Peas. They're nutritious, delicious, colorful, great for snacking (I've been consuming large quantities raw thanks to the heat), easy to grow in a home garden, and -- notably in my book -- one of the few vegetables Violet will eat. Green and snap peas are in season June through September in Masschusetts, and this week's Eat Seasonal feature offers 8 ways to breathe new life into peas, whether as a snack, side, or main dish:

1. Try a fresh take on hummus via this green pea hummus.

2. These roasted sugar snap peas with mint and sea salt look simple and incredible.

3. Quick and healthy green pea fritters.

4. Keep it cool and simple with this crunchy summer salad (you can also use some of your seasonal cucumbers!).

5. Add color and nutrients to store-bought pasta with this ravioli with snap peas and mushrooms.

6. Seared scallops with snap peas and pancetta in 20 minutes = WIN.

7. Love the idea of pairing Korean-style short ribs with snap peas.

8. These pea guacamole and seared halloumi soft tacos? Major wow.

Image credits: peas via FreeDigitalPhotos.net; all others via linked sites above

Though I’ve done a couple of backpacking trips (a million years ago), I was initially hesitant about the idea of camping with the girls. I mean, I loved the idea but wasn’t sure how our fiery Vi would take to it. And while there were some inevitable squabbles (no different from home!), for the most part we had a great time. This and next week I'll share a few posts about camping with kids because many people have asked me about it (in the vein of it seeming impossible). Today I’ll start with the first step: 5 tips for booking your trip.

1. Start close. I recommend starting with a short radius, not only so you don’t have to spend a ton of time in the car, but also so that if for some reason things go awry, you know you can pull the ripcord and be home in a reasonable time. (In general, I’m a proponent of sticking with a commitment, but there’s comfort in knowing you could pull the ripcord if you needed to, even if you don’t!) We booked at Pawtuckaway State Park & Campground in New Hampshire, which was about 1 hour, 20 minutes from home -- the perfect distance to get woodsy but not be too far away.

2. Scout out the family friendly factor. Pawtuckaway ended up being super family friendly. In addition to trails, there was a beach, fantastic playground, canoe and boat rentals, and a cute little general store where you could get everything from beach toys to puzzle books to ice cream treats. It was really perfect for families.

3. Be strategic about campsite location. When you’re booking your campsite, think about positioning. For example, Jon smartly booked us at a site on a dead end so we didn’t have a ton of traffic coming through. Also, I recommend positioning yourself close (though not right next to!) bathrooms depending on where your kids are at with the potty situation.

4. Try one night to start. For peace of mind, try one night first to see how it goes. No doubt, it would have been more efficient for us to book 2-3 nights given that it takes some effort to get packed and organized (I’ll cover that topic in a separate post), but for our first time camping as a family, we felt better just committing to one night.

5. Just do it! I know many people are hesitant about trying camping with kids, what with gear (again, I’ll get to that in a separate post!) and different temperaments but I recommend you just do it! It’s simply wonderful to be in nature and away from devices and household chores...to live more slowly, even if it's just for a short stint. In the grand scheme of things our camping adventures was less than 24 hours but it was fun and different (and incredibly affordable!) and we plan on going again!

Do you have other tips for booking camping trips with kids? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

Image credits: Christine Koh

Happy first day of July, can you believe it? Year = half over! We have a string of delightful plans coming together for the holiday weekend; I'm just feeling kind of overwhelmed by gratitude for the people and good things happening in our lives. Meanwhile, since we've closed the books on another month I wanted to leave you with the best of June 2014. Enjoy catching up on some wonderful back reading from wherever you're enjoying the week!

