The Professional Family Manager

Debt Doesn't Determine Your Financial Health--Your Attitude Does

2010-03-11T10:59:00.003-05:00

I probably should be really upset about our finances and the economy, but I'm not.Maybe my lack of panic has something to do with finally emerging from my insane quest to conquer the Pit of Despair which had also been doubling as my bedroom for the past two years. (And, yes, my quest was most triumphant, but not without much swearing, sore muscles, and curses on my husband who was out-of-town at

Mom Bloggers: They're Not Who--Or What--You Think

2010-03-10T15:37:00.004-05:00

So much for stereotypes.Mothers are stereotyped by society, the media, and even by mothers themselves. You get a visual when you hear the names “Stay-At-Home-Mom,” “Working Mom,” “Soccer Mom,” “Power Mom,” and “Add-Your-Favorite-Label” here; it’s a quick and easy way to describe a woman and her so-called position in society. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. It may not be

I Went to Bloggy Boot Camp, and All I Got Was...

2010-03-08T09:42:00.005-05:00

...a lot more than I expected.First, if you are a blogger thinking a blog conference doesn't have anything that will really help you with your blog goals--whatever those goals may be--that you couldn't find online for free; or if you're thinking that a blog conference--especially one for mom bloggers--is nothing more than a bunch of boring housewives sitting around talking about the next best way

Yet Another News Article About Mothers "Measuring Up"

2010-03-03T23:46:00.002-05:00

On Tuesday, Sacramento Bee writer Niesha Lofing published an article titled “Regular Moms Under Pressure to be 'Hot,' Too” Lofing states, “As if modern moms aren't under enough pressure to be successful career women, good nurturers and great wives, now they've got to look fabulous doing it, too.”This is something new? Really? Because I thought mothers were under pressure to be perfect in every

Prepping for a Blog Conference, Professional Family Manager Style

2010-03-02T09:26:00.000-05:00

First, a disclaimer: I have never been to a blog conference before, so if you've come here to find out the definitive answer as to what to take to a blog conference, you are in the wrong place.So I'm going to my first blog conference--The SITS Girls' Bloggy Boot Camp--in Baltimore on Saturday. I wrote about why this typically loner girl is going yesterday.One of the thoughts I've had is that

Why a Social Cripple is Going to a Social Media Blog Conference

2010-03-01T21:15:00.001-05:00

Hello. My name is Michele, and I am a social cripple.And I will be meeting many of you this Saturday at SITS Girls' Bloggy Boot Camp in Baltimore.Okay, so maybe I'm not socially crippled. Socially handicapped? Hmmmm... socially challenged? Well, how about this: if you're looking for the life of the party, chances are I'm not it.It isn't that I am anti-social...or shy...(or a homicidal maniac or

Choosing Dates Over Therapy

2010-02-28T22:40:00.005-05:00

Seriously...why should I pay a therapist eighty to a hundred dollars for forty-five minutes of his or her time listening to me complain about my marriage problems or all the things about my husband that irritate me, when I can spend that much or much less out on the town actually enjoying my husband or, if need be, talking to him face-to-face in a pleasant place about things which need to be

Just Because the Computer is There...

2010-02-23T15:27:00.004-05:00

When did these two things happen?1)Many people now expect you not only to answer your home phone/cell phone immediately, but to answer email immediately, respond to Facebook messages immediately, read every single tweet immediately, and otherwise be available all the time.2)We feel guilty if we are not immediately answering our home phones/cell phones, receiving and reading all email as soon as

I'm Taking Sexy Back

2010-02-22T10:10:00.007-05:00

On Thursday, Housewife Bliss issued a seven-day challenge: to become your husband's sexy new girlfriend in seven days.Because this challenge was fun and not one of those "clean up your house in seven days" or "lose ten pounds in seven days" chore challenges, I was immediately all for it. I like positive challenges.Not that the idea that wives are still living, breathing women with needs ranging

Greatest Love Blog Award: The Computer-Glitch Version

2010-02-21T17:33:00.002-05:00

I've written enough times this month about the joys of computer viruses and other electronic glitches, so I'll skip the rant of how badly I want to throw this laptop out in the snow and let the snow plow run over it a few times and just go out and buy a new Mac about my problems and get on with the important stuff.As promised--or, should I say, as amended--I am catching up on my Greatest Love

Bringin' Sexy Back

2010-02-18T23:44:00.003-05:00

Housewife Bliss has issued a seven-day challenge: to become your husband's sexy new girlfriend in seven days.I'm taking the challenge. I think it's a great, fun idea. (I also think she should start a Ning community for Sexy New Girlfriends, don't you?)Are you up to the challenge?Should you be?If you suddenly fell into an alternate universe and found yourself to be a single woman, do you think

Tales from the Cryptic Life of Mine

2010-02-17T10:27:00.001-05:00

Just when I think I'm on top of everything, have my life figured out, and have my act together...everything has to go crazy, or drive me crazy, or be crazy cool.Although this guarantees the cliche "Life is never boring," I must confess that I could do with a little bit of boredom from time to time.And I could also stand some answers to a few questions about life:For instance...when I have

Have a Laugh on Me Today

2010-02-11T06:56:00.003-05:00

Motherhood is challenging. We wouldn't trade it for the world, but we certainly have our days.I suspect the person who wrote the script for this cartoon eavesdropped on my family for a day. This, friends, is my family--three kids with exactly these dynamics.I'm considering suing for royalties.Enjoy the laugh--goodness knows we all need one from time to time.

