Weekend Roundup
Happy Friday everyone; I hope you've been enjoying a great week. It's been a stressful week on my end, so I'm looking forward to taking things down a notch this weekend (starting with a new quilt project Laurel and I are working on together!). Meanwhile, a couple of fun things: First, I weigh in today at the Boston Globe on managing princess obsessions re: the Princess Merida controversy -- come share your thoughts! Second, you definitely should enter to win these organic house cleaning service and Canon DSLR + Epiphanie bag giveaways -- amazing! And now, on to the weekend; here are 23 event picks, lovingly curated for your consideration.
I am, obviously, a big fan of the internet. And while my adventures around the web largely swirl in the domains of writing and online shopping, I'm always super impressed when service-based companies step it up and take advantage of technology to make getting stuff done easier. Such was my experience with 
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend. It never fails to amaze me how the simplest things (sleeping in! breakfast in bed! handmade cards! a quick run!) are so rejuvenating; I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day. Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who came out for 
Happy Friday everyone...I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. I'll be sending virtual hugs and kisses to you all on Mother's Day! But before we get there, I need to say how excited I am about the 
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I was in California Thursday through Sunday for 
Greetings from Laguna Niguel, California! I miss Jon and the girls but also am having a wonderful time here at 
Happy last day of April! Following my 
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a wonderful weekend! It was a bit of a crazy one for me, given that I had to zip down to New York for a live interview with Fox & Friends, but the experience was so wonderful (here's 
Happy Friday everyone; I hope this week offered some normalcy and routine for you and your family. It's going to be a beautiful weekend and there's lots to do in and around the city -- here are 30 event picks, lovingly curated for your consideration. Also, yesterday I finally was able to spend some time at the Boston Marathon memorial at Copley. What a moving experience; so full of love and heartache. I encourage you to visit and pay your respects; there's so much good in our city.
Friends, I hope you're all recovering after what proved to be a very surreal week. There are so many unanswered questions and there's so much physical and emotional healing to be done, but I am so, so proud of this city. I shared two posts last week (on 
Hello everyone, I hope you're all enjoying a wonderful long weekend! I'm not sure if it's me being minimalist or somewhat disorganized but I am, at the 11th hour, finding myself in need of April vacation planning; putting together this roundup proved helpful! I hope it's also helpful to you this week. Meanwhile, those of you have Patriot's Day off tomorrow, enjoy the day. And cheer on those amazing Boston Marathon runners! I'll be light on posting this week, but will probably update a bit on 
Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend; enjoy today's roundup of 22 events, lovingly curated for your consideration! Meanwhile, I wanted to share the final post in 
Happy Monday everyone and welcome, spring temperatures! Yesterday I was so excited to run without a jacket for the first time this year, and did a repeat this morning when I took Violet to school. Yay! I hope you have a wonderful week; among other things, I need to figure out April vacation plans (which I completely forgot about until last week...doh). Meanwhile, if you're looking for something to do, here are some event ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone! I don't know about you, but I am super excited for the weekend; if you're looking for something to do, enjoy this roundup of 25 events, lovingly curated for your consideration! Meanwhile, I've been meaning to mention that 
Happy Monday! I hope those who celebrated enjoyed a festive Easter yesterday or are enjoying a lovely Passover. We welcomed dear friends from London for brunch yesterday, and on Saturday I had such fun filling in as co-host on the 
Hello and happy Friday everyone! I am simply brimming with gratitude this morning after the 
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a fantastic weekend! I'm a little bleary eyed this morning after a fantastic (and fantastically tiring) trip to 
Hello everyone, I apologize for (unexpectedly) falling off the grid the last couple of days! This week has been a little crazy, what with the book launch, client work, and now I'm writing this post from Dallas, where I'm at the wonderful 
Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I can't believe it but today is Violet's second birthday. It sounds trite but her 
Greetings all and happy Friday -- I hope you had a great week! I'm still recovering from the surreal nature of yesterday. Before doing the tech walk through for the Boston launch party (
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! There was a lot of girl time around my house, what with Laurel's snow day on Friday (isn't this floral mouthed snowman great?) and then girls weekend while Jon was out of town. I'm looking forward to a productive (and warm!) week and hope you are as well. If you're looking for things to do, here are some ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- are you snowed in? I am so over this weather and ready for spring (and also wondering if Laurel will be in school until July given another snow day today). Anyway, I finishing curating this event roundup yesterday, while the snow was innocuously coming down but not sticking so please be sure to click over and check the websites for scheduling changes. Have a great weekend everyone and remember to lift with your legs! 
Today, Hillary of 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed the lovely spring-like weekend! We've been keeping our schedule as open as possible these days and subsequently were able to enjoy a wonderful, last minute visit with loved ones + plenty of time for family hanging out, household things, exercise, etc. Just an all around perfect weekend! It's also been fantastic to see how people are making change in their lives via 
Hello, everyone -- happy Friday and first day of March! Is it just me or is 2013 flying by? It's been a busy week, what with jumping back into things after February vacation + Asha and I have been hard at work taking care of the finishing touches for 
Whether your child adores dogs (or woofies, as Violet affectionately calls them) or needs a little help 
Happy Monday; I hope you had a great February vacation! Our break included a mix of things; high points being visiting my in-laws (they are truly delightful, and also amazing with Laurel and Violet) and taking Laurel to the 
If you haven't figured out what you're doing with the kids this week, fear not, I have curated a mega-roundup of places that are offering special February vacation week programming! Meanwhile, if you're at home with the kids I recommend this 
Friends, I'm so excited to share some fun 
Happy Friday everyone! Can you believe we're on the brink of February vacation? After three snow days, Laurel was clamoring to get back to school, and then after one day in school she was clamoring for February vacation! I hope you all have a wonderful break, whether that means traveling somewhere, enjoying down time at home, or something in between. But before we get there, here are 18 weekend events for your consideration. And I hope you enjoyed a heart-filled Thursday, 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you're all bundled up and cozy! We managed to get out for a family walk to the market this morning and now are hunkered in. Regarding this weekend, as of yesterday these listings were in go mode, but please click through closer in to check on cancellations or revised hours. Meanwhile, here are 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I will admit to being somewhat oblivious to the groundhog and Superbowl oriented elements of the weekend. Instead, there was a lot of toddler chasing and care (Vi's milk-related rash is finally dissipating...hooray!), household puttering and decluttering, and I also did something I've been wanting to do for a long time: hosted a delightful get together for the Boston Mamas contributing writers. I'm excited to get back to work today and hope you all have a fantastic week. Here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday and first day of February everyone! I'm somewhat zombie-ish after a week of very little sleep related to Violet's recent allergy issues (if any of you have kids struggling with dairy allergies, there's a 
Last Thursday I visited my friend 
Happy Monday -- I hope you all had a great weekend! Thank you to everyone who came out to the 
Happy Friday -- wow, what an insanely cold week it's been! I braved the elements for a run and during my walking warm-up I truly thought my fingers were going to freeze and fall off inside my gloves. It's times like these where I feel especially grateful to have a roof over my head; I hope you're all staying warm and safe. The cold weather will continue this weekend but there are lots of events to consider if you're suffering cabin fever. Here are 21 picks, and of course I would love to meet you at the 
Today, 
I love when literacy, fun, and philanthropy intersect, and if you and your kids enjoy the same, come join me on Saturday the 26th (11am) at the North Shore Mall in Peabody for a special event at 
Hello folks, I hope you're enjoying a wonderful, windy weekend. I'm struggling to shake the dreaded sore throat, but otherwise it's been a lovely weekend here! Given that tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and many of you will be off with your kids, I wanted to share the 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful week and are looking forward to a great weekend! In 
Today's 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! Ours was blissfully commitment free, which allowed for so much fun and spontaneity...breakfast in bed (a generous gift from Laurel), runs for Jon and me, family naps (Violet cuddled in and fell asleep on me twice...this never happens and was so sweet), quiet reading time, yummy meals, last minute play dates for Laurel, puttering around the house, and a really phenomenal 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful week! I cannot thank you enough for the immense support and love around my (digitally weepy) 
Today's 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a lovely one, and on the local front I wanted to give props to the 
Happy Friday everyone -- wasn't it fun (and also slightly confusing) to start the week on a Wednesday? I hope you're all gearing up for a relaxing first weekend of the new year. Among other things, I'll be running a winter 5K (brrr!) as part of the Eat. Blog. Run. 
