Archive for May 2012

Train Your Puppy with Five Easy Steps

Train Your Puppy with Five Easy Steps
After months of researching breeds, interviewing breeders and preparing the house, we recently added a Whippet puppy, Rosie “Run Her Up” Alperin, to our family. As I was waiting to bring Rosie home, I read several books, watched hours of Animal Planet and interviewed other dog owners. I took notes. I made lists. I created... Read more »
By Crystal Intini Alperin,
May 31, 2012 at 4:46 pm • 

Saying Goodbye to Fattening Food, Jiggly Arms, and Muffin Tops

Saying Goodbye to Fattening Food, Jiggly Arms, and Muffin Tops
An excerpt from the journal of Elizabeth Rago… Friday, May 25th, 2012 8:22 PM I felt my upper arm flab wagging in the windy Chicago breeze today as I waved at my 5-year-old son. Instantly clutching my jiggling skin, I shamefully tucked my untoned tricep under my armpit and exchanged my exuberant gesture for a... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
May 28, 2012 at 7:03 am • 

Zoinks! Did I Inadvertently Participate in an Art Scam?

Zoinks! Did I Inadvertently Participate in an Art Scam?
I haven’t slept in weeks. Each time I close my eyes, fear settles in and I hear a voice ominously declare “Ain’t no rest for the wicked.” I open my eyes and Cage the Elephant’s song is mysteriously playing – again. I spend hours searching the internet, hunting for details. My family recently drove 15... Read more »
By Crystal Intini Alperin,
May 24, 2012 at 11:07 pm • 
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What Were You Thinking? Face-palm Moments With Kids

There is a rule in my home that seems to be broken quite often. I do not think I am an overbearing mother and firmly stand on the idea that rules and structure are good for kids, yet I am still a believer in being flexible and letting kids explore. With one rule, however, I... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
May 22, 2012 at 10:18 am • 

Born To Stride: Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis Research

Born To Stride: Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis Research
I love to take walks along the Fox River Trail in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. I can always appreciate the dense trees and the sound of the water flowing next to the path. Sure, the bikers whiz by sometimes lacking “trail etiquette” and every now and then, those pesky water bugs fly into your... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
May 18, 2012 at 10:30 am • 

Parents Should Decide How to Market Toys, Not the Toy Companies

Parents Should Decide How to Market Toys, Not the Toy Companies
My kids have been saving up money doing chores around the house. They receive a quarter each day for making their beds and cleaning up their toys at night. At long last, they had each saved up enough money to buy a toy from Toys R’ Us. My 5-year-old son, Raymond, knew exactly what he... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
May 15, 2012 at 7:52 am • 
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My Parenting Resume: I'm No Longer An Entry-Level Mother

My Parenting Resume: I'm No Longer An Entry-Level Mother
During my sabbatical, as the sleepless nights and my lack of creative vision continued, I needed some kind of outlet for my twitchy typing fingers and decided to update my resume on LinkedIn to keep me busy. As I browsed through my thesaurus looking for power words like master, impeccable, and wizard, I started to... Read more »
By Beth Rago,
May 10, 2012 at 7:55 am • 

Spring Cleaning Challenge, 5 weeks later

Spring Cleaning Challenge, 5 weeks later
You always see the before and after photos of home makeovers. You never see how it looks after it’s been lived in for a while. I thought I would show you how my home office looks after living /working in there for 5 weeks. These are papers for donating breast milk. I needed to scan... Read more »
By Shari,
May 2, 2012 at 11:31 am •