2010 Portfolio

2010 was an interesting year. So much changed for me and I have so much to be grateful for. The year flew right by without my acknowledging the great companies I worked with.

The following companies provided me with products, meals and/or compensation in exchange for a mention or review on my site. I enjoyed working with them and look forward to sharing more from them in the future.

• #GotMilk
• Everything Mom
• Dining Details
• Lovin’ Scoopful
• LA Boxing
• Chevy
• RockStarMoms
• Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
• Smart & Final
• Clean Rest
• Munchkin
• Harney Sushi
• Tiffany & Co.
• Tiny Prints
• Fisher-Price
• Nissan
• CalorieStory
• Spa Na’mara

I also received review copies of the following books in exchange for an honest book review:

• Marry Him: Settling for Mr. Good Enough
• The Green Hour
• Sweet Farts
• Chicken Big
• Emptying the Nest
• The CarbLovers Diet
• You’ll Lose the Baby Weight (and OTHER LIES about pregnancy and childbirth)

And, finally, I was able to attend special screenings of the following films this year in exchange for an honest movie review:

• BABIES
• The Kids Are All Right

Please contact me if you’re interested in working with me in any capacity. I look forward to working with more companies in 2011 to help get the word out to healthy, happy, hip moms and dads.

Read the full Disclosure Statement to learn more about my relationship with sponsors, advertisers and companies both small and large.

The Best Of 2010

It always amuses me to see how people discover my blog. My site stats often surprises me, but it’s great to see what people are looking for, what their concerns might be and how helpful my blog or the particular post might be to them.

Based on my site stats, here are the Top Ten posts of 2010 (as of today). If you haven’t read them already, please leave a comment or share your favorite Happy Healthy Hip blog post in the comments below.

 

1. The ABCs of Working Parents – This book review ended up on Freshly Pressed earlier this month but I have a feeling it’s because there are so many working parents (that means anyone who’s known as mom or dad) and all use humor to get through the days – and nights.
2. How social media & technology destroy relationships – Apparently, I’m not the only one who values face-to-face time with people IRL (in real life). While I haven’t sent a hand-written letter to anyone in a while, this post reminds me how important it is to make a phone call as opposed to sending a text message and setting aside more time for the people who really matter (the ones who’s phone numbers I have memorized from before the days of cell phones).
3. Too Sexy Halloween Costumes – I’m afraid people have come across this post looking for something other than the messages I meant to convey. Go figure.
4. Mother Beauty – I’m not sure how this post made it to the top from this year, but I do know that it was the most risky for me to share. The picture chosen was from last January. I can only hope that I feel that good about myself and my body this January (after the baby is born).
5. Hot Blogger Calendar – This posts began as a plea for a trip to New York that ended up bringing in a lot of traffic, but not enough votes to get me to the Big Apple. Oh well. I wasn’t up for traveling in August anyway (at 5 months pregnant).
6. Happy Healthy Hip Holiday Gift Guide – This year’s gift guide includes gifts for babies, kids, him and her. Lots of ideas for any gift-giving occasion.
7. Introducing Hip Baby! – I was glad to see that this one made it to the top ten list. Our baby (due in 12 days) surprised us with the greatest gift we could ever ask for. Now we’re just waiting patiently for him to arrive.
8. My mom can beat up your mom – Coming up with clever titles always amuses me. This post is about me getting in shape thanks to  LA Boxing. Hopefully, I can get back into kickboxing once the baby is a little older. It was the greatest workout I’ve ever experienced.
9. Stupid things to say to a pregnant woman – I will probably end up saying one of these things to a pregnant woman in the future because, let’s face it, with every pregnancy I truly believe a woman loses some brain cells. It’s probably just me.
10. You’ll Lose the Baby Weight (and other LIES about pregnancy and childbirth) – Another book review with humor and realistic ideas about what women go through in the 9 months leading up to her baby/babies being born. I have a few more weeks to go and, so far, my sense of humor is still in tact.

I’m excited to continue this journey in 2011 and share more great ideas, stories, book recommendations and recipes once our new baby is finally here and life takes on a whole new adventure. I hope you’re able to join me.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

The Best Books of 2010

I love this time of year – when the “best of” lists come out for everything imaginable.

Since my son’s reading on his own now and selecting books that are more than 32 pages in length, I haven’t stayed as current as I would’ve liked to this past year as far as picture books go. Luckily, the lovely people over at EarlyWord compiled a list of the lists for me to enjoy, and to pass on to you.

