Last week, it was with more than a shred of embarrassment and regret that I realized I had not read a single book all year (I’m afraid my perusal of The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and In Style just doesn’t count). Reminded of my love of reading by Amy Bloom’s gritty and gripping Away (gifted to me by Jon), I was inspired to canvas some mama, Twitter, and Facebook peeps to create the unofficial Boston Mamas Best Reads of 2008 List. Enjoy, and please feel free to comment in with other recommendations, and/or grab the button code at the end of the post to share the link with friends!

Notes: This list is not restricted to books published in 2008; I simply asked for favorite reads of the year. For the most part, I used Amazon’s categories – alphabetized below - to group the recommendations as logically as possible. Specific comments about a particular book are included in parentheses.

BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIRS

Per usual, Boston's First Night offers an impressive array of events to ring in the New Year, and if you're attending with kids, check out these program components: The family festival starts at 1pm at the Hynes Convention Center, the costumed grand procession launches from the Hynes at 5:30pm, and fireworks follow the procession on the Boston Common at 7pm sharp (don’t be late; the show is 12 minutes long!). Check out the First Night 2009 page for program details beyond the early kiddie bedtime hour, and to learn where to buy your button.

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Laurel’s life is captured in many ways, but when I want to take a walk down memory lane I invariably gravitate towards her baby book (handmade by an artist friend) above the scores of digital photos and videos. If you’re looking for a similarly beautiful, tactile, and practical way to record memories, check out Baby Butterfly Books. Constructed from 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper and available in a variety of chic cover options, these baby books are sewn so the book lies flat for writing or reading and can be made blank for handwritten entries, or you can type entries online and receive a printed copy. And for our 9th installment of Giveaway Goodness, Baby Butterfly Books will gift one lucky reader with a baby book of their choice! Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway (by Dec. 31) to enter to win.

Rules:

Pursuant to my recent gingerbread house how-to post, here are notes on our adventures down gingerbread lane. Not only was the project incredibly fun, but it ended up being a huge lifesaver while we were snowed in this past weekend. Gingerbread house building may seem a bit intimidating at first, but it essentially boils down to rolling and cutting dough (similar to what you would do to make sugar or gingerbread cookies), then having a blast with the decorations.

Inspiration:

I wanted to do something a little unusual for our gingerbread house and Laurel and I decided to try to make a gingerbread castle. Her sketch served as perfect inspiration - simple yet representational.

After printing, perusing, and comparing the three gingerbread house leads I shared here, I decided to use the King Arthur Flour recipe since their templates fit best with our modified castle design.

Design:

To create the castle walls I used the King Arthur Gable End template for the castle sides and the Side Wall template (modified) for the back and front (see end of PDF for templates). For the back and front sides I added 3 triangle points to the top edge of the template. I achieved this by printing and cutting out the Gable End and Side Wall templates, then center aligning them (so gable point = middle triangle point). I traced this pattern onto posterboard then drew in a slightly smaller triangle on either side of the center triangle. As in Laurel's drawing, I made the door rounded on the top (for the front piece).

I preferred to cut out the template pieces from posterboard (instead of suggested cardboard) so I could lay the template directly on the dough for cutting, without worrying about how grubby the cardboard (from our recycling bin) might be.

Note: this design has no roof. We were OK with that, but if you want a traditional roof to decorate, go with a classic house!

Dough & Icing:

I followed the from-scratch gingerbread and royal icing instructions from the King Arthur PDF. Both are easy to make, particularly if you are experienced with gingerbread or sugar cookie rolling and cutting.

I rolled the dough out on wax paper and then slid the paper right onto a baking sheet, rather than rolling out on a countertop and trying to transfer. You could also try rolling out on a Silpat mat; just be sure to cut the pattern with a butter (not super sharp) knife so you don’t ruin your Silpat.

With my modified templates, the King Arthur recipe was just enough for the four walls, plus a handful of gingerbread people. When you’re working with each ½ batch of dough, roll out the front/back (i.e., bigger) piece first, as it will be easier to stretch/roll out dough for the smaller side pieces second.

Laurel and I made the dough the night before assembly and decoration (I wanted to break up the process so I didn’t feel bound to the kitchen all day). I rolled and cut out the template pieces, then gave Laurel the scraps to roll and cut into gingerbread people while I made the icing.

Assembly:

I have a 12 x 18 inch cake pan (for my giant sheet cakes) and Jon had the excellent idea of flipping it over to create a stage for the castle. The royal icing is amazing stuff. It hardens very quickly (though you can scrape it off easily if need be) and since we didn’t install a roof, we were able to start decorating within about 20 or so minutes of assembling the four sides.

Decorating:

This is really where the fun comes in and Laurel and I had an amazing time. We didn’t have a decorating plan in advance and just bought what caught our eye at the market: starlight mints (I highly recommend these; the swirls are so pretty and festive), jellybeans, gumdrops, and gummy bears. I also bought pointy ice cream cones (originally thought they would be part of castle) and also decided to buy the rainbow flat bottom cake cones sitting next to the pointy cones because I thought they might look fun around the castle.

All of the candy worked great, although I did cut the gumdrops in half to sit flush against the house walls because the ones we got were huge. I was skeptical as to whether the frosting could hold the jellybeans (up the corners and along the top edges of the walls) but it was not a problem at all.

Our real moment of brilliance was adding the cake cones around the edge, then placing a starlight mint and “gummy bear guard” on top of each “lookout post” (use frosting to secure all pieces). We finished by squirting the remaining icing in all the blank spots on the stage (i.e., covering up the silver pan spots) and sprinkling with coconut flakes to make it look like snow. I also added flags to add to the castle effect, using a toothpick and folded over triangle (double stick taped inside) with each of our letters on it.

I can’t recommend this project enough! In general, I really love how baking projects lend to sensory exploration (and you can chat math and measurement with older kids), but this one was so fun, it may need to become more than a once a year project.

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Home; Recipes
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Short on time this holiday season? Today, Evadne shares a great entertaining shortcut in Immaculate Baking’s Better Bakes organic cookie dough collection. Read on for her review, as well as to learn how to be one of five winners to receive a package of Better Bakes organic cookie dough!

“Baking is one activity that is next to nonexistent in my household, largely (and selfishly) because my husband and I both prefer savory foods to sweets. We enjoy cooking, but baking requires more of an effort from us. As a result, my two little ones (4 years and 21 months) are sadly deprived of home-baked goods. So it was out of mild guilt that I jumped at the opportunity to try out Immaculate Baking Company's Better Bakes. My motivation changed, however, when the cookie dough arrived and I laid eyes on the fun packaging covered with colorful and original folk art. All of a sudden, I found myself excited to get cracking and start baking!

Better Bakes promises "super easy" to bake cookies and they certainly deliver; the cookie dough comes pre-portioned, requiring you only to place and space the pieces on an ungreased baking sheet, then pop them in the oven. Ten to fifteen minutes later, you have 24 freshly baked, ready-to-eat cookies! In fact, the process is so simple that I was able to crank out three batches of 24 while hosting a large dinner party! The guests totally relished the warm, moist cookies after dinner with some tea. Our guests were big fans of the Chocolate Chunk, while members of my family gravitated toward the Oatmeal Raisin. The Peanut Butter cookies didn't go as fast due to nut sensitivities in the group, but I personally think that they and the Vanilla Sugar cookies are also very good - not overly sweet and just the right texture (neither too chewy or too crunchy). The cookie dough also is available in Triple Chocolate Chunk (which we didn't have a chance to test but for which I will definitely keep an eye out at the stores).

