Jenny Feldon's Blog

Since I wrote my original post about perioral dermatitis treatment, I've received hundreds of comments, emails and messages from all over the world about how the solution I found--Clotrimazole 1% topical cream--has helped other people, too. A lot of other people.

(I've always dreamed of using my writing to help people. I never thought this would be the way it ended up happening, but hey...I'll take it!)

I decided to write this follow-up post to Perioral Dermatitis Treatment: My Story and provide everyone with an update on my condition, plus some tips and tricks for clear, healthy skin I've picked up along the way.

Did it come back? I do have occasional flare-ups of perioral dermatitis. Any number of factors can trigger them: stress, hormones, diet, lack of sleep. I've learned that the better care I take of myself, the less likely I am to have a flare. But hey, life can get crazy, and that's not always possible!

When I get a flare, it's about 5% as bad as the original case of perioral dermatits was for me--mostly just some redness and a few bumps under one side of my nose. The same treatment I discovered originally, my (absolutely lifesaving) Clotrimazole 1% still clears it right up within two to three days. I also sometimes use a small amount both morning and evening as a preventative.

But in addition to that, because I hate perioral dermatitis (even at 5%!) so, so much, I continue to actively seek solutions to help keep my skin in check and reduce the flare-ups as much as I can. Here's what's been working:

Moisturize & CleanseIn my quest to find natural treatment options for both my perioral dermatitis and my skin in general, I no longer use conventional moisturizers. My skin has never looked better, and I'm pretty sure I'm never going back! I use organic, cold-pressed jojoba oil mixed with aloe vera gel in the morning after I wash my face. In the evening, I use a blend of jojoba, hemp seed and rose hip oil (mixed myself from the products listed below.)

Teddie Organics Rosehip Oil
Leven Rose Organic Jojoba Oil
Renewalize 100% Hemp Seed Oil
Earth's Daughter Aloe Vera Gel

In addition, I've started washing my face with a sulfur soap and using sulfur ointment as needed. Before the invention of corticosteroids, sulfur was the go-to treatment for perioral dermatitis. It dropped out of fashion in the '70s, but some doctors are returning to this treatment plan. It didn't work alone when I originally used it for my PO, but for daily maintenance, I find that it keeps my skin really clear and bright. I also just started using the sulfur ointment as a spot treatment for flare-ups.

Branfells Labs Sulfur Soap
Branfells Labs Sulfur Ointment

Vitamins & SupplementsAfter a terrible, seemingly endless round of chronic ideopathic urticaria last year (I know, I know, I'm a medical disaster sometimes...but that's a whole different post) I started experimenting with supplements for my skin and overall health. I currently take a multivitamin, evening primrose oil capsules, a probiotic, and vitamin D and omega-3 supplements. My favorites:

Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
Barlean's Organic Evening Primrose Oil
Naturewise Vitamin D3
Align Probiotic


Diet & ExerciseWhen I eat better, my skin looks better. I still love Oreos and ramen noodles and pizza (and and and) but after successfully completely my first Whole 30 earlier this year, I'm committed to healthier eating 80% of the time and I can feel a difference in my whole body inside and out, skin included. I highly recommend giving it a try at some point! I'm also a (fifteen years strong!) devotee to hot yoga, which has dramatically changed my physical, mental and emotional health :)

For more information on Whole 30 living, check out:

The Whole 30: 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom

MakeupSince I've yet to find a 100% guarantee that this nasty condition will ever go away for good, finding makeup that gives me my confidence back has been a lifesaver. This product has been an absolute lifesaver!

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness Neutralizing Correcting Cream
(applied with the It Cosmetics Pointed Precision Brush, which is also awesome)

(AND, as a PSA, because I'm finishing a novel and getting up at 4:00AM every day to do it so really know my concealers at this point, the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer is also pretty much a miracle product)

So that's my update! Thank you to everyone who has written to say my original post helped them. It means to much to me, and I hope people struggling with the frustrating reality of perioral dermatitis continue to find helpful answers here and elsewhere on the internet. Cheers!

Disclaimer: The links that appear here are affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage if you place an order through Amazon for the products I mention (at no cost to you.) Thanks for your understanding and support!

The first time I attended Write Doe Bay, I was tagging along with my friend Claire, who was a teaching artist for the weekend. She convinced me it was something I needed after months of listening to me complain of a creative stagnancy that was making it hard for me to focus on my current project. So I went with her--on a plane, in a car, on a ferry boat and then another car and then a hike through the woods to this place that would end up changing me forever.

