Happy Monday and happy first day of December -- I hope you had a wonderful holiday. If you're looking for something to do this week, there's no shortage of ideas in this week's Weekly Blueprint. Also, I'm kicking off a really wonderful project for a client (The Family Dinner Project) today; come join the #familydinnerforward Twitter chat at noon EST. I'm so thrilled to help start a movement towards dinner-oriented acts of giving!

December 1 - 31: Legoland Discovery Center’s Holiday Bricktacular. (Somerville)

December 1 - January 1: The beautiful Christmas Festival of Lights. (Carver)

December 1 - January 4: The zoo becomes magical with thousands of twinkling lights. (Stoneham)

December 2: ASD-friendly afternoon at the museum. (Acton)

December 2: Time to party with everyone’s favorite snow queen. (Easton)

December 3: Celebrate Christmas in the City by helping others. (Boston)

December 3: Explore deCordova for FREE. (Lincoln)

December 4: Wander through Roslindale this holiday season. (Roslindale)

December 4 - 7: King Midas puppet show. (Brookline)

December 5: FREE admission to The Discovery Museums. (Acton)

December 5: School readiness Friday night. (Boston)

December 5: Exciting storytelling with Big Joe the Storyteller. (Boston)

December 5: Silhouette artist creates a lovely holiday gift. (Brookline)

December 5: Roaring twenties cocktail party. (Ipswich)

December 5: The Lexington Symphony Orchestra presents Kids’ Holiday Pops. (Lexington)

December 5: Take a stroll along the streets of Nantucket. (Nantucket)

December 5 + 6: The Legacy Dancers present Holiday Traditions. (Arlington)

December 5 - 7: Boston gets crafty, holiday style. (Boston)

December 5 - 7: Your opportunity to buy handmade at this artist marketplace. (Brookline)

December 5 - 7: Hop aboard the Polar Express. (Carver)

December 5 - 7: A Norman Rockwell painting comes to life. (Stockbridge)

December 5 - 7: Escape the frenzy of a modern Christmas and celebrate by candlelight. (Sturbridge)

December 5 - 14: Reagle Music Theatre’s ChristmasTime. (Waltham)

December 5 - 31: The Whaling Museum turns into a festive winter wonderland. (Nantucket)

Image credit: The Vintage Bazaar

Friends, I have a delightful holiday giveaway for you! The Nutcracker opens at the Boston Opera House on Friday and thanks to my friends at Boston Ballet, I have two pairs of tickets to give away! Boston Ballet never fails to deliver magic (a few weeks ago I found myself in tears over Swan Lake) and The Nutcracker would make for an incredibly special outing with your young ballet fan!

TO ENTER TO WIN: leave a comment below by midnight, Sunday, November 30th. Make sure you include your e-mail address in the e-mail field so I can contact you if you win (your e-mail will not show up publicly with the comment)! Good luck!

DETAILS: Two (2) winners will each receive two (2) tickets to their choice of one of the following shows (subject to availability): Tue, 12/9 @ 7:30pm; Wed, Dec 10 @ 7:30pm; Tue, Dec 16 @ 7:30pm; Wed, Dec 17 @ 7:30pm; Thu, Dec 18 @ 1pm; or Thu, Dec  18 @ 7:30pm.

Image credits: all images by Liza Voll, courtesy of the Boston Ballet

Happy Monday -- I hope you had a great weekend, and welcome to the holiday week! To help you with your holiday week/weekend planning (and also because I'd like to spend most of the Thanksgiving holiday offline) today I'm doing a Weekly Blueprint/Weekend Roundup mashup via this roundup of curated events from today through Sunday the 30th. Enjoy (and don't forget to read these posts to help make Thanksgiving less stressful and more fun)!

