
- LOCATION:
- Chicago
- BIRTHDAY
- TWITTER:
- @Brandie185
- FACEBOOK:
- PERSONAL WEBSITE:
- http://journeyof1000stitches.blogspot.com
- Editor
- knitting, reading, blogging, sewing, breast cancer

Upcoming Talks
-
May
23
1:00pm EST
View ThisThe Naptime Chef: Fitting Great Food into Family Life
We're celebrating the launch of Kelsey's new cookbook! For all busy parents, Kelsey will share some of her great recipes and tips on preparing meals during those odd free minutes to keep you and your family eating well. Great food should never be sacrificed, and we'll find out how to keep it on the table.
Past Talks
-
May.15.2012 1:00pm ESTWriting Your Way through Motherhood
Join Kate Hopper, author of Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers, and several other writing mamas, as they discuss writing and motherhood and how to dig deep into the stories of your life. Discover how to jump-start your writing and carve out writing time in your daily life.
-
Apr.19.2012 1:00pm ESTWinning the Chore War: How to Get Kids to Help Around the House
Springtime means spring cleaning, and you can't do it all alone! Join us for a chat with Dr. Deborah Gilboa, who will instruct us in her tried-and-true methods for HOW to get kids to help out with household chores - and why it's important.
-
Apr.17.2012 1:00pm ESTKeeping Our Kids Safe
Kidpower safety experts Irene van der Zande and Dr. Amy Tiemann will walk us through the best ways to talk with our kids about setting boundaries, the rules for safety with touch, and telling in order to get help - all in a way that is effective but won't scare them.
-
Apr.11.2012 1:00pm ESTThe Motherhood Happy Hour: Let's Talk Cocktail Creations & Entertaining
Join us for a quick cocktail over lunch to chat about ideas for entertaining guests and prepare for a fun weekend! Ilina Ewen, creator of 5:00 Fridays (and dozens of unique, delicious adult beverages) will share some of her best drink recipes, party ideas and more.
-
Apr.10.2012 1:00pm ESTShine a Spotlight on YOU: Develop a Personal Brand and Market Yourself
In blogging and any business, making yourself known and promoting your work is a key to success. Join marketing pro Erin Lane as she leads us through the first steps toward developing your own unique voice and being recognized and rewarded for what you do.
-
Apr.05.2012 1:00pm ESTFiring Up the Grill: New Recipes, Flavors and Ingredients to Kick-Start Barbeque Season
It's been a warm spring, giving us a head start on grilling season! Join celebrity chef George Duran, coming to us via live video feed from his own backyard, as he shares his top grilling techniques and new flavor twists on old favorites. We are also giving away two summer grilling gift baskets from sponsors ConAgra Foods and ReadySetEat.com!
-
Apr.05.2012 12:00pm ESTIs All That Lies Between Me & Happiness a Clean Kitchen?
As recent news reports have said, "We have met the enemies of our free time, and they are us." Join Kristin van Ogtrop, managing editor of Real Simple; Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families & Work Institute; and Christine Koh of Boston Mamas to talk about how we can let go of perfection and allow ourselves to relax and enjoy more free time at home.
-
Apr.04.2012 1:00pm ESTGardening: Adding Edibles To The Landscape And Making It Fun For Your Kids
Springtime is almost here and we're ready to garden!! Join Angela Sydnes and a fantastic group of green thumbs to get your questions answered, new ideas for your garden and, most important, excited for the new season!
-
Mar.15.2012 1:00pm ESTParenting Without Power Struggles
Susan Stiffelman, family therapist and Huffington Post Parent's resident Parent Coach, will share easy and effective strategies for managing the battles, negotiations and power struggles that drive parents crazy. Come share your stories and learn ways to make life with your kids easier and a lot more fun.
-
Feb.27.2012 1:00pm ESTBuilding Your Blog Community
Join a fantastic group of mom blogger experts to learn about SEO (search engine optimization), building relationships, getting paid as a blogger and more. Bring your questions and find out their best tips and tricks!!
-
Feb.23.2012 1:00pm ESTMeal Planning 101 with Betsy Moore
Tired of not knowing what to make for dinner? Betsy Moore of BMooreHealthy will lead a class on weekly meal planning: how to put a meal plan together, create shopping lists that save money, grocery shop efficiently and cook for the week. Come learn Betsy's best tips, trick and go-to recipes.
