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January 17, 2012

A Chat Today + Updates

the-motherhood-talk.jpgHappy snowy Tuesday everyone! I hope you all had a lovely and reflective long weekend. This morning I wanted to share one timely online event + some other fun updates. First, today at 1pm ET, I'll be co-hosting a live chat on The State of the Mom Blogosphere over at TheMotherhood. The chats are TheMotherhood are amazing, as are my co-hosts -- come join the conversation! (No complicated technical know-how required; it's basically like commenting in on status updates.) Second, I'm super honored to be featured in The Improper Bostonian's style section this month. The fashion shoot was insanely fun and I hope to share more of talented Adam DeTour's photos soon.

Continue reading "A Chat Today + Updates" »

January 3, 2012

Happy 2012 + Call for Writers

laptop.jpgHappy 2012 everyone -- I hope you had a wonderful holiday break! We soldiered through a plague-filled start to the vacation, but eventually recovered and enjoyed the relaxed pace so very much. I also did pretty well on my vacation week to do list and accomplished #1 (except we passed the plague on to my poor mother-in-law), #3 (almost...it will be out by the end of today...yippee!), #4, #5, #10 (oh my goodness I love my new site, feel free to take a peek), #11 (chocolate cake!), #13, #14, and #16.

Continue reading "Happy 2012 + Call for Writers" »

December 24, 2011

Happy Holidays!

lights-ornaments.JPGHello wonderful readers! I have been waffling over whether to blog or take a break during the winter holidays, and then yesterday the universe decided to provide me directives by sending me and Laurel the dreaded stomach bug. Yesterday was beyond awful, but we are on the mend and moving forward with Christmas plans (though somewhat subdued, and with the mindset that we will pull back as needed). However, I will follow the universe's sign and take the holiday break off here! If anything truly timely comes up, I will share quick links via Twitter and Facebook so please feel free to connect there. Meanwhile, assuming my health comes back to me quickly, below are some things I'd like to do during the winter break. Have a wonderful holiday!

Continue reading "Happy Holidays!" »

December 6, 2011

Dinnertime Stumbling Blocks

mealtime.jpgI'm part of the Mom's the Word on Dinner conversation series via Momversation so I've been thinking a lot about mealtime (even more than usual!). Recent conversation on the program's Facebook page has focused on dinnertime mojo and quick meals, and these conversation threads have reminded me that meals are decidedly un-Zen for so many families. Indeed, with two busy parents, a chatty 7-year-old, and a sippy cup banging 8-month-old at our table, meals are not always the most relaxed. This all got me thinking about some of the typical stumbling blocks we face and how we try to address them. I hope the below thoughts are helpful, and I'd love to hear if you have other challenges at the dinner table and what you do to mitigate them!

Continue reading "Dinnertime Stumbling Blocks" »

November 29, 2011

Mass Conference for Women

ma-conference-for-women.jpgI've been immersed in change and exploration ever since career pivoting five years ago, so I'm really looking forward to attending the Mass Conference for Women -- which encourages attendees to live fearlessly and pursue their path. In addition to undoubtedly drawing inspiration from speakers and attendees, next week I'll provide social media consulting sessions for those looking for guidance in developing their brand. My consult sessions apparently are already full (sorry about that -- I should have posted sooner!) but I did want to pass along a discount code in case you want to attend. Use code MAWD29 for a rate of $125 per individual ($30 off) and $1,250 for a table of 10 ($200 off). Hope to see you there!

November 15, 2011

Dear Boston Mamas: Life with Two Kids

laurel-violet-feet.jpgWhile I was en route to California this past weekend, I was so happy to have some quiet time to read through more of the Boston Mamas survey comments. Among the responses was a question that fit well both for the Dear Boston Mamas column, and given that I just guest posted at Rookie Moms about what I have learned in having a second child. Of course, a lot of the below would apply to 2+ children as well; if you have additional thoughts to share, feel free to do so in the comments!

Question: How is life with two kids? We are expecting #2 and I know it will be different but how? How are you managing? Is baby #2 on a schedule or on older child's schedule?

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Life with Two Kids" »

November 6, 2011

Mighty Grateful

charity-water.jpgI'm so grateful to everyone who bought raffle tickets for Asha and my Camp Mighty raffle to benefit charity: water, or made direct donations on our behalf. As of this evening, we exceeded our $400 goal and raised $625. I'm going to have Asha draw the winner and I will update this post once I know who gets the tote! Meanwhile, if you didn't have a chance to participate yet, you're welcome to donate to our team here. We're closing in on our team goal of $5,000 and it's pretty awesome that as it currently stands, the $3,625 raised will provide 181 people with clean water. Thanks again everyone!

Continue reading "Mighty Grateful" »

October 31, 2011

Inspired By You Awesome Readers

organizer.jpgIn reviewing the responses from the Boston Mamas survey (thank you, thank you to all who weighed in!), some themes emerged. Readers want more event picks (which I've addressed by adding weekday as well as weekend event roundups) and also general lifestyle ideas and money saving tips -- for kids and grownups. After pondering a few ways to go about addressing all of these different bits of information sharing, I decided to start a new series: a beginning-of-week post including a running list of everything from events to bargain alerts to other ideas, tips, and reminders that spring to mind as useful and/or fun.

Continue reading "Inspired By You Awesome Readers" »

October 29, 2011

A Mighty Awesome Raffle

camp-mighty-tote-1.JPGHaving just recently returned from California, it's hard to believe I'm heading back in a couple of weeks for Camp Mighty. However, I'm super excited to engage in life happiness-centered connection and reflection, and the event organizers have built in an awesome charity component. Each attendee is responsible for raising $200 for charity: water, a non-profit dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Continue reading "A Mighty Awesome Raffle" »

October 26, 2011

Hello + Some Fun for the Week

yarn.JPGHello everyone -- I hope you've been having a fantastic week! I went off the grid longer than expected due to an amazing trip to California, the residuals of which left me a little loopy (we came in very early off a red eye flight yesterday morning) and also wanting to take a slower, more mindful pace as we re-entered life here at home. I need to take today to square up on various things; meanwhile, if you're interested you can read up on the trip (and see some lovely photos) here, and also, here are a few picks to enjoy this week.

Continue reading "Hello + Some Fun for the Week" »

October 20, 2011

12 Fun Weekend Picks

ecotarium-pumpkins.jpgHello 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 Parents Magazine, along with a quote in an article on 10 healthy cities for families (Boston ranked #2!). And yesterday I was honored to learn that I was named to the Top 50 Twitter Moms of 2011 list at Babble (and #1 for most likeable...how sweet is that?). Thanks Babble, and definitely check out the rest of the women on the list -- I know many of them and they are truly awesome!

Continue reading "12 Fun Weekend Picks" »

October 15, 2011

Grocery Shopping with Kids

mother-daughter-shopping.jpgAs part of Momversation and Ragú®'s Mom's the Word on Dinner Program, I recently chatted with Daphne Brogdon and Caroline Murphy about grocery shopping with kids. I've embedded the video below for your viewing pleasure (it's about two and a half minutes long) and would love to hear whether you find family outings to the grocery store super helpful, utterly exhausting, or somewhere in between. Feel free to weigh in below in the comments or over at the Ragú® Sauce Facebook page (where a very lively convo is brewing!).

Continue reading "Grocery Shopping with Kids" »

October 5, 2011

Giveaway Goodness: Pivot Boston

Pivot.jpgOh my goodness, I'm still on a high from the awesome that was Pivot Boston last night! It was a huge amount of work putting together this two hour event but it was so gratifying! We sold out, our waitlist was overflowing, the positive energy was buzzing like crazy, people were asking about another event (I do, in fact, have an idea for a second Pivot...), and there were just so many incredible attendees, spanning a wide range of ages, interests, and backgrounds. Having made a big career pivot myself, it was moving to see so many people seeking passion in life. Yay!

Continue reading "Giveaway Goodness: Pivot Boston" »

September 21, 2011

Feeding Families on a Budget

pasta.jpgWhether or not extreme couponing is your thing, grocery budgeting is top of mind for most families. As part of Momversation and Ragú®'s Mom's the Word on Dinner Program, I recently chatted with Daphne Brogdon and Caroline Murphy about tips for feeding families on a budget. I've embedded the video below for your viewing pleasure (it's just over two minutes long) and would love to hear your clever tips for scoring at the grocery store, either below in the comments or over at the Ragú® Sauce Facebook page.

