Dr. Lauren Feder to offer 3 LA-area Safe Vaccination Lectures October 27, 2009

There is a growing movement among parents to question the safety of such standards as vaccines and antibiotics. 

Dr. Lauren Feder, author of The Parents’ Concise Guide to Childhood Vaccinations, presents three Los Angeles-area workshops for parents who are seeking optimum health for their children. Dr. Federer will present an overview of health, disease and each vaccination, including pros, cons, risk, benefits and prevention of vaccine side effects. Syllabus included.

Patients of all ages often ask Dr. Robert and Carri Tanaka of Natural Life Chiropractic this question: ”what do you think about vaccinations?” The Tanakas encourage all families to “get education from multiple resources on this important topic. One person we look to and trust is Dr. Lauren Feder. Dr. Feder is a Los Angeles-based doctor and, in our opinion, her lecture is a must for any parent to be, or person concerned about their families health.”

Dr. Feder’s lectures sell out quickly, so early registration is highly recommended.
Cost: $25 per person, $45 per PARENT couple.

See below for details on locations and times. NOTE: Dr. Feder will have books on hand as well as homeopathic flu remedies for sale. Please bring cash for these items. The Swine Flu will also be addressed.

For more info on this topic, for vaccine exemption forms and more, visit www.nvic.org.

Location: Belly Sprout
Saturday, November 7, 2009
10:30am – 12:30pm
426 W. Commonwealth Ave.
Fullerton, Ca. 92832

Location: Golden Bridge Yoga
Sunday, November 8, 2009
1:30pm – 4:30pm
6322 De Longpre Ave.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90028

Location: Yo Mama Yoga
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
6:30pm – 8:30pm
1404 3rd Street Promenade, Suite 204
Santa Monica, Ca. 90401

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Get free Ice Age Halloween downloads, and attend Fox’s carving event! October 21, 2009

Ice Age will be taking over pumpkin patches in Los Angeles this weekend to celebrate the October 27 release of Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs on DVD and Blu-Ray.

As part of a nationwide initiative, Fox Entertainment will be hosting Family Fun Days this Saturday and Sunday, October 24 and 25, at two pumpkin Los Angeles-area patches with professional pumpkin carving artists, movie giveaways and other festive activities that create the perfect fall outing for the entire family. Win prizes including DVD copies of the first two installments of the Ice Age trilogy, and branded Ice Age glow sticks to keep Halloween night fun and safe.

If you love Manny, Diego, and Sid, stop by Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch in Culver City or Lopez Pumpkin Patch on West 3^rd (across from the Grove) this weekend to take part in the festivities.

Free downloadable pumpkin carving stencils and Halloween safety tips from Sid.

 

 

 

For more information: Shawn’s Pumpkin Patch

5750 Mesmer Ave.,

Culver City, CA 90230

(323) 325-3059

 

Lopez Pumpkin Patch 

West Third St. and Fairfax Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90036

(213) 949-6880

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 8, 2009

As many as one in eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. While we can’t change our genetics, we can do a great deal to reduce the risk of breast cancer with lifestyle changes. There are no foods, beverages or magic pills proven to prevent breast cancer, says Dr. Margaret Lewin, Medical Director of Cinergy Health, but we can reduce the risk. 

Data from multiple American and international studies show that simple lifestyle changes can make a significant impact on our health. Here are some important steps women can take:

• Get our weight down and keep it down to a Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 25. For example, a woman 5’2” tall should weigh less than 136 pounds, 5’7” less than 159. Obese women have higher body fat stores, a magnet for estrogen.
• Cut fats out of our diets, specifically Trans, saturated and omega-6 (sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed) fats. Aim for a diet with fewer than 30% fat calories. Graphs of breast cancer incidence in countries around the world are nearly identical to the fat intake in those countries: the higher the fat intake, the higher the incidence of breast cancer.
• Reduce dietary “white” carbs (potatoes, sugar, flour, rice) – which can induce hormone changes increasing cellular growth in breast tissue. Replace them with whole grains, beans and legumes. (Click here for delicious, elegant, gluten-free recipes.)
• Load up on fruits and vegetables, especially dark, leafy greens; cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage); berries, cherries and citrus fruits.
• Eliminate alcohol – or keep it down to one small drink daily (not the same as abstinence during the week and seven drinks over the weekend!).
• Exercise regularly – at least 30 minutes a day of moderate aerobics, such as brisk walking. The higher our body’s muscle mass, the lower the fat stores. (Read Get seriously fit–Outdoor bootcamp routine.)

