Making Your Apartment a Home
Published December 2011: eHow Home
Making Your Apartment a Home
Just Because You’re Renting Doesn’t Mean You Should Sacrifice Style
Article Excerpt:
Moving into a new apartment can be an adventure, but it can also feel limiting, as most leases bar any big design changes. Even though you don’t own the property and can’t make drastic renovations, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it feel like home — and you don’t need drills, bits and hammers in order to make it happen. Read more »
When Grown Kids Return to the Nest …
Published December 2011: eHow Home
When Grown Kids Return to the Nest
Keeping Your Space – And Your Cool
Article Excerpt:
After your children leave home, it’s likely that you’ve packed up the trophies and posters on the wall and converted their bedrooms into an office, sewing room or even a guest bedroom. Read more »
The Christmas Balancing Act
Published December 2011: eHow Home
The Christmas Balancing Act
How to Spruce Up and Stress Down Your Holiday Cheer
Article Excerpt:
Even though Christmas cards and family portraits portray an image of a season of joy, the holidays often lead many on an emotional roller coaster ride that can easily run off course. From the hustle and bustle of shopping to preparations for family get-togethers, the spirit of the season can dwindle without the opportunity to recoup. Read more »
Classy Christmas Dining Decor
Published December 2011: eHow Home
Classy Christmas Dining Decor
Make the Feast Festive and Toast Your Family
Article Excerpt:
When it comes to Christmas gatherings, the tree may be the focus of the room, but the food is the center of the action. The table is where friends and families come together to celebrate the festivities of the season. Read more »
Happy Parents = Happy Kids
Published October 2011: eHow Family
Happy Parents = Happy Kids
How to Keep Yourself Happy While Balancing the Chaos of Family Life
Article Excerpt:
Too often, parents get caught in a constant whirl of kid-friendly activities, scheduling mishaps and drive-through dinners to meet the needs of their family. A 4 a.m. feeding or daily carpool can drain even the most energetic mom or dad. Read more »
How to Have a Nightmare-Free Halloween
Published September 2011: eHow Family
How to Have a Nightmare-Free Halloween
Kids May Need Help to Separate Fantasy from Reality
Article Excerpt:
Whether it’s ghosts and goblins terrorizing your 3-year old or remnants of a mask-wearing movie slasher haunting your 6-year old, Halloween can mystify even the most well-adjusted child.
The confusion gets even worse when scary villain costumes prance around ghostly yard ornaments — yet lurking behind each neighborhood door are candy and a friendly greeting. Read more »
Why Walking is Enough
Published September 2011: eHow Health
Why Walking is Enough
Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference In Your Health
Article Excerpt:
In 2008, Pam Mumper could barely walk up a flight of stairs, struggled to fit in a stadium seat and weighed in at 260 pounds. Three-and-a-half years later and 75 pounds lighter, she’s able to walk four miles consecutively, trek up flights of stairs with ease and share a stadium seat with her daughter. Read more »
Teasing: When Words Hurt
Published September 2011: eHow Family & Relationships
Teasing: When Words Hurt
Help Your Child Differentiate Between Mean Words and Playful Banter
Article Excerpt:
It’s no secret that teasing is a natural part of life for kids. But when teasing goes too far, it’s difficult for your child to differentiate between mean words and playful banter. The temperament and personality style of the receiver is a major factor in the equation, according to Dr. Fran Walfish, child psychotherapist and author of “The Self-Aware Parent.” Read more »
The School Year: Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster
Published September 2011: eHow Family & Relationships
The School Year: Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster
Help Your Child Handle the Highs, Lows and Challenges of School
Article Excerpt:
When Christine Hammond picked up her first-grade daughter from school one day, she sensed that something was wrong. Her suspicions were confirmed when her daughter cried uncontrollably for 20 minutes while sitting in the car. As a concerned parent of three, Hammond patiently waited for her child to reveal that she did not earn a sticker for the week because she talked out of turn in the classroom. Read more »
The World of Parents and Their Tweens
Published August 2011: eHow Family & Relationships
The World of Parents and Their Tweens
Patience, Understanding and Love Help Children Navigate This Critical Period
Article Excerpt:
The tween years can be an exciting yet treacherous time for a child. Beyond an increased awareness of physical and emotional changes, these 8- to 12-year-olds clinging to childlike innocence are pushed into the world of adolescence. Read more »
About Me
Three words to describe me? Passionate. Motivated. Curious. These traits help me as a college media adviser and instructor, freelance writer, and mom. This site, focused on writing, reflecting, and teaching, strives to tell the stories of the “average” person. From student journalism and higher education to parenting and freelance writing, you’ll find a mix of blogs with a hint of humor, sarcasm, and inspiration.
Feel free to browse my sample works including feature news, magazine, and web copywriting pieces from the past and present. Check back often for daily updates, blog entries, and additional stories. Feel free to contact me directly at shphilpott@gmail.com or follow me on Twitter. Comments are welcome!
