Getting Clear In 2012 By Carol Lawrence

Do you write new years resolutions?
Do they usually work out well for you?
Do you commit yourself to your resolutions?


I can remember being a little kid thinking 2012 is so far away. I really thought back then we would all be driving hover crafts by now and that I would have grown up to be a "Solid Gold" dancer. (Past popular TV show).


Dreams change as we change with each passing breath. Like many of you I have written down my new years resolutions year after year. Some have been accomplished some have not. I'm pretty good at learning something new or completing a goal once I set my mind to it.


As I lay on my couch typing this blog post on my iPad and nursing a cold, I have been reflecting back on the past year. Many changes have taken place in my life and those around me. I'm grateful for

Review ~ ParentWise: The Emotional Challenges of Family Life And How To Deal With Them By Loren Buckner, LCSW

Review By Carol Lawrence and Stacy Toten


ParentWise: The Emotional Challenges of Family Life And How To Deal With Them By Loren Buckner, LCSW

All quotes in this review are from ParentWise.

Becoming a parent has many highs and many lows. Brand new babies do not arrive with a training manual. Through Loren Buckner's own experience as a mother and a psychotherapist she has gained the important life skills, tools and techniques that she willingly shares in ParentWise. Loren provides real raw parenting experiences that touch on darker parenting emotions that many parents themselves have yet to deal with until their parenting adventure begins.

"Internal security is a crucial building block of children's psychological lives, and it is the backbone of their developing personalities."

ParentWise: The Emotional Challenges of Family Life And How To Deal With Them dives in depth into some really great parenting subjects. Here is some of the ones that we would like to draw your attention too.

1. Your children depend on you, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
This is so important. Some parents think as long as they are providing food, shelter and sending their child off to school for an education they have all their bases covered. Children need emotional connection and support!

"It's more difficult to teach your children to manage their feelings if you avoid or are afraid of your own."

2. Finding a new parenting perspective.
Loren gives prime examples of how to distinguish the difference between what the parent is wanting and feeling and what the child wants and feels.

3. Being "good enough" as a parent is a common affliction. There is no such thing as the perfect parent. However there is active parenting where the parent continues to educate themselves to strive towards parenting excellence.

"Good enough is an important principle to hold onto because as a caring parent you have your ideals about parenting. However, we all inevitably fall short. You can't be perfect, not because your a failure as a parent. Perfection doesn't exist. Perfectionism, therefore, isn't good for you or for your kids."

4. There's a father universe too! ParentWise takes a look at the way some fathers may feel upon arrival of a new baby and how fathers can stay emotionally connected.

A Special Interview With Dave Kerpen ~ CEO Of Likeable Media

Carol recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dave Kerpen. Dave is the CEO of Likeable Media and best selling author of Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Generally Amazing on Facebook (And Other Social Networks)

Carol:  Dave, please tell us about yourself, your family and how you began your social media journey.

Dave: I am the very proud parent of two girls. Charlotte is 8 an amazing artist, loved and loving. Kate is 4 and so very full of life. Carrie is their incredible mom and my wife and partner in all things. I have always loved connecting with people and have always been very public, so social media was in many ways a perfect fit. Began with blogs and Facebook in 2007 and never looked back. 

Carol:  Who came up with the idea for your wedding? Can you briefly give us some juicy details?


Dave: Carrie and I came up with it together, but it was mostly her. It was a lot of fun - here is a link to one of my favorite media pieces from the wedding - http://tinyurl.com/kerpenwedding. The only juicy details I can think of was getting free stuff we didn't even ask for, like teeth-whitening from Bright Smile.  

Carol: How did you go about putting your wedding together and was there any doubt that it might not work?

Dave: We pitched the Brooklyn Cyclones first, because we needed a promotional partner that would have the inventory to trade. Then we approached contacts we had made through our radio and integrated marketing career. Once we landed 1-800-Flowers.com, Smirnoff and Entenmann's it was easier to get more partners. Once the NY Times piece hit, that led to other media. A few family members had their doubts, but we never doubted it  would work.

Carol: What inspired you to write Likeable Social Media?

Merry Christmas From Intentional Conscious Parenting

Enjoy your holiday. Be goofy, have fun!

Laugh about all your past problems. They are just that, past problems. 

Today's a new day.

Enjoy your family, your pets, your friends. 

Express Gratitude!

If you are reading this on Christmas day. Thank you for stopping by. 

We appreciate you, but please get off the computer and go visit family and friends.

