As much as I love the convenience of online shopping, you can't beat the tactile delight of in-person boutique shopping. And especially so when over 55 cool shops are assembled under one roof to make browsing easy and fun. Sound good? Next week (October 6 & 7) StyleFixx will hit the Boston Center for the Arts, offering a (probably much needed) girls night out during which you and your pals can enjoy shopping, complimentary cocktails and spa treatments, and tasty food samples. Tickets are $30 (includes admission, on-site freebies, and swag bag), and as part of my Giveaway Goodness series, StyleFixx kindly is offering five lucky winners a pair of tickets to enjoy the event with a girlfriend! Simply check out the rules below to enter to win.

Rules:

I've been meaning to post for a while now about some utterly lovely pottery we've been enjoying. During a hunt for unique Korean style pottery, I discovered Grace Lee's Vancouver-based studio eikcam via Etsy. Lee creates beautiful pottery, jewelry, and photography, and her ceramics are lovingly handcrafted and styled with a vintage and earthy aesthetic using antique molds and distinctive glazes. And from a customer service perspective, Lee is wonderful; she was patient and cheerful while I waffled absurdly about color options before settling on this pretty little pair of turquoise dasik tea tumblers. I adore the (by American standards) petite size and styling of these tumblers (about 8 ounces); they're dishwasher and microwave safe (though I prefer to hand wash them) and I'm pretty sure that at some point I ought to get the matching tea pot.

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Gifts & Paper; Home
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Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents takes a departure from parenting advice to recommend two stylish local finds:

Given my apparent talent for spilling black coffee, chocolate ice cream, and ketchup on myself, I don't like spending lots of money on clothing. For me, it's not worth it to ruin expensive clothes and it's good to tighten the spending belt when a bad economy threatens us. That said, I still like to shop, dress well, and look professional. Here are two Boston area shops to try that won't break the bank.

The Stock Exchange (Manchester-by-the-Sea) is a 45-minute ride from Cambridge. My friend Jane and I enjoyed a trip there recently; what appeared from the exterior to be a high-end boutique turned out to be a high-end consignment shop. After much poking around and trying on, Jane purchased a Lilly Pulitzer dress in perfect condition and I picked up a filmy, chocolate brown empire blouse for a mere $10! In addition to offering pretty clothes and accessories at great prices, The Stock Exchange also sells furniture (I eyed a periwinkle blue, hand-painted bureau perfect for a child's room), art books, Royal Doulton china, Bennington Pottery, tea pots, and paintings. Also, once you've finished shopping, you can enjoy a half mile walk to Singing Beach, ice cream from Captain Dusty's, or browse through a well-stocked used book store that sells grownup and children's paperbacks and hardcovers galore.

For vintage clothing, check out Lady Luxe (31 Belmont Street, Cambridge). Though the exterior leaves a bit to be desired, don't judge the store by the outside -- you'll love this clean, hard wood floored store. This shop brings back memories, carrying nylon and silk nighties and full slips, crisply ironed patterned aprons, and tea-length dresses, in addition to all sorts of clothing, accessory, and furniture finds. This local gem is run by two sisters (whose mom was woman-ning the store the day I dropped in); I highly recommending supporting this fine new, independent, woman-run business! (And an added bonus? Lady Luxe is mere steps from the delicious Sofra.)

I hope you enjoy these alternative-to-mall shopping experiences. Although there are many small boutiques to choose from, I selected these two because they are distinct; The Stock Exchange offers a sweet half day outing and Lady Luxe is local, new, and offers high quality and well displayed vintage items in a pleasant to navigate setting. Enjoy!

Image credit: Lady Luxe

Posted by Christine Koh on 28 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Decor & Furniture; Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Home; Local; Retail
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For probably the last five years, I've anticipated boot season with excitement and hope, and ultimately have come out the other side disappointed. I know this may sound a tad melodramatic but it's true. My typical ritual is this: I fawn over online and print fall boot fashion spreads, hit the stores loaded with energy, and leave utterly deflated because everything I try on makes my calves feel like sausages. And it's not as if I have super large calves, just some little muscles from running and yoga. Nonetheless, all boots to date have suffocated. Until Dansko that is. Read on to learn more Dansko's kid's collection and "miracle boots" (my name for them), as well as to learn how to win a pair of Dansko shoes for you and your child!

When Dansko approached me about testing out shoes, I was intrigued. I used to wear Dansko clogs a lot; I first bought them when I was on my feet all day working at an art store during the bridge period between finishing my Ph.D. and starting my postdoctoral fellowship. I loved them and wore them all the time, and then eventually transitioned out of my clog phase. Nonetheless, Dansko grownup clogs are a handy pick for moms -- they're easy to slide on and off, supportive while walking endless circles around the neighborhood with your baby, and Dansko now offers lots of cool finishes to suit different styles.

Dansko also offers kids clogs and I was interested to see how they performed. Laurel tested out the classic Gitte style (these were like the clogs I used to wear) in the super cool Tiger's Eye Patent (shown; $69.95 at Onlineshoes.com). Laurel loves the look and styling, not to mention being the first one ready at the door (no laces or straps to deal with), and she's found them comfy for kicking around on the weekends shopping and strolling, and even while doing lawn work (I found her wearing them yesterday while she was raking leaves with Jon). My only concern is that the Gittes don't seem quite secure enough for wearing to school and running around at recess; in retrospect, perhaps we should have tested the Jada or Jemma styles, which have straps to secure fit further. All of this said, whichever style you opt for, the nice thing about Danskos is that they are sturdy little workhorses. If you purchase a pair of gender neutral kids clogs, no doubt you'll be able to use them across multiple kids.

Now, about the miracle boots. Dansko offers women's boots (and other shoes) in a variety of styles (they also offer lots of man shoes), and it's the Brielle boots ($239.95 at Onlineshoes.com) that I recommend you consider investing in. Beautifully styled, yet made with the trademark sturdy Dansko construction, the Brielle boot has a 2 5/8" heel that offers height and style while actually being comfortable -- I wore the Brielle boots for the first time traipsing all over the North End/Waterfront area when we attended the Boston Arts Festival earlier this month. And now I really know why women obsess about boots; they instantly make your outfit look awesome. The Brielle's are great because you can dress them up (e.g., with a chic knit dress, contrast tights, and some statement accessories) or down (e.g., with leggings and a tunic). Plenty of bang for your buck.

And circling back to my lead in, the most awesome thing? These boots are fitted yet accommodate non-stick thin calves! When I first received the boots, I tried them on my bare legs gingerly, bracing myself for disappointment, but lo and behold they fit! And I'll admit that I was increasingly gleeful as I discovered that they also fit with basic tights, thicker leggings, and even jeggings (jean leggings look fantastic with these boots...even Jon took notice...here's an example of me rocking the boot/jeggings look).

