Boston Mamas

How to Attract Hummingbirds

2012-05-15T14:38:24Z

Today, Hillary of Mass Audubon shares tips for attracting hummingbirds to your yard:

Come late spring and throughout the summer, there's a common scene that replays over and over in our house. We will be sitting at the dinner table, coaxing our 4-year-old to eat her food, and one of us will shout: HUMMINGBIRD! You'd think we saw a dinosaur by our reaction, but no -- just this tiny, remarkable bird that dashes from flower to flower in front of our window before zipping off way too soon. Hummingbirds have to be one of the coolest birds, sure to impress all kids. Here are some fun facts + tips on how to attract hummingbirds to your yard:

]]> Hummingbird Fun Facts

Their wings beat about 53 times per second.
They can fly upside down and backwards.
Their tongues actually split in two to lap up the nectar. (Watch this video to see it in action.)
They must consume more than their own weight in insects and nectar every day to stay alive.
They hatch from eggs the size of a bean.
Plus, identifying is super easy. There's only one species that is commonly found in the Northeast, and that's the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The male has a ruby throat surrounded by emerald green feathers, while the female's neck is just white.

How to Attract Hummingbirds

There are basically two ways to recruit hummingbirds to your backyard, and I would recommend doing both to increase your chances.

Option 1: Put out a hummingbird feeder with nectar

There are scores of hummingbird feeders out there. The Jewel Box Hummingbird Feeder ($28 at the Audubon Shop at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary), which attaches to your window, is a great one to start with. You can purchase nectar, but it's much cheaper (and more fun) to make it yourself.

To make your own:

Combine 4 parts boiling water to 1 part sugar.
Let the sugar dissolve and then cool.
Fill the feeder and store remaining nectar in the fridge.
Clean feeder really well once a week. This chore can be easier if you have two feeders - one in the dishwasher while the other is hanging outside.
Note: No need to add red dye -- it's neither beneficial nor harmful.

Option 2: Get some hummingbird-loving plants

Bee Balm (Monarda), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea), and Butterfly Bush (Buddlia) are easy to maintain and look great together. Not much of a green thumb? Try Hanging Fuchsia.

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Editor's Note: And if you haven't read it already, be sure to check out Hillary's great post on bird watching for beginners!

Image credit: Phil Brown via Mass Audubon

Weekly Blueprint

2012-05-14T12:02:26Z

Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a lovely weekend! As I mentioned last week, my brother-in-law is in town from California. His visits are always so fun and also inspire me to make lots of yummy food -- the weekend was replete with Korean barbeque and from-scratch sticky buns (I think I probably should post this recipe for you all...oh my goodness). Added bonus: I managed to get out and pick up new running shoes yesterday, which I'm quite excited about! Anyway, I hope you have a fantastic week ahead of you -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

]]> Starting May 14: I totally want to join this free Caterpillar Club.

May 14: Channel your inner Animal.

May 15: Drool, baby, drool.

May 15: A festival of handbells.

May 16-20: For wine enthusiasts.

May 16: Explore the science of color.

May 17: Find ways to help your kids get beyond sibling rivalry.

May 17: Do some chores, eat some ice cream.

May 18-19: Rock the En Ka Fair.

And a few other things:

Asha and I would love to hear your brilliant thoughts regarding budgeting and relationships -- drop us a comment and you might find yourself quoted in our book!

Mother's Day may be over but it's never too late to try these relaxation tips for busy moms.

Pledge to play more!

One of favorite around the house games: roof football.

I want to try these pancakes.

Image credit: m_bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Yoga Camp for Kids

2012-05-12T14:26:25Z

Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends an upcoming yoga camp for kids:

Last summer my 8-year-old daughter Grace attended Tara Rachel Jones's week-long yoga camp at the Arlington Center and absolutely loved it. She was, and continues to be, at an age where doing a camp or activity without a friend takes some cajoling. After the first day of yoga camp, though, she bounced home happily and eagerly back every other day. She absolutely loved yoga camp with Tara.

