Happy Friday everyone, I hope you've been enjoying a wonderful week and are looking forward to the holiday weekend! A regular Weekly Blueprint will be forthcoming on Monday (or possibly Sunday) to capture weekday events (including the Monday holiday), but meanwhile, here are 20 events for Saturday and Sunday, lovingly curated for your consideration. Enjoy!

1. It’s national scavenger hunt day. (Acton)

2. Boston Calling Music Festival at City Hall Plaza (Boston)

3. Mental Health Awareness Day. (Boston)

4. Interactive storytime with AJ Smith. (Boston)

5. Remembering our heroes aboard the USS Constitution. (Boston)

6. Explore the art world of Nick Cave on life-size coloring book pages. (Boston)

7. The Three Wishes and A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing puppet show. (Brookline)

8. Beautiful sea creatures in glass exhibit opens. (Cambridge)

9. Asparagus festival. (Concord)

10. 40th Annual Sheep and Woolcraft Fair. (Cummington)

11. Turtle and field day. (Easthampton)

12. Open barnyard at Weir River Farm. (Hingham)

13. Discovery Day in Lexington. (Lexington)

14. Creative nature photography workshop. (Mattapan)

15. Newburyport Spring Festival.  (Newburyport)

16. Watch the Sox game on the big screen! (Roxbury)

17. Art investigations. (Salem)

18. Celebrate the new American Alligator Exhibit with Lyle the Crocodile. (Stoneham)

19. Wool Days at Sturbridge Village are here. (Sturbridge)

20. Opening weekend for the Tree Canopy Walkway. (Worcester)

Image credit: Harvard Museum of Natural History

Today's Lessons Learned essay comes via Susan Petcher, a mom, music teacher, blogger (at Learned Happiness), and advocate for women's mental health:

My five-year-old daughter bounded into my bed this morning, dashing my hopes of a few more winks of sleep with her Tigger-like enthusiasm. And as I returned her hugs and kisses, I cherished the small moment of happiness between us. Because there was a time when I could not return her love, when the gift of bonding was stolen from us both.

You see, from the moment she bellowed out her first cry, my world fell to pieces. She was very much wanted (and planned for meticulously) but her arrival heralded the onset of a frightening case of postpartum anxiety with side servings of OCD and depression. I suffered from a menagerie of symptoms, ranging from panic attacks to rage, and eventually a numbing depression.

I spent my first six months as a mother afraid of my baby and terrified of motherhood. Every interaction with her was an opportunity to confirm what I felt inside so deeply: that I was a failure and that I would never be the mom she deserved.

One in seven mothers experience this same struggle, yet I felt alone and isolated. Even after I began treatment, in the form of therapy and medication, and started to feel the depression lift, the stigma and shame weighed me down. Though I was working furiously to heal, the PPD had taken my confidence and my power.

When I stumbled upon Postpartum Progress, it was as if a hand was reaching into the dark, pulling me back up into myself. I marveled at each of the amazing women who wrote about their postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, admiring them for their strength and courage, never once thinking less of them for their struggles. And then one day, without warning, it hit me: how can I admire their courage yet fail to see it in myself?

This community of survivors -- of Warriors -- gave me their stories and their hope. Through their support and understanding, their emails and their tweets, I found a new identity. Instead of a sufferer, I became a survivor. I reclaimed my power. And with it, I found the strength to bond with my daughter and to love her despite my anxieties. Now, as an advocate, I speak for those who have lost their hope. And in a weird way, I find myself grateful for the postpartum anxiety and depression that led me to the Warrior Mom community. Though I would not wish my experiences on anyone, I wouldn't change a moment of my journey.

This June, I get an opportunity to give back while celebrating my recovery. I'm climbing a mountain with a team of survivors and their support networks as a part of Postpartum Progress's Climb Out of the Darkness awareness and fundraising campaign. On June 21, I'll be climbing Mt. Washington and while I anticipate it to be a challenge, it'll be nothing compared to what I faced back in those early days of motherhood.

Bring it on. I'm a Warrior now. And you can be too.

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Editor's Note: Local moms can join or donate to Susan's Mt. Washington team or Candice Brothers' Walden Pond team. To find a climb near you, visit the Postpartum Progress's Climb Out of the Darkness page.

For more in the Lessons Learned series, see The Practice of Kindness, Sibling Acceptance. Do you want to submit a Lessons Learned essay? See submission guidelines here.

