How are you all holding up? Here in New York, it's starting to seem like this really is never going to end, and I'm feeling a sense of loss over the summer that we'd planned. Here are 8 things that are helping me stay semi-sane: Home improvement projects. Since we are rarely leaving the apartment these days, I've been inspired to improve the inside! I splurged on these organic sheets, have
colds & flu
13 Ways to Stay Sane During This Pandemic
I hope you are all healthy and (semi) sane right now! My family is on day 8 of a 14-day self-quarantine after a family member with whom we'd been in close contact tested positive for the novel coronavirus. None of us is sick yet, and we've settled into a surprisingly pleasant routine here in Brooklyn, which includes daily rooftop meditations, Zoom story-time each night with my parents, and
Our Thoughts On Coronavirus
Are you worried about the new Coronavirus? I'm not yet overly concerned, but because I live in New York City, I'll certainly be dealing with the virus' repercussions in the coming weeks. My husband takes a subway to work in a hospital every day, so my risk is probably much more than yours is. What follows are some tips on staying healthy right now, whether you're worried about COVID-19 or just
Two Ways to Not Catch Your Kid’s Cold: Natural Cold Remedies That Work
Go ahead and smother your sick kid in kisses--I truly think I've discovered the secret (via natural cold remedies!) to not catching their viruses. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and nothing I'm about to say should be confused as medical advice. I'm simply telling you what finally worked for me a few winters ago, when things were really bad. The Winter of My Discontent The winter of 2017 was
4 Eating Tips to Avoid Fall Illnesses
The season of “school bugs” is upon us. Are you already fed up with runny noses, coughs, and stomach bugs? In my last post I shared five strategies for staying healthy during the school year and promised that I’d follow up with some specific food tips. When it comes to staying healthy and recovering from illness, you really can’t ignore the importance of diet—for adults and kids alike. But
Bring Herbal Medicine Out of the Cupboard and into Everyday Life
My health coaching clients often ask me about adding supplements to their diet, and as a routine, I don’t recommend them. This isn't because I am against supplements categorically, but I resonate more with Michael Pollan’s philosophy on health: “Eat food, mostly plants, not too much.” I have a lot of respect for science, but I think that it can be hard to transfer laboratory science into
Green Goo Heals Sore, Raw Noses from Spring Colds
Sorry for the lack of new blog posts this and last week! Our family business has been suffering from a multi-generational cold from hell. It started with our shipping manager's grandson, and quickly spread to my mom, then onto my children and then me. From there, I infected nearly everyone I came into contact with--it was no joke of a virus and Wolfie's nose is STILL running two weeks into
7 Ways to Enjoy a Cold or Flu
By Suzanne, AKA "Nana" Here it is again, that time of year when kids seem to be sick more often than they are well. Maia's baby, Wolf, is only 4 months old, and the poor guy has already had at least four colds, courtesy of his big brother, Felix. Maia asked me to share, from my perspective as a Health Coach (as well as mother and grandmother!) the most effective ways to treat a cold or flu.
This Cold and Flu Season, Just Say No to Antibiotics!
By Suzanne ("Nana") NOTE: Nothing written below should take the place of advice from your doctor. We are not medically trained, and are not qualified to diagnose or recommend treatment for any illness. Here in the northeastern U.S., cold and flu season is upon us, and many of us are sick. Throughout the winter, most children experience runny noses, coughs, earaches, and sometimes fevers.
Fevers: To Treat or Not To Treat?
After an unprecedented four months of wellness, Felix had a bad cold last week that left him feverish for five interminable days. Predictably, Daylon and I debated whether to give Felix some children's Tylenol or just let the fever run its course. Our usual rule of thumb is to reserve the Tylenol for those times when Felix is especially uncomfortable--which is obviously a subjective
