I feel blessed to know many artistic souls, and last week I had the fabulous opportunity to work with Kristin Chalmers on professional headshots. Kristin is a creative tour de force via her photography business, her role as the host, coordinator, and producer of Baby Loves Disco Boston, and, given her passion for helping new moms, I recently convinced her that she has time to write for this site (debut forthcoming). But let me get back to her photography prowess, because she rocked.

As a mother of two, these days Kristin is particularly attuned to photographing children and families; everything from pregnancy photos to newborns to high school portraits that actually look cool. She also shoots weddings, and for business or other personal needs (such as the headshots I needed), and in the past has shot everything from rappers to restaurants.

I’m typically completely comfortable in front of a camera, but I have to admit that given the fact that lately I’ve been feeling rather tired in face and body, I started to fret a little as I readied myself for the shoot. I stared at my skin (regretting every single minute I used to suntan in high school and college), and wondered whether I should have attempted a home teeth-whitening kit the night before.

But luckily, Kristin’s demeanor and talent quickly helped me forget those concerns. She’s fun, lighthearted yet professional, never condescending, and - particularly good for families - she shoots up a storm while working quickly, chatting to keep the subject(s) engaged and at ease between shots, and offering positioning corrections in a relaxed way. She also stopped periodically to show me shots on her camera, as well as edits to improve various shots. The results were so fabulous and the shoot so fun, I could have had her snap away all day.

We shot in a variety of ways - out at a park, in a café, with and without glasses, and while I haven’t seen the whole series, I’m already having trouble deciding between the preliminary favorites she has sent. But truly, it’s an embarrassment of riches to have to decide between shots where she has transformed a tired mama into one who looks alternately hot, young, hip, stylish, fully rested, etc.

Kristin shoots on location digitally (although she’ll shoot with film for traditionalists) – and she uses a local photography lab so it’s easy to get prints without dealing with exorbitant shipping costs. Definitely contact Kristin the next time you or your family want a photo pro who will put you at ease and make you look fabulous.

You can never have enough clutter taming tools in the toy room, and today, locally based Bambini Design contributes to our online birthday party with Tatutina’s jungle animal bookends and pegboard set. Crafted in the Boston area, these colorful, whimsical pieces will inspire organization by keeping books and coats off the floor and in their place. Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this giveaway to enter to win.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Sharon J.!
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Rules:

Include your name and email in the appropriate fields so we can contact you if you win (your name but NOT your email will be published with your comment. Including just first name or first name + last initial is OK.)

One comment permitted per person; US entrants welcome.

Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be discarded.

Entry period closes tonight at midnight EST, Monday, July 28, 2008.

*One winner will receive this bookends and pegboard set.

And now for our weekly dose of web highlights from some of our stylish blog partners:

Clever Parents reports on their Operation Shower online book fair in partnership with Usborne Books; this program will benefit moms-to-be whose husbands are deployed. Car & Caboodle highlights 10 reasons why all moms need an iPhone. Coochicoos presents 5 fresh baby photo announcements. And you could win a $100 BusyMommi.com shopping spree at MomFinds, and a Skip Hop splash bottle drying rack at One Chic Mama.

For a cultured alternative to the typical “A is for Apple” learning model, check out Alpha Buddies. Using cultural, historical, and athletic references as inspiration, these eco-friendly tees are screen printed using water based inks. Today, Alpha Buddies contributes to our online birthday party by providing two winners each with a tee of their choice. Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this product line to enter to win.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Marla & Jodi!
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Rules:

Include your name and email in the appropriate fields so we can contact you if you win (your name but NOT your email will be published with your comment. Including just first name or first name + last initial is OK.)

One comment permitted per person; US & Canada entrants welcome.

Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be discarded.

Entry period closes tonight at midnight EST, Friday, July 25, 2008.

UPDATE 8/2/08: The folks at Alpha Buddies are kindly offering a discount shopping code. Use code BMOM for 20% off your purchase.

If your kid needs a little inspiration to stay engaged at the dinner table, consider the personalized plates at My Clean Plate Club. Including a colorful collection of dishwasher safe designs for kids and monogram loving grown ups, today, My Clean Plate Club contributes to our online birthday party with a set of two of their 10" personalized melamine plates. Simply check out the rules below and leave a comment on this product to enter to win.

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

Include your name and email in the appropriate fields so we can contact you if you win (your name but NOT your email will be published with your comment. Including just first name or first name + last initial is OK.)

One comment permitted per person; US entrants welcome.

Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be discarded.

Entry closes tonight at midnight EST, Thurdsay, July 24, 2008.

