Working Moms Against Guilt

Ice Cream Social Giveaway!

2008-07-23T08:48:00.004-04:00

There's still time to celebrate National Ice Cream month! Yep, in case you didn't know July is the official month of everybody's favorite frozen treat. And in case you didn't get your fill, now's your chance to go out with a Baaaaa!

Read more about Laloo's ice cream and enter for your chance to win an Ice Cream Social Basket on the WMAG review blog!

Tasty Tuesday - July 23, 2008

2008-07-22T13:34:00.003-04:00

Hey, folks! I'm super-busy today and don't have much time for Tasty Tuesday. Fortunately, I need only three letters to recommend a quick, easy dinner sandwich that makes the most of summer's flavors:

BLT

Leaving the BlogHer Bubble

2008-07-21T00:20:00.003-04:00

I'm hangin' at the San Francisco Airport right now, waiting for my red-eye flight to start boarding. I remember how I felt last year at this time, at the end of BlogHer. It was like post-Christmas letdown. All that buildup to a big moment, then deliriously awesome times, then BAM. Back to regular life. Just like that. Post-BlogHer letdown.

Fortunately, I do have something to look forward to and keep my spirits riding high. Not only will I get to see my sweet girl and hubs when I get home, but also I will have the whole week off from work to spend with them. (Jay is still working, but Cassie and I will play our days away.) I'm so grateful to have a job that offers such generous vacation now. More time with my kid = happy, loyal employee.

Anywho. I think the best way to wrap up my top moments of BlogHer '08 is with a list. I love lists.

Recording a video segment with the real Abby Cadabby on a Sesame Street set, especially for my Cassie. (I wish I could post the video on here, but I'm not smart enough to figure it out without hubs' help. Check back later.) This was simply a once-in-a-lifetime experience that filled me with joy and will be an amazing gift to my daughter. Plus, talking with a Muppet made me laugh like a giddy 3-year-old.
Having lunch with Rocco DiSpirito and getting to meet him. What can I say? He was hunky and famous, and I got to be all chatty and charming (I hope?) with him. Yet another once-in-a-lifetime moment. What are the odds?
Rooming with my Nati/NKy friend Shannan, AKA MommyBits. We didn't know each other very well before BlogHer, but I figured we'd get along famously. Indeed, we did (along with Amy in Ohio, Meghan in Santa Barbara, Kendra the Headless Mom, and many other BlogHers). Shannan was considerate, helpful, laidback, and downright hi-larious. The perfect roomie and drinking companion. Also, I'm not just saying this because she went and got me Starbucks two mornings in a row. But it helped.
Getting pampered for free. As an attendee of this conference, I was showered with ample swag (some of which I had to ditch -- not enough room in my suitcase!). I also got a free chair massage and a Bare Escentuals makeover, making me feel and look fabulous. (The free food and wine were pretty sweet, too. But they may contribute to a lousy weigh-in this week over at Mr. and Mrs. Get Fit.)
Partying with Interweb supastah Guy Kawasaki. Dude and his house are niiiiice.
Meeting and/or reconnecting with bloggers I read regularly and adore. Carmen, Jennette, Sarah, Devra/Aviva, Jenny, Liz, Kim, Robyn, Georgia, and many others I am forgetting at this moment because I am so freakin' tired! (Sad I missed a few in all the hubbub. BusyMom and Absolutely Bananas, for instance.)
Networking with shiny new (to me) bloggers and a few industry folks I had never met or read before the conference. I absolutely loved our conversations between sessions, during cocktail parties, in hallways, or riding on the elevator. Everywhere I went, I met a new friend and discovered a new blog to check out!
Spending my last day in San Francisco sightseeing with Christina from A Mommy Story. While I had originally planned to attend the UnConference today, I decided last night that I was blogged out and would rather see a little of this rockin' city before I flew home. Fortunately, Christina happened to be in the same boat and we paired up to ride the cable cars, lunch on fresh seafood, tour the bay by boat, and pal around. We even discovered we went to the same university at the same time--but never knew each other. Weird, huh?

So there you have it. No deep thoughts. No LOL drunk stories. Just my honest, slightly sentimental lovefest after another killer BlogHer conference. If this post was too much for you, all I can say is, sorry for partyin'.

Mamas on the Town

2008-07-19T12:32:00.005-04:00

I'm cruising into my third day here in San Francisco at BlogHer '08 and going strong.

