Work It: a blog for Working Moms

Author Interview: Wendy Walker of "Four Wives"

by Amy S.

I love a good summer read and I highly recommend Wendy Walker's Four Wives - and not just because I got to interview Wendy Walker and get the scoop on what transformed her into a writer. Four Wives is an intimate look at the choices of four highly-educated women. Now living in suburbia, they are the picture of perfection - until they confront their varied personal struggles.

The sometimes painfully close-to-home prose is quick-paced and witty - there is more here than you might suspect. And I don't think any female reader will be able to read the book without wondering if Walker is also a mind-reader. If you've been married, given birth, held down a job while raising a family, stayed-home while raising a family - or generally lived as a female in today's world, you'll find yourself in this book.

I conducted an email interview with Wendy Walker to find out more about how she made these characters come alive...from the back of her minivan!

Amy - Tell us a little about your life.

Wendy - I grew up in the midst of growing affluence. My parents were the children of immigrants and they worked their way up the economic ranks through hard work, and without formal educations. As a young girl, I set my sights on becoming an Olympic figure skater and trained competitively for ten years, three of which were spent at a training facility in Colorado. When I made the difficult decision to quit, I focused on my studies, intent on becoming an investment banker like my father.

I attended Brown University and after graduation landed a job at Goldman, Sachs & Co. as a banker in Mergers & Acquisitions. But that job never felt quite right to me, mostly because I did not have a passion for it, and also because it was very clear to me that to do that job and one day have a family, I would have to find not just a husband, but a wife as well! It is a grueling life. I went next to law school at Georgetown and then worked as a corporate litigator to help pay off my student loans until I got married and decided to have children.

It was not a difficult decision to quit work to stay home with my baby, but I soon grew restless. This is a very common dilemma for “housewives” and mothers who stay home – the desire to be with your children, but also the gaping hole that is left when you give up the part of yourself that existed in the outside world. It was at this point I decided to start writing to fill that hole and also to forge a career that would fit in with the role I had chosen as a mother. I am grateful that this dream came to fruition!

Amy - One of the things I love about your story as a writer is that you wrote much of the book from the back of your minivan in-between ferrying your three sons to school, soccer practice, etc. What was it that triggered you to begin writing during that time? Did you set out to write a book or did that goal come later?

(Read more by clicking on the link below.)

When it's time for a change

by Amy S.

Several years ago, I bought my first digital SLR camera. I took so many photographs of my daughter that she flat-out refused to have her photo taken for a year. I began taking photos of other people's children and soon bought a newer dSLR camera. I stayed up late at night - late at night - studying photography, looking at other photographer's sites, studying the manual that came with my camera. And early last year, I decided to make it official. I began offering photography sessions to friends and friends of friends.

Then I launched a Web site. And somewhere along the way, I became a photographer. Believe me, it's odd calling myself a photographer, but I think it's officially true. I pay taxes, have a business license and do photo shoots nearly every weekend. Oh, and I bought yet a newer camera!

Most of my "free" time these days is spent on the photography business. I love every minute of it. It is the creative release I need from my day job, which isn't honestly that creative anymore. (I still like my day job and continue to work full time as I build the photography business. The goal isn't to quit one for the other, but find the right balance for both. They are equally a part of my life.)

The long and the short of it is that my time as the Editor of Work It has been squeezed tightly - and is now non-existent. I started this site a few years ago because there were very few places for working moms to be heard online. Now there are many other sites for working moms - and yet our traffic continues to grow steadily - an important clue to how powerful and meaningful the working mom community is online.

I am lucky to have a friend who has been instrumental in keeping this site afloat for the past year as I kept all the other balls in the air. And I am thrilled that she has agreed to take the site and run with it as I free myself up to focus my energy on the photography business.

Thank you, Laura, for being the new, improved, energetic and passionate Editor here at Work It. I know the site will get the fresh eyes it needs and lots of love and TLC. And I look forward to continuing on as a writer here and as an advocate for working moms. Thank you, too, to all the writers who have graced us with their first-hand accounts of life as a working mom. I look forward to seeing this site grow and thrive.

Product Review: Ocean Spray Cranergy™

by Amy S.

I love trying new drinks. And I'm a fan of cranberry. This is a good start for trying out the new Ocean Spray Cranenergy™ drink. Cranergy™ is made from cranberry juice, enhanced with natural energizers like green tea extract and B vitamins. Both cranberry juice and green tea extract contain high levels of antioxidants.

I loved the taste - particularly the Raspberry Cranberry Lift flavor. It's a great option for an on-the-go morning, particularly because it's lower in calories than a sticky sweet coffee drink. Made with Splenda® brand sweetener, Cranergy™ has only 35 calories per eight-ounce serving.

It's a healthier alternative, but I can't say for sure that it gave me much of an energy hit. Keep in mind, I am used to drinking at least two caffeinated drinks a day - so I'm no rooky in that department. So maybe I wouldn't make this my first choice for an afternoon energy burst - but I would enjoy it guilt-free anytime of the day because it tastes good - and a little green tea and B vitamins probably never hurt anyone!

