Being a nice girl from the Mid-West, my inclination is always to give in and say yes because I want people to like me.

Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.

I think women see me on the cover of magazines and think I never have a pimple or bags under my eyes. You have to realize that's after two hours of hair and makeup, plus retouching. Even I don't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.

As my mom always said, 'You'd rather have smile lines than frown lines.'

Most of the reason I work out now is not for the external - it's for how I feel. I find working out gives me more energy. I started eight days after he was born.

As a mother, I always have something better to be doing. I love work still, but I'm less tolerant of my time being wasted.

Our family room, where we live, is about togetherness and ease. Nothing in my house is too formal. There are no coasters on tables; the kids can eat Popsicles on the couch if they want to. I let them ride these little cycles we got for them when they were 3 that have rubber wheels and no pedals.