Disclosure: This post was sponsored by CLEAR CARE® PLUS as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I received financial ... » Learn More about My Husband Almost Lost An Eye So You Can Win Stuff!
DIY
Stop Looking At Me, Swan
Walking down the aisle on my Dad's arm, en route to my would-be husband, I was sweating. It wasn't the muggy July air, the church's ancient air conditioner, or my 40-pound dress. It was the anxiety of ALL EYES ON ME. Everyone was staring at me, you guys, and it freaked me out! Granted, they were ... » Learn More about Stop Looking At Me, Swan
The Parenting Manual They Said Didn’t Exist
What is that boy thinking?! OMG. Why can't I get through to her?! IF ONLY THERE WERE A HOW-TO MANUAL FOR RAISING KIDS!!!!! Know when I can really use some help with kids? When my oldest brings home that super contagious bug from school. No, not the flu; the eye-rolling, back-talking, ... » Learn More about The Parenting Manual They Said Didn’t Exist
This is What a Decade of Us Looks Like
10 years, 521 weeks, 3,650 days. A decade. I'm not sure what a decade of marriage looks like anywhere else, but around here, it looks a lot like three kids and two dogs a strict family budget ohmygod relax dinnertime trivia an obsessively landscaped lawn dog hair all over the ... » Learn More about This is What a Decade of Us Looks Like
I blinked & you turned 7
Soaking in the tub, timing contractions, my enormous belly an island jutting out of the water. I loved every day of my pregnancy, and even though it's selfish, I admit it was sad seeing it come to an end because that meant I had to share you. Later, sitting backwards on a chair in the living ... » Learn More about I blinked & you turned 7
Oh, potty training, how I have NOT missed you
Hey, you know what's really great, and by great, I mean "makes me want to scoop out my eyes with a rusty spork?" Potty training a small human. All the experts tell us to look for SIGNS OF READINESS like dry diapers in the morning or mini-tantrums when one soils herself, but here's some inside scoop: ... » Learn More about Oh, potty training, how I have NOT missed you
Just Keep Swimming
My 6-year-old is arguing because he is right and I am wrong. My 4-year-old is whining because today is not her birthday. My 2-year-old is screaming because she no longer fits inside my uterus. I’ve used the scary mom voice more times in the last 30 minutes than I have in the last 30 days. You ... » Learn More about Just Keep Swimming
2016 Listen to Your Mother Pittsburgh Videos Are Here!
Once we choose our cast, which is a monumental and emotionally exhausting task, we begin an equally laborious labor of love in organizing the individual essays in an order that highlights their individual importance, but also allows for a smooth transition from one story to the next. When ... » Learn More about 2016 Listen to Your Mother Pittsburgh Videos Are Here!
Smiling is my favorite
Sometimes, people suck. They're hateful and hurtful and emphatically unapologetic. They're purposeful and pointed in their words and actions, aiming to cut others with them. Sometimes, people don't suck. They go on hugging sprees, give a voice to the voiceless, and stand up for those who are ... » Learn More about Smiling is my favorite
Give the Gift of Experience: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust & Citizen’s Bank Children’s Theater Series + GIVEAWAY!
My brother-in-law and his super thoughtful wife got my daughter the BEST birthday present when she turned a whole hand old in May. The kid absolutely loved it and it wasn't even a toy. I KNOW, RIGHT?! My newly minted 5-year-old and her big brother were escorted to downtown Pittsburgh where ... » Learn More about Give the Gift of Experience: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust & Citizen’s Bank Children’s Theater Series + GIVEAWAY!