The picture books that I found most appealing from all the lists include:

by Chris Barton

by Marla Frazee

by Bruce Eric Kaplan

by Mo Willems

by John Burningham

by Béatrice Rodriguez

by Kamako Sakai

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

by Emily Gravett

by Carolyn Coman

Here is the full lists of lists:

• Best Books ’10

  • ALL The Lists (compiled by Largehearted Boy)
  • Amazon Top 100 Editors’ Picks
  • Atlantic Magazine
  • Childrens Best, Collated (Downloadable Spreadsheet)
  • Great Group Reads (National Reading Group Month Selection Committee)
  • Kirkus — Best Books for Children
  • Kirkus — Best Books for Teens
  • Library Journal — Beyond the Top Ten
  • Library Journal — How-To
  • Library Journal — Niche NonFiction
  • Library Journal — Top Ten
  • New York Times Book Review — 100 Notable Books
  • NPR — Best Cookbooks
  • NPR’s Complete List
  • NYT — Dwight Garner’s Top 10 Books of 2010
  • NYT — Janet Maslin’s Top 10 Books of 2010
  • NYT — Michiko Kakutani’s Top 10 Books of 2010
  • NYT Book Review — Top Ten
  • Publishers Weekly Best Books
  • Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books
  • Publishers Weekly Top Ten
  • School Library Journal — Fiction
  • School Library Journal — Nonfiction
  • School Library Journal — Picture Books

Happy Reading!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Happy Healthy Hip Holiday Gift Guide 2010

All of the items below can be found at Uncommon Goods, one of my favorite online shopping sites.

For Him:

Pool Ball Wine Stoppers

Pipe Laptop Stand

Duct Tape Wallet

Cuft

For Her:

Colored Pencil Teardrop Necklace

 

Stretch Your Dollar Wallet

Purse Hanger

Agate Photo Frames

Wine-Tasting Chocolate Kit

For the Kids:

Cardboard Cottage Doll House

Create Your Own Puzzle

Whatchamadrawit

Modern Play Family

Animal Sandwich Cutters

For the Host with the Most:

Salt & Pepper Mill

Tasting Plate

Tic-Tac-Toe Plate

Rubber Coasters (6-pack)

Boat Buoy Candles

For new parents (hint, hint):

 

Teething Necklace

"I Was Worth the Wait"

Eco-Friendly Baby Booties

"Made with Love"

Baby Sacque & Hat Sets

Shopping through this link will help support our future diaper fund. Check out our previous Gift Guides for more  gift ideas:

2009 Holiday Gift Guide
2008 Holiday Gift Guide

Happy Shopping!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Tiny Prints, Big Smiles

For the first time in years, I’m looking forward to the holiday season.

Our blended family will be celebrating our first Thanksgiving together, our first Christmas as a family and welcoming the newest member of our tribe as we get closer to 2011.

This year, I’m also excited to send out holiday cards, something I’ve dreaded in the past (single parents tend to have a hard time finding pictures of themselves with their children, so finding photos to use in past years was way more stressful than fun).

My husband and I recently spent one evening designing our 2010-2011 holiday cards on the Tiny Prints website. Even though I was getting a little frustrated with the process (picking a design that would work with the photos we wanted to include and finding the perfect font), it ended up being a fun experience as we pored over photos from this year (and laughing a lot). After a couple of hours (and a few drinks for my husband), we created a beautiful photo card that we’ll be sending out to family and friends.

I was introduced to Tiny Prints many years ago and have watched them grow through their use of social media and expanding of their product line and the many designs they offer. When we were given the opportunity to receive our holiday cards from them in exchange for a review, I jumped at the opportunity since I have admired their simplicity and style for years.

The hardest part of the process was picking out a design. There seem to be almost too many to choose from although I managed to dwindle down my top picks to about a dozen templates before my husband and I finally selected one that worked. We chose a tri-fold, double-sided design which allows room for four photos and personalized text.

We included a large close-up of my son, an ultrasound profile pic of baby (due to arrive January 2nd) and a few pictures from our summer wedding.

Even though we haven’t even sent out our cards yet, I’m already looking forward to start our next project – designing baby announcements from the Tiny Prints collection. We only have a few dozen or so designs saved in our account to choose from.

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Christmas cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards and even business cards. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities.

