Mama's Night Out

I got invited to a Mama's night out and joined the MAMA TRIBE 2010.

I received an evite with a picture of some very sexy high heels stating that it was time to leave the kids with Daddy and head out for a night of restorative yoga at inYOGA Center. This place was amazing!!! What a studio, with amazing bathrooms including a shower. It has a great boutique fully stocked with clothes incense, jewelry and of course anything you might need for a class of Yoga. Fantastic furniture. A dinner table that I would die for, perfect for my huge family and made of solid wood. Leather chairs I also wish I could have, big enough to share, which I did, or snuggle up with a blanket and read for hours. The studio offers teas, water and tangerines for the patrons. The actual studio was huge and so beautiful. I urge you to check them out. They are located in Valley Village and have classes for everyone and every level including prenatal and I am sure you can guess mommy & me classes. www.inyogacenter.com They have an amazing promo right now for all new inYoga students $30 for 15 days unlimited yoga. 

It started with mamas coming in one by one, can anyone believe I arrived on time and actually early. I was the first one there and saw the gifts lined up. All the moms were so friendly and nice and before long we were sharing parenting stories. It was incredible to be surrounded by all these moms. I had never joined any mommy and me classes so this was an entirely new experience for me. Caitlin Reid was our yoga instructor. She stayed late for our private party and lead our class that started around 9pm. She was really amazing, it was a beautiful class, she played close attention to our form especially to the pregnant moms, offering modifications in poses if needed. It was a class filled with mommy energy, and at the end of the class I felt entirely relaxed and and felt disappointed for not practicing on a more regular basis.

This was followed by healthy treats like Vietnamese spring rolls, Thai papaya salad, crispy egg rolls fried in grape seed oil and Mexican hummus with pita bread. We were asked to bring a bottle of wine to share. Oh and these ladies brought some excellent wines. Each wine glass was given a pretty blue circle with a stick back that you could hand write your name and attach to your glass. I really enjoyed myself talking it up. I was not the first or the last to leave and if you are a mom with a toddler you can understand just how tired you can be by 11. To top the evening off we were gifted a incredibly wrapped set of handmade earrings by CheliJewelry Cheli Jewelry.com. Check out the pictures. Wow!

I was told that these go with any skin tone &  outfit.

Thanks

Koko's Turkey Roasted & Carved 

This year has been a crazy year for me. Every year probably is but I am writing about 2010 baby. The holidays were amazing. I enjoyed myself with family. I started early this year (Wednesday) and it was actually refreshing! I cleaned and applied all my seasonings to my 25lb bird early afternoon. Roasted my turkey and it was finished at about 1am. I woke up at 6:30 but stayed in bed until 7:00 when my niece called my cell to ask if we were still volunteering at the Pasadena Union Station Dinner in the Park, but it was actually late breakfast time.  We specifically volunteered through my good friend, (Fight Academy) Rahima's company Loopnet provided the Kids Zone. We got there early, I am starting to like arriving on time :) Ok back to the topic! I really was a worker bee and I unloaded, set up and supervised. Supervising included picking up trash. hehe But really, it was amazing experience. So many many volunteers! Loopnet provided all the supplies, cotton candy, temporary tattoos, face painting, huge jumper, gift bags, beading and those plastic looking beads you melt with an iron to make a specific shape. Fight Academy supplied the muscle, they carried the bouncer and cotton candy machine and the generators since it was Thanksgiving and the supply company was closed and delivered the day before.  It almost feels wrong saying that I had fun, but I really did. Bella spent hours making cotton candy,  she was covered in it. On her hair, on her hat and on her clothes. We headed home around noon & Richie was in the process of getting ready to deep fry his 13lb turkey and dozen turkey legs.MMMMmmmm. 

Richie's Deep Fried Turkey 13lbs

I cleaned up after and sanitized our kitchen from all that raw turkey. Close to 60lbs of turkey!!!!! gobble gobble. It actually took a while. Then we packaged all the food , loaded the car then headed to my sisters. 

Weeeeee Gave my mom all the drippings and other ingredients so she can make her bomb gravy!! Oh yeah and Wondee (mom-in-law) made spicy garlic green beans. So good. We ate and since it was my family, boy did we drink. Oh while I was heating the stuffing, I burnt my fingers good. It burned until 9:30. I sprayed it with some numbing stuff, I think it worked. I have not burned my finger tips in so many years. BOY DID IT BURN... THAT DEEP BURN. We headed to Richie's uncles for 2nd dinner around 5:30 with an ice pack in hand. We arrived 7 minutes late, remember I am getting used to this whole "on time thing". I have a problem with SEVERELY under-estimating the time it actually takes to do anything. I also have this inherited awful habit of pulling the finale out of my bootie at the last minute, saving myself just by the hair of my chinnie chin chin, had a talk with my brother aka ladies man about this and we are both trying to change change change it!!! Back to the subject.... 