To add to their yummy-ness, Better Bakes cookies are made primarily of organic ingredients, and without any trans fat, preservatives, or artificial flavors. So you can go ahead and enjoy these goodies relatively guilt-free this holiday season! And as you munch away, know that you are at the same time making a contribution to two programs supported by Immaculate Baking: the Folk Artist's Foundation (which celebrates and promotes the life and works of folk artists) and the Soul Food Fund (which seeks to nurture art and creativity in children). Now isn't that just icing on the cake?”

Now, want to be one of five winners to receive a package of Better Bakes cookie dough*? Here's how:

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 Lauren Hefferon, mother of three, avid cyclist, and director of the bicycle tour group Ciclismo Classico. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

Lauren Hefferon, Director and CEB (Chief Executive Biker), Ciclismo Classico

Christine: Welcome, Lauren! I was so fascinated to read about your international company based right out of Arlington. Tell us a little bit about your background. You studied anthropology at Cornell; what path led you to starting your bicycle vacation business Ciclismo Classico?

Lauren: I started cycling longer distances and really began to embrace cycling passionately when I was a freshman in high school. I was very active and played many sports but once I tore cartilage and had knee surgery I realized that I had to find a sport that was low impact yet fueled my desire to be very active. During my tumultuous teenage years, cycling was both a safe and positive escape. I remember packing my lunch and taking off for the entire day to ride to my heart’s content around Southern NH (and worry my parents to death!). I would stop at general stores, churches, graveyards, whatever tickled my fancy; every summer following was mine to ride and explore where I lived and beyond. My high school graduation adventure was a two-week bike camping trip up the Maine coast to Nova Scotia with five guys and myself; only three of us made the whole trip. When it came time to choose a college, I chose Cornell not only for its education but also for the incredibly beautiful Finger Lakes as a cycling destination. My father at first was concerned about getting my priorities straight but he knew that if I was cycling daily in a place that I loved that I would be happy and would thrive.

At Cornell I immediately signed on to lead bicycle-touring classes for their Wilderness Reflections program that orientates new students via experiential outdoor programs. In terms of academics, my major was anthropology, which perfectly fit my adventurous and culturally curious spirit. I started to see myself as a cycling anthropologist - wherever I rode, I would observe and appreciate the subtle variations and unique qualities of the people, traditions, and places I experienced. Envisioning guiding in my future, I did a six-week National Outdoor Leadership backpacking training course (NOLS) in the Wind Rivers of Wyoming. I absolutely fell in love with the leadership learning experience and began to pursue other leadership opportunities, including working as bicycle tour guide for Interlocken International Kids Camp (now know as Windsor Mountain).

Upon graduating from Cornell, I received a Rotary scholarship to study art in Italy, the native country of my grandparents. Before beginning my studies in the fall of ‘83, I embarked on my first solo bicycle-touring trip through Europe. The multicountry camping bike tour, starting in Italy, was three months and 3,000 miles long. During the tour (that wound its way through my grandmother’s home town) I took notes, recorded my route, and presented my Rome to London itinerary to Camp Interlocken’s Research and Development director. With his blessing I launched my career in itinerary development and the following summer led my first six-week Rome to London camping tour with 14 teenagers. It was the hardest job of my life but I loved it. I was hooked and it was one of their best selling itineraries.

During my three-year stay in Italy, I rode, raced, and explored every road in Tuscany and envisioned leading tours through this gorgeous countryside. I returned to Boston in 1986 and after dabbling with an art degree, and some waitress and temp gigs, I knew that the only person I could work for was myself. I jumped off the diving board, developed a couple of itineraries in Tuscany, designed a simple brochure, and hit the road smiling and selling what I loved.

Christine: Your tours are now international, but when you started the business, did you have to start smaller while you developed a client base? What was your first expedition and how did you find clients for that first journey?

Lauren: I launched my first two tours in June of 1989 for a grand total of 18 guests (we now have over 1000 per year on 85 tours). Both these tours were in Tuscany, a region I know like the back of my hand. My approach to getting clients was pure gorilla marketing: cheap ads, handmade posters, letters to friends, and hundreds of phone calls. The following year my then future husband Mauro got involved and we had five tours and 60 guests and continued to double and triple our business every year until 2001 when the world as we know it changed and all travel companies had to evolve and adapt to a new world of travel.

Christine: Your 3 children were born while your business was developing. What were your key strategies for juggling motherhood and work during this busy time?

Lauren: Very early on I realized that I could not do it all so I learned the importance of hiring people and effectively delegating. This strategy helped both in raising my kids and running the business. I have had a wonderful Italian A+ nanny (Natascia) for over nine years; I can completely entrust her with my children and have peace of mind while I worked. As my company grew I continually tried to hire staff to assume more and more responsibility. I have always benefited in having a strong number two person. When I started Ciclismo, I was blessed to have found a remarkable individual, Marisa Caruccio, who perfectly balanced my weaknesses with her strengths. When, due to my growing family, we could not spend enough operational time in Italy, we hired Davide Marchegiano to run our Italian operations. He has done a better job than I ever could have in growing our guide team, running our operations, and expanding our product line throughout Europe. Recently I have hired Andrew Conway, as our Managing Director to drive sales and marketing and oversee our USA operations. Another strategy that helped me balance, prioritize, and keep focused was to join and align myself with other like-minded business organizations and individuals who have been through the same life and businesses challenges. While your family and team can be very supportive, it is important to keep learning and growing professionally.

Christine: Tell us more about the family trips that you have created at Ciclismo. What might a family of 4 expect to pay for a cycling adventure?

Lauren: We have several family tours including our Tuscan Fantasy, our Mediterranean Multi Sport, and our new New England Adventure. All of these trips are designed to be active cultural immersions into the sights and sounds of the region for families with kids from 6-18. Each tour has rides of all lengths and abilities and has activities such as pizza making, a bocce tournament, and language lessons for kids and their parents when they are not cycling. Our New England family adventure will have daily loop rides in Northern Vermont as well as visits to the Shelburne museum, a bird museum, blueberry picking, Vermont lost arts and crafts, music lessons, and stargazing with a local astronomer. A family of four can expect to pay $6,500 to $12,000 depending on the type of itinerary.

Christine: Your nominator wrote that you are very active at a local level with your cycling. Tell us about the causes that are near and dear to your heart, and how you have supported them via cycling.

Lauren: The organizations that are near and dear to my heart include the Pan Mass Challenge (cycling cancer fundraiser), Cycle Kids (kids cycling education non-profit), Bikes Belong (national cycling organization), Sustainable Business Network (promoting local and sustainable business), The Social Venture Network (progressive socially responsible business), Go Green Streets (promoting alternative transportation in Cambridge and beyond), Safe Routes to School, and of course Mass Bike (the statewide advocacy organization).

