After my son and I got back from our 10-day trip I was extremely tired.  This is not uncommon for when I get back from a trip for work or with my family.  By Thursday of that week I had started to get a sore throat, a cough with burning in the chest and extreme exhaustion.  All last weekend I kept having to take breaks to rest.  By the time Monday came around, I made it into work for about an hour before I finally decided to give up and go home before I passed out.  I scheduled a Dr's appt to find out I had walking pneumonia.  It is now Sat and I have basically

This week in central Virginia we had an earthquake. Having grown up in California, I know a thing or two about earthquakes. I know they're scary. I know they leave you unsetteled for days. And I know what you're supposed to do during an earthquake to stay safe.

Are you the type of person who is constantly speaking negatively about yourself, putting yourself down and complaining about your faults? 

If your opinion of yourself is that you're not good enough, worthy or lovable enough, what's the message you're sending to others? If your children suffered from low self esteem or a poor self image, you'd spend every free second reassuring them and trying to build them up. So here's the question. Why are we so good to others yet so unforgiving with ourselves?

As part of transition coaching I ask

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A rock star for the stroller set, Laurie Berkner makes beautiful music for both parents and their tots to rock out to. Laurie spoke with Working Mother magazine about her new DVD “Party Day," her work with 7th Generation, and how her beloved song “Victor Vito” was actually inspired by her accountants.

Let’s talk about your new DVD, Party Day.

I've seen first hand personally and professionally how detrimental unmanaged stress can be on the entire family...even on the kids. I've also seen how moms can play a huge role in managing the families stress by carefully crafting a workable plan for the entire family.

Are there ways to eat "cheap and healthy?" Absolutely!

Someone recently asked: "I'm under a tremendous amount of stress and I noticed changes in my skin. Is there any connection?" The answer is a big, fat yes.

One reason your skin changes when stressed is due to the over secretion of the stress hormone cortisol. When over secreted, it will look to replenish itself by borrowing components from our estrogen stores. Estrogen keeps us youthful so when stores become depleted, we age faster. (You know how someone "looks like they've had a hard life?" That's the physical effects of over secreted stress hormones).

Becoming a beekeeper wasn't part of Amy Rzepka’s master plan. A stay-at-home mom, she was spending her time volunteering and taking care of her kids, Molly, Rachel and Nathan (then ages 11, 10 and 7). About eight years ago, a family friend asked to put a beehive on their property in Solon, OH, but was unable to dedicate time to care for the bees. Amy's husband, David, took classes and studied up on his new neighbors and their upkeep. “We became beekeepers completely by accident!” says Amy.