The Big Toy Book’s Sweet Suite was part party and part connecting with brands. I found some old favorites including Faber Castell and Tomy and new discoveries such as Kurio, Fashion Angels, USAopoly, Thames and Kosmos, Hexbugs (did you know they had big robots too?), Skylanders and Disney Infinity among others. As a child, my…
Category: Parenting
I’m your parent not your friend.
French Attitude: Quelques Petits Mots
We have appetizers, the French have aperitif. Ours is a small food that is eaten before a meal. Theirs describes not just the food, but the gathering, the mingling and catching up over a slow drink and a small bite. The French talk about food the way Americans talk about Disneyland. A story I like…
Crudités Redefined
There is a wonderful French song, by Jacques Brel called Les Bonbons (Candy). “Je vous ai apporté des bonbons Parce que les fleurs c’est périssable Puis les bonbons c’est tellement bon Bien que les fleurs soient plus présentables” It says, “I brought you candy, because flowers are perishable. Anyway, candy is so good even though…
Summers in the City
Between heat, exhaustion, anxiety, computer foibles and faults, and erratic work at home schedules, there is the real stuff summer is made of. Camp. New Friends. Old Friends. Staying up late. Pool time. Days and Mornings at Camp Camp is an option for some families and a necessity for others based on childcare needs,…
Birthday Parties: As a guest and a host
Whether you have little toddlers or school aged children birthday parties are a part of your regular routine. Even if your children are not a part of a traditional school, homeschool, not in school yet, rural school, one room school house, there is a good chance you’ll be attending several parties each year. This page…
Vegetables Wanted: Meat Need Not Apply
I’m not Zagat or the Michelin Guide. I don’t have as many categories as Urbanspoon or the unpredictability of Yelp. I’m more of a kitchen kitty than a Chowhound. That being typed, I get texts while I’m putting the kids to bed that look like this: I spend a good part of my day sharing…
Speaking of Summer: Martha Speaketh Weeketh
The kids are fans of talking dogs. From Martha Speaks on PBS to the many talking dog movies (mostly from the 80’s it seems on Netflix) they never seem to tire of talking dogs. When it comes to these verbose dogs, not all dogs are created equally. The one dog we all seem to enjoy…
Great Wolf Lodge: Family Adventure in New England
I have to admit that I’m more of the “cabin in the woods with bears” type of person, but my husband is more of a “Wolf in a costume, hotel room beds and amenities” kind of person. I first heard about Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) when I was looking into places for a family reunion…
Talking to Fathers
I have a father and for most of my life also had two grandfathers. Now that I’m married I have fathers-in law. Now that I have children I have a husband who is a father as well. Until recently, when I’ve been interviewing several Boston area fathers for a few pieces I’m working on I’ve…
Mondays, Bacon, and Beer
Mondays can be a little rough. Especially a beautiful like today. One way to get through it all is to take a few minutes to think ahead to next weekend. You won’t spend too much time because the weekend is still many days away but you get that nice little break to dream about fun…
Weekends in Town: Village Fairs, Town Days , and City Festivals
This weekend is for the home bodies, the townies, and the locals. Just about every other town in suburban Boston is having a town day this weekend. Nonantum is having their Village Day it will be Sunday, June 1st from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Coletti-Magni Park. Belmont is having their Town Day on…
Kirkland Tap & Trotter: Kids May bring their Well Behaved Parents
My daughter and I recently caught up with Chef Tony Maws to taste some of his new menu items on the grown up and the kids menu at Kirkland Tap and Trotter. We sat ringside for our chat with Chef . As we talked, Chef Maws would step away to taste food being prepped in…
Leah's Life: Pearls and Oysters 