 

Finally, should we be destined to develop breast cancer, finding and treating it early can be life-saving. Many authorities recommend routine yearly mammograms starting at age 40, adding an ultrasound for those women with ‘dense’ breasts, and even an MRI for women at super-high risk. Since cancers can develop before your next scheduled exam, use your fingertips to examine your breasts every time you shower or bathe. Don’t make this a scary exercise: trust that your fingers are very smart at recognizing changes. See your doctor as soon as possible should you note such changes, even though more than 80% of breast lumps are totally benign. We can’t prevent breast cancer, but we can markedly reduce our risks with lifestyle changes; and early detection and treatment can be life-saving.

Check your Body Mass Index.

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Damage Control for Halloween candy overload October 7, 2009

For what does the bell toll? It tolls for calories, sugar and fat.

The annual ritual of trick-or-treating is nigh. Frighteningly, miniature renditions of Hannah Montana and Captain Jack Sparrow will be ringing our doorbell, eager to collect ghoulishly sweet, teeth-rotting treasures.

For parents who encourage their kids to eat healthy throughout the year, Halloween is a scary time indeed. Thankfully, more and more families are opting to hand out non-candy treats such as stickers, a glow stick or a low-fat crunchy snack. However, most children will receive a sizable bounty of junk food: miniature chocolate confection, bubble gum, hard candy and taffy, certain to wreak havoc on little teeth. 

The motto at Pirate’s Booty (manufactured by Robert’s American Gourmet Food, LLC) is that no matter the age – tot to teen – children need to learn how to eat healthy and balanced to sustain good eating habits for life. 

Here are the Pirate’s tips for a “Healthy Halloween”:

• Fill it up. Feed children a full, nutritious meal before heading out to trick-or-treat. This discourages them from devouring candy while out on the trail.
• Barter a trade. Offer coins or a coveted toy (or special outing) in replace of the candy.
• Do your research. Some dentist offices have actually started implementing candy buyback programs the day after Halloween. Kids receive a monetary reward, while the candy gets shipped to different organizations like US troops abroad.
• Treat others. Donate sweets to a local food bank.
• Portion control. Ration the candy and pack in zip lock bags. One or two small treats after a meal will satisfy that sweet tooth. Remember, It’s no longer “fun-size” when the child in possession of pounds of the stuff!
• Help another parent out. Hand out non-candy treats such as a low-fat snack pack. (Psst, Pirate’s Booty is trans-fat, gluten and tree nut free, so it’s perfect for most every kid. Plus, Pirate’s Booty only has up to 130 calories per serving, so if you have a few left over, moms and dads can enjoy without guilt!)

Don’t be haunted by the idea of feeding your kids the occasional sugary snack. Everything in moderation, as they say; Be sure your kid’s diet consists primarily of veggies, fruit and whole grains.

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Has your child invented a marketable game? Enter to win! October 2, 2009

Did you know JENGA was invented by a 17-year-old British girl? Or that the trampoline was invented by a teenager? Young people have been responsible for some of the most astonishingly successful and useful inventions. To unleash innovative ideas for new toys, games and sporting goods, By Kids for Kids (BKFK), in collaboration with sponsors Toys“R”Us, and leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, today announced a new competition open to all American youth ages of 6 through 19.

Young inventors are encouraged to submit their own concepts for future toys, indoor and outdoor games, board games and sporting equipment. One National Grand Prize winner will receive a JAKKS Pacific Prize Pack valued at $1,000 and a trip to JAKKS Pacific headquarters in Malibu, California for an opportunity to pitch his/her invention to JAKKS’ development team. Further, a special celebration event will be held at the Toys“R”Us international flagship store in Times Square, New York City where a $1,000 gift card for a toy lover’s shopping spree will be awarded to the winner.