If you could tap into the boundless collective energy of these awesome blogging women, you probably could power a medium-sized nation. I've met so many cool chicks who are away from their kids for the first time in years. Years.

And while we all miss our lil' tater tots (as MommyBits calls them), ain't no party like a West Coast party of hot mamas on the town. Last night, I met up with an old friend for dinner at a fabulous fusion restaurant, Triptych. Then we joined up with my BlogHer crew plus a few new friends and had drinks and dessert at Scala's. After a long day of networking and learning, we still had plenty to discuss--and laugh/cry about.

Pictured above: Amy in Ohio, MommyBits, yours truly, our honorary Nati girl Meghan who happens to live in Santa Barbara, and Phototrade Krista.

More good times to come, including a progressive party at Macy's on Union Square tonight.

Workin' It at BlogHer

2008-07-18T14:39:00.004-04:00

Just a quick note to say "hi!" from BlogHer '08 in San Francisco. I am thrilled and grateful to be able to attend this rockin' conference, which brings together women bloggers from all over North America (including a nice little contingent from Cincinnati -- WOOT!)

So far, I've mostly networked. As in, collected more business cards and traded "elevator pitches" with more people than I have in the entirety of 2008. Conversed with all manner of bloggers, PR people, and even Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street (will post a video of this little puppet chat later!) Enjoyed the first wave of free booze and swag. Bonded with my awesome roomie and my BlogHer posse.

Now, I'm headed to lunch with none other than Rocco DiSpirito. Yeah, that's right. Check ya later!

UPDATE: I heart Rocco. So cute, witty, genuine, and kind enough to sign a copy of his book and pose for not one, but TWO pictures with yours truly. Swoon. (Thanks for being my photographer, Shannan.)

Friday Finds - July 18, 2008

2008-07-18T09:00:00.006-04:00

Cara's Finds

--Capture your family's true personality. Tired of stressful photo shoots at the mall, fake backgrounds, and awkward poses? Check out, Sarah Diebold Photography. Our friend Sarah takes natural, beautiful pictures of children and families in comfortable settings, like your home, backyard, or at the park. Whether you want photos of your children or of your whole extended family, Sarah will meet you in your location of choice and start snapping away. Check out her portfolio at SarahDiebold.com.

--WMAG PHOTO SPECIAL! If you live in the Cincinnati tri-State area, give Sarah Diebold Photography a call and get 10% off your session fee. Tell her WMAG sent ya!

--Need a sitter? Check out SitterCity. The subscription-based website lets you search babysitters, pet-sitters, senior caregivers, tutors, and more in your area. To help you select the right sitter for you, you'll find sitter reviews, references, as well as free background checks.

--Hate this blog? You better not! Now you can wreak havoc on the websites and blogs you hate with Netdisaster.com. Go there and select the website you'd like to destroy and the method of disaster from dog poop to a dinosaur stomping. Sweet revenge!

Puppy Parenthood: A New Kind of Guilt

2008-07-17T12:16:00.003-04:00

We love our Happy dog. She's been doing really good since we got her on Saturday. The kids were pretty surprised. Not "jump up and down surprised." More like "are we dreaming?" surprised. It took a good couple minutes for my son to ask, "So... this is like our dog, right? ...Forever?"

Most people usually have a dog before a kid. We had the kids before the dog. So this puppy-parenthood is all new to us. I can already tell I'm putting too much pressure on myself to raise the most perfect dog. I've read almost everything I could about house-breaking. I've asked other dog owners for recommendations on everything from dog food to obedience training. And I've been to PetSmart already too many times.

I don't remember being this stressed out over having a new baby! Or, maybe I'm just having new mommy amnesia?

I'm also fighting a new kind of guilt. Pet-owner guilt! I feel bad putting her in her crate while I'm working. She has this pathetic little howl she does when she's sad. Aww... poor puppy!

Any other WPAG (working pet-owners against guilt) out there?

Getting Ready for the Big Show

2008-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

I can't believe BlogHer is almost here. I've been anticipating the "Big Show" for BlogHers since, well, BlogHer '07 ended. Talk about a buildup of excitement!

In less than 24 hours, I'll be leaving on a jet plane for San Francisco, hanging out with my Nati blog pals Amy and Shannan, and entering a world where my total blog dorkiness is not only tolerated, but embraced.

