Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays From Little William!

Thanks Sherry for sharing Willy's adorable picture
with all of us. He is so cute.!

The Conscious Parent Review!

Hello everyone, I am so excited to bring you our latest book review! 
The Conscious Parent ~ Transforming ourselves empowering our children
By: Shefali Tsabary, PhD

Shefali Tsabary raises the bar in the parenting realm with her new book
The Conscious Parent. She demonstrates several examples on how to take day to day parenting to a new level. Be advised after reading her astounding new book you will never look at parenting the same way. She shares with you a whole new perspective on the conscious parenting process. When followed and applied the techniques and tools she teaches can last you a lifetime.

Shefali truly channels the conscious connections of parenting from an authentic place. When you parent from your conscious self you learn how to parent from a place from within. By reconnecting with this part of yourself you begin to practice living in the now and are more fully able to to implement conscious parenting practices. The conscious parent is jam packed with much needed information. This book is nothing like any other book on the market. The Conscious Parent shows you that the parenting process is really about the parent!

Top five favorite messages from The Conscious Parent.
1. We really loved that throughout The Conscious Parent, Shefali reaffirms the process of parenting and life is more important than the outcome.
2. Your unconsciousness isn't your children's to inherit: it is yours to excavate. Being a conscious parent means you are increasingly aware of your unconsciousness as it arises in day to day situations.
3. Shefali demonstrates through her own experiences how to honor your children for their essential qualities such as joy, peace, authenticity, courage and trust.
4. By being fully present with your child, you learn how to make the simple moments count.
5. Shefali shows you how through your children you can learn how to really live, meet your children as they are being to being!

The Conscious Parent is available in paperback and on audio and on CD!
Follow Shefali on Facebook!

Carol and Stacy are practitioners of the spirit, they deal with the soul, the real you. They interview authors, write book reviews and together intuitively Carol and Stacy are fulfilling a calling and a passion to write children's picture books. They are assistant editors for the family and parenting community at All Things Healing. They provide nurturing tips and encouragement for parents walking an intentional spiritual conscious parenting path by supplying an inviting platform for their established parenting community. 

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The True Origin of Christmas - Oprah.com

Here's A Little Christmas Holiday History!
The True Origin of Christmas - Oprah.com

Merry Christmas!

Last Minute Christmas Ideas To Support Your Own Inner Growth.

Turn your MP3 Player, Ipod or cell phone into a transformational machine by downloading products that support your goals and dreams.


There are so many applications available. Why not get an APP that gives you a positive daily affirmation? Or one that supports your well being?


Feeling Fine Audio App By Louise Hay
The Feeling Fine Affirmations app by Louise L. Hay is a compilation of positive audio affirmations set with motivating music created to help you lift your spirits and feel more joy in your life. Having this app on your iPhone or iPod Touch is an excellent way to carry Louise's uplifting affirmations with you at all times.


The Stress-Free Audio App By Louise Hay
The Stress-Free app by Louise L. Hay is a collection of powerful audio affirmations designed to help alleviate stress and create positive changes in your life. Having this app on your iPhone or iPod Touch is a great way to carry Louise's stress relieving affirmations with you at all times.


I Can Do It! 2011 Calendar App
The energy of this year is one of building your foundation for the future. Louise L. Hay’s I CAN DO IT 2011 Calendar offers you positive thoughts, affirmations, and words of wisdom to bring you fine opportunities that you may never have experienced before.

This beautifully designed calendar is the perfect gift for friends, family members — and, of course, you, because you can do it... no matter what “it” is!


Download An Audio Book for listening on the go in the car or while walking your dog. There are so many wonderful books available as audio downloads or for your Kindle.


Gregg Braden's Highly Acclaimed Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 And A New World Age.


A Call To Conscious Parenting Digital Download By Shefali Tsabary, PhD








Conscious Parenting Books Available On Kindle For Children.

Friendly Reminder: We have a Intentional Parenting Store of conscious parenting books/children's books already put together for easy access for you! 

Stress free radio right from your computer. 
Listen while you work on your blogging, projects, wrapping gifts and more. 

 




Tune in to Namaste Radio each Tuesday at 1pm PST to listen to radio that will change your life!

Green Man Craft By Guest Author Grace From Blessed Elements

This craft is about Green Men. Green men are wonderful sculptures that have appeared in several cultures. This is a simple green man craft that can lead you and your child to explore their history and artists creations throughout time.
A great way to introduce your child to art is through crafts. Not only does our craft time provide fun and creativity but it also opens up an opportunity to learning. Learning is much more fun for a child when they don't know they are learning.

Supplies:

• Green construction paper
• Markers , Crayons, colored pencils and/ or colored chalk (I used colored glitter glue to add some sparkle).
• Scissors
• Template (provided)
I traced my green man leaf on a cereal box so I could keep the template and it also seemed to make it easier for the children to trace it on to their construction paper. Green Man Project
• Take the template of the leaf and lay it on top of the construction paper and trace around it.
• Take a marker or crayon and draw around the trace lines to make it easier to see when cutting.
• Take scissors and cut out the pattern.
  
• Make a face on the leaf and decorate with markers or other coloring supplies.
• Display the green man on the refrigerator or other area where everyone can see it so your child knows how proud you are of the new art work.
Note:

Before a craft project I usually ask what type of supplies they may feel we need for this project: This helps build problem solving skills and decision making skills. After completing this project I went outside with my grand children to see if we could see any faces in our tree barks or leaves. You just never know where green men are hiding these days. It also gave them ideas from nature for other faces they could draw for their greenmen. Enjoy, Grace

Written by guest author Grace. 

Thank you Grace for sharing such a cool craft idea!