Relationships & goals:

• The power of compromise
• 8 race tips for newbies (or anyone, really)

Home:

• Tess & Ted = awesome interior design services
• 9 tips for gardening on a budget
• A refrigerator tour

Food:

• Do you write about food? Share your awesome via this new series
• Eat seasonal: beet recipes
• Eat seasonal: strawberry recipes
• Eat seasonal: cucumber recipes
• Eat seasonal: scallion recipes

Local:

• Local gems in Easton
• Advice for visiting Boston with toddlers

Cool finds:

• A fantastic portable and affordable speaker
• Stylish textured dip bowls
• Great summer trekkers
• Super awesome one-piece picks from Splendid

Hey, Internet Keep Being Awesome:

• 1
• 2
• 3

Image credit: fourth of July marshmallow pops via Pinterest

Thanks to Grace Hwang Lynch of HapaMama for inviting me to talk shop. Check out her post here!

 

On Writing

I recently did a Skype author interview with my niece's English class. They asked when I started writing, and I realized I was younger than their 14-year-old selves when my fingers started itching. I began with poetry heavily influenced by Shel Silverstein and progressed to thinly veiled plagiarism short stories in the style of Ray Bradbury. After being published in a chapbook that I think probably published anyone who sent anything in, I had the bug bad, and it really never left. So let's talk about writing. 

 

What am I working on/writing?

 

Right now, I am not writing anything. A few weeks ago, I sent my contemporary new adult novel, THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES, to my agent. He said he would read it. I was happy, though I felt none of the excitement that I felt when people asked to read THE OBVIOUS GAME, because now I know not to drink the water until it's been filtered, or some other terrible metaphor for becoming jaded by the publishing beast. I have a few ideas for my next novel, but for now, I wait to see if my agent will represent PARKER CLEAVES or if I need to go to Plan B. (I do not know what Plan B is yet.)

 

How does my writing/work differ from others in its genre?

 

Well, for one thing, it's in my voice. I know that sounds silly, but it's true. If I find a writer I like, I'll read anything that person writes. I fangirl easily. It's my dream that people will like my voice and then want to read anything I write, and I realize that is totally vain. But it's the truth. So I work hard to make my voice sound different than other people's voices. THE OBVIOUS GAME was turned down by some major publishers because "they already had an anorexia book on their lists." That was frustrating for me, because that makes it sound like the book is all subject and no voice. I get it from a business/catalog perspective, but it also made me want to scream. I think it's clear the same person wrote THE OBVIOUS GAME and THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES even though the subject matter is vastly different. All of my writing tends to be less action/more character development than other books in my genres. I also try to portray strong parent/child relationships, because it seems like every young adult or new adult book I read has a crappy mother in it.

 

Why do I write what I do?

 

Someone super famous but apparently not easily googled once said, "Write the book only you can write." So that's what I try to do. My writing is influenced by my life experiences, my observations of people and events, my politics, my anxiety disorder, my sense of humor. It does no good to try to follow trends, because it takes so long for most of us to get a book published, the trends will change by then. When I'm planning a book, I start with a takeaway I want the reader to have, and I build a story around that. It's kind of like building an outfit around a belt.

 

How does my writing process work?

 

When I wrote THE OBVIOUS GAME, I just wrote in a linear fashion. Then I ended up having all these structural problems and rewrote and moved and rewrote four or five times over two years, and that was really painful. When I started THE BIRTHRIGHT OF PARKER CLEAVES, I used StoryMill software and outlined scenes in three acts. I figured out who all the characters were and when they would appear. I figured out the climax and most of the major events. And THEN I wrote, one scene at a time instead of one chapter at a time like THE OBVIOUS GAME. This time, too, I used my beta readers differently. I wrote a very loose and short rough draft and gave it to beta readers. Then I incorporated their feedback into the second draft and gave it to different beta readers. Finally, I incorporated that feedback and came up with a third draft, which I gave to yet again different beta readers. Then I shined it up and sent it to my agent. It'll probably change again, but I'd reached the point when I hated the whole thing, which is typically a good sign that you're done revising for a bit.

 

Next week, you can read about my friend Kyran Pittman's writing process. She's the author of PLANTING DANDELIONS, which is a really good book that I enjoyed muchly. 