Continue reading "Feeding Families on a Budget " »

August 7, 2011

Dear Boston Mamas: Baby Shower Etiquette

ialbert-owls.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Renee via e-mail:

Dear Boston Mamas: Hello! I'm hoping to get some input/advice. I'm a mom to a 19 month old girl and I'm pregnant with twins. We do not yet know the genders. Several people have suggested to me that I should have a shower. I always thought of a shower for your 2nd+ kids as greedy and poor etiquette. However, given that we are expecting twins, there are quite a few things that we will need, especially if one or more of the babies is a boy. Do you think there is an exception to the etiquette if you are having twins?

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Baby Shower Etiquette" »

July 25, 2011

Dear Boston Mamas: Unique Baby Shower Gifts

pregnancy.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Janelle via Twitter. Janelle asked me for some ideas for unique baby shower gifts. Having enjoyed a baby shower for Violet earlier this year and given my minimalist tendencies, my preference definitely leans towards practical, but sometimes practical also equals unique! Here are some of my favorite ideas -- spanning practical and pretty.

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Unique Baby Shower Gifts" »

July 20, 2011

5 Ways to Diffuse Mealtime Battles

forks.jpgThrough the Mom's the Word on Dinner conversation series I'm part of via Momversation, it's become clear that dinnertime often involves either battles or bonding for families; to that effect, you can check out a recent video and conversation on how dinner is best characterized in your house. Meanwhile, this conversation thread got me thinking and I wanted to share 5 ways to diffuse mealtime battles. These strategies have been really effective for us and I hope they are helpful to you! If you have other tips, feel free to share in the comments here or over at the video post.

Continue reading "5 Ways to Diffuse Mealtime Battles" »

July 19, 2011

Dear Boston Mamas: Nursing & Pumping

medela-pump.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Jen via Facebook:

Hi Christine, I just had my third little boy. He is a joy. Although I successfully breast-fed my first two sons, I was not successful in getting my second son to use a bottle (which led me to be resentful towards the end), so I have taken your advice and started my baby on a bottle at three weeks. I was wondering about how often you pump and provide bottles to keep up your supply and still be able to nurse? I've forgotten how I managed with my first son.

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: Nursing & Pumping" »

July 16, 2011

A Momversation on Playdates

momversation-playdates.jpgAs social an animal as I am, I have to admit that I get a little squirrely when faced with the prospect of the "first date" parental chit chat associated with Laurel's playdates with new friends. This week I shared thoughts about playdate drop offs when you don't know the parents. The video is embedded below (it's just over one minute) and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic...whether you agree or disagree with my approach, what age feels right to you for drop offs, etc. Hop on over and share your thoughts at Momversation or feel free to comment in below!

Continue reading "A Momversation on Playdates" »

July 9, 2011

Happy Birthday + A Little Gift?

wrapables-birthday-candles.jpgIt's hard to believe that today is the 5th birthday of Boston Mamas. It's been an amazing journey -- thank you so much for being a part of it! And on that note...the last few years I have set up giveaways to celebrate the site's birthday, but this spring/summer I've been focusing on baby Violet and our family's adjustment (so, I haven't had time to reach out to giveaway vendors), plus I've been thinking about the site and how to shape it. Which is where you come in! Since you all contribute to the awesomeness of this community, I'd love to hear from you -- will you help me celebrate today's milestone and give me a little gift by completing this quick survey? It literally will only take 1-5 minutes of your time depending on how much you want to comment. Thank you so much in advance!

Continue reading "Happy Birthday + A Little Gift?" »

July 7, 2011

Dear Boston Mamas: What Do I Do With A Newborn All Day?

baby-feet.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from a friend -- I know lots of new moms have the same question so I'm sharing here:

Dear Christine, I am asking all my friends who have had (or currently have again) newborns: what do you do with them all day? Sometimes I get really bored during the day; is that normal? Does he have to be learning all the time? Is it ok if he just sits there in his bouncer? Going out with a newborn in [my city] is tough! We go out once a day, but nothing too complicated that requires public transportation, not yet. I find myself saying...ok, what are we going to do next? [My son] is amazing...he has such a gentle and sweet demeanor. In the morning when he first gets up we spend about 20 minutes "talking" to each other, then he naps and I shower and we take it from there. Tuesdays are awesome because I go to this fantastic moms group -- just a few, quirky, non-judgmental, amazing women and our babies. We rotate houses and literally stay all day. It rocks.

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: What Do I Do With A Newborn All Day?" »

May 7, 2011

A Momversation on Bin Laden

momversation-bin-laden.jpgIt was a momentous week, and one that left me -- and many others -- with complicated emotions and reactions regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden. This week Mindy Roberts, Susan Carraretto, and I discussed what kind of message we're sending to our children if we rejoice over Bin Laden's death, whether we feel safer now that he is gone, and how to talk about these issues with our kids. The video is embedded below and you can weigh in on the conversation here or over at Momversation. I'm curious to hear how you are processing these weighty issues with your kids.

Continue reading "A Momversation on Bin Laden" »

May 6, 2011

Rocking The Walk Tomorrow

BM_MarchforBabies_2011.jpgHello everyone! Tomorrow is the March for Babies in Boston and I would be super appreciative if you would make a donation to Team Boston Mamas & Friends (or you could donate to my personal page if you like). Truly, no gift is too small! Thanks so much in advance for your support, and also to fellow team members Kerrie, Kami of The Fence, Angela of Mommy Bytes, Sonia of My Little Pakora, and Liz of Goddess in Progress for their footsteps and fundraising efforts! If you'd like to join us last minute for the walk, drop me a line at editor@bostonmamas.com!

May 4, 2011

In Memoriam, Sarah Feather

writers_sarah.JPGIt is with immense sadness that I share that yesterday, contributing writer Sarah Feather died following her spirited battle with cancer. Sarah not only offered fashion and lifestyle inspiration here at Boston Mamas and elsewhere, but for the last couple of years she has documented her journey with cancer at The Carcinista with impressive wit and candor. Sarah is survived by her husband Ed, sons Whit and Avery, and countless friends and family who undoubtedly will always remain in awe of her spirit, humor, and impeccable sense of style.

Continue reading "In Memoriam, Sarah Feather" »

April 30, 2011

Great Green Cleaning Solutions

modern-mermaids.gifI consider myself a total eco-geek, but clearly you can never stop learning. I picked up tons of great green cleaning solutions chatting with homekeeping expert Leslie Reichert (aka The Cleaning Coach) this week on Life.Style. Leslie and I covered everything from the evolution of the green cleaning movement to the most effective natural grocery store and specialty cleaning products for home, gadgets, and pets. I also attempted (and failed!) to stump Leslie with green cleaning queries from Twitter and Facebook. Check out the episode for full commentary, recipes, and inspiration. And for easy reference, below are links that were shared during the interview. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Great Green Cleaning Solutions" »

April 16, 2011

Decluttering Strategies & Solutions

pottery-barn-beachcomber-basket.jpgI had a fantastic time chatting with Paige Lewin of Mudroom Boston this week on Life.Style about decluttering strategies and solutions. Paige shared fantastic ideas for conquering clutter in the kitchen, playroom, mudroom (or entryway), and on bookshelves. I finished the interview inspired to -- at the very least -- attack our two kitchen drawers full of random odds and ends this weekend. Check out the episode for full commentary, inspiration, and photos. And for easy reference, below are links that were shared during the interview. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Decluttering Strategies & Solutions" »

April 11, 2011

What Dinner Means for Families

momversation-ragu-2.jpgIt's been fun to see the family and food dialogue that has transpired as part of Momversation and Ragú®'s Mom's the Word on Dinner Program. Today, my second video with the project just launched -- in it, Whitney Moss, Kim Tracy Prince, and I discuss what dinner means for families. I've embedded the video below (it's just over three minutes long) for your viewing pleasure. I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to hop over to the Ragú® Sauce Facebook page if you want to share your thoughts on mealtimes and family.

