As a former musician and music psychologist, it's not surprising that I'm all for tapping into what I believe is kids' innate appreciation for music (baby Violet rocking out to music is such a cheerful sight!). And on February 12 at the Tsai Performance Center in Boston, you can introduce your family to something different via Boston Musica Viva's family concert -- a contemporary classical rendering of The Tortoise and the Hare and The Pied Piper featuring narration and the Marimba Magic Ensemble. And how cool is this? The kind folks at Boston Musica Viva are offering a 4-pack of tickets to share with one of you awesome readers. Here's how to enter to win:

Rules*:

Greetings, friends! I hope you had a great weekend -- we enjoyed a lovely one here, filled with nostalgic moments (I was honored to deliver a keynote and do some filming at my undergraduate alma mater. Also, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that the current students were born in the 90's...), friends, family visits, great food, and some very, very gooey brownies. I'm excited to tackle the week and hope you are as well; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

January 31: Hopefully the weather will cooperate for this charity competition at Frog Pond (which includes some free ticket giveaways to Disney on Ice).

February 1: Enjoy a Celtic spring celebration.

February 2: Celebrate groundhogs at Drumlin Farm and Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

February 2 (to 12): Support budding thespians in Stoneham.

February 3 (to 5): Enjoy Chelmsford Winterfest.

This week: Enter to win some awesome tickets! Specifically, Dan Zanes (entry closes January 31) and Disney on Ice (entry closes February 2). (Also, I'll have another fantastic ticket giveaway going live soon -- stay tuned!)

This week: If you like Ann Taylor, check out their sale section. As of this writing Ann Taylor is offering an extra 40% off sale styles (+ free shipping on orders of $150 or more). This weekend I ordered some fantastic looking items that will be perfect for upcoming work events...fingers crossed that returns will be minimal! **UPDATE: I just checked the site and today only (Monday, January 30) they've upped the sale section discount to 60%. Sweet!

At your leisure: Schedule lunch or coffee with someone who makes you happy. This month I've managed to get together with some of my dear girlfriends. It's so rejuvenating!

At your leisure: Consider exploring a dance class,

At your leisure: If you're running a business and (like me) have forgotten to do this until now, update your copyrights on your websites.

At your leisure: Think about joining Pinterest. I adore this platform as a way to visually catalog inspiration and resources.

Image credit: Mass Audubon

Posted by Christine Koh on 30 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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I sort of can't believe that I've been thinking about and planning for February vacation (I mean, really, it's almost February?), and one of the things I'm looking forward to is heading to Disney on Ice's February vacation show Dare to Dream with Laurel. (I've been contemplating bringing baby Violet, but I suspect she will be way too squirmy.) Running February 17-26, Dare to Dream will appeal to young princess fans (Cinderella, Tiana) as well as older kids -- like Laurel (and, er, me) -- who adore Rapunzel and Flynn of Tangled. And how cool is this? The kind folks at Feld Entertainment are offering a 4-pack of Disney on Ice tickets to share with one of you awesome readers. Here's how to enter to win:

Rules*:

What a crazy week it's been -- I have some exciting news to share very, very soon! Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a fun weekend and hope you are too. Here are 12 picks for your consideration:

1. This chocolate festival has my name all over it. (Cambridge)

2. What can I say -- I love a Chinese New Year parade. (Boston)

3. This artful snowshoe tour would probably still be beautiful, sans snow. (Lincoln)

4. Listen to music and meet some "animals" at this concert and instrument petting zoo. (Newton)

5. Enjoy family-friendly films and art at this children's film festival. (Boston)

6. A free evening for families with children on the autism spectrum. (Acton)

7. Celebrate groundhogs at this Groundhog Day extravaganza. (Ipswich)

8. The Native Voices exhibit opens this weekend. (Boston)

9. Om your way through this urban wellness retreat. (Boston)

10. If you love vintage, you should probably head to this flea market. (Somerville)

11. Hop in and join this kazoo flash mob, among other celebrations. (Boston)

12. Explore fire and ice. (Sturbridge)

Image credit: divine chocolate mice from L. A. Burdick

Posted by Christine Koh on 27 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a favorite family board game:

My family loves to play board games. I haven't had too much luck finding any beyond the old classics -- Sorry, Connect Four, Monopoly -- that everybody really gets into, but that changed when my daughter was given Spy Alley for her ninth birthday. Spy Alley is "a game of suspense and intrigue" and we have found ourselves playing it over and over again. Each player has a secret spy identity, and the goal is to complete your mission by obtaining code books, disguises, keys, and passwords while also hiding who you are from the other players. To do this you have to purchase the books, disguises, keys, and passwords of other spies, hoping to confuse your competitors as to your real identity.

