If you'll be at BlogHer '14 in San Jose, please come visit the Writing Lab. On Friday, July 24 from 2:30-4 pm, you'll find the following people there:

Writing Lab | Be Your Own Editor

Writing is hard. This lab will help make it a little easier for you by making those rough drafts a little smoother, that copy a bit tighter, and those headlines a little more zingy. Like any good cook will tell you, it's much easier at the end if you clean as you go. Tidy up your work as you write it with these tips for catchy and inspiring headlines, insights into how an *editor* approaches a writer's first draft differently than the *writer* does, and the grammar refreshers we all know we can use, even if we don't want to admit it! 

Instructors:

• Arnebya Herdon and Rita Arens (grammar clinic)
• Julie Ross Godar (headline bootcamp)
• Meiko Patton and Susan Goldberg (what to do with your first draft)

I like nothing better than to sit around geeking out over "that" versus "which," so it's a guaranteed good time! In all seriousness, understanding the rules of grammar and punctuation give you confidence -- and that confidence translates not only into better writing but also into the promotion of said writing. No one wants to be the guy on ESPN whose tweet gets picked up saying "your the best!" (seen recently, no lie)

NO ONE WANTS TO BE THAT GUY.

If you want a badge of your own (even if you're not speaking, you totally don't have to be, that's just what MY badge says), go here for badge code.

Also -- if you have any grammar quandaries you'd like us to address, leave them here in the comments!

Hi everyone, what a fun week this has been! It was truly amazing to meet so many wonderful mamas at the Dr. Smith's spa party (you can check out some cute pictures here) on Tuesday, and now I'm writing from Disney, where I'm on a preschool media tour (if you'd like to follow along, you can do so via Instagram). Meanwhile, I hope you have a great weekend; enjoy this 17-event roundup!

1. The Boston Flower and Garden Show. (Boston)

2. ALS interpreted rainforest reptile shows. (Boston)

3. An evening for children with special needs. (Boston)

4. Keane-O’Brien Academy of Irish Dance. (Boston)

5. A St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the zoo. (Boston)

6. One World, Many Stories. (Brookline) 

7. Whoooo will go to the Owls Live! Festival? (Canton)

8. Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of I Took the Moon for a Walk. (Concord)

9. First annual maple sugaring festival. (Ipswich)

10. A beautiful full moon and folklore hike. (Ipswich)

11. Snowshoe tours around the sculpture park. (Lincoln)

12. Yum, yum, yum. Sap to syrup farmer’s breakfast. (Lincoln)

13. Rock out with Debbie and Friends. (Newton)

14. Everything is more fun with jello! (Norfolk)

15. Just how big is infinity? (Salem)

16. A Ben Rudnick show to benefit Lifeworks. (Salem)

17. Vanessa Trien and The Jumpking Monkeys. (Westwood)

Image credit: Boston Flower & Garden Show

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.

March is National Craft Month, and given how much I love crafting + the fact that I have some seriously crafty friends, I thought it would be fun to share a roundup of awesome craft/DIY books. The amazing thing? When I queried these creatives, they all shared different recommendations across different craft types. LOVE. I can't wait to add all of these titles to my craft library!

1. Decorating Cookies by Bridget Edwards. “I love a DIY book where I can learn something completely new. When it comes to the most adorably decorated sugar cookies you've ever seen and the best step by step instructions to help you get it right every time, this book rocks! Bridget is the Michael Jordan of cookie decorating.” -Kami of No Biggie

2. Fabrics A-Z by Dana Willard. “This sewing and fabric book from the lovely Dana Willard of MADE is the perfect guide for choosing the right style of fabric for your project!” -Marie of Make and Takes

3. Hand in Hand by Jenny Doh. “This book includes gorgeous and doable projects that parents and children can craft together. The photography is beautiful and colorful and the projects are inspiring.” -Caroline of Salsa Pie