Continue reading "What Dinner Means for Families" »

April 9, 2011

Budget and Eco-Friendly Swapping

life-style-episode-16.jpgIt was so fun to return to Life.Style this week, and especially cool that technology allowed me to host via Skype so I could remain close to baby Violet. I had a fantastic time chatting with Melissa Massello and Amy Chase of The Swapaholics about budget and eco-friendly swapping. We covered everything from sustainable style, to local and national swaps, to celebrities and the vintage revolution, to favorite local and online sources for secondhand, to ideas for hosting your own swap. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration. And for easy reference, below are links that were shared during the interview. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Budget and Eco-Friendly Swapping" »

March 25, 2011

Baby Violet

violet-flowers.JPGI can't believe it's been one week since Violet was born. She is such a love and Laurel is a wonderful big sister; we feel so grateful every day. And one thing is for sure; it's very easy for the days to slip away -- I feel fantastic and full of energy (compared to how depleted I felt after Laurel's C-section...I even made lasagna yesterday!) and I love snuggling with Violet during the day, and reconnecting as a family after Jon and Laurel get home from work/school. Anyway, a lot of people have been asking about photos. Here are two from when we were in the hospital. I know I'm biased, but isn't Violet the cuteness? She's plumping up nicely; I laughed out loud when I found out yesterday at the pediatrician that she gained 6 ounces in two days. Clearly, milk supply (and demand) is not a problem.

Continue reading "Baby Violet" »

March 23, 2011

Four Favorites Series

four-leaf-clover-pendant.jpgI wasn't terribly organized in the nesting department, but one thing I did square away last month was a line up of wonderful guest posts to share with you all while I'm enjoying a bit of a babymoon with little Violet. I decided on the theme of "four favorites" since we're now a family of four (and I later realized the fitting visual alignment with four-leaf clovers, given that Violet was due on St. Patrick's Day). I was truly touched that the super busy and talented friends I reached out to graciously agreed to guest post for this series. I hope you enjoy their fantastic posts, which I'll start running tomorrow. To whet your appetite, here's just a sampling of some of the amazing writers who will share ideas and inspiration in the coming weeks:

Continue reading "Four Favorites Series" »

March 18, 2011

Announcing...

baby-buggy.jpgHello everyone! As you may have gathered from my absence here the last few days, the baby has arrived! It was not a fast journey -- I wish I was kidding in reporting that I endured 58 hours of labor (including excruciating lower back pain during contractions due to the baby's positioning), but I'm thrilled that my desire for a natural birth panned out and that the baby latched right on after delivery. Jon and I were so grateful to the wonderful midwife, doula, and hospital staff that helped us through the process and Laurel is thrilled to be a big sister...she said she doesn't want to leave her little sister's side for her whole life.

Continue reading "Announcing..." »

March 15, 2011

Dear Boston Mamas: St. Patrick's Day Fun

clover.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Amy via the Boston Mamas Facebook page:

Dear Boston Mamas, do you know of any St. Patrick's Day parades downtown or in the metro-Boston area? It's our first year here and we'd love to take our 2 year old to a parade!

Continue reading "Dear Boston Mamas: St. Patrick's Day Fun" »

March 14, 2011

Involving Kids at Mealtime

momversation-ragu-1.jpgI was truly honored when Momversation invited me to become part of this amazing group of panelists, and one of the projects I'm working with them on involves fostering dialogue around family and food, a subject about which I'm super passionate. I'll be participating in a series of these food chats through the remainder of this year; the project is sponsored by Ragú® (who I was thrilled to learn makes organic products, btw), and my first video with the lovely Whitney Moss and Mindy Roberts focuses on tips around involving kids at mealtimes. I've embedded the video below (it's just under three and a half minutes) for your viewing pleasure -- enjoy!

Continue reading "Involving Kids at Mealtime" »

March 12, 2011

Home & Studio Fitness Solutions

life-style-episode-15.jpgNow that we're finally getting tastes of spring weather, it's the perfect time to think about moving in ways other than hoisting a snow shovel. For inspiration, check out my latest episode of Life.Style, during which I chat about home and studio fitness solutions with Renee Ross and Lisa Johnson (of Modern Pilates). We covered everything from home fitness programs, to gear essentials, to tips for finding the right gym/studio, to recommendations for people who feel they don't have time for self-care, to tips for shaking up your fitness routine. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration. And for easy reference, below are links that were shared during the interview. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Home & Studio Fitness Solutions" »

March 7, 2011

Come March for Babies!

BM_MarchforBabies_2011.jpgI'm thrilled to partner for a fourth year with the March of Dimes to support the March for Babies on May 7 in Boston. Last year's rain didn't deter the spirit of the team (even the kiddos...and this year I plan on toting my wee one!), and I hope you will join us -- Team Boston Mamas & Friends -- whether by walking, joining the team for fundraising (walking or not), and/or making a donation. Truly, no gift is too small and anyone is welcome to join the team. Thanks so much in advance for your support! Please email me if you have questions.

Continue reading "Come March for Babies!" »

March 5, 2011

Healthy Eating & Cooking With Kids

life-style-episode-14.jpgWhat a fantastic episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about healthy eating and cooking with kids with Carrie Vitt (author of Deliciously Organic) and Michelle Stern (author of The Whole Family Cookbook). We covered everything from easy and healthy family friendly recipes, to resources for sourcing organic and finding recipe inspiration, to encouraging kids to eat vegetables, to getting out of food ruts, to tips and tools for cooking with kids. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration. And for easy reference, below are links that were shared during the interview. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Healthy Eating & Cooking With Kids" »

March 1, 2011

Sugar, Schools, & All Things Coke

life-style-episode-13.jpgOne exception to my mini-internet hibernation last week was filming Life.Style and it was a fantastic episode, during which I chatted about sugar, obesity, soda in schools, corporate responsibility, and all things Coke with local journalist Michael Blanding, author of The Coke Machine. It was a truly fascinating conversation; check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration. And for easy reference, below are links that were shared during the interview. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Sugar, Schools, & All Things Coke" »

February 23, 2011

This Week

nest-hearts.jpgHello friends, I just wanted to let you know that -- save a few existing commitments -- I'm going to be a bit scarce online the rest of this week (I figured I should state my intentions publicly since, after a few days of limited online activity, I received several e-mails asking if the baby arrived). I imagine many of you are off enjoying February vacation, and I have designs to do the same -- both in that I'd like to spend quality time with Laurel and Jon (our last school vacation before the baby arrives!), catch up on some projects, and finally get our house ready for the baby. Time (three weeks left!) and the generous piles from my secondhand baby shower have forced my hand, plus it's only getting more challenging to go up and down the stairs a million times carrying things (note to self and others: get the nesting done before you are really, really huge).

Continue reading "This Week" »

February 18, 2011

Beating the Winter Beauty & Fashion Blahs

life-style-episode-12.jpgDespite the unusually warm weather this week, I'm pretty sure winter is not done with us, so it was perfect to chat yesterday about beating the winter beauty and fashion blahs with Roxanna Sarmiento of Everyday Treats and The Frog & Snail Society, and Meredith Sinclair of Hoo-Dee-Hoo and Chicago Parent. During the show, Roxanna and I discussed hydration, cleansing, moisturizing, and makeup solutions, and Meredith and I covered shop-your-closet fashion hacks and easy ways to give your winter wardrobe new life. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, and for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Beating the Winter Beauty & Fashion Blahs" »

February 12, 2011

Finding & Nurturing Relationships

life-style-episode-11.jpgWhat a fun episode of Life.Style this week! I chatted about finding and nurturing relationships with Kristen Chase, author of The Mominatrix's Guide to Sex, and Meredith Goldstein of the Boston Globe Love Letters column. During the show we discussed everything from common issues for those in or looking for relationships, advice for those seeking or trying to maintain relationships, and the pulse on Hallmark holidays such as Valentine's Day. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, and for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Finding & Nurturing Relationships" »

February 5, 2011

Work, Life, & Parenting, Part II

life-style-episode-10.jpgThis week on Life.Style, I engaged in a second conversation on work, life, and parenting; definitely check out the episode if you didn't see it live on Thursday. I chatted with Morra Aarons-Mele of Women & Work and Women Online about everything from why the US lags behind other countries on parental leave policy, recommendations for women trying to strategize maternity leave, the modern family juggling act and division of labor, flex options from the employee and employer perspectives, as well as dads, same sex couples, and single parenting. Phew! Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, and for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews.

