One of the most stressful parts about Violet's recent state of plague was that for the better part of a week she refused bottles and pretty much all solid food, save occasional bites of cheese and blueberries. The logical part of my brain knew that she would eventually drink and eat again, but I was still concerned about dehydration and getting her some calories, particularly because she was so limp and sad and not herself during this time.

During this period, an unexpected little miracle arrived in the mail: samples from Plum Organics. I have known about Plum for a couple of years, but I haven't purchased starter purees of any kind since I've been making baby food (the Beaba Babycook makes it absurdly easy to do so), and at this point, Violet has largely moved on to finger food chunks. However, when I opened the box, I decided to try the purees. Not only had I not seen these yogurt/fruit/veggie and fruit/grain blends before, but it occurred to me that if Violet would actually eat them, she would get a little more fluid in her by way of the liquid content in the purees.

And to my enormous glee and relief, I approached her first with the apple-spinach yogurt blend and she gobbled it up. I also presented some of the apple/raisin/quinoa blend and she gobbled that up too. For the next couple of days, we continued to present her usual foods and she gradually started taking them again, but she readily consumed these purees on each presentation. {Cue angels singing.}

I'm not sure if it was the food novelty factor, the comfort of being spoon fed (as I mentioned, Violet has moved on to finger foods, save yogurt), the taste blend, or something unbeknownst to me (Vi still hasn't sprouted any teeth, so we wondered whether gum pain and not wanting to mash on solids was contributing to her food rejection), but these products were a saving grace. It was a huge relief to see Violet get some calories, and at the risk of a TMI moment, the liquid content of the purees also helped her on the output side.

Violet is finally back to her usual cheerful self, eating her solids, but we are keeping these pouches on hand as a handy and convenient back up/supplement. I especially like having the fruit and grain blends in our arsenal because other than brown rice and quinoa, I never cook millet, barley, or amaranth so it's nice to have those grain options in rotation for variety.

As of this writing, these two new Plum products haven't been fully released in stores. I learned this the hard way when I ran to Whole Foods panicking in dismay in the baby food aisle when this was the only food Violet would eat! After writing the Plum Organics representative who sent the samples, she informed me that the products are available at Toys "R" Us (here are the links for the fruit/veggie/yogurt and fruit/grain blends), then they'll be available at Target in March, Safeway in April, and Whole Foods later in the spring. We've tried every variety except the fruit/grain blend including mango (since we think Vi might be allergic to mango) and all have been consumed happily!

Posted by Christine Koh on 29 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (2) | Filed in Eco Living; Feeding & Nursing

Today, Jennifer (also of Hey Girl Momma Go) shares 12 ideas for winter birthday parties (that go beyond the bouncy castle):

I actually don't mind indoor jumpy houses and long inflatable slides. I have even grown to appreciate the "fun" in large singing mice, cheesy pan pizza, and gobs of tickets that propel out of game machines like a crazy paper adrenaline rush. But as a parent who frequents the kid's birthday party circuit, it is refreshing to switch it up. Here are 12 ideas for kid's birthday parties that are great for the winter season (many are great the rest of the year too!).

1. The nostalgic Woburn Bowladrome north of Boston has bowling for kids that's complete with a glow in the dark setting (the more white clothing the kids wear, the higher the glow factor). Young bowlers will enjoy the bumper lanes, good tunes, and small arcade for post-bowling games.

2. If you can handle the cooler temps, snow tubing at Nashoba Valley in Westford is great outdoor fun.

3. The birthday party package at Coco Key Water Park in Danvers includes admission for all kids, where they swim their little hearts out in a huge warehouse-sized lifeguarded water park. They also offer side rooms for pizza and cake and post-swimming arcade games. If you want to party on the fancy side, you can rent a cabana that's poolside. (Also, FYI -- for a fun family outing, Coco Key offers day passes. We went as a family one Saturday and had a blast.)

4. On the other end of the physical exercise spectrum, I've heard good things about Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham, where party goers can enjoy a cupcake decorating mini-class and decorate their own aprons.

5. For crafty types, check out Dabblers in West Concord, where you can focus your party around a range of hobbies such as woodworking, soap making, fiber arts, and science. And they make it one-stop shopping for party-planning parents by including invites, goody bags, and thank you notes in the party package. Awesome.

