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Angelina's Jolie - Always a Revelation

Kik — Tue, 14 May 2013 23:02:37 EST

The first time I met Angelina Jolie she walked over and introduced herself to me. Okay okay, I’ve only met her once, and I was covering the reception desk – so it was more like announcing herself to my bosses, but still – almost 2 decades later I remember that moment. It was around 1996/1997 and I was working as an agent’s assistant at the William Morris Agency. Being a female assistant I was sometimes called on to cover the reception desk (believe me the boys were never made to do that). Numerous famous people walked into that lobby, but there are only two that I remember speaking to. Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman (I actually wasn't coherent for Mr. Freeman because his magnetism actually drove all of the oxygen out of the room, leaving me breathless - but that's another story).

Angelina had just finished filming Gia for HBO. It had not aired yet, and I had no idea that she was going to be a star. I’

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Angelina's Jolie - Always a Revelation

Its a Google World and Were Just Living In It

Kik — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:40:54 EST

This Saturday Sophie and I played a really fun game. We were driving and she asked me a question. I wish I could remember what it was about. As we were driving we decided to “Google it”. And then I explained to her what life was like before Google. You know, back when:

- You had to go to the library to write a paper for school. You couldn’t even take the books out because reference books could not leave the library, and you had to sit there and take notes on things and then hope you were accurate when you got home.

- If you wanted to drive somewhere that was unfamiliar you needed to look it up on a map first.

- Every car had a map in it.

- Making travel reservations required a good travel agent, or a lot of research in travel magazines. Fodors was the best way to figure out what you might want to see.

So we spent the rest of the da

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Its a Google World and Were Just Living In It

I Love the Spring

Kik — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:44:46 EST

Spring is here!!! Its official. The season of soccer games, street fairs, long walks outside and ice cream treats.....

What is your favorite way to celebrate Spring?

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families I Love the Spring

The Importance of Awareness

Kik — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:34:03 EST

Awareness.

It is such a simple concept that it is often too easily dismissed when, in fact, the difference, in peoples' treatment and reactions to autistic children and adults has (in my observation) changed dramatically in my lifetime simply because of the campaign for awareness.

I often think back to when I was in grammar school in the 1970’s. (ancient times - I know)

There was one boy in particular in my grade who I am now (in retrospect) fairly certain was somewhere on the spectrum of autism. But nobody knew that then. (maybe they did, but I don't remember anyone saying anything more than "just leave him alone because he's diffe

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families The Importance of Awareness

Hiking! The perfect family outing

Kik — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:16:06 EST

Sometimes, things just come together and you wind up having the perfect day. Sunday was like that as Sophie and I discovered that less than a mile down the road from where we have lived for the past two years, is an enormous reservation with fantastic hiking, walking, and biking trails.

If you are ever trying to figure out something to do in NJ (especially something that is free!) I suggest a lovely hike in the reservation.

To keep the kids busy we gave them a simple list of things to find.

2 squirrels
5 butterflies
A hawk
A bird of their choice

Joining us on our adventure were our family friends. The kids had a great adventure climbing up a mountain, finding a dog park (with a cool statue), getting lost in a "magical" meadow, and looking out at a fantastic view that included the Manhattan skyline.

Hiking! The perfect family outing

Teenage Obsessions: The Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich

HatchedIt HatchedIt — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:25:44 EST

Sophie has grown almost 3 inches since September!!

In order to fuel all of this growth her eating habits are constantly changing. I find the whole thing fascinating.

When I was pregnant I really began to believe that your body craves certain foods at certain times because it wants them for something. There were times when I was pregnant that I needed to eat a hamburger every day. I probably put away 5 lbs of red meat a week for a month or two there.

There were other times when I needed milkshakes. I mean that. I NEEDED them. Full on obsession.

And there were times that i craved orange juice.

Each of these things are very different in taste, and what they give to the body. So, the humanologist in me likes to believe that the cravings were driven because I needed some specific nutrient that they offered.

Sophie's cravings lately? Peanut Butter and Jelly.

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Teenage Obsessions: The Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich

Favorite Blogs

HatchedIt HatchedIt — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 11:04:30 EST

I cannot cook to save my life. (you can ask Sophie Bischoff).

