In memory of Nicolas Daniel

Yesterday was National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day.  I didn't find that out until well into the afternoon.  It makes me sad that the day that is meant to honour our lost children isn't really talked about. 

Much like the loss itself.

I discovered that there would be a candle lighting close to where I live, so the kids and I went.

I lit a candle and cried for my son.  And for all the little lives taken too soon.

Every cry is a song

Every song is a prayer

And our prayers must be heard

Fill the air

-Hothouse Flowers

There is a lot to love about Leaf & Love

You know what I love about this little DOC of ours?  How innovative we can be.  There are so many cool products out there that only exist because someone with diabetes (or a loved one with diabetes) saw a void, and decided it was up to them to fill it.

Take, for example, Leaf & Love Inc.  It was formed by two childhood friends who became moms-on-a-mission.  Co-founder Sara Williams-Curran's daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 3.  Sara was frustrated by trips to the grocery store, where she would try to find beverage options for her daughter that were not either filled with artificial sweeteners or sugar

So she and Amy DiBianca (no affiliation with type 1, but wanted something healthy and delicious for her 4-year old son) took to the kitchen to develop a yummy, zero-sugar alternative to all the other high-sugar, empty calorie choices.

Why is Leaf & Love Organic Lemonade better?  Because it is made with all natural ingredients, including 100% USDA organic lemon juice.  They use organic stevia, which is a natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant.  Stevia has no calories, a zero glycemic index (meaning no carbs), no artificial ingredients, and NO effect on blood sugar!

In the words of Elise, "you mean I can drink it even if I'm high?  AWESOME!"

Happy girl with her Leaf & Love Lemonade

It is also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and provides 15% of the daily recommended vitamin C.

But most importantly, how does it taste?

Elise loves it. Loves. It. And is so excited that she has a juice box that is all her own.  We love sharing in this house, but these babies belong to Elise.

See that? only 2g of carbs.  Squeeeeeee!

Curious, I took a sip for myself and thought it was quite tasty.  There was a bit of aftertaste that I'm pretty sure is from the stevia, but my taste buds are ultra-sensitive.  Redheads are cool like that.

This past weekend, we took the kids to a birthday party at a bowling ally.  There was pizza, pop, lemonade and cookie cake; a carb-infested nightmare.  When the server announced that there was lemonade, Elise turned her big doe-eyes up to me and asked, "pleeeeeeeease Mom?" Ugh.

Luckily, I'm a planner, and had brought with me a bunch of Leaf & Love Lemonade juice boxes.  She was even more excited about drinking that than the "real" lemonade.  Winning!  

Good thing too, she consumed 4 pieces of pizza and well over 150g of carbs.  I threw up in my mouth a little when I bolused her.

So, now that I've espoused the incredible goodness of this lemonade, I bet you're asking where you can find it... good question! Currently Leaf & Love Organic Lemonade is being sold by the case  (32 boxes) on Amazon for $28.96 and will be available at retail locations soon.  Better yet, you can purchase the lemonade through Amazon Smiles and donate a little somethin'-somethin' to the JDRF while you're at it.  Double winning!

For more information, you can also visit www.leafandlove.com, or for those FB-type people; www.facebook.com/leafandlove.

Thank you so much Sara and Amy for making lemonade out of a big, fat lemon of a disease!

***Leaf & Love sent us a juice box to sample, but did not tell me what to think or write.  All opinions are my own.  Elise may have helped too.***