Image credits: 1) Postpartum Progress; 2) Susan Petcher

Almost a month ago, all my stat counters started telling me there were zero pageviews at this blog. Zero. Typepad finally blamed it on Goodreads and their widget code (you'll notice I temporarily removed all my Goodreads widgets) spitting out faulty HTML or something like that. Both Typepad and Goodreads responded very nicely as they are good people, and I'm sure I'll have my widgets back soon, but it sure was weird during the very month I'm celebrating my ten-year anniversary of blogging here that ALL THE TRAFFIC DIED. It was like someone just came along and flipped a switch.

Goodbye, Surrender, Dorothy. Thanks for the memories.

I spent one evening contemplating if I should just shutter the blog. I figured there was something legitimately wrong and not just that everyone had disappeared, but it crossed my mind that the people who told me they had totally been here in the past month were lying to protect my ego. (It's not necessary. I am not kidding when I say I have no ego left over this blog. I have it for my books, but not my blog.) I wondered if I should keep writing even if no one was reading. 

It's a good question, isn't it? 

Ultimately, though, even before I removed the Goodreads widget and the statcounters started ticking again, I decided I would keep writing ... even if nobody read it. I don't write here as much as I did before I started working for BlogHer and writing novels, but this is where I come when I have that thought while staring off into space at the school pick-up line. Surrender, Dorothy is the junk drawer of my mind. It has a copy of my resume, sure, and links to my books and some posts I liked highlighted in a list that needs a massive update (although that wouldn't matter if no one was reading, see how we create this unnecessary busyness for ourselves?), but it also has a series of pictures I thought were funny when my daughter was four and some missives about politics and current events that didn't end up changing any policies but made me feel better in the moment. I like going through junk drawers, and I like having this blog. 

Someday life will slow down enough for me to poke through my own archives and look at all my junk, and here it will all be. And won't that be amazing?

I'm thrilled to share another Local Gems post today (be sure to check out the Arlington Center, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, Lexington, Medford, and Watertown features)! Today's Jamaica Plain recommendations come from my rad friend Casey, who writes about her city adventures with her wife and daughter over at Life with Roozle. Thanks for sharing these 10 local gems in Jamaica Plain, Casey!

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1. Arnold Arboretum. Dog walks. Bike rides. Hikes. Sledding. A view of the July 4th fireworks. Arnold Arboretum has it all. Not only is the Arboretum easy to get to (accessible by both the Orange Line and has loads of parking), once inside, you feel like you've stepped out of the city and into a magical green space.

2. The Dogwood Cafe. The Dogwood is a staple in Forest Hills. When I first moved to JP 11 years ago the pizzas were square and named after trees -- perfect for our big roommate meetings, as we had a lot of roommates in a large Victorian house overlooking the nearby Forest Hills Cemetery. Now, the pizzas are circles, but still named after trees. We've exchanged our late nights of beer and baseball and pizza at the bar for my daughter's favorite giant $3 pancake at brunch and live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

3. Fazenda Coffee Roasters. There are two things I love most in the world (besides my family, of course): writing and coffee. Fazenda is a coffee shop and bakery in Forest Hills that brings my two loves together. Well, my three loves often too, as it's one of my daughter's favorite spots as well. At Fazenda, the wifi is strong (and never shuts off!), the tables are big enough to work, but not too big that any space is wasted. People stay for hours drinking coffee and writing or reading or working, but the turnover is always just fast enough to never have to wait long for a table. Sandwiches are tasty and the lattes are perfect. It's my favorite.

4. Salmagundi. You might not know you needed a hat. Or a fancy bow tie. Or all the fancy things. But when you enter Salmagundi, you become aware of all your needs. You suddenly need a lot more fancy in your life.

5. City Feed and Supply. Do you need a fair trade latte and a few groceries? Look no further! City Feed is the place to be! Local produce, Equal Exchange coffee, Batch ice cream, amazing sandwiches (including my favorite, the Farmer's Lunch), and now even beer and wine make City Feed a one stop local shop.

6. Bikes Not Bombs. JP is known for being progressive, hipsterish, and full of families. And what do all progressive hipster families need? A refurbished bike from Bikes Not Bombs! My family has a bit of a bike hoarding problem, thanks to BNB. Bikes Not Bombs rules as a non-profit, of course, but is also a bike retail shop, and the best place in JP to stop in to get that sidewalk sale bike you picked up for your kid all fixed up with purple grips. I'm speaking from experience here.

