Five Life Lessons from Mom 2.0
Despite what the Wall Street Journal might think (or rather, portray for the sake of a traffic spike), mommy blogger conferences like Mom 2.0 are not about sleeping in and draining the minibar. In fact, I slept very little and I'm not even sure whether our room had a minibar. Why? Because instead of sleeping and/or draining the minibar, I spent my time soaking in the incredibly talented and brilliant people who attended this conference. I left with a notebook full of professional (yes, Wall Street Journal, professional) ideas, and five life lessons I wanted to share with all of you; they're relevant for everyone.
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We've lived in our house for over four years, and while I'm grateful for the walls that bring us warmth and comfort each day, I have also, admittedly, been itching to move. It's currently more of a recreational fancy (oh, Trulia, how I've been enjoying your app!) but moving has been enough of a point of conversation that I've needed to talk Laurel down about it more than a few times. So when 
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Ever since 
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Happy New Year everyone -- I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday! I apologize for not giving proper warning about my radio silence here...I had a post queued up to let you know about my holiday plans for the site, but ended up falling off the social media map in the most delightful way. Taking work into low gear + truly living the 
The events in Newtown likely have left many or all of us with an altered lens on the holidays. Every day since last Friday, I've experienced countless seemingly everyday moments with Laurel and Violet that just don't feel so everyday to me anymore. I'm not saying that every moment is easy or fun (for example, Violet's tantrums), but the moments where I feel my eyes fill with tears and think I am lucky to be experiencing this have been plentiful. So for this week's 
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Boys count too. Of course they do. But this fall, I've learned so much about the disproportionate challenges that girls face, most notably through what I witnessed on the ground in 
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Today is the first day of November (!) which for me signals -- among other things -- the approach of the holidays. Every year, Jon and I try to minimize holiday stress (incidentally, I'm super excited about the ideas Asha and I share on this topic in 
Well, so. No school tomorrow. Last week was frightfully busy and my family is still recovering from the craziness of my fall travel, so this weekend I told myself, Don't work! Play with Jon and the girls! Work can wait until Monday! We enjoyed a lovely, lazy weekend and now here we are, with Monday (and possibly Tuesday) off. Part of me is a bit freaked out about all of the work I need to tend to, and part of me realizes I just need to embrace the adventure. So I thought I'd garner some inspiration from my own archives and also share them with you. Many of the ideas are fun to do with the kids while also being somewhat productive! Here's to hoping we've got power...and stay safe everyone!
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Ten days ago, I did something incredibly -- and somewhat unexpectedly -- impacting. I walked a runway 
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This year I've been feeling a bit emotional about relationships. After several years with little activity on the wedding circuit, there's been so much love to celebrate -- within one year, three of my sisters and five other dear friends (!) have tied or will tie the knot. And on the other end of the spectrum, I've seen friends struggle in their relationships -- my heart aches mightily for them. So, following the tradition of my reflections on Jon and my 
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Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed lots of time outside during the glorious weekend (a stark contrast to today...)! I'm in Washington, DC right now for a short client-related trip and will head home later today, and I'm feeling quite nostalgic being here. I first spent time in the DC area back during college when I served as a White House intern, and then lived just outside the District when Jon was in graduate school. I wish I was here for longer to walk around and soak everything in but I'm thinking it would be fun to visit as a family sometime soon. Meanwhile, I hope you're all getting ready for a great week. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
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Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Laurel and I had an amazing 
I am many levels below my mother's golden standard of housekeeping (for example, she used to iron my father's boxer shorts...I, on the other hand, cannot recall the last time I wielded an iron), but I do -- like many (all?) women -- wrestle with issues related to home and work and time. So I'm thrilled and honored to be co-hosting 
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Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a lot of family time (including, for me, the rare and lovely opportunity to see all four of my sisters), and I'm also super excited to share the new website for 
