chicken soup for the soul: power moms

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nyc :: part two

May 11, 2009 in family+career, life as a writer, living our dreams! by eringoodman | 4 comments

{Yesterday I shared the first part of our NYC trip. Today it’s on to the event that brought us there…}

12:45 p.m. – Meeting the other Power Moms!

My quiet moments of awe in the empty room, were soon replaced by the steadily building buzz of arriving Power Moms. Alongside front row seats reserved for the contributors and the shiny stage set for the special guests, we began passing books for signatures.

1:00 p.m. – The panel.

I did not ask ahead of time if it was okay to take photos so I only snapped a couple (without a flash). Seen from left to right are: Mary Himes, wife of Congressman Jim Himes, Liz Lange, Jill Kargman and Danielle Ganek.

And here is Danielle Ganek, Jane Green and Elise Chidley.

Chicken Soup for the Soul publisher, Amy Newmark, was also part of the panel, which was introduced and moderated by the book’s editor, Wendy Walker.

3:00 – The book-signing.

After the panel discussion, it was time for the book-signing! Check out the crowd in front of the RI Power Moms table. (It might have had something to do with the giant basket of delicious chocolates that Robin’s sister made for us, but let’s just pretend it was all about us! ;-)

Here we are (Robin Kall, me and Kim Beauchamp) soaking it all in. (The fourth Rhode Island contributor, Lisa Tener, opted not to join us in NYC as she felt that all the recent events were putting too much stress on her family – something I think everyone who attended, including Liz Lange who had to excuse herself early to be with a sick child, can understand.)

4:00 p.m. – The other big event.

As the event ended, I walked out to find Lily and her friend getting ready for their own press event. First they rearranged the ropes. Then they hopped up on a little platform and began fielding questions from the audience.

Tolly Mosely, senior publicist with Phenix and Phenix, was so sweet and played along with the girls asking them some tough questions like: What is your favorite color? What is your favorite food? What are you going to do after this event?

Lily’s answers, by the way, were: Purple. Chicken-Broccoli. (Recipe here.) And PLAY!!!!!!!

And that’s just what the girls did for several hours until it was time for us to catch our train home.

7:15 p.m. - Dancing in Penn Station.

7:45 p.m. – Heading out of the city.

9:15 p.m. – And that’s a wrap!

I keep finding myself using one word to describe this whole experience – magical – and that’s just what it was. Absolutely magical.

nyc :: part one

May 10, 2009 in life as a writer, living our dreams! by eringoodman | 3 comments

{Back from NYC. Settling back in. Celebrating life with a very special three-year-old boy, Maypole-dancing with friends, enjoying Mother’s Day with extended family. Eagerly anticipating a week of re-grounding in the garden, visiting with the chicks (who are getting quite adventurous and in need of more secure housing!), sheep-shearing, transplanting perennials, getting back on track with meal-planning, reminiscing and soaking up all the magic of the last few weeks, and getting back into a regular posting rhythm here, starting with some photos from Friday’s trip! Ahhhhhh…

Oh and if you happen to be stopping in here for the first time, here’s the story of why I was in NYC!}

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6:15 a.m. – Sleepy girl snuggles with Papa while waking up.

7:15 a.m. – All aboard! Lily, Nana and Mama are on the train.

(Ten minutes into the ride, Lily asked, “Are we there yet?” Boy was I glad I borrowed a portable DVD player, just in case the three-hour train ride proved to be a little too long for her.)

10:00 a.m. – Coming in to the city…

11 a.m. - The Oasis.

On Wednesday I managed to make contact with the parents of Lily’s dear friend from school who moved to New York City in December. They opened their apartment to us and guided us around the city (SUCH a wonderful gift)!!! After our train ride, followed by a subway ride, we slipped into the quiet apartment where Lily was able to play with familiar toys and relax with her friend before my event.

12:00  – Follow me!

