Pixie Springs!

Where do you find people who are so full of hope and empowered with such holistic knowledge of credible and achievable solutions, to restore the Earth and Humanity to its pristine origins within a few generations?  


PIXIE SPRINGS!!


Where else do we find such comprehensive detail of how humanity can thrive in abundance and love?

My Spiritual Awakening Continues

 Dear Mother is ascending

Since July I thought I was on a carefree summer holiday, only to realize I was going through an intensive spiritual cleansing.  I have actively let go of old patterns and relationships, becoming much more sensitive to everything around me.  For instance as I left the beautiful nature in the northern most tip of this country and went south, closer to home, I felt the energies and the commotion of the people through my spirit and felt myself shutting down my senses.  It was my nervous system protecting itself trying to preserve the peace and clarity inside me.

The Importance of the Family Meal

by Melanie Waxman

 

The family meal, unfortunately, is disappearing fast. In all cultures, this timeless institution was recognized as a vital part of strong, stable family life. Eating together is the time when everyone can gather after a day hard at work or studying in school to share adventures and stories. 

Children learn a great deal by observing their parents. During the meal, they can find out about family traditions, good eating habits, be exposed to different foods, have interesting discussions and develop self-discipline. The family meal helps to develop a deep sense of security, establish a routine and is a wonderful place for parents and children to listen and demonstrate mutual respect. Lastly, and probably most important, the simple pleasure of eating together is a time for laughter, fun and sharing love.

I first went to Portugal when I was eighteen. My parents and I drove through Spain, into the North of Portugal and then down to the South. We ate in many small, traditional restaurants along the way. The thing that I remember clearly was the wonderful sight of large families dining together. They gathered at long tables, grandparents, aunts, uncles, parents and children and didn't appear to be in any hurry at all; in fact the meals went on forever.

It was fascinating to me and I really enjoyed watching everyone chatting and laughing and small children running around. In Portugal, eating together is considered normal and it showed me the importance of mealtimes in family life.

We also ate as a family in England and my mother was happy to include our friends on a regular basis. My father loved debating and Sunday lunch involved a lively discussion on a wide variety of subjects. Even today, my brothers and I have a big laugh about our Sunday lunches and the funny things that happened. When members of the family come together to eat, they build understanding and communication. 

Children can learn how to listen and also how to share their ideas and views. Parents can also learn to listen to their children and teach them words of wisdom. It is a wonderful way to get to know your children and to understand who they are. Dinner is a great time to gather together and really share about the things we have discovered, the people we have met and our observations from the day. It helps children to develop compassion and respect for others.

My parents were sticklers for routine. We had our meals at the same time each day.
At weekends our plans were centered on mealtimes. We gathered for breakfast and discussed what everyone was going to do. Often lunch was simple or eaten as a picnic and then we gathered again for dinner. We would spend a lot of time in the kitchen too. I don't think my mother was always happy when Dad fixed the lawn mower, my brothers cleaned parts of their bikes and I washed my saddle. We considered the kitchen to be the center and a safe, happy environment for all our activities.

Regular meals and an established routine give children a sense of security and stability. When a child feels secure, they also feel much happier and find it easy to do well at school, socially and in various hobbies and interests. A stable child is better able to deal with difficulties, stress and emotional upsets. Regular meals are also beneficial for health reasons too. They actually regulate all of the body's cycles - physical, emotional and mental. 

Meal times are traditionally centered on the natural cycles of the day. Breakfast, literally meaning to break fast, is an uplifting start to the day. Breakfast also aligns with the rising energy of the sun. This meal gives you the necessary vitality to go out into the world or to begin your daily adventure. Lunch is eaten when the sun is most active or at mid-day. Lunch can go either way.

A light, simple lunch will give you the necessary stamina to be active and complete your work. A large lunch is better suited to an afternoon siesta or for relaxing. Dinner is eaten when the sun is setting and the energy of the day is calming down, This is a time for returning home, re-aligning and becoming a family unit once again. When we align with the cycles of nature, it makes life flow in a smooth and supportive manner.

Table manners are very important. Not only do they make eating together pleasurable, they also help a child to develop self-discipline and improve their health. Sitting up straight and eating with a closed mouth help to strengthen the digestive system and improve the assimilation of nutrients. Taking small portions and eating everything on the plate shows gratitude for life and all the work that has gone into making food available. Eating slowly with small mouthfuls is good for the brain and makes it easier to focus with clarity. Learning to sit still and wait for dishes to be passed can help to develop patience and teach a child the value of being calm and quiet. Teaching a child 'how' to eat is as important as 'what' to eat and makes it easier for them to be strong and healthy. 

