My shopping column is going to convert to a blog soon. I’ll announce it here when it’s live, but for now, you can read this week’s column.

I once worked with a fellow mom with an equally dark sense of humor. Frequently we would bestow upon one another the MOTY (Mother of the Year) award for things like forgetting to pack the kid’s lunch, signing up for camp too late, missing a dental appointment; you know, the stuff ordinary mothers do on a regular basis. Forgetting to pick up a kid (particularly if it’s raining) earns extra points.

During my brief tenure as a SAHM, I’ve really been knocking myself out for MOTY status. No, really. I picked up the band kids with fresh baked brownies and ice-cold Gatorade. I’ve helped with homework, made fabulous lunches, made breakfast during the week, ironed clothes, listened to all manner of reports from the field (well, elementary school, that is) and kept the house reasonably clean.

Thanks to the FlyLady, I feel I was well prepared for this tiny transition. I’m up slightly later than usual but right away the bed is made, I’m dressed to shoes with hair and makeup done. I have a plan for each day (even though it’s pretty flexible). No soaps for me!

It is a bit discombobulating having this much freedom but I’m doing what I’d been wishing I had more time to do, and getting things done.

I’ve known him half of my life. We’ve been married now for slightly less than that. We’re both pretty proud of beating the stats and sticking together.

Happy Anniversary, honey. I love you.

A little-known fact about me is that I was a Guinness Book of World of Records record holder.

It’s true.

In 1998, as a publicity stunt for my PR client, The Missouri Botanical Garden, I created (with help) the world’s largest bouquet of mixed flowers. There were 28,801 stems. It took two days to create.

The record was broken in 2004 in Jamaica, NY with a bouquet containing 101,791 roses.

Here’s a record I wouldn’t want to break (as is the case for most of them these days).

When God closes a door, He opens a window.

Today, I accepted a position with a PR firm that I’ve admired for years. It’s one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work.” What could be better?

I start Sept. 1st. Thanks to all who have been so supportive in my search.

This article in the current edition of Newsweek will open some eyes. The long awaited web published sex offenders list is available with mapping technology so you can discover where, exactly in your neighborhood the offender lives. The pinpoints on the map reveal the name of the offender and the address.

Big Brother? Sure it is, but knowledge is power, and I like to manage my kids’ destinies as much as possible.

My fear, however is that this tool will be used for hate crimes against offenders who may have paid their due, are rehabilitated, were never guilty, etc. So visit the site, enter your address and draw your own conclusions.

First (isn’t that a funny word?) this was my inaugural day as a stay at home mom/full time freelancer. Of course I didn’t stay at home at all, and was on the road at 6:30 a.m. Such is the life of the driven. I had a meeting at 7:30 a.m.

From there, I had plenty of time until a 12:30 p.m. meeting, so I landed in a library to use their computer lab and get some work done. Another first! I completed the project and was just checking mail when a very beer and sweat scented gentleman entered and chose the workstation directly next to mine. Understandably, since there were about 25 other empty workstations in the room. Argh. I couldn’t handle it, so went on my way.

Did some other research and visits that were overdue (shopping stuff for the column) before finally landing at my lunch meeting. Afterward, with no commitments till at least 4p.m. I went to the Saint Louis Art Museum all by myself (the third first!).

I was looking for peace and inspiration and found both. Every other time I’ve visited the museum I’ve been with a group, or at least one other person. I saw so much more, and left alone, could spend as long as I liked pondering and wandering.

Thoroughly enjoyed the reaction of a small girl seeing the statue of a naked man (her first!).

It was a good day.

I’ve been ever so busy through the weekend that this is my first chance to post. My daughter had a much anticipated Pink Poodle in Paris birthday party at our home. Seven giggling, squealing girls decended upon our house. I took the opportunity to wear my Eiffel Tower earrings (my sister brought them directly from Paris, thank you!) and to teach the girls some elementary French. (Fermez la bouche!)

It was delightful and, I’ll admit it, exhausting. Three cheers for Birthday Express, the online service who delivered the party in a box and offered some good party game ideas. For working moms like me who insist on doing it up as well as the SAHMs can, this is the trick.

My daughter was tickled by her uncle’s aghast horror when he learned she was having a Pink Poodle party. She told her girlfriends that he suggested a baseball party instead. Six little girls greeted this idea with a chorus of “Noooooooooooooo!”

The party ended with much mwa! mwa! Au revoir mes amis! and Stlworkingmom looking for une bouteille de vin.

This blog was never meant to be about work, and it never will be. It’s a way for me to look back and remember those watershed moments with my kids (the painful and the joyous) and to write unencumbered by editors or goals, about whatever topic is on my mind. I try to be helpful, here, realizing that the visitors to these pages might get something out of what they read, whether a smile, a laugh, a tip or a lesson; it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re entertained.

All that being said, I’m looking for a new job. I won’t go into details here, but if you’re aware of a good PR/marketing/communications position about which I can be passionate, challenged and rewarded, shoot me an e-mail.

I had to put it in the column, of course.

Don’t miss this one; it may be my favorite yet as I share my MacGyver of fashion genius moment.