Can Moms Have It All?
Getting off the Fast Track doesn’t mean Moms can’t continue a fulfilling Career Path.

Allison O’Kelly, CEO of Mom Corps started her company five years ago trailblazing flexible professional jobs for Moms

It’s no surprise that becoming a mom changes everything. Many career-focused new moms don’t expect they’ll scale back after the baby arrives, but often priorities change. The good news for moms who hop off the career fast track is there are now more work options and opportunities than ever.

Mom Corps, founded in 2005, has experienced a huge national evolution, providing companies throughout the country with “on demand” and flextime professionals. This trend has been a win win for moms seeking more balance in their life.

“I just couldn’t handle the consistent work week,” Allison O’Kelly , CEO of Mom Corps, says of her full-time corporate job, which she quit after her first son was born. “it wasn’t about hours for me. I needed flexibility.”

O’Kelly started Mom Corps, a staffing company that finds full-time, part-time and contract jobs for moms looking to keep their careers going while spending more time with their kids. She says there’s a definite increase in the willingness of companies to allow flexibility for their employees.

Mom Corps is a premier staffing solution, supplying companies top-tier, professionals “on demand” to meet business needs and cycles, while enabling candidates seeking flexibility to pursue their professional careers and maintain work/life balance. Now with over 50,000+ candidates nationwide, hundreds of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, and 13 franchise locations, Mom Corps is poised to continue its exponential growth throughout the remainder of 2010.

“So many people in our generation have gotten their law degrees or their MBA’s, and now they’re having kids and discover they don’t want to work the traditional schedule,” O’Kelly says. “If the companies don’t want to work with these flexible schedules, they’re going to miss out on some great talent.”

O’Kelly has seen a recent increase in corporate flexibility, thanks to the economic downturn.

“Companies are finding it’s a good thing to only have to pay employees for 30 hours a week or just pay for the weeks they need them.” O’Kelly says. “It’s a really good business decision for them to offer flexibility because they’re getting better talent and not having to hire someone on a full-time basis with benefits that they can’t afford right now.”

Nonetheless, even if your children are top priority, some women fear being disregarded at work and, worse yet, losing their career entirely.

“The hardest thing for people who have been very successful is that you’re taking yourself off the career track,” O’Kelly says. “For now, you’re going to see people getting promoted ahead of you, and maybe you’re going to see people who worked for you become your boss.”

The news for moms who hop off the career fast track to focus on motherhood is bright.

“You can always get back on,” O’Kelly says. “Even if you’re out altogether and don’t take that flexible job. At some point you could do volunteer work or get an internship; there are so many ways to freshen up your skills. It’s a lot easier if you stay in, but you can do it even if you’ve been out for a while.”

At the same time, for moms who really want to keep a foot in their career, O’Kelly encourages them to explore their options before quitting.

For more information on Mom Corps, go to www.MomCorps.com

I remember when I was younger seeing the occasional mom using a leather harness that wrapped around a child like a harness does a horse or dog. My mother really disliked them and I have to say that they are not that appealing to me either. It’s probably for that reason that I have never used one. But what about you, what’s your take on kid safety harnesses? Safety harness is probably the name they give them to make them sound more civilized than a leash. After all we leash dogs, possibly cats, not people, right?

Here are some styles of safety harnesses that I found available. Please let me know if you have used any of them and if you found them helpful or not. They seem like a very inexpensive piece of toddler/child equipment.

Dream Baby Child Safety Harness

Child Safety Harness & Backpack for Children

Sunshine Kids Sure Steps Safety Strap

Tommi Guard for Multiples

So as cute as the backpack is and as handy a Tommi Guard would be for sets of multiples, what do you really think about putting your child on a leash? I see the safety reasons behind it, but I still don’t think I could use one. Is it just me or are there others out there that feel the same way?

If you have used safety harnesses, do they work and how have they benefited you if they do?

