Currently viewing the tag: "events"
I was really thrilled to attend the Drool Baby Expo. I heard about it last year but was busy at work and didn’t think I needed it since Graham was due to turn 2 and he’d just started therapy. But since I have a 3-month-old, now was a great time to go.
The Expo is put on by the great local-to-Boston toy and gear shop, Magic Beans. It is the kind of store that has the coolest toys AND that lets you haul a carseat out to your car to see if it will fit. (I’ve personally done it and they were sweet as can be.)
Baby stores can be full of useful information, but there’s something extra special about being in a room with 10 major stroller companies where you can see their wares in person and get a chance to ask every question you can possibly think of. And then add carseats, clothes, furniture, toys and pretty much any other baby item you can imagine and you’ve got a baby expo.
Drool really goes above and beyond. Not only were there a bajillion baby brands there, there were cupcakes and Pinkberry and drinks and manicures and massages and prizes. Pretty much anything you could ask for. If you didn’t make it, I’m sorry. But never fear. I have a recap for you with some of the great finds. And if you’re local, I’m pretty sure I can talk you in to coming next year.
I was happy for all the treats. You wouldn’t think all this baby-stuff-watching would take so much effort, but I was beat by the end of it! Good thing there was sugar around! These cupcakes came courtesy of legendary Brookline Bakery Party Favors.
All the big names were there. If you were stroller shopping, you were in luck. Bugaboo, Maclaren, Mountain Buggy, Phil & Teds, BOB and a bunch more were there. Plus there were a lot of vendors you never realized made strollers! But the real value of Drool Baby is the chance to talk to local vendors you may have never heard of.
For example, check out Tiny Hanger. They’ve got a store in Coolidge Corner and they’ve got The. Most. Adorable. Baby clothes.
They carry a variety of designers and artists who make clothes, toys and other kid items.
There’s the opportunity to get in touch with a variety of resources. Did you know Boston Children’s Hospital is doing a free car seat check event? Now you do! Friday May 18th at 1pm at the Stop & Shop on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.
Or that JF&CS (Jewish Family & Children’s Services) offers support services for new parents?
Or have you heard of Boston Babywearers? A group that educates on babywearing, but also has a library of carriers so you can try one out before you buy?
And can I say how great it is to see so many of these small businesses? Lots of parent entrepreneurs with amazing products and services that came from their own experiences with kids.
A great example is the Zen Swaddle from Nested Bean. It comes from Massachusetts Mom Manasi Gangan, who created this unique swaddler after she spent hours rocking her young son who would only sleep in her arms. It has special pockets that simulate the extra pressure you give your baby on their sides and chest when you hold them and calm them. Tessa is not only one of their sleepy customers, she’s also the face on the package. (It took a matter of minutes for her to fall asleep once we swaddled her at the shoot.)
It’s also perhaps the prettiest swaddler I’ve ever seen. Super soft. And available soon from Magic Beans!
You can tell that Sage Spoonfuls is the next big thing in baby food. Their table was busy all night and I saw tons of entries for their raffle prizes. It helps that the woman in charge, Liza, and her husband Alex are great spokespeople for their product.
And seriously, how does she look just as good in person as she does in the promotional pictures?? We all have blenders, but I think the compact processor along with a simple storage system trumps a big fat blender and an army of Rubbermaid containers any day! I’ve read her impressive baby food book and it has pretty much any information you need on introducing and combining foods.
Tessa will be ready for solids soon and their system sounds awfully appealing for when I have to tackle two kid lunches instead of one!
There’s so much more, but I can’t show you all of it so I made you a Pinterest board instead!
I wasn’t just there for curiosity. I was on a mission for a carseat. Tessa has her baby bucket seat, it’s a Cybex Aton that I adore. (A post in which I profess my love for the Cybex Callisto stroller that goes with it is forthcoming.) But eventually she needs a convertible seat. And since we have a small car, it’s no easy feat.
Luckily the guys from Diono were there. They used to be Sunshine Kids, the makers of the Radian 65 that Graham has. Their new seats are combination carseat/boosters and last 10 years! One more great thing about Drool is you get discounts and offers you can’t get any other time. Diono offered 25% off, a free travel bag, free accessory and free shipping. Okay, twist my arm, will ya? (It helps that while chatting up Jamie the Baby Gear Guy about my search he gave Diono a thumbs up.)
