Homemade Strawberry Lavender Jam

This recipe is INCREDIBLY easy, and can be scaled to make more. I like to make about 4 cups at a time and freeze 3 for later. Skip to the end for a shortcut version!

Makes about 1 cup...

2 cups whole strawberries (fresh or frozen)
2 Tablespoons honey or 1 Tablespoon agave nectar
1 to 2 Teaspoons lavender flowers (Start with 1 teaspoon, then add more to taste - see cooking notes)
Optional: 1 Teaspoon pectin

Remove stems/leaves from tops of strawberries. If not using pectin, you can help the jam "set" by using strawberries with just a bit of the stem intact, as shown below. Another alternative is to throw in a few strawberries that are tipped with green (and a bit under-ripe).

Using a food processor, mash the strawberries with 1 teaspoon of lavender- you should end up with about 1 cup of mashed berries. Pour into pot and set heat to medium-low.

If using pectin, mix honey or agave with pectin, then add to pot and stir well. This is completely optional, as the jam will "set" fine without it, especially if you use fresh strawberries.

If not using pectin, just add the honey or agave to the pot and stir well.

Bring mixture to a gentle simmer and allow jam to cook until it reaches the desired consistency. If not using pectin, it will take a bit longer for the jam to cook. To test consistency and flavor, scoop out some jam with a spoon and allow to cool. If desired, add a bit more lavender. Continue cooking until desired consistency is reached.

Allow to cool, and pour into jars. Glass mason jars work very well for this.

Finished jam!

Shortcut version: 

1 jar of strawberry jam from the grocery store (choose an organic or all natural version if at all possible!)

1-2 teaspoons of lavender flowers for every 8 oz. of pre-made jam

Add pre-made jam to pot and bring to a simmer. Add 1 teaspoon of lavender per 8oz jam and stir. Simmer for 5-10mins, then taste. Add more lavender if desired.

Allow to cool, then pour back into jar.

Easy peasy! I've made both, and prefer the homemade version, as I like to control the amount of sweetener and the consistency, but this shortcut version will work in a pinch.

Gain more control of your period!

It has been suggested that some women can control the flow of their periods, and in my experience this is somewhat true. While I cannot completely stop the flow (or rather, "hold" it in to be released later), I have noticed an increased ability to control the cramps I get, making them work to my advantage to "push" the flow out.

The secret? Kegel exercises. BOTH kinds.

You might be wondering what I mean by "both," or you may not even know that there are two kinds of Kegel exercises, Well, there are! Type one is when you squeeze the pelvic floor muscles, while type two involves "relaxing" or "pushing out" with the pelvic floor muscles, and these exercises are easier than you may think. The easiest way to perform both exercises is while peeing. Start by peeing just a little, then squeezing in to stop the flow. Hold for a few seconds, then forcefully push out as if trying to force the flow to go faster. Alternate back and forth between squeezing in to stop the flow, then pushing out. There you go! Two exercises! Practice this every time you need to pee, and you'll eventually gain much more control over your pelvic floor muscles.

How does this work with your period? Well, the cramping sensation you get means your muscles are pushing out your flow. Use this to your advantage by flexing your abdominals from top to bottom as the cramp progresses, ending with a push using your pelvic floor, thus forcing the flow out. As you gain more control over those muscles through practice with kegel exercises, you may even feel a small "gush" of fluid when you push out. Obviously, to (at least somewhat) hold the flow in (presumably until you can get to a toilet or get a pad/tampon/cup in place), squeeze the muscles to stop (or slow down) the flow.

I, myself, have been doing this for about 5 or 6 months, and have noticed a remarkable difference in how I bleed. I haven't been able to completely stop the flow, but I can slow it down or force it out by doing these exercises, and it has definitely helped with the cramping. Yes, the cramps still hurt, but I use them to my advantage and work with them to push things out, thus giving me more control over my cycle, It just takes some time, practice, and a bit of body awareness,

Good luck!

