There’s something about getting together with other bloggers in real life that makes me smile. For those of you who write for a living, you know that there are times when writing can be a very lonely profession. Given that I lost my blogging buddy last week I’m finding that I need a constant distraction.

I feel very fortunate that there’s a strong community of bloggers in the Boston area, comprised of many articulate men and women sharing their words in a variety of venues. One of my favorite blogging perks is getting together with pieces of this community at really cool events.

Recently I participated in two blogger events worthy of sharing pictures (at least I think so!). Both events were just what I needed to help me smile, connect with some local friends and experience something fantastic fun.

Old Navy Blogger Fashion Show

So. Much. Fun. Our job was to showcase Old Navy’s new line of dresses for spring. Quite a few kids along with their moms were the models. My kids opted to sit in the audience and cheer loudly for their mom. I’ll take that.

Here I am with Sharon from umommy and KidNosh and Jessica from Don’t Mind the Mess.

I was lucky enough to walk the runway with the adorable fashion blogger, Alana from The Good Girl Gone Blog. She also happened to organize this event.

This is how bloggers and Old Navy staff looked for the ‘crazy’ photo. Pretty crazy, eh??

Whole Foods Spring Smoothie Summit

It started off with a simple Tweet and ended up being a great event at Whole Foods in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We went shopping, courtesy of Whole Foods and bought our favorite smoothie ingredients. For those of you who’ve been reading along you know that I’m a huge smoothie junkie. My Instagram feed is full of them. Exciting, I know.

Here’s what made its way into my smoothie. Yes, those are my favorite chia seeds.

It turned into a pretty mauve mix. Thus the name.

Everyone’s smoothie was very unique and super delicious.

Big shout out to Whole Foods for pulling together such a fantastic event. Some of the lovely bloggers that weren’t mentioned above who are all over these pics are Sharon from ViolaCay, Julia from It’s Not Like a Cat, Emily from Random Recycling, Isra The Frugalette, Niri of Mommy Niri, Leah from Oh Baby Boston, Annmarie from Trendy Mommies, Nicole of Good Golly Miss Blondie, Charlene from Charlene Chronicles, Gilda of Evan and Lauren’s Cool Blog, Erika from That’s IT Mommy and Jean The Shopping Queen.

What’s made you smile over the past few days?

Fashion show photos taken by my hubby.

Blogging has been on hold. It’s been a rough few days around here. My 13 year old lab decided that it was time to go. She lived well beyond what was expected and I’m so grateful for that extra time we had together.

It’s interesting how all the memories start to come to the surface after a pet’s death. At least that’s what’s happening for me. About 13 years ago we drove south to Rhode Island to pick her up from Tony, the breeder. His house was crazy and chaotic. Filled with puppies, grown dogs and his elderly mother in her pajamas. No joke. We weren’t sure what to make of it, but we knew that a little chocolate lab puppy was coming home with us.

After struggling with unexplained infertility for a few years it was nice to finally have a change of focus. She would be my first baby.

We placed her in a small box and she whimpered all the way home.

She has been by my side most days ever since. I’ll never forget the first time I took her for a run with me around the Charles River in Boston. I ended up having to carry her half way around the river.

She witnessed our family grow as we created a family through both adoption and natural childbirth. She went from being the center of attention to one of the many needing attention. This dog was able to withstand three energetic boys literally climbing all over her, tugging at her ears and pulling her tail. She was a saint.

When I decided to place my law practice on hold to raise my family she wagged her tail in support. A few years later when I started my own business I was grateful for the flexibility it gave me to be home when my kids came home from school, and it also allowed me the ability to spend time with my sweet dog during the day while I was working. She was always close by. She reminded me (by needing to go out during the day) that taking breaks to stretch and breathe fresh air is an important piece of the work day. She taught me how to live in the moment.

She inspired posts about Tips for Choosing Healthy Dog Food, Natural Flea and Tick Prevention, and just cute photos of her. She was an inspiration both for my blog and in life.

So if I’m a little off over the next few days or weeks now you know why. She was my first baby. Please bear with me as I find a place for all of this. It’s going to take me some time.

