Featured WIRL of the Moment

Reality – What It’s Really Like

Reality – What It’s Really Like

This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like… Back in 1998 MTV debuted the reality TV s... Read More »

Previously Featured WIRLs

Speedy Toddler Lunch Idea, Good Lesson for Mom

Speedy Toddler Lunch Idea, Good Lesson for Mom

On Super Bowl Sunday, my husband asked me what appetizer we should bring to share at our friend’s Super Bowl party.  We originally decided to bring jalapeno poppers, but on the day of the party, my husband got a text message from the host saying someone else decided to bring the same thing.  We quickly aborted our plan and decided to bring something else instead.  Enter The Vegetable Party Platter... Read More »

Premature Baby Preeclampsia | WIRL Project

Leaving Your Baby at the Hospital – Two Weeks as a NICU Mom

15 Days. Fifteen days that felt like an eternity. Having a child in the NICU is a long, emotional roller coaster that nothing can prepare you for. Luckily, my story is a good one, and we now have a healthy 19 month old. However, I’ll never get back those minutes, those hours that I could not hold him, I could not kiss him. I wasn’t the first, second, or probably even the third person to hold my so... Read More »

I Found Myself at BlogU | WIRL Project

BlogU Taught Me About Myself

I’m sure that many others will blog about the amazingness that was Blog U 2015 this past weekend. Blog U was a great conference which packed about a month of information into 48 hours. I got excellent information which will improve TND, help us expand our reach, AND help us chart the next step beyond. I highly recommend it for any blogger looking to up their game. But I’m not going to talk about a... Read More »

Work Life Balance

By “Work/Life Balance” You Must Mean: All Work, Bye Bye Life, and No Balance

Since becoming a mom, I’ve learned that there are NOT enough hours in a day. Many people often wish for “super powers” and mine would be the ability to survive without sleep! I actually hate going up to bed at night. Why do we NEED to do this!? There are so many more “productive” things I could be doing instead of laying down in a bed for 7-8 hours doing NOTHING resti... Read More »

The Best and Worst of Three Prenatal Workouts

Pregnant, avoiding the gym at all costs, and trying to decide which at-home workouts will give you the most bang for your prenatal buck? Well, look no further: I’m sharing with you my three favorite at-home pregnancy workout videos – and I’m going to tell you the best and worst of them both. I’ll answer your burning questions, such as: Which instructor will make you want to punch her because of th... Read More »

Becoming a Grandparent

Becoming a Grandparent

Becoming a grandparent is one of the most wonderful events that can happen to you in your lifetime.  No one can describe the joy that having a grandchild brings to your life.  You think you might know how its going to feel but it is quite different than becoming a parent.   The excitement of seeing your child becoming a parent is also so gratifying and heartwarming.  There’s nothing better!!... Read More »

Letter to My Kindergartener | WIRL Project

The Kindergarten Milestone – The First of Many Lasts

To my third child on her entry to kindergarten: I’m not sure why kindergarten is the milestone that it is. After all, you are a baby used to being in childcare. I am accustomed to dropping you off, handing you into someone else’s loving and capable hands for the hours I have spent working. After five years of childcare and two children before you, I should be used to this by now. But this is kinde... Read More »

The Baby Blues: Motherhood’s Scarlet Letter

The Baby Blues: Motherhood’s Scarlet Letter

  This picture of my oldest daughter (above) was taken minutes after she was born and perfectly sums up the way I felt after both of my pregnancies. You see, for the majority of my life, I imagined that giving birth to my children would be like the opening scene of The Lion King where Rafiki the monkey triumphantly holds up baby Simba and presents him to the Pride Lands while “The Circle of L... Read More »