Over the past six years, I have been very active in trying to raise awareness, encourage, and support the initiatives of Bicycle City, whose motto is Drive Less, Live More. Specifically, I have applied the concepts by promoting kids and parents to cycle to school in Arlington. My kids and I have always walked or ridden to school. This fall my 4th grade daughter has logged on 120 miles in her 4-mile commute back and forth to the school. My kindergarten son bikes a total of 1.2 miles a day and loves it but is not allowed to park his bike on school property. A steep and enormous hurdle for cycling to school is that for many years the Arlington principals have had an unwritten, nonsensical ban on bicycling to school and parking on school property. This lack of active encouragement of alternative transportation has resulted in many more parents driving to school and an enormous traffic problem around the schools.

Just like in most of America, the car culture is very strongly embedded in the Arlington mindset even though the country’s most populated bike path runs through the entire town and if need be, a person could use the path to access shopping, entertainment, schools, restaurants, movies, and daily errands. Even though the car culture is winning, because of health, environmental, and societal issues, bicycling is making a comeback; it’s not that hard but it does take rethinking your day and your habits and being prepared differently than for a car. I believe the bicycle, with its health, social, transportation, and environmental benefits, should be the symbol of the NEW green revolution.

Christine: Your nominator also said that you pedal 50+ miles a day! As someone who used to be very physically active but can’t seem to fit in exercise anymore, tell us how you fit this into your schedule.

Lauren: Well, it is more like 20-30 miles a day, four to five times a week but I do bike everywhere so my daily commutes to drop off my kids and errand running can easily add up to at least 10 miles a day. After I drop off my daughter by bike, I do my 30-mile loop to Concord and call in for our 11:00 daily huddle at work. In the winter I cross-country ski, walk, do yoga, and spend a bit of time at the gym lifting weights. Although I am challenged by many habits, ever since I was a kid, I have always made daily activity and healthy eating a top priority and part of my life. I have really reaped the benefits: I very, very rarely get sick, my energy level is high, and physical activity always clears my mind and reduces any stress. Cycling gives me some valuable alone and thinking time too - my best ideas come when I am cycling!

Since it is hard to find time to exercise, the easiest way to remain active is to blend high activity into your daily work and play. In my house I have a two-mile rule: anything under two miles and we walk or bike. Have your own two-mile rule. Limit your car usage by keeping your life needs and wants local: walk or bike to work, to errands, to entertainment. Commuting, even if it’s only a few miles a day, will keep your metabolism running at a higher rate.

Christine: So I have to admit that I have a bit of bike trauma. I used to love riding but then I bought my first bike (as an adult) and it got stolen 2 days (one glorious ride) later in Somerville (it was completely locked up). I haven’t been able to bring myself to buy a bike since. Do you have any recommendations for functional but affordable bikes for the lay cyclers out there?

Lauren: There are plenty of great bikes out there but you must always lock them properly to a rack with a Kryptonite lock or you at risk of getting them stolen. Although I am dedicated to cycling, I am not much into all the new brands and gadgets. I do have many bikes for various purposes. I have my super fine Serotta racing bike that I do long fitness rides on. I have a couple of tandems that I use with my kids. My clunky commuting bike is a Trek Mountain that I spray painted gold, added fenders, a light, and rack. I use this to go everywhere and I love it. If you want a decent bike for recreational riding, most of the brands are very competitive so go to your local bike shop, tell them your price range and needs and they can set you up for $400-$700. A clunky multipurpose commuting bike can be found on Craig’s list for $150-$300, but I like to support my local bike shop whenever I can.

Christine: I’d also be interested in your perspective on safety with kids and bikes. I get so nervous when I see (or need to negotiate around) those back-of-bike attachments that are closer to the ground and to the cars behind it. In your opinion, what are the safest ways to bike with babies and kids in tow? Do you have any gear recommendations?

Lauren: First, parents must get educated and outfitted with the best equipment they can afford. Parents must model proper cycling safety and etiquette, including always wearing a helmet, dressing brightly, obeying traffic laws, and sharing the roads with cars and pedestrians. Kids can and do cycle safely but parents must be the strict enforcers. I have always used a Burely or trail-a-bikes with my kids and as long as they are a good quality and mounted properly they are a perfect solution. For parents with babies, a good bike seat mounted on rear rack or a Burley works perfectly fine.

For older kids make sure to get a bike that is made well and can be serviced. There is a lot of junk out there and kids will quickly lose interest if their bike breaks or does not work properly. My kids started riding a two-wheeler at around five. For kids between 6-8 a one-speed is better than a gear bike. Older kids can begin to learn and benefit from a gear bike but not until kids are about 10 will they be able to really process everything around them and make proper decisions. Make sure that a child dresses brightly, has a helmet that they like (color and design) that fits properly and is always buckled snuggly. I got my kids a horn, a light, and cycling gloves so they have a good grip on the handlebars. Always make sure your kid’s tires are inflated, and that the bike is working properly. I always ride beside my kids or closely behind them and am constantly teaching them bike safety and giving them mini-lessons such as how to ride in a straight line, shift, break, listening for cars, etc. Since I always want to reward my kids for cycling, when we take longer rides we stop whenever they want for ice cream, snack, or playgrounds. Rides over 5 miles will quickly bore and tire out any child so you have to be patient and willing to lower your expectations.

Christine: Obviously, cycling is at your professional and personal core. Tell us about other favorite things you do to unwind or any hidden/unusual talents you may have.

Lauren: To unwind, I stay up late and enjoy the absolute peace and quiet by reading, writing, planning, and learning about new places, people, and things via a growing number of blogs I subscribe to. I am not one to stay home much. I do love spending time with my family and am very involved with my children’s lives. I love experiencing all the wonderful cultural and outdoor events in the Boston area with them. I have gained the reputation of being the Daytrip Diva because I am always planning an outing or a day trip. This year I have made a commitment to learning the guitar. I have been trying to play daily and even though I only know a few chords it is very relaxing. Photography gives me great satisfaction but it has been hard to make the time to really invest the time to learn and expand my horizon. I would love to learn film-making! I love to sing and have finally joined The Mystic Chorale. I also love to get together with friends whenever possible; sharing ideas and tales is wonderfully nurturing and uplifting and I do this through taking classes, attending conferences, and writing on my blog. Of all my outlets, travel is my ultimate escape; I am much more myself when I am on the road, exploring and reacting to new places and people. One dream I have is to travel around the world with my kids for six months.

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

Lauren: Even though I regularly fantasize about relocating to a smaller college town like Keene or Northampton, I have been in the Boston area now for over 20 years and despite the challenges of urban living, this area and its variety of people, places, and culture does have a hold on you. Since I do love to bike everywhere with or without children, I feel that I can access the majority of my business, personal, practical, and social needs by bike. The Boston area offers such a great variety of cultural and educational experiences for all ages; there is always something fun and unique to do. Living in the Boston area allows me to be primarily car-free and that is very important to me. Boston is a beautiful and very special place. Every season offers amazing events like the marathon in the spring, various street festivals in the summer, fall foliage exploding along the Charles River during the regatta, and vast holiday events including our very own Jingle Ride, a ten mile costumed bike ride through the streets of Boston. Being a Boston mama means I dress like a reindeer, ride my bike through the streets of Boston, and get my picture taken with a tin soldier in Faneuil Hall. How much better does it get?

