Following the fun features on Medford and Beacon Hill, today’s Local Gems spotlight is on Lexington, a pretty town 11 miles northwest of Boston. I’m grateful to my brilliant friend and colleague Morra Aarons-Mele (mom of two adorable sons and a digital tour de force via Women Online and The Mission List), who shares her Lexington faves today. Thanks, Morra!

1. Wilson Farm. It's expensive and the traffic can be maddening but Wilson Farm is a magical place in my book. My boys love to go visit Belle the llama in her barn and see the fish in the garden shop. The fresh produce and plants are fantastic (as are the fresh made cider donuts, shown above), and I always buy a fresh turkey at Wilson's for Thanksgiving. My #1 favorite thing, though, is to take my sons on the spooky hayride around Halloween time!

2. Willard’s Woods. This is the most beautiful place to walk your dog. It's leash free on weekdays, which is fantastic. Park in the main parking lot and explore! Also great for kids' walks and mini hikes.

3. Arlington's Great Meadow. Despite the name, Arlington's Great Meadow is in Lexington! I sneak in behind the Waldorf School and onto the bike path. The Meadows are vast and beautiful -- you feel very far away even though you're about 15 feet from civilization. It’s great for little "hikes" for kids.

4. Revolve. Revolve offers incredible women's clothing consignment! Great designers, fair prices, and a good selection. I try to stop in once a week to see what's new. Belmont also has a Revolve but I prefer the Lexington shop for selection.

5. Ride Studio Cafe. OK, you may feel you've stepped into an episode of Portlandia, but the coffee is worth it, I promise. If you're a cycling enthusiast, this place is your hub.

6. Sweet Thyme Bakery. This little café near the Lexington Common is replete with fresh baked bread, scones, and other treats -- all beautifully presented and wrapped. They also offer a small sandwich menu.

7. Rancatore's Ice Cream. Originally established in neighboring Belmont, Rancatore's (aka Ranc's) occupies a prime spot in the heart of Lexington Center. The flavor roster changes daily and includes sweet picks such as cinnamon nutmeg, gingersnap molasses, and callebaut (Belgian) milk chocolate. Also, try the homemade hot fudge!

8. FORTHCOMING GEM ALERT: Il Casale. Nourish was originally on my local gems list, but sadly, they have since closed. The good news? Belmont's Il Casale is opening a sister bistro in Nourish's space this spring. Assuming the Lexington spot mirrors the tastiness of the Belmont location, this will be a fantastic addition to the Center!

Do you have other Lexington gems you love? Feel free to share in the comments below!

Image credits: all images via linked websites, with the exception of Willard's Woods, sourced via Lexington Patch

Hi folks, I have a great newsletter subscriber giveaway this month! You know about Uncommon Goods, yes? This charitably minded, indie company offers all sorts of quirky finds for humans, pets, and home (remember we obsessed about their cardboard animal heads?)...right this second I'm especially loving  these globally minded continent pillows. ANYWAY, thanks to my friends at Uncommon Goods, one lucky newsletter subscriber will win a $100 gift certificate to UG. To be eligible for the giveaway, subscribe below by March 10!

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Good morning everyone, are you bleary eyed from watching the Oscars? I instead obsessed over paint swatches last night and caught the award highlights on YouTube this morning (thank you, internet). I hope you have a great Monday; enjoy this roundup of events for the week! Also, I still have a handful of slots left for this (free) spa party I'm hosting if you want to join in!

March 3: Especially for me morning for children with hearing loss. (Acton)

March 4: Make a MESS: Mardi Gras in a box. (Acton)

March 4: ASD friendly afternoon at the museum. (Acton)

March 5: Parent education session on families and the digital age. (Boston)

March 5: DeCordova Museum tours are free today. (Lincoln)

March 6: Celebrate Women’s History Month with these SMART gals. (Acton)

March 6: The final stretch to Spring and marathon season in Boston. (Boston)

March 6: Give your budding scientist the chance to explore wheels and ramps. (Worcester)

March 7: Celebrate Carnaval with free museum admission. (Acton)

March 7: Chinese New Year banquet. (Boston)

March 7: Dr. Seuss storytime. (Cambridge)

March 7: Late night at the museum. (Easton)

March 7: Farm connections: where does our food come from? (Lincoln)

March 7: A year in the life of a honeybee. (Marshfield)

March 7: World premiere concert by Matthew Aucoin. (Salem)

Image credit: Mass Audubon

Have an event you'd like to submit for editorial consideration? Please e-mail the event description + URL to Christine at editor{@}bostonmamas.com. For guaranteed event exposure, place an advertisement.

The funeral is today. I don't know what to say, so I'm just going to quote my sister-in-law, Lynn.

I am ONE LUCKY GIRL to have had the best father-in-law in the world. This evening, Leon's dad Bob passed away peacefully after a long, brave battle against COPD. Bob never missed a chance to give his advice or share his outlook on life, make us laugh with his awesomely smart ass comments and fatten us up with his homemade chili, caramels and shakes. He was a great husband, dad and grandpa. I am so fortunate to have known him.

