Just as a teaser, there will be a major redesign and new features as well as new, more targeted content to enjoy.

I am so looking forward to embracing the researcher and writer that I now know I am.

Things may be a little messy during the transition, so please be patient. In the end it will all be worth it.

Big changes folks. Stay tuned!

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• What I’m Listening to This Week – Sept. 15 2008
• Success Is In The Details… And The Protein
• Hearty Chicken and Rice Bowl
• French Toast – Gabriel Method Recipe

“…I’ve come to believe that there exists in the universe something I call “The Physics of The Quest” – a force of nature governed by laws as real as the laws gravity or momentum. And the rule of Quest Physics maybe goes like this: “If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself….then truth will not be withheld from you.” Or so I’ve come to believe.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

You may recognize this as the last line from the movie Eat, Pray, Love. Although I would find it hard to pick up and leave everything behind like that, I see the appeal and I definitely related to her personal journey in a profound way.

Over the last several years I have stripped myself down to the core and taken a long and arduous journey. I have learned so much about myself and those that I love and love me back. Every stop, every person along the way revealing more than the last. I am so grateful for the truths that have presented themselves and very much look forward to all the exciting thing coming in the future.

I have been rather absent this year, but I am excited about what is coming next. Check back soon to see what happens next…

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• The Gabriel Method – Divine Love
• Happy Mother’s Day
• From My Former Self to Those I Loved
• Self Inventory #16 – How Much Will I Gain

I’m not sure exactly how I will utilize it. I definitely need to do some research and thinking on how to create a valuable experience there. In the meantime it will be another way to follow me and a place to post special site updates and such.

Check it out and make sure to “Like” me.

The Redesigned Mom Facebook Page

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• Shoreline High School Students Take a Step Back from Social Media
• From My Former Self to Those I Loved

It’s very exciting, my blog is now carbon neutral!

A blog with an average of 15,000 visitors a month emits about 8lbs of CO2 per year.  The CO2 absorption of a tree is around 11lbs per year.

A team of people in Germany have started an initiative called “Make it Green”.  Their goal is to raise awareness of the impacts of carbon emissions and to contribute to the reduction of our carbon footprint.

Sometimes we aren’t aware of what parts of our lives contribute to our carbon footprint and how much.  This was new information for me and as a web developer, I imagine that my footprint is quite a  bit larger.  I am happy to know that my carbon footprint just got a little smaller and I look forward to learning more small steps that I can take to further reduce the carbon emissions that I output.

In return for helping them spread their message (by writing this post and adding their very nice badge to my site) they are going to plant a tree in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California. Over 88,000 acres of this forest were affected by wildfires in 2007 and the “Make it Green” folks are helping this forest to reestablish itself.

Learn more about the project

Do you have a blog?  Participate in the Project

This has inspired me to take it one step further.  I develop websites for small businesses and I now plan on making a donation to plant a tree in their name upon the completion of their projects.  This way every site I produce will also be carbon neutral, at least until they get super successful and we have to plant a few more trees!

I encourage you to take this time around Earth Day (April 22) and find a way that you too can make an impact around you.  Happy Earth Day!

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• Super Mario Bros. – My latest obsession
• Shrimp and Spinach Salad w/ Cider Vinaigrette – Recipe
• Merry Christmas!
• Treatment for Persistent Cradle Cap

If you own a kindle…

Check out The Redesigned Mom on the Amazon Kindle

If you don’t own a kindle and would like to know more or purchase one…

Learn all about the Amazon Kindle

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• The Gabriel Method – After Week 1
• The Cute Things That They Do
• SI2008 – #10 How’s My Love Life
• Acai Berry Supplements

This is not normal for Seattle and yes we may be wimpy, but right now I feel like I could melt wax on my head and it may very well spontaneously combust at any moment.

On top of that the kids are cranky, I am cranky and I have a website to launch that isn’t cooperating.

Too much for this overheated stay at home mom. Today I wish I had a job so I could go to a nice air conditioned office building.

Enough bitching. Enjoy your day!

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• SI2008 – #8 How Am I Doing At Work?
• So Uninspired
• The Nest – Flexible Hourly Child Care
• Self Inventory #23 – Who am I Deep Down Inside

I hope all of you have a wonderful long weekend. Catch you on the flip side (ooh, cheezy — Ouch!)

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• Dealing With Emotional Weight Issues
• SI2008 – #10 How’s My Love Life
• Big Salad – Gabriel Method Recipe
• Tarot SI2008 – #1 Who Am I?

All my love and good wishes to you all.  Make sure to do something wonderful for yourself today.

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• My Favorite Quote
• The Gabriel Method – Divine Love
• Dr. Laura on Larry King
• From My Former Self to Those I Loved

1. On the right, where that obnoxious ad used to be is now a box of the same size that contains information about the book I am currently reading and the book I have just completed.  I am really behind on my book reviews and I will try to get caught up on those over the next couple of days. You will notice that there are are little comments under the books in the box on the right.  Those are my comments, not some random comments pulled from amazon.  Hover over the book and see the lowest prices available from Amazon and whether it is available for your kindle.  Click on the book to get additional information and read more reviews on the Amazon site.
2.  I have completely re-categorized the site into a smaller number of categories.  I am letting tags act as detailed subcategories.  I am hoping that this will make content easier to find.  If you come across any broken links or page not found errors, please let me know.
3. I have also added a new section to the right sidebar called “Make sure to See”.  Here I have some featured content and have highlighted some subcategories of content that I think might be worth checking out.
4. Finally, I have some content that naturally lends itself to a “series” of articles and am planning on starting a new thread of posts that would do this as well, so I added a tab at the top to highlight those “Article Series”.  New posts in these series will appear on the site as usual, but will be added to these highlight pages so they are easily found all together.  Currently in that section are the “Mom Tips” series and my “Self Inventory” tarot readings.  Make sure to check back soon as I will be starting a new health and nutrition series in the next couple of days.

I hope that you enjoy the new content and find the site easier to use.

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• Treatment for Persistent Cradle Cap
• I can see some light
• Reupholstering My Dining Room Chairs
• Marnie Valenta – Seattle Massage Therapist and Birth Doula

A couple of weeks ago some dear friends of ours were visiting for dinner. As you do when visiting with other parents we were sharing our little worries and goings on with our kids. It just happened that I had also recently dealt with similar issues as my youngest is just a few months older than her youngest. I was able to share a couple of products and experiences that turned out to really work for her. These same products were passed onto me from other moms who had dealt with similar situations in their pasts.

I also have a few lines of wise words that were shared with me by teachers of classes I have taken that have shaped who I am as a parent. I find myself sharing these with others regularly.

This is how is goes in the world of parenting and these things have inspired me to start a series of articles called Mom Tips.  Although I will be sharing my mom tips, I would also love to hear yours.  You can share in this discussion by commenting on individual posts with ideas or questions about that particular topic. Or if you have a mom tip or would like to discuss a new topic, I would encourage you to contact me with your mom tip or question and If it is appropriate for my readers I will post it to the Mom Tips article series. Just use the contact me form and make sure to include your website URL so that if I use it I can give you proper credit.

I really look forward to sharing in an open dialog about products, tips and words of wisdom that make us all the fantastic parents that we are.

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• Dr. Laura on Larry King
• Treatment for Persistent Cradle Cap
• Ooey Gooey Mexi Casserole
• My 2009 New Years Resolution