At any time, a player can guess the identity of another, though doing so entails the risk of being eliminated from the game. The game is high-stakes and fun, and my children always enjoy thinking about the nuances of a spy's identity. The box says the game is for ages 8 to adult, but my 6 year old son has successfully played with us as well. Games take about 45 minutes, and anywhere from 2 to 6 players can play. It really is notable that none of us is bored of Spy Alley, even though we've been playing it for a month or more. I highly recommend it!

Posted by Christine Koh on 26 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; For Grownups
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Dan Zanes is one of our favorite also-awesome-for-adults kid's musicians. Nueva York! definitely gets the most play in my house, but across his spectrum of albums, Zanes and his collaborators are consistent with their energetic, multidimensional style across a range of cultural inspirations. I'm thrilled that Dan Zanes is coming to the Somerville Theatre February 5th (11am/3pm shows) and it's also fantastic that the kind folks at World Music/CRASHarts have offered me a pair of tickets to give away to one of you awesome readers. The show is sure to be a rockin' party; here's how to enter to win tickets:

Rules*:

Today, Jennifer (also of Hey Girl Momma Go) shares some local spots to get your groove on:

This week's warmer temperatures aside, we've had some really cold days. The winter blues are lurking in the corners of our house for sure, but thanks to my 6 1/2 year old daughter's new microphone and my husband's old amp, we are doing a lot of rockin' out these days. We dance, we sing, we whip our hair around, we even have a disco ball. So it got me thinking about cool options for dance classes. Things have certainly evolved from the traditional ballet, tap, and jazz of my youth. Here are a few local options to help kids and adults stave off the winter doldrums.

1. I've heard some serious buzz about House of Dance in Sudbury. This uber cool and funky studio offers the best of both worlds -- fun classes for moms and kids. For mom, they offer heart pumping classes such as cardio hip hop, hip hop yoga (now this I will need to see for myself), and Zumba. They have easy pricing for the busy moms too -- 10-pack pricing or a drop-in per class rate. Kids' classes include everything from jazz/funk to break dancing to modern/contemporary.

2. DanceFit Studio in Brookline offers a whole spectrum of cool stuff. For moms they offer BalletFit and Cardio KickFit and even Bollywood workshops (how fun is that?) and for brand new mommas, DanceFit babies -- a workout class specifically designed so that moms can bring baby along for the ride. That sounds way more fun and much less lonely than walks with the stroller around the neighborhood!

3. In Cambridge, check out Dance Complex. It has a totally fun roster of classes including Kids Flamenco, Duncan Dance -- this class is said to "emphasize the relationship to each other and nature, respect, honor and grace. There is a focus on solitude and affiliation balanced through choreographic etudes and classical music." There's also a kid's Hip Hop Empowerment and an African dance class for parents and kids on Friday night.

Do you have other spots that you and/or your kids love getting their groove on? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Image credit: digitalart via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 24 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local
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I hope you all enjoyed this lovely weekend! In my opinion it was the perfect amount of snow -- plenty to be pretty and fun to play in (Laurel frolicked outside for two hours with her cousins yesterday!) but not too arduous to shovel. Oh, and also, congrats to the Patriots! Now, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

January 23: Come glean the best ideas for getting organized.

January 23-29: Bread and Puppet Theater brings a carrot circus to Boston.

January 24: An event for women looking to get back on the career track.

January 25: Pretty, pretty. An exploration of color.

January 27: A Chinese New Year celebration in Acton.

January 27: A different kind of Green Eggs & Ham.

January 27: The Wizard of Oz kicks off its run at Wheelock Family Theatre.

January 27-29: Enjoy Lincoln's winter carnival.

At your leisure: Nominate your favorite nonprofit to win a $1,000 charitable donation. So easy, so awesome.

At your leisure: Pick up some hand relief (Hydrolatum is totally working for us!).

At your leisure: Make something yummy. I just made a pan of magic spinach pie yesterday (see my recipe revision in the comments) and it was fantastic, as always. And so gratifying to watch the kids gobbling it too.

