All Blog Posts (258)

She calls herself an “accidental star.” But from where I was sitting, listening to Paula Abdul tell her story of perseverance, tenacity and ridiculous willpower, her celebrity seemed anything but accidental to me.

Paula was the final celebrity to visit Des Moines for the 2013…

Calling her defensive wouldn't be fair, but you could tell as journalist Lara Logan broached the subject of her beauty Monday night at the SmartTalk event in Des Moines that she'd had to address it many times before. But just look at her... it's distracting, to say the least.

Her defensiveness (if that's…

Cleaning off my deck this weekend was awesome. I love playing in the dirt, getting ready for spring. My 6-year-old, on the other hand, has been super sad to see the snow go. Mainly because he developed a big-time love for winter sports. In fact, his first waking words this very morning were: Mom, can you buy me a snowboard?

So I thought I'd share this... it's gonna be huge for our family. Had you heard of this?!?

Skating rink to open at…

I knew I was coming to SmartTalk in Des Moines at the Civic Center on March 12, to hear a story about a woman who became the anointed King of an African village, but what I didn't know is what that story would mean for me. And of course, once again, I'm reminded that NOTHING teaches like story.

King Peggy came on stage with the pomp of her title, escorted in after her scribe Eleanor Herman introduced her. She was dressed in…

Spring break is just around the corner, and the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross is…

You've likely never heard of Joan Bluden. That's because moments before her very first "man on the street" TV news appearance, her boss and the producer at the local news station told her to go with "Joan Lunden." (He thought a reporter with the last name "Blunden" made it too easy for the competition to poke fun at the lady reporter's credibility).

This is just one of several fun facts I learned sitting in…

Every Family Rocks! Des Moines Family Music Festival is taking place this year on February 23rd at the Science Center of Iowa.  You can learn more about the event and enter to win tickets here:

http://confessionsofafrugalmind.blogspot.com/2013/02/win-tickets-to-every-family-rocks-des.html

The SmartTalk speakers for the upcoming season have just been announced today. This winter, Des Moines will be visited by the following five fascinating women: 

Doris Roberts (Ray's mom on "Everybody Loves…

Hallmark is sponsoring a 4-pack of tickets giveaway to Disney on Ice on November 24th.  You can enter to win here:

http://confessionsofafrugalmind.blogspot.com/2012/11/hallmark-recordable-storybook-review.html

Thanks!

Julia

Rule #542:  When you run out of clean underwear, please just bring your dirty clothes to the laundry room so I can wash them. That makes a lot more sense than wearing your swimsuit as underwear.

Rule #538:  5 Steps of Grieving for the Parents of Picky Eaters

1. Denial – This is no big deal.  It’s just a phase.  I’m sure…

I am excited to tell you about my new business, Homegrown Friends (www.homegrownfriends.com). 

Homegrown Friends is a playgroup matching service that connects parents and children ages 0-3 with others based on location, child’s age and parent’s personal preferences. Our goal at Homegrown Friends is to help parents and children find meaningful friendships while using our expertise in Early Childhood Education to create…

To celebrate summer, Delta Dental of Iowa is giving one of DesMoinesFamilies.com readers a $25 Hy-Vee gift card.

To enter the exclusive giveaway, you will need to enter Delta Dental of Iowa’s Sun, Sand and Smiles photo contest and let us know in the comments below by July 27. By entering, you will have an opportunity to win not only a $25 gift card, but also a larger prize through the photo contest (open to Iowa residents only).

How to enter the Sun, Sand and…

Rule #519:  You may not pierce your own ears.  Even if you do watch how-to videos on youtube first.

Rule #515:  Please do not lick the top of the pepper shaker at the restaurant.  

On schedule as the fourth of five speakers in the SmartTalk series, Army veteran Melissa Stockwell is set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Melissa is following fellow presenters Jane Goodall, Arianna Huffington, and most recently, Frances Mayes. The author of “Under the Tuscan Sun,” Frances kicked off her talk a few weeks ago by saying she felt right at home with a program called “SmartTalk,” as her…

In preparing for the next SmartTalk Women 2012 event with Frances Mayes, it came out that I have never seen the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun.” My book club really couldn’t believe it because apparently it’s also…

Fearlessness was the theme of Arianna Huffington's talk when she visited Des Moines last month. Although it’s been a few weeks since I sat in the Civic Center auditorium to listen to Ms. Huffington, many parts of her presentation have stuck with me.

She clarified early on that “fearlessness” did not mean having NO fear. It meant acting in spite of your fear. It’s a quality I’ve always admired in…

Rule #487:  Panty liners are not to be used as eye patches.

~Tiffany L.

Rule #482:  When I ask you to stop cleaning the sink with your toothbrush, please do not reply “I’m not; this is my brother’s toothbrush.”

~Amy S.…

Speaking to an auditorium of Des Moines women, famed anthropologist Jane Goodall described what it was like to wake into – rather than from – a dream.

It happened when she was 23. After arriving in Africa under cover of darkness and sleeping in the wilds under the stars, she woke to find that everything she had imagined for herself since the age of 11 was coming true that very morning. That “everything” was indeed to live in Africa and to study the animals living there –…

Rule #471:  You may not turn your baby brother’s exersaucer into an imitation of Disney’s Teacup ride.

~Meghann M.…