Small children often have limited tastes. When they observe their parents eating a wide selection of delicious, natural, healthy foods and dishes, it exposes them to the enjoyment of variety. It also helps them to develop a broad outlook on life. Learning to share during the meal shows a child that the world doesn't always revolve around them. It helps a child to understand the power of giving and receiving.

Sharing food also develops gratitude. When time is set aside to really enjoy the meal, then the love, time and effort that the cook has put in is reciprocated. Spending time on the meal, also helps the body to relax and become open to receiving nourishment . Having your child help set the table or clear the dishes can encourage the idea of giving and receiving. Children can be involved with the meal time preparation at a very young age even if it is as simple as putting the napkins on the table.

The family meal is a way to understand the subtle forces of energy in nature. During the meal there should be a gentle flow between creativity and discipline. These two forces go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other. If you give your child too much freedom, it will be hard for them to develop inner strength, the ability to focus and rely on their own resources. Too much discipline, however, can break a child's spirit; foster feelings of low self-esteem and create a desire to rebel. This subtle balance between freedom and discipline can be established during the family meal. The love, laugher and shared stories mixed with respect, table manners, sharing and listening makes for a complete experience, one that will remain with your child throughout his life.

Raising Healthy Children- part 1

by Melanie Waxman

There is nothing that gives a parent more pleasure than seeing their children grow up healthy and happy. Over the past twenty years, I have had the good fortune to observe many children. The ones I am most familiar with have been raised on macrobiotics. In the early days, everyone was terribly enthusiastic and idealistic.

We wanted to be perfect and of course the same went for our children. We were so excited, like pioneers travelling on un-chartered waters and we made many mistakes. The children from those early days are now in their late teens and early twenties.

Are they any different than other children? I think so. They seem to be more self aware, independent and have a strength of spirit. Their outlook on life is broad and they possess a gentle power. My father once said that he didn't know if it was his imagination but macrobiotic children seem to be more intelligent. Today, the macrobiotic way of life is more relaxed and we have learnt a lot. Our children have greatly benefited from our experiences. I am still in the process of raising my seven children and feel blessed for the gifts I have been given. 

We all want our children to be well nourished. Sometimes this can appear daunting especially for new parents. What should we feed our children? 

Are we giving them enough and are they getting all the necessary nutrition?

We read lots of magazines and books and every piece of advice seems different. I first became interested in Macrobiotics because it made sense. It was very practical. Its roots are found within all long-standing cultures. Macrobiotics is so flexible that you can use it to create dishes from all over the world. 

The idea is to base the meal around the grain, whether it is a whole grain, pasta, cracked grain or bread. The meal is created from that starting point and you accent with vegetables, beans, fish and various seasonings. The ingredients used are natural and almost always, organic. There are endless combinations and each meal is unique and exquisite. When we eat these gifts from nature, it helps us to feel connected. Connected to the world and our fellow men. We develop gratitude and a sensitivity for our life on earth

Changing your way of life to a natural and healthy one is very empowering. You become the one in the driver's seat. You take responsibility for your health and the well being of your family. For many people this is a big step and can be a frightening one. Often we are more afraid of change than change itself.

If you can see if as an exciting adventure then it puts everything in a positive light. Remember why you want to change; improved health, quality of life, increased energy and peace of mind. Mind, body and spirit are one. Great food will also nourish and free the mind and the spirit. Eating healthy food is one of the best ways you can love and nourish yourself.

Rather than thinking of health as a something you achieve, see it as a direction that you are moving towards. We can move towards health and we can move away from it. The direction is what is important. Whether you are already eating macrobiotic foods or want to make changes to your present diet, a gentle approach is advised.

This is important where children are concerned. Keep in mind that you are aiming to enrich your life and not to deny yourself. Start by including new ingredients rather than cutting out present dishes. Begin to include whole grains and organic foods. Look at ingredients in the foods that you purchase. Start including items that are natural such as sugar free jams, unrefined oils and sea salt. If you make mistakes and fall off the wagon, be gentle. We are all human and mistakes are the basis for great lessons. It is important to avoid feeling bad and guilty.