November 24 - 30: The final few days for this rad pop up shop. (Boston)

November 26 + 28: The perfect day to make Thanksgiving crafts. (Easton)

November 27: Family gratitude Turkey Trot. (Dedham)

November 27 - January 4: The zoo comes alive with thousands of twinkling lights. (Stoneham)

November 28: UnShopping Day; an alternative to the mall madness. (Boston)

November 28: A country-style KidsJam hoedown. (Boston)

November 28: Half-price admission to the zoo! (Boston, Stoneham)

November 28: The final fall festival of the year. (Edgartown)

November 28: Giving thanks for nature and our senses. (Lincoln)

November 28 - 30: The weekend after Thanksgiving is Better Together with StoryWalk. (Acton)

November 28 - 30: Sing along with Mary Poppins. (Arlington)

November 28 - 30: The Yankee Peddlar puppet show. (Brookline)

November 28 - 30: Hop aboard the Polar Express. (Carver)

November 28 - December 31: The Nutcracker returns to Boston. (Boston)

November 28 - January 1: Nantucket Noel, the quintessential yuletide experience begins. (Nantucket)

November 29: It’s a family concert play date with Mr. G. (Boston)

November 29: DIY shrinky dinks. (Boston)

November 29: 150 tuba players will serenade you with holiday favorites. (Boston)

November 29: Get out your ugly sweaters and your running shoes. (Brockton)

November 29: How it all began; the original Muppet Movie. (Brookline)

November 29: Ramble across fields and glens at Fruitlands Museum. (Harvard)

November 29: City of lights holiday parade and celebration. (Lowell)

November 29: Story time with Dara Goldman, Boris and Stella. (Wellesley)

November 29 + 30: Lights, Santa and Newfies pulling trees means Christmas on the farm. (North Andover)

November 30: The Children’s Opera performance of The Fantastic Mr. Fox. (Boston)

November 30: Luminaria night at ZooLights. (Stoneham)

November 30: Sunday brunch with Santa. (Sturbridge)

Image credit: Drumlin Farm

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're having a great week! I'm floating on a happy cloud after yesterday's Girls on the Run practice 5K -- so proud of the girls in this program! Meanwhile, enjoy today's roundup of 21 fun events for your weekend, and be sure to check out these 11 posts to help you make Thanksgiving more fun and less stressful. And finally, today is the last day to enter to with the iPad Air 2 giveaway! Good luck and happy weekend!

1. Join SteveSongs for a fun day of music and dancing. (Acton)

2. NYC's longest-running indie craft fair is visiting Boston. (Boston)

3. Show your colorful skills at this cutthroat Candy Land tournament.  (Boston)

4. Blink! A light and sound extravaganza begins. (Boston)

5. Visit this rad pop up shop. (Boston)

6. Ice skating on the Rotunda Rink begins. (Boston)

7. Meet author Ammi-Joan Paquette and hear a reading of her story the Tip Toe Guide to Tracking Fairies. (Boston)

8. Access to the Children’s Museum for children with special needs. (Boston)

9. Silly Sally’s bubble show is coming to town. (Brookline)

10. The Yankee Peddler puppet show. (Brookline)

11. The Christmas Festival of Lights begins. (Carver)  

12. Visit with illustrator Carole Henaff. (Concord)

13. Shop for holiday gifts made exclusively in America. (Danvers)

14. Do it for the kids: St. Jude’s Give Thanks walk. (Foxborough)

15. Explore Ipswich’s first period homes. (Ipswich)

16. Tufts Wind Ensemble romps through a year of weather and wonder. (Medford)

17. The marvel of the Merrimack Valley; Methuen Festival of Trees. (Methuen)

18. Celebrate Thanksgiving in America’s hometown. (Plymouth)

19. Ben Rudnick Family Works show. (Salem)

20. Forget the turkey, this is a chicken “egg”stravaganza! (Waltham)

21. New England’s premiere marketplace featuring 175 artisans. (Wellesley)

Image credit: Bust.com

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a wonderful weekend! This weekend was all about enjoying the small things (cuddle time with the girls, baking, dinner with neighbors, down time with Jon) for me and it was DELIGHTFUL. Meanwhile, it's a soggy day here; if you're looking for something to do, check out today's weekday event roundup. And also, don't forget to enter to win the iPad Air 2 giveaway! 

November 18: Take a story walk to celebrate Family Literacy Month. (Boston)

November 19: Get started on your Thanksgiving decor. (Easton)

November 19: Fill your day with art and play. (Lincoln)

November 20: A night of gifts and glam. (Boston)

November 20: Try a night of digital detox. (Salem)

November 20: Braille reading story time. (Boston)

November 20 - 30: The Yankee Peddler puppet show. (Brookline)

November 21: Taste, explore, socialize, and network with local craft brewers. (Boston)

November 21: Santa arrives at the Pru! (Boston)

November 21: The Christmas Festival of Lights begins. (Carver)

November 21: PlaySpace pajama party. (Boston)

November 21: Explore the guts and taste pumpkin in all different forms. (Acton)

November 21: Start your holiday shopping at the Needham Winter Marketplace. (Needham)

November 21: Celebrate Thanksgiving and sharing storytime. (Cambridge)

November 21 + 22: Visit with illustrator Carole Henaff. (Concord)

Image credit: Barefoot Books

Happy Friday everyone! I'm slightly foggy this morning after a fun but slightly crazy day trip to Orlando yesterday -- I was only on the ground for about 4 hours, but being down in the sun sure made me nostalgic about our trip to Disney this past March! Meanwhile, it's totally not 70 degrees in Boston right now but the good news is that I have 21 events for you to consider in this Weekend Roundup. Enjoy!

1. Gustafer Yellowgold; Dr. Seuss meets Yellow Submarine.  (Arlington)

2. Blue Discoveries Family Day all about sea turtles. (Boston)

3. Special cruise highlighting the military history of Boston Harbor. (Boston)

4. Family filmmaking 101. (Boston)

5. Visit this rad pop up shop. (Boston)

6. The annual fall gathering for booklovers. (Boston)

7. Create holiday traditions your family will REALLY enjoy together. (Boston)

8. The Boston International Fine Art Show. (Boston)

9. The Raccoon Tales puppet show. (Brookline)

10. Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys. (Brookline)

11. Storytime brunch with Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig. (Framingham)

12. Explore Ipswich’s first period homes. (Ipswich)

13. The expanded Artist’s Market at deCordova opens. (Lincoln)

14. A celebration of the people who make land conservation possible. (Lincoln)

15. Go batty for books. (Lincoln)

16. A nature’s harvest free-for-all. (Newburyport)

17. Have Thanksgiving brunch with your best girl. (North Andover)

18. Little Jedi masters will love Star Wars Days at Legoland Discovery Center. (Somerville)

19. The Boston Comedy Festival is in town. (Somerville)

20. Guided walk to discover what is happening in the world of nature as plants and animals prepare for winter. (Topsfield)

21. Meet Skipper, one of the Madagascar penguins. (Woburn)

Image credit: Mass Audubon

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend and are gearing up for a wonderful week. It's definitely starting to feel as if the holiday season is setting in, and I'm readying my mindset for another minimalist holiday season! Meanwhile, enjoy this roundup of fun events for the week via the Weekly Blueprint. And stay tuned for an incredible giveaway that I'll post about shortly!

November 10: Hop onto Twitter today (following the hashtag #QuandaryGame) from noon-1pm to learn about a digital game that will teach your kids about ethics, empathy, and decision-making.

November 10: Mayor’s holiday half price shows and dining deals. (Various locations)

November 10 - 30: Visit this rad pop up shop. (Boston)

November 11: Join the author of Blue Ribbon Dad for a reading and more. (Acton)

November 11: The 4D Polar Express experience begins. (Boston)

November 11: Experience the joy that goes into creating music and dance. (Boston)

November 11: Free admission to the zoo for veterans. (Boston, Stoneham)

November 11: Patriotism is overflowing at the children’s museum. (Easton)

November 11: Family concert with SteveSongs. (Needham)

November 11 - 15: Boston Comedy Festival continues. (Somerville)

November 11: Veterans receive free admission to Old Sturbridge Village. (Sturbridge)

November 11 - 14: Send your leftover Halloween candy and a sweet note to the troops. (Wellesley)

November 11 - 16: Puppet Showplace presents The Racoon. (Brookline)

November 14: Talented and passionate young musicians lead demonstrations and live musical performances. (Boston)

November 14: Do your part to build a strong foundation for babies in poverty. (Boston)

November 14: Yummy food storytime. (Cambridge)

November 14: Craft beer walk...perfect for those who prefer not to run for their beverages. (Lowell)

November 14 - 16: Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair. (Boston)

Image credit: Old Sturbridge Village

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're having a great week and are adjusted to the time change! It's been a crazy week here work-wise and I'm super excited to take things down a few notches this weekend! If you're looking for something to do, enjoy this roundup of 25 weekend events, lovingly curated for your consideration. And also, be sure to enter the $350 Minted giveaway!

1. FREE evening at the museum for families with children with Autism. (Acton)

2. Family fun with Karen K and the Jitterbugs. (Arlington)

3. The Three Little Pigs and Other Tales puppet show. (Arlington)

4. Join in an afternoon of environmental stewardship. (Belmont)

5. Laurie Berkner Rock ‘Til You Drop show. (Boston)

6. Noah’s Ark scavenger hunt. (Boston)

7. Celebrate your neighborhood toy store. (Boston)

8. The Boston Christmas Festival is in town. (Boston)

9. The New England Conservatory presents Hansel and Gretel. (Boston)

10. Shop this special pop up shop featuring 8 indie Boston stores. (Boston)

11. Boston comedy festival. (Boston)

12. Visiting artist workshop with Casey Weibust: Monster Hunt. (Boston)

13. A family viewing of The Parent Trap. (Brookline)

14. The story of Migration using puppets. (Brookline)

15. Exploring the science of plants. (Cambridge)

16. Welcome the winter season with a bonfire, drummers, light sticks, and s'mores. (Harvard)

17. The Crane Estate art show and sale. (Ipswich)

18. Light up the night of 10,000 lights. (Medford)

19. Kiniwe, Tufts African drumming and dance ensemble, performs. (Medford)

20. A safari right on Revere Beach. (Revere)

21. Dancing, artist-curated experiences, open bar and dessert at the gala DREAM dance party. (Salem)

22. Relax and listen as bold storytellers share revealing moments from their own lives. (Salem)

23. All things vintage for the holidays. (Salisbury)

24. An international film festival just for kids. (Somerville, Medford)

25. A beautiful evening of illumination. (Sturbridge)

Image credit: Vintage Bazaar

Happy Monday everyone, can you believe we got SNOW yesterday? Between the snow and the need to recover from a very full day Saturday I totally hibernated all day yesterday! Anyway, I hope you had a wonderful Halloween and are ready to gear up for the first full week of November. If you're looking for something to do, check out this great roundup via the Weekly Blueprint:

November 3: Learn how to use constellations to tell time. (Boston)

November 3: Family game night! (Dorchester)

November 3 - 7: Instead of eating all the candy, trade it in. (Newton)

November 4: ASD-friendly afternoon at Discovery Museums. (Acton)

November 4: Celebrate family reading on a story walk. (Boston)

November 4: We’re off to see the Wizard. (Easton)

November 4: Baby on board parent or caregiver walk. (Framingham)

November 5: Learn how to prepare Thanksgiving on the farm. (Ipswich)

November 5: Enjoy a holiday sip and shop. (Charlestown)

November 5: Explore deCordova for FREE. (Lincoln)

November 5: Take a walk around Gore Estate. (Waltham)

November 5: UNBORED Games: serious fun for everyone. (Wellesley)

November 6 - 9: American Journeys: Migration puppet show. (Brookline)

November 6 - 9: Salem Lit Fest: bringing readers and writers together. (Salem)

November 7: FREE admission to Discovery Museums. (Acton)

November 7: Spend the afternoon with Nathaniel Hawthorne. (Boston)

November 7: Learn to relax by being silly. (Boston)

November 7: Sing and dance with JeffJam live. (Boston)

November 7: Check out some super exciting new books. (Cambridge)

November 7: Preview the Crane Estate art show. (Ipswich)

November 7 - 9: The Boston Christmas Festival is in town. (Boston)

November 7 - 9: The Boston International Kids Film Festival. (Boston)

November 7 - 9: A holiday bazaar of all things vintage. (Salisbury)

Image credit: The Vintage Bazaar