Calling All Maryland Moms!

Juice in the City is looking to launch in the DC Metro area. If you are looking for a nice way to bolster your income or just earn a bit of extra cash then this might be a good opportunity for you. Yes, really. When you apply you already state how much time you can put into the job and what hours work best for you. It's nice to have that information up front. Another great point is that this job helps local small businesses. I'm all for supporting them whenever I can too. It is a great way to bolster your community and its local economy which is needed especially these days.Want to know more? Have Fun, Work From Home and Be a Local Hero!Moms, take note! There's a great company (founded by moms) called Juice in the City coming to Bethesda/Chevy Chase! Juice in the City offers great deals to … [Read more...]

Losing a Job- Like the Five Stages of Grief

Cross-posted and archived from DC Metro Moms.  Original post date July 25, 2008. It has been one month since my husband walked through our front door suddenly unemployed. Laid off. One month of us spending time together as a family, having long, quiet talks about everything from the state of our finances, job searching and health insurance quandaries to who we are as a family. During this past month we have frozen our gym memberships, eliminated contributions to our daughter's college fund and taken away all of life's tiny luxuries that we often take for granted when stockpiling unnecessary items at the grocery store, Target and almost everywhere else. It's been all about less waste and less consumption this past month and we are probably all the better for it. I have however noticed … [Read more...]

So Long Old Friend

Recently I posted about how good it felt to come away from an afternoon spent with friends and colleagues.  It was the SVMoms Group DC Metro Moms Symposium and I needed it.  Weeks later it was announced that SVMoms would soon cease to exist.I can't tell you how sad this has made me.  Being a part of SVMoms/DCMM was one of my favorite parts of being in this field.  I not only enjoyed the camaraderie of other women, writers and friends but came away from each meeting and get together feeling revitalized, smarter and more accomplished. While DCMM didn't pay, it provided something so much more invaluable to me than monetary means.  There were adventures that happened because I wrote for that group, opportunities presented themselves that created more … [Read more...]

The Tiniest Room

You know you are in a tiny hotel room when you can see every part of the room from every part of the room.  You know you are in a tiny hotel room when you have to stand in the shower to shut the bathroom door.You know you are in a tiny hotel room when you iron your shirt for work that day and it sets off the smoke alarm in your room.  I'm afraid I might start hitting the walls with my ever-growing stomach next. … [Read more...]

Traveling is Cake

Oh, sad little, lonely blog.  I've been so neglectful these past few weeks as I live my own version of the movie, "Up in the Air".  Each day I wake up in a different bed, my cell phone alarm chiming away at me. A breakfast suprise awaits me as I head to the lobby or to venture out on my own to find some food.  The worst was the area that didn't have a single place open for breakfast and I had to resort to chugging instant oatmeal out of a cup with out even a spoon. This was also the same place that had no internet service.  Hello, 1994!!! Good times.  My bank account will be happy, the review site will be brimming with hotel and car reviews too. I'll be debuting my new brand of review, "Sneak Attack!" style reivew, so stay tuned.  Hotels … [Read more...]

I Don’t Just Write. I Speak in Public Too.

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking to a local women's group. The topic for the night was Earth Day.  Along with me was a woman from my local Public Works office. After she discussed recycling, volunteerism and much more (There are over 22 trash companies serving my county and only two trash inspectors! Animal waste running into our rivers and streams is a HUGE issue. Blech.  Pick up your yard poop was the message.)  I got up, rather nervously, to speak about products that help you green your life.  After about a minute I found it quite easy speaking to this group of women. They were interested, had loads of questions and since I genuinely love the topic of green products I felt like I was on a roll.  I could have gone on for over an hour … [Read more...]

My Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

You put on the dress, ripping off the tags and feel brand new. Your heels click importantly as you wheel your suitcase out to the car and you breathe a sigh of relief. Aaah, I feel ready to work and professional.Then you stop for gas before getting on the road and your GPS feels cranky. It clearly isn't feeling professional today and doesn't want to play either.  After twenty minutes of fiddling with it, cursing at it, downloading apps to your phone and calling your spouse you have directions.  You are now late.  The feelings of professionalism begin to recede as anxiety carves a pit into your stomach.  You glance at the clock and think, "There is still time. I'm fine."  You coast down the highway in your new car, getting used to its feel and briefly … [Read more...]

Hershey! Our First Family Vacation

When I saw this sign I assumed this would be the weirdest moment of our trip to Hershey, PA. Well, we all know what happens when you assume, right?Since our room wasn't ready yet at the incredibly family friendly Hershey Lodge (TD jumped up and down when she realized she could check-in to the hotel herself.) we decided to check out the Butterfly House at the Children's Garden. TD loves Fancy Nancy and her azure butterflies. The kid was so excited about seeing purple butterflies flitting about that she jumped down from our truck and literally hit the pavement. We all heard the smack and instantly our day turned upside down. H ripped off his shirt and used it to cover the gash while I found a bottle of water to rinse the cut. When he took away the t-shirt blood poured out of the wound and I … [Read more...]

Where’s Mummy- #34

Funny, I have yet to see a scene like this since I've arrived in the desert. I've seen my fair share of tumbleweeds, abandoned buildings and prehistoric dragonfly type insects that scare the beejeezus out of me. Oh and some vicious little black beetles that like to crawl under my hotel door at night and scoot around the floor. Frightening!It is more like this- My fine dining choices consist of Applebee's and Chili's and I'm done. You would think I could find an interesting little Mexican eatery but alas there is nada. Ooh, I'm already speaking the language. Heh. Did I mention that the hotel hair dryer doesn't work? I'm sportin' the most interesting do. It's part beach wavy, part matted mangy dog hair hot mess. I had to conduct a training session like that yesterday. Today I'm out greeting … [Read more...]