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Welcome to Raising Califorina where you will be taken behind the scenes to peek at the lives of a Southern California family. You will have access to never before seen footage and exclusive interviews that will give you insight on what it is like to be a kid in California!


THE JOURNEY BEGINS HERE!

Happy 2008!

Tennessee and California started out this New Year's Eve by making their own 2008 signs while contemplating their New Year's Resolutions. They used markers, glitter and their imaginations to create one of a kind works of art to welcome the new year.




We had cake. Vanilla cake with vanilla icing and CANDLES! We all made wishes on the numbers of the year...2008. Then we blew out the candles to send our wishes to the Universe to manifest.



As we ate our New Year's cake, we went around the table and stated our New Year's Resolutions...

Tennessee stated: "I resolve to be greener and to protect the environment and its animals more. I also resolve to finish my book to make money for our family."

California said "More milk!"

Then I put a pot of black eyed peas on to soak to eat on New Year's Day for good luck. It is a southern tradition that was passed down in my family. They were from Arkansas and Tennessee, but my grandparents moved north to Missouri to find work.

A Vegetarian Child's Menu

Have you ever wondered what an 8 year old vegetarian boy in Southern California eats? Well, you're in luck! Tennessee created this menu to help organize our thoughts amid chaos at meal time. I took his menu to Whole Foods to make sure that I had all of the items on hand when needed.

Here is his menu for Today through Saturday. Please note that ALL items on the menu are organic.

Today
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Apple Sandwich and Milk
Mid Afternoon Snack: Zucchini Bread
Dinner: Annie's Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Sunflower Seeds,Blueberries and Milk
After Dinner Snack: Tapioca Pudding

Thursday
Breakfast: Honey Rice Puffins Cereal with Milk
Lunch: Black Olive and Montery Jack Sandwich, Fresh Carrots and Milk
Mid Afternoon Snack: Freshly Cut Cinnamon Apples
Dinner: Pizza Pouches, Celery and Orange Juice
After Dinner Snack: Stonybrook Yogurt Kids

Friday
Breakfast: Honey Rice Puffins Cereal with Milk
Lunch: Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich, an Ambrosia Apple and Milk
Mid Afternoon Snack: Trail Mix
Dinner: Grilled Vegetarian Chicken Strips, peas, pears and Milk
After Dinner Snack: Alden's Organic Vanilla Ice Cream

Saturday
Breakfast: Sunshine Toast (grilled toast with a CAGE FREE, Vegetarian fed, antibiotic and hormone free, omega 3 egg in the middle and a dash of garlic salt)with Orange Juice
Lunch: Vegetarian Ham & Cheese Sandwich, Soybeans, Carrots and Milk
Mid Afternook Snack: Sunflower Seeds and an Apple
Dinner: Amy's Vegetable and Tofu Pot Pie
After Dinner Snack: Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Just for the Record: California LOVES Annie's Bunny Grahams

Soul Centered Kids



"Each of us is here to discover our true selves; that essentially we are spiritual beings who have taken manifestation in physical form; that we're not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences, that we're spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences." - Deepak Chopra

I think that it is important to remind kids that they are spiritual beings so that they don't become attached to their bodies and the material world. Some ways to do this is through meditation, yoga, conscientious living, compassion and so much more! Tennesee and California both started meditating and doing yoga at the age of two. Tennessee began writing his own meditations at the age of five. It is easy to let our busy days get in the way of soul centered activities. I admit that we have gotten out of the habit a bit. So one of my New Year's resolutions will be to re-integrate meditation and yoga into our daily routine AND add something new to the mix as well...stay tuned to discover what this will be :)

Santa Baby

California wishes you and your family "Happy Howidates"!



...photos taken by Tennessee

Compassion: The Gift That Keeps on Giving



Yesterday, as I was clearing the dishes from the breakfast table, I spotted Tennessee cutting the plastic rings that are attached to 6 -packs...so I snapped this picture to educate others about the importance of teaching compassion to children. No child is too young to be taught compassion. Do you know why it is compasstionate to cut these plastic rings? It is because ducks, turtles, fish, birds and many other animals become entangled in these which causes injury, death and/or a life filled with misery.