Hello everyone, what a surreal few days it has been. My heart is heavy for the Newtown, CT community, and the ripple effect clearly has been wide. I have mixed emotions about the responses I've seen to this tragedy and I'm not sure I can articulate them all. So for now, I will simply say that I'm sending healing mojo into the universe for everyone and hope we can all find meaning in this that will help us move forward and also honor the spirit of the victims. And now I will return to business and share some event ideas to consider via this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- yay for the upcoming weekend! Before I launch into the event roundup, I wanted to encourage you all to check out the posts Asha and I have been writing for 
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 
Happy Friday everyone! The 
Today's 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Laurel, Violet, and I had a lovely girls day on Saturday (for the record, the easiness and affordability of Trader Joe's gingerbread house kits was perfect...you should have seen Vi's face when she discovered that the icing was not just glue!) and yesterday Laurel and I enjoyed a wonderful outing to see 
Happy Friday everyone! December is tomorrow, can you believe it? I can't quite gear myself up to decorate immediately after Thanksgiving, but December 1 officially feels festive to me. Laurel, Violet, and I are having a girls day tomorrow and I'm getting excited (Laurel is out of her mind excited...) to hang stockings, decorate a little, build gingerbread houses, and perhaps do a little shopping to support local businesses. Yay! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. There's lots to do in and around town; here are 34 picks (my biggest roundup ever, I think!) for your consideration:
Friends, are you interested in engaging in some personal and professional development next week (Thursday, December 6)? I'm super honored to be speaking at the 
Given my ever present desire to declutter (particularly around this time of year), I'm a huge fan of experiential gifts. And I've found that experiential gifts are particularly awesome for kids; they negate said clutter, offer an opportunity for togetherness, create lasting memories (Laurel's most vivid gift memories are shows she has attended), and can inspire new or fuel existing interests. Not surprisingly then, I'm super excited that the 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! We enjoyed lots of time with Jon and my families, and my sister-in-law Marjorie gave what very well may be the most generous and lovely gift ever while we were all relaxing post Thanksgiving meal: mini Reiki sessions. Wowzers! Anyway, I hope you're gearing up for a great week -- I'm looking forward to a regular work week after the sickness and many events of the last seven days. Here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving day full of reflection and connection. Violet's been sick and periodically cranky the last few days, but we enjoyed a relaxed morning as a family, and a delicious multicultural Thanksgiving 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend and are feeling good about the upcoming holiday week. I'll be posting soon about some simple holiday food ideas and also encourage you to check out the beginnings of Asha and my 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you're having a wonderful week. Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? It's my favorite holiday of the year and I'm looking forward to low key festivities and lots of quality time with Jon and the girls (also, pie making with Laurel...yay!). And if you didn't see my announcement yesterday, 
Happy Monday -- I hope you had a lovely weekend. We're off with Laurel and Violet for the Veteran's Day holiday today so I'll keep this brief and just say that I'm incredibly grateful to those who have served (and currently serve) to protect our country's freedom, and for the many rights we all enjoy. (Several conversations about human rights have come up with Laurel lately...it's been amazing to engage in this line of conversation with her.) And meanwhile, here are some events to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- well yesterday was kind of weird, no? Was anyone else caught unprepared in the winter gear department? I know there wasn't much snow on the ground (at least in my neighborhood) but Laurel was definitely a little troubled about not having boots that fit. Anyway, we're heading into warmer temps today and over the weekend so there's still time to gear up. I hope you all have a spectacular weekend; here are 17 picks for your consideration:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I know there is so much going on in everyone's world right now (fyi, in the roundup below, there's a link for how to help out with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts), but I wanted to encourage everyone to get out and vote tomorrow. (If you don't know where your polling station is, you can look it up 
Happy Friday everyone -- what a strange week it's been. In my neighborhood, we were largely unaffected by Sandy, so I've been even more tuned into the struggles that others are facing. Wherever you are on that spectrum, I hope you're recovering well. Also, I wanted to remind you all to vote next week! I'm planning on a massive baking spree to support our Election Day school bake sale and am looking forward to taking Laurel and Violet to the polls! Meanwhile, have a wonderful weekend; here are some fun events to consider:
Happy Friday everyone -- are you ready for a spooky weekend? If you're looking to get some extra mileage out of this year's costume before the 31st, I've rounded up a bunch of Halloween (and other!) events going on this weekend. (Laurel is super excited to test drive her vampire costume this afternoon at our town center trick or treat!) I'd love to see your kids' costumes this year -- feel free to upload your photos to the 
Happy Monday -- I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! And are you getting into the Halloween spirit? In working on this week's blueprint, I realized that this coming weekend a lot of people will be partying it up for Halloween. I suspect we won't do anything until the 31st, at which point Laurel, Violet, and I will be a trio of vampires (and Jon will be on candy man duty). Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful week lined up; here are some fun events to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you've had a wonderful week. Shockingly, I've found myself jet-lag free (both directions!) from the trip to Ethiopia, though I've definitely needed more sleep this week, both to catch up on the physical/emotional fatigue of traveling to the other side of the planet and probably because I'm now 39 years old. Anyway, this will be the first weekend in a month where Jon and I are both home with the girls and relatively plan-free -- yay! Here are 19 fun events to consider. Have a fantastic weekend!