Product Review: SimplyMobile Mom

by Amy S.

Cell phones are the lifeline of the working mom. We may not use our cell phones to send videos of dancing cats (like my 21-year-old niece sent me last week), but we use they for practically everything else. So when I got word of a free new program designed to send just about anything from my desktop to my cell phone - I was on it.

SimplyMobile Mom is software you install on a personal computer that lets you easily send content to your phone. (You can also share content with others by adding them to your network.) The premise is simple - take lists, to-dos, photos, even blogs with you by adding them to your SimplyMobile Mom software on your desktop and then "sending" the items to your phone. Most of the interface involves SMS texting, so a good text plan is a must. I still pay by the text message, so I didn't want a ton of text notifications.  Although you don't have to use the text version - there's a web version for those with smart phones - it seems pretty important to have a good text plan, because even the web version relies on texts to send the web links to your phone.

There are lots of good ways to use this service - an on-the-go grocery list you can update from home or work and have sent to your phone, connect to your email account, send photos to your phone and lots more. It's a great way to make a basic cell phone "act" more like a smart phone.

For those with a smart phone it may provide an easier way to "sync" content from computer to phone. As a smart phone user, I really like the idea because it would allow me to share content across multiple computers without having to use Active Sync. But based on the few hours I spent with the software, I'm not sure it can really "take the place" of syncing data. It can definitely enhance it.

The set-up is pretty easy - the program is downloaded to a PC and several text messages sent to your cell phone. The interface isn't quite as friendly as I'd hoped - I consider myself to be pretty tech-savvy but still had to watch several online tutorials on how to use the service. In addition, keep in mind that this software is still in Beta testing - so it's not without its quirks. For one thing, the grammar snob in me noticed a few typos along the way! It also bugs me that when you're in the program, it can "disappear" when you're using it and you have to double-click it again to make it "reappear" for use.

Now is a great time to register with SimplyMobile Mom - they're offering a contest for all who register with the site to win an 8gb Apple iPhone and 2-years of service from AT&T. The contest ends May 19th.

Product Review: It's a bird, It's a plane...no, it's a toothbrush!

by Amy S.

I'm practically putting my dentist's children through college. My teeth? Not so great. Don't worry, I do not have a mouth full of yucky. But it's only because I live in the dental chair. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. It runs in the family. My husband, who has the very same dental hygiene routine I have, has not once had a cavity.

And so, when someone contacted me and said, "Would you like to review a very nice toothbrush?" - I quickly took them up on their offer. Little did I know that I was about to receive what feels like the Cadillac of toothbrushing devices.

You know you're on to a cool toothbrush when the press release says it's the result of studies in an applied-physics lab. The Ultreo is the first power toothbrush to combine patented ultrasound waveguide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action. In other words: it creates an intense scrubbing action by making very tiny bubbles that move rapidly in your mouth. As they expand and contract, they are able to remove plaque bacteria.

From the first use, I definitely could tell by using the ultra-scientific "tongue test" (you know, the one where you run your tongue over your teeth to see if they feel clean) that my teeth were getting very clean. And I swear, I think they stay clean longer. The other reason they were getting cleaned so well? The smart 2-minute timer on the Ultreo - you have no idea how long 2 minutes is until you've brushed your teeth for two. whole. minutes. It also includes a 30-second brushing "signal" that's supposed to help you cover all four quadrants of your mouth in those 2 minutes. The nice lady I spoke to on the phone about the toothbrush assured me that 95% of the plaque is removed within the first minute, so I don't feel quite as bad when I don't get through the whole 2 minutes.

The press kit contains a 6-page spread on studies that have been done with the Ultreo, and the outcomes are impressive:

• Naturally whiter teeth in 14 days (yes, I've noticed this to some degree)
• Clinically proven to reduce gingivitis in just 30 days
• Removes 95% of plaque from hard-to-reach areas in the first minute of brushing

There's lots more to talk about on the impressive outcomes side, but let's talk bells and whistles for a moment. This toothbrush is a nice addition to your ultra-modern (or in my case, not so modern, covered in the previous owner's floral wallpaper) bathroom. Its sleek design and light weight also make it surprisingly easy to throw in the ol' suitcase. And get this, the charge lasts up to two weeks with two 2-minute brushings a day, so you won't need to worry about traveling with the AC adapter or charging base. (Ladies, take it from me, this is also handy if you already have your curling iron/flat iron/blow dryer already taking up those precious bathroom plugs - you only have to plug in the toothbrush once every couple of weeks.)

I saw my dentist last week and told him about my exciting new friend. He made me promise to bring it to my next appointment so he can see it! And he assured me that there's nothing better out there for brushing than ultrasonic toothbrushes.

Final verdict? After two weeks of use, I really feel like the toothbrush is making a difference. Will it save the world? No. Will it hopefully save me a few hundred more dollars in dental visits - probably - just the reduction in gingivitis alone is important. It's not cheap - suggested retail is $170 - but it's an investment in better oral health. And for those of us with the not-so-great teeth? Probably totally worth it.