Dinner of course was the BOMB at Loongti's. omg.. And we ate again. And......... we drank so more. I was stuffed! I did not have any room for dessert at all and yes for the first time in my entire life, I unbuttoned my pants. Hehe. The AZ cousins, 2/3 came to dinner and we chatted. The girls were girls and the boys were boys. The girls talked it up and the boys video gamed it up. Bells was a floater.  Since my fingers were burned, I could not possibly help clean up. :( I actually still tried.hehehe At 11:30 we made our way home.  It was a night! Richie and I un-winded and the girls slept. I am thankful to be loved by so many. My sister loves me and has that unconditional love for me. I can go through those sappy Sister Birthday cards, and they actually apply to my sister. My brother aka ladies man is the one brother of five that I actually speak to and can depend on and has my back like scary crazy cool brother. His daughters are beautiful and amazing in very different ways. My nephews aka my first born are amazing! They are all so super duper smart! I love them! But to discuss being thankful, I now have a teenage daughter who was recently flirting with a much older boy, I had not until that moment felt like a "real" grown-up, I suddenly wanted her to have all the opportunities I did not and avoid the less desirable choices I had made. I want her to know that we are a team. We are and will always be. I really really love my family and I really love my planet, earth. I care about animals. I love kids and old people. I went to college, including nights to be able to work, have a baby and go to school. I had my daughter at 19. I got  a job at a birth center while in college so that I could get my birth for 50% off. I had a drug free birth, took care of  my daughter, went to school and worked more than part time. I kicked butt, not because I was trying to prove something but because I saw my goal & everything in the middle was just what I needed to do to get where I needed to be. I actually had a social life believe it or not. All of that is thanks to my family who would baby-sit so I could study or go out to a bar to celebrate passing a test with my classmates. I have been with my man since I was 15 and we have had so many hiccups along the way. But at the time... I was one of the youngest chiropractors to graduate from my college at age 25 and I did it all with a baby! I studied and studied, I had 28-32 units a trimester! that is double what is considered a full time student (12-15 units) and I was in school 50% more since I was on the trimester schedule not the standard semester schedule. Passed 4 parts of the national board exam, Not to mention while in school was working on my fellowship in pediatrics and pregnancy so that I could save 50% approx. 5 thousand dollars and studied and passed that exam. I also volunteered coaching kids play sports at the local rec center for several years. I traveled our country playing basketball in the Chiropractic Olympics once a year, including Iowa, Texas and New York. I hiked 29 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Got married in Costa Rica and loved Thailand, swimming in clear turquoise water and visiting my family in Mexico swimming in fresh water and the most beautiful fish. We live in a Beautiful World! I traveled this planet which has changed me crazy!! Traveled to Bali, working on 100's of bodies and witnessing miracles! I am now a pediatric chiropractor. I own my own business and we survived the economy. I am so thankful that I am where I am. I have evolved. Many of my circle have also evolved and my circle has evolved very much, but to get to the point, I was pregnant at 18, had my baby at 19, was a DC at 25, Opened my own business at 26. Incorporated at 27. I am now 32. I have 2 kids, a man I have been with for 16 years(1/2 my life) and a 50% business owner. I can honestly say it was not easy, but I never gave myself an alternative. I can not say whether or not this was a good thing but I can say it is my life and I am thankful.

Senator Carol Liu’s 10th Annual Women’s Conference

Over 1,000 women & some men enjoyed a full day of activities at California Senator Carol Liu’s 10^th Annual Women’s Conference held Friday October 29, 2010 at the Pasadena Convention Center.

The morning started off with a continental breakfast featuring a keynote by local area resident & radio personality Mother Love, followed by 3 tiers of mid morning workshops, with the day finishing with a luncheon.

In between morning workshops conference guests were able to stop by various exhibitor booths.

Dr. Kolleen Gregory was pleased to talk with conference attendees, and was pleased to see current Focus Chiropractic clients who stopped by our booth.

Focus Chiropractic’s booth featured enticing giveaways for conference attendees, providing them with information on chiropractic and health tips and gift bags.The workshops covered numerous issues important to women, with topics ranging from Aging, Relaxation Tips, and Breast Health.