Cleaning Reusable Pads

This is the method I use to clean my reusable pads; it works on every type I have, including pads made from fleece, flannel, cotton, and jersey knit material, and it works on every color, as well. While I have a decent collection (about 15 or so), there are 4 pads that I use for every cycle, as they are my favorites (most comfortable, longest-wearing, fastest drying, easiest to clean), so I use this method throughout my cycle and wash all my pads in the laundry when my cycle is over.

1) Rinse the pad(s) with cold water, just to remove the majority of stain and/or "gunk"- Do NOT use hot water, as this will cause the stain to set.

2) Soak the pad(s) for a few hours in a bucket or sink with cold water and 2-3 cap-fulls of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide with bubble up after a bit and help break up the stain. Drain water.

3) Rub pad(s) with soap of your choice (I use handmade vegetable glycerin soap, but almost any soap will work, or use diluted laundry detergent) and rinse again with cold water until water runs clear.

4) Hang to dry.

When my cycle is over, I will do steps 1 - 3, then put all of the pads I wore into a lingerie bag and toss them in with my delicates and wash with regular laundry detergent, then hang to dry.

Period(ic) Balm

One of my favorite period remedies is a balm/massage oil that helps not only moisturize my skin, but also helps lighten my mood and ease cramping. It is SUPER easy to make, and can be customized to suit your individual tastes/needs. You can also double or even triple the recipe (this stuff lasts a LONG time, so I usually make up about 4 cups at a time). Some alternative ingredients are listed below the recipe. To use, just scoop some balm from the jar, and massage onto stomach and lower back, or anywhere you feel cramping/pain/nausea.

Ingredients:

1 cup Coconut oil
1/4 cup Chamomile flowers
1/4 cup Lavender flowers
20-30 drops total of Essential oils as desired (Optional)

Method 1: Gently warm the coconut oil, add the chamomile and lavender flowers, and allow to steep on low heat for 1-2 hours. Strain well, pour coconut oil into an airtight container, add essential oils, shake, and enjoy!

Method 2: Warm the coconut oil until it is just melted. Pour the lavender and chamomile flowers into an airtight jar, then pour the warm coconut oil over the flowers. Seal and place in a sunny window for 3-4 weeks. If the oil has solidified, gently warm it using a double boiler until just melted. Strain, pour coconut oil into a clean airtight jar, add essential oils, shake, and enjoy!

Method 3: Warm the coconut oil in a crock pot on low (or set it to "warm" if yours has that option), add lavender and chamomile flowers, cover, and allow to steep for 1-2 days. Strain, pour oil into an airtight jar, add essential oils, shake, and enjoy!

Alternative Ingredients and their uses...

Peppermint leaves or oil: helps with digestion/upset stomach, helps ease nausea, helps ease cramping, smells yummy, may irritate skin, usually causes a tingling sensation

Frankincense oil: helps ease cramping, smells nice, anti-inflammatory, good for skin

Lavender oil: eases cramps, eases stress/anxiety and depression

Chamomile oil: anti-inflammatory, eases cramps, eases anxiety/stress and depression

Cramp Bark: just like its name, this is AMAZING for reducing cramping

Raspberry flowers/leaves: eases cramping

Ginger (fresh, powder/grated, or oil): good for digestion, helps ease upset stomach/diarrhea/nausea, test on a small patch of skin first if using oil as it may cause irritation

Sadomasochistic Cycles

I'm firmly convinced that my body is bipolar in the sense that it swings from masochism to sadism.

For the sake of argument, I'm gonna go ahead and stipulate that pregnancy and childbirth are glorious, freaky, awesome, weird miracles. Think about it... Out of nothingness a woman's body produces this thing (an egg) that, with some help from a dude's thing (a sperm) also produced from nothingness, can grow into a living, breathing being with its own consciousness, thoughts, feelings, personality, and abilities.