7. Southwest Corridor. The Southwest Corridor is a bike path that runs all the way through JP. It splits in several places with walking sides too, great for jogging or walking. We love to playground hop our way through on our bikes as there are six playgrounds along the Corridor.

8. The Brewery. The Sam Adams brewery is a staple in JP. Boston invented awesome. And beer. Or we can pretend. The brewery building isn't just beer, though. Ula Cafe, Bella Luna, Mike's Fitness, Tony Williams Dance Studio, and the Sam Adams Brewery are just a few of the great spots in the Brewery building. Parking is a bit of a disaster, but the ramp out front is my 5-year-old's most favorite place in all of JP.

9. Hatched. Hatched is JP's own eco-friendly children's shop. They carry cloth diapering supplies, wooden baby toys and books, and the most adorable children's clothes ever.

10. Vee Vee. No neighborhood is complete without a perfect date night spot. Vee Vee is it. For our date nights, I tend to be a vegan-leaning wine drinker and my wife enjoys oysters, steak, and seltzer. Vee Vee is perfect for both of us. We both leave happy every time. Especially since we stopped trying to share dessert. You definitely each need your own here.

Do you have other Jamaica Plain 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

Today, Hillary from Mass Audubon shares a helpful baby bird season primer:

Now is the time of year that migratory breeding birds have returned from the south to nest, and each bird has a unique nesting technique. For example, robins fill their sometimes eye-level nests with bright blue eggs. Bluebirds prefer a “cavity” (i.e., a hole in a tree or box). Killdeer camouflage their nests on the ground in gravel areas near soccer fields (so keep an eye out!). Baltimore orioles create a delicate, hanging nest that somehow manages to support several eggs at a time.

Baby birds have a tough road ahead of them. They have to eat, grow, and learn how to fly while keeping an eye out for predators, including other birds and mammals. Even well meaning people can make things harder for a baby bird’s survival by prematurely intervening.

So how do you know when to intervene in what looks like an injured or orphaned baby bird? The first step is to determine what stage the bird is in. This time of year, a baby bird falls into one of three categories:

1. Hatchling. A hatchling hasn’t yet opened its eyes and may have wisps of down on its body. It’s definitely not ready to leave the nest.

Photo by Wendy Barrett for Mass Audubon

2. Nestling. A nestling is older than a hatchling. Its eyes are open, and its wing feathers may look like tubes because they’ve yet to break through their protective sheaths. Nestlings are also not ready to leave the nest.

3. Fledgling. A fledgling is a young bird that is fully feathered. Its wings and tail may be short, and it may not be a great flyer, but it can walk, hop, or flutter. It has left the nest, though its parents may be nearby.

Fledgling photo by Rosemary Mosco for Mass Audubon

Hatchlings or nestlings found out of their nest may require some help getting back into their nest. Fledglings, on the other hand, are best left to fend for themselves. For a quick go-to guide, check out Mass Audubon’s Found a Bird chart. Whatever you do, please don’t try to raise a baby bird yourself (no matter how much your own child pleads). It’s illegal to have a wild bird in your possession, and unlike the fairy tales, doing this has no happy ending.

Baby killdeer photo by Richard Johnson for Mass Audubon

Baltimore oriole with nest photo by Bob Speare for Mass Audubon

Image credits: thumbnail image by Mass Audubon; all other images attributed per captions above

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! Ours was filled with tons of fun, including helping to execute a 5K (my first school committee work...such fun!) and lots of time outdoors with friends and family. I am really feeling the love and power of the village this morning! And now, it's on to a new week; enjoy this roundup of fun events via the Weekly Blueprint:

May 19: Preview the Sea Squirts aquarium program. (Boston)

May 21: Opening day for Long Hill Children’s Garden (Beverly)

May 21: Boston Harbor Islands wine release party. (Boston)

May 21: Trucks, tractors and tools! (Lincoln)

May 22: Discover the secret life of fireflies. (Hull)

May 22: Ooey, gooey story fun. (Concord)

May 23: Native animals and nature walk. (Acton)

May 23: A storytime of lost things. (Cambridge)

May 23: I’m a little tadpole. (Lincoln)

