33 Weeks: The Karate Kid
August 26, 2010 by VirginiaKerr · Leave a Comment
Those little nudges in my belly that I thought were so cute have grown into full blown karate chops! Skittles almost took me out twice today during the newscast.
Thank goodness I wasn’t on camera when it happened because it had me doubled over in pain. Can’t get mad at the kid though. Just 30 minutes before I was worried because I hadn’t felt him in several hours.
The Mom is Born Virtual Shower was yesterday! It was so much fun.
Look how I was greeted when I rolled up to Overlook Farm in Clarksville, MO.
The shower was held in one of the cottages on the 200 acre grounds.
The chefs and director went all out with the “R” because they know Skittles real name begins with an R.
They served Skittles and even made personalized sugar cookies. One read “Skittles” another “Bama Baby.”
And my mother in law Lynn, sister in law Christy and close friend Jill all came to participate in the Holding Hands bracelet ceremony. My good friend Afton from Channel 4 was there as well as friends Jill and Christy, all three of which who are pregnant, too.
The Holding Hands ceremony was so touching! Now we each have a birthing bracelet with beads that represent each other. Mine also has one from my mother in law, sister and mother and Zen Mommy and Practical Mommy. I will wear it into the delivery room so I can remember each of them and what their beads symbolize.
The online shower was so fun and such an eye opener. I could not believe 1200 people logged on and watched. I want to say thank you to the viewers and all the sponsors for the donations to the March of Dimes. You all helped raise more than $6500!!!!
Here’s a clip from the shower, if you couldn’t watch.
Until next time…seven weeks to go!!!!!! Seven weeks of duke it out in my belly!
—————
Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.
How to Celebrate the Sisterhood of Mommy-hood
August 23, 2010 by Practical Mommy · 1 Comment
Ask me for strength and I will lend not only my hand, but also my heart.
~Unknown
The Holding Hands bracelet
The Holding Hands bracelet is an exclusive My Mommy Manual piece that we commissioned in order to celebrate the sisterhood of mommy-hood. Its signature Holding Hands glass bead, each one hand-crafted by lampwork artist Melissa Villadiego, is a reminder from us that life is more fun when we’re holding hands!
Add more beads and charms to represent more wishes.
It is a touching shower gift for an expecting mom because the charm bracelet is designed for each guest to add their own symbolic wishes for the celebrant as she crosses the threshold into mommy-hood.
It is also a wonderful gift for any mom — gift it to your friends who drove your older kids to school after your youngest was born, or to the best friend who takes your kids when the babysitter cancels at the last minute, or to your posse who makes your family dinners after your surgery. This bracelet is forever a tangible reminder of the strength in our shared experiences as moms.
A portion of your $27 purchase benefits our woman- and child-focused
non-profit partners.
Watch the broadcast from A Mom Is Born, the virtual baby shower in which as we hosted a Holding Hands Ceremony for KMOV news anchor and expecting mom, Virginia Kerr. Virginia chatted live with 1198 viewers who shared new mom tips, great prizes, and helped us raise money for March of Dimes. Click here for more details.
32 Weeks: Focused
August 19, 2010 by VirginiaKerr · 1 Comment
First of all, thank you so much for all the great hospital bag suggestions. They are all so helpful. Things I didn’t think of that you guys did: personal pillow, thick socks, granny panties, pads, pajamas you don’t mind getting dirty, sour hard candies, boppy pillow and a draft email.
The draft email came from Zen Mommy. She suggests you write up your birth announcement email and copy all the people you want to send it to ahead of time so all you have to do is upload the baby’s picture and include the name once you’re at the hospital. Genius!
I just feel focused now. Organizing the baby’s room. Washing baby clothes.
I find myself talking about Skittles all the time.. I think I’m annoying. At least, I think my husband may thinks so.
He doesn’t say anything but I catch myself only talking about the baby when I see him. I usually just talk about how he’s moving or how he knows Jason’s voice or how I am worried the kids is going to get lost in the corn field behind our house or never come in the house because he is obsessed with the outdoors like Jason or how his hair is my property until at least grade school–(If Jason is in charge of the haircuts, that kid will have his head buzzed the minute his hair is the length of a grain of rice)
Ha! Jason’s mom gave us some argyle, baby leg warmers the other day.
