I have heard, over the last few hours - "Mom, can we go now?" "Mom, when are you done?" "Mom, can I have a playdate?"
I am at work. Seeing clients. My almost four year old is in preschool. The nine year old refuses day camp, insisting on playdates. Well, most moms work, and she's already exhausted her 2 stay-at-home mom/friend playdates. Now it's my turn to reciprocate - and so she must wait until a non-working day for it to happen at our house! Harry Potter interested her for 35 pages, the ipod and the "annoying orange" on youtube has kept her entertained for the last few hours (really, they are kind of amusing), but she is ansy. Ah well - I am here for another 4 hours (time to call dad and see if he will take her...)

        

My nine year old came home from 2 week-sleepaway camp. Tears of  joy, a lovely lunch (despite the cranky almost 4 year old - yes, yes - adjusting, adjusting), and afternoon followed.
This morning - with no clear plans for the rest of the summer except for wanting "lots of playdates," We spent the morning calling friends and set something up for later in the day. I then explained that I had 1 hour to hike/exercise then go to work. She could run errands with dad or come hiking. Well, maybe the incline was too much - but I had a frowning, kvetching, arms crossed the chest adolescent trailing me up the steep incline of Runyon Canyon. I was furious! I explained to her I had 30 minutes to hike and then I had to get to the office. She had the choice to go with dad and she chose hiking with me. No explanation worked, she trailed behind (arms still crossed).
 I lost it (I admit it) - I told her I loved her always but right now I hated her. She was wrapped up in her own selfish, ego-centered attitude and I stormed down the hill to the car. A last minute intuitive decision told me to veer to the left downhill to a different trail rather than back to the car. She cried to give her a second chance and I breathed and said yes (still trailing behind) I chose a less strenuous hike which led to a magical, isolated, shaded area and swing. I began to swing and waited for her to arrive. When she did, I gave her a turn and I stretched and did pushups on a log. So we had a lovely 15 minutes and when another family came over, we headed arm in arm home to quick shower. She stated that she was glad that she changed her attitude. I was glad that we were able to change the mood and experience but was left depleted and "down." I had to do some cleansing/affirmations in the shower to rinse of the residual "bad energy" and was able to get to work in a clear, complete way.
It is amazing to me how she can push my buttons the way no one else can. Anyone else dealing with peri-hormonal adolescents?

        

"You are not the mother I thought I would have," declared the almost 4 year old child of mine between bites of breakfast cereal. I looked at this person sitting on my lap - a mini-version of me by everyone's observations and took a breath. 'Wow' has my thought. Calmly I answered, "How would you feel if I said to you, 'You are not the daughter I thought I would have'"?
"I wouldn't like it." she sullenly answered.
"What makes you say that?" I ask curiously.
 "I don't know," was her response.
She went on to tell me that she had the best dad in the world and he had the best car in the world. Within the span of the next 12 hours - I was vilified, adored, admired - with sentiments ranging from, "You are so mean" to "You are the best mommy in the world" to "I love you so much."
   As words have power - I started to look at how I was affected by the various declarations of this kid and everyone else I interact with on a daily basis and how to best respond (looked to Celestial Prophecy for indepth exploration of energy pulls/drains/creations). Intellectually I know that  she is 3 3/4, authentic/without a filter, and living in the "Present." Also, as kid #2 - I've done this before. Also - I am in a very balanced state of being right now (eating regularly, getting great nightime quantities of sleep) - so I can approach life's stresses with a degree of ease.
But what happens when I am sleep-deprived, stressed, hormonal? Intellect goes out the window and "Reaction" becomes the norm.
So solution: self-love (eat regularly and well, exercise, sleep) - to deal with energy pulls from every direction.
Okay - that was easy.
And the reflection/observation: Everything is transient - thought/feeling - this too shall pass. Looking to see if there is a kernel of truth to statements others throw at you - and if so - rectifying behavior/action, or if it is their "stuff" being projected upon you - or in the case of an almost 4 year old - a "trying on" of expression/emotion/being.
In anycase - I was left with a bit of pride at her formulation of expression - I mean really, "You are not the mother I thought I would have" is pretty darn clever!

        

I have a Zen book of quotes in the bathroom. The perfect quiet spot (sometimes) in a hectic household. Sometimes there is only time for a quote or two. Othertimes, I will read through whole sections. With everything that is occurring in these "troubled" times - BP - the end of everything from an earth fart (yes - I read that in one today in one of the Yahoo articles - they've discounted the world ending from a large methane bubble without actually showing any proof to why it isn't probable or possible or likely - which makes me think they are just trying to appease the masses), the probably collapse of the world economy, to the very personal - how to pay my bills this month. Yes "troubled" times. So when you are in trouble - how do you get out? Appologies? To self, to the government, to the banks, to the credit cards (so sorry - I can't pay you this month). Hmm -
So within the peace and trusting that all will work out. All of this is supposed to be happening. Breakdowns lead to Breakthroughs - and baby, this sure feels like a Big Breakdown on a personal, social, communal, cosmic level. I pray.
I wonder how many more people have turned to prayer to get them through the tough times. Not being particularly religious - I find this new communication with G-d/HigherPower/Divine Self/Universe a warm, fuzzy security blanket. Amen, so mote it be - and so it is. Yippy Ka-Yay!

