It’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.It’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.
Apparently, today I’m in a bit of a PSA mood. In addition to asking you to get out and vote, I wanted to urge you to take care of you. I firmly believe that you need to take care of yourself in order to better take care of others (think oxygen mask airline instructions) and I felt compelled to post this PSA because: a) I’ve been fielding a lot of questions these days about self-care (mostly informally, but also more formally via a recent fit mom profile over at Momtrends); and b) this past weekend I had the lovely opportunity to host a yoga event that was infused with personal and global mindfulness; the deliriously happy looks on the attendees faces made it clear that self-care was not happening enough.
Today, Paige shares her raves for MiniLuxe:
“Ever since I moved back to Boston from New York, I have searched for a fabulous nail salon. Not a shmancy spa. Not a hair salon that has a great manicurist on staff. An honest-to-goodness nail shop -- the kind you find every three blocks in Manhattan, where you can walk in when the mood strikes and be guaranteed a fabulously groomed set of ten in 30 minutes for less than $20. But with no luck to date, I have had to deal with my gnarly nails and cuticles, except for the occasional weak moment when I’m willing to fork over $40 for a mani at the local spa.
One fun by-product of parenting is reliving games of my childhood with Laurel (oddly enough, I’m also looking forward to a second pass at learning math and history when Laurel hits high school…). And often times it’s the simplest and least expensive games and activities that offer so much fodder for fun and creativity.
April Paffrath is one of the most devoted foodies I know. No taste is too simple, no ingredient too humble. And when you read her writing, you can tell how much she relishes preparing, tasting, and writing about food. April is a regular contributor here on Boston Mamas, but today I'm thrilled to introduce her via her voice on Wicked Tasty Harvest. For the eleventh installment of my Simplifying the Holidays guest blog series, April shares a highly impacting way to simplify your holidays and beyond: by thinking about local foods and considering a CSA. Included is a primer on local foods and CSAs, as well as a fantastic guide to CSAs in the Boston area.
Pursuant to last week’s local and indie awesomeness post, if you want to shop local and support artists and crafters this weekend, there will be plenty of crafty awesomeness to be had at the SoWa Holiday Market in the South End, CraftBoston at the Cyclorama, and the Cambridge Center for Adult Education Holly Fair in Harvard Square. Enjoy!
Image credit: Made in Lowell, showing at SoWa Holiday Market
Today, Jennifer shares some indie gems in Concord :
“Between this season’s mountain of catalogs filling my mailbox, the incessant ads for Black Friday door-buster deals (2 am, really?), and the stream of online price-slashing deals, I have found myself craving a good old-fashioned stroll-down-Main-Street-non-mall-shopping experience. So last week a girlfriend and I perused the independent shops in Concord Center and it was...AWESOME. I'm a huge fan of the convenience of big retailers and online shopping, but you've just gotta love the independent businesses that are passionate about what they have to offer. And it feels great to support them.
Today, Kristin shares a review of the M. Lekkakos Spa in Wenham:
“When I lived in LA, I found that what most people consider life’s little luxuries back East were a necessity out West. For example, I always managed to find time for mani/pedis, I bought expensive sunglasses because they were not just a fashion accessory but mandatory eye protection (that I wore every day without fail), and with all the smog, I always found the time and money for regular facials. Facials are my favorite thing, but as a working mother of two boys, I find it near impossible to get them done these days. Plus, finding a good aesthetician is no small task.
Davis Square’s bargain retail profile recently kicked it up a notch with the addition of Buffalo Exchange (on the same block as Poor Little Rich Girl and Good Will). Giving national chain a good name, Buffalo Exchange allows for direct sale or trade of used clothing and accessories, and carries both classic pieces (such as the J. Crew print dress I scored for $23.50...sweet!) and quirkier ones. The two-level store currently offers more goods for women (including rows upon rows of shoes downstairs), though there are some racks for men. Laurel loves treasure hunting with me in Davis; she only requests that this and other stores start carrying used kid’s clothing.
Buffalo Exchange, 238 Elm Street, Somerville; 617-629-5383
A couple of downpouring weekends ago, Laurel and I visited Clay Dreams, a pottery painting studio in Arlington. Simply pick from a range of functional (e.g., dinnerware) and decorative (e.g., pumpkins) pottery options, choose your paint colors, and create. At first, the cost ($5 fee + Laurel chose a $12 large plate and $8 mug) seemed a tad steep for an hour of entertainment but Laurel absolutely adored the experience. (And really, could I spin those pieces and fire them up myself for $25?) And she wasn’t the only one; in addition to various kid/adult pairings, one table was exclusively grownups.
I adore Heather Flett & Whitney Moss, the smart women behind the smart website Rookie Moms, a great destination for new moms looking to infuse fun activities amidst the daily duties of diapers and feedings. And I'm honored to now have a place in the Rookie Moms digital files via this guest post I recently wrote: Baby Activities in Boston features a sample weekly itinerary that will make any rookie mom in Boston look like a pro. Enjoy!
Poor customer service is perplexing, frustrating, and amazingly rampant in the retail industry, so I’m always thrilled to discover a store – such as Marathon Sports – that does it right. In need of a new pair of running shoes in advance of the Gobble, Gobble, Gobble run, I visited Marathon Sports with Laurel on Sunday. I was approached immediately (in a good way) by a friendly staffer, and after observing my feet and walking gait (in socks, pants rolled up) and asking about brand preferences, the staffer made easy work of the sea of sneaker options on the wall and pulled his two top recommendations, the second of which fit beautifully and felt great as I test trotted around the store.
In light of September being National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, today, Sarah candidly shares her story, as well as important information for women to consider:
“I always assumed that by the time I reached the ripe old age of 35, I’d have a husband, two kids, a house in the ‘burbs, and a dog. What I didn’t expect was the minivan. Oh, and the cancer.
Today, Jennifer recommends a couple of spots in Acton to enjoy a girl’s morning out:
“I recently rediscovered one of my favorite little local spots for bargain shopping: Tables to Teapots in West Acton. It’s a well-organized home furnishings consignment shop with antiques, retro décor, some newer yet gently used items, and one-of-a-kind finds…including the great vintage cuff bracelet I just picked up for a mere $8.
Every time I visit Coolidge Corner I let out a sigh of appreciation for the variety of shops, restaurants, amenities, and T access (even if it is that pokey green line) that truly makes it one of Boston’s ideal car-free neighborhoods. And now I’ve discovered another reason to frequent Coolidge Corner – Rosaline’s Skin Care & Spa. Read on to learn more about Rosaline's services (which include expertise in treating the skin of women of color), and enjoy a special offer for Boston Mamas readers.
Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where I share the voices of fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Tori Stuart, mother of two and founder of locally based natural food company Zoe Foods. Then go ahead and nominate a fabulous local mama!
Today, Jennifer recommends the Brockton Rox for a budget and family friendly baseball experience:
“Nothing says summer like America's favorite pastime, and there is unique pleasure in a leisurely afternoon at the ball park. Something about the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and a bag of peanuts has brought families together for generations. My husband and I love the history and tradition of baseball, but attending Major League games costs major money, and with four kids -- none of whom are guaranteed to last more than a few innings -- we've been keen to find a budget and family friendly alternative.
Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where I share the voices of fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Carol Fishman Cohen, mother of four and career specialist for women looking to re-enter the workforce. Carol is the co-author of Back on the Career Track and co-founder of iRelaunch. Then go ahead and nominate a fabulous fellow mama!