Crunchy Cocktail Hour

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Ladycamp Recap and Bug Season May 25, 2018

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We are freshly back from Ladycamp! We are chatting takeaways from our experience and talking all about how we plan to battle tick and mosquito season – in the healthiest way possible! Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Spicy Margarita Rise Gatherings Beyonce Yoga Experience (Philadelphia, PA) plantbasedblonde Ladycamp Podcast Episodes Episode 4: Ladycamp and the Importance of Female Friendships Episode 23: Health and Happiness Life Hacks with Tami Astorino CDC Zika Map DEET Alternatives (Larisa Recommended) Picaridin – Comes in a max concentration of 20% to give 8 hours of protection. Known to be more effective on flies than DEET and comparable to DEET in general without the same side effects. IR3535 – Comes in 10 – 30% concentrations for 8 hours of protection. May be slightly less effective than DEET, but has shown few adverse events except that it can be irritating to the eyes. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus – Chemically synthesized version of lemon eucalyptus oil. This is not an essential oil. Usually in a concentration of about 30% for approximately 6 hours of protection. Many people have skin reactions to this – I recommend just staying away. (Larisa Recommended) Essential Oils – Studies have shown that geranium oil alone or in combination with other essential oils is comparable to DEET. IMPORTANT: Essential oil blends will need to be re-applied often. Recommended Products Sawyer Picaridin Dr. Frenchy Essential Oil Blends – Use code LARISA for 10% off your order If you need mosquito and general bug protection, try Nosquitos. This contains a blend of essential oils, including Catnip and Neem Oils. DOG SAFE! Never use essential oils on cats! You will need to re-apply this about every 2 hours. For maximum essential oils safety, Nosquitos comes in baby, kids 2+, or adult versions, and in rollers or sprays. Rollers are a very convenient way to apply to clean skin, while sprays are better if you’re already sandy or sweaty. If you need tick protection, try Ticked-Off. Contains a blend of essential oils, including geranium and kunzea oil. DOG SAFE! You will need to re-apply this about every 2 hours. Ticked-Off comes in a spray for either kids 2+ or adults. Clean and soothe existing bites by massaging the bug bites roller in after removing a tick to kill the germs, or rub on mosquitoes bites to calm the itch and help prevent welts. DIY Dr. Frenchy, Ph.D Recipes Sponsor Spotlight: Epic! Epic! is a digital library of more than 25,000 ebooks, audiobooks, read-to-me books, articles, quizzes and videos for kids up to age 12. You can create a unique profile for each child that recommends books based on their reading level and tracks what they read and watch. Crunchy Cocktail Hour listeners can get 2 MONTHS FREE by using promo code CRUNCHY when you sign up at getepic.com.

Beauty Products: Bodycare May 18, 2018

Show notes

We’ve talked skincare, we’ve talked about makeup, but what about the rest of us? On this episode, we go head to toe and share our favorite products for bodycare. Links Mentioned in the Episode: * Larisa approved products NOTE: Not all products are genuine when purchased through Amazon. All products below are linked to authorized retailers. Drink Recipe: Mocktail Mojito Hair Health: Crunchy Cocktail Hour, Episode 12 Shampoo and Conditioner Larisa Function of Beauty ($5 off your first purchase) * Acure Shampoo and Conditioner * Little Twig Detangler / Leave-in Conditioner * Alison Function of Beauty ($5 off your first purchase) * Coppola Keratin Care Styling Products Larisa John Masters Organics Sea Mist Salt Spray * Desert Essence Coconut Soft Curl Cream * Acure Marula Oil * Alison Sally Hershenberger Hyper Hydration John Frieda Luxurious Volume Blow-Out Spray Styling Tools Larisa Tyme Iron TIP: Go to the sale area and grab the First Generation Iron for half the price! If you prefer to buy from Amazon, THIS is the only authentic 2nd generation iron. Sedu Flat Iron Tangle Teezer Brush Alison Tyme Iron TIP: Go to the sale area and grab the First Generation Iron for half the price! If you prefer to buy from Amazon, THIS is the only authentic 2nd generation iron. Wet Brush Hair Removal Larisa My Billie Have not yet tried their shave gel, but the ingredients are clean! Tend Skin Ingredients in this product are not completely clean, but not terrible if used sparingly. Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner * Alison Aveeno Shaving Cream Body Larisa Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap or Bar Soap * Natural Elephant Exfoliating Hammam Glove Acure Body Lotion * The unscented version has a bit of a clay smell that I don’t recommend so choose a scent! Egyptian Magic * Skin Owl Body Oil * One Love Organics Vitamin C Oil * SheaMoisture Body Oil * Alaffia Bubble Bath * Alison Aveeno Bodywash Loofah Body Brush JR Watkins Coconut Honey Body Oil Mist Although the bottle notes that fragrance is made up of 100% natural ingredients, they do not disclose the ingredients and therefore we can’t determine the safety of the ingredients. Aveeno Body Lotion Philosophy Bubble Bath Lady Products Larisa Lola (use code CRUNCHY for 40% off your first subscription order) Put a Cup In It Lena Cup Feet and Toes Larisa Non-toxic Nail Polish post on Larisa Explains it All Ped Egg Alison Vinylux Nail Polish * Episode Sponsor: Lola Lola is a subscription service offering a line of 100% organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. With Lola you will receive an adorable box when you need it, that is fully customizable. You can select the mix of products, number of boxes and frequency of delivery. You can cancel, skip and order or modify your subscription at any time –there’s no surprises or gimmicks so you can feel confident giving this a try. The FDA doesn’t require brands to disclose a comprehensive list of ingredients in their feminine care products, so it’s no surprise that most of them don’t. The major brands use a mix of synthetic ingredients that may also be treated with harsh chemical cleansing agents, fragrance, and dyes. With Lola you can take comfort in knowing that you are using 100% organic products. Get 40% off your first order with promo code CRUNCHY when you subscribe at mylola.com.