Hi everyone, I'm home from Ethiopia! It was a long journey home -- around 24 hours all told -- but so worth it. I have some more thoughts to share in the coming weeks on this mission trip, but I really hope you will learn more about Ethiopia, whether you are most interested in 
Happy Friday everyone! Today is a bit of a weird day for me. It's my birthday, I'm in Ethiopia, I miss Jon and the kids tremendously, and I'm sitting out on this morning's 
Happy Monday -- I hope you all are enjoying the long holiday weekend! As you probably know, I'm in Ethiopia right now on a mission trip with 
Happy Friday everyone! If you've been here recently, you know that I will not be here this weekend. Very early tomorrow I set off for Ethiopia as part of the 
Happy Monday and first day of October everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! I did a quick trip to Las Vegas to help host a 
Happy Friday everyone and yowza, can you believe that September is almost over? School re-entry has gone so smoothly for Laurel but I've been thinking of all of you -- hoping that anyone dealing with challenging transitions is doing okay. Drop me a line if you need moral support; I've been there! Meanwhile, this is a great weekend for fun all across the fine state of Massachusetts -- fingers crossed that the weather clears up. Enjoy this rather colossal roundup and have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a beautiful weekend. What a spectacular first official weekend of fall! I was on my own with the girls, and while we missed having Jon here, we enjoyed a lovely couple of days replete with lots of down time, puttering around the house (Laurel taught Violet how to dust -- YES!), and a trip to the zoo. I'm now getting my head back into work things and hope you're gearing up for a great week. Here are some events to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- the autumnal equinox is upon us and it really does feel like fall now, doesn't it? I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. Among other adventures and things to do, I clearly need to turn over Laurel and Violet's clothing (goodbye sundresses!) and see what we've got for cold weather clothing. I hope you have a fantastic, relaxing weekend planned; there's no shortage of stuff to do in and around town -- here are 24 picks to consider for the weekend.
Happy Monday -- I hope you enjoyed a delightful weekend! We celebrated a dear friend's wedding on Saturday (yes, another wedding!) and Laurel's birthday (belatedly) yesterday. In true 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you and your kids are settling in well to the new school year and that you're gearing up for a fun weekend! I'm looking forward to being home and engaging in some celebration of family and friends this weekend, following what proved to be a very 
When I was in New York for BlogHer, I was thrilled to celebrate my friend 
Happy Friday -- I hope everyone is surviving back to school season! This week has been a bit of a whirlwind for us, what with school starting on Wednesday, Laurel's birthday yesterday (which proved 
Happy September everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful long weekend! I made good on my low key intentions and Laurel and Violet were just over the moon to have so much family hang out time. We spent a lot of time in our little backyard relaxing, snacking, and tidying up our yard and prepping for and planting a new tree. Yay, for new growth! I hope you're all gearing up for a wonderful school year. Here are some fun events and interesting reading to consider in this week's 
Wow, this summer has encompassed a lot of awesome, but has also been a lot more crazy than I wanted it to be. I'm subsequently hoping to keep things super low key this weekend and hope you enjoy some quiet time as well! Meanwhile, if you're in town this weekend and are looking for something to do with the family, here are 12 picks that caught my eye. Enjoy the long weekend and I hope school transitions have been going smoothly for everyone who has already started!
Hello everyone -- my brain is still partially in Maine but my body is back. I hope you had a great week while I was away! It was wonderful to spend quality time with family and our dear friends, and to see Laurel and Violet's joyful exploration of the ocean. Laurel just learned to swim for real this summer and it was amazing to see her gliding through the water and jumping off the dock. Violet loved squealing and running in and out of the water along with the tide. The vacation was sorely needed and it's hard to believe the summer is almost over! But before I get mopey, here are some fun events to consider in this week's 
Happy Monday -- I hope you had a great weekend! Things have simply felt too busy around here the last several weeks so this weekend we kicked back and enjoyed a lot of family time and puttering around (note to self: try to avoid 6+ week lapses between weeding efforts...). Anyway, related, I wanted to let you know that I'm taking a blogging break this week so I can focus on some much needed time with Jon and the girls. But before I do that, here's a 
Happy Friday everyone! Wow, what a busy week it's been here, and I wasn't even one of my bajillion loved ones (including Jon) who went to see Bruce Springsteen at Fenway. Laurel finishes camp today (she did a four weeks on and off through the summer) and then we have two and a half weeks off before school starts. I can't believe how fast the summer has flown by! Anyway, I hope you have a lovely weekend planned; here are 18 weekend picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! I think Violet is cutting molars so Jon and I are a bit foggy and sleep deprived, but otherwise, we enjoyed a lovely visit from family, piles of yummy seafood, some very successful recipe experimentation (more on that forthcoming!), and a fun outing to a local beach/pond. Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a great week. Here are some fun event ideas to consider in this week's 
Hello lovely friends...are you ready for the weekend? There's a lot of wonderful stuff going on in and around town, especially for music lovers! I'd also be remiss if I didn't share that it's tax free weekend. If you've been considering any major purchases, this weekend's a good time to go for it (we finally upgraded our ratty old couch last go around); otherwise, I'm thinking I'll take care of Laurel's school supplies list (insert: how is it possibly almost mid-August lament). Enjoy the weekend. You deserve it!
