Red Stick Mom

Raising teenagers is hard. It always has been, and I’m afraid it always will be. With each generation comes its’ own set of issues. It’s crazy how far we’ve come in the last 20 years as far as technology alone is concerned. When I was in middle and high school, there were no cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Heck, most people didn’t even have internet in their homes until I was in college. It’s a new day, folks. It can be scary thinking about raising preteens and teenagers in the digital age, where it seems like everyone has access to your sweet baby. Believe me, we’re totally there at the Lawrence house. The thought of people I don’t know...

This is not a post about developmental milestones and language development. That will come in due time. Don't you worry. This is about (use your best granny voice) "Why can't kids these days have a conversation?" Conversation and communication are becoming obsolete. It all starts around ages 10-12. There are many reasons as to why this is the case and for many years these reasons have proven true (i.e. puberty, preteen rebellion, etc), but over the last 5 years something else entirely has changed the way kids communicate. The culprit is the PHONE. I'm sure Alexander Graham Bell never expected the telephone, of all things, to decrease and potentially eliminate communication. Texting has taken over this world. I love texting as much as the...

I get a stomach ache every time I see it…someone looking at their phone from behind the wheel.  My mind races with questions like, “Don’t they realize how dangerous that is?”, “Don’t they care about their own safety/livelihood?”, and “Don’t they know my kids are in the car next to them?!” My unanswered questions quickly lead to frustration.  To avoid having my frustration turn into anger, I try to stop and ask myself, “are you 100% focused on your driving 100% of the time?”  The honest answer is no.  While I may have signed the “It Can Wait”, as well as Oprah’s “No Phone Zone” pledges, committing never to text and drive, that doesn't make me immune to distractions...

I love a good bargain.  And like most moms, I’m always looking for ways to save money on healthy foods for my family.  One of the most expensive items on my grocery bill is always meat.  Seeing that we’re a very carnivorous family, this is a problem that needs fixing! Enter Zaycon Foods. Zaycon Foods is a Washington based business that provides direct-from-the-farm meat products sold by the case at sales events throughout the country including Baton Rouge.  Sounds like a mouthful, but it’s really quite simple. What do they offer, you ask? You can get everything from chicken to beef to ham. They even occasionally have fresh fruit and milk.   The full product line can be found at www.zayconfoods.com. ...

We are so thrilled to be featuring an amazing recipe from the one-and-only, local superstar chef Holly Clegg! Not only that, but she is giving away one of her fabulous cookbooks to one, lucky Red Stick Mom! She is such an inspiration when it comes to cooking healthy meals that don't compromise taste. We know you will enjoy making this recipe with your family! Don’t you love to shake off those winter blahs with the fun-filled festivities of Mardi Gras?! Although wildly popular in the South, the carnival season is now celebrated across the country. King cake season is one of my favorite Southern traditions, and here in Baton Rouge we really have some delicious options. However, now you can...