Last week I attended a media event hosted by Stop & Shop and similar to last year, where I came away with lovely ideas for easy and green holiday décor, I left with some good ideas related to holiday gifting and decor. Specifically, I was reminded of the beauty and ease of prettily packaged food gifts and was introduced to a couple of floral tricks that no doubt will come in handy when I host Thanksgiving later this month.
Food Gifts:

Given my minimalist mantra, I refuse to give random stuff during the holidays; instead opting for the usable and edible, such as lovely handmade soaps, yummy food, etc. In the past I have made layered cookie and muffin mixes in glass jars with ribbon and paper labels, and Stop & Shop reminded me of this idea (with a chocolate chip cookie jar recipe) and also planted the seed to take the idea to a savory level (with a country soup jar recipe). I didn’t assemble a soup jar, but I did assemble and take home a cookie jar (which, by the way, is blissfully easy even if you don’t consider yourself crafty) and Laurel and I ended up using it this week in the midst of a bad mojo emergency. Though I love baking from scratch with Laurel (she adores all of the steps of measuring and adding ingredients), I must say that given our moods, it was pretty excellent to have a fast project with quick rewards. Simply dump the dry ingredients in a bowl, add a few wet ingredients, and bake; the end result is delicious.

Floral Tricks:

Regretfully, I didn’t manage to snap pictures of the flower arrangement I created, but I came away with two terrific takeaway tips that will make a basic arrangement (mine was of mums, gerbers, and alstromeria) look super special. First, add an unusual adornment, such as a few stems of wheat or cattail (procure from floral department or craft store). Second, add fresh cranberries to the water for an awesome visual and to keep the stems in place while you arrange the flowers. Even my mom complimented my arrangement (and she's actually taken flower arranging courses).

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On a total aside, this event took place at Upstairs on the Square, where a truly spectacular caramel apple bread pudding with cinnamon ice cream dessert was served. If anyone has the capability to procure this recipe – or one like it – for me, I will forever be indebted to you.

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.

A few nights ago I fumbled around the kitchen after a workout, simultaneously trying to stop sweating, unload the dishwasher and put on vegetables to steam. I looked over at my daughter drawing cheerfully at the kitchen table. She looked up at me.

"Can I help you, Mommy?" she asked.

She does chores around the house, but rarely without being asked. This question came sincerely, without prompting.

"Yes, that would be lovely," I said.

She wiped down the table. She set the table. She opened a can of peas for herself, poured them into her bowl and some Tupperware, rinsed out the can and put it in the recycling. She poured the milk. She added cheese to the turkey burgers sizzling on the George Foreman grill without burning herself. She carried her little stool around the kitchen with a firm sense of purpose. Every time she finished a task, she looked at me expectantly. "What else can I do, Mommy?" In between tasks, she sat on her little stool, hands folded demurely in her lap.

I wasn't sure I knew this kid, but I liked her. A lot.

When Beloved walked through the door, the spell was broken. She ran to tell him about her day, and it was time to eat anyway. We sat down and watched her fall off her chair twice, back to normal. I told Beloved about that magical half hour when she morphed from a raucous and sometimes sassy five-year-old to a practical and concerned only daughter.

As I went in that night to kiss her sleeping head, I thought how she's changed lately. How she's gone from being solely someone I care for to being someone who occasionally cares for me, fetching me a soda from the fridge or holding a paper steady while I sign with one hand. Suddenly she's this kid who can go get the mail and set the table and get herself dressed in the morning.

When did that happen?

Davis Square’s bargain retail profile recently kicked it up a notch with the addition of Buffalo Exchange (on the same block as Poor Little Rich Girl and Good Will). Giving national chain a good name, Buffalo Exchange allows for direct sale or trade of used clothing and accessories, and carries both classic pieces (such as the J. Crew print dress I scored for $23.50...sweet!) and quirkier ones. The two-level store currently offers more goods for women (including rows upon rows of shoes downstairs), though there are some racks for men. Laurel loves treasure hunting with me in Davis; she only requests that this and other stores start carrying used kid’s clothing.

Buffalo Exchange, 238 Elm Street, Somerville; 617-629-5383

Like most parents, I periodically lament over packing lunch and snack, especially when we’re low on fresh produce. Having a stash of Revolution Foods snacks on hand subsequently has bailed me out on more than one occasion. These organic snacks and sandwich fixings are happily free of trans fats, high fructose syrup, and other nasties, and Laurel especially digs the Grammy Sammy (whole grains + yogurt) and Jammy Sammy (whole grains + fruit spread) snack squares and squeezable fruit Mashups. And I love how easily these pieces can round out her lunchbox; both items make for an excellent snack or seem treat-like enough to pass for dessert (though admittedly, we’re those parents who don’t include dessert at lunch time), and there’s no need for utensils. Extra cool: Revolution Foods donates 3% of purchases to help feed kids in under-served schools.

