Violet is not the most diverse of eaters, so when she recently decided that she liked cantaloupe I did a big 'ol happy dance inside. Sweet, juicy, loaded with vitamin C, and a good option to send in the lunchbox, cantaloupe is in season in Massachusetts in August so you'll likely see good prices right now. This week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 10 recipes that offer creative inspiration that goes well beyond fruit salad.
I recently shared about ONE's new Girls & Women site; I'm honored to be part of such an incredible advisory board and I'll share more about this work in the fall. Meanwhile, I hope you'll read this piece I wrote on finding and celebrating voice through art. Writing the post helped me put words to my own stifled journey and why I feel it's crucial to give kids the chance to find their voice and passion.
Like strawberries, blueberries, and peaches, summer is an awesome time for raspberries. Just this past weekend I picked up a couple of large boxes at the market and they were quickly devoured (toddlers, btw, love sticking their fingers in the raspberry holes)! Raspberries are in season in Massachusetts July to September and this week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 8 recipes that offer good inspiration to consume these beautiful berries.
I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Easton, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Wellesley recommendations come from reader Melissa, a five year resident of Wellesley, mom to an adventurous toddler son and soon-to-be-kindergartener daughter, and patent law attorney with Wolf Greenfield. Thanks for sharing these 13 local gems in Wellesley, Melissa!
Today, Rene shares 4 steps (and 9 finds) for easy summer beauty and hair:
When it’s hot and humid out, my first instinct is to skip putting anything on my face. But the truth is, I look and feel better if I dedicate a few minutes to primp in the morning. After some troubleshooting I've fine tuned a quick and easy routine that can have you looking summery and fresh in a flash and withstand chasing children in 90 degree heat. Here's the 4-step how-to, with 9 products to consider:
Hooray for seasonal peaches! Like strawberries and blueberries, peaches are wonderfully sweeter and more affordable right now...I love when they become abundant at the market! Peaches are in season in Massachusetts mid-July to mid-September and this week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 12 recipes that will allow you to incorporate this tasty stone fruit all the way from breakfast to dinner to condiments.
Crowdsourcing for book recommendations has become one of my favorite things to do via social media. I love hearing how passionate people are about books and over the last several years, these lists have been my go-to source for so many wonderful reads! Following last year's 80 books for your booklist, I decided to canvas again and received 100 recommendations in a few days -- bookmark or print this list out for your next bookstore or library visit!
I find that green vegetables especially improve in flavor when they come in season and green beans are no exception. Green beans are in season in Massachusetts July and August and this week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 8 tasty ways to incorporate green beans into your meals, in some instances thinking outside the box -- even for breakfast and as a tart!.
As with strawberries, I love when blueberries come into season -- they're sweeter, more affordable, and I love watching Laurel and Vi gobble up all those nutrients. It's National Blueberry Month and blueberries are in season in Massachusetts July and August -- hooray! This week's Eat Seasonal feature includes 10 tasty ways you can incorporate seasonal blueberries into your day, all the way from breakfast to dinner.
Running typically is my favorite efficient way to exercise, but this season it’s been a total slog. My body has just not been feeling particularly spry and last week I felt pretty rock bottom about it all. I queried via social media about this topic and was amazed by the response! I wanted to share these great tips with you, because let’s face it, everyone gets in a fitness funk from time to time.
Peas. They're nutritious, delicious, colorful, great for snacking (I've been consuming large quantities raw thanks to the heat), easy to grow in a home garden, and -- notably in my book -- one of the few vegetables Violet will eat. Green and snap peas are in season June through September in Masschusetts, and this week's Eat Seasonal feature offers 8 ways to breathe new life into peas, whether as a snack, side, or main dish:
The Oontz Curve lives up to its descriptive full name; it is, in fact, a super portable wireless Bluetooth speaker. I recently bought this gadget and it kind of blows my mind that you can get a Cambridge Soundworks speaker for $29.99. The Oontz has been the perfect solution for enjoying music outdoors, though it would be great for the office too. The speaker connects via Bluetooth, the sound quality is great, and the battery is rechargeable.
I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon 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!)
Ever since making my career leap 8 years ago, I've talked with many people who have felt a desire to leap but haven't been able to step off the ledge. I totally get it; many complicating factors get in the way of dreams. Subsequently, when I see a long-desired dream come to life, it pretty much makes my heart explode with happiness. Such is the case with my longtime friend (and Boston Mamas contributor), Paige, who just launched Tess & Ted.
One of my favorite things about summer is when beets come in season. I know there are some beet haters out there, and if you are in that camp, try fresh local ones -- they are a completely different animal! Beets are in season June through September in Masschusetts, come in a variety of gorgeous colors, and also happen to be super good for you. This week's Eat Seasonal feature offers 8 ways to enjoy beets through the day:
We recently bought these textured dip bowls (in aqua and orange) from West Elm and they have been a cheerful, inexpensive way to add color pop to our white dishes/gray table. One of my favorite ways to do meals is what we call the "nibble platter" approach -- lots of little odds and ends from the fridge that suddenly look special when served in cute bowls and on platters.
After I returned from the very amazing Mom 2.0 Summit last month, I was on a total emotional high. I attended the conference with both with my consultant and blogger hats on, and everything went so swimmingly for my client and it was amazing to reconnect with my blogging colleagues. Sometimes I still can't believe how much joy and energy and pure fun there is in my work. I work hard, yes, but it also feels like such a gift!