InArkansas.com

Image by ML Baxley

Social Media guru and PR professional Natalie Ghidotti offers tech tips for busy parents in this month's magazine.

Balance, schmalance. A wise friend of mine once said that to me when I asked her how she balanced her career as a writer and mother to three children. It was a nice wake-up call for me, as I typically run around crazy trying to keep all my balls up in the air, constantly worrying I'm not doing anything to the best of my ability.

Wife. Mother. Daughter. Sister. Friend. Publisher. Editor. Volunteer. Trying to wear all those hats is overwhelming sometimes, so I try to keep a good sense of humor and be grateful for the abundance.

This edition of Little Rock Family is tailored for all the moms who work outside the home. Our cover story features local social media darling and public relations professional Natalie Ghidotti, who shares tips for working parents on how to maximize social media and branding to promote themselves personally and professionally.

We also have tips for moms thinking of returning to a workforce that has changed drastically in the last few years.

I'm very excited to introduce you to the 2012 Class of Mothers on the Move. Selected by a team of Arkansas Business Publishing Group editors, these professional women balance (there's that word again!) work, family and community with aplomb. They inspire us, and we hope you'll find their stories inspiring too.

Also, don't miss our Ages & Stages section, featuring articles on colic relief for babies and parents, mobile apps to make parenting easier, helping your young student stay organized and tips for raising respectful tweens.

Plus we have feature stories on the beautiful production of Shen Yun Performing Arts coming Feb. 27-28 and Bowl for Kids Sake benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.

You can pick up a copy of our February edition in 625 locations across central Arkansas. And visit us online at LittleRockFamily.com for more ideas and information for your family.

It's that time again for LANTERNS! at Wildwood!

Today kicks off the fourth annual Lanterns Festival at Wildwood Park for the Arts.

Inspired by the full moon, walkways are lit with lakeside fire pits and cultural luminaries, where visitors encounter a warming selection of international foods and entertainments from Asia, India, Shakespearean England, Paris, Rio de Janiero, Venice, old Americana and even the Moon.

The event takes place from 6-10 p.m. nightly.

Tickets cost $10, children ages 6-12 $5, children under 6 FREE.

For info: (501) 821-7275.

Bowl for Kids' Sake is a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas (BBBSCA) is gearing up for its 26th annual Bowl for Kids' Sake outings this month. The event is a fundraiser where individuals, families and businesses lend their support to the work that Big Brothers Big Sisters does in the community.

To participate, a group of four to five individuals form a team that can consist of families, friends, co-workers, church members, etc. Each team is asked to raise a minimum of $500 (or $100 as an individual) in donations from friends, family and co-workers.

To celebrate the money raised by the teams, BBBSCA will host bowling celebration nights in the Feb. 10, 17 and 18 at Professor Bowl in Little Rock. In the meantime, individuals and teams are registering and raising money now.

How to Register or Donate

To register a team, make a donation or get more information, visit BowlForKids2012.Kintera.org or call 374-6661.

Image by Paula Cigainero

It's time for you to nominate your families' favorite businesses, restaurants, service providers, events, etc. for our 2012 Little Rock Family Favorites Awards.

What are your favorite places to eat, play, shop and explore?

Tell us where you spend your time and money and we'll share the winners in our June edition. Fill out at least 15 categories to qualify and you'll automatically be registered to win a grand prize of a Kindle Fire.

Nominate your favorites here, now! And share this link with your friends and coworkers so they can nominate their favorites, too.

Some of you may be asked to share even more compliments about the companies you love later, like we did in our issue last year.

Happy voting!

Image by Paula Cigainero

Meet Little Rock Family's 2012 Mothers on the Move!

The 18 MOMs featured in our new February issue truly deserve this recognition for their many accomplishments at home, at work and in the community.

They're a mix of workaholics, girlie-girls, geeks, musicians, shopaholics, volunteers, activists—18 wonder women—all heroes to their children, spouses, famlies, peers and friends. And we're delighted to introduce them to you!

In order as they appear in print...