They look like these.
You should have seen his face. I knew by that expression that those leg warmers may be the only argyle our son ever owns.
He may not wear them though. The way this kid is kicking..his legs won’t ever need warming.
Gotta go! Don’t forget. We are less than a week out from the big virtual shower!!!
—————
Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.
*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.
31 Weeks: Packin’ My Bags
August 12, 2010 by VirginiaKerr · 5 Comments
I know it is early..but I am so excited and in high gear of nesting so I am packing the hospital bag this weekend. BUT I am not sure what to include. So could you please help me?
I know I need something to wear home from the hospital, a camera with battery charger, clothes for Jason, a computer (so I can watch the Alabama game if need be) maybe a book..Ha! I am reading the entire Twilight series..every time I see Bella and Edward now I will think of my pregnancy with Skittles..an outfit for Skittles, car seat. WHAT ELSE?
Some one just told me not to worry about diapers and blankets because the hospital is well stocked. Is that true? Can I sneak food in since I know they starve you? Should I bring DVDs? I just feel like it’s going to be a lot of hurry up and wait.
Here is the latest prego pic.
That was last weekend at Christy’s shower. I’m sure we’ll have another one for you next week because this weekend the boys’ family is throwing us one. Remember. We married brothers during a double ceremony and now we are due the same week (a day apart).
Oh! And Christy will be at the virtual shower coming up on August 25th. You have to log on and check it out. Not only are we helping raise money for the March of Dimes, Practical Mommy and Zen Mommy came up with this great way for Christy and I to be in the delivery for each other’s birth without us physically being there.
Christy and I are getting Holding Hands bracelets and then exchanging beads for them. Each bead represents a special woman in your life.
Think of it as a ring of girl power around your wrist. You can get one during the virtual shower and add different beads, too! And again, it helps the March of Dimes. The link you need for all the info on the “Mom is Born” virtual shower is below.
Don’t forget to tell me what to pack in my hospital bag! I’ll be checking your suggestions this weekend. Thanks!
—————
Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.
*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.
29 Weeks: Baby Got Cheeks
July 29, 2010 by VirginiaKerr · 2 Comments
I saw Skittles yesterday! Guess what! Those choroid plexus cysts on his brain are shrinking so the doctor’s not worried about him having down’s syndrome and he has big ole cheeks like mine!
The kind of cheeks Santa Claus has in pictures with rosy highlights. He also weighs three pounds!
Here he is!
See the Kerr cheeks on my sister and me..the nose too!
And it is official. Virginia Kerr has hit nesting mode! My clean freak husband will be excited! I just scrubbed all the toilets last night for no reason. I am decluttering the kitchen. I even made matching homemade magnets for our refrigerator so it looks more uniform.
They look like these.
They are part of my french country themed kitchen that I have my husband creating. Thank goodness he agrees the kitchen redo must me finished before baby gets here.
This weekend I am washing baby clothes and looking for some of the must have baby med items.
I know I have 10 weeks but you just never know.
Meanwhile, I hope you can make it to my virtual baby shower on August 25th. I didn’t even know what a virtual shower was until I met Practical Mommy and Zen Mommy. This shower is really about you and premature babies, not me.
All you have to do is watch it live online from 11 to 1 that Wednesday, send me new mom parenting tips and you can win some amazing products for YOUR baby. The whole event is a fundraiser for the March of Dimes.
Plus, you can get a Holding Hands bracelet.
This is so cool! These are bracelets you give to moms and moms to be in your life. You add beads to them and each bead is from someone close to the person receiving the bracelet. I know I am going to wear mine while I am in labor so I can take the support and memories of each woman represented on the bracelet. If you buy a bracelet or charm during the shower, you will be supporting the March of Dimes.
I hope that all makes sense. If not I have a link below that explains it all.
I have to go clean out a closet now…I’ll talk to you soon!
—————
Virginia Kerr is a morning news anchor on News 4. You can watch her Monday – Friday from 5AM to 7AM.
*You’re invited to a baby shower for Virginia on Wednesday, August 25. More details.
A Mom Is Born
July 8, 2010 by Practical Mommy · 68 Comments
We partnered with KMOV to co-host A Mom Is Born: The Virtual Baby Shower Celebrating a Woman’s Journey into Motherhood to benefit theMarch of Dimes and to show how women can transition into motherhood with the support of friends and family.
