Help Reduce Anxiety Naturally

As a marriage and family therapist, I work plenty with individuals struggling with anxiety.  I am the first to say that no one thing will eliminate anxiety so there is not quick fix, but every little thing helps and change in one area does bring change in other areas because we are composed of many interlocking components: thoughts, feelings, body, spirit, & environment. In my on-line research to learn more about how to physically help the body against anxiety, I found the following foods to help reduce anxiety.

I only included the foods that continuously were reported in several medical sites to be helpful in reducing anxiety.  My research included several hours a day for 4 days.  I wish I would of written down all the sites that I obtained the below information from, but alas I didn't.  Remember, I only included those foods that every website agreed upon.  There were many more, but not all made the "unanimous vote" needed to make my cut.

Now for my disclaimer:  I am not a nutritionist, nor a food specialist, and these foods were reported to be helpful by professionals in the medical field.  Don't eat any of the foods if you are allergic to them.

OK now for the list:

Kiwi
Hard Boiled Egg
Asparagus
Strawberries
Legumes
Blueberries
Fish
Orange
Melon
Rice
Pineapple
Chicken
Apple
Caramel   (did anyone else think of a caramel apple like I did, yum)
Celery
Diary
Nuts
Fennel
Avocado
Lettuce
Black berries

Enjoy reducing your anxiety.  It also helps to see a professional like myself if you experience severe symptoms you are not able to manage.

Senior Year Recap

Water Polo Begins

Sabrina was so excited to be a Senior, and big fish on Campus & on her team.

Homecoming

She loved her dress, because it was vintage inspired.  She wishes she grew up in  

an older era because of her love for their clothing. 

After Dance Performance

 From right to left:  Dancer extraordinaire, Daddy, Me, and Grandma (my mommy).

It was an amazing concert type performance. Truly professional and I was blown away and proud at how well my munchkin performed.

Last Game

 I wonder if she's thinking the season flew by.  I thought it did.

Water Polo Banquet

 The senior moms made shadow boxes to reflect their four years on the team.  Well it was four years for these two cutie patuties.

Got A Car!

 All smiles because she got a car.  And it's stick.  Oh, yeah, my baby can drive a standard.

They call it King's Ball, we called it Saddie Hawkins Dance.  The Tees were designed and silk screened by Daddy Perez.  I thought they were super cute.

Pretty Godess

I loved how her hair turned out.  My munchkin loves to take pictures.  Can you tell?

Prom

It was at the Long Beach Aquarium, and she was jazzed that she touched a sting ray and shark.  Really, in a prom dress.  That's my girl.

Grad Shoot

The vintage homecoming dress was so beloved that it was one of her outfits during her
Graduation Photo shoot.  The photographer, Dana was amaazazing.

Class of 2011

Here she is, my first born.  Aaaah!  The gold tassel represents she earned honor roll for a minimum of 

6 semesters and the gold rope that she was on principal's honor roll.

I still haven't cried.  I'm just too darn happy, proud, and excited to cry.  But, the number one question I get is, "Did you cry?"

Love You Mija,

Madre

Cupcake Bar @ Graduation Party

YAY! 

My Daughter graduated from High School, and she plans on attending UCR for business.

Good, maybe she can teach me a thing or two, so I can build up mine.

We hosted a dinner for her this past Saturday and she requested a Cupcake Bar instead of a traditional tiered cake.  She wanted several flavors, which worked out to suite guests' diverse taste buds.

(FYI:  purple and silver  are her school colors)

With the hustle and bustle of hosting, I didn't take pictures of the set up, but my sister took two pix from her phone.  Not the best resolution, but way better than the zero pictures I took.

Check it Out.

Starting from right to left I present to you:

Cinnamon Cupcakes with a whipped frosting

Not shown in picture:  Chocolate w/Chocolate Chip Cupcake
they are in the plate that is peaking underneath the

Lemon Cupcake w/Lemon custard & Lemon drop

Strawberry Cupcake w/Strawberry Cream cheese frosting

Chocolate Cupcake w/chocolate frosting (only 3 left @ time of pix)

Angel Food Coconut Caps (below)

The Lemon Cupcakes & Angel Food Coconut Caps are from the amazing book:  Cupcakes!

