It’s a regular day when your phone rings. It’s your close friend who you speak with all the time but today she sounds nervous. She tells you that she has received a cancer diagnosis and your heart just sinks. A cancer diagnosis. It’s time to kick in to supportive friend mode. But how? Some people […]
How to Love Our Bodies
Last night some of the most wonderful women I know were talking about their bellies. The conversation started in response to this post by Lolli at Better in Bulk, which she wrote in response to this post on Babble.com written by Moosh in Indy about postpartum bellies. Back to last night’s girl talk. It wasn’t […]
A Powerful Lesson by a Professional Athlete
In these days when professional athletes seem to have egos larger than the stadiums they play in, there are still a few who show humility. When renowned coaches are headed to jail and when $22 million per year is not enough money for one player’s salary, there are still a few athletes who remember what […]
Confessions of a Soccer Mom
You know the crazy parent on the sidelines at your kid’s sporting events? The one you wish would just shut the hell up already, who yells from beginning to end and makes you want to rip your eardrums out? Yep. That’s me. Each week I tell myself that I am going to keep my mouth […]
Mark Herzlich: Defying the Odds, Inspiring Others
Mark Herzlich has defied tremendous odds. And he did it twice. His story aired on 60 Minutes last week and inspired over 18 million viewers. If you need a little inspiration today, read Mark’s story. You will not be disappointed. Mark was coming off an all-star year as a linebacker at Boston College. He was […]
Being Kinder to Our Bodies with Exercise
There once was a time when I was a gym rat. Yep, that was me. Even after kid #1, I went back to the gym and slowly (very slowly) took off the pregnancy weight. Then life crept up on me and I no longer enjoyed taking time out of my day to drive to and […]
Work-Life Balance: How to Manage It All
One of my favorite quotes is from Marcus Buckingham, who says that “Not only is work-life balance nigh on impossible to achieve, even if you did manage to achieve a perfect state of equilibrium, it wouldn’t necessarily fulfill you anyway. There’s nothing inherently fulfilling about “balance”…. When you are balanced you are stationary, holding your […]
My Big Parenting Failure
This past weekend was my big parenting failure. We took the kids to a Philadelphia Union professional soccer game. It was the first time for all of us. Our boys both play soccer and we had heard great feedback about both the stadium and the fans. We don’t often go out just the four of […]
If Men Could Menstruate
“If men could menstruate … clearly, menstruation would become an enviable, boast-worthy, masculine event: Men would brag about how long and how much…. Sanitary supplies would be federally funded and free. Of course, some men would still pay for the prestige of such commercial brands as Paul Newman Tampons, Muhammed Ali’s Rope-a-Dope Pads, John Wayne […]
What is Your Postpartum Progress?
Katherine Stone has found her marbles. And she will be the first to tell you that at a decade ago she thought she had lost them for good. You see, Katherine suffering from severe postpartum depression (ppd) and anxiety disorders that has led her on a new life path. Katherine and I met last week […]
The Jhpiego Organization: Handmade Jewelry Made in Nairobi
Last week I told you about 31 Bits – jewelry made by the women of Uganda. This week we have another fabulous item to tell you about which also generates income for women in Africa and their families. You probably know of fashion designer Liz Lange from her fabulous line of maternity wear and from […]
Celebrities Who Give Back: Jon Bon Jovi
I have a friend who should be named queen of the Jon Bon Jovi fan club. She has attended over 25 Bon Jovi concerts over the past two decades. (Nope, I am not kidding.) She even wishes Jon a Happy Birthday each year on Facebook – just in case he might respond. While I am […]
How a #Quilt Can Brighten a Child’s Day
You never know how a bagel can change your life. A few weeks ago I was in line waiting for a bagel and began chatting with the man in front of me. He was telling me all about an organization that has become a huge part of his life. Here’s how it started: In August, […]
Paying It Forward at Jefferson University Hospital
If you ever had a baby, want a baby or know a baby, this story will tug at your heartstrings. Get your tissues ready. In July of 2008, Carrie and her husband Casey were getting ready for what was supposed to be the best day of their lives. Carrie was scheduled to have a routine […]