Though I'm not into the whole "Hey it's the holidays so let's hit the stores at 3am to score bargains!" thing, I'm definitely into supporting small businesses -- any time really, but Saturday, November 29 is Small Business Saturday. And if you're downtown, check out The Grommet's pop-in shop within Michelle Willey at 8 Union Park Street in Boston. (If you're not in striking distance of the store, you can shop the special collection online. Yay!)

Open now through December 24, The Grommet pop-in shop includes a curated collection of maker items, many sourced from New England. The Grommet is all about the storytelling behind different products; you'll see this reflected on their website and in the pop-up store, and I'm thrilled to partner with The Grommet today to share my 10 favorite picks from their special collection at Michelle Willey:

1. FOR THE (CURRENT OR ASPIRING) MINDFUL PLANNER. The more time I spend online, the more time I need offline, using real writing utensils and paper. There are lots of day planners to get your life in order, but I love that this Day Designer encourages mindfulness in setting short and long term goals (perfect for tackling goals like a boss).

2. FOR THE BELOVED CYCLIST. Boston cyclists aren't daunted by much, and neither are Boston bike thiefs (this coming from the girl whose brand new bike was stolen after one glorious ride). Gift your beloved cyclist with the Gotham theft-proof bike light, which was designed by MIT grad Slava Menn to keep cyclists safe and thwart bike light thieves.

3. FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES TO BE PREPARED. As the person who is basically never prepared (except with my phone), I totally love this multi-tool iPhone case. The sturdy polycarbonate case protects your beloved communication device while featuring 8 TSA-compliant built-in tools: a pen, Phillips screwdriver, flat-head screwdriver, kickstand, nail file, tweezers, scissors, and a toothpick. WHAT?! It's totally the perfect gift for the aspiring MacGyver in your life.

4. FOR THE PERSON WHO LOVES TO BE PREPARED (BUT DOESN'T HAVE AN IPHONE). Don't have an iPhone? No worries. There is something awesome called the Pocket Monkey. Say it again: POCKET MONKEY! Thin enough to fit in a credit card wallet slot, this TSA-compliant 12-in-one utility tool includes a cell phone stand, bottle opener, orange peeler, screwdriver, hex wrench, ruler, letter opener, scraper, and more. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

5. FOR THE HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS. Now that Violet is out of the destroy and conquer phase, I've recently rediscovered the beauty of candles; they create immediate ambiance and make me feel calm. These Big Dipper beeswax candles would make for a lovely hostess gift; they're all natural, non-allergenic, soot-free, and burn cleanly for 40+ hours. In fact, these 100% beeswax candles helps clean the air; when burned, they release negative ions that can reduce allergens and pollutants. Thank you, bees.

6. FOR THE RELUCTANT TIME TELLER. When I was a kid, I really struggled to learn to tell time, but I suspect I would have been better motivated if I was staring down one of these adorable Modern Moose wall clocks. Available in a variety of designs, these clocks make a statement on their own or would make for a whimsical addition to a gallery wall.

7. FOR THE MINIMALIST PLAYROOM. Tight on storage? No worries. I love that Storytime Toys toyhouses + storybooks offer fodder for two of the best childhood activities ever: reading and imaginative play. No tools are required to assemble the foam/card stock toyhouses, and when you're done, just fold flat and stow. These toyhouse/books are offered in three versions: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, and The Three Little Pigs.

8. FOR CRAFT + CRITTER ENTHUSIASTS. Time away from the screen is always a good thing, and how gratifying would it be to needle felt your way from a simple ball of wool to an adorable fuzzy felted friend? Wool Pets felting kits are designed for kids ages 10 and up and each kit contains the supplies to make 2-5 critters. These would make super cute little ornaments...just glue gun a ribbon on once done!

9. FOR YOUR FRIEND WHO IS SECRETLY PRACTICING FOR HIS/HER KARAOKE DEBUT. Let's face it, shows like The Voice have left many of us fantasizing about our breakout song. Or at least, what we could belt out at karaoke (AHEM). Speaker creatures are waterproof wireless Bluetooth speakers that will allow you to practice your karaoke debut song in the comfort of your shower.

10. FOR EVERYONE WHO BATHES (HOPEFULLY THAT'S EVERYONE IN YOUR HOUSE). I'm completely in love with Fiat Luxe's felted soaps. It's the perfect gift in my opinion (and my top pick in The Grommet pop-in collection): affordable, clever, and pretty while being usable and thus clutter-free. Fiat Luxe soaps are wrapped in wool felt that serves as an exfoliating washcloth. The felt shrinks along with the soap, and once the soap is gone, simply make a slit in the felt and stuff it with other soap remnants. BRILLIANT.

So many cute things, right? Head to the pop-in shop at Michelle Willey or shop online to support independent makers and their creative awesomeness!

Disclosure: This post reflects a compensated editorial partnership with The Grommet. All opinions about curated picks are, of course, my own.

Image credits: The Grommet

My daily footwear typically includes ballet flats or strappy sandals, neither of which are super functional during nature treks or muddy playground visits. To rectify this situation -- and given that we're going camping this summer -- during a recent 40% off sale (score!), I ordered these Lands' End trekker close toed sandals (along with these closed toed sandals for Laurel, who shares my footwear habits). THUMBS UP! These trekkers are lightweight and comfy, and I love that they come in my most favorite of colorways!

Want more Friday Finds? Of course you do! Check out: Misfit Shine, Smooth Move, Beyond Baby, Bella Sante HydraFacial, chair reupholstery tutorial, Mizuno Wave Prophecy, Jordana lip balm stains, La Fresh eco-wipes, ridiculously awesome pants, parachute cord crafts, Where Is The Cake?, and Travelpro luggage

Image credits: Lands' End

It was so fun to celebrate spring with Splendid on Saturday! I hadn't yet visited the Chestnut Hill store, and while I generally prefer to shop online (efficiency model!), there was definitely something to be said for being able to paw all of Splendid's ridiculously soft knits + get dressing room consults in person! I wanted to share some fun photos from the event, as well as my favorite picks for easy breezy spring/summer dressing.

So, first, this has nothing to do with clothes, but isn't this candy bar AMAZING? Splendid engaged Sweet Indulgence to set up this beautiful display + some candy crafts. I love how bright and cheerful it was! It took all of my restraint not to eat 10 cupcakes.

I walked in wearing what I was planning on wearing but then I couldn't help but shop a little! And though I never, ever imagined a romper would work on me, I am now a convert thanks to this jersey jumpsuit. I literally walked out of the dressing room and asked a staffer to clip the tags off me. I especially love that you can dress this romper up or down and it feels like you're wearing PJs. WIN.

So much beautiful, soft clothing -- not just for women, but men and kids too.

I was thrilled to co-host this event with my friends Audrey of Mom Generations and Roxanna of Everyday Treats. These ladies are so smart and talented and kind.

So now, for my picks. There are tons of great mix and match separates at Splendid, but one of my favorite ways to simplify getting dressed is one-piece items. To date, this has meant dresses for me, but now I'm a fan of rompers/jumpsuits! In addition to my jersey jumpsuit, here are 6 pieces I recommend: 1) I pawed this v-neck maxi dress (in flamingo) a dozen times. It was so silly of me not to just go ahead and buy it at the store! I'm going to order it online. 2) Roxanna was wearing the cowl neck jumpsuit and it looked phenomenal. Flattering + comfy. 3) One of the staffers was wearing this desert rain tie dye romper and she looked adorable. 4) This jumpsuit is super chic; I want this one too. 5) This stripe bubble dress is a perfect kick around dress for spring/summer. You can never go wrong with stripes! 6) If you don't mind taking a risk on final sale, I love this strapless maxi dress in apricot. So flowy and elegant!

Thanks to everyone who came out for the event and if you haven't tried on Splendid's wears, I highly recommend it! They totally nail the comfy chic niche!

Image credits: all images by the talented (and adorably pregnant!) Chelsea J. Photography, with the exception of the shot of me alone in my romper + the Splendid clothing graphic that I created.

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Jamaica Plain recommendations come from my rad friend Casey, who writes about her city adventures with her wife and daughter over at Life with Roozle. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Jamaica Plain, Casey!

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1. Arnold Arboretum. Dog walks. Bike rides. Hikes. Sledding. A view of the July 4th fireworks. Arnold Arboretum has it all. Not only is the Arboretum easy to get to (accessible by both the Orange Line and has loads of parking), once inside, you feel like you've stepped out of the city and into a magical green space.

2. The Dogwood Cafe. The Dogwood is a staple in Forest Hills. When I first moved to JP 11 years ago the pizzas were square and named after trees -- perfect for our big roommate meetings, as we had a lot of roommates in a large Victorian house overlooking the nearby Forest Hills Cemetery. Now, the pizzas are circles, but still named after trees. We've exchanged our late nights of beer and baseball and pizza at the bar for my daughter's favorite giant $3 pancake at brunch and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

3. Fazenda Coffee Roasters. There are two things I love most in the world (besides my family, of course): writing and coffee. Fazenda is a coffee shop and bakery in Forest Hills that brings my two loves together. Well, my three loves often too, as it's one of my daughter's favorite spots as well. At Fazenda, the wifi is strong (and never shuts off!), the tables are big enough to work, but not too big that any space is wasted. People stay for hours drinking coffee and writing or reading or working, but the turnover is always just fast enough to never have to wait long for a table. Sandwiches are tasty and the lattes are perfect. It's my favorite.

4. Salmagundi. You might not know you needed a hat. Or a fancy bow tie. Or all the fancy things. But when you enter Salmagundi, you become aware of all your needs. You suddenly need a lot more fancy in your life.

5. City Feed and Supply. Do you need a fair trade latte and a few groceries? Look no further! City Feed is the place to be! Local produce, Equal Exchange coffee, Batch ice cream, amazing sandwiches (including my favorite, the Farmer's Lunch), and now even beer and wine make City Feed a one stop local shop.

6. Bikes Not Bombs. JP is known for being progressive, hipsterish, and full of families. And what do all progressive hipster families need? A refurbished bike from Bikes Not Bombs! My family has a bit of a bike hoarding problem, thanks to BNB. Bikes Not Bombs rules as a non-profit, of course, but is also a bike retail shop, and the best place in JP to stop in to get that sidewalk sale bike you picked up for your kid all fixed up with purple grips. I'm speaking from experience here.

7. Southwest Corridor. The Southwest Corridor is a bike path that runs all the way through JP. It splits in several places with walking sides too, great for jogging or walking. We love to playground hop our way through on our bikes as there are six playgrounds along the Corridor.

8. The Brewery. The Sam Adams brewery is a staple in JP. Boston invented awesome. And beer. Or we can pretend. The brewery building isn't just beer, though. Ula Cafe, Bella Luna, Mike's Fitness, Tony Williams Dance Studio, and the Sam Adams Brewery are just a few of the great spots in the Brewery building. Parking is a bit of a disaster, but the ramp out front is my 5-year-old's most favorite place in all of JP.

9. Hatched. Hatched is JP's own eco-friendly children's shop. They carry cloth diapering supplies, wooden baby toys and books, and the most adorable children's clothes ever.

10. Vee Vee. No neighborhood is complete without a perfect date night spot. Vee Vee is it. For our date nights, I tend to be a vegan-leaning wine drinker and my wife enjoys oysters, steak, and seltzer. Vee Vee is perfect for both of us. We both leave happy every time. Especially since we stopped trying to share dessert. You definitely each need your own here.

Do you have other Jamaica Plain gems you love? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you want to pen a Local Gems guest post, contact Christine at editor@bostonmamas.com to check on availability.

Image credits: all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages

Take a gander in my closet, friends, and you will see a whole lotta knits. As much as I like my fancy clothes, knits are comfy, cute, and WASHABLE -- basically, an essential part of the mom arsenal (anyone else find toddler food ground into their clothing at the end of the day?). Which is one reason why I'm thrilled to be hosting Splendid's Chestnut Hill Spring Celebration along with my dear friends Audrey McClelland and Roxanna Sarmiento.

Bring the whole family (Splendid has stylish picks for women, men, and kids!) and your friends too, Saturday, May 31 (2:30-4:30) for an afternoon of fun. The event is free, but please RSVP to rsvp_ChestnutHill@vfc.com so we can get a head count (read: procure enough treats). I can't wait to meet you!

March is National Craft Month, and given how much I love crafting + the fact that I have some seriously crafty friends, I thought it would be fun to share a roundup of awesome craft/DIY books. The amazing thing? When I queried these creatives, they all shared different recommendations across different craft types. LOVE. I can't wait to add all of these titles to my craft library!

1. Decorating Cookies by Bridget Edwards. “I love a DIY book where I can learn something completely new. When it comes to the most adorably decorated sugar cookies you've ever seen and the best step by step instructions to help you get it right every time, this book rocks! Bridget is the Michael Jordan of cookie decorating.” -Kami of No Biggie

2. Fabrics A-Z by Dana Willard. “This sewing and fabric book from the lovely Dana Willard of MADE is the perfect guide for choosing the right style of fabric for your project!” -Marie of Make and Takes

3. Hand in Hand by Jenny Doh. “This book includes gorgeous and doable projects that parents and children can craft together. The photography is beautiful and colorful and the projects are inspiring.” -Caroline of Salsa Pie

4. Knitting New Mittens & Gloves by Robin Melanson. “A great option for when you're ready to try something more advanced. The patterns are gorgeous and reflect different ethnic and cultural traditions, including Icelandic, Celtic, and German. The patterns are sized for adults and children, and include a good range of mittens, gloves, fingerless gloves, mittens with fold-over flaps, and and even arm warmers. I've made several patterns from this book and wear and enjoy them all.” -Kate of Boston Mamas

5. Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. "This book is replete with adorable and stylish projects ranging from quick (coasters) to more involved (quilts). It's one of my go-to inspiration points when I'm thinking about starting a new sewing project." -Christine of Boston Mamas

6. Make and Takes for Kids by Marie LeBaron. “As much as I love to make things and craft, I fall short when it comes to simple and cute kid crafts, so I love Make and Takes for Kids as a quick go to when it comes to kid crafting...and as a bonus, I happen to love the author.” -Kami of No Biggie

7. Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. “There are so many good ones — most that we keep tend to be very specific and niche and we pick them up as my kids interests change and develop. But if you're just starting to build your crafting library, my favorite general book is Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. It's the real deal. Great information. Great visuals. All from a crafting team that knows their glue glitter.” -Gabrielle of Design Mom

8. Modge Podge Rocks by Amy Anderson. “The book features more than 40 fun and fantastic projects using the wonder-supply that all crafters adore: Mod Podge!” -Caroline of Salsa Pie

9. New Dress a Day by Marisa Lynch. Marisa is a self-taught seamstress and yet is able to turn thrift store castoffs into covet-worthy & current pieces, like her "As Seen on TV" runway copycats for Hello Giggles & the Goodwill-to-gala pieces she upcycled for the sisters in The Fighter to wear on the Oscars red carpet. Her unassuming attitude and inclusive tips make even a total amateur feel at ease ponying up to her sewing machine for the first time.” -Melissa of Shoestring Magazine

10. Oliver + S Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson. “A pleasure just to look at, the patterns in this book are a compilation of the best from the Oliver + S company. Skirts, jackets, backpacks, and wonderful hats, all sized for children but in designs that will appeal to adults. The patterns indicate their level of difficulty, and the instructions are illustrated and pretty easy to follow. A fun book for sewing for kids.” -Kate of Boston Mamas

11. POM-POMS! 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt & Lexi Walters Wright. “I love all the unique and fun tutorials to make yarn poms from this Pom-Poms book. From little creatures to flowers to garlands. It makes me yarn happy!” -Marie of Make and Takes

12. Put Your Stamp On It by Meagan Lewis. “This stamping book is one of my favorites to get project ideas on things to make with my 5 year old daughter Chloe. We love to stamp to make pictures, wrapping paper or cards so it's a great way to try new techniques.” -Natalie of Coquette

13. Sewing for All Seasons by Susan Beal. “I am a sewer at heart and this book has lots of easy year-round small sewing projects you can make such as placemats, aprons, ornaments, slippers and more.  The fabrics used for the projects in the book are just gorgeous so I sometimes just find myself just flipping through the photos when I don't have time to actually sew.” -Natalie of Coquette

14. Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg & Cheryl Arkison. “This book is a great beginner's guide to quilting. Pretty patterns, good inspiration, and easy-to-follow instructions that actually make quilting seem within reach. A great place to start out for a first quilt (as I did) or to try something a bit more advanced.” -Kate of Boston Mamas

Image credits: book jackets via Amazon; compilation image by Christine Koh

I know it's tough to fathom since it's 12 degrees out right now, but remember how balmy it was last weekend? The rapidly melting snow banks coupled with the Marimekko event left me hungry for spring! If you're ever in a grouchy mood, just walk into Marimekko and your happy neurons will start firing; it's pure rainbow awesomeness. Don’t believe me? Check out the evidence below:

The spring/summer runway show was awesome thanks to my blogging friends and their adorable kids. Audrey showed how well Marimekko dresses go with leggings and flats. Her son Henry looked adorable in stripes + critters (and dragon face paint).

Casey shared that this was her first time in a dress since prom! She looked amazing and I love that she integrated her style with black sneakers. Her daughter Riley (with an awesome unicorn on her face...girl after my own heart) was simply adorable in Marimekko leggings, long sleeved tee, and tank dress.

Sharon looked awesomely elegant in this dot dress. Her son Bennett (he was such an adorable ham!) rocked the layers, with a striped collared shirt topped with a gorilla tee.

I love how chic and modern Sharon's geometric print is; she dressed this look up with peep toe pumps. Her daughter Sienna looked so cute in leggings, a tee, and my favorite of Marimekko's raincoats for kids. Also, Sienna's red glitter shoes were to die for!

Here's a shot of the moms, which I insisted on because usually we're busy taking pictures of our kids and aren't in the photos. These ladies make the internet such a good place!

Also, I love this photo with Audrey. Audrey is one of the first people I met after I started blogging; she's pure generosity and kindness. Her family is amazing and I often joke that I'm totally crashing their next family gathering.

Thank you Zac of Zac Wolf Photography for these amazing photos! And also, have you heard of The Danger Booth? Zac and Becca are the brains behind this operation and their booth set up at the event was the funnest. thing. ever. I want to hire them for all my parties! These photo booth shots are hilarious; the booth was touch screen so the kids were able to operate it themself and go nuts.

And finally, as someone who has an awful lot of black, white, and cream in her wardrobe (I tend to infuse color via accessories), wearing that insanely awesome Tasma dress was a fun way to step out of my comfort zone and wear the rainbow. Subsequently, I thought it would be fun to close by sharing a rainbow assortment of Marimekko offerings. So cute! And I love that their wares span clothing, accessories, household, and tech! (Names of items are underneath the image.)

Murina t-shirt | Converse Mustakottarainen | Media makeup bag | Sukellus bathing suit | Pitkähiha long sleeved t-shirt | Päärynä coffee cup | Kurjenpolvi pillow sham | Sääpäiväkirja plate | Ärrän raincoat | Hennika sham| Räsymatto apron | Telmiä pajamas | Kaivo phone case | Kaivo scarf

Image credits: product shots via Marimekko; all other photos courtesy of Zac Wolf Photography

Today's Friday Find is actually one of Jon's discoveries and it's a great find for any age and gender: parachute cord crafts. Jon bought Laurel a bracelet kit for Christmas and they had so much experimenting with knot and braid techniques that we've purchased separate cord + accessories (Laurel wears her bracelets constantly and has a whistle on one of them). You can make everything from compass bracelets to dog collars; I'm thinking about picking up this paracord project book for Laurel and Jon soon!

Image credits: images via Amazon product links above

We could all use some bright and cheerful in this dead of winter, so I'm thrilled to invite you to an event I'm hosting with Marimekko Cambridge on Saturday, February 22, 1-3pm at the 350 Huron Avenue store. You and your kids can check out the spring/summer 2014 collection, enjoy face painting, nosh on cupcakes, and mingle with other awesome families. Laurel and I just visited the store yesterday and it's like an instant dose of happy juice!

I'll be modeling Marimekko, and I'm thrilled that my blogging friends Audrey and her son Henry, Casey and her daughter Riley, Sharon and her daughter Sienna, and Sharon and her son Bennett have agreed to join in the strutting fun. I hope to see you there; I always love meeting the amazing folks in this community in real life!