Let me know if you have any tips to help with the grieving process. I’m learning very quickly that I’m not very good at this stuff.

What a green year it’s been! I kicked off last year with 3 words that helped define my goals and experiences for the coming year: honesty, present and learn. Looking back at the year progress was made, but my three words will continue to play a role in the new year. I have plenty more to do and learn.

Highlights from my Groovy Green Livin Year

Tide Petition

It turned out that Tide Free & Gentle® isn’t so gentle. A report released by Women’s Voices for Earth, Dirty Secrets: What’s Hiding in Your Cleaning Products? found high levels of the cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane in the detergent. 1,4-dioxane doesn’t appear on the product label or on the product website, so consumers have no way of knowing it’s even there.

I put together a petition asking Procter & Gamble (makers of Tide) to strip this harmful cancer-causing chemical out of Tide Free & Gentle®! Thanks to many of you the petition has over 78,000 signatures.

Appearance on ABC World News talking about BPA

A seemingly normal day turned into a crazy day. I was quoted in a wonderful article by Jack Kaskey in Bloomberg News about bisphenol A (BPA) and how mothers are impacting change even when regulators fail to act. I was then asked to appear on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer to talk about BPA. A camera crew showed up at my door smack in the middle of a radio interview with Mrs. Greens World. The ABC News clip was incredibly fun and hopefully sent a strong message.

National Stroller Brigade in DC

I traveled to Washington DC on a trip organized by Safe Chemicals Healthy Families. We gathered on Capitol Hill for a National Stroller Brigade to let Congress know that we demand the passage of Senator Frank Lautenberg’s Safe Chemicals Act. I also had a chance to catch up with some of my favorite green advocates, Shane from Environmental Booty, Diane from Big Green Purse, me, Micaela from Mindful Momma and Anne from Flour Sack Mama.

Go Green Get Fit Challenge

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you probably know that exercise is a big part of my life. I mix it up with a little yoga, running, cycling and going to the gym.  I  ramped it up a few years ago and trained for my first sprint triathlon in honor of a little boy in our town who lost his life to cancer. It’s been four years and the triathlon has become an annual event. This year I joined forces with a group of 25+ remarkable green bloggers in the Eco Mom Alliance’s Go Green Get Fit Challenge presented by Healthy Home Magazine.  We completed a 12 week health and wellness series where we all shared our ups and downs throughout the challenge. I even ventured into the world of video with my 3 Tips to Keep Fit.

How young is too young for Facebook?

I was quoted in the Los Angeles Times, sharing my opinion about Facebook allowing children under the age of 13 years old to use the social-networking site with parental supervision.

BlogHer in New York City with Stonyfield

This year I headed into one of my favorite places, New York City, to attend BlogHer.  BlogHer is the largest blogging conference and this year was a big crowd with over 5,000  bloggers, speakers, brands and others. After a few days filled with  laughter, sweat (incredibly hot and humid), reconnecting with old friends and making new BlogHer 2012  came to a close. The friendships formed at events like this are truly some of the greatest rewards of blogging.

Disney Petition and CBS  Boston

As many of you know,  television cameras came to my house yet again! This time they were from CBS Boston. I was very happy to see how the piece turned out. This time I was talking about another petition I started asking Disney to remove the toxic chemicals that were found in children’s vinyl back-to-school supplies including Disney lunch boxes. Thanks to many of you this petition has almost 60,000 signatures!

Phew! There you have my 2012 in a nutshell.

Now to you my loyal readers I can’t say thank you enough. You make writing, advocating  and continuing on worthwhile. Thank you.

Now let’s make 2013 even better!

photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopin cc

Had you asked me last week what I was planning to write about today my answer would have been very different than it is right now. There’s only one thing on my mind. After the horrible, senseless actions of one man everything aside from the lives lost feels very trivial.

I took the weekend off. No writing, no television, no news. Just time with my family.

I found myself looking at my kids differently after Friday, actually thinking what life would be without them. Unimaginable.

