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A Review of Farmers to You

In the name of efficiency, I have been trying out a variety of grocery delivery services over the past couple of months. This past week I had the opportunity to try Farmers to You, a co-op of Vermont farms that will deliver in my area. Farm fresh produce and meat, without an hour plus drive. Yes, please! Don’t miss your special discount code at the bottom of this post.

Farmers to You Farms

What is Farmers to You?

Here’s how Farmers to You works. A wide variety of farms in the Vermont area provide their best quality produce, meats, syrups, and more to be delivered to Boston area families. We go online, choose what we want, then it gets delivered at a predetermined pick up location one day during the week. I was able to pick up my order at the Wellesley Farmers Market, which is now 100% served by Farmers to You.

One of the most important lessons I have learned as a culinary nutrition expert is to understand where your food is coming from. The shorter the distance from farm to table is always going to be in your best interest. Vegetables grown on small farms, where they truly care for the soil and the land, gives you more nutrient density in the food on your table.

If I have a choice to spend money with a small farm family business versus big agra, the small farm will always win. I know that someone has nurtured what they have grown, whether it’s fruits, vegetables, or animals. That positive energy becomes part of your food, and then part of us.

Food, if you can call it that, which has gone through processing becomes dead food. Same goes for food that is picked before it’s ripe. The most important step I teach my private clients is how the quality of the food they eat affects their health and energy level.

Is Farmers to You all Organic?

Here’s another tidbit worth remembering, you don’t always need to buy organic.  There is a time and a place for certified organic, but if you are partnering with a small farm that uses old-school methods of farming, they don’t need the costly organic stamp of approval for me. Organic farming has become a big business, and just because it’s labeled organic does not always guarantee it’s the best choice.

Farmers to You Vermont farm delivery service Boston

How do I prioritize what I buy organic versus not? Here’s my cheat sheet:

  • Choose grass-fed, pastured raised meat from small, local farms. You will get a better quality meat than a factory farm organic chicken. Yes, that’s what Perdue is doing to the organic business. Choosing the highest quality meat you can afford is the most important thing. I would ask you to spend the extra money on meat and dairy quality, and buy all your other veggies non-organic if your budget is tight.
  • Dairy is next in line. I’m comfortable with non-organic if the cows are pastured the majority of the year. Here’s more info on how to make smart choices about dairy…and guess what, it doesn’t include fat-free anything.
  • Eggs-pastured raised, small farm is best. Even organic standards allow for large scale chicken coops with very little outdoor exposure. Farm fresh eggs all rate higher for Omega 3, a key nutrient for anti-inflammatory diets. 
  • Root vegetables-if it’s not local and you don’t know the farm, choose organic. The veggies absorb everything that’s in the soil. If that includes Round-Up, then you get that too. Farmers to You partners with River Berry and Dog River Farms. You can grab some certified organic root vegetables with them.
  • Strawberries- top of the charts for the Dirty Dozen so I don’t make exceptions here. Always buy organic.
  • Apples- they tend to be heavily sprayed, but you can find good non-organic apples that have been grown with Integrated Pest Management practices. From Champlain farm owners,

  • Bill and Andrea at Champlain Orchards are committed to ecological practices and are Eco-Apple certified. Due to challenges of our Northeast climate, they use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and minimally spray their apples to manage pests in conjunction with natural methods.

  • Leafy greens- an avid reader informed me that leafy greens attract lots of bugs so they are sprayed heavily with pesticides. I’m sticking with organic here, unless I hear the farm follows a non-toxic protocol.
  • Corn-buy organic, otherwise it’s most likely from a GMO seed.
  • Red peppers- organic, top of the dirty dozen list.
  • Balance of fruits and veggies-grab organic if you can if in a grocery store. I’m comfortable without the organic label if it’s from a small, trustworthy farm.

Here’s a peek at how Farmers to You connects you to the food you serve your family.

A Community of Families and Farmers from Farmers To You on Vimeo.

How do I sign up for Farmers to You?