Tiny Prints offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo-books and calendars.

Disclosure Statement: We received complimentary holiday cards in exchange for our honest review and mention of the Tiny Prints product line. If you have a blog, you can apply to review them too!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Bitchin’ Camaro

To make a short story long…

I see them everywhere – on TV, in magazines, online and, of course, on the road. I can’t help but take a second or two to stare. Whenever I see a 2010 Chevy Camaro, I immediately flashback to Memorial Day weekend.

My husband (who was my long-distance boyfriend at the time) and I, had the ride of our lives when we had the opportunity to cruise up and down the California coast in one Bitchin’ imperial blue Camaro.

The Big Move

It was in April that Mr. Right made the big decision to move to San Diego. Getting this car and driving up to Santa Barbara for the weekend was all planned as a celebration of this next, major step in our relationship, our future as a same-city couple.

The Big News

It’s funny how things work out and how the timing of many great, life-changing events can stop you in your tracks and cause you to change directions. Just three days before he was to get on the plane to meet me (and jump into the Camaro to head North), I found out I was pregnant.

Needless to say, this changed everything. How could it not?

Immediately, my mind started racing. How is this long-distance relationship going to work now? Could I handle being a mom all over again? How will Mr. Right feel about all this? Will he be able to move out here before the baby comes? Will he change his mind about our future together?

It’s amazing how pregnancy instantly turns a woman’s brain into a crazy mess of emotions, doubt, and fear.

Change of Plans

Our weekend ahead suddenly looked much different to me as I spent those next few days anxious, worried, emotional. Instead of thinking of our special weekend together as a chance to slow down, I was focusing on how everything had suddenly sped up for us.

Memorial Day Weekend

He landed in San Diego Friday afternoon and I remember feeling nervous (near tears kinda nervous) as I parked the Camaro and waited for him inside the airport. I felt different. Did I look different?

I could barely think, let alone stand and yet as soon as I saw him coming down the escalator and made eye contact with him, I knew. I just knew that everything was going to be all right. I was able to breathe easier, my shoulders felt more relaxed and somehow I just knew that our life together was forming into the perfect shape – and size – that it was meant to.

I just couldn’t think of a way to say this, or anything at all. I was at a complete loss for words, which is not like me.

Road Trip

As we drove along the coast, we enjoyed the sights, smells and sounds of the entire journey. We spent most of that time taking everything in without saying a word. We took pictures – of the view, the Camaro, and of the two of us as we cruised along with the windows down and the music blaring.

The fact that we could plug in our iPhone into the car and see our playlist displayed on the screen and use the controls to select our music was pretty cool. My phone automatically connected through the Bluetooth and I loved absolutely everything about the car (although visualizing an infant car seat in the back wasn’t quite working for me).

Driving the Camaro was an amazing experience, but this post isn’t really about the car (in case you just joined us).

Perfect Getaway

The entire weekend was perfect; unplanned and unexpected in many ways, but as we lay on the beach just South of Santa Barbara, we talked, finally, about everything.

We talked about our past, our future and how excited we both were to be on this crazy adventure, together.

Road Trip

Mr. Right and I got married in July (on a different beach in California) and even though his every intention was to move out to San Diego to join my son and I as quickly as possible, things didn’t go as smoothly as we had hoped.

This weekend, Halloween 2010, he’s on the same road trip that I embarked on eleven years ago. He’s leaving his home state and driving West with all of his belongings to join us, finally.

He may not be behind the wheel of a bitchin’ Camaro, and I’m not in the passenger seat just yet, but the fact that our paths are finally merging is pretty exciting.

Final Destination

No one can predict their future, although as I type that, I’m reminded of the time I spoke with a psychic who told me I’d be married (to Mr. Right) but that where we would end up living didn’t really matter. It’s true. Our journey has taken us in a direction neither one of us could’ve imagined just one year ago, but our memories intersect (15 years or so of memories) and Memorial Day weekend will forever be linked to our incredible journey – and one bitchin’ Camaro.

To be continued…

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Project Mom Casting

Everyone has a story to tell. Here’s mine.

I started blogging in 2007, around the same time I started my company. I am a Certified Parent Educator & Life Coach with a focus on co-parenting relationships and helping single moms and dads deal with the transition following a divorce or break-up. My own high-conflict divorce lasted nearly 18 months and I wanted to help others who were going through similar experiences.

