Friends, how are you all doing? Staying healthy? Perhaps it's simply a function of having one more family member in the mix, but it feels as if this has been the season of plague, with one, more, or all of us sick at some point or another. I'm actually a little relieved that our plans to have company this weekend have fallen through so we can take it easy and get everyone healthy. I hope you all have a wonderful, plague-free weekend; here are 15 picks for your consideration!
1. Chinese New Year celebrations, among many other kid-friendly activities. (Boston)

2. I think this claymation workshop sounds so cool! (Boston)

3. An event for teens to connect with community service opportunities. (Chestnut Hill)

4. Enjoy a contemporary classical rendering of The Tortoise and the Hare and The Pied Piper at this family concert. (Boston)

5. A battle of the teen bands to benefit Children's Hospital. (Boston)

6. Bundle up for a winter family fun safari hike. (Milton)

7. Learn how to turn every movement into dance. (Boston)

8. Rock the lunar New Year in Quincy. (Quincy)

9. Celebrate the release of Bari Koral's new album. (Natick)

10. Chinese New Year in the Square. (Cambridge)

11. A family show by Laura Veirs & the Tumble Bees. (Cambridge)

12. Lowell Winterfest continues. (Lowell)

13. Get your sci-fi on. (Somerville)

14. A place to find travel inspiration. (Boston)

15. Yes to chocolate and ice sculptures. (Salem)

Image credit: HarvardSquare.com

Even though the process can become messier and the results less perfect, I love baking with kids. It makes for a fun project (just this week we had a friend of Laurel's over for a baking play date -- so fun!), offers yummy rewards, and you can choose to work in some math teaching if you like. Laurel and I recently tried a new (to us) cookie recipe from Lori Longbotham's Luscious Lemon Desserts that was just delightful; a lovely twist on basic sugar cookies. Below I've edited the steps and added notes to offer some shortcuts and tips, as well as ideas for incorporating kids into the process. Enjoy!

+ + + + +

Old-Fashioned Lemon Sugar Cookies
Makes 4 dozen cookies

• 1 2/3 cups sugar (split)
• 2 teaspoons pure lemon oil (split)
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/3 cup finely grated lemon zest (approximately 6 lemons worth)
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter 2 large non-stick baking sheets. (I recommend using Silpat mats. You don't need to spray or butter the mat and the cookie bottoms always come out perfect.)
2. Stir together 2/3 cup sugar + 1 teaspoon lemon oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. (I never sift anything and it seems to work out fine. Laurel is old enough to measure out ingredients but with younger kids you can hand them the measured out ingredients to dump and mix in the bowl.)
4. Using a hand or standing mixer, beat the butter, remaining 1 cup of sugar, remaining 1 teaspoon of lemon oil, and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat until well blended. Add the flour mixture and lemon juice and beat until just blended. (Experienced and steady-handed kids can be tasked to work the hand mixer or turn on the standing mixer and keep an eye on consistency. If you are using a standing mixer, make sure you lock the mixer in the down position before your kid turns it on. Just in case!
5. Form balls with tablespoonfuls of dough. Roll them in the sugar-lemon oil mixture (from step 2) to coat well and place about 3 inches apart on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with the bottom of a glass until about 2 inches round and 3/8 inch thick. Sprinkle each one with a pinch of the sugar-lemon oil mixture. (Laurel and I split the dough. I followed the steps here -- except that I forgot the final sprinkling step -- and she rolled out her dough on a floured surface and cut it with cookie cutters. This dough was much softer than traditional sugar cookie dough so it was harder to roll out and cut, but Laurel was determined! One thing that helped was to use shapes with simple patterns/edges. Both versions were delicious!)
6. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. (I popped the sheets in two at a time and kept an eye on them. It worked fine!)

Image credit: Suat Eman via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I walked downstairs this morning, poured a cup of coffee, and turned around to see this.

The part I'm most confused about? What's under the chairs. On one side is a white doll's dress and on the other side is a towel.

I can't believe Violet turns one next month. I also can't believe she ever used to lie immobile on her back. During the night, she migrates around her crib a lot, which has made blanket coverage impossible and (I think) contributed to interrupted sleep. Now, sleep sacks as a temperature solution are not a new concept to me, but I hadn't bothered with them for Violet since with Laurel, the zip-front openings weren't the most convenient for middle of the night diaper changes.
But now there's gunapod -- a super cozy fleece sleep sack that you can access from every direction (and inspired right here in Boston). It features the classic front zipper, plus side zip openings that run all the way around, plus button snaps on the top. So, you can open just the bottom to let baby's feet hang out or change a diaper. You can unsnap the top if your baby is standing in his/her crib demanding to get out and it's time to get changed for the day anyway. You can even unzip the side to do a stealth diaper check while you nurse. (We have done all three of these things; the latter I found particularly handy.)