It took far too long for me to discover Dankso's boots, but I'm thrilled to finally know about them. Whether you're on the hunt for a stylish and comfortable pair of fall boots, or have found yourself in my sausage calf boot fitting predicament, check out Dansko.

Now, want to win a pair of Dansko shoes for you and your child? Here's how:

Rules:

Our CSA has been rendering loads of zucchini, and in addition to enjoying it in the form of chocolate zucchini cake, kid-friendly zucchini fritters, and Jules's zucchini and ricotta stacks, we've also been making a lot of zucchini bread and muffins. We love this recipe from Baking Illustrated; in fact, I always double the recipe since it disappears so quickly. Doubling yields one tray of muffins (12) + two shallow loafs, and like this great banana bread recipe, the zucchini bread/muffins freeze well. Enjoy the below how-to with my typical annotations.

Zucchini Bread
From Baking Illustrated
Makes one 9-inch loaf

Ingredients:

Here are some links that caught my eye this week, and that I curated over at BlissReads: beautiful bird motif pillows you won't be able to resist (via Cool Mom Picks; also, be sure to check out CMP's newest, awesomely geek chic venture Cool Mom Tech), a canning 101 tutorial (perfect for squirreling away CSA vegetables; via Petit Elefant), a great collection of eco-friendly musical instruments (via Lil Sugar), the prettiest family manifesto you'll ever see (via Alpha Mom), a super sweet wine stopper wedding favor idea (via 5 Minutes For Mom), and a chocolate cake recipe I cannot wait to try (via Mel's Kitchen Cafe). Enjoy!

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys; Decor & Furniture; Eco Living; Family Issues; Gifts & Paper; Home; Recipes
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Goodness, there's no shortage of family friendly fall festivals all across our fine state. Here are some interesting picks for enjoying food, crafts, kids activities, nature, live entertainment, and more this weekend (feel free to add others you know of in the comments!): Arlington Town Day, Oak Street Fair (Boston), Bourne Scallop Festival (oh. yum.), Endless Summer Waterfront Festival (Hull), Meet Me Downtown Festival of the Arts (Lynn), Marblehead Fall Festival, Rappin' with Raptors Festival (Mattapan), Creative Movement and Arts Center Fall Festival (Needham), Annual Harvest Festival (Newton), Stony Brook Fall Fair (Norfolk), Marshmallow Fluff Festival (Somerville), Spirit of Shrewsbury Fall Festival, and Faire on the Square (Watertown). And if you're feeling really ambitious, The Big E (West Springfield) runs until October 3.

Image credit: Marblehead Fall Festival

Posted by Christine Koh on 24 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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Thanks to Jules, now I know what to do with this week's abundance of zucchini from the CSA:

My friend recently gave me a zucchini from her garden -- a 20 pounder! I mulled over what to do with this massive gem; zucchini parmesan didn't feel original enough and I wanted to highlight the zucchini's tender and mild flavor. So here, inspired by the flavors of Greece, I've come up with a light but satisfying zucchini stack (served either as a side dish or entrée) that transports you to a happy place after a long day. I recommend enjoying this dish outside.

Jules's Zucchini and Ricotta Stacks
Serves 4 (click on thumbnail to see larger image)

Ingredients

Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Precillia via e-mail:

Dear Christine, My good friend gave birth 3 weeks ago to her daughter - 12 weeks early. She lives in CA, and a number of her good friends are now on the East coast. She asked for a support group after delivery, and the doctors were not able to provide one locally. I'm wondering if you have any advice from your experience, and or from your readership on how we (her friends) can best support her from afar. We are beyond flowers, etc. We did send a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant so that they could enjoy a night out. We are all texting, calling, emailing etc. without expecting a response, but really to show our support and convey our thoughts and prayers. Their situation is so stressful and we all feel so helpless...not to mention, guilty, that many of us have had babies this year who are healthy.

Dear Precillia,

Thanks for writing in; I'm sending lots of healing and peaceful wishes to your friend and her family in California. New parenthood is challenging as is, and negotiating premature delivery adds a whole new layer.

Below are some thoughts on ways you and your friends could help. I also queried about this topic at the Boston Mamas Facebook community page and on Twitter. I've added comments from the community below, in cases where people shared new ideas, twists on ideas I already had, or detailed commentary.

Support groups. I know you mentioned that your friend asked her doctors about a support group and I'm disappointed that the doctors didn't have recommendations. One way you could help your friend is by doing some online research. The web makes it easier for families to connect and it's hard to imagine that there isn't already a local preemie support group in place. Another idea: check out the March of Dimes website -- at the top of the site you can plug in a zip code to find a local chapter and find events happening near your friend. Having participated in several March for Babies walks in Boston, I can attest to the power of families of preemies coming together; this could be a good way for your friend to connect with other families. Also, contributing Boston Mamas writer Heather (a mother of toddler triplets) suggested that your friend ask the nursing staff about support groups since the nurses often are plugged into community offerings moreso than the doctors. Heather also mentioned that when she delivered in Boston, there was a social worker who came by every day; if your friend has access to hospital social workers, she could ask the social workers about support groups.

Families in the NICU. Another source for connection you could mention to your friend is other families in the NICU. Heather shared that that she has friends who spent months in the NICU with their babies and they still keep in touch with nurses and other parents they connected with during that time.

Tracking down their local network. Heather also astutely suggested, "Maybe the East coast friends could find out if their friend belongs to a church or other group who could help coordinate a schedule for meal drop offs and help during the day when the baby comes home. I am still in awe of the strangers who signed up for 2 hours shifts to care for my babies so I could get a few hours sleep. I know this is a challenge given the distance but they could try coordinating the effort via phone or email."

The basics. I think it's great that you sent a gift certificate for a restaurant. If you and your friends have the means, helping with other things -- groceries, meals, a cleaning person, etc. -- would be a practical way to help and allow your friend to spend her time at the NICU instead of dealing with household minutia. Several people chimed in on Facebook and Twitter in support of gift cards for restaurants, groceries, gas (if your friend is going back and forth to the hospital a lot), and lodging (if she needs to stay close to the hospital). In a twist on this idea, @mamajoan on Twitter suggested "calling the hospital nurse's desk for names of restaurants that deliver to the hospital, then call them and order food to be delivered to the parents."

Send a delegate. When my niece Alyssa was in the NICU, I know it meant a lot to my brother and his wife when people visited them and Alyssa at the NICU, especially since my brother is the only of us seven siblings who does not live in Boston. They knew it wasn't easy for people to make the trek and they both appreciated the visit for Alyssa and I think it was also helpful to be able to offer some distraction to them. If you think your friend would be amenable, perhaps instead of spending funds on groceries or a cleaning person, you could pool your money and send one friend out to California to visit and offer love and household help in person.

