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Posted on Aug 22, 2007 10:55:00 AM  |  By SimplyStatedAdmin

Those of you who read Real Simple magazine may recognize my mug from the editor's letter page, because by day I am the editor of Real Simple. By night I am a suburban mom, wife, pet wrangler, friend (who could always do better in that department), loyal daughter, enthusiastic sister, and owner of a house that is 100 years old and sometimes feels like it's conspiring against me.



Adventures in Chaos is an Everywoman's look at life in a messy world. I get a nice response from my editor's letter in the magazine, both from readers who need to scold me (how could I be so cavalier about my cat's weight loss?) and those who want to express kindred feelings (as it turns out, I'm not the only one obsessed with drugstores. Who knew?) This blog is my attempt, on a selfish, personal level, to wrestle with my love/hate relationship with daily chaos: that is, my attempt, in my adult life, to recognize that chaos is the name of the game and I'm just a silly fool to try to fight it. And, of course, to receive free therapy from more evolved souls who happen upon my blog and can tell me how they manage to embrace chaos without excessive amounts of alcohol or prescription medication.



— Kristin van Ogtrop



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Hi there, I live in Perth, Australia (but am originally from Toronto) and adore your magazine which I buy Air Freight every month from Borders and is worth every penny!!!

Just wanted to tell you I totally know what it islike to be a working mom - I have 3 kids: 6, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 and work full-time in a demanding professional career.

We're all Super Mums!!

Keep up the fantastic work and looking forward to reading more of your 'blog!!

Posted by: Heidi Lansdell| October 10, 2007 at 11:05 AM




How can I get your blogs when they come out. I love them!

Posted by: Cheryl| October 10, 2007 at 12:02 PM




Kristin: I read your essay in "The Bitch in The House" and you rock. Hang in there - someday they do grow up and leave, and this is not so bittersweet an event as you'd think, especially if they take all their junk with them. I have a 23, a 21, and - yes - an 8.

Posted by: Helen Quinn| October 10, 2007 at 12:43 PM




I HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE BABY YEARS(WE HAD THREE CHILDREN IN FOUR YEARS),THE TEENS(THAT WAS AN INTERESTING JOURNEY), AND THE COLLEGE YEARS(AT ONE TIME WE HAD ALL THREE IN AT THE SAME TIME-ATE LOTS OF HOT DOGS THAT YEAR) AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT UNTIL YOU BECOME A GRANDPARENT THE WORD CHOAS DOES NOT COME TO LIFE!!! WE ARE BLESSED WITH TWO(HOPE WE GET MORE)AND AFTER SPENDING THE BETTER PART OF THE DAY WITH THEM I WILL BE GOING TO BED-IT IS 8:30! BE THANKFUL FOR THE CHOAS-IT COMES TO THOSE WHO ARE TRULY LOVED BY THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

Posted by: JANE CUSTER| October 11, 2007 at 08:24 PM




Most "women's" mags have the most awful and contrived editor notes which substitute for a table of contents. Not yours. They are honest, relevant and funny. Like a monthly email from a friend. I actually read it every month - which is saying something if you knew me. LOL

Posted by: Molly| October 17, 2007 at 09:59 AM




I enjoyed your November editors note very much. Always looking for a good laugh I went to youtube and checked out the mom singing on the beach. It was cute, but I'd love you to check out Mom singing to the William Tell Overture, check out the one with lyrics. It was so real I had to laugh! Blessings in your chaos and mine! Hope

Posted by: Hope | October 17, 2007 at 11:03 AM




Yours is actually one of the few Editor's comments that i read in the zillions of mags i receive. You are GREAT! Keep it up. Getting my "Real Simple" mag every month is one of the things i really look forward to. And i have a great life...

Posted by: Stacey Y.| October 17, 2007 at 12:55 PM




OK, you are all making me feel so much better today; just got to the office after a field trip with 4th graders (yes, I'm ready for a cocktail) and my husband has gone home from work early because our nanny has pneumonia. Let's just say chaos is at its peak today. thanks so much for reading.

Posted by: kristin van ogtrop| October 17, 2007 at 02:17 PM




oh, and Hope I have seen that William Tell Overture thing which just is the best thing ever but someone told me it's been taken down from YouTube?

Posted by: kristin van ogtrop| October 17, 2007 at 02:19 PM




Five things I'm thankful for:
1. When a new Real Simple arrives in my mailbox
2. Editor's Note
3. Real Life
4. Your Words
5. Adventures In Chaos

Posted by: Ann | October 17, 2007 at 05:46 PM




Surely you can show something more interesting in your slide show than electrical boxes and wires. One photo of each is really enough.

Posted by: J Sanders| October 17, 2007 at 06:59 PM




I had a sweetheart husband do the demolition and a sweetheart of a GC do the renovation. What fun. The project turned out beautifully and was worth any inconvenience. I did not enter the project with any idea that it would be anything but messy. Eating out of a fridge in my living room was like camping out.