On Sunday, my wonderful Tante Sue passed after a long struggle with Pick's disease. I remember most about her that she loved to socialize. Pick's stole her speech. It makes me very angry. It doesn't make sense.

I hate you, Pick's.

On Monday, my daughter's buddy Ka'Vyea Tyson-Curry left Children's Mercy Hospital after two months of recovery from multiple gunshot wounds. He's ten. He likes books. He did not deserve any of what he got. It makes me very angry. It doesn't make sense.

But I love you, modern medicine. Thanks for saving Ka'Vyea.

I miss my aunt. I'm glad Ka'Vyea is doing so well.

Life. It's complicated. You just have to hold on. None of it makes sense. Maybe that's not the point. Maybe the point is just to ease each other's pain in any way we can.

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! I'm happy to report that we enjoyed a fun camping adventure with the girls, which I'll be sharing more about soon (particularly since many people have said either, "Really, you took a 3-year-old camping?!" or "I could never do that!"). It was shockingly doable! But before we get there, if you're off and looking for something to do this week, enjoy this roundup via the Weekly Blueprint:

July 1: Test your hockey skills with the Worcester Sharks. (Worcester)

July 2: Free concert - Soul City. (Plymouth)

July 2: Meet an astronaut. (Acton)

July 2 - 3: The Brewster annual oceanside summer arts and crafts festival. (Brewster)

July 2 - 6: Boston Harborfest. (Boston)

July 3: Children’s Discovery Day. (Stockbridge)

July 3 - 4: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. (Boston)

July 4: A fireworks roundup by town. (Multiple locations)

July 4: Bridgewater Arts and Music Festival. (Bridgewater)

July 4: A children’s bike parade. (Needham)

July 4: Learn about Ramadan. (Boston)

July 4: Free admission to Heritage Museum and Garden. (Sandwich)

July 4: Free admission to Edward Gorey House. (Yarmouth Port)

July 4: Free admission to Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. (Becket)

July 4: Free admission to Amelia Park Children’s Museum. (Westfield)

July 4: Free admission to Falmouth Museums on the Green. (Falmouth, Woods Hole)

July 4 - 6: Berkshires Arts Festival. (Great Barrington)

Image credit: Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular

The Oontz Curve lives up to its descriptive full name; it is, in fact, a super portable wireless Bluetooth speaker. I recently bought this gadget and it kind of blows my mind that you can get a Cambridge Soundworks speaker for $29.99. The Oontz has been the perfect solution for enjoying music outdoors, though it would be great for the office too. The speaker connects via Bluetooth, the sound quality is great, and the battery is rechargeable.

Want more Friday Finds? Of course you do! Check out: textured dip bowls, Lands' End Trekkers, Misfit Shine, Smooth Move, Beyond Baby, 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 credits: Amazon

Happy Friday everyone, how are you all doing with summer vacation? Yesterday was our first official day off and by about 10am, Laurel clearly was missing her friends already (it was a good thing she happened to have a midday birthday party to attend)! So commences play date scheduling before her camps start... Meanwhile, if you're in town this weekend, here are 16 events, lovingly curated for your consideration. Enjoy!

1. Meet the New England Aquarium without going into the city. (Acton) 

2. Art in the Village. (Barnstable)

3. The Boston Common Frog Pond opens for the season! (Boston)

4. Spice, fun, and food at the Boston JerkFest. (Boston)

5. Family play date at the ICA. (Boston)

6. Get messy for International Mud Day. (Boston)

7. Enjoy some Sunday Parkland Games. (Cambridge)

8. Dinoland grand opening. (Carver)

9. A grand opening festival. (Easton)

10. Let’s go ponding. (Framingham)

11. Wilson Farm strawberry festival. (Lexington)

12. Rolie Polie Guacamole at the Healthy Families Festival. (Natick)

13. Learn about butterflying in the backyard. (Newburyport)

14. A family fun day. (Somerville)

15. Spread your wings for this faery festival. (Wenham)

16. Family canoeing on the French River. (Worcester)

Image credit: Art in the Village

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Jamaica Plain, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Easton recommendations come from my delightful friend Christina, who writes at The Fairly Odd Mother and Cool Mom Picks. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Easton, Christina! (And if you want to submit a Local Gems feature, see details here!)

