Today is NARAL’s Blog for Choice Day – a day to recognize the important fact that a woman should have a right to choose on issues regarding their reproductive rights. To know me is to know that I feel very strongly about this issue.

I’m very involved in NARAL Pro-Choice America. In fact, this year I’ve been selected to Co-Chair the Chicago Leadership Council – a great group consisting of NARAL national board members and local influencers in the Chicago community dedicated to keeping pro-choice candidates in office.

On this Blog for Choice Day, NARAL is asking bloggers to say what they are going to do to help elect pro-choice candidates in 2012? What am I going to do? Taking on this leadership role is one of the most important things I think I can do to help keep things stable in Washington. We’re in a decent place right now, and I hope this year we can continue the momentum to make sure women can keep on choosing what makes sense for them, their bodies and their families.

What will you do? I’d love to know and if you’re in Chicago (or anywhere else, for that matter), and you’d like to know more about NARAL, please feel free to comment here or send me an email.

I can’t believe that it has been a year since Caitlin and I formalized our company, 2 Moms Media. From a vision to reality, this year has been chock full of all cliches of owning your own business, ups, downs, screw-ups, successes and everything in between (including a huge grocery store delivery launch last week.)

What started with the opening of a local play space turned into a national consumer product launch at 1500 Target stores nationwide and everything else in between. What I’m saying is, well, it’s been quite a year. It’s been a blast, a challenge and stressful along the way, but I can say I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it and I couldn’t have done it without amazing support of my readers, my friends, and especially my family. Without the network, 2 Moms Media would just be another idea. So, thank you.

And, to kick off 2012, I’m going to be hosting a twitter party for Totsy on Friday, January 27 to chat about baby essentials. I’ll also be giving away $300 of my earned Totsy credits to one lucky twitter party participant during the chat, so I hope you’ll tune in… again, I can’t do it without you all!

While my friends and the prominent bloggers of the land write their great prose about what’s in store for mom bloggers in 2012, I thought I’d take the time and opportunity to predict what non- mom bloggers might expect this year. Because, as much as we’d all like to think that the world is surrounded by mom bloggers, and while the numbers continue to multiply every darn day, what for the moms who don’t vlog, blog, tweet or Klout? Aren’t they people too? Herewith, my 2012 predictions for moms, in general:

1) Moms everywhere will still have to contend with carpool lines. Even though we live in an age where I can turn off my lights remotely by my phone, school officials still cannot find a way for me to get my child in an efficient and less-of-a-time-suckage manner. Anyone at Apple want to build an app for that?

2) Target will continue to be a money pit for things we need and many we don’t. Moms will continue to stroll the aisles aiming to buy only diapers, but walk out with $150 of things they don’t need, including a really ugly flannel shirt that pilled after one wearing. (Who, me?)

3) Moms will continue to debate whether or not they should sleep-train, breastfeed, swaddle, buy organic, turn the car seat around, and generally listen to every piece of ass-vice from every parenting expert or self-proclaimed one.

4) After debating topics in 3), moms will continue to second-guess their choice.

5) Facebook will replace baby books.

6) No matter what they will tell you to the contrary, every mom in 2012 will somehow or another have six-degrees of separation with a “Real Housewife of [fill in the city here]. Those chicas multiply like crazy, I tell you.

7) Moms, in general, will never look like Heidi Klum post-partum after four kids.

8 ) I repeat, you will never look like Heidi Klum post-partum after four kids. It’s just not humanly possible.

9) Words With Friends will replace actual conversations with friends.

10) In 2012, moms everywhere will still be crying about their colicky baby, whining about their husbands, and lying to their friends about how they look after another night up with their newborn. They’ll also happily take that colicky baby off your hands for awhile so you can get a manicure. After all, moms know how another mom feels, right?

I guess, some things never change after all.

2 – 2 Moms Media was created. My little boy turned 2, my eldest lost 2 teeth.

0 – Number of times I cared about my Klout score, Google+ circles, # of Twitter followers, page views.

11 – Minutes spent in my car driving my eldest to school. One way. Times a day I said to my husband “am I crazy to start my own company?” Times a minute I spent thanking my lucky stars for all that I have.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!