Through the court, I requested to move with my son to Minnesota, where our family is, and where I would have the support I would need to raise a child on my own.

His dad fought the move and ultimately, the judge denied my request. I was working full-time and traveled quite a bit for my job. It was stressful, but I had no idea things were going to become even more challenging.

I was laid off at the end of 2008 after working 7 1/2 years for the same company. I have been unemployed ever since, focusing on this blog and struggling to build a career or find a job that could support me and my son. The legal bills haunted me and my financial situation got worse each month but the recognition & comments I received through this site and from my new “friends” were priceless.

2010: I recently married my long-distance boyfriend who is now my long-distance husband. We found out we were pregnant in May (I’m due January 2, 2011). I had no medical insurance at the time so getting married right away was a practical choice. We had talked about marriage prior to this, and it felt right to both of us.

My son started calling him “Dad” right away and is thrilled about his new baby brother.

As of today, we don’t know when my husband will be able to join us out here. Our goal is to have him transfer before the baby comes but even then, he’ll be commuting to OC which means he’ll be gone nearly 14 hours a day.

I think often about moving to Minnesota (where my husband and our families are) and if it would be possible to bring my son. I don’t have the resources to even begin that legal battle. Both scenarios feel selfish to me which is why I was relieved that my husband made the decision to move out here with us, well before we found out I was pregnant.

Blogging and interacting with others online helps me stay sane. I get online to escape. I don’t reveal too many details on this blog, but instead I try to focus on the positive things and memories that I will be happy to look back on in years to come. There are more and more of them every day.

My husband, son, family and friends surround me with so much inspiration that I can’t help but be excited about our future.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Wedding Day

Today is a vreally* special day. I will marry my best friend, my son and I will welcome our favorite person into the family and our new life will start to take shape, a shape that resembles a heart, if you look closely.

The morning started with an Encouragement Feast between the three of us as we lay in bed together. An Encouragement Feast is when we share what it is we love most about each other. We laughed and hugged and my heart just about burst.  I’m saving my tears for the ceremony tonight.

An Encouragement Feast is something we will do on a regular basis, when someone requests it, on birthdays or special occasions and of course, when one of us needs a little cheering up. It’s something my son and I have done for quite some time and it does wonders for everyone involved.

This evening, the three of us (four if you count the baby) will stand together inside the Circle of Trust where we will share our wedding wishes, exchange rings and begin our future together.

It’s a vreally special day.

*Vreally (adj). My son made up this word which is a combination between very and really.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

Rules of Engagement

Most people who know me realize that I don’t do things in the traditional way. Not that I’m against tradition or feel the need to rebel all the time, but my way of doing things is simply, different.

When it comes to my relationship with Mr. Right, there’s really no right or wrong way to make our relationship work. It just does.

A few months ago, he decided to move here to San Diego. About a month later, we found out that we had a baby on the way. And just last month, we started to make plans to get married and make everything official.

Of course, because he’s still living in another state, it makes things a bit tricky, but for obvious reasons, we were both so excited to move forward with our lives and make plans to start our future together that we decided to get married now. As in this week. Less than a few days from the time I type this.

My son is very excited, too. He’ll be the ring bearer and wants to take pictures as well so we’re making it happen. We want this day to be just as memorable for him as it will be for us so the ceremony will be on the beach and the three of us will enjoy ice cream afterwards (his favorite treat).

And even though Mr. Right will have to hop on a plane and return home the very next day, we still couldn’t think of a better way to begin our new life together. It will be perfect.

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home

C is for Camaro

What could be better than a long weekend drive along the California Coast? I know! A weekend drive along the California Coast in an Imperial blue 2010 Chevy Camaro, with Mr. Right at my side!

That’s right. I will be picking up my boyfriend from the airport in the Camaro and we will head up North along the coast as we make our Memorial Day Weekend one that will truly be unforgettable in every way.

Stay tuned for photos, videos and a map route of all the awesome places we’ll visit along the way, up and down the coast.

Thanks to my wonderful friends at GM for letting us “use” the Camaro for the weekend. It’s a 2LT RS (Rally Sport model, which means it includes:

3.6 Litre, V-6 engine, 6-spd automatic
304 hp
leather
20-inch aluminum wheels
Blue tooth integration
USB port
29 mpg

I cannot wait!

Happy Healthy Hip Parenting
Peace Begins in the Home