Author: Julie Meyers Pron

This summer, I looked closely at my interests, hobbies, and talents. I took time to reflect on what I enjoyed doing and made a goal of learning more (as you may know, I love learning… so there’s always something out there for me to want to learn.) I made a few short-term “happy” goals and a longer goal: to become a better photographer. I don’t need to be a professional, but photography skills don’t come naturally to me, and my husband’s big DSLR, which spends too much time in the camera bag, is itching to be used correctly. So, I…

It’s amazing the things I’ve never done but need to. Somehow, until last week, I never knew that one is supposed to actually clean her computer once a month. And, by clean, I don’t mean viewing your cluttered desktop and trashing all those extra photos and filing your documents. Nor do I mean spraying Method on a rag and taking the rag to the plastic pieces surrounding the computer. (Though both of those are necessary, too.) Last Monday, my friends at West Chester Computer Doctors shared this message on their Facebook page: Desktop computer maintenance 101… Keep it clean! Every few months (or more frequently…

Hello party people! Be sure to subscribe to Julieverse by email, like the Facebook Page, and follow along on Pinterest, so you don’t miss our next summer drink recipe. Also, check out our favorite drink round-up featured here.  Last weekend, the plan was sipping Vodka-Lemonade on the deck. Except when I opened the cabinet, I found an amazing lack of Vodka. (what is up with that?!) But mistakes happen and, often, lead to incredible inventions. Luckily, I did have Malibu Rum! Introducing… Rum Lemonade (which might be even better than the Vodka version.) Lemon Raspberry Swirl Recipe (or lack thereof) (Added 5/2013) This post is always…

Dear Julie, My 4th grader has writing assignments for school on a fairly regular basis. I check his work, but he pulls away every time I tell him corrections to make. Am I right to correct his spelling and punctuation and make him do better? I don’t want him handing in incomplete work. Thanks, Sylvia Another great question this week. In a nutshell, yes, you should be concerned and encourage him to do his best, but no, it’s not your job to correct it. In elementary school, your job as a parent is not to be his teacher. You should…

As you may recall, my iPhone was stolen this summer, and Samsung slid right in as my hero, lending me the Samsung Galaxy Note II to try out for a few months until my contract was up for purchasing a new phone. This phone, which I like to call a mini-tablet, has lots to highlight, and you’ll be able to tell from my review below that I just love the vibrant, crisp screen. It’s everything I’ve learned to expect from Samsung. Favorite features from the Samsung Galaxy Note II [if you’re unable to view the embedded video, please click here]…

Years ago, at the tender age of 6, I transferred schools. The last memory I have of my old house on Waring Road was of practicing learning my letters all over again because this new school taught, used, and expected a fancy style of handwriting, called D’Nealian Manuscript. D’Nealian handwriting is similar to a serif font in that it has tails, rather than straight lines, like sans serif fonts. For example, serif fonts include Times New Roman, and sans serif fonts include Arial. While some teachers barely bat an eye, other teachers and schools are very strict that their students learn…

As I walked through Epcot’s International Showcase during Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I did the usual head turning as I pondered how one place could house and present so much culture. But I did a double-take upon seeing Lightning McQueen and his buddy Mater sculpted in a flower garden in Japan. Wow! I thought! They really did this up for last year’s movie premiere! I can’t believe they still have it up! A few minutes later, I came across another sculpture garden, this time of Buzz Lightyear and Woody. … wait a minute, I thought with Woody-like tonality. This…

My kids are not soda drinkers. They’re barely juice drinkers. In our house, it’s a lucky day when you get orange juice for breakfast. We’re strictly water and milk. So when WAT-AAH contacted me to send samples for review at Mommies with Style, I wasn’t sure about it. The purpose of WAT-AAH is to give children a hip and healthy alternative to soda and juices. It doesn’t have coloring, artificial flavors, or sugars—actually, it’s completely pure. Of course, pure is what I already give to my kids. Still, we tested it, and you’ll find a thorough review from last week on Mommies with Style. But…

So, unless you’re new to this blog, you probably know that I’m a pretty busy lady. Let me recap: PTO Presidente-boutique owneran active blogger on many sitesfreelancerstarting a consulting companynight school teacherworking on a Philadelphia-area-blogger-collective-group-thing (that I’m not going to try to explain right now)mom of 3 (one of which is breastfeeding)wifehouse-runner… The [dot dot dot] should make it clear I’m not done, right? And you wonder, or at least I know many wonder, how do I do it all? Well, apparently, I don’t. Or I shouldn’t. Because my body can’t keep up with me, and now I have Shingles. Monday, I noticed a huge feeling…

Stress. Do you feel it? In your neck? In your shoulders? Taking over your body? As I listen to my 16-month-old call out “Mom” after her too-short nap, I feel it. I’ve felt it the past few days. Because I am stressed. Really. Like every other mom, I’m shuffling schedules, preparing meals, working, cleaning. Oh! And I’m pitching, writing, planning events. And SHOPPING! Yes, my friends, this is the one time of the year when shopping loses its fun and excitement. Suddenly, even shopping, which so often is a chance to relax and release, is stressful. Moms. We need to…