If you are alone reach out to a neighbor,

Tips For Holiday Thrival By Nadine N.D., C.N.S

Tips for Holiday Thrival
(part of theEating with Purpose series)
By NADINE N.D., C.N.S
Creating RESULTS Holistic Center

A warm and festive Hello to each of you during this season of JOY
and PEACE. It can also be a season filled with land mines if we are
not present, and aware to make choices that serve us. During this
time of celebration,.we have the opportunity to gift each other with
self care. That self-care comes in the form of setting healthy
boundaries. When we set healthy boundaries around food, we allow
others to explore their own needs so that we are each taking
ownership for our health and well-being. Here are a few ways in
which you can claim ownership while making empowering choices
during this festive season.

• Pre-Plan your events: When you plan for an event, or meal, you have a structure to follow. One suggestion is to eat clean Monday through Friday so you can enjoy that one splurge meal on Friday night or Saturday. Then get right back to your structure the very next meal.
• Follow the 90/10 rule! Your body will respond to what you do 90 percent of the time. So one meal 'off' a scheduled program will not hurt you. Two meals 'off' will not hurt you. However having only one healthy meal a day will have detrimental effects on your progress.
• Notify your hostess or restaurant of any Wheat, Dairy, Nut or Soy allergies so they can better serve your needs.
• Ask for what you want in the restaurant rather than simply selecting off the choices provided within in the menu. As an example you can say “I would like 4 ounces of grilled salmon with two cups of steamed broccoli with no butter or salt added and a half a cup of rice.
• You can request your salad dressing be provided on the side. Remember this is about owning your nutritional needs.
• If the meal it at an awkward time
• Eat before you go. You can have a large salad with others, add some lean meat if you desire. Bottom line.
• DO NOT ARRIVE HUNGRY this will only lead to over eating then over groaning.
• If you are eating in a buffet style get-together, walk the entire food line before putting anything on your plate. Choose 2-3 items you would like to explore then put a small portion (tablespoon) of that item on your plate. You can always go back for more if you enjoyed it.
• Use a salad plate rather than a dinner plate at the buffet.
• Drink a glass of room temperature water before starting your meal. The water will aid your digestion and notify you sooner that you really are satisfied/full.
• Put your fork down between bites. Use smaller fork.
• Throw away your plate when you are finished eating. This will remove temptation of hand to mouth disease.
• Choose water or club soda with a twist of lime if you are at a group gathering where alcohol is being served. You do not have to have alcohol. Most folks simply want to make sure that you are OK...So if you are walking around with a club soda with a twist of lime or something similar you will most likely be left alone. Another consideration for alcohol is that it tends to turn your head towards high fat, high sodium and high sugared foods. By keeping to a club soda you will stick with your PLAN!!!
• Enjoy the conversation as you are eating. BE PRESENT!! BE CONSCIOUS!!

The never ending Office Cookie Plate ~ I used to laugh when I'd go into the conference room, see the table loaded with junk food, and listen to everyone complaining about gaining 30 pounds with grazing. With all that sugar in the body, not much work got done later either, but what to do with all that FOOD???

• Make a suggestion for all the food be placed in ONE spot, preferably a place you will not see or smell. Most over eating is a head game. If you can't see it, you won't want it. It is that simple.
• Suggest there be only ONE day for excess food.
• When you do eat the food, keep it to one room. Avoid taking it to your desk. That will only lead to mindless eating.

Review: The Legend of The Wolves of Gunflint Lake

The Legend Of The Wolves of Gunflint Lake

All Quotes Are From The Book.

The Legend Of The Wolves of Gunflint Lake is a delightful story that shares the powerful message about the importance of valuing your community, animals and nature.

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." ~ Desmond Tutu

"So it was true with the people who lived a long, long time ago on Gunflint Lake. They were people of the land who cared for one another. Each person in the tribe valued and honored and knew their importance for the success of the community. From the chief, to the littlest baby, they instinctually knew that each was a thread in the web of life." ~ Lisa Sellman

Lisa Sellman takes children on a journey through the eyes of the native american elder storytellers who show the importance of passing down the torch from generation to generation by carrying on the powerful message of the harmonious lessons and connections between nature and man.

Lisa Sellman brilliantly includes life lessons from the heart that teaches the value and respect for all. Whether it be human, nature or animals. She shows how everything is intertwined and has it's own divine purpose. We love how Lisa chose to use the wolf character as the source to guide the children and teach them the wisdom of the universe and encourages them not to forget the ways of gratitude.

The illustrations by Chris Kraetz pulls off a believable portrayal of living life at Gunflint Lake amongst the wolves.

Review by: Carol Lawrence and Stacy Toten

http://www.intentionalconsciousparenting.com

Win a copy of The Legend of the Wolves of Gunflint Lake.

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A Call For Help

Here's whats going on. Carol is reluctantly sharing her need for financial help. With encouragement from family and friends Carol and Randy are swallowing their pride and reaching out for help.

