Today, Evadne shares a terrific bargain craft (and gift) idea:

“I secretly used to mourn the fact that my son seemed to have no interest whatsoever in arts & crafts: coloring, stickers, painting - you name it, he wasn't into it. He much preferred playing with trains or racecars, or engaging in any other activity that was, well, active. But as my son nears his fourth birthday, I have noticed a change... he actually colors the pages that restaurants give to kids, takes time to arrange and glue a collage, and recently even became engrossed in Perler beads.

There is one craft though, of which my son never seems to tire: wood model kits. These particular kits were introduced to me by my best friend (who has a son of the same age) and only cost $1 at Michael's or A.C. Moore. The value is incredible considering that each kit comes with pre-cut sanded wood pieces, paint, glue, a paintbrush, and sandpaper. And impressively, the finished product often has working moving parts like wheels or propellers!

Per the instructions, we usually paint the wood pieces first, then glue the pieces together once they're dry (but you can do it vice versa, too). The kit is recommended for children ages 5+, but my son enjoys the painting part on his own and then waits to do the gluing part with either me or his dad. The most fun part, of course, is seeing the model come together in the end - whether it be a helicopter, sailboat, racecar, plane, bulldozer, or birdhouse. There must be about twenty different models you can build and - to my utter surprise and delight - my son is now on his second go-round of them! With his birthday and the holidays fast approaching, these model kits are definitely making their way into some loot bags and stockings.”

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, these model kits aren’t available online, but Evadne kindly took the above photo of one of her kits so you know what to look for in-store.

Posted by Christine Koh on 26 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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Today, Tracy shares strategies for coping with picky eating. Read on for her tips, and feel free to share others that have worked for your family.

“If there’s one issue that can unite and divide parents, it’s picky eating. I have lost count of the number of conversations I have had with other parents about how to manage this ubiquitous tendency.

During my childhood, mealtimes were a regular battlefield. We were the pickiest of picky kids, and I can only imagine that my mother was at her wits end at times. I’m sure my parents did the best they could, but in reality, I think they modeled the very behavior they were trying to inhibit. My dad was a staunch meat and potatoes man, disinterested in trying new foods, and my mom was always on some sort of diet, often requiring her to eat different foods from the rest of us, none of which she seemed to enjoy. I subsequently have spent a lot of time thinking about how to model positive eating behavior and avoid dinnertime battles. Here’s what has worked for us, so far:

The general approach. I think one of the things that really bothers parents about having picky eaters is that it’s insulting. You’ve worked hard to prepare a meal for your family, and the response is that your offerings are “bad” or “yucky.” My general approach is to work on instilling a respect for the process of getting food to the table and the person who put it there.

Try one bite. Our children must try a new food before deciding they don’t like it. One bite. That’s it. When they try something, we say thank you. If they don’t like it, it’s not okay to spit it out and say “yuck!” If they absolutely cannot finish the bite, they may dispose of it in a napkin. We encourage them to say things such as, “That flavor is too strong for me” or, “It’s not something I like right now” instead of the negative alternatives.

Be prepared for shifting preferences. We’ve found that encouraging our kids to express “It’s not something I like right now” helps reinforce that taste preferences are temporary. We also talk to our kids about our own changing food preferences, which seems to help them admit when they finally do like something. They don’t have to dig their heels in because there’s no power struggle.

I am not a short order cook. It can be challenging at times, but I make one meal for supper and there are no exchanges, substitutions, or refunds, as it were. If they don’t like it, fine, but I’m not going to interrupt dinner and make a separate meal. I got around my worry that they would go to bed hungry by offering the option of a bedtime snack. They may have one bowl of cereal or a piece of toast before starting our bedtime routine. That way I know they’ve had something relatively healthful, and it is sufficiently removed from our dinner hour to not seem like a direct substitute.

Preference or ploy? We do our best to determine whether the pickiness truly is a taste preference or a ploy. If it’s something they ate with abandon earlier in the week, and now they are turning their nose up at it, we’ve implemented the “bites per year” rule. So, if you are four, you eat four bites.

Incorporate choice and encourage input. Generally, breakfast is a meal with many options. Lunch is a bit less so, and dinner never really has choice. But, while I’m planning the menu for the week, I ask for suggestions. It’s hard to say you don’t like what’s being served when you’re the one who put it on the menu in the first place! Also, including my kids in the menu planning process gives them a sense of control and contribution so they don’t feel continually forced into eating.

Remain calm. We really try (heavy emphasis on “try”) to spend absolutely no time fighting about these “rules.” Usually, mealtime behavior is managed in the context of our family conversation. If I’m chatting with my husband and notice that one of the kids is about to spit something out, I gently remind him that he needs to use his napkin. If he exclaims his disgust, I reinforce the polite phrasing of his preference. This does not mean that the boys never protest that they have to try it first. Of course they do, they’re kids. It’s just that if we remain nonchalant about what we expect at the dinner table, they are not as likely to notice that these are “rules” they might want to fight against.

Slow and steady. I also work really hard at keeping my feelings in check at the dinner table. I remind myself regularly that just like there’s a slow food movement, we need a “slow parenting” approach. I will keep putting green peas on their plate for them to try. Eventually they might like them. Or maybe not. But what I’m trying to shape is an eater who isn’t afraid to try new things because they just might like them. And, I realize that taste preference is as individual as my kids are. Children really do have different preferences when it comes to taste, texture, and adventurousness in food. They don’t have to like it just because I do.

Ask for feedback. If I try a new recipe I ask for feedback about what is good and what isn’t. What might I do differently next time? My kids have developed a great repertoire of ideas for how to make dishes more appealing to them.

Individual differences. In the spirit of realistic expectations, different approaches work for different families. If you’ve got a great picky eating solution, please share it by leaving a comment below.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Feeding & Nursing
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This holiday season, if you want to get baby something useful and cute, you can’t go wrong with shoes, which undoubtedly will see plenty of action as baby learns to cruise, stomp, walk, and run. And for our sixth installment of Giveaway Goodness, our friends at Robeez generously are gifting two of our readers from their holiday collection, which includes holiday themed shoes, ultra cozy luxe shoes, and super sweet coordinated gift sets. Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway to enter to win.

