Singulair ALERT

This is an alert to EVERYONE who has allergies/asthma, but I especially want to inform parents with children who have allergies and/or asthma(because parents are often the last to know). The FDA has updated the SIDE EFFECTS of this "miracle" drug to include:

TREMORS
ANXIOUSNESS
DEPRESSION
SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR

California was prescribed this to control his asthma at the age of 2 even though his allergist determined that he didn't have allergies. He refused to take it and I didn't trust this drug for some reason. I had no reason NOT to trust it but something inside me told me not to give it to him. I am so glad that I didn't!

Click HERE to read the news story associated with this information.

Rock Band and the Little Drummer Boy

Well it seems as though California has Daddio's drummer genes running through his blood. I snapped these pictures the other day when I noticed that California had walked right up to the drum set without any encouragement, perched himself on the stool, tossed his carrot(you can see the evidence of the carrot in the form of orange drool around his mouth), picked up the drumsticks and began to play a steady beat without any hesitation!

How to be a California Beauty (Part 2)

I left off at # 16 on How to be a California Beauty, so I will start at #17. If you did not read "How to be a California Beauty (Part 1) or need a refresher course; click HERE.

#17 Don't be Shallow. It is unattractive to care more about what kind of car someone drives than what is actually in their heart. Don't judge people based on outward appearances, listen to your soul instead. This is how to be truly beautiful from the inside out. By the way, it isn't cool to be like Paris Hilton.

#18 Expect the Unexpected. Life isn't always going to work out the way you plan and when you least expect it; the unexpected will happen. If you already expect the unexpected then you won't be so surprised :)

#19 Don't be ashamed to want to change things about your appearance. It is perfectly normal to want to look as young as you feel, to want to be in shape and/or you want to sculpt your body. It isn't shallow to want to look and feel great. I had braces when I was 12 to make my teeth straight, there is not difference between this and straightening your nose or working out to build muscle tone. So, get a tummy tuck or work on those muscles...BE BEAUTIFUL!

#20 Support a cause outside of yourself. Become involved in something that you care passionately about that will help make the world a better place.
Some examples of the causes we support are:


Doctors Without Borders
Greenpeace
American Society of the Prevention of Cruely to Animals
World Wildlife Fund
Free Rice
California League of Conservation Voters
Center for Food Safety: The True Food Network

We give money and food (when we have a little extra) to the homeless in Los Angeles and we educate others about poverty, homelessness and violence prevention.

Easter: Southern California Style

Tennessee and California awoke to a living room filled with pastel balloons, some caramel filled chocolate eggs, jelly beans and the promise of a new day! L.A. Mama slept in just a little until the sound of the security alarm roused her from her slumber. Just so you all know...the sound of a popping balloon WILL trigger the "glass break" alarm to go off and your security company WILL call you within 30 seconds.


While California took a nap, L.A. Mama went out to buy a blueberry bush, raspberry bush, a Merlot grapevine, three tomato plants, six cucumber plants, one jalapeno pepper plant, lots of potting soil and some containers. Tomorrow we will work on planting all of these yummy goodies and some sunflowers seeds (check back for blogs on this!!).

After California woke up, we all headed to the beach. Tennesse and I thought it would be fun to bring bowls, spoons, measuring cups and other everyday items to play in the sand. We also brought some store bought sand toys. And EGGS:



California immediately took to the task of filling each egg with sand and burying them:





Tennessee got buried (as usual)and did some sommersaults:




California played and Tennessee chilled in the sun:




L.A. Mama got a little sun and a lot of happiness, then we all went home and ordered pizza!

When it Rains, it Pours; A Call for Compassion

As noted in the "Who Are We Anyway" section, L.A. Mama is from Missouri. This is a picture of how the neighborhood that she grew up in looks today:



I've heard a lot of talk in this country about how people living in flood zones and/or wildfire areas are partially responsible for their fate. Do you think your fellow Americans enjoy watching everything they have worked hard for and their family heirlooms go down the drain? There were two major reasons why we lived in this neighborhood:

1. We couldn't afford to live anywhere else. The neighborhoods that were safe from flooding were where the doctors and lawyers lived. Everyone else had to fend for themselves and take risks.
2. My grandmother and great grandmother lived three blocks from me. It was important to our family to be close knit and my mother was a single mother, so living close to my grandmother was essential.