-
Feb.13.2012 1:00pm ESTA Mominatrix Valentine's Day
Join author, sex columnist, and mom of four Kristen Chase, aka "The Mominatrix" as she dishes out tips, tricks, and advice for making your Valentine's Day (or every day) an extra special one.
-
Feb.09.2012 1:00pm ESTYour Mother-In-Law: Turning Over a New Leaf
Join Judy Goldberg, senior editor of Parents magazine, to talk about the #1 issue she hears about as Parents' advice columnist: mother-in-law issues. Share your story, get advice and trade suggestions on how to create a more healthy and productive relationship with your MIL. (photo by Sadie Thomas)
-
Feb.08.2012 1:00pm ESTThe Coupon Goddess Cooks
We're cooking gourmet meals on a budget with The Coupon Goddess Melanie Feehan. Melanie will do a live video demo of her favorite gourmet family meal, and will answer our questions! Join us for a fun, informative class!
-
Feb.07.2012 1:00pm ESTGet Crafty with Kids of All Ages on Valentine’s Day
Want new ideas for making Valentine’s Day cards and decorations with your kids? We're thinking outside the paper heart this year with a live video craft tutorial from Amanda, Crafts by Amanda. She'll demonstrate fun, simple projects and help us customize them for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens!
-
Feb.02.2012 1:00pm ESTGame Day and Slow Cooker Recipes
Get ready - and hungry - for Game Day! Cold weather and football puts us in the mood for some tasty slow cooker recipes. Join us to share your favorites and be inspired by suggestions from others!
-
Feb.01.2012 1:00pm ESTTalking With Your Kids About Sex, Drugs, Alcohol Or Grief
Sex, drugs, alcohol or grief: few topics are as stressful for parents – or as important for your kids. Dr. G will give you the words and tools to pass on your own values on these subjects to your children. We'll address the issues that make you feel most anxious at home, and find new ways and ease to talk about them with your kids.
-
Jan.31.2012 12:00pm ESTEmpowering Girls With Rachel Simmons
Bestselling author and founder of the Girls Leadership Institute, Rachel Simmons, will lead a Talk on helping our daughters to discover and embrace the best parts of their authentic selves. Bring your questions, your stories of raising your daughters and we'll all learn skills for our girls (and us!) to live with integrity, personal authority and self-awareness.
-
Jan.30.2012 1:00pm ESTMaking Tech Work For You with Carley from Digitwirl
Carley Knobloch, host and Chief Twirler at Digitwirl.com will share her all-time favorite technology products and innovations to help you organize your life. If you've ever smacked your head and wondered, "Is there an app for that?!" join us for a talk about tech tools that help you save time, money and a little sanity. From managing the schedule to figuring out what's for dinner— we're covering it all!
-
Jan.26.2012 1:00pm EST"If I Have to Tell You One More Time"
What do you do when your kids won't do what you say - and your preference is not to yell, nag or spank? If you have kids between the ages of 2-13 and they're not listening to you, join parenting expert and author Amy McCready to share what's going on and learn new approaches.
-
Jan.25.2012 1:00pm ESTPostpartum Sadness, Depression and Anxiety
Katherine Stone, the author of Postpartum Progress, the most widely read blog on PPD, will lead a discussion on how to get through PPD or help someone else get through it. Come share about what's going on for you, get love and support and learn about new resources and approaches.
-
May.07.2012 9:00pm ESTMom's Big Night In
Pull up a comfy chair with a cup of tea or glass of wine and join us for Mom's Big Night In at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT, a tradition here in The Motherhood! We'll catch up, meet our neighbors and have some fun!
-
Jan.24.2012 1:00pm ESTParental Control Boot Camp: eProofing the Kids' Technology with Clay Nichols
Join DadLabs creator Clay Nichols to talk about eProofing all the kids' gadgets and gizmos -- from iPods to phones to new game systems -- so that they're safe for them. We're calling it a Parental Control Boot Camp and the conversation will be both philosophical -- e.g. Is YouTube bad for kids? And practical -- How to set a volume limiter on the new iPod.
-
Feb.03.2011 1:00pm ESTCinderella Ate My Daughter
Join author Peggy Orenstein to talk about "new girlie girl culture." Peggy's new book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter, based on her enormously popular article in the New York Times on raising her own daughter, was just published and is getting tons of attention. We'll talk with Peggy about her book and share our own stories, experiences and talk about the challenges of raising daughters!!
