Abby Off the Record — The scoop on life, writing & raising kids

Flashback Friday: Pros & Cons of Vacationing with Kids

June 10, 2011

It’s that time of year again… Family vacation time! Hope you enjoy this post from my archives. Obviously, I use the word “vacation” loosely. Many a mom has realized that a trip with kids is more like a work-release program than a relaxing getaway. But still, it’s nice to get outta Dodge now and then, […]

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My Baby’s 5!

June 8, 2011

Dear Miles, Today you are 5! FIVE!! You’ve been trying to claim you’re 5 for a while now, especially since we had your birthday party a few days early, but I insisted you were still 4 until today. But really, who am I kidding? You’re a big, grownup BOY now. I don’t know when you […]

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My Recipe for Balance

June 6, 2011

Raise your hand if you’re sick of hearing about balance. I think the reason living a balanced life is such a frustrating concept for so many moms is that it’s vague, it’s elusive, and it’s different for everybody. (Kind of like finding a flattering bathing suit. You’re convinced it’s an urban legend until you find […]

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Flashback Friday: Zoo Days and Blender Days

June 3, 2011

It’s been one of those weeks. Reminded me of this post, originally published on DiaryofaNewMom.net in Nov. 2009: It’s been 3 ½ years since I said good-bye to an office, coworkers, and the guarantee of daily adult conversation to stay home and raise one, now 2, boys. On a good day, it feels like I’m […]

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Things I Think About at Yoga

June 1, 2011

You know how at the end of class, there’s the relaxation/meditation part – savasana? When you’re supposed to clear your mind and let go of any thoughts? Yeah. Well, I’m not so good at that part. Here are the things that were going through my mind at the end of my last yoga class: It […]

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Memorial Day Musings

May 30, 2011

I distinctly remember the feeling of culture shock when I lived in France for a semester in college, my first time abroad as an adult. All the little things I took for granted at home in America – 24-hour convenience stores, 7 different brands of yogurt to choose from, friendly waiters — were suddenly foreign […]

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Time, for Now

May 27, 2011

The midday sun warms our backs as we squat down and peer into the mulch. The drone of a lawnmower drifts over on the breeze from a nearby yard, along with the scent of peonies. A busy family of roly-polies (or Armadillidiidae, if you prefer) bustles around in the dirt, seemingly going nowhere and doing […]

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Advice for Oprah

May 25, 2011

I read an article in Entertainment Weekly recently about the disappointing launch of Oprah’s OWN network. Even the media mogul herself admits: “It’s not where I want it to be.” Well, now that her talk show’s ending, she’s got time to work on it. I’ve got some feedback for you, Oprah. Read on. But first, […]

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Learning to Embrace My Awesomeness

May 24, 2011

Today I’m over at writer/mom Angie Mizzell’s blog talking about my favorite quote, why I rarely update my Facebook status, a guy who insulted me at a party, and why writing my About Me page was so hard. Go read it, will ya?

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DIY or Die Trying

May 23, 2011

As I teetered on top of the stool, plaster dust filling my lungs, the clock ticking ever closer to preschool pickup time, I thought, When will I learn I am not a do-it-yourselfer?! It’s not that I lack the skills to sand and paint a ceiling. I do, however, lack the time, tools, and apparently, […]