Frequently Asked Questions

What is this site about?

So glad you asked. SlowMama is where I write about my attempts to live a good life in a speed-obsessed world. I cover lifestyle areas like food, home, health, design, travel, and advocacy, as well as parenting, life coaching, and random musings on life. You will notice a special emphasis here on adoption, because that’s my path to mama-hood. And there are some amazing guest writers who contribute to this blog as well.

I hope to make this site a positive, helpful, fun place to be. That doesn’t mean I don’t occasionally vent, complain, or say something sarcastic. After all, I’ve got to be me.

And please don’t mistake what you read here for my whole life. This is just a small slice of the pie.

What exactly is a Slow mama?

The name is a play on the Slow movement (made famous by the grassroots organization, Slow Food), which is all about countering society’s obsession with speed and sameness.

Living Slow doesn’t mean moving like a turtle all the time, but doing everything at the best pace. It’s also about simplifying, and staying connected to what’s important.

More than anything else, Slow is an attitude, and a SlowMama is a woman who commits herself to adopting this attitude to live a richer, fuller existence.

What are your credentials?

I’m a published writer, certified life coach, and former leadership team member of Slow Food Baltimore. I’ve got a master’s degree in counseling, two bachelor’s degrees, professional experience in various fields, and I make a mean apple pie.

Is there anything else I should know about you?

Hmmmm. I don’t know. Here are some random tidbits: I have nine siblings and they’re the best. I read a lot of historical biographies and cookbooks. I fantasize about being a farmer, an international journalist, and a dancer. Nothing makes me angrier than injustice. One of my favorite memories is making cheese at a farm on a frigid December day. I’m Catholic. I’ve met a pope and a president. I know some extraordinary people. I was an extra on HBO’s The Wire. I’ve sung professionally. I’m afraid to fly. I almost worked in Kenya. I want to know Spanish. I want to eat crepes and pain au chocolat in Paris. Grocery shopping relaxes me. I like discussing politics, religion, and culture. I love my clients. I wish I were more domestic. I wish I were more crafty. I love my bed. And my husband. That’s enough for now.

Where do you get the photos you post?

A few pictures on this site were taken by Renata Grzan. Otherwise, unless otherwise noted, I take them myself. I’m just a beginner. My contributors take their own pictures. Please don’t use our photos without asking first.

Why don’t you have a blog roll?

I do have one — you can find it under my Resources tab. There I list various blogs, web sites, books, and films related to Slow living, living a good life, parenting, and anything else I think is worth knowing about. If you’d like to be listed there or have a great resource to share with me, let me know.

Since you seem to be into food, what is your food philosophy?

I am into food. Always have been. Food is life, and a cornerstone of culture. How and what you eat says a lot about you.

I espouse the basic philosophy of Slow Food — that food should be good, clean, and fair. I support the local food and wine movements and believe that farmers and food producers are key to a thriving civilization. While technology has linked the world and changed the way we eat, we must find ways to preserve and celebrate local and regional food culture, traditions, recipes, land, and seeds.

Eating for health is also a major priority for me, which means you’ll find things in my cupboards that aren’t local to me, such as cocao nibs, maca powder, coconut oil, and chia seeds. I could never give up foods like olive oil, bananas, citrus, spices, and nuts.

At the same time, you won’t find strawberries or fresh tomatoes in my kitchen in January, or endangered fish and industrially-raised poultry any time of the year. I buy a lot of my food from local farmers and growers. I’m not a vegetarian, though I eat that way a lot. I could never join the vegans, because they use margarine (ugh… fake food!). I love butter, cream, bread, chocolate, and every edible mushroom I’ve ever met.

Why did you decide to adopt, and why Ethiopia?

Decisions about building a family are always personal, but people are curious about adoption. I’m happy to be an advocate because there are many children in this world who need families. My husband and I thought about adopting internationally before we met. Time flew by, biological kids never showed up, and we decided we better get to it. Ethiopia is a country we were not only eligible for, but drawn to; we love the culture, the history, the people.

Do you know who your kids are and when they will arrive?

No and no. If you find out, give us a ring because we have no idea whether we need cribs or beds, bottles or TV dinners, or what sized clothing we should be looking for.

Can I advertise here?

Yes, so long as your product or service compliments the values of this site. Please contact me for more information.

Do you do give-aways?

Yes, occasionally. Sometimes the prize is something I’ve purchased, other times it’s been donated to me. I will only give away or review something I like. If someone sends me a product or service to review or give away, I’ll always be upfront about it. Full-disclosure is the name of the game around here.

If you do have a product or service you’d like me to give away or review, let’s chat.

How do you make money from this blog?

I sell advertising, I’m open to sponsored posts or trades (if they’re in keeping with what this blog is about), and I’m an Amazon Affiliate.

I like your site — who designed it?

Thank you. The guys at Proof Branding in Nashville did a fantastic job. They’re talented, super nice, and great to work with. If you need a logo, web site, marketing or branding help, check them out. And be sure to tell them I sent you.

Can you tell me more about your guest bloggers?

Happy to.

First up is Ann Waterman, a mother of two, based in northern Virginia. Ann is not only one of the best home organizers I know, she’s got an eye for the items and information women seek. Lucky for us, she shares her great finds and sage advice here on SlowMama.

Next is Margaret Cabaniss — called “Mags” sometimes around these parts — who hails from Raleigh, North Carolina. She’s an editor by day, and in her spare time dreams up creative craft projects that are fun, do-able, and pretty darn cool. It’s enough to make me want to try knitting again for the eighteenth time. In addition to her arts and crafts posts, Mags treats us to some of her home cooking creations and her eye for fashion.

Leah Moss, the latest addition to the SlowMama tribe, is a mother of three, and an interior designer based in Washington, DC. She incorporates Slow principles into her work, and has a particular interest in helping women create spaces that are beautiful, inspiring, practical, and affordable. Leah writes for ApartmentTherapy and also runs her own site, MossEclectic.com.

You can read more about my talented contributors here.