Over the course of the past year at Care.com, and at the BlogHer conference I attended in July, I've had the fortune of meeting some of the most amazing "mom-trepreneurs." These women and their partners are making parenting issues and advice (and charities important to women and families) very Web2.0 through their blogs and web-based businesses. The media has sometimes trivialized this wave of "mommy blogs", but, to me especially, it makes perfect, logical sense that smart, web-savvy women would want to create online spaces where parents can share the advice normally given to family, friends, and coworkers with the rest of the world through the technological tools now available.

In the spirit of sharing, here are some of my favorite advice and product review mommy blogs:

Mamanista
Online since: 2007
Founders: Debbie and Candace

The Skinny:
Mamanista is a great product-review-driven blog for fashion-forward moms who don't have a lot of time to shop around for baby products, gear, and toys. Mamanista's writers review the latest products in their daily blog, and the founders work with retailers to provide regular, exclusive promotions like "deals of the day" and contests. Candace, one of the two founders, says, "[Our] tagline is 'fabulously chic, irresistibly practical' because we bring mothers the latest on the hippest products for baby and the best deals. Debbie and I both believe that you shouldn't have to spend a fortune to be fabulous." Guide-style posts Care.com parents might find useful include "Best Baby Board Books" (great for stocking up for bedtime and the sitter) and "Tips for Traveling with Babies and Kids" (just in time for the holidays!)

Connecting Moms
Online since: May 2006
Founders: Shell Luba, Anthony Samadani, Tanya Alvarez

The Skinny:
Connecting Moms is a blog-slash-social network aimed at helping moms share learned experience for every stage of motherhood, from expectant moms to those "who've been there, done that!" Connecting Moms recently launched the Million Moms Picture Page, a charity event hoping to connect a million moms worldwide around efforts to raise five million dollars for women- and family-related causes. According to founder and former AOL techie Shell Luba, supporters include May May Ali (daughter of boxer Muhammed Ali), TV personality Leeza Gibbons, and model-slash-tsunami survivor Petra Nemcova. If you still haven't found that perfect gift, consider submitting a photo of your friend or loved one with your donation (minimum of $5) to this wonderful fundraiser. Charities include The March of Dimes, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, The Smile Train, Autism Speaks, and many more. When the Million Moms Picture Page $5M goal is reached, their globe logo will be covered by donor-submitted photos!

Working Moms Against Guilt (WMAG)
Online since: November 2006
Founders: Susan, Cara, Sara, and Tela

The Skinny:
The name says it all. This "coalition" of working mothers includes former co-workers and collaborators Susan, Cara, Sara, and Tela who formed WMAG to help other moms "stay strong and fight back against all that guilt" that society puts on us women (and we put on ourselves).

"The four of us were all fairly young/new moms with children ranging from newborn to age 4," said Susan Jackson, one of the four founders. "We all worked together in a high-stress, long-hours agency business, and we were all writers. After constantly trading tips, stories, and emails about all things relating to working motherhood (including plenty of guilt), we decided to open our conversation up to other working moms like us."

Although Cara and Sara have since left the agency where the group of writers first met, the WMAG's still keep in touch through the blog and regular get-togethers. In just one year, the group has attracted thousands of readers, commenters, and new friends through Working Moms Against Guilt.

Classy Mommy
Online since: 2003
Founder: Colleen Padilla

The Skinny:
Classy Mommy is a great product-review blog founded by Colleen Padilla. Colleen regularly creates Video Reviews, traditional blog posts, and maintains a fabulous Product Finder--making it quick and simple to find what you need online, and make a difference while doing it. Colleen's mission with Classy Mommy is to help parents redirect some of their consumer spending towards important charities with Classy Mommy Causes.

"When readers shop through our partners, Classy Mommy donates 100% of the affiliate marketing revenue we earn to charity," Colleen said. "Our shopping can make a difference—even when we feel we don't have the money to make a donation."

Colleen and her husband just welcomed their second child, a son, two weeks ago! Follow their story (and trials and tribulations with new products for baby) at www.classymommy.com.

Crazy Hip Blog Mamas
Online since: 2003
Founders: "The Turtle Mama" and CJ Field

The Skinny:
Crazy Hip Blog Mamas is not only a blog but an online destination for hundreds of mom bloggers to aggregate their thoughts on various topics. CHBM hosts weekly "events": themes for each of the seven days of the week dictate the topics of posts submitted by blogger members. CHBM topics include Recipe Rally, Member of the Week, Kids Corner or Teenage Tips, Photos, member-written articles, and more. The site is pretty straightforward to navigate, and with over 1,000 members submitting content, there's lots of advice and helpful tips to choose from!

Cheers,

Sheila

Rest, relaxation, and reading (other than for work) are important parts of any balanced life. If you have a hard time carving out "you time," try joining or creating a book club with other moms to put the pressure on (and to create a kid-friendly outlet for socializing.)