]]> Tara's camp is much like her children's yoga classes at the Arlington Center and Majestic Yoga: welcoming, accessible, and warm. She introduces the basics of yoga philosophy and of asana practice to children in a way they can relate to, and provides a safe place for them to explore breathing, their bodies, and ways of thinking about the world.

Yoga camp included craft time, where Tara provided the craft materials, and a healthy snack each day. There was a "formal" yoga class, which, like Tara's ongoing classes, used animals as a central unifying theme with which to access yoga postures. There was also plenty of play. Grace left camp each day noticeably calm, centered, and happy. I feel certain that this sort of practice can have real impact when it comes to grounding children as they grow. I love the antidote that Tara's classes provide to society's focus on looks and materialism; at yoga, Grace was reminded of the power of moving her body in a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.

Tara's yoga camp will run July 9-13 at the Arlington Center on Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington (the class is not yet listed on the website yet so give them a call). Camp is for children ages 6 to 11. It runs from 1:30 to 5:30 and the cost for the week is $140. Space is limited to 14 children, so I encourage those who are interested in sign up soon! You can learn more about Tara and her philosophy about teaching yoga to children here.

Image credit: Flower Yoga with Tara

15 Fun Weekend Picks

2012-05-11T13:55:12Z

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend planned. We don't tend to do anything major for Mother's Day but I do hope to get out and replace my tired old running shoes with some new kicks and would love to shoot some family photos. Also, my wonderful brother-in-law is in town from California, which always feels celebratory! Anyway, whether or not you choose to celebrate Mother's Day formally, I hope you have a great weekend; here are 15 picks for your consideration:

]]> 1. Parade among the ducks. (Boston)

2. A celebration of lilacs. (Boston)

3. It's the final weekend to catch The Miracle Worker. (Boston)

4. Open studios at Fort Point. (Boston)

5. Antiques galore. (Brimfield)

6. Open studios on the East/West side. (Cambridge)

7. Celebrate the art of craft. (Cambridge)

8. A musical family show. (Cambridge)

9. A walk for peace. (Dorchester)

10. Find out whether the monster is friend or foe. (Marblehead)

11. This is about birds, not Twitter. (Marshfield)

12. A fun fest for kids. (Newton)

13. An artistic Mother's Day festival. (Salem)

14. An original illustration exhibit. (Watertown)

15. For North Shore design enthusiasts. (Wenham)

Image credit: Needle felted ducks by TCMfeltDesigns via Etsy

Maud Morgan Arts

2012-05-10T12:55:03Z

Today, Kate shares an art center I'm itching to try with Laurel:

My daughter has always loved art. From her early daycare days of finger-painting and messing around with sand, through coloring and cutting, and now up to learning how to sew and knit and make complex collages, she is drawn to create using color and materials and shapes. And while she always makes a beeline for the art table at school and we have collected boxes full of art supplies at home, there are still limits on what we're able to do ourselves. For this reason, I was thrilled to discover Maud Morgan Arts, a wonderful art center and school discreetly hidden on Sacramento Street in Cambridge.

]]> Tucked behind the stately home of the Agassiz Baldwin Community -- itself a vibrant neighborhood gathering place -- Maud Morgan offers classes for all ages in a range of decorative and physical art, including pottery, woodworking, drawing, silk-screening, print-making, photography, and painting. The space is airy and bright, and offers several studios of different sizes and configurations. Maud Morgan Arts also holds events to showcase the creativity of its students and faculty. Named for a prominent Cambridge artist who passed away in 1999, Maud Morgan Arts is a wonderful addition to the greater Boston art community and a great place for children and adults alike to follow their creativity.

Maud Morgan Arts, 20A Sacramento Street, Cambridge; Tel: 617-547-1647

Image credit: Jack Horner via Maud Morgan Arts

Dare, Dream, Do

2012-05-09T15:07:30Z

Whitney Johnson impresses me in so many ways. She is smart. She is kind. She makes stuff happen. She wears fabulous jackets. And she's probably the only person I have ever talked to who ends conversations with, "So, what can I do for you?" Last year, unbeknownst to me, Whitney played a pivotal role in moving my book dream forward. And now, I'm just beyond thrilled that her book Dare, Dream, Do: Remarkable Things Happen When You Dare to Dream has launched. It was such an honor to help Whitney kick off her book launch last night at Pivot Boston. Read on for some thoughts about this book and what I have realized about my life dreams, as well as to enter to win one of two copies of this awesome book.