-
Dec.02.2010 1:00pm ESTHoliday Gift Ideas from Treehugger and Cool Mom Picks
We're back for our annual holiday gift giving Talk! Join Treehugger and Cool Mom Picks to hear about their inspiring gift ideas for 2010. Treehugger and CMP have the BEST holiday gift guides anywhere, so be sure to join us to get fantastic ideas for everyone on your holiday gift lists! We'll also talk about creative gift wrapping ideas and stocking stuffers and more.
-
Nov.15.2010 1:00pm ESTFamily Dinner: Talking with Laurie David About Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids One Meal At a Time
Laurie David, whose new book "Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect With Your Kids One Meal At a Time" just came out last week and is already in its second printing (!), is leading a chat on all aspects of getting our families to the table and enjoying the food and time together. Co-hosting with her are a fabulous group of mom bloggers!! Here's what Tom Hanks said about Laurie's book: “If you can muster the energy for only one tool to raising a healthy family, make it having family dinner. This book will help you make those meals easy, fun, and of lasting impact.” And Dean Ornish said this, “A great fun cookbook, but it’s so much more than that — it’s an empowering recipe for joy, health, and healing.” Join us for a GREAT conversation!! http://thefamilydinnerbook.com/ http://www.lauriedavid.com
-
Nov.03.2010 1:30pm ESTThe Kids Grow Up
Are your kids leaving for college soon or they're already off? How are you feeling about the transition? Join a live chat with Doug Block and Marjorie Silver as we talk about Doug's newly released film on raising their daughter and her departure for college. Let's talk about ways we all handle this great big change in our lives. The New York Times called the film "remarkable" and we look forward to a great conversation with Doug and Marjorie!
-
Nov.01.2010 1:00pm ESTThe Sleep Lady Shares Her Secrets for Getting Kids to Sleep Through the Night
Kim West, the Sleep Lady, will lead a conversation on getting our kids to sleep through the night. Kim is a licensed clinical social worker and, over the last fifteen years, she has helped thousands of tired parents all over the world learn to listen to their intuition, recognize their child’s important cues and behaviors, and gently create changes that promote and preserve his or her healthy sleep habits. Post your questions here!
-
Oct.20.2010 1:00pm ESTHow To Unspoil Your Child Fast
Ninety-four percent of parents judge their children to be spoiled. Yikes! Richard Bromfield, Ph.D., a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, will lead a conversation on his new book, "How to Unspoil Your Child Fast". Cookie Magazine described Dr. Bromfield's book this way: "It's a lively, engaging, helpful book that offers a look at our generation of parents and why we're tempted to indulge our children." Bring your stories and questions and get ready for an eye-opening, needed conversation!!
-
Oct.12.2010 1:00pm ESTYou Have More Time Than You Think
168 hours - that's how many hours there are in a week and the title of Laura Vanderkam's new book "168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think". Join Laura and a fantastic group of mom bloggers to talk about how we spend our time and how we can look at our schedules differently and free up more time. Here's how Martha Beck describes her reaction to the book, "Within a few pages, Laura Vanderkam's crisp, entertaining book convinced me I had time to read it. Then it convinced me I had time to reread War and Peace. In the original Russian. Thank you, Laura, for freeing up my schedule." -Martha Beck, bestselling author of Steering by Starlight
-
Sep.28.2010 1:00pm ESTGetting Back to the Table With Libby's and Hannah Keeley
Let's talk about how we get our families back to the table! Hannah Keeley, host of the TV show Hannah Help Me!, will lead a chat on the importance of family dinners, recipe ideas, conversation starters and ways we can use time with our families to give back locally, such as donating to the Libby's Virtual Canned Food Drive. Share your tips for getting the family back to dinner to win a wonderful Libby's gift basket. The fantastic mom blogger co-hosts for the Talk all recently joined Hannah for lunch in three cities, sponsored by Libby's - in Houston, Kansas City and Pittsburgh - where together they created family activity kits for families in need. We're looking forward to hearing great new ideas for getting our families back to the table!
-
Sep.23.2010 1:00pm ESTBabies and Children: How Smart Are They, Really?
Alison Gopnik, author of "The Philosophical Baby: What Children's Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love and The Meaning of Life" and professor of psychology at University of California at Berkeley, is leading a conversation about how and how much babies and children learn. Co-hosting the conversation is a wonderful group of mom bloggers. Join us! Share your questions, insights and stories.