This morning I woke up and found myself starring for too long at a blank computer screen. I’m at a complete loss for words. Everything feels insignificant. Scheduling and planning no longer matter. Because of one man and many needless deaths I’ve changed and I know you have too. The world has changed.

We struggled all weekend with whether or not to tell our kids and with how much to share. I need a manual. I don’t know what to say or how to act. So many of your words helped me. Then I thought of the Newtown families. Telling isn’t a choice.

When the yellow school bus arrived to take my kids off to school I said my goodbyes as I do every day, but it didn’t feel the same. I resisted the urge to get in my car and escort each of my boys to their respective schools and watch them walk safely into their classrooms, now guarded by a police officer.

Trying to act normal isn’t cutting it. Returning to life as we know it isn’t possible. Maybe I need one more day, maybe two. The people of Newtown can’t hope for that.  Everyday will be a constant reminder that something unimaginable happened. My heart breaks for them.

To honor the memory of so many who needlessly lost their lives last week, I’m dedicating this day to them. No debates about gun control and mental health. There is a time and place for that. Today is a day only to honor those who are no longer with us and show peace and compassion to all. There’s only one way to go from here. We must continue to work together to make this world a safer place for our children and all children.

Please stand by. I’ll be back on track someday soon.

How are you coping? 

Barbara Meltz, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at Barefoot Books a few months ago, wrote an article in the Boston Globe which discusses how to talk with your children when they come home from school today. I found it very helpful, I hope you will too. 

Photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopin cc

For those of you who are registered voters please take the time on Tuesday to vote. Your vote will make a difference. 

When I launched this site few years ago I made a conscious decision not to take a political stance on my blog. I wanted this to be a safe space for all and have always welcomed differing opinions. If you know me well you know that I have very strong political views and share them freely and openly with friends, family and those who ask. But for the most part I’ve kept my political opinions out of this space and will continue to do so, although I have to tell you I’m having a very difficult time holding back during this election.

Big issues at stake

Many of the issues I have chosen to write about over the years have been what I consider nonpartisan issues-these issues cross party lines and I view them as more important than politics. Most of the issues that I cover have something in common- protecting our children and giving them a voice. Over the past year I’ve asked Procter & Gamble to remove a toxic chemical from their Tide Free & Gentle laundry detergent, I’ve marched in Washington DC to ask our Senators to vote in favor of the Safe Chemicals Act and I started a petition asking Disney to take harmful chemicals out of their princess and Spiderman lunch boxes marketed to children. I’ve written a lot about GMOs and our right to know what’s in our food. These issues are issues that I would hope all of us care about, regardless of political parties and party allegiances.  I’ve aligned myself with organizations that care about these issues. I’m a blogger for Moms Clean Air Force- an organization that is fighting for our kids health-all of our kids regardless of party preference. I’m a Parent Ambassador for Healthy Child Healthy World, an organization that ignites the movement that empowers parents to protect children from harmful chemicals. Through all of these channels it is my hope to give children a voice to be heard and protected.

Give Children a Voice. Vote.

This election I’m having a very hard time holding back. There are so many issues at stake that are near and dear to my heart and I’m frightened. Please don’t take your right to vote for granted. Take the time on Tuesday to head to the polls and exercise your voice and your right to vote in favor of those issues that matter most.  Think of it as using your voice to speak for those who can’t-whether it’s a child or someone who is unable to catch a ride to the polls. I’m voting on Tuesday for my children and all of yours. Won’t you join me?

I’m heading to the polls nice and early with all three of my boys. What’s your plan for Tuesday?

Please head on over to Big Green Purse to see why others are heading out to vote. 

photo credit: JosephGilbert.org via photopin cc

Micaela  (Mindful Momma), Anna  (Green Talk), me, Harriet (Climate Mama), Leigh  (Green 4 You), Katy (Non-Toxic Kids) and Brenna  (Almost All the Truth).