BUT I do have some pretty mean baking skillz.

This is one of my favorite blogs to follow. Mainly because although I am a badass baker - you need a blindfold to truly enjoy my creations. Trust me - taste is my forte - NOT presentation.

But these confections always look adorably delicious. So glad to see their is a stream to follow again - I'm adding Co Co Cake Cupcakes back to my Hatchedit.com BlogRoll!

Favorite Blogs

Celebrate Spring with Great Books for Kids!

HatchedIt HatchedIt — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:50:34 EST

Yes, I know if you live in the Northeast it is hard to believe that Spring is here. Eventually Mother Nature will catch up to the words on our calendars that say SPRING!

This is a good time of year to read some good books to your child that have

Spring related concepts.

Excellent Spring Book to read with 2-4 year olds

A cute story about planting for the very young (2-4) is called Growing A Garden by Lois Ehlert. The story is about Mom and her child who plant a garden of plants in an array of colors. It

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Celebrate Spring with Great Books for Kids!

How can Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears Can Manage Changing/Growing Families

Kik — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:50:00 EST

Alright – so I was reading all of the gossip news, and saw that Britney Spears’ younger sister (formerly of the Nickelodeon Show – Zoey 101) had gotten engaged. Being slightly OBSESSED with pop culture, I know that this event happens only mere weeks after Britney announcing the dissolution of her own engagement.

But that’s okay – Brit has moved on!

And then I started to think – for two girls, on the move, trying to maintain busy careers, busy social lives, and coordinating the lives of three kids (between them)…well – Hatchedit.com would be the perfect

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families How can Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears Can Manage Changing/Growing Families

NYU Entrepreneurship Festival

Kik — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 23:04:43 EST

This Friday and Saturday Sophie and I attended the NYU Entrepreneuship Festival. It was the 2nd year that NYU held the festival and the 2nd year we went. This year Sophie (age 13) went to both days of the conference and we had an amazing time. It was so awesome to share the experience with her.

On Friday she got to see a day of interesting interviews capped by a live interview with Jack Dorsey, Co-Founder of Twitter.

The best moment of the day? When I used my Twitter Skills (read more about Tweeting a conference here:

Twitter Tutorial: How to Tweet A Conference - it's great advice
You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families NYU Entrepreneurship Festival

Small Talk Big Topics 2013 - 1

Kik — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:55:14 EST

Lots happened this week. Here are a few cool things that I found.

The Academy Awards Red Carpet just got so adorable:

SEE MORE HERE and HERE

The whole internet may have been down on Annie Hathaway - but here in Millburn NJ we still love her!

And the Oscar for best hair was a tie....

The Most Romantic Declaration of Love

Kik — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:04:21 EST

One of the most talked about moments during this year's Academy Awards Ceremony happened during Ben Affleck's acceptance speech as he and George Clooney and Grant Heslov received the Award for Best Picture - as the producers of Argo.

When thanking his wife, Jennifer Garner, he said:

I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It’s good, it is work, but it’s the best kind of work, and there’s no one I’d rather work with.

The speech inspired numerous blog posts and Tweets and Facebook comments. I was actually suprised at how many people thought that the quote itself meant somehow that Ben and Jen

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families The Most Romantic Declaration of Love

New York Fashion Week Entertainment for a Snowy Day

Kik — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:27:32 EST

Alright – it’s Sunday. We all had our fun on Saturday – shoveling and sledding. But now today its all turning to mush, and tomorrow it will be dirty mush, and we’ll be trekking through it on our way to work. YUCK.

So what to entertain you on this Snowy Sunday?

Well, the Grammy’s are on tonight. You could watch those.

But you could also do what I am doing.

Flipping through the pictures from New York Fashion Week.

Trying to figure out which dresses will be the ones that we will see at the Oscars (and on who). And what dresses will influence the fashion that mere mortals such as you and I will be wearing in 6-9 months.

Snow didn’t get in the way of the shows like Jason Wu

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families New York Fashion Week Entertainment for a Snowy Day

Internet Security Newest Social App is NOT yet child friendly

Kik — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:27:25 EST

This week Twitter rolled out the app VINE. Its really slick looking. In fact its actually really cool to use. Which is why I am sure it will be CATNIP for our tweens and teens.

