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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!

Continue reading "Mom 2.0 Reflections" »

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.

Continue reading "Thank You, Boston Baby Photos!" »

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.

Continue reading "Boston Mamas Rocked It For Haiti" »

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.

Continue reading "Shop Local For Haiti" »

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.

Continue reading "Mom 2.0 Bound" »

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!

Continue reading "Have a Heart for Haiti" »

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.

Continue reading "Boston's Blogging Hub" »

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!

Continue reading "Year in Review" »

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.

Continue reading "I've Been Babbled" »

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.

Continue reading "My Editorial Code" »

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.

Continue reading "HOSB: Extra Installment" »

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...

Continue reading "Simplifying the Holidays" »

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.”

September 2, 2009

Boston Mamas Birthday Thanks

BM_birthday.jpgNow that I’ve wrapped the Boston Mamas 3rd birthday party and am gearing up to celebrate Laurel’s 5th at home, I wanted to post a final thank you to the many wonderful vendors who partnered with me to fete the third anniversary of this site. Thank you for your awesomeness! (See list below and image roster here.) Meanwhile, happy fall everyone, and I hope you enjoy the cool content I've got in the pipeline; thanks for tuning in and being part of the community!

Continue reading "Boston Mamas Birthday Thanks" »

August 24, 2009

Gone Fishing!

gonefishing.jpgHello folks, apologies for being a couple of days late in posting this notice. In case you were wondering, I'm not trapped under something heavy; instead, similar to last summer, in my quest for better balance, I'm taking a short Internet vacation. My person, family, and sore eyeballs and forearms need the R & R, and I’ll be back posting lots of fabulous content and continuing the Boston Mamas 3rd birthday giveaway series on Wednesday. Meanwhile, if you need your Boston Mamas fix, scroll down to peruse over 1600 posts in the archived topics in the left column. Enjoy!

August 19, 2009

We Rocked The Vote

parents-pick.jpgBack in May, Boston Mamas was nominated by Nickelodeon/Parents Connect as Best Local (Parenting) Blog in Boston. And while initially I thought this was pretty awesome, I soon had some misgivings: Did I have the stomach to pester people daily for the two-month daily voting window (no)? Did I want to be responsible for the social fallout/discomfort between other contenders and mutual friends (absolutely not)? Wouldn’t it be more valuable to the user if a top picks list was created editorially instead of by vote (in my opinion, yes; see for example, Jennifer James’s recent 25 influential moms in the Twitterverse post)?

Continue reading "We Rocked The Vote" »

August 18, 2009

On NPR Today

npr.gifYesterday I had the pleasure and honor of being interviewed by NPR Tell Me More host Michel Martin -- alongside Kelly Wickham (Mocha Momma), Jamila Bey (Washington Examiner), and Catherine Sabonis-Bradley (What Matters) -- about the issue of commercial interests tainting the mommy blogosphere. Unfortunately, Tell Me More doesn’t broadcast in Massachusetts (check for other stations by state here), but the audio will be available online at approximately 12 pm.

July 31, 2009

Notes from BlogHer Chicago

tim-gunn-christine-koh.jpgIt’s hard for me to believe that BlogHer was just a week ago. I have had a million thoughts racing through my head following the meeting, most of which I have posted about over at my personal blog Pop Discourse. I still have one more post forthcoming re: BlogHer programming; meanwhile, my fingers are worn to the nub so I will simply redirect you to plenty of engaging reading per my posts on the age of mommy blogger discontent, marketing to women of color, why I’ll be heading to BlogHer NYC in 2010, and ideas for how bloggers and sponsors can co-exist in harmony.

Continue reading "Notes from BlogHer Chicago" »

July 23, 2009

Chicago Bound

I'm Going to BlogHer '09I’m thrilled to soon be on my way to Chicago for BlogHer, where I hope folks will cast away the social baggage in favor of engaging in a lot of awesome programming and rocking some really spectacular parties. If you’re heading to the meeting, I hope to meet you there! Feel free to @ me on Twitter or drop me an e-mail during the event if you’d like to connect.

Continue reading "Chicago Bound" »

July 10, 2009

Final Days to Rock the Vote

parents-connect.jpgBack in May, Boston Mamas was nominated by Nickelodeon as Boston’s best parenting blog, and the contest finally is coming to a close. Would you please rock the vote for BostonMamas.com and even share the link with friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.? Daily voting is allowed until July 15 and it literally takes a couple of seconds to cast a vote. Thanks so much for your support! (Note: An easy click over button is available in the left sidebar here and on the Boston Mamas Facebook page.)

July 9, 2009

Happy Birthday Boston Mamas!

BM_birthday.jpgToday I reflect on the birth of this site, and how we’re going to rock the celebration together:

Even though Boston Mamas is a major part of my identity, it’s still hard for me to believe that today marks the site’s 3rd birthday. At this time three years ago I was wading miserably through my postdoctoral fellowship, probably as close as I’ve ever come to a nervous breakdown. I didn’t officially leave academia until September 2006, but I vividly remember having the “aha!” moment to create the site in June 2006, followed by an intense flurry of writing and designing in the wee hours between Laurel’s nursings (how I was even remotely functional during the day I cannot say), and the site’s launch just a few weeks later, on July 9, 2006. After three years of professional dissatisfaction and major dysfunction with my advisor, my creative spirit finally was reawakened and moving forward.

Continue reading "Happy Birthday Boston Mamas!" »

July 6, 2009

Media Mentions

fox-boston.JPGI'm a tad remiss in reporting, but wanted to share some recent kind media mentions. A couple of weeks ago I was quoted in Joanna Weiss’s Boston Globe feature on imperfect parenting confessionals. And last week I was included in FOX25 Boston’s special report on mom bloggers. Given the brouhaha that has erupted amidst the blogging community re: product reviews, I was particularly pleased that my comments on ethics and transparency made the cut.

Continue reading "Media Mentions" »

June 24, 2009

Oh, the Karma!

the-juice-web.jpgIn response to an invitation to submit an idea for an episode of The Juice, last week I wrote about a topic I care deeply about: nurturing relationships and the value of doing good things for people. And I’m honored to report that The Juice selected my post as the winning entry of their Trop 50 Juice Contest. As a result, I’ll head to San Francisco to film a webisode with host and BlogHer co-founder Jory Des Jardins, featuring the tips I wrote about, plus some additional useful ideas and resources on the topic.

I’ll let you know when the webisode is live; meanwhile, I’m flattered that my post was selected from what no doubt was a pool of thoughtful and insightful entries, and am happy to have the opportunity to spread the good karmic word!

