Conversations with the babe

Me, as we are folding laundry: Baby, I told you not to throw your socks into the laundry all bunched up! They don't get clean and they don't dry.

Baby: Okay. Okay.

Me: Don't say "okay." You always say "okay" and you don't do it.

Baby: Sorry.

Me: Don't say "sorry".

Baby, laughing: Okay, then what should I say? Caramel?

Hahha! I have the best kid.

Clean eats

Growing up, I can't say I had the best eating habits. A product of the American diet for sure, I was eating sugar ladened cereals (luckily I actually hated milk - esp non-fat, must've been my body's early intuition), LOTS of candy, loved McDonald's..etc.

Growing together

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how they say your child picks you. When I look at myself now I feel like I have grown by leaps and bounds since I've had my child. I look at my life prior to baby and though it was much easier, it certainly wasn't as "full."

In having my child, I've had to do a lot of self reflecting in order to be a better person for her. And sometimes, I really do wonder, "Who is the teacher here?" My child...she just has so much love for me. And on days when I'm not feeling like she's doing what I'd like her to be doing. She responds with a big hug. She always has a hug for me and that just feels so nice. I really feel blessed.

I wonder if she picked her father too because he is really good for me too. I see that in so many great couples. They just work!

Eve & Adam Build a House

I feel so blessed for my child's teacher and for Waldorf Education. I am a BIG, BIG advocate of Waldorf Education because it just resonates with me. Every time I am in the classroom or just see how the children interact with one another, my heart is warmed because this is a living, breathing, thoughtful education that peels back the layers of our children's divine gift to the world. As opposed to regular education that just tries to fill a vessel called the brain. Our children come into this world with their own unique gifts. Just as each one of us has a gift within us. We just have to slow down, quiet the outside world and get to know our inner selves.

Recipes...

I've been making a bunch of yummy stuff lately so I thought I'd share.

These almond cookies are delicious. I usually use the pulp that comes out of making almond milk. So, usually that comes to about a 1.5 cups of almond pulp and then I add 1 cup of whole wheat flour. I also used gluten free flour once and it turned out yummy! No dry and crumbly like the usual gluten free.

The future of style is in the past

Yeah! That's me, wearing a slip! Anyone watch Feud?? The story of Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. It was a good series but what I loved most about it, was the fashion. I loved that Joan Crawford always wore a slip under her dresses. Well, yea, that makes sense. Wear the slip and you won't have to wash your dresses so often. Plus, I happen to feel that slips are so sexy! I'd like to ramp up my slip selections...now if I can just find some that are sustainably made.

Please don't grow up

My friend was over the other day. She has a 12 year-old. She shared how her daughter has gotten her period...and there's a boy in her class that she likes and he likes her. And this summer, his mom asked for their address and the boy sent her daughter a note and a bracelet!

Foodies

The babes announced a few weeks ago that she's vegetarian. And since then has really not eaten any meat...except for once when a friend put sausage in a dish. We are trying to be more conscious about our eating, for sure. But again, I'm not labeling ourselves. Since this decision, we hadn't seen one of our really good friends whom we often get together with to have dinner. Last night was the first night she and I were getting together and then a thought occurred to me, "Well, now how are we going to get together to eat?"

Pasta

The other day I got a hankering for pea pasta. Yea, pea pasta. Weird, right? Maybe, but I stumbled upon this delicious recipe from Cookie and Kate and not only was it yummy, it was eye-opening! How? Well, I have always tried to make simple pasta dishes, like pasta with maybe roasted tomatoes and some grated cheese...or some other plain noodle with a veggie or two and getting the pasta not to stick has always been confounding!

Kundalini yoga is my jam

Oh yes. I am a big fan of Kundalini Yoga. It is definitely what I've been searching for with yoga. I'd never been a big fan of yoga. Ever since I took a class and fell asleep at the end during shavasana. Mortified.

Road Trip

The babes and I just went on a road trip. We drove from LA into Sequoia National Forest, Kings Canyon, to be exact. This trip was sans daddy because he couldn't make it up until a day later. I have to be honest - I'm glad to have these long road trip moments without him because he's uncomfortable with silence. And I appreciate silence. I relish it. A lot happens when one allows silence to happen.

