tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173556792147494572011-11-27T16:15:38.715-08:00News, current events and information relevant to today's mom, from a mom. <br> Because you may have a "mommy brain," but it's still a brain!Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.comBlogger2281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-30406803417343651852010-09-15T02:08:00.000-07:002010-09-15T02:13:25.483-07:00

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-31260033406342688992010-09-12T23:37:00.000-07:002010-09-13T00:20:20.844-07:00

We have a Lego problem in my house. And by “we,” I mean my husband. He has very fond memories of his childhood obsession love of his Legos, and I have the tubs of his beloved bricks, just waiting in the garage for our boys to be big enough for them to play with, to prove it. For now we are a Duplo family, and we have amassed what I think is a completely outrageous amount of them—he’s been placed

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-89832236244791358342010-06-01T21:32:00.000-07:002010-06-01T22:13:48.892-07:00

You know those cute musical cards, the ones that play snippets of well known songs to express your sentiments? My three year old loves them. In a pinch I can always get a smile if I visit the aisle that has them, until he starts demanding that we get *them all* because to him they are "toys." And that's a problem I learned today. I had a chilling moment when I read this article in the New York

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-38162101781959922322010-04-19T00:48:00.000-07:002010-04-19T01:45:31.399-07:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you know this is going to be a hard one for me, but as a mom and beginning homeschooler (for now anyway or my husband will start to have heart palpitations) I thought this "experiment" was a perfect way to really kickoff my journey into homeschooling. This week I shall be "down-teching" (at least during the day, I was too big a wuss to completely jettison my tech). We

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-46241802601208559892010-04-19T00:37:00.000-07:002010-04-19T00:43:58.484-07:00

A woman? Have a daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, female friend...? Don't think that the glass ceiling (though cracked, as Hillary Clinton famously declared in the last Presidential election cycle) is still firmly over our heads? Read this article in the New York Times, "Why So Few Women in Silicon Valley?"

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-91115979890679763242010-04-18T23:48:00.000-07:002010-04-19T00:37:07.725-07:00

I haven't shared much personal stuff lately, but I am now the mother to two boys, a full fledged 3 year old, and sprouting 7 1/2 month old, and discipline is a constant puzzle we are working our way through one day at a time as the rubber really hits the parenting road. I have some baggage (who doesn't really) from my parental relationships and a few posts/stories in the wake of the newest

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-90176224604440034832010-04-18T23:19:00.000-07:002010-04-18T23:47:09.593-07:00

The nightly news thrives on the extremes and this was fully evident in the furor caused over the recent (shocking) return of an adopted Russian boy by way of an unaccompanied one way airline ride back to his native land. Little is really known about why this mother felt this was her only viable option, and in the wake of this story and the attendant outrage poured over this family for doing such

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-35420101704148664312010-03-03T22:19:00.000-08:002010-03-04T00:29:08.566-08:00

This one has been percolating for a while now...How do you feel when you watch a birth on your typical sitcom or movie? Now think, do you respond to them differently now that you or your partner has given birth? I still begrudgingly laugh at all the right parts for the most part, but for me it is different now that I have given birth to two children and experienced one miscarriage. The familiar

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-24587208080256902002010-01-19T10:25:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:02:26.802-08:00

*****UPDATE***** This morning 53 of the 150 children at BRESMA orphanage and one of the McMutrie sisters, Ali, arrived safely in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to great celebration. Jamie McMutrie will be arriving soon with one last child who had gone missing and she had stayed behind to find. They have been granted a two year humanitarian visa. 47 of the children had already been in various stages of

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-73876080691151268532010-01-16T22:19:00.000-08:002010-01-17T00:22:39.319-08:00

The devastation is unimaginable, the need is overwhelming, and the feelings of helplessness are almost suffocating. It's hard to know what to do, whom to donate to, whom to trust will do the right things, get to the right people. In the wake of such a crisis, scams abound, preying upon the desperate need to do something to help. I have to say in the hours and days following the catastrophic

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-44272622514288638352010-01-15T22:41:00.000-08:002010-01-16T00:10:02.581-08:00

News bits that peaked my interest, and seriously clogged my open desktop windows recently:The tragedy in Haiti is dominating news, and I've been following the efforts to help the BRESMA orphanage. There were several adoptions in progress for this orphanage and others, and distraught adoptive parents are intently trying to find any way to get to and help their children.A four year old medicated,

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-53667504610873205602010-01-09T21:47:00.000-08:002010-01-09T22:16:33.959-08:00

Unless you engage in little or no social media, you are no doubt aware of the bra color breast cancer awareness meme circulating. In theory the cute, indeed attention grabbing antic, serves it's purpose and gets people talking in great numbers very quickly about an important topic. Seemed like a good idea to me, and I shared. But what innocently gets forgotten is its effect upon those that have

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-48982636656912419252010-01-06T15:16:00.000-08:002010-01-06T22:32:36.914-08:00

A few news stories have caught my attention in the last few days:1. Gender equity, specifically how women are treated, is closely linked with the effectiveness of efforts to control climate change according to an essay in The Jakarta Post. Evidently we're also most affected by climate change, and when a natural disaster strikes, women are more vulnerable. In the developed world, we usually

