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Connecting the Dots

My Actual Writing Morning, 10 AM-1PM, Annotated.

By KJ / Thursday, September 22, 2016

Let’s just say not everything that happened this morning was strictly work. Probably especially not the Cheez-Its.

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You Know You Need Something New to Read

By KJ / Saturday, September 17, 2016

2 novels. 2 memoirs. 4 nonfiction. If you’re looking for a good read, look no further.

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Use It Up, Wear It Out: why we should quit saving stuff for later

By KJ / Thursday, September 15, 2016

So I bought these charcoal exfoliating wipes at Sephora. They’re really quite fantastic. One side cleans, and the other is all nubbly and exfoliating (thus the name). I’m delighted with them. I’m trying to fade a brown spot on the side of my face, and I think they will speed the process along. There is only one problem. I used one yesterday. And I used one tonight. And there are only 25 in the package. So there are only 23 […]

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Six Signs Your Parent Is Over-scheduled

By KJ / Monday, September 12, 2016

Look out, kids. Over-schedule your parents, and you might just find yesterday’s lunch trash in today’s lunch.

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Yeah, or I Could Wait Until They Come Home from School and Make Things Worse

By KJ / Friday, September 9, 2016

I know it’s hard for kids to transition from school. I know coming home to your lame family after a great trip with your friends is tough.  I swear I went into the pick up line excited to get everyone back for a beautiful afternoon. I was thinking swimming,  maybe ice cream I’m not entirely sure I can tell you exactly how it ended up with me declaring that maybe, if they were lucky, something–car accident, terrorist attack–would get their […]

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I Woke Up Grumpy, So I Dragged Everyone Else Down, Too.

By KJ / Friday, September 9, 2016

I know better, but I did it anyway.

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Hey, School, Can’t We Just Start Slow?

By KJ / Monday, August 29, 2016

For some kids, activities that start to early in a new school year are activities they’ll never be ready to join.

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The Mom Who Left the Planet

By KJ / Thursday, April 28, 2016

I’m listening to Samantha Ettus interview 5 women about work life balance, and Cady Coleman, astronaut, just said that one of her friends told her “look, this is who his mother is.”  They’re all saying they don’t go out at night, that mornings are chaos, that they don’t hide the kids. But that’s just the best line–“this is who their mom is.”  Other great lines–“I’ve made a life that works for me.” “You can’t listen to what other people think […]

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One Big Happy Conference

By KJ / Thursday, April 28, 2016

K Howdy from Mom 2.0. I’m listening to Julie Zhuo at Facebook talk to three women who started Facebook groups that grew like crazy (Jessie Lorenz, Tahemeem Shaik, Thorunn Magnisdottir), after walking through halls of women and media companies and brands. Overheard: “the people who really love what I’m doing have followed me there” “what are your goals for the conference?” “If we build it that way it will really attract a broad audience” and a hundred other comments from […]

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Book Give-away: “Catastrophic Happiness” and “Girls and Sex”

By KJ / Sunday, April 3, 2016

I’ve got a copy of “Catastrophic Happiness” by Catherine Newman and one of “Girls and Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape” to share. All you have to do is either sign up for my weekly email (if you haven’t already) or share this past week’s email (which is likely how you got here in the first place). Then tell me you did, and which book you’d like in the comments to this post, and we’ll use a random number generator […]

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Why We Should Schedule an Empty Schedule

By KJ / Friday, March 25, 2016

Just because the day looks empty certainly doesn’t mean it will be.

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Today’s Mantra: I Got This.

By KJ / Thursday, March 24, 2016

Rushed morning? Husband headed out of town? One child who overslept, missed barn chores and got fines? Another who never wants to go to school, and a third poking the seats of the first two in the car? Yeah, I got all that. But somehow, this morning, I let it wash over me. Made the iPad play through the car stereo (my phone won’t do that any more, thanks IOS update), sang along with the happier kids to the three […]

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Do This Now: Favorite Your Best Photos From Last Month

By KJ / Saturday, March 5, 2016

You know how, come December, you really want to make, say, a calendar for next year? This will help.