A Couple’s Journey from Embryo Mix-Up to Miracle Baby -How a Laboratory Mistake Separated a Mother and Child before Birth

In February 2009, Paul and Shannon Morell were ready to expand their family with the help of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), but a laboratory error changed their life forever. Misconception: One Couple’s Journey From Embryo Mix-Up to Miracle Baby (Howard Books/Simon & Schuster, May 4, 2010) tells the true story of how the Morell’s embryo was implanted into another woman’s womb, their relationship with the unintended surrogate mother and the journey that would reunite them with their baby boy.

“There is probably nothing more private and personal for a couple than making decisions about starting and growing their family. So, sharing the details of our life has been difficult,” said Shannon Morell. “But throughout our ordeal we realized that there were many misconceptions-about our own in vitro, from family and friends, from other couples considering the process and from the public-that we felt compelled to tell our story through an unfiltered lens. It is our hope and prayer that in telling our story many misconceptions can be cleared away, leaving nothing but truth.”

This extraordinary story made national news in September 2009 after the initial error was discovered and both families were interviewed on NBC’s Today Show. Misconception reveals the Morell’s dramatic story, from fears of an abortion during the early days by the surrogate family-as yet unidentified and unknown to the Morells at that point-to the first face-to-face meeting between the Morells and the birth parents, and the doctor’s appointments and sonograms along the way, and finally, to the emotional handoff of their son at the hospital.

Embryo mix-ups are extremely rare, but the consequences can be far-reaching. High profiles stories of such mix-ups include: a Japanese woman in her 20s who was found to be pregnant in October 2009 but received an ultrasound that indicated the child was likely from another woman’s fertilized egg; and a British white couple who became the parents of black twins in 2002 after a
mistake by a fertility clinic during in-vitro fertilization. The Morells story highlights this type of medical mistake, one they hope will be the very last of its kind.

One of the most beautiful lessons shared by Misconception is the respect both families had for each other and the respect they had for life. The final sentences of the book pay tribute to the selfless act of the birth mother. In Misconception, Shannon Morell tells the story of how love for a child can overcome everything.

Misconception: One Couple’s Journey from Embryo Mix-Up to Miracle Baby
by Paul Morell and Shannon Morell

Howard Books, May 2010
Hardcover, 256 pages, $25.00
ISBN-10: 1439193614
ISBN-13: 9781439193617

Ok, maybe some of you have heard about this unusual story, but the email in our inbox was the first I had heard of it. This is quite unbelievable, yet what people do these days shouldn’t really surprise me. A woman named, Donna Simpson is determined to be the “fattest woman in the world” and Dr. Siegal, of the Cookie Diet, has offered her $50,000 to stop the “madness” for her health and family’s well-being. I am honestly not sure what to think. It just makes me feel very sad. I had the opportunity to conduct an e-interview with Dr. Siegal and Ms. Simpson and am waiting to receive their response. I hope to post the interview later this week.

In the mean time, here’s what the initial email told us:

World Renowned Weight-Loss Expert to Pay $50,000 to put a STOP to “Fattest Woman in the World” FAT MADNESS!

I hope all is well. I’m sure you’ve heard about all the hype surrounding Donna Simpson’s quest to be “the fattest woman in the world”, weighing in at 1,000 lbs. World-renowned weight-loss expert Dr. Sanford Siegal is appalled by her actions and digging into his own pocket to pay Donna the sum of $50,000 if she agrees to stop gaining and start losing. He is paying her to save her life, and sent her a certified letter today stating this.

Skeptics say that $$ and attention was Donna’s motive for pulling this weight gain stunt in the first place (but she’s going to have to abide by rules in order to score the prize):

RULES FOR DONNA:

* $10,000 to IMMEDIATELY stop trying to gain weight and agree not to resume doing so in the future.

* Begin a weight-loss diet under a doctor’s supervision.

* The remainder of the $50,000 will be paid in stages as Donna loses weight.