Sunscreen May 11, 2018

Show notes

It’s finally spring! UV rays are going strong no matter what time of year and daily sun protection is essential. Chemical vs. Physical. Lotion vs Spray. The case for not wearing sunscreen – what?! Let’s discuss! Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Coconut Lime Mint Cucumber Cooler The case for not wearing sunscreen (not CCH endorsed) Vitamin D deficiency soars in the U.S., study says Study: Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults Think Dirty Mobile App Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database and Healthy Living App Wegmans Sunscreen Post Sunscreen Recommendations (in no particular order) Alison Coola Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Blue Lizard Larisa Badger Babo Botanicals BeautyCounter Alba Botanica Mineral – This brand makes chemical and physical sunscreen. Only linked option is recommended. Goddess Garden Blue Lizard – Blue Lizard Baby and Blue Lizard Sensitive are formulated with no nuts in a nut-free certified facility. For Face Hynt Sun Prep (AMAZING under makeup!) Drunk Elephant Umbra or Drunk Elephant Umbra Tinted

Crunchy on a Budget: Grocery Store Edition May 04, 2018

Show notes

Is eating healthy expensive or is eating unhealthy cheap? Either way, we all could stand to lose a few dollars off our grocery bill! Stick with us as we talk through our best tips for getting the most health for your buck while roaming the grocery store isles. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Watermelon Margarita Harvard Study: Do healthier foods and diet patterns cost more than less healthy options? The Tips – Check out the episode for more details Plan Prioritize Buy Whole Learn to read the price labels and don’t gravitate to pretty packaging Buy in season fresh produce and freeze or buy frozen Change your protein focus Buy on sale Reuse what you can Dirty Dozen Clean 15 Episode Sponsor: Prep Dish The hardest part about cooking for a family? Figuring out what to make! Prep Dish takes the guesswork out of ‘What’s for Dinner?’. Prep Dish is a healthy subscription-based meal planning service. When you sign up, you’ll receive an email every week with a grocery list and instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After only 1-3 hours of prepping on the weekend, you’ll have all of your meals ready for the entire week. You’ll save time throughout the week and have delicious, healthy meals for the whole family! You can select gluten-free, dairy-free & Paleo meals and because you are in control of the shopping, you can make swaps that make sense for you and your family. Our favorite part is that the grocery list is organized by where you can find everything in the grocery store. Hello time saver! The amazing Prep Dish founder, Allison is offering our listeners a free 2-week trial to try it out. Check out Prepdish.com/CRUNCHY for this amazing deal! Give Prep Dish a try and be prepared to love cooking again!