The power of letters. Sometimes the simplest gestures are immensely powerful. I think it would be amazing for you and your friends to start a rotating schedule of sending a card or letter of support to your friend (and/or to the baby) every few days or every week. The letters need not be long; they could include a meaningful quote or simply convey that you are pulling for them and know how strong they are and are rooting for the day when they are able to leave the hospital together as a family. Those letters would probably become very meaningful keepsake items for the family.

The power of prayer. Via Twitter, @simplyandreah shared, "I had two preemies and the most helpful thing loved ones who lived far away could do was pray. My son is alive because of prayer!"

Checking in without expectation. You are already doing this but I wanted to encourage you to keep on with this practice. Especially after reading these responses from Facebook community members: Danielle noted the power of, "Checking in without expecting an answer. I know that sounds silly but getting e-mails and messages of support were so uplifting but the pressure of having to reply to all of them was overwhelming. Let the parents know that no response is necessary unless they need something." And Sharon shared, "Audrey was born almost 6 weeks premature, and I was overwhelmed with phone calls. Barry and I spend every moment traveling to and from the hospital to hold Audrey, feed her, comfort her, and LOVE LOVE LOVE her. I still remember the feeling of having to keep everyone afar up to speed... and I still remember the people who called and said CALL ME WHEN YOU ARE READY."

Listen and acknowledge. So simple, but I loved these responses via the Boston Mamas Facebook page: From Kerry, "Just to be an ear to listen (when parents have time to talk of course). And again to reiterate what the other posters have mentioned, understanding that calls/e-mails may go unanswered during this crazy time." And from Sarah, "What I found most helpful, honestly, was to have people acknowledge that I have my babies. So many people didn't congratulate us or even really talk to us because they didn't know what to say. Even though my girls were born 10 weeks early, it was still a wonderful thing and I would have liked the congratulations."

Free yourself of guilt. You mentioned you and your friends feeling helpless and also guilty for having delivered healthy babies this year. I know it's hard not to feel that way, but I encourage you to free yourself of those feelings and redirect that energy to your friend and her little one. Simply set a little intention, and every time you feel that pang of guilt, take a breath, and instead send a wish for peace and good health to your friend and her baby. It will do everyone good.

I hope these thoughts are helpful Precillia and I'm wishing all of you well.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have a question for Christine? Drop her a line! And of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those made above.

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Family Issues; Pregnancy & Postpartum; Web (Admin)
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We're big into books in my house, and though we'll reuse Laurel's well loved (read: residually slobbery) books when the baby arrives, I always love learning about cool new kids titles. Such was the case with 123 Boston: A Cool Counting Book. This board book is a perfect gift for young Bostonians (or relocated members of Boston Nation), including bold, contrasting graphics that will catch baby's attention while appropriately representing iconic elements of our city and history in chic colorways. And OK, I'll admit it: I was happy that I correctly identified each of the 10 images before looking at the description legend in the back of the book -- a good sign for this Boston lifer as well as for Kevin Somers, the talented illustrator of this book. See if you can too. The 123 board book concept is also available for a select number of other locales.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive a copy of 123 Boston? Here's how:

Rules:

Today, Lindsey recommends Verrill Farm for your next birthday party:

I've always gotten really excited about my kids' birthday parties. I think it might come from my own August birthday and consequent sense that I never had the parties I dreamed of as a kid. Whatever the reason, I really enjoy planning celebrations for my son and daughter, who are 5 and 7 respectively. We've had a lot of parties already, and far and away our favorite location -- one we've already done twice and plan to do again this October -- is Verrill Farm in Concord.

Verrill Farm is a terrific place for a birthday party. For a very reasonable rate, you can rent one of their tents (a small tent holds 25-ish people, a large tent is available for bigger parties). Their kitchen also provides refreshments, and a morning party is a great excuse to enjoy their excellent apple cider donuts. You can also bring your own food (I've always brought my own cakes, for example), and the farm is very accommodating in working with you to set up a menu, including handling allergies.

The gorgeous sweeping fields offer a beautiful setting for play, and the farm is happy to arrange hay rides for parties. We opted for hay rides when my daughter was two and the truck stopped in the fields for every child to pull up a carrot. It was a huge thrill for city kids to pull vegetables from the ground! Verrill Farm also has a relationship with a company that will bring ponies and handlers for a reasonable fee. That was the theme for my daughter's fifth birthday, and her red bandana'ed guests had a ball riding around the perimeter of the big field.

This fall we're planning a Harry Potter themed afternoon at Verrill Farm. Grace is helping me come up with some games for her friends to play and we will send our eight-year-old wizards on another hay ride. I'm less daunted than I might be otherwise by this concept, partly because I know that Verrill Farm will work its magic on the guests. In that gorgeous setting, with happy and friendly proprietors and delicious local food, it's hard to go wrong.

Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord; Tel: 978-369-4494

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Kid's Parties; Local
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Though in general I advocate for less of the unnecessary, every now and then something material catches my eye and refuses to budge from my periphery. Such was the case last weekend when Laurel and I were in Porter Square, picking up some Japanese pastries and browsing Tokai. I circled away from these ridiculously cute Japanese panda mugs (note the adorable tail blob on the back of the mug) about five times, trying to convince myself out of buying them. Which of course meant I needed to buy them.

There's something to be said for picking up small things that bring you joy. And it's impossible for me to feel anything but happy drinking out of these cups.

Unfortunately I couldn't find an online option to purchase these mugs, but the label indicates that they are from Kotobuki Trading if you want to try to track down a retailer. And you can pick them up at Tokai (they just got them in stock a couple of days before I bought them; I hope they stocked a lot!). I believe they also had a version in a sake set.

Posted by Christine Koh on 19 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Gifts & Paper; Home; Local; Retail
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One thing I adore about the return of cool fall weather is baking. And this week Laurel and I busted out our first batch of fall cookies. We decided to try something new: the chocolate-chocolate chunk cookies from Lori Longbotham's Luscious Chocolate Desserts. Despite being a little concerned about the consistency while we were making them (the batter was rather loose, not like typical cookie dough that you can roll in your hands), the cookies turned out divine -- rich, chocolate-y, and distinctly reminiscent of its baked good cousin the brownie. I highly recommend you make a batch this weekend.

Here's the recipe, with my typical annotations.

Chocolate-Chocolate Chunk Cookies

From Lori Longbotham's Luscious Chocolate Desserts

Ingredients

We had such an awesome time last weekend at the Boston Arts Festival that I've had creative things on my mind all week -- both in my studio and in anticipation of the weekend. Good news is, there are a few more cool art festivals on tap for this weekend: DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln is hosting its first Family SculptureFest on Sunday. On Saturday, the Kingston Arts Festival and Quincy ArtsFest will celebrate their fourth and thirteenth years, respectively, with live entertainment, juried exhibits, crafters, and kids activities. And a bit further afield, through the weekend is the Old Deerfield Fall Art & Craft Festival. Enjoy!