June 18, 2009

Connect up for Chicago

I'm Going to BlogHer '09I've been meaning to recap and credit the lovely pre-BlogHer Boston event this past weekend (graciously hosted by Susan Getgood), but Karen of 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires already did an awesome job of listing and linking up the event sponsors and bloggers. Karen even created a video with e-introductions from attendees (impressive!). You also can see my photos from the event on the Boston Mamas Facebook fan page.

Continue reading "Connect up for Chicago" »

May 29, 2009

Love These Links!

fireworks.jpgI’ve palpably felt the heat of fireworks in the blogosphere lately, no doubt due at least in part to reactions to a certain family reality show, the tension that can come from stratifying moms via accolades, general mommy war matters, and this whole business with the Federal Trade Commission and mom blogs. Here are some links that caught my eye around the web this week per Love These Links!, where I share clever, resourceful, thought provoking, and/or hilarious links that I think would be of interest to the fabulous readers who peruse Boston Mamas. Enjoy!

Continue reading "Love These Links!" »

May 20, 2009

Boston Mamas on Momlogic

boston-mamas_mom-logic.jpgOne thing readers periodically have asked me for is discussion forum and social networking capability on this site. But as much as I’ve always loved the idea, it’s something that simply has been out of my time and technological reach given that I run Boston Mamas on my own and wear several other professional hats. So, I’m thrilled to announce that I have partnered with the cool folks over at Momlogic to create a Boston Mamas community page where you can connect with other moms, query for advice, and talk amongst yourselves, as it were. So come over and join us (and feel free to friend me). I look forward to chatting with you there!

May 11, 2009

Accolades & Appreciation

parents-connect.jpgAs an independent blogger who pours countless hours of love into Boston Mamas, it’s both humbling and gratifying to occasionally get a shout out for the work. And on Friday, I learned that I was selected as one of the “power pack” bloggers on Nielsen's Power Moms 50 List and that Boston Mamas was nominated by Nickelodeon's Parents Connect for best parenting blog in Boston. It takes just a second to vote and I would be so appreciative if you would cast your vote for BostonMamas.com. You can even vote daily until July 15 if you feel so inclined (note easy access button in left column...).

Also, it goes without saying that these accolades would be meaningless without you. Thank you for your readership, friendship, and support. I love our little community here!

May 4, 2009

Thank You, Stonyfield!

I'm Going to BlogHer '09As I mentioned in March, ever since experiencing BlogHer Boston, I’ve been super excited to attend the big BlogHer meeting in Chicago this summer. And I’m enormously grateful to have not one (Boston-based firm 360 Public Relations, which I announced in March), but two companies sponsoring my trip. Thank you, Stonyfield Farm, for acting as my secondary sponsor for BlogHer Chicago! Please read on to learn about Stonyfield's impressive environmental initiatives, and a yummy but lesser known organic product they offer.

Continue reading "Thank You, Stonyfield!" »

May 1, 2009

March of Dimes Mom

Boston_March_for_Babies.jpgFolks, I don’t like to beg, but in this special case, I will. PLEASE consider making a donation - $5, $10, more if you have the means - to Team Boston Mamas for the March for Babies in Boston on May 9. Thank you!

I also wanted to share that I’m continuing my commitment to the March of Dimes beyond the walk. I recently signed on as a March of Dimes Mom and will donate one post per month to educating women about pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and newborn topics. Please feel free to email me if there are any specific topics you’d like me to cover.

Teleflora’s Modern Mom

teleflora.jpgI’m honored to be among a handful of moms that Teleflora is featuring in advance of Mother’s Day. Check out the interview – I'm their Modern Mom – and also the other lovely moms they’re featuring. Also, Teleflora kindly offered to send me their Mother’s Day Butterfly Bouquet, but since I’m fortunate to receive flowers regularly from Jon, I thought I’d instead offer the bouquet to one of my awesome readers (enjoy it for yourself or send it to your mom!). To enter to win the bouquet (standard size), simply leave a comment below (by midnight 5/4) about something you’d love to have happen on Mother’s Day this year.

Continue reading "Teleflora’s Modern Mom" »

March 10, 2009

BlogHer Chicago!

I'm Going to BlogHer '09BlogHer Boston was such an amazingly fun ride that there was no question that I wanted to get myself to the big BlogHer meeting this summer. And I’m so very grateful and thrilled to announce that the Boston-based PR firm 360 Public Relations is sponsoring my trip to Chicago. Thank you, 360PR! Read on to learn more about 360PR and a cool (paid!) opportunity they offer for moms across the country.

Continue reading "BlogHer Chicago!" »

March 3, 2009

Live at UNICEF

unicef.bmpI’m honored to share the link for my UNICEF guest blog post, in which I describe how my interactions with UNICEF and Pampers turned me from skeptic to believer. It certainly is ironic that the in-person interactions made such an impact on someone who lives and breathes online media, and I can only hope that my reports do justice to the events and thus possibly inspire action for others. It truly is a privilege to share my story alongside the other amazing reports on UNICEF’s Field Notes blog.

February 23, 2009

Boston.com Update & Letters

newspapers.jpgI’m incredibly grateful to everyone for their support following last week’s unfortunate dealings with Boston.com online marketing. The subsequent comments, tweets, and posts truly reflected the passion that readers and bloggers have for transparency, as well as the beauty and power of social media. I just wish I could thank everyone individually; please accept my virtual hugs and handshakes!

Continue reading "Boston.com Update & Letters" »

February 20, 2009

Boston.com’s Bad Behavior

bomoms_google_thumb.jpgWhen I first launched Boston Mamas in July 2006, as far as I could tell (or as far as Google could tell me), I was the only kid on this particular niche block. That has changed in the last couple of years, however, with a number of national-with-niche-offshoot sites cropping up, as well as Boston.com’s BoMoms launch in May 2008.

Continue reading "Boston.com’s Bad Behavior" »

February 17, 2009

Hand Me Downs

handmedowns.jpgMy passion for recycling no doubt is at least partly attributable to growing up on hand me downs (as the sixth of seven kids), and I’m thrilled to announce that Boston Mamas now offers a free way for you to recycle your kiddie and parenting gear. Check out our new classifieds section powered by Hand Me Downs (a national mom classifieds website), and enjoy acquiring and purging via this prettily designed service! Also, for those of you who dig celebrity things, the central site recently launched their first celebrity auction, in which Gwen Stefani has donated goods to be auctioned off for charity.

February 8, 2009

"1 Pack = 1 Vaccine" Relaunch

unicef_pampers_1.JPGThis past Thursday (when I was absent from posting…) I had the honor of attending a media event in New York, during which Jodi Allen (VP of North America Baby Care, P & G), Caryl Stern (President and CEO, US Fund for UNICEF), and Salma Hayek (actress and Pampers/UNICEF campaign spokesperson) announced the relaunch of the “1 Pack = 1 Vaccine” campaign to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus. Read on to learn more about the campaign and press conference; in my next post I’ll share the transcript from my small group interview with Salma Hayek.