Feeding children is often a challenge. How strict should you be and how free. If you are too strict, your children will forage for themselves and supplement the food you offer. Young children are naturally inquisitive and love to try new things. 

They like to be part of the crowd and not singled out as weird or different. An established routine will help to give children a sense of boundaries. Start to develop a routine with your baby. Begin with bath, nap and bed at the same time each day. As they get older, regular meals can be introduced. Sitting down and eating together is a vital part of family life and helps to create a strong foundation. 

Children often make balance for themselves. They might be mad on carrots for a few weeks and then go off them altogether. They may prefer broccoli cooked in one special way and refuse to touch it in any other preparation. Be patient and continue to offer a wide variety of foods. Fights over meals create stress for all concerned and should be avoided where possible. However, you as a parent are in charge.

Children learn a great deal through observation. If they see you sitting and enjoying beautifully prepared meals, they will follow. It is not a good idea to ask a young child what he wants to eat or to let him control the food choices. 

They have little imagination about new dishes and will ask for the same thing over and over. It also fosters endless debates about meals. A positive alternative is to encourage them to assist with meal preparation. Even very small children can help set the table or cut soft foods with a plastic knife. 

I have always seen life as an exciting journey. The macrobiotic lifestyle will certainly stir one's imagination and awaken the spirit. Children flourish on natural foods. It provides them with the foundation for living a full and happy life.

I hope you jump in and have a go. You will be able to observe the benefits first hand. I encourage you to relish you life with your children. The loving environment that you create will nourish them on all levels - physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially. If you begin eating natural foods then you are choosing to create the life that you and your family desire.

Some simple ways to get started:

• Sit down to regular meals
• Eat grains and vegetables with every meal
• Include a variety of organic grains, vegetables and seasonings
• Stop eating three hours before bedtime
• Include fish rather than meat or chicken
• Include natural sweeteners such as rice syrup, barely malt or maple syrup
• Experiment with vegetable protein such as beans, tofu, tempeh and seitan
• Use non-stimulating teas and grain coffee

Raising Healthy Children- Part Two

by Melanie Waxman 

Many of us are aware how important it is to give our children good quality food to help them grow and develop. We often feel it is a struggle to get them to eat well. It is easy to give them the same thing every day and to forget to make meals that are varied and interesting.

It is up to us as parents to create an exciting diet so that our children are getting the balanced nutrition they need. Healthy children appear robust and energetic, their energy is bright and they have a natural curiosity about life.

Children also go through periods of change where they might act out or appear tired. This is natural too. As parents we have to learn to read out children.

If your child displays extremes in behavior or has physical problems for long periods, it is wise to seek professional advice. These symptoms may manifest as lethargy, severe lack of weight gain, hyper- active or overly aggressive.

Here are some ideas to help you with your child’s food.

If you are changing over to a more natural way of eating, have patience. Children need time to adjust. Begin introducing new dishes along with the more familiar ones. Buy jams, snacks and juices without sugar. Make dishes that are similar to old ones and use better quality ingredients such as whole wheat instead of white spaghetti or unrefined oils.

Children need rich tasting food, especially if they have been raised without meat or dairy food. Fried noodles, deep-fried bread, pan-fried fish or mochi and tempeh are some examples. These kinds of dishes keep children active and strong. If you live in a very cold climate or one where there is little sunshine, adjustments need to be made to use more substantial foods. Include more oil and fatty fish, such as herring or smoked fish. It is important to include the use of natural sweeteners such as barley malt and rice syrup too.

Before walking, babies need little or no salt. Salt will prevent smooth growth and make children more difficult emotionally. Try taking a small serving from each dish before you season it for the adults. After walking, salt can be gradually introduced into the diet until the age of six. After six, seasonings can be the same as the rest of the family.

When feeding babies, use a variety of grains such as rice, sweet rice, barley, whole oats, cracked grains and flakes in the form of milk or porridge. Juice from grated carrots or fresh fruit can be added along with grain sweeteners. Soft cooked vegetables are also very important. Try adding ground-toasted sesame seeds, a few drops of oil or tahini to the grain milk before serving. 

Use sea vegetables sparingly with young children. The excessive use of sea vegetables can interfere with mineral absorption and the utilization of fat. Small pieces of toasted nori, however can be given regularly to all children.