Meanwhile, I'm totally not ready. There are bags to pack, naggy lists to make for my hubs, brochures to print, laundry to finish, and oh yeah, time to be spent with my family before I leave them for five days. As Cathy would say, hands thrown up in the air like she just don't care, "ACK!"

I CAN'T WAIT.

Tasty Tuesday - July 15, 2008

2008-07-15T09:11:00.002-04:00

So last week I wrote about how more moms are relying on caffeinated beverages to get through their day. We had a chuckle at a quote from Sarah Kripal of Lincoln, Nebraska, who said she needs "about four energy drinks, three cups of coffee and a six-pack of soda every day." Wow! That's a lot of caffeine! (I think she must have been exaggerating.) The article quoted doctors as saying that consuming large amounts of caffeine might give you the shakes and keep you from getting a decent night's sleep, but there are habits worse for your health, such as smoking.

But then, a couple of days later, I found this story online. Apparently poison control in Boston has seen a huge spike in reports of teens with caffeine poisoning. Seems kids are already loading up on energy drinks, coffee and soda. But on top of that, it's being added to gum, mints, candy bars and even lip balm.

Ew! Now I'm not going on an anti-caffeine crusade here. I like a shot in the arm from Dr. Pepper every other day or so, and Starbucks mochas are my treat of choice. But come on! Why do kids feel like they need so much extra energy? And why is caffeine so en vogue as a food additive? Is it a legal high? Are kids that overextended and worn out? I never drank coffee or Red Bull when I was in high school (I don't think Red Bull even existed then) and I was an honors student who did a crapload of activities and pulled frequent late-nighters to keep up my GPA. I remember being tired, but not desperate for caffeinated gum.

So what gives? I'm willing to give harried moms a pass, but I'm confuzzled about the kids. Moms of teens, I'd love to know what you're seeing, and what you're telling your kids about caffeine consumption.

All About You

2008-07-14T08:59:00.007-04:00

I’ve always admired Cara for figuring out what work situation worked best for her as a working mom, then going for it. After the birth of her second child, she realized she wanted to go part-time, and she made it happen. Then a few years later she decided she wanted to do freelance, and made that happen, too.

She paved the road for a lot of different people to take on flexible working arrangements throughout the company. I’m one of them—I work one day a week from home. Of course, it helps to have a great employer (there is a reason we’ve been named Best Place to Work three years running) to help make flexible working arrangements a reality.

But it got me thinking, what would your ideal work situation be? If money wasn’t an issue, if job advancement wasn’t an issue, etc. I’m going to be completely honest here (even though my employers read the blog!): I'm not sure working home one day a week is my ideal work situation, but I sure do like it.

So what about you—would you work at all? Would you work part-time? Would you work full-time? Part-time from home? Lemme know.

Friday Finds - July 11, 2008

2008-07-11T08:00:00.003-04:00

Cara's Finds

--Funny reads. If I could pick my next best friend, it be Chelsea Handler. She is hilarious--and a great writer! Over vacation I read Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, a collection of funny short stories from Chelsea's life. I loved it so much I bought another copy for a friend who needed a good laugh. Now I'm now reading My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands. If you're a David Sedaris fan, you'll love Chelsea's style of dry, sarcastic humor, too. You can also watch her on In the Motherhood, a series of webisodes I've written about before. And on Chelsea Lately, her own talk show on E!

Susan's Finds

-- Check out these new summer TV shows (if you have cable, that is). TNT's The Closer starring sassy Kyra Sedrick premieres Monday, July 14, at 9/8 Central, followed by Saving Grace with the hellacious Holly Hunter. On TLC's new Must Love Kids (July 15, 9 p.m. ET), follow three single moms who want to re-enter the dating world as they search for a soul mate, while balancing their lives as working parents. USA's Monk and Psych return on Friday, July 18, at 9 and 10 p.m. ET. Week after next, find out How to Look Good Naked from everyone's favorite gay man, Carson Kressley, on Lifetime, July 22 at 10 p.m. ET.

-- Five moms lose a staggering total of 539 pounds. These women tackled their excess weight with a variety of methods (no surgery, though). Now they look and feel fantastic! MomLogic features the inspiring stories and before/after photos of these hot skinny mamas.

-- Is your kid's artwork piling up? ART:Archives offers one ingenious way to preserve those precious works digitally. Definitely a good solution for clutter!

