In case you didn't catch the interview with The Oregonian's OMama, Amy Wang - check out her online article: 

Simplicity Parenting coach offers Portland course

While Amy and I bonded over pho, she took copious notes to learn the basics of Simplicity Parenting. We both had to laugh when she admitted that her week had been too hectic to really check out the new blog before we met. I know when I first read and reviewed Simplicity Parenting  I was far too busy with summer camping trips to even think about decluttering or setting a screen policy.

Face it, in this busy age, there's never really an easy time to begin to simplify. That's why the movement has encouraged three things above all else:

1. Create "Small Doable Changes"
2. Celebrate incremental success 
3. Build a support network

If you are ready for more than a five-minute article based on a one hour lunch, then I hope you'll come to my free intro workshop and/or join the growing movement by signing up for my January workshops.

In anticipation of  the holidays, here is a fresh post from my new blog on Christmas Countdown vs. Simplicity Slowdown. 

May this season bring your family true fun and festivities!

------------
Darcy Cronin is a mother of three, blogger, and small business adventurer. Darcy became certified as a Simplicity Parenting Coach to help families create paths toward meaningful values and more sustainable lifestyles. Follow her blog and sign up for workshops at Darcy's Utopia.

Where: Milagros Boutique - 5433 NE 30th Ave (NE Killingsworth)

When: Thursday, December 12th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

RSVP: darcysutopiapdx@gmail.com or just post a comment below

Come see us this Sunday, June 23rd, at Fernhill Park (near the playground) as a part of Sunday Parkways- an 8 mile loop that is closed off to cars and wide open to bicyclists, skateboarders, scooter riders, walkers, runners, hula hoopers...!

We have some yummy treats provided by Saint Cupcake and Dry Soda as well as fresh-off-the-press uM stickers and Stealing Time subscriptions, tattoos and stickers!

Be sure to drop off a business card in our raffle jar too- one lucky winner will be drawn at random to get a free month of advertising on uM! 

So... pump up those bike tires, grab your helmet and rally the kids! We cannot wait to meet you! Want to coordinate a group ride? Let's chat about it on our FB page!

Click here to view the NE Sunday Parkways map and highlights. The route opens at 11am and closes at 4pm.

It has almost been a year since we met to w(h)ine in SW Portland. So join us for snacks, wine and conversation.

date:     Thursday, May 2nd

time:     6:30 pm

location:     Korkage Wine Shop located at 6351 SW Capitol Hwy in Hillsdale.

Please RSVP in the comments.

Let's lunch! We meet downtown, have some food and chat about work, kids, PTA or whatever is in your mind.

date:       Thursday, April 25th

time:        12:30 pm

location:   The Original, 300 SW Sixth Ave

Please RSVP by Tuesday, April 23rd in the comments. 

You're all invited. Think of it as a salon for writers and readers-to-be, a celebration of mothers with ideas and the fathers too, a little sweet stop in the midst of a week, a chance to catch our breath and catch up. With the help of Two Tarts Bakery in NW Portland and some great friends-and-urbanMamas, I'm throwing a little party to help launch our literary magazine and to thank the helpers who've already backed us. There will be goodie bags including treats from Alma Chocolate and the canvolution and more to come.

Wednesday, June 27
6:30 to 9 p.m.
Two Tarts Bakery, 2309 NW Kearney St.
Things to eat. Things to drink! A raffle! Kids are up to you.

After the jump: my description of the party. I had fun with this.

I seemed to have missed the winter lunch and now spring break is just around the corner. So let’s meet the first week of April to talk kids, work, spring break - whatever is on your mind. As I am not feeling adventuresome or creative just now - we are headed back to Red Star Tavern. Details:

Working Mama Lunch

Thursday, April 5th

12:30 pm

Red Star Tavern @  SW 5^th and SW Alder

Hope to see you there. /courtney

Just a reminder that we are meeting for lunch on Thursday, December 15 @ 12:30. See details and RSVP here.

UPDATED: 12/9! This effort is headed by a great uM volunteer, Vita -- we're so thrilled to have her help!

Last year, the urbanMama community adopted a family in need for the holidays. The response from so many urbanMama families was overwhelming - we managed to give our adopted family everything that they needed and wanted on their wish list! So this year, we're sponsoring another family for Christmas 2011 -the S. family.