Food Allergies Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

Food allergies are serious business, especially in small children. Alison shares the highs and lows of managing her daughter’s allergies and what has worked for her family. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Moscow Mule, Mocktail Series Top 8 Allergens: milk eggs peanuts soy wheat tree nuts (such as walnuts and cashews) fish shellfish (such as shrimp) Resources for Parents: FARE: Food Allergy Research and Education Allergic Living Magazine Diagnosing Food Allergies Great recipe books for cooking without allergens Fearless Food: Allergy-Free Recipes for Kids Allergy-Free and Easy Cooking: 30-Minute Meals without Gluten, Wheat, Dairy, Eggs, Soy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, and Sesame Interview with our daycare director discussion accommodating allergies in a shared care environment Food allergy tag for school bags Episode 1 of the Crunchy Cocktail Hour: No One Will Eat With Us – all about how we deal with eating out with serious restrictions. FREE Printable Allergy Cards

Healthy Pregnancy Apr 20, 2018

Show notes

The Crunchy Cocktail Hour is growing! We share an exciting update and talk through how to have the healthiest pregnancy possible (while still treating yourself, of course) and dive into some interesting crunchy pregnancy trends. We also share a few of our own stories from our pregnancies. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Pineapple Fizz CDC Recommendation for Weight Gain During Pregnancy Alison’s birth story for her first daughter Public Cord Blood Banking Recipe for Glucose testing replacement HypnoBirthing Episode Sponsor: Prep Dish The hardest part about cooking for a family? Figuring out what to make! Prep Dish takes the guesswork out of ‘What’s for Dinner?’. Prep Dish is a healthy subscription-based meal planning service. When you sign up, you’ll receive an email every week with a grocery list and instructions for prepping your meals ahead of time. After only 1-3 hours of prepping on the weekend, you’ll have all of your meals ready for the entire week. You’ll save time throughout the week and have delicious, healthy meals for the whole family! You can select gluten-free, dairy-free & Paleo meals and because you are in control of the shopping, you can make swaps that make sense for you and your family. Our favorite part is that the grocery list is organized by where you can find everything in the grocery store. Hello time saver! The amazing Prep Dish founder, Allison is offering our listeners a free 2-week trial to try it out. Check out Prepdish.com/CRUNCHY for this amazing deal! Give Prep Dish a try and be prepared to love cooking again!

All About Coffee Apr 13, 2018

Show notes

On a daily basis, 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide. Let’s dig into one of the world’s most popular beverages and talk through the good, the bad, and the delicious. Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Toasted Marshmallow Coffee Martini Acrylamide in the news Proposition 65 Coffee consumption and increased metabolism Coffee consumption and decreased rates of type 2 diabetes Coffee consumption and decreased risk of cirrhosis Coffee consumption and decreased risk of liver and colorectal cancers Teeccino Herbal ‘Coffee’ Types of Coffee Organic – Standards regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and require coffee to be produced without the aid of artificial chemical substances, such as certain additives or some pesticides and herbicides. The standards extend from soil quality to roasting process to packaging. Fair Trade – Non-profit organizations that ensure products are made according to a set of standards that encourage not only environmental sustainability but also that those involved in the production are treated and paid fairly Fair trade Certified – All of the above, plus a paid for seal of approval. Usually done by the larger farms / plantations. Direct Trade – Trade directly with the farmer Alison’s parent’s coffee Bulletproof Larisa’s Cold Brew Tools Coldbrew Jar Nut Milk Bag