Super easy to test out if you are in the Boston area. Check here on this page to find delivery sites in your area. Want one in Needham? Let me know if there is enough interest and I’ll do a test run! While I love supporting my local farmers market, time is tight as a busy mom with three little kids and a husband who travels. Let’s not even mention the craziness of the kid’s sports schedules over the weekend. If I can make my cooking/grocery shopping a little more efficient right now, I’m all for it.

I created an account, placed an order by Sunday for a Thursday pickup. I got a text reminder and an email about when and where to pickup my order. It was super simple. *You do need to update your order for the following week as it automatically creates a reoccurring order. I adjusted mine to reorder basics and suspended it for a week to allow me time to process what I already received. Next week I’ll update it and see what new items are available.

What am I making with my delivery from Farmers to You?

Farmers to You Grass Fed Meat

There are some recipes on the Farmers to You website, but here’s a few more ideas based on what caught my eye last week.

sweet-potato-apple-soup-recipe-ingredients-paleo

Ready to check it out?! Head over here to place your order with Farmers to You.  My readers are getting $25 off their first order! Use the code: ERW25. 

Come back here and leave a comment sharing what you are excited to try first! 

Note: I partnered with Farmers to You and was provided free product to facilitate this story. I had a great experience and look forward to placing orders with them again on my own. 

Farmers to You Food Delivery in Boston

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Calling All Red Sox Kids!

Who is ready to think spring?! We are big Red Sox fans in our house and have lived through the highs and lows of this great team. It’s time to get excited about the new season and I’m excited to share with you some of the family friendly initiatives the Red Sox organization is putting in place at Fenway for the 2015 season.

Red Sox Moms media

I’m part of a new team, the Red Sox Moms. We will be sharing with you the special events happening at the ballpark and around the city of Boston during the baseball season. If you have ever taken young kids to a ball game, you know you need more than just the game to hold their attention! This year there will lots of exciting new experiences for families to enjoy, starting from the minute they enter the park.

Gate K: The New Kids Entrance!

Enter Fenway Park through Gate K (by Gate B at Ipswich) and be welcomed with live entertainment, balloon artists, kids activities and more. Kids can get a Passports Reward book at the beginning of the season and collect stamps and prizes throughout the season. As a parent, I’m really happy to know the staff in this area is specially trained to work with kids and keep things fun!

Wally’s Clubhouse

The new Wally’s Clubhouse will be open for nearly every game from the 3rd inning on. Just as your kids start to get a little restless, you now have a safe place to bring them to stretch their less and let out a little energy. Think of toddler-friendly climbing zones, story tellers, animals shows and more. Wally will be there of course since he is often the main attraction for the little ones. Did you know you Wally has his own Facebook page now? Plus, concessions ($5 kids meal and beer for the parents) and large televisions so parents still get to enjoy the game experience. Oh, and don’t forget the air conditioning!

Little fan ready for the game. (source)

Little fan ready for the game. (source)

Need Diapers?

Did you know that you can grab diapers in any size from ALL customer service outlets in the park? No need to trek all the way to the First Aid station when you are in a pinch. They also carry sunscreen and wipes too!

Affordable Tickets

The best news about the Red Sox campaign to renew a love of baseball in kids is their commitment to offering 25,000 free tickets to the newest members of Red Sox nation. Sign up your kids (ages 14 and under) and they each get a free ticket. Make it a family event and head in together to experience America’s favorite pastime.

Sign-up-for-Red-Sox-Nation

Plus–there will be $9 high school and college tickets available for every game. These will be for kids ages 15 and up. I love this idea, as a Boston College grad I would have loved to catch a game for that price when I was in school!

In addition to these new initiatives, there will also be special days for kids with Peanut Allergies, Autism and the Red Sox continues its partnership with the Jimmy Fund. When I recently met with the behind-the-scenes team at Fenway Park, I was impressed with the Red Sox Foundation. This is the charitable arm of the organization and they are rebuilding 10 Little League parks throughout Boston, plus sponsoring both baseball and softball teams. They are committed to enriching the community and I’m excited to learn more about how they are giving back to the people of Greater Boston.