On my way out I picked up my gift bag and WOW. It was the stuff dreams are made of. Definitely glad I drove because it was so loaded with goodies, I don’t think I could’ve carried it home on the T! I was just thinking that Tesser had a low supply of baby toys. Not anymore!
A final word: there may be other baby expos out there but the Magic Beans staff were so kind and helpful that I doubt anyone else would take better care of you.
I attended Drool Baby as a VIP guest free of charge. I DID pay for the carseat, though.
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When it comes to department stores, Macy’s is generally my go-to. Good prices, good brands. I don’t feel woefully inadequate, like I do when I walk through an overly fancy store. And I don’t feel underwhelmed, like I do in a super-discount-mart. When I got married, I registered and got my china there. They’re my long-time good buddies.
This summer Macy’s is rolling out their new focus on one of the hottest places South of the equator: Brasil!
They’re bringing in some of Brasil’s best designers to create pieces in their clothing, home and accessory lines. You can go online to check out designs by Francisco Costa, Carlos Falci, Marcelo Rosembaum, Isabela Capeto, Neon, Cecilia Prado, Art da Terra, Maria Oiticica, Romero Britto, Paula Hermanny, Sol de Janeiro and Phebo with everything from dresses to swimwear to jewelry to skincare.
(There’s even an app for that!)
To celebrate, Macy’s is rolling out Carnival-inspired celebrations at over 300 of their stores starting this Thursday! (You can check the calendar for a store near you here.)
Here in the Boston area, you can head out to the Natick Mall (hands down the best mall in the Boston area, as I’m sure you already know) for two events at the Macy’s in Natick.
First on Thursday at 6pm get into the Brasilian spirit with samba by Moves & Vibes and Jiu Jitsu by Capoeira Brasil Boston. Plus there will be a DJ on hand with authentic music and you can get a taste of Brasilian cuisine! (If you haven’t had it before, you are in for a real treat.)
Then you can bring the whole family on Saturday at 12 pm. Upstairs in the Kids Department there will be balloons, face painting and soccer! (But since this is a Brasilian celebration, we should probably call it football.)
On the main floor in swimwear, check out the swim fashion show. As an added bonus, anyone who purchases a swimsuit will get the chance to make a kanga style sarong.
And not to leave out the men, there’s a Virtual Soccer (Football!) Challenge in the Men’s Department where Dad can show off his skills.
It’s not all fun and games, Macy’s will also be donating a portion of your Brasil Boutique purchases to The Nature Conservancy to help their efforts to save the Amazon Rainforest, one of Brasil’s greatest treasures.
So if you want to have a little fun or do a little shopping, the Natick Mall’s Macy’s is the place to be this week.
I was compensated for this post by Charlene Chronicles.
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I posted last time about my big Saturday at a blog conference. It was quite the busy day, but the weekend wasn’t over. On Sunday was Charlene’s big Gender Reveal party. A great idea for a second baby. Charlene got an ultrasound and told the tech to keep the gender secret. The tech wrote the gender down and Charlene brought it to a bakery where they’d make special cupcakes with either pink or blue filling. Even Charlene didn’t know what it would be! Such a fun idea for a baby shower for baby #2.
I guessed girl, since Charlene has a boy about Graham’s age and this way our babies would match. Also because she has a torpedo belly, which means girl in my book.
Now when I’m going to an all-day blog conference with a baby in tow, I don’t spend much time on my outfit. I have exactly one pair of jeans that fit. I have some v-neck tops that make for easier feeding. End of story.
But for a party? I had to go to my closet. And what I found there was very, very sad.
Maternity dresses made me look pregnant. I already have the post-baby belly, but I don’t want it to look like a pre-baby belly. My selection of tops is limited since my nursing bras are not made to be hidden well. Nothing too tight, nothing too loose, and not much to work with. What was a girl to do?
After trying on literally everything, I settled on a cardigan (unbuttoned), a ruffly maternity tank I bought for work, and a skirt with an elastic waistband. (Thank you for the elastic, Old Navy!!!)
Since I had only limited control of my clothes, I decided that I would at least look cute from the neck up. I showered. I put on makeup. (For the conference, I only did absolute bare minimum.) And I pulled out a new hairstyle:
Source: beautylish.com via Jessica on Pinterest
The sock bun, passed down to me by my mother. (Or rather, my mother’s pinterest board.) (The Bug just walked by the screen while I had this picture up and said, “Mommy!” Not exactly, kid, but thanks.)