This picture shows the area where my Aunt used to live and where my best friend from high school currently lives with her husband and brand new daughter.



This picture shows the area where the small chapel cemetary is located in which my stepfather is buried:



So, I would like to send a message to all of those people sitting safe and secure in front of their television sets to have a little compassion and to remember that not everyone has it as well as you. Try to put yourself in other people's shoes and have a little empathy. Some day you or someone you care about may be in a similiar situation!

Click HERE to see a USA Today news story and examples of the hurtful, mean - spirited comments people make when other people face disasters. Comments like these are all over the internet and on T.V. This happened when we were dealing with wildfires out here in Southern California in October as well. I was personally offended then and I am personally offended now. I have friends and relatives that live in these flooded areas.

Have a heart people!

Peek into the Social Life of a Southern California Homeschooler

The question that homeschoolers hear most often from people who aren't familiar with homeschooling is: "What About Socialization?"

There are many opportunities for socialization!! Take a peek into the social life of a Southern California homeschooler to see for yourself...

(I would include pictures of Tennessee engaging in these activities but other children would be in them. Out of respect for those children and their parents, I have chosen not to publish them...I wouldn't want someone to put pictures of my child on the internet without my permission).

On Fridays, Tennessee plays sports. We are a part of a homeschooling group which consists of over 100 homeschooling families. This group meets on Mondays and Fridays(about 15 families or so attend these gatherings regularly) at various parks within the city. They get together to play baseball, soccer, basketball, bowling and sometimes miniature golf on Fridays. These sports are taught by a homeschooling Dad who is a coach. On Mondays, the kids meet to have free time to play and socialize.

We drive a few miles into Los Angeles and meet with another homeschooling group. This group is compiled of almost 500 homeschooling families! Many of these families gather together to take part in a variety of activities such as:

Shakespeare Class: The kids work on a Shakespearian play each week and then present it on stage at the end of the school year. Tennessee was enrolled in this class three years ago, when he was 5. He was cast as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

Chess Class: Taught by homeschool parents. The kids learn how to play chess and to apply essential critical thinking skills. Tennessee takes part in this activity. He won the "best sportsmanship" award last year.

Sign Language Class: Taught by a homeschool Mama

French Class: Taught by a native French speaker and a homeschool Mama

Spanish Class: Taught by a native Spanish speaker and a homeschool Mama

Book Club: Organized and led by a homeschool Mama

Snow Fairies Club: A group organized and led by a homeschool Mama that incorporates arts & crafts, dress up and pretend play for younger girls (5 - 10). Boys are welcome to take part in the fun (if they can get over the name of the club).

Classes taught by ME! I will be teaching Yoga, Reiki and Meditation classes as soon as California is well and I can get someone to keep and eye on him while he plays.

Both of these groups organize field trips as well. The next one is a trip to the California Pizza Kitchen to learn how to make pizza and then they get to make one for themselves! There have been field trips to Native American reservations where the children learn about Native American life and crafts, museums, fire stations, Seaworld...

In addition to these activities, Tennessee has taken swimming class and clay class with the local parks and recreation department. There is a WIDE variety of classes to choose from each year within the parks and recreation department. Click HERE to see the classes offered in the Santa Monica recreation and leisure guide.

He also talks on the phone to his cousins and friends, does webcam and instant messaging with friends on a daily basis. Yesterday, he instant messaged with a friend in Nashville, TN about Science related topics.

There ya have it...

Do you homeschool? Leave me a comment about your child's social life!

Welcome to our $179 Mess!!

So, I took the boys with me to Cost Plus World Market yesterday. If you have never been there, let me assure you that 99.9% of the merchandise within this store is highly breakable! Not only is everything breakable, the aisles are so narrow that California can reach shelves full of wine bottles to the left and shelves full of candle holders to the right with little effort, while securely restrained in the cart. So, I promised both boys a toy if they made good decisions and kept their hands to themselves. They did a great job! California chose a miniature chime that can be played with a mallet. Tennessee chose a gel filled squeeze ball, something similar to this ball from OfficePlayground.com:



We've had this ball for less than 24 hours and I hear a scream from the second floor landing...

"Mom, come upstairs NOW IT'S AN EMERGENCY!!!"
I say, "Are you bleeding?"
He says, "Nooo, hurry you need to see this!"
I say, "OK, just a second."
He says, "NOOOO it's an EMERGENCY!!"