Don’t miss out! Join in the fun this summer and claim your kid’s free tickets to a Red Sox game. If you have any suggestions or ideas on how to make Fenway even better for families, let me know and I’ll pass along the info. See you at the game!

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Welcome the Goldfish Swim School to Needham!

Goldfish Swim School coming to Needham.

Imagine a bright, tropical place where you feel welcome and relaxed, and your kids get to learn to swim there. This is the goal of the new Goldfish Swim School opening soon in Needham, MA. As a parent of three little ones, all with varying degrees of love (and fear) of the water, I am so curious to learn more about this modern approach to swim lessons. Swimming is a life skill, one needed for safety if you spend anytime around water. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Kepic, the owner of Goldfish Swim School in Needham, and Martha Tierney, the General Manager.

Q: What’s the difference about the Goldfish approach to swim lessons?

A: First of all, we create an inviting, tropical place with a 90 degree pool for the kids to feel safe and comfortable. The entire school is welcoming and light-hearted. The main goal of our curriculum is to teach kids how to swim and get results. We focus early on with safety skills so kids are comfortable in the water and learn to stay calm.

With a focus on results, we have “perpetual lessons” where a child can swim and move up to the next level, often while staying with the same teacher. The kids get a great sense of accomplishment and there are lots of fun rewards for them. {Comment-as a parent I am most excited to hear about the consistency of teachers when it works schedule and ability-wise.}

Q: How will parents stay updated about their child’s progress?

A: Parents are invited onto the pool deck for the last 5 minutes of class. They will get a report each week about their child’s abilities. There is a small staff to student ratio so the teacher really has a good opportunity to learn how to teach your child.

Q: What age range of children will you be working with?

A: We will see babies start around 4 months, or at least when they can hold their head up. The main age range will be 4 months-10 years of age. Older children who may still be struggling to learn swimming basics are welcome, but may be more comfortable with private lessons.

Q: At what age are the parents also included in the water with the babies?

A: We have the parent join the child from ages 4 months- 24 months. If a child is brand new to swimming at 24 months, we may have them start with a parent to make sure they feel comfortable.

Fun changing rooms at the Goldfish Swim School

Q: How are the locker room facilities?

A: This is where we really stand out from the competition. Kids can come in and change in one of 12 department style changing rooms (room for mom and siblings too!), store their stuff in cubbies and head on to the pool deck. After class, there are hot showers on the pool deck and then they return to the privacy of their changing rooms. The kids will love the hair drying station too!

Q: What can we do with siblings who may be there watching lessons?

A: We have a watching area for parents and siblings. Our goal is to make this a relaxing space where parents can connect with friends and neighbors while siblings can be entertained with an activity of the week we provide, chalkboards and other reward toys connected to our Theme of the Month.

Waiting area at Goldfish Swim School

Q: My youngest does not like the water (what??). How will you handle these situations?

A: We have several methods we have trained the instructors in to work with children who may not be comfortable swimming. Kids will cry and that’s normal. The staff is prepared to go at a child’s pace and it may take 3-4 classes for the tears to go away. The perpetual lessons provides the consistency needed to let the child feel comfortable in the pool. There are lots of awards for kids to brighten the experience, even if they are only able to sit with their feet in the water the first day. Also, in addition to the small staff to student ratio, there is also additional staff on the pool deck to help if a child needs more one on one attention.

Q: Now I’m super excited to see the new Needham location. When do you think you will be opening?

A: The updated goal is early May. Construction has been tough this winter. In the mean time, parents can visit the Needham preregistration site and get their child’s information entered into our system. We will be in touch once we have a confirmed opening date for classes.

Thank you Sarah and Martha for chatting with me! I am so excited to see my kids in the pool there once the Needham site is open. Get ready for more pictures. I wish it is was open this past winter; it would have been nice to feel a taste of the tropics after all these storms!

Opening soon! Goldfish Swim School Needham

 

If you are curious about pricing, you can find it here. Where is it going to be?