At your leisure: Chip away at organization. I love these ideas for using pocket organizers all over the house.

Image credit: Wheelock Family Theater

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Because I'm all about reducing physical and emotional clutter in life (I'm even speaking about this topic at BlissDom next month), I'm thrilled to join Asha Dornfest of Parent Hacks and Meagan Francis of The Happiest Mom to host a conversation on The Best Ideas For Getting Organized at The Motherhood. Join us tomorrow -- Monday the 23rd -- from 1-1:30 pm EST to chat about simplifying and streamlining your home, schedule, and life. No complicated technical know-how is required to participate in the chat -- it's basically like commenting in on status updates. You will need a logon at The Motherhood to participate, so hop on over and register now. You can also submit questions in advance if you like.

Image credit: Parent Hacks

Posted by Christine Koh on 22 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Home; Solutions
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Last year we opened a bank account for Laurel -- she's really proud of it. She saves up money to put in her account and is always game for rolling loose household change (we tell her if she's willing to roll it, she can deposit it into her account...she just deposited $21 in loose change this week, actually). And while normally I don't get excited about banking matters, I am really looking forward to ableBanking opening so we can transfer her savings. Normally I would not write about a bank opening, but stick with me -- helping out your favorite nonprofit is involved!

First, I want to disclose that ableBanking is a client of Women Online. In my advisory role on the project I am not obligated to post about ableBanking, but I love their model and want to share it. In a nutshell, as an online-only savings bank, ableBanking will save on overhead and thus be able to offer better rates and no fees for customers. But the big differentiator? They are foregoing fancy ads and redirecting their marketing budget to charity -- on behalf of their customers.

Once ableBanking is open, simply open an account ($250 minimum to open) and you then can designate $25 (a huge amount compared to other banks offering charitable percent donations) to any nonprofit you choose. Even better, ableBanking is committed to ongoing charitable giving and will donate one quarter of a percent of your balance every year to the charity of your choice.

As I said, I find this model totally awesome and it also offers a wonderful means to talk to kids about charitable giving. And most immediately, before the bank opens, ableBanking is engaging a charitable campaign. Simply nominate a beloved Massachusetts 501(c)3 non-profit by January 31, 2012 and the five most nominated nonprofits will each receive a $1,000 donation from ableBanking. This is a big sum for many struggling nonprofits and nominating takes about 5 seconds. So GO DO IT! Also, don't worry, nominating doesn't commit you to opening an account -- submitting your e-mail will add you to a distribution so they can let you know when the bank is open, but then you can choose at the time whether or not to take action.

Personally, I am rallying for Laurel's school PTO. Like many schools, they do so much and are so committed and are always in need of cash flow. I double checked with my friend Elise (who seems to know everything about anything related to the PTO!) that it is a 501(c)3 and was thrilled to receive confirmation. I'm going to try to rally all of my friends and their friends at the school to nominate.

And what about you? It takes only a few seconds to nominate your favorite nonprofit and then a few minutes more to rally friends and family via e-mail. While yes, of course I want to win $1,000 for our school PTO, I'm rooting for all of the nonprofits you all care about.

One technical note: For kids under 16 years of age, ableBanking accounts will need to be opened in an adult's name with the child listed as a beneficiary. Those 16 years and up can open a joint account where the teenager is the primary account holder. Either way offers excellent fodder to involve kids in charitable giving discussions!

Image credit: vintage Mexican piggy bank via Etsy

Posted by Christine Koh on 21 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Good Deeds
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Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. Here are 12 picks that caught my eye:

1. Hail to The Monkey King! (Cambridge)

2. Hooray -- there's actually snow on the ground for this family snowshoe walk. (Mattapan)

3. I'm admittedly curious about how big the big red dog will be. (Boston)

4. A perfect pick for Elmo fans. (Worcester)

5. For those who are curious about creatures. (Arlington)

6. Magic! (Arlington)

7. Classic children's stories, puppet style. (Brookline)

8. Cinderella, apparently with a twist. (Brookline)

9. Geckos! (Boston)

10. A family friendly musical jamboree. (Cambridge)

11. A healthy family expo where you can jump to your heart's content. (Everett)

12. I am admittedly a little obsessed with penguins right now. This would be perfect. (Boston)

Image credit: Peabody Museum

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) shares a beloved book:

During a recent playground conversation with a fellow mom, we were recounting our childhoods. Although we grew up in different areas, our memories were the same -- hours and hours of unsupervised outside playtime with neighborhood friends, solo bike rides into town to buy candy, and walking to school by ourselves by the time we were in second grade. As we hovered over our four collective children, occasionally interrupting our own chatting with a "Don't run so fast!" or "Watch your head!", I reflected on how much life and "playtime" had changed for my own kids in just one generation.