I'd been writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. Making up stories in my head for as long as I could remember. I'd published essays, gone to graduate school, won writing awards. My memoir had been published just ten months earlier. I didn't call myself a writer. 

It's hard to explain the magic of Doe Bay. And yes, I do mean magic. It's near enough to visit for the weekend, but so far from the "real" world that I had to strip layers and layers away just to get there. Nestled on tiny Orcas Island off the coast of Seattle, it is quiet, and serene, and stunningly beautiful, but also charged with an subtle, palpable energy that vibrates through you--an energy that is both a calming and an awakening in every breath.

I taught writing, published writing, breathed writing...but I didn't call myself a writer.

And Write? Write is a room full of magic and creativity and community and art. It's hot coffee and scribbled-in journals and learning new things. It's cracking your craft wide open and seeing everything upside down in a way that makes perfect sense. It's a whole lot of people who get it, who get you, and aren't afraid to hear you out and lift you up until you're different than you were when you walked in the door.

A little braver. A little more honest. A little more determined to go back to your regular life and kick some serious creative ass.



Today, I call myself a writer. 

Write Doe Bay helped me realize that being a writer isn't something you can define. It doesn't come all wrapped up in red ribbon when you publish a poem or or finish your first novel or hit the bestseller list. It's this tiny, unquenchable flame that comes from within you, and either you're born with it, or you seek it out, or you stumble on it by accident somewhere along the way. It's knowing yourself and respecting your craft enough to say the word "writer" out loud--without fear, without shame, without expectation of any outcome other than to do, and be, and believe. And more than anything else, it's a flame that needs oxygen and faith, hard work and community, and a willingness to chase impossible dreams in order to keep on burning.

Last February, I was honored to return to Write Doe Bay as a teaching artist, where I shared knowledge and space with another incredible group of writers, artists and creatives. In the midst of the support and revolution of that particular Write weekend, I made the life-altering decision to quit my marketing job and, for the first time in my life, focus exclusively on my career as an author.

This October 8-11, as I complete the manuscript for my first novel and continue to chase down new writing dreams, I'm returning to Write Doe Bay once again as a teaching artist, along with talented writers, musicians and creators Nikki McClure, Kris Orlowski and Jonathan Zwickel. I'm honored to share their space and hear their stories, and I'm excited to settle, once again, into the fabric of the magical Write community that unlocks new stories every day. If you've heard me talk about Write Doe Bay before and are thinking about attending, I hope you'll take the plunge and meet me on Orcas Island this fall for an unforgettable experience.


The details:

WRITE DOE BAY is an intimate 2.5 day writer's retreat and multi-workshop event held on beautiful Orcas Island, WA at Doe Bay Resort. We host award-winning authors/ writers of genres ranging from memoir, fiction, screenplay, songwriting, poetry, and more. We welcome participants at any stage of their creative path including those who are ready to take their first steps. 

WHEN: OCTOBER 8-11, 2015

FEES: $800 for workshop tuition, resort accommodations, and meals.

FORMAT: Workshops are held Friday and Saturday morning and afternoon. Evenings include a writer's open mic (for participants, teaching artists, and staff to share pieces of their work) and singer songwriter showcase set by Kris Orlowski. Sunday morning includes a closing ceremony and time for personal writing and exploration of the resort. 

If you have questions about the retreat, please email writedoebay@gmail.com (or send them my way!) Looking forward to sharing some magic together...

Hiding behind a coffee cup...my favorite place to be with perioral dermatitis.WARNING: this is one of the stranger blog posts I've written, and a departure from my usual topic of choice. I don't typically write--or talk--about medical issues, since it's one of the (many) aspects of my life I choose to keep private. HOWEVER. After battling a frustrating and stubborn-as-all-hell skin condition for the better part of the past year, I've decided to share what I've learned about my perioral dermatitis treatment journey as a "pay it forward" thank you to all the blog posts that helped me finally find treatments that worked. 

What is perioral dermatitis? Slightly itchy, slightly bumpy, reddish and really really annoying inflammation of the skin around the mouth. It affects mostly women between the ages of 20-50 and might have a hormonal element. Ugh.

