Years ago, my nightstand was home to an array of lip glosses, novels that substituted for reality as long as I continued to turn the pages, notes about upcoming lesson plans, and a framed picture of yours truly and my soon-to-be-husband. Almost ten years later, my nightstand is hidden ... » Learn More about Balancing Love & Discipline with MomAssembly
DIY
Once Upon A Time, I Was a Step Team Coach
One regret that lingers from my high school days is that I didn't embarrass myself more often. Not, like, slip on spilled milk in the cafeteria and fall on my face embarrass. But the kind of invigorating embarrassment that comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone. Of taking a risk. Of ... » Learn More about Once Upon A Time, I Was a Step Team Coach
Water THIS
“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Sprint. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating." 'Twas the night before the Fourth, In July of last year. But the memory so fresh; The image so clear. ... » Learn More about Water THIS
A Very Professional Interview with Johanna Stein, Author of How Not To Calm A Child On a Plane
Vomit-covered hands. Dead body discovery. Foul-mouthed, pot-smoking parents (well, mostly Dad). A smuggled placenta. What's this, you ask? The next episode of Pretty Little Liars? (Does that reference work here? 'Cause I've truthfully never seen the show and had to Google "popular TV ... » Learn More about A Very Professional Interview with Johanna Stein, Author of How Not To Calm A Child On a Plane
The 10 People You Meet In the Hospital
If you're new 'round these parts, you may not know that I recently expelled a tiny human from my loins. Baby Girl, mine and the husband's third creation, joined our family in April, but not before an interesting hospital stay. I am somewhat of a self-proclaimed expert on hospital stays, having had a ... » Learn More about The 10 People You Meet In the Hospital
Kindermint Saves & Makes You Money
I often joke that my husband is General Norman Schwarzkopf with a spreadsheet: when it comes to managing our family budget, he takes a no-nonsense approach. I once found $20 in a coat pocket and he deposited it in the kids' college funds. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but he really is nuts ... » Learn More about Kindermint Saves & Makes You Money
Why I Put My Husband (and Sometimes Myself) Before My Kids
Before I had my own babies, I envisioned the kind of mother I would be: cool-headed Carol Brady mixed with the high-energy Claire from Modern Family and a pinch of Married with Children’s Peg Bundy just for fun. I could never pull off the June Cleaver type; it’s simply not in my DNA to make dinner ... » Learn More about Why I Put My Husband (and Sometimes Myself) Before My Kids
A Distraction Is Not An Accident
"I trust you, just not the other drivers on the road." Even though I got my license about 106 years ago, after failing the permit test once don't judge me, my dad's words are still bouncing around in my brain. Since the day my fat head was printed on a little plastic card, my parents have had ... » Learn More about A Distraction Is Not An Accident
I’m Cheating On My Computer With My Loose-Leaf Notebook
There's this fun thing going on each Monday with some of the pals in my computer; we're talking about our writing processes. It's a blog tour about writing, people! SWOON! As an English teacher, I've taught the writing process several times: pre-write, draft, revise, etc. It was always very ... » Learn More about I’m Cheating On My Computer With My Loose-Leaf Notebook
Say CHEESE!
“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Arla Dofino. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.” The other day I overheard my son asking my husband why "Mom has a fat face." After ... » Learn More about Say CHEESE!