Rules:

Today, Suz shares an idea for showing appreciation to loved ones; a reflective twist on the classic December holiday update letter:

“In our household, every day is proof that it takes a village to raise a child. We feel blessed to have many warm hands, talented minds, and doting eyes in our "village," and thus find it particularly appropriate and meaningful to – literally – send thanks around Thanksgiving.

As a mother, it’s important to me to convey how appreciative I am of each village member’s part in nurturing my children. Subsequently, we now have a Thanksgiving tradition where we craft a letter of thanks. We list all of our village members: grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends, therapists, doctors, specialists, caregivers, and community activists and volunteers who support causes dear to our heart.

We then summarize what we are thankful for from each member. For example, for Grandma, we are thankful that she accommodates her schedule to care for our children during the week. For our family pediatrician, we are thankful for the excellent medical care and peace of mind she provides to our many questions. We then send each person a copy of this letter so they can see how their role in our children’s lives is important and is part of a larger village of care.

This expression of thanks serves both to remind us of our blessings and express our admiration and appreciation to those who make this parenting gig possible.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 24 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Family Issues
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As a parent, sometimes I find it absurdly challenging to get out the door in one try, and since we’re a shoes-off household, tracking back through the house to fetch forgotten mittens, lunch box, stuffed animal, etc. is much easier with slip on shoes. And these days, I find that I don’t mind the track backs as much thanks to Cape Clogs. Great for every day or as a welcome upgrade to the sneaker + suit commuter look, these Swedish orthopedic clogs are classically structured in make but not the least bit dowdy in look, available in a variety of cheerful and feisty patterns (such as this fierce leopard) for women and kids. I still aim to make it out of the house in one try, but on the days I don't, these cute kicks make the track backs easy.

Want to win a pair of kids Cape Clogs*? Here’s how:

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

You could win a Skip Hop Studio tote (shown) at One Chic Mama, a Nintendo Wii at Classy Mommy, one of two M1093 IS Kodak EasyShare cameras at The Bump, or $50 gift cards to Macys and Borders at MomFinds. Also, Moms’ Buzz features their flu and cold season must haves.

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Gear
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Laurel loves the spectacle associated with holidays, and we subsequently try to strike a balance between celebration and reinforcing ideas about material alternatives and diversity during these times. As such, we’ve been enjoying a few “holiday alternative” titles from Positive Spin Press - All Hallows Eve, Christmas Eve, and Winter's Eve - which I’m reviewing today in conjunction with the Parent Bloggers Network.

This series of books - written with a fairy named Eve as its central character - serves to introduce kids to holidays in general, as well as to the concepts that holidays are about more than the material, and that there are diverse ways of celebrating. All Hallows Eve: The Story of the Halloween Fairy is the first of the series, and in it, kids learn about friendship (Eve’s friends collect loot for her during Halloween because she's sad she can't *poof* it into existence) and the idea that it also can be fun to swap candy for toys (which we actually did a bit of this Halloween with Laurel).

The two other titles focus on the winter holidays. Christmas Eve: The Joy of Giving introduces kids to the concept that the size of one’s gift doesn’t matter as much as the intention, and Winter's Eve: Love and Lights serves to portray the commonality of celebrated light objects (e.g., menorah, kinara) across diverse winter holidays (e.g., Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Christmas, Chinese New Year).

Each title features detailed, colorful illustrations to accompany the rhyme verse, and Laurel loves these books - although I suspect that the fact that they are about holidays and fairies probably is a major draw. Personally - and admittedly from the perspective of someone who wordsmiths ad nauseam - while I completely appreciate the concepts of these books, I think the writing could be improved. In my opinion, in All Hallows and Christmas it takes a bit too long to deliver the central messages, and Winter is ambitious, synthesizing seven holidays each in a few verses of rhyme (it works better for some holidays than others). And this is a minor point - I realize that writing an entire book in rhyme is challenging - but I don't think it counts to rhyme “dispatch” with “patch.”

These wordsmith-y points aside, the fact of the matter is that Laurel loves reading these books. I particularly recommend Winter's Eve: Love and Lights if you’re looking for a springboard to discuss different holiday traditions with your children.

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; Halloween; Holidays
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Today, Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses shares tips for C-section recovery:

“One out of every three infants born in Massachusetts in 2006 was delivered by caesarean section, according to a state report released on February 13, 2008. This increase can be attributed to many factors, such as advanced maternal age, increases in obesity and diabetes, obstetrician’s fear of lawsuits, and parental desire to schedule the delivery to plan around older children. Whether you have a planned or unexpected C-section, here are some practical tips to aid your recovery post-surgery.

Organize. Organize your home in the week prior to your delivery date. Stock up on essentials that you will need for the first two weeks. Buy groceries and prepare a few meals ahead of time to put in your freezer. Create a space on the first floor where you will be spending most of your time, including a small table where you can keep a few books, telephone, water bottle, and a plate for snacks. Do not plan to walk up and down stairs for a while.

Breastfeeding. Call for assistance from either your nurse or a lactation consultant to help you breastfeed your baby comfortably. Most often the football hold position works best. If possible, take a class or read a book so you can become familiar with comfortable breastfeeding positions.

Bottle feeding. Plan to let dad, partner, a family member, or a nurse help with some of the feeds so you can get some much needed rest.

Nutrition. Avoid ice cold beverages, carbonated beverages, and heavy foods after the surgery. Drink plenty of water and hot teas and other natural fluids. Eat foods that are high in protein and fiber.

Clothing. Wear loose fitting clothing and larger underwear so the waistband does not press on the surgery scar.

Manage pain. After surgery it is very important to use the pain medication that is offered to you. Consult with your doctor if you are concerned about breastfeeding and pain medications; most pain medications offered in the hospitals are safe for breastfeeding moms. It will be much easier to feed the baby when you are a bit more comfortable.

Physical activity. Limit strenuous activity and support your abdomen when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or if you must use the stairs. Plan to get up and move around as soon as the nurse and doctor give you the green light. Movement helps alleviate some uncomfortable gas pain you may experience after the surgery. Even rocking in a chair will help your body eliminate some of the gas. Gradually increase your efforts and try to take regular walks. Abdominal exercises can begin around the sixth week postpartum, as can sexual activity.