Goldfish Swim School: Needham, MA

  • Phone: 781-881-2108
  • 45 Fourth Ave.
    Needham, MA 02494

Disclosure: I am partnering with Goldfish Swim School Needham and I’ll be talking about them again once they open and my children participate in lessons. They are compensating me with lessons for the kids and I’m hopeful Connor gets over his fear of the water! 

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Holiday Shopping Stroll in Wellesley’s Linden Square

The magic of the holiday season can get lost when we stress about buying gifts. As we get caught up in the frenzy of generosity, it can be a challenge to slow down and find meaningful gifts. This week I had the opportunity to stroll through the variety of shops in Wellesley’s Linden Square. What a delight it was to talk to shop owners, get some personal attention and NOT fight for parking. Plus there is even a holiday gift guide to help figure out those holes on your list.

I had shopped Linden Square before, but usually it was due to a trip to Roche Brothers or The Cottage Restaurant. (best birthday brunch ever there!) On the shopping stroll, I got to check out a bunch of stores I had never been into, plus some old favorites.

Roosters: Upscale men’s grooming center. I could see my husband visiting here and really appreciate that Roosters is open on Sundays. For the holidays, check out their father and son package. They are also located in MA on Tremont Street in Boston and also in Lynnfield.

Shop Linden Square

Salon Maleah: a salon that focuses on hair only, with some excellent colorists. I loved getting my hair done into the “holiday twist.” The stylist taught us the bobby pins should be positioned so the bumpy side is against the scalp. Turns out I’ve been using them wrong my whole life! Salon Maleah is offering a holiday blow dry bundle special for the holidays!
Magic Beans shopping Linen Square
Magic Beans: toy store and so much more. I used to shop Magic Beans when I was first having babies and relied on some of their stroller experts to help me find the right ones. I really thought of it as a store for infants and toddler needs. I was happy to discover Magic Beans has a huge assortment of games for kids up to age 14!  They have GoldieBlox for ages 4-12, depending on the kit. Board games, building sets, arts and crafts and classic Brio trains. I got a crash course on the holiday hot list and hope to share some ideas if you are still in shopping mode! Don’t forget they offer gift wrap year round too.
 Shop Linden Square Shop Linden Square
Kenzie: the place to shop when your daughter doesn’t want to shop a “kids” store. They offer a tween line, but now added a women’s line due to popular demand. What started as baby and kids clothing 28 yrs ago in Coolidge Corner has turned into a focused assortment for girls ages 7-14. I really enjoyed this store and look forward to bringing Madison there when she is a little older. The holiday dress assortment was just lovely, and the sportswear was full of pop colors and fun silhouettes. (p.s. Kenzie is carrying the skiwear line Bogner if you are in the market!)
Shop Linden Square
Step to the next store over and you will find yourself in Tiny Hanger. Clothes, adorable shoes (oh, the shoes) and select toys for kids, infant through 6x. For the special little ones on your holiday shopping list, you can find some unique gift items that both mom and kids will enjoy.
Shop Linden Square
Sara Campbell: my surprise favorite shop. I always love a good assortment of cashmere for the holidays in a rainbow of colors and Sara Campbell delivered. From their versatile ruanas, to a beautiful pullover, there are plenty of gift options for that wow factor under the tree. Aside from the cashmere, my favorite item there was the charcoal grey scarf trimmed with rabbit fur. Just gorgeous.
Shop Linden Square at Bonsoir
Bonsoir: time to make your home shine for the holidays. There was a lot of beautiful, and delicate items in the store. Thankfully the staff at Bonsoir showed me some kid-proof ideas for holiday decorating. Two new fabrics for dressing the table are coated cloth and the French Green Sweet. Spilled drinks will be your enemy no more. Dress it up with a rhinestone runner and your table is good to go.
Bella Sante: Lovely spa for all your relaxation needs. Need to give your husband a gift idea? Try the 5 Elements Treatment. Two hours of bliss. Sign me up. Plus you can get $25 spa dollars to spend on products for every $200 gift card.
Shop Linden Square
Tobey Grey: 13 denim lines for your shopping pleasure. They even have denim for your guy! Tobey Grey had some fun holiday tops too if you haven’t picked on out for parties this month.
Have you shopped Wellesley’s Linden Square? Happy holiday shopping!
Disclosure: I attended a media shopping event to help facilitate this story. All opinions shared here are my own. 
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Buy Your Next Vegetable Arrangement Local