* $10,000 for every 100 pounds Donna loses until she reaches 200 pounds, at which point she will have received a total of $50,000.

In Dr. Siegal’s opinion Donna Simpson is committing a prolonged suicide. Human beings are not made to weigh 1,000 pounds – let alone consume 12,000 calories a day (Donna’s minimum intake!). Donna has children and a husband who she should be thinking of spending a long life with not shortening her minutes by each bite she takes…

About Dr. Siegal

Dr. Sanford Siegal is a practicing physician, author, and weight-loss pioneer whose South Florida medical practice, Siegal Medical Group, has treated more than 500,000 overweight patients. Although he has received recognition for his books on topics including high fiber diets, hunger control, and hypothyroidism, he is best known as the Cookie Doctor® behind the internationally popular Dr. Siegal’s COOKIE DIET® (www.CookieDiet.com) weight-loss approach and foods. Dr. Siegal is an obesity and thyroid expert who has helped hundreds of thousands of people and based in NYC, Miami and LA.

Resources:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2010/26/c5402.html

How many of you have iPhones? And how many of you use applications for children? I’m really curious, so don’t be shy, leave us a comment. If you do use iPhone applications geared towards babies and children then this post will definitely interest you. We didn’t even know that there were applications for children, but neither of Sarah nor I have an iPhone either. I think if I had one and was out and about alot that this might be something to keep a little one busy while waiting for appointments or even driving in the car as a family. But I will let all of you iPhone users decide as you look at this new iPhone application for babies…

Especially for iPhone Users

Orange Design recently released a new brand for iphones. We are privileged to introduce you to the new brand, Learnl, and its first application for the iPhone—Learnl Baby: Animals. Designed for babies 6 to 18 months, it features hand-crafted animations, charming music and beautiful color photographs.

Last month, Orange Design announced the launch of Learnl Baby: Animals, the first in a series of colorful iPhone applications designed to make learning fun. Designed for children aged 6 to 18 months, Learnl Baby: Animals introduces kids to animals using engaging illustrations, photos, and sounds.

Designed with little hands in mind, Learnl Baby: Animals uses a simple, one-touch interface on iPhone and iPod touch. There are no buttons or gestures to memorize. Like turning pages in a magical picture book, each touch of the screen offers something new. First, the child sees an animated illustration of an animal while its name is said aloud. The child touches the screen, and the animal’s name is shown in animated characters. A third touch reveals a photo of the real-world animal along with the sound it makes. Touch by touch, children will learn 20 animals in all.

Unlike most other iPhone applications for kids, Learnl Baby: Animals is specifically designed to be easy enough for even a 6-month old child to use, but sophisticated enough to continue to entertain as babies grow. But it’s not just the simple interface that sets Learnl Baby: Animals apart from other iPhone baby apps. In every detail, Learnl Baby: Animals is designed to delight young children, whether it’s the hand-crafted animations, the charming music, or the beautiful color photographs of each animal. Whether at the zoo or on the small screen, babies find animals captivating.

Orange Design President Fred Sharples says,

Once my son was born, I downloaded several iPhone applications for him, but found them all too complex for his age. Babies see us using our iPhones, and they want to use them too. It turns out the iPhone is perfect as a learning tool: if it’s a simple enough game, even very young children can quickly learn how to interact with it. Plus, its constant availability gives parents a needed break during long car rides or delays at the airport.

Learnl Baby: Animals is now available in the iTunes App Store for 99 cents. Learn more at http://www.learnl.net/baby/animals

About Learnl

Learnl games reflect the belief that we all learn best when we’re having fun. Combining playfulness with education, each Learnl title is designed to be intuitive, approachable, and age-appropriate. Learnl encourages users to touch, identify, reason, create, and smile. For more information, visit  http://www.learnl.net

About Orange Design

Founded in 1999 and based in San Francisco, California, Orange Design offers broad expertise in interactive technology, from educational games to web and interface design. Orange’s work expresses clarity and engagement, whether the context is a game for the Leapster handheld learning system, an interactive election map for CNN.com, or original iPhone games. For more information, visit http://www.orangedesign.com

My name is Kim, and I am a stationery snob. I’ve tried and tried to get over it, I have, but its a sickness that no 12-step program can cure.