Posted by: lsj40| October 17, 2007 at 07:16 PM




Enjoying the blog in Maryland & sharing it w/friends! See you at Boxing Day :)

Posted by: Heather| October 17, 2007 at 10:44 PM




Kristin-
I read every editor's letter FIRST THING when I get a new Real Simple!! I love them! Now I'll be reading the blog, too. And just FYI, my 22-month-old son still doesn't sleep through the night! :) Keep up the good work!

Posted by: Tabitha| October 17, 2007 at 11:32 PM




Further to your p.s. in Nov. issue, your page is the first I read upon receiving my issue. You are being heard.

Posted by: Estelle| October 22, 2007 at 05:26 PM




Dear Kristen,

I am one of those "kind souls" you refer to in your editor's letter, who reads your letter. In fact, I open to it first, to hear your words of humor, support and compasion on various subjects. And I'm pretty sure I'm not related to you! However, my husband's brother is Michael Callahan who is in the publication business. One time I was gushing to him about how much I love your magazine and read it cover to cover. His response was, "Oh! Funny you should say that! I'm having lunch this week with Kristen!" So maybe there's a six degree separation going on here, but, it's not the reason I read your letter!

Posted by: Lorraine Callahan| October 24, 2007 at 09:27 AM




I just wanted you to know that I am one of the kind souls that reads your editor's letter every month. It is the first page I go to when the magazine comes in the mail. In fact I can't wait to read what you have to say.

Posted by: Molly| October 26, 2007 at 11:53 AM




I just wanted to let you know that I read your editor's note every month in the magazine, and i love it. Now I enjoy reading your blog as well. I have been reading the magazine now for about 2 years, and I enjoy every page. I am 24, and assume I am one of your younger readers, but I love the magazine and look forward to it arriving in my mailbox every month.
Thank you!

Posted by: Brittany| October 30, 2007 at 10:00 PM




I am a mother of 6 under the age of 13, 5 boys and one girl and she is the baby. Talk about chaos. There are times when I don't know what day it is let alone what time. The boys play hockey which means early (and late) hours. There is always something to be done, get done, or overdone (as are most of my dinners every night). I often laugh when people ask me how I do it (without the use of alcohol or prescription drugs) to which I reply - "one second at a time". Your magazine is great! Keep up the good work - "one second at a time"!

Posted by: Jennifer from Massachusetts| November 01, 2007 at 04:27 PM




I have been a subscriber of Real Simple, I think, since issue #1. One of the first things I read in each month's issue is your editorial--I love them, and I'm glad to see you have a blog. Now if I can just find the time to read it regularly.... :)

Posted by: Jackie Edwards-Henry| November 10, 2007 at 10:34 AM




You make me laugh! Keep up the good work.....and remember that being wild isn't everything...patience, kindness and good judgement are much more valuable. Just keep your priorities in the right place, stay focused and remember to laugh and listen to the kids as they grow....they leave all too soon, and we will miss them when they go. Living in the country isn't always the dream you thought it would be...the grass is always greener on teh other side...just count the blessing of each and every day! Live in gratitude!

Posted by: Betsy| November 12, 2007 at 02:17 PM




Hi Kristin,
I'm an avid reader from Calgary, AB and LOVE your blog. I am not yet a mum and don't have children, but read your magazine and peruse the website very often! I'm always on the lookout for women who are accomplished in their careers, mothers, wives, good friends etc. as role models and you are on the list.
If you have time (ha) can you post a note about a typical day in your life?

Thanks,

Emily

Posted by: Emily| November 13, 2007 at 04:38 PM




Hi Kristin,
I have to say that I love your blog, as well as your monthly editor's letter page... I was just wondering if your title "Adventures in Chaos" was chosen knowingly using the acronym for chaos as word play? I laughed so hard when I first saw the name in the magazine as it reminded me of when I used to tell friends, when my girls were toddlers, that I had been diagnosed with CHAOS as in "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"...

Posted by: Cloe| November 14, 2007 at 01:44 AM




Hi Kristin,
I have to say that I love your blog, as well as your monthly editor's letter page... I was just wondering if your title "Adventures in Chaos" was chosen knowingly using the acronym for chaos as word play? I laughed so hard when I first saw the name in the magazine as it reminded me of when I used to tell friends, when my girls were toddlers, that I had been diagnosed with CHAOS as in "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome"...

Posted by: Cloe| November 14, 2007 at 01:45 AM




I think I may be the only male who reads Real Simple. I enjoy it because being a working single father of two girls, I have to be both mom and dad, bread winner and homemaker. I appreciate all the "make my life easier" articles. The articles that pertain mainly to the females of the world are also important because I'm able to steer my girls to them. So, thanks. Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Ray| November 14, 2007 at 04:36 PM






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