A few days after this conversation, a Boston Magazine article by Katherine Ozment began circling around my Facebook world. Called Welcome to the Age of Overparenting, Ozment wrote about whether her style of parenting -- what has come to be the style for many of us these days -- was contributing to the demise of her own children's freedom and imagination. She wrote:

"I still remember the time my two older brothers built an igloo in our front yard. It had a domed roof and arched entrance, and they strung an overhead work lamp from the ceiling and laid out a small rug so we could all sit in it for hours. Witnessing my children's paltry fort-making skills, I thought, Is this what our kids will remember of winter -- digging little holes in the snow as their mother hovered nearby? Where has the childhood I once knew gone?"

Both the conversation and Ozment's article reminded me of one of our very favorite bedtime books -- maybe a favorite for me because it so beautifully captures what I feel my kids are in danger of losing if I don't ease up a bit -- the freedom and imagination to create worlds of their own, worlds that don't include parents.

Roxaboxen, written by Alice McLerran and illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Barbara Cooney, tells the story of a very real town in Arizona created out of the fantasy of children. Like any town, Roxaboxen has houses filled with tables and dishes, shops, a town hall and mayor, and even a jail. Roxaboxen is the first place that the neighborhood children run to after school, and is where they spend their summers, building new homes and shops. And even though the town is run by children, they still have rules -- eat as much ice cream as you want, but don't break the speed limit or Policeman Jamie may take you to the cactus-lined jail. Swords made of ocotillo plants serve as weapons in war, sticks stand in for horses, broken glass creates jeweled windows, and small black pebbles buy you anything you want in Roxaboxen.

I love reading Roxaboxen with my sons not only because it reminds me of the freedom of my own childhood, but also reminds me what I want for them and my need to step back a bit and let it happen. I recently asked my older son if he thought it was strange that there were no parents in Roxaboxen. "Oh, Mom, there are parents," he said, "you just don't see them."

Exactly.

Posted by Christine Koh on 18 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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Happy snowy Tuesday everyone! I hope you all had a lovely and reflective long weekend. This morning I wanted to share one timely online event + some other fun updates. First, today at 1pm ET, I'll be co-hosting a live chat on The State of the Mom Blogosphere over at TheMotherhood. The chats are TheMotherhood are amazing, as are my co-hosts -- come join the conversation! (No complicated technical know-how required; it's basically like commenting in on status updates.) Second, I'm super honored to be featured in The Improper Bostonian's style section this month. The fashion shoot was insanely fun and I hope to share more of talented Adam DeTour's photos soon.

Third & fourth: in December, I shared some ideas on keeping kids happy while on the road in the Boston Globe and helping kids banish boredom in USA Today Kids Health Magazine. Enjoy!

Fifth: I'm so very honored to be included in this roundup of fine speakers for BlissDom. This is an amazing conference and I'm incredibly excited to be talking about doing less as a life strategy. If you're attending this conference, please come say hello!

And sixth: I am amazed and overwhelmed by the unexpected outpouring of responses to my call for writers. If you submitted an application, please bear with me. It's going to take me some time to go through all of the applications as I want to give each its due attention, and balance out the applicant editorial interests with my current writers.

Enjoy the week!

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Travel; Web (Admin)
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Today, Sheri offers ideas for celebrating and learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. at home (and if you're looking to get out of the house, there are several MLK activities included here):

Monday, January 16, is a holiday for our school-aged children. It's important for kids to understand why they have the day off and why we celebrate the birthday of one of America's most influential people. Kids can learn the history behind the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the event surrounding a man who changed history through a variety of activities that can be fun, inspiring, creative, and educational. Below is a sampling of ideas; if you have others, feel free to share in the comments!

Books

Read together! Here's a roundup of recommended books for teaching or introducing Martin Luther King, Jr. to children. Make an activity out of visiting your local library or used/new bookstore to look for titles.

Craft

I like this Decorate with Many Colors craft activity from Family Education.