This was my first effort with the sock bun and as I am hairdo challenged I was worried, but it worked like a champ. I got it on the first try. My hair was a little curly and wet, but it still did the trick.
Photo by Rebecca Deaton Photography
Can you tell I’m happy to be out of the house? I may not be the height of style but I felt good and that’s the most important thing, right?
In the spirit of the evening, I wore a pink cardigan and blue earrings. Charlene had pink and blue necklaces out so we could wear our votes.
Photo by Rebecca Deaton Photography
It was great to see more of my blogging friends. And I was surprised at how much suspense was in the air as we waited for the big surprise.
Photo by Rebecca Deaton Photography
And I was right! Girl!
It was a special night. And not just because we got to share Charlene’s good news and hang with friends. I also got to finally meet one of my blogging idols: Melanie, The Coupon Goddess. It’s thanks to Melanie that I started couponing, got a binder, etc. I’m not as good at it as she is, of course. I’ve read her blog faithfully and have always been bummed that we haven’t been to any of the same events so far.
Photo by Rebecca Deaton Photography
It was a good deal for both of us. I got to meet Melanie and Melanie got to meet Tessa. (Tessa seemed pretty happy about the deal, too.)
I also FINALLY got a chance to see Cindy, the woman behind the scenes at Isis Parenting, who I’ve worked with for months via email and Twitter. Technically this was not the first time we met. 
That was February, 2011, at my very first blogger event with the Boston Parent Bloggers. So many of them are now my friends even though I was super shy and barely spoke to anyone that first night. Cindy and I are RIGHT BY EACH OTHER in the picture (she’s on the far left in the back row, I am in the pink sweater just in front of her) so clearly our relationship was meant to be, right?
I look at this picture and smile. A year ago my life was so different. Graham was just diagnosed. I was out of work. I didn’t know anyone in Boston. Now Graham is doing amazing, I am happily home with two (!!) kids and I have friends. And the friends part is basically all thanks to this blog. Oh, blog, I do love you.
Thanks to Rebecca Deaton Photography for the beautiful pictures. A big thanks to the great sponsors of Charlene’s party: Magic Beans, Punchbowl, Tiny Love, Spa Week, Sage Spoonfuls, Happy Baby, Goldenview Ultrasound, GUND, MAM, Peapod, and Treat Cupcake Bar. You can get all the info on them from Charlene’s post.
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I’ve been thrilled to be a part of Boston Brunchers ever since my first brunch at the Bristol Lounge. (Where I was newly pregnant and had no idea. Whoops!) As you can see from this picture, our relationship has been going for a while now.
21 weeks
I was really excited to go to the Brunchers’ 1st birthday party at Island Creek Oyster Bar. I’d never been, but I know they are a sister restaurant to Eastern Standard, which I love. So sign me up!
But then it turned out Eric would have to work. And we were sitter-less. I only had two options. Bring the Bug or stay home.
It was a tough call. I am not the type to take my kid somewhere they haven’t been invited. But it was the Brunchers. So he came.
We got to ride in on the train with Eric and then said goodbye to make the last part of the trip ourselves. Here is proof that I am really bad at phone self-pics. There’s got to be an easier way.
Also, apparently, proof that I needed darker lipstick.
We were, to make matters worse, the last to arrive. Our organizer, Renee, had been kind enough to confirm with the restaurant that I could have Graham in a highchair at the end of one of our tables. There had been a place set for me, but someone was in it. Luckily there was still one seat left right on an end.
The Bug was pretty good. Of course, I’d come heavily armed with provisions. Fruity Cheerios, a train, an airplane, an apple. The biggest problem with this plan was that I spent all the time I would normally spend taking pictures placating the Bug. So I don’t even have a picture of my food! Shame on me.
For some amazing pictures of Island Creek Oyster Bar and our brunch, I’d recommend you head over to RecipeCan. Especially because she got a picture of the wall made of oyster shells, which I loved.
I wasn’t able to have one of the real cocktails, but I did opt for a virgin Bloody Mary, which was quite tasty. I haven’t had a bad Bloody Mary yet with the Brunchers, even though they’ve all been unique at each restaurant. My meal was the Baked Beans with a fried egg and slab bacon. I know it doesn’t sound very brunch-y, but I’m not much for seafood (though the lobster rolls have been enthusiastically reviewed by other brunchers) and I almost always take savory over sweet for brunch, so this was my best choice.