An Ultreo was provided for the purposes of this review (and for me to keep, no one wants a used toothbrush!). The Ultreo retails for around $170 and is available in some dental offices and of course, on amazon.com (Is there anything they don't sell?!)

Overheard: Why Working Dads Don't Need Support Groups

by Amy S.

An interesting quick look by Wall Street Journal writer John J. Edwards III at how working men define "support." As is often the case, the comments from dads - and moms - makes for the most interesting reading.

• "Why Working Dads Don't Need Support Groups"

Things I love...

by Amy S.

Another "Things I Love" update - I love sharing these because they are things I run into in my every-day life that make it better, more fun and sometimes, even more productive. These two items are all about ME - and, believe it or not, downtime. Yes, I do occasionally listen to something other than Miley Cyrus. And yes, I occasionally read something other than Don't Let the Pidgeon Stay Up Late.

The Afters, "Never Going Back to Okay" album - I first found them thanks to an episode of "The Hills" (I know, I know) and their new album just came out. What do the kids call albums these days, anyway? With a sweet acoustic version of their own "Beautiful Love" and lots of other catchy and sappy melodies, they are family-friendly and talented.

The Secret Between Us, by Barbara Delinksy - Sometimes you need a quick, comfortable but intriguing read. This is one of those. Delinsky takes an intimate look at a mother/daughter relationship, an ex-husband/wife relationship, a sibling relationship and a father/daughter relationship with quick and smart prose. The additional twist of "the big secret" is hard to swallow at times, but the exploration of familial expectations is familiar and revealing at the same time.

Hannah Montana made me cry

by Amy S.

You wouldn't have caught me at the first week opening of the Hannah Montana Best of Both Worlds Concert movie. But since it's been playing now for weeks (so much for that one-week run, eh?), I decided to take my 5-year-old daughter to it recently. She's a little young and doesn't actually watch the TV show much, but I figured she'd enjoy it. And hey, it's in 3D. And yes, maybe I was a little excited about it, too. I'm a pop-music junky.

The truth is, it was really cool. The little girls in the audience (which was small and tame, just my type of audience) kept reaching their hands out to "touch things" for the first few minutes of the movie - the 3D effect definitely added a lot. (And the glasses were much cooler than the old red/blue things we used to have to wear.) A girl behind us who looked to be around seven or eight knew every lyric and sang along the whole time in a very sweet girly voice.

My daughter was most excited about the songs she knew - which were about two of them - but she enjoyed the whole movie. At about an hour long, it's just right - although I hate to say it, she was fading during the two Jonas Brothers songs. She was right back in it again when Miley showed up. I actually got teary-eyed several times. I know my daughter is about to hit that age where she will worship the ground older girls walk on. It's already happening. And it was nice to sit with her, dance with her and share an appreciation for this performer, who does seem to make a point of keeping things real and age-appropriate.

Heard around the blogosphere

by Amy S.

Just a couple of interesting things I've seen recently online:

Let's Kill Bad PowerPoint Presentations:
Can I get an "AMEN!" I like checking in on the Monster Blog for this very type of post - current and usable details for the workplace. I work in the land of PowerPoint Presentations are Cool and this article should be a must-read for anyone still suffering through or creating over-the-top presentations.

Work at home + High-Pressure Career:
Time's Lisa Takeuchi Cullen writes about a married couple who are combating - succesfully - the pressures of a duel-high-pressure-career family life by working at home. My favorite quote, "And more and more of us—childed and childless alike—are realizing that quality of life is greatly enhanced by losing the 9-to-5 office shackles."

Product Review: NEAT Receipts Scanner & Software

by Amy S.

NEAT Receipts Scanner & Software: Retails for about $229

The giveaway is over - thank you for entering! Congratulations to Amy and Megan - they each won a NEAT Receipts Scanner and software.

Since my husband is an accountant, tax season in our household means it's the "busy season." Tax season in most households means it's time to buckle down and figure out where those receipts went. Enter the handy NEAT Receipts scanner.

The NEAT Receipts scanner turns paper receipts, business cards and documents into digital spreadsheets. The scanner is particularly helpful during tax season because it is completely compatible with Turbo Tax, allowing you to export your deduction information right into the program. Information captured from your receipts can be formatted into Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook vCard or PDF format. When you’re finished entering receipts, NEAT Receipts will do summary reports by tax form then package them up for import into Turbo Tax.

The whole tax preparation process is simplified and streamlined—especially because the IRS accepts scanned images of receipts. And with all of your receipts accounted for, you can maximize your tax deductions. Also, once you scan your receipts, you can easily create spreadsheets to better manage your expenses and create permanent, electronic records of where your money is going. NEAT Receipts recently released version 3.0, which is updated with the 2007 IRS Tax Categories. Although the scanner is small and doesn't take paper larger than 8.5 by 14, it can certainly be used for other scanning purposes as well.

The company also makes a NEAT business card scanner that will allow you to scan business card contact info directly into contact lists, such as Outlook. The NEAT Receipts scanner/software retails for around $229 (I saw it for quite a bit less this weekend at Costco) and the NEAT business card scanner retails for around $200.