]]> About Whitney's book in general, it's probably easiest to share my official quote (that lives inside the book's first pages):

"As a lifelong dreamer, I was immediately intrigued (and even moved to tears) by Whitney Johnson's observations that women feel it isn't their privilege to dram, and that most people don't dream well in isolation. In this book, Johnson inspires a shift in mindset to resolve these two problems. She makes a case for the importance of dreaming and equips readers with the reflective fodder to identify their dreams and bring them to fruition via elegant prose, insightful questions, community-driven stories, and Johnson's own intriguing personal history. Whether you're trying to identify your dream, forge a new path, or confirm that you're on the right one, Dare, Dream, Do will inspire you to rock your personal space and also think beyond it -- whether that means paying it forward, creating collaborative teams, or showing your children how to dream."

Probably not surprisingly (per Asian stereotypes), my parents dreamed for all of their seven kids to become doctors or lawyers. None of us really hit that mark, with the exception that I became a doctor of philosophy, not medicine. As an undergraduate, my dream was to become a professor and my parents seemed pleased enough with this noble profession, despite the fact that I could neither prescribe drugs nor offer free legal counsel.

However, about seven years ago, when I found myself miserable in academia and my priorities changed with baby Laurel in our lives and my dad's health plunging rapidly, my dreams had clearly shifted. I wasn't exactly sure how to make things happen, by my new dream was to be my own boss and find joy and creativity in every day -- for my working hours to be worth it if I was going to work at all. And though I was determined to leave academia on my own terms, at some level I still did wonder whether I would disappoint my parents and their dream for me. What can I say, I've apparently got some traditional Korean daughter in me.

But my parents -- two people who had worked incredibly hard to forge the American dream for their family and who had drilled the importance of academics into me and my siblings from very early on (we used to have to drop and do 10 push-ups for every vocabulary word missed when my Dad tested us) -- surprised me. When I told my Mom I was going to leave academia and see if I could make things happen in the unknown (to me at the time) world of freelancing, she said, "All I want for you is happiness." And when I told my Dad, who passed away not too much longer after our conversaton, he paused, cleared his throat, and slowly said in his thick accent, "You know, I really think you would be a great diplomat. Or the first Korean-American talk show host."

Though I know my life is my own, I can't help but feel comfort in the ultimate merging of my and my parents' dreams for my life. I am my own boss. I have achieved happiness. I am joyful and creative every day. And incidentally, I employ diplomatic tactics more often than I could have imagined in my professional life. And the talk show host thing? Well, I came close when I hosted Life.Style with Christine Koh and we'll just have to see what happens from here on in.

I hope you will read Whitney's book. You will be inspired to hone in on your dreams. And to bring them to fruition. Look for Dare, Dream, Do at bookstores nationwide, as well as at online retailers such as Amazon, B&N, Indiebound.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Beth and Ellen!
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Now, want to be one of two lucky winners to receive a copy of Dare, Dream, Do? I was fortunate to pick up a couple of extra copies after Pivot Boston last night! Here's how:

Rules*:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com with "Dare, Dream, Do" in the subject by noon EST Friday, May 11, 2012.

One entry per person (please do not enter off multiple e-mail accounts).

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*Two lucky winners (drawn randomly via Random.org) will receive a copy of Dare, Dream, Do. The winners will be notified directly via e-mail and listed back at this post using first name only.

Share Your Brilliance

2012-05-09T14:12:12Z

Back when Asha and I announced our Minimalist Parenting book deal, I mentioned that we wanted to ultimately integrate our communities into the process. Why? Because you are awesome. And smart. And funny. And such an integral part of why this book is even happening. And now, the time has come -- we want to add your brilliance to our completed chapters! Over the coming weeks we will ask specific questions on various topics over at the Minimalist Parenting blog; our first question is about money. Come on over and share your brilliant budgeting tools and strategies!