“We’ve seen many times the amazing self-esteem elevation and creative results of youth who apply themselves to invention challenges,” says Norman Goldstein, the founder and CEO of By Kids for Kids

Youth contestants in all 50 States and the District of Columbia and possessions are eligible to participate. No purchase is necessary and all entries must be received online at  this address beginning October 1, 2009, noon EST through January 29, 2010, noon EST. More than one toy concept can be submitted and up to three media uploads are allowed in support of each. Additionally, entrants must answer seven questions about the invention through the online entry form to make the entry official.

Four criteria will be used to evaluate each entry and choose the top five finalists:

1. Originality of concept
2. Development and description of idea
3. Marketability
4. Potential for commercialization.

Expert toy judges, combined with the results of an online vote that will give friends and family an opportunity to support their favorites, will determine one Grand Prize winner.

For more info: See all official rules, or learn more.

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Get spooky: Plan your Pumpkin Carving Party now! September 29, 2009

Did you know that, botanically speaking, pumpkin is a fruit? Grown on every continent but Antarctica, the pumpkin was once thought to be a cure-all for freckles and snakebites. (Psst! Consider planning your party after 2009 Pumpkinmania! at The Heritage Museum of Orange County.)

Here are some tips for hosting your pumpkin party!

• Fill a wheelbarrow with pumpkins and place it by the door so guests can choose a pumpkin to carve as they come to the party. (Crunched for time? Have guests bring a hollowed pumpkin with them to the party!)
• Choosing the perfect specimen: Examine the pumpkin’s rind; It should be firm, uniform in color, and free of cuts, bruises, and blemishes. Give the pumpkin a knock; A thumping sound means the pumpkin is solid, with no internal defects, rot, or soft spots.
• Decorate Halloween themed brown paper bags–Make enough for each guest. Fill each bag with inexpensive pumpkin-carving tools, a tea light, and a permanent black marker. (Or substitute poster paints, if your party guests are very young.)
• If using a candle to illuminate your pumpkin, you can create the smell of Halloween spice by sprinkling cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice on the underside of the jack-o’-lantern’s lid. Once lit, the pumpkin will create a wonderful scent.
• Download free pumpkin carving patterns and have several copies on hand.
• Create a centerpiece using a large pumpkin surrounded by colorful autumn leaves. Use a drill to make holes around the top and sides of the pumpkin, and fill the holes with caramel apples or lollipops for guests to enjoy!
• Cover your work surface with newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth.

Party music to carve by…

• “Beetlejuice: Main Titles,” composed by Danny Elfman
• “Ghostbusters,” Ray Parker Jr.
• “In the Midnight Hour,” Wilson Pickett
• “I Put a Spell on You,” Nina Simone
• “I Want Candy,” Bow Wow Wow
• “Spooky,” the Classics IV
• “That Old Black Magic,” Ella Fitzgerald
• “Thriller,” Michael Jackson
• “Werewolves of London,” Warren Zevon
• “Witchcraft,” Frank Sinatra

For more info: This is the ideal time to begin planning your very own Pumpkin Carving Party! Jack-o-lanterns can only survive 5-7 days once cut, so choose your date and send your invites soon! 

Find pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides and more in the Los Angeles area.

The 2009 Pumpkinmania will be located at The Heritage Museum of Orange County on
Oct 25, 2009 8:30 am – 2:00 pm (Sunday). 3101 West Harvard Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704.

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Trust Birth Conference in March 2010 – Excellent line-up, plan now! September 28, 2009

Moms-to-be, natural birth practitioners, doulas, midwives, OB/GYNs, chiropractors and authors are joining together for the Trust Birth Conference, March 12-14, 2010, in Redondo Beach.

This is a special opportunity for pregnant women, mothers, and those interested in natural birth methods, as conferences of this nature are typically restricted only to industry health professionals.

