Giveaway Goodness: Let's Play
You might recall from an earlier post that I'm working with Let's Play to inspire families to play more. I am totally on board with this kind of responsibility! Have you taken the Let's Play Pledge yet? It's super easy (literally, takes about 15 seconds) -- simply join the online movement via Facebook by pledging to enjoy 60 extra active play minutes a week with your kids (that's less than 9 minutes a day!), then get out there and have fun. Meanwhile, the folks at Let's Play kindly have offered three "Save Play" kits to help inspire three of you awesome readers on your more play journey! Here's how to enter to win.
Today, 
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 
Today, 
I admittedly tend to shy away from plastic toys, but we recently caved and bought the 
My friend Amy recently sent me a teething toy that perfectly marries Violet's insatiable oral fixation with our love for simple, eco-friendly toys and musical merriment. Handmade of locally sourced hardwood and crafted with a smooth, sweet silhouette, 
Today, 
I hope the rain holds off this weekend because ever since our recent overnight to Maine (where Laurel 
Natalie Zee Drieu and I are virtual kindred spirits around all things stylish and crafty. In addition to sharing fabulous finds at her blogs 
My friend 
During a recent play date at a friend's house, Laurel fell in love with playing 
Laurel definitely has the design bug, and when she recently became obsessed with and started sketching wedding dresses, part of me couldn't believe she'll be one of those girls who will be able to say, "I dreamed about my wedding dress since I was six years old!" and part of me was stunned by the creativity, color, and detail she includes in her designs. Even so, Laurel knows that white is the norm, and given that she has has asked me if it's OK that her dresses are super colorful, I was thrilled to find this 
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:
Today, 
Since her birthday in September, Laurel has had her heart set on acquiring a 
As regular readers know, Laurel adores crafts. She also adores holidays. In fact, one of the unexpectedly excellent qualities of the potted Christmas tree I pushed for this year (we plan on planting the tree come spring) is that once we took down the Christmas decorations, Laurel realized she had a blank canvas for...you guessed it...making it a Valentine's Day tree. (Actually, she first suggested creating a Martin Luther King Day tree except it took us too long to remove the Christmas decorations.)
Given that my parents used to subject their household visitors to impromptu recitals by me and my six siblings (at a point where none of us were exactly musically proficient), I tend to cringe a little when I think of family recitals. However, recently I was overwhelmed by the awesome that was Laurel's assembly of a family recital, thanks to these fantastic 
If you didn't have a chance to watch 
I'm not sure what my problem is, but I'm having the hardest time wrapping my brain around the fact that Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!) is next week. If you also need help getting in the holiday spirit, and/or want to pick up some awesome tips and inspiration, tune in to 
Today, 
Laurel recently has gotten into headbands (which is great because her fine hair is prone to flyaways that get stuck in food and art projects), and we've struck out on a couple of attempts to find a flower headband she likes. I was about to jump down the Etsy rabbit hole (or hit the craft store and warm up my glue gun) when we stumbled upon this 
Here are some links that caught my eye this week, and that I curated over at 
Laurel and I first got hooked on playing with LEGOs when we 
As I mentioned last week week, Laurel wanted a unicorn party for her sixth birthday. It suits me perfectly that she prefers small gatherings at home; we hosted a super fun unicorn party that was pretty low maintenance while still being utterly unicorn-tastic. Below is the how-to for pulling the party together. And thematically, you could swap elements to tailor the party to your child's interests (e.g., horses, dinosaurs, fairies, etc.). Enjoy!
Today's 
Though our backyard is small, it gets a lot of action (I've become an expert at 
Today, 
Today, 
I recently started helping my web savvy friend 
As the parent of an avid crafter, one of my favorite things about the green movement has been the emergence of eco-friendly art supplies. And I adore the prettily (and of course responsibly) packaged wares of 
I'm not sure what it is with kids and face paint, but when I mentioned to Laurel that there would be a face painter at 
This spring-like weather is utterly delicious, and if your kids want to create colorful flowers to match (while nature catches up), consider this 
One thing I adore about my in-laws is that they dream up all sorts of interesting activities -- both crafty and every day -- to engage Laurel in during visits. Recently, in addition to introducing Laurel to a variety of awesome every day experiences, such as holding baby chicks, collecting eggs, and feeding horses (my heart breaks a little that I wasn't there to witness all of this), my father-in-law taught Laurel some classic magic.
If you’ve followed my February vacation week itinerary so far (and 
One fun by-product of parenting is reliving games of my childhood with Laurel (oddly enough, I’m also looking forward to a second pass at learning math and history when Laurel hits high school…). And often times it’s the simplest and least expensive games and activities that offer so much fodder for fun and creativity.
