Aliesha, Author at Feathers in Our Nest

Healthy Living Resources – Everything You Need!

September 9, 2015 by Aliesha

Don’t you wish you had affordable short-cuts to make healthy living easier? Are you tired of trying to make a Whole Foods lifestyle work on a Trader Joe’s budget?

I get it. You want the best for your family. You want to raise healthy kids, have strong immune systems, be more fit and energetic, and be intentional about creating a natural home, but sometimes it just feels so hard.

There’s a lot to learn and the internet can be more than a little overwhelming at times.

I know what it’s like to feel that healthy living shouldn’t be this difficult, and it shouldn’t have to cost so much, either! Don’t you ever wish someone would just tell you exactly what you need to know and how to make these changes for less?

When you have the right info and tools at your fingertips, it all comes together so much more easily. You know what to cook for your family. You’re more confident in choosing natural alternatives. You can easily replace store-bought products with DIY options that really work. You feel better (and even look better, too). Healthy living becomes less stressful and more enjoyable.

That’s why Stephanie and her team have put together the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle for the fourth year in a row. Each year, they’re amazed at how many families are saying “yes!” to their health and taking them up on this super short opportunity to get a complete collection of natural-living resources for a crazy low price.

You sort of need to see it to believe it, but the package includes over 90 digital products on topics like natural remedies, essential oils, real food recipes, paleo & allergy-friendly eating, fitness & weight loss and much more. All together, it’s worth over $2,140!

I personally think this is one of the best bundles yet!!

The short version: there are over 90 digital resources included in this bundle (including eBooks, eCourses, and files)! You can view a complete list of everything in the bundle right here.

Here are just a few of the healthy living resources from this bundle that I am most excited about!

Allergy-Free (9 total resources)

Doesn’t this book A Backyard Summer look fun? Filled with recipes for summer entertaining that are all clean, gluten & refined sugar free… what a great resource for entertaining! While we’re not grain/dairy-free, we often entertain (or take meals to) others who are. This book Beyond Grain & Dairy has over 100 recipes! I also think this book The Grain-Free Snacker looks really great, as it includes 70 Paleo-friendly snack recipes! Just the three books I mentioned have a value of $46.93! View the rest of the allergy-free resources here (total value of $158.35).

Essential Oils (5 total resources + a special bonus offer)

I am VERY excited to take this eCourse from Vintage Remedies: Essential Oils for Families. I also can’t wait to dive into this one: How to Protect Your Family from Colds and Flu Using Essential Oils. If you’re new to essential oils (or not!), The Beginner’s Book of Essential Oils looks especially good, and I look forward to reading it! Those three resources have a value of $154.97! View the rest of the essential oils resources here (total value of $171.96)… and be sure to note that you can get three bottles of essential oils (lavender, lemon, & peppermint) from Plant Therapy as one of the included bonus offers!

Fitness & Weight Loss (10 total resources)

As soon as I am cleared to start exercising again, I’m looking forward to checking out this resource, the Healthy Moving Core Workshop. I also am excited about the one called Never Gymless: An Excuse-Free System for Total Fitness! These two resources have a value of $98.95. View all of the fitness and weight loss resources here (total value of $338.90)!

Healthy Kids (9 total resources)

Of course I was instantly drawn to the book called Go Diaper Free: A Simple Handbook for Elimination Communication! I’ve always wanted to learn more about infant potty training, so I’ll definitely read this one. And, since we hope to have more children in the future, I will read Morning Sickness Remedies to see if there is anything I haven’t tried yet! Nourished Baby looks like a great eBook about feeding babies and kids real food. I also think The Breastfeeding Lifeline looks like a wonderful resource! These four resources have a value of $60.94. View all the healthy kids resources (including fertility, conception, and pregnancy) here (total value of $157.37).

Homesteading (7 total resources)

Okay, so I wouldn’t consider myself a homesteader, but I think several of these books look neat! Maybe The Shoestring Gardener will give me the tips I need to be able to garden efficiently and frugally! I’ve wanted to learn more about canning and other methods of food preservation, so I would like to read Food Preservation Made Simple. And doesn’t this online class look cool… Urban Farming for Kids (I think my kids might enjoy watching it!). These three resources have a value of $39.85. View all the homesteading resources here (total value of $63.77).

