Curiously Awesome

When you have a family as diverse and large as I do, you learn to get creative about the vacations you plan. It can be extremely challenging to find a spot that will appeal to teenagers, toddlers, and parents as well. I’m not about to hang out at a waterpark for days on end even though my teenagers would love nothing better. They have little patience for the kind of nature getaways that my husband and I really enjoy. As far as the little ones…they like almost everything…but they don’t have the stamina to keep up with the bigger people and they need activities in smaller doses. This is why a place like Kissimmee, Florida, is made to order for my family.

There is something for everyone here. Water parks, theme parks, roller coasters, nature, beaches…it’s all there for the taking. And here is something that just makes it even better!

Kissimmee is giving away three weekend getaways for two and two week-long vacations for four! There is one more drawing coming up on June 1, 2009 so there is till time left to enter the sweepstakes for a great chance to win some time in Kissimmee!

Raw milk is becoming more popular among people who want to eat a more natural and less processed diet. True raw milk is classified as milk from organic grass-fed cows that is cooled to 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit and then bottled. There is no homogenization, pasteurization, or filtering. Raw milk fits this definition is a complete and balanced food with healing properties and other health benefits.

Pasteurization has been used since the 1890s to kill bacteria in milk. In addition to the killing of the “bad” bacteria, however, pasteurization also kills “good” bacteria. These good bacteria actually kill the bad bacteria that can contaminate milk and make people sick. Cows that eat fresh grass are eating the necessary nutrients to produce milk with a healthy amount of good bacteria. The good bacteria in raw milk is beneficial for the digestive tract. These bacteria produce enzymes that help break down protein.

Another benefit of raw milk is the high amount of conjugated linoleum acid. This is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid found in milk from grass-fed cows and is known to boost metabolism, reduce insulin resistance, strengthen the immune system, reduce allergies, build muscle, and reduce abdominal fat.