AARP Already? by Peggy Bogaard-Lapp
August 10th, 2013
In today's mail I received an invitation to join "over 5 million people" in a widely known group. Sounds soo tempting! These are some cool people, they have money, travel, have purchasing power and political leverage. Well, all this aside, I'm just not ready to join AARP! How can I ...
Increase the SPF on My Sensitivity, Please by Melissa Swedoski
August 6th, 2013
Recently, I've been pondering if I've gotten more sensitive as I've gotten older. About my looks, certainly. I check the lines, the dark spots, the wrinkles, the grays, a lot more thoroughly than I ever did. If I think someone is either sizing me up, wondering how I'm married to ...
5 Things You Probably Know About Parenthood by Melissa Swedoski
July 23rd, 2013
Some days, it doesn't pay to be a mother. Okay, it never pays to be a mother unless you've figured out the magical way to get paid for changing diapers, soothing crying babies, living through sleep deprivation for years, and so much more. If you have figured this out, please ...
Sorry, But I’m Running Late …..By Robin Sydney Wallace
July 21st, 2013
"We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are,"--Anais Nin. As a writer and a journalist, I know the power of words, language and terminology. I know that through the language with which we choose to discuss a topic, we can define the public’s perception or feelings ...
Pickles and Other Stuff by Peggy Bogaard-Lapp
July 20th, 2013
I was born in the summer, and have always been much more productive and connected during the May-September months. My dad was a backyard gardener, the closest thing he could get to having his own farm. He came from a long line of Iowa farmers, and I always thought he ...
Age Ain’t a Number, It’s Just a Perspective by Melissa Swedoski
July 16th, 2013
When I agreed to marry a man 13 years my junior, I wasn't thinking too clearly. That is to say, I was so giddy with excitement, that I didn't take my usual pros/cons approach and fashion a list of why this is a good/bad idea. Yes, I was that really ...
Step-grandma? by Peggy Bogaard-Lapp
July 13th, 2013
I became a step-mother nearly 20 years ago. I have always hated the term "step" since it is impersonal and is usually referred to in describing what you do with your foot. And in the early years, I did feel stepped on. A lot. I was very naive to children, ...
Sea World and the Moral of the Story by Melissa Swedoski
July 9th, 2013
Have you ever taken a trip and almost instantly regretted it? Have you ever taken a vacation with family and learned some valuable lessons? Have you ever returned from one of those adventures with a huge bruise across the right side of your face? Well, then, my friends, you should ...
GUEST BLOG POST: INSTANT MOM by Nia Vardalos (book excerpt)
April 7th, 2013
I now know the many ways to become a parent. Sure, some methods are expensive and time-consuming, some can lead to heart-break. Some work for many. Some don’t. And some are amazingly simple and accessible to everyone. One way worked for me. I don’t want to come across as ...
Not Enough Hours in the Day by Margaret Hart
March 19th, 2013
Sometimes, being a mom means accepting the fact that there just aren't enough hours in the day to get things done. As someone who prides herself on being well organized, and managing her time well, I have run out of hours this week—and it's only Tuesday! I have numerous emails to write ...
