Bright Families

Girls and Fashion

An overview of how we've handled fashion, makeup, earrings, and other aspects of life with daughters, including what went as expected and what I would do differently based on experience.

Family Nutrition Part 2 - Food Shifts over time

An overview of how our family's cooking and recipes, our snacks and desserts, have changed as we experiment, adapt for food or additive intolerances, and learn what we enjoy most.

Family Nutrition Part 1 - Negotiations with Husband

A little background on the process of negotiating the food culture in our house over time, based on what my husband and I brought from our families of origin, what seemed worth the money or not, what we like and dislike, and different nutrition needs.

UPDATED Middle School Class on Cycles

Overview of what happens during the cycle, what to expect in terms of energy, appetite, and mood, and how to help it go smoothly.

Immune Boosting for the Family - 15 minutes

A quick overview of immune boosting tips and supplements we use to avoid getting sick and stop illness quickly: Affection, hydration, low sugar, fruits and vegetables; cooking herbs like garlic, basil, and rosemary; supplements such as elderberry, zinc, and various cough drops, charcoal, and goldenseal, with details of how we use them.

Cortisol and Weight Loss for Moms

A quick overview of how restrictive dieting, pressure we put on ourselves, and sleep loss contribute to raising cortisol and inhibiting weight loss for women, particularly after pregnancy during the adjustment with a new baby. Women who are struggling to maintain a normal weight in spite of strict dieting are often working against themselves and sending mixed signals to their body. 

Safety Class - Water and People

Rip currents, pool and lake risks including sudden fatigue and hypothermia; how to spot weird people and situation, and listen to your gut, with examples of each. A live class recording of our Middle School safety discussion that might help you keep you kids safe.

Why is my Cycle Irregular? Part 3 - Random Factors

Travel, anemia, stress, sleep loss, irregular eating and the Dorm Effect

Why Are My cycles Irregular? Part 2, Body Composition

A quick take on assessing your body type and how your muscle mass and weight distribution can offer clues about hormones and your cycle.

Why Are My Cycles Irregular? Part 1 - Energy Balance

If you're having irregular cycles, a first step is determining how much you eat in a day versus how much you use. A woman's body often shuts down her cycle if it perceives there are not enough resources. The episode includes a couple of examples of irregular cycles in older teens caused by accidentally under-eating.