It was just a short walk from the apartment to Lincoln Center, where my event was being held, but my friend Helena kindly offered to escort me there. (She took her bike so she could zip back to her apartment to take Lily and my mom with them for lunch. This “Power Mom” had to do some serious “power walking” to keep up with her — thank goodness I wore comfy walking shoes — but I was SO grateful to have a guide on the unfamiliar city streets.)

12:30 p.m.  Arriving.

I said goodbye and thanked Helena, checked myself in, and then walked into the empty room where the event would begin shortly. I looked up at the stage and the microphones and the shiny long table and circled round the empty room, peeking out the windows at the streets below. 

Wow.

To be continued…

ri power moms :: the book-signing

May 4, 2009 in events, life as a writer, living our dreams! by eringoodman | 7 comments

After our radio debut early Saturday morning, the “Rhode Island Power Moms” reconvened at the North Kingstown Library where we read our stories and signed copies of the book.

This experience was a lovely home-coming for me as I grew up in North Kingstown and have spent many peaceful hours at the library.

It was also a powerful experience of coming home to my true Self.

I absolutely love public speaking. LOVE it. I love the butterflies I feel right before an event, the high I feel during an event, and the amazing peace I feel immediately after. But for a long time I’ve had trouble accepting and embracing this love because I’ve often thought that “wanting the spotlight” is ego-motivated, and therefore inherently negative.

But this event was such a powerful reminder to me of the amazing beauty of leading with the heart and expressing oneself in the manner we are called to do, which for me includes writing, photography, teaching, leading small groups and slipping behind a podium whenever I can!

Here are a few photos from the afternoon:

Thanks to everyone who came out to support us and Families First Rhode Island. Thank you to Bagelz of Wickford for donating food. And thank you to the North Kingstown Library for helping to put together such a lovely event.

Next stop…NYC!!!

ri power moms :: on the radio

May 3, 2009 in events, life as a writer, living our dreams! by eringoodman | 5 comments

I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun we are having! Seriously. So. Much. Fun.

Being on the Robin’s radio show yesterday morning was an absolute blast! I had to meet Lisa and Kim at 6:15 a.m. to get to Robin’s show in Providence a few minutes before 7, which for me at the southernmost end of the state, meant being up, dressed and out of my house by 5:45 – something this work-from-home mama has not had to do in a long time!

But I’m happy to report that we all made it on time (despite Kim’s crazy ”power mom moment” when she realized as she pulled into our meeting spot, a few minutes early thinking she’d have some time to center and relax, that she took the wrong car — the one with the car seats that her husband needed to take her daughters to a school event — and that she needed to turn around and rush home to make the switch!)

We all had a good laugh about that one on the ride up — never a dull moment in the life of a power mom that’s for sure!!

So here’s what happened once we got to the studio…

The first thing that caught my eye was the giant clock that told us when we would be going on-air! Oh my!!! (This would be when I started reminding everyone, including myself, to take deep breaths.)

We all tried to stay out of the way as Robin’s producer, Michael, raced around making sure everything was good to go. (Everyone was a little annoyed with me for taking pictures so early in the morning, when nobody was wearing make up, but that didn’t stop me! ;-)

Here’s Kim getting settled in at her mic…

This is seconds before we are going on air. Look how calm and relaxed Robin and Michael are…

And here we all are at the end of the show. Ahhhhhh….

Standing (from left) Sarah Sinclair, executive director of Families First Rhode Island, Lisa Kirshenbaum, member of the board of directors for Families First, “Radio Mom” Robin Kall, Kimberly Beauchamp and seated (from left) Lisa Tener and me (aka Erin Goodman).

The RI Power Moms are donating all proceeds from book sales made this weekend to Families First Rhode Island, an amazing organization that works to help decrease risk factors for post-partum depression by creating supportive community for new mothers. The grass-roots organization, which was founded by Sally Harrison, RN, pairs new moms with volunteer mentor moms and also hosts monthly social events for pregnant and new moms (all free of charge).

