Sandoval Family Blog

Quoted on monster.com about Working Moms

As founder of "Work It" - the working moms blog I run - I am occasionally contacted by a reporter for a quote on a topic related to working moms. I do feel strongly about how important a flexible workplace is for all workers - and particularly working moms.

I am quoted in an article on monster.com called "Technology for the Working Mom"  - and the reporter even used me as her lead. It's a side-blessing of the blog that I get to be an advocate for a flexible workplace and for the positives of working at home. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to work at home two days a week - it gives me the flexibility to get my job done with less stress, less time wasted on the commute and more time spent with Olivia.

My take on Oprah's "The Secret" show

I wrote a post for DotMoms on Oprah's recent "The Secret" shows. "The Secret" is purely good marketing, in my opinion, and not much more.

Am wondering if my post is going to stir up a mild controversy - as the first comment on the piece was how "The Secret" really is legitimately a secret. Ugh. Even Deepak Choprah dissed it on Bill Maher's show this week.

Here's an excerpt from the post:

"It was all good until I sat down one night to watch your show, which my DVR records faithfully each day while I slave away at the office. The show opened with an intriguing panel of people who claim to have The Secret to life. I must admit, I got a little nervous. After all, it was February, which means it was sweeps month and all of TV gets a little bit crazy during sweeps months (Meredith Grey even died for a moment on "Grey's Anatomy"! Crazy.)

...Oprah, my friend, this is so not a Secret. This is the basis for most religions. All self-help books. And a lot of "Dr. Phil" episodes. Remember him? The author's bio for "The Secret" even acknowledges that "the concepts could be found in almost every religion and field of human endeavor throughout history." Whether or not Ms. Bryne thinks it was a Secret, you, Oprah, must realize that it's not. At least half the "lightbulb moments" discussed on your show are based on this Secret...Just as I'm sure there were viewers reminded of the importance of the "power of positive thinking." Oh yeah, Oprah, that's what Norman Vincent Peale called it back in 1952 when he wrote his bestselling book on the very same subject."

Post up at "Work It"

I added a Valentine's Day post at "Work It" yesterday - excerpt below - click on the link to read the post. Was inspired by how much I used to hate the holiday and why it is now a favorite.

Reformed Valentine's Day hater

"I used to hate Valentine's Day.

"It's a Hallmark holiday," I'd say sarcastically. Truth is - I endured an ugly break-up on Valentine's Day about 10 years ago and I never completely recovered. (By the way, that "about ten years ago" part makes me suddenly feel alarmingly old.)...

As an adult, I've actually grown to enjoy Valentine's Day. I like sending cards to family and friends. I enjoy the pink and red folly - the candy in particular. And the older (and cheesier) I get, the more I see it as an opportunity...a celebration of love.

These days, Valentine's Day is squeezed in-between tax season craziness, and the demands of parenting a 4-year-old, but it's more fun than ever, thanks to Olivia."

Oprah's stay-at-home versus working moms show

We're having a good discussion of Oprah's Tuesday episode with Elizabeth Vargas that covered the working moms versus stay-at-home moms debate. (Some call it a war, I refuse.) It's a hot topic among bloggers this week. As one mom said on our blog - can't we get over the debate and move forward on dealing with the more important issues facing women today - uninsured families, lack of paid maternity leave, etc.

By the way - if any of you working moms wants to write over at Work It on a monthly basis - let me know!

Holiday Traditions at "Work It" blog

The "Work It" ladies are posting holiday tradition ideas this month, in addition to our usual lovely posts - check it out. (This is quite the selfish plug since I posted today about our family Saint Nicholas Day tradition!)

Angry, pyscho, parking-lot lady

I have a new post up at DotMoms today about a run-in I had with a woman at the post office a few weeks ago. Writing about it was the only way to get it out of my mind.

Transitions...

This blog (previously known as "The Hobby Blog") and our family blog (formerly located over at Blogger) often covered similar material. So I'm simplifying things by combining all future entries here.

So this blog gets a new name and will expand to focus on lots of things. And the other blog will be retired. (It'll remain there so we have it for reference!)

Apparently, I need another blog

I only have about, oh, let's see, five blogs/Web sites that I contribute to or manage. Why not another one? I decided I wanted a place to posts photos that was photo-posting friendly. This particular content management system makes adding photos and albums easy. I also wanted a place to document my hobbies - primarily photography and reading and maybe a little decorating here and there.

This could end up being a cool site or a pretty barren site. We shall see.