The Good Kind of Drool

2012-05-08T14:02:33Z

My friends Sheri and Eli Gurock of Magic Beans appear to not sleep. Which, while probably a little inconvenient for them, results in impressive things like the Drool Baby Expo happening next week (May 15) at the Cyclorama in Boston. Geared towards anyone who wishes to check out stylish, functional baby gear up close and personal, attendees will also have the chance to win cool prizes, enjoy refreshments, and walk away with a killer gift bag. And how cool is this? My peeps at Magic Beans are offering up a pair of VIP tickets to one of you awesome readers. Here's how to enter to win:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Shelli!
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Rules*:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com with "Drool" in the subject by noon EST Thursday, May 10, 2012.

One entry per person (please do not enter off multiple e-mail accounts).

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*One lucky winner (drawn randomly via Random.org) will receive a pair of VIP tickets (valued at $120!) to Drool 2012. The winner will be notified directly via e-mail and listed back at this post using first name only.

And if you want to buy a ticket now, use code drool20 to receive 20% off standard and companion tickets.

Handling Mother's Day Challenges

2012-05-08T13:42:44Z

Today, Debbie (also of Two Adopt Two) shares ideas for handling emotional challenges around Mother's Day:

Mother's Day seems easy, celebrating what our moms do for us. But it's not easy for every child. My children, for instance, are adopted. They don't remember their birthmother, but they do miss their foster mother from time to time. They have several friends for whom Mother's Day is sometimes challenging as well. Some have two mothers, one has two fathers, and a few have parents who divorced and remarried. Creative, loving intervention can help everyone enjoy the day. Here are some suggestions to handle Mother's Day challenges.

]]> 1. Talk to the teacher. Ask your child's teacher whether the class will observe the holiday. If yes, gently remind the teacher that your child has lost or doesn't live with his/her mother, or has multiple mother figures (or whatever your situation may be). Brainstorm some inclusive alternatives to help the teacher with plans.

2. Set expectations. Following #1, if your child's class is doing a special project or event, prepare your child by setting expectations about who will receive the project or attend the event.

3. Honor choices. If your child does not live with a mother figure, or has a troubled relationship with his/her mother, discuss honoring a friend, relative, or babysitter. If your child resists, let it go this year or honor someone yourself in your own way if you wish -- both for your own benefit and so your child can see that Mother's Day is what you choose to make of it.

4. Allow for processing. If your child's behavior changes for the worse around Mother's Day, he or she may be grieving. Let it happen. It might be helpful for a younger child to draw pictures to help process the feelings, while an older child might prefer to write a letter or journal entry.

5. Create your own celebration. As alternatives to the typical card and brunch, your family might like to light candles to remember absent mothers or plant flowers to honor multiple mothers. Whatever your child feels like doing, be present and let your child do most of the talking. You might end up doing more celebrating than you expect!

I hope these tips are helpful. If you have other strategies to share, feel free to do so in the comments below!

Image credit: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Weekly Blueprint

2012-05-07T12:58:49Z

Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend and are gearing up for a fantastic week! The major (and somewhat terrifying) excitement at home is that Violet has discovered how fun it is to scamper up the stairs. And among my professional commitments this week, I'm super excited about Pivot tomorrow. It's going to be an amazing event, during which my incredible colleague Whitney Johnson will help attendees hone in on their dreams and figure out how to execute them. We're currently sold out (!) but I recommend hopping on the waitlist if you want to attend since we'll probably get some last minute cancellations. I hope to see you there! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

]]> May 7-13: An original illustration exhibit.

May 8-13: Get your antique on.

May 9: All about bunnies.

May 9: It's opening night for the Boston Pops!

May 10: Enjoy this city view.

May 10: An OddAnimals workshop.

May 10-12: See The Journey of the Little Prince (the son of my friend Sheila Marcelo -- of Care.com -- is the Prince...how sweet!)

May 11: All about bees.

May 11-13: Find out whether the monster is friend or foe.

