Winter nights can be a challenge.  We are anxiously awaiting the time change and some warmer weather, so we can get back to playing outside in the evenings.  In the meantime, we go to the mall.  A lot. Our typical routine: Carousel Rides ($1 each)   Letting the kids pound on computers in the Mac store (free)   Mini cones at the Ruby’s counter ($1 each)   If we are feeling particularly adventurous, we might stop by Sees Candy for some free samples, let . . .

Sometimes I envy those Amish. We are having a bad technology month.  I actually feel like we have a technology curse.  I am sort of hoping other people read this and say, “no, this stuff happens to me, too”.  Because I feel like the constant breaking/crashing/rebooting/ exclamation-point-within-a-triangle thing is just a big fat episode of me being punked.  Punked by technology. - We just cancelled our Uverse cable, because a) ATT is like an abusive boyfriend who I . . .

On Saturday mornings, India has ballet class. Its a rare time in the week when it's just the two of us. She likes to make sure I am watching her dance through the window of the studio.  She also insists that we eat at the Denny's across the street.  It is our little "date" - even if the location is canceling out any cultural strides she is making by taking ballet.  She likes the hot chocolate, and I like the company. . . .

My blog has been a little quiet this week – not because I have nothing to say, but because I’ve been busy watching Charlie Sheen interviews working on articles for a few other sites.  It’s been quite a week over at ShePosts.  I usually don’t do as much writing there, because as editor if I’m doing too much writing, I get distracted from the big-picture stuff.  But this week was just so jam-packed full of blogging news:  Bloggers at the Independent Spirit Awards!  Covert . . .

Hi, my name is Kristen, and I’m an email hoarder. This past year, my email issue has gone from a minor nuisance to a DEFCON 5 situation.  I have been trying to play catch-up for the better part of a year, and I can literally feel my blood pressure go up every time I open my inbox.  It has become a major source of stress and I think it’s time to take some drastic action. When I came home from Haiti after the earthquake, I had hundreds of new emails to sift through.  I never . . .

I flew home from Arkansas last night – I had an incredible time at the Idea Camp.  It was an amazing and comprehensive look at orphan care, and there were so many inspiring speakers, most of whom are running NGO’s that are doing amazing things to keep children from becoming orphaned in the first place, and then to serve the children who have been abandoned or who have lost their families.  A sobering statistics: less than 2% of orphaned children will be adopted. I am still unpacking . . .