Posts in Local
Local Gems: Easton

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back BayBeacon Hill, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Easton recommendations come from my delightful friend Christina, who writes at The Fairly Odd Mother and Cool Mom Picks. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Easton, Christina! (And if you want to submit a Local Gems feature, see details here!)

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Welcome, Bright Horizons at Fan Pier!

Every spring when I (somewhat begrudgingly) tackle the challenge of sorting out Laurel's summer schedule, I'm reminded of what a shock it was to go from the year-round reliable awesomeness of day care to an elementary school schedule, particularly since Laurel wasn't exactly receptive to frequent changes and transitions (e.g., different camps on different weeks) after said reliable awesomeness.

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Dear Boston Mamas: Visiting Boston with Toddlers

Today’s Dear Boston Mamas query comes from Kristen: 

Hi Christine, I'm hoping you can help me. Our family will be visiting Boston this July (from Canada) with our 19 month old daughter. We are staying near the Boston Common and are looking for some things to do with her. From my research the aquarium looks great, but the Children's museum seems to be for older kids. Can you suggest some things we should check out with her? I'm looking for attractions (outside/inside, paid/free) and any good restaurants to check out with her.

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Local Gems: Arlington Center

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Back BayBeacon Hill, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Arlington Center recommendations (East Arlington + Arlington Heights are forthcoming separately) come from reader Justine Uhlenbrock, a birth doula, minimalist mom of two girls, and writer who shares about motherhood, building a family legacy, and the intersection of food and family. Thanks for sharing these 11 local gems, Justine!

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7 Great Suburban Date Night Spots

Today, Judy shares 7 great suburban spots for date night (hey, did you know it’s Date Your Mate Month?):

When I was pregnant, I fully expected that after the baby arrived my husband and I would still enjoy date nights at fancy restaurants in the city. In reality, three years into parenting, it’s proven a real challenge for us to get out, particularly since we both work full-time, want to spend our non-work hours with our little man, and feel uncomfortable overtaxing my parents (our only babysitters at present).

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Friday Find: Bella Sante HydraFacial

A few Fridays ago I discovered a delightful Friday Find: the Bella Sante HydraFacial MD®. I’ll admit, when Bella Sante first reached out to me about trying the service, I had visions of Kim Cattrall in the Sex and the City chemical peel episode. But au contraire; this “liquid dermabrasion-like” facial involves massage, exfoliation, extraction, hydration mostly via a tool that felt similar to my Clarisonic.

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Boston, City of Love and Strength

As someone who identifies as a Boston lifer, April 15, 2013 changed how I feel about and experience this city; I'm sure that's the case for many. In the immediate days following the Boston Marathon bombings, I experienced many moments of clarity and dissonance. And every day since, I have experienced small touch points (e.g., errands on Boylston, communication with family in Watertown, runner friends training for April 21, my own modest runs) that make me think about the tragedy and its intense, penetrating ripple effect.

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Local Gems: Back Bay, Boston

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Medford, Beacon Hill, and Lexington features)! Today's Back Bay recommendations come from my friend Laura Tomasetti of 360PR. Laura's is one of the first agencies I interfaced with when I started blogging and she is both a delightful person socially and a true visionary in her field. (I also completely credit Laura for getting me onto Twitter!) Laura has a delightful daughter and is a longtime Back Bay dweller; thanks for sharing these recs, Laura!

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Local Gems: Beacon Hill, Boston

Friends, from the response to the Medford feature, you're clearly digging the new Local Gems series! I'm so thrilled! This week I'm featuring the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. These 15 gems come courtesy of my lovely and finance-savvy friend Sandra Gilpatrick. Sandra has lived on Beacon Hill for over a decade, has an adorable son, and, as a certified financial planner, is professionally passionate about helping women find their financial confidence (AWESOME). Thanks for sharing these gems, Sandra!

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Local Gems: Medford

I'm so excited to kick off the Local Gems series this morning and am doing so with nine local gems in Medford. This town is fast on the rise given its strong community, lightning fast access to Boston, and various amenities (including commuter rail access and visions of Green Line expansion). If you have other favorite Medford gems, feel free to share in the comments below!

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New Series: Local Gems!

I have several editorial series that I've been planning on launching for oh, say, the last year (seriously!) and other things just keep getting in the way. But today I'm finally kicking off Local Gems, through which I'll feature awesome and sometimes lesser known gems in different communities in and around Boston. Putting a spotlight on local businesses feels even more important to me right now given the recent closing of Isis Parenting.

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For Budding Thespians: Watertown Children's Theatre

Today, Kate recommends a great local spot to inspire budding thespians in community-oriented fashion:

As a child, I tended to shy away from the spotlight, but my young daughter loves an audience. Whether singing in the school concert or performing her own song-and-dance routines in our living room, she enjoys showing off in front of a crowd. As a result, we love the offerings of the Watertown Children's Theater.

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7 Things to Know About Kids & Everyday Play

I firmly believe in the importance of everyday play for kids (and adults, for that matter!). Not only do kids have plenty of years of traditional classroom work ahead of them, but so much can be learned from everyday play and exploration. (Case in point: I’ve had Laurel experimenting in the kitchen since toddlerhood; at 9 years old she can make dinner and bake chocolate cake from scratch...WIN!) Today I’m thrilled to share about the importance of everyday play via a sponsored editorial collaboration with Bright Horizons.

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My Summer Story: Lovely Local Firsts + A Giveaway
summer-story-1.jpgEver since becoming a parent, summer is a completely different ballgame. And while I could do without the transition woes and calendar juggling, I do appreciate how Laurel and Vi's summer schedules force me to think about blocking out down time and trying new things (both good things!). So when Starwood Hotels & Resorts invited me to participate in their My Summer Story campaign -- in which they're encouraging people to reflect on their summer stories and make the summer worth talking about -- I was like, yes, I am on board with this!
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