And it was definitely tasty, even if it was different. The thick chunks of bacon in the beans were a real highlight. And there was a perfect runny egg on top. Always big points for a perfect runny egg. If you don’t get the beans there as an entree, definitely keep them in mind as a side.
I have to admit, my favorite part of brunch was the pastry basket. By the time I came ours had been picked at but there were plenty of bits and pieces left. I don’t know which was which, but I know they all tasted amazing. I pretty much cleaned it out. Seriously, you must order it for your table. Coffee cake, cinnamon rolls, muffins, and not the kind of stuff you see in the continental breakfast line. I’m talking the really good buttery croissants. You definitely want it.
As for the Bug, he was not much for the food. But the staff, who were all very quick and gracious, brought him bowls of raisins to keep him happy. They definitely worked.
He made it through pretty well. I took him around to say hi to some of my favorite brunchers. He wasn’t so interested in the people as going outside and getting back on the train. There was one tantrum, settled outdoors, quickly followed by raisins. So all in all, nice work on the Bug’s part.
I wish I hadn’t been so preoccupied so I could have met more people. Especially when I looked down the table and saw this.
Yes, my first Twitter Celebrity sighting. Tom, aka BostonTweet. He only has 40,000+ followers and seems to have made an actual career out of going around town, eating amazing food and tweeting about it. Where do I sign up for this???
You can bet BostonTweet took a good picture of brunch.
A fried egg over a mound of baked beans, with a slab of bacon, for the #BdayBrunch at Island Creek Oyster Bar. Oh my! http://t.co/hp1RqlNN
@BostonTweet
BostonTweet
I admit, I was more than a little sad when I found out the seat originally saved for me was right across from him. Although I’m not sure what kind of impression I would have made with all the trains and raisins and such. We did manage a little hello in our rounds. But the kid lacked my enthusiasm and insisted we go outside instead. I doubt I managed even an awkward goodbye, thus ruining my 1st impression with BostonTweet, who will surely never bring me on as his apprentice now.
Brunch was great, but it made me appreciate how much I enjoy going to brunch WITHOUT the Bug. Bruncher meetups are like a little time machine back to being young and carefree and childless. 
(Enjoy it while you can, fellow Brunchers!!) I don’t really have a group of girlfriends to have brunch with, and this group has done a great job of filling the void.
Meanwhile, it was still a great meal and a lovely event, a wonderful way to celebrate our growing group and all of Renee’s hard work.
Oh, and did I mention how amazing the gift bags were?? (Seriously, guys! The new Cook’s Illustrated Cookbook was in there!!! How pumped am I??)
Thanks for having me, fellow brunchers, and thanks for tolerating the Bug’s tiny but loud presence. We certainly enjoyed being there.
And to make sure I emphasize the Bug’s good behavior, he sat through another meal out later that evening when a friend of mine was visiting from out of town. He did great once again, though he was doing even better once he got his hands on the pay-at-the-table machine. Wow, did he like that.
Thanks to the Boston Brunchers and Island Creek Oyster Bar for hosting brunch, which was provided to me free of charge. Also thanks to the many generous sponsors who donated prizes and/or goody bag gifts! For more reviews, see the Boston Brunchers site.
America’s Test Kitchen Biba Biltmore Bar & Grill Boston Ballet
Boston Center for Adult Education Cow and Crumb Dorado Tacos & Cemitas
Dore Creperie Doves and Figs Kitchen Foodies of New England Four Seasons Boston
Haircuttery iParty KO Catering & Pies Langham Hotel Boston Phillips Candy House
Pinkberry Pretzel Crisps Popchips Stages of Beauty Stonyfield USA Pears
Barefoot Wine Boston Food Finds Eversave Boston Klout
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Lately I’ve been feeling surprisingly worry-free. It is a very different way of living compared to my obsessively worrisome self that I was for so long. I don’t know if 2 years of guilt/frustration/etc. with the Bug broke me somehow or if it’s just that my psychiatrist is doing an excellent job. Whatever it is, I like it.
It’s easy to scoff at optimism when you feel like everything is going wrong. But it’s also possible to find optimism in the midst of it.
