Hooray, it's Local Gems time! Today's Natick recommendations come from my friend Jodi Grundig, mom of two and editor of Mom's Favorite Stuff and Family Travel Magazine. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Natick, Jodi! And be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Coolidge Corner, Huron Village, Easton, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, Watertown, and Wellesley features!

From Jodi:

Although it’s commonly referenced as the home of the largest mall in New England, this town 15 miles west of Boston is home to a thriving community as well as many hidden gems. From locally owned shops and restaurants to several outdoor attractions, Natick has so much to offer. Here are 10 of my favorite local gems:

1. Tilly and Salvy’s Bacon Street Farm. This small grocery shop maintains an old-fashioned, small-town vibe while offering local produce, meats, baked goods, and traditional grocery items. Seasonal offerings include Christmas trees, pumpkins, and outdoor plants.

2. Casey’s Diner. This 10-stool diner located on the fringes of downtown Natick is on the National Register of Historic Places. It still offers the same delicious steamed hot dogs that made it a Natick institution.

3. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. Broadmoor, one of the Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries, is a great place for a family hike. Marked trails are easy to follow. The sanctuary also offers educational programs and workshops.

4. The Natick Community Organic Farm. The Natick Community Organic Farm is truly one of the hidden gems in Natick. This nonprofit, certified organic farm is home to many farm animals and offers complimentary admission during daylight hours.

5. The Center for Arts in Natick. Housed in a former firehouse, this nonprofit arts organization presents kid-friendly and adult shows throughout the year.

6. Oga’s Japanese Cuisine. Don’t let the strip-mall location fool you. This Japanese restaurant is easily one of the best in the state.

7. Five Crows. Located in Natick Center, Five Crows offers a selection of handmade gifts from a variety of artists in the area.

8. Uni-T. Local artist Eujin Kim Neilan owns this independent shop, one of the few located in the Natick Mall. Along with Eujin’s work, the shop also features products from about 50 local artists.

9. Lola's Italian Groceria. This locally owned shop offers delicious pasta and sandwiches as well as Italian grocery items and an impressive gluten-free selection.

10. Park Street Ice Cream. Tucked away alongside Natick Common is the Park Street Ice Cream Shoppe, a shop that’s been in business for more than 30 years

Thanks for sharing, Jodi! If you have other Natick favorites, feel free to share in the comments below. If you'd like 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.

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! We enjoyed an incredibly (and awesomely!) domestic weekend, which included getting our tree, making cookie cutter bird feeders, decorating the house, potting plants, and making homemade bread for the first time in ages. So, so delightful! But now it's back to work! If you're looking for something to fun to do this week, there's no shortage of ideas in this week's Weekly Blueprint:

December 8 - 15: Greenovate Boston’s used toy collection. (Boston)

December 8 - 21: Boston Children’s Theater presents The Velveteen Rabbit. (Boston)

December 8 - 23: Holiday lights trolley tour and sing along. (Boston)

December 8 - 14: Reagle Music Theatre’s ChristmasTime. (Waltham)

December 8 - January 1: Nantucket Noel, the quintessential yuletide experience. (Nantucket)

December 8 - January 1: The Whaling Museum turns into a festive winter wonderland. (Nantucket)

December 8 - January 4: The zoo becomes magical with thousands of twinkling lights. (Stoneham)

December 8 - January 10: Downtown Boston’s holiday market. (Boston)

December 9 + 12: Cookie decorating and holiday crafts. (North Andover)

December 11: Holiday story time sing along. (Boston)

December 11: Wander through Roslindale this holiday season. (Roslindale)

December 11: The Chandler Travis Philharmonic Christmas Cavalcade benefit. (Somerville)

December 11: An exquisite evening of music and fine dining featuring the Worcester Chamber Music Society. (Sturbridge)

December 11 - 14: The Velveteen Rabbit puppet show. (Brookline)

December 12: Rock N’ Soul holiday concert. (Arlington)

December 12: Color chromatography; unmix colors and explore ink. (Boston)

December 12: The Elf on the Shelf has a friend, the Farm Nisse at Appleton Farms. (Ipswich)

December 12 + 13: A festival of trees. (Marlborough)

December 12 - 14: Festival of native arts and culture. (Cambridge)

December 12 - 14: Escape the frenzy of a modern Christmas and celebrate by candlelight. (Sturbridge)

December 12 - 28: The Christmas Revels; celebrating the Winter Solstice. (Cambridge)

Image credit: Old Sturbridge Village

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're having a great week! If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, fear not, I have a massive 43-event roundup for you in today's Weekend Roundup! Also, don't forget to enter to win the Disney on Ice ticket giveaway, this weekend will be the perfect time to set your kids up with these 10 clutter-free gifts that kids can make, and keep thinking about how you can DO LESS via your minimalist holiday manifesto.

1. Magic show with Rupayan Neogy. (Acton)

2. See what happens when Badger Meets the Fairies. (Arlington)

3. The Legacy Dancers present Holiday Traditions. (Arlington)

4. First lights in East Arlington. (Arlington)

5. Breakfast with Santa! (Boston)

6. Stories Alive! interactive reading of Rudolph. (Boston)

7. Boston Modern Orchestra Project presents The Fantastic Mr. Fox. (Boston)

8. Boston gets crafty, holiday style. (Boston)

8. Holiday lights trolley tour and sing along. (Boston)

10. Boston Children’s Theater presents The Velveteen Rabbit. (Boston)

11. Holiday story hours, musical performances and a FREE kids concert. (Boston)

12. Greenovate Boston’s used toy collection. (Boston)

13. Chanukah in the city. (Boston)

14. Free holiday celebrations with Stacey Peasley. (Boston, Haverhill)

15. Spend the morning with Karen K and the Jitterbugs. (Brookline)

16. Your opportunity to buy handmade at this artist marketplace. (Brookline)

17. King Midas puppet show. (Brookline)

18. Curious Creatures, music, crafts and more at Jewish Family Fun Day. (Cambridge)

19. Hop aboard the Polar Express. (Carver)

20. Live holiday music and a visit with Santa. (Concord)

21. Farm fun, potato latke, and lantern making. (Dover)

22. Kids’ holiday shop and elves workshop. (Easton)

23. Have cocoa with Santa! (Haverhill)

24. Holiday open house and activities. (Marshfield)

25. Take a stroll along the streets of Nantucket. (Nantucket)

26. The Whaling Museum turns into a festive winter wonderland. (Nantucket)

27. Needham lights luminary nights. (Needham)

28. New Philharmonia Orchestra celebrates the season of peace, joy and creativity. (Newton)

29. Santa’s workshop is open for business. (North Andover)

30. Ben Rudnick and Karen K of Jitterbugs fame. (Reading)

31. Legoland Discovery Center’s Holiday Bricktacular. (Somerville)

32. FREE showing of The Polar Express. (Somerville)

33. Santa paws, pet photos with Santa. (Somerville)

34. A Norman Rockwell painting comes to life. (Stockbridge)

35. Photos with Santa. (Stoneham)

36. Holiday hot chocolate with the reindeer (and early entry to ZooLights). (Stoneham)

37. A good old-fashioned brunch with Santa. (Sturbridge)

38. Escape the frenzy of a modern Christmas and celebrate by candlelight. (Sturbridge)

39. Reagle Music Theatre’s ChristmasTime. (Waltham)

40. Festival of native arts and culture. (Watertown)

41. Storytime with Zoë and R. W. Alley - Enzo Races in the Rain! (Wellesley)

42. A special performance of The Squirrel Stole My Underpants. (Westford)

43. Northeast Comic Con and Pop Culture Expo. (Wilmington)

Image credit: Wilson Farm

Goodness, it's been too long since I've shared a Local Gems feature! Today's Coolidge Corner recommendations come from my friend Sheri Gurock, mom of 3, co-founder of the award-winning toy/gear store Magic Beans, food blogger at Unbageled, and longtime Coolidge Corner dweller. Thanks for sharing these 12 local gems, Sheri! And be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Huron Village (Cambridge), Easton, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, Watertown, and Wellesley features!

1. Pear Tree. This lovely beading shop offers a huge variety of beads and tons of gorgeous example pieces to inspire you. It's a great place to visit on a rainy day with the kids, because everyone gets to be creative. One of my favorite necklaces is one my 6-year-old made for me here!

2. Eureka! It's impossible not to love this quirky game and puzzle shop, filled with all kinds of interesting products and staffed by people who love their goods and can make spot-on recommendations.

3. Knight Moves. Former Eureka! employee Devon Trevylan opened this board game cafe nearly a year ago. Gather with friends at his cozy space and choose from over 300 different board games. The cafe serves drinks and pastries, including some gluten-free options!

4. Tiny Hanger. Tiny Hanger owner Lucia has such fabulous taste and it shows in her appealing selection of clothing and gifts for babies and kids.

5. The Coolidge Theater. The Coolidge is widely accepted to be a great date-night venue, but did you know they also do a family-friendly show each weekend on either Saturday or Sunday morning? The programs are always low-key and high quality -- a great combination.

6. Brookline Booksmith. This charming locally owned bookstore is everything you'd hope for it to be and more. The selection is extensive, the staff is wonderful, and there is always an amazing schedule of authors coming to speak and sign. In the basement you'll find great deals on used books (you can also sell your used books to them), and they have a wonderful, quirky gift department, too.

7. Regal Beagle. It's always been tough to get a table at this tiny, delightful bistro, but now that executive chef Stacy Cogswell is a contestant on this season's Top Chef, it's a good idea to plan in advance if you want to come for dinner. The lunch menu is also wonderful, and they are kid-friendly.

8. Zaftig's. This iconic Coolidge Corner delicatessen is always swamped on weekends for brunch, but you can eat breakfast all day long at this very family-friendly establishment. The menu is wide-ranging and everything is tasty.

9. Rani Bistro. This Indian restaurant is really something special. The atmosphere is serene, and the menu is full of flavorful dishes with a wide range of choices for vegetarians and carnivores alike. The lunch buffet is a great deal, and before I went Paleo I loved their Dosa.

10. Paris Creperie. This hole-in-the-wall offers a dizzying array of delicious choices, from crepes to soups to smoothies. Need a meal? Grab a hearty savory crepe. Looking for a snack? Don't miss the strawberry Nutella crepe or the Nutella hot chocolate. They are set up to accommodate a range of dietary restrictions, too.

11. Party Favors. Since going GF/Paleo over a year ago, there are few things I miss as much as Party Favors cupcakes. They look as pretty as they taste, and they are always topped with a very generous amount of sweet buttercream. You can also find a wide range of party goods and even cake decorating supplies. They also offer occasional classes and birthday parties.

12. Rami's. This is an authentic Israeli dining experience. Come when it's busy and the line is likely to be disorganized, but that's part of the charm. The falafel is outstanding, crispy and bursting with flavor, served in a soft, warm pita nestled in homemade hummus. It's street food at its absolute best. Another food I miss terribly!

So awesome, right? Thanks again Sheri, for sharing your favorite picks. If you have other favorite Coolidge Corner gems, feel free to share in the comments below. And of course don't forget to pop in to Magic Beans if you're in Coolidge Corner! If you'd like 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.

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

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