Ron and me during our first trip to Vegas

My little Lola, trouble with a capital-T!

Ozzy, the little ham!

Hi there,
I love being a mom! There's nothing I enjoy more than getting hugs and kisses from my two little monkeys (Oscar is 5 and Lauryn is 19 months) and nothing I work harder at than is making sure they grow to be the best people they can be.

But parenting isn't my only passion. See that guy in the picture with me? He's the best thing that has ever happened to me. Ron and I met Dec. 29, 1998 and got married Jan. 13, 2000 on The Big Breakfast! Since then we have laughed, cried, loved and shared so many wonderful moments (that picture is of our first trip to Vegas and indiciative of how we like to have fun together!)

Of course, I'm not "just" Ron's wife or Oz and Lola's mom. A lifetime ago, I was a sportswriter for various publications including the Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sports Scene and the Kelowna Daily Courier.

I eventually went into the pre-press side of publishing to learn the finer points of getting files ready for the press. I worked at a couple of different printers in Edmonton before taking a job at Venture Publishing in Edmonton. I was hired to do ad production/co-ordination, once again learing a new aspect of the publishing industry. I also co-ordinated the launch of the website for Alberta Venture, fine-tuning my web-development skills.

After a year and half at Venture, Ron and I started our family so I stayed home. I loved being a SAHM with Oscar but after a while I craved adult conversation that didn't involve Bob the Builder or poopy diapers.

In 2004, I started a Muse Communications and helped small businesses with their marketing development. It was satisfying work at the time but the reason I started a communications company instead of a graphics or marketing company was to eventually go back into publishing.

Publishing is my passion and while staying home with Oscar, and eventually Lola, I saw a need for a magazine that compiled all the bits and pieces of information for moms that are out there. It was extremly difficult for me as a new mom and new to the area to know where to look for programs, play groups, fitness classes or ANYTHING that I might be intereted in.

The journalist in me wouldn't settle for just compiling the information - I needed to incorporate strong editorial content, fun and candid photography, events in conjunction with the magazine and a funky, user-friendly website.

I hope you enjoy MOM Magazine as much as I am enjoying creating it!

I look forward to meeting all of you and hearing your feedback - good or bad.