After a year where I finally and happily made self-care a priority, oh how I love this: The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting First Day Hikes and First Day Skates to encourage folks to start the New Year on a fit foot. These events are free and family friendly; the hikes will span 16 parks across Massachusetts and the skate sessions will run in South Boston and Jamaica Plain.

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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New Year’s celebrations take on a different flavor with kids, and we’re fortunate to have a number of family friendly celebrations in the works in and around Boston. Consider these city celebrations -- First Night Boston, First Night Worcester, Beverly’s New Year, and New Year's Needham -- as well as the family New Year’s parties at the Children's Museum in Easton and Children's Museum of New Hampshire.

Image credit: Susan Cole Kelley/First Night Boston

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Holidays; Local; Winter
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Today from Jules, because no doubt some post-holidays push-ups could do us all good:

“As busy mothers (synonymous words as far as I’m concerned), we tend to put ourselves on the back burner to care for the little ones. With two babies under the age of 18 months, I have had to sacrifice lots of me time. However, one thing I refuse to give up is my daily workout regimen. And on days where I only have 10 minutes to spare, I do push-ups. Push-ups are a weight bearing exercise that target multiple muscle groups and, when done correctly, can seriously tighten you up in no time.

When doing push-ups, use good form and focus on quality over quantity. You will see better results if you do 10 good push-ups than if you do 50 bad ones. If you’ve done your push-ups correctly you will feel sore in your chest, arms, and abs. Here's the how-to for doing proper push-ups.

1. Lie chest-down with your hands at shoulder level, palms flat on the floor and slightly more than shoulder-width apart.

2. Keep your feet parallel; you can opt to position your feet shoulder-width distance apart, or for more of a challenge, I prefer to keep my feet together. Note that your back will want to arch so keep your abs tight and your body straight. Keep your legs straight and your toes tucked under your feet. (Note: beginners may wish to start with their knees on the ground as a modification; but still make sure that the line from your knees to the top of your head forms a straight line.)

3. Look ahead/forward rather than straight down at the floor, so you form a straight line from head to feet. (The first contact you make with the floor should be your chin, not your nose.)

4. Take a deep breath, then exhale as you straighten your arms and push your body up off the floor. Keep your palms fixed in the same position and keep your body straight. Try not to bend or arch your upper or lower back as you push up. Hold this position for one second.

5. Inhale as you lower your body slowly towards the floor by bending your arms and keeping your palms in the fixed position. Your chest should touch the floor. Don’t bend your back and keep your body straight and your head in line with your body.

6. Pause for a moment. Begin straightening your arms for a second push-up. Exhale as you raise your body. Use your breath (exhale as you push up, inhale as you come down) to help you through.

This is a detailed version of something you’ve likely seen done a million times, but it’s important to note the form elements as people often aren’t aware of proper positioning. I get lots of comments on my upper body physique and strength and though I often attribute it to toting two little ones around, push-ups are my secret weapon!”

Image credit: Purchased image from iStockphoto.com

Posted by Christine Koh on 28 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health
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Best-of lists are tricky. At best, they’re meant to be interesting, fun, and sometimes even inspiring; at worst, they cause ill will or seem random and/or contrived. In the former realm, I was honored and humbled to learn last week that I was named to Babble.com’s list of 50 Best Mommy Bloggers. So why is this list different and worthy of mention? First, it's purely editorial (not vote-driven), and second, there is a thoughtful editorial spread about why each blogger was selected. In addition to overall rank, there also are rankings for a handful of breakout categories; clearly, time and thought were put into this process.

Anyhow, I learned about this accolade last week -- technically old news in the online sphere. However, I wanted to share this link in advance of the holidays (when the web slows down a tad) in case you are interested in discovering some fantastic new blogs. Happy reading, and if you visit The Pioneer Woman, look up and try her tres leches cake; I’ve made it twice already and it’s spectacular.

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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I’m all about useful, meaningful, and green goods, and one of my favorite finds for the school-aged set (and their parents) comes from Citizenpip. Offering an awesomely comprehensive way to green lunchtime (no lead, BPA, PVC, or phthalates here), the soup to nuts kit includes an insulated lunch bag, stainless steel water bottle, insulated food jar, four food containers of varying sizes, a fork + spoon set, and a set of cloth napkins; simply mix and match the containers depending on your child’s lunch desires. Laurel adores the bright colors and all of the cute little containers of her Yum lunchbox, and I love the modern styling, functionality, and peace of mind knowing that I’m packing a safe, waste-free lunch every day.

Now, want to win a lunch kit from Citizenpip? Here’s how (entry closes Dec. 31):

Today, Heather shares a fabulous idea that simplifies gift wrapping and makes the holidays accessible for pre-readers:

“I love Christmas and all that comes with it: the music, decorating, baking, shopping, and -- my favorite part -- watching the excitement and anticipation of my four children. The one thing I do not love is gift wrapping, possibly because I come from a family where gift wrapping is considered an art form. The busier my life gets, the more stressful I find this task. Though I love the look of artfully wrapped gifts, my practical side always wonders if it is worth spending so much time on gift wrap that will be ripped off in a few seconds.

As I was shopping at Target for wrapping paper -- envisioning Christmas morning and the frenzied dash towards gifts under the tree, with each child pleading with me to find a gift that is theirs (my triplets are 3-years-old and subsequently are pre-readers) -- I had a Eureka moment. I chose a solid colored wrapping paper for each child, in the same colors we assigned them when they were small (to separate their baby essentials). Emma is purple, Will is blue, Theo is green, and Adie is pink.

And in an effort to hold onto the 'art' while foregoing fancy bows, I have opted for small gifts to garnish the boxes. Match box cars and bouncy balls for the boys, rings and barrettes for Adie, and absurdly cute take-apart Iwako erasers (apparently the latest must have for 1st graders) for Emma.

The solid paper makes gift finding easier (I can even skip gift tags!) and the little gift toppers dress up the packages with minimal fuss. Santa will leave the kids a note (that my Emma can read to all) with instructions on how to find their color coded gifts, and also to thank them for the milk and cookies.”

Image credit: solid wrapping paper rolls from JAM paper and envelopes

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Gifts & Paper; Holidays; Home; Solutions; Winter
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Minding your intake during the holidays can be challenging for anyone, and even more so when you’re eating for two. Yes, you’re expected to consume extra calories (thought in general, it’s only about 300 calories, which isn’t a lot when you stack it up in terms of holiday cookies), but it’s important to make the calories count in a healthful way. This month, in my role as a March of Dimes mom, the discussion is around healthy eating and weight gain during pregnancy. Here are some of my key recommendations for healthful pregnancy habits; many are applicable to the non-pregnant crowd as well.

No two pregnant women are exactly alike. The topic of weight gain typically is a source of despair for pregnant women and I always like to remind my pregnant friends that no two pregnant women are exactly alike. Yes, there are general guidelines to keep in mind (see the March of Dimes's helpful guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy) but your history, body type, baby, etc., will be different than others. Cut yourself some slack and don’t compare yourself to others who are gaining less weight than you are. Keep checking in with your doctor, and so long as you are following a healthful trajectory, let nature run its course.

Fill up on fruits and veggies. It can be harder during the winter months to be excited about fruits and veggies, but these foods are key to a healthy person (pregnant or not). Before you hit the holiday party circuit snack on fruit so you’re not visiting the buffet table on an empty stomach. Or if you can’t stand eating raw veggies during the cold months, make soup with broth and loads of cut up veggies or make a vegetable-laden stir fry (even better, add tofu to the soup and/or stir fry). Another tip: to increase my green intake, I recently started adding a big handful of mesclun to my dinner plate every day. The leafy greens prevent overloading the plate with comfort food, and the mesclun serves well as a backdrop for a variety of foods (e.g., Brussels sprouts, risotto, fish, chicken tenders, etc.).

Carry healthful snacks at all times. I am definitely one of those supremely grouchy-when-hungry type people and when I was pregnant it was more important than ever to carry snacks with me at all times. I worked right up to delivery so I found it helpful on Sunday nights to cut up a big pile of vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, etc.) so it would be easy for me to pack a container of veggies for on-the-go snacking during the work week. I ate so many cucumbers during my pregnancy that my supervisor actually called me Kohcumber. I also usually had an apple in my bag at any given moment, and a bag of dried nuts and fruit. And water, always water.

Water, water, and more water. I just mentioned water, right? It’s really important (again, pregnant or not). I’m actually primarily a water person (I don’t drink soda and rarely drink juice) and I always toted a bottle with me when I was pregnant.

Enjoy avocados. People sometimes avoid avocados because of their fat content but it’s good fat. Plus, they’re high in fiber (which, um, you really need when you’re pregnant), as well as in vitamin K, potassium, folate, and vitamin B6. I started eating avocados regularly during pregnancy and while breastfeeding (considering it my “magic mama food”) and it has since remained a regular purchase when we shop. Jon, Laurel, and I all love to eat them, whether in sandwiches or smashed up as guacamole.

Don’t deprive yourself. Having grown up in a sweet deprived household, I can speak firsthand about how deprivation makes people even crazier than if you allow for moderation. I eat healthfully and did so when I was pregnant with Laurel, and I enjoyed treats in moderation. My lifesaver as I waddled around during my last trimester in the extreme heat of summer? Soft serve twist cones.