May 11-13: Browse Fort Point's spring open studios.

And some other things:

The United Way is looking for donated goods + volunteers for their 2nd annual community baby shower.

Have you picked up tickets for Drool on May 15? It will be rad.

Having experienced the pain of wishing for more children (before unexpectedly getting pregnant with Violet) this post really moved me.

In which I make a case for not waiting for maybe.

I really like these 7 simple ways to have a happier relationship.

On putting stress in perspective.

Last week was all about streamlining here: try this free and incredibly effective time management tool (I heard from several readers who tried it immediately and loved it!) and these 5 ways to declutter your weekends.

You've got until Wednesday to enter to win a pair of Dansko shoes -- GO!

Some helpful tips for juice obsessed kids.

Image credit: Charlesbridge Books

Navigating the Juice Jungle

2012-05-05T13:21:56Z

Today, Jennifer shares 7 tips for navigating the juice jungle:

My son recently outed me as a neurotic non-juice parent at a birthday party. And during his "WE. DON'T. DRINK. JUICE!" meltdown, and while my daughter stood perplexed in front of this foreign combo of drink pouch + straw, I started to wonder whether I had been wrong in depriving my kids of this common beverage. Here are some ideas for navigating the juice jungle, culled from my own experiences, and tips from Ayla Withee (a registered dietitian at Boston's SportsClubLA and nutrition blogger for Boston Magazine) and Boston Mamas editor Christine Koh.

]]> 1. Start with other fluids first. To make sure your child doesn't fill up on empty calories, try water and milk first. Another option is to make yogurt smoothies and add fresh or frozen fruit to the mix.

2. Try diluting. If you've already been serving your kids juice, it may prove challenging to go cold turkey. Withee recommends diluting juice gradually with water, or making the drink special by diluting with seltzer to make a "fruit fizz."

3. Go pure. If you're going to opt for juice, read the labels and select options that indicate that the drink is 100% juice. However, juice is concentrated so Withee does warn that there is a higher amount of natural sugar in the juice then would be in a regular serving of fruit. So, consider diluting.

4. Be mindful of servings. If you're like me, you probably have at least one picky eater in your home. I've often wondered whether I should use fruit or vegetable juices to get servings into my kids' diets. Withee notes that juice does not have the same nutritional benefits as whole fruits or vegetables since much of the nutrients and fiber are lost in the juicing process, thus resulting in a product that is less filling and more calorie-dense. So if you are going to serve juice, try to limit it to one or two servings of 100% juice per day.

5. Keep trying. Research says it may take up to fifteen times of introducing a food before a child will actually eat it. Keep trying whole fruits and vegetables first. Don't make it a battle -- your job is to present the options, not force them down your child's throat, so just keep presenting and try to stay relaxed about it.

6. Avoid deprivation. It's human nature to want something more when it's deprived of you -- Christine shared that when she was a child, her parents drew a hard line on sugar, which made her and her siblings want it more and sometimes go to crazy lengths to get it! If you opt to have a no juice rule at home, make periodic exceptions (e.g., birthday parties) so as not to completely deprive.

7. Teach your kids to make choices. As with many things in life, the juice issue can be turned into a teaching moment. Talk to your kids about the nutritional issues and engage them in the choice process so they feel like they have control. Christine has long engaged this practice, making explicit with her now 7-year-old that as long as she first fills herself first with good calories, she's welcome to have a treat after (once a day). And that it's important to think about whether the treat is worth it (i.e., is it homemade vs. sitting on a shelf for who knows how long?), whether you really want it (i.e., listening to your belly), and that there's always another treat somewhere else down the road (i.e., there is enough in the world). Christine has found that talking about these concepts have been incredibly effective in teaching Laurel to listen to her body and be more mindful about her food choices. As a result, Laurel doesn't always opt for treats when they are an option.

Do you have other tips to share? Any struggles? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Image credit: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

25 Fun Weekend Picks

2012-05-04T12:46:33Z

Given the persistent server migration issues nagging the site last week, I was a little bummed to later learn that many people weren't able to access the colossal weekend roundup I assembled last Friday. Water under the bridge, though! This weekend there's plenty to enjoy in and around town, spanning arts, culture, fitness, food, craft, critters, performances, celebrations, and nature inspired activities. Browse the options, minimize the weekend household minutia, and have a fantastic weekend everyone!