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Just a Fun Winter Picture

By KJ / Friday, March 4, 2016

Once, there was snow.

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Illustrating Motherlode

By KJ / Monday, July 7, 2014

An 8-year-old on an aimless Monday morning of summer break is a funny thing. Deprived of his easy weekend go-tos (wii, minecraft, TV) and not yet quite able to come up with alternatives (by weds we will be good, next Monday he’ll have forgotten again). We went for illustrating the day’s Motherlode post, with the result that you get not one, but two today. I told him the player was faking the foul. “No!” He said. “He’s really hurt.” There’s […]

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8 Things We Have Learned about Having a Pool

By KJ / Sunday, July 6, 2014

1. It’s an excellent way to acquire beach towels. 2. Ditto assorted children’s clothing and swimwear. 3. Bleach and Borax are cheaper than pool chemicals. 4. Apply before pool party, not after. 5. I don’t know where your goggles are. I don’t know where anyone’s goggles are. 6. Mmmm, pool water beats toilet water any day (that’s from our dogs). 7. Bacardi piña coladas are the way to go. 8. Am never leaving my house again. At least not this […]

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New office!

By KJ / Sunday, July 6, 2014

This is my new office. This is the view from my new office. Do note the boxes in the foreground, and the complete absence of a desktop computer, and the boxes in the background. Deal is, new desktop–when there is a top of the desk to be seen. Meanwhile, it’s a fresh office start for me! I’m unpacking.

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Favor Effectiveness over Efficiency

By KJ / Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Laura Vanderkam pointed me towards an article today that came at exactly the right time: Chasing Efficiency? You’re Wasting Your Time A few choice quotes: Nobody other than perhaps you really cares how efficient you are, but everyone cares how effective you are. Sometimes the least efficient thing can lead to the most productive outcome. A great example of this would be carving out time in your already too busy schedule to mentor someone in your organization. Clearly this endeavor […]

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Behind the Scenes at Motherlode: Sam’s Sugared Cranberries

By KJ / Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I refer to this recipe in a post on Wednesday, November 21, 2012–and I’m packing them up for the trip to Fairfax County/DC right now. Sam’s Sugared Cranberries 1 lb fresh cranberries, picked over 2 cups sugar 2 cups superfine sugar, for rolling Make simple syrup: combine 2 cups sugar with 2 cups boiling water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Let cool. (Let COOL. LET COOL. If you pour it over the cranberries now, they will burst.) Divide cranberries […]

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Clutter-free (almost) and Happier: Check

By KJ / Sunday, September 30, 2012

I didn’t want to have the toothpaste- crusted, sloppy house that i remembered visiting with dismay growing up. I wanted my mother’s pleasant, clutter- and toothpaste-stain free sanctuary.

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Full Cappelletti (or Ravioli) Recipe from Motherlode

By KJ / Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Full video and recipe for making my family’s not-so-secret cappelletti and ravioli.

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Go Shelf By Shelf and Snack By Snack: “Happier at Home” Week 2, in the Pantry

By KJ / Sunday, September 16, 2012

I cleaned my pantry. Less is more, and should the zombie apocalypse arrive, all that spaghettini will surely not save us. Bourbon, maybe, but that’s another cabinet.

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“Happier at Home:” Gretchen’s Project, KJ’s Clutter

By KJ / Sunday, September 9, 2012

Getting “happier” about my possessions means more than just clearing clutter—but I’m going to have to clear the clutter first.

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Actual Mail

By KJ / Sunday, June 24, 2012

Actual Mail Originally uploaded by kjda I am so happy, and feeling yanked back to childhood, because someone-as in Ayun Halliday– sent me a big fat fabulous envelope in the mail!!!