Image credit: DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Amy via the Boston Mamas Facebook community page:

Hi Boston Mamas! I am new to the Boston area and have a 21-month-old little girl. I need things to do with her this fall/winter and weekends/rainy days. Also, I need some ideas for her birthday this fall. I would LOVE some suggestions! (FYI, we've done Boston Children's Museum, Aquarium, etc... we're looking for something a bit more interactive and smaller scale). Also, we live in Watertown so closer to that side of town would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Dear Amy,

Welcome to Boston! I hope you're adjusting well to the area; it's a wonderful place to raise a family!

It's definitely a good idea to stow away some ideas for inclement weather (given that we'll have plenty of winter to endure once it comes). Here are some ideas that come to mind that are close to Watertown -- I'll make note of birthday party ideas in tandem with activity ideas where relevant, and also share comments I received via Facebook:

Play Spaces. Particularly during the cold/wet weather, it's imperative to have play space options, otherwise your home will become a total disaster zone. (If you have a play/romper room that can withstand being a disaster zone, awesome, but not everyone has the space for this! Plus, it's nice to get out of the house.) One play space I like that isn't too far from Watertown is Together in Motion in Arlington. This is a great play space particularly for toddlers because everything is soft and padded; you don't have to worry about them climbing too high on hard structures. We've also attended a few birthday parties at Together in Motion and it's a really nice venue for parties.

Also, via the Boston Mamas Facebook community page, Zipi and Prudence both offered props for the play space Inside PlayGround in Watertown; they also host birthday parties. Prudence also shared: "Belmont Kidspace is about to start up again, and there is lots of good programming in the Watertown Free Library, YMCA in West Newton. Watertown Family Network also has some wonderful activities." And my friend Roxanna also suggested: "Creative Movement in Needham, LINX in Wellesley, Gymboree in Newton, Kids U in Needham, and Warren Center in Wellesley."

Art Studios. Art is another wonderful indoor activity for kids. If you'd like to keep the mess outside the home, Muckykids is a new art studio for children on Mass. Ave. in Cambridge, and they offer open studio time, classes, and host birthday parties. The Kids Place for Fun is on your side of town in Newton and also offers drop in studio time, classes, and birthday party services. And right in Watertown, there is the Arsenal Center for the Arts. They don't offer kids open studios like Muckykids or the Kids Place for Fun, but they do offer parent/toddler art classes.

Music. As a former semi-pro musician and music teacher, I of course am a big advocate of music for kids. From the Boston Mamas mamapreneur network, I know of Boston Aardvarks, which offers music classes in Newton. And there's also Music Together, a longstanding provider of music programs for kids. If you go to their class locator page, you can plug in your zip code or address to find classes near you.

Language. If you're interested in introducing your daughter to a different language, ABC Spanish in Motion (which I also know about via the Boston Mamas mamapreneur network) offers classes in a number of locations (Belmont, Cambridge, and Newton would be closest to Watertown). Laurel started learning Spanish when she was in day care via a visiting Spanish program and loved it.

Other Classes & Playgroups. If you haven't already explored Isis Parenting, it's worth checking out. Check out their section on Classes by Age & Stage and you can see offerings such as music and movement, art, Spanish, and general play. The locations in Needham and Arlington would be closest to you.

Your Local Library.In the free and awesome domain, I'm a huge fan of the public library system. Check the Watertown library for story times and other programming options, and don't forget that you can access other libraries in the Minuteman Library Network as well. Also, many libraries have discounted museum pass programs so if you decide to venture into the city to one of these attractions, definitely check out pass availability.

Home Sweet Home. And finally, some days, it's just too crummy out to bundle the kids up and venture outside. In these cases, I suggest embracing the crummy weather and having a hibernation day. Hang out in jammies, bake some treats, and enjoy some ideas from this round up of rainy day activity ideas.

I hope these ideas are helpful Amy!

Image credit: Muckykids Art Studio

Have a question for Christine? Drop her a line! And of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those made above.

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (6) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Fun Indoors; Kid's Parties; Local; Web (Admin)
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Laurel and I first got hooked on playing with LEGOs when we visited the Bahamas on a media trip earlier this year to learn about LEGO Atlantis. (I know, it's late for me to get hooked on LEGOs, but growing up in a family of seven kids, we didn't have a lot in the way of toys.) We've since had a lot of fun testing our instruction-following and spatial skills with small and large kits. And whether your kids already dig LEGOs or are just starting to tinker, LEGO KidsFest Boston no doubt will offer plenty of fodder for exploration. At the Hynes Convention Center next weekend (September 25-26), families will have a chance to build to their heart's content, interact with displays (including a scenic railroad ride through the festival), and check out impressive LEGO masterpieces. In a word, it'll be LEGO-tastic.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive a family four-pack of tickets to LEGO KidsFest Boston? Here's how:

Rules:

Last September, in honor of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, contributing writer Sarah candidly shared her story. This year, in another moving post, she makes the astute point that, "A cure for cancer is a tempting illusion, but the way to save more lives is to get this disease detected and treated while it's still small." Please read on and familiarize yourself with the symptoms, and share this post with the women in your lives.

From Sarah:

I just finished reading Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, a book that reminds us about trusting our instincts when making decisions instead of gathering reams of superfluous information and being as informed as possible before acting.

A fitting metaphor for medical situations. If I had trusted my instincts in 2005, I would have visited my doctor when things started to feel "not-right." When my stomach got too bloated to fasten my pants, I wouldn't have chalked it up to too many desserts. When I was so fatigued by lunchtime that I had to take a nap every afternoon, I wouldn't have thought it just the lot of every mother of two young boys, ages three and eighteen months. When I had pain in my left pelvis every time I had sex with my husband, I wouldn't have assumed it was a simple ovulatory cyst. I would have gone to see my doctor months before she walked her dog past my house and my husband mentioned my wacky symptoms to her, and she told him I should come in for a visit.

I would have discovered my ovarian cancer before it got so far advanced that my chances of five-year survival, the only statistic you can nail any clinician down to with this disease, were reduced from 85% to 35%.

More than 21,000 American women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010, and more than 13,000 others will die from it. The statistic that shocked me the most is that over half of the women are UNDER the age of 60. Which makes my diagnosis at age 34 a lot less unlikely than I thought it was, another reason I didn't worry enough about my symptoms.

The number-one reason I didn't freak out like I should have, though, is that I had no idea what to watch out for. I knew how to give myself a breast self-exam; knew that a yearly Pap smear would keep me informed of cervical cancer. I had stopped smoking after a brief stint in college, ate well, went to the gym three times a week, drank an occasional glass of wine with dinner. But my symptoms were classics, and I had no idea.