The concept of the site? It allows you to share 6 seconds of video. Some of the videos are really fun, artistic, and playful. It takes a lot of creativity to make 6 seconds of video speak to someone. Scrolling through the feed that the editors put up is really fascinating. There are some incredibly creative people in this world.

Unfortunately there are also some people that think 6 seconds of video is great for porn. And they have posted it on the site. As with most open, social networks – Vine has built the platform, and expects users to populate it. Those users include everyone from creative geniuses to porn

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Internet Security Newest Social App is NOT yet child friendly

Public Speaking and NAPO (I hate public speaking!)

Kik — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 23:36:04 EST

Sister Marlene would NOT be happy with me today.

She would not be happy because she very adeptly gave is me all of the necessary tools for public speaking in the eleventh grade. And yet every time I have to speak in front of people –whether it is 5 people or 50 people – I choke.

Mind you – I can WRITE a heck of a speech. I can even read a speech in front of people. I am the queen of eulogies (not a title I really enjoy). But when it comes to commanding an audience – all of my confidence goes out the door.

And I’m a pretty confident person most of the time.

I also am the child of great public speakers. And my business partner has public speaking skills that literally leave me in awe every damned time she has to get up in front of an audience.

But just like she steps in and takes care of business responsibi

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Public Speaking and NAPO (I hate public speaking!)

One Today - By Richard Blanco

Kik — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:17:50 EST

Below the Full text of the poem ONE TODAY, by Richard Blanco.

Delivered at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 13, 2013.

One Today

One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores,

peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces

of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth

across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies.

One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story

told by our silent gestures moving behind windows.

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families One Today - By Richard Blanco

Cute Kitten Pictures!

Kik — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:13:38 EST

So - I need an excuse to walk away from my desk. A photo shoot with the divine Henrietta is exuse enough for me. I shot these pictures with my FAVORITE iphone camera app - It's called Camera+

Now that I'm up - I think I shall go outside for a power walk. Almost wish I had a leash so Henny Penny could come with me!

Lance Armstrongs Mistakes

Kik — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:34:52 EST

Do good deeds cancel out bad deeds?

Does the end justify the means?

Should asking for forgiveness wipe the slate clean?

Source: Uploaded by user via Jen on Lance Armstrongs Mistakes

Attention Moms - Here Comes The Flu and Its A Whopper This Season

HatchedIt HatchedIt — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:51:18 EST

Most families this year probably thought it couldn’t get any worse. Sever weather. A stomach virus that ripped through us like the Norovirus on a Disney Cruise, a head cold epidemic that seemingly nobody can shake…and now? THE FLU is here…and according to GOOGLE MAPS – you can run…but you cannot hide.

This is interesting – they collect the above data by sifting through google search information on how many people type in searches for “flu” and “flu symptoms” and then when they compared that to historical information collected by places like the CDC – they were pretty much the same. So we can assume Google search spikes in areas for the word FLU means that the epidemic has str

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Attention Moms - Here Comes The Flu and Its A Whopper This Season

What Are Your Favorite Blogs?

Kik — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:12:27 EST

I love the blogs that I follow.

I have my own list on my Hatchedit.com RSS Feeds - so that they show up every morning in my Daily Hatchedit email, and in the evening I usually check Hatchedit.com so that all the feeds are in one place, and I can hop to each blog from there.

But one of the biggest challenges for bloggers is blogging every day (I feel their pain!), and some of my favorite "go to" blogs have really dropped off in posting new information. So I am currently on the hunt for some new blogs to follow.

I'm hoping that you can recommend some! And in return, I will list below the ones that I have been following and think are pretty awesome.

Here they are:

SMITTEN KITCHEN

LITTLE GREEN NOTEBOOK

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families What Are Your Favorite Blogs?

I Love The Biggest Loser

Kik — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 22:32:21 EST

I remember when NBC first announced that it would be adding The Biggest Loser to its lineup. I thought it sounded like reality tv gone off the rails. Mind you, this was before almost any other makeover show had come on television. The only reality tv to compare it to was Survivor or The Apprentice, or any other cut throat elimination show. So the thought of having obese people compete to not be eliminated sounded like one of the sickest things I had ever heard of.