Our 2010 celebrant is expecting mom Virginia Kerr, the anchor on Channel 4’s early news show, Awake.
You can watch the recording below to hang out with us and Virginia. Any mom will enjoy the event because the two-hour broadcast featured great parenting tips and products.
We hosted a Holding Hands Ceremony in which we personalized a Holding Hands bracelet for Virginia. Villa Design created a signature bead and bracelet for us as a symbol of the connectedness between all mothers and the strength moms can source from each other. The bracelet is an especially touching gift for an expecting mom to wear during her labor and delivery, as a reminder of the support she has from her closest women friends — who were invited to add their own Pandora-style bead and an accompanying wish.
A limited number of Holding Hands bracelets with one-of-a-kind glass beads were handmade by artist, Melissa Villadiego for this event for guests to buy for a special mom or mom-to-be. Through August 31, a portion of the proceeds will go to the March of Dimes.
Top tips for new moms were shared, which are being collected in exchange for an entry in the Mom is Born giveaway raffle. Raffle prizes have been generously donated by the shower sponsors.
How can you support March of Dimes through this event?
• Make a donation via the DONATE button below
• Buy a Holding Hands bracelet for yourself or a loved one
• Support A Mom Is Born sponsors
PART I
PART II
OUR MOMMY CO-HOSTS
Kim Gellman of Artistic Sensations
RAFFLE WINNERS
Overlook Farm Girls Getaway Weekend: Tyler
Pixie Posie Photography Session: Cecelia
Kolcraft Jeep Overland Limited Jogging Stroller: Lacey
Bananafish Alphabet Set from Goodnite Rooms: Natasha
$30 gift certificate to Build-A-Bear Workshop: Emily
$30 gift certificate to Build-A-Bear Workshop: Jessica
Blue bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop: Mara
Pink bear from Build-A-Bear Workshop: Cathy
*Winners were selected randomly (via random.org) from those who submitted new mom tips in the comments below.
#babyshower2.0
November 2, 2009 by Practical Mommy · 81 Comments
Of course you know that Zen Mommy is Pregnant… but times 2.0?! Yes, she’s pregnant with TWINS.
The cat’s out of the bag! My Mommy Manual and Kolcraft, along with our friends at Artistic Sensations and Viewpoints invite you to a Baby Shower like no other… Web 2.0-style! TOMORROW, November 3, 2009 11 am – 1 pm CST, tune in HERE and be part of the first live streaming virtual baby shower ever!
Click here to get to the LIVE streaming video and chat room! We’ve got over $2000 in BABY GEAR to share with you!
Events
March 9, 2009 by Practical Mommy · Comments Off
08.29.2010
My Mommy Manual is proud to sponsor BIRTH: A play by Karen Brody
The stories of eight powerful women giving birth in America today.
Schlafly Bottleworks
Maplewood, MO
Sun, August 29th 5 p.m.
Listen to our interview with Karen Brody.
Learn more about the event and to buy your tickets to this amazing play here.
04.10.2010
FREE ADMISSION
You’ll find information on health, safety, activities and shopping all under one roof!
Bring the kids for the FREE entertainment including puppets, dancers, clowns, magic and more!
Speakers on a variety of subjects, including redirecting misbehavior and promoting self-esteem!
www.BabyKidExpo.com
866-654-3976
03.19.10
We are honored to be participating in the online Parenting Summit,March 19 – 26.
The Summit covers a wide-variety of topics that are important to support parents in helping their kids thrive.
We are presenting a Yogi Parenting workshop and other experts will also be providing invaluable information that registered attendees can access live or via recorded audio. Speakers include Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks, author of best-selling books on conscious relationships, My Mommy Manual guest and top teen parenting expert Vanessa Van Petten, and blended and step family author Shirley Cress Dudley.
Check out the full line-up on The Parenting Summit website and register to get free access to the interviews. Register HERE.
11.3.09
My Mommy Manual and Kolcraft, along with our friends at Artistic Sensations and Viewpoints invite you to a Baby Shower like no other… Web 2.0-style! Tuesday, November 3, 2009 11 am – 1 pm CST, tune in HERE and be part of the first live streaming virtual baby shower ever!
