Allison Lore
Allison Lore is a California native who is thrilled to be back in the year-round sunshine after a decade of living in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. She has a background in journalism, technical writing and marketing, and currently works as a proposal manager for a civil engineering firm. She relocated to Jacksonville in 2017 with her husband and son. Her passions include baking, coffee, reading and socializing with friends. Her toddler has taught her more than she ever thought she would know about the nuances of construction vehicles.
Gift Guide for Your Dad (Who Doesn’t Want Anything)
Are you in possession of a dad? One perhaps, with limited-to-no hobbies? One who has already bought himself everything? One who, upon visiting their house, you found your gifts over the years still in...
My 4-Year-Old Wasn’t Speaking: How We Finally Gave Him a Voice
My son was turning 4 years old, but due to a rare genetic condition, he had only ever spoken a handful of inconsistent words. He understood almost everything we said to him, he could...
I Tried Non-Alcoholic Social Tonics and Ranked Them From ‘Just Juice’ to ‘Suspiciously Legal’
In the past year, the canned mocktail market has really exploded. Some are just more sophisticated juices, while others have herbal blends to evoke good vibes and relaxation, otherwise known as "social tonics." I...
Jacksonville’s Indoor Play Spaces for Littles: New for 2024!
It’s been a great year for new indoor play spaces for kids newborn through age 6! Read on for a roundup of Jacksonville’s indoor play spaces, some newly opened and some that are community...
Kyte Baby Outrage Is Deserved for Unfairly Firing New Mom
For those of you who may not have been following, Kyte Baby (purveyor of fancy bamboo sleepers) has been under fire this week. Kyte Baby employee Marissa was hoping to work remotely while her...
An Attitude of Inclusion: Making Everyone Feel Welcome
It’s subtle when your child with disabilities or neurodiversity is being excluded or isn’t entirely welcome. But to any parent who’s been through it, you get a feeling in the pit of your gut...
The Gaylord ICE! Review I Wish I’d Had
Jealous of my sister and her husband taking a 10-day cruise to the Bahamas and reeling a little from dealing with the whole of 2023, I desperately wanted to take a trip for Thanksgiving...
Burned Out for the Holidays
“It’s 12 weeks until Christmas!” my kindergartner excitedly announced.
My heart stopped, raw panic coursing through my veins. “No, no, no, no!” I thought.
Images of holiday cheer flashed through my mind. Baking. Agonizing over gift...
Educate, Ignore, Unfollow, Block and Other Advice for Early Intervention
My son is turning 3 soon, and as we age out of Early Steps and start the process for Child Find, it feels like one chapter is closing and another starting. If you’re wondering...
Stay Out of the Kitchen: Our Favorite Meal Prep Businesses in Jax
I always had a vision of making delicious homemade meals for my family, with children gathering around the table (maybe there were candles and cloth napkins in this dream). These imaginary meals were balanced...
I Planned Moms’ Nights Out for a Year — These Are My Favorite Spots...
There is something to be said for the feeling of just going out with your girlfriends, no kids, and doing things that are just fun. It's especially meaningful when you have two kids running...
I Really Don’t Want to Do March 2020 Again
My babysitter has a cold and canceled just in case. I have 2.5 hours of conference calls before my son goes to his afternoon VPK class.
I've done this before. Over and over and over...