Sex, Love and Parenthood

Our crazy, sexy, cool February issue is live!

This month:
Win Fabulous Giveaways
Romance Up Your Home
Meet the Love Doctor
One Mom Says Sex After Baby Gets Better and Better
Sexy Scents
Gorgeous Makeup
Hot Jewelry
How to Handle the 10pm Headache—If You Know What We Mean
Teach Your Kids to Love
A Kid-Friendly Divorce—Is It Possible?
Go Green in the Bedroom
Babyproof Your Marriage
Pregnancy Lingerie—Yes, We're Serious
Early Spring Maternity Wear You'll Love
Five Fab Pieces
How Has Your Relationship Changed Now that You're Parents?
Do Something Important: Support Pajama Program

CLICK HERE TO GET IN ON THE LOVE

I'm Starting with the Woman in the Mirror

Check out our Mama Says: Tip of the Week

Think one person can't make a difference? Think again.

If you want to affect change and solve the big problems of the world, start by changing yourself.

Have more patience, go slower, be nicer, share more, love the people who annoy you, treat your competitors with dignity.

Every step you take toward being a better person brings the world closer to a much needed peace.

Click here for more good ones.

What's My Line?

One of our beloved TFG family members is writing a book about motherhood and asked me to contribute a quote on the postpartum period.

It was difficult to reduce the whole dizzying, life-changing, pushing-you-to-the-limits-of-your-sanity time down to one concise, cogent thought, but here's what I said:

"As the madness of modern day motherhood scrambles what's left of your sleep-deprived sanity, you actually find yourself living life how it was meant to be lived: in a state of being truly, truly grateful for the little things—like peeing alone in the bathroom, door closed."

What say you on the subject? Email me at jillian@thefamilygroove.com.

You Better Think

From today's Daily Conscious Tune-Up:

If you want to know what your life looks like, look at your thoughts. If you don't like what you see, then change the way you think about life.

Most of us are stuck in thoughts of fear, disappointment, anger, and regret. We recycle the same stinkin' thinkin' again and again and again. It feels so suffocating after a while, doesn't it?

Today, air your mind out. Open the window and let the breeze come through. Stick your head out. See those people over there? They are potential new friends. Go talk to them. See that Help Wanted sign? That’s your new career. Walk in and submit an application.

Allow new, happy, optimistic thoughts to take over for a change.

What's on your mind?

Play, Thing!

Since I got an iPod from Christmas (yes, I was the last person on the planet to have one), I've been going to the gym six times a week—and actually pushing myself while there. Imagine that!

What's the reason for the push? A lot of things, I suppose—an ever begetting drive to be in shape, feel good, look good, be happy, not gain a ton of weight while preggo (and still eat a ton of cookies), a little me time, etc.—but none more immediate and yearning than the desire to listen to music.

So, here's what's moving me right now (on shuffle, of course). Are they my all my all-time fav songs ever? No. But will they keep you on that dang elliptical machine at 8 for 45 minutes? Yes.

Alphabet St., Prince
Got to Give It Up, Marvin Gaye
Gold Lion, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Dare, Gorillaz
Hung Up, Madonna
Everybody, Madonna
Big Pimpin', Jay-Z
Workin' Day and Night, Michael Jackson
Closer, Nine Inch Nails
Head Like a Hole, Nine Inch Nails
Cherub Rock, Smashing Pumpkins
Fire Woman, The Cult
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See, Busta Rhymes
Why Can't This Be Love, Van Halen
Ain't Talking Bout Love, Van Halen
Violet, Hole
Miss World, Hole
Rock Star, Hole
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, P.M. Dawn
Dragula, Rob Zombie
The Dope Show, Marilyn Manson
Don't Tell Me, Madonna
Show Me How To live, Audioslave
Cochise, Audioslave
A Little Respect, Erasure
Thieves In the Temple, Prince
Harlem Shuffle, The Rolling Stones
Shattered, The Rolling Stones
Monkey Man, The Rolling Stones
Rock and Roll, Led Zeppelin
Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jungle Love, The Time
The Glamorous Life, Sheila E
A Love Bizarre, Sheila E
Sugar Walls, Sheena Easton
Juicy, The Notorious B.I.G.
Big Poppa, The Notorious B.I.G.
California Love, 2pac

Hate 'em or love 'em—I guarantee they will keep you moving.