There's no good diagnostic test for ovarian cancer yet; the one we have now gives a number of false positives that make doctors unwilling to use it on patients without a family history of the disease. So women need to watch for:

As I mentioned last week week, Laurel wanted a unicorn party for her sixth birthday. It suits me perfectly that she prefers small gatherings at home; we hosted a super fun unicorn party that was pretty low maintenance while still being utterly unicorn-tastic. Below is the how-to for pulling the party together. And thematically, you could swap elements to tailor the party to your child's interests (e.g., horses, dinosaurs, fairies, etc.). Enjoy!

Invitations

I'm a designer, which means I find it highly entertaining to whip up fun invitations. I designed this groovy rainbow unicorn invite really quickly and Laurel freaked out when she saw it. Of course, if you're not a designer, you could buy or make your own themed invitations. If you opt for DIY, you could use stamps, stickers, or web clip art to create cute theme-based invitations.

Timing

Over the years, I've come to learn that for older kids (i.e., those beyond the post-lunch nap window) I really like the 1-3pm party window. It's late enough in the day to not conflict with morning sports practices or church, gives you the morning to prep for the party, and you don't need to worry about preparing tons of food.

Food

Given the after lunch time window, I kept the food really simple: fruit salad, deviled eggs (Laurel's request), beverages, and the unicorn rainbow cake.

Activities

When the girls first arrived, they immediately wanted to play dress up (maybe because Laurel was dressed in a "unicorn princess gown" -- just a long white dress up gown she already owned). After that, I had a few activities for them, which they loved:

1. I was psyched to stumble upon these glittery unicorn tattoos at a local party store.

2. I bought an inexpensive pin the horn on the unicorn game several weeks ago (when I ordered the unicorn piñata and unicorn cake topper), and then despite turning the house upside down, I couldn't find it for the party. So the morning of the party I drew a unicorn on a large sheet of craft paper and Laurel colored it in (the rainbow striped legs, mane, and tail were here idea...isn't that cool?). I cut out horns, wrote the kids names on them, and before we played the game, put a piece of double sided tape on the back when it was a kid's turn to pin the horn on the unicorn. I used a bandana for the blindfold. It was super fun; the kids had a great time.

3. And of course the girls went crazy over the unicorn piñata. I don't know what it is with kids and piñatas but kids always go nuts over them. Laurel and I filled it up with organic treats (hard candies, lollipops, Annie's gummy bunnies) and the kids had a great time whacking at it. I timed things so the kids had cake before the piñata so they could get some of their sugar rush out on the piñata.

Favor Bags

When it comes to favors, I prefer to buy one or two more substantial things the kids can actually use rather than loading it with random little bits of tchotchke. I made cute name tags that matched the invites for the outside of the bag and included in each bag a unicorn suncatcher craft kit and a package of unicorn stickers. When it was time for the piñata I gave the girls their favor bags so they could use them to collect candy.

Thank You Cards

And now we're sending out our thank you cards. Laurel loved a fill in the blank thank you card she received from her friend Sawyer this summer so I designed one using the unicorn silhouette I created for the party invite for the fill in the blank unicorn thank you card. I must say that the fill in the blank style made it super easy to write all of our thank you's yesterday afternoon.

And that was it! It may look like a lot since everything is coordinated but thanks to online shopping and keeping the party small, it was pretty low maintenance and very festive!

Final Thoughts

Another idea I had for a unicorn party activity (or favor) was unicorn cookies, inspired by this adorable unicorn cookie cutter. However, though the kids would no doubt have loved a cookie decorating party, I didn't want to load them up with more sugar. And I decided against the cookie cutter favor because not all parents are into rolling out cookies. It's a cute idea though!

Another favor idea I had was giving each guest a unicorn paint by number kit. Though both the suncatcher and paint by number kits indicate being suitable for ages 8+, the canvas set definitely looks more complicated. But this would be a great favor for older kids, and I did buy one for Laurel as a birthday present since she is very good with meticulous, small detail art projects.

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys; Arts & Crafts; Gifts & Paper; Home; Kid's Parties
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Today, a handy tip from Heather, because tomorrow is Monday, which means you're probably doing laundry today. Which means you've probably got drawstrings gone astray in your laundry basket:

My four children may look like me, but they all are tall and thin like my husband. Fortunately for us, there's no shortage of clothing made with adjustable waists or drawstrings. And while I truly believe drawstrings are one of the greatest children's clothing inventions ever, my frustration grows every time I need to rethread the waistband of a drawstring that has lost its way (or been undone on purpose by one of my three 3-year-olds).

The solution? So simple but a huge lifesaver. A friend suggested taking a pen with a pocket clip, looping the elastic band or drawstring cord around the pocket clip, and threading the pen through the seam, pen tip first. It works like a charm. I'm literally able to fix drawstrings in under a minute. Now if only I could get my laundry done that fast.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Home; Solutions
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Following a busy summer and lovely Labor Day weekend celebrating Laurel's birthday, it's been fun to get caught up on blog reading. Here are some links that caught my eye this week, and that I curated over at BlissReads: a wonderful tutorial on how to make tomatillo enchiladas (via Girl's Gone Child), a chic roundup of boots for wide calves (via The Stir), six favorite breastfeeding resources (via Rookie Moms), a cute roundup of necklace tees for girls (via Lil Sugar), and a beginning quilting tutorial (via Make and Takes). Enjoy!

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Fashion; Feeding & Nursing; For Little Ones; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Home; Recipes
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Oh fall how I love you -- what a picture perfect weekend we've got on the forecast! There's a little something for everyone this weekend. Enjoy big and small city and town festivals at the Boston Arts Festival, Allston Village Street Fair, and Eastham Windmill Weekend. Immerse yourself in culture at the Cambridge Carnival International and Peabody International Festival. Rock out at the Life is Good Festival (Canton) and MusicFestLive! (Boston). And get back to nature at the Sterling Fair and Franklin County Fair.

Image credit: Boston Arts Festival

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Elizabeth via e-mail:

Hi Christine, I recently started looking for a babysitter for my 9-month-old daughter. I tried Craigslist with mixed results, and signed up for a free trial with Sittercity and Care.com. I have been SO disappointed! Sittercity never made it clear that while I could post a job, I would not be able to contact any of the applicants without paying a membership fee of $50-100. Care.com's free membership was slightly more clear, but I still did not understand that I would have to pay their monthly membership fee to contact any applicants as well. I understand that this is partly my fault for misreading; however, I can't help feeling that these websites are taking advantage of me. Now I either lose out on the 8 applications I already received, and go back to slogging through Craigslist, or I have to pay for a membership to a website that I have lost trust in. I'm wondering if this happens to a lot of moms, and if people in your community have suggestions for other ways to find a good sitter!