4. Knitting New Mittens & Gloves by Robin Melanson. “A great option for when you're ready to try something more advanced. The patterns are gorgeous and reflect different ethnic and cultural traditions, including Icelandic, Celtic, and German. The patterns are sized for adults and children, and include a good range of mittens, gloves, fingerless gloves, mittens with fold-over flaps, and and even arm warmers. I've made several patterns from this book and wear and enjoy them all.” -Kate of Boston Mamas

5. Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson. "This book is replete with adorable and stylish projects ranging from quick (coasters) to more involved (quilts). It's one of my go-to inspiration points when I'm thinking about starting a new sewing project." -Christine of Boston Mamas

6. Make and Takes for Kids by Marie LeBaron. “As much as I love to make things and craft, I fall short when it comes to simple and cute kid crafts, so I love Make and Takes for Kids as a quick go to when it comes to kid crafting...and as a bonus, I happen to love the author.” -Kami of No Biggie

7. Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha Stewart Living Magazine. “There are so many good ones — most that we keep tend to be very specific and niche and we pick them up as my kids interests change and develop. But if you're just starting to build your crafting library, my favorite general book is Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. It's the real deal. Great information. Great visuals. All from a crafting team that knows their glue glitter.” -Gabrielle of Design Mom

8. Modge Podge Rocks by Amy Anderson. “The book features more than 40 fun and fantastic projects using the wonder-supply that all crafters adore: Mod Podge!” -Caroline of Salsa Pie

9. New Dress a Day by Marisa Lynch. Marisa is a self-taught seamstress and yet is able to turn thrift store castoffs into covet-worthy & current pieces, like her "As Seen on TV" runway copycats for Hello Giggles & the Goodwill-to-gala pieces she upcycled for the sisters in The Fighter to wear on the Oscars red carpet. Her unassuming attitude and inclusive tips make even a total amateur feel at ease ponying up to her sewing machine for the first time.” -Melissa of Shoestring Magazine

10. Oliver + S Little Things to Sew by Liesl Gibson. “A pleasure just to look at, the patterns in this book are a compilation of the best from the Oliver + S company. Skirts, jackets, backpacks, and wonderful hats, all sized for children but in designs that will appeal to adults. The patterns indicate their level of difficulty, and the instructions are illustrated and pretty easy to follow. A fun book for sewing for kids.” -Kate of Boston Mamas

11. POM-POMS! 25 Awesomely Fluffy Projects by Sarah Goldschadt & Lexi Walters Wright. “I love all the unique and fun tutorials to make yarn poms from this Pom-Poms book. From little creatures to flowers to garlands. It makes me yarn happy!” -Marie of Make and Takes

12. Put Your Stamp On It by Meagan Lewis. “This stamping book is one of my favorites to get project ideas on things to make with my 5 year old daughter Chloe. We love to stamp to make pictures, wrapping paper or cards so it's a great way to try new techniques.” -Natalie of Coquette

13. Sewing for All Seasons by Susan Beal. “I am a sewer at heart and this book has lots of easy year-round small sewing projects you can make such as placemats, aprons, ornaments, slippers and more.  The fabrics used for the projects in the book are just gorgeous so I sometimes just find myself just flipping through the photos when I don't have time to actually sew.” -Natalie of Coquette

14. Sunday Morning Quilts by Amanda Jean Nyberg & Cheryl Arkison. “This book is a great beginner's guide to quilting. Pretty patterns, good inspiration, and easy-to-follow instructions that actually make quilting seem within reach. A great place to start out for a first quilt (as I did) or to try something a bit more advanced.” -Kate of Boston Mamas

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

Buried my father-in-law. Buried some grief. Ready to move on.

Today, Hillary of Mass Audubon shares tips to help you attract butterflies to your garden:

As if you needed an excuse to get excited for spring and summer, here are two: flowers and butterflies. It just so happens that March 12 is Plant a Flower Day and March 14 is Learn about Butterflies Day. The fact that these are timed so close together is perfect, as butterflies and flowers go together like peanut butter and jelly.

