The ABC's of Everything Blog

We are often told that self-love is the foundation for our ability to extend love to others but sometimes that can be a challenge. Instead of seeing the best of who we are, we tend to focus on what we are lacking or our imperfections. I am never going to be good at math or figuring out social media (still don't know how I share ...

​The celebration dates may not be the same in every country but Mothers everywhere are celebrated. We moms are truly unified in our devotion and love for our children and families no matter where we live or what we do. Worldwide Mothers are honored for how much they mean to us. Mothers Day in Mexico Dia de las Madres, is May 10 in Mexico. It's a hu...

We hear more and more each day about the damage us humans are doing to our natural world and it may seem like little progress is being made to fix these problems. Perhaps we need to be reminded that the natural world does not need mankind to survive and flourish but mankind does need the natural world for it's survival. If we see ourselves as stewa...

"Imagination is more important than knowledge" Albert Einstein ​It seems these days there is a lot of emphasis on structured learning and at younger and younger ages. Are our children getting enough unstructured time to engage their imagination? Much research has been done around the value of imagination for successful learning and found that child...

With kids facing so many distractions these days, reading is a great opportunity for redirection. It's a well-known saying, "first you learn to read, then you read to learn".As your kids grow older, they learn more enthusiastically if they love the act of reading itself when they are young enough to form a relationship with the written word. This s...

As a parent, getting your kids to go sleep at night can be quite a challenge. Having a child that goes right to sleep at bedtime is like winning the lottery and probably about the same odds. As difficult as it can be it's still one of the most important things you can do for your child's well being and your own sanity. Every child is different in t...

The eating habits we develop early in life tend to stick around. I have always eaten a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables because that was the type of foods our family ate the most of while I was growing up. Not because we were particularly health conscious, but because we lived in an agricultural area and those food items were the le...

​  Most of us welcome in the New Year with intentions to make some positive changes in our lives by setting goals and resolutions. This year I have a different kind of goal than in past years. My goal is to continually be aware of what really matters in my life. I live in Ojai California which is a lovely valley surrounded by beautiful mountai...

An easy no cooking required cranberry sauce! Ingredients: 1 Bag of fresh cranberries 2 Medium red delicious apples (cored-leave skin on) 2 Cups of frozen raspberries (slightly thawed) 2 TBSP of orange marmalade 2 TBSP of sugar Directions: 1. Combine fresh cranberries and apples in food processor and pulse until finely chopped 2. Add raspberries, or...

Mashed potatoes are the perfect side dish for any holiday feast! Ingredients: 2-3 lbs. of russet potatoes peeled and diced 4-5 medium cloves of fresh garlic peeled and left whole ½ cup of milk 1/3 cup of butter 2 tbsp. fresh chopped chives Directions: 1. In large pot boil potatoes and garlic cloves until potatoes are soft but not mushy 2. Drain pot...

​A delicious and elegant dish for the holidays. Ingredients: 1 standing rib roast trimmed 1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary 1 Tbsp. salt ¼ cup of butter softened 1 medium onion chopped 1 ounce dried Shiitake mushrooms ¼ lb. fresh mushrooms sliced 2 1/2 cups of beef broth ½ cup sherry 4 Tsp. arrowroot dissolved in 2 Tbsp. cold water Directions: 1. Let r...

​3 fun holiday craft ideas! 1. Create a Centerpiece from your own yard This is the time of the year when holly, beautiful leaves and other fall foliage can be right outside your door. Cuttings from branches, pine cones, dried grasses and colorful leaves make great centerpieces for a holiday dinner. Combine with candles, baskets, gourds, or col...

The holidays are traditionally the time of year when we seem to put more attention on others and look for opportunities to be more giving and kind to each other. Of course this is a state of being that we really want to practice every day. A lot of research has been done around why we feel good when we are kind or giving to others. Researchers call...

​In our family, Halloween was our favorite holiday and a lot of time and thought went into planning our costumes. I'm not talking about the kids, I'm talking about us adults. Of course the kids were excited about what they would be for Halloween, but let's be honest, they can pretty much wear costumes whenever they want. Halloween is no longer...

​Ingredients: 2 Tbsp. coconut oil (for greasing ramekins) 1 ½ cups pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling) 1 cup full fat coconut milk 2 large eggs 1/3 cup of sugar 4 Tbsp. arrowroot 2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 2 Tbsp. maple syrup 1 Tsp. ground ginger ½ Tsp. salt ½ cup chopped walnuts for topping Coconut cream or whipped cream for topping Directions: 1. P...

​Ingredients: 1 1/3 cups of finely chopped leek (white part only) 3/4 cup of finally chopped onion 1 cup thinly sliced celery 2 Tbsp butter or olive oil 3 lbs asparagus trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces (reserve a few tips for garnish) 6 cups of chicken broth 3 large eggs 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 2 Tbsp minced fresh dill Directions: 1. ...

Ingredients: 2 sugar pumpkins, diced into 1/2 in cubes2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped2 jalapeños, diced (remove seeds to make a less spicy salsa)1 red onion, diced1 clove minced garlic1 medium sweet onion, diced1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil1/4 Tsp cinnamon 1/4 Tsp c...

I've always believed that food is love and sharing a meal together is a wonderful bonding experience. In the less hectic past, family dinners were the norm. However, with the demands of current work schedules, commutes and outside activities, getting everyone together at one time for a family meal is more challenging. It's challenging but not impos...

​Ingredients: 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats3 medium ripe bananas 2 large eggs1/4 cup pure maple syrup1 tsp baking soda1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts or dried fruit (optional)Directions:Preheat oven to 350 degreesLightly grease a 9x5 inch panAdd all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and mix in any add...

Avocados are a great healthy fat and their trendiness isn't going anywhere anytime soon! Try this easy breakfast for a protein packed, healthy fat breakfast. Try adding a complex carbohydrate like sweet potatoes for a well rounded meal. Ingredients: ​2 ripe avocados4 fresh eggssalt and pepper to taste1 tablespoon chopped chives, cilantro, basi...