Now, want to be one of three winners to receive a Revolution Foods Lunchbox Simplicity Sampler? Here's how:

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winners Debbie, Courtney, & Joan!
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Visit the Revolution Foods store locator page, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Revolution Foods’ in the subject), and name a store where you can purchase Revolution Foods products.

One entry permitted per person; US residents welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, November 12, 2009.

*Three lucky winners (drawn using Random.org) will receive a Lunchbox Simplicity Sampler that includes samples of Grammy Sammys, Jammy Sammys, and Mashups + Revolution Foods’ t-shirt and secret snack selector game (fortune tellers) for kids (value: approximately $30).

Today, parent educator Hetti Wohlgemuth shares key lessons from motherhood:

“Could I write an essay -- under 1000 words -- about motherhood? What an absorbing assignment. In the recently released movie Motherhood -- which includes great actors, great Manhattan scenes, and too many New York tears shed over a life that looks terrific -- Uma Thurman attempts this very project for a magazine contest. Inspired by this task, here I share a few key lessons from the alphabet stew of motherhood, in less than 650 words.
A is for Ambivalence, a naughty word when it comes to motherhood, but a real one. How can one not feel some loss when one thinks back to our before-children freedoms and identities? But how can we not also feel enormous swelling in our hearts when we look at our babies' gorgeous faces, their plump little hands and toes, when we feel their warmth and smell their lovely sweet baby smell? I felt my ambivalence before I even had children: I had no idea if I even wanted babies. I aired my ambivalence -- even my daughters know this now -- and my ambivalence evaporated. That's what happens with negative feelings once we express them and they get acknowledged; they often disappear. I'm all for motherhood ambivalence -- it's not going to go away unless we address it.

B is for Brain Enhancing. It's counterintuitive to think of motherhood as brain enhancing, but it is and there's research to prove it. Yes, initially, moms don't feel smarter. Initially there's no time for newspapers, news, or novels. We're sleep deprived and our brains are totally absorbed with the newness of caring for an infant. But think on the totality of motherhood, instead. Katherine Ellison authored a book on this subject called, The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes Us Smarter. She writes that motherhood requires "efficiency, resiliency, motivation, and emotional intelligence." True, and these qualities massage the brain magnificently. Motherhood also requires diplomacy, doctoring, dietary sense, and a whole lot more. That's even more massage for the brain. Honestly, I feel smarter since raising my daughters.

H is for Humbling. Many of the edicts I proudly pronounced pre-children flew out the window before I even managed to mail my birth announcements. I remember an extended family dinner when I was in my self-absorbed college years. I actually felt annoyed at the space my young nephews were absorbing and thought to myself, I would never allow that. Then I gave birth to my two daughters and my attitude sure changed. Before children (B.C.) we liked to say that our children would not watch TV, play with Barbie, eat sugar, and that we would never ever yell at them. After children (A.C.), real life happens and we feel bad about our pronouncements. We needn't: motherhood is humbling.

W is for all those Worries that loom so large in our mothering minds. With my younger daughter, I worried endlessly about lead poisoning, probably because we were renovating our old house when she was three and possibly licking the windowsills. Now both daughters are grown (lead free, I presume) and I worry about them living in Baltimore and New York City, riding subways late at night, driving, and whatever else I can conjure up. I hear from my friends whose children are married and have children of their own that the worries never cease. Years ago I got some advice from a wise woman: give your worries a good workout every day, maybe 15-20 minutes. Then work to let them go, consciously if necessary. It’s good advice that I still use.

Z is for the Zen of mothering: Oh, to be a Zen Mother. Zen and mothering can go together like a baby in a baby carriage. Oh, to take the time to watch and feel the autumn rain with two small children without thought of what else could be accomplished at that moment (this scene actually takes place in the movie Motherhood and it's one of the better scenes)! Oh, to never covet the successes of a friend's children. Zen Mother love isn't jealous or possessive and accepts our children for who they are. Zen Mothers love without expecting gratitude or anything in return. Zen and mothering can go together like hugs and kisses. Om.”

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today, Kate and April share their thoughts on a couple of winning games from local children’s game company Gamewright. Read on for Kate and April’s reviews, as well as to learn how to win a signed copy of Gamewright’s popular Can You See What I See? Finders Keepers Game (entry closes November 11).

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From Kate:

“My daughter is just getting to the age where she can understand and enjoy simple board games, and we've introduced a few as a way to teach her about following the rules, playing with others, and adhering to the basic concepts of sportsmanship. We started with Candy Land, which she loved for its bright colors and vivid drawings, and have since sampled a few others. I have to confess that she will often stack the deck (literally) in her favor, but we have a lot of fun and I believe that she's learning good lessons about logic and collaboration.

Gamewright Games of Newton, Massachusetts offers a range of beautifully-made games for kids of all ages, and we've recently discovered one that is just the right age and skill level for my daughter. Go Away Monster! encourages little kids to recognize and match shapes, while also helping them to deal with any monster-oriented anxieties by figuratively casting out monsters (funny, not scary) from under the bed. My daughter understood the concept of the game after just a few moments of explanation, and has been enjoying it ever since. Gamewright Games is a good option for families who are looking for games that aren't flashy or jarring but that offer fun in thoughtfully-designed packages.”

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From April:

“Play at our home rarely involves an actual game. Puppets, dancing, and coloring are the usual activities with occasional dramatic reenactments of Little Bear stories. Recently, I've been wishing for a few games to keep our 3 1/2-year-old daughter engaged and playing with us, but perhaps a bit calmer than 40 pirouettes. I want a couple of very quiet evening activities we can share together before we do our bedtime routine, or to take up a quiet block of weekend time.

Up until now we haven't found any games that are interesting, nice, and sweet enough for her (and our) tastes. We've tried several but the rules often go out the window and she uses the cards or pieces as props in a massive architectural build or an elaborate puppet show. Or, worse, she shows no interest at all.

Recently, though, we tried out Feed the Kitty from Gamewright. Instantly she was intrigued because it involves mice and a theoretical cat. We opened the box and she was immediately involved in the entire potential story contained in the pieces. It comes with a green food bowl (belonging to the cat), 20 purple wooden mice, and two simple dice that set the play in motion.

The idea is that everyone gets a certain number of mice. The dice that you roll tell you whether to put a mouse in the kitty bowl, take one out, give one to your neighbor, or do nothing (because the kitty's sleeping). The directions on the dice are pictorial, so once our daughter learned what each image meant to the game, she could keep track of the action and figure out what happens at every play. She got a real thrill telling us how to interpret the dice rolls.

The subtext is that some mice wind up in the bowl and become kitty food, but that would not play well with our little naturalist/animal lover. We asked her what she thought was happening and she said the mice were sneaking into the bowl to snack on the kitty's food—a much kinder read for the younger or more sensitive set, although older kids or those that understand that cats actually chase mice and eat them wouldn't be fazed. Our daughter didn't even consider that you want to keep the mice out of the kitty bowl—just that they don't want to get caught there—and yet the game still works perfectly!

The game lasts about 20-25 minutes the way we play (which is with a lot of talking). If you wanted to do a fast game before bed, you could easily speed up the rolls. The last player with mice is the winner. The game is recommended for kids age 4 and up, although our 3 1/2-year-old started playing it as if she'd had it for ages already. It's a sweet game with cute pieces and a new favorite for us when we need a quiet but involved family activity.”

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Lynn!
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Now, want to win a signed copy of Gamewright’s popular Can You See What I See? Finders Keepers Game? Here's how:

Visit the Gamewright store locator page, then email contests@bostonmamas.com (with ‘Gamewright’ in the subject), and name a store where you can purchase Gamewright games.

One entry permitted per person; US residents welcome to enter.

Entry period closes at midnight EST, November 11, 2009.

*One lucky winner (drawn using Random.org) will receive a signed copy of Gamewright's Can You See What I See? Finders Keepers Game.

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Image credits: 1 (Gamewright); 2 (April Paffrath)

My girls' weekend ROCKED. On every possible level. It was so great.

But it's private. Yes, it's true -- I do occasionally have boundaries. SURPRISE!

So, instead, I give you the house we made out of the cardboard box Steph's glider came in.

 

Note the fence by Beloved and the shape by moi.

 

We got some markers and puffy paints for the occasion. It reminded me of the cat house Blondie and I made with Pa when we were kids.

 

Beloved made special handles for the window out of duct tape.

The little angel immediately began decorating.

 

I contributed an apple tree.

 

And a sun.

 

Cardboard box houses ROCK.

 

As do half-price roses from the grocery store that have miraculously opened while you were gone for the weekend.

I'm off to Lawrence in a few hours to celebrate Steph's pregnancy with two of our three college roommates. The last time we got together sans kids and husbands was in Florida, probably three or four years ago. I can't even remember.

I haven't let myself think about it too much because this week has been so crazy busy, but now that I've completed the tasks that absolutely had to be done today, it's time to hop in the shower and pack and buy a box expensive bottle of fine wine so I can spend a day and two nights remembering what it is like to hang out.

Remember hanging out? It's been a while.

 

 

 

(I know these are blurry. I think they went with our state of mind.)