Set limits and accept help. Many people will want to visit when your baby arrives, but limit visitors to short windows so you can sleep when the baby sleeps. Also, don't be afraid to accept or ask for help from a visiting friend or family member. Something as simple and easy as a friend or family member picking up orange juice for you on their way to visit can be an onerous task post-surgery with a newborn in tow.

Follow up. Schedule a follow up OB/GYN appointment for the six week mark from delivery.”

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (8) | Filed in Feeding & Nursing; Pregnancy & Postpartum
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Given the frigid turn in weather, Boston families are especially lucky to be privy to plenty of indoor entertainment. And this Saturday (11/22 at 3pm), you can catch the final show of the American Repertory Theatre’s Island of Anyplace at the Zero Arrow Theatre in Cambridge. Suitable for 6-11 year olds, Island takes kids on a creative adventure while teaching them about all aspects of the theatre.

Want to win a 4-pack of tickets to see The Island of Anyplace? Simply email contests@bostonmamas.com with “Island” in the subject by noon Friday, Nov. 21.

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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For parents seeking guidance on how to negotiate their kids through today’s sexualized commercial culture, tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7pm), Jean Kilbourne and Diane Levin will speak at Simmons College about issues and coping strategies raised in their book So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids. For details on the event, click here.

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Development & Behavior; For Grownups; Local; Outreach; Tweens & Teens
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Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice offers a primer on brown rice:

“Brown rice is healthier than white rice so it’s good to start your kids early on it. Brown rice is brown because the grain is wrapped with a layer of bran that is stripped away when rendering white rice. So, white rice is just starch, while brown rice is the starch plus fiber from the bran. Brown rice tastes nuttier than white rice, and also takes longer to cook.

Nutrients

Compared to white rice, brown rice is higher in nutrients such as iron and magnesium. But most importantly, brown rice has three times the fiber of white rice.

What about fortified white rice?

Fortified white rice has nutrients added that otherwise are lost in the refining process, and often in larger amounts than usual. But brown rice still is a better option due to the high fiber content that is so essential to our diets.

What different kinds of brown rice are there?

As with white rice, there are different kinds of brown rice. Short grain rice is starchy (like Arborio rice) and is well suited for risottos and rice puddings, or if you want a sticky rice to accompany Asian dishes. Medium grain and long grain rice are relatively low in starch so the grains separate well and are good for accompanying stir fry. Basmati brown rice is even longer than long grain rice and is very low in starch content so rice grains separate very nicely; it’s used in south Asian dishes such as curries.

How to cook brown rice

Brown rice takes much longer to cook than white rice so you may want to soak it overnight in water. When you are ready to cook it, simply drain and add to boiling water or broth.

Boiled Brown Rice

If you remember to soak the brown rice in advance, use a ratio of 1 cup of brown rice to 1½ cups of water. Bring water to boil and add drained soaked rice. Bring back to boil (uncovered) and simmer on low for 20-40 minutes (this large range in time is due to the variable age of the rice, water content, and stove heat variation). Turn off heat and leave in pot for about 10 minutes.

If you are going to cook unsoaked brown rice, use a ratio of 1 cup of rice to 2¼ cups of water.

Pilaf Method

First sauté chopped onion in olive oil in pan then add rice and water as above. Add parsley or cilantro for extra flavor.

Amanda’s Baby Brown Rice

Moms always ask me what brand of baby rice they should start their infant on, and I recommend making it at home if possible. My acquaintance Amanda Donovan recently shared this great recipe (thanks, Amanda!):

1. Use a small coffee grinder (to be used exclusively for grinding up rice) to grind up ¼ cup of rice (takes anywhere from 1 to 2 minutes). If you grind extra servings, store in Ziploc bags in the freezer.

2. In a saucepan, bring 1¼ cups of water to boil with ¼ cup rice power, whisking continually. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking periodically to minimize lumps. Store in a glass container in the fridge.

3. When ready to serve, heat up with a little bit of water, as the rice can get a bit rubbery in the fridge. Serve with veggie or fruit puree to taste.

Brown Rice Pudding

This warming winter pudding is a great way to use up leftover brown rice. Serve with fresh fruit sauce.

Ingredients:

Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Betsy Block, mother of two and author of The Dinner Diaries, where Block chronicles the challenges of feeding a family. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

Betsy Block, author of The Dinner Diaries

Christine: Tell us a bit about your background Betsy. You’ve worked for catering companies and restaurants and now you write about food. Were you ever schooled in the food industry, or did you learn on the go?

Betsy: I’ve been cooking since I was a preteen, but I never went to culinary school. I learned on the job.

Christine: At one point in your career, you attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. What led you to Fletcher, and what inspired you to leave the program?

Betsy: I went to Fletcher to study international negotiation and mediation. I was invited to be part of a group at the Harvard Program on Negotiation and had some great experiences there, but I quickly realized that a career based on travel might not be the best choice if I was planning on having kids. Also, I had to admit that the Wednesday papers’ food sections held more appeal for me than their front pages. Those realizations, combined with my lifelong love of writing, just added up and boiled over one day.

By the way, I may not be using those mediation skills on an international level, but I assure you I still call on them every day at home – I just don’t get paid for it!

Christine: You’re now a successful writer, and your work has been published in national and local media. What was your first big gig, and how did it come about?

Betsy: I was as excited to get my first-ever assignment from a community newspaper (300 words on kids’ eyeglasses) as I was, many years later, to be contacted by a book editor. I’ve always been the tortoise, not the hare; my progress has been slow and steady.

Christine: You’ve now written your first book – The Dinner Diaries – and it offers a truly funny and informative look into the challenges of feeding a family. What was the inspiration for chronicling your family’s adventures (and misadventures)?

Betsy: Thank you for the compliment!

I started posting essays and recipes about food and family on my website, Mama Cooks, when my daughter was a year away from starting kindergarten. With no editor, deadlines, or sales staff to please I really had fun.

About a year after I started my website, a book editor found it and contacted me. The next week, a piece I’d written about Halloween ran on npr.org. Within a week I was working on The Dinner Diaries.

Christine: Reading your book, I was truly impressed by your commitment to trying new (not to mention local, organic, and humane) recipes with your admittedly picky eating family of two kids and husband. Others might give up in the face of the poor odds. How do you keep up your humor and motivation to keep trying new things? And with your family of picky eaters, what – if any – are your surefire success recipes?

