Best of May 2013
Oops, Friday completely ran away from me since I was head down in the cave working on a couple of deadines...goodbye May and welcome June! Following my January, February, March, and April best-of posts, today I'm rounding up the most helpful, insightful, favored-by-the-community posts from May. I hope you enjoy this month's roundup! Also, here are a few of my favorite recent pins: Laurel and Vi will love this sidewalk chalk paint, food photography tips for beginners, pantry items that double as beauty products, easy wall clip organization, printable superhero masks, and a cake size and serving guide.
These days, I've been using the word epic with some regularity, there's just been so much good stuff going on! And today, I have something to share that is truly epic in the fun department. I'm teaming up with some wonderful bloggers to offer you an epic May giveaway including a 
Today, 
Today, 
I have always loved the symbolism of birthstones. Arguably the best gift I ever gave (with my six siblings) was the seven-stone (!) birthstone ring I designed for my mom (whose wedding band had gone missing many years before). Subsequently, I was disappointed when I couldn't attend 
I've been so grateful for some happy things that have been happening around the internet, many of which went live last week while my brain was largely unable to focus on anything other than our dear city and my little family. So I wanted to take a moment today to share these happy things. Oh, and also, two really awesome photos. Here's why I'm now the (unofficial) fan club presidents of the 
One of the most beautiful things about the online space is how incredibly nimble people can be to make awesome things happen. In October when I traveled to Ethiopia as part of the 
I love sending and receiving holiday cards. And since becoming a parent, I have fully embraced that it doesn't really matter when you send them -- the point is to reconnect in a way that matters to you whenever you have the chance to do it. (For example, one year we sent our holiday greetings in March...we had many people tell us they loved receiving cards off peak season!) As has become the norm, my holiday cards did not make it out before Christmas (the last batch is going out in the mail today), and it was so delightful to create them and even 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! This was an unusually busy weekend for us, which Jon and I kicked off by attending the 
I love giving and receiving food gifts. They represent something made with love. They negate clutter. They're yummy in the tummy. And they can be ridiculously easy to make, which means you can also involve your kids in the process. As part of Asha and my 
Our final site visit in Ethiopia represented the awesome and the ironic. 
A few weeks ago I arrived home from 
Today, Jane (also of 
I have developed a deep appreciation for many things in the six years since I started this blog, and two of those things are photography and daily reflections of gratitude. So when my talented friend 
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, 
Every holiday season since 
Today's 
Ever since signing on last year as one of 
Since the sad passing of friend and Boston Mamas contributing writer 
I met Joslyn Taylor of 
Today, 
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:
I love gifting photo calendars. Yes, it takes a bit of effort to collect the photos (and, if you're like me, neurotically arrange them so that the photos are seasonally in line with the months), but they're always a hit, particularly with Laurel's grandparents, who not only love the photos, but also favor paper date keeping. And last month I was thrilled to discover 
Wow, I learned so much via my amazing guests on 
I've always been a proponent of assessing and using what you've got instead of always buying new. And if you're looking for a little inspiration in this domain, tune in to 
Last week I had the pleasure of being in on a joint blogger interview with the talented (and adorable) 
One of the best gifts I have ever come up with was back when I was in graduate school. For my mother's 60th birthday I enlisted my six siblings to go in on a big gift: a custom designed mother's ring to replace her wedding ring that had been lost (um, thrown out a moving car window by a toddler) many years before. (I wanted to go with custom because everything I saw ready-made on the market looked tacky, plus we needed something that could be styled awesomely to accommodate seven stones.) I've subsequently always loved the idea of mother's jewelry, but for those of us in our childbearing years, many of the options seem so, well, permanent. Which is one of the reasons I fell in love with 
Thanks to 
On 
I've been meaning to post for a while now about some utterly lovely pottery we've been enjoying. During a hunt for unique Korean style pottery, I discovered Grace Lee's Vancouver-based studio 
Here are some links that caught my eye this week, and that I curated over at 
Though in general I advocate for less of the unnecessary, every now and then something material catches my eye and refuses to budge from my periphery. Such was the case last weekend when Laurel and I were in Porter Square, picking up some Japanese pastries and browsing 
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!
A few birthdays ago, Jon gave me the incredibly thoughtful and generous gift of flower "credits" at a local florist; over the course of three or so months, I walked around the corner and picked up fresh flowers whenever I wanted them. It made me so happy to have cheerful blooms in the house, and I feel that same happiness to this day, whether we pick up flowers at the market or receive a delivery to our door (which reminds me that I need to order a thank you bouquet for my in-laws, who took care of Laurel 
I have been a fan of 
In line with my preference for 
It was a pretty remarkable day when I moved from my big (way overpacked) diaper bag to cute, compact bags that -- save the occasional snack cup or activity book -- primarily held my stuff. And whether you've been in that zone for a while or are approaching it, this chic 
I love fine chocolate and I love all things local so I was thrilled to learn about 
Yesterday, I was honored to be featured as a 
Here are some lovely links that caught my eye this week around the web. Clearly I've got DIY projects (and travel) on my mind. I love this pretty 
Last weekend Laurel and I had a fantastic time at the 
There's so much creative, organic mojo going on this weekend in Boston. In addition to the 
Here's a roundup of inspiration as you plan for Easter and Passover. At Make & Takes, I love the 
This past weekend when Laurel and I hit the hardware store to pick up some final flood cleanup supplies, she immediately headed for the seed racks. Though we lack the garden space of our previous residence to 
Today, 
Despite leading an uber digital life, I remain loyal to the tactile joys of books and print magazines. And given my passion for simplicity and 
Today, 
My respect, admiration, and affection for Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase of 
As a 
Marie LeBaron is a blog friend who I have yet to meet in real life, but we share a passion for crafting and food and I so admire all of the crafty awesomeness she shares on her site, 
I first connected with Michelle Stern of 
I adore Melissa Massello, not only because she’s super creative and fun (plus, we share bonds over figure skating, fashion, shredding, and all things writerly), but because I’ve seen her jump from traditional employment to fulfilling her dream of launching the online magazine 
Last week I attended a media event hosted by 
Despite my clean approach to food, I still periodically long for – but abstain from – classic (i.e., preservative laden) childhood confections. So I was more than a little intrigued to learn about 
We’re still not out of the woods with Laurel’s 
One of my favorite things about running Boston Mamas is learning about talented local mamapreneurs such as 
Some people just have a knack for assembling gifts artfully, and if you’re 
There’s something to be said for paying for an experience; say, first class airline tickets, a meal at a chic restaurant that will stow luggage while you shop (as did 
Few things in life appeal so universally as cookies do, and whether you order a batch online or visit their 
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.