6. Kidstock is wonderful for budding thespians.

7. The MFA offers lovely creative and educational birthday parties.

8. Pottery painting provides a great hands on activity where the project doubles as the party favor. Team Boston Mamas has had great experiences at Clay Dreams, Made by Me, and Plaster Fun Time. It would also be worth checking whether Barefoot Books offers birthday parties in their lovely studio.

9. If you want to blend outsourcing + being at home, the New England Aquarium will bring sea critters to you.

10. Obviously, outsourcing can get pricey, particularly if you have a large party size. If you have the energy and space to host at home, dance parties are great. Simply put the kids in a finished basement with the Cha Cha slide blaring and a disco ball, and you're good to go.

11. Also in the home spectrum: host a "pretend" sleepover with pizza, cake, PJs, and a movie (note, however, that this does not work when it's your daughters entire kindergarten class -- I learned that one the hard way!).

12. Finally, there's always the beautiful simplicity of sending the kids outdoors. Tell attendees in advance to bundle up and plan a scavenger hunt or simple games like freeze tag and dodge ball. If there's snow on the ground, gather your old beach shovels and pails so the kids can build snow forts. And make a big batch of hot cocoa to help the kids warm up when they come in!

Do you have other awesome winter party ideas? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

Image credit: Treat Cupcake Bar

Posted by Christine Koh on 28 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (5) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Kid's Parties; Local

Hello, hello! For those who were off last week I hope you had a great February vacation! I enjoyed a lot of relaxed and happy time with the girls on the front end of the week and then had an amazing time at BlissDom. It was fun to share around More Birthdays (client work), speak about doing less as a life strategy (the response was overwhelming...I can't wait to write more about this topic), and celebrate Asha and my new book deal. Meanwhile, it's a new week and l am looking forward to tackling it! Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

February 28: It's not feeling tremendously wintery right now, but hopefully there will still be chili!

February 28: Laurel loves examining "nature treasures" with her microscope. Enjoy this bird-inspired microscope magic.

February 29-March 4: Oh my goodness I totally want to take Laurel to this spectacle of acrobatics.

February 29-March 25: I think it's awesome that there will be an art exhibit inspired by spring mud.

March 2: Maple sugaring season = yum.

March 2: Read, read, read in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday!

March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: Free Film Fridays are back!

At your leisure: Tackle one small decluttering project. I'm going to take 10 minutes to declutter the two high-value-real-estate-yet-full-of-junk-drawers in our kitchen. I am weirdly looking forward to it!

At your leisure: If you haven't done so already, get your tax materials together.

At your leisure: Say a heartfelt thank you to someone. When I was at BlissDom this weekend, I think my eye was very trained on all the details (and amazed by how seamlessly everything came off!). I took the time to express thanks throughout -- to the food service staff, the tech staff who handled my session, the sponsors who helped support the conference, etc. After the event, Asha and I were dashing off to the closing party and I was amazed to see how fast the booth expo staff was breaking down and cleaning up. Having interfaced with these folks (on behalf of the More Birthdays booth), I was definitely tuned into how amazing they were all weekend. I asked Asha to hang on a moment and walked over and expressed my thanks to them for everything they did. The two women looked so happy and said, "That is so nice! No one ever says thank you!" Little expressions of gratitude go a long way.

Image credit: thank you cards by photospell via Etsy

Posted by Christine Koh on 27 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (3) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local

It's sort of crazy how things come full circle. Two years ago at BlissDom (incidentally, where I'm headed off to shortly), I had several people tell me I should write a book -- a huge compliment. And at that conference, I actually thought of a book idea -- I was so excited about the idea that I drafted an outline on the plane ride home. But then I couldn't quite take the idea forward. It was a busy year -- I was traveling a lot, I got distracted by another book idea later that year (again, I outlined the concept during the ride home). And then I unexpectedly got pregnant. Which meant another busy year followed.

