There are many things I love about Tea Collection -- the quality, the colorways, the details, the fact that most items are offered all the way from baby to size 12 -- and as a designer I especially appreciate their use of global inspiration. I recently had the opportunity to preview some pieces from the new Bali collection and they are just delightful. You can read more about the happy inspiration (how fun does that trip sound?); meanwhile, I wanted to share my favorite picks from the girls and boys collections. Also awesome? The kind folks at Tea Collection are offering a $100 gift certificate to one of you lovely readers! Read on to check out my picks and learn how to win!There are many things I love about Tea Collection -- the quality, the colorways, the details, the fact that most items are offered all the way from baby to size 12 -- and as a designer I especially appreciate their use of global inspiration. I recently had the opportunity to preview some pieces from the new Bali collection and they are just delightful. You can read more about the happy inspiration (how fun does that trip sound?); meanwhile, I wanted to share my favorite picks from the girls and boys collections. Also awesome? The kind folks at Tea Collection are offering a $100 gift certificate to one of you lovely readers! Read on to check out my picks and learn how to win!
Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) recommends a game that actually lives up to its name:
When my oldest son expressed interest in chess after reading the first installment of the Harry Potter series, I was excited, but tentative. While he loves to learn new games, he gets pretty frustrated when he can't master a game quickly. Not being a chess player myself, I had a vague sense that learning chess, let alone mastering it, was not going to be an easy task.
Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a welcome addition and workshop series:
The famed Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum recently opened a new addition to the existing, ornate, historical space. The modern, Renzo Piano-designed addition -- a 70,000 square foot temple of light and glass -- holds space to showcase art by current and former members of the museum's artist-in-residence program, an impressive performance hall, and a gleaming new studio. It is in this latter space that the museum is holding weekly Education Studio workshops. Visitors of all ages are welcome to participate in workshops, which are drop-in and held on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4:30pm, and included in the price of museum admission.
Even though the process can become messier and the results less perfect, I love baking with kids. It makes for a fun project (just this week we had a friend of Laurel's over for a baking play date -- so fun!), offers yummy rewards, and you can choose to work in some math teaching if you like. Laurel and I recently tried a new (to us) cookie recipe from Lori Longbotham's Luscious Lemon Desserts that was just delightful; a lovely twist on basic sugar cookies. Below I've edited the steps and added notes to offer some shortcuts and tips, as well as ideas for incorporating kids into the process. Enjoy!
I can't believe Violet turns one next month. I also can't believe she ever used to lie immobile on her back. During the night, she migrates around her crib a lot, which has made blanket coverage impossible and (I think) contributed to interrupted sleep. Now, sleep sacks as a temperature solution are not a new concept to me, but I hadn't bothered with them for Violet since with Laurel, the zip-front openings weren't the most convenient for middle of the night diaper changes.
Today, Jules shares a recipe perfect for Super Bowl Sunday (or any day really):
Between my husband's enthusiasm for football and mine for good food, Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday in our house. Chili is a Super Bowl staple and it's an easy crowd pleaser because it's typically a one pot meal that can feed a hungry crowd. Most often prepped with fatty ground meat, loads of cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips, I'm tweaking tradition here and whipping up a reduced fat white chicken chili that is a treat for the eyes but also a really unexpected and refreshing surprise for the palate; all while staying true to those chili roots and remaining a heady and satisfying one pot meal. Enjoy!
Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a favorite family board game:
My family loves to play board games. I haven't had too much luck finding any beyond the old classics -- Sorry, Connect Four, Monopoly -- that everybody really gets into, but that changed when my daughter was given Spy Alley for her ninth birthday. Spy Alley is "a game of suspense and intrigue" and we have found ourselves playing it over and over again. Each player has a secret spy identity, and the goal is to complete your mission by obtaining code books, disguises, keys, and passwords while also hiding who you are from the other players. To do this you have to purchase the books, disguises, keys, and passwords of other spies, hoping to confuse your competitors as to your real identity.
Today, Jennifer (also of Hey Girl Momma Go) shares some local spots to get your groove on:
This week's warmer temperatures aside, we've had some really cold days. The winter blues are lurking in the corners of our house for sure, but thanks to my 6 1/2 year old daughter's new microphone and my husband's old amp, we are doing a lot of rockin' out these days. We dance, we sing, we whip our hair around, we even have a disco ball. So it got me thinking about cool options for dance classes. Things have certainly evolved from the traditional ballet, tap, and jazz of my youth. Here are a few local options to help kids and adults stave off the winter doldrums.
Because I'm all about reducing physical and emotional clutter in life (I'm even speaking about this topic at BlissDom next month), I'm thrilled to join Asha Dornfest of Parent Hacks and Meagan Francis of The Happiest Mom to host a conversation on The Best Ideas For Getting Organized at The Motherhood. Join us tomorrow -- Monday the 23rd -- from 1-1:30 pm EST to chat about simplifying and streamlining your home, schedule, and life. No complicated technical know-how is required to participate in the chat -- it's basically like commenting in on status updates. You will need a logon at The Motherhood to participate, so hop on over and register now. You can also submit questions in advance if you like.
Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) shares a beloved book:
During a recent playground conversation with a fellow mom, we were recounting our childhoods. Although we grew up in different areas, our memories were the same -- hours and hours of unsupervised outside playtime with neighborhood friends, solo bike rides into town to buy candy, and walking to school by ourselves by the time we were in second grade. As we hovered over our four collective children, occasionally interrupting our own chatting with a "Don't run so fast!" or "Watch your head!", I reflected on how much life and "playtime" had changed for my own kids in just one generation.
Today, Sheri offers ideas for celebrating and learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. at home (and if you're looking to get out of the house, there are several MLK activities included here):
Monday, January 16, is a holiday for our school-aged children. It's important for kids to understand why they have the day off and why we celebrate the birthday of one of America's most influential people. Kids can learn the history behind the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the event surrounding a man who changed history through a variety of activities that can be fun, inspiring, creative, and educational. Below is a sampling of ideas; if you have others, feel free to share in the comments!
My Canadian friend Leslie gifted Laurel with a copy of Anne of Green Gables a couple of years ago. Given that Laurel loves chapter books with female central characters, we've been looking forward to reading Anne together but the language is still a little too advanced (Amazon lists the series for ages 9 and up). I subsequently was thrilled to find an adapted version of Anne of Green Gables in a box of hand me downs from my sister-in-law Estelle.
Today, Jules shares five resolution pitfalls and how to avoid them:
You know the concept: a commitment to a personal project or goal. You know the time: the New Year. You know the problem: it rarely happens! And that's typically because people tend to set the bar high too high and too vague. This year, make a resolution to keep your resolution and actually get there by setting goals that are realistic and tangible. Here are 5 resolution pitfalls and how -- as a trainer and social worker -- I suggest avoiding them.
Every winter I struggle with painful dry, chapped hands -- resulting from the cold weather, my lax hand moisturizing tendencies, endless dish washing, and increased hand washing to combat germs. And it turns out Laurel is prone to the same chapped hand syndrome. I've tried a variety of hand creams but haven't found the perfect one, so I decided to turn to Facebook and Twitter last week to solicit recommendations. And what did I learn? Not only that you people are awesome (actually, I already knew that), but that you people are passionate about moisturizing! Here are the comments I received, grouped alphabetically by brand. Soft, happy hands -- here we come!
Today, PPLM Parent Education Program Manager Amy Cody shares tips for talking with your kids about the HPV vaccine:
One of the most important and challenging tasks parents face is communicating our values to our children (without them rolling their eyes) -- especially when talking about sex. But while these conversations can be difficult and awkward, research shows that positive and honest communication helps young people delay sexual activity and make healthier, safer decisions about sex.
Today, Lindsey (also of A Design So Vast) recommends a favorite book:
I love Jethro Byrd, Fairy Child for its assertion that magic is all around us, as long as you look closely. My children, six and eight, both love this book as well and often ask me to read it to them. The book opens with Annabelle looking for fairies in the "cement and weeds" near her house despite her father's firm statement that she won't find them. Annabelle's firm belief and tireless searching are rewarded when one Saturday she finds a boy with wings, as big as her finger, shivering in the breeze. As soon as he has introduced himself as "Jethro Byrd, fairy child," Annabelle spies a miniature ice cream truck that has fallen from the sky. Jethro's family -- his father, mother, grandmother, and baby sister -- are trying to tug the truck back to upright and ask for Annabelle's help. She quickly helps and then invites them to her house for tea.
Laurel typically enjoys quite a bit of generosity from her relatives during the holidays, so in the Christmas aftermath, it's particularly impressive when one thing captures her attention. And, well, ours too. This year, that thing is Katamino. Including an adjustable-sized playing board (increasing the size of the playing space increases the difficulty), different wooden shapes (pentaminos), and an impressively varied instruction manual, this game inspires seemingly endless spatial puzzles for one or more players.