When my first two children were born, I focused more on their birth announcements than on my birth plan–and this time around has been no different. Within days of discovering that I was pregnant again, I was scouring the ‘net for beautiful, sophisticated, different announcements…and at last, I found them!

Over at Dingbat Press, the Snookums Collection is an array of jaw-droppingly gorgeous letterpress announcements. From upscale photo cards to classic motifs such as rocking horses or flowers, each Snookums design offers new parents a distinctive and unforgettable way to introduce their own little snookums to the world. I can’t wait to place my order this fall!

Just when you thought it was going to end, you get another snowstorm. Geez, does it ever end?

Sometimes, winter just seems to drag on and on, especially for us in the Northeast. We have 4 season – winter, mostly winter, partly winter, and almost winter again. If you don’t love snow and frostbitten toes, chances are you really hate this god-forsaken time of the year.

Fortunately, I found something that makes it a little less miserable. You can warm your heart and your aches and pains away with adorable Warm Whiskers!

On a cold night, just pop one of these Warm Whiskers in the microwave for a quick and toasty solution to work wonders on stiff necks, back spasms, poor circulation or arthritic pain. Only 90 seconds in the microwave will provide an hour of fragrant herbs and gentle warmth to bring you back to life. Melt away tension and pain while cuddling with their adorable critters.

The adorable Eye Pillows and Slippers are great for chilly nights when you are sitting on the couch watching your favorite shows or sitting at the computer reading this blog!

Whether heated up in the microwave or cooled off in the freezer, the soothing aroma of lavender combined with the comfort of buckwheat relieves tension instantly.

Warm Whiskers know that our pets calm and decrease stress. They brilliantly combine their aromatic and healing properties with the snuggly comfort of our favorite animals. Perfect for anyone that needs a little relaxation in time in their day. Warm Whiskers are portable enough to use when you travel, comfortable enough to nap with and cute enough to make the perfect gift!

They are also great for kids. You can get one of the large body pillows and heat it up for your child to take with them while they nap. The soothing warmth will make them think you are right there in bed with them, while the soothing and natural fragrances will help them sleep soundly.

Since these little guys can also go in the fridge, they are perfect for when your little one gets a bump or bruise. The cute Pocket Critters are the perfect size. Just take a Warm Whiskers out of the fridge and applying it to a little ones boo-boo. It not only helps to heal but decreases inflammation as well. Kids can’t help but smile when draped with one of our furry companions!

I have the Polar Bear Buddy body pillow and I love it. I heat it up and put it with my daughter when she takes her afternoon nap. He’s soft and super cuddly! I definitely recommend Warm Whiskers!!

Check them out at www.warmwhiskers.com

What: Nosefrida Baby Nasal Aspirator

With cold season coming along pretty quick, you better take the time to read this. First off, we’ll admit, this might freak a few moms out at first. But if you’ve ever had to stay up all night long with a stuffy baby you’re probably willing to give anything a try at least once, right?

This little contraption that moms from Sweden swear by, is the answer to all your stuffy baby problems. Just place one end of the aspirator against your baby’s nostril and then suck the other end to remove the mucous from your baby’s nose. I know it sounds yucky, but don’t worry, there’s a little filter in it so you’ll never have to come in contact with the boogers.

For us, it was a godsend. I can’t believe I got through the first year of my daughter’s life without this thing. Admittedly, I wished there was some way to suck the boogers out of her nose when she was stuffy. Ordinary nasal aspirations (booger bulbs) just don’t work at ALL. This little Nosefrida, on the other hand, works every single time without fail. You have to try it!

Price: $15.00 (worth SO MUCH MORE!)

Where: NoseFrida.com