I began teaching Tennessee to do this when he was a baby. Each time I did it, I explained why it was important to be doing this. As he grew into a toddler and was able to use scissors on his own, I handed the plastic rings to him and allowed him to cut the rings himself. This contiuned throughout his life. I was so very proud to see him doing this yesterday! At the age of 8, cutting plastic rings to protect the animals is second nature to him. He did not have to be told or reminded to do so and he acted upon is own instincts without a second thought. He didn't even get to drink the soda that came with the plastic rings...his actions were selfless and compassionate.

We learn compassion at our house through various methods. We mostly try to be conscientious of the needs and plight of others. People, animals, the Earth...compassion should be equally balanced between all things. I will post more on how our family strives for compassion in the future.

Honor the Spirit of Your Child

How to Start a Winter Solstice Tradition

The following books would be a great start for every Winter Solstice tradition. Read these with your family to prepare for Winter Solstice.

The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson (see slideshow below to get a copy)

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer & Jesse Reisch (see slideshow below to get a copy)

The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Carolyn McVickar Edwards (see slideshow below to get a copy)

I have hand picked some items that would be great additions to your Winter Solstice tradition. They can be found in the slideshow below:



Take a Yule Log Hike!
Materials: Warm Clothes, Sense of Adventure.

This is an activity that can be done the weekend before Winter Solstice/Yule. On a bright crisp morning, dress the family warmly and head for the park, mountains, or beach. As you hike along, looking for that special Yule log to place in your hearth, also be looking for decorations to make it personalized by each member of the family. Select a proportionally sized log that will fit easily into your fire place. Ash, oak, or cedar make great Yule logs. Try to find one that has already fallen and is on the ground. On the beach, driftwood can be found and obtained for your log. As you are looking, or on your way back home look for natural decorations to adorn your Yule log with. Traditional adornments are, pine cones, leaves, holly sprigs, mistletoe sprigs, rosebuds, winter flowers, wheat stalks, and corn husks. If you must cut anything from a living plant, remember to ask and thank the plant for its gift.

If you don't have a fireplace, you can select a smaller log to be used as a centerpiece for your holiday dinner. Candles can be arranged around it or a large hole can be drilled in order to place a candle on it. You could also burn the log that you have selected in a bon fire on the beach or in nature each year. Be sure to check weather conditions before doing so...especially here in Southern California where wildfires and firestorms can easily occur.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Feng Shui for Kids!

Kids need Feng Shui too! I stumbled upon this great information by the Feng Shui Diva. She has so graciously provided this information for free and includes a free audiclass for parents on her site! I have included some the information here on this blog and the link to her site and FREE audio class at the end of the blog.



Robyn Bentley's Feng Shui Tips For Children's Rooms

There are no bad children, only bad behavior. Our environment affects our behavior. We know what to expect if we give our kids a lot of sugar or caffeine. They will bounce off the walls. We know what to expect if the temperature in the house is 90 degrees on a summer day. Tempers will easily flare. These are normal responses to negative stimulation that most parents know about. But what most parents don’t know is that there is negative stimulation in the home that affects their child‘s behavior, health and even their grades. This negative stimulation is invisible, however, it can easily be remedied using a combination of ancient Chinese wisdom and modern day science. Feng Shui is the 4,000 year-old Chinese practice of arranging our living space to be in harmony with the earth's energy or "chi" so we are in balance with the forces of nature. Applying the practical techniques of Feng Shui to your home will help you take advantage of the good chi and create a balanced environment. This will help your child grow and develop in a positive way and enhance family harmony.

Sleeping Direction
We spend the most amount of time in one spot every day in our bed, so the sleeping direction is very important. The goal is to align the child's bed so that the top or crown of the head is pointed towards one of their good compass directions . Sleeping in the "wisdom" direction will help your child get better grades and improve their attitude about school. The "marriage and family harmony" direction will help decrease fighting and arguing in the household and help your child sleep better. Be sure to use a compass to determine actual compass directions in your home.

Exposure to EMFs
EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) are harsh energies emitted by electronic devices. They decrease the body’s production of melatonin. Melatonin helps prevent sleep problems, moodiness, anger and depression, and also helps the body fight tumors. Arrange furniture so that your child’s body is 3 to 5 feet away from TVs, computer monitors, stereos, lamps and other electronic appliances. Never use an electric blanket or waterbed heater and don’t let them stare into the microwave waiting for the popcorn! Stay 5 feet away while it‘s on.