Crudite Creation for your next party

A few months ago I was at a local dinner event and I saw this pretty vegetable arrangement. It was eye-catching and you could tell it was really fresh. I remember grabbing the card and saving it for a future event. Fast forward to this month and I had the opportunity to try out Crudite Creations, a Newton based company owned by Lauren Brooks. She graciously offered an arrangement I could share with other moms headed to our first kindergarten mom social. {I think I’m still in denial that Madison is going to kindergarten.} 

crudite creation flowers

My favorite part of getting the artful vegetable arrangement was seeing my kids reaction. I had to fend them off as they were ready to taste test each cute “flower.” Getting kids excited about eating new veggies is always a plus in my book. The arrangement also came with hummus and french onion dip. The ranch dip is also a big hit with kids too.

crudite creation as a centerpiece

 

Got a summer party to plan in the Boston area? Skip the flowers and order a centerpiece you can eat too! I love how pretty the arrangement was once it was set up at the party. Plus it’s a great way to encourage some healthy eating choices.

Thank you to Crudite Creation for the arrangement, it was delicious! All opinions shared here are my own. Shop local!

 

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What’s in a Stonyfield Yogurt Pearl?

The yummy new Stonyfield Frozen Yogurt Pearls! #girlswithpearls

Today we were delighted with a personal delivery of the new Stonyfield Frozen Yogurt Pearls. They are part dessert and part the coolest thing in food technology. And they were delicious! Just ask how quickly Madison was wishing for a second one.

The frozen yogurt is encased in an edible skin, kind of like a grape. Except these skins are different flavors…strawberry, coconut, and yummy banana. Wiki Foods, a Cambridge based company, developed the technology to work with Stonyfield’s yogurt bonbon treat. Consider the treat to be Wikilicious!

stonyfield frozen yogurt pearls boston

What’s even cooler is the packaging. It is going to be plastic free. The wrapper is actually made from a wood by-product. Ultimately, the marketing team would love to see them sold alongside the gelato at Whole Food dessert bars, totally package free. At only 20 calories a pop, it’s a sweet treat that won’t tip the scales.

As of March 21st, you can find the new Pearls in four Boston area Whole Foods. For more details there is a great Boston Globe article sharing some additional details.

All opinions shared about Stonyfield and the new Frozen Yogurt Pearls are my own, or my kids. 😉

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Stay Alert in the Ford Fusion

Ford Fusion Alert Driving

Raise your hand if you ever have fallen asleep driving?  Even one of those nanosecond naps counts as falling asleep. It’s estimated that more than 250,000 people fall asleep behind the wheel a day.  As many of you travel in the coming week, I wanted to highlight some initiatives to keep you safe. I went to an event recently to test drive the new Ford Fusion. Part of the new design are a few bells and whistles to help keep you alert and safe on the road. The idea is that the advancement of technology in cars can act as preventative measures, instead of reactive.

DSC_0006

I also got to hear from John Paul, the “Car Doctor” from AAA at the Ford Driving event.  He shared some scary stats about how dangerous the “micro nap” can be. Maybe you don’t fall asleep behind the wheel, but the driver next to you might. He suggests taking a 15-20 minute nap if you are doing long distance driving. The other factors are getting a little exercise and caffeine. A large Starbucks is the most caffeinated coffee you can buy.

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Michael Kane, a Ford Vehicle Engineering Supervisor, shared with us the latest in technology in the Fusion. (also available in some other Ford models)

  • Lane keeping system.
  • BLIS (Blind Spot Information System)
  • Active Park Assist (I did this in the Escape driving event, loved it!)
  • Auto Start Stop (no more idling!)
  • Cross Traffic Alert (gives you a heads up when backing out of a parking lot space if a vehicle is in your way.)

This video about the Lane Keeping System explains it in this short video.