The S. family has 5 children, ages 10, 7, and 4 months. (The father has two other children, 5 and 7 year old boys, who come to visit every other weekend. According to the caseworker, as the two boys won't be celebrating Christmas at their house, the primary focus will be on the other three children, although they would appreciate a few gifts for the two other boys as well. Currently, we don't have wish lists for these two boys, but we'll post that information when we find out.) They are supported solely by Shantae's part-time position as a breastfeeding peer counselor and unfortunately, budget cuts have reduced her hours. Arthur works in construction, but has been struggling to find work in this economy. The ability to provide Christmas gifts will be particularly difficult this year given the mom's reduced work hours and with the addition of a new baby. Also, Rico's 11th birthday is only 2 days after Christmas, so if possible, it would be a lovely surprise if we are able to provide him with a few birthday presents. The family's wish lists are listed below.

After a very long hiatus, we're planning another Eastside w[h]ine night for Friday, December 9th. Update: We chose Bar Avignon, 2138 SE Division! We are choosing between an overwhelming number of fantastic wine bars in the Central Eastside -- think somewhere between the Morrison Bridge and 28th and Burnside. While we juggle all the options, we wanted to get this on your calendars (and we'll also base our selection on the probable number of guests).

So, here are the details:

   ~~ Friday, December 9
   ~~ 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
   ~~ Bar Avignon, 2138 SE Division
   ~~ urbanMamas will provide event support (i.e. pay for some goodies & wine!)

We like to find a place that allows minors for those who might bring a nursing infant, so please let us know if this is a make-it-or-break-it for you. We also picked a long time frame that will hopefully allow both pre-bedtime and post-bedtime mamas to come along; we don't expect most of you to be there the whole time!

Please let us know if you're coming in the comments. Dads are welcome, although they should know that these events tend toward the girl talk. Also, if you wish to lobby for a particular spot (our list is already long!), let us know why we should hold our event there!

I thought I was speedy and skilled on my mamabikeorama. Two of my boys and I careened around the course Shetha designed for this summer's Fiets of Parenthood PDX yesterday at Clever Cycles, sure with Everett's jousting skills (which earned him first place in the Kindercross race) and my well-honed riding ability, I'd be at least in the top three.

While my time wasn't that bad, my skill level was nothing near the top of the Portland heap. I had earlier been watching a mom test out a huge platform-style box bike. She had her husband and a bunch of kids in it; Monroe hopped in, too, and she gleefully steered the passel of kids around the blocked-off street. "Is there a weight limit on this?" she asked, peddling in her dress, one hand on the handlebars.

Other inspirational biking parents were there, like Katie, who biked to the birthing center to deliver her infant daughter Kestrel -- she and her husband were pedaled home with the baby in a Pedicab. Kestrel, tiny still, was there after a jaunt with big brother Jasper and her parents to and from North Portland. A mom who had just picked up her longtail mama bike on Saturday stopped by with her two children. Travis and his family -- three boys, mom in stripey knee socks -- had made themselves matching tees, because you know, they were bringing it, their all to the competition.

I went first in the competition, and was quickly knocked out in both speed and overall skill. With a 10-second bonus for each child aboard, Emily -- with six kids of her own aboard one bicycling contraption (for the record: Bakfiets with four littles in the box, one in a rear-mounted bike seat behind that looked like it was vintage or European, and one attached via a Follow-Me tandem coupling -- a neat import that allows a parent to hook the child's bike to the parent's rear wheel) -- had most of us beat. Here's how this looks:

It's proof that my competitive spirit can be easily quelled by the wow-factor of an inspirational mama feat or two. I'm so inspired that I want to tell everyone -- did you see the mom with the six kids bike jousting? -- but it's not a one-time sight. She's bicycling Southeast Portland every day with her family, and she's not the only inspiration on the streets. Keep an eye out, and prepare to find wow-factor every day. Smile and wave when you see them, and tell everyone about the ordinary, extraordinary, Fiets of Parenthood around us.

(For the record, Travis was one of those who tied for first thanks to his three boys and four rings jousted -- and blazing speed! And next year, I think we should give extra bonuses for parents who pedal their co-parent around -- I think our winning lineup may have been different if we did.)

Just a reminder - or maybe you are seeing this for the first time - we are having a working mama lunch on Friday, August 20. See details and RSVP here. Hope to see some new and returning faces.

