Don’t default to dinner and a movie all summer long. Northeast Ohio is full of great summertime date night options. If you get a night away from the kids, are exploring a new…
Jen Picciano
Playdate Vetting
How well do you know your kids’ friends and their parents? How well should you? My youngest daughter (3) was recently invited to a classmate’s house for a playdate. The child’s…
Secrets to Faking it as Super Mom
The term Super Mom makes me uncomfortable. It’s a lofty label to achieve. I’m not perfect, nor do I strive to be. I just try to make the most out of every day, and go to bed at night…
When To Say No
You know that classic interview question: What’s your biggest weakness? I know mine. I don’t know when to say NO. I’m a driven, ambitious person, and I have a serious case…
My Week in Leftovers
My friends always ask: “How do you just look into the fridge and know what to do with random ingredients?” Answer: I brainstorm. I investigate. I experiment. And the…
Fire Drill
My three year old started a fire in our kitchen while we were sleeping. Do I have your attention? She got ours. We awoke one night to the sound of the smoke alarm. The piercing noise…
Fishing for compliments
“Say something nice,” I would say as I fought back tears, frustration, or general agitation. “I love you,” he would reply. While I was, and still am, grateful to…
Resolution-Friendly Menus in CLE
When January rolls around, many of our resolutions and goals center around food and our waistlines. Eat better, eat less, eat local, etc.It’s hard enough to stick to a plan when…
Five Fun Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Better This Year
Is your New Year’s resolution to get your children to eat better? I got you covered like a kid in frosting at his first birthday party. With childhood obesity and diabetes cases at…
Five Better Things to do with Thanksgiving Leftovers
Don’t default to tired turkey salad or slap together a boring turkey sandwich in the days after your Thanksgiving feast. Try mixing it up with these Cheftovers ideas for your…