Got more on the go-go songs? Post them here or email them to me at jillian@thefamilygroove.com.

Mad Cow

Well, today is the day that I finally feel pregnant. As visions of Nicole Richie dance in my head, I just realized (because I am so damn good at delusion) that this ain't no celebrity pregnancy.

I had more or less managed to stave off the feeling thus far, thanks to a combo of working out, drinking tons of water and having a good attitude; but last night's fajitas were the tipping point. The weight gain is still pretty small (and, no, I am not some total freakazoid pregnant woman who obsesses over her weight—well, you know, not a total freakazoid), but the bloat is on (as said to a Glen Frye beat).

The real purpose of this post is not to complain, but to exclaim the complete and total panacea that is working out. My fellow preggo dudettes, get your asses to the gym; skip the lunches out and Starbucks and invest in a trainer; and/or just move something. Working out daily (daily-ish) on my own and working out weekly with the uber-fabulous Lori Sawyer (www.mommy-moves.com) has kept me on a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual high, the likes of which I can not accurately express in words.

Despite the necessary weight gain and the unnecessary bloat (evil fajitas!), I am stronger and in better shape than I have been in years—since I left Manhattan, actually. And motivation begets motivation, so making a goal to work out and then doing it really, truly impacts all areas of your life.

Well, off to pound down some water in an effort to rid myself of last night's salt fiesta. Puff Mommy is not a becoming moniker.

Other good names for this post: Boss Hog and Heifer National.

Sunny and Share

It's going to be a brisk, but not cold, sunny day today.
The sun is just entering my office. I feel like I've lived a lifetime since I awoke. Oh, the gambit
of emotion, thought, love, hate, fear, panic, happiness, sadness, calm and chaos that has echoed through my mind's eye in such a brief time. Despite the roller coaster, I still did everything I endeavored to do:

Return emails 5:30 am
Workout 6am
Return emails 6:45am
Get kiddo up. Remember what living is about: sharing—in this case myself and my full consciousness with my daughter. 7:15am
Sit down in office chair to actively stress over day. Forget what living is about. 7:25am
Get Daily Conscious Tune-up. Remember again. 7:30am
Remember what living is about. So here's today's Tune-up, from them to me to you.7:37am
See below:

One of my favorite definitions of fear is:

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Fear is one big bluff; it’s an imaginary brick wall we are meant to run through — head first. Think about it. Haven’t some of your biggest achievements come as a result of pushing through your terror and anxiety?

Today, jump into the scary moments and know you’ll be able to deal. This is where the real potential for growth is concealed.

Now go forth and share something—a smile, a kind word, an ear to listen, a quarter for the meter, a truth, anything—with the people in your world.

$10 and a Dream

A lovely woman sent me an impassioned email last night about www.asmallvictory.org, a charity that helps families deal with stillbirths, miscarriages and neonatal deaths, of which there are a reported one million annually, via information, support and Loss Kits that are intended to ease parents' bereavement.

Thusly moved by her personal account of loss and how A Small Victory helped her, I checked out the site.