Keynote speaker Dr. Sarah Buckley is a family physician with qualifications in GP-obstetrics and family planning; a writer and lecturer on pregnancy, birth and parenting; and currently full-time mother to her four children, all born at home. Sarah’s book, Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering: A Doctors Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices is published in the US and worldwide by Celestial Arts. Sarah brings a unique and powerful blend of solid scientific, anthropological and psychological perspectives, along with a deep trust in the natural processes.

Each day of the conference offers numerous seminars facilitated by some of the world’s leading natural birth advocates:

• Heather Cushman-Dowdee is the creator of the webcomics Hathor the Cowgoddess and Mama is… Over the past 7 years she has created 500+ comics about attachment parenting, she has published 4 books, and has had her work reproduced in countless books and periodicals.
• Pamela Hines-Powell, CPM, is a homebirth midwife in Salem, Oregon. Her evolution towards gentle, unhindered birth has been a winding path of unlearning and re-learning, resulting in continued personal empowerment. Learn more at her blog.
• Gloria Lemay is an author, teacher and birth attendant. She has worked in the childbirth field for the past 30 years. For 17 years she practiced as a midwife. She also co-wrote the first Genital Integrity legislation to pass into law. She lives in Vancouver, B.C. and travels all over N. America and to Australia in her role as a teacher and speaker.
• Jody McLaughlin grew up on a farm in central North Dakota where she learned most of what she knows about healthful pregnancy, spontaneous birth and successful lactation. Jody has published The Compleat Mother Magazine of Pregnancy, Birth and Breastfeeding since 1989.
• Debby Takikawa is the producer and director of What Babies Want, an award winning documentary film about babies. A chiropractor by formal training, Debby Takikawa founded the nonprofit organization, Beginnings, Inc. in 2001 as a way of supporting a nonprofit clinic and teaching facility. She is also co-author with Carrie Contey PhD, of the What Babies Want parenting book series, the first of which has been recently published: CALMS, A Guide to Soothing Your Baby.
• Carla Hartley is the founder and director of both Ancient Art Midwifery Institute and The Trust Birth Initiative. She has written extensively about midwifery and birth for thirty years and is the author of Helping Hands, The Apprentice Workbook.

For more info: Check out the impressive list of conference faculty. See the listings for all sessions.
See detailed info on conference pricing. www.trustbirthconference.com 

 

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WIN!! Insider’s Guide to Private Elementary Schools in Los Angeles September 25, 2009

Many parents worry about how to pick the right private elementary school for their child. Selecting the right school can be challenging. We’ve agonized over these decisions ourselves. And, the competitive nature of private elementary schools in Los Angeles can limit a family’s choices because there’s no guarantee that your child will be accepted at your favorite schools.

To help you choose the best possible school for your child, here are some excellent tips from Christina Simon, Anne Simon and Porcha Dodson, collaborative authors of a new book, Beyond The Brochure: An Insider’s Guide To Private Elementary Schools In Los Angeles: (Read on to learn how you can WIN one of FIVE copies of this incomparable guide!)