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-30208051966920460352009-12-20T10:18:00.000-08:002009-12-20T14:22:52.511-08:00

Oh joy! 'Tis the season for the Christmas letter... People love to revile the annual Christmas letter, but let's face it, people secretly love it, because they are nosy. I think Facebook and Twitter exist for much the same reason; you may grouse about knowing the small insignificant details and thoughts of an other's daily life, but you log on nonetheless, if only to roll your eyes as you read

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-55765079792135013372009-12-15T23:30:00.000-08:002009-12-16T00:50:30.031-08:00

Becoming a mother makes you keenly aware of the moments before and after. The moments they are born, the moments they smile, and we hope never to experience the moments that they are gone from us. But, they can be gone in a blink...Yesterday brought the heartbreaking news of a mother plunged into every mother's worst nightmare, when her youngest child was taken in a tragic accident. In one

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-21060628218236403822009-12-11T22:44:00.000-08:002009-12-11T23:24:10.478-08:00

Greetings from mommy-land! Over the past several months I took time out to welcome a new son into our family, and now that he has just passed through the "fourth trimester," I am starting to emerge from the maternity cocoon. Now I'm starting to feel like I have a bit of a handle on our day to day lives, and recently that certain writing "itch" has been returning. So I'm back, although I doubt

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-51529951087288278002009-07-25T22:04:00.000-07:002009-07-25T22:41:08.138-07:00

Life has been busy and full! I only have a few weeks left before I meet the newest member of our growing family. Excited doesn't really cover it. Additionally I am mindful to spend some time with my first born and husband, appreciating this time with them before our family takes the next step. The changes (and sometimes challenges) of my now over 2 year old are amazing, and I feel so blessed to

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-35558460139365000542009-05-26T21:54:00.000-07:002009-05-26T23:53:16.866-07:00

It's been awhile, I know, but for those of you that follow me on Twitter, you know I've been as compulsive and prolific as usual in passing on the news I find relevant, but just not so moved to expand upon the news...that is, until now.I'm a very casual watcher, but last night, like nearly an astonishing 9.3 million others, I tuned in to watch the season premiere of Jon & Kate Plus Eight. I'm

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-23516824816121520722009-04-05T23:14:00.000-07:002009-04-05T23:39:45.738-07:00

Greetings! So sorry to leave you in the void this last month, and what a month! Where have I been? Well, once I recovered finally from my first ever sinus infection, which I sincerely hope never to repeat again, I've been processing some changes lately. Pregnancy I am happy to report is going fine, and we expect another little boy in our household later this summer, but it's taken some

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-22497689392520642952009-02-26T07:09:00.000-08:002009-02-26T08:01:57.387-08:00

If there is anything in parenting that I am being forced to repeatedly learn it is to be flexible, and just take it one day at a time. This applies to life as well. Over the last two weeks I have tended to a house of sick people, and caught the dratted virus myself, which is oh so fun when one is pregnant as well. Additionally late last week brought news of a fellow mom of two young children in

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-51459998555836075052009-02-21T20:37:00.000-08:002009-02-21T20:54:47.734-08:00

You may have noticed a slow down lately. The great news is that I am expecting my second child later this year, the bad news is that I'm coping with the attendant fatigue (not made easier by my active 23 month old!). Don't worry, I'm still monitoring the news, but being a little easier on my body, balancing the increased needs of my "must have input" toddler, and the paid freelance work I also do

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-37188153780804089642009-02-16T20:51:00.001-08:002009-02-16T22:19:01.683-08:00

Alright, the drama and follies of the octuplet mom and family is hard to look away from, and I to have been tracking the coverage for those who want to keep up to speed with the developments. Honestly I try to throw out the ridiculously salacious, and try to stick as often as I can to substantive updates, and believe me the coverage is sometimes really hard to tell! Here we go, and coincidentally

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-45779702939865927882009-02-16T20:12:00.000-08:002009-02-16T20:50:50.522-08:00

The legislative wrangling has produced a stimulus package unprecedented in its size and scope. What is exactly in it? Don't have time to wade through over 1,000 pages (and who does, yikes)? Check out these helpful and pretty quick links to resources that will break it down:Pro-Publica is a non-partial journalist watch dog resource and they have put together two handy charts:What are we spending

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-6543032370403027382009-02-13T20:10:00.000-08:002009-02-13T21:00:25.570-08:00

In honor of Valentine's Day, welcome to the couples edition of Relevant Mom!Marriage had been on my mind alot lately. Probably because it is a central topic of conversation in my circle of friends, in my place of worship, and as opportunity would have it, in the news as well. How does a couple sustain a relationship over the long term, and why is it important? My pastor recently pointed out that

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-77875668773664336082009-02-09T21:09:00.000-08:002009-02-09T21:34:45.427-08:00

A few quick interesting environment and science tidbits:A detailed and interactive climate change map to aid in predicting the next disaster...a bit chilling, well not, but you know.Speaking of cooling off, did you know that volcanoes do just that for the earth?An article claiming that a little dirt and filth is actually good for our children has been making the rounds on the blogrolls,  and I

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-8858879855725668362009-02-09T20:14:00.000-08:002009-02-09T21:09:14.723-08:00

An update about the Consumer Product Safety Commission's new regulations regarding children's products. The regulation implementation received a slight delay, existing products must adhere to lead guidelines, but the Commission is taking a year to review the proposed testing and certification requirements to consider and address how best to address the challenges to small and artisinal producers.