Natural Home (10 total resources + special bonus offers)

The cover of Detox Your Home Handbook is crazy cute, but that’s not the only reason I want to read it! It gives practical tips for switching out your conventional home cleaning products for natural ones. I love making gifts, so Gift It From Scratch: Cleaning Products Edition immediately caught my eye. And I definitely need to learn from this book: The Beginner’s Guide to Zero Waste Cooking. These three resources have a value of $30.99. View all the natural home resources here (total value of $74.93), plus note the really great bonus offer from ePantry to get you started on creating a natural home!

Natural Remedies (11 total resources + many special bonus offers)

Gut healing is a popular topic these days, so I can’t wait to dive into Heal Your Gut: A Step By Step Protocol to Restore Inner Health. This online access to The Herbarium looks neat … articles, videos, tutorials, and more! I also have a bit of a stash of herbs in my “medicine closet,” so I look forward to reading Herbal Beginnings: How to Make Herbal Tea, Infusions, Decoctions, Syrup, and Tinctures. These three resources have a value of $133.95. View all the natural remedies resources here (total value of $252.82), plus check out the great bonus offers, including supplements and herbal tinctures.

Paleo (9 total resources)

While our family isn’t Paleo, we often serve guests who are. I think this book 30 Minute Paleo Dessert Recipes will be fun to read! And I also look forward to trying some recipes from Caveman Feast as well as Cook Eat Paleo Fast & Easy. And who could resist this yummy title: We Can All Scream for Ice Cream! These four resources have a value of $76.91! View all the paleo resources here (total value of $169.85), plus look at the bonus offer from Once a Month Meals – a meal planning membership (with a paleo option).

Real Food (22 total resources – WOW!)

This is my favorite part of the bundle! It’s hard to narrow down my favorites, but I’m really excited about these. Cheesemaking Made Easy looks great, and I know my kids will enjoy working through this one with me! I’m all about easy, clean recipes, so I know I’ll make a bunch from this book: Chicken Dump Recipes (freezer-to-crock-pot meals). The book called Clean Eating Crash Course looks like a really helpful resource! Once again, I love those easy meals, so Crock’d: Slow Cooker Freezer Meals is very appealing! I love reading Tiffany’s blog, so I’m sure her book Dressed: Simple Dressings for the Frugal Foodie will be awesome! These last two books I have read before but they are awesome and SO helpful: Real Food Basics (Second Edition) and Your Grace-Filled Journey to Real Food. I’m excited about the eCourse Get Cultured (learning to ferment foods), and I also really need this one: The Tired & Hungry Cook’s Companion (how to feed your family nourishing meals when you are tired and hungry!). These nine resources have a value of $251.90! View all the real food resources here (total value of $371.61).

In case you haven’t realized by this point, this bundle is an incredible value! The total value of all the resources included is $1759.56… the highest value of any bundle from Ultimate Bundles that I have seen to date (one more reason why I think this is the best bundle yet)!

And at the risk of sounding completely salesy (really trying not to!), but wait… there’s more!
Bonus Offers

Of course no Ultimate Bundle would be complete without a bunch of amazing bonus offers! (Now these aren’t the “meat” of the bundle, but they sure do sweeten the deal and make the value of the bundle even higher!)

There are ten bonus offers that you can redeem with the purchase of your bundle. Here are the ones I am most excited about!

ePantry – FREE hand soap + $8 credit on one shipment, FREE dish soap + $8 credit on the next shipment, AND 60-day VIP access with FREE shipping ($30 value)
Plant Therapy – Lemon, lavender and peppermint essential oil set ($25.92 value)
NaturOli – FREE travel essentials facial set: deep conditioning facial wash (1 oz.), new radiance facial creme (1 oz.), exfoliating walnut scrub (1 oz.) ($16.95 value)
Lexie Naturals – FREE natural care gift set: lip balm (.15 oz.), lotion tube (1 oz.) and trial-size deodorant (.35 oz.) ($15 value)
Craftsy – 1 FREE online class ($44.99 value)
Once a Month Meals – $32 toward OAMM membership + a free mini menu ($35 value)
…plus four more great offers (total value of almost $225)!