Focus Chiropractic is committed to your health. Look for us at future area conferences, events, and presentations. If you are interested in having Dr. Kolleen Gregory speak to your group or senior facility call Focus Chiropractic at 626.449.0900. 

Thank You

Over 40,000 votes were cast in Pasadena Weekly’s 2010 “Best of Pasadena” Annual Contest. The contest allowed thousands of Pasadena residents, workers and visitors to cast their vote for their favorites, inclusive of everything from dentist, boutiques, grocery stores, bookstore, restaurant and chiropractors.

We are pleased to announce that Focus Chiropractic is the 2010 Winner of the prestigious Best of Pasadena Reader Choice Award for Best Chiropractor.

Focus Chiropractic would like to thank our wonderful patients, family & friends who took the time to vote for us in this year’s contest.

In celebration of Focus Chiropractic winning the 2010 Reader’s Choice Chiropractor, Focus Chiropractic is offering a personalized lip balm & mini gift bag for our current and new patients. Mention “Best of” when you come into the office to pick it up.

Best of Pasadena Celebration

 It was a night to remember. Thank you for voting us Best of Pasadena 2010, Best Chiropractor Reader Recommended.  We attended the Pasadena Weekly party at the Paseo on Colorado and waited in line to check in and and get our orange wrist bands. There was not an actual awards ceremony but there was plenty of drinking and amazing food! Simply because all the winners were sharing. There were coupons galore, one of my favorite things in the world, however I have not used one yet. The theme of the night, was going to the circus. They had a few clowns, non creepy or scary just silly and fun. Cotton Candy was offered to all the guests. There were a few games including the one were you have a big sledge hammer and hit the platform that rings a bell. Super cute. It was a celebration no doubt, we got to sample the local cuisine and meet many of the business owners.  We mingled. It was a great event. We really enjoyed  mugshots www.mugshotsphotobooth.com who had a free photo-booth to document our memories and had the opportunity to download the images online for free. As you can see both Dr. Richard and myself had fun with it. My new favorite rib spot is Bonnie B's Smokin' BBQ Heaven, we even met the owner and her son. So friendly. www.bonniebssmokin.com The mac and cheese was fantastic! They were amazing!!! Seriously!!!  They had a DJ playing great music and we Danced too. Even though there was plenty of alcohol, it was a family event. All ages were getting down. Little ones to older ones and all in between. We did hang a bit with Abby Royal, from le Studio Pilate's, our neighbor and fellow winner while we compared food tasting stories. There was a great raffle and we almost won a bike. Almost doesn't really count. But the money raised was for a great cause. Red white and blues provided several drinks. An amazing bar including mixed drinks, wine and beer. It was by far the best Alcohol representation of the Best of Pasadena.   Arclight was there sponsoring the event and had a neat spin the wheel game with trivia movie questions. I became a member. Becoming a member has many perks. We attempted to win a Jackass (the movie) gift set but lucked out. I don't remember as well as I used to. :(. Hilarious indeed. We did get popcorn and caramel corn. We literally tried every food station. I can't recall the final count but I was FULL. I ate several different ribs, sushi, fish tacos, hummus, ice cream sandwich from Pop Champagne & Dessert Bar www.popchampagnebar.com, popcorn , cupcakes www.dotscupcakes.com, sandwiches, Jamaican food, Kabuki makes a killer spicy tuna hand roll (I had 2), mole, tamales, several wine bars. Great Harvest Bread Company on Mission Street in South Pasadena will be an amazing addition to my special get togethers. Baked Fresh Every Day! Cheese and meat platters , and all in our tummies all the while a drink in my hand. I had to try a little of everything.  I also got carded. :) :) There was an amazing face painter. I am crazy when it comes to face painting.I have a few  pictures. I really really had so much Fun check out our pics. I was enjoying myself so much I did not take enough pictures. We received our award in the mail a week later. It is a nice award. We are framing it with the cover. Richie says his favorite part was the being with me. Hanging out, stuffing our faces taking pictures while meeting the people behind the Best of Pasadena. It was an amazing night. I felt proud to be there and got the opportunity to enjoy an evening out with the hubby celebrating being recognized for doing what I love. Helping people live healthy lives. After all, My focus is your health. 

Wordle.Net

I love this site. You basically make word clouds. So I took all the words from my website and created this:
First one is me ;) Second one is Focus Chiropractic.

Whats the deal with Fish Oils & Pregnancy

Me 9 months pregnant

Why EPA/DHA?
Brain development - The connection between fish oil and fetal development is such an important one; studies show that the DHA omega3 content helps the brain of the fetus to develop properly. For starters, 60% of human brain is made of fats and half of that fat is DHA. Hence, studies have shown that regular consumption of omega3 during pregnancy makes it possible for the baby to get enough DHA to form its brain very well.

