How the iPhone Captured Our Roadtrip Joy

/ / creator, family, friends, iPhone, joy, Mall of America, mom, motherhood, patience, roadtrip, Spotlight, Teton, thankfulness, vacation
photo credit: Jessica Seymour Vacations, in whatever form or wherever the destination is, are often comprised of a unique, but all too common, mix of excitement, pure joy, exhaustion and utter frustration (aka annoyance). Sure, it can be stressful when it’s just you and your spouse on a vacation (if you are lucky enough to do so), but throw in a kid or two or five, and it’s a whole different ballgame. You likely wonder if spending all the time, money and effort is really worth it when dealing with a tired, cranky or completely ungrateful child (or spouse). Will ...
» READ MORE

I Once Considered Myself the Happiest Woman in the World

/
I once considered myself the happiest woman in the world and in one day, I became the saddest. One day I had it all, and then the next, it was all shattered. One day I ...
» READ MORE

Work Can Be a Playground

/
My 10-year-old son has dyslexia. It’s not an excuse, but it does play a vital role in the way he sees the world. Literally. To him the world can be overwhelming. Words. Sounds. Messes. The ...
» READ MORE

Never Question Your Mom-Tuition

/
The word of the day is yurt. It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as much as it slingshots through the mouth. Webster’s Dictionary defines yurt as: “a circular domed tent of skins or felt ...
» READ MORE

Honestly Main Page Header

Slingshot Fun

/
"We have to reinvent fun back into our American society or we are going to serious ourselves to death." - Alice Cooper https://vimeo.com/271905836 The MOPS International staff taking a much-needed fun break from the work ...
» READ MORE

How to Build Your Family’s Unique Summer-Fun Bucket List

/
Summer is finally here. Thank goodness. But now you’re starting to hear increasingly urgent (and quite frankly aggravating) inquiries of “What are we going to do today?!? I’m so BORED!” If this sounds familiar, it’s ...
» READ MORE

The Nesting Place

/
One of my top priorities for my home is for it to be a place of beauty. Notice I didn’t say I want my home to be perfect. Also, I really don’t care for it to ...
» READ MORE

Main Page Influence Header

MOMcon Top 10

/
In the spirit of David Letterman, who has nothing to do with MOMcon, but everything to do with the generation of Mentors we are, let’s do the rundown of the best reasons this Mentor Mom
» READ MORE

Being Superwoman Is Hard Work

/
Our friend, Shaunti Feldhaun, recently wrote about how we weren’t designed to be an exhausted Superwomen. She gives some great tips on how we really NEED that rest we keep hoping for. You were not designed ...
» READ MORE

Take Care

/
Taking care of ourselves is not an innate thing for most moms and leaders. I remember when my second child was a few weeks old I was standing in my bathroom staring out the window ...
» READ MORE

Mandy Main Page Header

Slingshot Fun

/
"We have to reinvent fun back into our American society or we are going to serious ourselves to death." - Alice Cooper https://vimeo.com/271905836 The MOPS International staff taking a much-needed fun break from the work ...
» READ MORE

first move Mandy Arioto

The First Move Advantage

/
There is a well-known theory in chess called the first move advantage that suggests the player who goes first is statistically positioned for the best outcome. When I first heard this, I went and found ...
» READ MORE

Writing Tips From the Pros: Mandy Arioto

/
You've asked, so we've delivered. We've gone straight to the source to give you some of the best writer's tips around from none other than the pros. Check in all week to catch them. Mandy Arioto ...
» READ MORE

Main Page Spotlight Header

How the iPhone Captured Our Roadtrip Joy

/
photo credit: Jessica Seymour Vacations, in whatever form or wherever the destination is, are often comprised of a unique, but all too common, mix of excitement, pure joy, exhaustion and utter frustration (aka annoyance). Sure, ...
» READ MORE

I Once Considered Myself the Happiest Woman in the World

/
I once considered myself the happiest woman in the world and in one day, I became the saddest. One day I had it all, and then the next, it was all shattered. One day I ...
» READ MORE

Work Can Be a Playground

/
My 10-year-old son has dyslexia. It’s not an excuse, but it does play a vital role in the way he sees the world. Literally. To him the world can be overwhelming. Words. Sounds. Messes. The ...
» READ MORE

Soul Care Main Page Header

Waterlogged Soul Care

/
Do you remember being little and playing too long in the bathtub to the point where your skin would start to wrinkle? My mama would always remind me that once the skin got ‘pruney’ it ...
» READ MORE

Working Out My Passions

/
I didn’t grow up dreaming of getting married or planning a fairy-tale wedding. Instead, I grew up with dreams of traveling, teaching and writing. I’m not sure when or how, but at some point in ...
» READ MORE

Love Detox

/
I went through alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal/detox on the top bunk in my sister’s basement – in a house full of toddlers. Three of them. I should probably mention that children aren’t my love language ...
» READ MORE