Our Stick Of The Week! is Amy Kraft. Amy is in the NOW as an independent content producer, game designer, writer, and blogger. Her blog, Media Macaroni, focuses on the "morsels of goodness in kids' apps, video games, books, TV shows, music, and more." Amy is also the founder of start up company, Tabbed Media, apps for young thinkers, makers, and explorers.

Amy Kraft
Amy Kraft is a Mom and a professional multi tasker. She has worked with companies like Scholastic, Barnes & Noble, Leap Frog, and Sylvan Learning, making everything from Nintendo DS games to math workbooks.
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall)
At the moment, I'm focusing my efforts on two startups in the kids' media world. I'm working with Speakaboos, creating an interactive library of awesome books for preschoolers, and my own startup, Tabbed Media, focusing on creating apps for thinkers, makers, and explorers ages 7-10. We'll be doing a lot of delicious nonfiction.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
Fully cooked is a new game called Super Animal Genius for Leapster Explorer and LeapPad that I made for Scholastic. I designed the games, wrote the script, and did tons of super fun photo research of animals all over the planet. I love learning on the job.
Speakaboos is simmering. We've got some big launches coming up in the next few months. Stay tuned!
Tabbed Media's noodles just went into the water. We hope to launch our first app later this year.
At the moment, I'm focusing my efforts on two startups in the kids' media world. I'm working with Speakaboos, creating an interactive library of awesome books for preschoolers, and my own startup, Tabbed Media, focusing on creating apps for thinkers, makers, and explorers ages 7-10. We'll be doing a lot of delicious nonfiction.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
Fully cooked is a new game called Super Animal Genius for Leapster Explorer and LeapPad that I made for Scholastic. I designed the games, wrote the script, and did tons of super fun photo research of animals all over the planet. I love learning on the job.
Speakaboos is simmering. We've got some big launches coming up in the next few months. Stay tuned!
Tabbed Media's noodles just went into the water. We hope to launch our first app later this year.
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
Equal parts loving what you do, working hard, and doing good work. Combine and stir. People will try the delicious noodles of your labor and then come back for more.
Equal parts loving what you do, working hard, and doing good work. Combine and stir. People will try the delicious noodles of your labor and then come back for more.

What motivated you to throw your noodle?
This is the kind of thing that can only be recognized in retrospect, but I was incredibly lucky to get laid off from a company that still needed me to do some work for them. Thus, a freelance career was born. Around the same time, I started my blog, Media Macaroni. It was a great way to keep up with the industry while simultaneously putting my name out into the world.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Really great work by other people, like the writing on Phineas and Ferb, or the songwriting on Yo Gabba Gabba. I love beautiful picture books and people who write with a great sense of humor. I also love a really well-distilled idea that's executed flawlessly, like Activision's Skylanders games.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
Poorly! I'm interested in doing way too many things, and I have a hard time saying no. It's a constant struggle to find the balance, but I'm so fortunate that my work revolves around kids and that I can involve my own kiddos in what I do.
This is the kind of thing that can only be recognized in retrospect, but I was incredibly lucky to get laid off from a company that still needed me to do some work for them. Thus, a freelance career was born. Around the same time, I started my blog, Media Macaroni. It was a great way to keep up with the industry while simultaneously putting my name out into the world.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
Really great work by other people, like the writing on Phineas and Ferb, or the songwriting on Yo Gabba Gabba. I love beautiful picture books and people who write with a great sense of humor. I also love a really well-distilled idea that's executed flawlessly, like Activision's Skylanders games.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
Poorly! I'm interested in doing way too many things, and I have a hard time saying no. It's a constant struggle to find the balance, but I'm so fortunate that my work revolves around kids and that I can involve my own kiddos in what I do.
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
I just made a delicious spaghetti carbonara from a recipe in Lucy Knisley's new graphic novel, Relish. Talk about inspiration!
I just made a delicious spaghetti carbonara from a recipe in Lucy Knisley's new graphic novel, Relish. Talk about inspiration!