Happy Monday everyone! I apologize for the unexpected radio silence the last several days, particularly in not getting to my weekend roundup. I was in New York for 
Happy Monday everyone! I'm getting a bit of a slow start here after disappearing for the weekend to celebrate my sister's wedding, spend some time with friends on the Cape, and then (somewhat amazingly) take Laurel to meet up with her pen pal from Texas (who she met while in 
Well, so, I'm super excited it is Friday. It's been an incredibly hectic week here, punctuated by the fact that my computer seems to be dying and my e-mail is totally wonky. Clearly, the universe is telling me to take the weekend off, which is in good time because my baby sister Sharon is getting married tomorrow -- so joyful! Meanwhile, here are 13 weekend picks to enjoy. And if you end up heading to 
Happy Monday everyone -- can you believe that this is the last full week of July? Has the summer been flying by for you too? Between camp and the cruise, the last three weeks have zipped by and as awesome as all of this month's adventures have been, Laurel is supremely excited that she is completely off the next two weeks (save some fun long weekend plans). I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful week; there's tons to do in and around town. I've rounded up a slew of ideas in this week's 
Greetings, friends -- isn't it utterly perfect outside? Yesterday I tweeted about the power of short runs (I'm all about something is better than nothing when it comes to self-care). All I seem to have time for these days are 12-15 minute runs 3-4 times a week (usually running Violet to or from day care) and even those short little runs feel fantastic. Today is the perfect day to get out there for a walk or run! And after you enjoy a little fresh air, you can start planning your weekend. Here are 13 picks that caught my eye:
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a relaxed weekend with lots of family time, and then (thanks to my awesome sister and sister-in-law!) Jon and I were able to head out on our own to celebrate the wedding of my dear blogger friend 
Well, hello there! I'm still dusting the cobwebs off my brain (and phone) after pretty much being unplugged for five days while I was on a 
Happy Friday everyone, and man, what a week! The mid-week holiday left me a bit confused about what day it was, in addition to getting into the rhythm of Laurel's day camp + working amidst a landslide of deadlines. But the awesome news is this: 
This past weekend, I arranged to have three of my lovely Boston Mamas contributors attend the 
Happy Monday -- I hope you all had a great weekend! I have a bit of a hectic week on tap, but right now my heart is simply bursting with joy for Laurel. After the camp disasters of 2010 -- through which many of you were so supportive when I wrote about transitions and behavioral issues -- I'm so happy to share that Laurel's first camp drop off since that time went swimmingly. She was happy, excited, and immediately found a girl to befriend in her group. If your kids are doing camps, I hope the transitions are going well, and if you are struggling, please feel feel free to 
Happy Friday, and who else is a little blown away by the fact that it's almost July? I'm pretty sure I write this with each passing month, but it's really true. Time seems to be flying in all respects. Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned! We have a family celebration (another Koh wedding!) and time with friends on the books, plus I need to spend time in the cave working on the final edits before Asha and I submit 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed a wonderful first official weekend of summer! We took a quick trip to celebrate my father-in-law's retirement from ministry. It was major from a quantitative perspective (a 41 year career including 2,000 or so sermons!) and it was also quite moving to be present for his final sermon and to witness the love of the community. What a gift, and I hope all of us experience such connection and meaning in our lives. We're now back and sorting out our summer routine for the week (every week is apparently going to be different around here); here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're all staying cool and figuring out your summer rhythm. I stumbled around a lot on this front yesterday with Laurel but today is already panning out way better thanks to sprinkler play (right now!), playdates with friends, and a big stack of Nancy Drew books from the library. Have a wonderful first weekend of summer, don't forget the sunscreen, and I hope you enjoy this round up of 16 picks for the weekend:
I am a huge fan of experiential gifts -- they don't result in clutter and often create the most lasting memories (indeed, some of Laurel's most memorable gifts have been tickets to live performances). And if you're looking for a wonderful experience to gift yourself and/or your family, consider Cirque du Soleil's 
Today, Hillary of 
Last week of school (if you're not out already)! Summer solstice! (And for me, Vi's 15-month checkup -- how is she already 15 months old?) I can barely wrap my head around this week. I hope you had a wonderful weekend (we celebrated Jon's birthday, Father's Day, plus Laurel had a bajillion or so social engagements...) and are having a wonderful time transitioning into summer; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone! I've got a sick Vivy home with me today, so I'll get right to it -- enjoy these weekend picks (and don't say I didn't hook you up in the strawberry department)!
Happy Monday friends -- I hope you had a delightful weekend! I spent the weekend with one goal in mind: to relax and restore since I've been fighting a cold while burning the midnight oil to finish the first draft of 
Happy Friday! Fingers crossed for good weather this weekend -- here are 22 fun options spanning food, music, bugs, fitness, philanthropy, and much more:
Today, 
Happy rainy Monday -- I hope you all had a great weekend! Among other things, this weekend Jon and I celebrated our 12th anniversary -- both via an evening out (huge thanks to my sister and her partner for babysitting!) and thanks to the insanely yummy chocolate cake Laurel made us (we ate it for breakfast yesterday morning). So sweet! Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a lovely week and that the kids are hanging in there as the school year winds down to a close. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday and happy June! Let's all do a sun dance so the weekend forecast turns favorable since there are lots of fun outdoor events scheduled. Here are 25 indoor/outdoor options to consider (alphabetically by town):
Hello everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful long weekend! I ended up unplugging for most of it (save working on 
Happy almost Memorial Day weekend! Is anyone else having a little trouble wrapping their brains around the reality that June is next week? For us, it will be a fun and momentous month for many reasons, including Laurel finishing second grade, Jon's birthday, Jon and my 12th (!) wedding anniversary, the official manuscript hand in for 
I know that many parents book camps well in advance (as in, not long after the New Year), but this year I decided to take a different approach to summer because: 1) We had some summer vacation plans percolating that took a while to finalize; 2) I wanted to wait to get a sense of where Laurel was at and what she wanted to do as the school year came to a close; and 3) Related to #2, in the past when I have been super organized and tried to sign her up for programs well in advance and based exclusively on my time agenda, it has completely backfired (like, really, really badly backfired). 
Well, it's definitely not feeling summery today (though I'm very happy that the plants are getting a good soak), but the school year is, in fact, winding down. I truly cannot believe June is next week! Anyway, I have a couple of fantastic posts to be published soon about summer activities at home and simplifying summer, and I also want to share a post on favorite summer programs/camps. I have already collected some leads and would love to hear about programs your kids have adored -- please share by 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you enjoyed lots of time outside during the glorious weekend (a stark contrast to today...)! I'm in Washington, DC right now for a short client-related trip and will head home later today, and I'm feeling quite nostalgic being here. I first spent time in the DC area back during college when I served as a White House intern, and then lived just outside the District when Jon was in graduate school. I wish I was here for longer to walk around and soak everything in but I'm thinking it would be fun to visit as a family sometime soon. Meanwhile, I hope you're all getting ready for a great week. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone! I hope your week has been excellent. Things were a little trying on this end the last few days, given that our house got hit with the dreaded stomach bug (thankfully I was spared, though I still had to take care of the afflicted). However, everyone is back to work and school though, and I have already gone for a run, 
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 
Today, 
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:
Today, 
My friends Sheri and Eli Gurock of 
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 
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, 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! I also hope you are able to see this post, or, if you can't see it, that you will be able to see it soon. Last week I finished the server migration process and things have since remained a bit wonky for some folks (e.g., not being able to see the most recent posts, permalinks not working). However, thanks to the fantastic customer service of my site host, I think we have the last kinks ironed out -- thanks so much for your patience and to those who wrote in letting me know of tech trouble! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
So, uh, wow. This is not the weekend to say there's nothing to do in and around town! I triaged my e-mail this week (
I first discovered Mahler in high school (thanks to one of my fantastic music teachers, who lived and breathed the composer). I was blown away by both the music and the sheer joy my teacher evidenced in sharing this composer with his students. And whether you wish to immerse yourself in and/or share Mahler's brilliance with your family, Benjamin Zander and the Boston Philharmonic will close their season with 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a relaxing weekend and April vacation (if your kids were off last week)! We had a lovely week but I'm also happily ready to get back into the swing of things with work this week. I'm even happy about all of this rain since it will help along the flower bulbs Laurel and I planted during the break. Anyway, there's lots of great stuff going on around town this week. Here's a roundup of fun events + some handy/interesting/pay it forward ideas to consider in this week's 
Greetings all -- I hope you've had a wonderful week, whether on April vacation or not. Our vacation week has been replete with baby games, crafts and projects with Laurel, puttering around the house (bonus = Laurel likes weeding!), and book writing (yesterday Asha and I submitted the introduction + first three chapters to our publisher for review...so amazing!). So, so nice. We'll gradually ease back into the real world this weekend, and I hope you enjoy these 17 picks that caught my eye -- so much great stuff to experience + good ways to give back to the community too.