Betsy: As my husband always says, it’s either laugh or cry. The good news is that even with picky eaters and food aversions and allergies and more, the four of us continue to branch out and try new healthy foods. Like any parenting issue, it’s all about communication: listening with respect, having open discussions, and applying a potent combination of gentle prodding and backing off as needed.

Surefire recipes that everyone will eat? That depends on the phase of the moon. But I can tell you that recently everyone ate this soup: I roasted a head of garlic in the toaster oven until soft (drizzle it with olive oil, wrap it in foil and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes), cut up a head of cauliflower, peeled and cut some potatoes. I threw the cauliflower, potatoes and garlic into a pot of vegetable stock with a bay leaf and simmered until the veggies were soft, pureed it until smooth, drizzled in some cream, added salt and pepper, and everyone ate it. Whether they will again remains to be seen, but you can do this soup with a multitude of variations: winter squash and sage; white beans and garlic; potatoes and leeks; sweet potato and ginger (maybe served with a side of cut-up limes); black bean and cumin; and on and on. Fresh herbs + stock + veggies + legumes = a fast, easy meal.

Christine: Obviously, your family is at the core of your content for The Dinner Diaries. How did they feel about the full personal disclosure? Did you have a sit down with them to discuss in advance? Was any material deemed off limits?

Betsy: I just tell them to be happy our last name isn’t Sedaris.

Christine: I think parents will really appreciate the honesty and humor translated in your writing. When I read about your son’s cavity count I was both impressed that you were willing to share that (I think many of us parents get kind of zipped up about stuff like that…) and was inspired to brush my daughter’s teeth more. Do you have a lot of parents tell you that your honesty has inspired household change? If so, have another favorite example?

Betsy: Again, thank you.

I guess cavity counts don’t bother me as much as suffering in silence. Fortunately, all that embarrassing full disclosure seems worthwhile when I have moms write to me from all over North America to say my book has inspired them to make changes. One family has a small apartment and didn’t want to take up space with a table, so they were eating dinners sort of catch-as-catch-can. After reading my book, they brought their dining room table up from the basement and they’re eating together again. Others are now using fish lists (including the one in my book). People have bought books I recommend. They’ve changed the amount of meat they eat. I can’t tell you how deeply gratifying it is to hear stories like this.

Christine: I’m assuming that writing is your primary gig, done at home. How do you balance working out of home with the demands of family? How do you set boundaries so you can get work done?

Betsy: Motherhood is hard whether you work full-time at a job, full-time as a mom, or try to balance both, as I do. My office is right off the dining room and the kids are in here all the time. I’m used to it – luckily I can write in five-minute increments – but the only reason I have a book is because we signed up for cable TV. Do as I say, not as I do.

Christine: What do you think has been the most challenging thing about being a freelancer? Any words of wisdom for other moms looking to become freelancers, and balance freelance work with motherhood?

Betsy: The most challenging thing about freelancing is the 95 percent (99 percent?) rejection rate. But I believe that if you have an undying passion (and natural talent) for writing, incredible persistence, endless patience, and self-motivation, anyone can have a successful writing career. It’s the perfect job for a mom because you’re your own boss, you make your own hours, and there’s no commute. Best of all, there’s no dress code.

Christine: We’ve talked all business up to now. Tell us about the favorite things you do to unwind or any hidden/unusual talents you may have.

Betsy: Unfortunately, I’m a great baker. I also like some really bad TV shows. But the enlightened side of me has started doing yoga and cooking more vegan meals.

Christine: And finally, what’s your favorite thing about being a Boston mama?

Betsy: Although I do loathe the weather here, I can’t say enough about how much I love my community. I meet more smart, funny, thoughtful women (and their families) all the time. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Being a Boston mama rocks, but you already knew that.

Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Boston Mamas Rock!; For Grownups; Local
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Looking for a way to communicate with your preverbal baby? Today, Evadne shares her raves for Signing Time’s baby sign language DVD series and accompanying music CDs. Read on for her review, as well as to learn how to win a four-volume Baby Signing Time gift set!

“When my son was about nine months old, we began to explore the world of sign language. I had heard some of the benefits of teaching preverbal infants to sign but, to be honest, I didn't think I really had it in me to learn - and pass on - more than a few words such as "eat," "more," and "please."

Then I heard from a couple of mom friends about Signing Time, a company founded by a mother of two girls with disabilities and special needs. My mom friends raved about the Signing Time DVD series and their accompanying music CDs, and shared how their children (including one who has special needs) were starting to use their hands to communicate. So I decided to give sign language a shot and picked up the Baby Signing Time DVD set.

From the moment we sat down to watch the first DVD, my son was mesmerized by the images of fellow little ones using their hands to talk. And I actually found it fun to learn alongside him! Together we were like sponges, absorbing the words being taught through image and song. And listening to the CDs of catchy tunes in the car further helped the osmosis process. The words we picked up were relevant and easy to incorporate throughout our days - while getting dressed, during mealtime, at play, preparing for naps or bedtime.

After a few short months, my son started using his hands to sign "plane," "ball," "shoes," "frog," and "water." I was thrilled to learn what was going through his little head! Once, while in the mall, he signed "star" and, looking around, I spotted a lady with a shopping bag sporting the Macy's red star logo. On another occasion, when my son was crawling up the stairs (with me coming up behind him), he suddenly turned around to sign "help." And, after looking down to figure out what was the matter, I realized that my foot was stepping on his shoelace, halting his climb.

Even today, my son (nearly four years old now) delights in learning new signs alongside his 19-month-old sister. He will sign "shark" while talking excitedly about Bruce in Finding Nemo, while she will happily sign "horse" rocking away energetically on our rocking horse. It has truly amazed me to realize how this silent language has given voice to my little ones from such an early age. So now, thanks to Signing Time, I'm a true believer in all the benefits that sign language professes to offer: stimulating early learning and strong language skills, increasing communication and comprehension between parents and their young children, and reducing infant frustrations and toddler tantrums. I only wish that learning another language could be as easy and fun, as well as beneficial, for my whole family!”