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For Laurel's first few birthday parties, I assembled fun yet somewhat insane birthday parties -- inviting tons of people, making tons of food, and admittedly not being particularly mindful of the fact that Laurel is overwhelmed by large crowds and that I was putting a lot of unnecessary work on myself. I eventually smartened up, opting for smaller and simpler gatherings. And whether it's a function of my 
Happy Monday and hooray for this glorious spring weather! Yesterday was just such a beautiful day to celebrate Violet's first birthday (I'll be sharing some thoughts on simple yet festive birthdays this week), and it was fun to see Laurel and her cousin Alyssa + some of my sisters hula hooping outside. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
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Happy Monday -- I hope you had a lovely weekend and are gearing up for an excellent week. Of note in my sphere is that I will be introducing the new Boston Mamas contributors very soon, diving into book writing mode (Asha and I just started a 
Hi everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I just wanted to check in to let you know that I'm going to be largely absent this week (though I do hope to reveal some exciting news soon!). I want to spend time with Jon and the girls on the front end of this week, particularly because I will be heading to 
Last week I hopped onto a chat at The Motherhood about 
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I'm part of the 
While I was en route to California this past weekend, I was so happy to have some quiet time to read through more of the 
As part of Momversation and Ragú®'s Mom's the Word on Dinner Program, I recently chatted with 
In May, I wrote about Laurel encouraging us to start up 
Whether or not extreme couponing is your thing, grocery budgeting is top of mind for most families. As part of Momversation and Ragú®'s Mom's the Word on Dinner Program, I recently chatted with 
Like many moms, my daily life is packed -- both with work projects and a seemingly endless stream of household minutia. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how to increase my happiness factor by shifting the weight off the minutia (I even have a draft post titled "How to Do Less"), so it was bizarrely well timed when 
Through the 
As social an animal as I am, I have to admit that I get a little squirrely when faced with the prospect of the "first date" parental chit chat associated with Laurel's playdates with new friends. This week I shared thoughts about 
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Hello friends! Per usual, the web was replete with interesting tips and inspiration this week. Here are some links that I thought you'd find interesting -- enjoy!
I recently wrote about getting back to basics with 
In the last couple of years I have taken towards reflecting here on Jon and my anniversary -- about 
As a foodie and person who is hugely grateful that our family manages to convene for dinner almost every night, it's been fun to be part of the 
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It was a momentous week, and one that left me -- and many others -- with complicated emotions and reactions regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden. This week 
I met 
Simply put, I love having 
It's been fun to see the family and food dialogue that has transpired as part of Momversation and Ragú®'s Mom's the Word on Dinner Program. Today, my second video with the project just launched -- in it, Whitney Moss, Kim Tracy Prince, and I discuss 
One of the most positive mojo business pairings I know is Cooper Munroe and Emily McKhann of 
I adore Heather and Whitney of 
Asha Dornfest of 
One thing is for sure: in this fast paced, instant gratification world of social media, being an online person who disappears for a few days apparently results in some digital hand wringing. When I finally turned my Blackberry back on following 
What a fantastic episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about 
I had a bit of a 
What a fun episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about 
This week on Life.Style, I engaged in a second conversation on 
Well, my friends, here we are at another snow day. I don't know about you, but the first couple of snow days I was all happy that I could be that mom -- the one who could just shut everything else off, hang out with Laurel in my jammies, and goof off all day. But the last few snow days I've definitely been feeling the strain -- not just of dealing with the snow, but also with the whole default snow/sick day parent thing (ironically, I will be discussing this very topic tomorrow on 
This week on Life.Style, I engaged in the first of a two-part (at this point...the conversation could have continued for hours!) series on 
One cool thing about raising a growing reader is that we're now hitting material that: a) I remember loving as a young girl; and b) still captivates after all these years. Before the holidays, Laurel decided that she wanted to read 
It was so great to get back into the studio this week, and it was wonderful to kick off my 2011 programming talking about 
A few years ago, 
So fitting for the holiday season, 
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A few weeks ago I admittedly got pretty riled up when I heard about the Corn Refiners Association's (CRA) 
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Here are some links that caught my eye this week, and that I curated over at 
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Last September, in honor of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, contributing writer 