Laurel and I both agree that a little bling (OK, in her case, a lot of bling...) goes a long way in lifting one's mood and outfit. And whether you want to purchase ready-to-go, made-to-order, or personalized goods, 
Probably due at least in part to feeling conspicuous as one of a few minority families in our town growing up, I have a residual thing about blending in when I travel. Though I don’t bat an eyelash when I see tourists out and about, you'll never catch me holding up a map at a congested intersection in an unfamiliar city. So on my recent 
Although Laurel’s daycare runs year round, the summer tends to be a time for transition, and the recent departure of one of her friends reminded me of something I loved doing as a child: exchanging letters with pen pals. Laurel’s friend (or actually, her parents) left a colorful paper bag in each friend’s mail pouch with a sweet goodbye letter that included the friend's mailing address and a request to be pen pals. Also handily included: a note card and self-addressed stamped envelope to get the ball rolling.
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 
I’m honored to be among a handful of moms that 
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!
Today, 
Welcome to 
If there’s one lesson I've learned from my mom, it’s that it’s never too early to start caring for your skin. And today we offer a little something for the daddies who read this site (yes, daddies apparently read this site) and/or the women who like to gift them. 
Today I’m sharing a bit of a hybrid link post; including posts that caught my eye 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), plus links from my style blog Weekly Web Roundup partnership. Enjoy!
'Tis the season for craft love. Here are some crafty, Valentine inspired posts that caught my eye for my 3rd edition of 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! And if you have a fabulously crafty Valentine link to share, please feel free to comment in at the end of the post.
Welcome to 
Laurel’s life is captured in many ways, but when I want to take a walk down memory lane I invariably gravitate towards her baby book (handmade by an artist friend) above the scores of digital photos and videos. If you’re looking for a similarly beautiful, tactile, and practical way to record memories, check out 
Today, 
Although my pet allergies mean that Laurel will never get the puppy of her (childhood) dreams, at least consolation can be found in the cute, pooch inspired 
Laurel has long been a bookworm, and her well-loved (read: grubby) baby and toddler books thus are far from keepsake quality. It’s only now, as she’s grown into a pre-K’er who takes pride in – and care of - her belongings, that I’ve looked at some of her books and toys in a preservative light. And I subsequently adore Newton-based 
In a departure from her usual content, today 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
Welcome to 
Welcome to the 8th installment of 
This Sunday is Grandparents Day, and whether grandparents are near or far, there are many simple yet meaningful ways to express your appreciation for these beloved family members. Here are my 10 favorite ways to honor grandparents, for this weekend and beyond. 
Kids aren’t the only ones who need back to school supplies. And to get organized for fall (or any time of year really…), there’s the 
Few things are cheerier than a plate brimming with creatively cut and decorated cookies, and you can get just that - in an amazing variety of themed sweetness - at 
In these days of excessive paper junk mail and bills, few things delight like real mail, whether it be a penned note or a party invitation. And today, 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
If your kid needs a little inspiration to stay engaged at the dinner table, consider the personalized plates at 
Today, 
Not into the tactile tasks associated with traditional scrapbooking? Today, 
Given Laurel and my needs to post (her artwork, my notes-to-self), it’s not uncommon to find sticky tape shards on walls and doors throughout our home. Thankfully though, now there’s a stylish, tape-free way to exponentially increase your household display surfaces. 
If you’ve got something to say that’s deserving beyond a typical phone call or email to a loved one, consider the unbelievably cute 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:
The art of letter writing is far from dead and today, 
Few gifts tug the heartstrings like a “letter” or artwork from a budding scribe/artist, and your kid won’t be able to resist writing (or scribbling) on 
I typically am all about do-it-yourself crafts, but to artfully frame photos, I’ve experienced considerable frustration in the process of printing images, then finding frames that are the right style, have appropriately sized windows for your printed photos (sometimes resizing and reprinting photos is necessary), and aren’t dinged up from excessive handling at the store. Luckily, I now have a great solution. Read on for a review of the online framing service 
And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners (the few not on vacation today!):
looks like it will do the trick. Even though we’re already a third of the way into the year, this visual aid looks worth it based on the rave user reviews; you also can preorder the 
.
You’ll be glad to kick back and regress with a pair of the cuddly 