The Rise--and Power--of Social Media

2010-02-09T05:51:00.001-05:00

Social media isn't just a phenomenon or a hobby that people do.Social media is changing our lives.(And that includes bloggers, too!)Want proof? Then take a look at this:Thanks to MAInfo, on whose blog I watched this awesome clip.

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/7, 2/8, and 2/9: Fantabulously Frugal, The Domestiquette, and Housewife Bliss

2010-02-09T05:16:00.003-05:00

No, I'm not getting lazy.Yes, I promised to post one winner of the Greatest Love Blog Award every day.However, the electronic gods are out to get me.After dealing with a computer virus, which meant losing my computer for most of a week, I am now facing the mysterious case of disappearing blog posts.I write a post. I hit "Publish Post." Post shows up in list of posts, but not on the blog.I figure

Men, Mothers, & Models, or Why I Haven't Got a Prayer

2010-02-07T00:08:00.000-05:00

I am not this housewife:However, this is what apparently passes for the ideal woman in the October issue of Maxim Magazine, a magazine for men.How am I supposed to compete with that?!?!?I don't care how many men, psychologists, or whoever claim that the women in Sports Illustrated or Maxim or Playboy are just a fantasy and nothing more.The fact that I am not a fantasy, could never be a fantasy,

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/6: Rock and Drool

2010-02-06T11:52:00.000-05:00

The Professional Family Manager's "Greatest Love Lovely Blog Award" for February 6 goes to... Rock and Drool! Melissa doesn't hold anything back. Her blog is not for the faint of heart.She's writing about motherhood issues as they really are--and she writes about them well.Teenage pregnancy and peer pressure? Melissa points out how easily it happens. Or how about how life is unfair to good

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/5: Living With Lindsay

2010-02-05T00:04:00.000-05:00

The Professional Family Manager's "Greatest Love Lovely Blog Award" for February 5 goes to...Living with Lindsay! Living with Lindsay can show you how to transform your entire house effortlessly. Really.There's a reason why her blog button and site logo has a glue gun...it's her favorite tool. I love her step-by-step instructions on how to refinish furniture or make accent pieces. I also

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/4: The Obnoxious SAHM

2010-02-04T23:59:00.000-05:00

http://theobnoxioussahm.blogspot.com/The Professional Family Manager's "Greatest Love Lovely Blog Award" goes to...The Obnoxious SAHM! The Obnoxious SAHM claims to be the "Champion of Avoiding Housework."What she really is is sassy, intelligent, and funny.She writes on many topics regarding the frustrations of being a mother, the work that often goes unappreciated, and how important it

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/3: The Stiletto Mom

2010-02-03T23:44:00.002-05:00

The Professional Family Manager's "Greatest Love Lovely Blog Award" for February 3 goes to...The Stiletto Mom! The Stiletto Mom doesn't have a button, but click here to visit her! The Stiletto Mom is a very intelligently written blog on--what else?--motherhood and being a professional woman.If you're going to Blissdom, then you want to meet her. Why? Because she'll be very friendly and

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/2: This Mama Works It

2010-02-02T16:53:00.002-05:00

The Professional Family Manager's first ever "Greatest Love Lovely Blog Award" goes to...This Mama Works It! This Mama Works It is new to the blog world, but she's going to be big. Why? Because her blog is fabulous.She's already addressing important topics as Brazilian waxes (yes, it's important), how to deal with toxic family members, and the importance (and awesomeness) of scheduling

Greatest Love Blog Award 2/1: Fighting Off Frumpy

2010-02-01T15:07:00.008-05:00

The Professional Family Manager's first ever "Greatest Love Lovely Blog Award" goes to... Fighting Off Frumpy! She's "fending off the frightening advance of mother-induced frumpiness."Rita is a fabulous writer. She's able to look at every aspect of motherhood--from baby hickies to using breasts as a convenient carry-all container (oh, right, like you haven't done it)--with humor and

Share Your Blog Love for February!

2010-02-01T13:55:00.007-05:00

This Month,Love Your SpouseLove Your ChildrenLove Your FamilyLove Your FriendsAnd Don’t Forget toLove Yourself!(And don't forget to show the love to your favorite blogs!)People—especially mothers—tend to confuse “being selfish” with “self-respect.” When a mother takes time to take care of herself, she feels guilty for doing so instead of giving to the people she loves…and then feels resentful

Washing My Stress Down the Drain

2010-01-31T22:56:00.003-05:00

Most people take a shower every day. When your dishes are dirty, you wash them. You wash your clothes after you wear them. You wipe a child's messy face. You clean a muddy dog. You steam clean your carpets. If something is dirty, you clean it.The same is true for your mind.No, I'm not talking about those kind of dirty thoughts. I'm talking about the clutter that ends up in your mind at the end

Why I'll Never Be Interviewed on Oprah

2010-01-29T12:33:00.007-05:00

I think I live a pretty decent life. However, compared to the lives of the people on Oprah, it's pretty mundane. Which makes me think maybe I'm doing something wrong or missing out on something. Here's why I don't think Oprah would ever have me on her show:Compared to the people on Oprah's show, I'm boring. I'm not a desperate housewife. I do not owe 300K in credit card debt. I have not