I go upstairs to see a gooey mess on the floor. Tennessee demonstrated how sticky and strong this gooey mess was by stepping on it with his freshly showered foot (L.A. Mama shakes her head in disbelief and tells him to take another shower). His foot stuck to the carpet as he struggled to step away. WONDERFUL! I have no idea what is inside of these balls but it is something like silicone.



I knew this needed heavy duty cleaning right away, so I headed to Bed, Bath and Beyond to buy a steam cleaner. The cheapest one was $179. Of course, there was no one in sight to help me lug this machine into the cart and then into the car...but I managed on my own(all 5 feet and 90 pounds of me).

Daddio put it together: California made a "boat" out of the box:



...and Tennessee(the $179 mess maker)made an appearance. They say that the perpetrator usually returns to the scene of the crime, well in this case, he actually wanted to be photographed!



* A note to parents, grandparents, caregivers, gift givers...don't buy one of these seemingly harmless balls for a kid, just don't.

It's Not Just an L.A. Thing

I can't believe, I am writing about this again but did anyone see the news about air quality concerns across the country? (Sorry, I don't make the news...I just pass it along). The EPA says that there are 345 counties in the U.S. with unsafe air quality..air that is "unhealthy" to breathe. According to THIS ARTICLE from Yahoo News, the "Environmental Protection Agency announced it was tightening the amount of ozone, commonly known as smog, that will be allowed in the air. But the lower standard still falls short of what most health experts say is needed to significantly reduce heart and asthma attacks from breathing smog-clogged air".

So my big question was "Is Los Angeles on this list?" OF COURSE it was silly! I bet you are wondering if your county is on the list. Well I have the list of 345 counties right here. Check it out:

Alabama: Baldwin, Jefferson, Madison, Mobile, Morgan, Shelby.

Alaska: None.

Arizona: Gila, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal.

Arkansas: Crittenden, Pulaski.

California: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Shasta, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo.

Colorado: Arapahoe, Douglas, Jefferson, Weld.

Connecticut: Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland.

Delaware: Kent, New Castle, Sussex.

Florida: Bay, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lake, Manatee, Orange, Sarasota, Seminole.

Georgia: Bibb, Clarke, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Murray, Paulding, Richmond, Rockdale.

Hawaii: None.

Idaho: Ada.

Illinois: Jersey, Lake, Madison, Saint Clair.

Indiana: Allen, Boone, Clark, Elkart, Greene, Hamilton, Johnson, Lake, LaPorte, Marion, Perry, Porter, St. Joseph, Warrick.

Iowa: None.

Kansas: None.

Kentucky: Boyd, Christian, Greenup, Jefferson, Kenton, Oldham.

Louisiana: Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, West Baton Rouge.

Maine: Hancock.

Maryland: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George's, Washington.

Massachusetts: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Worcester.

Michigan: Allegan, Benzie, Berrien, Cass, Genesee, Kent, Lenawee, Macomb, Mason, Muskegon, Ottawa, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Washtenaw.

Minnesota: None.

Mississippi: DeSoto, Harrison, Jackson.

Missouri: Clay, Clinton, Jefferson, Saint Charles, Saint Louis, Sainte Genevieve, St. Louis City.

Montana: None.

Nebraska: None.

Nevada: Clark.

New Hampshire: Hillsborough.

New Jersey: Atlantic, Bergen, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic.

New Mexico: None.

New York: Chautauqua, Erie, Essex, Niagara, Orange, Oswego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Saratoga, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester.

North Carolina: Cumberland, Davie, Forsyth, Franklin, Graham, Granville, Haywood, Johnston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Person, Rowan, Union, Wake.

North Dakota: None.

Ohio: Allen, Ashtabula, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Franklin, Geauga, Greene, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Licking, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Warren, Washington, Wood.

Oklahoma: Canadian, Cherokee, Comanche, Creek, Kay, Mayes, Oklahoma, Ottawa, Tulsa.

Oregon: None.

Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bucks, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Greene, Lancaster, Lehigh, Lycoming, Mercer, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Tioga, Washington, Westmoreland, York.

Rhode Island: Kent, Providence, Washington.

South Carolina: Abbeville, Aiken, Darlington, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, York.