Online Video, Printables, & Quizzes

Check out this powerful, free 4-minute cartoon video about the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr. The site also includes printable activities and online quizzes that can be both fun and educational for your kids.

Songs

For younger kids you may want to introduce Martin Luther King, Jr. through song and rhyme. Check out these lyrics that you can apply to favorite kid's songs such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Yankee Doodle, B-I-N-G-O, Skip To My Lou, and This Old Man.

Image credit: I Have A Dream banner from Paper Altar via Etsy

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Holidays; Winter
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Happy Friday! I hope you're looking forward to a lovely long weekend. Here are 12 picks that caught my eye. And stay tuned -- this weekend I'll post some ideas for fun, creative, and educational ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at home.

1. Dance, arts, crafts, and critters to celebrate Chinese New Year. (Dorchester)

2. A family friendly show at Club Passim. (Cambridge)

3. More Year of the Dragon festivities via drumming, dance, tea, games, and more. (Boston)

4. Hooray for magic! (Brookline)

5. My father-in-law would go berserk over this train show. (Wenham)

6. Thanks to the Sound of Music, I'm intrigued by this marionette show. (Arlington)

7. Listen to the Boston Children's Chorus perform their annual Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute concert. (Boston)

8. Make some noise at this Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. (Easton)

9. A family folk song concert in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Boston)

10. Celebrate friendship and honor Martin Luther King, Jr. (Acton)

11. Learn about Native American art and make a drum that represents your family. (Salem)

12. Enjoy free admission and special events at the MFA MLK Jr. Day Open Houes. (Boston)

Image credit: Franklin Park Zoo

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Holidays; Local; Winter
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My Canadian friend Leslie gifted Laurel with a copy of Anne of Green Gables a couple of years ago. Given that Laurel loves chapter books with female central characters, we've been looking forward to reading Anne together but the language is still a little too advanced (Amazon lists the series for ages 9 and up). I subsequently was thrilled to find an adapted version of Anne of Green Gables in a box of hand me downs from my sister-in-law Estelle.

Perfect for avid young readers who also still love picture books, Laurel and I loved reading this book together. Although Laurel was initially a bit rattled at the beginning -- by the idea that Anne might be sent away for being a girl -- as the story developed, she was clearly captivated by Anne's strength, sauciness, and sensitivity. Laurel has already said she can't wait to read the original book and all the subsequent Anne stories. Meanwhile, I'm going to see if we can track down other adaptations of later books in the series.

One shopping note: The adapted Anne of Green Gables I found on Amazon has a different cover and publishing date (off by a year) than the copy I have, but shares the same contributor list for author (L. M. Montgomery), adapter (Margaret DeKeyser), and illustrator (Jerry Dillingham), as well as the same approximate page count and publisher (Dalmation Press). After poking around quite a bit on Amazon, I'm pretty confident that this is the same version I have. Enjoy!

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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Today, Jules shares five resolution pitfalls and how to avoid them:

You know the concept: a commitment to a personal project or goal. You know the time: the New Year. You know the problem: it rarely happens! And that's typically because people tend to set the bar high too high and too vague. This year, make a resolution to keep your resolution and actually get there by setting goals that are realistic and tangible. Here are 5 resolution pitfalls and how -- as a trainer and social worker -- I suggest avoiding them.

Resolution #1: "I will hit the gym way more."

Reality: No you won't. Not for long anyway. This isn't a clear enough goal and thus sets you up for failure because you aren't even sure what you're trying to accomplish. Plus, you could end up overdoing it; for example, going to the gym seven days a week could result in overuse injury and fatigue.

Solution: Modify your goal to something concrete such as, "I will be active five days a week" or "I will go to the gym four days a week." Be real about what other commitments you have -- and if one of your gym workouts has to be replaced with a hike with your family, give yourself credit! Schedule a week's worth of workouts at a time so that they become non-negotiable meetings.

Resolution #2: "I'm not sharing my resolution."

Reality: Not sharing will make it easier to give up on your resolution.

Solution: Sharing your goals and progress is a great way to keep yourself motivated and stay accountable. Whether you do it online (e.g., via Facebook, Twitter, or Daily Mile) or by engaging a friend as a workout buddy, be clear about the changes you want to make and why you want to make them.

Resolution #3: "I'm going to lose thirty pounds."