During the bitter winter months, even summer-related crafts are welcome (let's all chant the think warm thoughts mantra, shall we?). Today, 
Given Laurel’s insatiable appetite for art projects, it’s always fun to discover a new craft that captivates her. And currently, it’s weaving -- an activity inspired by a transfixing spin on a full sized loom at a downtown art festival this past summer. We recently bought Laurel the 
Looking to take dress up play to a fun, new, and eco-friendly level? Today, 
I admittedly have a bit of a weak spot for creative and colorful educational toys (especially those under $10), so this weekend when Laurel and I picked up 
One of Laurel’s favorite birthday gifts is the 
For those who desire organic play dough but don’t have the time or interest to 
All kids deserve to have music in their lives, and I love that there are ways to access music that don’t involve investing thousands of dollars in an instrument (as I did for my bow alone as an aspiring violinist). Among Laurel’s favorite birthday presents this year is the 
Laurel always has loved putting pen (or marker, crayon, or colored pencil) to paper, and these days, whenever presented with activity books that include word searches, mazes, scene analysis, etc., she immediately gravitates towards the mazes. In my subsequent hunt for maze books, I was thrilled to find 
When it comes to toys, I always opt for wood over plastic, both for eco reasons and because I admire those who do woodcraft on any scale. And if you’re looking for unique wooden baby toys, consider 
Today, 
Never more evident as when you’re trying to pack for car or air travel, kids have a lot of stuff. And that’s why I think the 
Today, 
My friend Nooshi is truly impressive when it comes to hosting parties (whether they’re for grownups or kids) and her birthday parties for her son always are amazing. If you’re feeling up for a challenge, or simply want to glean a few of the basic ideas, check out the below write up of her son’s recent Outer Space Party. It is -- not surprisingly -- out of this world.
Air travel is challenging for many families in this economy, but the good news is that there’s a way to grow your child’s awareness of the world on a budget (think staycation!). 
This past weekend I took a walk down craft memory lane when my mother-in-law brought a 
Crafts and toys typically occupy separate real estate in stores and playrooms, but 
You know you’re either terribly predictable or somewhat loved when folks write in asking if you’re trapped under something really heavy on a day (yesterday) with no posts or 
When playing board games with Laurel, coping with the whole winner and loser thing has, at times, been challenging. So one thing I love about eeBoo’s prettily illustrated 
Today, 
If you’re like us and live amidst a landslide of kiddie artwork, here’s a clever solution to preserve and share those heartstring-tugging gems. Locally based 
Laurel used to paint voraciously as a toddler, but in the last year or so she has tended towards passing up her paintbrushes for other tools; that is, until she discovered 
I haven’t even begun to sort out Easter crafts or goodies for Laurel, but luckily some lovely other bloggers have done my homework for me. Here are some cool Easter/Passover/Spring craft and treat ideas that caught my eye around the web this week per Love These Links!, where I share clever, resourceful, thought provoking, and/or hilarious links that I think would be of interest to the fabulous readers who peruse Boston Mamas. Enjoy!
Need a 
We do lots of arts and crafts at our house, but every now and then I discover a magical item that positively consumes Laurel, be it at home, while waiting at a restaurant, or during travel. The Orb Factory’s sticky mosaic kits currently are Laurel’s project of choice; she's so instantly, happily, and independently engrossed in these kits that they even allow me some time to catch up on work or household matters nearby.