Go organic. Regular readers know I’m a longtime proponent of green living. I know a lot of folks turn towards organics when it’s time to introduce baby to solids, and I encourage organic eating while pregnant (and beyond) too. It’s good for you and for baby. You can read a bit about the organic movement via this post, and I also recommend reading this excellent CSA 101 post, which includes leads for Boston-area CSAs.

Find fitness. In addition to being mindful about what you're putting in your body, it's also important to find fitness; being fit will help you through your delivery. When I was pregnant with Laurel I kept things low impact but was able to stay strong and toned by walking everywhere and also swimming laps (all the way up to the day before Laurel was born!). Swimming was particularly excellent in the final trimester because it offered a welcome feeling of weightlessness and was very peaceful. However, since walking outside and getting in and out of a pool probably seem less appealing now that it's winter, I recommend some light cardio, stretching, and yoga at home. I'm a big fan of the free (well, included with cable) ExerciseTV programming On Demand; you just can't beat the convenience.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Pregnancy & Postpartum
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I adore Gabrielle Blair; I first met her at the inaugural Disney mom bloggers mixer where we bonded over our shared passion for design, and I have since admired and enjoyed all of the artful ideas and stories she shares via her blog Design Mom, as well as the social media smartness that stems from her work as a co-founder of Kirtsy. Gabrielle projects such grace and generosity and kindness and creativity. And for the fifteenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, I’m thrilled to share Gabrielle’s three super fast, surefire ways to create instant holiday mojo at home.

From Gabrielle:

At our house, we celebrate Christmas. And there are three things I do to make my home feel like Christmas almost instantly. They are not hard. They are not expensive. And if you do all three things right this minute, your house will feel like Christmas too.

1. Make the house smell delicious.

Take a small pot. Or a teapot. Fill it about halfway with water and heat it up like you're going to boil it. Add any combination of seasonal spices that you like. They can be crushed or whole. And you can leave some out if you prefer, or if your stash is low. You don't need more than 1/2 a teaspoon of any of them: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, cloves.

Once the pot has boiled or neared boiling, turn the heat down to a simmer and enjoy as your house fills with the most wonderful scent. Watch the water level and keep adding more water as needed. Every few days, when the spices aren't having the same impact they did at first, wash out the pot and start again.

If you want to have the yummy scent, plus something yummy to digest as well, heat up apple juice and the same spices instead.

2. Help the house sound wonderful.

Pull out your Christmas CDs. If you don't have any, it's easy to start a collection. Look up Christmas music on Amazon and see which albums get the best reviews. Start with one or two albums and add a new one each year. Or put together a mix collection via iTunes. If you're interested in a super-bargain, stop by places like Big Lots. They offer really inexpensive Christmas CDs from all sorts of obscure bands and orchestras -- maybe you'll find a hidden gem.

If starting a CD collection sounds like too much work, turn on your radio and let it seek till you hear some Christmas tunes. During the holidays, there are always 1 or 2 stations that dedicate their programming exclusively to Christmas music.

3. Get your twinkle on.

I'm a fan of tealights. They are big impact for little price. You can find a big bag of them in quantities of 50 or 100 at Ikea and Michael’s for $5 or less. Put them in inexpensive glass tealight holders. Or empty baby food jars. Or on little plates. And set them around the house. On the mantel. On the kitchen table. On a book shelf. Because they're inexpensive, I don't mind burning a dozen at a time -- grouped in 2's and 3's for bigger impact. They're typically unscented (which in my pregnant state, I much prefer) and they'll last all evening.

Doing these three things will take all of 10 minutes. I recommend making it a ritual at the end of each busy day. Set the spices to boil. Turn on the music. Light the candles. Just imagine yourself with a mug of spiced apple juice, enjoying the flicker and warmth of the tealights while Bing Crosby croons in the background. Your senses will be cared for — and you're sure to feel cheery right away.

Gabrielle Blair is a graphic designer and mother of five. She's the author of Design Mom and a founder of Kirtsy. She is not done with her Christmas shopping but her house smells delicious. You can follow Gabrielle on Twitter at @designmom.

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Holidays; Home; Solutions; Winter
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Today, Jules shares her (or rather, her son’s) raves for the cool construction cutlery from Flying Peas (utensils are available in yellow as shown and also in pink). Read on for Jules’s review, as well as to learn how to win a construction cutlery set for your little one (entry closes midnight, December 28).

From Jules:

These days, my son is all about trucks; he loves to look at, touch, and play with trucks. The construction cutlery from the comprehensive and very hip Flying Peas online boutique subsequently has been a big hit, helping him gain independence with eating while engaging him for longer than usual at the dinner table.

These utensils -- designed for toddlers who are still perfecting meeting fork to mouth -- are the perfect tool for mealtimes because they have easy grip handles and are detailed enough to pique my little guy's interest long enough to make dinner extend beyond 5 minutes (love that!). The set comes with a bulldozer pusher, fork lift fork, and front loader spoon. The utensils are dishwasher safe and are constructed of FDA approved materials; the latter being news we can all eat easy with!

Now, want to win a Flying Peas construction cutlery set? Here’s how:

For the last several years my less is more mantra has never rang truer than during the holidays, and this mantra has proven particularly practical since becoming a parent. My Simplifying the Holidays guest bloggers have shared so many fantastic ideas; now here's what my family and I do during the holiday season to keep “random stuff creep” to a minimum and encourage creativity and mindfulness in giving within our family and community. Also excellent, many of these ideas can involve your kids -- this is great for bonding and saves you from spending precious alone time on errands and holiday preparation.

Make a plan. I loved Melissa Massello’s piece on prioritizing and planning holiday spending. Follow Melissa’s plan (we’re now in the final holiday stretch but the general concept remains relevant) or devise a plan that fits your family. For example, I have a large immediate family (six siblings) and a few years ago we decided to stop exchanging gifts, instead focusing on time together and optional small tokens. My holiday plan typically involves crafting some cool handmade tokens for my siblings and doing a bit of gifting for my mom and my husband’s family following the parameters below.

Shop local. While I love the convenience of online shopping, I am very committed to supporting local businesses and artisans. We’re fortunate to have a wonderful array of independent stores and galleries within reach (and don’t forget Etsy as a resource) and I love shopping with Laurel. We always marvel about handmade things and the artists who make them, and she loves helping to think about what gifts certain people would love. Taking Laurel shopping also helps her learn about money; it’s been very touching to have her offer to chip in for gifts from her piggy bank.

Gift usable items. I have a strong aversion to tchotchke so I gift people with things they can use. You can’t go wrong with food gifts such as magic salt, spice rubs, cookie or soup jars, or baked goods, and these projects are great to assemble with kids. In the past I’ve also made candles and soaps. Our go-to gift this holiday is painted pottery because it’s a fun activity for Laurel, creates usable items (e.g., plates, mugs), and supports a local art studio. And for my sibling token, I’ve already crafted these fabulous photo bookmarks.

Use what you already have. Laurel generates a lot of artwork. So one year we made holiday cards entirely using her paintings as background (I simply cut the pieces to fit our envelopes and attached a printed message and photo). Other years we have gifted her paintings in inexpensive matted frames. And for a super minimal approach, simply assemble a series of artwork in a stack (if you have a lot of variably sized items, mount on construction paper), punch 2-3 holes along one side, and fasten with ribbon. Voila! A beautiful, heartfelt art book. (Side bonus: tidies up your house.)

Encourage teaching moments. We parents are responsible for helping our children become thoughtful community members. And the holidays offer plenty of opportunities to encourage teaching moments. You can teach older kids about everyday philanthropy; for example, engaging their help to knit or crochet goods for those in need. Or your family can volunteer a few hours at a local shelter. We talk to Laurel about families in need and contributing to food, clothing, and toy drives. I take her shopping for these drives and she helps pick items to give to other families.

Give the gift of the arts. A great way to avoid playroom clutter? Give the gift of the arts. Not only is it fabulous to support local arts organizations, but these experiences are so multisensory for kids that they really stick. Laurel has incredibly strong memories of the live performances she has seen, and they need not be expensive, particularly with little ones with a limited attention span. Look into inexpensive performances by your local high school, college, church, or community arts group. And when your child gets older and can make it through a longer show, splurge on something like The Nutcracker (this was my sister Stephanie’s gift to Laurel this year and Laurel was blown away). It will be an experience your child will never forget.

Give gifts with longevity & purpose. Instead of the latest fad toy, consider giving gifts with longevity and purpose. Books are a great gift because when they can be passed on to a younger friend or donated to the local library when your child outgrows them. Art and craft supplies offer fun for play time as well as inspiration for gifts. Another great idea is a donation to Heifer International, where your child could pick the animal to gift to a community. And Jon and my gift to ourselves is that we’re in the process of signing up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program; it’s an investment in our community farmers and a gift to our health.

The gift of time. Finally, I wanted to remind people of a non-material gift that often is overlooked: the gift of time, even if it’s as simple as offering to spend an hour or two together. More than any one thing, Laurel often just wants to be with the people she loves. A couple of weeks ago when she decided to make a Christmas list, the first (and actually, the only) thing she wrote was, “Have Grandma Nancy move closer to us.” For a mother bent on minimalist living and who values family connection, this simple wish was the best Christmas gift Laurel could ever give me.