Today, 
Happy April vacation week! I'm going to go light on posting this week so I can enjoy time with Jon and the girls and also spend some more time working on 
Happy Friday -- I can't believe April vacation is almost upon us! in addition to carving out some time to write 
I've been meaning to share about 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Laurel and I had an amazing 
I'm not sure whether it was due to the bright red body, big eyes, or easy-to-articulate name, but Elmo was Laurel's "lovey" as a toddler. So much so that we had two of them (Elmo #2 served well when Elmo #1 got dragged through the mud, thrown up or sneezed on, or temporarily lost). And fellow Sesame Street fans will rejoice: 
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead -- if you observe Easter and/or Passover, I hope your reflections and celebrations are wonderful. I am off with Laurel today and she loves all things holiday projects so we have a 
Greetings friends, and happy first week of April! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and that any trickery was gentle (unless you love extreme trickery, of course!). We enjoyed a lovely balance of social engagements + puttering around the house, and spring really feels like it's here now that soccer starts up for Laurel this week. (Which is kind of making me want to play soccer...) Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week on tap. Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Today, 
Happy Friday everyone! If you delight in tricks, I hope you enjoy having the leisure of the weekend to prepare for April Fool's Day (I will be casting a water-cup-wary eye upwards every time I open a door...). Otherwise, I hope you have a wonderful time kicking back and enjoying the weekend. Among other plans, the tulips that are already flowering in front of my house are reminding me that our little yard is in dire need of sprucing, and I'm getting very excited to try the recently opened 
Last year, 
Happy Monday everyone -- I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed a lot of family time (including, for me, the rare and lovely opportunity to see all four of my sisters), and I'm also super excited to share the new website for 
Happy Friday -- I hope you've been enjoying the amazing weather! We've all been so excited to be outside, and this week Jon taught Laurel his favorite childhood game of playing catch via tossing a football on the roof and letting it roll down. Which is awesome. Except for the fact that the short roof Laurel aims for is right under my office window and sometimes I am attempting to work in my office while this game is happening. Oh well! Anyway, I hope you're gearing up for a great (albeit chillier) weekend; here are 11 picks if you're looking for something to do:
Today, 
Happy Monday and hooray for this glorious spring weather! Yesterday was just such a beautiful day to celebrate Violet's first birthday (I'll be sharing some thoughts on simple yet festive birthdays this week), and it was fun to see Laurel and her cousin Alyssa + some of my sisters hula hooping outside. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday -- I hope you've all been having a wonderful week! My mind has been happily busy with many things. On the work front, I'm thrilled to share the newly public (as of yesterday!) logo for 
Good morning friends -- I hope you had a great weekend! For the first time in what seems to be a long time, we found the perfect blend of relaxed family time, focused grownup conversation time, new adventures (roller skating!), reconnecting with old friends, taking care of household chores, and even some work time for me. It sounds like a lot but weirdly, it all came together in a very easy way and didn't ever feel as if we were pushing too hard. I need to bottle up whatever it was we did to make that happen! Meanwhile, I hope you're gearing up for a great week -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Happy Friday everyone -- I hope you have some relaxing and restorative plans on tap! Among other things, I will be recovering from the bizarre-ness that was falling down a flight of stairs yesterday. I'm still not sure how it happened (I wasn't rushing or anything) and I can't believe I actually broke the first stair of impact, but better that than my tailbone. Anyway, hooray for Friday and here are 9 weekend picks for your consideration! Also, if you haven't been on the site this week, definitely do some back reading. So much great content going on: I'm actually plotting 
Happy Monday -- I hope you had a lovely weekend and are gearing up for an excellent week. Of note in my sphere is that I will be introducing the new Boston Mamas contributors very soon, diving into book writing mode (Asha and I just started a 
Happy almost first weekend of March! It's been a crazy week here, as it always seems to be following school vacation and travel (my inbox was a particularly scary place on Monday since my phone was cranky and I couldn't triage messages from the road), and I'm really looking forward to the weekend, despite the fact that one thing I need to do involves prepping for taxes! I hope you have a great weekend; here are 11 fun weekend picks for your consideration -- enjoy!
Today, 
Hello, hello! For those who were off last week I hope you had a great February vacation! I enjoyed a lot of relaxed and happy time with the girls on the front end of the week and then had an amazing time at 
Oh my word, is February vacation upon us already? Laurel is beyond excited to take it down a notch and spend the next nine days in her jammies. I kind of wish I could too! Also, I'm really hoping that this vacation period brings with it the release of our family from the plague -- after eight very long days, Violet finally perked up last night and started giggling and causing trouble again (I never thought I'd be so happy to see her make giant messes everywhere!). Anyway, today I wanted to round up a few picks for the weekend + several for next week so you can plan accordingly if you are, like us, enjoying a February staycation. Enjoy!
Wow, what a weekend. Poor Vi has been suffering since Wednesday and we're still not out of the woods. It's been a challenging several days, but also included 
Today, 
Friends, how are you all doing? Staying healthy? Perhaps it's simply a function of having one more family member in the mix, but it feels as if this has been the season of plague, with one, more, or all of us sick at some point or another. I'm actually a little relieved that our plans to have company this weekend have fallen through so we can take it easy and get everyone healthy. I hope you all have a wonderful, plague-free weekend; here are 15 picks for your consideration!
Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend (despite the, er, sporting events of yesterday) and are gearing up for an excellent week. I'm going to kick things off by 
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 
I have many friends who are passionate about Vermont and/or skiing, and after recently reading 
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 
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 
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 
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:
Dan Zanes is one of our favorite also-awesome-for-adults kid's musicians. 
Today, 
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 
Happy Friday everyone! I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful weekend. Here are 12 picks that caught my eye:
Happy Friday! I hope you're looking forward to a lovely long weekend. Here are 12 picks that caught my eye. And stay tuned -- this weekend I'll post some ideas for fun, creative, and educational ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at home.