        

You MUST watch the movie "Food, Inc." - TODAY! My husband (an avid fast food consumer, coke drinker, meat & potatoes kinda guy) and I (primarily vegetarian with some free-range/organic chicken or wild caught fish if need extra protein kinda gal) and we were shocked, appalled, informed, and enrolled - in the change that Must take place here in America - our basic rights of freedom of speech, of choice, of health - of everything are at stake! Geez! My husband was appalled and astonished by the fact that farmers are not allowed to reseed their crops (they will get sued or harassed due to the GMO patents of seeds of crops such as soybeans, corn, etc.) See this movie today and write in! We must exercise our power as consumers in the choices that we make. I am so proud (he bought water rather than coke today!).
Monsanto is the big company that patents and produces all the GMO seeds (they will investigate independent or organic farmers which are not using the GMO seeds and prosecute them if they reseed and their crops have been contaminated by GMO (very likely as the neighboring farms are primarily GMO now).
Watch the movie! Make good choices! Take action! Let's get our power back in the food we eat!
Please take a moment to click on the link and let the USDA Secretary Vilsack to maintain the ban on GMO alfalfa -
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/monsanto_alfalfa_vilsack/index2.html?rc=confemail&r_by=10008-2895872-pStVuPx

        

Sunny Foot Massage www.sunnyfootmassage.com  is located in the heart of Thai Town in an inconspicuous mini-strip mall next to a bridal cake shop, dentist, and liquor store. Walking into a room with 8 oversized pink armchairs, the large room is simply decorated with a large koi fish embelished gold fan and a foot reflexology poster. The friendly, quiet staff direct you to one of the cotton-candy colored plush chairs and you are efficiently reclined, your feet immersed in a warm wooden tub of water (lined in disposable plastic - hygiene 5 stars, eco/green - no stars), and the journey begins! Close your eyes, for the next 60 minutes you are transported. Amidst the rubbing, poking, sweeping, rolling, tapping, and even some slapping - your arms, hands, scalp, legs and feet are treated with expert hands to the ancient practices of shiatsu, acupressure and reflexology. The light, hypnotic electronic music and the babbling water feature lull you into deep relaxation. After 40 minutes, a warm towel is draped over your legs and feet and you are instructed to turn over. The armchair reclines and a headrest magically appears! Your neck, back, and glutes now join the shiatsu party!  You arise from your pink cloud of heaven and are offered a cup of water. After paying $25 (for the 60 minutes of bodywork heaven) and adding a generous tip to your professional massage therapist, you are offered a frequent visitor card (10 visits and the 11th is free!) - and you know this wonderful experience is worth making a habit of AND  that wellness and well-being are possible in the Urban Jungle. Namaste! 
(Sunny food massage is open 7 days a week, from 11am-11pm and is located at 5169 W. Sunset Blvd, 90027
60 min/$25 (with free head, shoulder & back massage)
40min/$20

        

My nine year old celebrated her birthday yesturday at sleepaway camp. Camp is but 2 hours away, however we have no contact  per camp request. That being said, I am friends with the director and was able to check in with her. I was appeased by her reassurances that Lishai had been sung to by 120 of her peers and resoundedly acknowledged and blessed and that she was not homesick! Despite this, I still felt a yearning for her that I hadn't felt for the last 4 days since her departure. The overwhelming feeling for most of this week was how much easier living/dealing/parenting one child (the almost 4 year old) was! So now, at work - missing my pre-pubescent baby - I am struck with the complexity of parenthood - the tugging and pulling - as children grow older and more independent - their needs/our needs as parents - to hold on/to let go.
My solution - to observe the emotions, feel the feelings, embrace the mystery - and breathe!

        

Yesturday, I got a 4 year old client with a swollen, red, hot, foot from a bee sting. For severe allergic reactions - N.A.E.T.  is great for food allergy, environmental allergies including animal, pet, air, etc. and also insect bites!
Most of us know to remove the stinger and then put in cold water or baking soda. A trick I learned at the Herbal Symposium when my daughter was 3 1/2 and got a tic - was to remove the offending creature, apply lavender essential oil (natura antiseptic) and then apply a paste of clay or mud to draw out the toxins.
In this season of travel, camping, etc. - thought this might be useful!