Image credit: Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Holidays; Winter
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Stephanie Precourt projects remarkable light, positivity, and gratitude; qualities -- along with her lovely writing style and beautiful photography -- that make her blog Adventures in Babywearing so wonderful to visit (even for those of us who are beyond babywearing). I first met Stephanie at the inaugural Disney mom bloggers mixer, during which time she was pregnant with her daughter Ivy; since then, it’s been a joy to be connected with this kind and thoughtful friend. For the fourteenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, enjoy Stephanie’s reflections on the nothing and everything of the holidays.

From Stephanie:

I don't usually buy new books. But the boys had a special reading night at the local bookstore recently and a small, simple book caught my eye: The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell.

We had a voucher: for every purchase that night, a percentage would go to the school. I grabbed the book without even opening it up. I never do this. But I just had a feeling about this book.

I let the boys each pick out something at their reading level and paid. When we got home I pulled out The Gift of Nothing and set it on the end table. At that point, it matched the Christmas decor.

Then it was the book chosen for bedtime. The simple photos tell a simple story: of what do you give to someone that has everything? Nothing? There is so much stuff. It's hard to find "nothing." But if you can be still, you will find it. And nothing, can be everything to someone.

Every year we seem to scale back our Christmas more than the last. And our Christmases aren't much, if you’re measuring by number of presents under the tree. But that's not what we think counts.

It's not just for financial reasons; it's partly because when you think about it, we really have everything we need and want. Of course there is always the latest this or that. But, the excitement of those new things grows dim so soon. My mother's heart can't take the highs and lows of so many I have to have this! toys that now await new batteries deep within a toy box, in pieces under the bed, or left to weather in the backyard. Here is how our family celebrates:

There was a lot of holiday cookie talk on Twitter yesterday, which reminded me that I wanted to share a fantastic recipe for gingerbread people (we're equal opportunity bakers around here). Derived from my trustworthy Baking Illustrated, what I love about these cookies is that they aren’t rock hard crunchy -- testing your dental strength and spraying crumbs all over your shirt with each bite. These cookies are a touch crispy around the edges but chewy throughout, and the sweetness level (not overly sweet) is just right. Laurel and I made these cookies for a holiday party last weekend and people went crazy over them.

I used the cookie recipe from Baking Illustrated, and in the absence of an accompanying icing recipe (odd!), dug up an icing recipe in Nick Malgieri’s How to Bake (I’ll also need to test Nick’s gingerbread cookies some time). I was a little weirded out by the idea of using raw egg white in the icing but apparently that’s how it’s done. The icing hardened up beautifully, just like bakery cookies.

Laurel had a grand time decorating the cookies; I simply cut the corner off a plastic bag and filled it with frosting. She has a remarkably steady hand and decorated the entire batch herself.

Thick and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies*

*I'm listing the title as it appears in the book so it's easy to find if you purchase Baking Illustrated, but I modified the process and directions from the original since I wanted thinner cookies (the original recipe calls for rolling out dough to ¼” and no additional flour is used in rolling out).

During the bitter winter months, even summer-related crafts are welcome (let's all chant the think warm thoughts mantra, shall we?). Today, Sarah reviews Wallaroo’s art hat kit. Read on for Sarah’s review, as well as to learn how to win a Wallaroo Art Hat for your little one:

From Sarah:

Once the fall weather turns on toward winter, it gets harder and harder to convince the kids that playing outside is fun. Even with layers (“this hat is itchy!”) and planned activities (“but I don’t see any nature!”), the day’s fun usually occurs mostly indoors. And a good supply of crafty projects is priceless in passing the endless time between lunch and “Daddy’s home!”

So when offered the opportunity to test a new kid-friendly craft kit, I leapt at the chance. The Wallaroo Hat Company’s Art Hat comes in two size options (2-5 years and 5-7 years) to fit most toddlers and preschoolers. My five-year-old son was excited to make himself a hat, and could hardly wait to get home from walking the dog to get started. Although momentarily disappointed that the hat is a sunhat (“for wearing at the beach,” I told him) and not a warm one (preferably non-itchy) to wear all winter, he hoovered his snack and pulled up his sleeves.

The hat itself is a basic flat-crowned bucket hat with a four-inch brim all around, in a microfiber that promises UPF 50+ sun protection. The kit also comes with six non-toxic fabric paints and two brushes. While the range of colors is bright and zingy (not your run-of-the-mill primary snoozers, these), the brushes are the standard cheap-o black-plastic-bristled blunt-tipped kind that usually accompany Crayola knock-off watercolor kits. The bristles are so stiff and unyielding that it might have been easier to paint with the end of a stick. Also, the teensy paint pots are all attached in a line, with flip-top lids that definitely need an adult’s assistance.

Discounting the equipment quirks (and having dug up a couple of natural-bristle brushes in our craft supplies), Avery was ready to have at it. I helped him flatten the hat so he could paint his design on the front side, but to continue around the back (and not have to wait the three prescribed hours for the paint to dry) I held the hat up for him to decorate all around, including the top. (Another option might be to set the hat on something that can hold the shape and be rotated, e.g., oatmeal canister.)

While the paints definitely lend themselves to more dexterous artists on the higher end of the age range, if your crafters are comfortable with abstract composition, the Art Hat is good for at least thirty minutes of indoor entertainment. Add some of your own fabric markers, glue-on crystals, and a parent-operated hot-glue gun and you could keep going until snack time.

The resulting oeuvre (grass, tree, flower, boy, “m” birds, erupting volcano) made Avery (and, let’s face it, his adoring parents) very happy, and might even encourage him to keep a hat on next summer. And on that note, Wallaroo is committed to the elimination of skin cancer, and donates 1% of their profits to skin cancer research, education, and prevention in the U.S. I’m sure my son will be thrilled to do his part.

Now, want to win a Wallaroo Art Hat? Here’s how:

My respect, admiration, and affection for Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks is multidimensional. I met them for the first time in real life at BlogHer Chicago in July, but I have “e-known” them since the early CMP days, followed their hilarious personal blogs (Mom-101 and Motherhood Uncensored, respectively), and interfaced with Kristen through Parent Bloggers Network and also via Kristen motivating me to become one of the original wave of Shredheads. Liz and Kristen are such talented, generous, and funny women, and for the thirteenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, I’m thrilled to share their savvy shopping tips to help you survive the last minute holiday shopping crunch.

From Liz & Kristen:

So it’s officially the holiday rush. And by that, we mean even if you think you’ve crossed every person off your gift list, there’s still someone you’ve forgotten -- a hostess, a caregiver, your daughter’s ballet teacher, the kid who walks your dogs.

We’ve spent a lot of time this year trying to find more frugal options for our readers, from great holiday gifts under $20 in our holiday gift guide, to free (but fabulous) e-cards, to décor that you can reuse year after year.

But the truth is, for parents -- especially those of us who work outside the home too -- at times it can be worth it to pay a little extra to help get some of the many things off your overflowing plate and simplify your life. Here are three tips for surviving the last minute holiday crunch:

1. Shop online!

This is, by far, the number one hassle-avoider now or any old time of the year. You can comparison shop and search out discount codes on the spot (we often post them on our site), and best of all, you never have to wrangle the kids in and out of the car seat. Even if you pay for shipping, it often ends up being less than what you might spend in gas, parking, and cheese fries at the food court so keep it in perspective.

Little indulgence: Have the gifts wrapped and sent right to the recipient.

2. Get the return address labels

It is sooooo worth the few dollars extra to get preprinted address labels with your holiday cards. We particularly like the ones from Minted and Paper Culture. Even Shutterfly will print them right on the envelopes for you and their prices are great.

Little indulgence: Red Stamp has an address and send service, so if you’re Just That Busy, you don’t even have to sign your cards yourself.

3. Buy local

Skip the malls and keep your blood pressure at a reasonable level by hitting a local craft marketplace instead and supporting a small business. Or if you head over to Etsy, you can search by location and find a fantastic local crafter who might be able to get it to you quickly, or maybe even drop the holiday gift of your dreams right to your door. You can find everything from décor to hostess gifts to handmade toys for the kids.

Little indulgence: Accessory shopping! Instead of buying a whole new holiday outfit, grab a hot new red scarf or a funky headband to spruce up that little black dress. Suddenly everything old is new again.

Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase are the publishers of Cool Mom Picks, the influential shopping and design blog called "the online arbiter of cool for the swingset crowd" by Parents, and named one of Real Simple's favorite three blogs for parents. You can find them on Twitter at @coolmompicks where they'll be tweeting tons of last minute deals and gift ideas. Liz is also the author of Mom-101 and Kristen is the voice behind the always provocative Motherhood Uncensored. They tweet at @Mom101 and @mublogger, respectively.

Image credit: Vegan handmade soaps by Boston-based DeShawn Marie Handmade Soaps (via Etsy).

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Gifts & Paper; Holidays; Home; Solutions; Winter
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Given Laurel’s insatiable appetite for art projects, it’s always fun to discover a new craft that captivates her. And currently, it’s weaving -- an activity inspired by a transfixing spin on a full sized loom at a downtown art festival this past summer. We recently bought Laurel the Alex Fashion Weaving Loom (you also can opt up a notch in size with the Alex Giant Weaving Loom), and though the packaging is marked for 7+ Laurel has no problem weaving once I set up the main (warp) threads. The kit comes with fantastically soft rainbow yarn plus some fun fringed yarn and this activity has engaged Laurel for impressively long stretches of time; she's super proud of the scarf she just finished. I just wish Alex sold more of the rainbow yarn separately, because Laurel’s itching to make a coordinating purse.

