Posted Thursday, June 18, 2009 by Jackie Morgan MacDougall

What does summer mean to you?

Bikinis and martinis by the pool in an exotic location? Maybe lying in the sand in front of some private beach-front property off the coast? Or perhaps floating in a tube at your lake house (big enough for family, friends and the hired help, of course)...

Yeah, me neither.

For most families, mine included, this summer is about enjoying time off -- and each other --… Read More

Posted Thursday, June 11, 2009 by Jackie Morgan MacDougall

Dread.

It's one of the most common feelings expressed by moms this time of year.

No, they're not dreading finding the perfect gift for Father's Day or that it's swimsuit season, or even the fact that graduation ceremonies now start at the ripe old age of 4. Seriously, do we really need caps and gowns for kids heading off to kindergarten? Talk about setting them up for expecting pomp and circumstance… Read More

Posted Thursday, June 4, 2009 by Jackie Morgan MacDougall

I remember an era in my life when labels mattered to me. From jeans to shoes to purses, I was the one shuffling through sales racks, browsing online, and even bidding on eBay, desperate to keep up with the latest trends without going broke.

Times have certainly changed since then.

If you told me five years ago that the must-have label du jour couldn't be found in the hottest boutique,… Read More

Posted May 28 2009, by Jackie Morgan MacDougall

She's the most watched mom in America - rubbing elbows with celebs, sharing a bed with the most powerful man in the world, and constantly changing opinion of what a first lady should be. But Michelle Obama is as famous for planting a garden in her yard, leaving her high-paying job for life as an at-home mom, and her plethora of sleeveless shifts than she is for her powerful position… Read More

Posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 by Jackie Morgan MacDougall

Picture this: You're in a perfectly nice conversation with another mom. The two of you click, maybe even laugh a bit, she seems like someone you'd like to spend more time with.

Then the dreaded question hits.

Do you work?

It seems like a simple and innocent inquiry. But don't be fooled! Oftentimes, it's laced with judgment, competition and a smugness that will knock you right out of your pair of last year's… Read More

Posted Thursday, May 14, 2009 by Jackie Morgan MacDougall

You can always tell when the school year is winding down - jackets can be found curled up on the car floor, refused by little ones, attention spans seem to get shorter as the days get longer, and perfect moms everywhere start shopping for the ultimate teacher gift.

If you are one of those moms, you may want to stop reading now.

(OK, are they gone?)

Teacher gifts are like the school… Read More