I hate to say it: our first days of school are right around the corner. The weather will turn, and we'll go from afternoon air of warmth to air with a cooler bite. And, we'll have to dig through our bins to rotate weather appropriate garb, from the flimsy to the more substantive. Do you have your coats, socks, jackets, rain ponchos, pants, long-sleeve shirts in order? Sneakers, boots, galoshes? Lunch boxes, thermoses, reusable lunch containers? Start purging!

urbanMamas is teaming up with folks to hold Back-to-School Clothing swaps on Saturday, August 21, 2010. We have locations lined up in each of the five quadrants, so hopefully you can find a time and place that works for you. Emphasis will be on school-aged kid gear, but there will be a section for preschoolers as well. Some snacks and drink will probably be available at each location. Swap school clothes and gear, and maybe make a few new friends, too. Thank you muchly to all of our co-hosts! Let us know if you have questions & we will try to get them answered.

N PDX: St. Johns Swap 'n' Play, 7535 N Chicago Ave, 9-11am

NE PDX: Milagros Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Ave (near Killingsworth), 10am-12n

NW PDX: Isobel's Clubhouse, 300 block of NW 10th Ave, between Hanna Andersen & Cupcake Jones, 11am-1pm

SE PDX: Know thy Food, 3434 SE Milwaukie (entrance on Haig Street), 1-3pm

SW PDX: Westside Academy of Kung Fu, 1509 SW Sunset Blvd Suite B1, 3-5pm.

Our 2nd annual Activistas/urbanMamas community garage sale fundraiser (what a mouthful) is right around the corner, so mark your calendars for Friday August 13th and Saturday August 14th from 9 to 4 PM.  What makes this work so beautifully is YOUR cast-offs.  Because that's what we sell!

We're accepting donations of anything and everything (not just kid stuff) as long as it's not in grim condition.  You can drop it off at one of our homes before the sale, or bring it the day of and "drop and shop."  Whatever works for you.

Last year we raised $1,500 and donated it ALL to Family Forward Oregon.  Our goal this year?  Double that.  So whether you drop or shop (or bake!), we hope you'll be a part of a wonderful community event to support a non-profit that's working hard to support Oregon families.

Details here.

Email us to coordinate a donation or sign up to work a shift (it's fun!).

The other day, I spilled a cup of black coffee on my beige work pants.  It was 8am.  Yesterday, I was in charge of all three kidlets for the joyful hours from 6pm to 8pm, during which there was a lot of meltdown and crying dirty tears.  Today, I wanted to escape *alone* for a quick errand to the store, but one of the kids begged to come with me.  I let her.  She whined and complained the whole way.  She was cold and had to pee.

And it's only Wednesday morning.

I deserve a night to myself and so do you. Please, please join me.  We can share war stories.  Or not. RSVP so I know I will have company.  Find the mamas with the helmets:

urbanMamas w(h)ine night
Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 8pm
Alu Wine Bar
2831 NE ML King Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR 97212
(503) 262-9463

Last year, I was invited to join a group of amazing women, mostly food writers or bloggers, but a few simply passionate about preservation, in Seattle, Philadelphia and a few other locales to help promote the Canvolution -- a celebration of Canning Across America all year long that culminated in a weekend Can-a-rama. In cities across the country, canners were invited to host events in which beginning and experienced putter-uppers would join together in something like the harvest parties of old.

The inaugural event was scheduled for the weekend of Hood-to-Coast; much though I wanted to host something, it was a little more than I could juggle. I canned alone on Sunday when I returned home from a lot of mostly-sleepless running. I was lucky enough, though, to be invited to a tomato canning party in September, giving me the community canning fix to get me through the winter (and, for the record, I canned enough tomatoes! -- with my solo jars and the product of our canning party, 70 pints were more than my family needed). I've been inviting a few friends over for strawberry jam-making on Wednesdays, and though it's been a bit chaotic, it's been lovely, too. And the jam has been delicious!

This year I was thrilled to see the Can-a-rama scheduled for the weekend of July 24 and 25. Immediately, I knew I'd host a canning party; every time I've mentioned food preservation here, I've had at least one commenter wonder, how can I learn to can food? This will be just a bit of a lesson, and it will be hands-on and messy and probably hot, but it should be fun.