Now, want to win a four-volume Baby Signing Time gift set*? Here’s how:

Today, Kate shares a recommendation for a cookbook that provides inspiration for baking projects with her daughter:

“I have loved to bake for as long as I can remember. Cooking - dinners, real meals, nutritionally well balanced and all miraculously ready at the same time - isn't necessarily my thing, but baking is one of my refuges. My mother started me on simple sugar cookies and carrot cakes when I was in preschool, and I've carried the love - for the flour, the sugars, the whiff of vanilla, the hand-feel of kneading dough - through my life until now, when I can spend weekends with my own toddler baking.

Baking is one of the ways that I show love, and I'm trying to teach my daughter how to bake affection right into the cookies and muffins and breads that we make together. I have recipes that I've collected and recipes that I go to over and over again, but there is a particular happiness in finding a new recipe that sounds good, tastes even better, and brings a smile to the faces of those you most cherish.

I recently stumbled upon The Weekend Baker: Irresistible Recipes, Simple Techniques, and Stress-Free Strategies for Busy People by Abigail Johnson Dodge, and spent several intensive weeks sampling her recipes for cookies, breads, and other treats. They were, invariably, good. Some were excellent. All reminded me yet again of how nice spending a weekend morning with an apron on and flour all over the counter feels, as well as the particular satisfaction of making a multiple-rise yeast bread that actually does rise and come out like something worthy of jam and peanut butter. Whether you dip or dive in, Dodge's book will make you enjoy being a baker any day of the week and not minding spending the short winter days in the kitchen.”

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups
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One can never have enough shoes for busy, growing feet, and thanks to our friends over at See Kai Run, for our fifth installment of Giveaway Goodness we’re giving away three pairs of their awesomely stylish and comfortable shoes! Specifically, you could score the Julie boot (size 7, in limited edition pink; shown), the Paul (size 3, in limited edition blue; shown below), or the Mike boot (size 6; shown below). Simply check out the rules below to enter to win a pair of these fabulous kicks!

 

Rules:

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Clever Parents features a bailout plan for parents, including tips for teaching kids to act responsibility. One Chic Mama recommends using accessories to play up your eyes. Modern Mom provides tips for foxing up your look. The Bump introduces their new series of web badges. And you could win a $100 Minted holiday card gift certificate at MomFinds.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be
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Kids can get a bad rap; presumed to be whiny or on the brink of tantrum, and I was reminded yesterday during a meeting with the folks over at Daily Grommet (an in depth look at them is forthcoming on this site) of how appreciative I am when people: a) trust my judgment about my kid, and b) welcome children without the aforementioned presumptions.

The situation was this: I was invited to a meeting scheduled for a day that I’m without childcare. And while I suppose I could have cast around for a babysitter (admittedly though, our options are very limited…), having met some of the Daily Grommet folks at BlogHer Boston, plus knowing that their offices are in Lexington (i.e., not corporate downtown), plus suspecting that Laurel would think it was a fun little adventure to accompany mommy to a work meeting, I decided to do something I never would have done during my postdoctoral fellowship…I asked whether I could bring my daughter to the meeting. I explained that Laurel tends to be well mannered, and that she’d actually probably hide behind me the whole time, but that I would understand if they didn’t want a kid at the meeting. I also said that if they were in fact OK with her attending, I would vacate the meeting if Laurel proved too distracting.

I couldn’t have received a more sincere and enthusiastic response from outreach manager Barbara Gordon, who welcomed Laurel to the meeting with open arms and asked whether there were any dietary issues she should know about. I truly was overwhelmed by her kindness, and even more so yesterday, when I arrived at the meeting to find that Barbara not only brought in toys and markers and paper for Laurel, but also set out kid friendly foods and juice boxes amidst the pretty lunch spread.

While I chatted with the other attendees, Laurel engrossed herself in Barbara’s toys, then during the lunch meeting, she sat on my lap, munching on food then working on an activity book. All told, she let mommy talk with the grownups for well over an hour (particularly impressive given that before we arrived she said that she didn’t want me to talk to anyone except her). Even more impressive was once the meeting broke, Laurel went off to the next room to explore some of the cool gizmos in Daily Grommet’s product area (note: she’s normally firmly attached to my side when we’re in unfamiliar territory). I saw another DG staffer kindly engage with Laurel about a colorful gadget she had picked up, and I again felt incredibly grateful for the welcoming space we were in.

Obviously, this was a 2-hour window of the day, and taking one’s child to work is not an optimal regular solution, particularly in a typical office environment. But in reflecting about this event, as well as about the many moms I saw deftly nursing or caring for babies while participating in sessions at BlogHer Boston, and the moms I know who have left graduate school or work environments that offered zero flexibility in special mom circumstances, I felt more strongly than ever that employers and parents alike could gain enormously if a welcoming environment were afforded (assuming realistic parental judgment about the viability of the scenario given child's age, temperament, work or school environment, etc.). Temperament and age of child obviously are huge factors, but perhaps the assumptions of whine and tantrum, and subsequent non-welcome, also don’t allow kids to rise to the occasion. Indeed, last night as we recounted the day’s adventures to Jon, Laurel said, “I liked being at the work meeting with mommy…and the Daily Grommet people were really nice.”

My sentiments exactly.

Image: kid-inspired wall art (those are suspended toy pigs and stuffed animals) at the offices of Daily Grommet.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Mama in the Workplace
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The busiest travel holiday of the year is fast approaching, and today Mary and Kate share useful tips on flying with kids and babies (also provided is a useful archive link from me). Feel free to comment in if you have additional ideas to share!

From Mary:

“I recently flew solo, outnumbered by a preschooler and toddler two to one. Despite periodically being plagued by visions of trips to Costco gone bad while I planned the trip, it actually turned out that the following strategies did wonders to make my airline travel not only bearable, but almost easy:

Utilize the arrival end of the trip to its utmost. I coordinated for my parents to bring their extra car seat to the airport, thus eliminating the need for me to carry both a Britax Marathon and Britax Roundabout through Logan Airport. If you’re not able to utilize existing baby accoutrements at your destination, web sites such as www.jibbajib.com rent items such as pack-n-plays, car seats, and strollers and are fairly affordable options to bringing everything with you.

Travel on off-peak days. I had the luxury of being able to travel on one of the slowest (read: cheapest) days of the week: Wednesday. Not only did traveling off-peak ease the cost, but we also were able to avoid long lines and crowded waiting spaces.