-
Sep.15.2010 1:00pm ESTThe Happiness Project with Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is a best-selling author of "The Happiness Project" about her year spent test-driving studies and theories about how to be happier. Join Gretchen as we talk about the small, concrete steps we all can take to be happier. Bring your ideas, approaches and stories for a GREAT conversation!
-
Sep.14.2010 1:00pm ESTThe State of the Mom Blogosphere
Ten celebrity mom bloggers led a Talk on trends in the Mom Blogosphere. The community talked about: - Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare - enhancing or taking away from blogging? - Advice for bloggers wanting to get the word out - Mom bloggers and brands - here to stay and the Do's and Don'ts for bloggers and brands - Predictions for 2011 and more!
-
Aug.25.2010 12:00pm ESTMichelle Conlin and her "No Impact" Year
Michelle Conlin and her husband Colin Beavan (aka No Impact Man) spent a year living "off the grid" in New York City - making as little environmental impact as possible. For Michelle - described as Colin's "espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife" who went along with idea, begrudgingly - that meant no elevators, no television, no cars, busses, or airplanes, no toxic cleaning products, no electricity, no material consumption, and no garbage. Let's all talk about: - What decisions or sacrifices have you made to support your family's larger dreams/goals? - How did you feel about the decisions then and now? - Sharing our tips, tricks and ideas for minimizing our impact on the planet - and how these are working out for us and our families. ___________________________ Be sure to tune in to watch the film, No Impact Man, as it makes its world TV premiere on Planet Green on 8/28 at 10 pm ET!
-
Jul.20.2010 12:00pm ESTThe Oil Disaster: Talking with the National Wildlife Federation and Gulf Coast bloggers
We're bringing together the National Wildlife Federation and Gulf Coast bloggers and to talk about what is happening in the Gulf - in their backyards - and to share their stories, how they're coping and how we can be of help. The NWF leadership and experts will lead the conversation, bringing their on-the-ground experience and knowledge. Bring your questions, stories, views and feelings - and let's give these fantastic Gulf Coast bloggers some love and attention during this very difficult and scary time.
-
Jul.06.2010 1:00pm ESTKids, Meds and Mental Health with Judith Warner
The Washington Post described Judith Warner's book, "We've Got Issues: Children and Parents in the Age of Medication," this way: "Nowhere did Warner encounter mothers or fathers eager to medicate healthy kids for trivial reasons. Instead, she found parents struggling to find and afford decent treatment for children disabled by their symptoms or their behavior, parents who had turned to psychiatric medicines only out of desperation -- and a society that persists in stigmatizing mental illness, blames parents when kids are affected, and has done far too little to ensure that such kids can get access to treatments that have been shown to work." Join us for an amazing conversation with Judy about kids, meds and mental health - bring your own stories and experiences for us all to talk, learn and support each other.
-
Jun.02.2010 1:00pm ESTRegina Brett and God Never Blinks
We're talking about taking care of ourselves and the life lessons that are most important to us. Regina Brett caused a sensation when she wrote a column for the Cleveland Plain Dealer listing her life lessons. Her top ten life lessons are: 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
-
Jun.14.2010 1:00pm ESTTalking Relationships, Body Image and Sex with Kristen Chase, The Mominatrix
Join Kristen Chase and some of our favorite bloggers for a conversation about juggling motherhood and marriage, making time for sex, why is it important and how we can make it a bigger priority. We'll be talking body image, libido, birth control and more. Bring your questions, thoughts, insights and laughs for a great Talk (just in time for Father's Day).
-
Jun.01.2010 1:00pm ESTLet's Lighten the Load: Shedding the Pounds And Whatever Else Is Weighing Us Down
What if weight loss wasn't about the weight at all, but lightening our load in a big picture sense? We're going to be talking about how we can clear the decks, get rid of the extra baggage and mess and stress in our lives, and lose the weight in the process. As we go into bathing suit season. Perfect timing.
-
May.25.2010 1:00pm ESTDIY Teacher Gifts: Moving Beyond the Coffee Cup
The school year is coming to a close so that means teacher gifts! Join a conversation with some of the greatest crafters, DIYers and authors and get some great ideas for gifts to make with yourself and with your children. We'll also be talking about our favorite inexpensive, homemade gifts you can buy.
