Studies show that a girls self-esteem peaks at around age 9. AGE 9!!! WHAT??? Yup, it's true, and from what I've seen in my recent workshops and classes, this research holds some weight. I see girls becoming increasingly aware of - and vulnerable to - the pressures to be popular, smart, pretty, with long legs, liked by boys, and pretty much good at everything.

"Candy is not love!" is an expression I have been known to belt out when my children are begging for sweets as if their world depended on it. In moments it seems as though they will feel abandoned, unloved, depressed, sad or deprived if they don't get their sweet treat. Or is this projection on my part? Although my comment is directed to them, I think I may be reminding myself of the simple - but hard to remember - fact that as yummy as it is, food really isn't love.

It's Valentine's Day and although I don't believe that chocolate (or any food for that matter) is a great long-term substitute for love, I do believe in small doses it can make everything a little sweeter!

Have you ever felt like just running away (or hiding out for a day or so under your covers?)  Has your daughter ever threatened to run away after an argument or upset?If so, maybe my story below will help. Most of us have felt like that before!

What have you been drinking to keep you hydrated in the cold? I've been drinking plenty of a favorite drink: Kombucha. Although it's a little strange tasting at first, I have quickly become hooked on its slightly sour and refreshing flavor. 

This recipe is so simple that once you do it once, you won't need a recipe.  I've simply upgraded the ingredients from a regular store bought packet to make it more wholesome and nourishing (and equally delicious). Here's what's in a traditional store bought hot chocolate mix:  

 One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."  Virginia Woolf Virginia Woolf was on to something:  food - and our relationship to it - is our sustenance, our lifeblood.  It has the potential to be a source of nourishment and wellbeing or, as is the case for many people, a source of angst and unhappiness. Last month, I wrote about sugar and its impact on our mood, cravings, attention, and energy.  I know, based on your notes to me, that 

I was recently in New York City, standing in line at Starbucks when my friend pointed out this sign to me:  "Make Yourself Happy - Choose a Sweet Indulgence or a Non-Fat Option."  As initially tempting as all the treats in the case behind the sign looked, I had to laugh at the irony of the words on the sign. 

A friend and I spent time working on a "New Year's" exercise which involved taking stock of the previous year and using that awareness to look ahead to the upcoming year.  One of the questions was: "What were your 5 most important "lessons learned" this past year?" To which my first response was:  "I'm going to skip that one."