Welcome (or shall I say welcome back!) to Boston Mamas Rock! -- where I share the voices of fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today's interview with Janet Lee Harrold, mother of one, artist, book author, and special needs advocate by way of her efforts to support her granddaughter Hailey, a 3-year-old with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy. Read on to learn about Janet's impassioned efforts on behalf of her granddaughter and the special needs community as a whole. Then go ahead and nominate a fabulous fellow mama!

Janet Lee Harrold, Artist, Author, Special Needs Advocate

Christine: Welcome, Janet. You're a local artist and your granddaughter Hailey is 3 years old and has Athetoid Cerebral Palsy. Before we talk about Hailey, can you tell us a bit about your history as an artist?

Janet: Sure, Christine, but first I would like to say thank you for interviewing me and giving me the privilege of being on Boston Mamas Rock. I am mostly a self taught artist who has been pushing paint around for over 20 years now. Growing up in Boston was a constant inspiration for me. I love to paint the brownstones in the South End, and the magnolia and dogwood trees when they are in bloom. I enjoy painting street scenes, traffic lights, umbrellas, and most of all people. I also love to paint different areas of the Boston Public Garden.

Christine: When did you decide to start selling your artwork to raise money for Hailey's alternative therapies that are not covered by insurance?

Janet: I have just recently started to sell my artwork to raise money for Hailey's therapies.

Christine: Have you had an opportunity to see your contributions at work? What kinds of alternative therapies have you helped Hailey with? How is she progressing?

Janet: Well not as of yet but hopefully soon. Our first priority is to get Hailey into a Conductive Education Program (Conductive Education approaches physical disabilities from an educational rather than a medical or paramedical perspective). Because there is not a Conductive Education Center here in Massachusetts, we have to fly to a facility out of state; this form of education is typically done in 4-5 week sessions and ultimately costs a few thousand dollars.

Christine: You've written and illustrated the lovely Boston-based book ABC's, Flowers and Trees: A Walk in the Public Gardens. Tell us about the inspiration for that book.

Janet: Hailey's love for books was my inspiration for writing and illustrating this book. Hailey loves to be read to and I thought it would be a nice idea to write her a book with a personal touch. Though the book is written for all children, there are a lot of hidden messages in the book that are specific to our family.

Christine: I understand you're also working on a line of greeting cards for people with disabilities. Can you tell us more about this project?

Janet: After 3 years of learning more about people with disabilities, I thought there should be a line of cards that may reflect their feelings, etc. For example, instead of picking out a birthday card for my granddaughter that has a perfectly postured ballerinas, I thought that I would paint a picture of a ballerina wearing braces, or AFO's as they are called in the special needs world. Or maybe an "I love you" card with an image of someone showing the sign for "I love you" in sign language for people who are deaf or nonverbal. Or perhaps a child/person in a wheelchair portrayed on the front of a greeting card would be a nice touch to give to a person who may depend on one. I have been working pretty hard on this project and am not too sure how I will market such a thing. Maybe your readers have some suggestions on how to do this.

Christine: You are so passionate about helping others with disabilities find resources. Do you have top resources to recommend to my readers?

Janet: I have found Exceptional Family TV to be most helpful. The site gives a voice to the stories of exceptional families through a professionally produced docu-reality series; the shows offer a window to the rest of the world into the realities, struggles, and triumphs of amazing families raising children with special needs. They also provide a multimedia platform focusing on the wide variety of topics in the special needs community -- family stories, news stories on the special needs community, information on new therapies/treatments/equipment/adaptable toys. They also hold real and open emotional discussions.

Christine: And you also are passionate about "educat[ing] others about how to talk and play with people who are a bit different." What are your key pieces of advice for people interacting with individuals with disabilities for the first time?

Janet: I think the important thing to remember is that people who have disabilities -- even if they are severe -- deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. Don't let the lack of knowledge about a person's disability stand in the way of being kind. It is always appropriate to say hello, even if someone is nonverbal and cannot respond to you in words. They may respond with a smile (or they may not), but I think it is better to say something kind and acknowledge that they exist, rather than say nothing at all. I think the mistake a parent sometimes makes is to pull their child away from a person who has a disability in fear of them saying something wrong. They are actually sending the wrong message to their child (and ours) -- they are indirectly implying to them that they should fear that person. Or that they should stay away. Curiosity is a natural feeling for a young child when they see someone who looks a bit different. If you don't know how to answer the questions in their inquisitive minds, I'm sure the parent of the disabled child or the disabled person would be happy to educate you. This will help everyone to better understand.

Christine: You grew up in Boston. Do you have favorite spots to enjoy with Hailey and her family in the city?

Janet: Yes, there are so many...where to start? I love to walk around Jamaica Pond, my family enjoys hanging around at the playground at Larz Anderson Park, and the Swan Boats are always a personal favorite.

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

Janet: Aside from spending time with Hailey, I like to unwind by the fireplace with my laptop and my dog Benny, writing blogs for a couple of special needs sites, one being Exceptional Family TV (I blog weekly there) and Kidz Krew (I blog monthly there). And this talent is not that unusual or hidden but my full time job is working as design manager at Cedar Grove Gardens.

Know a fabulous local mama? Nominate her to be featured!

Posted by Christine Koh on 31 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Boston Mamas Rock!; Development & Behavior; For Babies & Kids; Local
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Hi folks, if you missed episode 2 of Life.Style with Christine Koh, I highly encourage you check it out. In addition to covering some great Halloween food and craft ideas, most of the episode was devoted to eating real food. I interviewed three fantastic guests: Meagan Francis (a mother of 5 from Michigan), who shared great tips for feeding a large family on a budget when natural/organic options are not abundant, Greer Bautz (a mother of 2 from Maryland), who offered tips for getting the most bang for your buck at Whole Foods, and April Paffrath (a mother of 1 from Cambridge), who shared ideas for sourcing local food through the year. I also give a sneak peek into the fantastic show I have planned for next week. Enjoy!