And my newly breezy self is very much feeling the vibe of my new friends at Life is Good.
You know them, even if you don’t think you do. See this guy:
Yup, that’s them. They spread a message of positivity and optimism. Kind of weird in this day and age to have a company who has that as their purpose, but it’s definitely a good thing.
I went out to visit them along with some of my local blogger buds Erika and Robin. The Life is Good store is on Newbury Street in Back Bay and it was my first time walking through in the evening. It was a gorgeous night, the weather was perfect, the streets were filled with people eating at tables and people walking by. In the midst of all those old brownstones is Life is Good, with an adorable and rustic store.
Me, Erika and Robin chilling on the roof!
We went up to the rooftop deck to celebrate the upcoming Life is Good Festival. I’d heard about the festival from BostonTweet, who’s been giving away tickets. The festival is a 2-day affair with 3 stages of music held just outside Boston on September 24 and 25.
I admit I was a little skeptical. The only festival I’ve been to is ACL in Austin, which is hot, muddy, loud and crowded. But the Life is Good Festival aims to be the exact opposite of that. Instead of being loaded with too-cool hipsters, it is full of families. I was intrigued. I was also in love with the view.
We had a chance to mingle with the founders of Life is Good, Bert and John Jacobs, brothers who decided to sell some t-shirts and spent 5 years not going anywhere. Until they found their famous logo and suddenly everything changed. Optimism appeals, doesn’t it? Don’t you just want to lay back and feel good? They’ve definitely tapped into something real, I’m willing to bet you’ve seen their logo all over the place.
The festival matches their brand, it’s about good times for families. The festival has been going since 2004 and proceeds benefit the Life is Good Playmakers foundation. The foundation helps children who have been victims of violence, illness and poverty to learn and heal through play. That may sound hokey, but as someone whose kid has been learning to play through therapy for the last 6 months and who’s been completely changed by it, I can tell you that this stuff is no joke. The effect it can have on young children is very real. My son, who never used to cuddle, just spent 10 minutes snuggling with me on the couch and playing a game where we gave each other kisses. He smiled and laughed and it was wonderful stuff.
As for the festival itself, it has tons of bands playing. Although many are “grown-up” bands, it’ll be music families can enjoy together. There will also be bands just for kids. (Robin says The Imagination Movers alone mean her kids will be there.)
There are activities, including sack races, watermelon seed spitting, clowns, jugglers, BMX bikers and a climbing wall. I particularly love the idea of the Instrument Petting Zoo where kids can get up close and personal with maracas, guitars and keyboards. As well as the Dog Shows, those little obstacle courses you see on tv sometimes.
I was very impressed at how well they cater to families. Apparently they take this stuff seriously. There’s a tent set up for families complete with board books for the little ones, diaper changing stations and a place where Moms can breastfeed. When was the last time you went anywhere that had those kind of amenities? Not to mention somewhere outdoors?
In fact, the only bad thing I have to say after spending some time with the Life is Good folks is that I’m bummed I will be out of town those days.
If you’re an out-of-towner, or you don’t have room in your schedule, you may want to stop by their store because OMG cute baby clothes.
I was feeling so optimistic that I picked up some PJ’s for the Bug.
I was even happier when I got home and saw they’d sent me off with my first outfit for the new baby. Adorable baby clothes: definitely a reminder that life is good.
If you’re looking for a fun adventure for the weekend, I’d definitely head to the festival this weekend. Even better, you can drive, take their shuttle or take the T!
Want to win some free tickets? You’re in luck! Head to these giveaways over at Family Friendly Boston, That’s IT Mommy, and Masshole Mommy. Or you can buy your tickets at the Festival Site.
I was not compensated for this post, I was invited to the Life is Good Party with no obligation to blog it. They did give us some lovely gift bags upon leaving, though. Thanks, guys!
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Find the Mess
My Life’s a Mess and That’s Okay
Jess is a procrastinator, a former working mom who is suddenly staying at home, a Dr-Dr's wife, a non-practicing lawyer, an Autism Mom, a devoted reader, a penny pincher, a coupon clipper, a new New England-er, a low-key agnostic, a nice girl, a top-notch speller, a hardcore blogger and a Twitter fiend.
The blog covers everything from coupon tips to Autism support to adorable toddler pictures to hilarious tales of my daily grind with the occasional review & giveaway thrown in for good measure.
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