Or if you just need someone to point you in the right direction, check out these recently published bestsellers and popular reading lists for inspiration:

Oprah's Book Club

New York Times Best Sellers List

Literary Mama Blog & e-Zine

Being an interesting person for yourself, your family, your coworkers, and your friends means staying informed and inspired by reading regularly and watching quality programming. Plus, it's a fun and stress-relieving way to unwind!

Have a favorite book or film to recommend for the Care.com Book Cafe? Share it with the community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila

Fall is the perfect time for family gatherings and getaways...and for capturing that perfect holiday card photo! So, with that in mind, here are the Care.com editors picks for best memory-making activities the whole family can enjoy together:

Apple Picking & Hayrides

Nothing feels more like fall than a trip to a local farm for apple picking and hayrides, and the promise of apple pies and other culinary comforts back at home upon your return. Find an orchard or pick-your-own farm near you and make a day out of it! If you're lucky and do your homework, you may even be able to pick your own pumpkin to carve, hop on a hayride, or watch cider presses in action. Just remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothing—it's always more rugged and active than you remember!

Fall Crafts & Baking

Kids love to help out in the kitchen, and the return home after an apple picking adventure is the best time for baking pies, carving pumpkins and toasting seeds, and dipping apples in caramel. When you're done, there's nothing better than reaping the rewards of your labor together with a family games or movie night in front of the fire, noshing on your freshly-baked goodies!

For more creative inspiration, check out these favorite resources:

Family Fun Magazine: Festive Fall Crafts

Kaboose.com: Fall for the family

Harvest Festivals, Fairs, and Oktoberfests

Autumn is the harvest season, the time to reap Mother Nature's last bounty before winter (and the time for hibernation from the cold) begins. Celebrate the history and culture this season has spawned by taking your kids to a local outdoor harvest festival, agricultural fair, or Oktoberfest event. Your whole family will love learning about and engaging in the traditions—everything from livestock and Biggest Pumpkin contests to German foods and dress. Hurry, though—these outdoor events generally wind down about a week before Halloween!

Halloween Parties & Costumes

When it comes to planning the perfect party while putting the E in easy, there are really only two places to turn: Martha Stewart and Family Fun. Here are some shortcut links to the popular magazines' special issues online:

Martha Stewart Holiday: Halloween Special Issue

Family Fun: Halloween Fright Site

Have a favorite fall tradition, recipe, or craft you enjoy with your family? Share it with the Care.com community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila

In the past few years, the internet has exploded with new web sites and blogs targeting moms (and dads, too.) Working moms and dads, stay-at-home moms and dads (SAHMs and SAHDs), single, divorced, writer and executive parents—for any label you might identify with, there's a corresponding deluge of URLs now vying for your attention. So, I decided to help try and cut through the clutter by reviewing some of the best, and will soon will be launching a Mommy Blog + Parenting Web Sites Directory on Care.com.

Here's a handful to get you started:

Maya's Mom

Online since: October 2006
Founder: Ann Crady, CEO
The skinny:
One of the original niche social network-family advice hybrid sites, Maya's Mom allows parents to connect, journal, and share based on a selected group (public, private, or hand-picked "friends.") Ann leveraged her past experience as an executive at Yahoo! to launch Maya's Mom as an original Silicon Valley startup, and it is still considered one of the very first established "mommy blogs." Big brands took notice: Maya's Mom was recently acquired by Johnson & Johnson-owned Babycenter.com.

Work It, Mom!

Online since: Spring 2007
Founded by: Nataly Kogan, CEO and Victoria Grace, President
The skinny:
Launched by former venture capital junkies turned working moms, Work It, Mom! is a hybrid parenting advice and social networking site for moms looking to find that ideal work/life balance. A fair amount of the content is member-written, making it both relevant and community-oriented (plus a great way to get published!)

Mommy Track'd

Online since: Mother's Day, 2006
Founded by: Amy Keroes, CEO and Dawn Dobras, COO
The skinny:
Calling itself the "working mother's guide to managed chaos," Mommy Track'd is a fun and stylish site offering parenting articles, product picks, and more reviews for the professional mommy-nista set. Tongue-in-cheek features like the "Three Martini Complaint Department" sum it up best: funny, chic, and playful.

Mom Corps

Online since: 2005
Founded by: Allison O'Kelly, CEO
The skinny:
Serving as " an innovative, highly-selective, professional staffing solution," Mom Corps helps thousands of moms stay in and return to the workforce while managing their family and personal life. Online and offline events, like the Mom Corps Coffee Club, help moms find the professional and parenting resources they need to be successful.

Role Mommy

Online since: 2005
Founder: Beth Feldman and Yvette Corporo
The skinny:
Capitalizing on sarcastic humor and real-life experiences (versus expert advice, Role Mommy serves as just that: role models for the modern mom. Founders Beth and Yvette come from the fast-paced and entertaining world of broadcasting, and their professional experience lends a unique voice to this content-driven site. Check out their recently published book, Peeing in Peace: Tales and Tips for Type A
Moms.

Check back next month for more recommended sites and blogs to help you navigate the internet parenting world. Stay tuned in to my newsletter and blog for more info!

Cheers,
Sheila