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-87334361615930302922009-02-04T13:52:00.001-08:002009-02-09T20:48:30.248-08:00

Here comes the moralizing mob. Sure, there are some pretty fishy elements to the whole octuplet plus six drama currently dominating the media. I to am outraged that SOMEONE (parents, friends, doctors) didn't intervene at some point in the whole thing (and I mean back when she was intentionally adding to her family steadily, despite being a single divorced mom with reduced circumstances). Where

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-80798419480360336212009-02-04T13:20:00.000-08:002009-02-04T13:51:28.922-08:00

The pundits are going crazy commenting on the rampant "tax and ethics issues," that are plaguing several high level nominees in the Obama administration. I just say it proves what an albatross the tax system has become around the necks of the American public...all the way up. Who hasn't  tried to find ways to reduce your tax burden, or looked cross eyed at the tax code as you try to figure out if

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-27954110242524346972009-02-02T19:45:00.000-08:002009-02-02T21:06:13.861-08:00

News of the parenting variety:It seems like a perennial state of affairs that when a group of mothers gets together, inevitably talk turns to the deficiencies of their mate, parenting among them, and venting commences. It should come as no surprise then that a recent survey found that moms are really mad at dad. Really mad. I tend to go with my pastor on this one, it seems to be a matter of what

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-568334574196880202009-01-30T12:54:00.000-08:002009-01-30T14:00:28.757-08:00

I recently opened my 401 K statement, and I knew it would be bad, but my stomach nearly fell through my feet. What ensued was a full-tilt "what the heck have I gotten myself into" feminist freak-out. Financial fireworks aside, those women who have "off-ramped" will completely understand what I'm describing without going to much further. I know about financial cycles (I was raised by a very

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-7748275500747140362009-01-30T10:52:00.000-08:002009-01-30T11:09:57.370-08:00

Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed his first bill into law, and it was an important one in the struggle for women's equality. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act addresses a vexom loophole that only allowed 180 days from the time of a pay set for a woman to bring legal action if they discovered that they were being paid unequally for the same work. Lilly Ledbetter will never see the over

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-62489429435031440532009-01-29T22:03:00.000-08:002009-01-29T22:19:28.126-08:00

The peanut recall is growing by the day. Investigations are being launched to assess if the manufacturer knew that there was contamination in their facility. Here is a handy resource I grabbed from a favorite blog, ParentHacks, which is a FDA web tool to search peanut products to keep on top of the recalls.

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-70820545376854191042009-01-29T19:58:00.000-08:002009-01-29T22:03:30.309-08:00

The American Dream seems to be undergoing some revisions. Own your own home? Maybe not. Send your kids to college. Not necessary? There have been some interesting headlines around the education world lately:When the economy tanks, many head back to or choose to stay in school for more training and higher degrees in an effort to positions themselves for a better position as things improve. But,  

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-3020451110831239092009-01-27T12:00:00.000-08:002009-01-27T21:15:59.348-08:00

Some reproductive and infant headlines you may have missed in all the recent excitement:The Obama administration has reauthorized federal funding eligibility to organizations, foreign and domestic, that include abortion in their programs, which has seesawed back and forth depending on what party is in office. Supporters feel that this is a key step in strengthening family planning and thereby

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-76759535626695842782009-01-26T19:41:00.001-08:002009-01-26T20:36:03.756-08:00

All that inaugural excitement wore me out, but I'm back with more dispatches from our new administration:Meet the new cast of the west wing. No not the TV show, you know, the real one. The New York Times has a really interesting photo series of the staffers who will surround our new President. They also have some wonderful photos of the inauguration as well.Was Condoleeza Rice the first African

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-5241311696365043422009-01-20T06:11:00.000-08:002009-01-20T22:55:30.846-08:00

Good Inaugural Morning, folks! It's just past 6 am west coast time and the house is quiet for now, and I'm watching the news coverage from Washington. It is already packed! I'll be posting throughout the morning, as this historic event unfolds. Bouncing between MSNBC and FNC, tantamount to left and right. Predictably, MSNBC is practically giddy, and FNC is inserting Reagan quotes and wisdom. But

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-17914284841613602732009-01-19T22:52:00.000-08:002009-01-20T00:19:21.458-08:00

Welcome to your Inauguration run-up edition. The day is upon us when we witness one of the most inspiring things about the United States of America- a peaceful transition of power and a willingness to acknowledge our past and work for a better future. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, agree upon the remarkable and yes, exceptional, nature of this evolving experiment. Get ready,

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-57219572887465535182009-01-19T18:21:00.000-08:002009-01-19T18:32:12.372-08:00