Continue reading "Work, Life, & Parenting, Part II" »

January 25, 2011

We Need A Girl's Name

letterpress-nametag.jpgNow that we've officially switched from count up to count down mode with this pregnancy (7 weeks to go!), many people have asked what we're naming our second daughter. And as with many responses to questions (e.g., Have you figured out child care? Where will the baby sleep? What do you need for baby stuff?) associated with my remarkably laid back approach to this pregnancy, the answer has been, "Hmm...I have no idea." But a few things recently suggested that it's time to get a move on thinking about this name business -- and I'm hoping you can help me out here:

Continue reading "We Need A Girl's Name" »

January 18, 2011

The Leap to Creative

alt-summit.jpgHello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that this is a short week here at Boston Mamas, between the school holiday and travel to Salt Lake City. I am so thrilled to be heading to Altitude Design Summit tomorrow -- Alt is a design/lifestyle conference that I admittedly was a tad intimidated to attend last year, so this year I decided that I needed to get over that fear and go. And I'm truly honored to be among this incredible lineup of speakers (which includes lovely friends/talented creatives such as Liz Gumbinner, Amy Turn Sharp, Allison Czarnecki, Laura Mayes, and Laurie Smithwick). While at the conference, I'll be soaking up all things creative, and will also speak alongside Chelsea Fuss, Christine Castro Hughes, and Lisa Warninger about taking the leap into full-time creative work.

Continue reading "The Leap to Creative" »

January 15, 2011

Work, Life, & Parenting, Part I

life-style-episode-9.jpgThis week on Life.Style, I engaged in the first of a two-part (at this point...the conversation could have continued for hours!) series on work, life, and parenting; definitely check out the episode if you didn't see it live on Thursday. I chatted with Erin Kane and Kristin Brandt of Manic Mommies about everything from the financial implications of opting out, the pros/cons of working in an office vs. working at home, resources for launching your own business, and strategies for finding personal time and getting a handle on home logistics. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, but for easy reference, below are the conversation point links that were shared during the interviews.

Continue reading "Work, Life, & Parenting, Part I" »

January 8, 2011

Reflections & New Routines

life-style-episode-8.jpgIt was so great to get back into the studio this week, and it was wonderful to kick off my 2011 programming talking about reflections and new routines. Definitely check out the episode if you didn't see it live on Thursday! I chatted about the #reverb10 reflection/manifestation project with Gwen Bell, and about starting and sticking to fitness routines with Leah Segedie of Mamavation. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, but for easy reference, below are the resource links that I shared during the interviews.

Continue reading "Reflections & New Routines" »

January 3, 2011

11 New Year's Wishes For You

love-salt.JPGHello everyone and Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely and restful winter break. I missed you all, though the break was really lovely (and also logistically necessary since we had a steady stream of friends and family in and out of our house for 10 days straight). That said, I did remain connected online minimally, primarily in order to complete my participation in a writing initiative called #reverb10, where I reflected daily through December on the closing and coming years. As I went through the posts on the last day of the initiative, I clearly could see simple yet powerful common threads -- and that they translated to 11 New Year's wishes I have for all of you.

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December 27, 2010

Winter Break

berry-snow-heart.jpgHello everyone! For those who celebrate Christmas, I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend. And to all, I hope you're enjoying the general slowdown associated with this time of year, and that you're staying cozy inside today while the blizzard finishes its course. And related to the holiday slowdown, I just wanted to touch base to let you know that I've decided to take the week off, both to spend some quality time with Laurel during her winter vacation and also to tackle some long overdue creative projects. I'll be back to regular posting on January 3.

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December 23, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Moving to Boston

boston-skyline.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Denae via e-mail. Denae had a series of questions regarding her relocation to Boston, which I have broken out into categories. In addition to my responses, Kate -- a Boston urban planner and car-free/public transport enthusiast -- kindly weighed in (thanks, Kate!):

Dear Boston Mamas: We are looking at relocating to Boston with a 3 month old. Coming from the South and big spaces, I am terrified by two things: an infant on the bus system and an infant in snowy weather. We will be leaving our car behind and I have no experience with snow...With the hubs getting his Master's we would be going to a single income and it looks like we could save a lot of money by not bringing our Honda Civic...if we can make it work. Thanks for your help!

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December 21, 2010

Healthy Holiday Eating Tips

stonyfield-healthy-holiday-eating.jpgI've long been a fan of Stonyfield Farm; theirs was Laurel's very first yogurt (oh how that baby went crazy over the creamy full fat yogurt!) and Laurel and I are big fans of the Oikos caramel yogurt. And through Boston Mamas I've had the pleasure of learning about the evolution of their brand (how cool is it that their multipack cups are made from plants?), interfacing with CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg, and benefiting from their sponsorship. And now I'm thrilled to announce that I have joined Stonyfield's amazing team of contributors to write periodically about green and healthful living. My first post just went live, in which I share tips for eating healthy during the holidays -- important both because I'm pregnant and also since I find it especially important to model good eating habits for kids at this time of year. Enjoy the post, and of course feel free to share any other great tips you employ during this decadent season!

December 20, 2010

Easy Staircase Gallery Walls

staircase-wall-gallery-1.JPGOne thing I have procrastinated on for over two years is hanging pictures in our home. But thanks to inspiration from a recent Life.Style episode (re: photo gifts and décor), this post on creating gallery walls, and probably the fact that we're entertaining a lot over the coming weeks, this weekend I got over my fear of hammer and nail. And now? My home is about 3000 times more cozy! I wanted to share the easy how-to for creating staircase gallery walls. Admittedly, I still leave the big hanging projects (as in, you need to find studs in the wall and wield a drill) to Jon, but I did a lot of hanging (here's everything we hung and how the project related to my life list).

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December 18, 2010

Holiday Happiness & Raising Charitable Kids

life-style-episode-7.jpgSo fitting for the holiday season, this week's episode of Life.Style was a wonderfully reflective one. Definitely check out the episode if you didn't see it live on Thursday. I chatted about happiness during the holidays with Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project, and about raising charitable children with Carrie Lundell of This Mama Makes Stuff. Check out the episode for full commentary and inspiration, but for easy reference, below are the links I shared during the interviews.

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December 11, 2010

Fabulous Photo Gifts, Art, & Gear

life-style-episode-6.jpgWow, I learned so much via my amazing guests on episode 6 of Life.Style; definitely check out the episode if you didn't see it live on Thursday! Kristen Chase of Cool Mom Picks and Cool Mom Tech shared a great round up of unique photo gift ideas, Casey Mullins of Moosh in Indy recommended resources for turning your photos into artful décor, and Tracey Clark of Shutter Sisters shared photography gear recommendations. Check out the segment to see full commentary and inspiration, but as promised, for easy reference below, I link up the leads shared by my guests. Enjoy!

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December 8, 2010

Pretty Paper Garlands & Ornaments

paper-garland-1.JPGLast week on Life.Style, as I discussed inspiration points for easy and inexpensive gift wrap, I shared a link with photos of lovely recycled paper garlands. I decided to craft these garlands the other night and it was so easy (3 steps!) and they came out beautifully; I love that you don't have to be too precise with the measurements and they still look so geometric and festive. My friend Christie asked for the how-to since a tutorial isn't available at the original inspiration link. Here's how to make them:

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December 4, 2010

Easy Crafts, Beauty, & Gift Wrap

life-style-episode-5.jpgIf you didn't have a chance to watch episode 5 of Life.Style live on Thursday, I highly recommend you check it out! It was a fantastic eco and budget friendly episode, in which Marie LeBaron of Make and Takes shared ideas for turning trash into craft treasure as well as nature inspired projects, and Allison Czarnecki of Petit Elefant offered awesome how-to's on home beauty remedies using five ingredients or less. I also shared some terrific video submissions showcasing clever ideas for inexpensive gift wrapping, as well as a few of my own inspiration points. Check out the segment to see additional images, video, and inspiration, but as promised, for easy reference below I link up leads shared by me and my guests. Enjoy!

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December 1, 2010

Use What You've Got

petit-elefant-conditioner.JPGI'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 Life.Style with Christine Koh tomorrow at 1pm EST. I'll have two wonderful guests on to share awesome ideas for turning trash into craft treasure (i.e., perfect for crafty and non-crafty parents!) and making beauty remedies from natural ingredients around the house. I'll also be sharing some cool ideas for creative and inexpensive gift wrapping. You're welcome to call in or tweet questions during the live episode, or e-mail me a question in advance to pose to the experts.