]]> 1. Yay for this open market opening day! (Boston)

2. Well, of course I'm down with celebrating Asian cultures. (Boston)

3. Sample all foods mobile. (Boston)

4. Reduce, reuse, re-fashion! (Boston)

5. Cheer on or join the walkers for hunger. (Boston)

6. Join in this urban backyard dash. (Boston)

7. Celebrate art while you walk. (Boston)

8. Cast a line at this family fishing festival. (Brookline)

9. Follow the accordion. (Brookline)

10. An evening of bright music. (Cambridge)

11. It's MayFair time! (Cambridge)

12. Celebrate the owl and pussycat. (Concord)

13. Relive Little Women. (Concord)

14. A seriously silly circus and street fair. (Dedham)

15. Rock this KidsFest. (Haverhill)

16. Rock the May pole, among other activities. (Ipswich)

17. Wake up the earth. (Jamaica Plain)

18. A classic fairy tale, marionette style. (Natick)

19. Open studios, west of Boston. (Needham)

20. Open studios, minutes from the city. (Somerville)

21. The masters of flight return! (Stoneham)

22. Yay for Open Arts Day! (Watertown)

23. A family festival to raise awareness about family homelessness. (Wellesley)

24. A spring festival. (Westborough)

25. Visit a lemonade stand! (Multiple locations)

Image credit: SoWa Open Market

5 Ways to Declutter the Weekend

2012-05-03T13:32:11Z

Today, Priya shares five ways to declutter the weekend:

In a lot of ways, I feel as if I'm always working for the weekend. Given the long hours I work, weekday mornings go by in a blur and, with my kids being as little as they are, it's not uncommon for them to be tucked into bed before I get home from the office. And while I daydream about weekends filled with second pots of coffee and leisurely snuggling on the couch with my kids, the reality is that weekends are also the only time I have to run all the errands that have been piling up. Which is a total bummer.

]]> Lately, with Christine's posts on doing less as inspiration, I've been evaluating all of the things that fill my weekends that I don't consider fun and finding ways to declutter -- the goal being to spend less time on errands, household chores, and other logistical minutia, and more time having fun as a family. It's not always easy, but here are five strategies that have been paying dividends for us in a real way:

1. Embrace lists. I've always been a compulsive list maker, but a while ago, in an effort to be more laid back, I strayed from list making. However, as a working mom of two, I have found that I simply need to embrace lists because it's otherwise impossible to keep everything in my head, which then leads to anxiety about forgetting things (not to mentioned repeated trips to the same store). Keep a running list with you on paper or on your phone, jot items down as they come to you so you don't need to worry about remembering them later, and revisit the list periodically through the day to see if you can knock an item or two off if you have a spare 10-15 minutes somewhere. I also always refer to my list before I run errands in case I can take care of several errands in one neighborhood. Oh, and be sure to relish the feeling of accomplishment when you check items off!

2. Divide and conquer. And bond while you're at it. While we like to do as much as we can as a family on the weekends, Pete and I have found that dividing and conquering allows us to finish our errands more quickly, which results in more quality family time. We've also found that when we split up the chores, and each one of us takes a kid along, the one-on-one time makes even ordinary chores feel special.

3. Outsource tasks. I've been looking more into outsourcing tasks in big or small ways. Not every budget can accommodate the added expense of outsourcing, but I've been surprised by how often I can outsource something for free (or at least not much more than what I was saving in time and gas!). I love Amazon Mom's Subscribe & Save because diapers and wipes show up at my place every month without my having to think about it. Some weeks, my family would starve if it wasn't for Peapod and the free delivery service offered by our neighborhood Golden Goose Market. And I was really excited to learn about Task Rabbit through Christine. We're moving this month and I will definitely give them a try to save us some trips to IKEA! These may seem like little things, but even small time savings add up.

