I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! After knocking off a huge deadline on Friday (that was hanging over me all of September), it was so wonderful to decompress and enjoy the weekend with Laurel and Violet. Even though I miss Jon when he's away, I find it really fun to fly solo with the girls -- we had the best time! Anyhow, I wish you all a lovely week, and if you're looking for stuff to do, here are some fun event ideas for this week, spanning haunted happenings, salamanders, autism education, reading initiatives, stargazing, trains, and eco-living. Enjoy!

Image credit: How Stuff Works

Hooray for October starting tomorrow! Kick off the new month with any or all of these 11 event picks that caught my eye:

1. A cool event for small and large cyclists.

2. Of course you want to see a revolutionary street spectacle of never-before-seen proportions.

3. Just say yes to healthy local food for all.
4. And also this local food festival for kids and families in Cambridge.

5. A fall forest festival in Franklin Park.

6. My first priority at this harvest festival would be procuring apple cider donuts.

7. So much craftiness in store at Lowell Open Studios.

8. Salem is ready to rock the haunted happenings.

9. I could use advice on how to resurrect our teeny tiny garden from the experts at this harvest festival and perennial divide.

10. Yay for fresh pressed cider!

11. As a fan of the Little House books, I think Laurel would love to learn how to churn butter at this Homestead Hayfest.

Image credit: Vlado / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When it comes to baby and kids stuff, I'm all for recycling. Subsequently, I'm thrilled to serve as a guest curator for Swap.com's Family Swap Day next Saturday, October 8, in Somerville. Whether you want to outfit your kid for Halloween or score books, toys, clothing, and other family-friendly items, simply bring a bag of items to swap, enjoy the family activity room while we get the goods sorted, then come load your bag full of new finds! I'll be roaming the event, and also wielding my face painting skills, so please come say hi! Now, for two cool deals:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Darlene, Kate, and Joanna!
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1. Want to be one of three winners to receive a pair of tickets to Family Swap Day? Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com (with "Family Swap Day") in the subject line by Monday, October 3 to enter win.

2. If you'd rather lock in your tickets now, use code BOSTONMAMAS to receive 50% off your ticket.

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! After waking up feeling sick after a strange night of sleep, I'm hoping to turn the Monday blahs around ASAP and wish you all a fantastic week. If you're looking for stuff to do, here are some fun event ideas for this week, spanning hands-on science experiences, exploration of things that go, the state of birthing (this one's for the grownups), puppetry, outdoor fun, and music. So much fun to be had!

Image credit: Puppet Showplace Theatre

I hope you're all having a fantastic week and are gearing up for a fun weekend. If you're looking to head out for an adventure or two, here are 11 fun weekend picks that caught my eye. Enjoy!

1. Over 60 cultural attractions offering free admission this weekend? Sweet!

2. A must-attend for jazz lovers.

3. Party on in Allston.
4. Rock out while helping kids in need.

5. Fun on the farm in Waltham.

6. Show your Watertown pride.

7. Fall fun in Marblehead.

8. I don't actually eat Fluff, but it's hard not to love the enthusiasm behind this festival.

9. Get up close and personal with raptors.

10. Inspire young authors to create stories.

11. I love David McPhail. A workshop with him this Sunday might be worth a trip northward.

Image credit: Harvard Museum of Natural History via Smithsonian magazine

I hope you're all enjoying the fall weather and finding your rhythm with back to school routines and such. Among other things, this weekend was notable in that Violet had her first nibble of solid food -- it was both lovely that Laurel fed Violet her first non-mama snack and I also couldn't help but feel a little weepy about it all! Anyway, I'm wishing you all a wonderful Monday; here are some fun event ideas for this week, engaging for those who love music, textiles, star gazing, nature, food, museums, and local celebrations.

Image credit: vitasamb2001 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I know I shouldn't be so typically New England and obsess about weather, but 60s for this weekend -- welcome, fall! It'll be the perfect weather to enjoy any (or all, if you're feeling crazy ambitious) of these 17 fun weekend picks:

1. Rock it, South Boston.

2. It's been a looooong time since I've seen a movie in a theatre. This film festival could rectify that situation.
3. Artistry in the South End abounds.

4. Love, peace, and soul at the Oak Street Fair.

5. I love that this landscape watercolor workshop series is open to kids 9 and up.

6. The apples have arrived.

7. Laurel and I had so much fun building a fairy house the other week; head northward for fairy house building inspiration.

8. Fall fun in Quincy.

9. The weather will be utterly perfect for ponies, agile dogs, and other farm fun.

10. C'mon, a dog parade? How cute is that?

11. I loved the block parties my street held when I was a kid. Gloucester will be hosting a big block party this weekend.

12. Show your Arlington pride.

13. Oh to have an endless summer.

14. Apparently, Peabody = international mecca!

15. Assembly Square makes a bid for cool new hub in Somerville.

16. I dated a Serb back in the day. He would totally dig this.

17. A celebration of Greek culture north of town.

Image credit: South Boston Street Festival

Musical theatre always brings high school drama club memories flooding back, so I was feeling happily nostalgic when I learned that the Boston Opera House is showing South Pacific (my senior year musical production!) from September 27 - October 2. If your kids dig musical theatre or you're looking for a fun outing with a loved one, hop on over for tickets. And how cool is this? The kind folks at Broadway Across America are offering one of you awesome readers a 4-pack of tickets to South Pacific*! Here's how to enter to win:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Mary Ann!
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Rules:

Simply e-mail contests@bostonmamas.com (with "South Pacific" in the subject) to enter to win.

One entry permitted per person; local entrants welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, Sunday, September 18, 2011.

*One lucky winner (drawn using Random.org) will receive a 4-pack of tickets to South Pacific for the Tuesday, September 27, 2011 7pm show. Sweet!

I know I'm not the only one who is super excited about a respite from the rain. The forecast looks beautiful -- perfect for enjoying any or all of these 15 (!) weekend picks that caught my eye:

1. Art buffet = awesome.

2. I hope they have weaving demos again at the Boston Arts Festival -- it was Laurel's favorite activity last year.

3. How can you not love a grand costume parade?
4. My elementary school friend Melanie was so generous -- she always shared her (crazy delicious) lamejun with me. If I knew where she was, I'd buy her treats from this Armenian festival.

5. Celebrate local and indie organic design,
baby Bollywood style.

6. I kind of freaked out a little seeing my former GBYSO conductor Joel Bard on the roster for the Newton Cultural Center festivities. Such a nice guy!

7. I find windmills kind of magical, do you?

8. I love perusing artisan wares.

9. I'm totally down with a concert that references a character named Schmutzinberry.

10. For those on the South shore, enjoy this music, theatre, and dance family festival.

11. And if you're in the Winchester area, check out this musicfest.

12. I have a feeling Laurel would really dig the costumes at the Melrose Victorian Fair.

13. Agricultural goodness abounds at the Franklin County and Sterling fairs.

14. Want to enjoy a grown up music venue family style? Alastair Moock and friends will play from Moock's new family friendly album at Club Passim.

15. We've found our last two sitters through Care.com. If you need childcare, they're hosting a Care Fair at the Museum of Science.

Image credit: Peabody Essex Museum