The ABC's of Everything Blog

​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...

"Let's pause to fully grasp within, This sense of living green, We hear this word so often said, But what does this word mean?"  This is an excerpt from my latest book, "The ABCs of Living Green" and one that I'd like to elaborate on. We've all been talking about going green, which for most people means recycling, composting and reducing our c...

"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...

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...

​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...

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...

​The next time someone asks you what you are doing tomorrow or over the weekend, tell him or her you are doing nothing. The baffled look on their face will give you an insight into how confusing and uncommon it is to do nothing. To make no specific plans, have no obligations, no "To Do List" to get through, in other words no scheduled activities. W...

You don't have to look too far to find some disturbing news about some dreadful discovery or atrocious behavior going on somewhere in the world. Social media and 24-hour news networks keep you updated on the gloom and doom endlessly if you're willing to participate. That's not really the whole story. If you choose to look in another direction you'l...

A new school year is right around the corner and I remember how much time and effort was spent getting ready for that first day of school. Long lists of what needed do be done, getting new clothes, lunch boxes, backpacks, and school supplies. Then moving on to logistics – car pool schedules, bus passes and after school arrangements. This is the pra...

I recently attended an event, which was giving out little gift items to the participants. One of the items looked like a cute little doll action figure. I thought – great I'll give this to my granddaughter. When I opened the packaging and looked closer at the doll (this time with my glasses on) I was unpleasantly surprised. It was a little girl dol...

As parents, more than anything else, we want our kids to be happy. When something happens that causes them to be sad or disappointed, I think we suffer even more than they do. Our first impulse is to try to find a way to fix the situation and make them feel better. This is not always the best response. Disappointment is a part of life that we ...

Getting yourself and kids ready for a trip or vacation takes a lot of planning. When I travel, one of the things on the top on my list (other than what shoes to bring) is what snacks to bring for the journey. When you're traveling you don't always have a lot of food options. This is always a challenge for me because I am conscious about what I eat ...

There is an enormous amount of digital interaction available to kids of all ages. A lot of what is being offered is really great; it's educational, has positive messages and gives parents a little break. The challenge is in figuring out when too much of a good thing becomes detrimental. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates ...

​As children growing up we were always being told to "go outside and play" especially on weekends. This was also the standard response when we voiced our frustration about "having nothing to do". Of course times have changed.  Now kids have access to so many different types of electronic entertainment that they never need to be bored. This is ...

I want to share this simple, but very sweet Father's Day craft project I found on the Fun Handprint Art website. All you need is some finger paint, poster board, fun stickers and a black marker. You can add additional bling, photos, or anything else you think dad would like. For a more finished look, you can put this art in one of those inexpensive...