And then the show came on. And I put off watching it, but saw an episode by chance, and couldn’t believe how amazing and well done it was. It really made an impact on people and the audience.

So this season started on Sunday evening – and what is so fantastic is they are also tackling childhood obesity. What a great thing.

Its interesting, when they introduced the three children

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families I Love The Biggest Loser

New Year New You Schedule What is Important in 2013

Kik — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:55:02 EST

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2013. Right? Its a new beginning. A new chance to start over!

So how come I’m sitting in the same old chair doing the same old thing (mainly nothing?).

I feel like it’s because I haven’t made a plan of action lately for my life. Oh don't get me wrong. I work A LOT and I do laundry A LOT. But I don't do much of anything else. And that is starting to SUCK. But who's fault is it? I'd say its safe to say it is my own.

Sophie has a plan of action. She has school and basketball and her activities are all mapped our for her on our Hatchedit.com shareable calendar. So bully for her! What about me? Nothing. Bupkas (unless you count carting her around).

So it occurred to me that unless I actively schedule things for myself to do – I COULD actually spend

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families New Year New You Schedule What is Important in 2013

Facebook Privacy Settings are Confusing Even For the Zuckerbergs

Kik — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:27:39 EST

It was the story that captivated the tech world this week (as all things Zuckerberg tend to do). A real time demonstration of how the new “social” world we live in means that nobody can assume they are having a private moment. Ever.

In case you missed it, this is what happened.

Randi Zuckerberg (sister of Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg) put the following photo on Facebook – of her family on Christmas Morning.

OKAY - first of all - let's get past my fascination with what they have out on the kitchen island. Are those plastic

You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Facebook Privacy Settings are Confusing Even For the Zuckerbergs

Are Your Kids Tracks Showing up on Big Data's Marauder's Map?

Kik — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:19:31 EST

“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good”
- Fred and George Weasley

These are the magic words that allow a witch to view the MARAUDERS MAP.

What is the Marauder’s Map?

Source: hps
You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families Are Your Kids Tracks Showing up on Big Data's Marauder's Map?

The First 4 Things You Need to do When Your Kid Gets a Phone or Tablet

Kik — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 20:50:59 EST

Did your child get a new:

Laptop
Ipad
iPhone
Android phone
Kindle
Nook
Android Tablet

For the holidays this year?

Chances are they wanted one.

And chances are you scrounged and saved every penny to try and make that happen (I know I was scrounging this year!). So now they have it. There are a few things that you need to do right off the bat.

The First 4 Things You Need to do When Your Kid Gets a Phone or Tablet

HatchedIt - Social Community for Families RSS Feed

Angelina's Jolie - Always a Revelation

Its a Google World and Were Just Living In It

I Love the Spring

The Importance of Awareness

Hiking! The perfect family outing

Teenage Obsessions: The Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich

Favorite Blogs

Celebrate Spring with Great Books for Kids!

Excellent Spring Book to read with 2-4 year olds

How can Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears Can Manage Changing/Growing Families

NYU Entrepreneurship Festival

Twitter Tutorial: How to Tweet A Conference - it's great advice You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families NYU Entrepreneurship Festival

Small Talk Big Topics 2013 - 1

The Most Romantic Declaration of Love

New York Fashion Week Entertainment for a Snowy Day

Flipping through the pictures from New York Fashion Week.

Internet Security Newest Social App is NOT yet child friendly

Public Speaking and NAPO (I hate public speaking!)

One Today - By Richard Blanco

Cute Kitten Pictures!

Lance Armstrongs Mistakes

Attention Moms - Here Comes The Flu and Its A Whopper This Season

What Are Your Favorite Blogs?

I Love The Biggest Loser

New Year New You Schedule What is Important in 2013

Facebook Privacy Settings are Confusing Even For the Zuckerbergs

Are Your Kids Tracks Showing up on Big Data's Marauder's Map?

The First 4 Things You Need to do When Your Kid Gets a Phone or Tablet

Twitter Tutorial: How to Tweet A Conference - it's great advice
You can read the full story at HatchedIt - Social Community for Families NYU Entrepreneurship Festival