Dear Elizabeth,

Thanks for writing in; I'm so sorry to hear about your sitter struggles. This is an issue many families wrestle with -- indeed, we did as well this past summer. Below are my thoughts about various options for finding babysitters. I also queried about this topic at the Boston Mamas Facebook community page, my personal Facebook page, and on Twitter. I've added comments from the community below, in cases where people shared new ideas, twists on ideas I already had, or detailed commentary.

Professional Services. I was sorry to hear about your frustration with Sittercity and Care.com. In the spirit of full disclosure, I run affiliate banners for these two companies on this site because they are relevant services for families and because I have heard positive reports from users on both services (indeed, several people on Facebook and Twitter responded as having terrific experiences with both Sittercity and Care.com). Also, a couple of months ago I agreed to sit on an advisory board for Care.com and am really impressed with their team. All of that said, I always think companies can stand for improvement; financial details should be laid out clearly to the user.

If you are willing to revisit professional services, obviously a huge advantage is that you can search for and view profiles en masse and have background checks done for you. If you are short on time then it may be worth paying the registration fee for one of these companies.

Also, I personally have not used these services, but Seeking Sitters has a straightforward membership policy. And locally, Personally Paired is an organization that hosts events to connect sitters with families. They are part of the Boston Mamas mamapreneur network and when I floated my sitter query over Twitter, @PersonallyPrd shared that: "We pre-screen, reference check and interview for you. We also do our meet-ups."

Craigslist. Craigslist obviously is a big resource for childcare but it's also loaded with unknowns. If you are willing to do more work, Craigslist might be worth revisiting. Via Facebook, my friend Elise responded: "We found two amazing nannies through Craigslist. Since we didn't know the people we paid for a background check separately. We were truly blessed to have had some great people care for our kids." And earlier this summer when our camp plans fell apart and we were scrambling for sitters, I put up a Craigslist ad and received about two dozen responses within a day. We set up interviews with the ones who seemed the most reputable via e-mail and met a couple of really wonderful people. Though we ended up opting for a different babysitter (more on that below), we did tap one of the sitters we met on Craigslist to come sit for Laurel one day (where I was home the entire time but needed to work) and she was fantastic.

Day Cares. If your daughter is not yet in day care, you won't have this built in community, but it's still an option. I have many friends who rely on day care teachers for babysitting (my understanding is that in general, the pay is not stellar so they are looking for extra income). Indeed, several folks commented in at Facebook and Twitter about hiring their kid's day care teachers to babysit on evenings, weekends, or days off. The familiarity factor is there and you know they know how to take care of kids. If you aren't already enrolled with a day care, you could call some local ones and ask whether any of the teachers in the infant rooms have teachers who are looking for babysitting gigs on the side. Via Facebook, my friends Kristin, Anne, and Stacie also suggested that they connect with caregivers from the gym day cares they use.

Camp Counselors/Teachers. We stumbled on our babysitting solution this summer via Laurel's camp. Laurel attended a two-week camp and fell in love with one of her camp teachers, a 17-year-old high school student named Victoria. We discovered this affectionate relationship while we were in the midst of interviewing Craigslist babysitters and asked Victoria is she was available. Ultimately, Laurel really wanted Victoria (plus, Victoria had experience both in the camp and individual family settings) and it turned out to be the best thing ever this summer. And now Jon and I finally have a solid babysitting option if we want to go out for date night! I'd say that if your daughter is enrolled in a class of some kind -- mommy and me music, baby yoga, etc. -- and seems to click with a certain teacher, it would be worth asking if there's any chance they babysit on the side.

Word of Mouth. Word of mouth is always a powerful means for recommendations, and many people on Facebook and Twitter chimed up in support of this method. A few examples: on Facebook, Esther mentioned family and other moms from her playgroups as resources while Danielle shared that talking to nannies about potential nanny friends is a good idea. She said, "[Nannies] always seem to have a friend who is looking for work. For example, I found our first nanny in NJ through the local mom's group (Mothers & More which has 500+ members) who then referred me to our second who then found us her replacement when she went on maternity leave. The third one tried to hook me up with two others but we're flying without help now." And on Twitter, @ClumberKim shared that her usual sitter is someone she works with.

Neighbors. We live next door to a family that has teenage girls. On one occasion during the school year we had one of the girls (who is 14 years old) come babysit after discussing with the mother that the mother would be right next door and available in case of emergency. Though Laurel is now devoted to Victoria as her regular babysitter, the next door neighbors are a great back up plan. Also, on Twitter, @ameliasprout shared, "I am grooming the neighbor girl for when she can legally babysit, and a coworker just moved in two houses down with his daughter." And on Facebook, Cynthia mentioned getting "picked up" by a neighbor who was interested in babysitting.

Local Schools. Via Facebook and Twitter, several folks suggested tapping local schools. On Facebook, Elizabeth said, "My first sitter was a Tufts student, via a friend who coaches the women's rugby team. My most recent was from the local high school, I basically sent a flyer to the guidance office!" Emily shared via Facebook that, "We used the BU career center and found incredible students...even if you're not an alumni, you can use it." On Twitter, @ClumberKim shared that a friend swears by her local nursing school. Via Facebook Stacie recommended checking the local high school and local colleges for students enrolled in early childhood/education courses. And in the school vein, Heather shared via Facebook that she's had luck with CollegeHelpers.com.

Local Neighborhood Lists. Via the Boston Mamas Facebook page, Jessica suggested Boston neighborhood lists, such as the North End/Waterfront Mothers' Association. On Twitter, @Rhoosting shared that SouthEnd Graden Moms and JP moms have been the most helpful to her. (Check out my directory of family resource lists by town for options near you.)

Other Creative Community Ideas. Via Twitter, @jpippert shared that she has found sitters via "a neighborhood babysitter mixer every Spring, where new and experienced sitters come, meet moms, & trade info." My friend Cara shared via Facebook that she joined a babysitting co-op of over 30 families and it has been "fab.u.lous."

I hope these ideas are helpful Elizabeth. Best of luck in your search for a sitter!

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have a question for Christine? Drop her a line! And of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those made above.

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (12) | Filed in Childcare; Dear Boston Mamas; Web (Admin)
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To celebrate Laurel's birthday this past weekend, it was all about unicorns and rainbows. I'll be posting a unicorn party how-to soon, but first, I wanted to share how I made the rainbow cake. I made two rainbow cakes -- one for her girlfriend party on Sunday and one for her family party on Monday -- and in both cases, the kids and grownups went berserk over it, with many grownups asking how I did it. Here's the tutorial:

1. Pick your cake

I love baking from scratch; it brings me a lot of joy and it simply tastes better to me. But if you're not as into baking, you can always use boxed cake mix.