What the Child's Eye Sees:
Look at what your child sees every day. A happy family photo visible from the child's bed is comforting to see before they fall asleep and when they awaken. It reminds them they are part of a happy family when they are alone in their room. Posters of kittens, puppies and favorite cartoon characters are non-threatening and comforting for the little ones. Get to know the meaning behind the images in your teenager's room and keep the cool "negatives" to a minimum.

Clutter.
Cleaning up after a small child is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's snowing. What's the point! But children do need a place to store their stuff to keep clutter under control. If a child's bedroom is also their study room, they won't be able to focus in a lot of clutter. Children should frequently clear out the space under their beds, which tends to become a catchall for trash and treasures and creates "stuck" energy. Need some help with your clutter? Check out Clutter Queen Boot Camp

Furniture Placement:
The bed should have its headboard against a solid wall. Make sure there is room to walk around each side of the bed - don't push one side up against the wall. Avoid placing the bed under a window or directly in line with the door. Standing in the doorway, if you can toss a ball straight ahead and hit the bed, energy flowing into the room will also hit the bed and this is not good for the child. Mirrors in the bedroom keep the room "awake" and make it harder to sleep.

Color:
Your child’s sleeping habits will let you know whether their room is comfortable. If you keep finding your child in bed with you, then their room is not working for them. Avoid using energizing colors like red and other bright colors in the bedroom as they can cause tempers to flare during playtime and too much hyperactive energy for the little one to fall asleep at night. Bright colors are good for playrooms but bedrooms need to be more subdued. Blues and light pinks are calming. Greens and skin tones are good.

Creating a comfortable, harmonious bedroom makes for a good night’s rest. And a good night’s rest makes for a refreshed, healthy child.

©2002RobynBentley/Feng Shui Diva, LLC

The Fu Wei direction is said to bring luck in education and personal development. It is also referred to as the "Wisdom" direction. It is suggested that school children and college students sit at their study desks facing their Fu Wei direction and sleep with the top or crown of their heads pointed in their Fu Wei direction for better grades and recognition.
To find out your child's Fu Wei/Wisdom direction, see the " Best Compass Directions " chart and Kua number chart on this web site. Once you know your child's Kua number, you can find out which direction is their wisdom direction. Be sure to use a compass when you are checking your child's current sleeping direction and study desk direction. Using east sunrise/west sunset is not an accurate way to determine compass directions.

Kua Number Fu Wei or
Wisdom Direction
1 North
2 Southwest
3 East
4 Southeast
5 Male Southwest
5 Female Northeast
6 Northwest
7 West
8 Northeast
9 South

http://www.fengshuidiva.com/audio/AUDIOCLASS/fengshuiforchildrensroomsweb.mp3
href="http://www.fengshuidiva.com/llc.kids.html">

CosmiKids

There is a wonderful place to take your kids for soul centered enrichment. It is called Cosmikids. It is located in the San Fernando Valley in the community of Tarzana. We will be previewing Cosmikids next week and will post a detailed description and review of our experience. Until then, I have decided to post some information from their website to give you an idea of what they are all about. More information can be found at www.CosmiKids.org.

From CosmiKids.org:
There's no denying that academics, athletics and extra-curricular activities are central components in a child's upbringing, but with the added dimension of self-exploration children can achieve the clarity necessary to recognize the path they were meant to follow.

Raising a centered, secure and well-grounded child simply requires a change in perspective, and that's what CosmiKids is all about.

Rather than focusing on external rewards, we encourage children to explore who they truly are in mind, body and spirit - their likes and dislikes, their greatest joys and deepest fears, how they relate to the world and the people in it. We help them learn to trust their intuition and how to tell the difference between what is real and authentic and what is unnecessary noise. With each new revelation a child's sense of confidence is strengthened, forming a solid foundation of self-esteem that will exist no matter the situation because it's pure, true and organic, not fashioned by peer pressure or socially imposed guidelines.

Each CosmiKids facility will be able to offer children a constantly revolving and expanding selection of Stations of Discovery where the different activities will take place.

Roads to Riches™
Children are asked to take a small container and fill it with "treasures" chosen from an assortment of objects that might include feathers, stones, jewels, beads, play money, anything item they find appealing. Then they are asked to give someone else a piece of their treasure and notice how it makes them feel - both to give away something significant and to receive in kind. They may also choose to draw a map of where they want to go in life. They learn that anything can be a treasure and therefore, abundance is all around them.