Click here to get to the LIVE streaming video and chat room! We’ve got over $2000 in BABY GEAR to share with you!
10.03.09
Join Parents As Teachers and hundreds of St. Louis families for Family Play date! It’s FREE and open to all. The festivities will feature Block Fest, an interactive exhibit that uses hands-on math and science activities through block play to encourage young children and their parents to learn and play, side by side.
When: Saturday, October 3, from 10 am – 4pm
Where: St. Charles Convention Center
For more information, contact Pat Simpson, pat.simpson(@)parentsasteachers(dot)org.
08.30.09
7.25.09
My Mommy Manual, Bevitoré Wine Boutique, Ka-ka-o Chocolate, and Abstrakt Art Gallery co-hosted an evening of wine tasting and mingling to benefit Parents As Teachers.
Everyone learned how to pair wine from Pierre Hourquebie. The silent auction featured an $800 painting from Croatian artist, Paco Rosic donated by the gallery, a private chocolate tasting from Ka-Ka-o, and a month of tango lessons from Michael Flanagan.
Todd Jordan did an amazing job capturing the evening in images (see below and click through to our Facebook page for bigger sizes). He also did a fabulous write-up of the night on The St. Louis Social Media Report. Thanks, Todd!
Saturday, July 25, 7-11pm
BowlHer/BlogHer Simulcast
In addition to enjoying an evening of wine tasting and wine education at the gallery, we joined hundreds of women across the country virtually at BowlHer ’09, the first interactive event to take place at BlogHer—one of the world’s largest social media conferences for women. Recordings of the parties are available here.
Not going to BlogHer? Want to join the festivities right here from the St. Louis Area? Swirl Sip & Savor with us while interacting with other regional parties across the country.
All events will be connected via sreaming on momTV, on the air on Blog Talk Radio, and on Twitter for the highly popular Girl’s Night Out Twitter party (#GNO).
7.11.09
Mom Entrepreneurs in the St. Louis area are invited to join Practical Mommy and Zen Mommy of My Mommy Manual at The Rise to the Top’s Summer Business Break with with Anna Kournikova. It’s THE summer networking event in St. Louis!
What: You are invited to the ultimate summer PRIVATE PARTY experience featuring a high-end mover and shaker crowd, top shelf cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, gift bag with BIG giveaways, wine tasting, Meet+Greet with tennis superstar Anna Kournikova, and very special box seats to the St. Louis Aces tennis match later in the evening all included with your ticket.
Where: Dwight Davis Tennis Center located within Forest Park
When: July 11th, 2009 Private Party begins at 5:30 PM
How To Get Tickets: Online at http://www.therisetothetop.com/summer-business-break.php (Very limited quantities available!)
Bonus: There will be many surprises throughout the evening including a special raffle supporting Lift For Life and a demonstration of the future of television with Widget Realm who will be unveiling Yahoo’s new TV platform. Even if you aren’t a “techie” it is going to be quite interesting and revolutionary.
Questions? Feel free to Email David Siteman Garland, CEO of The Rise To The Top at David(@)DSGagency.com
6.29.09 Believe in Zero Red Balloon Toss
We teamed up with the Looking Glass Lane girls again to do another live fundraiser for 12 for 12k’s partnership with Unicef and their Believe in Zero Campaign. Our time, treasure and talent (Yes, tossing red balloons across four states is VERY talented!) went toward reducing preventable childhood deaths from 25,000 a day to ZERO.
5.11.09 Bad Mother with Ayelet Waldman
Zen Mommy and Practical Mommy teamed up with three other outspoken and prolific mom bloggers to discuss best-selling author, Ayelet Waldman’s memoir, Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace. They interviewed Ayelet live on MyMommyManual.com on May 11, a week after the book’s release and as part of a book tour that also included a session with Terry Gross on Fresh Air and another on the Today Show.
Suzanne and Ria invited moms in their community to then join them again a week later on May 18 to continue the Bad Mother conversation and how this issue is reflected in many women’s lives.