If you are in Rhode Island, and would like to volunteer as a mentor mom, or if you, or someone you know, would like support, please call 383-9933 or e-mail sally [at] familiesfirstri [dot] org. And if you are anywhere in the world and would like to make a donation to support this wonderful organization, you can do so via their website.

Thank you Sally, Sarah, Lisa and everyone at Families First! We are so grateful for all that you do!

And now I’m off to make breakfast for my kiddos and get ready for today’s event, the Southern New England Women’s Expo.

I’ll be back when I can with photos from yesterday’s reading and book-signing! Yay!!!

ri power moms are making the rounds

April 30, 2009 in events, family+career, life as a writer, living our dreams! by eringoodman | 10 comments

It’s official! Thanks to the wonderfully creative Charlie Hall, the RI Power Moms are now superheroes!

That’s me on the left, followed by Robin Kall, Kimberly Beauchamp and Lisa Tener.

You can read more about us at kidoinfo.com. If you are local, there is also a story in the Time Out section of this week’s Narragansett Times (and the Chariho Times, Standard Times, EG Pendulum and Coventry Courier). I’ll also post the story on my website as soon as I can!

And here’s where we’ll be this week…

Saturday (5/2)

Radio Appearance: WHJJ’s Reading with Robin show 7-8 a.m. EST. Tune in at 920 AM or listen live online at 920WHJJ.com.

Reading/Book-signing: North Kingstown Public Library, 2 p.m.

Sunday (5/3)

Southern New England Women’s Expo, 10-4 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick

Friday (5/8)

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms Book Launch Party, 1 p.m. at Barnes and Nobel at Lincoln Center, New York City.

A very special “Power Moms” panel will be hosted by some of our fellow story contributors.

-Liz Lange, Founder of Liz Lange Maternity
-Jane Green, bestselling author
-Victoria Colligan, Founder of Ladies Who Launch
-Amy Newmark, Publisher of Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
-Wendy Walker, Editor of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms

The panel will be followed by Q&A and a book-signing.

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And somewhere in there we’re going to surprise neighbors with May baskets, plant the giant bags of perennials friends sent our way, dance a Maypole, and plan a third birthday celebration for our favorite tractor-loving boy. 

So, needless to say, I’m going to sign off here for a bit. I have a couple of posts scheduled for next week and will pop in to share photos I’m sure. And then I’ll be back to regular posting after our NYC trip (my first ever!!!!).

Be well friends!

have i mentioned that i’m in a book?

March 13, 2009 in life as a writer, living our dreams! by eringoodman | 18 comments

Because I am!!

It’s called Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms, and I know I’m a little biased because I’m a contributor, but seriously, it is a really great book!

The book is filled with stories written by mothers (some very famous, I might add) about their decision to stay at home with their children and/or work from home.

My contribution actually offers a slightly different perspective as it is about my realization that being a full-time at-home parent was not working for me and therefore deciding to return to work. Although it is a contrast to many of the stories in the collection, it actually fits in nicely with the book, which to me is about being an empowered mom and making the best possible decision for ourselves, our children and our unique family situations.

Wendy Walker, the editor of the book, created a great trailer about the book that you can see here. We also have a fast-growing group on facebook that you can join. I will be doing some local readings (along with three other Rhode Island authors) and I will also be taking my first (ever!!!!) trip to New York City for a gathering of the contributors and book-signing in May, so stay tuned for that adventure!!

In the meantime, how about a little give-away??

Just leave a comment here to be entered for a chance to win a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms. (Heck! I’ll even sign it for you if you want! ;-)

Comments will be open until Sunday at 5 p.m. EST.

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So…I got a little carried away with the random number generator and decided to pick THREE winners and they are…

Hillary, who said:

Congratulations! I would so love to win the book!

Tara, who said:

Oh I’d love to win this. I love your writing style and would love to read your part of this wonderful book.

And, Tea Mama Jen, who said:

WOW! congrats! I think we’d better celebrate this one mama :)

this book sounds fantastic..Hope to check it out soon!

Congratulations!!! Thanks everyone!!!

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