South Dakota: None.

Tennessee: Anderson, Blount, Davidson, Hamilton, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Meigs, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Wilson.

Texas: Bexar, Brazoria, Collin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Ellis, Galveston, Gregg, Harris, Harrison, Hood, Hunt, Jefferson, Johnson, Montgomery, Orange, Parker, Rockwall, Smith, Tarrant, Travis.

Utah: Davis, Salt Lake, Utah, Washington, Weber.

Vermont: None.

Virginia: Alexandria City, Arlington, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Hampton City, Hanover, Henrico, Loudoun, Madison, Prince William, Stafford, Suffolk City.

Washington: None.

Washington, D.C.: Washington, D.C.

West Virginia: Cabell, Ohio, Wood.

Wisconsin: Door, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan.

Wyoming: None.

Raising Multilingual Children

First of all, let me just say that this is the personal opinion of L.A. Mama and an example of the choices that her family has made as a result of living in Southern California. This post is not intended to inflame, harm or offend anyone and it is not up for debate. There are other more appropriate blogs and forums to direct argumentative energies.

One of the reasons why we love Los Angeles and surrounding communities so much is because of the rich, cultural diversity that encompasses our everyday lives. According to Wikipedia, the greater Los Angeles area is home to 17,776,000 people from all over the world with more than 100 different languages being spoken. It isn't unusual on any given day in Los Angeles to hear Spanish, French, Italian, Armenian, Hebrew, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Russian(and many other languages but these are the main ones that we hear)being spoken in the grocery store, bank, library and various other places. It is a beautiful thing and we feel very lucky to be a part of it.

Learning to speak Spanish is mandatory in L.A. Mama's house. Tennessee and California are both being taught Spanish and will continue Spanish instruction indefinitely. Each of them are also required to pick at least one other language to learn. California already speaks Hindu and Sanskrit as a part of his yoga routine, but when he gets older, he may want to choose a different language. Tennessee chose Greek and Italian.

How will they learn these languages you ask? L.A. Mama has had four years of Spanish so she will teach Spanish with supplements from BBC and PowerGlide. Greek and Italian will be through PowerGlide only. I have read that at least one parent must speak the languages with the child on a consistent basis, so guess who will be learning Greek and Italian!! Looks like California will learn Greek and Italian by default.

Why teach children foreign languages: 1)It connects them to the global community 2)They can communicate more effectively with others within their community and globally 3) It increases their IQ 4) It breaks down boundaries and divisions between cultures 5) It teaches them respect for others regardless of language, ethnicity and culture 6)It works towards a goal of oneness and solidarity of humankind...

Click HERE to check out PowerGlide and HERE to check out BBC!

California Avocados

My mother in law sent me an email (THANK YOU to Daddio's Mama) about the health benefits of avocados a couple of weeks ago and I have been waiting to blog about this until I had a good picture to post of California eating one. He LOVES them so much he can't wait for me to peel them. See?


California said: "Two cados! One, two."


"Peel dem, Mama? Please." he says.

One of the reasons why he loves them so much is that I started him on them as a "first food" when he was 5 months old after I read a book called Super Baby Food. I fed him home made baby food and avocados were so easy to mash and puree. Apparently, avocados are considered a super food. They contain a chemical that kills cancer cells and prevents precancerous cells from forming into cancer. They also contain lutein, zeaxanthin, beta carotene and folate, among other nutrients.

California avocados are healthier than avocados grown elsewhere. According to the author of "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth", Jonny Bowden, 100 grams of an avocado that was grown in California has 28% fewer calories, 35% less fat and 10% fewer carbs
than avocados grown in Florida.

Go HERE to learn everything there is to know about avocados (and other vegis and fruits). You can go HERE to find recipes. L.A. Mama loves spinach salad made with avocados, croutons, artichokes, mushrooms, mozzarella and tomatoes with fat-free Honey Dijon...NO BACON! mmmmmmm....YUMMY. Try it sometime. It is easy to make, but if you are ever in L.A., a restaurant called Earth Wind & Flour has it on their menu. (They have a location in West L.A. and Santa Monica).

Also, if you want to immerse yourself in avocados, there are avocado festivals in California that might be of interest to you:

There is one just around the corner in Fallbrook (San Diego County). Click HERE for details.