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Eco Living; Feeding & Nursing; Halloween; Holidays; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Web (Admin)
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Finally, Halloween is almost here! And if your kids are looking for extra places to wear that costume, consider (in addition to a few previously listed ongoing spooktacular events): the Halloween Party at Ringer Park (Allston), Franklin Park Zoo Howl (Boston), Titus Sparrow Park Pre-Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Party (Boston), and Newton Community Service Center Halloween Fair. Also, on Sunday, kids 11 and under in costume (accompanied by a paying adult) can enjoy free admission to the New England Aquarium and on Boston DUCK Tours departing from the NEAQ. Sweet!

Image credit: New England Aquarium

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Halloween; Holidays; Local
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Thanks to Sarah, I know what I'll be baking this weekend:

I'm a chocolate person. When given a choice between Dessert A and Dessert B, invariably I'll choose the dessert with the highest chocolate content (unless there are nuts; don't ruin my chocolate with nuts). But a few years ago, I cut some recipes out of a catalog that came in the mail, and when I offered to bring dessert to a family Easter dinner, this recipe seemed appropriate. The lime makes the recipe seem spring-y, but really, you can enjoy it any time of year.

And boy, can you. Dense, creamy, with a refined crumb and unbelievable lime flavor, as full as we were of roast lamb and new potatoes, we couldn't get enough of this pound cake. I have since served it at a baby shower and at a dessert contest at a potluck supper (the winner!), and get rave reviews every time. The recipe may seem a little complicated, but the steps themselves are basic. It's SO worth the effort to wait for the ingredients to come to room temperature, to cream the butter thoroughly, and to make that extra trip to the market for cake flour.

I'm now a complete sucker for anything flavored with lime. I suppose you could substitute a different citrus flavor, but the tart and slightly bitter lime counterbalances the rich, egg-y cake beautifully.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Lime Glaze
From Flo Braker, Author, Sweet Miniatures via Williams-Sonoma Catalog

I'm super excited about tomorrow's episode of Life.Style with Christine Koh! As follow up to last week's Halloween costume coverage, I'll chat fabulous and easy Halloween food and crafts in the first segment. And for the remainder of the show, inspired by this call to action, I'll interview three fantastic guests re: tips and tricks for eating real food on a budget (in one case, a family of seven!) and sourcing local throughout the year. So tune in at 1pm EST; you're also welcome to call in or tweet questions during the live episode!

And of course feel free to e-mail me if you have questions or if there are topics you'd love to see me cover.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 27 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Eco Living; Feeding & Nursing; Halloween; Holidays; Home; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Solutions; Web (Admin)
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We've read all of Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona books; the illustrations are so sweet and Laurel and I find Strega Nona's humble wisdom and Big Anthony's bumbling cluelessness endearing and entertaining. For fellow Strega Nona fans, this Saturday (October 30, 1pm) you can see Strega Nona brought to life in musical form at The Wilbur Theatre in Boston (tickets are $22.50 and $32.50, with discounted rates if you purchase in four-packs). This family-friendly musical features a score by composer Aron Accurso and set design inspired by the Strega Nona pop-up book. (How they will bring the erupting magical pasta pot to life remains to be seen!) Now, as part of my Giveaway Goodness series, The Wilbur Theatre kindly is offering one lucky winner a four-pack of tickets to Strega Nona: The Musical! Simply check out the rules below to enter to win.

Rules:

Last year, I loved all of the suggestions that rolled in when I queried about Halloween candy alternatives on Twitter and Facebook. Particularly since I started doling out Halloween treats as a parent, it's been important to me to hand out items that are: a) natural/organic; and b) an alternative to food, in case of allergies. Definitely check out the Halloween candy alternative post for additional ideas, but today I wanted to share the affordable and chemical free goodies that will grace our Halloween bowl this year. Admittedly, I was surprised to see rather limited Halloween selections at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's this year so I stocked up on three primary treat items and will get the non-food items later this week:

1. Yummy Earth lollipops and gummies. Unlike her chocolate-loving mama, when given a choice, Laurel opts for hard candy and gummies over chocolate. And she loves Yummy Earth. We included Yummy Earth in her birthday piñata and will be handing out their organic lollipops and gummy bear packages on Halloween.

2. Trader Joe's chocolate. Trader Joe's had very little in the way of Halloween treats but what I liked was that they had affordable small chocolate bars (I couldn't find these at Whole Foods). I picked up several bags of Trader Joe's milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate mini chocolate bars (12 for $1.99).

3. EnviroKids Crispy Rice Bars. Yesterday at Whole Foods I picked up these EnviroKids organic snack sized peanut chocolate bars. Actually, strangely enough, I looked at them, passed them by, kept thinking about them, and when Jon and I met at the checkout line with our two carts, he had picked up the full sized bars for the house. I went back and picked up the mini size for Halloween.

4. Craft kits. When Laurel was looking through our bowl yesterday, she pointed out that we should really have craft kits again, because "they're fun and then kids with allergies can have something to pick up." Very astute (also, check out this back article from Tracy on allergy-friendly Halloween tips). The craft kits we offered last year were actually the very first thing to go! So this week, we'll hit the craft store and pick up some mini craft kits to round out our Halloween bowl.

Finally, I also looked for but could not find Annie's bunny graham and cheddar bunny snack packs. These are a nice candy alternative idea, and if I see them last minute, I'll pick some up. Otherwise, I feel that we now have enough to appease the neighborhood kids.