I hope you all enjoyed the gorgeous weather this weekend. It's hard to imagine that this time last year we were buried under piles of snow! I hope you have a fantastic week lined up -- here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
I hope you've all had a fantastic first week of the New Year! It's been a tad crazy here, attempting to get caught up on things, but I feel grateful for all of the good stuff going on -- not the least of which is the incredible outpouring of applications in response to my 
Hello folks! I'm currently digging out after a few days away on a press trip (more to come on that front in the next week or two) and hope you had a spectacular weekend! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Hello everyone! I'm soon to depart for a press trip to explore a (potentially) family friendly travel destination (hopefully I'll have excellent things to share with you in the next week or so!) so I wanted to leave you with this roundup of 13 fun weekend picks to consider:
Today, 
Laurel and I have made a happy tradition of attending Disney on Ice together the last couple of winters, so I haven't yet had the heart to tell her that this month's DOI show, 
Today, 
Happy Monday everyone! Here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
If the number of hours I used to spend polishing musical theatre dance numbers and color guard routines is an indication, I clearly have a thing for organized spectacle. And it arguably doesn't get more organized or spectacular than a blinged out kick line. The 
I hope you all have a fantastic first weekend of December! Here are 12 fun weekend picks to consider:
I can hardly believe I'm writing this, but Happy December everyone! There's so much great stuff on tap home and work-wise this month; I hope you're finding the same! Meanwhile, if you're looking for a Santa adventure that extends beyond the local mall, the kind folks at Spirit of Boston offered me a 4-pack of 
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday long weekend! As I mentioned last week, we're in the midst of a lot of transition in my house right now so I decided to take time off and focus on the family. It was really lovely and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things this week! I hope your re-entry back into the real world is smooth; meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Though I do enjoy shopping, I've admittedly been turning a blind eye to the onslaught of big box Black Friday pitches I've been receiving -- partially because this marketing approach seems awfully tiresome, and partially because I'm a big fan of supporting local indie businesses. As in past years, we plan on adhering to a pretty minimal approach to holiday shopping, but when I do get around to it, I'll start by turning to what's immediately around us. I wanted to share some great ways to shop local -- there's so much talent that warrants your attention!
It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this week. I'm both looking forward to the connection and reflection that happens around this time of year, and admittedly am also a little overwhelmed by the details of life right this second, given that there's a lot of transition going on in our household (plus, poor Violet is suffering from a bizarre full body rash right now). Anyway, I hope you all enjoy lots of relaxing time this week; here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's 
Today, 
Ah, weekend, I'm so excited for you! Here are 10 fun picks for your consideration: 
Today, 
Hello everyone -- apologies for the radio silence! I considered posting from the road but decided to be present and immerse myself in 
Greetings all! I hope you're all adjusting to the time change. Did anyone else's kids fight bedtime yesterday, despite the "You know, it's actually an hour later than now" argument? And did anyone else not get their extra hour of sleep (my kids still woke up super early)? Anyway, how about a fresh start? Here are some fun ideas for your consideration in this week's 
Happy first weekend of November! I hope you've all been rocking this new month. Here are some fun picks for the weekend:
Per my 
How is everyone doing getting ready for Halloween? Are you getting dressed up alongside your kids? Laurel is going to be a witch and Violet her black cat companion (Laurel has several years of coordinating costumes planned). I hope you have a fantastic weekend and enjoy this roundup of 16 Halloween inspired weekend picks:
Hello everyone -- I hope you've been having a fantastic week! I went off the grid longer than expected due to an 
Hello friends! I hope you're having a super week. I'm going off the grid for a few days so I thought I'd leave you with this weekend roundup a bit early. Enjoy! Also, a couple of fun media things. I've been meaning to share that a cute little picture of me, Laurel, and Violet is included in the October issue of 
I hope you enjoyed the gorgeous weekend! Ours was full of fun stuff like soccer, play dates, baking (to celebrate our oven finally being fixed we made 
Today, Stacey Sao of 
When Laurel started using a locker at school, I was immediately transported back to the days where I'd gaze lovingly at magazine cutouts in my locker between periods. Included were the likes of Michael J. Fox, Rob Lowe, and Duran Duran (and yes, I had coordinated pieces of flair for all of these artists on my denim jacket). Subsequently, I was feeling rather nostalgic when I heard that 
We're hosting friends today so I'm just popping in quickly to share some 
Today, Stacey Sao of 
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! After knocking off a huge deadline on Friday (that was hanging over me all of September), it was so wonderful to decompress and enjoy the weekend with Laurel and Violet. Even though I miss Jon when he's away, I find it really fun to fly solo with the girls -- we had the best time! Anyhow, I wish you all a lovely week, and if you're looking for stuff to do, here are some 
Hooray for October starting tomorrow! Kick off the new month with any or all of these 11 event picks that caught my eye: 
When it comes to baby and kids stuff, I'm all for 
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! After waking up feeling sick after a strange night of sleep, I'm hoping to turn the Monday blahs around ASAP and wish you all a fantastic week. If you're looking for stuff to do, here are some 
I hope you're all having a fantastic week and are gearing up for a fun weekend. If you're looking to head out for an adventure or two, here are 11 fun weekend picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!
I love when creativity meshes with doing good, and this weekend the 
I hope you're all enjoying the fall weather and finding your rhythm with back to school routines and such. Among other things, this weekend was notable in that Violet had her first nibble of solid food -- it was both lovely that Laurel fed Violet her first non-mama snack and I also couldn't help but feel a little weepy about it all! Anyway, I'm wishing you all a wonderful Monday; here are some 
I know I shouldn't be so typically New England and obsess about weather, but 60s for this weekend -- welcome, fall! It'll be the perfect weather to enjoy any (or all, if you're feeling crazy ambitious) of these 17 fun weekend picks:
Musical theatre always brings high school drama club memories flooding back, so I was feeling happily nostalgic when I learned that the Boston Opera House is showing 
I know I'm not the only one who is super excited about a respite from the rain. The forecast looks beautiful -- perfect for enjoying any or all of these 15 (!) weekend picks that caught my eye: 
Today, 
I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! We've been busy with family travel and social engagements over the past several weeks, hence my spottiness here the last few weekends, but I'm hoping to get back on track now that the school year is upon us. I'm wishing all of you with school aged kiddos a super smooth transition back to school! Meanwhile, enjoy my 
I truly still cannot wrap my head around the fact that it's September and Labor Day weekend is upon us. Yesterday I posted some 
Despite the hurricane on Sunday (which didn't amount to more than heavy rain in our neighborhood), we headed out to a surprise birthday party for my friend 
It quickly became clear to me after leaving academia to start Boston Mamas (and my other writing, editing, design, and consulting endeavors) that the Boston area is replete with career changers, aspiring career changers, and awesomely creative women. I receive a lot of inquiries about how I got from point A to B in my career 180 so I'm thrilled to announce that I'm co-hosting an event -- 
I hope you all made it through the hurricane with minimal negative impact. We were sad to leave our vacation earlier than planned, but were grateful to have a few days away in the first place, make it home safely, and come out the other side of the storm perfectly fine. Meanwhile, this week is supposed to be perfection weather-wise. Enjoy my 
During the pushing phase of my 
Raise your hand if you also can't believe we're two weeks out from Labor Day weekend. (My disbelief stems from both the freakishly fast evaporation of summer and the fact that Laurel is soon to turn seven years old...sniff!) And then go on and relish what we've got left of summer by enjoying my 
Hello everyone! I'm going off the grid for a few days so I leave you with an early weekend roundup (also see 