Another festival will occur in La Habra Heights (Orange County) on May 17th.

There is one in Carpinteria (Ventura County) in October. Click HERE for details.

Hopefully there will be enough avocados to go around. The fires that we experienced here in Southern California last October damaged many avocado orchards. According to the California Avocado Commission, California produces 90% of the nations avocado crop. We may see an increase in price as the months and years go by. Click HERE to read a news story concerning the plight of avocados during our last fire event.

The Astrology of Parenting

This is just for fun, but a lot of this is true for me as an Aquarius, especially the information in bold.

Aquarius and Virgo

Virgo and Aquarius might not always see things the same way, but they can discuss their differences and work through them without too much trouble. When Virgo's sensitive nerves go on "overload", Aquarius can usually keep a rational conversation going, and flush out the issues that need to be dealt with. Virgo worries a lot, and begins many, many sentences with the words "What if..." Obviously, this can lead to problems when it comes to taking care of children. Virgo will have trouble trusting Aquarius when the children have to be whisked away to their next life passage. But whether it's the first dentist appointment or the first day of college, Aquarius will try to teach the child about how he or she can make the world a better place. Of the two, Virgo will be the more practical disciplinarian, though Aquarius will always set high standards for the children's behavior.

L.A. Mama says: Hmmm I need to talk to the Virgo Daddio about this trust issue when it comes to life passages. Could it have something to do with not having money for the parking garage, locking my keys in the car on a semi-regular basis and taking a list to the store but losing it before I even walk into the store? Hey, I can be absent minded at times...but I have never misplaced the kids :)

Click HERE to read more about Aquarians
Click HERE to see your parenting astrology
Click HERE to find out more about your sign.

* Remember this is just for fun! People are multi-dimensional so just judging yourself or others based upon their Sun sign isn't a great way to see the big picture. The description of my Sun sign is pretty accurate for me though...except I disagree with the part that says Aquarians have "crazy notions". Where would they get that idea??

See ya...I have to run outside and move my car to the other side of the street before I get a parking ticket!

Open Wide or I will Call the Police

Tennessee and California went to the dentist today. This was California's first visit. We waited in a room with toys and books while I filled out 10,000 pages of paperwork. Their dentist is in Beverly Hills. She is a very tall, beautiful Japanese woman who wears glittery eyeliner. I like her style...she wears four inch heels and nice jeans like myself (refer to BEAUTY TIP #15 for background information). We looked like two peas in a pod except that I am only 5 feet tall and very blonde. Here is a pic I took from the window. You can see the Hollywood sign on the hill to the left of the palm tree:



So the office visit went better than I expected. Tennessee got his x-rays and then his teeth cleaned. He had no cavities but he will probably need braces some day soon.



California was very resistant to opening his mouth. He opened it up enough to get his teeth cleaned though. He was very brave.



So after two hours had passed since we pulled into the parking garage, it was time to leave. I asked the receptionist if they validated parking and the answer was no. Tennessee told me that the sign said $1.50 per hour, so I was positive that I could find that much change in my purse and if not, I would just use my ATM card. As we pull up to the gate, the sign said:



...and then the electronic readout told me that I owed $13.50! There was not that much change at the bottom of my purse. It would have been nice if that sign was posted on the other side of the gate where you come in...now we are trapped! I told the lady at the gate that I only had an ATM card.

She said: "You have no money or checks?"

Me: "No, I just have an ATM card." (I repeated politely)

(See, I operate under the assumption that it is the year 2008 and since I am a very technological person, I expect every business transaction to include credit cards)

She picks up the phone and says "I will call Police".

This concerned me, although I was quite confident in my extraordinary ability to flirt my way out of any citation and/or arrest. (I've had a little experience in this area...trust me)

Me: "What? Wait! Why are you calling the Police?

Parking Garage Lady: "You no pay, I will call Police!"

Me: "I never said that I wasn't going to pay! I just told you that all I had was an ATM card. Is there an ATM around here?"

Parking Garage Lady: "No"

Me: "There's not an ATM around here?"

Parking Garage Lady: "No"

Me: "Is there one that I can walk to?"

Parking Garage Lady: "No"

Me: "Are you sure??? There isn't one that I can walk to?"