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Farewell, Mystery Twitter Dude (Plus, How to Have a Good Birthday Party)

By KJ / Sunday, June 10, 2012

My dad just alerted me to the fact that my Twitter widget was broadcasting someone else–I changed my handle, but not the widget code, a few weeks ago and apparently this is the inevitable result: whoops! He looked like he had a very interesting life and an entirely different twitter audience than me… Today was Lily’s actual birthday, and I’m proud to say that after last year’s, which could have been used as the MTV video for “It’s My Birthday […]

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Rory apparently got someone else’s fortune

By KJ / Friday, June 1, 2012

Rory apparently got someone else’s fortune Originally uploaded by kjda

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The Perils of Hangman With 7-Year-Olds

By KJ / Sunday, April 29, 2012

The Perils of Hangman With 7-Year-Olds Originally uploaded by kjda

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Boxes

By KJ / Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Boxes Originally uploaded by kjda The worrisome thing is that all I REMEMBER ordering from the Container Store are hangers.

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10 Things Guaranteed to Send You Into a Whirling Death Spiral of Depression

By KJ / Thursday, April 5, 2012

The old guys who sit in the bookstore once a week in the morning are much older than when I used to sit here and work. And some of them are gone. Filling Easter baskets for four children. Buying three small, cheap Easter toys is fun and cute. Buying 12 is a depressing commentary on our disposable society. Any report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. They do God’s work. Never been sure why God’s work is invariably such a […]

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All the Words Rory Can Spell

By KJ / Saturday, March 31, 2012

All the Words Rory Can Spell Originally uploaded by kjda

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Today, Three Years Ago, We Told the Other Kids About Rory.

By KJ / Sunday, March 25, 2012

How do I know? Because three years ago, to the week, if not the day, it was Sam’s “Wild Mites Jamboree” which is a hockey thing, and right before we went to the rink, we lined them up on our bed and produced pictures. They were beyond thrilled. We were happy. Our biggest problem was that we hadn’t printed enough pictures, because all three of them wanted to carry all the pictures around (and they did, too, until the day […]

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Of COURSE I Can Interview Anne Lamott i/f/o the Whole Times Newsroom

By KJ / Sunday, March 18, 2012

I’m beyond thrilled about the Motherlode Book Club reading Anne and Sam Lamott’s Some Assembly Required, and ditto for the opportunity to interview them both, for a short video to be posted on the Motherlode blog. I’ve always loved Anne Lamott’s work. This follow-up to Operating Instructions is fascinating: her son had a son. At nineteen. There are so many questions to ask them both about that that the mind boggles. (The mind also notes repeated use of that in […]

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Me and Malibu Pilates. And of Course, This Week at Motherlode

By KJ / Sunday, March 11, 2012

I got sucked in by an infomercial. I haven’t exercised in months. I had pneumonia last, um, August. And although that excuse obviously eventually became somewhat less than valid (I think even the most sympathetic of us would have to agree that I am probably all rested up now). you know, one thing led to another, I finished a draft of my book, auditioned for Motherlode, took the job…I was busy, ‘kay? But inspired by a variety of things: this […]

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Behind the Scenes at Motherlode, 3/4

By KJ / Sunday, March 4, 2012

Ah, Sunday. The week always looks so CLEAN on Sunday! SO much time! So much glorious room to fill in the blog, so many great guest posts that I will so easily get to… I probably shouldn’t hold my breath, time being the slippery beast it is… Tomorrow I’ll be posting about a really interesting survey about exactly that. I interviewed Kristin van Ogtrop (whose book I love) about an upcoming story of their about women and time, and it […]

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Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 1 of 4

By KJ / Monday, February 6, 2012

Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 1 Originally uploaded by kjda You know you want some. I just made TONS. My special gift to me. Recipe below. KJ

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Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 2 of 4

By KJ / Monday, February 6, 2012

Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 2 Originally uploaded by kjda The ingredients and the caloric markup: 1 box Crispix: 1330 calories 2/3 box Wheat Chex 1100 36 g fiber 2/3 box Multi-grain Chex ditto 1 bag Spelt Pretzels 840 calories 38 g fiber 2 bags scharfenberger bittersweet choco baking chunks 680 calories 11g fiber (1360 22) 1 bag scharfenberger semisweet baking chunks 770 calories 11 g fiber 2 squares 280 calories 8 g fiber Sea salt: caloric contribution […]

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Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 3 of 4