As we stand poised on the inauguration of the first African American President of the United States, and arguably the most powerful office in the world, we turn our eyes back to the voice of a generation that moved the nation closer to "mak(ing) real the promises of democracy." With the call, "now is the time," the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was a voice of the conscience of America that

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-60664144401439601352009-01-18T21:54:00.000-08:002009-01-18T22:59:36.244-08:00

New regulations take effect in February that will significantly effect all children's products sold in the U.S. Responding to consumer concern and pressure, Congress passed legislation last year that would regulate the amount of lead and pthalates allowable in children's products. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately the regulations have some provisions that have the unintended consequences of

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-201618701854330932009-01-18T21:49:00.000-08:002009-01-18T21:54:00.976-08:00

Updated info about the peanut butter salmonella outbreak:The recall has expanded and officials are advising to put off consuming any peanut butter containing products until they can pinpoint the contamination.A list of the products that Kellog's has recalled.

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-28790301991761348602009-01-16T20:25:00.000-08:002009-01-16T22:40:07.497-08:00

A friend commented to me today, after receiving news of further layoffs, "this recession is getting really scary." That sentiment is echoed throughout our communities, and especially in those that care for the most vulnerable in our society--children, elderly, and the disabled. Along with business budgets, community services budgets, and education budgets, household budgets are being slashed, and

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-28992652371719183392009-01-15T20:44:00.000-08:002009-01-15T22:40:43.290-08:00

Recently I read a great title to a blog post: "Blogging is like going to the gym for your brain." Clever, but did they have to put it that way? Somehow that mere word, "gym," triggered a bodily reaction that triggered the avoidance reflex. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I'm working on getting back into the groove. Let's get current on some health news (and there is a lot):Let's

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-39020488082340847582009-01-09T19:30:00.000-08:002009-01-09T20:47:14.012-08:00

Everyone jokes about the crazy manifestations of the need to clean and organize an expectant mother in her nesting phase exhibits. My husband looks forward to this time, and I say that power needs to be bottled and dispensed when we're lacking the motivation to keep up the fight with kids and husbands underfoot to maintain some sort of order.Our current circumstances also lend themselves to

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-16459161976078774622009-01-08T22:32:00.000-08:002009-01-09T00:03:50.083-08:00

Meanwhile, catching up with the world at large:As the sides square off in Gaza, the children suffer. No side is blameless in this crisis, but one thing is clear, it is horrific what is happening to helpless victims on both sides of this divide.Chinese parents have confirmed that they have filed a lawsuit against the companies responsible for the contamination of the country's milk and formula

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-60706905043769388802009-01-06T22:02:00.000-08:002009-01-06T23:24:34.836-08:00

It's teen time!So a few weeks ago I did it. Yielding to the Gen X group think that you just can't seem to shake, I thought "I guess it's time I joined Facebook." Look! How nifty, people I haven't heard or seen in twenty years. Who needs high school reunions?If there is a teen in the vicinity they have just curled their lip in derision and called me all kinds of names in text format that I have no

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-83380831312813815342009-01-05T22:00:00.001-08:002009-01-05T23:26:33.722-08:00

In all the holiday hustle and bustle, there are some stories that a busy mom (or dad) may have missed from the political stage. Let's get caught up politically, shall we?As Congress gets ready to go back into session, there has been no shortage of drama, and down to the wire machinations in key open and unresolved seats. Al Franken seems to be staking a claim on his race, by a ridiculously close

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-81078834265074556702009-01-05T21:30:00.000-08:002009-01-05T21:45:25.378-08:00

A few relevant fiscal add-ons landed in my in-box today from the Christian Science Monitor, so following up on yesterday's post, here are two more great financial articles to pass along:If you are still struggling to balance the checkbook the old fashioned way, time to tech it up and take advantage of some great new services that gather and manage all your financial data together and help you

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-37751983469248020252009-01-04T20:58:00.000-08:002009-01-04T22:51:33.608-08:00

I, like most people, am positively sick to death of hearing about economic news, and the temptation to tune out is great. The news is so extreme, the astronomical figures and sensational and breathtakingly brazen nature of the architects of the scams (let's call them what they really are) that have touched the richest and the poorest, and everyone in between. But it is precisely at times like

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-22062326864329651442009-01-03T22:57:00.000-08:002009-01-04T00:24:55.512-08:00

The new year is barely three days old, and look how many expectations we have heaped upon it! Sound familiar? Sound like...parenthood? There's a lot of pressure we put on ourselves and our offspring to "get it right." As a bookseller in the age of the exploding superstore, I watched the family and childcare section similarly expand. There is advice from every which way. Perhaps because it is so

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-62016866264683729542009-01-01T23:18:00.000-08:002009-01-01T23:56:45.233-08:00

Farewell to 2008, readers, and welcome to 2009! Did 2008 seem very very long to you? It actually was, in fact, one second longer, as decreed by the keepers of the atomic clock, adjusting for some earth's rotation adjustments. And, well, there's that other slate of issues, financial meltdowns, incredibly long presidential campaigns, fluctuating gas prices, the whole Brittney Spears saga, you name

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-23797754246017257752008-12-31T12:43:00.001-08:002008-12-31T13:19:22.823-08:00

