I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Arlington Center recommendations (East Arlington + Arlington Heights are forthcoming separately) come from reader Justine Uhlenbrock, a birth doula, minimalist mom of two girls, and writer who shares about motherhood, building a family legacy, and the intersection of food and family. Thanks for sharing these 11 local gems, Justine!

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Arlington is a delightfully walkable, bike-friendly town, home to lovely parks and thriving shops. Its central location, bordering no less than six towns, means you're always a quick ride to anywhere (on the roads or via the Minuteman Bike Path)! Here are my favorites in Arlington Center:

1. Blue Ribbon BBQ. As a southern girl, I can attest to the authentic taste of Blue Ribbon's delicious barbecue. Their trio platter is huge, enough for two adults to share. Our favorite meats are the pulled pork, beef brisket, and jerk chicken. All the sides are good, but I'd go for the collard greens to get the genuine Dixie experience. The restaurant also caters, and they encourage you to take free homemade pickles on your way out, y’all. Don’t mind if I do!

2. Toraya. What Toraya lacks in ambience, it makes up for with simple, well-crafted, top-notch sushi; it's some of the best north of the river.

3. Kickstand Cafe. This café spot has changed hands several times over the years and the new ownership has made great improvements to this coffee shop on the bike path. They offer a few lunch items, and I love that they use quality local ingredients when available. Their Aztec hot chocolate knocks my socks off; I mix it with coffee to tone it down and pair my concoction with a ginger-lemon or chocolate-coconut scone.

4. Derby Farm Flower & Garden. This eclectic shop creates beautiful flower arrangements and also offers a gorgeously curated collection of gifts and gardening accoutrements. When the winter doldrums strike, I pop in to imagine what could be in the spring.

5. Arlington Centered. AC is little sister to D2 in neighboring Somerville. I could wander lazily around this funky Etsy-like boutique all day, provided my kids aren't with me. It’s full of perfect, well-priced gifts for anyone on my list from babies to men.

6. Pink Dolly. This resale boutique offers clothes for kids and adults (including maternity!). They make excellent use of their limited space.

7. Wild Child. Offering an impressive and adorable range of gears, gifts, and clothing in a relatively small footprint, I love that Wild Child carries one of my much-loved brands, Tea Collection.

8. The Book Rack. Reviewed earlier on this site, The Book Rack is simply the best used bookstore around. New titles also are available, and the friendly, knowledgeable staff always can put a finger on what you’re looking for.

9. Playtime. Need craft supplies for a school project or a last minute birthday present for your kid’s friend? In operation for an astounding 70+ years, Playtime is stuffed to the gills with craft and art supplies, toys, and more.

10. Helena’s. Flummoxed about what to wear? Helena's prides itself on offering versatile separates and accessories that make it easy (and fun) to get dressed. Cheers to that!

11. Robbins Library. A brilliant historical gem, Robbins Library is the country's oldest free children's library. The reading room is also a great place to catch up on your favorite magazines!

Do you have other Arlington Center gems you love? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you want to pen a Local Gems guest post, contact Christine at editor@bostonmamas.com to check on availability.

Image credits: all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages

I have an awesome newsletter subscriber giveaway this month, perfect for kicking about in the delightful spring weather! My new friends at Reebok are offering two winners each a pair of Reebok Skyscape sneakers. I have no doubt they'll look just as awesome on you as they do on Miranda Kerr! To be eligible for the giveaway, simply subscribe below by midnight EST May 14, 2014!

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The other day on the radio I heard that song from Pretty in Pink. You know the one. 

I touch you once.

I touch you twice.

And the kill shot: You always said we'd meet again, someday.

I'm back to revising THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES and nineteen years old again in my head, and that line might summarize eighteen, nineteen, twenty and twenty-one for me. A series of leavings. Wondering if we'd stay friends, stay in love, stay in fucking touch. 

Watching people on whom we hung the future smile and wave and wander off until the phone calls and letters became memories and "do you remember" conversations and awkward introductions of people who were now our new everything. 

And feeling -- or at least I felt -- so betrayed by others and my own self that feelings that were once so intense could flame out so quickly without daily fuel. Surely there must be something wrong with her or him or them or me that we could have nothing left to share but the past? Something that maybe should be punished?