Emily had a great idea for me whenever I get into a writer’s block here: that I should talk about what it’s been like starting a company as a mom, and as… well… just what it’s been like.

It’s a great idea. Every day I’m living and breathing the growth, success and viability of the company I co-founded with Caitlin, 2 Moms Media. What started on a whim has grown to my half of a full-time, flexible job with clients, conference calls, meetings, stress, fun, late nights, early mornings, and most of all, fulfillment.

Luckily, I have the financial backing of my husband to see if this little experiment in being a business owner works. Luckily, I have in Caitlin a terrific business partner and friend who I can’t imagine doing this without. Luckily, my kids have adjusted to my work schedule. I try to do most things during the day when my eldest is at school, and to not miss too many bedtime routines.

But, starting this little (very little) startup hasn’t been all easy peasy. There have been weeks where the mom guilt of years past has reared its ugly head or when I’ve served the kids mac and cheese for the fourth night in a row or I just really needed to take that conference call from the bleachers during the tennis lesson. I have made school pick up. I have missed school pick up and sent my son home exhausted with a friend to buy me another hour of work time.

There are times where I feel that I’m not doing enough for the business. Not enough networking, not enough meetings, not enough WORK.

Still, three years later, it’s the same issues, the same debate, the same feelings. Guess that’s because, at the core, not much has changed. I’m still the same person; I still believe you have to do what makes you happy with your career, your kids, your husband – to the extent that you can afford to and have the ability to do it. In my world, even in my back to part-time working world, motherhood will always be my job #1. Ok, after that last email gets sent in the carpool line.

Being in the blog world that I am, it’s not so uncommon that I would know folks who’ve published books. As hard as it is to get a book published, and, it’s HARD, I know it, there are so many talented women and men out there that I know who’ve made it happen.

Like my old blog friend Joanne, the unstoppable Pundit Mom, who’s taken some terrific guest blog posts from amazing women such as Veronica and Liz (and more) and turned it into a book called Mothers of Intention which discusses the influence of women in politics through social media. Love it. In fact, I’ve just purchased it myself. (Hint, hint, makes for good reading over that long holiday break coming up…)

Or Danielle, my new-ish blog friend, and dynamo, who’s not only an Extraordinary Mommy, but also author of the really smart new book, Mom, Incorporated, which is my new bible on how to keep up my new business. Seriously good tips, ladies, if you are thinking of going back to work after baby.

And my friend Melissa, who’s written THE book on what to do with your tweens and teens in the Chicago area. Pretty relevant for my little guys, as well. And you can’t beat the title – Chicken in the Car and the Car Won’t Go.

Have I also mentioned that my father writes books? He’s on medical murder mystery #3, or 4? This one is called The Police Surgeon, and, while I’m so proud of him, it’s still tough for me to read a novel where it’s basically my dad acting as an action hero. But, with a dedication in the front of the book to my boys, this one will be hard to pass up reading.

And, finally, my friend’s uncle just published a new book too, and I told her I’d help him spread the word. Consider it done, friend.

Don’t I have a lot of talented friends and family? This should keep y’all busy reading for awhile, I hope.

A friend of mine today commented how another friend’s blog post about how she’s gone back to work and is super-happy and it’s all working out made her question her own work-life situation. We’ve all talked about the mom work-life balancing act, and that’s not what I want or care to discuss here today.

What occurred to me from that conversation was, yes, there’s always the debate about should I work, stay home, stay home part time and work, work full time and outsource my childcare, yadda yadda, but it occurred to me now more than ever that while the debate persists, social media and its constant updates and posts, and tweets and life journaling exacerbates it. It exacerbates everything. It’s making already stressful situations more stressful.

I’ve suffered from social media stress-out, too. Like the lurking on Facebook to see about the friends who are at an event that passed on. Or reading twitter party stream feeds going on at night that I’m not a part of. Come, on, you’ve been there too. It was bad enough when I didn’t get the coveted bat mitzvah invitations in the mail when I was 13. But now? I’ve come to learn of the hundreds dozens of events and happenings and things going on that I’m just not a part of.