I was diagnosed with this condition about a year ago, after a stubborn, bumpy red rash under my nose and on my chin just wouldn't go away and I finally dragged myself to a dermatologist (NOT the way I'd prefer to spend my rare kid-free, work-free hours.) Though the doctor laughed when I suggested it, I'm fairly certain the perioral dermatitis was brought on by over-zealous use of my Clarisonic Mia--I've always been a huge fan of exfoliating and just couldn't help myself with all those scrubby rotating bristles...but then this rash broke out and it looked TERRIBLE and no matter what I did, it wouldn't go away. The Clarisonic just made it worse, and I finally had to stop exfoliating all together.

The dermatologist sent me home with a month's worth of oral antibiotics and a prescription for sulfur face wash. I really, really hate taking antibiotics unless it's absolutely necessary--but I also hated having a gross embarrassing rash on my face. So I took the antibiotics, I used the face wash...and nothing happened. The rash cleared up a tiny bit (maybe?) with the antibiotics, and then the minute I stopped taking them? It came right back.

I tried just the face wash. I tried drinking more water. I tried a different face lotion (typically I only moisturize with coconut oil). Nothing helped.

A few months later and fed up again, I went back to the dermatologist. This time I was given Finacea cream, Metronidazole gel, and more sulfur face wash. All of which was expensive and, for me at least, totally ineffective. I used all three as directed for several weeks and saw absolutely NO change in my POD. The label on the Finacea says it can take up to eight weeks to see results...really?! Because this rash was ON MY FACE. Where OTHER PEOPLE COULD SEE IT. Eight (more) weeks just wasn't an option.

So I went where I probably should have gone in the first place: the internet. I scoured every blog post and article and comment I could find on perioral dermatitis treatment, specifically looking for natural remedies for perioral dermatitis, since I've been trying to rid our home of as many chemicals as possible and really hoped for a cure that would not only get rid of the rash, but be as natural as possible.

Below is a breakdown of what I tried, what worked and what didn't, and what finally ended up being the cure-- for me . I write this blog post with the hope that someone, somewhere, finds it helpful in beating a stubborn, truly awful condition.

After all my research, a ton of trial and error, and hundreds of treatment dollars spent, the truth about perioral dermatitis seems to be this: no one really knows what causes it. No one really knows how to treat it. But most importantly, the cause--and the cure--seem to be different for every person. So the best advice I can give anyone suffering from POD and looking for a solution is to try everything you can, keep an open mind about possible causes and treatments, and know you're not alone in the struggle.

What Didn't Work:Oral antibioticsFinaceaMetronidazoleTea tree oilSulfur face washAloe vera Oral zinc tabletsEvening primrose oil capsulesCalendula salveWhat Helped (a lot!) but didn't actually fix the problem:Switching to a fluoride-free toothpaste
No more sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS) in beauty or household products** Switching to SLS-free makeup (and tossing out all the old stuff!)Taking a daily probioticUsing BB creamwith zinc oxide as the active ingredientWashing my face only once a day with cleanser (I fell in love with this one) and using ONLY water in the morning/after working outAloe vera gel
(used once daily as a toner, pre-coconut oil)Coconut oil as moisturizer**I should note here that my perioral dermatitis has always been classified as MILD--so mild, in fact, that J continues to deny ever noticing I even had it (this, of course, is because he loves me and thinks I'm beautiful no matter what kind of creepy skin condition I have, but still...) Anyway. I DID have it, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. If you Google image POD you'll find some seriously scary stuff, and I'm blessed to have never had this condition to the full extent possible. I am 100% convinced that using coconut oil as a daily moisturizer kept the worst of my perioral dermatitis at bay. 

While it wasn't strong enough to get rid of the POD totally, coconut oil is a natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and has worked absolute wonders on my skin. And my hair. And on bug bites, sunburn, and eczema. And my cholesterol, which my doctor called "fantastic" at my last checkup. It's also amazing on toast. And in my coffee. OK, so I'm a bit of a fanatic. If you want more information on the (seriously amazing) health benefits of coconut oil before I get around to writing a love letter blog post about it, check out the book The Coconut Oil Miracle.

** for almost three years, I've been practicing something called the Curly Girl Method for Wavy hair (you can read my blog post about it here) and gave up hair products containing SLS ages ago...and I've never used those products on my kids. But I was much less diligent when it came to body wash, dishwashing liquids, hand soaps, etc...I had no idea that all those sulfates could be harming my skin just as much as they were harming my hair!