Children’s taste and likes are always changing. If your child dislikes cooked carrots, he may love raw ones. Don’t abandon the carrots, trying cooking them in different ways such as sautéing, steamed, whole, grated or cooked in a stew. Or wait and re-introduce them later. You may be surprised at how much they enjoy them.

If you child snacks a lot, don’t despair. Look at what he is going for and try to create a similar taste in your cooking. For example is they love oily chips try making deep fried bread. If they are going for masses of sweet snacks, use more sweet tasting vegetables and make satisfying desserts.

Remember all the sweets you ate as a child? Children need lots of natural sweet tasting food to help them grow and develop. Good quality sweet taste in cooking is very important as well as homemade desserts and snacks.

Seeds are very important for all children especially sesame seeds because they are high in vitamins, calcium and iron. They help to develop strong teeth and bones. Roast some and store them in a jar so they are handy to sprinkle over grains and vegetables. 

Many children have trouble eating vegetables. Make some simple dipping sauces out of brown rice vinegar and water, umeboshi vinegar and rice syrup, tofu, ginger and shoyu or lemon. Children love to dip their vegetables and eating becomes more fun for them.

If you have trouble with your child’s appetite give him something sweet such as a little fruit or warm juice before dinner. This eases the digestion and helps to stimulate the appetite.

Children like to look at things. They love food that is colorful and bold. Large pieces of vegetables, tofu cut into unusual shapes, cabbage rolls, deep-fried rice balls and noodle sushi are some examples of foods that are visually appealing.

If you are too strict with your child’s diet, he will forage for himself. Cook an assortment of foods including fish, cracked grains, breads, pancakes, salads, fruits and desserts.

Make meals enjoyable for everyone in the family. An open, flexible, approach to eating helps everyone feel relaxed about his or her food. It is important for all of us to create a happy atmosphere at meal times by eating and talking together. Regular meals help children to feel secure and have a sense of belonging. In these circumstances, children are more likely to eat a balanced diet. They can then get the most nutrition out of their food and at the same time feel emotionally safe. Well-balanced nutrition not only comes from the food itself but the attitude we have about food, meal times and eating habits.

Ten Tips for Happy Breastfeeding

1. When it comes to breastfeeding, the most important thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to REST.

Resting allows for your body to produce nourishing breast milk. Often we feel a huge surge of energy after our baby is born. However, this energy is created to help the contraction of the uterus and to re-gain inner strength and vitality. If you use up your energy by rushing around, you will have little left for you or your baby. If you are tired, your baby will be fussy and demanding. Rest as much as you can for the first six weeks. I stayed in bed for two weeks after each baby. I know this made a huge difference to how I felt on all levels, emotionally, physically and mentally. I also had plenty of milk and my babies were able to adjust to life on earth in a calm, peaceful manner. 

2. Stress and worry can also cause your milk to dry up or become acidic.
If your milk is acidic, it can give your baby colic and make him difficult. If you are stressed and tired, your milk becomes thinner and less satisfying for your baby. Make sure you take time to relax, sit or walk outside in nature. The freshness of trees, grass and flowers actually help you to feel uplifted and are a great stress relief. If you are worrying about your baby, make sure to contact other mothers for support. 

3. Many women suffer from sore nipples when they first start breastfeeding.
Watch your diet and avoid eating salty, oily or hard, dry baked foods such as chips, cookies or toast. The juice of finely grated carrot is very helpful for soothing painful nipples. Rub a little over the them before nursing. I only experienced sore nipples with one child and it was extremely painful. I found that using a small amount of almond oil after the baby has nursed made a difference. Rubbing a little breast milk around the nipples can also help relieve soreness.

Make an effort to toughen up your nipples before you have the baby by rubbing them briskly with a dry, coarse towel and then softening the area with a little almond oil. Another good idea is to change the position in which you nurse at every feeding. This puts the pressure of the baby's gums on a different spot each time. Try to nurse more often, but for shorter lengths of time. If you go longer between feedings, the baby will be hungrier and nurse too hard and make your breasts even sorer.

4. When nursing at night, burp the baby well otherwise, he will wake up again quickly. Keep him well wrapped so he won't notice the temperature change when you put him back in his crib. Often the breasts leak at the early stages of breastfeeding. Place a towel on your side of the bed to prevent staining. I used to wear a bra to bed during the early months because it felt more comfortable. Some women like to drape a cotton cloth over their breasts instead. Breastfeed babies are all different, some sleep through the night at an early age and many continue to nurse through the night for a few months. It will be easier for your baby to get on a routine if you have a routine in your daily life.