However stressed I’ve been in the present or past, I’ve recently decided (read: last week last 6 months), that I’m not going to let social media get the best of me. I didn’t get invited back then, and I don’t need to be included in all conversations, events, parties, get-togethers [name your activity] now. That I need to tune out the noise and tune into what is good for me. Which includes mandatory social media breaks. I might sound crazy, but it’s been proven that social media can make working-at-home-part-time moms teens depressed. Now, I’m not worried that my overusage of Facebook is going to be that problematic, but yet I’ve got to put some boundaries out there. Hey, she did it too for a bit.

I see those moms online, all the time, with many, many more kids than me and I look at them in awe. I don’t know how they handle the kids, the laundry, the driving all while being witty and friendly and up-to-speed on everything. Me? I’m pretty lucky if I can get the dry cleaning once a week. The efficiency of other moms online stresses me out too.

In order to avoid this 21st century ailment, I basically shut off twitter on the weekends. I use twitter mainly for work anyway, and since I’m trying really really hard to avoid working on the weekends, that makes sense. I’ve also decided to just read my Facebook notifications and messages once a day. Sometimes twice if the carpool line is really long.

More importantly, I’m learning 20+ years after the bat mitzvah stage (finally, right?) to Let. It. Go. Meaning, if someone’s going to go to a cool event but I’ve got another commitment/ am actually hanging with the kiddos/ couldn’t get a sitter then so be it. I can’t, and won’t, be able to do everything. I used to have that in me, but not now. Not with bedtime and carpool, and school stuff and oh, yeah, a husband.

There are are so many good and fun things going on in my life, that it’s okay by me to disconnect and live in the offline. Just as long as my iPhone reconnects when I feel like plugging back in again. Like later tonight tomorrow.

When I started this blog five years ago, in 2006, I had no clue I’d still be around today updating this site. I’ve had my ups and downs and love/ hate relationship with blogging, but yet, I still persist after all these years. And, I remain quite true to myself – look at my first post:

Well, here goes. My first post. I have no idea if time or desire will permit me to make this a good blog, but I will try. I’m trying to use this space to discuss issues and feelings about being a young working mom who has an eye on upward mobility while trying to stay stylish.  Hope you enjoy.

I’m still stylish! Yes!! While the point of my blog has varied from the working mom rants to the ill-advised turn to frugality. Only if frugality is internet stalking shopbop.com until things go on sale.

If I’ve learned anything from blogging for five years it’s this. It’s hard to be a blogger. And today, more than ever with the proliferation of the medium. I’ve never wanted to be a blogger to be a brand name; I’ve always done it for myself. But the world of blogging has changed so much in the last five years, it’s hard to contemplate.

Now, it seems that the majority of bloggers want some sort of compensation, product, promotion, cross-promotion, sales promotion, ad buy, SOMETHING in exchange for having a blog. People are starting blogs just to get free sh**. Now, there are folks out there who just like to write, or make friends, or, whatever, but as I’ve felt for the past few years at blogger get-togethers, I’m in the minority when I say that my blog is not “my business” and I don’t have any interest in creating a big “brand” with my blog.

I’ve also learned that blogging does good. More good than I think anyone could have imagined. Just look at The Motherhood. I remember bonding with Cooper years ago when we figured out we both had worked at Edelman. Now, her and Emily are jetting around the world, doing amazing deeds; and it all started with their blog.

Blogging has provided me with many dear friends and even a business partner. How could I ask for more than that after five years? For this reason alone, blogging has proven invaluable to me.

Having a blog has also provided me with opportunities to do things I normally wouldn’t do. Like meeting TV stars. I think I peaked in 2007. That’s ok.

Blogging has introduced me to new social media tools that have helped me learn and given me insight into the latest breaking trends. Like what Rachel Zoe deems as important fashion trends. Thank you, twitter.

Most of all, blogging has given me a great sense of self. It’s like having an alter ego personality somewhere somewhat anonymous, yet, searchable from every search engine now, where I can be myself (for the most part). And that’s why I keep going. I apparently like having a personal soap box from where I can perch and wax on about shoes.