• Julie Crouch, Stephanie Dyer and Cathleen McFarlin: Co-Owners of The Wonder Place
• Elizabeth Bintliff: Interim Vice President of Africa Programs at Heifer International
• Katherine E. Blackmon: Attorney/Owner of Law Offices of Katherine E. Blackmon
• Brooke Brolo: Owner of Brooke Brolo Insurance, Inc.
• Shea Foster: Owner of Baby Views
• Monika Garner-Smith, M. Ed.: Preschool Director at ACCESS
• Christina Littlejohn: Executive Director of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
• GG Millard: Division Manager/Owner of Fairway Independent Mortgage-Arkansas
• Lisa Jacobs Moriconi: Principal at Legacy Capital Group
• Leslie Osborne Reid: Area Vice President of Securitas Security Services, USA
• Mandy Richardson: Associate Publisher of Little Rock Soiree at Arkansas Business Publishing Group
• Mandy Schuster: Co-Owner of Beyond Cotton boutique
• Sha' Stephens: Co-Director of Compliance & Public Relations Liaison at Pathfinder, Inc.
• Stephanie S. Street: Executive Director of the William J. Clinton Foundation
• Debbie Teague: Realtor for The Janet Jones Company
• Danyelle Walker: Attorney/Owner of Law Office of Danyelle Walker, PLLC

Please share your congratulations with these fabulous Mom-role models and amazing professionals!

Elvis Lives will be onstage at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Robinson Center Music Hall.

1. Experience Elvis in concert. Celebrity Attractions will present Elvis Lives: The Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Event at 7:30 p.m. Monday (Jan. 30) at Robinson Center Music Hall. This is amulti-media and live musical journey across Elvis' life. Tickets: $22-$49. For info and tickets: (501) 244-8800.

2. Watch big trucks crush little cars at Monster Jam. This event stars the biggest performers on four wheels: 12-foot tall 10,000-pound monster trucks that will race and rip up custom-designed tracks. Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (Jan. 27-28) at Verizon Arena. Tickets: $20-$35; www.TicketMaster.com.

3. Cruise for chicks ... er, eagles. Take an Eagle Lake Cruise at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

4. Visit the CANstruction 2012 exhibit at Clinton Presidential Center.

5. Take dad and sons to the Arkansas Big Buck Classic at State Fairgrounds.

6. Support the home team. Catch a Trojan Basketball Game at Jack Stephens Center, University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The UALR men's basketball team will take on Denver at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets range from $4-$22. For info and tickets: (501) 565-UALR.

7. (Bonus) Sign up to participate in the Bowl for Kids' Sake event coming up in February. Teams forming now for the 26th Annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake event benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas. The bowling outings are in February, which means you need to create your team and start fundraising now! Individuals, families, clubs, church groups and businesses are invited to form teams and raise money for the cause. If you’re interested, don’t delay forming your team and registering ASAP. Bowling outings will be on Feb. 10, 17 & 18 at Professor Bowl.

Image by Harlem Globetrotters

On Friday

• The World Famous Harlem Globetrotters are bringing their basketball skills and amazing athletes to Verizon Arena at 7 p.m. Jan. 20. Individual tickets start at $18. For info and tickets: Ticketmaster.com.

On Saturday

• Join Pinnacle Mountain State Park interpreters for an Eagle Lake Cruise on Lake Maumelle to seek out wintering bald eagles. Dress in layers for extreme cold and windy lake weather. Cruises are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Advance payment required. For info: 868-5806.

• Navajo Sandpainting at Toltec Mounds — The Navajo art of sand painting, like many native American arts, was practiced as a religious ceremony. Participants in this workshop from 10 a.m.-noon will gain an appreciation of the art of sand painting by creating their own works of art with materials provided by the park. Cost is $5 per person. For info: 961-9442.

All Weekend

• Debut of “Goldilocks & Little Red Riding Hood” at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre this weekend. Combining everyone’s favorite fables, this production puts a new spin on two timeless classics. Shows are at 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays from Jan. 20-Feb. 5. Tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children. For info and tickets: 372-4000.

Image by Shutterstock

A free special needs education summit will be held from 8-11:45 a.m. on Jan. 21.

A free half-day special needs education conference hosted by ACCESS, Arkansas Minority Health Commission, Easter Seals and Riley's Warriors will be held from 8-11:45 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ Family Life Center, 10900 Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock.

The agenda includes resource tables, a parent panel (featuring parents from area public and private schools) and workshops on IQ testing, Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans, learning disabilities, mental health services and the CIRCUIT program (free statewide educational consulting group).

Event Schedule

• 8-8:45 a.m. - Registration and Information Booths
• 8:45-9:45 a.m. - Parent Panel
• 10-10:45 a.m. - Breakout Sessions

For more information visit http://specialneedseducationsummit.eventbrite.com.