Reality: This is a really big goal. First consider, do you need to lose 30 pounds, or will 30 pounds really only contribute to making you miserable and cranky?

Solution: Set a measurable and clear goal. Thirty pounds by when? And better yet, rather than the number, focus on the "how." How will you get there? How will you change your diet? My general suggestion is to EAT FROM THE EARTH. More protein, more veggies, fewer carbs, less sugar. Keep a food journal. Do not go for an extreme diet. In fact, do not diet at all. Look for healthy food and food changes that you can incorporate into your lifestyle. Make it work for you. And remember that it isn't always going to be fun. It takes a lot of hard work to get effective results.

Resolution #4: "I'm going to lose weight, quit drinking, get in shape, run a marathon, compete in a body building competition, and win back my ex-boyfriend."

Reality: There are too many goals going on here, and some of them are, well, rather extreme.

Solution: Start slow and tackle one thing at a time. If you are a novice runner and you decide you are going to run a marathon, that is a huge goal. So, that should really be the one goal you focus on. Getting there might include some bits and pieces of other goals (e.g., quit drinking), but keep your focus on the central goal.

Resolution #5: "I've never been into yoga, but I'm going to take up Bikram yoga because my sister does it and loves it."

Reality: You aren't necessarily staying true to yourself.

Solution: Remember that the reason to make a resolution should be because it is important to you, not someone else. Pursue something that holds meaning for you instead of following a current trend that you have no interest in. A resolution is a means to get to an improved version of you.

Sweating is a great way to begin the year, and when the going gets tough, don't quit. No matter what change you are trying to make: daily stretching, saving money, de-stressing techniques -- allow yourself wiggle room. You don't need to be on track all the time, every time, 'til the end of time! It is more about how you amend the mistake and proceed. In order to drop 30 pounds, you first have to drop one. In order to save $3000, you first have to save $1. Monitor and recognize the smaller successes along the way. Every possible "good" eating experience of your day starts with one bite. Begin with a healthy and smart bite.

Making resolutions is an ancient and worldy practice; breaking them is an even more widespread practice that we can taper by reflecting on who we want to be and doing it with the best intentions of health and happiness.

Image credit: akeeris via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 11 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Sports & Fitness
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Every winter I struggle with painful dry, chapped hands -- resulting from the cold weather, my lax hand moisturizing tendencies, endless dish washing, and increased hand washing to combat germs. And it turns out Laurel is prone to the same chapped hand syndrome. I've tried a variety of hand creams but haven't found the perfect one, so I decided to turn to Facebook and Twitter last week to solicit recommendations. And what did I learn? Not only that you people are awesome (actually, I already knew that), but that you people are passionate about moisturizing! Here are the comments I received, grouped alphabetically by brand. Soft, happy hands -- here we come!

Aquaphor

I hope you all enjoyed the gorgeous weather this weekend. It's hard to imagine that this time last year we were buried under piles of snow! I hope you have a fantastic week lined up -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

Starting January 10 (multiple sessions): Consider signing up for this program about giant ocean critters. Yay for giant ocean critters!

January 11: Learn how to make a windowsill garden.

January 12: Enjoy fire and ice in New Bedford.

January 13: Inspire a love for chemistry.

January 13: Humpty Dumpty kicks off at the BCA Black Box Theatre.

At your leisure: Purge! Over the holiday break it felt phenomenal to purge my closet and donate to a drop box. We just purged some kids clothing yesterday and Laurel is working on a playroom purge to donate toys to kids in need.

At your leisure: Menu plan. We're trying to get back in the habit of mapping out at a weekly menu plan, using the chalkboard circles we have up in our kitchen. In general we opt for a strategy of 2 more involved meals (things that require assembly and longer baking times, e.g., lasagna), 2 quick meals (e.g., quesadillas, breakfast for dinner), leftover nights, and one night for take out.

At your leisure: Hydrate. Drink lots of water. And take care of scaly skin. I'll be sharing a community inspired post on hand creams soon!

At your leisure: Start a new book. Head to the library, used book store, or Amazon armed with this awesome reading list. (I just ordered Cutting for Stone and Left Neglected on Amazon last night since I haven't been able to find the titles at my local used book store -- so excited for them to arrive!)

At your leisure: Engage in some self care. I can't seem to find a ballet class that fits my schedule so I just ordered this ballet DVD. Also handy, here are 11 easy ways to get back to fitness.

