MommyBloggers: Welcome, Karen! For readers who haven't met you, will you explain the word "chookooloonks" ? it's impossible to say without smiling.

Karen: "Chookooloonks" - it's a Trinidadian expression, meaning 'sweetie,' or 'honey,' but you usually only use it when you're talking to a child. So, properly used, you would inappropriately pinch a child's tiny cheeks, while saying something like:

"Aw gaw, yuh cute eh? Yuh such a little chookooloonks. Ent? Ent you mummy's little chookooloonks? Ent?"

Perhaps that made things more confusing?

MommyBloggers: You're an amazing artist, and a gifted writer. So often, mothers of young children struggle to find the time to pursue artistic expression. How has motherhood affected your art?

Karen: Thanks! Well, to be honest, when I decided to pursue photography as a hobby about ten years ago, I remember telling my photographer friend who helped me buy my first camera, "I want to learn to take pictures like you. So one day, in the unlikely event I'm married with a family, I can take beautiful pictures of them."

So I guess motherhood is sort of the reason I became a photographer. Besides (and I say this without the slightest bit of sarcasm or irony), the world is a beautiful place. I want to make sure Alex grows up realizing this, and hopefully my photographs will help.

MommyBloggers: A while back you offered Mir a voodoo doll. Let's talk about your voodoo dolls...are you going to add them to your online store?

Karen: Oh, HEAVENS no. In the wrong hands, voodoo dolls can be extremely dangerous. My husband tried to handle one of them once without my supervision, and he grew an extra appendage. It was WEEKS before we got that all straightened out. It wasn't pretty. Please, people: don't try this at home.

MommyBloggers: Your stories always sparkle with warmth and affection. I especially enjoyed your Granny the Great's insights into a long, happy life. With your families around the world reading, as well as thousands of virtual strangers, do you feel leery about sharing your family stories and photos?

Karen: I don't think "leery" is the right word, but I am careful. Even though what I describe is honest, I am pretty cautious with how much I reveal, and keep the most personal stuff personal. In addition to Chookooloonks, I also send regular updates of our life to family and friends, so they actually have a bit more insight into our personal lives than what's revealed on the website.

Ooh, I like how this answer made me sound. Do I seem more mysterious now?

MommyBloggers: Had you always planned to return to Trinidad to raise your family? How is parenting in the tropics different than in, say, Texas?

Karen: We definitely didn't plan on returning to Trinidad - an opportunity arose for my husband to work in Trinidad, and we grabbed it. As far as parenting in the tropics vs. Texas, it's actually exactly the same: as long as you keep your kid away from large snakes, you're golden.

MommyBloggers: You're a wonderful spokesperson for adoptive families. How has Chookooloonks helped to spread the word?

Karen: Thank you. I get a lot of e-mail via Chookooloonks requesting information about open adoptions, American domestic adoptions and the like, so I like to think I?ve helped some people follow their own adoption path. I think the biggest thing that Chookooloonks has allowed me to express is that adoptive families are absolutely no different from non-adoptive families. The children of adoptive families just found their families a little differently, that?s all.

MommyBloggers: What is the greatest benefit to maintaining your own blog? Have you discovered any negatives?

Karen: Of course, the best part of blogging is finding your voice - it can be a great vehicle for self-expression. I suppose the negative is that sometimes people don't like how you express yourself, and can be a bit cruel. I've been lucky - most of my commenters have been extremely supportive - but sometimes a thick skin is a necessity for blogging. By putting yourself out there, sometimes people will try to tear you down.

But for me, the benefits have far outweighed the negatives. I love creating Chookooloonks. Writing and photography are like therapy for me.

MommyBloggers: You've written about your desire to raise a daughter who knows her worth. Your recent rant on Bratz dolls struck a chord with me. You've worked all over the world, in a high-powered field, and held your own. What do you feel is the most important ingredient to raising a strong daughter?

Karen: I think as long as you raise your daughter to be comfortable in her own skin, and teach her to respect herself (in addition to respecting others), she'll naturally grow up to be a strong woman. This would clearly include keeping her away from Bratz dolls. Seriously. Those, and Britney Spears. Oh, and those high-heeled platform shoes made of that clear acrylic material. If I can keep Alex away from all those, I figure she'll turn out okay.

MommyBloggers: You've called blogs "the new babybooks." What do you think of the term "mommyblogger?"

Karen: What's not to love? As a mommy who blogs, it's hard to take issue with it, isn't it?

MommyBloggers: When I became a parent, I was delighted to read my mother's words in my own baby book, revealing the little, forgotten details of her life as a young mommy. You prefer to feature only photos and stories that put Alex in a positive light. Do you feel that you are painting an accurate picture of your daughter's life to present to her someday?

Karen: Absolutely, since she never cries, never gets sick, is always a perfect little angel, never gets dirty, says "please" and "thank you" consistently, picks me flowers every day which she arranges in artful bouquets, already makes her own bed, has memorized the periodic table of elements, makes a mean Beef Wellington ?

What?!

MommyBloggers: Where do you think blogging is headed? What about internet celebrity? What impact can online writers expect to have on the world?

Karen: I think online writers already have an amazing effect on the world. I read somewhere recently about some politician moaning that he (and those in his business) spend way too much time worrying about what bloggers say. I say, that's good to hear. Reading blogs can be a great way to take the pulse of a society - see what the people are thinking, and feeling. Blogging can challenge those in power. Personal blogs present uncensored viewpoints. Personally, I think it's the most revolutionary form of journalism that we've ever seen. It's very exciting.

MommyBloggers: We know you have a number of projects in the works, including a children's book and your fabulous photography. Can we expect an album, and movie, too?

Karen: Oh, I think so. And I'm working on a collaborative project with the Mattel Corporation to have dolls made that look just like me, too. They'll have giant afros and wear Birkenstocks. And hand out muumuus and makeup remover to the Bratz dolls. Oh, and they'll come with the Chookooloonks Soup Kitchen, specifically created to feed the Barbie dolls. Seriously, have you seen the waistline on Barbie? That doll needs a sandwich.

Mommybloggers: And here are the questions we subject all of our featured bloggers to (With apologies to Bernard Pivot and Inside the Actors Studio):

1. What is your favorite parent related word?

Cuddle.

2. What is your least favorite parent related word?

Snot. Or phlegm. But I pretty much hated those before they became parent-related.

3. What is your favorite creative censored curse word used around children?

"Fiddlesticks." Oh, and "crikey." And I've taken to calling people "donkeys," instead of less-savoury names. Although, the day Alex calls one of my parents a donkey, I'm probably still in big trouble.

4. What is your favorite hiding place within your home when you need to get away from it all?

Yeah, nice try. I'm not givin' that up for love or money.

5. What hiding place have you been found in too often and can no longer use?

The veranda/gallery/loggi al fresco of our home. I think the smell of the rum drinks gave me away.

6. If Oprah exists, what would you like to hear her say when you arrive at the Oprah Winfrey show when she features the Mommybloggers?

"I'm so glad you guys are here, because I value your opinion - so please, tell me honestly: do these pants make my butt look big?"

Mommybloggers: Karen, this has been a blast. Not only have you enlightened us on the term "Chookooloonks", but you have made us laugh, re-think our whole "voodoo doll line" and we've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you better. We can hardly wait to hear what you are bringing to the blog tomorrow. Thanks for playing!