But then this past fall, one of the cofounders of Bibliomotion -- a Boston-based publishing house -- approached me after Pivot (apparently my co-host Whitney Johnson told Jill Friedlander to come talk to me). Jill and I had a very friendly chat but I honestly didn't think much of it -- that night I was truly in pure help-other-people-connect-to-one-another mode, not advance-my-own-agenda mode. Until Jill emailed me a week later asking to talk on the phone. We chatted about my book ideas and I was tasked with deciding which book I wanted to formally propose. After some mulling, I felt very much that I wanted to start with the book idea I had hatched first (at BlissDom 2010), but I wanted a co-pilot on the adventure. And as I prepared to depart for Camp Mighty in November, I realized that I had the utterly perfect potential partner in my brilliant friend Asha Dornfest, and I was thrilled that during our time together at Camp Mighty, she agreed to be my co-author. I returned home, dusted off my nearly two year old book outline, and within a mind-numbingly short amount of time, Asha and I edited and submitted the proposal, received an offer, signed with an amazing agent (OMG I feel like such a grownup...I have a literary agent!), and as of this morning, our book deal is official. I almost cannot believe this is really and truly happening!

But it is. And I am beyond excited. To collaborate with an amazing friend (incidentally, one of the very first bloggers I "met" on the internet) on a topic about which we feel immense collective passion. To be represented by a wonderful agent. To work with a fantastic, forward thinking publishing house. To be on my way to fulfilling a life list item. I'm so very grateful.

Asha and I will be sharing more about the book soon, but in a nutshell, the tentative title is Minimalist Parenting: Enjoy Modern Family Life More By Doing Less and we are viewing it as a "MacGyver's guide for modern parents" -- including advice to help overwhelmed and guilt-ridden parents shed the pressure to constantly "do" and instead make more mindful choices for their family time and resources. Incidentally, the title of my talk tomorrow at BlissDom is DO LESS as a Life Strategy. Clearly, I think about this stuff pretty much all the time.

Asha and I have some ideas about how we hope to integrate the community into the process. I hope you will come along for the ride!

Image credit: vintage typewriter illustration by Bear & Robot via Etsy

Posted by Christine Koh on 23 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (30) | Filed in Minimalist Parenting; Web (Admin)

Hi everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I just wanted to check in to let you know that I'm going to be largely absent this week (though I do hope to reveal some exciting news soon!). I want to spend time with Jon and the girls on the front end of this week, particularly because I will be heading to BlissDom to speak and on behalf of a client on Thursday. Meanwhile, if you're looking for stuff to do this week, here are a slew of February vacation ideas, plus I wanted to share some posts that caught my eye this week. Have a fantastic week and happy reading!

This post about Asian American icons moved me very, very much.

On carrying sadness and letting it go.

Ten excellent ways to reduce stress.

How to get your kids to stop nailbiting.

Twenty ideas for giving yourself 10 minutes a day.

Gluten- and dairy-free breakfast ideas.

On Rick Santorum and women voters.

I love these images of hearts in nature.

Ideas for getting kids to clean up.

Have you tried alternative therapies for depression and anxiety?

Image credit: Kirtsy

Posted by Christine Koh on 20 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Filed in Family Issues; Feeding & Nursing; Web (Admin)

Oh my word, is February vacation upon us already? Laurel is beyond excited to take it down a notch and spend the next nine days in her jammies. I kind of wish I could too! Also, I'm really hoping that this vacation period brings with it the release of our family from the plague -- after eight very long days, Violet finally perked up last night and started giggling and causing trouble again (I never thought I'd be so happy to see her make giant messes everywhere!). Anyway, today I wanted to round up a few picks for the weekend + several for next week so you can plan accordingly if you are, like us, enjoying a February staycation. Enjoy!

1. February 18: Explore color at this family day event. Click through on the link to see the image shown partially in the thumbnail above -- it is breathtaking (if you don't see it immediately, refresh your browser until you do as they have rotating images)!

2. February 18: Go on a folk art exploration.

3. February 18-19: This event is perfect for train fans of all ages.

4. February 17-25: I posted about this earlier in the week, but really, this is delightful for Bugs Bunny fans.

5. February 17-26: Laurel and I are super excited to head to Disney on Ice's Dare to Dream tomorrow. Rapunzel and Flynn!

6. February 18-26: Go back in time at Old Sturbridge Village.

7. February 18-26: Practice those sailor skills.

8. February 20: Enjoy Doktor Kaboom! -- an interactive science comedy show.

9. February 20-24: Cast your vote in a PreZOOdential Election.

10. February 20-24: A building full of kid-friendly fare, including special winter vacation week programming.

11. February 20-24: Get outside during the winter break.

12. February 20-24: Artful February vacation programming. I think Laurel would love this.

13. February 20-25: Programming perfect for budding techies.

14. Ongoing: Finally, if your elementary school aged kids are in programming and you're looking for some structured play for your little ones, Knucklesbones is running open play sessions for babies/kids 8 months - 5 years.