At your leisure: Bake something. I love baking as an activity with kids. Yesterday Laurel and I had a great time making lemon sugar cookies (YUM). This recipe from my friend Rachel looks deadly but I'm completely intrigued. I have a weakness for caramel and pecan

Have a wonderful week!

Image credit: New England Aquarium

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody shares tips for talking with your kids about the HPV vaccine:

One of the most important and challenging tasks parents face is communicating our values to our children (without them rolling their eyes) -- especially when talking about sex. But while these conversations can be difficult and awkward, research shows that positive and honest communication helps young people delay sexual activity and make healthier, safer decisions about sex.

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and for parents it's a perfect opportunity to start a conversation with your children about sexual health and the steps they can take to stay healthy. This month's conversation can be about the HPV vaccine, which, like regular cervical cancer screenings, is a key way to prevent cervical cancer.

HPV is the human papillomavirus, some strains of which can be transmitted through sexual activity in men and women. In fact, HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and some strains can lead to cervical cancer and genital warts. The FDA has approved two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, to safely and effectively prevent infection of the two strains of HPV that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases -- Gardasil also prevents infection of two strains that cause 90% of genital warts.

Every year, approximately 13,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease. The HPV vaccine is a major breakthrough in the fight to prevent cervical cancer and should be considered a routine, normal part of health care.

In order to be effective, the vaccine needs to be given well before someone becomes sexually active and potentially exposed to HPV. The CDC recommends that girls and boys ages 11-12 get the HPV vaccine, but it can be administered to anyone between the ages of 9-26, regardless of sexual activity.

Given the fact that the vaccine is most effective when administered at an early age, parents need to be educated about the vaccine and talk about it with their children. Making a decision with your child to get the HPV vaccine is not a permission slip to begin having sex. Rather, it is a way to prevent disease, just like other childhood vaccinations.

A decision about the HPV vaccine can also serve as an opportunity for parents and their children to have broader conversations about values and sexual health issues. While 11- to 12-years-old may seem young for this conversation, informed adolescents with involved parents are more likely to delay sexual activity. Some suggestions for beginning the conversation:

I hope you've all had a fantastic first week of the New Year! It's been a tad crazy here, attempting to get caught up on things, but I feel grateful for all of the good stuff going on -- not the least of which is the incredible outpouring of applications in response to my call for writers. Please be patient while I sift through the responses over the coming weeks and thank you so much for your interest and kind words. Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a fun and relaxing weekend -- below are 9 picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!

1. Family friendly activities and warm galette? Sign me up. (Boston)

2. Who doesn't love a magic show? (Arlington)

3. I love the idea of taking a parent/child knitting class with Laurel. (Jamaica Plain)

4. I always feel so inspired browsing at open studios. (Lowell)

5. Head to Amazing Things if you want to see Gustafer Yellowgold rocking the live music, animated illustrations, and storytelling. (Framingham)

6. Get green and crafty in the New Year. (Mattapan)

7. How pretty would a full moon hike be? (Topsfield)

8. Support local at the Cambridge and Dorchester winter farmer's markets opening this week! (For other winter farmer's markets in Massachusetts, visit the Mass Farmers Markets site -- scroll down and follow instructions on the site to search for winter markets.)

9. This or another upcoming cold weekend, it would be fun to hit up the MFA Family Art Cart (Boston).

Image credit: French Cultural Center of Boston

Posted by Christine Koh on 6 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local
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Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a favorite book:

I love Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child for its assertion that magic is all around us, as long as you look closely. My children, six and eight, both love this book as well and often ask me to read it to them. The book opens with Annabelle looking for fairies in the "cement and weeds" near her house despite her father's firm statement that she won't find them. Annabelle's firm belief and tireless searching are rewarded when one Saturday she finds a boy with wings, as big as her finger, shivering in the breeze. As soon as he has introduced himself as "Jethro Byrd, fairy child," Annabelle spies a miniature ice cream truck that has fallen from the sky. Jethro's family -- his father, mother, grandmother, and baby sister -- are trying to tug the truck back to upright and ask for Annabelle's help. She quickly helps and then invites them to her house for tea.