Vibration Station™
Everything in the universe vibrates at a different frequency, which affects each of us in a unique way. Here, children can enter tents filled with different colored lights, listen to music, play with magnets, explore different sensations of touch, sight and smell, all the while taking note of how it makes them feel. This station teaches children to be acutely aware of their physical surroundings, how they react to different energies and how that energy can change from place to place.

Costume Improv™
The irresistible Costume Improv station is dripping with feather boas, outrageous hats, glittering shawls and other items children can put on. Sometimes they will be asked to pick a topic such as tolerance or forgiveness and put on a play about it. They learn a new way to examine an emotion while reveling in the freedom to fully express themselves.

Beads of Empowerment™
Here, children can string necklaces from an array of beads and baubles - the only catch is, they assign a character trait on each bead before it is strung. By using words such as strength, confidence, truth and courage, children can craft a piece of jewelry that becomes a powerful talisman and can actually help them feel empowered. By ascribing meaning to something very simple, children have a change in perspective and realize they can affect their own reality by choosing to feel a certain way.

Minds on Mother Earth™
Human beings, trees, birds, flowers - we are all biological organisms that share a connection with Mother Earth. Using natural elements children are free to create artwork that expresses who they are. It could be a mask, a picture of their world, an abstract sculpture or simply a message to Mother Earth written on a leaf cutout. In this way they achieve a deeper appreciation for the natural world, mineral kingdom and all their gifts.

Bridge of Imagination™
This station is all about wishes, hopes and dreams. Children verbalize their wishes, write them on colorful shapes and cast them into the water below the bridge. They then choose a magic pole and fish for their wish or another. Once caught they can take that wish home or share it with a friend and imagine it coming true. This station provides a wonderful opportunity for discussion about the true meaning behind the things we want the most.

Water Thoughts™
At this station, children are asked to think kind and loving thoughts and project those thoughts into the water, making it a magic potion. After they drink it down they find that their spirits have been lifted. It's a profound lesson in the power of our own thoughts and how they directly affect our well-being.

Creative Expression™
Here, a child is given opportunities to look into themselves and learn to appreciate and share what they are and what they have within and without. The child is guided to choose two rocks and hold them close to the heart while pondering on qualities they like in themselves so that the rocks are imbued with them. Then they will paint them – one to keep and one to give away. The message is simple: Treasure what you are and share it with others.

'Course I Can!™
This station is a judgment-free environment - like all of the Stations of Discovery - in which children can examine both their negative and positive emotions and learn what to do with them. They could be asked to remember a time when they were angry then blow that anger into a colored balloon of their choosing, draw what that anger looks like on the balloon, then let it go. This is how we teach conflict resolution. We can help children tune in to their inner voice in order to find balance when life becomes challenging.

Here is a map to CosmiKids:

Life in L.A.

I was upstairs in Tennessee's room and heard a man talking on the sidewalk. We played for about 15 minutes and the man was STILL talking! So I went downstairs to investigate the sidewalk situation and found a camera crew taking footage of someone on the sidewalk. There were others there...I suspect they were the producers, director and tech people. This is not uncommon. This happens all the time.



Many times roads and freeways are closed due to filming. We have seen the paparazzi on the roof of the condo two doors down. The paparazzi have been at the park where my kids play to snap photos of celb kids as well. Owen Wilson lives on our street and the Nicole Brown Simpson crime scene is less than a mile from our house...

It is like this everywhere in Los Angeles. When we lived in Burbank, I used to run and hide from Jay Leno because he frequently brought his camera crew to the mall that I used shop at often. This particular mall had a magnificent old carousel that Tennessee loved to ride on! Well, one afternoon, E.R. was filming there and I couldn't talk Tennessee out of getting on the carousel, so we are on an episode of E.R.

We lived on the beach for a while in the same condo complex that Tara Reid lived. Paris Hilton came to visit and the paparazzi were there pretending to be someone with golf clubs...they somehow snuck into the gated complex. Additionally, there is always a movie being filmed on the beach it seems...

The point is that this is what it is like to live in L.A. You get used to it and think nothing of it. It can be incredibly annoying when the huge caravan of trucks used to haul all of the equipment to film movies impedes traffic moreso than it is already impeded in L.A.