What I Never Got Around to Trying (but the internet says might work):Apple cider vinegar (topically. I take a few tablespoons a day mixed with hot water and lemon for general health reasons, which I highly recommend. Using ACV as a toner is a popular suggestions for natural treatment of perioral dermatitis, but I never got around to trying it.)Diaper rash cream containing zinc oxideViolet extractCalendula cream (different than calendula salve, above)And finally...

What WORKED!!! (for me):
Clotrimazole cream, 1%

Yep. You read that right. After almost twelve consecutive months of frustration, trial and error, and hating the way my face looked in the mirror, the only treatment for perioral dermatitis that actually WORKED was Clotrimazole, a $4.99 tube of anti-fungal cream, most commonly used to treat athlete's foot. I found this humble suggestion buried DEEP in the comment section of another blogger's frustrated post about her battle with POD. The comment was short and to the point. It said that perioral dermatitis was nothing more than a common yeast infection, and the cure was equally as common: buy a tube of Lotrimin (or generic, which Clotrimazole is) anti-fungal cream at the drugstore and call it a day.

I ran to the drugstore basically right that minute and applied the cream that night before bed. Within hours (because yes I got up in the middle of the night and checked), the bumps had gone away and my skin was noticeably smoother. By morning, my perioral dermatitis had improved by 80%. 24 hours later? It was almost completely gone.

It's now been a full week, and other than some residual redness around my nose, my perioral dermatitis is a distant memory and I can leave the house without makeup on for the first time in a full year without feeling like everyone is staring at my weird face rash thing. I'll continue to use the clotrimazole cream for two full weeks to make sure the infection is gone, as the directions on the package suggest. Finding a cure for my POD is liberating, exciting, and such an incredible relief. Thank you, THANK YOU, anonymous internet commenter...you've saved my skin.

Will clotrimazole cream work for everyone with POD? I truly don't know, and my guess is that because so many different factors contribute to and exacerbate POD (hormonal, environmental, nutrition, etc) that it probably won't work for some people. I've read blog posts that tout miracle cures for perioral dermatitis that simply didn't work for me. But if you're suffering from POD and haven't found your cure yet, this is definitely something worth trying!

After finally finding a cure for my perioral dermatitis, I'm surprised and thrilled to say my skin looks better than it has in my entire adult life, thanks to some awesome new products I've discovered along the way. Here's a list of products I've kept as part of my daily routine that are truly outstanding...I love them all!
Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45Tarte BB Tinted Treatment 12-Hour Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 SunscreenRMS Beauty Tinted "Un" PowderTarte Cheek Stain True LoveEra Organics Natural Face WashAloe Vera Gel By Earth's Daughter Marrakesh Original Shampoo + Conditioner Jason Sea Fresh Toothpaste, Deep Sea SpearmintI suppose I should have an "after" picture to post here...and at the moment, I don't (and no "before" pictures, either...because who wants THAT documented for posterity??) But if I get around to taking one, I'll update the post. For now, you'll just have to take my word for it...

Do you suffer from POD? Did you find a perioral dermatitis treatment that worked for you? Please share in the comments below...I'd love to hear your story!

Oh. Hi, blog. Like a treasured forever friend, you're always here waiting for me when I'm ready...
Recently, I found clarity on a tough decision I've been wrestling with for far too long. Today marks the last day of an old way of life. Tomorrow will be the start of a new one.

I'm following my heart, maybe for the first real time in my life. I'm going after something big and scary and exciting, and it feels like some of my wildest dreams are a little closer with every step.
It also means I'll be able to come here again, to this space I've loved and neglected for so long. Maybe not all the time. But sometimes. Which is an improvement on never.  I'm looking forward to putting words to my journeys again.
And it means I'll have more time for other things, too...the things in this world I love the most. My family, above all, but also the passions and half-finished projects and all those things close to my heart that have been, like this blog, pushed aside in favor of other pursuits that filled every hour of my days. 
One of those things is yoga. Another is spending more time giving back my community. And as if the universe was speaking directly to me, these ends and beginnings lined up perfectly to join my yoga studio's Sweat For Change campaign, which aims to raise $150,000 for Little Kids Rock, an organization that helps brings music to children all over Los Angeles who wouldn't otherwise have instruments or music education. With the money, Little Kids Rock will be able to bring music to 6,000 students in 5,000 Los Angeles area schools.
For more information, you can check out the fundraising page here. I really hate asking people for money, since I believe people should feel good about giving what they can to the charities they believe in, so please keep reading and ignore the link if you'd like...this post was my gentle reentry into my blog, and this happened to be what came to mind when I touched my fingers to the keyboard. However, if you're inspired by Little Kids Rock and the Sweat For Change project and want to make a donation, every penny is appreciated.