Parking Garage Lady: "No"

She hesitates and then says "There is one on the corner"

(OMG) Me: "Which corner?" (I sigh)

"Wishire and LaCienega"

So, I pull the car over and get the kids out. We began our trek to the "corner". Remember the four inch heels I spoke about? HA. (Note to self, keep flip flops in the car for unintended hikes needed in order to prevent potential jail time)

We walk for a bit and see a restaurant. I told Tennessee, "I bet we could go in there and order some food and get cash back for parking. What do you think?" He looked at the sign:



"I am not going into any restaurant called the Stinking Rose. I am not going into any garlic restaurant!" he says. So we keep walking, and walking, and walking and finally make it there and back with the $13.50. This whole experience was too much for California to endure, so as soon as we got back into the car, he decided to kick back and relax a little:

Making Soup

Here are the pictures that everyone has been waiting for. California loves to pretend to cook. He gets all of the pots and pans out, a nice big spoon to stir it all up with, then he gets into the pantry for ingredients and makes what he calls "soup". Here he is with his main ingredient, an organic cereal called "Panda Puffs".-


Later, he added pumpkin seeds, goldfish and raisins. He was so proud of his accomplishment that he immediately got bowls out for Tennessee and I and served us a big helping :) He does this three or four times a week. He loves to pretend to cook so I ordered him this little stove online:


Someone in my family, I am not mentioning any names, said to me "Pretend stoves are for girls!" No they are not. Pretend play is important for both boys and girls. The next time you go to a restaurant, take a look at who is making your delicious meal. Men have gone on to be the best chefs in the world! It is important to nurture the interests of every child regardless of gender stereotypes.
I have this little stove featured at The Souls of Boys blog. Take a look. There are other little portable stoves out there that would be perfect for little boys. I even saw a pretend grill that was adorable!

How to be a California Beauty

So with all of the bans around here...styrofoam, plastic bags and wood burning fireplaces, I was starting to get a little depressed from all of the negative energy. So here is some positive energy to liven things up a bit!

I have been meaning to post my beauty tips since I met a girl at the park who just moved to L.A. from Oregon. She said to me "I thought you were like all the others. Just another pretty mom, someone who wouldn't want to talk to me, but you're not. You are so cool. Every woman in L.A. is beautiful...have you noticed that? I want to be beautiful too...what is your secret?"

I told her that I didn't notice that there were so many beautiful women in L.A. I see people on a soul level so in my opinion there are many attractive people, but they don't seem attractive to me unless their soul speaks to me.

Here are my secrets. They range from soul to physical...my secrets can be applied to women and men. We can all be beautiful.

Secret #1 Confidence. Know yourself inside and out. Be YOU. Men/single daddies out there look for women who are confident and secure. They are the most beautiful. The same can be said for women...we love confident men/daddies.

Secret #2 Dont' worry about what other people think of you. As long as you stay true to yourself - you will shine. The people who don't like you aren't worth your time and engery. Move on with life and live free and true to your own vibrations and energy.

Secret #3 Be tolerant, compassionate and openminded.

Secret # 4 Throw away all of your judgements and prejudices.

Secret #5 Meditate

Secret #6 Have fun!!! Be the life of the party. Smile often. Be affectionate. (Everyone who enters my home gets a kiss and a hug at the door as they arrive and when they leave whether they want one or not. No one has refused yet.)

Secret #7 Live like tomorrow may never come. This doesn't mean to be self-indulgent, it means to live your life with purpose.

Secret # 8 Go with the flow. Stop trying to control everything in your life and just let your life happen. If you are living life with purpose, your life will naturally go into the direction of your dreams.

Secret #9 Eat lots of fruits and vegis. Cut out meat or better yet, be a vegetarian like me :)

Secret #10 Exercise at least three times a week. Yoga and Pilates is what I do...

Secret #11 If you can afford it, eat organic only.

Secret #12 Go out and experience Nature...(on good air quality days LOL)

Secret #13 Be as old as you feel. Don't get stuck on age related stereotypes...if you feel like you are 24 when you are 32, then you are 24.

Secret #14...only women care about this but the products I use to cleanse and care for my skin are by a company called "MyChelle".

Secret #15 Keep yourself put together...and I am really addressing moms here. The one thing that I have never done or never will do, is go out in public in sweats. I am always put together even when I go to the park...no I don't wear my usual 4 inch heals that I wear out and about - but a nice pair of jeans, a nice shirt and 3 inch heals that can be kicked off in a second to catch my child before he runs into the street is always on my menu.