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

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Boston Mamas Rock!; Fun Outdoors; Local; Travel
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I must admit that I’ve long been under the impression that Avon is just about cosmetics, but they’ve apparently branched well beyond; in addition to wellness products, kid’s décor, and even man gifts, they offer an affordable line of handbags, including this Pockets Galore Bag. It’s big enough to hold all of your (non-diaper bag) essentials, while keeping a trim and trendy silhouette. Want to learn how to win this or another Avon bag*? Here’s how:

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

Moms’ Buzz highlights the top five manners kids need most this holiday season. And you could win: a cozy cashmere sweater from Land's End at One Chic Mama, a Quinny Buzz and Maxi Cosi at The Bump, and a Quinny Buzz 4 Stroller at MomFinds.

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Development & Behavior; Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Gear
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Given my love of baking and crafting, I’ve always wanted to make a gingerbread house, and not surprisingly, Laurel is totally on board with this idea. In anticipation of today’s early school closing, I hunted for some leads so Laurel and I could enjoy some time plotting our gingerbread structures and making templates. Following are my three favorite how-to's, which have useful information for both novice and experienced bakers. I’ll also jot notes on our process in case we come up with any particularly brilliant or time saving ideas to share for future use. Happy building!

From Simply Recipes:

I like the Simply Recipes resource because it’s from a personal blog and includes good photos and detailed instructions with lots of helpful personal tips. I also like that – by virtue of being written by a person baking at home, not in a professional kitchen - the post includes normal baking photos. Meaning, the author shows broken pieces (and tells you how to fix them) and unevenly baked edges, yet the final result is cute. It’s a good reminder that the process need not be perfect – you can cover any problem areas with decorations. Templates are included.

From Cookie Magazine:

Cookie offers a more streamlined how-to, best suited to experienced bakers who understand baking lingo and process. What I think is really cute about this post is that they include templates for a brownstone, ranch house, and garage. Perfect for urban and suburban representation.

From King Arthur Flour:

King Arthur Flour offers a somewhat insane 14-page PDF guide to constructing a gingerbread house, but it’s a really handy reference for first time builders and novice bakers in that it includes a ton of annotated photos to help you navigate the baking and construction process. The decorating photos - including trees cleverly built on ice cream cones – are impressive, and templates are provided.

The first and second images are credited to Simply Recipes, the third to Cookie Magazine, and the fourth to the King Arthur Flour guide.

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Home; Recipes
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Today, Kristin shares her raves for Profound Beauty, a customized hair care system that delivers serious results. Read on for her review, as well as to learn how to win a personalized assortment of products from the Profound Beauty collection (approximately $200 value!).

“Most women I know love products of all kinds. Once, when I was a bartender, a customer told me that he and his buddy had just spent $400 at Sears. When I asked what he had purchased, he beamed and stated, ‘Tools baby, but you wouldn't understand what I mean,’ to which I replied, ‘Let me loose in a beauty supply store and I can beat that spending spree by a mile.’

So when Profound Beauty is a salon quality hair care line that is basically customized for every need. To figure out what you need, answer their entire online questionnaire (“Find your routine” section). This will produce a complete, detailed report on what products will work best for your hair type and scalp. Everything from shampoo to styling gel is designed with hair type in mind. And these products DELIVER! They made a believer out of me (and I'm a super skeptic).

To best describe the effectiveness of this product line, first let me give you my hair profile. My hair is long, brown, and very wavy. It's oily within 24 hours of washing. If I use any type of hair serum, my hair and scalp look like you could fry an egg on it in about 6 hours, yet on some days, it's more on the normal side (kind of like “combination hair”). Since turning 40, the grey is coming in so now I color it on a regular basis, and sometimes highlight if I have the money and 2 hours of leisure time. Based on this information, here is the breakdown of what Profound Beauty recommended and how it works.

1. Shampoo & Conditioner

Profound Beauty's shampoo and conditioners are referred to as the ANATOMY line. They recommended the 90/10 shampoo and 05/95 conditioner. Both smell amazing and the shampoo is free of sodium laurel sulfate and sodium chloride, which means long lasting hair color protection, low sudsing, and clean rinsing. So, you won't have piles of bubbles when you lather, but your hair – literally – gets squeaky clean. The conditioner rinses easily and the fragrance lasts into the later part of the day. My hair stayed freshly washed looking for 2 DAYS!

And there was another unexpected, amazing result. Since having my second baby, my hair has been falling out (common, from what I understand). Normally when I step out of the shower, there is a pile of hair. But after using the ANATOMY line, I found only a few strands in the tub. And it wasn’t just because my hair just stopped falling out; when I went back and used my other shampoos, out came the hair again. Amazing.

2. Styling Products

As far as styling goes, the possibilities are endless. The line is divided up into categories. For example, the HUSH line is for frizz and fly away control. The STYLIST line is used for basic styling, and the breakthrough part of their line is that the ATMOSPHERE line does exactly what it sounds like - mimics the atmosphere (i.e., ‘arctic chill’ delivers an icy high shine to hair). (Another part of the collection is the STRUCTURE finishing collection, but that wasn’t recommended based on my profile.)

a. ANATOMY Primping spray

This product smells fantastic. It's designed to prep your hair for heavy duty styling such as blow drying and flat ironing. It makes your hair super soft, provides protection from UV rays, and its lightweight formula and spray application makes for thorough distribution. You can use this product even if you aren't planning to torch you hair with a heat-seeking missile like a flat iron. Either way your hair is soft and not weighed down whatsoever!

b. HUSH Frizz Zero Spray

The name on this one says it all. Zero frizz, easy pump spray, great smell, easier blow drying, and helps hair resist humidity. It won't weigh your hair down and once again, like the primping spray, delivers.

c. STYLIST Curl Glaze

This was my all time favorite. It made my wavy hair into super curls with one application. It dispenses as a foamy mousse but when you rub your hands together prior to application it morphs into a sticky gel-like texture. I applied it to my clean, wet head, scrunched and twisted my hair, and let it air dry. My curls were so corkscrew-like I could have opened a wine bottle with one. They never frizzed out or lost their elasticity. Loved it!

d. STYLIST Linear Serum

Your basic hair serum but with a twist. NO OILY RESIDUE! Just put a few pumps in the palm of your hand, apply to towel dried hair, style as usual, and voila - amazingly straight, no flyaways, and soft beyond belief. Not to mention that even with this in my hair, I still did not need to wash it for 2 days. I actually applied it after blowing and straightening. This was my other favorite in this line for sure.

e. ATMOSPHERE Tropical Dew

This product plumps and gives a very wet look to your hair, but here's the great thing about it. Think back to the days of Tenax and Dippity Do, when you wanted that wet slick look, but the product left your hair feeling like straw and left white flakes. This product does no such thing in the texture department. It does leave your hair slick and extremely wet looking. But your hair remains super soft with no straw-like texture. I used it to lacquer my hair into a pony tail and my layers remained attached to my head even in the windy autumn of Boston.

SUMMARY

Clearly, I found this line unbelievably effective and will continue to use it. There are only two potential drawbacks. First, similar to other salon lines, these products are more expensive than drugstore products. But if your budget is tight, I would recommend buying Profound Beauty and alternating it with your inexpensive hair products to make it last longer. And second, the name doesn’t do the product justice. Profound Beauty does not sound like a line I would purchase in a salon, it sounds like QVC brand (not that there's anything wrong with QVC…). I just feel that the name Profound Beauty isn’t sleek enough for the product it represents because it’s not just sleek, it's glorious!”