Continue reading ""1 Pack = 1 Vaccine" Relaunch" »

January 5, 2009

Looking Backward & Forward

newyear.jpgTo be perfectly honest, I’m struggling a bit to get back into the swing of things after two weeks of weird schedules, too many cookies, and holiday chaos (despite my best attempts to keep the holidays stress-free). Inspired by some year in review type posts by some of my blog peeps (thanks Musings of a Housewife and Motherhood Uncensored!), on this day back to business I was inspired to peruse the Boston Mamas archives and look back on 2008 and forward to 2009. I am grateful to all of you for tuning in and wish you a Happy New Year!

Continue reading "Looking Backward & Forward" »

November 4, 2008

Every Vote Counts

vote.jpgA partial repost of useful information; if you don’t know where to go vote today, simply enter your address into the Secretary of the Commonwealth Elections Division poll locator. And for our wonderful readers outside of Massachusetts, find your polling location using Vote411’s polling place finder. I was proud to see so many parents with kids in tow at the polls this morning!

October 14, 2008

BlogHer Boston Wrap

blogher1.bmpAfter 10 years of academic conferences, it’s probably no surprise that this past weekend’s BlogHer Boston conference felt revolutionary. Fun, energizing, and replete with interesting content, people, good food, and an affirming obsession with Twitter (I'm @bostonmamas...), I highly recommend that anyone interested or experienced in blogging attend this conference in the future. Here’s my wrap up of the event:

Continue reading "BlogHer Boston Wrap" »

September 19, 2008

BlogHer Boston

Speaking at BlogHer BostonSince starting this site 2 years ago, I haven't been able to get to BlogHer's annual meeting in sunny CA, so imagine my delight when I heard that BlogHer was hitting the road, with Boston (or more precisely, Burlington) as its first stop on October 11. I’m honored to be part of the event, and will be speaking on the Blogging Basics (aka blogging mojo) panel. Check out the event summary and detailed agenda, then register and drop by and say hello on the 11th!

September 4, 2008

Wicked Local Indeed

WLparents_logo.jpgI didn’t manage to post about this before I headed out for vacation the other week, but I was honored to be interviewed recently about all things Boston Mamas and Posh Peacock by Heather Kempskie at Wicked Local Parents. In the interview post, you can also see one of my new headshots there, courtesy of the super talented Kristin Chalmers.

August 25, 2008

Gone Fishing!

gonefishing.jpgDear Readers: In my quest for better balance, I have decided to take my first Internet vacation ever. My person, family, and sore eyeballs and forearms need the R & R, and I’ll be back posting lots of fabulous content next week. Meanwhile, if you need your Boston Mamas fix, scroll down to peruse our archived topics in the left column. There are almost 1200 back posts to amuse you. Have a great week!

The Two's Were Terrific

BM_birthday.jpg Congratulations to all of the winners of our amazing online birthday giveaway series, and thanks to the thousands of readers who entered the contests and left supportive, thoughtful, and sometimes very amusing feedback! We also are hugely grateful to our fabulous sponsors for their generosity and help celebrating our second year; please be sure to visit their pages if you haven’t yet had a chance to do so.

August 5, 2008

I’ve Been Betty’d

bettylogo.jpgI love conducting interviews via Boston Mamas Rock!, but it was a real pleasure and honor to be interviewed as Woman of the Week on Betty Confidential, a website dedicated to women’s life stages and confidential social networking. Managing editor April Daniels Hussar asked all sorts of thought provoking questions; click here to read the interview, where we discussed everything from career changes, to the elusive working mom balance, to overcoming insecurities, to little known facts about the mama behind Boston Mamas.

July 8, 2008

Finally on Facebook

facebook.bmpAfter 3 years of resisting periodic friendly nudges from friends and family (primarily because I couldn't bear the idea of tracking yet another username and password), I finally joined Facebook. If you’re already part of the (addictive) FB craze, please consider visiting the Boston Mamas page and becoming a fan. The page imports this blog’s content so you can get your friend and fan fixes all in one place.

June 30, 2008

The Terrific Two's

BM_birthday.jpgIt’s hard to believe that Boston Mamas turns 2 in July, and that - over 1100 posts later - there’s still so much in my mental queue. I'm grateful to all of you who tune in to and tell your pals about this independently operated site; your dedication has helped put this niche blog on the map, both locally and nationally.

And since I love a good party, I’ve rounded up a fabulous line up of small and large companies to help celebrate our birthday. On random days through July and August, we’ll be giving away the cool stuff seen here (with even more items to be added shortly!). Check back daily starting tomorrow; each birthday draw will close at midnight the day of launch.

June 25, 2008

Tune in for Kitchen Tips

necn.bmpWish me luck, folks! This afternoon I’m off to tape my first TV interview, with New England Cable News’s New England Dream House program. I’ll be chatting with NECN about cool kitchen gadgets for parents. The episode will air this Sunday, June 29 at 10am and 7pm, and will repeat at 3:30pm on June 30, July 3, July 8, July 11, and July 16. The segment will be on their website starting June 29.

June 11, 2008

Britax Contest Winner

Britax_DIP_Onyx.jpgCongratulations to Alison from Watertown, MA, the winner of our featured contest in partnership with Britax. Alison won a Diplomat Convertible Car Seat in the style of her choice (retail value $259.99)! Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and also to our friends at Britax for their generous partnership. Be sure to consider their top notch line of car seats when you’re gearing up for your baby or bigger kid's next ride.

June 6, 2008

Super Cute, Super Stylish!

bostonmamastee.jpgOK, so how cute is this? At long last, I’ve designed a cool, cute, and comfy Boston Mamas tee! These 100% cotton sheer jersey crewneck tees are fitted and super stylish with faux double-layered contrast finishing at the neck, cuffs, and bottom. Intentionally not white - to hide the inevitable spills and stains associated with taking care of kiddos - choose from chocolate/sky or light pink/flamingo. Pre-order your tee by June 20 (and hey, grab one for a friend too!) for $20. After June 20, the regular price will be $25. Price includes tax and shipping. Shirts will ship in early July.

June 5, 2008

Britax Contest Ending Soon

Britax_DIP_Onyx.jpgIf you haven’t done so, be sure to enter to win our featured contest partnership with Britax, makers of top notch car seats. One lucky winner will receive a Diplomat Convertible Car Seat in the style of the winner's choice (retail value $259.99). This contest closes at midnight, EST Friday, June 6, 2008 and is open to entrants in the US and Canada. Good luck!