Health and Happiness Life Hacks with Tami Astorino Apr 06, 2018

Show notes

Everyone strives to live a healthier and happier life, but often life’s responsibilities can get in the way of our goals. On this episode, we are joined by Tami Astorino as she shares her hacks for sticking to your health and happiness goals. Tami Astorino Tami is a national speaker, yoga instructor, educator and plant-powered nutrition enthusiast who facilitates transformational experiences to empower women and girls. Her current work creating the organization Rise Gatherings is a result of her 25 year career focused on healthy human development – including developing the national teen empowerment program, Rosh Hodesh It’s a Girl Thing, leading workshops and retreats for couples and individuals with Interfaith Family, as well as 10 years as an elementary and middle school counselor. We had the distinct pleasure of meeting Tami at Rise Gathering in 2017 (affectionately called Ladycamp) and jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with her. Where to find Tami: Facebook: Tami Relles Astorino Rise Gatherings Website Instagram Facebook Tami’s Health and Happiness Hacks Health Hacks Make ahead smoothie bags Keep your superfoods(collagen, hemp seeds, chia seeds etc.) on the counter Make your morning routine a healthy one with health boosts: Lemon water, elderberry, B12, fousigmatic mushrooms Avoid having technology be the first thing you do Adopt the mantra for healthy eating: Eat when you’re hungry. Stop when you’re full. Happiness Hacks Podcasts! Tami’s favorites: Crunchy Cocktail Hour (Shoutout!) Rich Roll The China Study Creating experiences with friends – think beyond the brunch and happy hour. Have a vision for yourself – you write your own story! Family Life Hacks Small Children Dinner Games: The animal game – everyone goes around the circle and names something in a category (animals, fruits, ice cream flavors) Read books to your kids when they are really small High, low and act of kindness or good deed of the day Conversation starters in the center of the table – kids take turns selecting the questions Bedtime Journals Love notes for kids noticing behavior – not always praise! Teens Get your own life because your teens are getting theirs Learn more about the teenage brain to better understand their behavior Self-care Hacks If you don’t take care of you, the people in your life will suffer Sign up for that course, trip, class, workshop! Spend time by yourself, try an experience on your own Do less, say no – don’t glorify busy Listen to your own voice, your own body Links Mentioned in the Episode: Drink Recipe: Kombucha Negroni Ball Jars for storing superfoods Dinner Questions for School Age Children Books on teenage brain development Why Do They Act That Way?: A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen The Teenage Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Survival Guide to Raising Adolescents and Young Adults Episode Sponsor: Rise Gathering Rise Gathering is an annual, women’s only, weekend retreat in the Pocono Mountains. Rise offers an opportunity to disconnect and immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings, attend a range of workshops from empowerment, to palm reading to yoga and connect with some fabulous women. We want to see you there! Rise Gathering Weekend 2018 takes place May 18 – May 20th at the beautiful lake front property of Trail’s End Camp, located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, about 2 hours driving distance from NYC and Philadelphia. All activities, meals, and accommodations are included and you can select private or shared accommodations. The biggest thing that’s included? Time for just you. Come join us! Exclusively for Crunchy Cocktail Listeners, you can get $50 off your ticket price by using the code CRUNCHY at checkout at risegatherings.com.

The Nitty Gritty on Natural Deodorant Mar 23, 2018

Show notes

Let’s talk all things natural deodorant! Why should you switch to a natural product? What ingredients should you avoid? What happens when you still stink? We’ll give you our best tips for making the switch and touch on which products are out star favorites! Links mentioned in this episode: Drink Recipe: Blue Hawaiian Our favorites: PiperWai Paste and PiperWai Stick (Larisa’s current; prefers the paste) Tom’s of Maine (Alison’s current) Primal Pit Paste and Primal Pit Paste Stick Schmidt’s Native Agent Nateur Recipe to try making on your own: MommyPotamous Episode Sponsor: The Princeton Review The Princeton Review’s Homework Help, on-demand tutoring is an absolute must for busy parents. Whether you’re struggling with a tough problem, studying for a test, or writing a paper, your child will be matched with to an expert who can help in less than one minute! Tutors are available in over 70 subjects and will help your child learn the concepts they’re studying, not just give them the answer. 96% of students who have used the service reported improved grades and better yet, many have reported a boost in confidence and higher completion rates of homework. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. Try 60 minutes of on-demand tutoring for free by going to princetonreview.com/crunchy.

Things Seen on the Internet Mar 16, 2018

Show notes

The internet is full of some really bizarre stuff. Let’s talk about it! Links mentioned in this episode: Drink Recipe: Hibiscus Gin Sour Marijuana Tampons Vagina Alarm Clock Vagina Facial Coconaise Drunk Jelly and Gin and Tonic Marmalade Prosecco Flavored Nail Polish Magnetic Eyelashes Freckle Tattoos Episode Sponsor: The Princeton Review The Princeton Review’s Homework Help, on-demand tutoring is an absolute must for busy parents. Whether you’re struggling with a tough problem, studying for a test, or writing a paper, your child will be matched with to an expert who can help in less than one minute! Tutors are available in over 70 subjects and will help your child learn the concepts they’re studying, not just give them the answer. 96% of students who have used the service reported improved grades and better yet, many have reported a boost in confidence and higher completion rates of homework. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. Try 60 minutes of on-demand tutoring for free by going to princetonreview.com/crunchy. Episode Sponsor: Hello Fresh HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service that shops, plans, and delivers your favorite step-by-step recipes and pre-measured ingredients so you can just cook, eat, and enjoy. With a great selection of chef-designed meals, tons of flexibility in scheduling your deliveries, and all the built-in convenience of easy step-by-step instructions for getting dinner ready, we’re big fans of what Hello Fresh means to busy families. Get $30 off your first week of Hello Fresh meals with promo code CRUNCHY30 when you sign up at hellofresh.com.

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