Now, want to win a personalized assortment of products from the Profound Beauty collection*? Here’s how:

In theory, the holidays are supposed to be a time to celebrate and relax with family and friends, but I’m hard pressed to think of anyone who hasn’t mentioned holiday-related stress in some form, whether it’s due to shopping, holiday cards, or the prospect of dealing with family. Today, I’m offering 10 tips for reducing stress this holiday season, per a blog blast in conjunction with the Parent Bloggers Network and FFDA, a non-profit organization that offers support and assistance for folks who are feeling overwhelmed, both at the holidays and all year long. Please feel free to comment in if you have other tips to share!

1. Set limits around gifting I: Grownup family members. Relative to Laurel, Jon and my immediate families include 3 great-grandparents, 3 grandparents, 12 aunts/uncles, and 3 cousins. The aunts/uncles have done away with gifting one another, save small tokens if so inspired, and we generally limit grandparent and great-grandparent gifts to Laurel-oriented photo or art gifts. Otherwise, we focus on enjoying time and a good meal together.

2. Set limits around gifting II: Spouse/Partner. Jon and I have a new rule that will prevent the need for returns of well intentioned but ill fitting items, keep things financially manageable, and prevent the “Whoa, you spent a lot more money on me than I did on you” scenario. We agreed to do a little shopping for ourselves (and give it to the other person to wrap) but otherwise are limiting ourselves to $30 to spend on each other for any small surprise items.

3. Set limits around gifting III: Kids. I’ll be honest; we don’t buy a lot for Laurel. Like most kids, she’s totally overwhelmed and can’t appreciate anything when a million gifts are thrown at her. We will give her one or two meaningful gifts, plus some small, high-use stocking stuffers (e.g., craft supplies), and call it a day. She'll also probably get some gifts from her aunts, uncles, and grandparents and collectively, this all is more than enough.

4. Teach your kid to give. This tip is more about infusing meaning rather than reducing stress, but it is relevant. Part of our mission to minimize household gifting is so we can give more to those in need. Now that Laurel is old enough to understand giving, we’ve discussed the concept that there are lots of people in the world who are not as fortunate as we are and need very basic things. She is now a part of our efforts to help others. For example, our school did a gift drive for families in need and I took Laurel shopping for these items. She picked out - and we discussed - the mittens, hats, tights, and basic household items for other families, and she also wanted to help wrap them and hand them to the director of our school. She clearly got the message.

5. Travel. We no longer try to do it all. We used to criss-cross all over New England to try to see various components of both sides of our family, but no more. Now we alternate holidays (e.g., my family for Thanksgiving and Jon’s for Christmas one year, and his family for Thanksgiving and mine for Christmas the next). Everyone knows what to expect so there’s no ambiguity, politics, or hurt feelings.

6. Shift your perspective on family stress. Even when limiting ourselves to one side of the family, there are bound to be issues; it’s the nature of family life. Lately, I’ve really been working on shifting my perspective and trying to keep in mind that the world needs more love and forgiveness. I may not agree with how a family member does x, y, or z, but ultimately they are who they are and it’s not my job to try to change them; the best I can do is figure out how to modify my own reaction to reduce stress.

7. Look for opportunity and connection. Related to point #6, I’ve started looking at social gatherings as a means for opportunity and connection instead of the dread I sometimes feel about old baggage or issues. I try to show compassion and kindness and let go of a grudge, or reconnect with a family member if the relationship has been a little wonky. It’s not always easy but it’s far more productive to move forward with positive thoughts than with dread and negative expectations.

8. Take a break from hosting. I love throwing parties but I also tend to work myself up into a frenzy to make everything perfect and beautiful. But this month I’m really overwhelmed with various projects so I decided to forego hosting a holiday gathering. There are plenty of other people up to the task, and I figure I can always try to tackle it next year.

9. If you're hosting, keep it simple. If you are hosting, keep it simple. Make your meal or open house a potluck event to help reduce stress and expense. And just yesterday I posted some easy, inexpensive, and green holiday décor ideas if you want to decorate on a budget. Remember that you want to be able to enjoy time with your guests, not just be stuck manning the hors d’oeuvres.

10. Holiday cards. We received our first holiday card in early December and I immediately freaked out, lamenting that the cards had already started to arrive and that mine would be late (I feel extra guilt since I design this sort of thing for a living). My husband asked, “Why don’t you just embrace and enjoy the greeting instead of looking at it as a symbol of any shortcomings?” That really stuck with me. The whole point of holiday greetings is to reconnect, not race to the finish line. Our holiday cards likely will go out after New Year’s (or maybe Groundhog Day), but they will be sent with heartfelt intentions and well wishes.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Family Issues; Holidays; Home; Solutions; Winter
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Today, Kate shares a review of Pulp Products’ memo boards - her new, stylish solution for keeping photos, paper mementos, and important information front and center. Read on for her review, as well as to learn how to win a Pulp Products memo board of your own!

“When I was in high school, I was the kind of girl who loved to rip pages out of magazines - ads, pictures, articles - and pin them up on the big bulletin board that hung over my desk, where they would join my own photos, artwork, mementos, and assorted oddities of sentimental value. I would spend more hours that I want to admit arranging it all just so, until - when the edges of the papers would start to curl and the colors in the photos fade from the sun - I would take it all down and start again.

High school is far behind me now, but I still really like to have a bulletin or magnet board over my desk, on which I create the grown-up version of my teenaged collages. Instead of ads for Tretorns and Tiffany, I now have photos of my daughter, postcards from museums I've loved, coupons, invitations, and reminders.

It can be hard to find a nice board, though, as many corkboards are the utilitarian type you would find in an office, and magnet boards are often very expensive. Happily, Pulp Products offers a super stylish solution to this problem. With a user-friendly website and a nice collection of interesting fabrics, Pulp Products will quickly ship you a memo board in a fabric of your choice. The boards come with easy instructions for hanging, and are stylish enough to fit any decor or any part of the house (they even can be used standalone as wall décor). Remember the fun you had decorating your girlhood wall and check out Pulp Products.”

Now, want to win a Pulp Products memo board*? Here’s how:

Rules:

Last week I had the pleasure of attending another media luncheon hosted by Stop & Shop, and in addition to chatting about holiday survival tips with Stop & Shop, event planning guru Bryan Rafanelli offered some fabulously chic yet inexpensive holiday décor ideas. These three green ideas were my favorites:

1. Apple Décor

[Click thumbnail above for enlarged view]

This idea is absurdly easy yet looks so elegant for the table or mantle. Tie a ribbon (in both directions, and form a bow tie on top) around red apples. (Bryan used ¼ inch satin, which is inexpensive and available at local craft stores.) If you want to use the apples for place settings, attach name tags to a toothpick using a glue gun or piece of tape, then pierce the toothpick into the top of the apple, as shown.

2. Green Garland

I really loved how natural and beautiful this garland looked, and thought the use of unexpected materials was so clever. String radishes and brussel sprouts using a sharp, strong needle. I recommend using clear plastic thread or fishing line; it won’t show up, plus you won’t have to worry about cotton fibers inside the radishes and brussel sprouts when you eat the veggies later.

3. Organica

These centerpieces were so pretty. Fill glass cylinder vases with nuts or lentils and – similar to the apple décor concept above – top with an orange tied with a ribbon. Attach a single orchid bloom to each orange if you want to fancy it up (but still on a budget; you only need one bunch of flowers since each orange requires a single bloom).