By KJ / Monday, February 6, 2012

Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 3 Originally uploaded by kjda One large bowl: filled twice to allow room to stir, with half of all the ingredients. Don’t stress over equal chocolate distribution, it all works out in the end. I spread parchment on the counter to spread the mix out on to cool and harden. Overnight is best, but that really depends on where your cat sleeps. So, why is this so good for me? Keep reading. KJ […]

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Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 4

By KJ / Monday, February 6, 2012

Delicious Nutritious Chocolate Cereal Pretzel Mix Part 4 Originally uploaded by kjda And, finally, the nutritious part. You must understand that one reason this is nutritious, and healthful, and a serious gift to myself, is simply that every night, right around this time, my stress wires fully fired, kids plowed into bed, evening of email ahead, determined to get a little down time, I sit down on the couch and plow whatever salty thing I can find it the cabinet […]

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Party Clothes New Hampshire Style

By KJ / Saturday, February 4, 2012

Party Clothes New Hampshire Style Originally uploaded by kjda We are invited to a fantastic progressive party tonight. A full meal cooked by some of the best cooks in town. They call it "Howl at the Moon."

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Old Enough to Do What I Want

By KJ / Sunday, January 29, 2012

And what I want to do, on this beautiful, sunny, glorious, relatively warm winter afternoon is… Not ski Not take-a-walk Not sled Not cross-country ski Not hike No, I want to stay inside, bake some cookies, and lounge around with a big pile of magazines and the Sunday Times, and I am DOING IT. I do feel a little guilty. Ridiculous, isn’t it? But I feel like I should “get out there.” “Just do it.” “Get outside!” “Take advantage.” I […]

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Cause That’s Just How We Roll

By KJ / Saturday, January 21, 2012

Cause That’s Just How We Roll Originally uploaded by kjda Yeah yeah yeah, they’re late.

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I Finally Feel Like a Real Writer

By KJ / Thursday, January 19, 2012

I Finally Feel Like a Real Writer Originally uploaded by kjda Although it’s a little hard to write. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone —

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Helping the Dentist Out

By KJ / Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Helping the Dentist Out Originally uploaded by kjda KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone —

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Fwd: Darn it

By KJ / Saturday, January 14, 2012

Fwd: Darn it Originally uploaded by kjda > > > > I forgot my skates…I will just have to sit in here and watch…with my iPad…weep for me. > > > > >

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Four Kids, No Tea

By KJ / Saturday, January 7, 2012

This afternoon Lily wanted tea. I didn’t really object to Lily having tea. I mean, it’s tea. What’s not to like? I’d even boiled the water. (For other purposes.) But if Lily has tea, Wyatt and Rory have to have tea too. And while Lily is kinda sorta capable of cleaning up the sugar she will spill, and putting the mug and spoon in the dishwwaher, Rory and Wyatt are less so. (Actually Rory is really good at the dishwasher. […]

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New Desk Ornament

By KJ / Tuesday, January 3, 2012

New Desk Ornament Originally uploaded by kjda

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Happy New Year!

By KJ / Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year! Originally uploaded by kjda Peace and tranquility. Temporary, but mighty precious. KJ Dell’Antonia sent from my iPhone —

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New Family Members

By KJ / Wednesday, December 28, 2011

New Family Members Originally uploaded by kjda The lady I got our kitten from assured me, a novice cat owner, that all kittens come with a free companion poodle. In retrospect I can see that this must not be true, but here we are. So far, it’s the calmest transition our house has ever seen… but then, we’ve been through some doozies.

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Vertibird!

By KJ / Sunday, December 25, 2011

Vertibird! Originally uploaded by kjda Thanks to the wonders of eBay, I was able to get my Dad the same Christmas present he got me 35 years ago.. Now if only his grandson will let him play with it.

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Three Unrelated Thoughts. And a Bonus Fourth.

By KJ / Sunday, December 11, 2011

1. I am now the proud possessor of about 1/2 lb of chestnuts, officially roasted over an open fire, by me and various kids. We ate some. Thoughts? If we reheat them in an oven, do we have to change the song? 2. I can now, finally, begin opening holiday cards–because I finally ordered ours. Yesterday. I find that the guilt about not mailing them comes later. 3. I bought Lily (7) the BEST PRESENT EVER. I love it when […]

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