I'm planning to book a solid day of harvesting and preserving on Saturday, July 24; we'll begin by harvesting some plums from a neighbor's tree, then make a number of preserves based on those plums (including jam, a savory sauce and perhaps plum pickles), and probably some other preserves -- blueberry, apricot, zucchini? -- based on what's bountiful and cheap that week. I'll demonstrate both water-bath canning and lacto-fermentation; but no pressure canning. I think my Southeast Portland home can fit about a dozen mamas and papas; I'd love to see parties clustered around neighborhoods so that you all could use this as a community-building as well as a teaching/learning/food-securing opportunity. (If you want to host but aren't into the coordination, leave a comment and I'll help.)

It's a fundraiser for Family Forward Oregon, so, please, don't take that load to Goodwill!  Save it for us, instead.

How it works:

You donate all that stuff you just don't need anymore, and we sell it to folks who do.  100% of the proceeds will be donated to Family Forward Oregon, a year-old Oregon non-profit (run by Pdx mamas) that is working to build a family-friendly economy in Oregon that fully supports the work of child-raising and family caregiving without jeopardizing economic security. 

Garage sale details:

• When?  Fri & Sat, August 13 & 14, 9 AM - 4 PM
  Where?  NE 47th & Siskiyou, 2 blocks S of NE Fremont in Pdx
• What: Your donated baby/kid and non-kid stuff for sale  
• Why?  To support an amazing new org that is working hard to benefit all Oregon families; in this "economic climate," this is an effective, barn raising approach to fundraising.
• Help! You can donate stuff (save it till August or drop it at one of our drop houses sooner - email us at activistas@gmail.com and we'll find one near you), work the sale, or bake for the inevitable kid-run lemonade stand (or all of the above!)
• Questions?  Leave a comment here and we'll reply, or get in touch directly: activistas@gmail.com

This is just a heads up so you can plan to donate, bake and/or shop.  And of course, help us spread the word in the meantime.  As the date nears we'll provide more details.  

Growing up, I do not ever recall seeing my mother in a swimsuit.  Extremely conscious, she never even wore skirts unless the hemline fell below the calf.  To this day, she avoids the swimsuits… unless…  her grandchildren beg her to take them swimming during their adventure in Disneyland.  I asked my mom if I could buy her a suit.  She was, after all, taking my children to experience the magic of Disney, all expenses paid.  It was the least I could do.  I turned to the only swimsuit boutique where I knew we could find something that felt comfortable and attractive for her.

Popina has an abundance of items to mix and match, from more revealing bikini tops to very sassy halter tankinis (my personal fave) and from sport bikini bottoms to boy shorts and fuller length skorts.  Needless to say, my mother found a suit – for the first time in 30 years – that she loved, was comfortable, and looked good.  I feel that it was the feat of a lifetime.

Despite the June gloom, I’m confident that we will, indeed, experience a truly gorgeous Portland summer.  In addition, I am hopeful that some of us have lovely summer plans gallivanting in warm places.  To that end, we wanted to offer a Popina Night, as we did last year.  Last year, we enjoyed some nibbles and privacy while we searched for that perfect suit.

Join other urbanMamas and Milagros Boutique supporters, as we team up with Popina, for another special evening to find that perfect suit.  There will be tropical drinks, prizes (a $50 gift certificate!) and plenty of privacy so you can explore options in your own comfort.

Hope you can join us!

urbanMamas & Milagros Boutique at Popina
Thursday, June 10, 2010
6pm to 8pm
there will be tropical drinks, fun, and a $50 gift certificate to raffle off!

This event-to-be has had many names: "Mamabikeorama Xtracyclextravaganza" was one, but that was quite a mouthful and before we firmly decided to make it parent- and brand-neutral. We've been delightedly coming up with possible contests of skill and style, community builders and likely Youtube moments for years; but when Julian at Totcycle posted this fall that he was thinking about a very similar concept -- and with a great name, too (we love the fiets/feats wordplay)-- that we decided it was high time to start our planning engines.

So, working together with Julian, the fine folks at Clever Cycles, and Patrick and Holly of vélocouture and McGuire Barber Design, we're proud to announce that the inaugural Fiets of Parenthood event will be Saturday, June 12th, part of Pedalpalooza 2010. Full details (as they currently stand) are here at the event site; events will include a family biking obstacle course (on each team, at least one parent and child must be in some way connected via integrated bike or trailer hookup, etc.) with winners for both style and speed; a "kindercross" kids' cyclocross race which will award four- to 12-year-olds for fancy riding and lightning fastness; and a parent-child "figure cycling" event in which teams perform a two-to-three minute trick routine. Proceeds from sale of stickers, buttons and such will benefit the Community Cycling Center; donations will also be accepted; food carts like SolPops, Trailhead Coffee Roasters, and other more substantial fare will be on hand.