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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Looking to take dress up play to a fun, new, and eco-friendly level? Today, Kate shares a review of the organic, hypoallergenic kid's face paint and makeup kits from New Hampshire based Luna Organics. Read on for Kate's review, as well as to learn how to be one of two winners to receive Luna Organics kits:

From Kate:

My daughter has long been a fan of face painting, and will generally make a beeline for the face painting table at any fair or carnival (cat whiskers are her go-to look, but rainbows, suns, and large hearts also are favorites). Although hardly a skilled artist myself, I would like to be able to have fun with face painting at home (especially on days when weather or mood keep us inside), but I cringe when I look at the ingredients in most store-bought face painting kits, so we have yet to try it out on our own.

I subsequently was particularly happy to discover the play face paint and makeup sets made by Luna Organics, a small New Hampshire-based outfit producing small kits of powder, lip balm, and color for children. All of the ingredients are gentle for delicate young skin, and all are easy to remove and fun to play with. My daughter and I experimented with the All-Natural Fancy Fairy Kit; the colors are bright and kid-friendly, and the glitter gives it all an extra shine. Also cool, these kits come in an adorable zippered pouch and with little jars that all interconnect in an ingenious way.

For those cold and rainy days when you just can't get yourself to the playground or the museum, check out the offerings of Luna Organics to put some sparkle in your playtime.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive makeup kits from Luna Organics? Here's how:

I feel as if I've known Kristin Brandt and Erin Kane of Manic Mommies forever; in reality, I’ve known Kristin since college (well, that kind of feels like forever ago…) and Erin since the Disney mom bloggers mixer. They both are smart, hilarious, and impressive in their juggling of work and home; whenever we meet up there's a lot of laughter and also serious parsing of all things social media and family life. For the twelfth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, I’m thrilled to welcome Kristin; read on to learn about the important lesson she learned from her mom, plus a series of holiday tips that have served Kristin well as a full-time working mom.

From Kristin:

When I was a kid, we begged and pleaded my mom to decorate our house for Christmas. My brother and I loved all the twinkle lights that adorned our neighbor's homes, and wanted our house to twinkle in a similar fashion. But my mother refused, telling us that the decorations were tacky. Fast-forward 30 years, and today my parents' home (the same one I grew up in) is decked out for the holidays - complete with twinkle lights, animatronic reindeer, a toy soldier, and much to my disbelief, an inflatable Santa Claus. When I asked her why the change of attitude, her answer was simple: "I was a working mom. I didn't have TIME to keep up with the neighbors."

And so, I received my first valuable lesson about how to survive the holiday hoopla while holding down a full-time job and managing the multitude of commitments that have clogged our schedule: don't try to keep up with everyone. Here are some additional lessons (some may call them concessions – tomato, tomAto) I've learned since become a parent:

Set your DVR. You could buy DVDs of all of the holiday classics (Rudolph and the Red Nose Reindeer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town) or you can save a few bucks by setting up "Season Passes" for each. That way, you don't have to remember to record them each year -- they will just appear, like magic, on your DVR.

Go faux. I love the smell of a real Christmas tree, but I also love the time saved by my pre-list Christmas tree from Sears. We bought the tree the year our second child was born, mainly because I could not face dragging two children out into the snow to find a tree. Four years later, I continue to happily avoid the tree-seeking activity, and can set up our tree whenever the mood strikes (or I find a stray hour). Did I mention that it also doesn't drop any needles and doesn't need to be watered and disposed of?

Stick to traditions. I always set up our creche in the front foyer, the tree in the "solarium" (a fancy way of describing our back room), and the Santas on the map drawer. We have Swedish meatballs for Christmas Eve dinner, cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and Paula Dean's Foolproof Standing Prime Rib Roast for dinner.

It's not that I'm not interested in trying something new, it's that traditions such as these keep things easy, and reduce the amount of stress. And, they become something regular and anticipated for the kids.

Take a day off. If you have the time available, consider taking a day off before the holidays are in full swing. Bring the kids to school or day care then use the "free" time to get holiday chores done – gift shopping, holiday card addressing, decorating, whatever!

Forget perfect. While we all want to plan the "perfect" holiday, the truth is "perfect" doesn't exist. Remember, a little goes a long way (for example, you don't have to decorate every surface of your home to make it feel festive). If you can manage your expectations, you are sure to enjoy the season!

Looking for more holiday tips from the Manic Mommies? Check out these posts from their Real Simple Simply Stated blog:

Tips for managing the card chaos
Holiday food tips from a non-domestic diva
Hosting Tips

You can follow Kristin on Twitter at @kristinsb, Erin at @emkprgal, and the Manic Mommies at @manicmommies.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Holidays; Home; Mama in the Workplace; Solutions; Winter
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One beautiful thing about graduating from early parenting -- during which time I toted way too much stuff in an enormous diaper bag -- was the return of handbag use. Only problem? Laurel and my stuff got jumbled together and swapping handbag contents always was a nuisance, with some critical item (usually hand sanitizer) forgotten. Solution? The PishPosh Quick Zip. These prettily patterned, washable organizers feature seven outer pockets and five inner pockets (two elasticized + one extra zippered pocket). Simply load up the pockets, zip the pouch, drop it in your handbag du jour (this obviously won’t fly for little purses, but will fit larger handbags and totes), and go. The Quick Zip will be a lifesaver whether it’s filled with baby’s diapering essentials, a mix of preschooler snacks + your personal effects, or -- once your kid is grown and toting his/her own stuff -- just your stuff; those pretty pockets will fit cell, camera, keys, cosmetics, snacks, and a fabulous novel just fine.

Sweet deal! PishPosh is offering Boston Mamas readers a 10% discount using code BM10 at checkout.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Gear; Home; Solutions
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April Paffrath is one of the most devoted foodies I know. No taste is too simple, no ingredient too humble. And when you read her writing, you can tell how much she relishes preparing, tasting, and writing about food. April is a regular contributor here on Boston Mamas, but today I'm thrilled to introduce her via her voice on Wicked Tasty Harvest. For the eleventh installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, April shares a highly impacting way to simplify your holidays and beyond: by thinking about local foods and considering a CSA. Included is a primer on local foods and CSAs, as well as a fantastic guide to CSAs in the Boston area.

From April:

The holidays are a chance to live it up. We have license to battle the encroaching dark with candles, twinkling lights, bubbly, and more food than you thought you could possibly eat (and yet somehow you can). I adore the festive moments when you're eating wonderful food with people you love, raising a glass to the people you're with, the festive spirit of strangers, and the start of a new year. Food-wise, it's so easy to enjoy and simplify your holidays -- and the year ahead -- by thinking about local foods.

Why eat local foods?

Eating locally over the holidays doesn't mean living on potatoes. Even though snow has fallen, there are plenty of local foods that store well into the cold months, or are being grown in greenhouses. (In the plentiful months, it's easy to prep the freshest food and store it in the freezer for amazing food mid-winter.) Also, local pasture-fed meat is available year-round and it makes a huge difference in the flavor of your meals and the environmental impact of your dinner.

When we choose local foods we're doing several important things. We're caring about the quality and tastiness of the food we eat. We're supporting the community we live in and the livelihood of our neighbors. We're acting as stewards of the planet. And we're ensuring the healthiness of the food with which we nourish ourselves and our families.

When food is sourced locally, there's very little time between when it's picked fresh from the field and when it is served up on your dinner table. Nutrients and flavors don't have as much time to degrade as, say, food that was grown across the country and was picked under-ripe to withstand the shipping. It also means that the local farms can grow plant varieties that might not travel well, but which have amazing flavors, wonderful colors, and provide a better taste experience at dinner.

And better tasting produce and meat means you have to do very little to make an outstanding meal; you need little more than good olive oil or good butter and a bit of salt to make everyone at the table ooh and ahh. For your daily dinnertime, that ease of prep with good ingredients saves countless hours.

When you buy food from a farmers' market, a local grocer who stocks local foods, or through a CSA (community-supported agriculture) share, you're making a decision to direct money to your community, your neighbors, and your region. If you keep more money local, you help preserve the diversity of your region, you keep farming from becoming centralized, and you make it easy for your neighbors to stay in their line of work--which in turn keeps them buying locally. It's a very good circle. Does that mean that you need to decide it's all or nothing? No way. By getting what I can from our local providers first, I don't feel conflicted when I do need to shop at national stores.

How do CSAs work?

A CSA works in a pretty simple way. You give money to a farmer in the off-season. With it, the farm buys seeds, repairs equipment, hires farm staff, and prepares the fields before they've even planted or harvested the next year's crops. You are helping them to prepare for the growing season during the time of year when they aren't making money from the crops. Then, when the growing season begins, you get a return on that early investment in the form of a weekly share of veggies. You take on the risk of a bad year (like tomato blight and flooding) as well as the benefit of plentiful harvests.

Vegetable CSAs are the most common, but the Boston area has meat, fish, and grain CSAs, too. A quick Google search will show you local CSAs in your area. Armed with your list, it's easy to look through and see which farms follow the principles you like. It's also helpful to visit the bulletin boards on Chow.com to see what people have to say about their experience the previous year. Did they like the food and the variety? Did it taste good? Did they like how the CSA was run?