The first couple of times I used the gunapod I was thrilled to find Vi's hands and feet toasty warm in the morning -- I sleep easier knowing I don't have to check her blanket situation in the middle of the night. And while Vi's sleep has been a little up and down the last few months as we've dealt with new foods, colds, blanket problems, and whatever other baby matters interrupt sleep, it dawned on me the other day that her sleep has been more consistent the last couple of weeks since we started using the gunapod. This, of course, is not a guarantee that your baby will start sleeping through the night if they use a gunapod (I wish it were that easy, my friends!), but we're at least able to address the cold-in-the-middle-of-the-night factor. Plus, I've found that getting Vi into the gunapod at night provides a nice bedtime cue, particularly since I recently dropped our bedtime nursing. I prep her bottle, get her in the sleep sack, we cuddle up, and she feeds. And then blissfully enjoy a good night's sleep.

Last night on the way home from a two-hour meeting all the way across town, I called my sister in the hopes she would cheer me up. I'd had a really rough day and was feeling really insecure about my writing.

(Editor's Note: This is going to be my memory of the conversation and therefore probably not what she said at all. But isn't that how life goes? And if we didn't go with it a little we'd have zero material, so bear with me. Also, it was really nice of her to cheer me up when I totally called HER and interrupted her evening with my hunger-fueled angst. Thank you, Sister Little.)

She started telling me about this series of books she was reading by Isaac Asimov and how the first couple of books he wrote in this series were almost exactly alike and therefore really boring but how the last one was written twenty years later and it was so amazing it changed her life and she wants to have his cryogenetically preserved babies.

Okay, I made the last part up.

And I was all, "I'm feeling like a suck writer and you tell me how Isaac Asimov is so awesome he changed your whole worldview with one novel?"

And then she was all, "Well, you shouldn't compare yourself to the greats."

(pause for souls to be crushed and angels to fall from heaven)

In the pause, she may have heard my psyche keening for its hold on perspective. 

<insert uncomfortable silence>

And then she said something like, "This is sort of like when you told me about how giving birth completed you right after I broke up with my boyfriend, isn't it?"

And I was all, "YES."

(!!!)

But then she reversed and started distracting me with how eventually -- as Asimov went on to write forty gazillion books -- he decided to bring all his fake worlds in line with the same planets and everything. And so then, there I was -- standing in my kitchen starving to death because it was eight at night and I'd just gotten home from the world's longest meeting and hadn't eaten since noon -- listening to my sister wax on about Asimov's genius and I started thinking about Asimov standing in his kitchen in the eighties and making that newfangled microwave popcorn and stressing the fuck out because OMG THE PLANETS ARE ALL NAMED DIFFERENT THINGS. And maybe even the great Asimov pulled his hair out and drank some extra wine and stressed over HOW THAT THING HE COMPLETELY MADE UP WASN'T QUITE RIGHT.

And every time I'm sure that it doesn't matter a bit whether or not I try to make my completely fake world right, I should remember that Asimov getting his completely fake world right changed my sister's whole life.

And so it's worth a shot.

Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) shares a beloved book, good for Valentine's Day or any day:

"Mr. Hatch was tall and thin and he did not smile." And so begins the story of Mr. Hatch, a lonesome man who leads a gray and dreary life. He leaves his house at precisely 6:30am for his job at the shoelace factory every day, sits alone and eats his cheese and mustard sandwich for lunch every day, and stops at the grocery store for a fresh turkey wing for dinner every day. And then one day, a day unlike every other day, the postman changes Mr. Hatch's world when he delivers a giant heart-shaped box of chocolates, complete with a special Valentine's note. "Somebody loves you," the note says. But who?
In Eileen Spinelli's Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch (our favorite Valentine story that we read year-round), we get a peek into how someone's whole life can change with one simple expression of love. As soon as Mr. Hatch reads that note, his world becomes more colorful and expressive -- captured perfectly by illustrator Paul Yalowitz -- as he begins wearing polka dot ties, helps out neighbors in need, throws backyard parties complete with homemade brownies, and laughs like he's never laughed before.

But just when we think all is right in Mr. Hatch's life, the postman returns to admit that he delivered the box to the wrong address, and suddenly Mr. Hatch's new found joy disappears (as does the color from Yalowitz's illustrations). And just when you want to jump into the pages of Mr. Hatch's world and say, "but WE love you, Mr. Hatch," the many people whose lives he touched in those few brief days of happiness band together and show Mr. Hatch exactly what he means to them.

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch is a story that has brings tears of empathy and joy. With its simply written story and expressive pictures, not only does it teach that saying "I love you" can change someone's life, but that opening up to other people can change your life, too -- an important lesson for kids and grownups alike.

Beloved, the little angel and I clomped down the sidewalk. It had snowed just a little bit, and what was there had already melted, but the air contained that combination of humidity and cold that tickles your nose and reminds me of the Rocky Mountains. I just wanted to be outside in it a little longer, so I whined for a trek down a neighborhood path that winds behind houses and essentially goes nowhere. I knew it went nowhere because we'd been down it before, but we were only a few blocks from home and I was stalling.

We'd only gone past four or five houses when the path became covered in the mud resulting from less than an inch of snow. I watched the little angel tromp through it in her snow boots and wished I'd been more thoughtful of my own footwear. I own snow boots, too. Why weren't they on my feet?

"This was a really bad idea," I said. "I'm sorry. We're getting all muddy."

She didn't even turn around. She just yelled, "Mommy, are you an explorer or are you a fashion model?"

I swallowed. "I'm an explorer! I'M AN EXPLORER!"

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Win a Sony streaming device that will turn your TV into a smart TV on Surrender, Dorothy: Reviews!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you had a great weekend (despite the, er, sporting events of yesterday) and are gearing up for an excellent week. I'm going to kick things off by getting back on the self care wagon via a 10 minute run after I hit publish on this post! Meanwhile, here are some handy/fun ideas to consider in this week's Weekly Blueprint:
February 6: Drop in for a playdate at the MFA.

February 8: If you've ever thought about writing a children's book.

February 9: Carnevale! in New Bedford.

February 9: An event for parents who need guidance about colic, sleep, and feeding issues for baby.

February 9-11: Let's hope for some pretty snow for Lowell Winterfest.

February 10-12: A film festival perfect for sci-fi fans.

February 10-12: If you're looking for travel inspiration.

February 10-14: The Salem's So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. Yummy. Pretty.

At your leisure: I have a couple of fantastic giveaways going if you'd like to enter to win: Boston Musica Viva (by noon Tuesday the 7th) and a Killington Resort lift ticket package (by noon Thursday the 9th).

At your leisure: Give this yummy white chili a go!

At your leisure: Do something nice for someone you love -- before they ask you to do it. Like this.

At your leisure: Experiment with a new look. This loose waves tutorial makes me want to grow my hair back out.

At your leisure: I received so much great feedback via Facebook and Twitter on this roundup of 10 awesome Valentine's Day craft and treat ideas. However, if you want a couple of super quick and easy Valentine's projects to do with your kids (no exacto knife needed), try these pop up cards or pipe cleaner heart goggles. Or how adorable are these homemade photo cards?

At your leisure: I started this post mentioning self-care and I highly encourage you to join me. I've been very bad about self-care lately and have decided to engage in a little 10 minute a day challenge for myself, whether that 10 minutes is spent running, walking, doing a few sun salutations, attempting ballet, or simply stretching and breathing. We all deserve at least 10 minutes a day!

Image credit: strawberry treats via Pinterest

Today, Jules shares a recipe perfect for Super Bowl Sunday (or any day really):

Between my husband's enthusiasm for football and mine for good food, Super Bowl Sunday is like a national holiday in our house. Chili is a Super Bowl staple and it's an easy crowd pleaser because it's typically a one pot meal that can feed a hungry crowd. Most often prepped with fatty ground meat, loads of cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips, I'm tweaking tradition here and whipping up a reduced fat white chicken chili that is a treat for the eyes but also a really unexpected and refreshing surprise for the palate; all while staying true to those chili roots and remaining a heady and satisfying one pot meal. Enjoy!
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cups roasted and salted almonds
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 slice toasted whole wheat bread
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 celery ribs, diced
• 1 jalepeno pepper, finely diced
• 1 small can green chili peppers
• 1 teaspoon, ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon coriander
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1.5 pounds shredded chicken (white meat)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans cannelini (white) beans, drained
• 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup white wine*
• Salt and pepper
• ¼ nonfat Greek yogurt
• Shredded smoked cheese (gruyere works beautifully)
• Fresh cilantro
• Sliced lime

1. In very large stockpot, heat oil on low heat. While oil heats, puree almonds, garlic, and toast to a fine puree. Add a tablespoon of water if it needs a little moisture to process. Add this paste to the hot oil and stir well for about 20 seconds.
2. Add onion, celery, jalepeno, canned chili peppers, cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Cook for just another minute. Add shredded chicken, beans, broth, and wine. Cook partially covered for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Spoon into bowls and top with a dollop of yogurt, a touch of shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze and slice of lime.

*Note: The wine does cook off, but if you'd rather not use wine in this dish, you can replace the wine with 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar.

Image credit: Rainbow chili print by PragyaK via Etsy