Just when I’m feeling like a really bad mommy, one of my beautiful children does something so funny and endearing my harsh mommy dearest meets Godzilla exterior melts away and a true smile spreads across my face. Now that I’m just two weeks into life with three kids, finding humor in everyday life has never been more crucial. When a little book titled “Didn’t I feed You Yesterday? A Mother’s Guide To Sanity In Stilettos” arrived in my mailbox I was very intrigued. This seemed right up my alley. I immediately cozied up on the coach and began to read it. The book was funny, hilarious actually, I couldn’t put it down. It’s written by Laura Bennett, the standout designer and mother of Six, yes SIX, kids from Season 3 of Project Runway! Laura’s outrageous and candid take on modern motherhood in Manhattan was well worth the cashing in of precious daytime minutes without the chick-a-dees around.
I’m not going to spoil the book for all of you but trust me it’s a fun, light read filled with unconventional advise that will have you laughing and feeling really good that you aren’t the only mother out there wondering how life got so darn crazy. “Didn’t I Feed You Yesterday?” is available online and in stores as of this week. Melisa and I were really excited to learn that Laura is a fan and follower of Project Nursery. We exchanged emails and she answered some specific questions with her take on motherhood in mind and I thought I’d share.
1. What inspired you to write the book?
Actually, a fan of Project Runway who works at Random House came to me and asked if I had though about writing a book. I said no, but I hadn’t thought about being a fashion designer either so what the hell, I’ll give it a try. The opportunity fell into my lap but I had to work hard to make it happen. There were no guarantees. In the end, they loved the proposal and bought the book.
2. How do you keep Style in your life with 5 kids? Any tips how mom’s can still feel stylish (and like there old sexy self) with spit up and a baby Bjorn strapped to them?
Just do one little thing every day for your appearance. Take the time to put on lipstick (long wear, so just one application counts) or wear some real shoes with your outfit instead of sneakers. My favorite super comfortable shoes that look great are Andre Assous espadrilles. I love the “Christy” and “Holiday” styles. Little things can make a difference.
3. How do you balance (and stay sane) a career and raising kids?
I’ll admit that some jobs are harder than others when it comes to balance. Because I can make my own schedule, and I don’t have to be in an office all day. I can juggle things around.
4. Any favorite baby or children products? Gear, Clothes, Books, Places?
In New York, lots of moms are pushing around these Bugaboo strollers to the tune of about $800. They don’t fold up small enough for me. I still love the ultra light and infinitely portable Maclaren strollers. You can collapse them with one free hand (and a foot) and carry them by the shoulder strap. Just make sure little fingers and toes are clear when you fold it.
WIN IT: Project Nursery is giving away one copy of “Didn’t I Feed You Yesterday?” SIGNED by author Laura Bennett to a lucky reader. Enter by commenting on this post with your favorite mom tip, advise or funny mom moment. Contest ends Friday, April 16th, 2010 at 11:59pm PST.
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My tip is take time for yourself by letting your family and friends help you.
My daughter thought it was funny to stuff a pant leg and sock with clothes and leave it hanging out of a drawer LOL
One of the little ones had a new friend over and wanted to introduce me. I was in the washroom, sitting ( thankfully ) and the door opened and he said, “That’s my Mom”!
My advice would be, don’t expect them to keep their rooms clean all the time. I used to be really hard on my kids about cleaning up. Now, I only make them clean their rooms if they want a friend over.
Im a subscriber!
Im following you on twitter and tweeted [no promises I did that part right though.]
for the life of me I cant remain patient enough to figure out twitter
and I struggle at hard boiling eggs. Yes, I should maybe not admit that publically.
Im a facebook fan as you know :)
I’m not a mom yet, but I’m due in a few months and I can already tell that I need all of the advice I can get! I’m sure the fact that I’m learning in pregnancy to take each moment as it comes will end up being a huge blessing when baby arrives! Thanks for doing this giveaway – the book looks fantastic!
My favorite Mom tip is to not sweat the small stuff because the next day there will always be something else that makes you want to hide under the covers. Thus, a sense of humor and an inflated ego that helps you believe that you are doing your best and giving your best to your kids will see you through most days of motherhood, well at keast until they reach their teens.