Ask if there are open seats for your “infant in arms.” I firmly believe in the saying that “it can’t hurt to ask.” I never buy an extra seat for my infant and always ask if there are open seats that I can use for my infant in arms. This strategy doesn’t always work out, but during my recent trip, the JetBlue ticket agents went out of their way to help me.

Portable entertainment. Be it toys, food, video games, or DVD players, I recommend bringing some kind of bag of tricks to entertain the kids, because in my experience, a 15-month-old and a 3-year-old get bored in the time it takes the flight attendant to demo the oxygen mask.”

Following a trip to Europe with her then newborn, Kate provided these travel tips:

Book a built-in bassinet. If the baby is small enough and the flight long enough, the airline will likely offer a built-in bassinet; book your tickets early to try to get one.

Gate check your stroller. Use the 'gate check' feature for your stroller, and make sure that the airline knows that you want to pick it up right when you get off the plane, not at baggage claim. Also, consider a stroller bag to keep your stroller from getting banged up (although the con is that they’re a bit big and awkward).

Strategize security. Develop a system for going through security, as there is so much to handle.

Diaper before takeoff. Do a diaper change before you board the plane, as airplane bathrooms are really small.

Feeding tips. Bring a back-up bottle, in case the baby is too distracted to nurse; otherwise, try to nurse during take-off and landing to avoid ear problems for the baby.

Get your docs in order. If you're traveling overseas, be sure to order a passport for your baby early, as they sometimes can take 6 weeks or more to be processed.

And finally, for additional tips on air travel, check out my post from earlier this year on Travel Lifesavers.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (5) | Filed in Feeding & Nursing; Travel
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Today, Heather reports on her daughter's fabulous experience with Zebra Mix, kids baking kits that are designed to make culinary adventures fun from start to finish. Read on for Heather’s review, as well as to learn how to be one of five winners to receive a Zebra Mix baking kit!

“‘Let's bake!’ My daughter Emma jumps for joy when she hears these two little words. And as a big time kindergartener, she takes great pleasure in working independently. She wants to 'read' the directions, measure and mix ingredients without my help, and she now is an expert egg cracker.

Given Emma’s passion for baking, we were thrilled to learn about Zebra Mix baking kits. These fun, creative, and educational culinary activities are great for kids (ages 4-12) who want to take baking to the next level. Three kits are available - chocolate chip cookie, brownie bites, and cupcake & frosting - the kits contain all the dry ingredients (wholesome and certified 70% organic) and a large instructional Safari Baking Map.

And the map is what really makes this product so much more than just a baking experience. The Safari Baking Map is a large, colorful, fold out with easy to follow, interactive step-by-step illustrated instructions with entertaining word games, math, and science challenges. Kids are encouraged to learn while stirring up the fun. Each map is double sided with two levels of instructions and learning activities. Level 1 (ages 4-9) is for nonreaders, beginning readers, and experienced readers. Level 2 is for ages 9 and up. Children are visually engaged through all of the steps of the baking process - from washing hands to cleaning the dishes when finished. There even is a check box for each step for your child to mark when the step is complete. And a bonus for busy parents is that the map doubles as an oversized place mat for the workspace. When finished with the baking, simply toss the map and the mess is gone!

Emma had more fun baking with Zebra Mix than I ever could have imagined. These kits serve perfectly as a supervised activity for one, or for play dates, visits with grandparents, rainy day activities, vacations, baby-sitter night, or any other reason you can dream up.

Oh, and did I mention that the results are delicious?”

Now, want to be one of five winners to receive a Zebra Mix baking kit*? Here’s how:

If you’re north of the city, love shopping, but find it challenging to get into the city to shop (or park the minivan once here), our friends at Mommies Who Shop! have a fabulous event for you. On Dec. 11 (6-10pm), convene with your mama pals for an evening of shopping (30+ cool designers), food and drink, spa and beauty goodies, and a silent auction and raffle that boast a Quinny stroller among the winnings. Tickets are selling fast; if you get one of the first 200 sold, you’ll also get a VIP swag bag.

At the Community House of Hamilton and Wenham, 284 Bay Road, Hamilton

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local; Retail
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Despite being an artist with a closet full of craft supplies, I still periodically run out of ideas or have trouble thinking outside the box to fuel Laurel’s creative appetite. Enter, Kid’s Busy Box. A creative and financial bargain compared to single project craft kits, Kid’s Busy Box includes instructions and materials for 20 craft projects suitable for 3- to 7-year-olds. Those with basic tools such as markers, tape, and scissors can opt for the basic box, or upgrade to a deluxe box to get all supplies included. Laurel loves being able to choose from a variety of projects, I welcome the fresh inspiration to promote fun, hands on learning, and the results make for cute home art or gifts for loved ones.

Want to win a Kid’s Busy Box*? Here’s how:

Halloween’s passing – and the obsessive post-treat teeth brushing that has followed – reminded me that I wanted to post about a terrific pediatric dental practice in the Greater Boston area. Following an enthusiastic referral from Evadne, I recently took Laurel to Pediatric Dental Associates for her first dental visit.

Cheerily outfitted with Halloween decorations, our visit to the Winchester practice was terrific from start to finish: easy parking, fast check in, zero wait time, and the hygienists and dentist we met were exactly what you would hope for at a pediatric dental practice: friendly, supportive, and endlessly patient. Given Laurel’s typical reserve around strangers, I walked in with minimal expectations about what we’d manage to get done at the check up, and as I explained and tried to allay her worries about the various things the hygienist and dentist were going to do, never once did I detect impatience or annoyance from the staff.

Laurel got to pick a toothbrush from a child height drawer (they even had princess toothbrushes, which we never can find at the drugstore…) and then she sat on my lap for the check up. As I anticipated, she was shy and resistant at first then eventually quietly cooperative for the teeth counting, cleaning, and even flossing. (It also helped to do things like count to 50 or sing the alphabet in a silly way to help distract.) At the end, Laurel got to pick some prizes from a toy/craft basket and she was thrilled about the contents of her dental goody bag.

A couple of other perks about this practice: I was able to request a female dentist, which I think helped Laurel’s comfort level, and they also operate paperless for appointment confirmation (i.e., everything is done by e-mail).

