MommyBlueprint Blog

If you have a classical music lover or want to introduce your child to classical music, check out Classical Kids Live.

These are live theatrical symphony concert shows about Mozart, Vivaldi, Handle, and Tchaikovsky.  The composer’s music is woven into a play that recreates historical incidents from the composer’s life.

Our son received tickets for Christmas to see Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage.  It was very entertaining  and my son loved it!  Classical Kids Live is on tour across the country and is suitable for kids 6 and up. Not coming to your town? The stories are also available on CD and some are available on DVD. Check out your local library and pick one up.

The bond between mother and child gets a lot of attention, but what about the ties between fathers and their children? Research out of Pennsylvania State University and the University of California has shown that father-child interactions are central to everything from a child’s ability to regulate emotionally to the capacity to maintain strong, fulfilling social relationships later in life. Click here to learn a few simple ways dads can get closer to their sons and daughters.

The Grand Prize – $50,000

Enter daily for a chance to win $50,000 in cash! You could win the cash to customize your very own ultimate man cave!

Yes those of us in the DC area are bracing for yet ANOTHER snowstorm. With predictions of historic snowfall and blizzard conditions, cancellations and closings have started before the first snowflake has fallen.

Like everyone else, I’m tracking the storm, trying to figure out my game plan for tomorrow. In the process I stumbled across the Capital Weather Gang’s blog on WashingtonPost.com and had to share the name that’s being voted on for the impending storm–Snowmageddon.  The big snowstorm we had in December was named Snowpocalypse! Today these names are LOL funny… check back on Saturday when we’re snowed in…at which point, probably not so much.

Yes, tonight is Thursday, which means must see TV! Nothing puts me in a good mood quite like a good laugh. You will be sure to get a good laugh too if you check out Parks and Recreation.

The episode airing tonight is titled SWEETUMS–The parks department partners with a local company to sell energy bars; Tom gets help moving out of his house.  You can also catch up on past episodes for free here.

One of the great things about being a parent is indulging in the interests of our children.  We often find ourselves learning everything there is to know about a particular subject because of our child’s quest for knowledge.

Case in point–I’ve not studied art since college, but in honor of my son’s love of art and Black History Month, we spent some time looking through The Other Side of Color. This book presents select pieces of African American Art from the Camille and Bill Cosby art collection.  We came across many beautiful pieces and learned about many artists.

Lois Mailou Jones was one.  This is one of her paintings. Lois Mailou Jones was born in 1905 in Boston and educated at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. According to her website,  in 1928, the course of her career changed drastically.  She was driving in Connecticut when saw her design in the window of an interior decorator’s shop. She decided to go in and introduce herself as the fabric designer. Instead of the welcome she expected, the owner said, “How could you have done that? You’re a colored girl.” At that moment, she realized she needed to produce art for which she would be recognized.

Lois applied for but was denied a teaching job at her Boston alma mater.  She went on to a long and distinguished career in art education at Howard University beginning in 1930.

In 1953, Lois married Louis Vergniaud Pierre-Noël, a talented Haitian graphic artist. They spent much time in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  This was reflected in Lois’ new use of bright colors and African themes.

During the last ten years of her life she made a name for herself, and many heads of state, among them President Bill Clinton and French president Jacques Chirac, met her and collected her work.

To see more of her work, follow this link.

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, an African American historian.

Visit the Census Bureau for facts and statistics about African Americans.

Why not celebrate Black History Month by checking out some children’s books from your local library that celebrate diversity.  Here’s a recommended list of titles from the Bank Street College of Education.

You’ll also find lots of ways to celebrate Black History Month with your kids at Education.com.

Win a trip for 2 to Aspen!  Click here to enter.

Over the past few decades, kitchens, spare bedrooms and backyard garages have been turned into offices. Why the renovations? An estimated five million women across the country have hired themselves as head honchos and launched their own home-based business. With many working moms out of a job and at-home moms eager to bring in extra income, the idea of being your own boss is becoming more attractive than ever.

The appeal is obvious: With no commute and no employer dictating your workday, you can pursue your passion, bring in bucks and still keep a foothold on the home front. It’s just that these days, you’ve got to be a bit more flexible and strategic in choosing the business you launch.  So how do you figure out what’s right for the times? And how do you get started on a business and make it blossom?  Click here, to read our new article that will put you on your way to starting a home based business for yourself!

Feeling overwhelmed by the piles of junk mail, the scattered shoes and the cluttered countertops? Use what you already have to contain your everyday stuff. To learn how, read Straighten Up in An Instant