But not just any flowers will do. Different species of butterflies flock to specific flowers. And some, like the Monarch, rely on one species for its existence (one that is showing signs of trouble). Want to bring butterflies to your backyard and help keep populations strong? Here’s what you need to know:

• Between March and October, over 100 different butterflies can be found in Massachusetts, but not all at the same time. Mourning cloaks are seen mainly early spring, mid summer and fall; swallowtails are present late May to September; and monarchs June to October.
• Over 60 different insects, including monarch butterflies, need milkweed to complete their life cycle. These insects not only have adapted to potent chemicals in milkweed, but some use them to repel predators.
• Nothing blooms all season long, but by choosing plants that flower at different times you can attract a constant stream of butterflies.

Wondering what types of flowers to plant? Here are butterfly-attracting flowers by season:

Spring

• Chive Blossoms
• Bleeding Heart
• Siberian Wallflower

Early Summer

• Milkweeds (swamp milkweed, butterflyweed, whorled milkweed, and poke milkweed) 
• Zinnias
• Verbena
• Blazing star
• Garden Phlox

Late Summer

• Asters
• Sunflowers
• Joe-Pye weed
• New York Ironweed

Want to learn more about butterflies?

• Check out Mass Audubon’s blog post on Five Common Summer Butterflies.
• Pick up a handy, laminated pocket guide to Northeastern Butterflies and Butterfly Gardening.
• Explore the Butterfly Atlas to learn more about species in Massachusetts.
• Take a butterfly program at a wildlife sanctuary near you.
• Attend the annual Barbara J Walker Butterfly Festival at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Worcester on August 9.

Image credits: 1) US Fish & Wildlife Service (public domain images); 2) Richard Johnson for Mass Audubon

It's been a while since I've posted a Dear Boston Mamas query and I'm thrilled to do so today! Reader Debbie (mom of two, ages 4 and 6) wrote in to ask about chores; specifically, how to get her kids to do them, whether there should be allowance tied to chores, and what kinds of special privileges seem appropriate and will make doing chores feel like a positive milestone. Here are my thoughts; thanks for writing in Debbie!:

+ + + + +

As readers of Minimalist Parenting know, I feel very strongly about kids doing chores! Chores represent a double parenting win: by building them into your family routine and system, you are equipping your child with essential life skills (you do not want your kid to leave the nest and be clueless about how to toast a bagel or do laundry!) AND delegating so you're not shouldering all of the chores. I have found the below 8 tips on how to get kids to do chores particularly effective:

1. Be matter of fact about the job. Present chores in an emotionally uncharged and non-negotiable way. Your kids may bristle about housework, but simply be matter of fact about it and express that since they are a part of the household, they also need to help with housework. End of story.

2. Offer options. One of the simplest ways to make parenting easier is to offer options. For example, instead of asking, “Will you set the table?” (which conveys that the task is negotiable) ask, “Would you like to set the table or prep the salad?” Kids like to feel like they have control; giving them choice does that.

3. Meet them where they’re at. Kids will get frustrated if you present them with tasks that are too hard then freak out if they make mistakes. Check out this chore chart for some ideas about kids and chores by age. Remember, as soon as kids are verbal, they can help. Case in point: 2-year-old Violet knows to bring her plate to the sink at the end of a meal!

4. Embrace imperfection. When you start kids off with chores, they probably won’t do it as perfectly as you want. Embrace it and let them make mistakes and work on their skills. Give helpful tips if need be but don’t hover or yell at them if they don’t do things perfectly. I used to be uptight about kitchen tasks, wanting vegetables to be uniformly cut or cookies perfectly shaped. But I let go of that and Laurel has developed the skills on her own. She now makes us dinner on occasion and can bake chocolate layer cake (and many other things) from scratch! WIN!