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November 22, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Thanksgiving Weekend Holiday Fun

faneuil-hall-tubas.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Amy via the Boston Mamas Facebook page:

Hey Boston Mamas, It's me again! The "new to Boston" mama you helped out before with great toddler-friendly activities. Well, I have another question! This is our first year staying here for Thanksgiving and I am wondering if you know of any Thanksgiving Day parades or activities like that? (Again, we live in Watertown.) I know this [past] weekend [was] the lighting of the tree at Faneuil Hall...any more activities like that (Thanksgiving or Christmas) would be appreciated!

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November 20, 2010

Life.Style Thanksgiving Solutions

life-style-episode-4.jpgIf you didn't have a chance to watch episode 4 of Life.Style live on Thursday, please check it out! It was a fantastic episode, in which Paige Lewin of Mudroom Boston shared easy and inexpensive tips for holiday décor and tabletops, Jane Maynard of This Week for Dinner offered fantastic recipes for traditional side dishes, twist-on-traditional side dishes, and perfect-for-potluck dishes, and Sheri Gurock of Magic Beans shared great ideas for toys to keep babies, toddlers, and older kids entertained while traveling. Check out the segment to see additional images, video, and inspiration, but as promised, for easy reference below I link up recipes and leads shared by my guests. Enjoy!

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November 17, 2010

Thanksgiving Solutions

table-setting.jpgI'm not sure what my problem is, but I'm having the hardest time wrapping my brain around the fact that Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!) is next week. If you also need help getting in the holiday spirit, and/or want to pick up some awesome tips and inspiration, tune in to Life.Style with Christine Koh tomorrow at 1pm EST. I'll have three wonderful guests on to share fantastically easy and chic holiday décor and table setting ideas, great Thanksgiving recipes (spanning traditional, less traditional, and perfect-for-potluck), and awesome picks for travel toys for kids and babies (to burn those hours in the car or on a plane or train next week). You're welcome to call in or tweet questions during the live episode, or e-mail me a question in advance to pose to the experts.

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November 10, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Miami Bound with Kids

miami-beach-hotel.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Liz via e-mail:

Dear Boston Mamas, I want to take my daughter somewhere warm and fun (beach/pool) in February and was thinking about a cruise or Miami or somewhere without breaking the bank. I'm having trouble finding places that promote things to do with your kids. Everywhere seems to think I'll want to put her in kids camp all day long. I want to do things with her. Any advice/suggestions?

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November 7, 2010

Expressive Photography

expressive-photography.jpgOn Thursday's episode of Life.Style I interviewed Tracey Clark, founder of Shutter Sisters and editor of the amazing book Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart. The publishers of Expressive Photography sent me a copy of the book to peruse in advance of the show and I cannot recommend it enough, whether as a gift to yourself or a loved one. Whether you're a novice, amateur, or professional photographer, Expressive Photography is replete with inspiring imagery and practical tips and tricks on approach, perspective, composition, lighting, details, and processing for different types of photos (e.g., landscape, portraits, still life, etc.). When I created my life list last month, #5 was "Remember to take photos of my family on the first day of each month." This book is providing immense inspiration to move forward with this project.

November 6, 2010

Life.Style Feeding Baby + Photography

life-style-episode-3.jpgWow, I truly cannot get over the awesomeness of episode 3 of Life.Style -- not because of me, but thanks to the amazing guests I had on the show! In this episode, I share an exclusive interview with pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, who shares advice on how to teach kids to love real food, and then interview talented photographers Tracey Clark, Karen Walrond, and Casey Mullins -- who all offer fantastic tips for shooting great photographs (whether with a point and shoot or DSLR), as well as insightful critiques on amateur shots. It was such a terrific show that I'm thinking of doing a follow up on choosing photography gear as well as great ways to output your photos (e.g., for gifts or home artwork). If you've got specific ideas/questions in these areas, drop me a line!

November 3, 2010

Learn To Take Amazing Pictures

shutter-sisters.jpgDo you -- like me -- enjoy taking pictures but want to take your photography to the next level of awesome? Then tune in to Life.Style with Christine Koh tomorrow at 1pm EST! In addition to sharing some fantastic interview footage with renowned pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene (we chat about teaching kids to love real food), I interview three talented photographers who will share great tips on how to rock your camera, whether it's a point and shoot or a DSLR. You're welcome to call in or tweet questions during the live episode, or e-mail me a question in advance to pose to the experts. And if you have a photo you'd like some advice/constructive criticism on, send it to me today at editor@bostonmamas.com.

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November 2, 2010

Vote Today!

vote.jpgJon, Laurel, and I just returned from voting, parting ways with the load of brownies Laurel and I baked for the Election Day bake sale at her school-turned-polling-station, and an unexpected celebratory family diner breakfast. (Laurel turned out to be a fine helper at the polls, instructing me to fill in my ovals more cleanly...) The polls are open until 8pm tonight and I urge you all to get out there and vote today. If you plug in your address at the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division site, it's super easy to find your polling location and also see a preview of the ballot in advance of making your marks.

October 30, 2010

Life.Style Halloween + Real Food

life-style-episode-2.jpgHi folks, if you missed episode 2 of Life.Style with Christine Koh, I highly encourage you check it out. In addition to covering some great Halloween food and craft ideas, most of the episode was devoted to eating real food. I interviewed three fantastic guests: Meagan Francis (a mother of 5 from Michigan), who shared great tips for feeding a large family on a budget when natural/organic options are not abundant, Greer Bautz (a mother of 2 from Maryland), who offered tips for getting the most bang for your buck at Whole Foods, and April Paffrath (a mother of 1 from Cambridge), who shared ideas for sourcing local food through the year. I also give a sneak peek into the fantastic show I have planned for next week. Enjoy!

October 27, 2010

Eat Real Food

tomatoes.jpgI'm super excited about tomorrow's episode of Life.Style with Christine Koh! As follow up to last week's Halloween costume coverage, I'll chat fabulous and easy Halloween food and crafts in the first segment. And for the remainder of the show, inspired by this call to action, I'll interview three fantastic guests re: tips and tricks for eating real food on a budget (in one case, a family of seven!) and sourcing local throughout the year. So tune in at 1pm EST; you're also welcome to call in or tweet questions during the live episode!

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October 23, 2010

Life.Style Green Tips & Halloween

christine-koh-screenshot.jpgWow, wow, wow. I had such a fun time launching Life.Style with Christine Koh on Thursday! Perhaps as a function of all of those years performing violin recitals and giving lectures, I wasn't nervous at all. There were a few unexpected things to deal with given that the show is live, but it all seemed to come off well! For episode 1, I interviewed Danielle Friedland of Healthy Child Healthy World about easy and inexpensive tips for green living (helpful whether you are just starting to think about making green change or want to amp up your current routine), and also shared a great roundup of ideas for Halloween costumes. I hope you'll check out the segment!

October 20, 2010

Life.Style Launch!

life-style-with-christine-koh.jpgMy dad used to tell me that I should be a lawyer, diplomat, or talk show host since, well, I love to talk with people. And as it turns out, tomorrow I'll take a step closer to the talk show host thing. I'm thrilled to announce that starting tomorrow, I'll host a weekly live talk video show (like talk radio, but streaming live on the web...apparently you can also tune in via iPhone or iPad) called Life.Style with Christine Koh via The Pulse Network. My goal for the show is to share and connect with people around living well, stylishly, happily, and practically -- I'll cover topics such as green living, parenting, pregnancy, holidays and celebrations, art and design, crafts, and food. Basically anything and everything!

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October 13, 2010

Happy News

nest.jpgWhat an outpouring of birthday love I felt in my inbox and Twitter stream yesterday -- thank you! I had a fantastic day off; most of the morning was spent with my midwife and an ultrasound technician, and then I enjoyed bento boxes with Jon, he helped me take a step towards #36 on my life list via a very generous gift, and I enjoyed relaxation, cake, and music making with Jon and Laurel throughout the rest of the day. So lovely!

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October 12, 2010

Birthdays, Babies, & Advice

pregnant-belly.jpgHello friends! I know we're coming off a long weekend where I've already taken a couple of days off from blogging (excuse: we were away at the loveliest wedding!), but today I'm going to remain offline because it's my birthday. I don't have major plans (Jon threw me an amazing surprise party last year so I told him to do nothing this year), with the exception that I'll spend most of this morning taking care of prenatal matters (including finding out whether we're having a boy or girl), but I hope to otherwise enjoy some relaxation and reflection today.