Annabelle leads the Byrd family back to her house and introduces them to her parents. She wonders why it is that her mother is looking the wrong way when she heartily greets the Byrds, and then, suspicious, asks her father if he can see them. He claims that he can but Annabelle can tell that he can't. Sad, she asks Jethro's mother why her parents can't see them. "He's too grown up," the fairy tells her. "He doesn't have time for fairies." As I read this line I choke up, every single time. Is that true?

After a lovely afternoon playing music and dancing, the Byrds tell Annabelle they have to go. Crushed, she asks if she can go with them. No, they tell her. She is just too big. As they leave, the Byrds give Annabelle a fairy watch which tells fairy time. "Time goes by slowly for fairies," they explain. The watch fits right on her fourth finger. The ice cream truck lifts into the air, flying away, and the Byrds leave with a reminder to wind her watch and to "keep looking." That night, Annabelle sees fairies all around her neighborhood.

Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child reminds us that for those who look carefully, the world is full of startling beauty. It reminds us that there are wonders -- magic, even -- to be found if we slow down and walk at the pace of a child, take the time to look at what they see, and, most of all, to believe.

Posted by Christine Koh on 5 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids
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Laurel typically enjoys quite a bit of generosity from her relatives during the holidays, so in the Christmas aftermath, it's particularly impressive when one thing captures her attention. And, well, ours too. This year, that thing is Katamino. Including an adjustable-sized playing board (increasing the size of the playing space increases the difficulty), different wooden shapes (pentaminos), and an impressively varied instruction manual, this game inspires seemingly endless spatial puzzles for one or more players.

Much like the Perplexus, Katamino has captured the attention of both the big and little people in our house. We're all busy taking turns, attempting to solve the individual levels (and yes, like the Perplexus, Laurel has already surpassed me on a couple of levels) that we haven't even gotten to the multiple player games. As we recover from the holiday season, it's been lovely to have a game that is simple and battery-free and also inspires quiet time! Added bonus: it's compact enough (yet with chunky wooden pieces that are easy to hold on to) for car travel too.

Also, a side note about the Perplexus (since many of you were pretty excited to learn about that game): Laurel mastered the classic version I wrote about and has moved on to the Perplexus Epic -- which will definitely provide challenging fodder for a while. I recommend getting the Epic if your family has mastered the Classic. We also bought my father-in-law the Classic and it was a big hit...it was fun to pad into the kitchen the morning after Christmas to find him playing it at the kitchen table!

Posted by Christine Koh on 4 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Art Supplies & Toys; Travel
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Happy 2012 everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful holiday break! We soldiered through a plague-filled start to the vacation, but eventually recovered and enjoyed the relaxed pace so very much. I also did pretty well on my vacation week to do list and accomplished #1 (except we passed the plague on to my poor mother-in-law), #3 (almost...it will be out by the end of today...yippee!), #4, #5, #10 (oh my goodness I love my new site, feel free to take a peek), #11 (chocolate cake!), #13, #14, and #16.

I hope to knock off the remaining items this month, and will start with #7 (make an editorial plan for Boston Mamas), in a way, today. Over the break, even though I wasn't posting here, I was thinking about editorial on this site. As regular readers might gather, content tends to be organically inspired -- I don't have a firm editorial calendar (for example, specific topics on specific days of the week) and I don't crack the whip with the wonderful women who share words on this site. And while I love organically evolving content, I also feel that for all of our collective enjoyment/utility, I would like to feature more regular voices across a range of verticals. And get a little more organized in general. So today, I'd like to open a call for writers.

If you are interested in contributing to Boston Mamas, please fill out this brief application. In a nutshell, I'm looking for writers who are able to reliably contribute one blog post per month (compensated; either topic assigned by me or writer-pitched and approved) and who clearly enjoy writing and write well (i.e., posts must be thoughtfully crafted and spell checked). I am looking for everyday local moms who love sharing awesome ideas and finds (local or otherwise) and/or thoughtful editorial on deeper matters (e.g., family issues, child development quandaries).

Please note: I get pitched by a lot of businesses that want to guest post in order to promote their businesses. This is not what I am looking for. If you are a business and want to connect with my readership, please take a look at the contact guidelines.

Thanks so much, and I look forward to hearing from you! And please be patient while I sift through the responses. I will need to evaluate options and balance different variables across new and existing contributors, which will no doubt take a bit of tinkering!

Wishing you a beautiful 2012; thanks for hanging here! xoxo Christine

Image credit: Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 3 Jan 2012 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Web (Admin)
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