May 23: Legoland Discovery Center opens. (Somerville)

Image credit: LEGOLAND Discovery Center

May 19: Preview the Sea Squirts aquarium program. (Boston)

May 21: Opening day for Long Hill Children’s Garden (Beverly)

May 21: Boston Harbor Islands wine release party. (Boston)

May 21: Trucks, tractors and tools! (Lincoln)

May 22: Discover the secret life of fireflies. (Hull)

May 22: Ooey, gooey story fun. (Concord)

May 23: Native animals and nature walk. (Acton)

May 23: A storytime of lost things. (Cambridge)

May 23: I’m a little tadpole. (Lincoln)

May 23: Legoland Discovery Center opens. (Somerville)

Image credit: LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Hello folks, I hope you're enjoying a lovely weekend (and thank you rain, for watering all the plants and then departing to allow for lots of outdoor weekend fun!). This weekend is a perfect mix of social engagements, household projects, and a little bit of work time for me. If you're looking for some good reads/visuals, enjoy this week's Hey Internet, Keep Being Awesome:

- How young is too young for a digital presence?

- 25 cities to visit in your lifetime.

- A decade of same-sex marriage began in Massachusetts.

- The best back stretches.

- A lovely sunny day.

- 50 completely unexplainable stock photos no one will ever use. OMG.

- The definitive manifesto for handling haters.

- How to style a coffee table.

- Why paternity leave is so important.

- My lovely friend Jessica has a book coming out + an amazing video that will make you cry (scroll to bottom of post).

Image credit: chocolate covered strawberry popsicles via Pinterest

OK friends, today is where I lay my dignity aside for the benefit of your gastrointestinal health. If you ever wrestle with problems with your, er, plumbing, try Smooth Move organic tea. I bought this (somewhat sheepishly) a few weeks ago at Whole Foods and without needing to go into the details, let me just say that this product is effective (typically within 12 hours). You're welcome.

Want more Friday Finds? Check out: 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 credit: Amazon

Happy Friday everyone, I hope you're enjoying a wonderful week! Among various things, I made two creative discoveries: glam oil cloth exists and I am officially obsessed with art therapy through watercolor! Anyway, let's hope the rain holds off (or makes a limited appearance to benefit the plants) because whoo boy, I've got a 32 event monster roundup for you today -- enjoy!

1. Magic show with Rupayan Neogy. (Acton)

2. Franklin park bike and kite festival. (Boston)

3. Connect the West End of today to the West End of yesterday. (Boston)

4. EarthFest! (Boston)

5. Le Grand Continental outdoor dance extravaganza. (Boston)

6. A guide to living well from the inside out. (Boston)

7. Whale discovery day at the aquarium. (Boston)

8. Spirit-finger-knitting visiting artist workshop. (Boston)

9. An afternoon of Shaker arts and culture. (Boston)

10. Ben Rudnick Home for Little Wanderers benefit show. (Boston)

11. The 6th Boston Environmental Film Festival. (Boston)

12. It’s Pirate’s Day in Bourne me heartys. (Bourne)

13. Endangered species day at the zoo. (Boston, Stoneham)

14. PVP Brighton Spanish Immersion Preschool open house. (Brighton)

15. Father Goose’s Tales puppet show. (Brookline)

16. Free family concert featuring Vivaldi… and kazoos. (Cambridge)

17. The Parents Nursery School annual Spring Fair. (Cambridge)

18. The 6th annual Massasoit Arts Festival. (Canton)

19. Powisset Farm Spring Festival (Dover)

20. Snakes Alive! Snake hunt and live snake show. (Ipswich)

21. The historical Long Meddowe Days. (Longmeadow)

22. Brooks Elementary School Run for Education. (Medford)

23. Sample sips at the Nantucket Wine Festival. (Nantucket)

24. Touch the trucks. (Needham)

25. Yummy puddingstone geology. (Sharon)

26. Join these musicians as they make good use of The Porch. (Somerville)

27. Dancing in the Streets city-wide dance festival begins. (Somerville)

28. Wizards of Words, young writers workshop. (Wellesley)

29. Apple blossom festival. (Westford)

30. Join the Birthday Wishes Cake Walk. (West Roxbury)

31. WorldFest Woburn. (Woburn)

32. A night at the museum gala. (Worcester)

Image credit: www.thetrustees.org