-- If you love Michael Ian Black as much as I do (for reference, I love love love him!), you must read his hilarious blog AND buy his sure-to-be-hilarious book. My Custom Van: And 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face goes on sale next Tuesday. Right now, he's got a serious one-way feud going on with David Sedaris that is getting out of control. (Thanks to Meg for alerting me of MIB's online presence.)

Guess Who's Joining the Fam?

2008-07-10T22:31:00.012-04:00

Shhh... Don't tell our kids, but we just adopted a dog! Our new puppy comes home Saturday morning and we can't wait. She's a Bluetick Coonhound and she's absolutely adorable.

We're not sure how we're going to surprise the kids yet. But we know they're going to love her. The shelter named the puppy and her sisters after The Judds: Naomi, Wynonna, and Ashley. Although I love a theme, Ashley (who we adopted) isn't the name we want to call her. Right now we're tossing around the name "Happy."

We found her on Petfinder.com, where thousands of dogs, cats, and many other types of animals are waiting to find a loving home. If you're looking for a new pet, I encourage you to search Petfinder.com or visit an animal shelter in your area. More than likely you'll find the type of breed you want. Many of the adoption organizations on Petfinder.com save the animals from overcrowded, high-kill shelters and then foster the animals out of their homes until they can find an adopter.

The dog we adopted was dumped off at a pound in Indiana by an irresponsible breeder, who didn't want to mess with additional female pups. Luckily, Three Sisters Pet Rescue was able to obtain The Judds and bring them to Cincinnati where they can now live long and happy lives. Aww... Happy!

I'll share new pics of our pup once we bring her home. Today I'll be hitting the pet store to pick up all those dog-gone necessities!

Tasty Tuesday Part Deux

2008-07-08T17:16:00.004-04:00

So, remember way back when, when I urged everyone try some Orville Redenbacher's Tender White popcorn? Well, if you haven’t yet, I’m ~~quite angry at~~ disappointed in you.

BUT! Maybe it’s just the cost of food is astronomical anymore, and you don’t really trust me enough to spend your hard-earned dollars on something I reco’d. You don’t really know me, after all. Well, fine. But I'll prove you wrong! I don't give up that easily. How about if you got some for free? Check out our review blog for the deets.

Is It Hot in Here?: How Burnout Led to Cool New Job

2008-07-08T07:30:00.000-04:00

Check out my latest Watercooler column on Mommy Track'd. You can find out just how unaware I was of my state of job burnout -- and how the Universe helped a working mom out.

Tasty Tuesday - July 8, 2008

2008-07-08T07:00:00.002-04:00

Usually I use this space each week to talk about quick, easy and relatively healthy foods that working moms can feed to their families. But this article got me thinking about how we feed ourselves - or, rather, the things we put into our bodies in order to accomplish all that needs doing each day. The article's called "Caffeinated Moms Drink Up to Keep Up" and it's about how moms are drinking huge amounts of caffeinated beverages. According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 65 percent of moms rely on coffee, soda and energy drinks just to make it through the day.

"I can definitely say without a doubt that I am addicted to caffeine," says Sarah Kripal, mother of two from Lincoln, Nebraska. "I need about four energy drinks, three cups of coffee and a six-pack of soda every day."

Um... ouch. I hope she's exaggerating, because my heart is racing just thinking about that! Now, I enjoy coffee, but I'm not addicted. A mocha at Starbucks is more of a treat every other day or so. If I'm getting addicted to anything, it's a glass of wine before bed to help me wind down. (OK, I realize I just made it sound as if I'm a budding alcoholic, but I swear it's just a little yummy Cabernet, and not every night - it's not like I've got a bottle stashed under the bed or anything.)

I can always use an energy boost, however, and my method seems to be pigging out at lunch and dinner, then riding a carb high until I crash in the middle of the afternoon or evening. Then I'll reach for a soda to help drag my butt to the finish line. Healthy, right? Great for the waistline, no? Yeah. It's going to catch up with me sooner or later, but filling yourself to the gills with Red Bull and Americanos isn't healthy, either.

The article suggests proper diet and exercise can help boost our energy levels naturally, as can taking time out each day to refresh and rest. But I suspect many of us wouldn't be looking for a caffeine fix if we felt we had the time to eat better, exercise more and take a few minutes of "me time" each day.

