year of the Dog check it out on Netflix!

What are your favorite animal movies?