At this point you may be wondering… so what is the catch? I remember feeling that way when I came across my very first healthy living bundle! The catch is this: this bundle is only available for a short period of time because all of the authors and contributors have come together for six days to offer this unique bundle. Once the sale is over, it is over.

Here are a few more questions you may be asking yourself.

It seems like a lot of these resources are for people who garden, can their vegetables, have backyard chickens, and like to drink kombucha. Even if I’m not “crunchy,” is this bundle for me?

YES! You will still find tons of great ebooks and eCourses for you and your family even if you wouldn’t describe yourself as “crunchy.” There are books on health and wellness, exercise and fitness, easy meals, gifts to make for others, pregnancy, and SO much more! View the entire list of resources to see which ones appeal to you.

I’d really like to read these books, but I don’t have an eBook reader.

You can read all of these books on your desktop or laptop computer as well as on an eBook reader (like a Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.). It’s very simple to open up the .PDF files and access just what you need!

This seems like a LOT of information… what if I don’t think I can read/use everything?

Yes, it is a lot of information, but I like to view it like a library, not a to-do list. Any time I want to read a book on a certain topic, it is here in this bundle waiting for me! I can pick and choose what I want to read now, and in a year or two I can read other books. All the files come organized by topic, so it’s a breeze to keep them stored in an orderly fashion on your computer. You can also think about it like a buffet… plenty of choices, but you decide what to “dig into” first!

If you’ve never bought a bundle from Ultimate Bundles before, here’s how it works:

Visit their website, take a quick look at all the goodness that comes in this package, then click “Get my copy now!” to go through their simple 3-step checkout process.
You’ll receive an email with a login to their online access portal, where you’ll begin downloading your eBooks, signing up for your eCourses, and redeeming your free bonus products.
Use their Getting Started Interactive Guides to pick the area you want to tackle first and start making healthy changes!

The most important detail, though, is that this bundle is available for just 6 days! After Monday night, September 14th, the sale ends and you’d have to buy all of these products individually.

I’d hate for you to miss out, so click HERE to learn more or buy the bundle.

It’s even backed by a full 30-day guarantee, so you can know for sure that it’s right for you.

No one should have to put off a healthier lifestyle because it costs too much or they can’t get the help they need. Our family has felt so much better by making changes to the way we eat, the products we use, and how we take care of ourselves. It’s made all the difference in the world and I want the same for you and your family.

Disclosure: I have included my personal affiliate links throughout this post. If you choose to buy a bundle through my links, it will help support my family and the running of this blog. Thank you so much!

Theodore’s Birth Story

September 7, 2015 by Aliesha

I’ve been so excited to write out Theodore’s birth story, but it’s taken me a while to get the photos edited and to feel like I could sit at my desk and write it! Life is just a bit busy now, you know!

If you’re not into reading birth stories, you can just skip over this post. But I thought it was appropriate to post on Labor Day! ha!

I’m not exactly sure when to say Theodore’s labor began, since I had prodromal labor for about two weeks. I would have contractions for several hours at a time, but they didn’t get stronger or closer together, so I knew they weren’t real (when they stopped). But on Saturday and Sunday night, I started experiencing ones that felt much more “real.” They were stronger than I had had before, and that, combined with other symptoms I was having, made me know that things were definitely getting close.

Tad’s mom came down Sunday night (she was planning on watching the children for us when we went to the hospital), so on Monday I really felt relaxed knowing she was already here (she lives 2 1/2 hours away). I had an appointment with my midwife that morning, and I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. We spent some time walking around town that morning.

Monday evening we went to our park which has a track and we sped-walked around for quite a while, for a total of 3 miles. I knew that walking can really help you dilate when you’re already somewhat effaced! I was so tired and sore when we got home, and when I got out of the shower around 8PM I was pretty sure labor was beginning for real (though my confidence was shaken because of all the prodromal labor!). Tad, his mom, and I played Dutch Blitz and Fast Scrabble, then Tad went to bed and I labored for a few more hours.