Image credit: deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Posted by Christine Koh on 17 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local

Last week I hopped onto a chat at The Motherhood about work/life balance. During the chat, I commented about self care being a major part of the balance equation, but that it's important not to stall out due to your own, or other people's, ambitious standards. That very morning, actually, I started a practice of giving myself the gift of at least 10 minutes of self care every day. (And yes, I put "10 minutes" as a recurring to-do in my Outlook since I love crossing off to-do items.) Tomorrow (Friday the 17th) at 1pm EST, I'll be hosting a live chat about the 10 minute challenge. Come share and garner inspiration for how to make self care doable! The chat is text based (similar to posting and commenting on status updates in Facebook); just be sure to create a login at The Motherhood in advance so you can hop right on at 1pm to chat in real time!

Posted by Christine Koh on 16 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Bath, Beauty & Health; Family Issues

There are many things I love about Tea Collection -- the quality, the colorways, the details, the fact that most items are offered all the way from baby to size 12 -- and as a designer I especially appreciate their use of global inspiration. I recently had the opportunity to preview some pieces from the new Bali collection and they are just delightful. You can read more about the happy inspiration (how fun does that trip sound?); meanwhile, I wanted to share my favorite picks from the girls and boys collections. Also awesome? The kind folks at Tea Collection are offering a $100 gift certificate to one of you lovely readers! Read on to check out my picks and learn how to win!

GIRLS

Tea Collection is replete with lovely dresses, but I especially adore the non-girly girl colors and patterns of the (1) Indonesian batik dress and (2) Adat batik dress; keep the chill away with the super soft (3) radiant rice leggings layered underneath. Or if your girl doesn't dig dresses, pair this gorgeous (4) Celuk embroidered top with one of Laurel and my favorite pieces from the Mexico collection: the (5) skinny French terry cargos. Finally, we're always dressing our girls in layers -- the soft and snuggly (6) kimono robe is a divine pick.

BOYS

These (1) French terry cargos (yes, the boy counterpart to the above) will serve as the perfect base for pretty much anything on top. My favorite tops include the: (2) monkey king tee, (3) Barong batik layered tee, and (4) Pelaga camp shirt. Add cozy layers with either the (5) Desa stripe hoodie or, if your boy doesn't like things pulled over the head, the (6) growling naga zip hoodie.

Aren't these clothes amazing? Now, on to the giveaway. The kind folks at Tea Collection are offering a $100 gift certificate to one of you lovely readers! Check out the rules below and enter to win!

Rules:

Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) recommends a game that actually lives up to its name:

When my oldest son expressed interest in chess after reading the first installment of the Harry Potter series, I was excited, but tentative. While he loves to learn new games, he gets pretty frustrated when he can't master a game quickly. Not being a chess player myself, I had a vague sense that learning chess, let alone mastering it, was not going to be an easy task.

Boy, was I wrong.

On a trip to Stellabella Toys, I came across No Stress Chess, a version promising that players aged 7 and up would "Play the World's Greatest Game Instantly!" For once, an advertising slogan turned out to be true! The secret, I learned, is the special deck of cards from which players draw, showing exactly which piece to move and how to move it. While the deck eliminates the need to remember how every piece works, we found ourselves learning very quickly and not needing to refer to the card's instructions every time we drew. After just a few days of playing, my son was challenging us to games without the cards. A year after getting the game, his interest hasn't waned. At least once a week he pulls it out before bed and beats us handily.

Posted by Christine Koh on 14 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; For Grownups

Wow, what a weekend. Poor Vi has been suffering since Wednesday and we're still not out of the woods. It's been a challenging several days, but also included a major revelation. I'm wishing all of you and your little ones excellent health! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

February 13: Pack Valentine's for school. If Valentine's prep has fallen off your radar, don't fret! Check out these free, fast, and adorable robot printables. And if you're volunteering in your kid's class for Valentine's, arm yourself with a few of these cute classroom party ideas.

February 14: Hug or call someone you love. I'm planning on recording a short Valentine's video greeting from the girls to email to the grandparents.

February 16: Bring your baby to enjoy some art.

February 16: Katherine Stone educates on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

February 17: The Mitten, brought to life.

February 17: Come garner great ideas during a live chat I'm leading on taking 10 minutes for yourself every day.

February 17: A technicolor singalong.