Shades of Gray

And no, I am not talking about that movie with Dakota Johnson. I'm talking about being an "activist" or a conscientious being. It doesn't have to be black and white. In fact, an all or nothing attitude can be self-defeating.

I was just at a Conscious Capitalism LA event and got to talking to a new acquaintance

Conscious consumerism

Conscious consumerism is...liberating. At least that is what I'm finding it to be. The other day, I ran to Barnes and Noble at the Americana and there were big ads announcing that & Other Stories has opened across from the fountain.

Best rhubarb recipe?

A little while ago rhubarbs were in season. We got some from our CSA and while I like strawberry rhubarb pie, I wasn't feeling like making it. So I jumped online to find a different option for our rhubarb.

Finding a little more time

I often feel like there's not enough time in the day to get things done. Sometimes, it might be because I have a hard time focusing. Emails can derail me.

Paleo vs Vegan/Vegetarian

Wow, it's been a looong time since I've posted. I often have posts running through my head but then never actually execute because the day just gets away from me.

Lately I've been thinking about becoming a vegetarian. More because I feel guilty about all those animals suffering. And actually when I think about it, I often come across articles and testimonials that share the stories of people healing themselves from a host of ailments when they go vegan. It is very health serving.

Relationship advice from our Chinese school teacher??

Yes, why not? I was standing to the side when a parent asked our teacher, "Teacher, how do you discipline your children?" Of course, I'd be interested to hear.
This is what she said. She speaks to them as she would her friends. I think what she means by this is in a way that is not condescending or barking or ordering them around like they are children and we are the adults and we know best.

Amelia Bedelia

Remember those books? By Peggy Parish? Yes, great books. So funny. I loved to read them as a child. Now my own child seems to have a case of the Amelia Bedelia syndrome and it's not so funny. We would say something and she questions EVERYTHING. Example:

Me: You can fold your own clothes now. You are 8 yrs old

D (whining): Noooo, that's your job. You always do it for meeeeee

Me: No, I used to do everything for you when you were a baby but now you are 8 and you can do it yourself.

D: Oh, really? You used to do everything for me when I was a baby? Like you helped me to breathe???

Do you get it? This kind of exchange happens every. single. day. right now. A bit annoying.

Hope it goes away soon.

I love you because

When I read this post on MindBodyGreen, I thought, "YES!" This just makes sense. I want to forever always say, "I love you because..." rather than just I love you. It is so much more meaningful and I'm sure it makes the receiver feel so good about themselves. Why not share it with your friends as well and not just your close loved ones? Haven't you ever said, "I love you." to a friend because he or she is doing something silly? Imagine if you followed that up with "I love you because you always make life silly." Or whatever. It's just so gooood.

There's no such thing as rotten children

Just as there is no such thing as a bad dog...there are only bad dog owners, there is no such thing as rotten or misbehaving children, just rotten parents. Wouldn't you agree?

If you do ONE thing for your child...make it this

If you do one thing for your child (children), I think it should be to get them used to Apple Cider Vinegar. This one ingredient is good for so many things. I swear whenever I feel like a cold is coming on, I just take a shot of ACV with honey before bed and in the morning I always feel better and I usually kick the cold. When my child has a cold coming on it's usually harder to catch it before it hits because she's not really sharing the signs. But, I'm convinced that when I give her the elixir it makes the cold run through must faster.
This is my protocol for when she has a cold: Lemon/honey water plus extra Acerola Berry Powder all day long. At night right before bed, a shot of ACV mixed with honey and a little bit of warm water to melt the honey. I diffuse OnGuard in her bedroom at night. Wake up in the morning, repeat. If she has congestion or hard coughing I will diffuse Breathe in her room. But the ACV is key.

Other people's stories

I truly believe that everyone we meet, we are meant to meet. I came across this thought a long time ago when I read The Celestine Prophecy (I really loved this book) and truly, my life has been such. I have been blessed to meet those who have crossed my path throughout life and each one has been a gift.
So, it would stand to reason that sometimes, their stories are our stories.