4. Swap tasks with friends. My friends and I often commiserate about the same errands. It finally dawned on me that we could take turns task swapping. For example, if I'm making lasagna for dinner on Saturday night, it's not much more work to make a second one simultaneously and give the second one to a friend. Then the next week, that friend will double a meal for my family. I love task swapping with friends because it not only saves time but offers a lovely point of contact.

5. Streamline your biggest time drains. Finally, I recommend identifying then streamlining your biggest household time drains. For me, dealing with mail is a huge drain. I spent a long time being completely overwhelmed by my mail but decided to tackle the problem head on. Within 15 minutes I figured out ways to opt out of receiving credit card offers and reduce other junk mail (via an app on my iPhone!). Awesome!

Are there big time drains you experience over the weekend? How have you handled them? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Image credit: Stuart Miles via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Giveaway Goodness: Dansko

2012-05-02T13:24:39Z

When I first learned about Dansko, it was all about the clogs, which I found comfortable when I was making rounds at the hospital during my postdoc, and when I was on my feet all day working retail. And while Dansko clogs have become a footwear staple in those two arenas, it's been fun to see them go beyond the clog. I get tons of mileage out of these stylish miracle boots during the fall and winter, and Dansko also offers other heeled options for those seeking elevation while maintaining a balanced base. And how cool is this? The folks at Dansko kindly have offered to give away a pair of Rowena shoes to one of you awesome readers! Here's how to enter to win:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Bodi!
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Rules:

Hop on over to Dansko and leave a comment below about this giveaway. I'd love to hear about one of your favorite picks from the Dansko collection!

US entrants welcome to enter.

One comment per person (please do not leave comments from multiple e-mail addresses). Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be removed. Note that your e-mail address will not be published or shared! Leaving just your first name or first name + initial in the name field is perfectly fine.

Entry period closes at noon EST, Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

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*One lucky winner (selected using Random.org) will receive a pair of Rowena sandals in their choice of size and color (estimated value $145). The winner will be listed here, using first name only.

You Say Tomato, I Say Time Management

2012-05-01T13:32:03Z

Today, Miriam (also of Other Pieces of Me) shares a time management system that's helping her rock the productivity, even during fleeting nap times:

I am the first to admit that focus has never been my strongpoint. Left to my own devices, I will gladly dart around from project to project, never really getting down to business until 3:00 in the afternoon, when all of the sudden I have a burst of productivity. And now that I have a 5-month-old and a toddler in the house, moments of solitude (usually gifted by the rare, simultaneous nap) must be leveraged...but it is so tempting to slip down the Facebook rabbit hole and come up for air having completely wasted an hour of my life.

]]> No more.

You may have heard of the Pomodoro technique; a time management tool that focuses on working for a 25-minute window (called a tomato), taking a five minute break, then repeating the process. After the fourth cycle of working/break, you are awarded a longer break. The point is to select a task and get down to business knowing that you have a break coming to you.

I always considered the Pomodoro technique a fantastic time management system for someone who wasn't relying on the napping whims of young children, but could it really work for me?

It turns out I have found the technique to be very useful no matter what size window my napping children give me. Since I know that I only have to focus for 25 minutes before I get a well-deserved Facebook and/or Pinterest break, I find myself being more productive more quickly in the time given to me.

Even better, I found a fantastic website that I can use to track my time for me, so I don't even have to focus on the clock. MyTomatoes.com is a non-complicated, free, timer website that has a simple interface yet garners big results. Once registered, you press a satisfactorily large "Start Tomato" button on the screen and it starts counting down from 25 minutes. When the time is up, a ringer goes off and you have the option to input what you worked on and start your break. Bonus: the program tracks what you input and you can even export it as a .csv. Here's a sample of the output:

When the break is up, you start the cycle again.

I have yet to actually get through four tomatoes in a row to be rewarded with my larger break time, but even so, just having that small nudge of accountability has transformed my productivity levels during naptime.

I encourage you to give this system a try! And if you have a trusted time management technique that works for you, feel free to share it via the comments below.

Image credit: Tomato timer via Amazon