• Tour as many schools as possible. The authors recommend parents see between eight and ten schools to really learn how different each school is from another. This is easier if you start looking at schools two years before you apply (which is one year before your child will enroll in kindergarten). Los Angeles has excellent private elementary schools, but each one is unique and unless you visit the school, you won’t get a good feel for what it has to offer. 
• Location, location, location. Geography matters in Los Angeles. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of finding an outstanding school that you know would be a great fit for your child. The only problem: it’s an hour drive each way to and from the school. Don’t ignore this geographic reality. A commute of this distance will be difficult on your child and the entire family. And, don’t forget about your child’s play dates and events that require you to be at the school during the day and on more than a few evenings.
• Be aware of the popularity contest. It’s easy to choose a school because it’s “trendy” or “popular” or filled with celebrities. Don’t forget, these trends change from year to year and this isn’t a good reason to select a school. When parents at your child’s preschool are abuzz about a particular school, take a step back and ask yourself if you are being influenced away from your own values. Be confident in your choices even if they are not the most sought-after schools.
• Plan ahead (but not too far ahead). K-6? K-8? K-12? Should you pick an elementary school that has a middle and/or high school? A number of the top private elementary schools in Los Angeles have middle and/or high schools. How important is this when you’re choosing an elementary school? THe authors think you should focus on the elementary school at this point. It’s impossible to know whether your child will remain at the same school until he or she goes to college. The lack of a middle or high school shouldn’t deter you from touring or selecting a great elementary school. Remember that a school that is devoted to elementary education will keep its primary focus on the programs your child will benefit from now.
• Calculate the costs. Tuition at the top private elementary schools in Los Angeles can range from $17,000 to $24,000 per child, per year. Some schools are slightly more expensive and parochial schools cost less. You should know that schools increase tuition annually. And, you need to consider additional out-of-pocket expenses. Every private school asks families to contribute to their annual giving campaign. Your child may want to take enrichment classes or need after-school care. Summer camp, hot lunch and other expenses can add up quickly. If you don’t think you can afford the full tuition, inquire about financial aid, which, if awarded, could cover all or part of your child’s tuition and other expenses. Many private elementary schools place a very high priority on having an economically diverse student body. Money should not deter you from seeking the best education for your child.
• Find the right fit for your child. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of your family’s core values during this process. Look around each school and observe the classrooms, teachers, administrators, students and other parents. Try to see the students in upper grades. Can you feel a connection with the culture of the school? Do you think your child would feel comfortable at the school? Would he or she be excited to arrive at school every day? If your child is artistic and the school lacks an arts program, is it really the right school? Your goal is to find a school where your child will be inspired, challenged and nurtured. Your family should feel comfortable with the other parents. Ideally, your parenting style and family values will be similar to other families at the school. This helps build a sense of community and belonging.

The right private elementary school for your child is there. You just need to find it!

For more info: Beyond The Brochure: An Insider’s Guide To Private Elementary Schools In Los Angeles, available at Amazon.com. Visit FatEnvelopePublishing.com or see what’s new at the book’s blog.

Christina Simon is the parent of two children at the Willows Community School.

Anne Simon is the former head of Wildwood School and the former Dean of the Crossroads Middle School, where her daughter is a graduate of the high school. 

Porcha Dodson is a former teaching partner and director of diversity at the Curtis School.

WIN one of FIVE FREE copies of this amazing new book! Simply COMMENT below!

Tell us your number one concern when looking for the ideal school for your child: Is it an arts program? a style of teaching? the availability of enrichment classes? Tell us and win! Five random winners will be selected on October 16, 2005.

Talk like a pirate! Free download of LucasArts + Telltale’s Monkey Island game September 19, 2009

This is the latest news from my Parenting column on the LA Edition of Examiner.com.

Brigands and scallywags round the globe rule the day on International Talk Like a Pirate Day every year on September 19. Mark the occasion by jumping into the celebrated Monkey Island® swashbuckling pirate games offered by LucasArts and Telltale!

On September 19, Telltale is offering a free download of the premiere episode of Tales of Monkey Island all day. 

Taking place each year on September 19, Talk Like a Pirate Day was officially started in 1995 by two Oregon-based pirate lovers. The event has evolved beyond simple pirate speech with people inserting “piratey activities” into their everyday life by eating, drinking, dressing, blogging, laughing, Tweeting, and gaming like a pirate!

In addition, today through September 21, LucasArts is offering a virtual treasure trove of deals on several versions of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition titles, including:

    50% off the iPhone and iPod touch version of LucasArts new The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition via Apples App Store

    50% off The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on Steam®, Valve Corporations delivery and management platform for the PC and Direct2Drive, IGN Entertainments digital download store

Best ye jump on these offers smartly before they expire!

LucasArts will also soon release a free lite version of The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod touch as well as a sound board application for iPhone and iPod touch that features 16 witty sound-bites from The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition.