+ + + + +

Right next to the busy city of Brockton, Easton is a pretty, historically rich, tree-filled town I've called home for the last 14 years. It's a wonderful spot for kids with lots of safe outdoor spaces in which to roam, great schools, and a not-too-long drive to either Boston, Providence, or Cape Cod. Here are some of my family's favorite spots:

1. The Village Toy Shop. This is my go-to stop for all those birthday gifts my kids need for their friends, and also for awesome holiday shopping too. With free gift wrapping, it's clear how much this store is loved by all the matching gift wrap piled up at any child's birthday party.

2. Hilliards House of Candy. There is no bigger treat than a stop at Hilliards House of Candy, where my kids can scoop out their own assortment of goodies into bags while I check out their delicious boxes of salted caramel chocolates, roasted-on-site nuts, or adorable holiday chocolate lollipops. It's a great spot to stop in summer for a scoop of their own yummy ice cream too.

3. The Children's Museum in Easton. Easton's old historic fire station makes a wonderfully playful spot in which kids can explore, climb, learn, and play. Getting to the top of the old fire pole is a challenge for little arms, and their outdoor play space, The Wild Place, let's kids explore nature and maybe even get a little messy.

4. The Farmer's Daughter. The "it" place for breakfast or lunch on Main Street, The Farmer's Daughter works with local growers to create delicious masterpieces that have people lining up to experience. I like that even their kids' menu takes into account their focus on fresh and local ingredients.

5. Borderland State Park. The former stopping grounds of the rich and famous (notably, the Ames Family who donated much to the town), Borderland is truly a gem for everyone in the state. The park offers great hiking and biking trails, a sprawling disc golf course that is open to everyone, huge lawns for tag, a fun sledding hill, and picnic tables for when it's time to refuel.

6. Natural Resources Trust of Easton. Otherwise known as Sheep Pasture, the NRT exists as an educational center for the town, with chickens, sheep, and other livestock on site for kids to see, as well as easy walking trails to explore. The NRT puts on Spring Family Night Hikes, summer camp for kids, and a huge Harvest Fair in October that seems to bring the entire town to their grounds.

7. Easton Town Pool. Opening this week, this town pool is the best spot on a hot summer's day with little kids. The pool is more like a small pond with filtered water, a sandy beach, and lots of lifeguards on hand to help keep an eye on beginning swimmers. 

8. Maguire's Bar and Grill. Massachusetts' oldest independently owned and continuously operated restaurant and bar, I don't think Maguire's ever closes -- we've made the short drive during a snowstorm! Maguire's is a great place to stop for a juicy burger, blackened shrimp pasta (my favorite!), or one of their special seasonal offerings. My kids love the lively, informal atmosphere as much as I do.

9. Ames Free Library. Check out one of the town's many historic buildings, this one designed by the famous American architect Henry Hobson Richardson. A spacious children's room and pretty outdoor gardens make the Ames Free Library a great stop for books, movies, and video games.

10. The Marketplace at Simpson Spring. Take a field trip to the oldest independent bottling plant in the US and try some of their delicious old-fashioned soda flavors like Cream Soda and White Birch. The Saturday marketplace also brings together local farms and food producers, crafters, and other locals businesses into a bustling year-round indoor market. If you can catch a tour, do it---totally fascinating for both kids and grown ups.

Do you have other Easton 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: thumbnail via Maguire's; all images via linked websites or associated Facebook pages with the exception of Borderland State Park, via Wikipedia.