Saturday, June 12th
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
908 SE Hawthorne
bring your bikes, your kids, your fanciest duds and your skills
free

Let us know if you plan to come in the comments; and if you have any idea for events, skills or other agenda items that aren't already mentioned, please pass those along!

We start off the week with something FUN to look forward to at the end of the week.  Meet other mamas for some mamaraderie this Friday evening.  Unwind, talk about schools (or not), have a glass of wine, and just enjoy a little time away from the family that we love so much.  Hope you can join!

urbanMamas w(h)ine night
Friday, April 30, 2010, 8PM
everyday wine
1520 Northeast Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 331-7119

Details and RSVP here.

Just a quick reminder to join us from 2-4 PM today, Saturday 4/24, at Milagros Boutique in NE Pdx.  We'll be swapping the old for the, well, old. What better way to celebrate Earth Day (and the "Great Recession") than to pass along your gently used stuff you no longer need (kid, maternity, garden, whatever!), and grab some treasures you might have otherwise bought new!

Milagros is at 5429 NE 30th Ave, just off Killingsworth. We'll be in their community room, just next to the store. Here's a map. A big thanks to Tony for sharing the space so generously.

See you there!

Mamas, we all deserve a night out every now and then.  The past few urbanMamas gatherings have been mid-week, but we are hoping more of you can make it to our next gathering, scheduled for post-bedtime on Friday, April 30, 2010.  Hope you can join us!  RSVP in the comments... 

urbanMamas w(h)ine night
Friday, April 30, 2010 at 8PM
everday wine
1520 Northeast Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 331-7119

Is it true that all good things must come to an end?  We recall one particularly robust urbanMamas coffee playdate at Sydney's that must have brought together 30 or 40 mamas, papas, and little ones to meet, have coffee, and play.  Sydney's has been a home, gathering place, play space, and work area to many of us for over three years now, but the time has come for them to shut their doors due to the loss of their lease.  Their last day open will be December 18, 2009.

 
Let's gather one last time to show some love at Sydney's, shall we?  It is bound to be busy on their last day Friday, so let's do a mid-week get together, which I can finagle right now while I'm on maternity leave.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
uM coffee playdate
Sydney's Cafe
NW 15th and NW Thurman
9-11:30 AM

The expiration date of the 2009 Chinook Book coupons is fast approaching (November 30, 2009), so we thought it'd be a good idea to swap it up.  Have some Chinook Book coupons you won't use?  Come share them with other mamas and papas who will.  Have some Chinook Book coupons you're looking for?  Come see if other mamas and papas have them to spare.

Even if you don't have coupons to swap, still come on by and coffee playdate with us to chat, meet, and play.  Let's meet up at Posie's Cafe, a new neighborhood coffee shop in North Portland with a swell little enclosed play area for the little ones.  Say next Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 11am?  Who's in?

We had a great time meeting new mamas last Friday!  Thank you all who came.  Due to the many requests, mamas want to have more urbanMamas coffee playdates.  Come, meet, and enjoy!  Try to RSVP in the comments if you can make it.

upcoming urbanMamas coffee playdates:
Friday, May 1, 2009
9:30-11:30 AM
Sydney's Cafe
1800 NW Thurman (corner of 16th and NW Thurman, under the Fremont Bridge)

Sunday, May 17, 2009
10:30-12:30N
Sydney's Cafe
1800 NW Thurman (corner of 16th and NW Thurman, under the Fremont Bridge)

In the future, we'll find other locations to meet.  In the meantime, let's gather at Sydney's, as the space is always so inviting and spacious enough for plenty of kids and adults.  If you have an idea for a great meeting place, shoot us an email at urbanMamas@gmail.com.

Update: There will be a drawing for a $75 gift certificate for the mamas who are present.  There should be much fun to be had!