Well-developed brain helps to enhance the brain functions of the baby such as memory, concentration and learning. This particular link between fish oil and fetal development helps to prevent the baby from developing ADD or ADHD in the future. It also helps to increase the IQ of the baby.

Immune system - Fish oil also helps the fetus to develop strong immune system that helps to prevent pre-term mortality and stillbirth. It also helps to prevent the baby from developing allergies and other diseases in the future.

Vision - It also helps the vision of the baby to develop properly.

Regular consumption of fish oil is not only beneficial for fetal development; it also helps the mother to have easy labor/delivery of the child. It also helps to prevent postnatal depression.

In order to get all these benefits you need to take supplements that contain high amounts of DHA (at least 250mg per 1000mg of fishoil capsule). You should also ensure that you buy a brand that is molecularly distilled; this is very important because this is the only process that removes contaminants such as mercury, lead, PCBs and other pollutants from the oil.

Now that you know the important relationship between fish oil and fetal development, make sure that you do not deprive your baby and yourself of these amazing benefits.

 Maternal Health & Omega-3 Fats

Is Your Child’s Backpack Too Heavy?

Is Your Child’s Backpack Too Heavy?

As the end of summer vacation nears and the new school year begins, students are preparing for a successful new academic year. Key in the back to school shopping fun is the purchase of backpacks. Is carrying heavy backpacks to school causing health problems for your kids?

Did you know, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are more than 6,500 emergency room visits each year by children ages 5-18 which stem from injuries related to heavy backpacks or book bags. Additional research further shows that by the end of their teen years, nearly 60 percent of children experience at least one low-back pain episode. Backpack loads are responsible for a significant amount of back pain in children, teens and college students.

Nicolette Langley, an 8th grader at Immaculate Heart School recently experienced back pain associated with an ill fitted backpack. She visited Pasadena chiropractor Dr. Kolleen Gregory, D.C. of Focus Chiropractic for relief from her symptoms. Nicolette recalls “Pain started in my neck then went to my shoulder and back and I couldn’t understand why, my mom took me to Dr. Kolleen and she helped me with pain but also taught me back pack safety. My books are so heavy but now I have learned to spread them out and protect my growing spine.”

Common Symptoms of Poor Backpack Loading or Carrying include neck pain, headaches, poor posture, shoulder pain or stiffness.

Here are Dr. Kolleen Gregory’s 5 Backpack Safety Tips to Remember while Backpack Shopping

1.      Choose right: Not too long or short. Proper Size is 75% of the length of your back. Approximately the space between the shoulder blades and waist.

2.      Pack Right: The maximum weight of the loaded backpack should not exceed 15% of your body weight. If your child’s Body weight is 80 pounds, the maximum backpack weight is 12 pounds.

3.      Wear Right: Use both shoulder straps, they should be snug but not tight. Straps should be Adjustable, 1 1/2” wide and padded. Fits well resting on the lower back

4.      Fill Right: Make sure pens and pencils or other sharp object are kept in a safe pocket so they will not poke through and injure you or someone else.

5.      Back Comfort: The backpack should be Comfortable for the child.

Back To School Special:  FREE Children’s Spine Check

Remember to have your child's spine checked for proper alignment, especially if they complain of headaches, back, neck, or shoulder pain. Focus Chiropractic is dedicated to providing you & your family with the absolute best in Family Wellness care and we will provide your child (ren) under 18 or college student a FREE spine check for proper alignment. Contact us today at (626) 449 – 0900 to schedule your Child’s FREE Spine check today.

If you are a school administrator and would like a representative from Focus Chiropractic to speak at your child’s school please contact Dr. Kolleen Gregory, D.C. at (626) 449-0900 or at www.focuschiropractic.net.

About US:

At Focus Chiropractic, Our Focus is Your Health. Focus Chiropractic is a Chiropractic & Pediatric Wellness Office located in Pasadena, CA. We provide Chiropractic Care, Spinal & Postural Screenings, Nutritional Counseling and other chiropractic services. Dr. Kolleen Gregory and Dr. Richard Kachanon are committed to bringing clients better health and a better way of life.  Focus Chiropractic is located at 236 W Mountain Ave Suite #107 Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 449-0900 www.focuschiropractic.net

If you’d like more information about backpack safety please contact Focus Chiropractic at (626) 449-0900 or online at www.focuschiropractic.net