Image credits: Steve Meyer Photography

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Decor & Furniture; Eco Living; Home; Solutions
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Jammies offer indisputable comfort and coziness, and on non-school days, Laurel pretty much tries to stay in hers as long as she possibly can (and to be honest, I’m of similar mind some mornings). And whether you’re looking for pajamas for your kids or for the whole family, check out The Children’s Place. They offer a collection of affordable, cheerfully colored and patterned cotton and fleece pajamas for babies, big kids, and grownups; perfect for long, lazy mornings of lounging during the holidays.

Want to win a $30 Children’s Place gift card? Here’s how:

Rules:

As an editor who loves to feature indie artists (not to mention as an indie designer myself), I was disheartened to hear about the new Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (scheduled to go into effect February 10, 2009), whose regulations could summon the end of small toy manufacturers, independent artisans, and crafters who have been producing nontoxic all along. Please check out the Save Handmade! page that my blog peeps Kristen and Liz over at Cool Mom Picks have set up. The page provides information on (super quick) ways you can help, as well as resources and breaking news about the effort to persuade Congress to amend the act so that we can both keep kids safe and protect the handmade toy and clothing industry.

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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If getting to Florida is out of logistical/financial reach, starting next week your kids can experience Disney locally via Disney On Ice at the TD Banknorth Garden. Running December 26-30, Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey will feature characters from The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Peter Pan, and Lilo & Stitch. I still feel vaguely guilty about going to Disney last spring without Laurel, but I know this show will give her a dose of the magic, without the travel fuss.

Want to win a 4-pack of tickets to Disney on Ice*? Simply email contests@bostonmamas.com with “Disney” in the subject by noon Tuesday, December 16.

*One winner will receive a 4-pack of tickets to their choice of show. Show times include: Fri., Dec. 26 (1pm, 5pm), Sat., Dec. 27 (11am, 3pm), Sun., Dec. 28 (11am, 3pm), Mon., Dec. 29 (1pm, 5pm), and Tue., Dec. 30 (11am, 3pm).

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Clever Parents has raves for Dabbawalla’s stylish, functional, and easy-to-clean lunch boxes and backpacks. And you could win: a pair of Eleven Collection shoes at One Chic Mama, a Zo-li Travel Essential Set and an Isabella Oliver tunic at The Bump, and a LeapFrog Didj, Tea Collection shopping spree, Boon Flair high chair, and other prizes at MomFinds.

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fashion; For Little Ones; Gear
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Tired of tripping over strollers in your foyer? Today, Kate reviews the MetroTots StrollAway, a big solution for small apartments (or anyone who wishes to stow their stroller easily and inconspicuously). Read on for Kate’s review, as well as to learn how to win a StrollAway of your own!

“Part of me really envies my friends with big houses. The garages, the basements, the attics, the playrooms - all that space, all that storage, all that room to spread out and run around and - if one is so inclined - hide the mess.

Another part of me really appreciates the discipline that my city-living apartment requires: with limited storage, I am required to constantly purge, tidy, and minimize. As everyone knows, though, baby and toddler gear doesn't necessarily lend itself to minimizing, as the car seats and strollers and portable cribs all mount up.

Happily for those of us who live in small spaces, MetroTots has developed a great solution for one part of the problem: how to tuck away strollers when not in use. The StrollAway - an ingeniously designed, well-built metal gizmo - hangs inconspicuously over the back of a door (I'm using the closet in my daughter's room) and provides a discreet hook for a folding stroller. The StrollAway can accommodate a number of different types of strollers and is designed to hang safely without screws or nails. If you find yourself with a stroller that's blocking your foyer or rolling in your front hall, give the StrollAway a try.”

Now, want to win a StrollAway? Here’s how:

Today, Jules shares a recipe to warm up winter:

“To me, there’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with a nice bowl of something piping hot on a cold winter day. I love soups, but for a change of pace, this lovely couscous dish is hearty enough to satisfy cold weather cravings, but light enough to be refreshing and clean. The lemon adds an essential, surprising background note.

Giant Couscous with Butternut Squash, Arugula, and Lemon

Serves 6

Whether you're already a fan of Brian O'Donovan's weekly Celtic Sojourn program, or wish to introduce the family to the Celtic arts, come tomorrow you can enjoy WGBH’s 6th annual A Christmas Celtic Sojourn with Brian O’Donovan. Playing at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston from Dec. 12 - 21 (with additional shows in Worcester, 12/11, and Providence, 12/18), O’Donovan will host renowned performers such as Irish super group Solas, singers Cara Dillon and Sean Keane, dancers Kieran Jordan and Kevin Doyle, and many others, all of whom will bring to life Christmas music, dance, songs, and stories in the Celtic tradition.

Want to win a 4-pack of tickets to the Dec. 20., 3pm show in Boston? Simply email contests@bostonmamas.com with “Celtic” in the subject by noon tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 12.

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Holidays; Local; Winter
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Today, Mary shares food tips and resource leads for managing Celiac Disease:

“A year ago, my biggest concern when grocery shopping was scanning the aisles for the best sales, but once our daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease - the autoimmune disorder caused by a reaction to gluten protein found in wheat, barley, and rye (see basic Celiac facts at the end of this post) - my priority turned towards reading labels and looking for the presence of wheat, barley, or rye in our groceries.

While at first our hearts sank at the news, we quickly put the situation in perspective. Celiac Disease, in and of itself, is not life threatening. And the good thing about Jillian having been diagnosed at such a young age (2 years old) is that she’s malleable and has quickly caught on to learning to ask if she can eat certain foods before popping them in her mouth. As a family, we have made adjustments in our eating habits as well, so, for example, we aren’t eating pre-diagnosis favorites in front of her. Below are some gluten-free foods that we’ve found Jillian absolutely loves and that are now staples in our household.

Breakfast:

Although my pet allergies mean that Laurel will never get the puppy of her (childhood) dreams, at least consolation can be found in the cute, pooch inspired stationery and bags from AMIES. Among their bag collection, the totes (I especially love the Nicky tote; shown) are particularly great for little girls on the go. They’re sized well enough for your child to carry a few favorite items, but not so big that they end up bringing the kitchen sink (which Laurel invariably will do if given the room). Plus, compared to fleeting fad character gear, you’ll no doubt get several seasons of use out of these timeless designs.

Want to be one of two winners to receive an AMIES tote*? Here’s how:

If your kids love movies, animated adventure The Tale of Despereaux - voiced by Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Watson, Tracey Ullman, and many other stars - opens nationwide December 19, but this weekend (Saturday, December 13 at 10am), Universal Pictures is offering our readers exclusive tickets to the advanced screening of Despereaux in Boston! Want to be one of 10 winners to receive a 4-pack of tickets to the screening*? Simply email contests@bostonmamas.com with “Mouse Movie” in the subject by noon Wednesday, December 10. Hope to see you there!

*Ten winners will be drawn. Two grand prize winners each will receive a 4-pack of tickets + prize packs; the other eight winners will receive general admission 4-packs of tickets.

**The screening will take place at a major Boston theatre; location to be disclosed to drawn winners. It’s a legitimate, easily accessible major theatre, folks! I’ve simply been asked to only disclose location to ticket winners to prevent those without tickets from showing up.

