Author: Julie Meyers Pron

Oh, how we looked forward to seeing Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters. My 9-year-old re-read the book for the umpteenth time and questioned why I didn’t re-read it (for-what-it’s-worth, he quizzed me enough on it that I feel like I had re-read it.) The Oddessey being one of the few Greek Mythology books I enjoyed in high school, I couldn’t wait to see the emotional scene where Annabeth was lured by the Sirens, and then the whole entrapment by Circe… oh! The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2), the second book in the series, had…

I’m going to take a pretty wild guess that you, like me, get swept into the deals and dreams featured on daily deal sites like Haute Look, Gilt, and, of course, Living Social and Groupon. Let’s face it. It’s hard to pass up a good deal. I’m constantly amazed at how many deal sites there are in the world. Funny little side story for you… about 8 years ago, I approached the idea with my husband. What if we could create a website where we sold things for just one day, at a 50% discount? It’d be great marketing for…

I don’t like to complain. Really. I try to keep my blog very friendly, happy, and embracing—the kind of stuff I like to read. But. If you’ve followed me on Twitter or Facebook recently, you might have caught an annoyance. With Piperlime. The clothing company. The one owned by GAP. You see, last Tuesday, January 11 at 3 pm EST (which, btw, is noon PST, which is San Francisco’s timezone. And San Francisco is, of course, GAP’s home), I ordered a pair of Winter-weather snow boots. You might have seen me talk about them on Friday’s Mom Chic post. I selected regular,…

As promised in last week’s Mom Chic: Snow Chic post, this week, I’m highlighting snow boots. The Monti Boot is so cute! I love how warm and stylin’ these are. BUT… so not smart in the snow. That is probably why they’re now $49.94 (down from $150). The Nuptse Pull Ons by Northface are water-resistant, making them practical for light snow and shoveling. At $90, the “foil gray” boot is so chic. But will they stay white? Doubtful. They’re also available in Black. The fact that the Kristen boots by Sporto are waterproof and, of course, chic, put them at the top of my list. The…

Having no idea what was in the theaters, I asked the kids if anyone wanted to see a movie over the weekend for a little Mom-Son date time. Big pulled out the iPad, tapped Fandango, and pulled up the times for Escape from Planet Earth. Together, we watched the trailer, and he decided we’d go, while Middle and Little opted for Daddy time at the bookstore and home. Upon watching the trailer, I kind of toyed with the idea of trying to switch tasks–the book store sounded much more my speed than a couple of traveling, loud aliens who get…

Earth Day offers a great opportunity for a play date party. And while Earth Day has become Earth Week has become Earth Month (yes, month!), playdate parties are a laid-back way to celebrate no matter when you plan to host your party. So if you’re planning to celebrate Earth Day, plan an Earth Day Party, because 4 kids are usually much more fun than 2. And the word “party” gets kids excited. Earth Day celebrates the Earth and all things natural. Depending on the ages of the children, party planners and goers can go deep with messages or stick to…

Last November, inspired by a school activity, I asked blogging friends to offer advice to parents of elementary school children. Here are some tips from them (and me!) Your child Every year is a year of tremendous growth for our children. They’re also years with a lot of academic changes and challenges. Ease your child into each change and be prepared for tough times–celebrate the happy ones.Hug your child. Laugh with your child. Listen to your child.Remember that the stories your child brings home are only 1/2 of the real story. There’s always another side. Keep your mind open until…

Children need relationships. They need a variety of types of friendships to learn, succeed and feel strongly about themselves. Actually, we all do. While some kids are naturally talented at taking up a conversation and suddenly having a new best friend, others struggle. Here are 5 tips to help your child make new friends: Ask your child’s teacher or guidance counselor for suggestions You’d be astounded at the number of similar calls teachers receive each year. It’s easy to ask, “I’d really like to help Sammy make new friends in his class/that he meshes with/who are on his level/who share…

Thanksgiving and the thankful season is full of activities children and families can do to celebrate, learn and express themselves. Here are a few favorites for kids: Tonya created these adorable Turkey Cookies that you can make with your kids. The icing and candies will also work for cupcakes. Barb of a Life in Balance works with her kids to help them create and display a list of things they are thankful for during the Thanksgiving season. Alternatively, an acts of service tree shares how families share their appreciation by helping others. Handprint and Footprint Turkeys are an easy thankful activity that kids can do while getting…

The Makers of Children’s Motrin is asking moms across the country what makes them unstoppable. Especially at the holiday season, a time when it’s all too easy to want to lay down and give up due to stress, or go a little crazy waiting in long lines, or sit in traffic so long you get out and start running to your destination (sound like someone you know?), we can all use a few suggestions to make our seasons easier. This month, Children’s Motrin asked me what makes me unstoppable at the holiday season. Here are 29 of my unstoppable tricks…