Start by choosing your favorite white or yellow cake recipe/mix. Laurel's friend party was going to be small so I figured I only needed one 9-inch two-layer cake. I decided to try a classic white cake with buttercream frosting from Baking Illustrated because I was concerned that a yellow cake wouldn't take the colors as well. However, while the cake was good, I thought it lacked the moistness of a yellow cake (egg yolks will do that!) so I decided to go with a different recipe for the family party (and in the future, I'll definitely go with a yellow cake for the 9-inch two-layer). For the family party I needed a much bigger cake and opted for my favorite cake recipe: a lemon/sour cream cake with cream cheese frosting; however, instead of doing a sheet cake, I decided to go vertical. This sheet cake recipe accommodates two 9-inch pans + two 6-inch pans perfectly, thus creating a two-tier (i.e., four layer) cake. Very, very festive!

2. Mix the colors

Whatever cake you decide on (white or yellow will take the colors fine!), once the batter is made, divide it equally into six bowls. Then mix in the rainbow colors -- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Gel food coloring works great and you can find it in the grocery store or at cake specialty stores.

3. Drop the batter

This was the step that mystified our party guests. The colors definitely will stay separated so long as you just drop them in; don't try to spread and mix them or else you'll probably create mud! For example, with the two layer 9-inch cake, for each color bowl, split the batter between the two pans. Simply drop small spoonfuls of colored batter all around each pan. We decided to start with red as the bottom color in one pan and start in reverse with purple in the other so Laurel and I could drop batter at the same time without crowding over the same bowl. As you proceed with each color, fill in the gaps between other batter colors and sometimes overlap over colors.

With the white 9-inch cake, I periodically rotated each pan between my palms quickly to spread the batter. However, the sour cream cake batter was thicker and resistant to settling via shake out. It wasn't an issue though since once the batter hits the heat of the oven it will spread. But in general, if you are using a heavier batter like the sour cream batter, just try to drop your batter spoonfuls all the way to the edge of the pan so the batter has less way to travel (i.e., will settle better) than if it's all piled in the center.

4. Baking

And that's it! Once the batter is dropped, simply follow your recipe's instructions for baking and cooling. Look how pretty this came out!

5. Frosting and decorating

As with the cake, pick your favorite frosting. I kept the decoration really simple. For the 9-inch layer cake, the recipe yielded just enough frosting to flat frost the cake so I simply covered the top in rainbow sugar crystals and planted the unicorn cake topper on top (note: for some bizarre reason, the unicorn came with a number code printed right across the belly; Laurel painted over it with white paint).

For the two layer cake, I had made a third extra frosting because I knew I would need extra to frost between layers (versus simply frosting a one-layer sheet cake). It turned out I had enough to pipe all around the sides and edges, which I prefer because it looks fancy yet to me is easier than trying to flat frost perfectly. I did flat frost the top of the cake and the showing top of the bottom layer and Laurel covered those top areas with the same rainbow sugar crystal sprinkles. And we used the unicorn topper again on the two-tier cake. And we used rainbow candles of course.

When we cut into each of these cakes, the kids and grownups freaked out. Admittedly, I freaked out a little too. It looked so cool!

Final Thoughts

First, I am a huge proponent of engaging kids in the kitchen. Laurel is six years old and has been baking with me for a long time so she helped with every step -- mixing the batter, mixing in the food coloring, dropping the batter into the pans, and decorating. And she had a great time doing it! If you have younger kids, depending on their (and your) comfort level in the kitchen, you could simply have them help dump ingredients, or stir in food coloring, etc.

Second, before we started the project I had no idea it would come out so cool; the effect was like tie dye and the colors were so vibrant! You could easily repeat this same process for cupcakes; I would just recommend maybe one color spoonful per cup (instead of multiple tiny ones). You could also use this same method if your kid has favorite colors (e.g., pink and purple, green and blue) or for holidays. The possibilities are endless.

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (13) | Filed in Home; Recipes
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Sometimes, for seemingly unexplainable reasons, certain retail locations appear cursed. Take for example, the site of Posto in Davis Square, which didn't survive as the café chain Carberry's (despite a seemingly thriving business; they closed well before the Lyndell's acquisition), and then as another food outlet (The Green Tomato maybe?), and who knows what else before that. But Posto -- a well styled purveyor of wood fired pizza, pasta, and other Italian delights -- seems well positioned to reverse the curse.

With its high ceilings, open window front, pretty wine bar, and chic and sometimes unusual details (Laurel and I really like the quirky water spigots in the bathroom), Posto offers a classy, urban eatery at the edge of Davis Square. Jon and I have yet to try a pizza we didn't like (we've probably sampled about five or so thus far), and we've also enjoyed the salads, calamari, and ravioli. Posto also is kid friendly, offering a kids' menu on an activity sheet + crayons (and, importantly, friendly service towards kids). Laurel has been very happy with the pizza, as well as the spaghetti and meatballs (if your child won't share the meatballs, you can order them as an appetizer). The service has been great every time we've visited, and one simple but nice touch is that they leave a big glass bottle of water on the table (I'm big on hydration).

Now, one thing. The secret's been out on Posto for a while; indeed, I have no idea why it's taken me so long to post about them. We've found that with kids in tow, the perfect window to hit the restaurant is by 5:30/6pm. There will be plenty of tables available, it's pretty quiet, and the food will come in good time. But not too long after that, most nights a line will start forming out the door and the decibel level and wait times increase, even since they've converted a large side room from storage into additional seating.

So get there early and enjoy. Hooray for another tasty, grownup eatery that happily accommodates kids, and here's to keeping that locale curse reversed.

Posto, 187 Elm Street, Somerville; 617-625-0600

Image credit: Posto

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Food & Drink; Local
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Today, Kate recommends Judith Kerr's The Tiger Who Came to Tea:

The best children's literature plays with surrealism in a way that presents the fantastical as totally natural. This both shapes and confirms the childhood sense that tangible reality -- although important -- isn't really the end of the story: stuffed animals can talk, the wardrobe really might contain an alternate universe, and wouldn't it make sense to discover that the babysitter is actually a friendly alien? As children discover the world both through exploration and through stories, the most memorable books are those that suggest that unexpected things can happen in quotidian situations, and that we should embrace them when we do.

A treasure of this type is Judith Kerr's The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Written in 1968 for an English audience, The Tiger is a charming tale of little Sophie and her mother having their daily tea -- buns, milk, orange juice -- when they are unexpectedly joined by a very hungry tiger. Sophie and her mother welcome the tiger, who manages to eat and drink everything in the house while still being good company. After the tiger leaves, nothing remains behind with which to cook dinner. This problem is solved by Sophie's father, who proposes that the little family go out to a local cafe for a special dinner of sausages and ice cream.