There will be more on my story here soon. I'm taking small steps back into a life that lets words in more freely and more often. In the meantime, I'll be sweating and celebrating and taking big leaps toward to the next phase of life and the next version of myself I'm ready to become.

“The best thing you’ve ever done for me...is to help me take my life less seriously...it’s only life, after all.” --Indigo Girls
Ever since I moved back to the United States from India, celebrating small moments has been one of the most important things I do in my daily life. Gratitude is now the driving force behind my attitudes, my decisions, and my celebrations. I learned--the hard way!--that losing sight of the beauty in everyday life can mean missing out on your own incredible journey. And that taking life too seriously? Can make all the difference in all the wrong ways.
Big moments are important too, of course--the birthdays and firsts-days and great big live-out-loud milestones are fun and important and beautiful, too. But since my great Indian adventure, and the even greater adventure called parenthood, I know now that taking the time to appreciate the beauty and grace in the everyday...to be here now...is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and the people we love. 
Which is why I’m pleased to be working with American Express, and my dear friend Soleil Moon Frye, to spread awareness for the #EveryDayMoments campaign. The American Express Everyday Card is designed with moms in mind. Using the card on everyday essentials like clothing and groceries has a big payback, and it’s a great way to make it a little easier for parents to create everyday celebrations for their families.
Check out the card on Facebook here, and also Soleil’s super cute video below, where you can see how she and her adorable family turned the everyday moment of buying a (gasp!) minivan into a dance party. (And yes, I’m one of those minivan snob moms who shudders at the words “sliding door” and had made fun her of endlessly since the day she brought it home...but this video sort of just a little bit changes my mind...)

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by American Express. All opinions and statements are my own, including making fun of minivans (but secretly envying minivan dance parties...)

I never thought I'd say this, ever, but...
Internet? You failed me.

When E came home and announced she wanted a birthday party inspired by her favorite literary character, I Googled "how to throw a hamster birthday party" and came up with nothing.

Really, nothing. Nada.
Not one single post.

How can that be? Do I have the only kid on the planet who's obsessed with all things hamster? (OK, I probably do...)

Ninety billion hours on Pinterest, Etsy, Amazon and various and assorted craft websites later, I'm pleased to present the Internet's very first hamster birthday party how-to post. So if anyone else's kid falls in love with Humphrey the hamster and wants to party like a rodent? You'll be all set.

Hamster Party Craft



This was by far the most important part of our hamster party (and also the one I'm most proud of.) A craft table activity that doubled as a favor, these DIY hamster balls were the hit of the party and an absolute blast to make. Using real hamster bedding (available at pet stores or on Amazon) and an assortment of hamster accessories, we created individual hamster balls that each child took home as a "pet." Since the party, we've gotten a ton of texts, emails and pictures of the hamsters in all sorts of cool places. I guess they were a hit!

What you will need:

140mm clear acrylic fillable ball ornaments (available at Small stuffed hamsters (we used this one from Amazon)
Hamster accessories: mini wooden blocks, miniature carrots, baby bottles, hamster snacks, miniature teddy bears
Baker's twine (we used purple)
Kraft paper hamster-shaped tags (check out these from Etsy)
Sharpie marker (for labeling)




We put everything into bowls on the craft table and let the kids create their own perfect hamster habitat. (Note: adult supervision is really helpful here, since the ornament balls can be a little tricky to close. Huge thank you to my rock star cousin Natalie, who was the best Hamster Station manner ever.) When the kids were finished creating their hamster balls, we wrote their names in Sharpie on hamster tags and used baker's twine to attach the tags and keep the ornament balls closed.




Hamster Party Entertainment



Hamster-themed birthday party entertainment was a tough one. I found these giant inflatable hamster balls on Amazon, but that seemed sort of not safe and maybe a personal injury lawsuit waiting to happen. So I begged our local puppet show guy to perform (he's amazing) and incorporate a hamster into his script. I provided the hamster puppet. The puppet show was a BIG hit with the kids, and E got to keep the hamster puppet at the end of the show. Double awesome.


