It's time to explore the world again! Our world tour has offered inspiration to learn about Brazilian, German, Swedish, and Polish culture. The fifth post in this editorial series with au pair agency Cultural Care Au Pair focuses on Thailand. Here are 13 ways to introduce your family to Thai culture. And as with the other posts, for my readers outside of Massachusetts, there are recommendations below that can be enjoyed from anywhere!

*** VISIT ***

1. Start to learn the Thai language at the Boston Language Institute.

2. Keep an eye on the Boston University Thai Student Association. They host an annual Thai festival with food and games.

*** SING & DANCE ***

3. Teach your children about traditional Thai folk dances including khon and lakhon.

4. Listen to traditional Thai children songs, such as the Elephant Song.

*** EAT & DRINK ***

5. My Thai Vegan Café in Boston shows that an extensive menu is no problem, even for vegans. I see spring rolls in my not so distant future! 

6. A Brighton fixture for over 15 years, Bamboo Thai offers authentic dishes at reasonable prices.

7. A repeat award winner, Montien Boston offers both Thai food and sushi.

8. Make the popular Thai classic pad thai at home.

9. This warm weather is the perfect time to enjoy a Thai iced tea!

*** CRAFT & READ***

10. Try making this pretty elephant craft.

11. Hush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong Ho makes for a good bedtime picture book.

12. Another great book by Minfong Ho is Peek! A Thai Hide-and-Seek, which I've read countless times to Laurel and Violet!

13. The Girl Who Wore Too Much by Margaret MacDonald is a folk tale from Thailand about a young girl who is a bit spoiled and has more dresses and jewelry than she really needs. 

So fun, right? Enjoy exploring Thailand and I'm excited to share another installment of cultural educational material next month. Also, totally related: If you've been struggling to make sense of childcare options, Cultural Care Au Pair is co-hosting a childcare panel this week (May 28). Also, on June 13, enjoy a Musikgarten class!

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Disclosure: This post reflects a sponsored editorial partnership with Cultural Care Au Pair. Cultural Care Au Pair is a leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 90,000 au pairs in American homes. Hosting an au pair offers many benefits, one of which includes the opportunity for your family to learn about another country's culture.

Image credits: 1) flag via Wikipedia; 2) compilation graphic by Christine Koh with images via linked sources above.

It's time to explore the world again! Remember the fun posts offering inspiration to learn about Polish, Brazilian, and German culture? The fourth post in this editorial series with au pair agency Cultural Care Au Pair focuses on Sweden. Here are 13 ways to introduce your family to Swedish culture. And as with the other culture posts, for my readers outside of Massachusetts, there are a number of recommendations below that can be enjoyed from anywhere!

*** VISIT ***

1. The Scandinavian Cultural Center in West Newton is a hub for Nordic cultural activities. The center hosts notable Scandinavian speakers, shows cultural movies, and is home to the Kaffestugan coffee shop where you can enjoy Scandinavian treats. The Center is also home to The Scandinavian Library where you can take Swedish language classes.

*** SING & DANCE ***

2. Are you a pop music fan? I was totally intrigued by Nolan Feeney's article Why Is Sweden So Good at Pop Music? (written in honor of Ace of Bace's 20th anniversary of The Sign).

3. Love dancing? See if you can pull of the Polska, a traditional Swedish dance. 

*** CELEBRATE ***

4. Mark your calendar for the Swedish Yuletide celebration December 5, 2015!

5. Also handy for getting festive in Swedish style around the holidays is A Swedish Christmas: Simple Scandanavian Crafts, Recipes, and Decorations.

*** SHOP ***

6. Enjoy Swedish and Scandinavian food at A Swedish Shop in West Bridgewater. The shop includes jewelry and traditional crafts to look through while visiting this little store.

7. From Swedish tea biscuits to troll and Viking trinkets, The Gift Chalet offers a wide array of Scandanavian gifts.

*** EAT & CRAFT ***

8. Shake up your breakfast with these tasty Swedish pancakes.

9. Make a Viking out of a toilet paper roll!

10. Get the whole family to make Swedish flags by sponge painting.

*** READ ***

11. Learn more about Sweden, Greenland, and other Nordic countries through D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet.

12. Ronia, the Robber's Daughter, by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, tells the story of Ronia, who lives with her father and a band of robbers in a castle in the woods. Follow her adventures as she befriends a rival robber’s son.

13. Another Astrid Lindgren classic is The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, a great story about a spunky nine-year-old girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in a wacky house.

So fun, right? Enjoy exploring Sweden and I'm excited to share more cultural educational material over the coming months. Also, if you are interested in learning more about au pair childcare, you can check out the Cultural Care Au Pair tables at one of these upcoming family-friendly cultural events: the International Festival in Hingham (May 2) and IFED – International Family Day in Somerville (May 3).

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Disclosure: This post reflects a sponsored editorial partnership with Cultural Care Au Pair. Cultural Care Au Pair is a leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 90,000 au pairs in American homes. Hosting an au pair offers many benefits, one of which includes the opportunity for your family to learn about another country's culture.

Image credits: 1) flag via Wikipedia; 2) compilation graphic by Christine Koh with images via linked sources above.

I recently shared about Gabrielle Blair's brilliant new book Design Mom: How to Live With Kids: A Room-by-Room Guide (which, by the way, is the #1 best seller in Home Design & Construction on Amazon!). And now I'm cordially inviting you to Gabby's Boston book tour stop at Trident Booksellers & Cafe Tuesday, April 21, 7pm. I'll be leading a Q&A with Gabby and there will be goody bags, treats, mingling, and you can get your book signed by (and no doubt snap a selfie with!) Gabby. Come join us for a fun evening!

Image credit: Seth & Kendra Smoot

Today is Children's Book Day and seasoned readers know how obsessed Team Boston Mamas is with books (both for kids and grownups)! So, I thought it would be fun and handy to cull back editorial of our favorite roundups and individual titles. Bookmark this post for your next library trip or Amazon bender! And also, if you're not already a newsletter subscriber, subscribe now because I have a great book giveaway launching Monday through the list! Enjoy!

Book Roundups

• Great books for boys
• 10 offbeat books for kids
• 7 winter books for kids
• 7 great chapter books for kids (especially boys)
• 20 great board books for babies and toddlers
• 35 favorite picture books for kids
• Picture books with strong female lead characters
• Civil rights movement books for kids

Individual Titles

• 123 Boston
• Abbeville's classic fairy tale series
• Elmer & The Dragon series
• George & Martha
• Global Babies
• Hickory, Dickory, Dock + Other Favorite Nursery Rhymes
• Ivy and Bean
• Mo Smells Red
• Mouse Paint
• Mr. Men & Little Miss series
• Nate the Great
• Our Corner Grocery Store
• Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore
• Space Boy
• The Lonely Book
• The Three Questions
• Where is the Cake?
• Zen Shorts
• Zen Ties

 Image credit: Lindsey Mead

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope you're having a good weekend so far, despite this wacky weather. If you haven't yet checked out the Weekend Roundup, be sure to do so since there are 25 event options to consider. And meanwhile, if you're looking to cozy up with some interesting reading, here's what caught my eye this week for Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome. Have a great rest of the weekend and see you back here on Monday!

- The world’s best teacher lives in rural Maine and doesn’t care about test scores.

- How Tim Gunn spends his Sunday.

- 8 powerful questions we should ask ourselves immediately.

- How Ethiopia managed to supply water to 48 million people.

- Tom Hanks reenacts all of his films in 6.5 minutes.

- Corporate volunteers can be a burden for nonprofits.

- “Yoga pants are ruining women” and other style advice from Fran Lebowitz.

- I don’t care if my son goes to college.

- How to design an edible landscape.

- 17 modern myths that are making motherhood miserable.

Image credit: ultimate stain removal guide via Pinterest

When I first heard that my friend Gabrielle Blair landed a book deal, I was thrilled and filled with anticipation because, quite plainly, Gabby is one of the most delightful, gracious, and positive people I know, and everything she touches evokes quality, style, and beauty...but in a totally down-to-earth way that makes you feel like you're her best friend. And Gabby's new book Design Mom: How to Live With Kids: A Room-by-Room Guide does not disappoint.

This hefty hardcover book is all about the thoughtful details: from the cheerful cover that Gabby created with her kids, to the many pages of inspirational, gorgeous photography accompanying ideas for every room in your home, to sweet little DIYs, to Gabby's personal storytelling about how she manages life as a wife and mother of 6 kids while instilling values and fun and beauty into the everyday. This book is truly lovely and you will want it in your collection as a frequent point of reference, and it would make a fantastic gift for a beloved mom friend (or three!).

Design Mom officially releases April 7 but you should pre-order it now. Because one thing I've learned for sure over this last year through my own interior revamping is that making your home truly yours impacts your happiness every, single day. Design Mom is replete with inspiration to help you get on your way.

Finally, I'm thrilled to share that Gabby is coming to Boston! I'll be hosting a Q & A with her on Tuesday, April 21 at Trident Booksellers on Newbury Street in Boston. More details forthcoming, but be sure to mark your calendar and join us. You'll totally see what I mean about her delightful, gracious, and positive demeanor in person! 

Image credits: styling + photography by Seth & Kendra Smoot.

It's time to explore the world again! Our world tour has offered inspiration to learn about Brazilian and Polish culture. The third post in this editorial series with au pair agency Cultural Care Au Pair focuses on Germany. Here are 12 ways to introduce your family to German culture. And as with the Brazil and Poland posts, for my readers outside of Massachusetts, there are recommendations below that can be enjoyed from anywhere!

*** VISIT ***

1. The Boylston Schul-Verein German-American Club in Walpole offers language classes for kids and hosts events celebrating German culture, such as Oktoberfest.

2. The Goethe Institut in Boston offers movies, language classes and events to celebrate German culture in the New England area.

* * * EAT * * * 

3. Try weiner schnitzel, bratwursts, and other classics at Jacob Wirth’s on Stuart Street.

4. Bronwyn Restaurant in Union Square, Somerville, not only offers traditional German food, but the interior resembles a European tavern and has an adjacent biergarten during the summer months.

5. I seriously cannot wait to try this recipe for easy German pancakes.

* * * SHOP * * * 

6. Karl’s Sausage Kitchen and European Market in Peabody has sold handmade sausages and European meats since 1958. Check out the market section too!

* * * ACTIVITIES * * * 

7. These German paper stars are pretty any time of year.

8. Step into German music, soccer, and film via this multimedia site.

9. Musikgarten in Belmont offers German music classes for young children.

10. Create a Cook in Newton Highlands is offering a class to introduce kids to German cuisine.

* * * BOOKS * * * 

11. Germany ABCs offers an introduction to Germany and its culture.

12. I love M. Sasek’s books, and This is Munich offers a vintage look into the city.

So fun, right? Enjoy exploring Germany and I'm excited to share more cultural educational material over the coming months. Also, totally related: Cultural Care Au Pair is hosting the 2015 North Shore World's Fair on March 28 from 12-2pm at the Manchester by the Sea Community. This free event will feature food, crafts, face-painting, and more from cultures around the world!

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Disclosure: This post reflects a sponsored editorial partnership with Cultural Care Au Pair. Cultural Care Au Pair is a leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 90,000 au pairs in American homes. Hosting an au pair offers many benefits, one of which includes the opportunity for your family to learn about another country's culture.

Image credits: 1) flag via Wikipedia; 2) compilation graphic by Christine Koh with images via linked sources above.

Every now and then I get into a horrible book rut. I’ll start several books and none of them grab me. I’ve now learned that all I need to do to get out of said book rut is pick up a title by Katherine Center. I was delighted to receive an advanced reading copy of Happiness for Beginners, and like Center’s other titles, I was immediately sucked in, admittedly to the point of shooing away my kids and reading by flashlight as I devoured the closing chapters.

Releasing March 24 (but available for pre-order now, which is really, really good for authors, so go pre-order!), Happiness for Beginners shares the story of Helen Carpenter, a divorced woman who hopes to find her mojo in the wilderness and faces challenges beyond those of the nature variety. Katherine Center has a true gift for creating a story arc that includes personal evolution, romance, challenges, disappointments, and joy in a way that avoids cliche and creates enough ebbing tension and resolution that the reader is left hungering for more. That certainly was the case for me as I finished the final page and snapped off my flashlight. I desperately want to know what happens in Helen's next chapter!

Image credits: Amazon

It's time to explore the world again! Remember last month's fun post about 14 ways to learn about Brazilian culture? The second post in this editorial series with au pair agency Cultural Care Au Pair focuses on Poland. Here are 15 ways to introduce your family to Polish culture. And as with the Brazil post, for my readers outside of Massachusetts, there are a number of recommendations below that can be enjoyed from anywhere!

*** VISIT ***

1. The Polish American Citizens Club of South Boston unites the Polish community in Boston and hosts events throughout the city.

2. The Polish Cultural Foundation in Milton promotes Polish culture in the Boston area and hosts a variety of events throughout the year.

3. Interested in exploring your roots? The Polish Genealogical Society of Massachusetts in Chicopee assists with Polish culture research efforts, family trees, and preserving historical Polish materials.

*** SING & DANCE ***

4. Learn about Polish song and dance via the Krakowiak Polish Dancers of Boston. They're next slated to perform in April at the New England Folk Festival.

5. Learn about Polish music from the comfort of your home via the Polina Music website.

*** EAT ***

6. Café Polonia in South Boston offers traditional Polish favorites such as pierogies, grilled kielbasa sandwiches, and potato pancakes.

7. Want to roll up your sleeves and cook Polish fare at home? Try these pierogies!

8. These gołąbki (cabbage rolls) are a bit more involved but will warm you up on a cold night.

9. Head to the Baltic European Deli in Boston for Polish cold cuts, baked goods, cosmetics, newspapers, and more!

10. In the heart of Boston's Polish Triangle is DJ's European Market and Deli, which offers deli items and baked goods.

*** CRAFT ***

11. Want to step up your egg decorating game this Easter? Check out how to make beautiful Polish pisanki.

12.  Some straw and scrap paper is all you need to create a traditional Polish paper chandelier.

*** READ ***

13. The children's book Little Dog Lost is based on a true story in Poland.

14. For older elementary school aged kids, The Secret of the Village Fool is a story of two boys and the lifesaving deed of a good neighbor.

15. Picture book P is for Poland will take you on a tour of favorite Polish sites and cultural traditions.

So fun, right? Enjoy exploring Poland and I'm excited to share more cultural educational material over the coming months. Also, totally related: Cultural Care Au Pair is hosting a free ice skating event in Quincy on February 28. Enjoy some time on the ice! If you're thinking about an au pair, you'll be able to meet some au pairs and host families at the event. 

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Disclosure: This post reflects a sponsored editorial partnership with Cultural Care Au Pair. Cultural Care Au Pair is a leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 90,000 au pairs in American homes. Hosting an au pair offers many benefits, one of which includes the opportunity for your family to learn about another country's culture.

Image credits: 1) flag via Wikipedia; 2) compilation graphic by Christine Koh with images via linked sources above.