A new lifestyle retreat for working mothers is debuting in the DC Metro area this April. {re}Treat Yourself – a lifestyle redesign getaway for working mothers – is the brain child of a woman I admire greatly, Stacey Ferguson. (See her Working Mom Spotlight here)

The event was born out of Stacey’s own frustrations, “ I have always been frustrated at the lack of practical lifestyle resources available to parents, specifically moms juggling family and career. So many mothers I know, myself included, are struggling with keeping all of the balls they have to juggle in the air; it’s a major source of stress that is rarely addressed.  After searching high and low for an outlet like without success, I decided to create one.”

Gotta love a woman who gets out there and just makes it happen!

The {re}Treat Yourself  event in April is the first in a series of lifestyle redesign experiences she has planned.  This 2-day event is all-inclusive and will offer busy mothers workshops on topics like: fitness and relaxation; meal planning; developing support systems and nurturing relationships; defining personal style; home and office organization; creating an ideal family life; and much more.

Not to be forgotten, of course, {re}Treat Yourself will also offer attendees opportunities for pampering, downtime and a chance to tackle items off of their to-do lists, in addition to coming away with concrete takeaways to simplify and enrich their lives.

The event is slated for April 13^th and 14^th, 2012 at the AAA Four Diamond Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, VA. Registration is now open. For more information or to sign up, visit: http://Events.JusticeFergie.com

If you are a working woman who desperately needs time to relax and recharge, I urge you to give this weekend some consideration. I know the quality of Stacey’s events and I am certain she will once again knock this out of the park. It looks spectacular!

I am incredibly humbled and excited to announce that I have been selected as a 2012 Stiletto Woman in Business Award Finalist for Mom Entrepreneur of the Year, Social Media Influencer of the Year  and Blogger of the Year.

*Blink*

I know. Even typing that sentence is surreal.

Seeing my name listed among so many other incredible women, takes my breath away, to be sure. (You can view all of the finalists online here.)

In case you are unfamiliar, the SWIBA Awards (Stiletto Woman in Business Awards) are an initiative of Stiletto Woman Media which focuses on empowering women in business.

CEO Karlena Wallace had this to say, “The Stiletto Woman in Business Awards honors the monumental efforts of everyday women business owners, particularly those operating smaller entities that often go under the radar. These leaders redefine conventionalism and create their own success, all while changing lives.”

Wow.

Although I personally do not feel I deserve to be included in such a prestigious group, I do heartily applaud what this organization is all about.

Empowering, coaching and mentoring women is a passion of mine. (No matter what side of the fence I happen to be on at the time.)

My heartfelt appreciation (and shock) at becoming a finalist in the 2012 SWIBA Awards.

I read an article today called “Out of the closet as a happy working mom.” In it the author, a fellow working mother, scandalously declares that she does NOT feeling guilty for going back to work.

She states, “It is great to be back. If that sounds insufficiently guilt-ridden, sorry. I’m happy to be back at work. No ambivalence, no self-flagellation. It’s great to earn a paycheck again. It’s magnificent to get coffee, use the bathroom by myself and be around grownups. Even meetings are fun, though that feeling will surely pass. So today I’m outing myself as a happy working mom, despite the pressure women with kids often feel to sound miserable and conflicted about the “choice” to work…. Work is fun. Even with the crazy plate-spinning necessary to hold down a full-time job, it’s fun. ”

I applaud her.

I’ve long been disgusted with the whole working mom vs. stay at home mom guilt trip. Every woman is different. Every situation is different. Judging is pointless.

Much to my own mother’s chagrin (another blog post all together), I have always been a working mother. As cliche as this may sound, I’ve just never had a choice.  As I guilt ridden young mother, I tried oddball schedules (magazine night shift, anyone?), made tough decisions and  major sacrifices and  to keep my family functioning well. Nonetheless, I’ve always held a job.

I’ve had many conversations over the years where I have worked hard to convince others, not to mention myself, that if I didn’t have to work… I wouldn’t.

Total malarkey.

It is how I am wired.

I may not need to work for money but I most definitely would end up finding a committee to run. Or a gala to chair or a blog or magazine to write for or SOMETHING.

But that is just me. My mind is never still. I’ve never been a talented homemaker. (Ask my husband, he will confirm. Oh boy will  he confirm.)

My calling to be in the working world most certainly does not make me a bad mother. My children are fed, clothed, loved and coddled. They are challenged and nurtured and attended to. And sometimes even spoiled. I love them dearly.

Do I feel guilty? Of course. All moms feel guilt, it comes with the territory.

Do I wince when others to judge me? Most certainly. (Don’t they have something more constructive to do with their time?)

Working moms in today’s society feel a tremendous amount of pressure. It goes without saying that if  we could all start trying to support each other in our choices, everyone would be better off.

Even our kids.

Well, it is ABOUT TIME.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will get a reality check this year when an entirely new show debuts. Five women have come together to create the week’s first ever mom-centric fashion show.

The project is called Strut – The Fashionable Mom Show and it will feature both real and celebrity moms rocking the catwalk.

Can I get an AMEN?!

I have long bemoaned the fact that these shows don’t center on real, practical fashion for moms. I normally find myself chuckling rather than coveting what the models are wearing.

I anticipate that is about to change, though.

The brilliant minds behind the project are:

• Audrey McClelland and Vera Sweeney of Getting Gorgeous
• Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein of The Moms
• Holly Pavlika, the managing director of  Big Fuel, and founder of Momentum

Strut – The Fashionable Mom Show will take place on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Lincoln Center.  Preview below…

Fashionable Moms from Big Fuel on Vimeo.

Thanks ladies! Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Has a week gone by already? I guess that means it is time to once again document another super-exciting-can’t-believe-I-have-this-fabulous-life-aren’t-you-jealous-day in pictures:

(Sans the medication and used tissues. You’re welcome.)

8:23am – Out The Door

I can’t catch a break with this kid. I’m either begging him to put on a winter coat FOR GOD’S SAKE or pleading with him to INGEST SOME SUSTENANCE before beginning his day. The little whirling dervish is out the door before I even know what hit me. (Not enough coffee in the world, I tell you.)

9:10am – Coffee, Blogging & Me

My appointment was late so I got a rare opportunity to sit down and work on the blog. There’s something about a quaint coffee shop that really gets my creativity flowing.

11:00am – The Garden- Launched!

We just launched a new site for The Garden at 147. (A creative co-op between Want2Grow? Marketing, Mary Kate McKenna Photography and Think Baseline.) It is such a fun collaboration, it is hard to believe it is actually work. (Not to mention the fact that Amy and I got to be photographed in a wheelbarrow.)

9:00pm – A Little Light Reading?

Each month in 2012 I’m going to try to read two books – one fiction and one business oriented. Well, I’ve already read three novels so far this month, so I’m trying to choose one with a more professional slant. The ultimate winner? No Bullshit Social Media by Jason Falls & Erik Deckers. I’ll fill you in when I finish!

Note: All photos were taken with my iPhone and various camera apps and filters.

Check out last week’s A Day In Pictures.