Two Green Men Grace Sculpted And One From Wood.

 Visit Grace's web site:    http://www.blessedelements.com/
Join her group on face book.   When she gets 100 fans, She'll be giving away a piece of pottery.
Picture of Prize here:
http://www.blessedelements.com/goinggreen/?p=2  http://www.blessedelements.com/goinggreen/
Twitter http://twitter.com/Blessed_Element
Blog: http://www.blessedelements.com/goinggreen/

Wishing You A Zen Christmas By Guest Author Betsy Henry

Life is really simple but we insist on making it complicated.
~Confusius

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. 

~Roy L. Smith

One of my preschoolers excitedly told me today that there are 16 days until Christmas.  YIKES!

I admit it.  I’m behind this Christmas.  Some holiday seasons I have everything ready to go by Thanksgiving.  This year, I’m helping my parents move, hosted a fundraiser for my preschool.

How can you make your Christmas more “Zen like”?  How can you let go and be closer to the true meaning of Christmas? For me this means being closer to my family.

There are so many reasons Christmas gets hectic.  One is our high expectations of what we can accomplish.  Another is the feeling you have to see all your family and friends.  You can’t say no to anything.  Another reason Christmas gets crazy is that we worry about what other people will think if we don’t make it to the cookie exchange and we’re not volunteering at the soup kitchen or our Christmas lights aren’t up yet.  There can be huge anxiety associated with Christmas.  Debt can be one of those anxieties.

Take the Christmas season back!  Make it about your kids and being a kid again!  I decided to research simple Christmas ideas and here’s what I came up with:

1.  Make meaningful presents like a photo album or a framed picture. This year I'm making photo cards for all my family.

2. You don’t have to send a Christmas card.  I didn’t last year.  But if you do, try to get your Christmas card or letter done in November.  I may work on it this weekend. But maybe not!

3. Plan to get some items online like amazon.com.  Amazon has free shipping after you spend $25.  You can send the gift directly to the recipient also saving on time and money.

4. Pick family names out of a hat; don’t buy a present for everyone in the family.  And as young kids get older they can join the adults.

5. Entertain less and go out less.  One night at home eating chili and watching a movie and you’ll be hooked! (We're actually having chili tonight!)

6. Have Christmas traditions.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money.  Our family gets one big gift per person and then does little things for each other.  Baking cookies and reading favorite holiday stories can be some of the best presents.  We have a tradition of always doing the tree together.  We also watch “A Christmas Carol” together every year (The Muppet one!).  We have a family meal together at our favorite Greek restaurant every Dec. 18th.  These traditions are just as important as Christmas Day.

7. Have the kids do their shopping for family members themselves.  We go to the dollar store and 2nd hand shops.  They love the giving as much as the receiving.  It’s very meaningful.

8. Regift! Shop at 2nd hand shops.  I find so many treasures. Spend wisely.  Keep a list of what you’re spending.  You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make someone happy!  They are often just happy you thought of them.

9. Lower expectation of family members.  I have some friends who don’t enjoy Christmas because they’re expected to see all their family.  You can’t be everywhere and please everyone.  If you expect that this year everyone will be different, you should lower your expectations.  Then you won’t be disappointed.

10. Help others.  Every year we pick a family who is having a tough year and leave secret gifts outside their door for the first “12 Days of Christmas”.  The first day is A Partrige in a Pear Tree.  We try to find something that has to do with a pear or a partidge.  Sometimes it's hard but we manage to think of ideas.  The kids love ringing the doorbell and running away.  Also, being an anonymous giver is part of the fun, too.

Here are some wonderful low cost ideas for this Christmas

1.  Plastic stemless wine glasses are inexpensive and look like glass.  I'm giving this with a inexpensive bottle of wine for our preschool exchange.

2. Through blogging I have come across some great books. Here are two I recommend:

Courage & Croissants: 

I loved this book!  Jean and Suzanne leave their hectic San Francisco life and move to the south of France with their young daughter. There, they unplug and search for the joie de vivre missing for so many modern families. It is an act of taking back control of life in small and big ways, reclaiming their creative sides while embracing a change of priorities and pace. Courage and Croissants brings readers along on this journey. A gripping memoir and guidebook!!


Zensational Living: Loaded with sensible advice, Zen-Sational Living is a road-map for making good decisions and being your best. From the basics of Zen, to health (mental and physical), creating a personal space, and everything in between! Whether you're in need of a boost, a change, or are starting on your own road of self-discovery, ZEN-SATIONAL LIVING will guide you on your journey. Your life will change with easy to follow chapters on judgment, focus, compassion, forgiveness, stress, relaxation, and many more.


And don't forget my books!!  :)

3. Apple Photo Albums (or others like Snapfish) If you have a mac computer it's easy to make little professional photo albums with iphoto.  I've made one each year and it's everyone's favorite present!

Good luck and hope you find yourself having a more zen like Christmas.  I'll let you know how mine goes!

Picture credit: http://best-christmas-online.com/

Written By Guest Author Betsy Henry From Zen Mama.

Follow Zen Mama on Facebook.

"A conscious relationship is never hierarchical or linear. Conscious discipline isn't parent versus child, but involves a circular dynamic of parent with child. The relationship between parent and child is paramount, not specific techniques. No matter what may be occurring in the terms of the content of the relationship, the relationship itself should always be circular in nature. Many behavioral issues can be headed off simply by altering the parent-child dynamic in this way." Shefali Tsabary, PhD
The Conscious Parent ~ Transforming ourselves empowering our children.
Review And Give Away ~ Christmas Day!

The Conscious Parent (book) by Shefali Tsabary