About
I grew up in Germany and moved to Los Angeles over 17 years ago. I knew I would stay for good. After a year of studying acting in Hollywood, I enrolled at Pasadena City College more out of necessity than desire.
No one was more surprised than me that it spit me out as the Valedictorian! I went on to receive my BA in English from UCLA, where I worked as a staff copyeditor for the Daily Bruin.
One fateful day in October 2004 I tried a new yoga class and met my future husband — the instructor :) Two months later, Don flew me to meet the large Bleasdale clan for Christmas in Westchester, New York, where he grew up and his family still lives.
Back in Los Angeles, Don asked, “So when are we flying to Germany so I can ask your father for your hand in marriage?” — and studied two semesters of German to do just that! When he meet my parents, he won them over with his first “Hallo.”
We got married at Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown 11 months later, and exactly one year later our son Landon was born. He is a happy, blue-eyed boy, now 5 years old.
This might sound like a fairy tale, but it’s not. We are just like any other family trying to make ends meet after moving to Westchester, one of the most expensive areas in the country — Martha Stewart and Richard Gere live nearby (I love having breakfast at his restaurant).
It didn’t make any sense to raise Landon in California, so far away from all his cousins, aunts and uncles, and Grandma. Don works as a finish carpenter/project manager and ESL teacher, and I work from home as a blogger, editor, and social media consultant.
Why I blog and why Dagmar’s momsense:
I have always been unafraid to voice my opinion and have a whole slew of new ones about being a stay-at-home mom who also juggles a career as an editor and social media consultant. On Dagmar’s momsense I share with you what I learned works and doesn’t work, what benefits your child and you. I want to become a resource and trusted “friend” you can rely on for information.
I believe in giving my readers (and 16,000+ Twitter, 3,300+ Facebook, and 1,650+ BlogFrog community followers) something valuable to read and like to entertain you with posts about my life. I’m making sense of motherhood and much more. Come join me!
I write about what I’m passionate about since becoming a mom. I hope you enjoy my entries about Doula-assisted/Bradley method/natural childbirth, (extended) breastfeeding, attachment parenting, co-sleeping, natural remedies, frugal and green living, raising a healthy, creative, well-adjusted, bilingual child without an XBox.
You don’t have to agree with my opinion — my hope is that what I have to share will help other moms (and dads). I wish somebody had told me these things when I needed help and guidance, or just a little laugh after the baby spit up all over me. Let me know what you think and visit again soon!
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Sincerely,
You can also find me here:
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
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What a lovely and well structured site. Congrats on your success. I will pass it along to my fellow mommy friends. Great give away too…how cute is that little clutch???
Also, great being connected on Twitter. I am quite the newcomer and still learning the ropes. Between my son, my career, my side passions and my new business venture (boogiedownbabies) I never knew I had time to tweet but I am really growing to like it and love the access it gives me to like-minded mommies.
So, thanks and hablamos!
Raquel
BoogieDownBabies
bdbparties.com
I will enjoy your blog, thank you! You got my vote, Best Wishes! debi
I have found so many encouraging stories and good tips on this site, and I just came across it randomly a few months ago. My son is one and I’ve been BF for the whole year so far. We’ve overcome a lot of challenges- like a very bad breast abscess. It’s nice to see/hear that many women go through similar challenges and also don’t quit. Many friends and some family members have called me crazy (in so many words), so finding this site was great for me. Thanks!
Comments like these make the long nights blogging and reaching out soo worth it, THANKS YOU, Lisa!
Oh GEEZ, nevermind, that was just the lady, we hadn’t even gotten to you yet! HAHA, i was a bit confused. Got it now. Interviewer gave a longer intro than i had expected! I have been worried abt that too- too many things going on, on the blog– its ok? Nice!
Thanks for the review on the balance bikes. I have been thinking about buying one for my little guy. Hoping to win!
Interesting that you are from Germany. My daughter Karen spent a year in Germany living with a host family attending a German high school. She came back speaking German and really had a rewarding experience over there. She stayed near, and the spelling surely will be off, Branswaig, near Hanover. Her first experience was one of the teenage daughters asking her if she wanted a “douce” again spelling may be wrong but she meant a shower. Have a wonderful week.
Odie
Hallo Dagmar,
habe dich gerade auf Blog Frog entdeckt, da gibt es natürlich gleich einen Besuch! Ich beneide dich dafür, dass du in den USA lebst. Ich habe dort nur ein Jahr Schulzeit und mehrere Urlaube verbracht und ich habe seitdem ständig Fernweh.
LG,
Crab
I’m so glad we connected on twitter! I’ve been really enjoying your blog. AND it’s been a great resource to send clients to. Love love love.
I am just getting to know your blog but love it! My father, stepmother, aunts, uncles, stepsisters, all live in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and other places in Norway or Iceland, but we live in Boston. I am taking my 2 children there for 3 weeks this summer. I SO wish I had caught on to more natural, organic lifestyles sooner, but better late than never. I’m only 40! I am excited that I can pass this on to my kids, ages 5 and 8, at an early age so it becomes second nature to them.
Hi! I follow you on twitter and love reading your blogs! I’ve never tried for one of your giveaways, but I thought,what the heck…So now I’m a subscriber too. I look forward to sharing this journey of motherhood with you and your many readers:) Thanks for all you do to help us all come together.
When I saw your blog – I was thinking: OMG! There is someone else in America with the weird name Dagmar. My kids relentlessly make fun of my middle name. More interesting to find out that you also grew up in Germany, so maybe it is just a German thing LOL.
Wie lustig- hab Dich auf Twitter gefunden und Du bist auch eine meiner Followers (Newmomsexaminer). Hat mir schon gedacht, dass Dagmar ein etwas ungewöhnlicher Name für die USA ist…
I love everything you write- keep up the fabulous work!
What a GREAT story!!! Where in Germany are you from? I have a bunch of family over there, Biebertal/Giessen…it has been ages since I’ve been!
Send me @ on twitter or fb if you get a chance.
Cheers!
~daddy b
Hi Dagmar,
We do have so much in common<3 I was unmedicated for all four of our births, have breastfed each of my children–still nursing Pixie–until they were ready to stop at age two (or nearly two).
I am trying to live the greenest life possible in as cost effective manner as I can….and I love working from home as a freelance writer so much. It has given me the freedom to homeschool.
So nice to meet you!
<3 sarasophia
Hey Dagmar,
With Memorial Day coming up, I thought you might like an easily prepared and family-friendly recipe your guests (and blog followers!) will love.
SLOW COOKER BBQ COUNTRY RIBS – 8 SERVINGS WITH 2 CUPS GRAVY
Prep Time: 20 min. Cook Time: 4 hours
4 lbs. country-style pork ribs, trimmed; seasoned with salt and pepper to taste
1 (18 oz.) bottle prepared honey barbecue sauce
1/2 cup FRENCH’S® Classic Yellow® Mustard
1 tsp. garlic powder
1. PLACE ribs into 6-qt. slow cooker.
2. MIX barbecue sauce, mustard and garlic in medium bowl. Pour over ribs and turn ribs to coat.
3. COVER and cook on LOW for 8 hrs. (or on HIGH for 4 hours) until ribs are fork-tender. Transfer ribs to platter.
4. SKIM fat from sauce. Stir sauce and serve with ribs.
Tip: Press a paper towel on top surface of sauce to skim fat. Repeat as necessary.
I have some more recipes from French’s including a quick recipe for Classic Baked Beans and some from Vlasic Pickles with high-res pictures of all dishes, let me know if you’d like them!
Thanks,
Ruthie
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