“You guys are amazing! I’ve been writing for ten years and this has definitely been the most fun, the most interesting, the most creative interaction I’ve ever had with readers and I’m so grateful to you all. You’re the bomb.” ~ Ayelet Waldman
5.02.09 It’s ALL About MOM!
Over 350 people attended My Mommy Manual’s Pre-Mother’s Day Celebration, It’s ALL About MOM that was co-hosted at the Brentwood Center of Health on Saturday, May 2, a week BEFORE Mother’s Day from 10am – 2 pm. The My Mommy Manual team took their “practical and inspired” tips, this time beyond the online world entirely and into the real world. My Mommy Manual connected with St. Louis businesses, inviting them to share their practical and inspired tips for Mother’s Day.
The event featured wine tasting, massages, and sweet treats from local businesses to help mom unwind and escape while dad and the kids shopped. Twenty of the hippest boutiques and mommy-friendly businesses in St. Louis were there sporting both practical and inspired Mother’s Day gifts. Kids had fun creating personalized eye pillows and bracelets for their moms.
There was a diverse group of partners for “It’s All About Mom,” including Build-A-Bear Workshop®, TLC for Kids, Time for Dinner, The Market at Busch’s Grove, Dotdotdash, Angelina Accoutrements, Mandy’s Candies and Kangaroo Kids.
4.11.09 Pajama Party
My Mommy Manual hosted a virtual Pajama Party to help raise money for Mom It Forward and The 12 for 12K Challenge’s joint mission for April/May to help empower women entrepreneurs in Kenya. Their intention was to transform their mission of “connecting through practical and inspired tips” beyond the written page and into a LIVE experience!
Practical Mommy and Zen Mommy were on Ustream.tv for the first ever known Pajama Party LIVE on Tuesday, April 14 from 8-11pm CST. They raised money for the cause, with people joining the party in their PJ’s from home for giggles, live music, and of course, Practical and Inspired Tips from business experts including Guy Kawasaki!
In 3 hours, we had 1,382 site visitors, 46 Winners, and raised $1,207 for Yehu.org
Upcoming Events
Conscious Parenting Conference
Great Products
January 5, 2009 by Practical Mommy · Leave a Comment
We’re listening to YOU and creating resources that support our mission to connect you with your children, other moms, and yourselves. The result is our growing My Mommy Manual portfolio of products.
Personalize your own collection of love letters with this beautifully designed 29-page printable journal. Capture your thoughts and heartfelt wishes throughout your baby’s childhood. Your conversation begins now!
Our exclusive Hug Each Moment Kit is our GIFT to you for joining our community. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. You’ll receive the file right away, then a weekly message with member tips, announcements, and great deals. FREE with your newsletter subscription here.
Yoga Parenting began a few years ago when Zen Mommy realized that parenting was easier on the days she went to yoga class. She says, “I thought about it and realized I was taking the principles I was learning and applying them to my life as a mom. For example, when we were late for school and my four year old wouldn’t let me tie her shoes, I was able to breathe and stay centered and guide her from that place of acceptance when in the past, we would both be upset and yelling.”
So we collaborated with a YogaKids® certified instructor and 30-year veteran educator to bring this more joy, less stressful approach to parenting to parents everywhere via the web. Find out more about our 8-week online parenting course here.
The Holding Hands bracelet is an exclusive piece that we commissioned to celebrate the sisterhood of mommy-hood. Its signature Holding Hands glass bead, each one hand-crafted by lampwork artist Melissa Villadiego, is a reminder from us that life is more fun when we’re holding hands! Add more beads and charms to represent more wishes.
It is a touching shower gift for an expecting mom because the charm bracelet is designed for each guest to add their own charms (wishes) for the celebrant as she crosses the threshold into mommy-hood.
it is also a wonderful gift for any mom — this bracelet is forever a tangible reminder of the strength in our shared experiences.
A portion of your $27 purchase benefits our woman- and child-focused non-profit partners. The bracelet will be debuting at the August 25 virtual baby shower. RESERVE your Holding Hands bracelet here!
In this 60-minute video program, developmental psychologist, Dr. Pierroutsakos discusses what mindfulness research in psychology can teach us about nurturing a sense of peace in our homes, ourselves, and in our children. She talks about how mindfulness can improve anxiety, depression, and stress as well as how it cultivates leadership and future success. Dr. Pierroutsakos also reviews realistic strategies for making sure TV and other technology is helping you keep the peace, not disturb it.