Marv, Goldie, Luna and Randy 2011

Due to recent circumstances a dear friend of theirs created a fund to help them get back on their financial feet and keep their home of 11 years.

Randy and Carol 2009

All the details are listed at http://www.giveforward.com/savecarolandrandyshome


Thank you for taking the time to read their fundraiser. Every dollar helps. Sending you a huge hug

Exciting news! Your very own Carol and Stacy are editors for All Things Healing

Meet the editors of All Things Healing. 

An online community for healing mind, body, spirit and planet.

ATH brings together a worldwide community of individuals, and alternative healing sites and organizations, dedicated to educating and inspiring people in topics relating to alternative healing of mind, body, spirit and the planet. 

They have brought together a staff of idealistic, dedicated and knowledgeable individuals who are passionate about leaving the world in a better place than they found it. In doing so, they have created an alternative healing network of practitioners, educators, creative artists and organizations. 

Currently the website spans 38 healing categories falling under four major sections: Spiritual & Healing Practices, Healthy Lifestyles, Community and the Arts. In charge of each category are several highly qualified Editors who are excited about the opportunity to share their expertise with other professionals, as well as to introduce their topics to beginners.

Look who is in the second to the last row. Yep that's us.
We thought you should know. We are the assistant editors of the family and parenting community. You are going to love this site.


Here's just a few of their categories.

• BodyAcupuncture

Carol And Stacy's Review Of Second Sight By Judith Orloff, M.D.

Second Sight ~ An Intuitive Psychiatrist Tells Her Extraordinary Story And Shows You How To Tap Your Own Inner Wisdom. Judith Orloff, M.D.


Stacy and Carol's Review Of Second Sight By Judith Orloff, M.D. 
All quotes are from Second Sight.


We could tell the minute Second Sight arrived in the mail by looking at the name of the chapters this was going to be a great book!

The beginning of wisdom, validating the voice, the alchemy of dreams, intuitive experiences in everyday life, the well-balanced intuitive, the spiritual path of intuition, and honoring the gift are just some of the chapter titles.

"I listen and diagnose with my intellect and my intuition, a potent inner wisdom that goes beyond the linear mind." 


Second Sight is a raw and honest tell-tell book about how an intuitive spiritual being came into her own. Even though Judith's mother tried to stifle Judith's gifts as a child, Judith persevered and followed her inner calling. The dynamic relationships Judith has encountered through-out her life grabbed us and pulled us into her world. It was so intensely familiar to us we couldn't wait to turn the next page. This is one book we did not want to end.

" At the onset, you must approach intuition with the proper attitude. The power that comes with it can be very seductive, and should always be treated with the utmost respect. For that reason, one must find a mature teacher, both knowledgeable and humble, to guide the initial stages." 

Judith vigorously pursued knowledge to learn about herself and how to tap into her own inner wisdom. Her extraordinary story will keep you spellbound until you the read the last written word in her book,

The perfect holiday gift for the expecting parent, the new parent or the experienced parent.

The perfect holiday gift for the expecting parent, the new parent, the experienced parent or the grandparent!     Gift package includes both Self-Aware Parent books (42 Lessons in all), a white blank journal (for notes, thoughts, or ideas), a beautiful angel ornament, and it's all gift wrapped and ready to give.  ONLY $25!  Both books empower parents to take care of themselves and trust their instincts, and every lesson offers a conscious perspective on parenting that is supportive instead of preachy or judgmental.

Childhood Isn't Something We Get Over By Loren Buckner, LCSW

Childhood Isn't Something We Get Over

Many adults want to deny the significance of what happened to them when they were young and vulnerable. Others believe that they should "just get over" any problems they had as they were growing up. The truth is childhood is an important part of who we all are.

Our feelings about ourselves and our expectations of family life begin when we are very small. We are dependent on our parents, not only for the necessities of every day life, but psychologically and emotionally. When needs are mostly met development proceeds at a healthy pace. When needs are not met our overall sense of security is affected, which in turn, impacts our developing confidence and self-esteem.

There’s often inconsistency between what people say about their own childhood and how they feel about tending to the needs of their children. We all agree that kids need to feel safe, happy, and loved. We know a nurturing environment helps boys and girls grow into healthy adults. But then as adults, we frequently tell ourselves that feelings from our own upbringing are irrelevant.

Great Children's Holiday Gift ~ Ages 4-8

Latest Book From Howard Binkow!

Help 4-8 yr old children to understand good sportsmanship 
and that winning isn’t everything.


Check out the new free song and poster at http://www.wedolisten.org

Follow Howard B.Wigglebottom on Facebook and on Twitter @hbwigglebottom