People who aren't from here slow down and gawk to see if they can spot a celebrity. Those of us who live here just drive on by...

How's the Weather Out There?

Every time I speak with any relatives from Missouri, they always ask "So, how's the weather out there???" I always say the same thing..."It's sunny and about 70 degrees just like it is everyday." Well, the truth is that we do have "weather" other than sunshine. We often get a red asterick next to our weather forecast which means we have a "severe weather alert". We are under watches and warnings at this very minute. Oh no...it isn't an earthquake warning although it would be nice to get one of those instead of a sudden rumbling jolt. It isn't a wildfire warning...which does happen often on our sunny days. It isn't even a flash flood warning due to heavy rain...it does rain sometimes. As a matter of fact, it is supposed to rain for three days at the end of this week. We aren't used to that here...chaos will surely ensue. Here is our severe weather alert for today:

LOS ANGELES COUNTY COAST INCLUDING DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES-
1149 PM PST TUE DEC 4 2007

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THURSDAY...
...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST
WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 10 AM PST
WEDNESDAY. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST
THURSDAY.

...LOCAL COASTAL FLOODING POSSIBLE ALONG LOW LYING WEST FACING
SHORELINES THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...

SURF BETWEEN 7 TO 12 FEET WITH LOCAL SETS TO 14 FEET WILL CONTINUE
ALONG THE EXPOSED WEST FACING BEACHES OVERNIGHT. SURF WILL BUILD
THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING AND PEAK TO 8 TO 14 FEET WITH MAX SETS
POSSIBLY REACHING 17 FEET IN THE FAVORED LOCATIONS. THE HIGH SURF
SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND DROP BELOW 10 FEET
THURSDAY MORNING. STRONG RIP CURRENTS AND LOCAL BEACH EROSION WILL
ALSO LIKELY OCCUR WITH THIS LARGE AND POWERFUL SWELL. SOME LOW LYING
SHORELINES MAY EXPERIENCE LOCAL COASTAL FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN
CONJUNCTION WITH HIGH TIDES BETWEEN 4AM PST AND 10 AM PST.

HEIGHTS AND TIMES OF HIGHEST TIDES AT LOS ANGELES HARBOR.
WED DEC 5TH...5.6 FEET AT 610 AM PST.
THU DEC 6TH...5.7 FEET AT 635 AM PST.

ALL EXPOSED WEST FACING BEACHES WILL BE VULNERABLE TO THE HIGH SURF.
SOME FAVORED AREAS FOR HIGHER SURF IN VENTURA COUNTY WILL INCLUDE
THE BEACHES FROM EMMA WOOD TO SILVERSTRAND...INCLUDING VENTURA
HARBOR...OXNARD SHORES...AND HOLLYWOOD BEACH. ACROSS LOS ANGELES
COUNTY....OF PARTICULAR CONCERN WILL BE AREAS FROM VENICE BEACH
SOUTHWARD TO THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE PALOS VERDES PENINSULA...
INCLUDING EL PORTO...HERMOSA BEACH AND LUNADA BAY.

IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT DO NOT SWIM AGAINST IT. INSTEAD...
SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE UNTIL YOU ARE FREE OF THE POWERFUL CURRENT.

IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO FISH OR OBSERVE WAVES FROM EXPOSED
COASTAL STRUCTURES OR ROCKS DURING HIGH SURF CONDITIONS. VERY LARGE
WAVES CAN SUDDENLY SWEEP ACROSS PREVIOUSLY DRY AREAS. SWIMMING OR
SURFING IN THESE WAVES MAY BE DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE.

A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY INDICATES THAT ONSHORE WINDS AND TIDES WILL
COMBINE TO GENERATE FLOODING OF LOW AREAS ALONG THE SHORE.


I don't take California and Tennessee to the beach when we are under this type of warning. They like to run next to the waves and the waves are so unpredictable that they could get swept away. We'll just wait for it to pass...

Teach Peace

This is an animated movie created by the Teach Peace Foundation. "Christopher, Teach Peace's mascot, is the joyful cricket in the movie. Christopher teaches children about kindness, sharing, protecting the environment, and working for peace in a language that is entertaining as well as educational" ~
www.teachpeace.com