Q: What is your favorite family ritual?
A: We love cooking a meal and sitting down to eat it together. I enjoy getting their input on ingredients and hearing their ideas about what might taste good. It's so important to engage your kids to create rituals and moments that they will always remember. Right now I'm working with Heinz Ketchup on a contest where people can share their favorite family memories at HeinzWholesomeMemories.com. For each memory shared, Heinz had pledged to make a donation to the National Gardening Association so more families can make memories through gardening together.
Q: What was your most frazzled mom moment?
A: It always stressed me out when my kids were infants and cried in the car. They always sounded like they were crying to death when they were that small ... and the car seats are turned the other way! Ugh! I was always frantic to find the pacifier or stretching into awkward positions to get my pinky finger into their little mouths to suck on so they would stop crying.
Q: What do you wish you had done before you had children?
A: I wish I had taken a yearlong cooking course all over the world.
Q: What is a typical Saturday morning in your house like?
A: I love weekends! I love not having to get the kids up early for school. We all wake up at our leisure; the kids know not to wake me up. Then we make breakfast or go out to eat with family. There is usually a sporting event or two to watch!
Q: What were your parents most right about?
A: They taught me, by example, to allow your children to follow their dreams.
WHAT'S YOUR...
...guiltiest pleasure?
Coffee, red wine, and dark chocolate.
...ideal getaway?
In the mountains, with snow on the ground, a roaring fire, wine, kids, friends, and family.
...favorite clothing item?
Scarves and hats.
...current reading material?
Scripts for Melrose Place and Secret Life of the American Teenager.
WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE...
...chocolate or cheese?
That's tough, I love both. I'll go with chocolate.
...cook at home or eat takeout?
Cook at home.
...coddle your tot or let him cry it out?
Coddle your tot.