Rain, rain, go away -- there's too much good stuff to enjoy outdoors this week (though I am grateful that the rain is watering the plants...)! Check out my 
Assuming you're going to do something other than stimulate the economy via the impending tax-free weekend (thank you all, for your couch shopping suggestions via 
Growing up in a large family, salon haircuts were not in the budget. Fortunately, my mom had a steady hand, and it wasn't until I went away to college that I stepped into a salon for the first time, paying for the haircut myself. Subsequently, 
Given that we're still happily clinging to summer in our house (task I have not missed the least bit = packing school lunches), it's been amazing to already see friends updating about their kids heading back to school. And whether or not you're off this week with your kids, hopefully you can enjoy some of 
Doesn't it feel fantastic to get to Friday? Here are 5 fun picks to consider this weekend:
Here's another strange example of how the universe works: I've been thinking for some time that it would be helpful to share weekday event roundups. And then some folks who completed the 
This week has been crazy so I'm behind on sifting through my calendar pitches. However, I wanted to share two events that have been on my radar for some time now. Indie artist collective 
Today, 
Oh. my. swelter. Stay hydrated, apply sunscreen, and enjoy these weekend picks:
Following a query on 
The forecast for the weekend looks sunny and hot -- perfect, in my opinion, for lapping up soft serve ice cream while enjoying any one of these 8 fun weekend picks:
If you're finding it challenging to get away and/or invest in events this summer, here's a fun way to celebrate staying put at zero cost (except, perhaps, for T fare). Kicking off tomorrow and running through September 1, 
I can hardly believe that school just let out for Laurel last week. It (happily) feels like we've been in summer mode for a while already! I hope you're all having a fantastic summer -- enjoy these 6 fun weekend picks:
I hope you all have a fantastic holiday weekend! If you're looking to head out for some fun, I wanted to share a few links with you. Boston Central has a fantastic roundup of 
It's hard to believe tomorrow is July 1, but the good news is that the change of month is marked by the start of the Highland Street Foundation's 
I'm sharing my weekend picks a bit early this week since I'm going to hibernate with the family for a few days (Violet's 100 Days is this weekend...I can hardly believe it!). I hope you enjoy the first official weekend of summer! 
Was this the craziest week ever for you too? I hope you have a chance to kick back and relax this weekend and celebrate a Dad you love. Here are 12 fun weekend picks to enjoy:
Yay, Friday! Here are 10 fun weekend picks that caught my eye:
I love this city. With the good weather comes many opportunities to help others in need. Some of these events (such as the March for Babies and Walk for Hunger) have already passed, but this week you can participate in the following family friendly philanthropic events: June 11 is the 
Oh, this awesome weather. It serves as the perfect backdrop for, well, everything! There's no shortage of fun stuff going on this weekend in and around the city (including Jon and my first date night -- to celebrate 
Hello everyone -- I hope you have fantastically relaxing plans for the Memorial Day long weekend! We're going to be staying local and keeping it low key since June will be a bit crazy, but at the very least, yummy food and fun and games with Laurel and Violet are on the docket. (Admittedly, hopefully we'll also chip away a bit at some household to do's.) Meanwhile, I thought I'd share 12 bits of web awesomeness to entertain you over the long weekend. Enjoy! 
The 
I know I'm not the only one eager for the sun to break through, and tomorrow -- for 
Some of my happiest high school memories are musical in nature -- I made wonderful friends and played in fantastic venues such as Symphony Hall as a violinist on the competitive circuit. Not surprisingly, I'm a fan of the BSO and the Pops, the latter of which opened its season last week. And if you and your kids would like to enjoy the musical brilliance that frames many memorable movies, the Pops will present three performances of 
I've 
Today, 
I hope the rain holds off this weekend because ever since our recent overnight to Maine (where Laurel 
Today, 
Spring always brings up discussions about the life cycle with Laurel, and this week there's a unique show in town that celebrates a "nature treasure" (as Laurel likes to call them) not to be taken for granted. Running today through Sunday, May 15, 
Hello everyone! Tomorrow is the March for Babies in Boston and I would be super appreciative if you would make a donation to 
Few things cute overload me like baby animals, and if you're of a similar persuasion and would like to enjoy Mother's Day with your own little critters in tow, you can celebrate Mama's Day at the 
Having received clearance yesterday from my midwife, just this morning I got back on the fitness wagon with a short (yet shockingly sweaty) yoga practice. And if you're looking to cash in some Mother's Day self care time via fitness, consider heading to 
Last month, I actually had to ask someone when Mother's Day was, which seemed comically fitting. However, once informed, I was thrilled to connect with several local establishments who are hosting fun Mother's Day events. I'll be sharing these events over the next few days, and first up is a pick for moms who love to engage in a little retail therapy. This Thursday (May 5), moms around the country will enjoy a collective night out via 
Hooray for a gorgeous weekend on the forecast! There's no shortage of fun on tap in Boston and the surrounding communities; here are some events that caught my eye, via my lovely site partner Boston Central: 
One of my favorite things about living in Boston is the access to cultural offerings, and how cool is it that we can now lay claim to having an international kids film festival? Running April 15-22, the first annual 
This weekend is shaping up to be downright spring-like, perfect for this cool and unusual event I heard about from my friend 
I adore Heather and Whitney of 
Truly, one of the best postpartum gifts imaginable is the gift of food. And on Thursday, when it was cold and rainy out, my friend Jen kindly brought over a 
One thing is for sure: in this fast paced, instant gratification world of social media, being an online person who disappears for a few days apparently results in some digital hand wringing. When I finally turned my Blackberry back on following 
Today's 
I know I've been lucky to have such a wonderfully smooth pregnancy, carrying on per usual with everything in life. However, some typically onerous chores have take on even more onerous dimensions -- such as house cleaning. I'm good at cleaning when I get to it, but it's just not among my favorite things to do, particularly when super pregnant. Subsequently, a few weeks ago I called some eco-friendly cleaners to book a one-time pre-baby cleaning, but I either received no response or was told that there was no immediate availability or that one-time cleanings were not possible. So last week, when a 
Today, 
As I mentioned 
Today, 
Given my pregnancy, I haven't been able to take skating lessons this winter (which I took for the first time last winter and adored), so I've definitely needed to get my skating fix from a distance. I'm subsequently thrilled to see 
Today, Stacey Sao of 
I had a bit of a 
Today, 
One thing that has become very clear during all of the traveling I've done with Laurel is that she loves hotels (and admittedly, I'm also a fan of not having to make my bed). And if you're looking for a fun family staycation option during February vacation week (or just to get through the rest of winter), check out the 
Hooray for rabbits! And you can celebrate them in fine fashion this weekend at the 
While I adore the community feel and eco-friendliness of public libraries, and the shiny newness and convenience of large bookstores, my current happy medium is the independent used bookstore. And 
Despite needing to rearrange our plans when the first (or was it the second? I can't even remember) snowmageddon hit during the December holidays, we eventually made it to, and Laurel utterly adored, the Disney on Ice Princess Wishes show (her sister did too...she kicked non-stop during the entire performance!). And returning to entertain during February vacation week is a Disney on Ice show perfect for Toy Story fans. Running February 18-27 at TD Garden, 
In contrast to Jon and my low key approach, Laurel is totally cranked up about celebrating Valentine's Day. If you're in a similar boat, and are looking for a family-friendly Valentine's outing, what about the 
I just loved the clever responses (via comments, 
There's little new I can say about this month's snow shock, with the exception that I'm impressed that our 
Today, 
One thing that I quickly learned with Laurel is that her level of content is completely different depending on whether I'm doing something not-so-present such as, say, checking my e-mail vs. crafting alongside her. Of course, her favorite kind of time is when we're working on the same project (e.g., we're finishing a really crazy quilt right now -- Laurel has become impressively facile with my sewing machine!), but when she's working on something like latch hook or pot holders, I'm kind of left hanging. So I've been thinking of -- and getting excited about -- revisiting knitting.
