I am all about encouraging more play in life (particularly given the amazing weather and since I recently decluttered the playroom) so I'm thrilled and honored to announce my new ambassadorship with Let's Play, an organization devoted to inspiring play through general awareness and supporting playground builds and renovations around the country. This month marks Let's Play's one year anniversary and they are celebrating with their first playground build of the year in West Philadelphia (where a school was destroyed by a fire and students later provided input on the playground design that is being implemented today by over 200 volunteers!), and also by launching their Let's Play Pledge.I am all about encouraging more play in life (particularly given the amazing weather and since I recently decluttered the playroom) so I'm thrilled and honored to announce my new ambassadorship with Let's Play, an organization devoted to inspiring play through general awareness and supporting playground builds and renovations around the country. This month marks Let's Play's one year anniversary and they are celebrating with their first playground build of the year in West Philadelphia (where a school was destroyed by a fire and students later provided input on the playground design that is being implemented today by over 200 volunteers!), and also by launching their Let's Play Pledge.
Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston and Make More, Buy Less) shares 8 transformative shower curtains (Laurel would pass out from happiness if I bought #7):
When we moved into our home two years ago, we were faced with bathrooms that were squarely stuck in early '90s decor. Forest green was the color of choice for the master bath, and though we could strip the wallpaper, changing the tile and fixtures didn't fit our budget. It was amazing how effective a gallon of wall paint and a simple striped shower curtain in soothing aquas and pale greens was in transforming the space.
Today, Debbie (also of Two Adopt Two) shares her adventures putting PYOP Studio in Northborough to the test with her kids:
My kids and I have painted plenty of objects at plaster-painting shops. With relatively few choices in paint colors and no wait to have the object kiln-fired, these outings were great when my kids were younger. However, now that they're 8 and 9, we have been seeking more adventure (and my kids now can handle delayed gratification!).
It is enormously gratifying when ideas that I propel into the world not only stick, but help people minimize stress and clutter. During my Do Less As a Life Strategy talk at BlissDom in February, someone asked me about e-mail management and I shared my "3-touch rule." And then a couple of days ago (about two months later!), there was a bunch of Twitter chatter between @the818 (who used my method to get her inbox down from 770 to 24!) and @alexandrawrote, @Melaina25, @LoveFeast, @hollywoodhwife, and @linzlovesyou about this topic. I promised these folks I would share the method with everyone so here goes.
I've been meaning to share about Life Alive ever since my sister Kyoung and her partner Marjorie introduced me and Laurel to it following a fun downtown outing in February. We visited the Central Square location (they also have a home in Lowell, and will open another in Salem) on a Saturday -- the two-floor café has a casual yet warm vibe and was bustling with adults and kids, all happily munching on and sipping organic, vegetarian, unprocessed fare. (Kyoung and Marjorie kindly suggested we visit this café since Laurel is a vegetarian.)
Today, Jules shares 8 indoor fitness activities to jump start your spring fitness plans:
The weather has been a little unpredictable lately, and when the April showers (or unexpected cold days) hit, it's nice to have an arsenal of indoor fitness activities at your disposal. Working out at home can be challenging for obvious reasons (the pile of unfolded laundry staring back at you, bills waiting to be paid, etc.), so I generally prefer to leave the house to get my sweat on, but sometimes you don't have that option. Here are 8 exercises that are will get your muscles pumping and your heart thumping, all within the comfort of your own home.
I love photography and have approximately a bajillion digital photos sitting on my hard drive, but I definitely struggle with helping these images see the light of day (it wasn't until just before Violet's first birthday that I finally got a photo of her on the wall...doh). So I'm always intrigued to learn about easy ways to turn photos into gifts and art, particularly since Laurel and Violet's grandparents love photo gifts. Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) shares her experience testing out (for the second time, actually) Pinhole Press. Read on for Lindsey's report, as well as to learn how to win a $100 gift certificate to Pinhole Press!
I am many levels below my mother's golden standard of housekeeping (for example, she used to iron my father's boxer shorts...I, on the other hand, cannot recall the last time I wielded an iron), but I do -- like many (all?) women -- wrestle with issues related to home and work and time. So I'm thrilled and honored to be co-hosting a live chat on The Motherhood tomorrow (noon EST) with Kristin Van Ogtrop (Real Simple) and Ellen Galinsky (Families & Work Institute), in addition to a group of talented and inspiring featured guests, to talk about women and time -- specifically, how to let go of perfection and allow yourself to relax and enjoy more free time at home.
Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston and Make More, Buy Less) shares a roundup of lovely (sometimes insanely inexpensive) multifunction trays:
In my opinion, the humble tray may be the single most useful and versatile item in a home (which may be the reason why I have at least 15 in mine). What other object can you use to: 1) serve food and drinks, 2) keep toiletries/office supplies/spices neat and tidy, 3) use as a surface for Play-Doh-creating and Lego-building, 4) capture slush and mud, and 5) decorate?