About

About

Hi, I’m Jo and this is my blog.

I mostly use it to overshare about my toddler’s growth and development — as well as my current pregnancy (due 2/12) — in order to appease family and friends back home, though my interests extend beyond far beyond my own procreation and into reproductive rights & health policy, progressive politics, photography, and books, among other things. I occasionally write about those, as well, though the adorable baby photos do tend to dominate.

Right now, I’m a doula, midwife’s assistant, and childbirth educator living it up in Brooklyn (see my professional website to learn more).

On the personal side of things, I’m partnered to the coolest guy this side of the Mississippi and hope to continue this way for the foreseeable future. Together, we’re navigating this whole “parenting” thing and just trying to take it all one day at a time. We have a daughter, Poppy, who was born at home in late 2009 and another kiddo, currently nicknamed Boo, on the way in February 2012. We do our best to co-parent equally and keep a sustainable, feminist household. We’ve sort of accidentally fallen into an attachment parenting mold as we figure out our personal style, though we don’t fit quite perfectly in any of these categories. We’re pretty happy about this, however, as we both despise labels and the divisive “us” vs. “them” mentality they create. Mostly we just live, love, and parent by instinct and try not to worry too much about what might happen down the road. That and our blunt Midwestern sensibilities make us afraid of becoming too flaky (See, dad? I was listening!). It’s working well for us so far.

Family Portrait, minutes after Poppys birth. (photo by Suzanne Barker Augustyn)

Family Portrait, minutes after Poppy's birth. (photo by SBA)

Although I’ve lived and worked in New York City for +6 years now, I’m still a Midwesterner at heart. Sure, I appear to be a dirty hippie who births at home, makes her own cleaning products, cloth diapers her kids, doesn’t own a car, and keeps a (mostly) vegetarian household… but I still harbor a lingering crush on Tim McGraw and can think of nothing better than sitting around a backyard bonfire with a cold can of High Life and bullshitting into the wee hours of the morning. Too bad no one has backyards in New York City.

You can keep up with all of my goings on by checking back here regularly, but you may also want to:

* If you subscribe via email, I am the only person who can access the list… and I promise not to spam you with poorly spelled messages about penis enlargement.

If you’d like to contact me, drop me a line at outtajo [at] gmail [dot] com.

Public Relations

I am open to product reviews and giveaways, though in moderation. If you have a product you think I’d like, drop me a line and run it by me. If it fits in with my lifestyle and priorities, I’m happy to give it a try and let my readers know what I think. If you are willing to provide additional items for a giveaway to my readers and/or charitable donation to a local nonprofit or low-income family, I’ll like you even more. Side note: offering me a product to review does not guarantee that I will accept and review it, and if I do, I can’t promise a positive review. I do promise an honest, thoughtful one, however.

Aside from being a casual hobby blogger and mama, I am also a doula and childbirth educator in NYC. If you run a business related to pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, or parenting, you have the double bonus of a blog review here, the same review cross-posted to my professional website, and plenty of word-of-mouth recommendations to my clients if I like what you do.

Check out past reviews here.

You can contact me by sending an email to outtajo [at] gmail [dot] com.

Comment Policy

Outta Jo, Onto You is not a public forum, nor a free-wheeling anything-goes free speech zone. It is a private blog created, maintained, and paid for by me.

Think of this blog as my home. You are a guest here, but I pay the mortgage. If, over dinner, you’d like to discuss politics, religion, parenting, etc., I welcome it. BUT, as a guest in my home, I expect you to remain civil and respectful. If you choose to attack me, say something nasty or unfounded, or be unkind toward other guests, I’m happy to show you the door. This isn’t to say that I don’t allow disagreement — I do! In fact, I adore a good debate. Just be thoughtful in your responses and I’ll afford you the same.

Don’t like my policy? Start your own blog and complain there.

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