Today, Stacey Sao of 
Though I must admit that I'm relieved that Laurel has finally moved on from her obsessed-with-all-things-princesses phase, she remains faithful to Belle ("because she has brown hair like me," says Laurel) and I'm planning on taking Laurel to Disney On Ice during winter break. Laurel and I have seen three previous DOI shows in Boston and the skating and creative spectacle has proven so, so fun and entertaining for both of us! 
Today's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Melinda via 
I imagine that I'd be hard pressed to find parents in Boston who don't already know about 
As Laurel has come out of her shell in the past year, she has started to express an interest in theatre (recently going so far as to state that she's going to be an actress when she grows up). Subsequently, I've been interested in checking out 
Today, 
Today's 
If you didn't have a chance to watch 
Today's 
Welcome to 
Goodness. In the complete chaos that was last month, I forgot to share a series of articles I wrote for CBS Boston. The process offered fun fodder for reflection on Boston awesomeness for families and I hope you enjoy and find the articles useful. I share my favorite recommendations for: 
Today's 
Welcome (or shall I say welcome back!) to 
Finally, Halloween is almost here! And if your kids are looking for extra places to wear that costume, consider (in addition to a few 
We've read all of Tomie dePaola's Strega Nona books; the illustrations are so sweet and Laurel and I find Strega Nona's humble wisdom and Big Anthony's bumbling cluelessness endearing and entertaining. For fellow Strega Nona fans, this Saturday (October 30, 1pm) you can see 
Today, parent educator 
If Laurel could wear a costume every day, she probably would. Barring that, there are plenty of opportunities to get into the Halloween spirit a week in advance. In addition to a few 
Here are a few not-so-spooky family-friendly fall festivals to enjoy this weekend: 
My friend (and contributing writer) 
What a relief it was to finally see the sun yesterday, and how awesome that we'll see it all (long) weekend long! Here are some events that warrant being on your radar: Immerse yourself in music and culture at the 
There's plenty of family friendly fall festival goodness on tap for this weekend. Get a dose of fresh air while enjoying: the 
As much as I love the convenience of online shopping, you can't beat the tactile delight of in-person boutique shopping. And especially so when over 55 cool shops are assembled under one roof to make browsing easy and fun. Sound good? Next week (October 6 & 7) 
Today, parent educator 
Goodness, there's no shortage of family friendly fall festivals all across our fine state. Here are some interesting picks for enjoying food, crafts, kids activities, nature, live entertainment, and more this weekend (feel free to add others you know of in the comments!): 
Today, 
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 
We had such an 
Today's 
Laurel and I first got hooked on playing with LEGOs when we 
Oh fall how I love you -- what a picture perfect weekend we've got on the forecast! There's a little something for everyone this weekend. Enjoy big and small city and town festivals at the 
Sometimes, for seemingly unexplainable reasons, certain retail locations appear cursed. Take for example, the site of 
Today, 
We've got an utterly perfect forecast on tap for this weekend, so why not get out and enjoy one (or more) of these family friendly events? Check out: 
Today, 
If you've been lamenting the absence of regular 
I have been a fan of 
Today's 
Last month I served as a practice dummy for 
Thanks to the generosity of the folks at Cirque du Soleil, last night I brought a few of my fabulous contributing writers and their families to the preview of 
In line with my preference for 
Today, 
It's going to be a hot one this weekend but don't let that deter you from some local fun. Slather on the sunscreen and head out to enjoy: fantastic local artists and performers at 
In the last few years, it's been fantastic to watch the evolution of cloth diapering (we cloth diapered Laurel in her first six months with traditional diapers, liners, and covers that were a tad challenging to keep in place with our squirmy one). And it's especially fantastic that there are stores such as Somerville-based 
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 
One of the things that is so sweet about Laurel is that she is so people focused. When she was a toddler, if a friend at day care was crying, she would toddle over and pat them on the back to try to make them feel better. On Sunday she 
Few household chores overwhelm parents like laundry; indeed, I will confess to poor folding practices (I hang everything or toss clothes haphazardly in drawers) and ironing (I avoid it at all costs). And whether you need dry cleaning services, or want to treat yourself to or make wash and fold services part of your routine, check out 
Today's 
I've got my fingers crossed (and I'm attempting to will sun into existence with the title of this post) that the rain projected for this weekend holds off for these fun events: 
I love fine chocolate and I love all things local so I was thrilled to learn about 
If you've ever lamented over the quality of your family photos, or the fact that you're almost never in them (since you're the one busy snapping), hire a professional. And if you're local, consider Kate McKenna of 
It was with great anticipation -- then great relief -- last week that I took Laurel and a friend to the local park to see if the sprinkler system was on (it was!). We have officially hit the weather where splashing around in water is the funnest thing ever for the kids, and if you -- like me -- lack the yard space or motivation for water accessories in your back yard, fear not: there are plenty of local spots to chill out. 
Today, 
After a 
Once you've had your fill of 
If you or your kid inhales strawberries with the same enthusiasm as Laurel, you're in luck: this weekend is strawberrytastic. Here are some local farms rocking strawberry festivals this weekend: 
Sometimes it's hard for me to believe we're already discussing social quandaries with Laurel in kindergarten. And I know it will only get more complicated as she approaches the teen years. If you need help figuring out how to communicate with your teen, consider this lead: Tomorrow at the 
When you're not watching 
I'm a big fan of