Bear with me please. I can’t stop writing about BlogHer 2012. Not because it was so extraordinary (it was) and not because there’s so much to say. The truth is I feel compelled to share all of my photos from BlogHer 2012 since I have a new camera and I can’t stop playing with it. So hang in there. This could very well be the last BlogHer 2012 post, then back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I already took you through day one at BlogHer with Stonyfield Organics and through my vegan findings in New York City, but there’s still more to share.

On Friday night I had a chance to meet-up with the some of the fabulous bloggers (I’m one of those bloggers!) and editors at Moms Clean Air Force.

Throughout this enormous conference (5,000 bloggers) I found ways to connect with new and old friends during smaller dinners and parties. Each of these meet-ups were by far the best part of the conference.

Lindsay, me, Julia, Heather, Sommer, Beth, Tiffany, Stephanie, Anna, Micaela, Katy and Janice (photo credit).

I even had a chance to meet my cousin Aviva for the first time. She blogs over at Old Mom Young Child-check her out!

The celebrity line-up at BlogHer didn’t disappoint. Clearly bloggers are a force to be reckoned with. Just look at who took time out of their busy schedules to speak to us. To kick off the conference, President Obama addressed the crowd and reminded us that “The Choice Women Face This Election Could Not Be Bigger”. Then came Martha Stewart (my camera was in my room).

And then Katie Couric rocked the crowd, promoting her new show: Katie. Katie is just as vivacious in real life as she is on television. She knows how to speak to her audience and was able to relate to all of us. Just adorable. And check out those pipes and legs (can’t see them in the photo, but trust me they were spectacular), which she attributes to spinning.

Next up Christy Turlington Burns (Every Mother Counts), Soledad O’Brien (Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond Foundation) and Malaak Compton-Rock (The Angel Rock Project) who were all inspirational and passionate about making the world a better place.

Soledad O’Brien is a remarkable woman.

Me, Soledad O’Brien, Katy Farber and Micaela Preston

There’s no question BlogHer is what you make it. There were pieces I loved and parts that I didn’t. That’s true with most things in life. Right now I’m planning to head to BlogHer 2013 in Chicago next year. I’m hoping to add on a little extra time to see my family in Wisconsin and my friends in Chicago.

If I didn’t see you at BlogHer this year I hope to find you at the next one!

The Stonyfield Gang (L to R) Chandra, Carrie, Kristina, me, Micaela from Mindful Momma

Whew. I just returned from a crazy fun weekend in New York City.  BlogHer 2012 has come to a close after much laughter, sweat (incredibly hot and humid), reconnecting with old friends and making new. BlogHer is the largest blogging conference and this year was a big crowd with over 5,000  bloggers, speakers, brands and others.

Getting to NY was a breeze. I took the Acela (high speed train) from Boston  for the first time and loved it. After a 3 1/2 hour ride with WiFi and a few of my Stonyfield friends I found myself in Penn Station. After  quick cab ride to the hotel I was ready to enjoy my weekend.

My first night in New York was spent at a small, intimate party hosted by Stonyfield Organics and Healthy Child Healthy World.  Micaela Preston from Mindful Momma and I were blogger ambassadors for the party. I had a chance to address the group and spoke a bit about how both organizations hold a place near and dear to my heart.  As some of you may know, I’m a Yo-Getter ambassador for Stonyfield and I’m a Parent Ambassador for Healthy Child Healthy World.

The party made a huge conference feel much more manageable by bringing together a small group of  active, green, like-minded and passionate people.

Photo: Lindsay Dahl (Safer Chemicals Healthy Families), Micaela Preston (Mindful Momma), Anna Hackman (Green Talk), Karen Lee (Eco Karen) and me

After the party a small group of us were treated to dinner at Chelsea’s Table - a new restaurant opened by Stonyfield founder Gary Hirshberg.

The chef brought out course after course of delicious food.

And that was only the first night……more details of my fabulous weekend in New York coming soon.

Big thank you to Stonyfield Organics for sponsoring my trip to BlogHer12. I also received a complementary pair of Neuaura Mulberry shoes from Compassion Couture Shop which kept my feet happy at BlogHer. All opinions and comments are my very own.