BCM - How did your life change when you became a mom?

Liz - Well first there was that whole saggy boob thing...

BCM - What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?

Liz -The truth is, there are so many incredibly memorable moments as a mom that the most recent one always seems to replace the early ones in my head. My five year-old is now reading and as a writer myself, I am emotional every time she does. She's like, "red...fish...blue...fish..." and I'm sobbing. Completely embarrassing.

BCM - If you could give another mom or expectant mom one piece of advice, what would it be?

Liz -My mother gave me the single best advice in the world: Just remember that every decision you make as a mother is right. And every decision you make as a mother is wrong. Once you have that down, you're good.

BCM -  Cool Mom Picks is an amazing website with picks that all moms like  -  What was the inspiration behind the site?
Liz -My partner Kristen Chase and I have always had a heart for handmade items, emerging artists, independent boutiques. Both of our own mothers were the entrepreneurial crafty types. So Cool Mom Picks started as a grassroots blog in early 2006 to highlight all the cool things we saw that moms were making and doing online, and evolved from there. We never could have imagined we'd end up on the Today Show talking about gifts for parents! It's still truly a labor of love and I hope that comes across in the writing and the items we choose.

That said, I'm not sure that every mom likes every single thing we feature. We can never be all things to all people. In fact, I hear it from our Facebook fans when they think something is too expensive or too frivolous. I love the feedback - it's an incredible privilege to hear from such a wide variety of parents.

BCM - Congratulations on your newest site - Cool Mom Tech -  How is that going? 

Liz -It's been such an exciting project for us! The site is the intersection of technology, great design, and parenting and it seems to really be fulfilling a need for a lot of parents who are online or using technology day to day, but don't self-identify as "techies." We're getting so many letters from our readers with technology questions--say, whether to buy a Mac or PC, or what's a great iPad app for the kids on long car rides--that it seems like we're really fulfilling a need out there. It seems moms like knowing what's cool and relevant in tech from other parents, and not some 23 year-old dude with ironic facial hair in Silicon Valley.

BCM - Do you have any other sites we should know about?
Liz -For almost 5 years I've had a personal blog called Mom-101.com that is essentially my own take on parenting and parenting culture. I write about anything on my mind, from sanctimommies to the mommy wars to funny things my kids say to stuff happening in the blogging world. Or sometimes gay toys.

I also contribute to Blogher, and to a site called Momocrats.com which is a fantastic place to keep up with politics from a parental (and decidedly left-leaning) point of view. And Cool Mom Picks has a weekly column on Babycenter's Momformation. http://blogs.babycenter.com/ They've done an amazing job reinventing that site and bringing in some really top-notch writers, and we're honored to be a part.

BCM - In addition to your sites you also work full time at an adverting agency?   How do you manage both?

Liz -Anyone who looks like they're doing it all--they're not. A lot of stuff falls through the cracks, trust me. I'm lucky to have an incredible support system in terms of the Cool Mom Picks team, and my family. You can't do a lot without a supportive family.  I'm also lucky to have friends who don't hate me when I cancel lunch sixteen times.

BCM - Do you have any advice for moms who are looking to start a new career while they have a full time job?

Liz -Good luck! If you figure it out, let me know.

BCM - How do you manage your work/life balance? Any advice for moms?
Liz -Working from home is amazing in a million ways, but it can be a huge trap too. There's the possibility you haven't quite committed to your work obligations and you haven't quite committed to being with your kids. For me, I feel like I need to be completely present for whatever it is I'm doing. If I'm working, I can't also be washing out cereal bowls, and I'm with my girls at the park, I can't also be on a conference call. Fortunately I'm very good at compartmentalizing.

It also helps if you leave the house without charging your iPhone. Yeah. Just do that. Instant balance.

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do with your kids ?

Liz -I just asked my five year old what she likes to do with me and she says: "Go to the park, play, play games with you."

It's a really important reminder: In New York we have all these incredible experiences available to us, but what our kids love most of all is just being with us.

BCM- What has been your favorite Big City Moms event to date? 

Liz -I think the Biggest Baby Shower is absolutely incredible! Why didn't I know about this when I was pregnant? Although the gift bag probably would have given me a hernia. You should make your expectant guests sign indemnification contracts before they leave with it.