February 17-25: Perfect for Bugs Bunny fans.

At your leisure: Print and hang some new family photos. (Personal goal: get photos of Violet on the wall before her first birthday next month!)

At your leisure: Engage in some preventative medicine -- whatever works for you, whether it's a yoga class, upping your vitamin C, or going to bed an hour earlier.

At your leisure: Make some comfort food. Like this easy, cream macaroni and cheese.

At your leisure: And if you've been having a tough go of things as we have, make a yummy sweet treat. I think it's time for me to make these peanut butter bliss cookies.

Posted by Christine Koh on 13 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Holidays; Local; Valentine's Day

Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a welcome addition and workshop series:

The famed Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum recently opened a new addition to the existing, ornate, historical space. The modern, Renzo Piano-designed addition -- a 70,000 square foot temple of light and glass -- holds space to showcase art by current and former members of the museum's artist-in-residence program, an impressive performance hall, and a gleaming new studio. It is in this latter space that the museum is holding weekly Education Studio workshops. Visitors of all ages are welcome to participate in workshops, which are drop-in and held on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4:30pm, and included in the price of museum admission.

I recently took my 9-year-old daughter to one such workshop and she thoroughly enjoyed building a three-dimensional freeform building out of a variety of materials. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and I think the workshops are most suitable for children 6 and up. The workshops are themed, such as this weekend's Cupid's Arrow, during which attendees will visit the Titian room to observe Cupids in art before making their own Cupid's arrow with dowels, features, and paints, and The Uncommon Canvas (March 17-18), when participants, inspired by contemporary artist Victoria Morton's works (in the Special Exhibition gallery) will create multilayered pieces of their own from materials such as scrap fabric, tissue, and acrylics.

For a slightly older child, the Gardner is an enchanting place. My daughter was captivated by the internal garden and the story of a fascinating, eccentric woman whose personal selections and assortments have never been altered. Combining a visit with a workshop in the bright new space made for a wonderful weekend morning.

Editor's Note: Unfortunately I couldn't find direct links for the Education Studio workshops. I recommend calling advance of your visit to confirm programming.

Posted by Christine Koh on 12 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Local

Friends, how are you all doing? Staying healthy? Perhaps it's simply a function of having one more family member in the mix, but it feels as if this has been the season of plague, with one, more, or all of us sick at some point or another. I'm actually a little relieved that our plans to have company this weekend have fallen through so we can take it easy and get everyone healthy. I hope you all have a wonderful, plague-free weekend; here are 15 picks for your consideration!

1. Chinese New Year celebrations, among many other kid-friendly activities. (Boston)

2. I think this claymation workshop sounds so cool! (Boston)

3. An event for teens to connect with community service opportunities. (Chestnut Hill)

4. Enjoy a contemporary classical rendering of The Tortoise and the Hare and The Pied Piper at this family concert. (Boston)

5. A battle of the teen bands to benefit Children's Hospital. (Boston)

6. Bundle up for a winter family fun safari hike. (Milton)

7. Learn how to turn every movement into dance. (Boston)

8. Rock the lunar New Year in Quincy. (Quincy)

9. Celebrate the release of Bari Koral's new album. (Natick)

10. Chinese New Year in the Square. (Cambridge)

11. A family show by Laura Veirs & the Tumble Bees. (Cambridge)

12. Lowell Winterfest continues. (Lowell)

13. Get your sci-fi on. (Somerville)

14. A place to find travel inspiration. (Boston)

15. Yes to chocolate and ice sculptures. (Salem)

Image credit: HarvardSquare.com

Posted by Christine Koh on 10 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local

Even though the process can become messier and the results less perfect, I love baking with kids. It makes for a fun project (just this week we had a friend of Laurel's over for a baking play date -- so fun!), offers yummy rewards, and you can choose to work in some math teaching if you like. Laurel and I recently tried a new (to us) cookie recipe from Lori Longbotham's Luscious Lemon Desserts that was just delightful; a lovely twist on basic sugar cookies. Below I've edited the steps and added notes to offer some shortcuts and tips, as well as ideas for incorporating kids into the process. Enjoy!