Here’s to another five years. Any guesses if I’ll make it?

My dad always had a saying, “Once you’re in the stream, you’re golden.” Meaning, if you want to be networking and doing, and working, you have to get in the proverbial stream of fish, and go…

I’m obviously my father’s daughter. When I see a chance to jump in, if I can, I will. This weekend I jumped into She Streams, a conference leading women and brands into the future of social technology. I was asked to speak on a panel about finding success from your passions with the amazing Mojo Coach Debi Silber and the incredible Angela Santomero, also known as the creator of Blues Clues, Super Why, and the forthcoming new take on Mr. Rogers, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. And me.

Before our session, which concluded the break out sessions for the day, I attended yesterday’s terrific keynote speech from Build-A-Bear founder Maxine Clark and a good talk on branding with my new idol, Luxury Travel Mom and the go-getter Go Mom. Had a terrific post-lunch chat with the CEO of Macaroni Kid (boy is that woman smart!) and got great advice from Audrey McClelland and Maria Bailey herself about videocasting (it’s what we should all be doing, apparently.) And, I was labeled by one attendee of our session as “that marketing woman in the red blazer.” (It was in a good way.)

Me and my passion posse.

Mostly, I learned that it’s good to go out to conferences like this and see people and remember that you’re part of the school of fish.

Other key learnings from She Streams:

1) If you’re not doing video for your content, you’re missing the boat. What blogging was 3 years ago, video is now. So, if you feel like you are camera-savvy, hop on that train!

2) Bloggers want money. I don’t really know how to couch this any other way. The debates are ongoing, but the experts keep telling the bloggers – you are worth something, so ask for it. As I’ve said before on other blogs, I agree with this — to an extent. I don’t think every blog or blog post or tweet or what have you is worth the same amount of money. Sometimes I think product should be worth enough, if the product matches what you talk about on your site. But look for money to continue ruling the conversation between brands and bloggers in the days/ weeks/ months to come.

3) There’s no substitution for in-person or face-to-face communications. In my prior life I would coach corporate execs on this very thing – it’s important to see your employees in person every once in awhile. Same with my blogging and marketing co-horts. Best part of going to these conferences, again, is talking to people in the flesh. Much less snarky and more fun than on twitter.

4) Let’s remember to be supportive of each other. Too many times, I think we, as moms, worry about the backstabbing and the superiority factor. In my short talk, someone came up to me afterwards and thanked me for being honest that I have a lot of support to help do what I do and to make my career and beautiful life happen. She felt that we, as moms, sometimes put up the facade that we can “do it all.” I told her you’ll never get that from me – so let’s try to be as real as we can be…

As we all anxiously await the release of Missioni’s line for Target, we must remember that there is fashion life outside the big red dot. (Or, maybe I just have to keep reminding myself.)

Yes, Fall is my favorite fashion season, and while my son hasn’t even started Kindergarten yet, the stores and my brain are dreaming of pants and booties. And capes and leather.

And corduroys. I can’t wait until I can put these puppies on.

Red hot, right? Free People Super 70s Cord, $108

While I just got my toenails polished for these last warm days, I just can’t help but thinking about covering them up when the weather gets a teensy bit chillier. I love the tomboy look for Fall, especially with the modern take on the loafer.

This season’s newest flat is worth every penny. The Perfect Pennyloafer, Madewell, $168

Or, rev up your inner sexy secretary with some height. Mia Zolen, $59

As far as accessories go, I’m still all about finding the perfect cross-body bag. I need to be hands-free when I’m lugging around my 28 lb bundle of joy. Diaper bags are for the birds, or new moms, at this point.

I’m seriously coveting. this. bag. Tory Burch Shindo Burch Mini Flap Bag, $365

And let’s not forget how fabulous it is to cozy up in a good fall coat. This season I’ve invested in a basic, black zip-up leather jacket. I scored a great deal on one from Gilt Groupe, but since buying anything off of that site is like winning the lottery, I found some other good options for cheap on the randomest of all sites…

You have to be a member of Overstock.com to get this Members Only leather jacket for $150…

What are you buying for fall?