I texted some of my friends around 2AM to tell them I was in early labor, but that we weren’t heading to the hospital until things got stronger. I decided to lay down and take a nap, hoping that I would wake up in stronger labor. Around 3:30 I woke up, alarmed that I wasn’t having contractions anymore. I frantically woke up Tad. I texted my mom, and she called me. I told her I just knew I was in labor, and I needed to “do something” to get it going again! She assured me that what I most needed was some rest, and that my body would pick back up where it left off the next morning.

Rest was exactly what I needed, so I went to bed and slept for about three hours. I woke up to a contraction around 6:30AM and started getting ready for my day. My bags were of course packed, but I added my last-minute things, got ready, and ate a hearty breakfast of oatmeal with honey and dates. I read that often times when a labor starts slowly and naturally, your body will take a break in the night, but after a breakfast of oatmeal, the labor pattern will be restored. Spoiler alert: that’s what happened!

Tad and I decided to load the car and head to the track to do some more walking. We walked another two miles around the track (with contractions picking up again… about three a lap) before I got too hot and wanted to walk somewhere air conditioned. We drove to the town where our hospital is (about 30 minutes away) and headed to the mall to do some more power walking.

I had to take a picture with the expectant mother sign, because, could I BE more expectant?? Well, maybe if I were overdue!

From 10:30-11:30 we walked briskly around the mall. At 11:30AM I decided to call my practice and see if they wanted me to come in and get checked. They did, so we got there around noon for an “Am I really in labor?” exam. My midwife told me I was a good 4cm (and she stretched me to a near 5cm), 50% effaced, and definitely in labor. She could tell by the fact that I was still talking/happy during contractions that I didn’t need to head to the hospital yet (though I was welcome to whenever I felt ready). I told her I would head in when things started to get intense, but that we’d stay in town so we’d be close by.

Meanwhile, my mom was on her way down and was about an hour away. Tad and I decided to go to Panera for lunch (such a huge perk of spending your early labor not in the hospital… eating and drinking freely!). I got a bowl of chicken noodle soup, a baguette, and a smoothie. I didn’t feel hungry, but I ate so I’d have the energy I needed! While we were in Panera, I had several “bigger” contractions, and as we walked to the car (not a long way), I had three more close together. I felt like I wanted to head to my “birthing nest” and get settled in. I can’t explain it… I knew the birth wasn’t imminent, but I knew I “needed” to get to my hospital while I still could talk through the contractions to answer questions at check-in.

We arrived at the hospital around 1:30PM or so, but by the time we got all checked into the room, it was about 2:00PM. My mom arrived shortly after that, and I hugged her, saying that Baby Apricot had just been waiting for her to get here!

I didn’t have to be hooked up to anything. I just had a saline lock in case it was needed later. Every hour they wanted to do a few minutes of monitoring, so I was free to move around (walk the halls, sit on the birthing ball, stand, etc.) during labor. I actually could sit on the ball during the monitoring, thanks to my nurse who held the monitors in place!

My contractions continued to get stronger, but laboring 100% naturally felt very different than my last two labors where I was on Pitocin. On Pitocin, the contractions were extremely regular and didn’t come with breaks. My contractions this time were easier to manage and gave me more breaks where I was able to rest. I was not in pain during my labor at any point. Things felt intense at times, but not painful.

Throughout my labor at the hospital, we listened to this album, which gave me so much encouragement. My mom kept cool washcloths on my neck and rubbed my back.

I remember at one point my mom saying to Tad that I was getting more focused on the contractions. Tad asked me if I could still talk through them, and in my head I thought, “I could talk through them, but I don’t want to!” I must have been nearing transition at that point.

During each contraction, especially as they got stronger and longer, Tad put counter pressure on my lower back and would shake my hips back and forth (a technique we learned from this book). It felt great!

Around 4:00PM I knew things were getting close. At 4:20PM my midwife Lisa checked me and said I was 8cm! She asked if I wanted her to break my water, and I said yes! After she broke my water I wanted to use the bathroom. While I was in there, I started feeling the way I feel right before it’s time to push. Tad heard me vocalizing through a contraction and said that the baby would be here in less than 20 minutes!