Today, Sara Cabot of Little Lettice provides zucchini inspired recipes for the whole family:

Everywhere you look at the farmer’s markets in July you see different forms of zucchini squash in different shapes and sizes. While zucchini squash is extremely palatable for babies, older kids can find it a bit boring. I am convinced that one of the reasons kids don’t like green veggies is that they are bored of the way they are cooked or presented. With a bit of variation, these sweet and tender greens can be delicious to young children.

Here are a couple of ways we cook zucchini at home to make it a bit more interesting. Don’t worry about peeling the zucchini; the skin is soft and yummy and provides most of the interest anyway.

FOR BABIES

You can give zucchini to babies at an early age (around 7 months) because it is such a palatable veggie.

My First Zucchini

1 medium zucchini

1 medium potato

Breast milk or formula

1. Prep a saucepan of water with a steamer placed on top.

2. Wash, trim, and chop zucchini into 1” cubes. Wash, peel, and chop potato into 1” cubes.

3. Place potato in water in the saucepan and zucchini in the steamer on the top. Cover with lid and bring water to a boil.

4. Remove zucchini if it cooks before the potato is soft (don’t let zucchini overcook – it should still retain its bright green color, not olive green). Once vegetables are done, drain.

5. Puree veggies in a blender or food processor, adding milk if it gets too thick. Serve warm.

Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays for later use, or store in the fridge for 24 hours.

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My Second Zucchini

Zucchini is a great mixer veggie with leafy greens like broccoli, spinach, and kale, which can be introduced around 8 months (depending on how quickly your baby is developing), because it acts as a sweetener. I always add potato to thicken and make a more satisfying mix.

Spinach/Broccoli/Kale, Zucchini & Potato

For babies 8 months and up.

½ onion

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 large zucchini

1 small potato

8 oz leafy greens (e.g., spinach, broccoli, or kale)

1 cup vegetable stock

1. Prep vegetables. Chop onion. Wash and cut zucchini into ¼” slices. Wash, peel, and cut potato into 1” cubes. Wash leafy green and chop roughly.

2. Heat oil in a saucepan and fry onion gently until soft. Add potato and zucchini and stir. Add vegetable stock, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add chopped leafy green and stir. Simmer until veggies are soft but still bright green (don’t over cook to olive green color).

3. Puree veggie mix in a blender or food processor and serve. Freeze leftovers in ice cube trays or small containers.

To add variety, mix in grated cheese for added flavor, or mix with small pieces of pasta for a more substantial meal. When baby is 1 year old, serve with white fish and grated cheese for a delicious fish Florentine.

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FOR TODDLERS & THE WHOLE FAMILY

Sautéed Zucchini

Wash and thinly slice 3-4 medium zucchini.

In a frying pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add a peeled, chopped clove of garlic.

Add the zucchini slices and cook on high heat, turning over to avoid sticking.

Saute for about 5 minutes.

Serve as a side to meat. Or mix into spaghetti for a healthy veggie pasta.

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Braised Grated Zucchini

Grate 3-4 medium zucchini.

In a frying pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add a peeled, chopped clove of garlic.

Add the grated zucchini and braise on medium heat for 3-4 minutes until just tender.

Serve as a side to meat or fish, or mix into spaghetti.

*Grated zucchini is also wonderful served raw in a salad. Its taste and texture are easy on the young palate.

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Cold Zucchini-Basil Soup

If your kids like soup, then tickle their tastebuds with this chilled summer soup. This recipe uses basil, which also is easy to find at the summer farmer’s markets. Thank you to Anne Bunn for sending in this recipe, which she found in Gourmet Magazine.

2 lbs zucchini

¾ cup chopped onion

2 garlic cloves

¼ olive oil

3 cups water

1/3 cup basil leaves

1. Cook onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes in the olive oil in heavy saucepan.

2. Add chopped zucchini and a pinch of salt.

3. Cook for 5 minutes.

4. Add 3 cups of the water and simmer, partially covered, until tender (about 15 mins).

5. Puree soup in a blender with the basil.

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the busiest acts on the Boston family music scene is Ben Rudnick & Friends, a five-piece ensemble whose acoustic tunes suit the whole family and cross folk, bluegrass, calypso, and rock genres. Today, Ben Rudnick & Friends contribute to our online birthday party by offering 5 winners a copy of their acclaimed Grace’s Bell CD. Simply check out the rules after the jump and leave a comment on this giveaway to enter to win.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Sandra, Shimona, Staci, Sarah, & Heidi!
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Rules:

Include your name and email in the appropriate fields so we can contact you if you win (your name but NOT your email will be published with your comment. Including just first name or first name + last initial is OK.)

One comment permitted per person; US & Canada entrants welcome.

Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be discarded.

Entry period closes tonight at midnight EST, Wednesday, July 23, 2008.

BlogHer Day One was clouded for me by a severe champagne hangover.  I don't know what inspires me to stay up until 4 a.m. Kansas City time drinking more than Mary Kate Olson and then wake up five hours later unable to sleep, but apparently I now do that sometimes.

My first panel was the Mommyblogging as a Radical Act panel. I had, in fact, no intention of attending this panel and had planned to go to the one on politics, as I've been writing more on politics this year than ever before.  But, when the time came, I was so hungover, in fact, that I allowed the crowd to gently push me down the stairs toward the cavernous mommy arena.

There was a lot of "men are trying to keep us down" at that panel, which really kind of surprised me. Yes, mommyblogging does get belittled a lot, and that does piss me off, but I'm not sure if it's because women are doing it or because unless you're in that phase of your life, you don't really care. I personally prefer to belittle MySpace for the same reasons. Had it been around when I was 14, KATIE BAR THE DOOR. 

Do men belittle women's writing?  Some do. Some that are assholes. And in return, I continue to be amused when a grown man sheds tears over a touchdown or lets a home run make or break his entire week.  Am I belittling you grown men who cry as though your dog died over a game? Yes, yes I am.  You may now belittle my poop stories. The end.

Maybe I was just really tired.

After mommyblogging, it gets hazy. At some point, there was lunch, and I found myself staring down a lovely green wrap that perfectly matched my complexion. I was sitting next to my beloved Bossy, and I could barely even make conversation. Every time I tried to eat the wrap, my stomach heaved, and I had nothing witty to say to her. (Aside: Bossy is such a liar. Her hair is not white at all. She still looks like the elfin princess that she always resembles:  tall, thin, beautiful. So not fair.)  Every time I see Georgia I keep waiting for her to bedeck me with daisies, but usually she just takes a picture.

I think the race and gender section was after lunch. There I sat next to Mocha Momma and said some heart-pounding things about needing to be an angry white woman. You'll have to listen to the podcast for more, that's all I have to say about that. Of all the sessions, this one made me the proudest to be part of BlogHer, which in many ways feels like being in college again, what with its strength of friendships and wonder of self-discovery and personal growth, and oh, a lot of hard liquor drunk from paper cups.

After that session, I started to feel almost sick from exhaustion. I went up to our room to take a nap. I set the alarm for 20 minutes, but the bastard fuck thing didn't go off, and I missed Eden Kennedy's community keynote, a crowning achievement that I am really fucking mad I missed. I will be searching YouTube as soon as I get a free minute. (If you have the link, please spare me YouTube searching.)

I woke in time to hit the cocktail party at Ruby Skye and spent the next two hours screaming at Devra, Georgia, Tracey, Amy, and my new best friend Neal Pollack, who does not like it if you threaten him with a vasectomy and was my favorite new discovery at BlogHer this year.

After the cocktail party, the contributors to Sleep Is for the Weak, the co-founders of blogHer, and members of the old media guard (Leslie from Essence, Stacy from Redbook, Karla from iVillage) and I were treated to a celebratory dinner that blew my mind with its loveliness and unexpectedness.  During the meal, a server very sweetly offered to hold Anjali so Cagey could eat her gnocchi, and I quietly died one thousand million deaths wondering whose life I had stolen while I listened to people laugh and tell stories and drink wine in celebration of this book project o'mine as I gazed at them lovingly from across a plate of three kinds of chicken.

As Alice said, "Oh, the MEAT at this dinner!"

I meant to go to Maggie Mason's Mighty Haus party after dinner, but when I got done wheeling Anju's stroller back for Cagey, I realized I physically couldn't keep my eyes open and fell asleep trying to dial my phone.

This post should have lots of links in it, and maybe it will later, but right now I am late for the little angel's swimming lessons. Enjoy.

If you’re ready to purge, replace, or upgrade your stroller to accommodate more than one kiddo, visit Magic Beans this Thursday (July 24) between 10am to 8pm for The Great Stroller Exchange. Simply bring in your gently used stroller – which will be donated to a family in need via Cradles to Crayons – and you’ll receive 10% off a new stroller from Magic Beans.

The event is running at all three Magic Beans locations (Brookline, Hingham, Wellesley) and drop off and purchase must occur on the 24th. Click here for further details about the event, including stroller condition requirements.