-
Sep.28.2009 1:00pm ESTFeeding Baby (and Kids) Green
Mon, Sept 28th at 1 pm ET: Dr. Alan Greene, Stanford pediatrician, will talk about nutrition for pregnancy and young children, baby food purity (homemade versus conventional), BPA in containers, packaging, bottles and jars and how we get kids to like healthy foods from an early age. Come with your questions for Dr. Greene!
-
May.19.2010 12:00pm ESTDinner for Busy Moms
We're talking with Jeanne Muchnick about her new book, "Dinner for Busy Moms" and easy strategies for getting our family to the table. We'll share some of our favorite recipes (even for us non-cooks) and conversation starters beyond, "What'd you do in school today?" Thank you to the WONDERFUL co-hosts joining the conversation (see the Talk sidebar for the full list)! Sponsored by Sprout Baby Food.
-
May.10.2010 1:00pm ESTNutritious Gardening with Gayla Trail
Veggie gardens. Pizza gardens. Micro-gardens. Growing the food we eat. Join the wonderful Gayla Trail, author of "Grow Great Grub" and "You Grow Girl", for a one-hour conversation on gardening. Bring your questions, ideas, tips, tricks and favorite photos, and we'll have a fantastic live Talk together!
-
May.03.2010 11:00am ESTEllen Galinsky and the Life Skills Every Child Needs
We're talking with Ellen Galinsky about her brand new, already bestselling book "Mind in the Making" (it's #1 on Amazon's parenting list) about the seven most important "life skills" for children growing up today. Ellen wants our kids to learn for grades and learn for life. To communicate effectively, work well with diverse groups of people, think outside the box, and be ongoing learners. And to have all that, they need these seven skill: Focus and Self Control; Perspective Taking; Communicating; Making Connections; Critical Thinking; Taking On Challenges; Self-Directed, Engaged Learning. "It may well be the next iconic parenting manual, up there with Spock and Leach and Brazelton, one that parents turn to for reassurance that all is more or less okay, reminders of how to make it better and glimpses of what’s to come." - Lisa Belkin, The New York Times, April 29, 2010 Join the conversation!
-
Apr.15.2010 11:00am ESTWorking Outside the Home
Let's talk about working outside the home. Are you going to a job each day or thinking about it. How's it going? Is there ever such thing as 'balance' for you? How about making time for all the people in your life ... including yourself? What's front and center for you right now?
-
Apr.07.2010 9:00am ESTTheMotherhood: Let’s Talk About The New Site!
We're kicking off TheMotherhood Talks with a conversation about the new site - what's new, how it works, what's different about it, everything! We would LOVE to hear how you feel about the makeover, answer your questions, and talk together about your thoughts, ideas and feedback.
-
Apr.12.2010 10:00am ESTThe Book Nook
Summer is coming and that means beach reads! What books have you read lately that you just couldn't put down? Share your favorites so we can all indulge!
-
Nov.18.2009 12:00am ESTTwilight New Moon
Nov 18-23 Opening Weekend. For all of us who've been waiting and waiting (and waiting ...) for Twilight New Moon to open, we're talking here. We'll count down the last days, and then ... talk about the film! Favorite parts, feelings overall, reactions. Also share reviews you come across, commentary, websites, whatever strikes you. At last!
-
Oct.29.2009 1:00pm ESTStories in Hand: Documenting Our Lives in Creative Ways
Thurs, Oct 29th at 1 pm ET: We're creating digital keepsakes of our lives, with the wonderful Jessica Sprague and ScrapHappyChristine as hosts. Join us for a creative, inspiring workshop!
-
Oct.20.2009 1:00pm ESTDealing with Mean At All Ages and Stages
Tues, Oct 20 at 1 pm ET: Rosalind Wiseman, author of "Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World" - newly revised - is here to talk about mean behavior, however and wherever it shows up in our and our daughters' lives.
-
Sep.24.2009 1:00pm ESTRaising Double-Daring Girls and Boys
Thurs, Sept 24th at 1 pm ET: Bestselling author Miriam Peskowitz joins us to talk about why her books have struck such a chord around the world and what it means to be daring, and to take up the journey of our lives.
-
Jul.13.2009 1:00pm ESTLIVE CHAT: Natural Home Remedies for Summer and Back-To-School Health
Jennifer Crain is a holistic pediatrics specialist, a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, and founder of Mommy’s ER: a resource for parents for safe, easy, at-home tips to naturally improve their children’s health. Jennifer is all about incorporating grandma's-chicken-soup-wisdom into our children's lives with confidence.