So I'm curious: What do other moms do to get a bit of extra energy on a hectic day when a jog or a nap is out of the question? Any special snacks you keep in your desk drawers? Have you discovered an all-natural energy drink? It's OK if you want to admit you're a Starbucks junkie or that you're strung out on Diet Coke and Smarties. Commiserate or offer advice--I'm cool, either way. I'm just looking for something that won't leave me resembling Jabba the Hut by the time I retire.

Queens of the Road

2008-07-07T07:25:00.001-04:00

Now THIS sounds like fun.

Having met 80 percent of the participants in this Moms Road Trip (haven't had the pleasure of meeting Meagan--yet), I can say that with some certainty. These hilarious, smart, interesting blogging mamas will undoubtedly tell fabulous stories along their week-long journey from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco. Follow along with them (on Twitter and their road trip blog) as they hit the road and blog about it.

See you at BlogHer, ladies! And remember the motto of a maintenance guy-by-day, biker dude-by-night I once knew:

"Live and let live, and ride free."

Friday Finds - July 4, 2008

2008-07-04T08:52:00.006-04:00

Susan's Finds

-- My friend and Cassie's sitter Karen makes super-cute reusable canvas grocery bags AND the most adorable matching ribbon jeans and t-shirt sets for little girls. (She made one of these sets for Cassie's 2nd bday, and I've gotten raves from strangers whenever she wears it out.) Karen took my advice and put them up for sale on Etsy--they're way too good to limit to the local craft show circuit. Check 'em out here.

-- Looking to flex your work options? Employers, employees, and stay-at-homers can get a little help from MomsRising's newly beefed-up Open, Flexible Work section.

-- Get a sitter, STAT! BabysitEase serves the Cincinnati, Columbus, Lexington, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas with babysitting services. Tell them the who, what, when, and where, and they'll hook you up with a qualified sitter for your night out.

-- Imagine a YouTube just for little kids (and their parents, too). OK, you don't have to wish for it. TotLOL is here! (Love the name.) Currently in beta (testing phase, for you non-geeks), TotLOL touts itself as "a brand new community-moderated video website designed to be enjoyed by those between the ages of 6 months and 6 years." Now if I can just get my kid to STOP SMASHING ALL THE KEYS on my laptop, maybe we can watch a few entertaining videos ...

-- Get expert and mom advice and ideas with NewBaby.com. Best part about this new site? You watch videos to get the info--no reading required. Ask burning questions and get real experts to answer them on video.

Cara's Finds

--Want your mortgage paid for? Or how about some free gas? Visit Classmates.com and simply add or update your profile picture. You'll automatically be entered in the Mortgage and Gas Giveaway. 10 people will win $30,000 to help pay their mortgage. And 100 people will win a $500 gas card!

--Happy 4th! Looking for last minute 4th of July parties games or something to bring to the cookout? There you go.

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY from us at WMAG!

Notebook Backpack Giveaway

2008-07-03T07:05:00.000-04:00

Want a chance to win a sweet laptop backpack? Check out our latest giveaway on WMAG Reviews.

The Summer List

2008-07-02T21:12:00.016-04:00

Can you believe it's July already? As usual, the summer is just flying by. And although we did enjoy a Florida vacation in June--there's so much more I'd like to do before Fall.

I was inspired by Amy's Summertime List at MomAdvice.com. Her family has already accomplished many of the activities they set out to do this summer.

Thinking about my list, I got a little down. July's weekends are already booked, and there's not much chance we'll fit everything else in before September. Plus, don't get me started on the all summer home projects we always want to tackle. That list just gets carried over from one summer to the next.

Projects aside, here are the fun things we'd like to do:

1. Go to the pool. We belong to the YMCA, yet we haven't been to the outside pool at all this year. I did set up the blow-up pool in the backyard last weekend, and the kids at least had a good time playing in that.
2. Go to Kings Island. Kings Island is a local amusement park that we love to visit at least once in the summer. I'm hoping we'll go soon since we are staying at Great Wolf Lodge one night, and KI is nearby.
3. Go to a Cincinnati Reds game.
4. Go camping.
5. Go canoing. Maybe we can combine this with camping?
6. Go to a festival.
7. Visit the zoo. We've been to the Cincinnati Zoo once this summer. But, since we have an annual pass, I'd like to go a few more times.

What's still on your Summer List?

