Author: Julie Meyers Pron

I love taking my kids to the bookstore or library. There are so many shiny new choices out there for kids to get excited about! But just as exciting as Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Captain Underpants are the books that made me fall in love with reading. Take the time to share some of your classic favorites with your kids and help them see what made you fall in love with reading. Classic Chapter Books to Read with Your Kids Stuart Little When I first introduced my kids to the adventures of this cute little mouse, they doubted me: Really, Mom?…

Today, I attended my first Just Between Friends Consignment Sale. It was a media preview (and I was given a gift card to use as I experienced the sale.) I had no idea what to expect and, wow! It’s enormous! You’ll find everything from baby to tween clothing (and maternity), baby gear, strollers, toys toys toys, books, games, puzzles, dolls… If it’s for kids, you’ll find it–and at great prices! Check out my finds at the Just Between Friends Consignment Sale in the Western Philadelphia Suburbs More information on the Just Between Friends Western Mainline sale The Just Between Friends sale officially…

This appetizer, Shrimp Avocado Crostini, created by Christina Dimacali, chef and owner of Clean Your Plate, is one to print or bookmark for your next night of entertaining. Earlier this summer, Whitney, Zareen and a few other friends, and I were whisked away to her home for a private cooking party sponsored by P&G. At the event, we learned of several P&G self-care products. Christina kept our cooking skills and taste likes in mind and created a several-course menu for all of us to cook together. It was SO much fun to cook with friends and guidance from a pro. So so so much…

Tacos are a staple around here. I learned to make them before I was married and for several years made them at least once a week. Because they were easy. Back then, I used a kit, which likely wasted a little money and didn’t allow for much experimentation or adjustments to make them yummy for me. Recently, I realized that if I drop the premade taco sauce or powder, I could add a little extra of what I like and leave out what I don’t. Making your own tacos is as simple as figuring out which salsa is your favorite.…

A few weeks ago, we took a day off to play in downtown Philadelphia with the kids. By 4 pm, everyone was exhausted and dragged their feet back to the car. Instantly, the boys fell asleep, and when we hit major traffic on the way home, Little overheard my husband and I discussing plans for later that night. “Get a pizza and watch the Phillies game?” I proposed. “Phillies?” our three-year-old fan asked. “I want to go to the Phillies game!” And then our little fan started begging, holding up her brand new Phillies t-shirt. I looked at my husband;…

This week’s Julieverse Reads post was written by Jessica Tom, who gets huge kudos and congratulations for debuting her first novel, Food Whore, today. (Yay, Jessica!) A food lover herself, and former restaurant critic for the Yale Daily News Magazine, Jessica is sharing a list of books for food lovers. These books may be great for you or someone on your holiday gift list. What a great time to learn about the restaurant world. You have TV shows, chef memoirs, splashy magazine spreads, up-to-the-minute blogs, behind-the-scenes Instagram feeds — even movies starring some of the biggest actors and actresses on…

I love gifting books for every occasion. They’ve even become my favorite house-warming and hostess-gifts. I’ve found the easiest way to gift the hostess is to stick with the theme of the evening, like Hanukkah, Christmas, or Thanksgiving. And for the holidays, try to gift new books so that there’s little chance that the child already has the book. Great holiday books for gifting this season Hanukkah Bear Perfect for a family with young children, a bear, wakes to a wonderful smell of latkes and follows that scent to the home of the best latkes in town. There, he befriends the…

There are books that you enjoy, and there are books that make a difference in your life. Wonder, written by RJ Palacio, is a moving book that opens the eyes to the feelings of someone who is different. By addressing the perspectives of not just the main character but many characters who interact with the child with a facial deformity, we learn about bullying, fairness, kindness, and strength… making the readers more open-minded and giving them a stronger look at themselves. As a parent and as a teacher, I highly recommend Wonder to all fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students, as well as…

Yesterday, while completing a survey for work, I asked my 9-year-old what teen stars he looks up to? Tell me, I said, which teen stars do you think are amazing? Without pause, he replied, “Molly Moon, Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter.” I smiled. I smiled a really, really big smile. I know that at nine, he’s still naive to the pressure of keeping up with the stars and looking to them as the ones he most wants to be like. But to hear a nine-year-old boy immediately think of the teens he reads as those he idolizes, that’s pretty amazing. True, all…

American women entrepreneurs rank their well-being as twice as high as non-entrepreneurs and non-business owners, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor U.S. Report from Babson College and Baruch College. The report also shows that one out of every 10 women in the U.S. are starting or running their own business. Despite the happiness quotient and rising numbers of female entrepreneurs, business can still be a struggle. Babson College’s Women Entrepreneurs 2014: Bridging the Gender Gap in Venture Capital found that less than 3 percent of venture capital-funded companies have a female at the helm as CEO. Although a lack of funding can add an…