Do you Twitter? I have added a new Twitter Moms feed as an ongoing feature on the sidebar to keep you "in the know." Check it out! Twitter Moms: The Influential Moms Network

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-14516948318526218582008-12-24T13:30:00.000-08:002008-12-24T13:38:38.684-08:00

Send this eCard !Thank you to all my Revelant readers. Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, and safe travels. The news will take a break and return after new year. Unless of course there is something I just have to write about!Be Well,Aphra

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-77028800188174185412008-12-22T23:38:00.000-08:002008-12-23T00:04:26.724-08:00

Not that we have cornered the market on holiday exhaustion, but odds are if you are a mom you are running on fumes right about now. So let's cut to the chase and get to it. Here are a few holiday tips to pass along before the big day:I'm biased as a former professional bookseller, but books are fantastic last minute gift ideas for everyone. I can attest that I nearly had to escort people bodily

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-5347554605216189482008-12-21T19:55:00.000-08:002008-12-21T20:46:51.680-08:00

I was going to include a commentary article from the U.K. Guardian into a larger discussion of parenting issues in the news, but decided that it was to good, and to important an article to risk getting buried and perhaps unread. And I am telling you that you should read it-take the time. The reason is that this writer, Geraldine Bedell, instead of writing a trite polarized article about the

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-69316678461480509942008-12-20T22:31:00.000-08:002008-12-20T23:36:57.819-08:00

Fiscal concerns have you down?Hold on to any scrap of good news campers, Wells Fargo's economists see the recession ending in late 2009.In denial that tax season is just around the corner? Well, get proactive people and check out the tips in this article as well as this article that give you useful things you should be doing right now to manage your taxes.Finally some common sense reforms are

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-44144389095522821622008-12-19T23:27:00.000-08:002008-12-20T00:37:11.825-08:00

We interrupt the news, for news...of my ranting:I'm a notorious procrastinator when it comes to things I really hate doing...like shopping...in crowds...while doing mental budgeting gymnastics. Waiting in lines is high on my avoid at all costs list as well, and salespeople who mess up gift receipts also are the target of my holiday exasperation. Before you get all indignant on their behalf, let

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-76721666844205683222008-12-18T20:13:00.000-08:002008-12-18T21:44:08.643-08:00

Bringing you up to date on recent education headlines:President elect Obama has just announced his selection of Chicago superintendent of schools, Arne Duncan, for Secretary of Education. His selection is viewed as a good choice to balance the calls of opposing forces in the education debate, having established a track record of tough school standards, as well as a productive and respectful

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-37828045537148397072008-12-16T23:40:00.000-08:002008-12-17T00:18:25.422-08:00

We in the American culture are desperate for role models, but the problem is that we get caught up in some questionable role models. Flip on TV these days and you will encounter any number of reality television shows featuring celebrities letting you in on their "family values." I spend most of these shows, when I can stomach getting through one (some of them I can't get past the opening

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-54680809751071376802008-12-14T23:24:00.000-08:002008-12-15T00:35:47.128-08:00

Random Fun Stuff:A few days ago I wrote about NORAD's annual tracking of Santa Claus. Ever wonder how a major defense institution got into the business of tracking Santa? Turns out it was a wrong phone number printed in a newspaper in the mid 1950s that kicked off the annual tradition.Some of our traditions around Christmas might seem a little odd to the uninitiated, like the American proclivity

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-57193161999190117272008-12-13T21:13:00.000-08:002008-12-13T22:49:13.744-08:00

A few notes on politics, family and "having a life."Change is definitely coming:As the transition creeps closer (and doesn't it feel like it is creeping?), Obama steadily makes his team selections, and is working on delivering on that promise of change, if only thus far in how we are hearing and interacting with this decidedly 21st century President-elect. First, he is harnessing the Internet

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-38694520225825831262008-12-13T20:11:00.000-08:002008-12-13T20:52:39.511-08:00

I spent thirteen years in the book industry, and I definitely still retain my love for bookish things. Having children is a great opportunity to guiltlessly unleash the inner storyteller, as well as indulge in beautiful children's books along with your kids.Having books at home, and reading to your children is so important. As a college student I worked on a graduate student's project involving

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-67045278756817564232008-12-13T19:15:00.000-08:002008-12-13T19:31:38.525-08:00

An example of when good intentions go horribly awry. In an effort to make sure that toys are safe, a whole host of regulations covering testing requirements and labeling are currently awaiting implementation this coming February by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Problem is that the regulations will be catastrophic for small boutique businesses, and also make European made toys further

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-78774874132434496522008-12-12T22:02:00.000-08:002008-12-13T00:13:18.340-08:00

My list of pregnancy and birth stories is full to bursting, and ready to deliver!The journey of infertility is filled with difficult decisions, not the least of which in the case of IVF treatment is what to do with frozen embryos once the couple is either done having children, or decides to cease the procedure. Complicating this is the fact that there aren't always satisfactory choices available

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-80564210273631683982008-12-11T23:58:00.000-08:002008-12-12T01:24:24.719-08:00

I'm sure you can relate. I have a ton of things to get done for the holidays, a work deadline that could not be missed, and a child who was sick, and threw up on me twice. I'm bone tired, and desperately counting the key strokes between me and my bed. It's creeping up on us all fast, and I reason that you can always use some quick tips to help make things easier, so let's have at it:If you

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-26453130748617326512008-12-10T23:44:00.000-08:002008-12-11T01:13:10.991-08:00

For those moms (and dads) that are getting tired of answering how many more days until Santa comes, something fun for you and the kids to take the pressure off. Apparently Norad doesn't just monitor all the weapons, etc. that might be pointed at us, they also are on Santa tracking duty as well.The kids can visit their own special interactive countdown page, and get up to the minute Santa updates.

