Friday, September 16, 2011

Stress- Kills don't be a Victim..

Article By: Empress Lisa Artist
Edited by: Anaiyah 
Life is a beautiful, extraordinary experience but we all have times when we feel down and need to be reassured. The key is knowing that there are many ways to stay strong and take good care of ourselves in moments of adversity.  I have heard that the Creator never gives us more than we can bear…and it is true! We just have to remember to give ourselves permission to laugh, to be patient with life and to express how we feel in positive ways.

Believe it or not, nature is a great way to unplug from the daily stresses of life, oh the wonders of taking a nice long walk!  Getting outside in the sunshine, feeling the warmth on your skin, breathing in and out deeply are great ways to literally blow some stress away.  Or go outside in the evening when the sun is setting to give your eyes a visual treat!

Enjoy a your favorite latte..
Aromatherapy is a also a great way to relieve stress, as it heightens the senses and helps to promote a sense of well being. Lavender oil is one of my favorite essential oils because it is great for calming the nerves.  I like to make my own spray using a few drops of lavender oil added to water in a spray bottle. There are very many oils to choose from and most are derived from flowers or herbs, and they can be purchased at most health food stores. Always consult with your health care provider before using aromatherapy, especially if you are pregnant or nursing.

Another, often overlooked way of relieving stress is laughing! Yes, laughing! It truly is the best medicine…Not only does laughing help to strengthen the immune system, it increases blood flow to the heart, it relieves stress, eases pain, and it  releases endorphins in the brain which is why we usually feel so happy after a good belly laugh! So watch that hilarious movie, listen to your girlfriend tell that funny story, share a joke with the kids, it’s even okay to laugh at yourself sometimes…Life is not meant to be taken seriously all the time, even though we tend to act like it is. 

Last but certainly not least is to open up to someone who will listen, really listen to what you have to say. We all need to be heard, to feel validated for what we may be feeling, be it good or bad. It’s so important to have someone who will be there for you no matter what. Communicating our feelings, our frustrations, dreams, and aspirations to a trusted friend may be just what we need to get through a difficult moment.

Have sushi w/ your girlfriends..  
Pick up the phone and call your girl, or even better grab the car keys and go for a visit to see her in person! And remember, the sun is still there even in the midst of the rain, when the clouds clear it’s right there shining down on you.






Thursday, September 15, 2011

Thursday, July 14, 2011

BIRTHING:- At Home or At the Hospital?

Composed and contributed by: Empress Lisa ~ 
Edited by: Anaiyah~
Here at Mama's Organics we want to embrace LIFE...
                          At ALL Angles.. 
Yes, Hair, Beauty, Fashion is all part of Our world..
However, we offer just a bit more...
Here is a Beautifully written Article written by one of our Newest blog writers!!!!
Gemini Eyes aka Empress Lisa


Enjoy: 


I was in the library the other day checking out the movie selections when I came across a film called “All my Babies, “A midwife’s story. 

The title of this film naturally piqued my interest as a mother and a doula so I decided to check it out. This extraordinary film was about a midwife from rural Georgia named Mary Coley also lovingly known as “Miss Mary” to those who knew her. 

The music, very spiritual in nature, the black and white background, and Mary herself would forever be etched into my memory. She was a lovely woman, warm, genuine, and so caring! 

There was an actual birth recorded in the film and was amazing to see especially being that it took place in the 1950’s. This film flooded me with memories of my second child’s birth, which was attended by a midwife at home. 



My girls had watched the film with me and I was so happy to be able to share such an experience with them. I talked a little with them about birth and my experience with their entrance into the world.  They had questions of course, the first one being, “Mommy, does it hurt when the baby comes out?” To that I replied, “Yes, but you forget all about the pain once your baby is placed in your arms.”

Seeing the film also brought out some questions from within that I have had over the years such as why do hospitals routinely treat birth as a medical event also will more women begin to choose midwives for their care providers in the future to assist them during labor? My first child was born by c-section due to “fetal distress,” and I had a VBAC 
(Vaginal Birth After Caesarean) with my second daughter. I really enjoy talking about my experiences with birth…as a mother to other mothers and as a doula to my clients. 

I have been pregnant four times, having gone through two losses but nevertheless having four very different birth experiences. Many people look at me like I’m crazy when I say that I had my second daughter at home, and many others are intrigued! 

I tell others it was the best experience I could have ever asked for in regards to that rite of passage a woman goes through in becoming a mother. The freedom to walk around, to eat, to drink, to relax with my family, all while in labor was irreplaceable. 