Bob leaves behind eight kids and sixteen grandkids, as well as a faithful and amazing wife. We'll miss the old man. 

Happy Sunday, I hope you're having a great weekend! This one's been the best in recent memory; Laurel and Violet's squabbling (OMG the squabbling!) has suddenly taken a major turn for the better and we've enjoyed such a nice mix of nature and craft adventures, household tasks, and family time. Also, we've been hosting Clifford from Vi's school this weekend...so cute.

Anyway, I wanted to share the Best of February if you're looking for some fun reading this afternoon. Also I'm honored to featured in Boston Globe Magazine today, sharing about family friendly meal planning resources -- thanks, BGM! And finally, if you need even more entertainment, check yesterday's Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome. Have a great afternoon!

Advocacy

- Never underestimate the power of your voice.

Books & Crafts

- Super awesome parachute cord crafts.

- Test your finding power with this great book for kids and grownups alike.

- Bookmark these 14 Valentine's printables for next year (we used the woodland critters this year and they were adorable).

Food

- These 3 easy Valentine's inspired treats would be awesome any day.

Gear

- My new favorite luggage.

Play & Learning & Behavior

- 9 cool science experiments using everyday household ingredients.

- Black History Month may be over but these learning resources are worth accessing year round.

- 12 ways to get kids to brush their teeth.

Style

- Look no further for rainbow awesomeness than Marimekko.

Image credit: Pinterest

Hi everyone, I've got something so fun to share with you today! I'm hosting a delightful spa party with the lovely folks from Dr. Smith's Tuesday, March 11 @ 11:30am in Boston and I would love for you to come enjoy refreshments, mini spa treatments, and the company of other rad moms (it will be awesome for all moms, and especially those with little ones in diapers!). I have a limited number of spaces so please e-mail me at editor@bostonmamas.com ASAP so I can give you the secret squirrel RSVP code. :-)

I'll distribute (free!) tickets on a first come, first served basis. If you want to request tickets in a pair (so you can bring a mama friend) go ahead and do so and I'll do my best to accommodate! I can't wait to meet you!

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happy Saturday and happy March everyone! Between travel, school break, and then some more travel, it feels like a million years since I last posted a Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome. But it certainly isn't because it hasn't been awesome. I'm glad to get back this week; here are some great reads, visuals, and resources that I found particularly awesome this week. Enjoy!

- My friend C. C. Chapman is awesome; here’s what he’s doing for Mercy.

- As if I needed another reason to eat Ben & Jerry’s.

- As if I needed another reason to love Paul Rudd.

- Different teas and what they help with.

- Incredible paper versions of famous dresses.

- Incredible photos of abandoned places.

- Stunning portraits of the world’s remotest tribes before they pass away.

- Online resources for affordable curtains.

- America’s best cities for hipsters (#14 represent).

- Eight ways to use your smartphone to make your life easier.

- Use old dried out markers to make watercolor paint.

Image credit: homemade watercolor paint

For my trip to DC, Jon lent me the Travelpro luggage I bought him for Christmas (since my options were either too big or too small). And now I need to continue to borrow Jon's or buy my own! This luggage is compact (though it features expansion opportunity), awesomely lightweight, and features 360 degree wheels that make it easy to navigate through the airport and into those tight bathroom stalls. Travelpro makes bigger sizes too, but I recommend staying small; the less space you have, the less unnecessary stuff you'll pack!

Want more Friday Finds? Check out: ridiculously awesome pants, parachute cord crafts, and Where Is The Cake?

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've enjoyed a great week! I've felt a little scattered since it's been a short one for me. I'm looking forward to recalibrating this weekend with Jon and the girls (and perhaps putting the final decorative layer on this unicorn!). If you're looking for something fun to do over the weekend, here are 14 options for you via the Weekend Roundup. Enjoy!

1. It’s never too early for good fitness. (Boston)

2. Celebrate Purim! (Boston)

3. Get behind the camera and learn the basics of filmmaking. (Boston)

4. BSO family concert. (Boston)

5. A puppet presentation of Aesop’s Fables. (Brookline)

6. Put a Little Groove in your Saturday morning. (Brookline)

7. Ever wonder what it would be like to walk with dinosaurs? (Cambridge)

8. Spend your Saturday at the sugar shack. (Ipswich)

9. Sculpture park snowshoe tour. (Lincoln)

10. Baby it’s cold outside, but not too cold to learn about summer camp! (Sharon)

11. Maple days. (Sturbridge)

12. Musical postcards, around the world with music. (Westborough)

13. Build a feathered friend a bluebird house. (Worcester)

14. Nature play and free admission to Ecotarium. (Worcester)

Image credit: Boston Children’s Museum

Have an event you'd like to submit for editorial consideration? Please e-mail the event description + URL to Christine at editor{@}bostonmamas.com. For guaranteed event exposure, place an advertisement.