Lisa came in and I assured her that, no, I was not going to give birth on the toilet and that I was coming out!

I clung to Tad as I had a strong contraction in between the bathroom and the bed. We swayed back and forth and I felt his strength. It was such a beautiful moment during my labor!

I had the birthing chair in the room and I had been planning on using it, but my midwife asked me if I wanted to try something different. She suggested I lean up against the back of the hospital bed (raised at a 90 degree angle), leaning on a stack of pillows, and push while on my knees. I agreed. My mom gave me ice chips, and Tad, my nurse, my midwife, and my mom all rubbed my back.

My body took over for me and brought the baby down. I didn’t feel like “I” was doing anything except not fight against my body. I knew we were close, but I didn’t know that the contraction that caused him to crown was “the one”! As I felt him crowning I breathed through one contraction without pushing, then pushed out his head with the next one. I reached down and could feel his head and the cord, pulsing and loosely wrapped around his neck. I pushed again for his shoulders and grabbed his slippery body, bringing him up to me.

At 4:46PM, Theodore Haddon was born. “It’s a boy!” we shouted. I struggled to maneuver my body to a comfortable position, as I was currently on my knees, hovering over a “tarp” filled with blood and everything else! The position was great for pushing, but a bit tricky to get out of!

I was so excited to hold my beautiful boy!

He didn’t cry right as he came out, which I have now learned is common for babies born to mothers who are not in pain while giving birth. When the mother isn’t traumatized, often the baby is not either! He was so calm and peaceful as he entered the world, though he did cry a few moments later.

He was so pink and perfect, with an Apgar score of 9. I just couldn’t believe he was here! In some ways his labor felt long (days of prodromal labor!!), but the “active” labor was actually quite short compared with my other births. We were only at the hospital about three hours before he arrived!

Fun little note: I once again wore my pearl earrings that I wore at all my other births and on my wedding day.

I loved having about an hour of skin-to-skin contact with Theodore immediately after birth. He breastfed during that time and we definitely bonded!

Tad was so happy to have another son join our family. He was so supportive during my labor! Could not have done it without him!

My sweet boy had dark hair like his big sister Vera did when she was born.

After the cord stopped pulsing (45 minutes, maybe?), Tad cut it. We do delayed cord clamping so that our babies get all of that valuable cord blood that is so beneficial.

I really enjoyed having Theodore all to myself for a while.

I grabbed a picture with my midwife and nurse before my midwife had to leave! They were both so great and so supportive of me during my natural birth.

This would have been a really sweet photo if Theodore hadn’t decided to spit up exactly as the picture was being taken! #reallife

After our “magic hour” of bonding, Theodore was weighed and measured. He weighed 7 lbs. 12.5 oz. and was 20.5 inches long (the same length as all of my other babies)!

Tad got to hold him for the first time.

My mom also got a well-deserved turn holding him after driving down from VA to be at the birth! She was an amazing support and encouragement to me as I labored.

I grabbed a super quick shower to get cleaned up, then grabbed that sweet baby again!

I felt great… the endorphins rushing through your body after giving birth are awesome!

I am so, so thankful that God gave us our precious Theodore on August 25 (three days before his due date… is this real life??)! I am also tremendously grateful that I was able to have the natural birth I so desired, and that I had amazing people surrounding me to support me. It was a beautiful birth and I will always treasure the memory of it.

We are so very blessed.

ALIESHA CALDWELL IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

The Meaning of His Name

September 4, 2015 by Aliesha

Wanted to share with you why we chose the name we did for baby Theodore!

We love how this name sounds and how it fits into our family, but we also love what the names mean/represent.

Theodore – Greek, “gift of God”

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

Haddon – named after Charles Haddon Spurgeon, theologian and preacher of the Gospel

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2

You can learn about our other children’s names here: Vera, Cordelia, and Jude.

Healthy Living Resources – Everything You Need!

Theodore’s Birth Story

ALIESHA CALDWELL IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

The Meaning of His Name

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ALIESHA CALDWELL IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

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