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For help with back to school transitions, consider these book recommendations from parent educator 
Hello friends! I hope you had a fantastic week while I was away. Other than dealing with a pesky head cold, I had a wonderful, reflective week off; I'm excited to be back sharing all sorts of useful and clever awesomeness with you, and I'm also feeling very happy about a new perspective I developed on parenting, work, and balance this past week. It only seems fitting to 
Now, the second of two 
Today I'll be fielding two 
Through my role here and as 
One of the things that is so sweet about Laurel is that she is so people focused. When she was a toddler, if a friend at day care was crying, she would toddle over and pat them on the back to try to make them feel better. On Sunday she 
During April vacation, I posted a series of ideas to help 
Laurel's 
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Last year I wrote a post titled 
When I'm hanging out with my mama friends, talk invariably turns to work -- whether it's current work, past work, or potential future work. And wherever you are on that spectrum, if you're in need of inspiration or some brainstorming help, consider investing a day exploring the options at the 
Given that I spent the majority of my childhood free time toy-free and playing outside, I have always been concerned about curbing material excess in Laurel's life, and aware of how important it is for her (and us) to be active outdoors. I thus was happy and honored to be invited to be part of the National Wildlife Federation's Founding Mothers, a group of women writers who will work to mobilize families outdoors in partnership with the NWF's 
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This time last week I was at 
Between recently watching the PBS 
My friend 
Apologies for my reduced posting this week, but, save a couple of brief 
This past weekend I finally had a chance to view PBS’s program 
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A few weeks ago I experienced a rather 
Jennifer James is one of the first bloggers I met in real life, through the inaugural 
November is 
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This week I had the pleasure chatting with 
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Finding age appropriate ways to have tough conversations with kids can be challenging, and if you need help addressing the topic of cancer with your child, 
Today, parent educator 
So much of parenting is about modeling behavior. And though Laurel is a ways away from having her own phone, I know she is well aware of my phone and my behavior with it. And this is what the 
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I didn’t plan on this being sexual health education day, but it seemed only fitting to follow my 
This past summer I responded to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of 
In light of September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, today, 
Laurel has always been a creature of habit. Her within-day care class transitions always were hard so I thought I was ready for a challenging transition to kindergarten. Turns out I wasn’t prepared for the impassioned sobbing of “I don’t want to go to kindergarten, I want to stay home with you!” (both awake and even in her sleep one night), the magnitude of her distress at drop off, or heart wrenching comments such as “Mommy, you’re so smart you could teach me everything I need to know. PLEASE let me stay home with you.” Not surprisingly, we’ve been scrambling to cope; I wanted to share tactics that have been effective for us this week, plus some great suggestions I received from folks via 
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My writing has taken me down memory lane recently, and I wanted to share two external posts that are relevant for parents, regarding the lessons we learn and pass on to our kids. I guest posted today at the 
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I'm a tad remiss in reporting, but wanted to share some recent kind media mentions. A couple of weeks ago I was quoted in Joanna Weiss’s Boston Globe feature on 
In May I signed on as a 
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In response to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of 
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In my 
This past Saturday was remarkable in that: a) Laurel happily attended a drop-off playgroup with a group of kids she largely was unfamiliar with (she tends to turn reticent around strangers, even little ones); and b) the playgroup essentially was organized and hosted by a 9-year-old (supervised, of course). This concept was fantastic for several reasons: it offered the families of the young guests a means for socialization and separation, it provided a way to teach an older kid about responsibility and earning money, and it gave me food for thought as I mull how we’ll handle the whole new ball game that will be kindergarten, with its vacation stretches and early school pick up days.
Nine years ago today, my hair was in a seemingly impossible up-do of loops and pearl pins, the sun was shining brightly and the ground had miraculously dried out after a huge rainstorm the previous night, and I was about an hour shy of getting married. Not surprisingly, I’m feeling a bit reflective today, so I thought I’d share some lessons (nine of them, actually) I have learned over the last nine years. I hope some of these are helpful to you; if you have other family or partner lessons to share, please feel free to comment in below.