Today, 
My friend Nicola claims not to be terribly crafty, but she seems to have a knack for assembling super cute birthday parties. I’ve been meaning to post for some time about this teddy bear tea party she hosted when her daughter turned 4 years old. In a similar spirit to my 
Today, 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
It’s amazing how quickly kids go from having chubby, inexperienced baby paws to incredibly nimble little fingers. And if you’ve got an avid builder in the house, check out 
Laurel has an insatiable appetite for arts and crafts, and as she's grown more dexterous we’ve had fun experimenting with more complex projects. If you’re also looking to explore beyond crayon and paper parameters, check out 
Today, 
Despite being an artist with a closet full of craft supplies, I still periodically run out of ideas or have trouble thinking outside the box to fuel Laurel’s creative appetite. Enter, 
In a departure from her usual content, today 
One of my favorite things about fall is the return of snuggly jammies, and 
I'm a firm believer in the learn through play teaching philosophy, and our third installment of Giveaway Goodness no doubt will inspire your kid to get skilled at setting up shop. We’re giving away Playskool’s entire Cherry Blossom collection, which includes the 
Whenever I see Laurel’s stack of bland, misshapen, undersized receiving blankets, I wonder how we survived her swaddling months. It’s no wonder those busy feet kept busting out of her burrito, and I certainly would have enjoyed prettier patterns. Luckily, for moms looking to swaddle in style there’s 
Today, 
Laurel has always possessed freakish focus when it comes to working with paper, and as a preschooler, she’s added writing and paper cutting to her crayon, paint, marker, and collage repertoire. We can never have enough activity books around, and currently are enjoying Mead’s 
Laurel loves Polly Pocket dolls, but the rubber outfits still prove challenging even for her dexterous little fingers (which negates the independent play that would allow me to tidy up or get dinner on the table). But Polly’s got a brand new bag, as it were, with the fall launch of Polly Pocket Pop ‘N Swap dolls. Offered in 
Today, 
This past weekend we hosted Laurel’s 4th birthday party, and while it differed significantly from her previous parties in size (6 instead of 20 kids), it shared the same sense of themed imagination as in past years. Year 2 was an “everything yellow party” (all food and decorations were yellow), year 3 was a “rainbow color party” (
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
My friend Nooshi is amazing at identifying a cool party theme then really running with it. A couple of weekends ago she threw a marvelous Messy Party for her son’s third birthday and the party was unbelievably fun and beautifully creative. Here’s a run down of how she made it all happen:
If your little one loves alien play - or simply enjoys squishing and sculpting - now you can provide the goods to create an alien army! Today, 
Looking for a natural craft dough, but don’t have the time to 
I realize that Laurel’s princess obsession is a phase, but I still periodically fret over the homogenous story arcs and aesthetics of those tales. Luckily, there’s an alternative in 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Today, 
Today, 
For compact travel toys, I love the concept of magnetic or reusable sticker books, but we’ve repeatedly been disappointed by the mediocre magnetism or stick of several brands. That is, until we tried Mudpuppy’s 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Today, 
We talk a lot about tea sets and tea parties in our house (what with all the repeated reads of 
Whether you love the messy, tactile nature of art, kitchen, and garden projects with kids, or need a little inspiration to say yes to mess, check out 
If your family is tired of looking out the window and seeing the sparse drab of winter, consider trying 
We’ve been on the go a lot these days, and waiting anywhere got a whole lot easier once I started toting Laurel’s 
Today, 
We've recently received some useful leads for toy and safety guides, good for the holidays and all year round. Locally organized Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment (
unfortunately was lukewarm, despite my thinking it’s actually a pretty cool toy. I’m reviewing this product today in conjunction with 
– dusty from years of dormancy – served not only to connect letters into words, but also to reconnect Jon and me.
(in 
or 
pieces) to our collection soon.
and 
, the Doodle Desk features a pine veneer which is remarkably easy to clean: most child-friendly markers and paints wash right off."
. The set includes interactive pieces (thermometer, syringe, blood pressure cuff, and a stethoscope that actually works against the skin), as well as an otoscope and bracelet style bandage. Also included is a soft tote, which is nice so you can add other tools - such as a shamanic maraca - easily (a common complaint of kits with hard cases is that it's tough fitting all the pieces back in), and the set is compact for travel.
is an expanded version of a small tote we own (no longer available), and offers great bang for your buck. Made of textured, easy to handle rubber, the set includes a 25-piece "locktagon" construction set, lacing and tracing cards and shapes, an alphabet puzzle, and four little shape puzzles. 
set. As homage to her love of all things covered in frosting, Laurel has taken to serving her finished pegboard creations as cake.
game. We have yet to play with the game in intended bingo style (the chipboard set includes four playing boards showing 9 baby animals each, and 36 individual animal tiles to match to the boards), but little animal enthusiasts will dig the game pieces regardless. As a toddler, Laurel loved looking at the animal pictures, and then one day blew our doors off by matching all the tiles to the boards. We do more of the same now, but accompanied by rounds of “Old MacDonald.”
and 
handles), 
, and 
that are designed to prevent the growth of bacteria; the straw cup (shown) keeps drinks cool for up to 12 hours (from 
($16.95 at 
($13.49 at 
with extensive experience with other Aquadoodle products weren’t as happy with this new entry in the Aquadoodle line, but as newbies to Aquadoodle, we have no complaints. If traveling, we’d just suggest bringing a bottle of water along to keep the pen (and yourself) hydrated during the journey.
doll ($26.95 at Amazon). Cuddly but somewhat alien looking. Assuming we get another Asian doll, I think we’d go for the cuter and more mature Corolle Choquette Kim (shown; ~$45 at 
. We like the simplicity of these Corolle dolls; they don’t eat, sleep, or poop in the mechanical sense, but it means they’re battery-free, machine washable, and leave more to the imagination. (Choquette Kim also won the Oppenheim Best Toy Gold Seal Award.)
and 
! It’s a good world to be living in these days.