Ford Fusion Lane Keeping System Animation

Ford Fusion Lane Keeping System Animation

Driving the Fusion was a pleasant, and quiet, experience.  Besides the fact that my kids were not in the car, I noticed how extremely quiet the car drove. I love that feature. The drive was great, pick up top notch and it has all the cool Sync technology built in. Plus, I love the commitment to new safety features in an affordable car.

Love the eco friendly options in the Ford fleet!

Love the eco friendly options in the Ford fleet!

I helped coordinate this event and wanted to give a huge thank you to L’Aroma Cafe in West Newton. The scones and coffee were delicious! Urban Sitter kept the kids occupied so we could focus on learning about the Fusion. Thank you to all the participants who brought in donations for the local food pantry as well!

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A Blogger’s Holiday at the Royal Sonesta Boston

The kids had a blast at the Royal Sonesta Hotel

I had the opportunity to check out the Royal Sonesta Boston hotel last weekend for a Boston Social Media holiday party. The hotel welcomed a group of local bloggers and their families for an afternoon of fun and great company. From the moment we entered the hotel, the staff was super nice and had the event well organized. I always love seeing hotels decorated for Christmas and took the opportunity to click a quick one of the kids in front of one the many decorated trees at the hotel.

Here are a few fun facts I learned about the Royal Sonesta Boston.

  • The hotel is great for kids. The indoor pool alone is a winner.

    Even the kids straws are special.

  • They have a composting program!
  • Lots of new green initiatives are in work for each hotel room.
  • They buy local when possible. The bar tools were purchased from a local shop in Somerville.
  • They make their own sodas. We had the Pomegranate Lime Black Pepper soda and it was amazing.
  • They give kids homemade play dough at their restaurants instead of paper and crayons.
  • The restaurants partner with local farmers to create farm to table inspired menus.

The event was a blast for both the kids and adults. The kids were entertained with crafts, play dough making, and cookie decorating. The adults enjoyed a civilized lunch while the babysitters from UrbanSitter watched our little ones. Ice cream sandwiches with homemade cookies finished off the  lovely afternoon.

Homemade play dough made in house.

Thank you to the Royal Sonesta Hotel for hosting us, and Niri and Isra for coordinating it all. Go team #BSMHoliday! To hear more about our Boston Social Media parties, here is my friend Lori from Groovy Green Livin’s recap. She shares more about what this group means to all of us.

I also want to mention our group has partnered with three charities for the holidays. Toys for Tots (we packed the bins at Burton’s Grill on Tuesday night!), Pediatric Cancer research and we adopted two families who were devastated by Superstorm Sandy.  If you are a tweeter, if you send out a tweet with the hashtag #Aflackids, Aflac will donate $2 towards pediatric cancer research for every tweet this holiday season.

Disclosure: We attended a complimentary event at the hotel. All opinions shared here are my own. 

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New Curious George Season Starts Dec 3rd!

JJ was a little surprised to see such a big Curious George

Raise your hand if your kids love Curious George. In our house, it was the first TV show we let my daughter watch. It fast became a favorite and we often here, “I want to watch George!” Now, JJ is also in love with the little monkey. It really is sweet since my favorite stories (and stuffed monkey) as a child was Curious George.

Did you know Curious George is the #1 show for preschoolers? We were lucky enough to attend a screening of the new Season 7 that starts on PBS on Monday, Dec 3rd. Some of the new shows take place in Australia where Curious George and the Man with the Yellow Hat get to learn all about the animals down under.

I love this short video about how kids in fact learn from watching Curious George. It’s all about encouraging our kids curiosity, just like their favorite little monkey.  Just remember, when it comes to screen time, moderation is best.  I tend to watch George with my kids and then talk about the lessons he learns in real life situations.  The compost episode is one of my personal favorites, but it was a counting buildings example that helped teach my daughter how to count spaces on a board game.

Check your local listings for show times on PBS.  Find more Curious George adventures at the PBSKids website.

Thank you to 360PR, WGBH and Stride Rite Shoes for a wonderful event! All opinions shared here are my own, and my kids!

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