5. Make it fun. Especially with younger kids, it’s easy to turn chores into a game. For example, give your kids a spray bottle of water and a rag and have them find all the spots to clean on the floor. They’ll love being able to spray things! Turn on some music while you work to amp up the fun.

6. Do chores together. Use chore time as together time; you tackle the grownup tasks while the kids take care of their chores. I've found with Laurel (now 9) that it's often easier for her to talk to me about challenging things when we're working side by side on chores vs. sitting across the table from each other making eye contact. So, chores as together time can also offer a unique window for communication.

7. Build in incentives. As I mentioned earlier, I don’t believe in paying for everyday chores but you can incentivize in other ways. Completion of chores can unlock other privileges (e.g., a special snack, story, or game) or one thing we’ve done with Laurel is offer a small payment if she wants to do a task that seems out of the ordinary.

8. Keep at it. If your kids belly ache about chores, don’t give up! Keep building it into your routine and they will eventually get it. I used to ask Laurel every day to make sure she did her homework and emptied her lunchbox and school papers. And then a couple of months into the school year I realized I couldn’t remember when I last asked her to take care of these tasks. With persistence, Laurel learned to build those tasks into her daily routine. It took a lot of reminders but now it is utter bliss to have her own those tasks!

Do you have other chore methods that have worked well for your family? Feel free to share in the comments! And if you have a Dear Boston Mamas query for Christine, drop her a line at editor@bostonmamas.com.

Image credits: Christine Koh

Happy Monday everyone; I hope you had a great weekend. It was truly awesome to get a taste of spring and enjoy some non-frigid time outdoors with the girls! Meanwhile, I'm excited to meet some of you wonderful mamas tomorrow at the spa party (yay!), and if you're looking for something to do this week with your kids, enjoy this roundup of events via the Weekly Blueprint:

March 10: Irish music with Kevin Mulkerrins. (Dorchester)

March 12: From the tap to the table, the journey of maple syrup. (Ipswich)

March 12: Fill your day with art and play. (Lincoln)

March 12: How about some Feathers for Lunch? (Salem)

March 13: Just how did SMART Gal Ruth Benerito revolutionize fashion? (Easton)

March 13 - 16: One World, Many Stories. (Brookline)

March 13: Optical illusions with Steve Lechner. (Charlestown)

March 14: Math lovers rejoice. It’s Pi Day! (Boston)

March 14: A St. Patty’s day treasure hunt for the gold at the end of the rainbow. (Cambridge)

March 14: Who can resist more Pi? (Easton)

March 14: Make some cookies for the cow...and maybe he’ll share with you too. (Lincoln)

Image credit: Pi pie via Pinterest

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.

Oh man, you know what's awesome in real life? THIS WEATHER! I am so, so ready for spring and it was awesome to hit the park with Vivy this morning in a relaxed, non-freezing manner. I hope you enjoy some time out and about today! Meanwhile, if you're looking to curl up with some reads and visuals, enjoy this week's edition of Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome.

- The best time to book an airplane ticket.

- OMG dolphins and whales.

- DIY gold glitter slime!

- Next week is National Crochet Week; get your crochet on with these easy crochet patterns.

- United colors of Lupita.

- 9 quick and easy things to make a single mom’s day.

- Great yoga poses for runners.

- 10 Boston stereotypes that are completely accurate.

- Gorgeous accent pillows I am coveting.

- Organization tips for busy families: March 24th at 3pm!

- Great foods for hydrating your skin.

Image credit: Gold glitter slime via Pinterest

One of my least favorite things about home nail polish jobs is the stink. Also, the liquid accidents. So I was thrilled to discover La Fresh Eco-Beauty nail polish remover pads (introduced to me by my friends at Tieks, actually). These nail polish remover pads are acetone-free (the fresh Tuscan orange smells delicious), 100% biodegradable, and one pad cleans and conditions all 10 nails. La Fresh's makeup remover and face cleanser wipes work great too and the packets are super convenient for travel.

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

Image credit: tote and travel pack via Amazon