Boston-area CSAs

Below is a sampling of just a few of the local CSAs available in our area. The produce ones typically run for 21-27 weeks, and several offer winter CSA shares where you can get veggies stored expertly in their root cellar. The meat and fish CSAs are available year-round and you can sign up for the seasons or quarters you like. For a national list, Google or check out Eat Well Guide. While nowhere near comprehensive, it does provide a small listing of CSAs, stores, and more. It's a good idea to call, email, or explore the websites of the farms you're interested in and ask them questions about how they grow things. Several local farms grow "organically" but they've decided not to pay for certification so they can't technically call themselves organic. It's worth asking about growing practices, chemicals, feed, antibiotics, and more so you can make sure it's a farm whose style you dig.

[Note: all prices listed below are as of time of posting.]

Siena Farms, Sudbury, MA

Pay $750 for the weekly box share and pick up at Sofra (Farmer Chris' wife is chef Ana Sortun of Oleana and Sofra), or $500 for the market share, which is a discount of 50% at the Copley farmers' market or at their Sudbury farm stand.

I happily renewed my "membership" for next year's box share. The food is amazing and almost unbelievable. It comes to you pristine and glowing and full of flavor. They offer varieties that are grown for their amazing taste. It's no surprise that the city's best restaurants also get their produce from Siena Farms--places like No. 9 Park, O Ya, Beacon Hill Bistro, Craigie on Main, and more. When you prepare the produce from Siena Farms, it tastes amazing, even if you only treat it with a bit of olive oil and salt. Their mesclun is peppery and wonderful--a real highlight!

Chestnut Farms, Hardwick, MA
[Editor's Note 3/6/2011: Direct link removed because McAfee is showing security risks with this website.]

Pick up this meat CSA once a month in several locations, year round (Arlington, Natick, Northhampton, and about 5 more). Prices depend on how much you're getting each month. It starts at $80 and 10lbs a month ($8/lb). It costs less per pound if you get more. A bonus is that CSA shareholders are eligible to sign up for one of their coveted natural turkeys. They raise cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and turkeys. The pasture animals (like cows and sheep) are pasture-fed as long as the New England weather lets them, and they get hay with occasional grain over the winter.

Red Fire Farm, Granby, MA

Pay $640 for the summer season CSA. They have add-on shares like eggs, flowers, and fruit. You can pick up your weekly share in Brighton, Cambridge, and Jamaica Plain, as well as a handful of other towns. You can also get it delivered at extra cost through MetroPedal Power. Shareholders get special pick-your-own privileges.

Parker Farms, Lunenburg, MA

Steve Parker is a fixture at the Union Square farmers' market. Pay $325 for the small share or $500 for the large share. Pick-ups are in Davis Square, Somerville, and Porter and Central Squares, Cambridge.

Lands Sake, Weston, MA

Lands Sake is an education farm. (It's also a fantastic pick-your-own farm with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and more. What's so nice about that is that it's organic, and it's hard to find u-pick organic fruits.) We love to visit the farm because it's a little bit hippy and super calm. They had some trouble with their CSA last year due in part to weather, but it's a long-running farm that cares about treating the land and the food right.

Stillman Farm, New Braintree, MA

Another meat CSA, year round. You can find them at farmers' markets and they're very popular. CSA members get a 20% discount at the markets! Like Chestnut, they have grass-fed, pastured animals that are raised in a sustainable and humane way. Shares go from 5lb for $46/month up to 20lb for $155/month. Pick-ups are in Jamaica Plain, Brookline, and Lunenburg.

Six Farms CSA at Silverbrook Farm

Pay $325-500 for a half share or $565-730 for a full share; prices vary based on pick-up or delivery location.

Silverbrook teamed up with 5 other farms to offer a CSA. Some farms specialize in certain products or add in something special to the whole partnership. You also get Hannabells from Shy Brothers Cheese, since they're one of the six farms. Mmm. Pick-up locations around Boston, Cambridge, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and more. In Cambridge, they'll deliver your share through MetroPedal Power, included in the CSA price.

Cape Ann Fresh Catch, Gloucester, MA

This CSA is really a CSF, a community supported fishery. This unique program brings some of the local sea bounty to New Englanders, year-round. Each fish is valued the same, no matter the species. That allows the fishermen and women to go out and catch fish without chasing the highest paying species. There's no toss-back of caught, dead fish that don't get as high a price as other species. There's less environmental damage in the quest for the priciest fish. They can fish unstressed areas and not risk their lives as much bringing it in. You'll get cod, haddock, hake, shrimp, and more. They use innovative shrimping tools to minimize by-catch and environmental damage, and this shrimp is local -- not the ecosystem-damaging shrimp you can find in the freezer section.

They have a bunch of different sign-up options, including all shrimp and a shrimp-fish combo. Pay $125-$400 for a 10-week share from anything from 5lb of shrimp to 40lb of fish. Pickups are all over the area, Cambridge, Jamaica Plain, Acton, Ipswich, and many more.

Drumlin Farm, Lincoln, MA

Drumlin Farm is a Mass Audubon Sanctuary. They also have a popular CSA, as well as a winter share that comes from their root cellar. Pay $575 or $525 if you work the farm for 8 hours. Pick up at the farm, Central or Porter in Cambridge, or in Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, and Quincy

Picadilly Farm, Winchester, NH

This certified organic farm has pick up in Arlington, Bedford, and Belmont. The form isn't online yet for 2010, but 2009 shares were $525.

April Paffrath is a writer in Cambridge. Food is her big love, next to her husband and their 3-year-old daughter (who frequently makes dinner right alongside the grown-ups). She writes the blog Wicked Tasty Harvest with two of her food-writer pals. You can follow April on Twitter at @prillyp.

Image credit: Siena Farms

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Eco Living; Feeding & Nursing; Food & Drink; Home; Local; Solutions
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Pursuant to last week’s local and indie awesomeness post, if you want to shop local and support artists and crafters this weekend, there will be plenty of crafty awesomeness to be had at the SoWa Holiday Market in the South End, CraftBoston at the Cyclorama, and the Cambridge Center for Adult Education Holly Fair in Harvard Square. Enjoy!

Image credit: Made in Lowell, showing at SoWa Holiday Market

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Holidays; Local; Retail; Winter
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It's no secret that I’m a bit obsessed with kids wearing properly fitting, comfy shoes. And what I dig about Stride Rite is that though they are a household name, they continued to push the fit and comfort envelope; most recently through their Sensory Response Technology collection. The structural support, comfort, and flexibility are evident if you handle the shoe, but the hidden coolness is that these shoes feature a built in sensory feedback system in the sole to help kids feel the ground better, which helps reduce trips and falls. Also no small matter: these shoes are super cute (I especially love the hip styling for boys) and use eco-friendly materials.

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Eco Living; Fashion; For Little Ones
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Today, Jennifer shares some indie gems in Concord :

“Between this season’s mountain of catalogs filling my mailbox, the incessant ads for Black Friday door-buster deals (2 am, really?), and the stream of online price-slashing deals, I have found myself craving a good old-fashioned stroll-down-Main-Street-non-mall-shopping experience. So last week a girlfriend and I perused the independent shops in Concord Center and it was...AWESOME. I'm a huge fan of the convenience of big retailers and online shopping, but you've just gotta love the independent businesses that are passionate about what they have to offer. And it feels great to support them.

We loved Thoreauly Antiques (25 Walden Street, 978-371-0100, no website), a "fun and affordable antique shop" with beautiful collectibles, jewelry, prints, and unique decor items. Steps away we poked around in The Toy Shop of Concord and found some great stocking stuffers for the kids. I'm particularly fond of their fully-stocked arts and crafts and doll sections. Around the corner is The Dotted I with lovely note cards, stationery, and invites (I picked up a great hostess gift there). And my favorite, favorite book shop just down the block is The Concord Bookshop. This independent bookstore (open since 1940) is so inviting and is obviously run by major book lovers. It showcases local writers and has a great kids reading area in the back.

And finally, you can't leave Concord Center without a stop in The Concord Cheese Shop. This gourmet wine and cheese shop is a little slice of food heaven. In fact, it was so crowded with shoppers our visit there was short. That's always a good sign.

Also, if you're an antique fan, there's an upcoming event that's a perfect excuse to head to Concord for holiday shopping -- the Antiques & Vintage Holiday Gift Show -- December 12-13 at the Concord Armory.”

Image credit: The Concord Bookshop

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Local; Retail
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I met Amie Adams of Mamma Loves… at the Brand About Town inaugural advisory board retreat in October, during which time I was struck not only by Amie's warmth, humor, and smarts, but by her photography skills. You could almost see the wheels turning when something would attract her eye and she’d pause briefly, capture the perfect image, then resume conversation. It seemed natural and effortless; clearly a part of her creative flow. So I’m thrilled that today, for the tenth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, Amie shares easy and fabulous tips for capturing gorgeous photos this holiday season.

From Amie:

I received a call from a friend recently. She was a little frantic, what with juggling four kids and their homework and family coming in town over the weekend for their annual hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. We were scheduled for a photo shoot of all of the cousins and she wanted to settle on the details.

“We’re having a major discussion over what the kids should wear” she said. What they should wear? “Do your kids always dress alike?” I asked, knowing her house is as crazy as mine and that like me, she’s lucky if her kids choose clothing that is appropriate for the weather.

“Let’s capture them as they are,” I suggested. “Let’s tell the story of who they are right now.”

Does that take the stress off of your holiday photos a little? I hope so.