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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Last year we were late in getting Laurel’s flu shot and were left scrambling to find a clinic. If you're in that boat this year, consider taking care of the vaccination this week, Massachusetts Influenza Awareness Week. The CDC recommends that kids aged 6 months to 18 years receive an annual flu vaccination, and it’s not too late to receive one, since the Massachusetts flu season peaks in January and February. Click here to locate public flu clinics taking place in December and January.

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Local; Outreach
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Got an eco-minded mama to gift this holiday season? The limited edition Wee Generation eco-diaper bag is constructed from fabric made of 100% post consumer recycled plastic bottles, includes accessories such as an insulated feeding tote, changing tote, changing pad, and bottle holder, has plenty of pockets and compartments for organization, and is loaded with eco-friendly goodies. And for our 8th installment of Giveaway Goodness, Wee Generation will gift one lucky reader with this fab bag (valued at $200)! Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway to enter to win. And if you don’t win the bag, consider buying it; you’ll support Healthy Child Healthy World with the sale.

Rules:

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

The Bump’s holiday survival guide covers everything from travel, style, and shopping tips to gift ideas and etiquette pointers. One Chic Mama recommends festive baby gear sure to give your outfit some punch. And you could win Christmas DVD collections over at Moms’ Buzz, or any of a series of prizes (including toys, diaper bags, a Boon high chair, and a Quinny stroller) through MomFinds' 12 Days of Giveaways.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in
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Does your kiddo have sensitive skin? Today, Heather reviews Stelaprotect, Mustela’s new line of skin care products developed specifically for infants and children with sensitive skin. Read on for Heather’s comprehensive review of the product line, as well as to learn how to win products from the Stelaprotect collection!

“My triplets, Will, Adie, and Theo may have been born at the same time but they couldn't be more different, from looks to personalities to skin types. Will has dry, sensitive skin that is exacerbated in the summer and winter months, resulting in eczema. Adie has perfectly normal balanced skin. Theo's skin is oilier and requires frequent washing. Given that I typically bathe them at the same time and - for my sanity - use the same products on them, I use products formulated for sensitive and dry skin so that Will's skin needs are met.

I recently tried Mustela's new product line Stelaprotect, which is designed for sensitive to intolerant skin. The products are formulated with the minimum number of ingredients required, and without the use of fragrances, colorants, parabens, preservatives, and ingredients that may sting skin and eyes, making it gentle enough for even the most sensitive of skin.

Stelaprotect Cleansing Foam is fabulous hair and body wash! I have found that many 2-in-1 hair and body washes work well for one or the other, but not both. Mustela did a great job combining a shampoo that leaves hair light, silky soft, and shiny, along with a body wash that gets little bodies really clean without irritating or stripping delicate skin of its natural oils. The self-foaming pump is so easy to use. The foam suds up nicely but not excessively and rinses clean without and residue. Will, Adie, and Theo's skin and hair are left pure, hydrated, and irritation-free.

Stelaprotect Body Milk and Face Cream are wonderful! I found that they absorb easily into the skin and are not oily or heavy, hydrating the skin immediately. To be honest, I couldn't find a real difference between the Body Milk and Face Cream and ended up just using the Body Milk on the body and face. The benefit of the face cream is that it comes in a much smaller container and is perfect for the diaper bag and a quick application while out and about. All 3 children benefit from this product. I am able to control Will's dry, sensitive skin by applying 2-3 times a day. It is not at all irritating as so many other products have been. It hasn't eliminated the need for cortisone to treat his eczema but I certainly use it less frequently. I only need to apply the body milk to Adie and Theo after baths and face washing. Their skin is truly as soft as a baby's bottom.

Stelaprotect No Rinse Cleanser can be used daily to cleanse the face, body, and diaper area. It could be because hand/face/body washing is literally an assembly line in my house, but the only time I really use this product is when the kids have a diaper rash and wipes are too irritating. I apply the cleaner to a cotton pad and delicately clean the sensitive skin without rinsing. It cleans gently and leaves skin hydrated without burning, drying, and irritating as some wipes or even just water can do. I feel this is a good product for those times where water isn't available or the best choice.

Bottom line: I really like this product line and recommend it for all skin types, but especially for sensitive skin. The only potential drawbacks that I can see is that the products are a bit pricey and in-store availability may vary depending on where you live (though online shopping is always an option!).”

Now, want to win products from the Stelaprotect collection*? Here’s how:

Laurel has an insatiable appetite for arts and crafts, and as she's grown more dexterous we’ve had fun experimenting with more complex projects. If you’re also looking to explore beyond crayon and paper parameters, check out Eye Can Art. Packaged in reusable containers (perfect for art supply storage once you’ve exhausted the kit contents), these kits allow budding artists to experiment with printmaking, wax drawing, brush painting, and bookmaking. The supplies are high quality, washable, and nontoxic, and instructions include ideas for further artistic exploration. An added bonus: some kits - such as the wax drawing kit we have - include frames and hangers, which instantly make the creations display or gift ready.

Want to win an Eye Can Art kit*? Here’s how:

Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice makes a case for the humble rutabaga:

“Rutabagas are in season, and as you skim by the pile of these humble root vegetables in your grocery store’s produce section, you may be curious to learn more about this lesser-eaten vegetable, which is known as a ‘swede’ in England due to its popularity in Scandinavian countries.

A rutabaga is a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. Rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), the rutabaga has a delicate sweetness that makes it a good vegetable for the whole family to enjoy. It’s also an inexpensive vegetable and is easy to find both organic and local.

Rutabagas for Babies

As a root veggie, rutabagas are one of the first veggies you can give your baby when you’ve been through the apples, pears, sweet potato, and squash routine. Move right on to the rutabaga (parsnips and turnips can also be treated in the same way); babies will love rutabagas due to their sweet flavor.

To prepare: wash, peel, and cut rutabagas into 1” cubes and then boil in water until tender (don’t overdo). Drain and puree in a Cuisinart, and serve slightly warm. Freeze leftovers in small containers or ice cube trays.

Mixers: Rutabaga is delicious pureed with any of these veggies in any combination: parsnips, carrots, turnips, butternut squash, potatoes.

Rutabaga for Toddlers & Grownups

In England, ‘mashed swede’ (i.e., mashed rutabaga) is a traditional Sunday lunch favorite along with roast potatoes and leeks in a cream sauce.

To prepare mashed swede: Simply treat the rutabaga like a potato; peel and cut into cubes, boil and drain, then mash with butter, salt, and pepper to taste.

To prepare roasted rutabaga: my friend Alice Waters has great advice for roasted root veggies:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut vegetables (try rutabaga with butternut squash, parsnip, potatoes, or celery root), keeping size uniform, around 1” cube.

2. First mix vegetables in olive oil so that the oil clings to the veggies, then add herbs such as rosemary & thyme, and ensure even distribution.

3. Place vegetables in a baking dish and place in oven. While the veggies should get browned and slightly caramelized, stir occasionally to prevent them from getting too crisp and dried out.”

Image credit: UMass Amherst Vegetable Program

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Feeding & Nursing; Home; Recipes
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There’s no time like the holidays for spa treatment, and for our seventh installment of Giveaway Goodness, Parisian skin care company Sothys is partnering with us for a second generous giveaway. One lucky reader will receive a Sothys at home spa kit (available for normal, sensitive, or oily skin) valued at $140! Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway to enter to win. Be sure to include whether you would like the normal, sensitive, or oily skin care kit.