Pediatric Dental Associates; 955 Main Street, Suite 101, Winchester, Tel: 781-729-1900 & 20 Pondmeadow Drive, Suite 202, Reading, Tel: 781-944-7799

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Beauty, Fitness & Wellness; Local
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Everyone’s heard of, or experienced firsthand, computer crash (with no backup) horror stories; tearful, frustrated tales of valuable work lost and precious digital family photos and videos never to be seen again. Thankfully though, the onerous nature of backups is a thing of the past thanks to the ridiculously easy to use ClickFree HD801 device. Read on for my review of this must-have gadget, as well as to learn how to win a Clickfree HD801!

I’ve always been someone with an absurd amount of data at hand: experimental stimuli and data files as an academic, art files and documents as a designer and writer/editor, and - of course – scores of space hogging digital photos and videos as a parent.

And through it all, I have - until recently - wrestled with backup solutions. Backing up data is a tedious task whose importance is underscored by computer crash (with no backup) horror stories, and whose manual file selection challenges can – even with the best intentions – result in similar horror stories (such as in graduate school, when a research assistant tried to help me backup my data and instead deleted several months of progress on my dissertation).

Over the years I have experimented with various backup solutions as technology has evolved: floppy disks (yes, you read that right), Zip drives, CDs, memory sticks, external hard drives… But even as media space has expanded to accommodate my bulging digital archives, I have always found the process of selecting files (and trying to remember which files I haven’t touched in a while and can skip to save backup time) so onerous that I end up procrastinating and ultimately not backing up as frequently as someone so data reliant should.

All of this changed, however, when I got my hands on the ClickFree HD801. This sleek little device is a 160GB external hard drive with integrated backup software (meaning, no installation required) that automatically backs up your files (specifically, over 350 file types including photo, video, art, documents, etc.) when you plug it in via USB. The Clickfree organizes your files into categories (photos, music, e-mail, etc.) and is capable of backing up and tracking files separately for 10 computers, making it a great solution for multi-computer households like ours. On subsequent backups, the Clickfree smartly identifies and will backup only new files so the overall process doesn’t take as long. It truly couldn’t be any easier.

A couple of issues to note: First, the Clickfree currently works for those using Windows 2000, XP, and Vista; Apple compatibility apparently is in the works for 2009. Second, the Clickfree doesn’t backup program and system files, in order to minimize the potential threat of backing up files that are infected by viruses or other malware. I note this as an issue because I use Eudora for e-mail and Palm software for organization, which means the data for these programs (which reside in the system program files) does not get backed up. However, separately backing up my Eudora and Palm data is a small inconvenience compared to the enormous peace of mind this device brings … especially on days when my laptop sounds like it’s laboring and may crash and burn at any minute.

Now, want to win a Clickfree HD801 device? Here’s how:

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Clever Parents recommends a clever and inexpensive product designed to keep mementos organized for long-term storage. The Bump now features a baby naming tool. And you could win: two Pluto Tees at MomFinds and $250 worth of Creativity for Kids craft products at Modern Mom.

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Home; Pregnancy & Postpartum; Solutions
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If you’d like to introduce your little one to classic holiday performances on a budget, the Mayor’s Holiday Special site recently re-launched, offering exclusive half-price tickets for Boston area shows. I especially like that tickets for popular performances such as The Nutcracker and Holiday Pops are offered both in the time-honored Boston traditions by the Boston Ballet and Boston Pops, as well as at smaller suburban venues with lower ticket prices (and likely better visibility). Note that ticket sales for some shows close as early as next week.

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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A fun new piece of jewelry can serve remarkably well to lift the spirits, and our fourth installment of Giveaway Goodness will give a little boost to your bling collection. We’re giving away Twisted Silver’s (appropriately named for these times) Hope Bracelet, whose contrasting metal links will lend a funky, urban edge to your outfit. Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment to enter to win.

Rules:

Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Karen Kostigen, fortuitous owner of Zia Clothing Outlet in Belmont. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

Karen Kostigen, Owner, Zia Clothing Outlet

Christine: Tell us a little bit about your background Karen. You’re a local who spent professional time in convention sales and catering, and now you’re in the fashion industry as the owner of Zia Clothing Outlet. When did you catch the fashion retail bug?

Karen: I went to college to become a social worker, then after realizing I couldn't live on that salary ended up in the hospitality field for 7 years as a hotel catering and sales managers at various hotels, Marriott being the last company. When I was an at-home mom for 13 years, 7 of those I volunteered in the development department of a school where I did fundraising and event planning. As for my retail experience, I worked part-time in high school and after college in clothing stores to get the employee discounts!

Christine: I was amazed to read on your site that you were a loyal customer of Zia (under its previous owner and name) and when you heard that the store was going out of business you went in to buy sale clothing and ended up buying the store! What were you doing at that time professionally or otherwise, and what inspired you to buy the business?

Karen: I was a customer of the previous store when the store was in a different location. The previous owner approached me, saying that she was thinking of selling the business rather than liquidating because she was relocating. I thought, cool, now the store will stay and she offered me the business, saying I was exactly what she would want for her customers. It was my kids who talked me into taking the next step. I thought I was too old, didn't have enough money, and had too many kids but they convinced me to try; that I would be successful and happy. I said I would buy the business and run it for one year and if it failed, I would think of it as getting my Masters; that no matter the outcome, it would be a great learning experience. Four and a half years later I’m still going strong!

Christine: I actually grew up in Belmont and the town centers have changed a lot in the last decade, no doubt trying to shake its sleepy image of years past. How did you decide on Cushing Square for your store’s location? Do you find you get considerable passerby foot traffic, or does it seem that new and repeat shoppers come to Cushing Square explicitly to visit your store?

Karen: Cushing Square is off the town center (Belmont Center) by about one mile, which is perfect for an off-price boutique. The store had to be relocated when I purchased it since the previous space was already leased to another business. What I love about the space here in Cushing Square is that it has a lot of natural light and is in a warm, old-fashioned kind of walking area. Bus #73 from Harvard Square stops right outside my door and the store is easily accessible from Cambridge, Newton, Waltham, and Watertown.