You always said we'd meet again, someday.

But after the first leaving of high school and the second, third, fourth and fifth leavings of each successive college class graduating and then all the leavings of friends picking up their bags and loading up their cars and moving on with their lives in different cities or states or countries, after the stay-at-home leavings of friends getting married, getting divorced, having children, changing jobs and moving away, after all of these leavings, each one gets less personal. 

I learned to say "goodbye" without having to say "see you again soon." Sometimes it's just "goodbye," and that's okay. It doesn't mean there was a betrayal.

Maybe that's why when I hear that one song from Pretty in Pink, I'm nineteen years old and hurt again by those words that I no longer attach to any one person but maybe all of them, all of those  people who left, even me.

You always said we'd meet again, someday.

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend and a delightful Mother's Day. It was so fantastic to soak in the beautiful weather, putter around our little yard (we bought peonies to plant...yay!), and browse open studios, among other things. I'm looking forward to a productive and fun week, and hope you are as well. Let's kick it off with the Weekly Blueprint!

May 12: Bullying and cyberbullying parent presentation. (Needham)

May 13: We’re going to see the goats! (Belmont)

May 13: Parent lunch and learn with Dr. Howard Gardner. (Boston)

May 13: Afternoon chores and ice cream. What a treat! (Lincoln)

May 14: Let’s go fly a kite. (Westport)

May 15: Ooey, gooey story fun. (Concord)

May 15: Introductory lecture for families with a special needs child. (Needham)

May 15 - 18: Father Goose’s Tales puppet show. (Brookline)

May 16: Music and movement with Ms. Bernadette (Acton)

May 16: Interactive musical program by cellist Lev Mamuya (Boston)

May 16: Cello story time. (Boston)

May 16: Friday night pajama party. (Boston)

May 16: Duckling month story time. (Cambridge)

May 16: Dirt don’t hurt, right? (Easton)   

May 16: Friday evening hay ride and campfire. (Lincoln)

Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Happy Saturday everyone, I hope you're enjoying a wonderful weekend! We kicked things off with a neighborhood cleanup this morning (I've truly never been so excited to pick up trash!) and will be cheering on the Bruins later today, among other things. Meanwhile, if you're looking for some good reads/visuals, here's what caught my eye this week. Have a great rest of the weekend!

- Humans of New York captures the Met Gala.

- On kids and privacy (and how it could impact your relationship).

- Rob Lowe is unprepared (and amazing).

- How parents are ruining youth sports.

- Congrats to the incredible winners of the Iris Awards.

- A beautiful bangle to benefit the incredible organization ONE.

- And speaking of ONE, remember how I went to lobby in February? The Electrify Africa Act passed! Simply AMAZING.

- Could the internet have saved my mother?

- Things to do in Boston with kids (my guest post at my friend Jo-Lynne’s site!).

- Have an artist at home? Their work could appear in a book!

Image credit: a trio of mosquito repelling plants via Pinterest

My friend Meagan Francis is a gifted writer and incredibly productive person. She is the mother of 5 children and has written 5 books, the latest being the e-book Beyond Baby. And what I love about this e-book is that it’s all about putting YOU back in focus following the baby years haze. Beyond Baby is divided into 40 weeks (get it?) of exercises that get you thinking and acting to better yourself, your shelter, your relationships, and your dreams.

As those of you who have read Minimalist Parenting know, I'm a big proponent of the position that you matter just as much as your children do. If you’ve been wrestling with this topic, go grab a copy of Beyond Baby right now. You won’t even need to wait for it to ship to your doorstep.

Want more Friday Finds? Check out: Bella Sante HydraFacial, chair reupholstery tutorial, Mizuno Wave Prophecy, Jordana lip balm stains, LA Fresh eco-wipes, ridiculously awesome pants, parachute cord crafts, Where Is The Cake?, and Travelpro luggage

Image credit: Amazon

Want more Friday Finds? Check out: chair reupholstery tutorial, Mizuno Wave Prophecy, Jordana lip balm stains, LA Fresh eco-wipes, ridiculously awesome pants, parachute cord crafts, Where Is The Cake?, and Travelpro luggage - See more at: http://www.bostonmamas.com/blog/2014/5/2/friday-find-bella-santa-hydrafacial.html#sthash.zmdAIwsT.dpuf

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've had a wonderful week and are looking forward to a great weekend (hey, including Mother's Day!). I'm excited to relax and finally shake this post-conference plague. Enjoy this roundup of 20 event picks for the weekend, and also, there are a few hours left to enter to win 1 of 5 copies of Minimalist Parenting. Go on and win a copy for yourself or a friend!