Some women have shared with me that they were told that they would have to have another c-section if they get pregnant again, because they had one before! I would have believed it for myself had I not just had faith in my ability to birth my baby the way nature intended. 

I’m truly thankful for all of the experiences that I have had as a mother and doula, because they have made me the woman I am today.

I truly don’t have a major issue with hospitals, there are many instances when going to one may be necessary. However the fact is that most hospitals treat birth as a “medical event.” Yes that is my opinion, but unfortunately it is also a fact!  

I do understand that some mothers may be what is considered “high risk,” (unable to birth without the use of a hospital setting and equipment).   Of course more intervention may be needed. 

However,  these cases are the exception and not the majority- 



Lets discuss~ The first time mom who plans to birth at a hospital and according to her birth plan, would like to have the freedom to walk around during labor, eat a little, drink fluids, have next to no intervention, and breastfeed immediately afterward? 

She may want to look into delivering at a birth center because most hospitals will act as if they support such wishes but their actions prove otherwise. This is coming directly from my personal experience with clients who have delivered at hospitals. 

Mom goes into labor spontaneously(usually), calls the doctor, is advised to go and get checked at the hospital and is either sent home or given a room based on what her status is. If she ends up getting admitted, which is usually the case she gets settled in a room and prepped for her stay in the hospital. Now here is where things can get a little tricky! 

Mom gets into her room, is administered an IV for “fluids,” and is tucked comfortably in bed and given a fetal monitor for the baby’s heart rate. Now that this is all in place how is she supposed to walk around? Rarely have I arrived at a hospital to see a significant number of mothers walking the halls in hopes of helping their labor to progress. 

I may have seen a few mothers, but not many. And chances are it is not something that is encouraged because if it were then surely more mothers would be walking those halls! 

 One would think it would be because doesn’t gravity encourage a baby to descend into the birth canal? I know that the IV is usually able to be taken along with mom if she decides to walk, but a fetal monitor is not portable and most nurses and doctors are antsy when it is not attached to a mother during the whole time she is in labor. 

Obviously contractions will be getting stronger, but to a mother lying in bed and not really able to move around, she is about to hit another bump in the road with labor which is pain. 

Some mothers have made up their minds that they will not take any drugs for pain during labor, and really do a wonderful job of ensuring that they don’t! 

But not every mother who opts out of pain medication will follow through and understandably so if she is restricted to her bed. She begins to get uncomfortable with the contractions, she may not have a doula or someone there to let her know that she can get through this, and that she is strong. 

The nurses are coming in and out to check on her “pain level” to see where she is on a scale of 1 to 10. Where would anyone be with impending pain; being told that they cannot eat anything but ice chips and cannot walk, or maybe they can but not for very long because the fetal monitor must be attached. 

I had a client once who used the birth ball I brought along for her during labor, and while the nurse was okay with her using it, she kept interrupting her to assess the fetal monitor, and to readjust it every so often. So the answer to the pain level question slowly but surely becomes a 10 being the highest in how bearable the pain is.  So, by now mom is not feeling so sure about going all natural anymore because she feels it’s becoming too difficult to follow through. She begins to think about her options, with an epidural being at the top of the list. 

As previously stated some mothers stick to their game plan in the hospital and go without any pain meds, but in such an environment it can be difficult.  Changing positions in bed sometimes helps, squatting, leaning against a partner with hands clasped around the neck is great for taking the pressure off of mom’s back and so is rocking on all fours. There are definitely ways to manage pain in the hospital that are drug free, but are those options even considered? 

If a mother had not read up on such vital information, would the nurses or her doctor share it with her before they said anything about getting an epidural? No, because most doctors and nurses are trained to treat birth as a medical event, something to be controlled. 

Most midwives on the other hand are trained to treat birth as a natural event, something that is not to be intervened with, unless absolutely necessary. When birth is imminent, a mother is comforted by her midwife, she is held, she is caressed, she is encouraged to walk to bring the baby down, to eat if she wants to, to keep hydrated, to rest, to laugh, to cry, to breathe through her contractions and to believe in that strength that she possesses, to believe in herself, in her ability to do something as natural as breathing. 

Because that is what birth is; a natural event that has been going on since the beginning of time! Once her baby arrives, mom is given all the time in the world to bond, make precious eye contact, have skin to skin contact and breastfeed. Her baby is not given to her for all of five seconds only to be whisked away to the warmer 
(forgive me if I’m wrong but I couldn’t think of a better source of warmth than the newborn baby’s mother!) 