Old-Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies
Makes 4 dozen cookies

• 1 2/3 cups sugar (split)
• 2 teaspoons pure lemon oil (split)
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/3 cup finely grated lemon zest (approximately 6 lemons worth)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter 2 large non-stick baking sheets. (I recommend using Silpat mats. You don't need to spray or butter the mat and the cookie bottoms always come out perfect.)
2. Stir together 2/3 cup sugar + 1 teaspoon lemon oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. (I never sift anything and it seems to work out fine. Laurel is old enough to measure out ingredients but with younger kids you can hand them the measured out ingredients to dump and mix in the bowl.)
4. Using a hand or standing mixer, beat the butter, remaining 1 cup of sugar, remaining 1 teaspoon of lemon oil, and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Add the flour mixture and lemon juice and beat until just blended. (Experienced and steady-handed kids can be tasked to work the hand mixer or turn on the standing mixer and keep an eye on consistency. If you are using a standing mixer, make sure you lock the mixer in the down position before your kid turns it on. Just in case!
5. Form balls with tablespoonfuls of dough. Roll them in the sugar-lemon oil mixture (from step 2) to coat well and place about 3 inches apart on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass until about 2 inches round and 3/8 inch thick. Sprinkle each one with a pinch of the sugar-lemon oil mixture. (Laurel and I split the dough. I followed the steps here -- except that I forgot the final sprinkling step -- and she rolled out her dough on a floured surface and cut it with cookie cutters. This dough was much softer than traditional sugar cookie dough so it was harder to roll out and cut, but Laurel was determined! One thing that helped was to use shapes with simple patterns/edges. Both versions were delicious!)
6. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. (I popped the sheets in two at a time and kept an eye on them. It worked fine!)

Image credit: Suat Eman via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted by Christine Koh on 9 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Grownups; Home; Recipes

I can't believe Violet turns one next month. I also can't believe she ever used to lie immobile on her back. During the night, she migrates around her crib a lot, which has made blanket coverage impossible and (I think) contributed to interrupted sleep. Now, sleep sacks as a temperature solution are not a new concept to me, but I hadn't bothered with them for Violet since with Laurel, the zip-front openings weren't the most convenient for middle of the night diaper changes.

But now there's gunapod -- a super cozy fleece sleep sack that you can access from every direction (and inspired right here in Boston). It features the classic front zipper, plus side zip openings that run all the way around, plus button snaps on the top. So, you can open just the bottom to let baby's feet hang out or change a diaper. You can unsnap the top if your baby is standing in his/her crib demanding to get out and it's time to get changed for the day anyway. You can even unzip the side to do a stealth diaper check while you nurse. (We have done all three of these things; the latter I found particularly handy.)

The first couple of times I used the gunapod I was thrilled to find Vi's hands and feet toasty warm in the morning -- I sleep easier knowing I don't have to check her blanket situation in the middle of the night. And while Vi's sleep has been a little up and down the last few months as we've dealt with new foods, colds, blanket problems, and whatever other baby matters interrupt sleep, it dawned on me the other day that her sleep has been more consistent the last couple of weeks since we started using the gunapod. This, of course, is not a guarantee that your baby will start sleeping through the night if they use a gunapod (I wish it were that easy, my friends!), but we're at least able to address the cold-in-the-middle-of-the-night factor. Plus, I've found that getting Vi into the gunapod at night provides a nice bedtime cue, particularly since I recently dropped our bedtime nursing. I prep her bottle, get her in the sleep sack, we cuddle up, and she feeds. And then blissfully enjoy a good night's sleep.

Posted by Christine Koh on 8 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Gear; Sleep

Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) shares a beloved book, good for Valentine's Day or any day:

"Mr. Hatch was tall and thin and he did not smile." And so begins the story of Mr. Hatch, a lonesome man who leads a gray and dreary life. He leaves his house at precisely 6:30am for his job at the shoelace factory every day, sits alone and eats his cheese and mustard sandwich for lunch every day, and stops at the grocery store for a fresh turkey wing for dinner every day. And then one day, a day unlike every other day, the postman changes Mr. Hatch's world when he delivers a giant heart-shaped box of chocolates, complete with a special Valentine's note. "Somebody loves you," the note says. But who?

In Eileen Spinelli's Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (our favorite Valentine story that we read year-round), we get a peek into how someone's whole life can change with one simple expression of love. As soon as Mr. Hatch reads that note, his world becomes more colorful and expressive -- captured perfectly by illustrator Paul Yalowitz -- as he begins wearing polka dot ties, helps out neighbors in need, throws backyard parties complete with homemade brownies, and laughs like he's never laughed before.