June 3, 2008

Boston Mamas Rock!

goodies1.jpgI’m thrilled to announce a new component to the site: Boston Mamas Rock! We’ll be featuring interviews with fabulous local mamas, whether they be entrepreneurs, avid volunteers, stay at home moms who take care of a crazy number of kids, moms who have closet talents (e.g., community theatre, juggling, what have you…), authors, media professionals, politicians, professors, etc. Basically, folks with an interesting story to tell! So go ahead and nominate yourself or someone else! And I’m pleased to introduce our first featured mama: Susan Callahan, a “cookiepreneur” from Westford.

Continue reading "Boston Mamas Rock!" »

May 5, 2008

Britax Featured Contest

Britax_DIP_Onyx.jpgWe're thrilled to announce that our fabulous new featured contest is in partnership with Britax, makers of top notch car seats. Britax generously will provide one lucky winner with a Diplomat Convertible Car Seat in the style of the winner's choice (retail value $259.99). CLICK HERE to enter to win the Britax giveaway. This contest closes at midnight, EST Friday, June 6, 2008 and is open to entrants in the US and Canada. Good luck!

Plugged Back In

plug.jpgGiven my belief in karma, last week I was left to wonder whether I had wronged someone when, without warning, our hosting provider pulled the plug on my ability to publish. Despite the stress and frustration of the last several days, I'm happy to report that we're up and running again with a different, decidedly more friendly host. Thanks for your patience while we work out the final kinks of moving the site to a new home.

April 16, 2008

Find Local Parents

massachusetts.jpgI’ve finally made live a local resources page where parents can find mom, dad, and/or general family groups, networks, and support services. The link is readily available via the "find local parents" button in the site banner. If you know of a group to be included, e-mail tips@bostonmamas.com and provide the site's URL. Please note that the group must be active, have a website, and serve Massachusetts parents. Thanks!

April 2, 2008

Chittypulga Contest Winner

chittypulga_product_sm.jpgCongratulations to Brandy from Hanover, NH, the winner of our featured March contest in partnership with Chittypulga! Brandy won a Fleurville diaper bag + $100 gift certificate from Chittypulga. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and also to our friends at Chittypulga for their generous partnership. Be sure to check out their online boutique if you haven't yet had a chance to do so.

March 24, 2008

Chittypulga Contest Ending Soon

chittypulga_product_sm.jpgIf you haven’t done so already, be sure to enter to win our featured March contest in partnership with Chittypulga. One lucky winner will receive a Fleurville Re-Run Messenger diaper bag, PLUS a $100 gift certificate to fill up the Fleurville with fabulous finds from the Chittypulga store! This contest closes at midnight, EST March 31, 2008 and is open to entrants worldwide.

March 21, 2008

Flattened by the Flu

tissues.jpgDear Readers: Apologies for the unusual radio silence; after attempting to fight off a bug early in the week, I took a dramatic turn for the worse following my Wednesday morning post and spent the next 36 hours shivering in the fetal position, drifting in and out of Law & Order re-runs. It seemed a bit dramatic to get flattened by the flu on the last day of winter, but it hasn’t dampened my excitement about spring’s official arrival one bit.

Hope you are healthy, and it's back to business today!

February 29, 2008

Chittypulga Featured Contest

chittypulga_product_sm.jpgYes, it’s a day before March, but the weekend is fast approaching so I wanted to go ahead and announce our fabulous featured March contest in partnership with Chittypulga. One lucky winner will receive the newest Fleurville Re-Run Messenger diaper bag (Spring Ogo), PLUS a $100 gift certificate to fill up the Fleurville with fabulous finds from the Chittypulga store! Click here to enter to win. This contest closes at midnight, EST March 31, 2008 and is open to entrants worldwide. Good luck!

February 5, 2008

Where to Vote

vote.jpgIf you haven’t yet headed out to vote, there’s still time (the polls close at 8pm). And if you don’t know where to go, just pop your address into the handy Secretary of the Commonwealth poll locator. I hadn’t thought of it until I voted today, but polling locations – particularly those located in school gyms – can be pleasantly stroller friendly! I was proud to see mamas heading to the polls with babies in tow.

January 28, 2008

Boston Mamapreneurs

BostonMamas.comSince founding this site I've been fortunate to learn of lots of local "mamapreneurs." I’ve subsequently been thinking about creating a business directory that both showcases local talent and makes it easy for users to support local businesswomen (whether or not they have a brick and mortar presence). I'm thrilled to report that the directory is underway! If you’re a Massachusetts mamapreneur, click here to learn how to get listed in the free directory. Otherwise, spread the word to any Massachusetts mom businesswomen you know, and of course please check out the directory, which includes the inaugural group of fabulously talented local mamapreneurs.

January 8, 2008

Alive & Well

airplane.jpgDear Readers: Lest you think I’m trapped under something heavy (I can’t even remember the last non-holiday Monday I haven’t posted!), I wanted to let you know that I’ve just returned from a trip to semi-sunny California and will be back to business tomorrow. Per usual, lots of great content and goodies in the pipeline so stay tuned! And hope you all had an equally fabulous weekend.

Continue reading "Alive & Well" »

January 4, 2008

Resolutions & Intentions

newyear.jpgThe turn of the year offers a fresh opportunity to reflect on the past, present, and future, and I will never, ever take for granted the creative, chaotic, and imperfect life that has emerged in the face of mamahood and my (later, semi-related) abandonment of the professor track. And I am grateful to all of you for your interest, inspiration, and virtual camaraderie.

As a Happy New Year wish to you, please read on for a collection of resolutions and intentions from me and the fabulous women who guest contribute to this site. I hope these ideas will provide food for thought as you reflect on how to take care of yourself, enjoy time with others, and work towards personal and/or professional goals this year.

Continue reading "Resolutions & Intentions" »

January 3, 2008

Tiny Prints Contest Winner

tinyprints_150.jpgCongratulations to Alexandra from Chestnut Hill, MA, the winner of our featured December contest. Alexandra won a $100 gift certificate to Tiny Prints, purveyor of fine baby and family stationery. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!

We also would like to thank our friends at Tiny Prints for their generous partnership. Be sure to check out their paper goods collection if you haven't yet had a chance to do so.

December 28, 2007

Cute As A Button

BostonMamas.comIn addition to a seemingly limitless supply of cookies, one nice byproduct of this week’s holiday slowdown has been the ability to attack a few projects long sitting on my to-do list. So in this vein, two bits of housekeeping: First, I just designed a series of “cute as a button” (as one mama I know called them) Make Way for Ducklings-inspired buttons for public use. So if you dig reading these pages and have a site of your own, please consider grabbing a button for your site! And second, if you are a mama operating a business in Mass. and have a website, email info@bostonmamas.com to learn more about a new project to be unveiled on the site in the coming weeks.

And otherwise, keep enjoying those holiday cookies!

December 24, 2007

Tiny Prints Contest Ending Soon

tinyprints.gifIf you haven’t done so already, be sure to enter to win our featured December contest in partnership with Tiny Prints. One lucky winner will receive a $100 Tiny Prints gift certificate. This contest closes at midnight, EST Dec. 31, 2007.

December 12, 2007

Mama Writers Wanted!

writers_wanted.jpgDear Readers (and potential writers!): I am looking to expand my merry band of contributing writers to include one or more mamas who can provide insight in the realm of useful general and local resources (e.g., gear, books, programs, etc.) for kids with developmental delays and disorders. If interested, please email me at editor@bostonmamas.com for more information.

December 3, 2007

Tiny Prints Contest

tinyprints.gifWelcome to our featured December contest in partnership with Tiny Prints, purveyor of fine baby and family stationery and holiday cards. One lucky winner will receive a $100 Tiny Prints gift certificate. Click here to enter to win. This contest closes at midnight, EST Dec. 31, 2007.

Skimbaco Contest Winner

skimbaco.gifCongratulations to Julie from Brookline, MA, the winner of our featured November contest. Julie won Marimekko bedding from our contest partner Skimbaco. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and to Skimbaco for their generous partnership. Be sure to check out their fab online boutique if you haven't yet had a chance to do so!

November 26, 2007

Skimbaco Contest Ending Soon

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If you haven’t done so already, be sure to enter to win our featured November contest in partnership with Skimbaco. One lucky winner will receive fabulous Marimekko bedding. This contest closes at midnight, EST November 30, 2007. Good luck!

Holiday Bargains

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The closest I’ve come to a panic attack was when I was trapped like a sardine at London’s Tate Modern, shortly after the gallery’s opening in 2000. Not surprisingly then, aside from supporting our little local shops, I’ll be opting for online shopping over mall mobs this holiday season. For those who similarly dread crowds, our bargains page has lots of exclusive shopping codes from independent retailers, as well as deals from our shopping affiliates. Some of the latter are running great limited time holiday offers (some expire today); we’ve created a special section for these deals and will update the listings as we hear of more special offers. Enjoy!

November 2, 2007

Skimbaco Contest

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November's fabulous featured contest is in partnership with Skimbaco. One lucky winner will receive a Marimekko Unikko OR Bo Boo duvet + pillow case set from Skimbaco (winner chooses style)! Click here to enter to win. This contest closes at midnight, EST November 30, 2007 and is open to entrants worldwide. Good luck!

Pepper Kids Contest Winner

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Congratulations to Amanda from Gainesville, FL, the winner of our October featured contest. Amanda won the vibrant 8" x 10" giclee reproduction "Blue House" from The Pepper Kids. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and to our friends at The Pepper Kids for their generous partnership. Be sure to check out their online boutique if you haven't yet had a chance to do so.

October 24, 2007

Pepper Kids Contest Ending Soon

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It’s hard to believe we’re a week out from November. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to enter to win our October contest in partnership with The Pepper Kids. One lucky winner will receive the vibrant 8" x 10" giclee reproduction "Blue House" (shown; valued at $129)! This contest is open to US residents (non US entrants may enter if they are willing to pay for shipping of the prize) and closes at midnight, EST October 31, 2007. Good luck!

October 2, 2007

Pepper Kids Contest

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Our October featured contest is in partnership with our new friends at The Pepper Kids. One lucky winner will receive the vibrant 8" x 10" giclee reproduction "Blue House" (shown; valued at $129)! This item will soon be unveiled on their website; meanwhile, feel free to check out their amazing collection of artwork for boys and girls. Click here to enter to win. This contest is open to US residents (non US entrants may enter if they are willing to pay for shipping of the prize) and closes at midnight, EST October 31, 2007. Good luck!

Continue reading "Pepper Kids Contest" »

Get Clean Winner

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Congratulations to Kathleen from South Boston, the winner of our September contest. Kathleen won the amazing Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and to our friends at Shaklee for their generous partnership. Be sure to check out this terrific line of environmentally friendly household products if you haven't yet had a chance to do so.

September 4, 2007

Get Clean Contest

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Last month, we wrote about how much we love the eco-minded, efficient, and economically oriented Get Clean Starter Kit (see our review), so we're thrilled to report that Shaklee - our September featured contest partner - is giving away one of these amazing cleaning kits (valued at over $150) to one lucky entrant! Click here to enter to win. This contest closes at midnight on September 30, 2007, and is open to US residents. Good luck!

August 31, 2007

Birthday Contest: Mostess Creations

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You can never, ever have enough bibs and burp cloths, and for today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US & Canada entrants eligible) will receive a fabulously patterned bib and burp cloth set from Mostess Creations. The winner will specify whether the gift is for a boy or girl, and Mostess Creations will select the fabric. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Fri., Aug. 31) the answer to the following question: In addition to bibs and burp cloths, what’s another type of product that Mostess Creations carries?

August 30, 2007

Birthday Contest: Moonrock Paper

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Some storage accessories are so pretty that they inspire order. Moonrock Paper’s products fit that bill, and with tree-free, eco-friendly construction at that. For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US entrants eligible) will receive a ribbon tied storage box from the Moonrock Cosmopolitan Dots collection (photo shows style, but specific product is not shown); the winner may choose either green with pink dots, brown with pink dots, or blue with brown dots. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thurs., Aug. 30) the answer to the following question: Name a location where you can buy Moonrock products.

August 29, 2007

Birthday Contest: Cheeky Monkey Murals

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There’s no better way to spruce a room than with color, and Cheeky Monkey's lovely murals and painted pieces are sure to transform (see our review). For today’s birthday contest, one lucky local winner will receive a custom painted child’s rocker (example shown) OR a $300 gift certificate to Cheeky Monkey Murals. Entrants must live within the 495 belt to be eligible for this draw. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Weds., Aug. 29) the answer to the following question: Name one of the many amazing mural jobs in Cheeky Monkey's portfolio (also indicate the town you live in so we can verify correct entry).

August 28, 2007

Birthday Contest: Little Capers

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Little people have big imaginations, and Little Capers's cool, non-commercial superhero tees with detachable capes no doubt will inspire hours of imaginative play (see our review). For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US entrants welcome) will choose a superhero tee/cape from the Little Capers collection. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Tues., Aug. 28) the answer to the following question: Which Little Capers design best suits your little hero at home (if you have more than one kid, just choose one)?

August 27, 2007

Birthday Contest: Barefoot Books

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You can never have enough great books for kids, so we’re thrilled that today’s birthday contest features our culturally- and eco-minded friends at Barefoot Books (see our review). One lucky winner (US entrants welcome) will receive a fabulous Barefoot Books gift basket including a collection of books and puzzles for 0-5 years ($150 value). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Mon., Aug. 27) the answer to the following question: Name one of the many award winning titles available at Barefoot Books.

August 24, 2007

Birthday Contest: Poopasnuffas

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We love that Poopasnuffas encourages creativity via a collaboration between its cute cast of characters and the children who dream up and submit stories about them (see our review). For today’s birthday contest one lucky winner (worldwide entrants welcome) will receive a baby onesie + matching bib OR a kid's tee (winner chooses character). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Fri., Aug. 24) the answer to the following question: What is Poopasnuffas’s current submit-a-story theme?

August 23, 2007

Birthday Contest: Card Stix

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Today’s birthday contest is for gift givers who would love to get their greeting down pat (literally), quick and easy. One lucky winner (US & Canada entrants eligible) will receive 24 Card Stix – 4 x 5 inch whimsically designed self-adhesive greeting cards that can be affixed to presents, gift bags, or baskets (winner chooses from the baby, kid, or tween birthday collections). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thurs., Aug. 23) the answer to the following question: Who are the Syracuse pals behind Card Stix?

August 22, 2007

Birthday Contest: MakeReady

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Ever wish you could have one of those Oprah days where a stylist swoops in and tells you how to make your living room rock? Well, we’re not landing on anyone’s doorstep with a camera crew, but for today’s birthday contest, one lucky local winner will receive a free interior styling consult (includes a furniture and accessories redesign, interior decorating tips, and the down low on how to make the most of your existing furnishings) from MakeReady. This prize is valued at $300-450 and the winner gets to pick which room they would like redesigned. Entrants must reside in Boston or the surrounding T-accessible neighborhoods (e.g., Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, etc.). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Weds., Aug. 22) the answer to the following question: Who is the talented interior and product stylist behind MakeReady?

August 21, 2007

Birthday Contest: Summerhouse Baking

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I’m a huge fan of pretty, clutter-free consumable gifts (e.g., food, soaps), and you can’t go wrong with Summerhouse Baking’s divinely prepared cookie gifts (see our review). For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US entrants welcome) will receive Summerhouse's 25-cookie gift sampler box. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Tues., Aug. 21) the answer to the following question: What’s the name of Summerhouse’s current mouthwatering seasonal cookie?

Continue reading "Birthday Contest: Summerhouse Baking" »

August 20, 2007

Birthday Contest: Renee & Jeremy

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If you love music but the household kid tunes are driving you bonkers, today’s birthday contest is for you. Three lucky winners (worldwide entrants welcome) will receive a copy of Renee & Jeremy’s soothing, great-for-kids-and-grownups It’s A Big World (see our review). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Mon., Aug. 20) the answer to the following question: Amazingly, where did Renee and Jeremy record It’s A Big World?

August 17, 2007

Birthday Contest: Snanimals

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If your kid tears through shoes anywhere near as fast as Laurel, today’s birthday contest is for you. One lucky winner (US & Canada entrants welcome) will choose a pair of hand painted sneakers or Mary Janes with a matching canvas tote from Snanimals. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Fri., Aug. 17) the answer to the following question: In honor of their daughter Emma, to what organization does Snanimals donate 5% of their sales?

August 16, 2007

Birthday Contest: Skimbaco

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If you’re looking for cool back to school clothes, you’ll do well at Skimbaco. And for today’s birthday contest, this stylish outfitter will gift one lucky winner with a Riiminka cat, princess, or heart dress, and a second lucky winner with a Myself Belt. This contest is open to entrants worldwide and winners will pick from available styles and sizes. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thursday, Aug. 16) the answer to the following question: Name another chic brand that Skimbaco carries (other than Riiminka and Myself Belts).

August 15, 2007

Birthday Contest: Daddy Books

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To date, all of our birthday contests have gifted mamas or babes so we’re happy to present today’s birthday contest for the daddys. Our partners at Abbeville Press generously are gifting eight lucky winners (worldwide entrants welcome!) with one Armin Brott fathering book (we'll draw 2 winners per book): The Expectant Father, The New Father: A Dad’s Guide to the First Year, Fathering Your Toddler, and Fathering Your School-Age Child. To enter to win, click on the links above to learn more about Brott's books, then email us (by midnight EST tonight, Wednesday, August 15) and let us know which book(s) would you like to win.

August 14, 2007

Birthday Contest: Pumpkin Noodle

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I love how coordinated clothing sets both simplify the getting ready routine and offer a finished look. For today’s birthday contest, Pumpkin Noodle will gift one lucky winner with their chic Sweet Pea Ribbon Tank & Pants Set (12-18 months; shown). To enter to win (US entrants eligible), email us (by midnight EST tonight, Tuesday, August 14) the answer to the following question: In addition to girls and boys clothing, what’s another type of product that Pumpkin Noodle carries?

August 13, 2007

Birthday Contest: Music Together

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It’s hard to believe that summer is winding down, but fall brings lots of happy transition, including a new semester of fun with Music Together. For today’s birthday contest, Music Together generously is offering one lucky local winner a free semester of classes. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Mon., Aug. 13) the answer to the following question: Name the location where would you and your babe like to make music with Music Together this fall.

August 10, 2007

Birthday Contest: Logan & Blue

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Today’s birthday contest allows your babe to wear their personality on their sleeve, as it were. Two lucky winners (US entrants eligible) each will get to create one infant or kid tee from Logan & Blue, where you can customize kids’ and women’s (including maternity) clothing via embroidered images, sayings, or monograms. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Friday, August 10) the answer to the following question: What’s a Logan & Blue saying that seems particularly appropriate for you or your babe right now?

August 9, 2007

Birthday Contest: Gifted Grasshopper

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Both parents and little readers will love The Gifted Grasshopper, purveyor of beautifully trimmed book gift totes (see our review). For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US entrants eligible) will receive a Gifted Grasshopper Small Gift Set 2 in their choice of age group. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thursday, Aug. 9) the answer to the following question: Name one of the new Barefoot Books gift tote styles available at The Gifted Grasshopper.

August 8, 2007

Birthday Contest: Emily Allyn

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You can never have enough comfy cotton kids clothes, and today’s birthday contest will help enhance your little character's wardrobe. One lucky winner (US & Canada entrants eligible) will choose from either a new baby gift set (1 bodysuit and pair of pants in 3-6 or 6-12 months + 1 burp cloth) OR 2 t-shirts in any size from Emily Allyn. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Wednesday, Aug. 8) the answer to the following question: Which Emily Allyn design best characterizes your kid (if you have more than one kid, just pick one!)?

August 7, 2007

Birthday Contest: The Thymes

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Often times nothing seems good enough for your baby's perfect, delicate skin, but the luxurious skin care products by The Thymes offer an excellent candidate (see our review). For today’s birthday contest one lucky winner (US entrants eligible) will receive The Thymes Sweetleaf Baby Gift Set (shown). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Tuesday, August 7) the answer to the following question: Name another product in the Sweetleaf Baby collection.

August 6, 2007

Birthday Contest: Danger Rangers

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The folks at Danger Rangers believe in safety first (see our review), and for today’s birthday contest DR is offering 10 lucky winners (US entrants eligible) a Water Works DVD and membership to the Danger Rangers Kids Club. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Monday, August 6) the answer to the following question: In your opinion, who's the cutest Danger Rangers character?

August 3, 2007

Birthday Contest: Kind Living Designs

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We believe in the “kindness matters” mantra of the online gift shop Kind Living Designs, and today KLD extends a little kindness to Boston Mamas as our birthday contest partner. To enter to win a $50 gift certificate to KLD, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Friday, August 3) the answer to the following question: What is one of the types of gift items you can purchase at Kind Living Designs?

August 2, 2007

Birthday Contest: Manic Mommies

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To celebrate the manic mommy in all of us, our friends at Manic Mommies are providing today’s birthday contest prize: a gift basket including Manic Mommies products (t-shirt, CD, buttons, stickers), Yes to Carrots skin care products, and the book Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues. To enter to win this prize (US & Canada entrants eligible), email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thursday, August 2) the answer to the following question: Where can you escape with the Manic Mommies to this November?

August 1, 2007

Birthday Contest: Couture Invito

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In this digital age it's a palpable treat to receive personal mail; today’s birthday contest will help you connect to loved ones via paper. Couture Invito – an online custom invitation and stationery shop - is offering a $50 gift certificate to one lucky winner (redeemable for products excluding custom-labeled wine, photo jewelry, and MomAgenda). To enter to win this prize, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Wednesday, August 1) the answer to the following question: Over 10 and 20 new designs just arrived into which two Couture Invito collections?

July 31, 2007

Birthday Contest: How's My Nanny?

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Both positive and negative feedback is important; particularly when your babe’s care is at stake. For today’s birthday contest, HowsMyNanny.com - a stroller tag/web service that allows passersby to report good and bad childcare incidents to parents – is offering one lucky winner a 2-year membership ($94 value), and a second lucky winner a 1-year membership ($50 value). To enter to win one of these prizes (worldwide entrants eligible), email us (by midnight EST tonight, Tuesday, July 31) the answer to the following question: Who is the New York prosecutor behind HowsMyNanny.com?

July 30, 2007

Birthday Contest: Tatutina

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If you’ve been looking to add a little playful color to your household, today’s birthday contest is for you. Tatutina – maker of cheery painted pieces for kids, adults, and pets - has donated two prizes: one lucky winner will receive a gift set for the budding artist - the Crayon Caddy (shown) and Paintbrush Pegboard; a second lucky winner will receive Tatutina's bestselling Take Out Menu Box. To enter to win one of these prizes (US entrants eligible), email us (by midnight EST tonight, Monday, July 30) the answer to the following question: What is your favorite piece in Tatutina’s collection of new products?

July 27, 2007

Birthday Contest: Dangerous Book for Boys

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The Dangerous Book for Boys has been flying off the shelves since its release in May (see our review…) so we’re grateful to our friends at Harper Collins for reserving a copy for the lucky winner (worldwide entrants welcome!) of today’s birthday contest. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Friday, July 27) the answer to the following question: Name one of the topics included in this book that you'd most like to learn about.

July 26, 2007

Birthday Contest: Fun Well Done

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For artistically challenged parents who would rather get a root canal than wade through the craft store quagmire there’s Fun Well Done, purveyor of ready to go craft kits. For today's birthday contest, one lucky winner (US entrants eligible) will receive Fun Well Done’s Animals on the Farm enrichment box, which includes animal facts and project materials to create your own funny farm. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thursday, July 26) the answer to the following question: What is one of the benefits of crafting listed by Fun Well Done?

July 25, 2007

Birthday Contest: Family Music Makers

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Today’s birthday contest is a fabulous one for local mamas who are looking to infuse music into their little one’s life. Family Music Makers generously has donated two prizes: one lucky local winner will receive a free birthday party ($225 value); a second lucky local winner will receive a 10-week session at the location of their choice ($215 value). To enter to win one of these prizes, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Wednesday, July 25) the answer to the following question: Name one of the locations where you can rock out with Family Music Makers.

July 24, 2007

Birthday Contest: Bellaziza

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With a daughter whose hair constantly needs taming, we’ve got hair clips and elastics everywhere; in little cups throughout the house and in the pockets of my favorite totes. If your daughter’s hair requires similar maintenance, enter to win today’s birthday contest. One lucky winner will receive a $20 gift certificate to Bellaziza, purveyor of “pretty precious” accessories. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Tuesday, July 24) the answer to the following question: In addition to their barrette line, what’s another product that Bellaziza carries?

July 23, 2007

Birthday Contest: Daisy Janie

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In my opinion, you can never have enough bags; if you’re of like mind, today’s birthday contest is for you. One lucky winner (US & Canada residents eligible) will receive the Fancy Pants Bella bag from Daisy Janie, where designer Jan DiCintio has created a collection of bags and accessories based on her original fabric designs. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Monday, July 23) the answer to the following question: What is the popular “for fabulous finds” sister site of Daisy Janie?

July 19, 2007

Birthday Contest: Lilly's Ribbons

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Particularly in the summer, you can never have enough flip flops, and today’s birthday contest outfits mom and daughter both. One lucky winner (US & Canada residents eligible) will receive two gift sets (Preppy Mom headband & flip flops [shown] + Kids Strawberry Shortcake headband, pony tail holder, & flip flops) from Lilly’s Ribbons. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, Thursday, July 19) the answer to the following question: What era does Lilly’s Ribbons founder Heather proclaim to be "a tad stuck in"?

July 18, 2007

Birthday Contest: Happy Panda

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It’s now easy to see that indeed, babies come in all shapes and sizes (pre-parenthood they just all appeared in one prototypical baby shape…), and if you or someone you know has a "big baby," today’s birthday contest is for you. One lucky winner (worldwide entrants welcome) will receive a deluxe gift basket from Happy Panda, a clothing line designed to accommodate bigger babies. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 18) the answer to the following question: Who is the mother of two behind Happy Panda?

July 17, 2007

Birthday Contest: Hatched

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I’ve marveled before about the cool hub that Jamaica Plain has become; and this Boston neighborhood even has it’s own organic baby boutique, Hatched. For today's birthday contest, one lucky winner (local residents eligible) will receive a $25 in-store gift certificate to Hatched. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 17) the answer to the following question: Name one of the many brands that Hatched carries.

July 16, 2007

Birthday Contest: The Organic Mom

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There’s no better reminder that I’m overdue for a little me time than when a magazine arrives in my mailbox (or via the fun magazine sharing/recycling thing Kate and I have going…). And if you enjoy printed material with a mindful message, today’s birthday contest is for you. One lucky winner (US residents eligible) will receive a print subscription (4 issues) to The Organic Mom (see our feature). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 16) the answer to the following question: Name one of the types of charity programs to which The Organic Mom donates proceeds.

July 13, 2007

Birthday Contest: Fine Art of Family

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I’ve been hooked on photography since grade school (when I collected and mailed in enough Bazooka Joe wrappers to receive my first camera - a cheapo pocket 110), and love turning photos into gifts. Today’s birthday contest takes photo gifts to a new level by merging photography, art, and fashion. One lucky winner (US residents eligible) will receive the beautiful, vintage inspired single coin bracelet (valued at $220!) from The Fine Art of Family. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 13) the answer to the following question: Who is the amazing designer behind The Fine Art of Family?

July 12, 2007

Birthday Contest: Sweet Trio Candles

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Never underestimate the power of aromatherapy (especially if you’re coping with the continual spit up phase of early parenting). For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US & Canada entrants eligible) will receive the Sweet Trio Candle Set from Happi Baby. This set includes three hand-poured soy candles set in silver tins. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 12) the answer to the following question: What is one of the candle scents available in this gift set?

July 11, 2007

Birthday Contest: girlsgreen

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Whether or not you know how to golf, those of the preppy persuasion will love girlsgreen’s cute, stylish polos and tees, terrific for the green or for everyday (see our review). For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (worldwide entrants welcome!) will receive a $75 gift certificate to the girlsgreen online shop. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 11) the answer to the following question: Who are the two sisters behind girlsgreen?

July 10, 2007

Birthday Contest: Baby Daze

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As a new parent, you can barely recall what you had for breakfast (if you remembered to have it), much less a myriad of daily feeding, diapering, and sleeping specifics. For today’s birthday contest, one lucky winner (US entrants only, for this draw) will receive a copy of Baby Daze, a fantastic organizer/log book for new parents (see our review). To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 10) the answer to the following question: What’s another handy product created by the husband and wife team behind Baby Daze?

July 9, 2007

Birthday Contest: RoC at the MFA

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Ooh la la, local mamas! French skin care company RoC celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and part of their fête includes sponsoring the Boston French Film Festival premiere of My Best Friend at the MFA. And today, RoC is helping us celebrate our 1st birthday; one lucky reader will receive two tickets to My Best Friend (Thursday, July 12 at 7:30 pm) plus two fabulous RoC product goody bags for winner + friend. To enter to win, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 9) the answer to the following question: What is the name of one of RoC’s products?

July 6, 2007

Birthday Contest: Il Cocco di Mamma

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The logistics of traveling the world with a baby may intimidate, but it’s easy to show your appreciation for other languages and cultures via the cool baby products at Il Cocco di Mamma (see our review). For today’s birthday contest, one winner will pick two signature tees from the Il Cocco di Mamma line. This contest is open to US and Canada residents; to enter the draw, email us (by midnight EST tonight, July 6) the answer to the following question: In addition to signature tees, what’s another product line that Il Cocco di Mamma carries?

July 5, 2007

Birthday Contest: Regattabar

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It’s a real treat when you can enjoy hanging with your kids in a setting that’s actually cool for grownups. Today’s birthday contest allows you to do just that via tickets to the first Kids Summer Music Series presented by the Regattabar at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square (the series runs every Sunday from July 22 – August 12). Four winners each will receive a set of four tickets to one show. Enter to win a set of tickets by emailing us (by midnight EST tonight) a list of which shows you’d love to attend.

July 3, 2007

Birthday Contest: Out to Tea

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If you’ve got a daughter whose hair needs ladylike taming, today’s birthday contest is for you! Mompreneur business Out to Tea features handmade hair accessories for little ladies, fit for every day use or fancier outings. Enter to win a $20 gift certificate (redeemable for product, not shipping costs) to Out to Tea by emailing us (by midnight EST tonight) the answer to the following question: What’s your fave product category at Out to Tea?

July 2, 2007

Birthday Contest: Bright Side

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The Bright Side of Disaster is this summer’s must read (see our review), and our partners at Random House are kicking off our birthday bash by offering 5 signed copies of Katherine Center’s terrific debut novel! This contest is open to US residents.

Enter to win a signed copy of Bright Side by emailing us (by midnight EST tonight) the correct answer to the following question: What esteemed undergraduate institution did Katherine Center graduate from?

Happy Birthday To Us!

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Happy birthday to us! It's hard to believe that this milestone has come; thanks for being part of the readership that has inspired us to continue providing stylish and informative resources for parents in Boston and beyond!

While we originally planned on a month of daily giveaways, due to the volume of inquiries, we're extending the party through August! Every day (except July 4th and weekends to be fair to our partners) we'll post a new contest that will be open for entry until midnight EST. So, visit us daily to check out and enter to win the prize of the day (click here to see the current list of partnering retailers/artists). And if you have SPAM filtering enabled, OK our domain to prevent missing a prize notice. Enjoy the party!

June 14, 2007

Back to Work

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I’m officially back after an unprecedented 5 days of vacation, completely e-mail/web free (I haven’t been this electronically unfettered since my hospital stay to deliver Laurel). And as much as I love my work, it was fantastic to have the freedom to enjoy our first real family vacation; replete with old friends, leisurely strolls, ice cream, midday siestas, and Laurel’s joy over new discoveries (e.g., learning to toss lucky pennies into fountains; shown). This freedom wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Sharon, who kept the site’s daily content rolling by launching my posts this week. Thanks, Sharon!

Of course, this leisure time also allowed for mental note taking on great travel and everyday tips to share with you all. Stay tuned!

June 4, 2007

Get Ready to Party

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It's hard to believe that this July will be the one year birthday of Boston Mamas. We've grown so much in just a year, and the interest and dedication of our readers continues to inspire us to create high quality content and super cool giveaways.

To celebrate our birthday, we'll be holding a monster multi-vendor giveaway through the month of July! Click here to see the current list of prizes that our terrific partners are contributing for the party, and keep checking in through June to see additions to the list. Come July, visit us daily to enter to win the prize(s) of the day.

If you are an artist/vendor who wants to get get involved in the party, e-mail us for details on how to become part of the coolest summer party on the block!

Crib Rock Winners

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Congratulations to Rachael of Cambridge, MA, Marie of Portland, OR, Dedrick of South Boston, MA, Erica of Deltona, FL, and Lola of Hewitt, TX, the winners of our May contest in partnership with Crib Rock Couture. Rachael, Marie, Dedrick, Erica, and Lola each will select a short sleeved tee from the Crib Rock collection. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest!

We’d like to send a big thanks over to our friends at Crib Rock for their generous partnership. Be sure to check out their awesome tees (available in sizes from infants to tweens) if you haven't yet had a chance to do so.