        

I wasn't going to make you wait too long!
Sea palm becomes a great green/black noodle when soaked for 20 minutes. Ad your favorite pesto (cilantro, garlic, etc) and serve! Yum!
Agar Agar - is great for desserts (it is vegetarian gelatine). You can make a coconut banana flan, a lemon verbena panno cotta, a mango jello - add 4 c. juice to 4 tbls agar - boil 5 minutes and then refrigerate.
Take almond mild + agave + agar - as it is setting, put in freezer and you will have gelato!
Other ideas for the Wild Devotion sisters include bladderwrack cheesecake and green tea/seaweed ice cream!
Prannie Rhatigans Irish Seaweed Cookbook is inspiration! www.prannie.com
/>Nori - has the most protein of the seaweeds - in nature it looks like a sculpture - not naturaly in flat squares!
Gomasio - is an amazing combo of 7 seaweeds, spirulina, sesame seeds - to sprinkle on salads, sides, entrees etc.
1/2 an avocado + gomasio, scrambled eggs + gomasio, rice/quinoa + you get the picture.
All seaweeds - soak for 30 minutes
An Idea - add 2 dried shitake mushrooms (medicinal) and 2 pieces of kombu - soak for 30 minutes. Add some red onions (cleansing lungs), yellow onions, garlic, and any veggies, some ginger and voila! (Add carrots at the end).
There is more coming... Enjoy!

        

Sea plants are amazing food and Medicine! I am here to convince you that Seaweed is Sexy!
Having returned last month from the Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium (www.womensherbalsymposium.org) I am devoting the next few blog entries to the Amazingly Nutritive, Sustainable, Essential Incorporation of Sea Vegetables into our daily diet for Maximum Health and Wellness. (I hope from my exaggerated use of Capitalization, you are getting how Passionate I am about this!)
I had the opportunity to meet with two amazing sisters from the Wild DevoOcean Seaweed Collective: (www.wilddevoceanseaweed.com), up in Northern California - a collective  Devoted to sustainable harvesting of this most precious commodity! These ladies are rockstars - to hear the stories about how they venture forth - a few days out of the year - to sustainably harvest seaweed - talk about Xtreme Sport! They are preserving the integrity of the plants and providing us with a food that is insanely high in essential trace minerals, protein, iron, and more!
So as background let's start with this: Hijiki, arame & wakame each contain  more than 10 times! the calcium of milk, sea lettuce contains 25 times the iron of beef, and depending on when they are harvested, kelp, kombu, and arame contain 100-500 times the iodine of shellfish and 600-3000 times the iodine average of other marine fish! Whoah! Also Seaweeds are also one of the few sources of fluorine, which boosts the body's immune system and strengthens teeth and bones (better than that artificial fluoridated water some of you are buying for your kids - augh!). Sea plants contain 10-20 times the minerals of land plants  as well as crazy amounts of vitamines and other elements for your metablism and wellbeing.
If this isn't enough to convince you - sewweeds have the amazing ability to detoxify the body - the "shlime" produced when you rehydrate dried seaweed (simply by soaking in water for 20 minutes) will bind with the heavy metals  and radioactive elements in the body and convert them to harmless salts, which you will pee/poo out. Easy!
In Chinese medicine, the ancient texts state, "there is no swelling that is not relieved by seaweed." So sea plants are used to reat swellings, nodules, lumps, goiter, swollen lymph glands, edema, all skin diseases marked with redness, tumors, chronic cough with heat signs (yellow/green phlegm). Sea weed is very useful for fibroid tumors and cancer.
Seaweeds are useful for weightloss programs and for lowering cholesterol and fat in the blood. The mucilaginous gels (algin, carrageenan, and agar) specifically rejuvenate the lungs and gastrointestinal tract.
Convinced yet?
Those of you trying to get pregnant? The same "shlime" that is produced when you soak the seaweed - makes an excellent lubricant which seems to be an amazing facilitator to the conception process - I told you Seaweed was Sexy! So incorporate seaweed into your (hmmm....) baby-making activities!
You can bathe in seaweed- really fun in the tub, or eat it.
Ideally, you will use sea plants regularly in meals. Because they are so potent - 1/6-1/2 oz (5-15 grams) of dried seaweed (before soaking or cooking) daily is great. You can also supplement with some kelp tablets.
So the next question is - Where do I get it? How do I make it?
Check out the www.wilddevoceanseaweed.com website (For bathing - I love the turkish towel as a reusable facial/body exfoliator - I imagine myself a mermaid as I bathe among the kombu/kelp - my girls love it too!) or your local wholefoods/health store.
Now for some recipes - google to your heart's delight for wait breathless in anticipation for my next blog entry!