Relationships
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Safety and Self Defense Tips for Kids
Image courtesy of Flickr This September I sent my first born off to school. As I watched him begin his educational career on the color-blocked carpet of his kindergarten class, I couldn’t help but think of all the what-ifs. What if there’s an earthquake? What if there’s a school shooting? What if someone tries to take him? No one likes to think about these things, but moms have to think about them. We think about them and we find ways to best prepare our children for bad situations. And we have to be creative by teaching them these tools without instilling fear. As a natural worrier, I began searching…
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Reflections :: Shine on Pip – Shine On
My Sweet Pip, I’ve been reflecting the last few weeks about all that has happened in 365 days and trust me, you will hear about it your entire life…Your first year here baby girl, was one hell of a ride…And you have the scars to show for it – Literally… At least once a day, I run my finger over the scar that saved your life and fixed your heart…You endured so much, too much & because of it I know you can & will get through anything…I promise I will always tell you how strong you are & how proud I am of your spirited fighter determination… …
- Awareness, Crafts, Creativity, Culture, Decor, DIY, Dwell, Garden, Get Organized, Giveaways, Kids, Life Management, Love, Money, Musings, Parenting, Plan, Play, Reflections, Relationships, Slideshow, Writing
A Time of Reflection and Planning for the New Year
It seems like this year has gone by in a blur. There were so many wonderful things that we celebrated together as a family – like my daughter starting first grade, learning how to read, finishing her first YMCA triathlon for kids and has the medal hanging in her room that she likes to show anyone who comes to visit, to getting a new family dog. We are attempting to teach him that he is a dog and not a human as he so thinks. When I look back at the photo’s I took on my iPhone over the past year, I realize we really did have a great time…
- Awareness, Creativity, Culture, DIY, Kids, Laugh, Love, Parenting, Plan, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel, Wellness
5 New Year’s Resolutions I’m Making for My Kids
Image courtesy of Flickr The last few months I’ve been consumed by work as the contributing author for a Los Angeles relocation guide. Chunks of time throughout the day and night have been spent writing a book, driving around Los Angeles taking photos of neighborhoods, and updating contact information and weblinks. In the process, my kids have seen some parts of LA that we may not have explored otherwise. But they’ve also spent a lot of time in the car, and a lot of time playing second fiddle to this project. I’m looking forward to getting back to a more family-focused lifestyle, and to do that, I’ve chosen 5…
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Recipes :: Celebrate New Year’s with some “Lucky” Foods
While living in Japan years ago, I remember that we ate rice bean cakes around the new years in the hopes of bringing good fortune for that coming year. The osechi-ryori, a group of symbolic dishes eaten during the first three days of the new year, includes sweet black beans called kuro-mame. I didn’t mind as those sweet bean cakes were some of my favorite treats to eat and I still daydream about them! That and the yummy eel that was abundant in the city I lived in. In many cultures around the world, January 1st offers an opportunity to increase your good fortune by eating a variety of…
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Wellness :: Tips to Manage and Reduce Your Workplace Stress
There are so often not enough hours in the day. You’re spread thin to the point of becoming brittle. Demands on your time and energy include your home, your family and your career. Although all of these stressors may also be your greatest blessing, there’s no denying the toll they take on your energy and state of mind. Like many of us, you may be at a point where you’d so much rather throw up your hands in a gesture of surrender and say, “ENOUGH!” A stressful workplace can lead to anxiety, sleep disorders, illness and missed days at work; which can lead to common workers compensation injuries…
