Boston Mamas

10 Fun Weekend Picks

2012-02-03T14:40:27Z

Happy first weekend of February! Here's a roundup of 10 picks that caught my eye. I suspect we'll also engage in some of these Valentine's Day crafts and treats (#7 has my name all over it!). And if you're looking for more Valentine's Day inspiration, check out Asha's archives).

1. What will no doubt be an artful celebration of the Lunar New Year. (Salem)

2. A celebration of diverse talents and minds. (Boston)

]]> 3. Adopt a tree and enjoy some maple syrup later. (Sharon)

4. Bank of America cardholders can enjoy free admission to museums across the country (including 7 in Massachusetts). (Various locations)

5. Mary Poppins on the big screen. (Brookline)

6. Root Calvin on as he overcomes his fears. (Boston)

7. Flat Stanley! (Natick)

8. Take your pick from three shows at this theatrical winter festival. (Stoneham)

9. Chili lovers unite! (Cambridge)

10. Open your eyes to creativity. (Lincoln)

Image credit: Peabody Essex Museum

Giveaway Goodness: Killington

2012-02-02T14:44:18Z

I have many friends who are passionate about Vermont and/or skiing, and after recently reading Left Neglected, I found myself contemplating both. It may not feel like winter here in Boston, but there is snow elsewhere. And one of those places is Killington Resort, where you can enjoy pristine trails, a range of winter activities, and even dinner in a yurt (awesome, right?). The kind folks at Killington extended a press visit to me, but I thought it would be fun to instead share some lift tickets with the experienced skiers out there (go rock that bunny slope for me!). I'm giving away a family 4-pack of one-day lift tickets (valued at ~$350!) to one of you awesome readers. This would be super fun for the upcoming February break, no? Here's how to enter to win:

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Rules*:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com with "Killington" in the subject by noon EST, Thursday, February 9, 2012.

Local entrants welcome.

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 family 4-pack of one-day lift tickets (valued at ~$350!) to Killington Resort. There are no blackout dates, but tickets must be used by the season's end in April 2012. The winner will be notified directly via e-mail, then listed back at this post using first name only.

And if you're interested in connecting with Killington on social channels, tweet with them at @KillingtonMtn or find them on Facebook.

Valentine's Day Crafts & Treats

2012-02-01T14:21:14Z

Happy February! While I don't pay much attention to Valentine's Day from a commercial standpoint -- Jon and I don't exchange gifts -- the day does offer a fun inspiration point for crafts and food around our house. (Plus, I love the colors red and pink!) As I've mentioned before, I adore Pinterest and decided to round up 10 pretty craft and treat ideas that caught my pinning eye. Oh, and if you need a Pinterest invite, drop me a line and I'll be happy to send you one! Enjoy!

]]> Valentine's Day Crafts

1. I love the simple and chic of this pop-up Valentine.

2. Brilliant. Turn your collection of random broken crayons into Valentine's that will craft it forward.

3. Pretty heart ornaments.

4. Pinned from my archives: crepe paper rosebud Valentine's cards.

5. I'm tempted to make one of these DIY scratch off cards for Jon. So cute!

6. A pretty printable Valentine's book.

Valentine's Day Treats

7. Red velvet brownies. YES.

8. Easy cut out cupcakes.

9. You could totally serve this as a healthy Valentine's Day snack.

10. Figs for Valentine's Day? Brilliant and easy. Also high in fiber.

All images via Pinterest.

Boston Musica Viva

2012-01-31T13:50:19Z

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:

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Rules*:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com with "Boston Musica Viva" in the subject by noon EST, Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

Local entrants welcome.

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 four (4) tickets to the Boston Musica Viva family concert in Boston on February 12, 2012 at 3pm. The winner will be notified directly via e-mail, then listed back at this post using first name only.

Weekly Blueprint

2012-01-30T13:51:11Z

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

Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream

2012-01-28T23:15:02Z

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:

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

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com with "Disney on Ice" in the subject by noon EST, Thursday, February 2, 2012.

Local entrants welcome.

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

+ + + + +

*One lucky winner (drawn randomly via Random.org) will receive four (4) tickets to the Disney on Ice Dare to Dream show in Boston on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 7pm. The winner will be notified directly via e-mail, then listed back at this post using first name only.

12 Fun Weekend Picks

2012-01-27T13:54:12Z

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

Spy Alley

2012-01-26T13:59:08Z

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!

Dan Zanes in Somerville

2012-01-25T15:20:23Z

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:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Lauren!
+ + + + +

Rules*:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com with "Dan Zanes" in the subject by noon EST, Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Local entrants welcome.

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

+ + + + +

* One winner will receive two (2) tickets to the February 5, 2012 show at 3pm. The winner will be notified directly via e-mail, then listed back at this post using first name only. Good luck!

Shall We Dance?

2012-01-24T19:16:48Z

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

Weekly Blueprint

2012-01-23T14:14:58Z

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

The Best Ideas For Getting Organized

2012-01-23T01:06:25Z

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.

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For Your Favorite Nonprofit

2012-01-21T15:22:17Z

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

12 Fun Weekend Picks

2012-01-20T16:26:04Z

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

A Reminder from Roxaboxen

2012-01-18T13:19:07Z

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.