Do you have favorite natural/organic Halloween treat ideas? Please feel free to share them in the comments below!

Posted by Christine Koh on 25 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Eco Living; Halloween; Holidays
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Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth of Alphabet Soup 4 Parents recommends recharging at Habitat:

Few things erase the frenzy of everyday life like nature. And mere blocks from my home is a wonderful gem: Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont. Part of the Mass Audubon system -- which maintains 43 wildlife sanctuaries in the state -- Habitat is a heavenly place to walk alone or with the family in all four seasons and using all five senses.

Fall at Habitat is simply sublime. On a recent, warm, late Friday afternoon I began my explorations at the main entrance (10 Juniper Road), which is a very good place to start. There is a bulletin board, which posts events at Habitat and other Audubon locations, and there are signs indicating various trails. Meadow Trail proved to be a lovely, wide, and well-maintained path strewn with pinecones, leaves, sticks, bark, and acorns. I also visited Frog Pond, a lovely small pond surrounded by rocks, white birches, pines, and bushes. Here, it can be totally quiet or maybe you'll hear the voices of the Belmont Hill students at soccer or football practice.

We've found Habitat to be beautiful in all the other seasons too. One Christmas morning after opening too many presents and eating too many pancakes, my family hiked some of the trails. We greeted other families as we went and all of a sudden, we were celebrating an old fashioned Christmas. Spring, of course, is lovely as you watch the trees ultimately reach their luxuriant shade of green. And summer is super as one would expect, with the exception that if it has rained a lot in the spring, mosquitoes may follow in the summer.

The particulars of Habitat make it easy to enjoy; it's an easy 20-minute ride from Boston and close to many Western suburbs. Once there, you'll find free parking, a pay what you wish fee, clean, windowed restrooms, easy-to-read path markings, and even a small art gallery with changing exhibits.

Try Belmont Habitat or others in the Mass Audubon system. It's a fine place to take a work/study break, work off steam, get some exercise, enjoy peace and nature, ponder deep thoughts, eat a picnic, experience the seasons, and otherwise bond with family and friends.

Image credit: Habitat

Posted by Christine Koh on 24 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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Wow, wow, wow. I had such a fun time launching Life.Style with Christine Koh on Thursday! Perhaps as a function of all of those years performing violin recitals and giving lectures, I wasn't nervous at all. There were a few unexpected things to deal with given that the show is live, but it all seemed to come off well! For episode 1, I interviewed Danielle Friedland of Healthy Child Healthy World about easy and inexpensive tips for green living (helpful whether you are just starting to think about making green change or want to amp up your current routine), and also shared a great roundup of ideas for Halloween costumes. I hope you'll check out the segment!

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Eco Living; Halloween; Holidays; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Web (Admin)
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If Laurel could wear a costume every day, she probably would. Barring that, there are plenty of opportunities to get into the Halloween spirit a week in advance. In addition to a few previously listed ongoing spooktacular events, consider these weekend Halloween happenings: Halloween Fest at Prudential Center (Boston), Ipswich River Halloween Happenings, Wachusett Meadow Halloween Night Hike and Hayride (Princeton), Halloween Prowl at Moose Hill Sanctuary (Sharon), Boo at the Zoo (Stoneham), A Great Pumpkin Day! at Gore Place (Waltham), and EcoTarium's Great Pumpkin Fest (Worcester). And of course there's Laurel's gentle yet beloved Spooky Hayride at Wilson Farm.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Halloween; Holidays; Local
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Today, from Lindsey -- an utterly lovely idea for cultivating a family and community based love for reading:

One of my favorite things I do as a mother is participate in a book group with my 8-year-old daughter. We are six mother-daughter teams, and all of the girls are 7 or 8. Each visit we gather at someone's home, and the girl who lives there has picked the book that we discuss.

The first thing we do is go around and the girls read the book aloud page by page. There is something magical about those minutes, as the girls hesitate before long words, their voices audibly growing in confidence as they forge ahead through a paragraph. Even in a year there has been a marked improvement in their reading skills. I am always mesmerized, looking around the room at these nascent girls, all tall and lean and angular, seemingly more so by the day, exuding both confidence and tentativeness.

After the reading is complete, we talk about the book. Often the host girl has some question prepared, or else the mothers start the discussion. At this point our topics are generally quite simple and plot-based: for example, what was everyone's favorite illustration, part of the book, or character? The girls ask questions of each other, too. There's usually a lot of giggling.

The formal part of our book group lasts about 45 minutes and then the girls scamper off to play while the moms continue to chat. More often than not, we find ourselves talking about the themes in the book for much longer. Books such as Zen Shorts, The Boy Who Grew Flowers, and The Princess and the Pea have triggered fairly deep conversations about empowerment, peace, difference, and the meaning of love.

I always leave book club feeling as though I've learned and shared something with people I care about. And, more importantly, I'm pretty sure my daughter does too.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Babies & Kids; For Grownups
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My dad used to tell me that I should be a lawyer, diplomat, or talk show host since, well, I love to talk with people. And as it turns out, tomorrow I'll take a step closer to the talk show host thing. I'm thrilled to announce that starting tomorrow, I'll host a weekly live talk video show (like talk radio, but streaming live on the web...apparently you can also tune in via iPhone or iPad) called Life.Style with Christine Koh via The Pulse Network. My goal for the show is to share and connect with people around living well, stylishly, happily, and practically -- I'll cover topics such as green living, parenting, pregnancy, holidays and celebrations, art and design, crafts, and food. Basically anything and everything!

I'm so thrilled! I've already got the first three episodes lined up and they will be awesome, covering content such as easy and tangible tips for living greener (no matter where you are on the green living spectrum), Halloween awesomeness, eating better (even on a budget), and photography...and I've got some spectacular guests lined up. My show will run live from 1-2pm EST on Thursdays (barring some school holidays where Laurel will be the focus of my attention), during which point you are very welcome to call in or tweet with questions. Otherwise, if you can't make that 1-2pm window, you can check out my back episodes on The Pulse Network Lifestyle section.

I hope you'll join me on this journey! And of course feel free to e-mail me if you have questions or if there are topics you'd love to see me cover.

Finally, I must give huge props to my wonderfully creative friend and contributing writer Paige for coming up with the totally fitting show title. It's so web geeky and perfect, don't you think?

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Arts & Crafts; Eco Living; Feeding & Nursing; Halloween; Holidays; Home; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Web (Admin)
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Today, Kate offers fine fodder to inspire baking this week. As always, I recommend involving your kids in the process, whether it's dumping, measuring, and/or mixing:

This recipe -- based on Abigail Johnson Dodge's toasted almond cookies in The Weekend Baker: Irresistible Recipes, Simple Techniques, and Stress-Free Strategies for Busy People -- arose out of my desire to use up ingredients lingering in my cupboard and has since evolved into one of my favorite treats. Easy and quick to make, fine to freeze, and popular with guests and hosts alike, these cookies provide a great balance of sweet, nutty, and tart.

Almond-Cranberry-Chocolate Cookies

Laurel recently has gotten into headbands (which is great because her fine hair is prone to flyaways that get stuck in food and art projects), and we've struck out on a couple of attempts to find a flower headband she likes. I was about to jump down the Etsy rabbit hole (or hit the craft store and warm up my glue gun) when we stumbled upon this fashion headbands kit. We originally bought the kit for a friend's birthday, and then Laurel decided to use a birthday gift card for her own kit, and it has been a huge hit.

The kit includes a colorful assortment of 10 satin headbands, plus jewels, flowers, feathers, a butterfly, ribbon, and glue to adorn generously. Laurel happily spent a considerable chunk of this weekend creating her own headbands (while chattering about "the challenge" à la Project Runway) -- a nice thing considering I was single parenting all weekend. She plans on wearing all of the headbands (actually, yesterday she wore two at the same time), so if you've got a headband loving girl at home, this kit is perfect for her. Alternatively, the kit would make for a fun party or play date craft project.

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys; Fashion; For Little Ones
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I can't think of a single person who couldn't stand to enjoy some unwind time. And if you're unable to enjoy relaxation out-of-home (e.g., the couple's massage I surprised Jon with last weekend...ahhh), kicking back in the comfort of your home can be the next best thing. In my pregnant state, wine is not an option, but you're welcome to enjoy this basket of goodies that Conundrum Winery is kindly offering as part of my Giveaway Goodness series. One lucky winner will receive a gift basket (click on image to enlarge) that includes a bottle of Conundrum wine, fuzzy socks, a relaxing jazz CD, votive candle, and a collection of yummy natural beauty products (I could use a peppermint salt soak right about now, couldn't you?). Sound good? Simply leave a comment below about this giveaway by midnight, Wednesday October 20, 2010 to enter to win.*

*Must be 21 years or older and a resident of the United States to enter to win. One lucky winner (selected using Random.org) will receive a Conundrum gift basket including a bottle of Conundrum wine, fuzzy socks, a jazz CD, a Ther-a-pe votive candle, and natural beauty products including Welada lavender relaxing body oil, Aura Cacia lavender harvest mineral bath, All About Feet Peppermint Foot Salt Soak, and a soothing gel mask ($100 value).

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (207) | Filed in Gifts & Paper; Home
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Today, Jennifer shares a couple of great resources for medical alert tracking and cool ID accessories for grownups and kids:

I love jewelry and accessories...I mean, I really, really love them. So when a recent medical issue resulted in my need for a medic ID bracelet (I have an adult onset seizure disorder controlled by meds -- or as I like to say, I'm just a little bit electric), the diagnosis left me with a serious accessory challenge: where do I get a cute medic alert bracelet? And also, how should I store my emergency medical information?

On the latter, I recommend MedicAlert. This user-friendly website and service is actually a non-profit, and a great resource for anyone (adults or kids) with a chronic medical issue, large or small. For a modest membership fee per year ($15 for kids, $30 for adults) MedicAlert will store your key contact information, medications, doctor information, and emergency contacts. Simply sign up online, enter in the data, and if you'd like, you can also order one of their MedicAlert jewelry designs and have it engraved with your personal ID number and the Medic Alert 1-800#. You can go online and update or edit information whenever you need to.

For my medic alert accessory, I ended up splurging on a beaded bracelet from Lauren's Hope. I wanted something fun, silver and gold, yet a little understated to match my watch and wedding ring. Wearing mine is just comforting to me as a mom. If I was ever in a situation where I needed medical help and I was with my kids (ages 5 and 7), all my information would be readily available. And the kids love my "emergency" bracelet! In addition to modern accessory options for women and men, Lauren's Hope also has a lot of fun designs for kids, such as this unisex robot ID pendant (shown).

Wearing my medic alert bracelet has sparked some conversations with friends and fellow moms, a couple of whom have kids with severe food allergies. And actually, having a bracelet or necklace is not a bad idea for a child with allergies, especially for occasions away from home, such as camps or field trips or play dates. Of course, the supervising adults on such occasions are generally aware of allergy issues, but it's yet another safety net in the event of an emergency.

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues; Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Home; Solutions
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Here are a few not-so-spooky family-friendly fall festivals to enjoy this weekend: Newton Harvest Fair, AppleFest at Wachusett Mountain (Princeton), Rockport HarvestFest, and Fall Family Fun Fest (Westford). And if you're feeling brave (I'm not sure I am, but I do tend to be easily spooked...), your family can get their fill of spooktacular entertainment at: Harvest of Horrors (East Falmouth), Winnekenni Castle Halloween Extravaganza (Haverhill), Martin's Pond Children's Haunted Playground (North Reading), and Witch's Woods (Westford).

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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My friend (and contributing writer) Sarah projects an admirable blend of spirited determination and humor in her battle with ovarian cancer; her attitude is medicine in itself. And if you want to experience a similar dose of comedic medicine while supporting the fight against breast cancer, check out The MOMologues: Pink Ribbon Overdose on October 27 at the Hard Rock Cafe. Featuring Susan Wornick, Bianca de la Garza, and Karen Holmes Ward of WCVB-TV5, actress Erica McDermott, and Julie Nations, this comedic reading will benefit The Ellie Fund, a non-profit that provides free transportation, childcare, housekeeping, and meals to women and families fighting breast cancer in Massachusetts. Tickets include admission to the cocktail reception, show, and post-show dessert party; I'm thrilled to serve as a media sponsor of this show and for this wonderful local organization.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive a pair of tickets to The MOMologues: Pink Ribbon Overdose? Here's how:

Rules:

What an outpouring of birthday love I felt in my inbox and Twitter stream yesterday -- thank you! I had a fantastic day off; most of the morning was spent with my midwife and an ultrasound technician, and then I enjoyed bento boxes with Jon, he helped me take a step towards #36 on my life list via a very generous gift, and I enjoyed relaxation, cake, and music making with Jon and Laurel throughout the rest of the day. So lovely!

Oh, and our happy news! We're about 80% sure (the ultrasound technician said she's 95% sure...) that we will welcome a little girl in March. We're thrilled and the baby is doing great. I saw her flip over, suck her thumb, strike a vogue pose, and do what looked suspiciously like downward dog to me. (Like mother, like daughter apparently.) Now, on to the challenge of thinking up a name (Jon and Laurel recorded a pretty hilarious song last night about all of the names we can't use; i.e., names of friends, relatives, etc.).

I'll be back to regular blogging tomorrow; I promise! Meanwhile, I hope you're enjoying a fantastic week.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (10) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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Hello friends! I know we're coming off a long weekend where I've already taken a couple of days off from blogging (excuse: we were away at the loveliest wedding!), but today I'm going to remain offline because it's my birthday. I don't have major plans (Jon threw me an amazing surprise party last year so I told him to do nothing this year), with the exception that I'll spend most of this morning taking care of prenatal matters (including finding out whether we're having a boy or girl), but I hope to otherwise enjoy some relaxation and reflection today.

So enjoy this wonderful day! And if you're interested, feel free to check out the life list I created to inspire me to look forward to, instead of fret about, turning 37 today.

And finally, one bit of business: please feel welcome to write in if you've got a question for me via the Dear Boston Mamas series. I'm pretty much caught up on my queue and would love to take your questions!

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (5) | Filed in Dear Boston Mamas; Web (Admin)
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Today, Kate recommends something I also love doing (I'm enjoying my flexibility while I can still see my toes) -- yoga at home:

Several months ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with an inspiration. I had been considering whether to sign up for a yoga class -- a practice I have always enjoyed but often found hard to squeeze into my schedule and budget -- but hadn't quite taken the leap yet. And then I figured why not try yoga DVDs at home? They're readily available at my public library in many varieties, can be done on my schedule, and don't require schlepping exercise clothes or dealing with unfamiliar locker rooms. I never thought of myself as someone with the discipline to exercise at home, but I decided to experiment with setting aside 30 minutes in the quiet of the early morning to stretch and sweat (just a bit), and have found that it has paid off in general well being, expense (free!), and convenience. Here are some of my DVD recommendations:

Yoga For Inflexible People. Since it had been several years since I had done yoga in any sort of consistent fashion, I started with this gentle DVD. Without any glitz or fancy lighting, it offers many different programs of different lengths, each focusing on a different part of the body or a different state of mind. Each pose receives quiet focus, and there is an emphasis on maintaining proper form and support, often with props. The atmosphere of the DVD is mellow, with low lighting and a woman's voice quietly guiding you through the moves.

Mari Winsor: Pilates. I had never tried Pilates before, so I decided to give it a try with this DVD. It took me a few viewings to keep up with the faster pace, but I then found that I enjoyed the more intense workout and more upbeat vibe. The bright lights and jazzy music were a little startling so early in the morning -- as were the leotarded women behind Mari Winsor, who seemed never to break a sweat or let their smiles falter -- but I got into it and appreciated the well-exercised feeling I had after the DVD was done.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Body Slimming Yoga. I confess to having been dubious about this one (it was the only DVD available at the library on the day I had to, sadly, return Mari Winsor), but it turned out to be much better than I expected. Led by a yoga instructor who emphasizes the exercise elements of yoga while also reminding us about breath and awareness and calm, the moves are a good combination of yoga stretches and some cardio moves. And unlike the Mari girls, the cheerleaders seem to be working it, with several actually looking tired at different times.

Element: Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners. This is my current favorite, offering two alternative programs (one standing, one lying) and a good combination of stretching and cardio. The instructor offers excellent and easy-to-follow instructions, and I simply feel awesome after completing the routine. The instructor is solo throughout -- no backup girls -- and the DVD is filmed on a beautiful piece of southern California coastline.

Time alone for exercise and quiet thought are rare in our busy lives, but this new experiment has worked really well for me. I hope you enjoy these recommendations!

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Sports & Fitness
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What a relief it was to finally see the sun yesterday, and how awesome that we'll see it all (long) weekend long! Here are some events that warrant being on your radar: Immerse yourself in music and culture at the Fenway Alliance's Opening Our Doors festival and HONK!fest. Enjoy fall fun at Harvard Square's Oktoberfest, the Newburyport Fall Harvest Festival, and the Yarmouth Seaside Festival. And see how Salem rocks the Halloween party (every day now through the end of the month) via Salem's Haunted Happenings.

Image credit: Salem Haunted Happenings

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Halloween; Holidays; Local
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A few weeks ago I admittedly got pretty riled up when I heard about the Corn Refiners Association's (CRA) petition to change the name high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to corn sugar. The CRA claims that the goal is to eliminate confusion for consumers, but the US food system cynic in me immediately figured it was a ploy to change the now-well-publicized, mouthful-of-a-name HFCS to something easier to read. Because, you know, one thing pro natural food people like me will urge people to do is buy foods where you can actually read the ingredient label.

And then this week the hubbub extended to the blogging community by way of a sponsored blog tour by local marketing consultant group Mom Central, through which the CRA paid Mom Central to orchestrate a campaign in which they compensated a group of bloggers in gift certificates (from what I understand, $100 to Walmart) to listen in on a webinar and then blog about how corn sugar ain't so bad after all (again, from what I understand, with some content provided directly to them). I realize that everyone has different planes on which they operate regarding food, but as a blogger, this is the sort of campaign I would have raised a big stink over had it been pitched to me, and if I were an agency, it's the sort of campaign I would refuse to engage in.

Liz Gumbinner of Mom-101 (disclosure: a blogging colleague who has become a good friend) wrote an excellent post from the blogger perspective regarding the need to own one's words and be informed before committing to (seemingly sketchy) campaigns such as the corn sugar campaign. Stacy DeBroff of Mom Central (disclosure: someone I know professionally but not personally) followed by writing a puzzling rebuttal post, in which she came down on the practice of defaming fellow bloggers, yet proceeded to equate Liz to a bullying Borg. When I read Stacy's post, the comments were mixed (supporting either Liz or Stacy); later, Stacy apparently began removing negative comments, then closed comments (only leaving up positive ones). The comments have since been removed altogether but you can see screenshots of some comments at Liz's follow up post.

Yes, I was scratching my head too.

But more importantly, reading the posts, comments, and tweets about all of this in the last few days reminded me that there are much larger issues at play, and this is what I wanted to address with all of you. Liz already astutely discussed issues that bloggers should keep in mind, and all I can say there is that I share the mindset that bloggers (particularly if you are -- like me -- aiming to provide a useful and informed resource to your readers) must do their homework and not be swayed by things like gift cards or other opportunities in exchange for editorial; you can see how I handle the copious number of pitches I receive in my contact & disclosure page. But in short, suffice to say that I have turned down many well compensating opportunities because they make no sense with my editorial perspective. I mean, really, given my very evident green point of view, if you saw me post that you should go forth and freely enjoy HFCS (or CS) or wipe down all of your home surfaces with toxic bleach, you would smell shill, right?

But I digress. Today, in the aftermath (or continued-math?) of all of this HFCS campaign business, I wanted to call attention to what I see as the larger issues at play -- because our problem is way bigger than corn sugar. I'm talking about our role as consumers in general, and as people for whom one of our main sources of consumption is food. And I'm issuing a call to action. I value each and every one of you who pulls up a seat to tune into what I write here at Boston Mamas and today I want to encourage you to think about your role as a consumer and to think about change. Here are my recommended action items -- and truly, they are all doable:

1. Think about you, not just your kids. One common thing I see when adults become parents is that they take green action where it concerns the babies (e.g., feeding, household products, clothing, gear) yet do not do the same diligence regarding their own needs. I encourage you to think about your wellness with the same care that you do for your kids.

2. Educate yourself. It is never too late to educate yourself about our food system. Reading Fast Food Nation several years ago essentially sealed the decision that I would never again walk into a McDonald's, nor would I bring Laurel to one. And I highly recommend you watch Food, Inc. The general concepts were not new to me but it is a highly engaging movie (i.e., will only take about 90 minutes of your time) and it was sobering to be reminded of how such a small group of companies controls a vast proportion of our food landscape (which is bad on many levels). And despite living a very green lifestyle, I know I can learn more and be inspired to do more. So I plan on finally reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, and another book I just cracked into last night is The Coke Machine (by Michael Blanding, a friend and talented local writer). It's probably not surprising to you that I have a negative opinion of soda but I'm interested to learn what Michael has uncovered in this investigative book.

3. Think critically, even when "experts" are involved. While I was trying to recover from the blog battle between Liz and Stacy, I saw a post by Annie of Ph.D. in Parenting pop up in my feed reader. In it, Annie describes a recently announced healthy living partnership between the American Academy of Pediatrics and Nestlé. Um, yeah. As cognitively dissonant images of children exercising while holding Nestlé drumsticks floated across my brain, I immediately thought, "Well, this seems shady and contrived." You can delve into Nestlé issues via a series of thoughtful posts at Annie's site, but suffice to say, just because something (a product, initiative, whatever) is endorsed by an academic source doesn't necessarily mean it's on the level; don't accept things at face value. It's the same as needing to think critically when it comes to products labeled "natural." You still need to read labels and do your homework because US regulations just aren't stringent enough to truly protect consumers (as evidenced by the fact that in the US, cleaning and personal care product purveyors are not required to fully disclose their ingredients on their product labels).

4. Read labels. Over a decade ago, when Jon and I became avid label readers, at first it seemed completely tedious. At the time, we were living in a small town in Canada and there weren't as many options for organic food. Plus, label reading added time to an already mundane errand. And of course as a parent you're even more time pressed at the grocery store. However, I urge you to get in the habit of reading labels; it will get easier as you go and you will build up a familiar cadre of trusted products. Not to mention that it will be a wake-up call when you realize that a lot of your "food" actually isn't even food. The good news is that there are so many more natural/organic options now in regular grocery stores, and if you go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, you'll have a nice wide base of products from which to choose.

5. Don't accept stereotypes. Speaking of Whole Foods, I know the perception is that they are more expensive (and that organic/natural foods are always more expensive). And yes, I blow a lot of money at Whole Foods, but I think that actually happens because: a) I like really top notch cheese; and b) I am classically lured to endcap items and Whole Foods make their endcaps so pretty and appealing (i.e., I stray from my list and thus jack up my bill). HOWEVER, we've found that certain items at Whole Foods actually are the same price as or less expensive than at other stores. So don't simply accept the stereotype; be open to at least getting a few critical items at Whole Foods (I would start with organic produce and meat). Alternatively, I will say that we are always stunned (in a good way) when we shop at Trader Joe's. It's remarkably affordable and they have a lot of natural/organic options.

6. Consider a CSA next season or make regular stops at a farmer's market as long as they're running. I've mentioned our farm share periodically on this site (which we signed up for after studying April's excellent post on Boston area CSA options) and it was a truly amazing experience this fall. Every week I have felt immensely grateful that we are one person removed (i.e., the farmer at the pick up truck) from the food we are eating, vs. 5 or more people removed (e.g., farmer, pick up person, shipper, unloader, store stocker). I also don't think it's an accident that our once fickle eater Laurel all of a sudden started experimenting with new foods (including lots of vegetables) this fall. We haven't decided about next year, but we'll either repeat our CSA or instead make weekly visits to the farmer's market (our CSA was super prolific but sometimes we were overrun with more leafy greens than we could eat or just wanted some different options, including locally grown fruit).

7. Make small changes. No change is too small; we are all part of a system. If you're starting your green living efforts from scratch, start, for example, by looking at your grocery list and committing to substituting one additional processed food item (e.g., snack food) each week with a real food alternative (places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's offer lots of snack food favorites, but made without nasty chemicals). If you're already doing that, step it up a notch and opt for locally grown or organic produce, naturally raised meat, and/or other food, body, and household products free of chemicals in the ingredient list. (For household care, we buy Seventh Generation; last time I checked, they were the only company that fully discloses their ingredient list to consumers. I also clean a remarkable number of things with plain old baking soda.)

8. Break the addiction. Another important change? Try to wean yourself off soda; it's perfectly fine (it's more than fine, it's awesome) to start small, reducing your intake week by week, or you can try to go cold turkey. I was thrilled when I read on Facebook that my friend Rhoda kicked her Diet Coke habit. Honestly, I never knew she was a fanatic, but I know many people who are addicted to soda so I wasn't surprised. I was thrilled that she was able to make this change.

9. Remember that you are driving this bus (even if it's not a hybrid bus). I know it sounds basic, but I think we often forget exactly how powerful we are as consumers. And whether it comes to corn sugar or other products, we make our voices heard with our dollars. You drive this bus and you can make change, and doing so in whatever increment you can manage at this moment is fantastic. And more importantly, you and your family deserve change.

If you have any questions about transitioning to a greener lifestyle, please feel free to e-mail me. I'm always happy to answer your questions.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (27) | Filed in Eco Living; Family Issues; Feeding & Nursing
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Today, Jennifer shares kudos for locally based Sing-A-Lingo. Read on to learn more about this musically oriented Spanish learning program, as well as to learn how to be one of two winners to receive Sing-A-Lingo CDs:

We tried out Sing-A-Lingo's En Mi Casa CD, Buenas Noches, Amigos Singable Book, and Lyric & Vocabulary To-Go Cards and I would recommend this program both as a great introductory program, and as a supplemental program for kids who are looking to enhance beginning skills. My four kids range from beginning Spanish speakers to more advanced, and they all enjoy Sing-A-Lingo. The materials are targeted toward the pre-school and early elementary-aged set, but kids slightly older might enjoy independently reading through the books and cards as well.

One premise behind this program is that children learn best while engaged in activities that they naturally enjoy -- in this case, singing. Basic Spanish lyrics are paired with simple, catchy tunes that kids will love. The CD features an appealing mix of Sing-A-Lingo originals and familiar classics such as "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and "Mr. Sun." Kids will be able to sing along right away, and immediately feel a sense of accomplishment when they "understand" what they are singing. The CD includes lyrics and English translation -- great for parents or reading children who might want to follow along.

The Lyric & Vocabulary To-Go Cards are a laminated set of instructional cards comprised of song lyrics and translations, practical vocabulary, and activity suggestions. These durable, wipe-clean cards are perfect for travel. My kids thumb through the cards not only as an accompaniment to the CD, but also just to pass the time while riding in the car.

My favorite thing about this program is that it focuses so explicitly on useful, practical Spanish. Following the theory that language is best learned organically and through immersion, the Sing-A-Lingo songs focus on the specific activities and events that make up a child's daily experience. For example, Buenas Noches, Amigos is a "singable book" that takes kids through the entire bedtime routine using repetition and familiarity to comfortably introduce the comprehensive vocabulary that surrounds getting ready for bed. Getting dressed, common social interactions, weather, and mealtime are all covered similarly, and the program encourages parents to use the songs, books, and cards during these situations as they occur throughout the day.

Taken together, the Sing-A-Lingo materials provide a solid, basic instruction in beginning Spanish. Just as important, they help to make the process of learning a new language fun and accessible.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive Sing-A-Lingo's En Mi Casa CD? Here's how:

Rules:

One thing that's clear about pregnancy is that bodies grow very differently (when in doubt, do not ask!). I "popped" late with Laurel, and it's been similar this go around. At almost 17 weeks, though I'm definitely feeling thicker around the middle, I'm still wearing my regular clothes; as of two weeks ago, I simply looked a little full of korma and last week I started sporting a little bump that's still not evident in regular clothes. Through the second trimester, transition pieces are key, and I'm all about mining one's existing wardrobe, particularly since in the second trimester you may not be ready for full blown maternity clothing. Here are my five favorite regular wardrobe pieces that are serving me immensely well in transition. I've put together a few cute looks based on these pieces and all of these looks are non-maternity wear, so even if you aren't pregnant you can enjoy them. Today I'm focusing on casual clothing and plan on doing a dressy/work roundup soon.

My Five Key Pieces:

(Scroll down to see three looks I have assembled based on these basics.)

1. Leggings. I have to say, the leggings trend (i.e., no snaps, zippers, or buttons) couldn't be more perfect for in-transition pregnant mamas. Early in your pregnancy, your basic leggings probably feel fine (and when they don't, you can get maternity leggings at Old Navy). I'd also like to recommend Yummie Tummie's leggings. I received a pair of Yummie Tummie leggings as a gift for being a presenter at an event at BlogHer and was wow'ed by the construction; they're more expensive than regular leggings but deservedly so -- a worthy investment if you love leggings.

2. Empire and tunic tops. Empire and tunic tops are every woman's friend for obvious reasons. For pregnant women, they are forgiving (e.g., can hide unsnapped pants) and many tunic tops have enough length to accommodate ride up once you start to grow bigger in the horizontal dimension.

3. Knit dresses. I'm a huge fan of dresses in general; they make getting ready so easy. And those with a trim silhouette but no defined waistline are perfect for pregnancy transition. Add a belt at or over the waist depending on how much you want to define your bump. Or simply toss a cardigan or vest over to keep things loose and comfortable but stylish.

4. Elasticized skirts. Again, hooray for no constraining buttons, snaps, or zippers! Just the other day I was wearing and appreciating immensely the one elasticized waistband skirt in my closet.

5. Jeggings. I discovered the magic of jeggings this summer and with the super stretchy factor, they are -- hands down -- the most comfortable of all of my regular jeans to wear. Seriously, I don't even need to unbutton them! In fact, I'm wearing my Gap jeggings right this minute -- fully buttoned -- at almost 17 weeks and they feel fantastic.

Three Cool Looks:

Now, here are some examples of how to use these pieces as the anchors of various casual looks. I'm no Rachel Zoe but I had a super fun time playing stylist on ShopStyle. I hope you like what I've assembled (to learn more about individual pieces, simply click on the item):

More Looks...

Look 1: An elastic waistband skirt with a nice flowing t-shirt will be super comfortable. Add a colorful, snuggly cardigan, pretty necklace, contrast bag, and comfy flats. If you want to amp the look up a bit, you could swap the flats for heeled booties. If it's chilly, add tights or leggings.

Look 2: An easy tank and tunic top over jeggings will be super comfortable. The pretty hoops and bangles, black ankle boot, and contrast clutch complete the look. If you don't like wearing heel, opt for flats.

Look 3: A comfy jersey dress with leggings and a cable knit vest (or you could opt for a cardigan) is uber comfortable for transition. The flower pendant, metallic flats, and patterned tote add color and pop to the look.

What do you think? Do you dig these looks for maternity wear or not? Do you have other transition essentials? Feel free to share in the comments below.

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (4) | Filed in Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Pregnancy & Postpartum
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Today, Carole Arsenault of Boston Baby Nurses encourages you to recognize sources and signs of postpartum depression in moms and dads and get help if needed.

October is National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month -- an important time for new parents and parents-to-be to consider the signs and affects of postpartum depression (PPD) on both mom and dad.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), an estimated 10% to 20% of women will experience postpartum depression. For mothers, the dramatic drop in hormones after giving birth, sleep deprivation, and other stress factors such as breastfeeding difficulty have been noted as sources of the "baby blues" (or postpartum depression, if the the symptoms don't subside after 2-4 weeks). And while moms struggle with these factors, it's often overlooked that dads do too.

Following the birth of a baby, many fathers take on new, sometimes stressful roles that come with little recognition or attention. On top of that, lack of sleep, combined with concerns about the mom having the baby blues or depression can actually trigger a father's own feelings of depression. Research released earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that up to 10% of new fathers may also experience a form of postpartum depression.

A lack of interest in caring for baby is a big red flag to watch out for. It's also important for parents to seek help if symptoms such as prolonged anxiety or sadness, excessive sleep or insomnia, panic attacks, or irrational thoughts are evident.

It is important to pay close attention to warning signs and contact a health care provider immediately if there are concerns. Heath care providers are trained in evaluating the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and will refer new moms and dads to the appropriate channels for treatment. Visit Postpartum Support International for more information.

Image credit: Postpartum Support International

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Family Issues; Pregnancy & Postpartum
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There's plenty of family friendly fall festival goodness on tap for this weekend. Get a dose of fresh air while enjoying: the Barnstable County Harvest Festival, Boston Local Food Festival, Essex County Greenbelt Association Fall Festival, Lakeville Arts & Music Festival, Harvest Festival & Perennial Divide (Mattapan), Homestead Hayfest (Newton), and Westford Fall Foliage Festival. And for those with serious fair stamina, there's the Topsfield Fair running now until October 11.

Image credit: Dave Doolittle for Barnstable County Harvest Festival

Posted by Christine Koh on 1 Oct 2010 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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