Today, Jennifer recommends a visit to Barefoot Books for more than books:

Given the variable nature of New England weather (cue today's monsoon...), it's always good to have some indoor activity ideas in your back pocket. My kids and I recently enjoyed a lovely afternoon at the Barefoot Books pottery studio in Concord. Our mission was to try out their newish paint-your-own pottery studio (it was added to the store's offerings this past spring), and oh, did we have a grand ol' time.
If you haven't been to the store before, it's a whimsical experience for sure. From the minute you approach the brightly-colored building with patio seating outside (hello perfect snack time venue), you know you're in a kid-centric place. Even the bathroom is crazy cool. We browsed the books for a bit and checked out the story time area and main art room before heading to the back pottery studio. We chose to paint a small castle (my 6 year old daughter) and a toucan (my 8 year old son). I even decided to join in the fun and painted a travel mug as a gift for my dad -- you're never too old to give the gift of hand-painted pottery, right? They offer dozens of items to paint and a beautiful palette of colors; pieces are ready for pick up about a week after your visit and the store calls you to let you know when your items are ready.

I thought our outing would be about an hour, max, but with the lovely and relaxing atmosphere (did I mention the cool music and wonderfully friendly staff?) we ended up staying 2 hours. After we finished painting, my daughter drew a few pictures at the big table in the art room while I looked over their impressively packed events calendar. We'll be heading back soon!

I hope you all had a fantastic holiday weekend! We've been busy with family travel and social engagements over the past several weeks, hence my spottiness here the last few weekends, but I'm hoping to get back on track now that the school year is upon us. I'm wishing all of you with school aged kiddos a super smooth transition back to school! Meanwhile, enjoy my top event picks this week, which include fun ideas for those who adore acrobatic spectacle, origami, fashion, craft, and cultural celebrations.

Image credit: Boston Arts Festival

I truly still cannot wrap my head around the fact that it's September and Labor Day weekend is upon us. Yesterday I posted some happy summer images over at my personal blog and will continue to gaze at them through the fall (and, gulp, winter). Meanwhile, here are 7 fun picks for you -- have a fantastic holiday weekend!

1. Laurel has become obsessed with glass treasures. I think she'd love this family-friendly glassblowing event.

2. Labor Day festivities commence tomorrow in Newburyport.
3. Enjoy the sand between your toes at the last Surfside Live! event of the season.

4. For the schooner obsessed.

5. For the Renaissance obsessed.

6. It's going to be a craftastic weekend in Topsfield.

7. Yay for free jazz on Spectacle Island.

Image credit: Diablo Glass School

On Monday, enjoy family friendly activities in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the: Boston Children’s Museum, Discovery Museums in Acton, Children’s Museum in Easton, and Old Sturbridge Village. Also, the Boston Children’s Chorus will perform a tribute concert at Jordan Hall, and the Museum of Fine Arts is offering free general admission.

After a year where I finally and happily made self-care a priority, oh how I love this: The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation is hosting First Day Hikes and First Day Skates to encourage folks to start the New Year on a fit foot. These events are free and family friendly; the hikes will span 16 parks across Massachusetts and the skate sessions will run in South Boston and Jamaica Plain.

New Year’s celebrations take on a different flavor with kids, and we’re fortunate to have a number of family friendly celebrations in the works in and around Boston. Consider these city celebrations -- First Night Boston, First Night Worcester, Beverly’s New Year, and New Year's Needham -- as well as the family New Year’s parties at the Children's Museum in Easton and Children's Museum of New Hampshire.

Image credit: Susan Cole Kelley/First Night Boston

Today, Jennifer shares a great local lead to get a jump on holiday shopping while supporting independent artists and crafters. Read on to learn more about next week's juried Wellesley Marketplace Craft Festival, as well as to learn how to win a pair of premier shopping tickets to the event (entry closes at noon, Friday, November 13):
From Jennifer:

“Every year my super fun and sassy friend Sami and I attend the Wellesley Marketplace Craft Festival organized by the Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club. Timed perfectly for holiday gift shopping, it's held this year on Saturday, November 21 at the Wellesley Middle School from 10am – 4pm (with "premier shopping" from 9 – 10am). The 115 juried exhibitors are very cool and very crafty...most offer handmade items. Our purchases in the past have included gourmet chocolate sauce (which make GREAT holiday hostess gifts), scarves, beaded handbags, earrings, hand-painted flower pots, hand-sewn hats and toys for kids, and dried flower topiaries, just to name a few.

A few tips for shoppers: the event gets crowded, so arrive early, leave your coat in the car, and bring a reusable grocery bag to consolidate purchases. They also serve drinks and snacks if you need a shopping recharge.

Oh, and no strollers allowed. Which is all the more reason to make it a girl's day out!”

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Sharon!
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Now, want to win a pair of premier shopping tickets to the Wellesley Marketplace Craft Festival? Simple email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Wellesley Marketplace’ in the subject) by noon, Friday, November 13. The premier tickets provide for early shopper admission at 9am on the day of the event.

I recently wrote over at my personal blog about how moving in real life events are for me, particularly as a person who spends an absurd amount of time interfacing with people digitally. I’m thus pleased to welcome you all out to an IRL (i.e., that's tech talk for in real life) get together this Sunday, November 8, from 10am – 2pm. The Bellaziza Trunk Show and brunch will take place at Kenzie Kids in Wellesley in partnership with Boston Mamas and Magic Beans. Come eat, mingle, shop (mention Boston Mamas and get 20% off at checkout), and enjoy some swag. This event is free and open to anyone who digs cute kid stuff. Hope to see you there!

At Kenzie Kids, 200 Linden Street, Wellesley; 781-237-3666

It’s the season of giving and I hope you will participate in the Big Boston Warm-up. This coat campaign is hinged to an art installation at Boylston Plaza at Prudential Center. The installation comprises 768 figures, each representing 10 of Boston’s homeless men, women, and children. Simply donate a gently used coat to a local Lands’ Ends at Sears (you’ll receive 20% off a new Lands’ End coat) and a red heart will be added to each installation figure for every 10 coats donated. Also, as part of the campaign, tomorrow, November 7 (10:30am-12pm; 1-2:30pm), at the Burlington Mall Lands’ End/Sears, families can enjoy a meet and greet, reading, and book signing with Carol McCloud, author of Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids. The concept of “bucket filling” is all about encouraging positive acts, such as helping those less fortunate.
The Big Boston Warm-up runs now through November 30. Collected coats will be distributed via the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.