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September 22, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: How To Support Parents of Premature Babies

hands.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Precillia via e-mail:

Dear Christine, My good friend gave birth 3 weeks ago to her daughter - 12 weeks early. She lives in CA, and a number of her good friends are now on the East coast. She asked for a support group after delivery, and the doctors were not able to provide one locally. I'm wondering if you have any advice from your experience, and or from your readership on how we (her friends) can best support her from afar. We are beyond flowers, etc. We did send a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant so that they could enjoy a night out. We are all texting, calling, emailing etc. without expecting a response, but really to show our support and convey our thoughts and prayers. Their situation is so stressful and we all feel so helpless...not to mention, guilty, that many of us have had babies this year who are healthy.

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September 16, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Ideas for Indoor Fun

mucky-kids.JPGToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Amy via the Boston Mamas Facebook community page:

Hi Boston Mamas! I am new to the Boston area and have a 21-month-old little girl. I need things to do with her this fall/winter and weekends/rainy days. Also, I need some ideas for her birthday this fall. I would LOVE some suggestions! (FYI, we've done Boston Children's Museum, Aquarium, etc... we're looking for something a bit more interactive and smaller scale). Also, we live in Watertown so closer to that side of town would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

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September 9, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Finding Babysitters

babysitting.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Elizabeth via e-mail:

Hi Christine, I recently started looking for a babysitter for my 9-month-old daughter. I tried Craigslist with mixed results, and signed up for a free trial with Sittercity and Care.com. I have been SO disappointed! Sittercity never made it clear that while I could post a job, I would not be able to contact any of the applicants without paying a membership fee of $50-100. Care.com's free membership was slightly more clear, but I still did not understand that I would have to pay their monthly membership fee to contact any applicants as well. I understand that this is partly my fault for misreading; however, I can't help feeling that these websites are taking advantage of me. Now I either lose out on the 8 applications I already received, and go back to slogging through Craigslist, or I have to pay for a membership to a website that I have lost trust in. I'm wondering if this happens to a lot of moms, and if people in your community have suggestions for other ways to find a good sitter!

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September 3, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Career Re-entry

carol-cohen-2.JPGToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Sue via e-mail:

Dear Christine, I have been out on an extended maternity leave (almost 8 years) and have found very little information on what it is like to rejoin the workforce after such a long break. Have you ever written a blog entry on this? Any suggestions on a voice of authority? I am not ready just yet, but the longer I am out the scarier the prospect becomes.

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August 30, 2010

I'm Back

christine-koh-birds-nest.JPGHello friends! I hope you had a fantastic week while I was away. Other than dealing with a pesky head cold, I had a wonderful, reflective week off; I'm excited to be back sharing all sorts of useful and clever awesomeness with you, and I'm also feeling very happy about a new perspective I developed on parenting, work, and balance this past week. It only seems fitting to share these thoughts with you in my first post back. Enjoy!

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August 23, 2010

Gone Fishing!

gonefishing.jpgFriends, if this summer has been to you what it has been to me, it's sort of been like the summer that never was; full of awesome visits and events and projects but also crazy, crazy busy. As an independent businessperson with an endless number of ideas, it's always hard for me to step away from work (my model was my parents who never, ever took a vacation), but for the good of my body and soul, I'm going to take a break from the internet this week. I want to enjoy time with loved ones, make and eat delicious food, exercise, enjoy growing the baby, and allow some creative ideas proper percolation. Meanwhile, if you need your Boston Mamas fix, scroll down in the left column to peruse over 2000 posts in the archives. And of course, feel free to write in if you have ideas for content you want to see, or to share any other thoughts about the site. I've so enjoyed answering questions via Dear Boston Mamas, and also seeing what other readers share. Have a wonderful week everyone!

August 22, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Friendship Anniversaries

aircraft-aerial-arts.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Liz via e-mail:

Hey Christine! A friend and I are celebrating our "friendship anniversary" and wanted some new ideas of things to do. What's a friendship anniversary? My best friend and I wanted to make sure we took the time each year to celebrate what a fantastic and rewarding friendship we have -- we've been friends for 29 years! Think about it -- we never really think about the close relationships we have with our friends... a lot of the time we have relationships with friends longer than we've been with our significant others. Though thick & thin (waists), good times and bad, celebrations and memorials -- our friendship has always been there for us -- why not celebrate it!? On our anniversary "night out" (day/night) we try to do something other than just going out for drinks and dinner (which is nice, but not as special as we'd like). One year we did indoor skydiving, which was a blast, and we're looking for new, fun ideas (that don't cost an arm and a leg). Any ideas?

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August 18, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Handling Formula Obsessed Relatives

baby-bottle.jpgNow, the second of two Dear Boston Mamas questions from Susan via e-mail:

Dear Christine, My mother-in-law is obsessed with feeding everyone, and apparently this includes the baby! She keeps pressuring me to use formula even though I keep telling her that I am breastfeeding. She will not relent and got to the point where she actually did bring me formula. It makes me feel incredibly unsupported with breastfeeding and I am going to lose my cool soon. She knows I go back to work soon and now asks every week what kind of formula we plan to use. This is just one item that I really do not want her to provide and she won't lay off. Any advice on how to handle a formula obsessed MIL?

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Dear Boston Mamas: Return to Work Strategies

pot-on-stove.jpgToday I'll be fielding two Dear Boston Mamas questions -- from Susan via e-mail -- in separate posts:

Dear Christine, I am returning to work from maternity leave next month and I am really nervous about being able to handle everything when I get home at night. So I am trying to make a bunch of dinners to freeze and microwave when I get home for hubby and me. Seems like there is other stuff I could be doing now to make things easier for later. Do you have ideas on how to make the transition back to work easier?

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August 16, 2010

Birthday Thanks

BM_birthday.jpgToday is the last day to enter the final giveaway (an amazing hushamok organic baby hammock valued at $195) in the Boston Mamas Fourth Birthday Giveaway Series. I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you again to all of the wonderful companies who helped celebrate the fourth birthday of Boston Mamas in such fine fashion. If you haven't already, I hope you will check out these fantastic companies (many of them local and independent!), bookmark them, and shop from them soon. They rock. Which, of course, is why they were involved in the first place.

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August 15, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Awesome Backpacks

skip-hop-owl.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from @Rhoosting via Twitter:

Dear Christine, What are your recommendations for the best, hip backpacks for toddlers? I'm sure others would appreciate your thoughts, given that back to school season is upon us.

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August 10, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: London Parent Resources

london-bus.JPGToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Jillian via e-mail:

Hi Christine! I have been faithfully reading your site since my daughter was born almost two years ago. Thanks for sharing all of your insights and recommendations. They're invaluable!! Unfortunately my family is moving to London, England in the next few months and I'm a little nervous to be moving to a different country without at least the online resource you've proven to be for Boston and the surrounding towns. Please please please tell me you have a counterpart in London that you love and would recommend to a new-ish mom. It would be great if you had a twin doing the same type of blog in London!

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August 4, 2010

In The Moment

Hello friends! So, my original plan was to line up all sorts of awesome editorial to publish from New York, but the truth is, I've been buried in client work (all fun and awesome, but still...) and this pregnancy recently has been kicking my rump a little in terms of general fatigue. However, and more importantly, BlogHer -- and the ability to connect in real life with so many talented writers and friends whose work I admire -- only comes around once a year and I want to be present in the moment while I'm there, not holed up in my hotel room posting and moderating comments. So, I'll be off for a few days and hope you have a fantastic rest of the week! And if you need your Boston Mamas fix while I'm away, peruse the archives (scroll down in the left column to read by month or category), which include over 2000 (!) posts, or you can see what I'm chatting about in New York over on Twitter. And of course, if you'll also be at BlogHer, please come say hello if you see me!

July 28, 2010

Big News

nest.jpgWell my friends, I have some big news to share with you today. Regretfully, it's not that I have figured out a way to achieve world peace or halt man-made ecological disasters, but it's big news in my corner of the universe all the same. I am pregnant. Hang on while I type that again because admittedly, I'm still sitting here in a state of shock: I am pregnant.

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July 25, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Toddler Fun in Boston

swan-boats.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Nan in Minnesota via e-mail:

Dear Boston Mamas, Growing up in the suburb of Belmont, I recall entertaining myself by hopping the bus to Harvard Square, eating copious amounts of Ranc's ice cream, skinny dipping in Walden Pond, and stealing traffic cones. As I sit pondering a visit back to Massachusetts later this month with my almost 2-year old daughter, I certainly hope to let her enjoy two of those activities, but am looking for some ideas on what else we can do. Thoughts and ideas on fun activities for a youngster in and around Boston would be appreciated!

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July 11, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Baby Shower Venues

seaglass-restaurant-lounge.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Victoria in Chicago via e-mail:

Dear Christine, I live in Chicago and I am planning my best friend's baby shower in the Boston area. She lives in Newburyport. Any suggestions for places in Boston or Newburyport?

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July 6, 2010

Birthday Giveaway: Crabapple Photography

crabapple-photography.jpgIf 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 Crabapple Photography. Whether you want wedding, maternity, or family photos, Kate can hook you up with beautiful shots that might just convince you that your kids are never, ever cranky. For the first in my Boston Mamas Fourth Birthday Giveaway Series, Crabapple Photography generously is gifting one lucky winner with a photography session + print credit valued at $300! Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway by Wednesday, July 7, to enter to win.

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Four Years

BM_birthday.jpgWell hello there. I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! As you may have noticed, I went radio silent. I originally had planned on working during our vacation weekend (I realize this completely defeats the purpose of vacation), but at the last minute, I decided to take an internet break, and it was marvelous. And now here I am, refreshed and ready to get back to things. My first order of business is kicking off the celebration for the fourth birthday of Boston Mamas. Read on to learn more about the party.

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June 6, 2010

Healthy Child Healthy World

healthy-child-healthy-world.jpgI've been standing on my green soap box for over a decade, and it's been truly gratifying to see green living embraced in a mainstream way in the last several years. I'm thus honored to be part of a similarly impassioned group of parent ambassadors for Healthy Child Healthy World, a nonprofit organization that seeks to mobilize parents to create safe, green homes for their families. I'll be posting periodically about relevant HCHW information and sharing ideas/community feedback with them. And if you're looking for immediate resources on green living, check out HCHW's green products and services guide and Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home book. Meanwhile, if there are any green home/safety topics in particular that you want to learn more about, feel free to e-mail me.

May 25, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Spa Getaways

stonehedge-inn.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Kimberly via Twitter:

Dear Christine, my hubby and I are celebrating 10 years in September. Any suggestions for a nice getaway? I am in Malden (so, about 5 miles from Boston). We are willing to travel a little!

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May 9, 2010

Boston Mamas & Friends Thanks You!

MarchforBabies_150x150.jpgFriends, I was so happy to walk in yesterday's March for Babies (which had an impressive turnout despite the downpour preceding the walk), and am enormously proud of all of the funds raised by Team Boston Mamas & Friends. We raised $7,762 for the March of Dimes, and I am especially grateful to my sister Stephanie (our runaway top fundraiser at $3,915 -- she matched her donations dollar for dollar!), and to Carissa, Angela, and Christina, who all raised $500 or more (I was also thrilled to meet my personal fundraising goal). Amazing efforts all around and we couldn't have done it without the generosity of many people. Thanks to everyone who supported our team!

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May 3, 2010

We'll Rock The Walk For You

MarchforBabies_150x150.jpgFriends, it's the final stretch and I am doing one last ask in this space: will you please support Team Boston Mamas & Friends with a donation to the team or my personal page? I am thrilled that we recently broke the $3,000 fundraising mark and I hope we can keep upping our contribution this week -- truly, no gift is too small! Thanks so much in advance for your support, and I look forward to rocking the walk on May 8th on behalf of all of you.

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April 29, 2010

Flowers for Mom

1-800-flowers-spotted-mom.jpgYesterday, I was honored to be featured as a do-it-all mom in the 1-800-FLOWERS Spot A Mom interview series. It was fun to answer a few reflective questions about motherhood, and I thought interviewer (and floral lifestyle expert) Julie Mulligan was spot on with this pretty and peaceful orchid arrangement she proposed for me. 1-800-FLOWERS also was kind enough to offer to send me flowers (which I asked be sent to my mom...she was thrilled!), and also share a $75 gift certificate + a copy of Celebrating Mom with one of you fabulous readers. Simply leave a comment below about this giveaway by midnight, May 3, 2010 to enter to win.

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April 18, 2010

Be Out There

nwf-be-out-there.pngGiven that I spent the majority of my childhood free time toy-free and playing outside, I have always been concerned about curbing material excess in Laurel's life, and aware of how important it is for her (and us) to be active outdoors. I thus was happy and honored to be invited to be part of the National Wildlife Federation's Founding Mothers, a group of women writers who will work to mobilize families outdoors in partnership with the NWF's Be Out There campaign.

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April 14, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Boston Area Family Photographers

camera-lens.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Perri via Facebook:

Hello Boston Mamas, I'm (relatively) new to Boston and am looking for a great photographer to take some photos of my one year old. I'm looking for color and black & white, maybe some shots at Boston Common, and yes, at least one with the [Make Way for] Ducklings statues. Any suggestions?

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April 8, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas: Summer in Boston

travelers.jpgToday's Dear Boston Mamas question comes from Jan via e-mail:

We are visiting Boston this summer (from Ireland) with 3 kids (12, 10 and 5) and are looking for recommended kid-friendly restaurants, some free activities, best ice-cream, best toy shops, etc. We will have 10 days in Cape Cod then 10 days in Concord. We will have a car, and the house we are staying at in Concord is close to the train station so the plan would be to take the train into Boston.

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April 4, 2010

Join Boston Mamas & Friends!

MarchforBabies_150x150.jpgI am so very grateful that my work here at Boston Mamas has provided me a platform for philanthropy, and I'm thrilled to partner for a third year with the March of Dimes to support the March for Babies on May 8 at the Hatch Shell. This year I'm especially thrilled to collaborate on this effort with my amazing and talented friends over at Digital Dads and Manic Mommies. I hope you will join us -- Team Boston Mamas & Friends -- whether by walking with us, joining the team for fundraising (walking or not), and/or making a donation. No gift is too small and anyone is welcome to join the team. Thanks so much in advance for your support! Please email me if you have questions.

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March 30, 2010

Dear Boston Mamas

letter.jpgI field a lot of inquiries here at Boston Mamas and I've been thinking for some time about sharing some of the reader Q&A I typically engage in via e-mail with the community at large (as I've seen my friends Gabrielle and Jo-Lynne do so well on their blogs). As a result, I just wanted to share that tomorrow I'll be launching a new series called Dear Boston Mamas, in which I'll periodically post reader Q&A. I hope you find the series useful and entertaining, and of course feel free to comment in if you have recommendations beyond those I've made. And if you have questions, send them in; I'm always happy to hear from readers!

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February 28, 2010

Mom 2.0 Reflections

mom2summit.jpgThis time last week I was headed back from the Mom 2.0 Summit, a truly remarkable conference that brought together moms and marketers for professional discussions, and also explored the personal track. Over at Pop Discourse I wrote a couple of posts that I thought might be of interest to you. The first post covers my thoughts about why this conference was so meaningful and impacting, and the second includes a round up of blogs I recommend reading. If you’re looking for fresh reading, definitely check out the latter post. Enjoy!

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February 27, 2010

Thank You, Boston Baby Photos!

boston-baby-photos.jpgI truly was overwhelmed by the generous response when I sent out queries regarding the Boston Mamas Have a Heart for Haiti campaign, and was doubly overwhelmed when the donations started coming in last week. To close the campaign I wanted to feature the top fundraiser, Jessica McDaniel of Boston Baby Photos -- Jessica contributed nearly $350 to the $1,850 total! Read on to learn more about Jessica’s work, as well as how she wants to continue to contribute to the Haiti effort this week.

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Boston Mamas Rocked It For Haiti

Boston_Mamas_Haiti.jpgAmong the many things I love about running Boston Mamas independently is: a) how nimble I can be when inspired by a plan, and b) having created community based resources such as the Boston Mamas mamapreneur network. Last month, I brought these two elements together to launch the Boston Mamas Have a Heart for Haiti campaign, and I'm thrilled to report that we rocked it for Haiti and raised $1,850! This donation has been directed to UNICEF, which is absorbing administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to relief efforts for children in Haiti. I am so grateful to all who shopped and helped spread the word, as well as to the amazing vendors who were so generous in their participation (I’ll be sharing the top fundraiser in a separate post). I hope you’ll keep all of these women business owners in mind for future shopping.

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February 1, 2010

Shop Local For Haiti

Boston_Mamas_Haiti.jpgA couple of weeks ago I announced my plan to launch the Boston Mamas Have a Heart for Haiti campaign. I’m thrilled to share this group of talented and generous Boston Mamas mamapreneur network members who are donating a percentage of sales collected from February 1 - 15 to the campaign. Proceeds will be directed to UNICEF, which is absorbing administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to relief efforts for children in Haiti. So please shop these vendors and shop them generously! Your dollars will do double duty by supporting local women business owners and relief efforts in Haiti.

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January 22, 2010

Mom 2.0 Bound

mom-2-summit.jpgIt’s been over a decade since I visited Houston and I’m thrilled to return to this city next month for the Mom 2.0 Summit. Last year I heard incredible things about this conference, which serves as a meeting grounds for moms and marketers and this year explores professional, product, and personal paths. My attendance, however, would not be possible were it not for the kind and generous sponsorship of Care.com.

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January 21, 2010

Have a Heart for Haiti

Boston_Mamas_Haiti.jpgIn the wake of the devastation in Haiti I have been pondering how best to use my voice at Boston Mamas to help. And yesterday I thought of a way to engage you wonderful readers while also supporting talented local mamapreneurs. I'm currently assembling a group of Boston Mamas mamapreneur network members to donate a percentage of sales collected from February 1 - 15 to the Boston Mamas Have a Heart for Haiti campaign. Donations will go to UNICEF, which is absorbing administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to relief efforts for children in Haiti (thanks for that lead, Cool Mom Picks!). If you are a local mamapreneur and want to participate, simply join the network and I'll follow up with details. I will be launching the campaign next week, so act soon!

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January 19, 2010

Get Out and Vote

vote.jpgThe polls are open until 8pm; I urge you all to get out and vote in today's important U.S. Senate Special Election. Whether by sling, stroller, or on foot, we always bring Laurel with us to the polls and are heading out shortly to cast our vote. If you’re unsure of where to vote, simply enter your address in the Secretary of the Commonwealth poll locator.

January 13, 2010

Blogging Niche and Beyond

blisstastic.jpgApparently (and unintentionally), today is all about Blissdom! The lovely Amanda of Oh Amanda invited me to guest post for her BLISS*TASTIC guest blog series leading up to Blissdom, and the article went live this morning. Amanda asked me to share how I manage a local blog while making it attractive to a broader audience. I receive a lot of inquiries about this topic from folks looking to start geographical niche sites, so it was a pleasure to think more concretely about this topic and share my blogging niche & beyond approach. Enjoy!

Blissdom Bound

Blissdom Conference ~ Nashville ~ February 4-6 2010The dead of Boston winter is the perfect time to head south, but that’s not the only reason I’m thrilled to head to Blissdom in a few weeks. I heard so many amazing things about this blog conference last year, and meeting lovely co-founders Alli Worthington and Barbara Jones this year provided extra motivation to attend. The agenda is fantastic; I’m so looking forward to listening to, learning from, and meeting other bloggers, and I’m also honored to be speaking on the life balance panel. If you’re headed to Blissdom (there's still time to register), do drop me a line; it would be lovely to connect in Nashville!

January 5, 2010

Boston's Blogging Hub

boston-magazine-article.jpgAs I noted in yesterday’s year in review post, it has been a remarkable and humbling year for press and accolades. And 2010 started in a similarly humbling fashion when I hit the grocery store this weekend, picked up the January issue of Boston Magazine, and followed the front page teaser to see myself as the story lead in Elizabeth Elfman’s article on Boston mommy bloggers. Elfman did well capturing my story in the context of the amazing proliferation of local mommy blogs, and the potential relation to highly educated and savvy Hub women turning towards blogging following (late) motherhood. However, the concluding paragraphs drew my concern and I wanted to address that here.

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January 4, 2010

Year in Review

happy-2010.jpgI meant to write this post in advance of January 1 but instead opted to take a much needed break to enjoy downtime with family and friends. However, this week I'll hit the 1800 post mark at Boston Mamas -- a number that seems both arbitrary and momentous -- and it seemed fitting to peruse the 2009 archives and reflect on what happened this past year. So much of my life is set in the context of the work I put into Boston Mamas, and it truly is an honor to be here with you. I hope you enjoy this recap of my favorite posts and notable occurrences of 2009 and I wish you all a year full of joy and blessings and fantastic surprises!

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December 23, 2009

I've Been Babbled

Best-of lists are tricky. At best, they’re meant to be interesting, fun, and sometimes even inspiring; at worst, they cause ill will or seem random and/or contrived. In the former realm, I was honored and humbled to learn last week that I was named to Babble.com’s list of 50 Best Mommy Bloggers. So why is this list different and worthy of mention? First, it's purely editorial (not vote-driven), and second, there is a thoughtful editorial spread about why each blogger was selected. In addition to overall rank, there also are rankings for a handful of breakout categories; clearly, time and thought were put into this process.

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December 1, 2009

My Editorial Code

globe-ftc-photo.jpgToday I was included in a Boston Globe article about bloggers and the FTC’s new guidelines about disclosure in product reviews and endorsements. While I’ve witnessed a lot of panic and anger in the blogosphere about these guidelines (rumors of $11,000 misconduct fines will do that), they’re actually a good thing because ultimately, the goal is to protect the consumer; readers like you who read blogs and (rightfully assume) that what you’re reading is honest and objective editorial.

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November 30, 2009

HOSB: Extra Installment

hands-on-small-business.jpgIt's been so fantastic to meet aspiring and established small business owners and entrepreneurs through Kirtsy/Microsoft Office Live's Boston Hands On Small Business sessions. And the good news? Extra sessions have been added to this free, nationwide business development series and Angela and I will teach one more Boston installment tomorrow, December 1, in Cambridge. So register and come enjoy coffee and good company while you learn about cool free tools to help your business grow.

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November 17, 2009

Simplifying the Holidays

holiday-star.jpgSince launching Boston Mamas in 2006, I’ve made truly incredible friends in the blogging community; some who regrettably remain at laptop’s reach, and others who I’ve had the immense fun of meeting in person. And I’m especially lucky that a group of my talented friends have agreed to share their expertise on Boston Mamas in a guest blog series I’m calling Simplifying the Holidays; editorial focused on interesting, stylish, crafty, philanthropic, and/or time saving solutions to help your holidays be fun, meaningful, and less stressful. As the series progresses, I’ll link each guest blog to this post for easy referencing. Now, off to launch the first guest post in the series...

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November 2, 2009

Hands On Small Business

hands-on-small-business.jpgCalling all small business owners and budding entrepreneurs! There are just two Kirtsy/Microsoft Office Live Hands On Small Business sessions remaining in Boston. HOSB is a series of 100 fun, FREE gatherings in 20 cities across the US and Canada, and covers free online and social media solutions to help entrepreneurs and small businesses build and promote their business. I’m teaching the Boston sessions with Angela from Mommy Bytes. The remaining two sessions are this Thursday, November 5 (7-9pm) and Wednesday, November 11 (1-3pm). Click here to register and hope to meet you soon!

October 1, 2009

Hands On Small Business: Boston!

hands-on-small-business.jpgSince launching Boston Mamas and Posh Peacock I have entertained lots of questions about business development and social media and also met many wonderful small business owners (including those in the awesome Boston Mamas mamapreneur network). I’m thus thrilled to be a part of Kirtsy and Microsoft Office Live’s Hands On Small Business sessions. Including 100 fun, FREE gatherings in 20 cities across the US and Canada, HOSB will cover free online and social media solutions to help entrepreneurs and small businesses build and promote their business. I’ll be team teaching the Boston sessions (which start October 8) with Angela from Mommy Bytes. Register now to join us for one of the five Boston dates; I look forward to seeing you (and your laptop) there!

September 29, 2009

Giving More, Getting More: Live

the-juice.jpgThis past summer I responded to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of The Juice, a content arm of BlogHer that offers women tips on getting more of what they want (and less of what they don’t) out of life. I shared my perspective on giving more to and thus getting more out of relationships and was honored that my post was selected as the winning entry. I flew to San Francisco to film a webisode about the topic with the lovely Jory Des Jardins (BlogHer co-founder and host of The Juice) and the segment is now live! To check it out, visit The Juice and select episode “Giving More, Getting More.”