Here's what I found:

A Small Victory is taking part in the Case Foundation and Parade Magazine: America’s Giving Challenge. If A Small Victory can get at least 200 individuals to each donate $10 or more by January 31st, we would have a chance to win this challenge. If we won this challenge, we would have the ability to help over 500 families that experience the tragedy of losing a baby. The entire Challenge is designed to take place online, involving the use of such everyday activities as e-mailing, blogging, and social networking. Anyone can donate using a valid credit card through Network for Good. The challenge ends January 31 at 3pm EST so we have to get going!
The objective here is to have as many people as you can donate to your cause. Duplicate donations from the same individual will only be counted once. This has nothing to do with how much money we raise but has everything to do with the number of supporters we have.
Don’t put it off! Give now! Visit asmallictory.org/give and donate and then send this link to friends, family, and colleagues. If you’re a member of a social networking site, like MySpace, post the link on your Profile page. From there, it’s easy to share it with the friends in your different online networks. Got a blog? Post the link there, too!
I am not kidding about this. This could help hundreds of families all over. We are now sending our Kits all over the US and even to Canada. Go now and donate - then pass it on!

If you've got $10 to spare, why not send it Small Victory's way?

Small victories lead to big ones.

Mean Girls

We just launched a new monthly column called "Postcards from the Edge—of Parenthood." (I hope Princess Leia doesn't get all cease and desist on us.) Written by TFG's own super cool mom-entator Sasha Brown-Worsham, the columns—I've read the first three so far—are really well-done.

January's is about mean moms. Are you one? Are you one by mistake? Click here to find out.

My Baby's Got a Secret

Our January issue is a-live and kicking!

Click here to peep The Secret: Managing the Madness of Modern Day Motherhood.

It's such a good issue—if I do say so myself.

Look for:
Must-Read Mommy Books
How to turn Your Home in to a Zen Palace
Postcards from the Edge—of Parenthood
A Single Mom's Tale of Success, True Love and Cosmos
Relax! Just Say Spaaaaaaah
Easy Beauty
What Not To Wear
Working Mommy Guilt No More
How to Fit into Your Skinny Jeans Again
It's Easy Being Green
What You Really Need to Know About Being a Parent
Ten Things That Will Make Your Life Easier
Liz Lange Wants You to Indulge
Five Fabulous Pieces
These Moms Want You to Know...
What is Rett's Syndrome?

And more, more more!

Digging in the Dirt

Oh lordy.....
Forgive me Blogger, for I have sinned: it's been three and a half months since my last post.
So much writing for THEFAMILYGROOVE.com and so little time for introspection—not a good thing, I suppose.

But, anyway, I am back and eight pounds heavier—or so I can revel in until next Tuesday's OB appointment when I find out what damage the holidays have wreaked. Just three and a half months to go before Baby Brother, as Scarlett would prefer him to be called, arrives.

The last six and a half have gone by in a flash, but this time in a good, conscious, awake way verses the first pregnancy during which I completely ignored my growing belly—and the person inside of it. It feels good to feel connected and to allow myself to live in my own skin. I guess it's a function of being in my thirties, all the life lessons that Scarlett has taught me, allowing myself to trust in my relationship with my man, growing up because at some point you just have to, my spiritual endeavors and my recommitment to health and fitness that have guided, empowered and inspired me to be here now. Or perhaps it's the endorphins from my 6:15am workout coupled with the medium coffee I just guzzled. Whatever the reasons, I'll take this current presence of mind.

And just when you feel at peace, just when you think you've got a nice slice of pie, just when you think you've got it sorted, the Universes comes a-calling. Today's Daily Conscious Tune Up from Kabbalah says:
It’s easy to be spiritual when we are lacking. But it’s not so easy to maintain the flame once we’ve been satiated.

I have people coming to me all the time who are desperate to fix their difficulties. But they don’t have the same intensity of desire once they get what they want. As soon as the relationship is better, the money is back in the bank, or the health is restored, they’re not as willing to do whatever it takes to connect. I am guilty of this as well.

Drawing energy and maintaining an awareness of the Light is more important after we get what we want because it’s without agenda. It’s a higher level of spiritual connection.

Recall a major prayer that was answered. Do you remember the intense desire you had prior to getting what you wanted? Allow it to resurface today and by doing so, you will receive even more fulfillment in that area.

It annoyed me and my first thought was to ignore it, so I know it's a truth. Yup, it's time to dig again; time to drudge; time to shed light.

Here's to a very dirty 2008! May you never stop digging.