Secret #16 Invest in a nice perfume/cologne. Smelling good is important...it opens the senses of those around you and creates a pleasing aromatic atmosphere. I wear either Chanel, Love Intention or Euphoria everyday even if I don't leave the house!

I'm done for now (there will be more later...this will be a series) but I want to remind everyone why the Beach Boys said "I wish they all could be California girls"...that is because they thought we were the best and...I think they were right! Anyone can be a California beauty if they follow my beauty tips :)

Wood Burning Fireplaces Banned in SoCal

Burning wood in fireplaces within homes in Southern California has been banned. According to the LA Times, this ban will only be applied to homeowners about a dozen days throughout the year when air quality is at its worst. Here are the specifics of this ban:

1. Builders are banned from installing wood burning fireplaces in new homes
2. It will be illegal to buy and install a wood burning fireplace while remodeling a home.
3. Gas burning fireplaces will be allowed.
4. The ban does not apply to restaurants that use wood burning stoves, like California Pizza Kitchen.
5. Homeowners that used a wood burning fireplace as their only source of heat will not be affected.
6. Those who live above 3000 feet in elevation will not be affected.
7. Beach fires will still be allowed
8. Tribal ceremony fires will still be allowed.

The LA Times also said:

Fireplaces are used in about 1.4 million of the 5 million households governed by the district, producing an average six tons a day of particulate soot in the air basin, according to the air district.

Numerous studies have linked fine particulate matter, which sinks deep into the lungs, to increased lung and respiratory problems. State officials say an estimated 5,000 premature deaths each year in the region are linked to fine particulate exposure.

About 106 tons of fine particulate soot is directly emitted every day in the Los Angeles area, according to the air district. The new regulations will reduce that by an average of about 1 ton a day.

The winter wood-burning ban will apply in areas where forecasts show federal daily limits for fine particulate matter will be exceeded. That will amount to about two dozen days from November to March each year, regulators said.

Residents most likely to be affected by the regulation include those in the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley, where soot carried by prevailing winds is trapped by mountains.

People all over Southern California are angry that their personal freedoms are being infringed upon. They think that they should be able to have a fire anytime they please. Here is a quote from the LA Times article:

You're not going to regulate my chimney," Stewart Cumming of San Bernardino told the board during a heated public hearing in Diamond Bar. He vowed to continue using his fireplace as he chose.

L.A. Mama says:
I am sure there are thousands of others who will follow his lead...apparently they have never had a child who has been hospitalized three times between the ages of
1 1/2 and 2 1/2 for severe respiratory distress and asthma. They have never experienced the frightening situation of a toddler gasping for air, turning blue and passing out in their arms like I have. They have never experienced a medical staff that was so concerned about his life that he was almost put on life support. Is it too much to ask someone to not use their fireplace 12 days out of the year for the sake of the health and well-being of others?

This is a pic of California getting one of his daily nebulizer treatments from DADDIO to control his breathing problems and to keep him ALIVE. Those who value their personal freedom over the well-being of others should take a look at this pic, stop being selfish and think twice about their choices.

California Mamas are More Likely to Have Ink

Mamas in California are more likely to have tattoos according to a semi-recent Harris poll. Their research revealed that 16% of men and 15% of women in the United States have tattoos. The West Coast had the highest percentage of tattoos in the nation...at 20% compared to 14% in the East & Midwest and 15% in the South. Considering the fact that California is the most populous state in the West, then mamas in California are more likely than other mamas on the West Coast to have them.

Here is a pic of mine:



I am planning my next one. Here is a pic of the tattoo that I am thinking about getting on my left shoulder blade. It's not going to be square of course...a lot of the extraneous details of the background will be removed.



I am still trying to decide about my next tattoo though. I want it to represent California and he is a Leo so there will probably be a lion in it somewhere. When it is time, I am going to have a really good friend of mine do it. His name is Taka and he works as a tattoo artist at Body Electric on Melrose in West Hollywood. We became friends when he was the lead singer of a band called Bomb Child. Now he is the lead singer of a band called the Living Dead Lights.

So if you live in L.A. or ever visit L.A. and you decide that you want a tattoo...go to Body Electric on Melrose and ask for Taka.