Make your own baby food. It sounds like a lot of time and agony, but it really is not. I got a simple cookbook (Cooking for Baby) & a processor. I can give my kids better quality, more variety and fresher food for cheaper. It is also easier to gradually introduce texture this way. Have fun!
Also a fan on facebook! :)
I would love to win the book! And, a mom tip from me is: if you use the baby food in the plastic Gerber box containers, save them when you’re done, wash them out, and use them as take-and-toss (or reuse multiple times) containers for snacks like goldfish on the go when baby is a little older.
fan on FB
subscriber
My tip is to not have toxic-mommy-friends who are in constant competition! Life is too short for that.
Subscriber.
Mom tip: As basic and no-brainer as it sounds, getting everybody’s things ready for the next day the night before helps EMENSELY!! I notice that on the nights that I don’t prep ahead of time, I’m usually 10-15 minutes late to work. Never fails. My daughter can spend 20 minutes debating on what she wants to wear the next day without me yelling at her from down the hall to hurry up. I don’t have to scramble to find a clean outfit for my 8 month old son who is screaming in the next room because I can’t hold him and quickly dig through the dryer at the same time.
It’s less stress in the morning (on everybody) and I get to work on time…so long as my son decides not to blow out of his diaper on our way out the door.
Never wake a sleeping baby….or a sleeping princess, either!
I subscribe by email.
My tip is to be flexible and choose your battles.
I am a big fan of Project Runway and loved seeing Tim Gunn visit Laura at home…couldn’t believe she had so many children ans was so successful (and well dressed)!
I am a subscriber!
I follow on Twitter too! ‘Cuz u guyz rox! : )
I’m a facebook fan!
I subscribe!
I’d love to win! This book sounds just my style! Thanks for a chance!
This book sounds like a fun read – would love to win
I loved Laura in P.R. I would love to read this book, sounds fascinating.
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We just found out we’re pregnant a few days ago so we’re going to be first time parents! We have plenty of friends kids around who never fail to make us laugh. And we’ve gotten lots of advice from them as well, my favorite is “Sometimes you just have to laugh at the screaming because crying is the other option.”
A few days ago my 3 year old walked up in her red sparkly (think Dorothy) shoes, that she wears nearly every day. She said, “Mommy, these are my favorite, FAVORITE shoes, but they sure are starting to hurt my toes!” I asked her if she wanted to take them off and she said, “NO!” and ran off. I’m ashamed to say that instead of thinking I needed to buy her new shoes, my first thought was, “wow, I’m truly raising a girl!” ;)
The book looks like fun. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Best Mom of a Newborn advise I ever got…take a shower everyday. Even if the baby has to cry for 5 minutes, the water will make you feel better, no matter what.
Best Mom of a Pre-Schooler advise I ever got…take a shower everyday. Even if the preschooler has to cry for 5 minutes, the water will make you feel better, no matter what.
I subscribe via Google Reader
I follow you on twitter and here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/Steph2Pigs/status/11903108176
I’m a FB Fan
I was sitting here thinking of what advice to give and drawing a blank when my two girls piled into my lap and started making funny faces at me. So my advice is to have fun with them as often as you can. Yeah you have to be their parent and discipline them, but when they’re grown up and look back, I hope they’ll remember silly moments like this.
I subscribe via Google Reader
I follow on Twitter and I Tweeted this giveaway
http://twitter.com/5webs/status/11896470443
I am a Facebook Fan(Alicia Marie Webster)
Subscriber and FB fan. LOVE PN! I think this book looks funny, but I hate the title :( Makes me think that motherhood is a chore or the kids are such a drag….and I have a really good sense of humor! Bad bad title, but intro sounds funny and perfect.
Looks so cute, something I would LOVE for sure.
My best new mommy tip was taking away the paci early – which we did at 13-months before my paci-obsessed son could really fight back too much, like I pictured he would at 3 years old, if we waited. It took 2 nights of crying for about 15 minutes, but he learned to sleep without it, and we never looked back! Yeah! It was hard, but so worth it.
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FB fan on project nursery.
I would love to win this book. It seems like it would be a hysterical, fun read. My baby is only 7 months old, so I’m still learning. However, I’ve learned to not only have a change of clothes for your baby, but also at least an extra shirt for yourself.
That book seems hilarious! (I read the intro to it on the site) I am not a mommy YET, but will be next month! (May 23rd) so i could use all the parenting advice i can get ;0) Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!