5. Certain foods help to make your milk rich and nourishing.
However, eating oily/greasy foods can make your milk too rich and effect your baby's digestion causing him to spit up often Mochi,, which is made from pounded, sweet brown rice, is very good for producing nourishing milk. Mochi is purchased in cake form and can be fried, steamed or added to soup. Mild miso soup with tofu, onions, shiitake and lots of greens is also beneficial. Creamy soups made from sweet vegetables such as onions, carrots, squash or sweet potato are very nourishing too. A wide variety of organic, natural foods are recommended during breastfeeding. Use fresh vegetables, whole grains, beans, sea vegetables, fish and fruit.

Although I don't advocate drinking alcohol while breastfeeding, Guinness has been used traditionally to help bring in the milk. Sometimes it can take a few days for the first milk to come in and mothers often become very anxious which delays the process further. Guinness is very high in nutrition especially iron and a small glass can work wonders in relaxing the mother and providing the necessary ingredients to get your milk flowing. Drink one glassful everyday for three days. Some babies have digestive systems that are not fully mature, and spicy and gassy foods like onions, cabbage, broccoli or beans MIGHT make them fussy. Try eating different foods, one at a time, to see how your baby reacts to them. If something really makes him fussy and uncomfortable, don't eat it for a couple of weeks. As his digestive system matures, he can handle much more.

6. Many women suffer from engorged breasts when their milk first comes in.
This can be very uncomfortable and is quickly relieved as the baby nurses. Try to nurse every two hours to help relieve the discomfort. A warm shower can help too. An old remedy that works very well is lining your bra with cold cabbage leaves. Remove the central stem and cut a hole for your nipples. Replace the cabbage when it becomes warm. Sometimes women experience plugged ducts or breast infections. In both cases make sure you rest well and drink plenty of fluids. Nurse on the infected side first. Apply a compress made from rinsed and soaked 'Kombu' sea vegetable. Place a strip of kombu over the infected breast for about one hour. Remove and place crushed, cold. leafy greens such as kale on the breast for a few hours. Repeat if necessary. Eating large pieces of daikon (white radish) which have been steamed until soft are extremely helpful in easing all breast problems. Eat them on a regular basis.

7. Breastfeeding is such a special relationship with your baby and demonstrates a clear message of love, warmth, safety and reassurance to your newborn.
However, it is important to take care of your body too. It is also easy to experience tension in your upper back, shoulders and neck. Make sure you take time to stretch even if it is for a few minutes after nursing. Simple stretching will help your posture and ease away stiffness or sore muscles. Use pillows for support when nursing to prevent excessive strain on your back. A daily walk will help to keep your body in good shape and stress free. Regular massage after you have a baby is also beneficial.

8. Wear pure cotton next to your skin especially when nursing.
Cotton carries less of a static electrical charge than other materials and when worn next to the skin, helps to neutralize imbalances in the body. Synthetics on the other hand, increase imbalances. So if you are feeling more tired or anxious, synthetics will actually make you feel worse. Cotton clothing helps you to feel re-freshed and creates a stronger resistance to illness.

By using cotton clothing, your breastmilk will be more nourishing and less acidic. Your baby will also benefit from the use of natural fibers in clothing, diapers, towels, underwear and sheets. Often when women first start to breastfeed, they experience leaking from the breasts as their milk lets down. Choose natural cotton nursing pads to help prevent staining. While nursing from one breast, press gently but firmly against the other nipple to stop it leaking. This condition improves as your milk supply aligns with the demands of your baby.

9. Many breast-fed babies suffer from mild jaundice for a few days after birth.
Place the baby in a sunny spot in your house, such as a beneath a window, for about five minutes on his front and then on his back. Remove all his clothes. Make sure the room is warm. Watch your diet and avoid excess salt, crackers, toast, cookies, dairy and animal foods. A special tea made from dried daikon radish and dried shiitake mushroom works wonders. Drink one cup a day for about 3 days. If your baby has yellowing in the eyes and appears lethargic, make sure to seek medical advice.

10. In order for your baby to establish a regular routine and begin to sleep through the night, you need to establish a regular routine in your life.
Make sure to get up and go to bed at the same time each day and to have your meals at the same time. This will make a huge difference to your baby. If you separated from the baby during the day, make sure to have an established routine when you are together.