Christine: It seems that in both the women and children domains, discount fashion stores are all the rage (and no doubt necessary in this economy). Without giving away your secrets, tell us more about hitting the market to find fashion treasures. Are there specific reseller-only places where you can hunt for treasures? Do you follow your instincts and just buy what appeals to you or do you think in terms of aligning your inventory with current fashion trends?

Karen: I'm in the market weekly and am considered an "opportunity buyer." Many times when I go to buy I'm not sure what I'll come back with! There is an eclectic mix of merchandise at all times at Zia Clothing Outlet. Sometimes to get the best price I must buy a large quantity; other times, I pick up "one of a kind" manufacturer samples.

Christine: You clearly are committed to philanthropy, donating partial proceeds to, or hosting fundraisers for, various organizations. How do you choose these organizations? Are any of them close to your heart for specific reasons?

Karen: October was Breast Cancer Awareness month so I fundraised for different breast cancer groups, like Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, The Julie Fund, Embrace a Family, and the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In June, in honor of my late aunt and in conjunction with the store's anniversary, I host an Ovarian Cancer event.

Christine: You also host monthly in-store events and in-home parties. How do the in-home parties work? Do you bring favorite pieces from stock for women to try on and buy?

Karen: I host a monthly in-store wine and cheese party and vary the theme each month. For example, I've had tarot and psychic readers, fashion shows, wine tastings, book signings, and art openings. The home parties are a blast too! I bring an array of merchandise and accessories, many times the hostess helps me choose the items and set up in someone's living room and the party begins! I've also hosted private, in-store shopping events for mom's groups, birthday parties, etc.

Christine: Your nominator shared that you are a single mom juggling a growing business and three children. How old were your children when you acquired Zia, and how do you juggle your work and family demands as a single parent?

Karen: The store opened June 1, 2004 and the kids were in 8th, 6th, and 1st grade. I hired a babysitter a few afternoons week to help with the afternoons while I was at the store. Now I have someone watch the store a couple of afternoons to balance the family/work life.

Christine: What do you think has been the most challenging thing about being an independent mamapreneur? Do you have any nuggets of wisdom for aspiring mamapreneurs?

Karen: The most challenging part is feeling like I should be at the store more when I'm home and feeling like I should be at home more when I'm at the store. I am trying to learn to let go of the guilt as it all gets done and nothing lasts forever. One of my kids is a freshman in college already!

Christine: We’ve talked all business up to now. Tell us about the favorite things you do to unwind or any hidden/unusual talents you may have.

Karen: My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my family and friends. I love to read cookbooks to unwind and I'm still trying to find my sandbox because I love to shop so much, it shouldn't count because I do it for a living!

Christine: And finally, what’s your favorite thing about being a Boston mama?

Karen: My three favorite things about being a Boston Mama are my kids Jenna, Olivia, and Richie!

Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate yourself or someone else to be featured!

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Boston Mamas Rock!; Local; Retail
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I’ve always loved the tradition and timeless calm of folk music, and Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary just released two fabulous songbooks - Favorite Folk Songs and Sleepytime Songs - that no doubt will become family keepsakes. Gorgeously produced, these sturdily bound, prettily illustrated songbooks make learning and appreciating traditional folk tunes easy and fun for the whole family, with printed lyrics and guitar chords for those who wish to strum along, and an accompanying CD to make familiar any unfamiliar tunes. Laurel’s been singing along with these songbooks nonstop (she especially loves Puff, the Magic Dragon), and tonight at 7pm, you can experience the music live with Peter Yarrow at his free performance at Brookline Booksmith.

Want to be 1 of 5 winners to win a Peter Yarrow songbook*? Here’s how:

A partial repost of useful information; if you don’t know where to go vote today, simply enter your address into the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division poll locator. And for our wonderful readers outside of Massachusetts, find your polling location using Vote411’s polling place finder. I was proud to see so many parents with kids in tow at the polls this morning!

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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Looking for a creative way to introduce vegetables to your kid? For those enjoying next Tuesday’s holiday off with the kids, the award winning VeggieTales are coming to the Boston area with two shows (11:30am, 3pm) at Medford’s Chevalier Theater. And we’re giving away a 4-pack of tickets to see VeggieTales live! To enter to win, simply email contests@bostonmamas.com with “VeggieTales” in the subject by midnight Wednesday, Nov. 5.

*One winner will receive a 4-pack of tickets to their choice of either the 11:30am or 3pm show on Tuesday, November 11. To purchase tickets, visit TicketForce.

Chevalier Theater, 30 Forest Street, Medford; Tel: 781-391-SHOW

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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In chatting with other parents about how to handle post-Halloween candy distribution, my blog buddy Isabel Kallman over at Alpha Mom pointed me to this awesomely creative feature on repurposing leftover Halloween candy. I especially love the Advent calendar idea as an easy and festive (yet restrained) way to distribute Halloween loot. Parents who don't own stamping supplies could easily modify this project by handwriting or printing and pasting the calendar text.

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Nov 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Home; Solutions
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In a departure from her usual content, today Carole Arsenault of Newborn Nurses shares the craftastic results of her daughter’s recent test drive of Sakura Sticklers. Read on for her review, as well as to learn how to be one of two winners to receive a Sakura Sticklers gift pack!

“Stickers and crafts are some of my 8-year-old daughter’s favorite activities, but she usually tires of stickers within a relatively short time window. Sakura’s Sticklers activity kit, however, kept her entertained for hours.

Sakura Sticklers kits include gold or silver outline stickers with glaze or soufflé colored ink pens that your child can use to color in the metallic stickers. The stickers are easy and fun to decorate, the pen inks leave a 3D impression, and the metallic colors were such a huge hit that even my 13- and 16-year-old boys wanted in on some of the fun.

Fun for decorating cards, crafts, or personal items, by the end of the weekend our cell phones (4 of them), a Blackberry, camera, home phone, and alarm clock were just a few household items adorned with these cool 3D stickers. My daughter also used the sticklers to make several birthday cards for her friends. I also loved the mess-free nature of this craft project, and that the stickers can be removed easily (as was the case with my husband’s Blackberry).

These Sticklers kits will be great for holiday travel and car rides, and I think they’ll make a perfect birthday gift for some of my daughter’s similarly craft minded friends.”

Now, want to win a Sakura Sticklers gift pack*? Here’s how: