Hi everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I just wanted to check in to let you know that I'm going to be largely absent this week (though I do hope to reveal some exciting news soon!). I want to spend time with Jon and the girls on the front end of this week, particularly because I will be heading to BlissDom to speak and on behalf of a client on Thursday. Meanwhile, if you're looking for stuff to do this week, here are a slew of February vacation ideas, plus I wanted to share some posts that caught my eye this week. Have a fantastic week and happy reading!
This post about Asian American icons moved me very, very much.

On carrying sadness and letting it go.

Ten excellent ways to reduce stress.

How to get your kids to stop nailbiting.

Twenty ideas for giving yourself 10 minutes a day.

Gluten- and dairy-free breakfast ideas.

On Rick Santorum and women voters.

I love these images of hearts in nature.

Ideas for getting kids to clean up.

Have you tried alternative therapies for depression and anxiety?

Image credit: Kirtsy

Oh my word, is February vacation upon us already? Laurel is beyond excited to take it down a notch and spend the next nine days in her jammies. I kind of wish I could too! Also, I'm really hoping that this vacation period brings with it the release of our family from the plague -- after eight very long days, Violet finally perked up last night and started giggling and causing trouble again (I never thought I'd be so happy to see her make giant messes everywhere!). Anyway, today I wanted to round up a few picks for the weekend + several for next week so you can plan accordingly if you are, like us, enjoying a February staycation. Enjoy!
1. February 18: Explore color at this family day event. Click through on the link to see the image shown partially in the thumbnail above -- it is breathtaking (if you don't see it immediately, refresh your browser until you do as they have rotating images)!

2. February 18: Go on a folk art exploration.

3. February 18-19: This event is perfect for train fans of all ages.

4. February 17-25: I posted about this earlier in the week, but really, this is delightful for Bugs Bunny fans.

5. February 17-26: Laurel and I are super excited to head to Disney on Ice's Dare to Dream tomorrow. Rapunzel and Flynn!

6. February 18-26: Go back in time at Old Sturbridge Village.

7. February 18-26: Practice those sailor skills.

8. February 20: Enjoy Doktor Kaboom! -- an interactive science comedy show.

9. February 20-24: Cast your vote in a PreZOOdential Election.

10. February 20-24: A building full of kid-friendly fare, including special winter vacation week programming.

11. February 20-24: Get outside during the winter break.

12. February 20-24: Artful February vacation programming. I think Laurel would love this.

13. February 20-25: Programming perfect for budding techies.

14. Ongoing: Finally, if your elementary school aged kids are in programming and you're looking for some structured play for your little ones, Knucklesbones is running open play sessions for babies/kids 8 months - 5 years.

Image credit: deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

Last week I hopped onto a chat at The Motherhood about work/life balance. During the chat, I commented about self care being a major part of the balance equation, but that it's important not to stall out due to your own, or other people's, ambitious standards. That very morning, actually, I started a practice of giving myself the gift of at least 10 minutes of self care every day. (And yes, I put "10 minutes" as a recurring to-do in my Outlook since I love crossing off to-do items.) Tomorrow (Friday the 17th) at 1pm EST, I'll be hosting a live chat about the 10 minute challenge. Come share and garner inspiration for how to make self care doable! The chat is text based (similar to posting and commenting on status updates in Facebook); just be sure to create a login at The Motherhood in advance so you can hop right on at 1pm to chat in real time!

Late yesterday afternoon, I wrote a reaction to a recent Rolling Stone article about a school district that enacted a policy unofficially called the "No Homo Promo." It was meant to bar teachers and administrators from discussing homosexuality at all in the schools. It resulted in teachers and administrators ignoring bullying, which led to a suicide cluster in the district.

Here's an excerpt:

More than anything, kids need to know they are lovable and that they can trust the adults in charge of their lives to look out for their best interests. They are deserving of respect and the protection of adults just by existing. They don't have to do anything to earn it. It is their right as children to be protected until they are old enough to protect themselves. We as a society agree on that -- we have adifferent court system for kids, we have laws about sex and abuse and child labor. We as a society agree children are different than adults.

It's long, but if you're interested, read the rest on BlogHer!

There are many things I love about Tea Collection -- the quality, the colorways, the details, the fact that most items are offered all the way from baby to size 12 -- and as a designer I especially appreciate their use of global inspiration. I recently had the opportunity to preview some pieces from the new Bali collection and they are just delightful. You can read more about the happy inspiration (how fun does that trip sound?); meanwhile, I wanted to share my favorite picks from the girls and boys collections. Also awesome? The kind folks at Tea Collection are offering a $100 gift certificate to one of you lovely readers! Read on to check out my picks and learn how to win!

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GIRLS

Tea Collection is replete with lovely dresses, but I especially adore the non-girly girl colors and patterns of the (1) Indonesian batik dress and (2) Adat batik dress; keep the chill away with the super soft (3) radiant rice leggings layered underneath. Or if your girl doesn't dig dresses, pair this gorgeous (4) Celuk embroidered top with one of Laurel and my favorite pieces from the Mexico collection: the (5) skinny French terry cargos. Finally, we're always dressing our girls in layers -- the soft and snuggly (6) kimono robe is a divine pick.

BOYS

These (1) French terry cargos (yes, the boy counterpart to the above) will serve as the perfect base for pretty much anything on top. My favorite tops include the: (2) monkey king tee, (3) Barong batik layered tee, and (4) <a href="http://www.teacollection.com/product/2S22019/boys-shirts-pelaga-camp-shirt.html#carnelian
" target="blank">Pelaga camp shirt. Add cozy layers with either the (5) Desa stripe hoodie or, if your boy doesn't like things pulled over the head, the (6) growling naga zip hoodie.

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THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED
Congrats to winner Trina!
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Aren't these clothes amazing? Now, on to the giveaway. The kind folks at Tea Collection are offering a $100 gift certificate to one of you lovely readers! Check out the rules below and enter to win!

Rules:

Hop on over to Tea Collection and leave a comment below, sharing one favorite item (or more if you like!) from their collection.

US entrants welcome to enter.

One comment per person (please do not leave comments from multiple e-mail addresses). Anonymous or SPAM-like comments will be removed. Note that your e-mail address will not be published or shared! Leaving just your first name or first name + initial in the name field is perfectly fine.

Entry period closes at noon EST, Wednesday, February 22, 2012.

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*One lucky winner (selected using Random.org) will receive a $100 Tea gift certificate. The winner will be listed here, using first name only.

Baby needs a new pair of shoes. In other words:

http://oascentral.blogher.org/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/blogher.org/LWL_Aug11_Review_001/@x13

If you're not interested in this sponsored post, check out The Hospital for Puking Animals.

Question: What is your best tip for hosting a gathering, get-together or party that is enjoyable and stress-free for both the host and guests?

This is really a hard question, because some gatherings are stress-free for the host and some are stress-free for the guests, but seldom are parties stress-free for everyone, right?

Stress-Free for the Host

• Make everyone bring their own food and beverage.
• Host the event in your backyard.
• Rent a port-a-potty. Don't allow your guests to use the bathroom.
• Hire security to throw everyone out after two hours.
• Keep children enclosed in an inflatable fenced-in area.

Stress-Free for the Guests

• Design five menus, including gluten-free, peanut-free, fat-free and kid-friendly. Make enough for each guest to have one of everything and then give them a choice when they walk through the door.
• Pay a housecleaner to shine up your house before the party.
• Hire wait staff to make sure their glasses are kept full of high-end drinks all night.
• Hire taxis to drive anyone home who has overindulged in said high-end drinks.
• Have open starting and ending times to the party so that no matter what else your guests have to do that day, they can still make it.
• Move your house so it is exactly five minutes from everyone on your guest list.
• Hire a babysitter for all your guests with children to occupy their children at their own house while they come to your party. This does double-duty: the parents will relax and have fun and those without children won't be subjected to anyone's spawn.

So, tricky Life Well Lived editors, what the heck are you trying to do to me?

The Happy Medium

• If you live in a nice climate or it's at least a pleasant season, have the gathering outdoors. You'll worry less about red wine on your upholstery, and they won't sweat to death. 
• Allow your guests to use your bathroom, clean it ahead of time and make sure there's smelly spray in there or at least matches, for heaven's sake. 
• Let your guests bring their children but either a) hire a sitter to hang out and keep them occupied or b) have a ton of outdoor toys, sports equipment, water balloons, bubbles, what have you so the kids can play and the adults can talk and there needn't be a lot of overlap. We once rented a bouncy house for a party -- it was like $75 for four hours and worth every penny. 
• Provide the main course and a few kinds of drinks (lemonade, water, and if you're the alcoholic beverage type, a bit of beer and wine) and ask your guests to bring any special beverages for themselves or their kids that are desired.
• Specify start and end times on your invitation, especially if you have kids you need to get to bed.
• Send real invitations as well as an evite so it's not as easy for your guests to forget all about your party.
• Follow up with those who don't RSVP so you have a better idea of headcount.
• Don't allow your children to deliver the invitations (mine invited several people in the neighborhood I've never met to a party we hosted the day I got home from a business trip).
• Prepare as many finger foods as possible to minimize utensil needs.
• Have garbage bags or bins and recyling bins at your party location to minimize clean-up or trash blowing around your yard later.
• Be cognizant of food allergies and make sure there is an alternative if you know one of your guest has one or is vegetarian or vegan.
• Check out the much better and more sophisticated tips than mine by Get Buttoned Up at Life Well Lived.
• Enter to win a Kindle Fire, because even though it has nothing to do with throwing a party, who doesn't want a Kindle Fire?

Today, Paige (also of Mudroom Boston) recommends a game that actually lives up to its name:

When my oldest son expressed interest in chess after reading the first installment of the Harry Potter series, I was excited, but tentative. While he loves to learn new games, he gets pretty frustrated when he can't master a game quickly. Not being a chess player myself, I had a vague sense that learning chess, let alone mastering it, was not going to be an easy task.
Boy, was I wrong.

On a trip to Stellabella Toys, I came across No Stress Chess, a version promising that players aged 7 and up would "Play the World's Greatest Game Instantly!" For once, an advertising slogan turned out to be true! The secret, I learned, is the special deck of cards from which players draw, showing exactly which piece to move and how to move it. While the deck eliminates the need to remember how every piece works, we found ourselves learning very quickly and not needing to refer to the card's instructions every time we drew. After just a few days of playing, my son was challenging us to games without the cards. A year after getting the game, his interest hasn't waned. At least once a week he pulls it out before bed and beats us handily.

It's Valentine's Day, so I'll gladly put both feet straight on the cheese platform and say the best example of my love for Beloved is our daughter.

I look at her and I see my husband's cheeks, my husband's huge blue eyes, my husband's toes. I see my nose, my shoulders, my flat feet. I see her uniqueness. Our genes live together forever in her, which sometimes takes my breath away.

I see my husband tuck her in every night he's home from his traveling job and read her stories. 

And so, I am not surprised at her capacity for empathy and compassion. She even extends it to stuffed things. 

I swear this is the last time for a while I'll do this. 

Yesterday was a snow day, and I let her stay home while I worked because it's going to be 46 degrees today and all that beautiful snow will probably melt. So after lunchtime sledding, she had some time on her hands.

I give you The Hospital for Puking Animals.

There was a simple, Department of Homeland Security coding system at play in this hospital. Colored-in heart, you're puking. Not-colored-in heart, not puking. Just resting. These guys were totally just resting.

The dogs, Salt and Pepper, can't bear to be separated, ever, so it doesn't surprise me they're side by side.

The couch hosted a LOT of pukers. Of course she puts them on the only piece of furniture with any value. Nonpukers on the broken Kmart dining set from 2000, pukers on the leather couch. That's my girl. Not in the picture, though. That's the neighbor.

From this angle we see the kitchen chairs are actually set up much like a submarine, with double racks for the infirm.

She ran out of furniture downstairs, so thank goodness she dragged down all the furniture from upstairs, too.

Pukers, both of them. The bear is using a Turbie Twist for a blanket.

As we cleaned up the Hospital for Puking Animals, I reminded myself that someday my house will be constantly in good order, and I will find myself longing for a few stuffed pukers. That's why I post these pictures. It's not for you, even though I like you. It's for me.

Happy Valentine's Day. Hug a puking animal today.

I've since learned the bears who faced me during my morning coffee were actually lined up for Bear School, which apparently was being taught in the kitchen that day due to a field trip. Boy, am I glad that's all cleared up.

This weekend, the little angel discovered the stitches in her Michael's version of Build-a-Bear named Tanya -- that she'd bought with her allowance and I stitched together while waiting for dinner in a Mexican restaurant --had suffered an injury in the seams. We prepped Tanya the bear for surgery and placed her in her rolling baby bed. After a tense ten-minute surgery, Tanya returned to the bed for post-op recovery. The little angel found even smaller stuffed animals to be Tanya's stuffed animals and has been wheeling Tanya around the first floor of our house for the past few days, commenting to Tanya about the weather.

I am more than a little concerned the bears may attend boot camp soon and that I should hide the birthday candles.