Things sure have changed since I was in grade school. Our kids are way smarter than we were, the opportunities are boundless, and don’t even get me started on the leaps and bounds of technology! As my oldest son J.J. gets ready to begin kindergarten, I’m so excited to relive those dear old golden school days through him. I hope you’ll come along with me to discuss school and education issues here at Motts’ More to the Core blog!

So who am I? I’m a mom of two boys (J.J., and my 4-month-old Dante, who already loves his applesauce!) and a blogger for ParentSociety.com. I’m also a freelance magazine writer who’s written for Parenting, Fit Pregnancy, Pregnancy, and American Baby, and more. In short, I learn something new about being a mom everyday! I’m also the managing editor of The CollegeBound Network, where I get to write about education. Here, I’ll get to write about kids and school, my two favorite things.

My earliest memories revolve around two things: helping my aunt in the kitchen on Sundays and pretending to be a writer. Once I was old enough to write sentences, I began writing nearly everyday. After high school, I went to school in New York because New York is a city of writers and stories . . . and I knew that would be the perfect place for me.

These days I can be found writing about food at my food blog, Sarah’s Cucina Bella Sarah’s Cucina Bella, pregnancy and parenting at SheKnows and mom-related topics and reviews at The Voice of Mom.

Here at the new official Mott’s blog, More To The Core, I will be focusing on healthy cooking and eating for the whole family. With two young kids who are voracious eaters, I understand how challenging it can be to make sure that kids eat right everyday but Mott’s Healthy Harvest Apple Sauces (with no artificial sweeteners! YAY!) have been a godsend. The single serve portions are perfect for an afternoon snack. And my kids have grown up drinking Mott’s Natural Apple Juice, which has no added sugar — something I always look for in kid-friendly drinks.

With the right recipes, a few healthy snacks and drinks and getting kids involved in the process, eating well can be a fantastic family affair.