That said, pregnancy and childbirth wreak havoc on a woman's body. I, being a subscriber to the idea of positive reinforcement, feel that I should not be punished for sparing my body such havoc. And yet, there it is. My body spends 3/4 of the month begging for punishment... "Please, please, please have sexytime! Let's get preggers! Inflict that torture on me! Do it! Do it now!"

Masochist.

Then, when I don't get knocked up, it punishes me for NOT inflicting torture. For at least a week, from hormone induced PMS to the last bloody drop, it's like a coked up, psychotic Dominatrix using every sick toy and implement in her arsenal.

Sadist.

"Monsteration" relief Slushies

Do you feel like a monster when your period rolls around? Or maybe your period IS the monster. Either way, enjoy this delicious, healthy, vegan-option treat to help soothe the savage beast. Measurements are estimated, I just eyeballed everything and went by taste/feel (I'm a full contact cook).

3 cups raspberries
3 cup strawberries
1 cup maple syrup or honey, or ½ cup agave nectar (or just sweeten to taste) - optional
1-2 cups Chocolate chips of your choice or 1 cup shaved chocolate - optional

Blend raspberries, strawberries, and sweetener. Use as is, or strain out seeds (I was lazy). Stir in chocolate if using, pour into molds and freeze. Enjoy during "that time." The strawberries are packed with stuff like vitamin c, potassium (helps with muscle contractions), folate, and fiber, while raspberries are packed with vitamin c, manganese, and fiber (and they are known to help reduce cramping!!!), plus, y'know, chocolate. Store in an airtight container, and they'll last several months in the freezer (three months later, and the first batch I made is still tasty).

My order arrived!

(No, I was not paid for this post, just for the record. Just mentioning an order I was excited about receiving. Originally posted Oct. 25th, 2014 to my regular site.)

I am sooo excited! My package from Precious Stars arrived today!

While I have the skills and materials to make my own reusable cloth pads (and I have made a decent-sized stash already), I still wanted to support this young lady and her small business. I found her YouTube page a few months ago when I was looking for reviews on cups, as the Keeper I'd used for 14 years had to be tossed. Given that they're only supposed to last 10 years, I think 14 is pretty good.

Anywhooo...

Thanks to Bree's tutorials, I designed and created a small stash of pads for myself, which I have now used through three cycles. I've noticed a definite decrease in cramping (I'd say it's about half as bad as it used to be), along with a shorter cycle (now about 4 days, used to be 6-7 days). Plus, y'know, they're reusable, so they're not only environmentally friendly, they're also more economical. In addition, I don't have to worry about TSS, funky chemicals, having a dry/irritated vagina (thanks to tampons absorbing EVERYTHING), or odors (the ONLY odor that I've ever had with my cycle was a result of the chemicals in disposable pads/tampons, and when my Keeper started wearing out, but since switching to bamboo fleece and 100% cotton reusable pads, there is NO odor AT ALL).

Below are pics (front and back) of the pads I ordered. With shipping and the conversion from US dollars to UK pounds at the time my order was placed, these cost me about $24 - not bad considering that in about 2 cycles they will have paid for themselves (based on what I used to spend on pads/tampons every month). This month's cycle has already ended, so I won't get to try these out until next month, but right out of the bag, they are SUPER well made, INCREDIBLY soft, and surprisingly thin.

For those who prefer cups, Bree also sells both MeLuna and Ruby cups, and has done numerous reviews on various cups available in both the US and UK. I highly recommend the silicon cups instead of rubber (e.g., the Keeper), though I did notice that using a cup did not reduce my cramping - your experience may vary.

I'm including the links to her Facebook page, her company website, her YouTube page, and one of her YouTube videos with a side-by-side comparison of her pads vs. disposable pads.

https://www.facebook.com/preciousstarsYT?fref=nf

http://www.preciousstars.net/

https://www.youtube.com/user/preciousstarspads