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-23462080530745917582008-12-09T23:27:00.000-08:002008-12-10T02:06:59.356-08:00

Pardon me, but I'm going to step up on my soapbox now:I'm aware that I don't write the typical "mommy blog," and I'm fine with that. Fact is that I'm just not all that into adding yet another virtual chapter to the saga of losing the baby weight, sex after baby, taming toddlers with 'tude, and finding a pair of jeans that addresses (insert hated body part post-baby here). It's been covered, ALOT,

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-14057966785917288502008-12-08T23:59:00.000-08:002008-12-09T01:13:39.915-08:00

With the economic numbers what they are and the prospect of a recovery uncertain, it IS certain the no one's job is secure, so it is best to be proactive and look at what you can do to improve your economic condition, and ride through the current cycle of economic contraction and layoffs. Here are some interesting items I have come across recently: There are a wealth of articles that advise what

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-53534120326564491952008-12-08T23:50:00.000-08:002008-12-08T23:58:27.072-08:00

When you are a mom, you don't have time to surf all over the place to find what you are interested in, or always the luxury of meandering around the Internet to discover great sites and writers. Guy Kawasaki's latest venture, AllTop.com is a one stop source to find the best, topic specific content sites on the Internet. Save yourself some time and visit All Top. If you are specifically interested

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-91277056382096910752008-12-07T22:28:00.000-08:002008-12-09T01:31:01.671-08:00

Building upon yesterday's post about holiday angst over giving, I have a fabulous list of resources for those that are looking for a one stop shop of wonderful holiday giving suggestions from my friends at The Holistic Moms Network. Their "Green Mama Team" has compiled "The Great Green Gift-Giving Guide," which they have graciously allowed me to reprint here for your benefit.I joined my local

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-69711504390258337172008-12-06T21:01:00.000-08:002008-12-07T01:16:34.155-08:00

We hold these truths to be self evident, all children are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, education...and toys. Nothing quite says hard times, and cuts a parent to the quick, as when they struggle to put a few coveted toys under the tree for their kids during the holidays. Although the seasonal barrage of advertisement and marketing is a time honored tradition, tough economic times just

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-7029815071116453662008-12-06T13:51:00.000-08:002008-12-06T14:46:23.948-08:00

Bringing you up to speed on the health front:Remain informed about what is in the food you eat and feed to your children. Sure it says "fortified," "high-fiber," "whole-grain," etc., but beware the "health halo," a marketing strategy that misleads parents into thinking that they are indeed feeding their kids in a healthful way. And beware salt; there is a whole lot more salt than you think in

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-12344380616963365212008-12-05T22:16:00.000-08:002008-12-06T00:45:33.877-08:00

President-elect Obama is moving swiftly to name his team, and the order of his nominations and appointments could be seen as an agenda priority list. First, the economy, then national security, and next up is energy and environment, with several prominent names from science and politics in the mix. Just as with the other issues pressing on the soon to be installed new President, the challenges

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-51860639189872902332008-12-03T23:45:00.000-08:002008-12-04T00:57:53.381-08:00

Most agree that to remain competitive in the global economy and shifting economic and industrial models we must make quality and access to education a top priority in an agenda that is decidedly crowded. The urgency is underscored by the recent report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education that found that, "published college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-14058584662899062852008-12-02T23:37:00.000-08:002008-12-03T01:15:32.347-08:00

What are your list of "I won'ts" when it comes to parenting? As in "I won't raise a brat," "I won't raise a bully," "I won't raise a (insert your reviled political party here)." Most of us start off with the best of intentions, but what happens when things don't go the way we planned? What if your child is the bratty one that others secretly hope won't rsvp "yes" to playgroup, and how does it

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-12636239407885255002008-12-01T19:54:00.000-08:002008-12-01T20:58:26.604-08:00

It's Teen Time!You may despair of your teen spending too much time "connected" to social media, and bemoan the fact that they have mastered blind texting under the dinner table when you've prohibited such things. But while you think they are just wasting time, a study about teenager's Internet usage finds that the benefits outweigh the perceived risks. Put that in your Facebook and Tweet it.Seem

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-45843064734721176922008-11-30T23:21:00.000-08:002008-12-01T00:43:58.371-08:00

Meanwhile in news around the globe:With the headlines fraught with stories of power struggles and violence in Mumbai, Nigeria, Iraq, and elsewhere, it is refreshing to read about a peaceful and mindful shift to Democracy for the nation of Bhutan. An island of sanity that I sincerely hope survives and gives rise to others. Adoption can be a very fragile process, with no guarantees, and especially