If your baby wakes up a lot at night, you could try nursing more often when you are together and see if you can lessen the number of night time feedings. Feeding patterns do change as the baby grows older, teething, growth spurts, all kinds of things can change when she wants to eat and how much, how she is sleeping...a lot like our eating and sleeping patterns. Again, look at the total picture of what is going on with her and you. Mother and child are one. How you conduct your day will have a direct effect on how your baby behaves.

by Melanie Waxman

Healthy Macrobiotic School Lunches and Dinners Ideas

by Melanie Waxman

For most parents mornings are a rushed affair. Preparing a healthy and tasty packed lunch that doesn't arrive at the end of the day squashed at the bottom of a book bag is a daunting task.

With some careful planning, mornings can become a lot more relaxed and parents can go to work knowing they have provided a lunch that is satisfying and nourishing.

Becoming a Mother

Becoming a mother is one of the most hardest and the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced.  Despite lacking sleep for over 4 years now, I somehow manage to juggle so much more than when I was without them.  I learned to pull rabbits out of my crevices and my powers of manifestation is good on most days.


It's a huge stepping stone for me to be able to write things that have been swirling in my head for so many years,  and not just memoirs for my children.  And oh how much I love them and value their contributions to my life!  For example, a simple meal just doesn't taste the same without them I realized when I was working out of town recently.  And the hollow emptiness that pierced deep into my body in the still of the night, without their little breathing and fidgeting, it was like being in a time warp with seconds passing as hours.


Yes, becoming a mother is the most hardest and the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced.

It's All About Me...and Halya!

It feels kind of awkward yet liberating to write, keeping myself in mind.  Even though I spent most of my life stateside, I never adopted the American mentality where it was all about me, me and Me.  I just couldn't be bothered with Ego and was more interested in figuring out what was going on behind the scenes.

I spent 3 years reading about other people's lives while journaling on a blog for my children but I eventually suffered writer's block soon after getting caught up in the flurry of their daily activities.  I learned how to cook and I socialized with other mothers within the international community, only to realize that I couldn't bear losing any more time cooking and socializing with no end in sight.  It's not that I don't enjoy introducing new foods and events to my children; I am just a control freak.  And I found out that so were the other mothers, and even my meticulous help Halya. 

Before meeting Halya, I remember making notes about what kind of a person I was looking for to help me at home.  It was highly improbable, laughable even, that I would ask for so much qualification from a person who would only be cleaning my home.  This town was filled with Brazilian, African, and Russian immigrants with hardly any education or degrees up the ying yang, serving the rich and I wasn't going to accept any of that into my life.  Well, Halya was a technical engineer in Ukraine but came here with her family so that she and her husband could earned five times as much doing domestic and construction work.  She cleans meticulously with such detail and speed, anticipating our every needs that I wouldn't be surprised if she possessed the spirit of one of the squirrels that served Anastasia's ancestors in the Siberian glades.  I don't let her make our dinner and now I don't even let her in the kitchen because I rarely cook myself and focus on raw foods instead.


She recently told me that in a few more years, her family will return back to Ukraine where she has a dacha.  A dacha is a Russian word for seasonal or year-round second homes often located in the exurbs of Soviet and Russian cities. In some cases, they are occupied for part of the year by their owners and rented out to urban residents as summer retreats. Going back to my story, this news saddened me but soon after I came to the realization that I would be moving too, to my own modern dacha that I am dreaming about.  I feel like I am finally preparing to go home; to a home and lifestyle that is foreign to me physically but my family will flourish there, this I know.  And when the time comes, I will certainly miss her because she became such an integral part of my sanity as I evolved into a hybrid mom.


All good things do come to an end, only to reveal something better and this I know for a fact now.  The blender as my right hand and the food processor, my left, I can't go wrong, really.  And everyone is happier and healthier for it, especially me!  Plus, I don't have writer's block anymore!

Life is such an amazing journey!