When you’re capturing this holiday season for posterity, think about the story you want to tell. What are the details that make your celebration memorable? Each family has its own traditions. What are yours? What is special about this year? Your children will never be this age again.

Pick up your camera and try to shoot those details that will make you smile when you see them again in February or July. Get up close. Not every shot needs to contain a smiling face.

I promise you’ll like those photos better than the one of all of the kids lined up in front of the tree—unless listening to your kids whine and complain and fighting with them to smile at the same time is a big tradition in your house.

Now how do you capture those details in a pleasing way? You have more power in your point and shoot then you ever imagined. And if you own a DSLR and you’ve never switched out of auto mode, we have to talk.

1. Whether you own a point and shoot or a DSLR, there is a portrait setting on your camera. It usually looks like a person’s head. Switch over to the portrait setting for those close up shots. You’ll notice that you’ll get shots that leave your subject in focus and the background a bit blurrier. Pros refer to that as depth of focus. The rest of us just call it awesome.

2. Take your subjects outside to capture the action if it isn’t too cold. Morning and late afternoon light is the best for avoiding harsh shadows.

3. Need to stay inside? That’s okay. Move to the closest window. Have your subject stand near the window and stand to their side to capture the light falling on their face.

4. Work off a few of those extra holiday calories by moving around a bit. Take your shots from different angles. If you’re shooting kids, get down to their eye level. If you want to get closer to your subject, move your feet, not your zoom button. Crawl under the tree and see what kind of shot you get shooting up into the branches. Changing your position can result in more interesting photos.

5. Changing the position of your subject in your viewfinder will definitely result in more interesting photos. Don’t center your subjects. Photographers think about photos in thirds—whether horizontally or vertically. Place your subject off-center. If your subject is landscape, don’t center the horizon line.

Have fun with your camera this holiday season. Try these tricks and shoot away. The greatest part about digital is that mistakes don’t cost you a thing.

When Amie Adams isn’t getting ready for the holidays, chasing her three boys, running off to work, or practicing her photography, she’s sharing embarrassing stories or ranting and raving on her blog Mamma Loves… You can follow Amie on Twitter at @mammaloves.

Image 1 credited to FreeDigitalPhotos.net. All remaining images credited to Amie Adams.

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Holidays; Home; Solutions; Winter
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Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents shares tips for bringing back your holiday mojo:

“Many of us have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. For example, I love spending time with my family, playing board games and cards fireside, finding a special gift for each of my girls, attending Christmas Eve services, winter walks, and more. Then there’s the stuff I hate: the excess, the stress, and sometimes my memories of Christmases past. Here are some classic holiday related struggles and how to cope with them.

Identify friction and look for an alternate solution. Although my husband and I are Jewish, Bob grew up celebrating Christmas and I was amenable to continuing that tradition. But as our daughters grew, the tree got bigger (not Bob's plan) and the presents got more plentiful (probably my fault, I do like to shop) and I felt more and more alienated from the whole concept until Christmas just felt very wrong to me. To cope, I decided that while the family decorated the tree, I needed my own activity that worked for me. So, I baked cookies: for my family and for gifts. Christmas has since evolved to be less about gifts and more about hanging out together. We focus on what special food our Christmas morning breakfast might include (monkey bread this year) and what movie we should see on the day (last year it was Slumdog Millionaire). Identifying friction and finding an alternate solution has made the season cheery once again.

Focus on the real meaning of the season. We need to focus more on the simplicity and real meaning of the season -- offering warmth and kindnesses -- and keep material gifts to a minimum. Admittedly, that's hard for me: I love to shop. I love the malls and the town centers and I love finding the perfect present for that special person. I used to buy in excess; not wasteful or daffy gifts, but still too many. We have since scaled back and now that our girls are older, each of us buys or makes each other one gift, and Bob and I also get some small stocking stuffers for our daughters. And all through the season, we keep in mind giving the good way: saying something nice to someone or spending quality and fun time with friends and/or family. It feels healthier now.

Find traditions that everyone can look forward to. Over the years, we've identified some great traditions. For example, Bob is a nervous shopper; he has no clue what I want and even if he did, he's sure I wouldn't like it. So every year, we go out for a nice dinner a few weeks before Christmas, then window shop. I’ll point to something I like and he goes back and buys it the next day. Sometimes we enjoy dinner so much that we barely get to the shopping, which doesn’t matter a bit. It’s the simple ritual that’s fun. We also go to a Christmas Eve church service with friends who have children the same ages as our girls and then we eat a festive family dinner together. Christmas day, the four of us choose a movie and eat Chinese food (this is considered a Jewish Christmas). We're not reinventing the holiday wheel but we’re enjoying treading on it.

Mourn Christmases past. I am a huge fan of confronting one's past. I'm also a huge believer that much of holiday misery stems from bad memories. We think we're weak if we dwell on the past. And we believe that harkening back will make us more miserable. Not so. Facing the un-decorated, unadorned past frees us. As Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish say in How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, "Not until the bad feelings come out, can the good feelings come in."

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Holidays; Winter
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Jon and I are all about everyday teaching moments with Laurel, apparently even when it comes to assembling a FLOR rug. We recently installed Modern Mix Tan in our sitting nook -- I adore how the Modern Mix collection offers pattern through tonal variations while remaining neutral enough to go with anything else -- and the process quickly evolved into a game for Laurel. The set comes with a 6 x 5 matrix recommending tile color placement for the 4 tile shades (we simply followed a 3 x 4 section of the matrix for our 5’ x 7’ rug), and the tan variations had the yummy names bran, honey wheat, sourdough, and rye. Laurel found this hilarious and immediately set to task sorting the tiles by grain name then arranging the tiles based on the matrix (an impromptu game of memory to remember which grain went with which matrix number...). You just can’t beat unexpectedly family friendly home improvement projects that yield a cozy and warm space for more fun and games.

Now, want to win a 5’ x 7’ FLOR rug? Here’s how:

Rules:

One of the great things about BlogHer Boston was that it gave me the opportunity to emerge out of my blogging cave and meet fabulous local bloggers in real life. And one of those bloggers was Roxanna of Miguelina. Roxanna is a lovely person; smart, kind, and funny, and mysteriously, she always manages to look perfectly assembled despite tweets that might otherwise suggest she’s unraveling (to her credit, she’s allowed some unraveling…she just delivered her third son in October). Perhaps that’s why she’s so adept at blogging beauty. I’m thrilled that today, for the ninth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, Roxanna shares a wicked easy makeup routine so you can spend less time fussing in the bathroom and more time enjoying time with family and friends.

From Roxanna:

Everyone is busy around the holidays and there is very little time to worry about something as frivolous as beauty -- except that everywhere you turn there's someone with a camera ready to save the way you look (post-holiday stress and with very little sleep) for posterity.

They do this out of love, of course.

The best way to look your best in pictures is to get plenty of rest, drink water, and eat healthy. But when you're talking about the period between Halloween and New Year's that's the exact opposite of what you're doing (if you're doing it right!).

I'm here to help. Here is a very simple makeup routine that will see you through the holidays and beyond. Because life is too short to hide from the camera.

1. Eyes

A little concealer will go a long way to making you look more polished and rested. Don't listen to the old advice and buy a concealer that's too light for your skin tone -- it'll only turn your dark circles gray. Concealer should be a shade lighter than your foundation at most. My favorite concealer is by Bobbi Brown (their site has a shopping guide to help you choose your shade).

After applying concealer, swipe some light eyeshadow over your lids and add some black mascara for a simple eye, or line your top lid as close to your lash line as possible for more polished results.

2. Cheeks

Apply blush to the parts of your face that would be more sun kissed in the summer. How do you find that? Smile. Highlight what stands out. Don't suck in your cheeks to "sculpt" your face, unless you want to look like one of the girls in that Robert Palmer video.

3. Lips

Since your eyes will be very simple, this is where you can have fun! I know everyone loves gloss these days, but if you're truly pressed for time lipstick is a better bet. Gloss needs to be reapplied over and over, so if you want to look polished in candid pictures and videos, go for an old-school tube of lipstick. Wear a darker color than you normally would -- maybe even red! -- to add a little excitement, but don't wear something that will make you self-conscious. Real Beauty offers an excellent roundup on how universally flattering red, brown, and deep berry lipstick can be.

That's it! Now get out of that bathroom and enjoy the holidays!

Roxanna lives in the Boston area and blogs at Miguelina and Everyday Treats. She's currently a contributing editor for BlogHer, writing about lipstick and bubble bath at BeautyHacks. You can follow Roxanna on Twitter at @Miguelina.

Image credit: Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Holidays; Winter
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Pursuant to her fit your shape denim guide, Sarah follows up with guidance on how to navigate trends:

“Now that you know what shapes to look for to suit your figure, it’s time for some trend navigation. But you have to know your comfort level. Are you willing to push the envelope, stylistically speaking, or would you rather play it classic? This season, you’re in luck, because the denim world is full of a little something for everyone.

Tried-and-true: You’re going to choose classic shapes such as straight leg, boot cut, or trouser jeans in uniform washes in dark blue or a three-year wash. Skip the whiskering and abrasions. These jeans can take you from casual daytime looks to evening, with a high-heeled boot or sandal, and the trouser jean can even work on a casual Friday, topped with a floral blouse and a nipped-waist blazer.