1. Free evening at the museum for families with children on the spectrum. (Acton)

2. Beauty and the Beast on the puppet show stage. (Brookline)

3. Footprint art on the boardwalk. (Boston)

4. It’s Lilac Sunday at the Arboretum. (Boston)

5. Create your own superhero. (Boston)

6. Visit the music studio and record your own song for mom. (Boston)

7. Buy a bulb for Mother’s Day. (Boston)

8. The wonderful Wizard of Oz made even better with the Boston Pops. (Boston)

9. Duckling Day is back! (Boston)

10. A Mother's Day walk for peace. (Boston)

11. Moms get free admission to the zoo. (Boston, Stoneham)

12. Fitness for a cause. (Canton)

13. Turn your toddler into a farmer. (Ipswich)

14. Community Nursery School’s Yellow Balloon Fair (Lexington)

15. West Medford Open Studios. (Medford)

16. Mother’s Day brunch and stroll. (Milton)

17. 37th annual Birds and Breakfast event. (Natick)

18. Kids FunFEST. (Newton)

19. Take mom on a hike. (Princeton)

20. Mother’s Day brunch at the Peabody Essex Museum. (Salem)

Image credit: Arnold Arboretum

Though Laurel and Violet differ in many ways, one characteristic they most definitely share is their love of books. While I was collecting their beloved but outgrown board books to hand down to my sister, I made a list of the picture books that have received request upon request by both girls. These picks will be wonderful for your library; they shine in wording, messaging, and illustration. Enjoy! And feel free to add your favorites in the comments below!

1. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
2. A Birthday for Frances
3. Bread and Jam for Frances
4. Caps for Sale
5. The Cat in the Hat
6. Doctor DeSoto
7. Duck on a Bike
8. Ella Takes the Cake
9. The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit
10. George & Martha: Best of Friends
11. The Gigantic Turnip
12. Great Day For Up
13. Guji Guji
14. Harold and the Purple Crayon
15. I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words
16. The Kissing Hand
17. The Little House
18. Llama Llama Red Pajama
19. Make Way for Ducklings
20. Madeline
21. Miss Nelson is Missing
22. Miss Rumphius
23. Olivia
24. Penguin
25. Penguin and Pinecone
26. Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore
27. A Pocket for Corduroy
28. The Shape of Me
29. The Snail and the Whale
30. Stone Soup
31. Swimmy
32. Tillie and the Wall
33. Toot & Puddle
34. Where is the Cake?
35. Zen Ties

Image credits: book jackets via Amazon; compilation graphic by Christine Koh

I got a bit of sunburn today, rolling around in my 1997 convertible, top down, radio up, DMV waiting to get duplicate titles on the sailboat and trailer I've owned for eleven years and sold tonight. I remember my best friend's father writing out a bill of sale on a slip of paper, selling Puffer to me for a dollar and a tow away on a brand- new trailer my brand- new husband and I bought. We brought her home from Iowa, worrying over every bump on I-29 until she rested safely in Kansas City. I sailed her, and I taught my husband and daughter to sell her. I was so proud to call her mine, to be a person who learned to sail and then actually kept doing it.

We always said we'd sell when we went a season without raising the mast, and last summer was it.

He travels a lot. The slip and trailer storage is expensive. We're ready for something easier.

My daughter was sad as we watched Puffer's new owner haul her away, still bearing the stickers of my lake and the Iowan lake I grew up on. She's headed to Long Island Sound. May she have a good life. She was made the year I was born. I like to think we both have a lot left in us.

Tonight I press my cheek to the patch of skin on my arm where I missed with sunscreen and feel the heat of forty summers on my skin. My body reacts to the sunlight, always. Just like Puffer.

I wonder how I'll get on the water next, but I have no doubt I will. I 'm happiest on the water, not in it or near it, but floating upon it, where the sun can still kiss my skin. Where I'll feel the heat of forty more summers yet.