The Monkey Island pirate game phenomenon all started in 1990 with LucasArts The Secret of Monkey Island, a graphical adventure PC title featuring an aspiring pirate named Guybrush Threepwood. The game was an instant critical success and has since spawned three additional titles, making it one of the most enduring videogame franchises of all time.

For more info: 

 Book your room at Anaheim’s Pirate Waterpark at Howard Johnson!

Sharpen ye pirate speech with a visit to ye olde Pirate Glossary.

Health mag cover: Sheryl Crowe talks baby, cancer, and Michael Jackson September 17, 2009

Nine time Grammy award winner Sheryl Crowe graces the cover of Health magazine’s October 2009 issue. Readers were invited to ask intimate questions about the 47-year-old singer, performer, cancer-survivor and new mother. Writer Jancee Dunn reveals how this “wildflower” is no shrinking violet; She talks openly about managing her remission from cancer, what she learned from Michael Jackson about fame, how she knew she was ready to adopt on her own, and offers tips for staying young.

When Sheryl was first diagnosed, she met with a nutritionist specializing in disease prevention and wellbeing, and still incorporates the tips she learned: 

• Omega-3 “I eat salmon or other fish at least three times a week. I eat a lot of walnuts, almonds, colorful vegetables.”
• Antioxidants “I drink pomegranate juice and keep a vat of tomato soup around or some kind of tomato sauce, because it has lycopene, and prunes, which get such a bad rap but are loaded with antioxidants.”
• Fiber “One big thing I learned was that so much of wellness depends on your body getting rid of waste. So I eat a lot of Fiber One, which has 14 grams of fiber per serving.

For Crowe, getting cancer “was a really personal blow, because I was newly out of a relationship and that made it more difficult to even fathom that I could be diagnosed with cancer. And this great friend told me one of the gateways to awakening is to allow yourself to experience your emotions. As Westerners, we’ve gotten adept at suppressing them. It’s always ‘Try not to think about it’ or ‘Keep yourself busy.’ You push all that stuff down, and it manifests itself in other ways—whether it’s stress or disease. So my attitude was to grieve when I felt like grieving, be afraid when I felt like being afraid, and be angry when I felt ike being angry. It also helped me to learn to say no to people. That’s been really liberating.”

When Minnesota reader Joan Steffend asked if there was one piece of wisdom Sheryl would like to make sure her son Wyatt, age two, has in his heart and could carry into the world, Crowe responded, “Respect is huge—respect for the planet and honoring and loving this organism that sustains all of us. And try to make every decision out of compassion, which encompasses how you treat the planet and every person.” Crowe goes on to explain how she “let go of this picture I’d always painted about my life, about how it was going to be set up with a husband, a house, and all that. At the time I was considering adopting, everything else had sort of not worked. When you let go of the story you tell, a lot of times it creates a whole world of expansion for other things to come in.”

Sheryl Crowe was a backup singer on tour with Michael Jackson in the late 1980s. She recalls her 18 months touring with him: “I learned so much from watching him, about professionalism, about uniqueness, about artistry—things that set him apart from the rest of us. And it was a gift that I got to be witness to his greatness. I got to see some of the crazier stuff, too—the fans, the kind of undoing of his identity and the re-doing of his identity, and how lonesome that must have felt.”

As a new mom and busy performer, Sheryl takes good care of her health and is truly an athlete. “I try to do something every day that’s sports-related, and I like to be outside,” she shares. ”I love riding my bike, and playing tennis, and paddle surfing. I don’t love going to the gym, but I’ll do it if it’s rainy.”

Sheryl’s tips for looking (and staying!) young:

• I try to purge myself of stress.
• I definitely am embracing aging. When you shoot your face with Botox and stuff, you rob yourself of your ability to have youthful expressions, and that’s why sometimes people look a lot older. 
• I also have never spent a lot of time in front of the mirror. So as far as I know, I look like I’m 24, which is how I feel.

  For more info: In October 2009, Sheryl will release a deluxe two-disc edition of her debut album Tuesday Night Music Club, stuffed with goodies like a bonus DVD, rarities, and B-sides.

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