Hamster Party Snacks

For snacks, we went with stuff E thought hamsters might like, based on her knowledge of hamster from obsessively reading Humphrey the Hamster books. Knowledge which may or may not be accurate...but whatever, we went with it and it looked super cute! Pretzel sticks, popcorn, carrot and celery sticks...all easy stuff to arrange in mason jars so the kids could grab what they wanted. For both the craft and snack tables, I hand-lettered signs using purple paint and cardboard. We also did an "adult food" table and switched out the carrots, etc for a tower of mini purple and brown cupcakes (red velvet and chocolate-chocolate, E's specific request) when it was time for cake.


Hamster Party Candy Station



The final touch to our hamster birthday party was a candy station customized with all of E's favorites (and some of mine!) We wrapped wide mouth mason jars and some glass vases we had around the house with baker's twine and filled them with an assortment of small candies. E and N had a blast stamping kraft paper bags with a hamster rubber stamp and the words "Happy Birthday." As each guest left the party, they got to fill a bag with some sweet treats.



Hamster Birthday Gift

Confession: I may or may not be the worst mom ever for refusing to get E an ACTUAL real live hamster for her birthday. Which she really, really wanted. But with two jobs and two kids, not to mention a husband, a dog, and a whole lot of other things on my plate, adding a rodent was Just. Not. Happening.

So I did the second best thing I could: I made her the coolest faux hamster set up, ever. It's got a water bottle, a feeding station, a hamster wheel, plus all the cute wooden chew toys a (stuffed) hamster could want. Check it out!


E was really happy and excited about her "real" Humphrey and his hamster habitat...so much so that she's been "feeding" him, giving him water, reading to him, and sleeping with the whole thing right next to her pillow every night since her birthday. Which, if you think about it, is even BETTER than an alive hamster...because no way would she be sleeping with a rodent next to her pillow.
(Just saying.)

And the tradition continues.

I can't believe my baby girl is turning six years old. Time is flying by. Every moment feels more precious than the one that came before it. This year, we did our traditional birthday blog interview on the couch after school, E curled up on my shoulder, reading her words out loud as I typed them. When on earth did she get SO BIG? 

So much is changing, but her sweetness and kindness and compassion and curiosity about the world remained unchanged, and I am grateful.

The Interview

Favorite color: silver

Favorite dessert: melty mint candies

Favorite fruit: orange melon (cantaloupe)

Favorite vegetable: carrots

Favorite food: tacos

Favorite song: On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons (god I love this kid)

Favorite thing to do: snuggle with my dog

Favorite restaurant: the Persian restaurant

Favorite thing to do at school: read

Favorite thing to do on the weekends: have playdates with my friends

Favorite movie: The Sound of Music

Favorite TV show: Garfield & Friends

Favorite book: The World According to Humphrey

Favorite animal: koala

Favorite place to go: the beach

Favorite game: Candyland

Favorite flower: bougainvillea

Favorite thing to do with friends: jump rope

What do you want to be when you grow up? a librarian

What are you afraid of? not bees anymore....fire and bad guys

What makes you happy? C (her best friend), Mommy, Daddy, N, Tucker, when the rainbow comes out.

Tell me about yourself: My name is E and I like having playdates and playing with my dog. I like to imagine. I like playing with my brother. I am an American. I like going swimming and climbing trees.

Do you want to make a six-year-old statement? Nope.

I'm excited and honored to be part of the cast for Listen to Your Mother OC. This incredible show is "giving motherhood a microphone"...literally. The show, produced and performed locally in cities across the nation, features live readings about motherhood--the trials, the triumphs, the side-splittingly funny moments and the ones that shatter your heart into a million pieces.

LTYM’s mission includes supporting parents and communities in both creative and tangible ways. The benefits of LTYM reach beyond the audience and cast, with a portion of the proceeds from all productions going to a national charitable cause and local community charitable causes supporting mothers and families. Ten percent of the Orange County LTYM ticket proceeds will benefit WISEPlace – A Community of Housing and Hope for Women.

Performing on stage in front of (gulp) hundreds of people is far, far outside my comfort zone. But I'm humbled to be joining a truly outstanding, talented cast and very proud to be part of such a powerful event. If you're in the SoCal area, I'd love to see you there!

To purchase tickets for Listen to Your Mother OC , visit http://listentoyourmothertheoc.brownpapertickets.com. And if you're feeling lucky, check out my friend Kim's awesome LTYM ticket giveaway here!

Last year's spring cleaning cast-offs. Best feeling in the world!It's that time of year again.