Rules:

As someone who strives for streamlined living and working, I’ve always loved the concept of multifunction machines, but until recently, I had yet to find one (on a reasonable budget) that really and truly did what it was supposed to do. That is, until I tried the Epson Artisan 800 All-in-One, which I’m reviewing today thanks to One2One Network and my blog peep Jennifer James of the Mom Bloggers Club.

As background, my first foray into multifunctions was back in grad school when I bought a Hewlett-Packard multifunction laser (print, copy, scan), which printed and copied fine, but was abysmal on scanning (I had to reinstall the scanning software every time I wanted to use the scanner…). There also was no power button, so the machine had to stay on all the time unless I remembered to crawl amidst the tangle of wires behind my computer desk to unplug it. Around that time I also bought a Hewlett-Packard standalone fax, which in technical terms did the job, but only if I was prepared to stand next to the machine and feed in pages one by one (the document feed got jammed if you tried to put multiple pages in it).

More recently, in an attempt to solve my mother’s home office woes, I bought her the Canon Pixma MX850 All-In-One, which prints, copies, scans, and faxes. I purchased the MX850 based on solid reviews and my own happiness with another model from the Pixma collection, plus the fact that it's affordable. Generally speaking, she loves the machine (especially photocopying, which she is obsessed with), but for some reason - despite multiple install attempts - the wireless printing refuses to function properly (as it does with my own Pixma) and I still have yet to resolve the fax machine so it receives incoming faxes properly. (Although if you listen to one of my mother and my tech support calls, it’s likely the case that this could be due to extraneous factors…I basically need one of me here and there to troubleshoot the fax).

So not surprisingly, when my friend Jennifer James offered me the opportunity to test the new Epson Artisan 800, I was definitely interested. And I’ve been thrilled with the results.

Available at Epson, and also at Amazon, this inkjet all-in-one (print, copy, scan, fax) impressed me right out of the box, with a surprisingly compact silhouette and a really nifty flip up touch screen control panel that negates the need for a sea of confusing external control buttons.

Setting the machine up for wireless printing was simple, and scanning, copying, and – yes – faxing has been easy and intuitive. After my previous technical problems with other machines, being able to scan and fax quickly is a huge relief. Today, in fact, I needed to fax a stack of 30 sheets and I was impressed by the scan speed, as well as the fact that I didn’t have to babysit the pages to make sure they went through. The document feeder does, in fact, work.

There are two features that I have found particularly excellent. The first is that the fax can be set up to auto answer, which was not possible with my old HP fax or with the Canon MX850 (if you use the same line for phone and fax, to receive a fax you need to run to the machine and press the start button once you hear the fax signal). Second, printing photos directly from my digital camera is super easy. I tend to procrastinate on downloading and organizing my photos (which I then never end up printing and sending because I’m too overwhelmed), so it’s been really great to be able to plug in and print photos (directly onto 4 x 6” photo paper even) as a way of keeping in touch with Laurel’s grandparents and great-grandparents (she still has 3 living great-grandparents...they deserve regular photos).

The Artisan 800 can do a host of other things that I haven’t even yet explored, such as photo editing directly via the touch screen, and printing CD labels, personalized notepaper or coloring book pages, calendars, and photo books. I suspect that I’ll experiment with all of these techniques in the coming pre-holiday weeks and I’ll comment back on this post if I come across anything else newsworthy.

The only con I see is that because the output tray is immediately above the paper feed tray (i.e., the paper rolls and flips to output), it’s not possible to run really heavyweight papers through the Artisan. This is a common printer setup, but on the HP laser multifunction, for example, in additional to the stacked input/output, there is an additional output door in the back if you want to run heavyweight paper through the machine (i.e., the paper feeds flat) . Other than this feature, however, the Artisan 800 is a fantastic all-in-one that actually delivers everything it’s meant to, easily and with great results.

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Gadgets; Home; Solutions
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In these challenging economic and environmental times, consider Kate’s reminder of the beauty of basement treasures:

“My toddler daughter and I recently visited the childhood home of a loved one, a house that has seen four children grow up and go off into their adult lives. As the first evening of our visit was growing a little late and my daughter was getting restless, our hostess knowingly suggested that we check out the basement, a virtual kid's utopia. Shelves of neatly packed toys and games, baskets of stuffed animals, cabinets of baby dolls and their clothes - all just waiting for a new little person to come along and play with them.

My daughter, wide-eyed, quickly narrowed in on the dolls, a tea set, and a plastic highchair, and was happily entertained through dinner and much of the next morning's brunch. She also was captivated by three vintage sets of Polly Pockets, which our friends kindly passed on to us. Different from today’s rubber-clothed Polly Pockets, the small, colorful clamshell-shaped toys hold tiny people and animals in even tinier domestic scenes. On the surface, the toys don't seem that immediately engaging - they don't flash or play music or vibrate - but my daughter was completely fascinated by the miniature worlds they hold, as have been other kids who have come to play since the Polly’s made the trip home with us.

The experience has inspired me to seek out other toys from my own childhood, and - recognizing that new and improved isn't always better - to share fun memories with my daughter.

Editor’s Note: We also recently received a basement treasure from my in-laws: a classic Brio wooden train set (see, for example this beginner Brio set) that my husband and his brother played with endlessly as kids. In addition to loving natural wooden toys in general, I also was touched to see that the set included several pieces hand carved and dated (1978) by Laurel’s great-grandfather – crossed track pieces and little connectors to increase building options, and even a foot-long tracked tunnel with a thick piece of bark perfectly fit to decorate the top.

The pieces aren’t as perfect and smooth as the professionally manufactured ones, but the little bumps and catches don’t bother Laurel one bit. And I love that the trains not only represent a very welcome form of recycling, but also create a means for connection across generations. I feel grateful that we’re able to enjoy this basement treasure, and also share photos of and conversations about this now multigenerational toy with Laurel’s 89-year-old great-grandfather.

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Dec 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Eco Living; Home; Solutions
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Today, Michelle Stern of What’s Cooking offers a seasonal recipe that’ll give your turkey leftovers a new life:

"Eating in season makes for a smaller grocery bill and fresher flavors. This tasty recipe is an ideal use of some of our favorite winter ingredients: sweet potatoes and apples. It can be served as the main course for brunch or for dinner with a simple side salad. It’s also an ideal way to transform leftover turkey into a brand new meal. This version brings together traditional holiday flavors in a satisfying new dish. Don't forget to Call The Kids into the kitchen to help!

Turkey-Sweet Potato Hash

Laurel has long been a bookworm, and her well-loved (read: grubby) baby and toddler books thus are far from keepsake quality. It’s only now, as she’s grown into a pre-K’er who takes pride in – and care of - her belongings, that I’ve looked at some of her books and toys in a preservative light. And I subsequently adore Newton-based Felix Doolittle’s gorgeous bookplates. These elegant yet playful watercolor motif plates (shown motif; Favorite Things) can be ordered blank or personalized and are a lovely way to commemorate your child’s favorite books, or – as a friend pointed out to me - offer a simple way for an older child to mark ownership of a few items when a sibling comes along.

Want to be 1 of 5 winners to receive a set of Felix Doolittle personalized bookplates*? Here’s how: