Hello lovely people, I've got an amazing Mother's Day giveaway for you, thanks to my friends at New Balance! Because self-care is awesome and necessary, and also easier and more fun with a pal, YOU + a FRIEND can each win a pair of shoes from the newly launched, premium New Balance Grey collection ($195 value)! They're awesome for kicking around town in stylish comfort. I'm obsessed with the metallic accents!

To enter to win, enter via Instagram here! It only takes a few seconds! Good luck!

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

One of my favorite things about spring is shedding the cold weather layers -- and that goes for feet too. Over the last few weeks, while the weather has toyed with all of our emotions (what was up with the hail yesterday?!), I've been chomping at the bit to wear my spring shoes daily. So, for the next edition of Style on a Budget, I'm sharing a roundup of 8 neutral spring/summer shoes that will give you plenty of bang for your buck, both in and out of the office.

You might ask, Hey, it's spring! Why are you focusing on neutrals? Well, for one, most of us are, in fact, on a budget, and can't afford to have a closet full of colorful shoes that only go with a limited number of outfits. Second, as I shared in my green fashion picks post, I will never recommend you buy cheap (like, under $20) dress shoes...I've just had too many foot problems due to wearing cheaply constructed shoes! So, I encourage you to spend a bit more on a pair of shoes (though the picks in this roundup still range a pretty reasonable $35-$138) that will give you plenty of wears. Save your color pops and trends for inexpensive pieces such as scarves! Finally, as I was scouting these picks, I wanted to share options that would work both in and out of the office, so you can up those dollars per use. Do you sense a theme here? Here goes, in order of ascending heel height:

1. These two-toned d’Orsay flats are a steal, currently on sale for $35 at LOFT.

2. For a classic, ladylike look, try these Brin metallic captoe leather flats ($88, Ann Taylor).

3. Loafers are a great pick to pair with everything from suitwear to jeans. These Carole leather loafers ($88, Ann Taylor) have an awesome, subtle metallic heel to give you a little edge.

4. If you'd like a little elevation without the teeter totter factor, these Romy pumps ($64.99, Lands’ End) will give you a 1.25 inch lift.

5. Wedges are my absolute favorite these days when it comes to elevated comfort. And I just ordered these gold crackle demi-wedges (currently on sale for $68, J. Crew Factory). I bought these in suede last year and wore them all the time so I wanted to get another pair in gold.

6. OK, I know this is another pair of demi-wedges, but these cut-out wedge sandals ($79.50, LOFT) add a level of visual interest that I really love. I recently ordered these in black and they're perfect for riding clear of my bunions.

7. If you're in a less conservative office, height makes these espadrille wedges (currently on sale for $84.50, J. Crew Factory) office appropriate. And yes, they are wedges. And yes, I own these!

8. If you're good with true heels, I am completely and utterly swooning over these Leandra sandals ($138, Banana Republic). The styling is just so gorgeous.

Image credit: all images via linked sources above

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.

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

Is it just me or does it totally feel like coming-out-of-hibernation time? And on that note, I’d love to meet you in Somerville next week (March 26, 6:30pm) at Mommybites Boston’s Ultimate Moms’ Night Out at Arts at the Armory in Somerville. I’m delighted and honored to be delivering a short keynote at the event (I'll also be signing copies of Minimalist Parenting) and then it will be time to relax and mingle and enjoy some hang out time with other rad mamas!

Are you in? Register now and use discount code BOSTONMAMAS to receive 50% off your ticket price! Sweet!

One of my favorite things about working as a creative is the joy and pride I feel when fellow creatives come up with something super awesome. Such is the case with my designer friends Melanie Burk and Alma Loveland and their new baby, Woven Pear. When Woven Pear launched, I immediately ordered several pairs of narwahl socks (because, NARWAHLS!) and have since acquired several more pairs.

Melanie and Alma are incredibly talented graphic designers -- they offer beautiful digital downloadable products at Caravan Shoppe -- so it’s no surprise their sock designs are cheerful and stylish. And the sock quality is awesome -- super comfy and they have held up well with repeated laundering. Go on and support some independent women designers and treat your feet well with these lovely socks!

Image credits: Woven Pear

Oh this weather has my brain geared towards GREEN! The temperature conjures images of new growth, just yesterday I saw fake grass peeking out from under a melting snow pile, and St. Patrick's Day (Vi's due date) is coming! For the next installment of Style on a Budget, I want to inspire you to infuse a little color into your wardrobe. Vibrant color can be daunting (it used to be for me!) but these picks allow for a range of experimentation.

Note: as I mentioned when I started this column, Style on a Budget represents both awesome bargain finds and also higher price point items worth budgeting for. Below you’ll see a range of prices with accompanying explanations.

1. This green ombre scarf ($14.95 at Catalog Favorites) would make a light and airy spring pick.

2. Studs are one of my accessories workhorses and what more do I need to say about these crazy amazing lawn party snail studs ($48 at Kate Spade)?

3. I love a loose billowy top (paired with leggings or skinny jeans) and this deva printed henley ($108 at Anthropologie) is more of an investment but would give you extra mileage given that you can dress it up for work or down when you’re off the clock.

4. Want to take baby steps into the world of green? Try these glitter knit socks ($5.95 at H&M).

5. It’s definitely worth investing in neutral workhorse bags (I have a few Kate Spades that anchor my bag collection) but if you’d like to experiment with color, this faux leather crossbody bag ($24.94 at Old Navy) is a cute pick.

6. As many of you know, I’m a big fan of necklaces as an easy way to lift an outfit. This emerald green collar necklace ($13.90 at Shamelessly Sparkly) is crazy affordable.

7. When it comes to shoes, I will never, ever encourage you to buy cheap shoes. I’ve simply developed too many foot woes over the years from cheap shoes! Tieks are definitely an investment but they are worth it, and they are wondrous with color, such as these clover green Tieks ($175).

8. One of my favorites pairs of jeans is a pair of kelly green skinnies I bought at J. Crew a few years ago. Seriously, try a pair of brightly colored pants, such as these vibrant Tomkins skinny jeans (on sale for $64 at Ralph Lauren). They will make you instantly happy!

9. This striped jade skirt ($148 at Anthropologie) is definitely more of an investment piece and it’s just so stunning.

10. This flutter-sleeve top (on sale for $59.50 at J. Crew Factory) will look equally cute paired with a pencil skirt, trim pants, or a pair of your favorite jeans.

Image credits: all images sourced via links above