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-87440379806337867022008-11-29T15:24:00.000-08:002008-11-29T16:57:20.587-08:00

Welcome to another edition of "Are You Kidding Me?!" Today we've got tragedy and comedy for the offering:I come by my distaste for Black Friday honestly...15 plus years in the retail trenches in a prior career, but these stories just take it up a thousand notches: A temporary worker for Walmart was trampled to death by people who literally broke down the doors to get the "doorbuster deals." To

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-87939102256787832822008-11-29T14:40:00.000-08:002008-11-29T14:57:24.107-08:00

Ho-Ho-Ho-pefully helping you save headaches, hassles, and money this holiday season:Want to save money shipping your gifts? Check out the tips in this article.Check out the deadlines for varying shipping methods here.Happy Holidays!

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-31740603684677893462008-11-28T15:49:00.000-08:002008-11-28T21:21:55.671-08:00

A few articles and websites to aid in controlling your shopping costs. Enjoy and remember when shopping online to buy from trusted vendors and always look for the little lock graphic and "https" in the URL when checking out for the security of your information!Articles:"In Lean Times, Online Coupons Are Catching On" from The New York Times"Online Coupon Sites See Sharp Rise in Visitors" from The

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-73071981775058919222008-11-28T15:22:00.000-08:002008-11-28T15:39:07.956-08:00

It may be "Black Friday," a dubious holiday all on its own, but personally I would rather celebrate the other holiday worth marking today, the National Day of Listening, a day in which families are encouraged to, brace yourselves, talk to one another to collect oral histories. The day was initiated by StoryCorps, a non-profit group who is collecting our national stories and storing them in the

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-21769849368237144922008-11-28T14:46:00.000-08:002008-11-28T15:16:37.008-08:00

Witnessing the travesty that is the Chinese melamine baby formula scandal that sickened well over 10,000 babies, and killed unknown numbers (the official number stands at three, but previous reporting calls that in to question), some asked if it could happen here? Recent events are not putting that worry to rest with the report that the FDA detected, albeit extremely small, trace amounts of

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-10257935156076079312008-11-26T20:04:00.001-08:002008-11-26T21:48:35.783-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!Many people are having a hard time this year, and it is precisely out of difficult circumstances that the original day of Thanksgiving began. There are many myths surrounding the tradition, and I'm not speaking of 1621, but rather 1777, when the first designated day for Thanksgiving began, during the Revolutionary War. Things were also bleak at that time, and the

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-91614903489369760552008-11-25T13:51:00.000-08:002008-11-25T16:40:57.950-08:00

My Reuters feed was just chock full of nuts this morning, and I just had to share. Life can be so absurd, so you just have to laugh! Or cry. Suit yourself.You know it's bad when...Germany faces a shortage of Santas with a clean police recordThe economy is so bad Russians have to cut back on vodka Man hugs panda, panda attacks man. Yes, they're cute, but still a bear.And the absolute topper! Just

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-84790574021384233772008-11-25T01:42:00.000-08:002008-11-25T02:36:37.422-08:00

While "a couple breathing life into their marriage personifies love," it's admittedly a force of will when a family falls on hard times, and a couple is tested. Facing your children and trying to explain a job loss alone is wrenching. It's in times like these that taking the long view is the difficult but advisable path.In fact, work it out together creatively. Take inspiration from writer,

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-20044985514755177752008-11-25T00:35:00.000-08:002008-11-25T01:25:55.256-08:00

As parents (I should say moms, we're really the neurotic ones, let's face it) these days we are so obsessed with "getting it right" with our kids; the right foods, the right education, the right activities. We analyze our every move. One of my wisest and oldest friends visiting with me today bemoaned the "motherhood performance anxiety" which makes the most confident of mothers fret what the "

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-55902400373892413682008-11-23T15:25:00.000-08:002008-11-23T16:31:25.307-08:00

The Obama edition of Relevant Quickies:Quick update on the cabinet picks that Obama has reportedly made.Senator Hillary Clinton is widely thought to have accepted the Secretary of State position, which has inspired reams and bytes of commentary. Can they work together, etc., etc., etc. The New York Times reports that they reached accord quite a while ago. And not only with each other; Mrs.

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-66914245524020518612008-11-21T19:49:00.000-08:002008-11-21T21:48:36.270-08:00

One of my very favorite movies is "Out of Africa." In fact, when I need a boost of creative flow, I pop in the soundtrack, and my brain synapses do little happy dances. Storytelling is a central theme, when nights were long, and entertainment was found in the good conversation of an infrequent visitor, and the special treat of a gifted storyteller. A recent story of a mother raising her family

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-70415593178388235002008-11-20T23:15:00.000-08:002008-11-20T23:58:03.146-08:00

Welcome to a new feature: "Are You Kidding Me?!" I occasionally run across things that make me shake my head in disbelief, and I shall periodically share them with you as well. Enjoy the indignation.You've heard of "greenwashing," where a company hoping to hop on the eco marketing bandwagon makes some superficial changes and claims to be "green?" Now, welcome to "brainwashing." McDonalds is using