Traditional/Classic: In terms of cut, you’re most comfortable with straight leg, mid-rise jeans, although you can stray into a boot cut for a little change of pace. Keep the wash on the dark side of blue, without major distressing or fading (this is also very flattering for those with curves or for petites). Add a white pair for summer and a solid black for fall and winter. For daytime, go casual in suede boots and a plaid shirt, or mix with a crisp white shirt and a navy blazer and pop some color with a bright pair of ballet flats. This look will NEVER go out of style. Nighttime outings bring a sleek turtleneck with a belt, high-heeled boots, and a clutch. Available in low, medium, and high-ticket brands.

Chic: You mamas look for a little more style from your denim. You can be found in any shape from a low-rise skinny to a distressed flare, but nothing too radical. The basic boot cut flatters every body shape and goes with any outfit. Washes can include some whiskering and fading, but not so much for anyone concerned about wide hips or thick thighs – you stick with a solid color from waistband to hemline, whether washed black, solid black or tried-and-true blue. Balanced proportions are your key to being in style without it taking over your life. Daytime looks you rely on are empire tops over straight-legs and ballet flats, a belted blouse and a long cardi over charcoal skinnies tucked into flat riding boots, or a wide leg jean with a feminine ruffled blouse. For a night out, you slip into sleek dark trouser jeans (great for the big-bum girl) with a close-fitting cap-sleeve tee and a little shiny jacket with a metallic sandal – this will work for any outing from an intimate cocktail party to a hot date. Some styles are available in the “very affordable” range (see Old Navy), but most range from mid-priced to expensive.

Trendy: You ladies live more adventurously, and have the denim wardrobe to prove it. Your light grey skinny jeans are so slim you need ankle zips to get them over your feet, then you slip them into slouchy boots. Top this with a menswear vest, a long v-neck tee shirt, and an infinity scarf. Or a darling knit tunic mini over denim leggings and stiletto shooties. Maybe on a night out you’ll show up in your abraded Rich & Skinnys and the silk top that gets everyone’s attention, with peep-toe booties. The girls get you; the men just wonder why you look so fantastic. Occasionally you can find a close-to-new-style pair from last season on the sale rack, but you won’t have much luck scoring the season’s “it” jean under $150.

Living on the Edge: There’s not a trick you don’t miss, from the runways to the front rows to the seen-on-the-street daily news flashes. You’ll try anything once, but don’t land anywhere for long. By the time the mass marketers have started selling your look, you’re on to the next big thing. Daytime finds you in shredded, faded boyfriends and a slouchy v-neck sweater over the tough boots you’re seldom without and a shrunken motocross jacket. At night you’ll wear distressed, bleach-spattered cigarette jeans with a sequined tank, cutaway tuxedo jacket, and outrageous strappy black platforms (watch out for cobblestones!) Other moms may not get you, but they can’t argue your savvy grasp of the hottest looks.

If you’re feeling adventurous, maybe try stepping up the ladder a rung this winter – every mom can use a new look once in a while. Or stay true to your current style; just make sure that your denim isn’t as old as your kids. If we’re going to live in our jeans, it’s worth making sure they (and we) look fabulous!”

Image credit: Flirt Trouser Jean from Old Navy

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be
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From our very first e-mail -- back when I was just starting out and she was very much established already -- Asha Dornfest of Parent Hacks has always amazed me with her warmth and openness. Asha is funny and smart and clever and I just adore her; I only regret that neither of our scheduled in real life event meet ups this year have worked out. The good news is that Asha is so effective at translating her warmth and smarts online, which is what makes Parent Hacks so great (and gives me my Asha fix in absentia). I’m thrilled that today, for the eighth installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, Asha shares her favorite holiday hacks; a useful mantra plus tips for maintaining your merry and bright this holiday season.

From Asha:

I'll put this out there right up front: I'm perplexed by "holiday stress." Stress? Because of a holiday? Now I'm not 100% Pollyanna; I get that this time of year is fraught with family politics and time/money pressures, but I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the stress caused by too many party invitations, or sub-par decorations, or last-minute shopping, or getting just the right tree, or cooking just the right food, or wearing just the right outfit. Are these things really worthy of your stress?

I submit to you my number one holiday hack: Be kind to yourself. You and your family deserve this time to rejoice. You have worked hard all year -- in your jobs, in your homes, raising your kids -- and you deserve a break. Go only to those parties filled with the people you want to see, and politely decline the rest. Keep the decor and the food simple, and let the company make it special. Do those things -- and only those things -- that make the holidays happy for you and your family. Then sit back and relax with some egg nog.

And now for some of my favorite holiday hacks, all submitted by the very smart readers of Parent Hacks:

Though we tend to go minimal and handmade for the holidays (column on this topic forthcoming), when we do buy gifts, we shop local and/or indie as much as possible. And oh how the local and indie awesomeness abounds in Boston! Worth checking out this weekend: the Boston Bazaar Bizarre (Sunday, December 6) at the Cyclorama, Boston Handmade’s retail gallery featuring 30+ local artisans and crafters at Downtown Crossing (open now through December 24), and the Harvard Square Holiday Fair (open now through December 23).

Image credit: locally operated Murdock Design (showing at the Boston Bazaar Bizarre on Sunday).

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Holidays; Local; Retail; Winter
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As a designer, I can’t help but adore the amazing craftiness at Craft. So what an honor it is to be featured on their site today. In my guest post, I share the how-to for creating the fabulous photo bookmarks that I first fashioned for my family a few Christmases ago and now create for clients. How can you not love a gift that's pretty and inspires reading? Only problem? Now my family knows what my holiday token is this year.

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Gifts & Paper; Holidays; Home; Winter
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Despite being a digital mom, I’m that mom; the one who refused to have anything but natural wooden and soft toys around Laurel as a baby, the one who has steered clear of anything battery operated since. Until recently. And while I remain a proponent of the learn through play philosophy via basic tools -- you’ll always find a plentiful supply of books, paper, paint, colored pencils, sculpting clay, dry pasta and beans + measuring cups, etc. at our house -- I now feel that it’s possible to merge certain electronics into the mix with Laurel; as a supplement, with benefits, and without taking over.

Read on for my review of LeapFrog’s Leapster and Tag learning systems, as well as to learn how to be one of two winners to receive LeapFrog products.

I’ve heard about LeapFrog several times in the last couple of years but it wasn’t until BlogHer Boston that I saw the Tag reading system (briefly) at an exhibition table, and then the Leapster learning game (again, briefly) at the home of one of Laurel’s friends. But it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that I decided to introduce Laurel to LeapFrog.

Admittedly, I was a bit nervous, (probably somewhat melodramatically) envisioning Laurel opting for noisy non-volume-controllable electronic devices over good old fashioned cuddle and play time with me and Jon. But I also was intrigued, particularly given that Laurel and I were starting to explore reading. I was interested in trying out the Tag as a means to encourage Laurel's reading and independence (she tends to be a tad resistant to independent play), and the Leapster as a form of educational entertainment, particularly while we’re on the go.

And after Laurel’s initial excited frenzy (during which I was a little concerned that I would need to restrict LeapFrog hours), I was relieved to see her chill out re: usage and was thrilled to see these tools enhance her learning experience while being super fun.

The Leapster2 is a handheld unit that comes with a starter game and has a cartridge slot to accommodate any of 30 or so other learning game titles (everything ranging from Disney fairies and princesses to Dora to Star Wars). The games are structured to encourage math and language skills (e.g., via number recognition, letter recognition, counting, etc.) as well as pattern recognition (e.g., colors, shapes) through games. Since Laurel knows a bit of Spanish, she especially loves Dora’s Camping Adventure, as well as the Disney Fairies and Princess and the Frog games. Game levels adapt along with your kid’s progress (the console can track multiple players) and you also can connect the Leapster2 online for all sorts of extra perks (plus parents can get learning progress reports), though admittedly we haven’t even gotten to this phase because there’s been plenty to explore within the Leapster2 itself.

I’ve found the Leapster2 to be especially handy to bring along when I anticipate a wait (e.g., doctor’s office, grocery store); otherwise, we haven’t had to worry about over-usage at all around the house. And yes, you can adjust the volume on the device.

The Tag system is very cool and pretty much mystifies me technology-wise. Basically you have the Tag Reader stylus + books that look typical with the exception of some small icons on each page. Like the Leapster2 games, the book options span classic tales and popular characters (Laurel especially loves Olivia and Dora). Before you get going you need to connect the Tag Reader to your computer via USB, download the audio for your Tag books, then load the stories onto the Tag Reader. (Sounds like a lot of steps but it's quick and easy.) Then simply touch the icons with the stylus and the Tag Reader will read by page and engage kids in games related to the page contents (designed to help with reading comprehension, object identification, etc), or touch word by word. And as with the Leapster2, yes, the Tag Reader offers volume control.

At first, Laurel would simply use the stylus to read the entire page or she’d want me to read the book to her, but now that she's learning more and more words at home and school, it's been very cool to see her use the stylus to read word by word. And now she's at a point where she can read many words on her own and uses the stylus as a prompt to help her when she encounters an unfamiliar word. Though we still spend countless hours reading books together, the Tag allows her to have independence with books (which in turn gives me a bit of time to get dinner together, put out client fires, or whatever).