My Parents

This is a picture I received from my parents before my first son was born.  I only get to see them maybe once a year because they are always busy with their lives and plans in other continents.  My mother is finally somewhat of a ''stay at home wife'', and my father started a new career after retiring at age 65.  He is 71 now and still practices English horseback riding on the weekends and during the week I hear he wakes up at 4 to start the morning workout exercises before heading off to work.  He has been eating mostly raw as far as I can remember and I always admired his disciplined way of life even though we hardly spoke.  Our relationship was always formal and I grew up being afraid of him most of the time.  Now our infrequent conversations consist of topics like his republican stance, the current society, his beliefs, and brief moments back in time when I was a child.  By the way, does anyone have a father that got Botox to remove wrinkles on the forehead?  Anyone?!?!?  Besides me?!?!?  Didn't think so.

We were estranged for so many years, mostly due to my being the ''black sheep'' of the family but after my first born, the reconciliation process started.  I talk to my mother through skype on most days and it took 3 years to be able to dig into deep conversation and build some form of a mother-daughter relationship.  She mainly focuses on chit chatting with my sons and going into deep thought by herself as if she is watching a documentary online.  I would guess that our web cam replaces one of her soap operas.  We are like oil and vinegar.  And when we laugh about something, I would say we are equivalent to the oil and vinegar that is well shaken followed by the separation soon after.

Even now she is still a bit of a stranger to me and I suffer in my heart because we missed out on so many aspects in each others lives but I am grateful that I have contact with her now.  Now is all we have anyways, right?

The Beginning of the Rest of Our Lives

Photo: Shelly Sage Heart

I recently got a hold of The Ringing Cedars series and it swept my head clear of all the confusion that I allowed in my life.  It also confirmed a lot of things that I felt growing up and I remembered events from the past with a certain resolve.  And now for the future of my little ones I am eagerly making the necessary changes to transform our way of living.

I have a vision of a certain piece of land that has 2 natural springs on it and enough space for a permaculture food forest to sustain about 15 people I guess.  2 homes and a guest cottage so friends can fly in, 'graze' in my garden and soak in the nature, a swimming pool and a storage barn to the other side.  I also see on the land a chicken coup so that I can have organic eggs and 2 beehives on one corner of the land surrounded by wild flowers & clovers.

I sketched out various drafts all thanks to Anthony's example and enthusiasm about permaculture and a raw way of life.  If it wasn't for discovering his blog, I wouldn't have started this journey myself or gone back to raw foods like I was on when I was modeling in another lifetime.  (Having children was like having a free pass to birthday parties galore and I sort of indulged in almost every junk food out there, forgetting the raw way of eating.) Going back to my sketches, I will eventually concretize them with an architect and book the listed building company to build 2 modern homes with solar panels and a swimming pool.  The end result is 90% crystal clear in my mind and I am overjoyed with how everything is materializing one by one.

I even enlisted Isaura who has worked for my in laws for 20 years to live with us in a few years and manage my boys and the household help since I will be traveling a lot.  She is solid as a rock and not too far from a type of woman that Anastasia is.  My kids adore her and this is just one of the many blessing in my life. 

I am constantly humbled and in awe of Life and all it's gifts!

Our General Diet

Photo: Unknown

I started giving my kids up to a 90% raw diet and I see such a big difference in their energy levels and appearance.   They are vibrant and bubbly - happy go lucky everyday. Energizer bunnies are no match to their robust staminas.  I do add more cooked foods for lunch for the little one so that he naps in the afternoons or else I go bonkers by the end of the day.

Spinach, mango or banana & berry smoothie with a fresh piece of aloe vera; whole grain toast with organic butter or oatmeal with cinnamon and raw honey. Organic pastas are cooked but the sauce isn't & 'hamburgers' made out of ground walnuts or soaked sunflower seeds, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, celtic sea salt & organic herbs. 

I also give them free range egg yolks sunny side up and once in a while organic milk or yogurt. I don't worry about their calcium intake since they get a liberal amount through fresh greens and sesame seeds that I sprinkle in a lot of their meals.  This way of eating totally takes away their sweet tooth and I give them ''junk food'' only on weekends, letting them have as much as they want but they stop after a few pieces so that makes me very happy.  I can't believe I am doing all this because I always ate at restaurants before I settled down and had kids. 

And I finally let go of the expensive Shiseido and Chanel products and use organic virgin coconut oil to moisturize and I am just as pleased with the results.  If only I had known this before, I could have saved some serious money that was spent on vanity purposes the last 20 years!  And we get enough vitamin D because we are out in the sun without sunscreen in the mornings or afternoons for at least an hour or more and we haven't been sick for about a year or longer.