Parenting with conviction

For the past few weeks, I have really seen the fruits of my parenting with conviction. What I mean by that is there are certain things that I just don't waiver from when I am saying, "No" to things. For instance, when it comes to food. That is a BIG one for me. I cannot stand when children don't eat the food that is placed in front of them. Ever since D has been eating, I have firmly said that she has to eat whatever is on her plate except for maybe olives and onions which she has indicated that she does not like and I think that is fair.

Is there a Method to this madness?

Just attended the Natural Products Expo West. Which, by the way, I LOOVE. I love seeing what's coming out, what products are trending and what seems to be trending more and more is organic, natural, minimally processed and sustainably sourced. That is all good news.

Mindful eating

I recently had dinner with a friend and she asked me if I'd heard of or ever practiced mindful eating. I have read about it, but I don't think I've ever actually practiced it. I think the common practice is to focus on the task at hand and not multi-task like read a magazine or watch tv or just wolfing down your food. What I know it to be is this. Which I definitely would love to put into practice. Maybe not every day but at least sometimes.

Media is overrated

We recently took a trip to Whistler, BC. Which I highly recommend. Actually Whistler can be a bit hit or miss. Last year when we went, it was a bit rainy so the snow can get a bit sloggy and the rain just kind of blows.

This year, we were lucky and got snow! And bright sunshine. Good times.

The 9-year change

In my last post I mentioned the 9-year change. We just discussed this topic in-depth in our recent class meeting and it's goooooood.

Here are some symptoms to look for:
• Secrecy.
• Alone time. Children around this age (remember, it could start as early as 8 years old) want to be alone.

Waldorf Education

Just had our parent teacher conference yesterday and of course, it's no surprise that I love this education. What really warmed my heart yesterday was that the teacher spoke to me about the 9-year change. Oh, it's real.

Behavioral Optometry

I was speaking to a mom friend today who was telling me about her son and how he has been going to a behavioral optometrist. I have never heard of this! Her son had been experiencing what seeed like sensory disorder. He would lean on her whenever she was nearby. He would freak out sometimes when people entered into his personal space. He was in a classroom of 8 children and often could not cope. Obvi, when you hear these symptoms, you think oh, ADHD or sensory perception disorder.

Other people's kids

I spend a good amount of time checking out other people's kids. You know, like, kid envy maybe? I see these other kids and they seem so sweet and I think, "Why can't my kid be like that?" And then I remind myself, "Well...you aren't the kindest. You don't really speak in a sweet voice except to your dog..." And then I sort of shrug my shoulders and sigh.

Through what lens?

Had a conversation with the hubs the other day. I was lamenting that my dyed hair was not bright enough. Why don't they make permanent dye in brighter colors? I wish I had asked that one girl what dye she used...

The cost of convenience

About a month ago, we drove back from SF to LA and since it was Christmas day, In-n-Out, our regular stop in Kettleman City was closed. Boohoo. So, we had to just go to Baja Fresh? Or something like that? I was really kind of bummed because despite the fact that In-n-Out is still fast food, I make concessions for In-n-Out. I usually will never look at any other fast food because it's just simply gross. In-n-out is most definitely gross too but I think they are just a tad better than the rest. Their menu is so simple and really the only thing gross is the meat.

Moms of Middle Schoolers

My sister forwarded me an article on NPR the other day. It's about moms of middle schoolers and how they often will feel challenged. The article almost likens middle school parenting to new child parenting but says it's even worse.

Recipe alterations - cookies and pancakes

Isn't funny how the world works? For xmas this year, I received a cute little journal from my niece. She wrote in it that I could use this journal to write my recipes. I thanked her for such a thoughtful gift all the while thinking in my head, well my dear girl, I actually cook and bake off of other people's recipes...never my own.

Allergies

We just hung out for week with a friend and her kids, one of whom has severe allergies. Well...so it seems. The little girl is allergic to gluten, carrots, rice. When we go out to eat, it seems she doesn't have a lot of options.