I’ve palpably felt the heat of fireworks in the blogosphere lately, no doubt due at least in part to reactions to a certain family reality show, the tension that can come from stratifying moms via 
Last night I visited WGBH for a preview of 
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being in on an 
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Growing up, people often commented (somewhat inappropriately it occurs to me...) that I didn’t look like either of my parents (in the way my six siblings distinctly do). But I’ve always definitely felt like my mother’s daughter, so I couldn’t resist participating in the 
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Once upon a time I was financially savvy. My checkbook was perfectly balanced, I paid off my school loans well in advance, and I did my own taxes. Then as the years passed and Laurel entered our lives, it was all about divide and conquer; I focused on domestic jobs and Jon took over the finances. And then one day I realized I was an independent businesswoman absurdly paralyzed by the prospect of dealing with my finances.
I’m thrilled to introduce new contributing writer 
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Planning a homebirth? Today, 
Welcome to 
Let go of mom guilt with 
I've recently had the honor and pleasure of conducting some really lovely interviews, and last week I sat down for a one-on-two chat with 2006 Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto before they led a skating clinic at the Simoni Arena in Cambridge. Read on for my interview, in which I talk with this personable duo about everything from competitions, to shows, to tips for skating safely with kids, to important advice for parents who are enrolling their kids in any types of lessons, to why Boston ranks among Tanith’s favorite cities. (Visit 
Following my 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
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After posting about 
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It’s been a crazy, crazy week, but apparently there’s always time to surf. Here’s what caught my eye around the web this week, in my 2nd edition of Love These Links!, where I share clever, resourceful, thought provoking, and/or hilarious links that I think would be of interest to the fabulous readers who peruse Boston Mamas. Enjoy!
My husband recently returned from 10 days in Mexico, and while I realize that many families are split up for far longer stretches, this was a big deal for us. Prior to Jon’s departure, I prepped myself by revisiting and gleaning ideas from the 
Pursuant to my previous post on 
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In theory, the holidays are supposed to be a time to celebrate and relax with family and friends, but I’m hard pressed to think of anyone who hasn’t mentioned holiday-related stress in some form, whether it’s due to shopping, holiday cards, or the prospect of dealing with family. Today, I’m offering 10 tips for reducing stress this holiday season, per a blog blast in conjunction with the 
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One of my favorite perks of traveling in creative circles is meeting truly inspired and amazing innovators, and I was honored when Melissa Massello and Meghan Udell - the savvy and stylish local brains behind 
Opportunities can emerge in unexpected ways, and shortly after 
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This Sunday is Grandparents Day, and whether grandparents are near or far, there are many simple yet meaningful ways to express your appreciation for these beloved family members. Here are my 10 favorite ways to honor grandparents, for this weekend and beyond. 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
In my unofficial role as green parenting guru, I was pleased to provide a guest column on 
On a regular basis, I begrudge the absurd amount of time and energy we spend on grocery shopping. To get everything we need, we typically hit 3-4 stores, and I have talked to countless moms who share this inefficient routine. So when 
I love conducting interviews via 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Following 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Today, 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
A local reader recently 
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Last week I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Melissa Kotlen Nagin, a certified lactation consultant and About.com’s 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
I realize that there’s a time and place for tighty whities, but 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners: 
As joyful as it is to parent children as they become increasingly communicative and independent, those developments also can, at times, test even the most patient parents. For those who feel as if they’re running on fumes, head to Lynn Lyons and Christine Cook’s 
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Or 2, 3, and 4 as was the case for 
– dusty from years of dormancy – served not only to connect letters into words, but also to reconnect Jon and me.
. Book collaborator Xinran Xue will be in Cambridge today through Friday for 
, by psychologist Susan Newman, addresses and disputes a lot of the cultural myths of only children (spoiled, antisocial, etc.) while offering practical strategies to prevent the myths from becoming reality.”
. Life does eventually settle down after “Thing 2” comes along, but those early days of adjustment can make you feel like the fish, balancing atop a precarious pile of obligations, chores, and well, your children.
campaign (check back next week for my review of this new book). PBN wants to know, “What's the most annoying preggo/new mom question you've ever been asked -- AND -- what's your best, snarky "wish-you-could-have-said-it" answer?”
by Peggy Orenstein. Julia writes, “[It is] a wonderful book about the choices women make (or default into) about their lives.”
(currently $16.29 at 