I made some modifications to recipes to make them more of what I wanted.  

For example:  using the Lemon custard as a frosting instead of the traditional use as a filling.  The book pairs the Lemon cake w/a totally different frosting, which I'm sure is delicious too.

May I suggest that you try a Cupcake Bar at your next celebration or dinner party.  You can pull this together w/ store bought cake mix and frosting or whipped topping if you don't wanna bake from scratch.

Sweet endings.

Baked Goodies

I purchased a wonderful cupcake cook book and began trying the recipes.

Each one was a total hit.  My munchkin is eating the chocolate

peanut butter cups.

 Yummy!  The Oreo, Chocolate chip Cupcakes were just as scrumptious.

 I took Banana Butterscotch Cupcakes and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes to my sister's birthday.

The name of the Book is called, Cupcakes!

by:  Elinor Klivans

Problem Solved

Thankfully, I don't have to worry about my son getting his ears pierced.....yet.

After being sent various letters from elite universities in the States, he has lost interest in getting his ears pierced, and has been more interested in learning about the different universities.

The ADHD nature of adolescence can work in parents' favor sometimes.

I just pray he will continue to make good decisions and good grades.

Daughter's Senior Year

This School Year has me in a whirlwind.  My daughter's senior year is proving to be fast paced, expensive, eventful, full of deadlines, exuberant, and just plain emotional.


My head is spinning just thinking about where to start the catching up process.  Instead of trying to play catch up, I will tell you where we are now.

*  My daughter was accepted to Azusa Pacific University w/a scholarship and grant to cover some of the costs, she was accepted to University of CA Riverside w/partial grants to cover the cost, and she was accepted to Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly Pomona.  I'm very proud........... just in case you couldn't tell.  :)  So, we have some decisions to make before April 1st regarding which university she will attend.  Please pray for us.

*  She also just completed her water polo season, and is very depressed that her time on the team is over.  The banquet was awesome and I made her a shadow box of her four years on the team.

*  We are planning on going Prom dress shopping next week, God willing.  She also plans on taking her driving test next week, please pray for her.  We are also hoping to look at a used car my husband's been eyeing.

*  We just got word from the cap and gown people that the delivery date was changed, so her graduation photo shoot hasn't been finalized until after we get that cap and gown.  I can't wait for the photo shoot.  It will be my first with my kids and hubby.

All this is just what we are experiencing with my daughter.  I'll have to share about the rest of us later.

Have a Blessed and Thankful Day.

Pros and Cons of Male Ear Piercing

Happy Birthday Alex

My eldest son turned 16 today. We took him to linner (lunch/dinner- it was late).
We bought him a video, and
We signed him up for drivers ed

He was very grateful and he enjoys not being the center of attention,
so this low key celebration was perfect for him.

When we arrived home, he tells me in a half joking, half serious way,
"Hey mom, pull out a needle and pierce my ears."

Our quiet birthday celebration became a discussion I wasn't prepared for.

My first response was "NO". I knew he wasn't kidding when he kept trying to convince me to pierce his ears. Then, I had to say, "Let me think about it",
but truly I'm gonna pray about it. What happened to my 'I don't like to be the center of attention child'? IDK....idk

Some of my big reservations are:

Will he be mistreated because he is being misjudged by teachers
and adults?

Is he trying to be cool?

Is he trying to be a tough guy?

Is he falling into peer pressure?

Will the piercing mess up college interviews and getting jobs (he is really
smart and aspires to be a bio-mechanical engineer)?

There are so many social implications that go along with a boy having his ears pierced that I never even had to second guess with my daughter. Just in case you are wondering what his dad said. He said, "NO" quicker than I did initially. He is also worried that
dudes with pierced ears are associated with drugs.

I ask that all my fellow believers please pray, we make the best decision. I am also open to your input. After all in the counsel of many is found wisdom.

Happy Birthday My Son!

Love Ya always!