But just when we think all is right in Mr. Hatch's life, the postman returns to admit that he delivered the box to the wrong address, and suddenly Mr. Hatch's new found joy disappears (as does the color from Yalowitz's illustrations). And just when you want to jump into the pages of Mr. Hatch's world and say, "but WE love you, Mr. Hatch," the many people whose lives he touched in those few brief days of happiness band together and show Mr. Hatch exactly what he means to them.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is a story that has brings tears of empathy and joy. With its simply written story and expressive pictures, not only does it teach that saying "I love you" can change someone's life, but that opening up to other people can change your life, too -- an important lesson for kids and grownups alike.

Posted by Christine Koh on 7 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Books & Entertainment; For Babies & Kids; Holidays; Valentine's Day

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend (despite the, er, sporting events of yesterday) and are gearing up for an excellent week. I'm going to kick things off by getting back on the self care wagon via a 10 minute run after I hit publish on this post! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

February 6: Drop in for a playdate at the MFA.

February 8: If you've ever thought about writing a children's book.

February 9: Carnevale! in New Bedford.

February 9: An event for parents who need guidance about colic, sleep, and feeding issues for baby.

February 9-11: Let's hope for some pretty snow for Lowell Winterfest.

February 10-12: A film festival perfect for sci-fi fans.

February 10-12: If you're looking for travel inspiration.

February 10-14: The Salem's So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. Yummy. Pretty.

At your leisure: I have a couple of fantastic giveaways going if you'd like to enter to win: Boston Musica Viva (by noon Tuesday the 7th) and a Killington Resort lift ticket package (by noon Thursday the 9th).

At your leisure: Give this yummy white chili a go!

At your leisure: Do something nice for someone you love -- before they ask you to do it. Like this.

At your leisure: Experiment with a new look. This loose waves tutorial makes me want to grow my hair back out.

At your leisure: I received so much great feedback via Facebook and Twitter on this roundup of 10 awesome Valentine's Day craft and treat ideas. However, if you want a couple of super quick and easy Valentine's projects to do with your kids (no exacto knife needed), try these pop up cards or pipe cleaner heart goggles. Or how adorable are these homemade photo cards?

At your leisure: I started this post mentioning self-care and I highly encourage you to join me. I've been very bad about self-care lately and have decided to engage in a little 10 minute a day challenge for myself, whether that 10 minutes is spent running, walking, doing a few sun salutations, attempting ballet, or simply stretching and breathing. We all deserve at least 10 minutes a day!

Image credit: strawberry treats via Pinterest

Posted by Christine Koh on 6 Feb 2012 | Permalink | Comments (0) | Filed in Fun Indoors; Fun Outdoors; Local

Today, Jules shares a recipe perfect for Super Bowl Sunday (or any day really):

Between my husband's enthusiasm for football and mine for good food, Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday in our house. Chili is a Super Bowl staple and it's an easy crowd pleaser because it's typically a one pot meal that can feed a hungry crowd. Most often prepped with fatty ground meat, loads of cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips, I'm tweaking tradition here and whipping up a reduced fat white chicken chili that is a treat for the eyes but also a really unexpected and refreshing surprise for the palate; all while staying true to those chili roots and remaining a heady and satisfying one pot meal. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cups roasted and salted almonds
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 slice toasted whole wheat bread
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 1 jalepeno pepper, finely diced
• 1 small can green chili peppers
• 1 teaspoon, ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon coriander
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1.5 pounds shredded chicken (white meat)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans cannelini (white) beans, drained
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup white wine*
• Salt and pepper
• ¼ nonfat Greek yogurt
• Shredded smoked cheese (gruyere works beautifully)
• Fresh cilantro
• Sliced lime

1. In very large stockpot, heat oil on low heat. While oil heats, puree almonds, garlic, and toast to a fine puree. Add a tablespoon of water if it needs a little moisture to process. Add this paste to the hot oil and stir well for about 20 seconds.
2. Add onion, celery, jalepeno, canned chili peppers, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Cook for just another minute. Add shredded chicken, beans, broth, and wine. Cook partially covered for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Spoon into bowls and top with a dollop of yogurt, a touch of shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze and slice of lime.

*Note: The wine does cook off, but if you'd rather not use wine in this dish, you can replace the wine with 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar.

Image credit: Rainbow chili print by PragyaK via Etsy