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-77453743368013244712008-11-19T22:23:00.000-08:002008-11-19T23:22:22.747-08:00

Recent stories on the status of women front:Who are the women blazing a trail in business? Check out "The 50 Women to Watch 2008" from the Wall Street Journal.The election capped a tumultuous political cycle for women, and we made "modest gains," but as our recent 27th finish in the world gender equality report 2008 revealed, we are far behind many other countries. A significant barrier was

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-54043165674926519842008-11-19T20:53:00.000-08:002008-11-20T00:39:51.255-08:00

One of the first things that seems to be a change for President elect Barack Obama's new administration is the use of technology, and the apparent interest in hearing directly from you about what you think and would like to see the country do. If you haven't already, head over to Change.gov. You can submit "Your Story," and "Your Vision." You can even weigh in on specific issues they are asking

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-28169303692388219742008-11-19T00:36:00.000-08:002008-11-19T01:00:31.099-08:00

In international news:An uproar occurred recently when reports of children being thrown off German trains came out. Children as young as twelve years old were ejected from the train when they did not have proper tickets. In some cases the children had to make their own way home. In response the train authority retrained conductors and made them sign an acknowledgment statement.Norway approaches

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-48357761439744636042008-11-16T15:42:00.000-08:002008-11-16T16:29:22.400-08:00

How do you know how to parent? Let's take that up a notch. How do you know how to parent, when you, yourself, were not parented well? Let's take it up another notch. How do you parent when you were abused as a child, mentally, verbally, and/or physically? Parenting in those moments of intense frustration is hard enough, but how do you handle your unresolved anger and sense of betrayal, and stop

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-4120656968596380002008-11-15T13:37:00.000-08:002008-11-15T13:58:54.812-08:00

I've had this link for awhile, and waiting for the right post to put it in, which hasn't materialized, so it gets its very own. The story originated from a very troubling U.K. research finding that "Many teenage boys believe it's OK to force girls to have sex. They also think it's acceptable to get girls drunk so they're more inclined to agree." It delves into some of the reasons why this is

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-62458310074968736042008-11-15T12:45:00.000-08:002008-11-15T13:35:00.252-08:00

As promised, here's a quickie roll-up of all the science and health related news for the secret or not-so-secret science nerds out there:Astronomer photography teams have captured the first photos of four "alien" planets, none of which are like Earth, but one of the leads on the project, astronomer Bruce Macintosh, says "It is a step on that road to understand if there are other planets like

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-4701947466610564572008-11-14T20:28:00.000-08:002008-11-14T21:07:57.276-08:00

Toy tidbits:Good news on the toy safety front. A new report shows that recalls this year have decreased 46%. But we aren't out of the woods yet. New safety standards are taking effect next year, and the toys on the shelves were bought before new standards are in place, so continued vigilance is warranted. Also, in a tight economy it is tempting to search out discounters, or gently used from

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-31507254696760807382008-11-13T12:56:00.000-08:002008-11-14T21:19:13.643-08:00

I read a really interesting piece by Rebecca Traister of Salon.com in which she discusses the "momification" of Michelle Obama. She observes that the coverage of the soon to be First Lady has revolved around her fashion choices, making the move to Washington, and specifically has focused on her self professed role of "Mom-In-Chief," with her primary concerns settling her girls into their new

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-7480494749999148522008-11-12T22:26:00.001-08:002008-11-12T23:40:06.017-08:00

List of interesting news is long, and time is short, so welcome to another edition of "Relevant Quickies." Get in, hang on, and awwwwwwaaaaayyyy we goooooooooooo:First Granny? There is some debate about this. Multiple news outlets, including the Washington Post's The Reliable Source column reported earlier this week that Michelle Obama's mom, who has played a big role in the care of the Obama

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-7241957537775688292008-11-11T13:26:00.000-08:002008-11-17T12:58:54.669-08:00

No matter how you feel about wars fought, past and present, take a moment today to acknowledge the sacrafice of those who have fought. I was raised by a Navy man who always instilled an appreciation of history and was vigilant that I understand the sacrifices of those who made my life and freedom possible. As a teenager, I spent a memorable two weeks being drug through a succession of Civil War

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-67051891459962832082008-11-10T23:19:00.001-08:002008-11-10T23:46:09.851-08:00

O.K., full disclosure, I have no children yet in school, so I can't really "feel the foodie philosophical pain" of those in the trenches, but I gather from my friends that do, that the subject of food and school is a, shall we say, tense topic. On the one hand you have those who work hard to keep their kids' diets as healthful as possible, and feel that the ubiquitous classroom cupcake should be

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-517355679214749457.post-19610030455658414562008-11-10T21:57:00.000-08:002008-11-10T23:15:41.900-08:00

Amongst all the hats that moms wear, you can add "Chief Entertainment Engineer,"and in the fall/winter, the stakeholders are demanding:My son is obsessed with sticks. Like most mothers of sons, it never fails to amaze me how happy they make him, and in the presence of fun play structures, well the stick still wins out. Perhaps then it is no surprise that the stick has been inducted into the

Aphrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07273343436519301257noreply@blogger.com0