What Makes You Happy?

2008-07-02T19:37:00.001-04:00

Quick quiz: What makes you happier? Playing with your kids or taking a bubble bath?

Personally, it depends on the situation (such as, Did my kid just throw a fit and say she doesn't WANT Mommy ANYmore or has she spent the day at the sitter's being the sweetest angel on earth and I've missed her like crazy?)

Anywho, MomLogic came out with their "Happiness Poll" results, which I found kind of interesting. Bubble baths rated #1 in the happiness-making department, while kid time was #4. I guess the pollsters picked a bad day to survey moms.

Bummer that working moms say they're less satisfied with their lives than stay-at-homers. Also, working moms are twice as likely to have affairs as SAHMs. WTF? Who has time for affairs?

Check out the results for yourself and tell us what you think.

Tasty Tuesday July 1, 2008

2008-07-01T10:18:00.007-04:00

Susan recently sent me This article from the Huffington Post, talking about various ways that moms can avoid the "Dinner Dash" and feed their families well while still enjoying a bit of family time. I encourage you to read it - you'll get ideas about everything from menu planning services and meal preparation franchises to delivery services and personal chefs.

But there were other tidbits in the article that I found more interesting. Like this: "According to the annual American Time Use Survey, married, full-time working moms who have kids younger than age 6 spend 46 minutes per day doing food prep and cooking. Married dads of young kids? A cool 17 minutes. (Married moms also spend twice as much time grocery shopping per week as dads do)."

I guess that's not news considering all the surveys that have come out showing moms are still expected to do more around the house in addition to all the work they do on the job. To me, it's just a little depressing. People talk about working moms wanting to "have it all" when the reality is that they're having to "do it all."

And while I enjoyed reading about the various meal options, it irked me a bit that there wasn't more of a focus on how the heck we're supposed to afford them. It's not the author's fault, of course - everything she says is true, but passages like this one still left me a little cranky:

"Of course, all these solutions to the dinner dash seem to cost more than the old-fashioned method of having mom go to the grocery store and whip up the tuna noodle casserole everyone loves to hate. But we think of these options as "expensive" only because we do not traditionally value women's time. Hiring a professional to cook six meals a week costs $300 here in New York. Why do we expect moms -- who often have full-time paid jobs outside the kitchen -- to do it for free when many of their full-time working husbands get a pass?"

That last sentence gets a big "amen" from me, even though I do have a full-time working husband who helps in the kitchen when he can. Perhaps if more dads helped out, then women wouldn't need to feel so burdened. But the first part of that blurb? Well... the truth is that we consider some of the solutions in that article expensive because, for most of us, they are.

Yes, I think my time should be valued more, but (nothing against my employer, who treats me very well, thank you) nobody's adding extra to my paycheck just so I can provide healthy meals that don't stress me out so much. Neither does my husband bring in any additional bacon that could go to something like a personal chef or meal delivery service. The family budget is the family budget, regardless of who does the shopping and cooking. I might be able to spring an extra $10 a month for a meal planning service or grocery delivery - and I definitely plan to try out a meal preparation franchise one of these days. But until I hit the jackpot, there'll be no personal chef or dinner delivery for me, unless it's Dominoes every now and then. I'll still be the person who (with hubby's help) puts dinner on the table each night.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

2008-06-30T07:18:00.004-04:00

I didn't need a national survey to tell me what working women (especially moms) need: More money and more time. Duh. Don't we all? There's never enough of either, and we're too damn tired to figure out how to invent a time-maker or plant a money tree. (But we totally could, if we had the time and money.)

I was slightly curious about one factoid from the new 2008 Working America Ask a Working Woman survey:

If working women had more available time, they are most likely to say they would work another job, ahead of spending more time with friends and family, exercise, taking a class and getting more sleep.

Really? I guess I'm in a better financial place than a lot of people, because a second job is the last thing I would do with extra time. I would definitely spend more hours with friends and family--and maybe squeeze in a little nap. Take a class? What the ...?

I, too, find it sad that eight in 10 respondents said having children hurts their career and job prospects. It's probably true in many cases (though I don't think it's been for me), which is both ridiculous and wrong.