Written in lovely, slightly British language and complemented by homey illustrations showing Sophie and her parents in wonderful late-1960s fashions, the book is still a treat after more than 40 years.

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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Last week I took the time to cook something from my pre-parenting days. I was enjoying the mindful parenting/working epiphany that came by way of my internet vacation, and was mulling what to do with the copious amount of eggplant and potato from our CSA share. My first thought? The moussaka from Nick Stellino's Mediterranean Flavors.

First, I should say that I love Stellino's book. I have made (and happily gobbled) things from every single chapter (impressive given the number of cookbooks I own that include only a couple of dog eared pages). The ingredient lists of some recipes may intimate due to length (lots of little spices), but the results are well worth it. Normally I post quick recipes here, but I deemed this dish post-worthy for the following reasons: 1) the end result is fantastic; 2) we had leftovers for several days so the dish actually saved us cooking time through the week; and 3) Laurel thought it smelled so good that she actually decided to try it. And she ate a whole piece. Laurel definitely has been more adventurous with food of late, but for a kid who largely has subsised on simple flavors such as mac n' cheese, brown rice, chicken, cucumber, etc., this was a big deal.

So without further ado, here is the recipe; perhaps you could give it a go this long weekend? I'll include the original recipe, but have made notes in parentheses.

Nick Stellino's Moussaka

Ingredients

Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Sue via e-mail:

Dear Christine, I have been out on an extended maternity leave (almost 8 years) and have found very little information on what it is like to rejoin the workforce after such a long break. Have you ever written a blog entry on this? Any suggestions on a voice of authority? I am not ready just yet, but the longer I am out the scarier the prospect becomes.

Dear Sue,

Thanks for writing in. This is an excellent question, and I know it is one that many, many moms grapple with.

Two resources immediately come to mind. The first is the Detours & OnRamps forum. I have spoken at this event twice when it has come to Boston (both times hosted at Bentley); it is a day long event that focuses on helping women figure out how to re-enter the workforce, balance work and family, and explore entrepreneurism. I'm not sure whether the forum will return to Boston again next year, but it is worth keeping an eye on. The setting is very intimate (maybe 100-200 participants), which makes for a warm and non-threatening environment, and the panels I have listened in on have been very informative.

The second resource is Carol Fishman Cohen. I first heard Carol speak at Detours & OnRamps and later featured her in my Boston Mamas Rock! interview series. Carol is a career specialist who focuses on helping women re-enter the workforce. I highly recommend you read my interview with Carol, but in short, she is the co-founder of iRelaunch (through which she organizes conferences and coaching programs about career re-entry) and co-author of Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work (which covers the nuts and bolts for relaunching).

If you check out iRelaunch's events, you'll see that many events are local, but they also travel. It also turns out that they are launching virtual relaunch coaching circles in September; you can participate from the comfort of your home. And while the September virtual circles might be too soon for you (since you mentioned you're not ready just yet), I thought I'd also share that iRelaunch will host a return to work conference at Bentley next spring (May 19, 2011). It's not on their events calendar yet, but when I received your e-mail, I immediately contacted Carol to see if they were hosting in Boston soon and that is the date she provided to me.

I hope this is helpful Sue! I wish you the best of luck when you start down the path to career re-entry. I know it won't be easy, but never underestimate the power of a mom to tackle new challenges!

Have a question for Christine? Drop her a line! And of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those made above.

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Family Issues; Mama in the Workplace; Web (Admin)
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A couple of weeks ago I hosted my mom's birthday party and asked my siblings to bring dishes for potluck. Since my family is so large, it's always fun to see what people bring, and for this event, they did not disappoint; to accommodate my mom's food preferences we prepared mostly vegetarian and the array of colors and flavors was fantastic. There was a lot of great food that day, but the dish I went back for seconds (and, admittedly, thirds) on was my sister-in-law Estelle's quinoa and black bean salad. I've heard a lot of talk about quinoa this year (it's a good source of protein and is high in fiber, among other things) but hadn't gotten around to trying it yet. Now I'm a total convert.

Estelle revised a recipe that she found online; here's what she brought to the party:

Estelle's Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Ingredients

For help with back to school transitions, consider these book recommendations from parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents:

In realizing that the first weeks of school are fast approaching (or have already started for some), and as a firm believer in bibliotherapy, I recently headed to the Lincoln Library children's section to ask about back to school books. I expect to browse through a half dozen titles and instead the librarians handed me a list of over 75 books! I perused the shelves and wanted to recommend four books as superb reading with your elementary school aged child during those trying back to school moments.

Bo Flood's I'll Go to School If... is a wonderfully short and simple book that might help with big and complex worries: looking inadequate in front of your school chums, making mistakes, shaming yourself by crying or wetting your pants, getting teased, missing Mom or the bus, etc. When mom reveals her own fears, our little school girl feels the need to comfort mom and suddenly there's a sweet resolution. This book had me at its cover, showing a disgruntled child with arms folded across her chest, seeming to indicate that she was determined to go to school only on certain conditions. The book delivers straight through to the back page, which offers handy and helpful questions and conversations that may serve to elicit your own child's concerns.

Lauren Child's book I Am Too Absolutely Small for School had me with its title and illustrations, the latter including lots of colors and combinations of patterns. The story again confronts (nicely and with gentle humor) the insecurities of a small child heading back to school: leaving home, eating lunch alone, and not being smart enough or quick enough to learn numbers, letters, and words. An imaginary friend plays a nice role in that he takes on the fears of Lola, the little girl who's way too little to go to school. All's well that ends well and this story ends well.

I absolutely positively adore Audrey Penn's book The Kissing Hand. I might just read this book over and over even though I don't have an elementary school aged child heading back to the early grades. Chester doesn't want to go to school for all the usual reasons, but mostly because he's worried about separating from his mother. When his mom offers him something special, the kissing hand, he feels the permanence of love that Chester and the child (in all of us) need to move on. Honestly, I tried kissing the palm of my hand and I felt the love Mrs. Raccoon promises. What back to schoolers need is love and this book suggests how to package and make permanent that love.

A short list of back to school books would be complete without Rosemary Wells' My Kindergarten. This book is a virtual tome for the young back to schooler. Wells includes poems, songs, activities, lessons, dances, friendships, weather, seasons, international stamps, personality differences, football games, clean-up days, and everything else a young student might confront during the first year of kindergarten. I particularly loved the very first song on the very first page, "Starlight, Starbright," and also toward the end of the book, the inclusion of the importance of libraries.

Wishing all of you sending kids to school this fall all the best!

And for more great tips on school adjustments, check out Hetti's column on fall structure strategies, Sheri's post on easing back to school jitters, Heather's post on transitioning to kindergarten, and my posts on coping with kindergarten transitions, coping with end of year transitions, and the keepsake item that helped Laurel make it through her first year of elementary school.

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Sep 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Family Issues
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