In sum, I’m really impressed with the Leapster2 and Tag systems. They offer a fun mode through which Laurel can learn and play independently, but in an enhancing, not replacing, way; the majority of our play remains offline and hands on. Also, after attempting to watch The Little Mermaid with Laurel the other day -- which essentially boiled down to me fast-forwarding through the parts that scared her...which was a lot -- it also occured to me that another benefit of the Leapster2 and Tag systems is that they offer kids a way to enjoy their favorite characters in a far more interactive and less intense way than a movie.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive LeapFrog goodies? Here’s how:

Marie LeBaron is a blog friend who I have yet to meet in real life, but we share a passion for crafting and food and I so admire all of the crafty awesomeness she shares on her site, Make and Takes. And though Marie and my friendship is relatively new, her enthusiasm encouraged me to sign up with her and ten other bloggers for what no doubt will be a (somewhat insane) major bonding experience: a 200-mile relay run come spring (gulp). I’m thrilled that today, for the seventh installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, Marie shares easy yet engaging holiday crafts to enjoy with your kids.

From Marie:

We're now officially in the holiday stretch and there are presents to buy, the house to decorate, and treats to make. Here are a few fun projects we're making and taking in the next few weeks to celebrate the holidays.

Beaded Ornaments: Decorating the tree is part of the fun of decorating the house for Christmas. And all you need to make your own ornaments are beads and pipe cleaners. Create traditional shapes as shown here, create shapes for other winter holidays (e.g., a Star of David for Hanukkah), or let your kid’s imagination run wild. These ornaments are fun to give as gifts or to make to hang on your own tree. No doubt your kids will love to look back on them when they're grown up.

Fruit Loop Garland: This is a classic holiday craft that’s fun for kids while encouraging motor development. All that’s involved is threading Fruit Loop cereal (or check stores such as Whole Foods for a natural/organic alternative) onto string. We make a lot of these fruity garlands to put on our tree, even though my kids typically eat a lot of the cereal while we’re stringing! And a tip: attach a little bit of tape to the threading end of the yarn or string (to form a shoelace type end) to help little fingers thread the cereal through. (Garland shown in first image above.)

Stained Glass Christmas Trees: To give your windows a festive feel, try these bright and cheery stained glass trees. Simply fold green paper triangles, cut holes in them (as you would a snowflake), then add some wrapping tissue paper to the back, letting the colors shine through. Attach a brown rectangle for the tree stump and a yellow circle of paper (or a pom-pon) at the top.

Homemade Lollipops: Lollipops are the one candy that we make every December. They are fun to make and eat, and are a perfect gift to give to the neighbors. These are mostly made and poured by me, but my kids love to help set up the sticks and watch as the lollipop liquid gets poured. You can make these with metal molds, but we like to have them come out all wonky, simply pouring them over the sticks. Click here for the lollipop recipe.

M&M Graphing: With so many flavors of M&Ms, this is a fun taste testing activity to do with the kids. We poured all kinds of M&Ms into our bowl, then closed our eyes and picked one out. We graphed what color it was, what flavor it was, and if we liked it. This activity is a fun one to do in a classroom setting for younger or older grades, helping them have fun as they eat and learn! If you’d prefer to use a natural alternative (for example, SunSpire Sun Drops) you could change the parameters of the game to guess and graph colors.

Marie LeBaron is the owner and founder of Make and Takes, a website sharing kids crafts, home crafts, easy recipes, and parenting tips. She’s a crafter, foodie, and mother of 3. She also loves to read, run, and blog. You can follow Marie on Twitter at @makeandtakes.

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Gifts & Paper; Holidays; Home; Winter
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Today, Kate shares a skin care PSA:

“Born with various skin sensitivities and a preternatural tendency to sunburn, I have spent my fair share of time in dermatology offices. I work hard to take care of my skin with a complicated (and expensive) regimen of creams and ointments, and now pride myself on having entered my mid-30s with healthy and happy skin that rarely feels direct sun and generally rewards me by looking decent even on days when my daughter wakes in the middle of the night.

And so it was with particular alarm that I heard my dermatologist announce at my annual check-up that I had three (three!) concerning spots that she wanted to excise, biopsy, and possibly further treat. Wait, what? Skin cancer? But I'm only 36! And I wear sunblock every day, even in winter!

One minor surgery, three stitches, and four weeks of worry later, it turned out that two of the spots were normal and one only mildly abnormal, although it will require additional surgery. The whole experience was both scary and eye-opening for me - I had known neither how common melanoma is (even for young people), nor how serious if not caught and treated early - and has made me enormously grateful for my sharp-eyed dermatologist and my access to top-flight medical care.

The lessons I took from this that I wanted to share with you: Know your skin, even better than you may already think you do. Don't ignore funky looking freckles or spots that pop up or change out of nowhere. And get regularly checked by a professional dermatologist - not just your GP - who will look you up and down and address anything that seems abnormal. And wear sunblock, every day.”

For more information, visit the CDC’s section on skin cancer basics.

Image credit: Wikipedia

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health
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Today I was included in a Boston Globe article about bloggers and the FTC’s new guidelines about disclosure in product reviews and endorsements. While I’ve witnessed a lot of panic and anger in the blogosphere about these guidelines (rumors of $11,000 misconduct fines will do that), they’re actually a good thing because ultimately, the goal is to protect the consumer; readers like you who read blogs and (rightfully assume) that what you’re reading is honest and objective editorial.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. I’ve seen a lot of bad practices by fellow bloggers (e.g., cut and pasted press releases passed off as original content, pay for play not disclosed, etc.) and I well remember when I started Boston Mamas in July 2006 and soon learned about advertorials (paid placements that are designed to look like real editorial). Someone wanted to buy an advertorial spot from me and I felt hugely depressed. (And of course I said no.) I wondered about all of the products I had bought in the past based on magazine or other “reviews” – how many of those placements actually were advertisements? I felt deceived and ever since have taken in product content with a super critical eye.

Since Day 1 here at Boston Mamas, I have been committed to transparency and 100% advertorial-free editorial. I can’t help but assume that my strict adherence to, and belief in, true editorial form is related to my former life as a scientist, where I used to describe all practices and cross my t’s and dot my i’s ad nauseam (submitting grants to the NIH will do that). Subsequently, when my contributing writers and I write about products, we write from the heart – about stuff we think is awesome, useful, and/or clever. Product reviews represent only a fraction of the content featured on Boston Mamas and as such I am extremely picky about what I’ll even allow in the door for evaluation (that's one of the reasons I don't include a free for all shipping address on my contact page). I’ve never sat down to figure out the numbers, but it’s probably safe to estimate that I bypass hundreds of product pitches for every one that I decide should move to the evaluation phase. And yes, even despite my rigorous screening, every now and then there are products that don’t work out for whatever reason (e.g., bad smell, breaks immediately) and I do not feature these items just because they were submitted. This is the reason products must be submitted for evaluation. "Evaluating" a hi-res JPEG just isn't going to cut it (you'd be amazed by how frequently products are pitched for editorial consideration based on hi-res JPEGs).

In short, I wanted to emphasize how strongly I feel about transparency and how important it is for me to know that you know that what you see on this site is honest and objective editorial. Your trust is more important to me than ad money (truly, I don’t rely on Boston Mamas to pay my bills…I leave that to my design work and freelance contracts). I have always maintained a steady editorial code – much like a magazine or newspaper – (see my contact and disclosure page for my possibly excessively explicit description of practices) and as such will not end each individual post with a disclosure line as you see on some blogs. The disclosure-per-post practice is recommended by the FTC for personal blogs but given that I operate Boston Mamas more like a magazine and have a clearly detailed editorial code, I'm leaving things as is (easy access button to contact/disclosure policy right in the header).

If you have questions or concerns or thoughts please feel free to comment in below or drop me a line at editor@bostonmamas.com.

And as always, thank you for reading.

UPDATE 12/2/09: There are three points that I feel warrant mention in addendum:

First, as stated on my contact and disclosure page, many products featured on Boston Mamas are ones that we've discovered (i.e., purchased ourselves) on our own and loved. Obviously, in those cases there's no interaction with an agency; just us and the cash register.

Second, I am well overdue in updating my banner (at the time of this writing, it's a spring graphic...how embarrassing!). A redesign is in process and in the new banner I will separate out a disclosure button from the contact button (however, both buttons will link to the same page as I want those who are trying to contact me to also know my policies).

Third, while I understand the perspective that it's better to err on the side of over disclosure, at present I will continue on as I have been for the last three years: with a very detailed disclosure page that is easily accessed from the banner, i.e., not making an individual statement at the bottom of each post, similar to the way that magazines operate by a standard journalistic code and subsequently don't annotate every item in a product round up. However, in the future if I learn of objections from the FTC regarding this practice, I will address it here. From what I have read, and from what I discerned from the Blog With Integrity webinar with FTC Associate Director of Consumer Protection Mary Engle, I believe that the standards I set back in July 2006 comply with the FTC regulations.

Image credit: Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Dec 2009 | Permalink | Comments (7) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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Now that December is here I’m ready to embrace the holidays, and over the years I’ve found that Christmas décor is actually really easy. Once the tree is up, a pretty tree skirt and some festive stockings go a long way in creating the mood. And if you love having these elements (and more) coordinated just so, consider Sterling Pear’s holiday décor starter set. Great to gift or to start your own traditions with, this simple yet richly embroidered and trimmed set includes two stockings, a tree skirt, and a table runner. And as part of the Giveaway Goodness series, Sterling Pear kindly is offering one lucky reader their holiday décor starter set! Simply check out the rules below and enter to win by midnight, December 4.

Rules: