Today, Kate shares a craftastic fantasy that now is a reality:

Allow me a moment to admit to a fantasy. In my fantasy, I own a small and pretty shop that allows me to combine my love of baking, sewing, knitting, and beautiful things in a single place that is warm and welcoming and also somehow turns a profit and allows me to live stress-free and in creative happiness. For me, this is but a fantasy, but the creators of Gather Here -- a new 'stitch lounge' located on Broadway in Cambridge -- have managed to turn it into a reality.

Gather Here is everything one would want in such a place: colorful, bright, friendly, and full of yarn and fabric and thread and buttons. The store is brand-new and the owners are still finding their way, but the early returns are extremely promising. The customer service is helpful and knowledgeable and the selection is as good as one would find at a similar store in Boston or New York. A calendar chalked on the wall promises classes for adults and kids and such wonderful-sounding events as 'Crafty Cocktails' and 'Knitter's Breakfast,' all complete with snacks. Gather Here is local, independent, and offers everything and more for knitters and sewists, both amateur and experienced.

Gather Here, 370 Broadway, Cambridge; Tel: 781-775-9504

Posted by Christine Koh on 28 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Creative Services; Fun Indoors; Local
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Hello friends, I just wanted to let you know that -- save a few existing commitments -- I'm going to be a bit scarce online the rest of this week (I figured I should state my intentions publicly since, after a few days of limited online activity, I received several e-mails asking if the baby arrived). I imagine many of you are off enjoying February vacation, and I have designs to do the same -- both in that I'd like to spend quality time with Laurel and Jon (our last school vacation before the baby arrives!), catch up on some projects, and finally get our house ready for the baby. Time (three weeks left!) and the generous piles from my secondhand baby shower have forced my hand, plus it's only getting more challenging to go up and down the stairs a million times carrying things (note to self and others: get the nesting done before you are really, really huge).

Meanwhile, there's plenty of back reading here at Boston Mamas and lots of ideas for things to do during February vacation in the local archives -- as well as thanks to this great February vacation roundup from my friend Stacey Sao of Boston Central. Have a wonderful February vacation and I'll see you back here next week!

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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Given my pregnancy, I haven't been able to take skating lessons this winter (which I took for the first time last winter and adored), so I've definitely needed to get my skating fix from a distance. I'm subsequently thrilled to see Stars on Ice again when it comes to the Agganis Arena in Boston on March 4. In its 25th year, the Smucker's Stars on Ice show will include a roster of skating greats, headlined by Olympians Evan Lysacek and Sasha Cohen (Laurel's favorite skater). Click here to find a show near you (the tour wraps in April) -- meanwhile, how cool is this? The kind folks at Stars on Ice are offering one of you awesome readers a 4-pack of tickets to Stars on Ice in Boston! Check out the rules below to learn how to enter to win:

Rules:

Today, Stacey Sao of Boston Central kindly shares a guest post including a fantastic roundup of activities for February vacation week:

Welcome to the wonderful week of February vacation! This massive activity roundup should help cure any cabin fever out there...let's get right to it! In the spirit of Presidents Day, there's Visit with Abe Lincoln at The Concord Museum (2/21; reservations required), and The Jackson Homestead Museum in Newton will host a story and craft hour entitled Hats Off to Abe Lincoln. History buffs can take a step back in time at the Old Statehouse Museum with lots of old fashioned games as well as spinning and weaving activities. Bring out the scientist in you at the MIT Museum -- they'll have robotics themed mini-workshops for ages 10+.

On the theatre scene, Mary Poppins is showing at the Boston Opera house. This show is a real crowd pleaser with lots of singing, dancing, and an amazing set. Disney on Ice: Toy Story 3 is performing at the TD Garden all week as well. It's a colorful, energetic show that's fun for all ages. The Orpheum Theatre in Foxboro hosts Yo-Yo Champion John Higby [of America's Got Talent Fame]. Also consider the Tanglewood Marionettes's performance of Cinderella (2/27) at the Tufts Cohen Auditorium in Medford and the Boston Lyric Opera's Hansel and Gretel (2/27) at the Casey Theatre at Regis College.

Several fun magic shows include Magic by Scott Jameson at the Coolidge Corner Theatre (2/27), Magician Mike Bent at the Orpheum Theatre in Foxboro, (2/22), and the Magic of Bill Blagg in Newton (2/21).

On the music scene, consider performances by SteveSongs (2/21) in Lexington and Vanessa Trien (2/24 & 2/26) in Natick and Hingham. The Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a free family concert at the Arlington Town Hall (2/27) featuring shorter orchestral pieces for young audiences. And the Yo-Yo Guys will also be performing in Framingham on (2/24).

For the stargazers out there, the Charles Hayden Planetarium has just reopened after a $9 million renovation. Be one of the first to witness the debut of the most technologically advanced digital theater in New England. There are extended hours and shows all week at the Museum of Science. Venture out west a bit to the Ecotarium and discover how to create your own toys from paper, wood, electronic circuits -- even dried peas! Also in Worcester, kids can learn about the world of warriors at the Higgins Armory Museum. The bravest visitors can make their own shield and even learn how to use a sword all week long.

To celebrate Black History month, the Medford Library presents a one-person reenactment of the early life of Harriet Tubman, conductor of the Underground Railroad. The JFK Library & Museum hosts a week of kid-friendly activities including international storyteller Valerie Tutson, who will perform Tales from African Traditions on 2/22. Kids can enjoy the 'Make Your Own Sundae Bar' all week as well.

If you feel like getting outside, check out Winter Fun Day at Ward Reservation in Andover -- try your hand at snow shoeing and sledding, and enjoy guided hikes, hot cocoa, and a toasty fire. The new visitor center at Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury offers birding activities, a vernal pool workshop, and hikes to look for signs of rabbits. For the animal enthusiasts out there, Animal Adventures is offering a week full of hands on animal workshops in Bolton.

Feeling crafty? Check out [SENSE]sation Day (2/21) at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton. Families can enjoy craft workshops, demos and entertainment all afternoon. Or head over to The Kids Place for Fun for some fun mini-camp sessions that include ceramics projects, crafts, games, freeze dance, snack/slush, and lunch.

Winter break is the perfect time to visit a local ice rink. Faneuil Hall's Ice Skating Rink has fabricated ice that is perfect for the not-so-sure footed as it is not as slippery as real ice. The Ice Rink at Prudential Center is another great location to skate a bit, grab some lunch, and do some shopping. Of course you can also hit old favorites such as Frog Pond and the Charles Hotel Ice Rink. Super winter photo ops and outdoor fun!

Check out Boston Central for more seasonal listings and sign up for the newsletter to keep up on family-friendly events all year long.

Image credit: Super cool Abe Lincoln block print by Jill K's Little Shop of Ephemera

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Despite the unusually warm weather this week, I'm pretty sure winter is not done with us, so it was perfect to chat yesterday about beating the winter beauty and fashion blahs with Roxanna Sarmiento of Everyday Treats and The Frog & Snail Society, and Meredith Sinclair of Hoo-Dee-Hoo and Chicago Parent. During the show, Roxanna and I discussed hydration, cleansing, moisturizing, and makeup solutions, and Meredith and I covered shop-your-closet fashion hacks and easy ways to give your winter wardrobe new life. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, and for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews. Enjoy!

Links via Roxanna Sarmiento

Roxanna's BlogHer Style column
Roxanna's Stylelist column
Roxanna's AOL Aisledash column

On hydration:

Thoughts on infused water

On cleansing:

Cetaphil
Dove
Erno Lazlo Active pHelytil oil
DHC deep cleansing oil
Dove Visible Care body wash

On moisturizing:

Hydrolatum
Weleda baby Calendula lotion
Lush Lemony Flutter
Jergens Original Scent
Burt's Bees
Creme de la Mer and Oil of Olay Regenerist micro sculpting cream
Erno Lazlo

On makeup:

Chanel - Precision Hydramax

Links via Meredith Sinclair

Old Navy bargain scarf
Funky fringe scarf
Unique scarves via Etsy
Kamik artsy rain boots
Crocs rain boots
Hunter marigold rain boots
Hunter blue wedge rain boots
Infusing color video
How to rock the furry vest + sequined tank trends

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Fashion; For Mamas & Mamas-to-be; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Web (Admin)
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I had a bit of a rough week last week and the baby shower my friend Heidi hosted for me this past weekend was a wonderful antidote, making me feel enormously grateful for the happy energy and wonderful people I have in my life. And I wanted to share the theme -- a secondhand baby shower (because I'm an eco-geek and because I have many friends who are done having babies and were eager to pass things along) -- plus some great leads from Heidi's planning. Here's how it all came down the pike:

1. Because I thought my ovaries were dead, I parted with many of my wee things at the Room to Grow drive I coordinated as a co-host of the Hebrew National summer picnic. We still had a few items kicking around that I had not yet purged, but were otherwise lacking many things. And ever since announcing my surprise pregnancy, I have had lots of friends ask to pass on their baby things to us. So that -- plus my desire for less is more in the world -- inspired my idea for the secondhand baby shower. My first task was to look at one of those (ridiculous) "must have" baby gear/items lists and narrow in on the essentials. Once I did this, I provided the list to Heidi, who had offered to host the shower.

2. Heidi is amazingly organized and she was so kind to offer to host the shower and also go along with my secondhand baby shower theme. The effort involved a spreadsheet (admittedly, I use a spreadsheet for pretty much everything in life!), plus her coordinating with attendees who wanted to bring hand me downs, in order to prevent duplicates. Otherwise, I think she suggested that guests bring gift cards or diapers, or do whatever they wanted, or simply stop by and hang out.

3. The party was so lovely. Heidi had the food catered by Ken Walsh of K Michael's Catering (617-308-0167) and it was fantastic -- the shower was over brunch so there were croissants, scones, and fruit, as well as savory items such as vegetarian and chicken sandwiches and a yummy mixed beet salad. The caterer also coordinated the cupcakes, which turned out to be outsourced from The Danish Pastry House (fun, since I've professed my love for DPH in the past!) and Heidi ordered cute cookie favors from Fancypants Bakery (also fun, since I've covered them here at Boston Mamas!). I'm not sure these photos do justice to the yumminess...

4. It was so wonderful to see so many friends from different walks of life in one place; literally, the shower involved friends I have made via middle/high school, college, post-college, Laurel's day care, Laurel's elementary school, and blogging. So fun. And I was overwhelmed by the generosity. Depending on where people were at with their childbearing plans (e.g., some had long purged their baby goods), there was a mix of recycled things (thought bubble for photo below is something like, "Yay, a secondhand stroller, car seat, and mattress!" + I was thrilled to receive a secondhand high chair, Bumbo seat, and much hoped-for jogging stroller among other things), new baby clothes and toys, and mama gifts (e.g., spa gift certificates). Goodness.

Now I'm faced with the task of actually organizing all of this stuff. And as I do, I will be reminded continually of how lucky I am to have such an amazing group of mom friends.

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (10) | Filed in Domestics; Eco Living; Family Issues; Food & Drink; Home; Local; Pregnancy & Postpartum; Solutions
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Today, Jennifer shares a great little art escape for kids (and grownups too!):

Like every mom I know, I'm running low on options for indoor fun. With five school snow days on the roster already, I'm fighting the urge to pack up the family and head south for a very long time! But alas, this is New England, and even when we're being lulled into submission with unusually warm temperatures (like this week), it's important to have creative ideas at the ready.

Turns out we've found a great little art escape at Plaster Fun Time. I took my daughter (5) and niece (8) recently, and we had so much fun I headed back the next week with my son (nearly 8) and he loved it just as much. With nine locations in the metro Boston area, Plaster Fun Time is a fantastic way to spend a good hour or two painting and relaxing. It works like this: when you walk in you can choose from dozens of plaster creations from racks all around the wide open studio-type room. The prices range from around $3 or so for a small fridge magnet, up to $30+ for some seriously heavy garden gnomes. Gnomes are not our thing, so we opted for a cute rainbow wall hanging for the girls, and for my son, a cartoon character.

The folks who run this place totally know their audience and have an impressive and swift operations protocol not unlike a NASCAR pit crew, only they wear painting smocks. I noticed that the friendly staff (we love the Reading location) simultaneously hosted two toddler birthday parties while easily tending to the needs and questions of walk-in painters like us.

For over an hour, the kids and I sat on comfy benches at our table -- me with coffee and the kids with brushes, paints, and some serious (and quiet!) creative concentration. Once you finish at your leisure, the staff will spray your piece with your choice of varnishes. After a few minutes you can head home, thanks to the cardboard matte they provide for easy carry out -- no need to remember to come back a week later to pick up your finished piece! And one last fun parting tidbit: Plaster Fun Time takes a picture of every piece and posts it online for about a month so you can look at it later and share via email.

Image credit: Plaster Fun Time

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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This past weekend my friend Michelle hosted a Valentine's party that allowed the daughters to hang out and the moms to chat. And I loved the low-stress, communal way she structured the gathering. Michelle asked everyone to bring a food contribution and also a small token to put in each of the Valentine's goodie baskets she picked up for the girls. I decided to make cute little card kits and Laurel and I had a great time assembling them. I highly recommend something like this for favors for kids who like to craft. Here's the how-to:

Creating card kits came to mind because: a) I love giving kids craft projects that they can work independently on; and b) I knew I had everything I needed to assemble the kits in my studio (read: no extra errands!). However, it would be easy to get all of the supplies at your local craft store.

1. Decide on colorways. Since these favors were for Valentine's, I used a color palette including red, pink, purple, and white. But you could make these kits dependent on the season, holiday, your child's favorite color, etc.

2. Purchase/assemble supplies. The beauty of this project is you can include whatever you want! My kits included: 1) foldover cards + envelopes (I used A2 cards -- 4.25 x 5.5" -- and inserted three per kit); 2) solid text weight paper (this is optional I suppose, but I liked including some solid pinks and purples as contrast for the patterned papers); 3) patterned papers (this project was a great way for me to use up odds and ends in my collection!); 4) ribbons (I included five varieties); 5) cellophane bags. Glue sticks would have been a cute addition but I decided against including them because of aforementioned desire not to have another errand to run.

3. Prepare the assembly line. I cut three solid 4.25 x 5.5" text weight sheets in pink/purple per set and made stacks of the eight different decorative papers (cut in irregular rectangle sizes). Laurel put all of the different papers into stacks to make sure we had enough for each kit. I also cut lengths of four different colors/styles of ribbon and tied them together with a purple contrast ribbon.

4. Assemble! Laurel had a super fun time laying out the text weight and decorative papers. I suggested that she stack the text weight solid sheets and then try to arrange the decorative papers over them so that a bit of each paper was peeking out -- she loved arranging the paper palette! As she finished each set, I laid the decorative paper stack over the foldover card/envelope stack, topped it with the ribbon bundle, and slid it into the cellophane bag.

And that's it! The kits turned out beautifully and it was a really fun project to work on together. Laurel was so excited both to give and receive the kit she made.

In fact, the morning after the party, Laurel wanted to break into the card kit right away. Here's the first thing she made (she decided to create this without mounting on one of the foldover cards). Isn't that sweet? I love that she thought to make letters out of ribbon.

Posted by Christine Koh on 15 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys; Gifts & Paper; Home
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One thing that has become very clear during all of the traveling I've done with Laurel is that she loves hotels (and admittedly, I'm also a fan of not having to make my bed). And if you're looking for a fun family staycation option during February vacation week (or just to get through the rest of winter), check out the Hotel Commonwealth's Hotel for Kids program, which kicks off February 25 with a bedtime stories/pajama party to benefit ReadBoston. I'm thrilled to be a media partner of the Hotel Commonwealth for this event, and part of that partnership means awesomeness for you! Read on to learn more about the Hotel for Kids, as well as how to win a Hotel for Kids overnight package for February 25 + admission to the bedtime stories/pajama party!

The details:

The Hotel for Kids opening night rate on February 25 is $219 (which also includes a kids' pancake making class with Jeremy Sewall of Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks on Saturday, February 26, 2011 + families can stay through the weekend at a special rate of $169/night); otherwise, booking starts at $289/night and is available through March 31, 2011. This rate includes deluxe family accommodations (up to two adults + two children; additional children can be accommodated for $49/child) in a Commonwealth Suite (500+ square feet, including a separate area with a pull-out sofa bed that can be closed off with drapes).

The Hotel for Kids package also includes a welcome backpack for kids stuffed with slippers from LL Bean, a bedtime story, flashlight and the hotel's signature terry bear; board game and family-friendly DVD selection (delivered to each room with complimentary popcorn); homemade cookies and milk upon arrival; complimentary valet parking; and access to the hotel's family concierge to help with planning family-friendly activities around Boston.

Now, want to win a Hotel for Kids overnight package for February 25 + admission to the bedtime stories/pajama party? Here's how:

Today, Evadne shares a favorite online reading tool for kids:

I first came across One More Story during a play date at a friend's house. Our same-aged children (4 and 2 years at the time) were having a blast together and making quite a ruckus, and then a few moments later, the playroom became noticeably quiet. Naturally, I decided it would be wise to peek in, and instead of trouble brewing, I found the children gathered around the computer listening to a story. The pages of the storybook were on the monitor and the words became highlighted as they were being read, karaoke-style. There was even original sound & music accompanying the storytelling. I was intrigued.

My friend explained that they had a paid subscription to One More Story, a website that offers a virtual library of quality children's literature. Familiar titles such as "Owl Babies" and "Pete's a Pizza," award winners like "A Snowy Day" or "Red is Best," and refreshing stories including "This is the Tree" are all accessible at the click of a mouse. As I continued to observe, the children took turns picking books off the virtual shelves -- sometimes allowing the story pages to turn automatically and sometimes opting to hear the story read at their own pace. For early readers, there's an "I Can Read It" mode so children can try reading without the music or sound.

Well, it took about two seconds to know that One More Story was right for our family. We have been a TV-free household (until a few months ago...now we're simply cable-free), and our children have always been big into books and audiobooks. But I never anticipated what a wonderful tool One More Story could be for my children at opportune moments, such as when I was nursing our third little one or when we moved house this past year. Subscriptions are available in 3 ($15), 6 ($27), and 12 ($44) month increments -- One More Story makes a wonderful gift to budding readers, whether in your own home or to little friends and relatives.

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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What a fun episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about finding and nurturing relationships with Kristen Chase, author of The Mominatrix's Guide to Sex, and Meredith Goldstein of the Boston Globe Love Letters column. During the show we discussed everything from common issues for those in or looking for relationships, advice for those seeking or trying to maintain relationships, and the pulse on Hallmark holidays such as Valentine's Day. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, and for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews. Enjoy!

Links discussed with Kristen Chase

Kristen's personal blog Motherhood Uncensored
The Mominatrix column
The Mominatrix book

Links discussed with Meredith Goldstein

Boston Globe Love Letters column
Love Letters update #1
Love Letters update #2
Love Letters update #3

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Family Issues; For Grownups; Holidays; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Valentine's Day; Web (Admin)
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Hooray for rabbits! And you can celebrate them in fine fashion this weekend at the Year of the Hare Lion Dance Parade in Chinatown, 23rd Annual Lunar New Year Festival in Quincy, and Peabody Essex Museum Lunar New Year Festival in Salem. And for those looking for winter adventures a little further west, bundle up and check out the Amherst Winterfest.

Image credit: Peabody Essex Museum

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Holidays; Local; Winter
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While I adore the community feel and eco-friendliness of public libraries, and the shiny newness and convenience of large bookstores, my current happy medium is the independent used bookstore. And The Book Rack is one of those little gems I've walked by a million times but never paid much attention to until recently. I was surprised to learn that The Book Rack has roots dating back to the 1960s and is a network of independently owned bookstores, with about 100 stores across the country, including five locations in Massachusetts.

During a household purge a few months ago, Jon stopped by the The Book Rack in Arlington to trade in a stack of books. He received a bunch of credit on a paper slip and we figured we'd lose the slip or never remember to use it. But miraculously, this past weekend we decided to make a family outing to the store, remembered to bring the slip, and were thrilled to discover that the store recently went computerized (no more pesky slips!).

Policies differ from store to store, but in Arlington, you can trade in books for store credit and use the credit towards 50% of the price of any used title. The store also carries some new titles that you can purchase full price.

In addition to the new computerized system winning me over, the following things compelled me to write up The Book Rack:

1) The store is small but packed with inventory, so it was easy for Jon, Laurel, and me to browse our desired sections within close striking distance -- compared to libraries or bookstores, where we tend to not be able to browse simultaneously and someone invariably ends up bored, waiting for someone else.

2) The inventory is smaller than a bookstore or library, but it's actually nice in the sense that there's less overwhelm factor and you have a "curated collection" from which to choose. Meaning, the titles at the store are probably going to be pretty good because the store only wants to carry books that will sell.

3) As I was browsing, I overheard another customer make the point that she loves that there are always new titles at the store -- that often when she goes to the library they don't have the newest titles due to budget or demand. Good point, though I give props to the cashier, who agreed with that sentiment but also pointed out the awesomeness of our public libraries and that we're lucky to have inter-library loan in Massachusetts.

4) You don't need to remember to return books. (Library Elf saves me in this department, but still, returning books requires another errand...)

5) It's easier to take a chance on buying a book. For example, I was looking for some new fiction but I had no idea what to get. So I perused a bit and selected a book I had never heard of based on the good reviews on the cover (and the fact that I enjoyed reading the first couple of pages). The used price was $7, which made it $3.50 cash since we had store credit. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have purchased the book in this kind of carefree manner if I was paying the $14 new price in a regular bookstore.

6) If you trade in books and accumulate credit, it's a great bargain. We picked up five books this weekend and with our 50% credit usage, it only cost us about $10.

So if you're looking to do purge some old titles and pick up some new reading material, I highly recommend checking out The Book Rack. Nothing helps our little family sink into unwind mode better than curling up with a book!

Image credit: The Book Rack

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; Eco Living; For Babies & Kids; For Grownups; Local; Retail
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Now that we've hit five weeks until baby, in addition to the name thing (which we're working on thanks to you all!), I'm also getting lots of nudges about nesting. It's true -- as organized as I am about so many things in life, we have done nothing in the nesting department. I figure there's plenty of time to sort it out, and perhaps I'll feel inspired following the baby shower my friend Heidi is throwing me this weekend. When Heidi offered to host the event, I asked for a secondhand/recycled shower since: a) I'm an eco-geek; and b) so many of my mom friends are done making babies and are eager to pass things along. However, I'm also planning to stop at Old Navy -- both to pick up any last minute needs for the baby, and also some spring things for Laurel. Read on to see some of my favorite picks, as well as to learn how to win a $100 gift certificate to Old Navy!

So, first, a disclosure. As mentioned above, I was already planning on hitting Old Navy for baby basics and things for Laurel post-shower, and then the lovely folks over at BabyCenter (I'm part of their blog network) asked if I wanted to peruse/shop and also offer a gift card to you lovely readers via their sponsorship. Pretty cool, no? So here we are. And it's particularly good timing since Old Navy is running a big baby and kids sale until February 17 and the cuteness abounds! Here are some of my favorite picks from the sale:

These solid bodysuit 3-packs were a staple for us with Laurel; they're the perfect layer under a hoodie. And I adore the cuteness of this contrast sleeve animal bodysuit and this polka dot kimono bodysuit (not sure why the latter is in the boy's section, but I'm glad I couldn't resist peeking there!).

I'm a big fan of soft pants for babies (and grownups too!). Denim for newborns admittedly never made sense to me from a snuggly factor, especially since I wore Laurel in a sling so much and plan on doing the same for her sister. I love these little ruffled leggings, and the yoga pants will be good too, since I'm planning on doing mom/baby yoga this go around.

I love one pieces for babies -- they're draft-free and so easy (except, of course, when you're dealing with a blowout). This piggy one-piece is great because it's footed (no need to worry about socks!) and has foldover cuffs to prevent scratching. I also love the boldness of this striped hooded one-piece.

And here are a few things I have my eye on for Laurel:

I think the pattern on this hooded tee is totally rad. And this embellished tee is something I would totally wear. And Laurel loves my clothes so I bet she'll love it too.

These color-blocked yoga pants have me wondering whether I could negotiate Laurel and her baby sister in a yoga practice. And in my opinion, you can never have enough cute and snuggly hoodies for kids. We're big on layering in our house.

Laurel loves dresses. This lightweight fluttery dress gives me hope that spring is around the corner. And while Laurel typically prefers Velcro or buckle shoes (faster on and off), I suspect these glitter sneakers would inspire her to tie laces.

So much good stuff, don't you think? Now, here's where you come in...

Here's how to win a $100 gift certificate to Old Navy:

Despite needing to rearrange our plans when the first (or was it the second? I can't even remember) snowmageddon hit during the December holidays, we eventually made it to, and Laurel utterly adored, the Disney on Ice Princess Wishes show (her sister did too...she kicked non-stop during the entire performance!). And returning to entertain during February vacation week is a Disney on Ice show perfect for Toy Story fans. Running February 18-27 at TD Garden, Disney On Ice presents Disney*Pixar's Toy Story 3 will feature Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, and other favorite Toy Story friends. And how cool is this? The kind folks over at TD Garden are offering two lucky winners a four-pack of tickets to the Disney on Ice Toy Story 3 show (as well as a special ticket discount)! Here's how to enter to win and/or purchase discount tickets:

Rules:

In contrast to Jon and my low key approach, Laurel is totally cranked up about celebrating Valentine's Day. If you're in a similar boat, and are looking for a family-friendly Valentine's outing, what about the Odyssey's Valentine's brunch cruise? You'll achieve a sense of escape (undoubtedly welcome, given the recent plague of snowstorms...) without the fuss of needing to pack. I haven't yet experienced the Odyssey, but I dig the idea of cruising along against the backdrop of our city skyline while listening to live music, enjoying brunch I didn't have to cook, not worrying about washing dishes, and gazing lovingly at Jon while Laurel ogles the chocolate fountain.

And how cool is this? The Odyssey kindly is offering one lucky winner a family four-pack of tickets for the Valentine's Odyssey brunch cruise. Here's how to enter to win:

Rules:

Today, Heather recommends a welcome household bug:

My four kids are have gone buggy over Hexbugs -- little robotic creatures that behave like real bugs...but without the germs! Emma received a Hexbug Original as a gift and because her younger triplet siblings would not relent when it came to playing with it, the "colony" has now grown and my house is officially infested with nanos and ants.

Hexbugs come in different colors and shapes and move via vibration; some react to loud sounds, while others are solar powered. My kids, who love when the Hexbugs flip over and pop back up, are now begging for the crab and inchworm.

You can purchase Hexbug habitats, but so far we've created our own using blocks and pillows and other structures in the house, which has worked perfectly well. And yes, thankfully no exterminator is required.

Posted by Christine Koh on 6 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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This week on Life.Style, I engaged in a second conversation on work, life, and parenting; definitely check out the episode if you didn't see it live on Thursday. I chatted with Morra Aarons-Mele of Women & Work and Women Online about everything from why the US lags behind other countries on parental leave policy, recommendations for women trying to strategize maternity leave, the modern family juggling act and division of labor, flex options from the employee and employer perspectives, as well as dads, same sex couples, and single parenting. Phew! Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, and for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews.

Conversation points with Morra Aarons-Mele + Resources

Maternity leave strategy
Shriver Report
The need for work/life policy
Boston College Center for Work and Family
Families and Work Institute
White House Flex Toolkit
Sloan Work and Family Research Network
Getting to 50-50

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Family Issues; Life.Style with Christine Koh; Mama in the Workplace; Pregnancy & Postpartum; Web (Admin)
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I just loved the clever responses (via comments, Facebook, and Twitter) to my snow day ideas post! And while my ideas were rather inside-centric (given the sleet nastiness and the fact that the novelty of making snow people has totally worn off for Laurel), hopefully this weekend's winter forecast will be more suitable for outdoor adventures. Consider the: Franklin Park Snow Festival, Chelmsford WinterFest, Lowell Winterfest, and Salem's So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival.

Image credit: Franklin Park Coalition

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Outdoors; Local
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Since her birthday in September, Laurel has had her heart set on acquiring a Doinkit Dartboard, and she was fortunate to receive one for Christmas from one of her aunties. And the dartboard has been a big hit, not just for Laurel, but, well, for the grownups too. The lightweight board's magnetic darts make dart tossing safe and kid-friendly, and the magnetic attraction is wonderfully forgiving for those with less than stellar aim.

Whether due to laziness, or simply because we ran out of steam after our marathon pre-holiday wall hanging adventure (which included this awesome staircase gallery wall project), we have yet to hang the dartboard, but no matter. Over the holidays, Laurel's aunts and uncles took turns holding up the dartboard (while Laurel and her cousin took turns firing away...it was pretty comical), and at present, we simply prop the dartboard wherever we feel like playing, whether it's leaning on a chair or couch, or on the bench against the wall in our entryway. I love that: a) we've found that misses often bounce off whatever the board is propped on and attach to the board (minimizing the frustration factor); and b) we don't have to worry about holes in the wall (from hanging or tossing real darts).

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys
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Well, my friends, here we are at another snow day. I don't know about you, but the first couple of snow days I was all happy that I could be that mom -- the one who could just shut everything else off, hang out with Laurel in my jammies, and goof off all day. But the last few snow days I've definitely been feeling the strain -- not just of dealing with the snow, but also with the whole default snow/sick day parent thing (ironically, I will be discussing this very topic tomorrow on Life.Style), what else to possibly entertain Laurel with, and my backlog of client work, projects, and e-mails. So last night, before going to bed, I jotted down a list of snow day ideas and wanted to share them with you. Some of them are "get stuff done together" ideas and others are activities I can set Laurel up with to allow myself some time to put out work fires. If you have other great ideas, feel free to share in the comments!

1. Make a gingerbread house. For some reason Laurel asked about this project last night so today I'm going to see if we have the ingredients for it (though I did warn her we probably wouldn't be making a gingerbread castle). I'll need to do the baking, but the decorating process no doubt will engage her for a good stretch of time. [12pm note: we're making these awesome gingerbread people instead since Laurel didn't want to wait the three hours for the gingerbread house dough to firm up. It's proving a fantastically entertaining project!]

2. Make Valentine's. Gather up paper, markers, stamps, stickers, glue, dried pasta, etc. and let your kid go to town.

3. Bake something. I'm a big fan of baking with kids. If they're little they can mix and dump; if they're older, they can measure. And baking results in tangible rewards. Check out the recipe archives for tons of baking ideas.

4. Thin out toys and books. Every now and then I do this with Laurel and we make piles to donate, store, etc. It helps tidy, which always makes me feel better, and we usually rediscover some toys and books to entertain Laurel. And we could definitely stand to do some tidying and purging in advance of the baby.

5. Call grandparents. Laurel loves chatting with her grandparents on the phone. And unlike some of the other ideas here, no prep or cleanup is required!

6. Rediscover craft projects. Go through art/craft supplies -- we have four (yes, four) cabinets dedicated to Laurel's project supplies and it's always great to go through and rediscover things. Recently, we rediscovered Laurel's Klutz window art paints and they have entertained her for countless snow day hours.

7. Make use of unused spaces. I think we'll spend some time in our basement today. There's enough room for Laurel to hula hoop, jump rope, and even ride her bike a little.

8. Spot clean. I know this sounds crazy but every now and then Laurel totally gets into spot cleaning. We just hand her a spray bottle of water and some rags and she loves running around the house finding things to spot clean (of which there are usually plenty).

9. Paint nails. Laurel is old enough to paint her own nails so I'll probably suggest she have at it today. I also feel OK with it since we only use non-toxic paints.

10. Make dinner (together, or let your kid take charge). Like baking, this project offers good rewards. And even better, when you can encourage your kid to make dinner, they feel a sense of pride, plus you get some time to yourself and a meal (such as when I let go of control in the kitchen and we ended up with a fantastic dinner by Laurel's hand).

Good luck today everyone!

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 2 Feb 2011 | Permalink | Comments (10) | Filed in Family Issues
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Today, from Jules, an easy, creamy (and better for you) mac and cheese recipe that very well may be my next casserole patrol contribution:

I'm really into Greek yogurt. Why was I so resistant to it before? It's low in (or devoid of) fat, free of sugar, super high in calcium, and really versatile. My kids and I love the creaminess of it and when I drizzle it with honey or maple syrup and add nuts, granola, or fruit, it becomes a serious treat for breakfast. Greek yogurt also is a great recipe ingredient, even on the savory spectrum.

I've started using plain Greek yogurt to thicken or "creamify" foods instead of cream or a buttery roux. I'll be following up with a favorite sweet use for Greek yogurt, but first, here's a fantastic savory recipe my kids love.

Jules' Easy, Creamy Macaroni & Cheese

*Note: I added the pureed squash the other night and my kids had no clue.