Her baby is not washed of all the remnants of birth which basically leaves him/her without much of their natural smell that mom will remember from that special moment. 

Mom decides when she is ready to wash her baby… Her baby is left with his or her mother and father to just take in, and fall in love with. Birth is like a fleeting moment and should be respected as the miracle that it is, and that it always will be. 

This should be the case in all hospitals as well as with all midwives who assist with delivering babies.

*** We hope you enjoyed our birthing article :) Always check with your doctor or mid-wife before making any decisions. 

The best advice is to do lots of research, reading and asking questions to other mothers.. Examine their experiences both home and at the hospital. 

Which ever you choose.. Live and Be Happy enjoy that new Baby!!!! 

For more info check these links:- 




Composed and contributed by: Empress Lisa ~
Edited by: Anaiyah~

Monday, June 20, 2011

Summer is Officially Here- But It's NOT too Late to GET IN SHAPE!!!!

Exercise…What exactly comes to mind when you hear that word? 
Do you begin thinking about how busy your schedule is and how you would never have the time? 
Is joining a fitness club a possibility but you don’t want the added expense? 
If exercise is something you would like to incorporate into your lifestyle, there are plenty of ways to do it! And these helpful tips are just in time for summer when most people enjoy getting outside more often.


-Find a friend to work out with! 
Not only will it make exercising more fun, but the two of you will be able to encourage each other on your goals.


-Discuss a time/days of week that will work with both your schedules. Many people find the evening hours work pretty well. Play with the times; you would be surprised how much extra time you may have during your day if you really think about it.
-Share your goals and aspirations with your friend…what type of exercise would you like to do during your workout? Have you been interested in finding out more about pilates, or yoga? Did your friend take a kickboxing class before and really wanted to learn more about it? 
You can begin to plan how you envision what each session will be like by sharing ideas. You could incorporate 10 minutes of different forms of exercise, or even have an hour long yoga session one day, and pilates the next.
-Take advantage of all of the free resources you have in your community, yes FREE!
My one stop shop is the library, I can find all sorts of workout DVD’s, music and books on various forms of exercise. Plan a day to get together with your friend to visit the library or even a bookstore together and see what you come up with!


Have kids? 
After dinner, take a nice evening walk together. Not only are you getting in some valuable family time, but you are exercising as well. You could even have the kids ride their bikes while you jog alongside them.


Live or work near a neighborhood park? If you haven’t checked it out before, now is the best time! Many parks have trails that are perfect for walking, especially with a friend. 


Early evening is usually a great time during the summer to check out a park. It’s still bright enough outside in the evening to walk but cooler so that you don’t get overheated. 
Always be sure to have water when you are working out, especially outside to avoid dehydration.
The main goal is to realize that exercise is not something that has to be wrapped up in a gym membership, or something you have to have a personal trainer for! 
You can begin whenever you are ready, for however long you are comfortable doing it. 



Enjoy yourself!!! 


You will begin to feel the benefits of exercise both inside and out…it helps to relieve stress and gives you positive feedback; mentally and physically. 


When we treat our bodies to exercise, we reap the benefits of losing weight, becoming more toned, and having more confidence in our ability to taking better care of ourselves.


Composed and contributed by: Empress Lisa 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

How much Oil is too much...

So many times I have heard that too much oil is not good.
Especially for your hair and well on the skin many don't like the feeling of too much oil.
100% PURE OLIVE OIL

However, I have been doing my own research!!!

On my skin I use a mixture of oils from Olive Oil to Jojoba Oil.
For the skin I think they is finding an oil blend that you really love.
Sesame seed oil is really good too and it's not as heavy those of you not loving the heavy feeling.

In my hair- especially when its straight I LOVE THE OIL in my hair..
At first I was going with the pre-programmed notion of "too much oil" and not wanting my hair to be too heavy..

This was all mental- Because once I stepped off the ledge of doubt I landed on the reality that the extra oil in my hair was really helping my hair -
That dry, brittle feeling you get- especially when the hair is straighten can cause so much damage including breakage and spit ends.
Which are the some of the main causes of growth issues.

My advice:-
Find an oil blend you like or even love- even if you use it on you skin!
 Morocco Africa 
I personally like morracan oils, aragan oils and the more exotic blends.

DO NOT apply oil to your hair while straightened and then flat iron or apply heat!!! Because you will have the sizzling effect- not good...
Best uses for the oil application apply before bed (if hair is straight) then wrap as normal.
If curly best apply when hair is damp or even wet. 

Try these tips on and let us know what were your results.. 

Good Luck and Happy Hair Growing ;-) Anaiyah..