Flowers...birds...a bittersweet goodbye to boots and sweaters. Because in LA, it's spring time again. 70 degrees and sunny. Not to be confused with the 70-degrees-and-sunny winter season, or the 70-degrees-and-sunny fall. Did I mention I'm an east coast girl at heart and I really, really miss the seasons?

Anyway.

Spring is officially here, and since I no longer get to celebrate new seasons with actual changes in the weather, I celebrate them with new beginnings, new resolutions, and--most important of all--a good old-fashioned clutter clearing.

If you've followed me here for a while, you know how much I love to get rid of clutter. Holding on to more physical clutter (and digital clutter) is directly related to mental clutter. Less belongings equal less mess, less chaos, and more space to breathe, create, and dream. So this spring, I'm really excited to be taking a brand-new and somewhat hard core approach to getting rid of stuff thanks to my friend Morgan at the818.com. She's created a hashtag called #cutyourcrap, and she's tossing 5 things a day for the next 90 days on an epic journey toward a clutter-free summer. Less stuff and more zen by summertime? Count me in.

Sound like too much to handle? That's where Glad Black bags come in. I'm a huge believer in tossing stuff without looking back, so at any given moment during my clutter-clearing phases there are three giant trash bags labeled with masking tape: Trash, Recycle, and Donate. Glad's easy-to-use, industrial strength bags make it super easy to set a timer (10 minutes max!) right before bedtime, take a good hard look around the house, and find five things to toss, recycle, or give away.

I'll be posting some of the things I'm letting go of on Instagram with the #cutyourcrap hashtag, so if you want to join in, come visit me there and don't forget to post some photos of your own--when it comes to tossing stuff, there's definitely motivation in numbers. There's nothing like social media to give you a not-so-gentle nudge when it's time to let go of your prom dress or the instruction manual to an alarm clock that broke during the Clinton administration...

(Let it go. Let it GO...)
*sorry. I couldn't help it!

And for even more clutter clearing inspiration, check out this awesome Glad Black video!

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Glad, but concerns my own opinion.

Dear N,

OMG you're THREE.

By the time you're old enough to read this, you'll roll your eyes at that first line and how lame Mommy can be sometimes. Let's be honest: if you could read NOW you'd roll your eyes, because since the minute you were born you've been a tough crowd. Quick to understand the joke but slow to be amused...until we hit on just the right thing to make you giggle, and then you laugh uncontrollably with such infectious, enormous delight that it makes us laugh like crazy too.

You are three and you are amazing. You are affectionate and sweet and empathetic. You ask a million questions, and they're really, really good ones. You talk nonstop (at least, when your sister gives you the chance to get a word in) in fourteen-word sentences with your funny toddler-pronunciation I still don't always understand.You notice everything. You are listening and watching all the time. You get smarter and wiser and more compassionate every day. You know when someone is tired, or sad, or needs a giant N-hug. The ferocity of your love leaves me breathless and laughing and sometimes bruised in weird places. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.


You are a dedicated, fiercely loyal and loving little brother. E is your whole world. You would follow her anywhere, to the ends of the earth or the edges of the backyard. The two of you have this magical, unexplainable and unbreakable bond that blows my mind and makes me grateful every day.


You wear sunglasses all the time, everywhere, sometimes indoors. You are blue jeans and big-boy underwear and race car pajamas. You are golden curls and clear blue eyes that disappear completely when you laugh. You laugh all the time and we love that about you. You love books and trains and cookies, pizza and carrots and Lightning McQueen (oh my goodness, how you love Lightning McQueen...) Your favorite game is Hungry Hungry Hippos, and you always need to be the blue one, because blue is your very favorite color. You still sleep with your Dora the Explorer doll and your giraffe lovey every night...but your favorite expression is "I do it MYSELF, Mommy!"


You are more stubborn than all the rest of us put together, and that's saying a lot. You know your own mind and aren't afraid to let anyone know it. You are secret giggles and silly jokes and nonstop mischief. You push boundaries. You want to be seen and listened to and understood. You are as shy as you are brave. Your need for independence, and your need to be curled up safe in my lap, shift back and forth like a pendulum.


I hope you never stop wanting to be independent. I hope you never stop curling up in my lap. I am so very, very proud of you, my beautiful son, for being strong and kind and affectionate and stubborn and silly and loving and brave. You bring smiles to the faces of everyone you meet. You light up my whole world. You are getting bigger every minute...but you are, always and forever, my baby boy.

Happy Birthday, sweet N.
I love you so much.

love,
Mommy