Friday Finds - June 27, 2008

2008-06-27T09:00:00.012-04:00

Cara's Finds

--Play hooky and see a movie. AMC Theatres has a special promotion going on called Summer Movie Camp. Every Wednesday at 10 a.m. now through August 6, bring the kids to $1 movies. Unfortunately, we've seen most of the movies already on DVD. But, it's always cooler on the big screen.

--Trade-in and recycle at Sam's. We have been holding onto our old printer because I wanted to find a recycling place for it, and I never found one. But, now I discovered Sam's Club takes old printers, computers, cameras, monitors, and other electronic items. And if you're a Sam's Club member, some items may qualify for a gift card in the amount of the trade-in value. My printer doesn't qualify--but, I don't care. I'm just glad to get rid of it! Visit the website to learn more.

Susan's Finds
-- I heart all things Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, all the classics). So how excited am I about his new Web movie, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog? After seeing this trailer for it starring Neil Patrick Harris, I'm pretty darned pumped.

-- Does your kiddo need a decent pair of shoes? Mine did, so I strode on in to Stride Rite last night. Jackpot! There's a big ol' clearance sale going on. In stores only.

-- Rally for a local cause close to your heart. I might be a little biased, since I worked on this site at my old job. But still, check out Luvs' new Take a Stand site, where you can create a sign to support the local nonprofit organization of your choice. Each month, one cause will win $1,000.

~~Tela's~~ Mags's Finds
I’ve been feeling under the weather for about oh well, um, about four weeks now, so I haven’t had much time for the bloggy/Friday Finds world. And I apologize. But this week, instead of depriving WMAGs of their exciting Friday Finds, I decided to feature all the sites my friend Mags gave me. She’s much younger and cooler than me—and seriously, yo, she always finds the coolest sites. So for this week, here’s Mags’s Finds.

--Even though I’ve been in a crappy, irritable, sicky mood for what seems like ages, this put a smile on my face. Even when I found out it was corporate sponsored, as I suspected, the smile still didn’t fade. As Mags said, "It's pretty much the best thing ever." It also makes me want to go on vacation. Find out more about the clip here.

--Are you a big IM-er? I am. So, I’m thinking about putting my IMs to good use with IMtalkathon. For 30 days, every time you use Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail, Microsoft will share a portion of the program’s advertising revenue to one of 10 social causes—including UNICEF, American Red Cross, and the Sierra Club. They’re only three days in, so plenty of time in the next 27 to IM!

--Did I mention Mags is an opera singer? Or well, she sings opera. So that makes her an opera singer, right? So yeah, she’s a really great singer who sings opera, and she shared this YouTube clip with me. It’s a little long, but worth it for the note this woman hits at the end. I don’t even really like opera all that much, but wow, this gave me the chills.

Wii Review

2008-06-25T08:16:00.005-04:00

I was very surprised when a Wii showed up on my doorstep... Okay, I literally jumped up and down. Read all about my family's opinion of the Wii over on the WMAG review blog.

Unfortunately, I don't have another one to give away. (Sorry!) But, I hope you head on over and share you opinion or at least get some insightful information if you're considering the Wii for your fam.

Tasty Tuesday--June 24, 2008

2008-06-24T22:09:00.000-04:00

Last week, I discovered that, during the summer, the lunches come pre-prepared to O's daycare. They can't read the labels of this pre-prepared food, and since O has a peanut allergy, his teacher asked if I could bring his lunch for the summer.

Sure, no problem, I thought. It's only for the summer, and it can give me practice for when I need to pack a lunch when O's older and in a more formal preschool/school setting. So, I headed to the grocery store and promptly became overwhelmed. It's hard enough for me to plan a dinner ahead of time, but lunch too? Let alone a healthy lunch that wouldn't take too much time for his caregiver to prepare for him.

That first night, I ended up buying some lunch meat, some fruit cups, cottage cheese and forgetting bread. For his lunch that next day, he ended up with some turkey and cheese tortilla pinwheels. I bet his teacher thought I was being creative, little did she know. I went back to the store on Tuesday and bought a whole bunch of Chef Boyardee. Uh, not exactly the healthy, balanced lunch I was aiming for. I don't mind leaning on the Chef every once in awhile, but I don't want it to become the staple of his lunch.

So, more experienced, lunch-packing WMAGs, what do you put into your child's lunch? Any quick, inexpensive, healthy lunch ideas? I need HELP! And so does one of our faithful readers, Miranda. She actually wrote us with a similar dilemma, and it's what prompted me to write this post.