When we talk about how to choose a swimsuit, it's so hard to know where to start.  Our bodies have changed over the course of the years, weathering pregnancy, nursing, post-partum challenges, lack of rest and so much more.  We ain't getting any younger, but we're confident that there are plenty of swimsuits out there that are practical, affordable, and flattering to any of our mama figures.

urbanMamas joins Popina for a special evening of poolside fashion and typical urbanMama fun.  We've heard through our previous conversation that Popina is a gold mine of a find, a local shop - carefully-selected pieces plus many suits Popina-designed and manufactured in right here in Portland - with lots and lots of options to meet our diverse tastes and activites.  We were thrilled that owner/designer Pamela Levenson thought to offer hosting an urbanMamas gathering:  Popina is opening its doors after-hours to us for custom fittings and consultations, and we (of course) will have nibbles and beverages on hand (perhaps to help us try new things, new styles, new cuts?).  All suits (excluding custom swimwear) will be 20% off for the evening.

Expecting a new babe (like me)?  Pamela says that many an expecting mama find something they love at Popina - a two-piece, an accommodating tankini, and even one-pieces.

So, ready to come out & play?  Get ready for the summer?  Have a little drink and chat with us?  Support other mamas in their dazzling new summer suit choices?  Join us.  RSVP in the comments.

urbanMamas suit up at Popina
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
6 to 9 PM
4831 NE 42nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97218

Mamas, I miss getting together with you all, meeting new mamas and seeing old familiar faces.  I'm having a hard time fitting face-time into my calendar, what with the FT job, relationship, two kids, and another one on the way.

With a couple of hot-hot-hot conversations of late, I feel the need to just sit down, shoot the $hit with you, and let you get to know me.  Let's get together, for a good old-fashioned coffee playdate, urbanMamas style.  Bring your kids or not.  I won't have mine; they'll be in school.  I'll be there pretending to work. 

Coffee Playdate, urbanMamas style
Sydney's Cafe
1800 NW Thurman (corner of 16th and NW Thurman, under the Fremont Bridge)
Friday, April 24, 2009
9:30AM

Feel free to RSVP in the comments or just show up and say "HI".  Let's go build some community and meet new mamas.

Is the economy affecting your job?  Will the new administration – both local and national – impact your job or workplace? How did your workplace /employer/childcare provider handle (or not handle) the Arctic Blast? Join us at a working mamas lunch and share your stories.

When: Monday, February 2 (Groundhog Day) at 12:00 sharp.
Where:  Al Amir Lebanese Restaurant located at 233 SW Stark Street (http://www.alamirportland.com/default.htm). They take reservations so please RSVP in the comments by Friday, January 30 at noon.

It cannot be that it's been over a 1-1/2 years since our last w(h)ine night!  I guess there have been a multitude of gatherings since then - film screenings, naked mama parties, coffee hours, and working mama lunches.  But, the urbanMamas w(h)ine nights are always so much fun.  We need to get together again soon!

We cordially invite you to the first urbanMamas w(h)ine night of 2009.  Come one, come all.  We have chosen a small, newish neighborhood joint.  Please join us for some banter and beverages:

Sunday, January 18, 2009
Yetti's Wine Bar
1914 N. Killingsworth, North Portland, OR 97217
7pm

Please RSVP in the comments so we can have a tentative mama count.

** updated with new ride locations ** check back for full route details **

photo credit: Jonathan Maus of bikeportland.org

Critial Mass started with a group of 45 people in San Francisco in 1992. Now, the ride is a monthly event in cities all around the world to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists’ right to the road.

Of course, We here at urbanMamas believe that kids and families are cyclists too! A very new effort to this end has started in Eugene, OR in August 2008.  Kidical Mass is a ride to help kids and families feel comfortable riding on our streets, especially as a larger group. Here in Portland, we’ve already had two successful Kidical Mass rides, both starting in the North Park Blocks in downtown Portland.  Rides are being organized in Tulsa, OK, Ashland, OR, Bend, OR, and Toronto, Canada.

We want to bring Kidical Mass to our neighborhoods.  urbanMamas is organizing Kidical Mass rides in N/NE Portland, SE Portland, and NW Portland (the original Portland Kidical Mass ride). 

What will you expect at Kidical Mass?

• A safety talk before we start riding
• A 3-4 mile guided ride on our neighborhood streets
• No child left behind!  We will make sure we have a sweeper biker to bring up the rear
• Tons of families and children riding with trailers, Xtracycles, tag-alongs/trail-a-bikes, bike seats, and kids riding on their own bikes
• Maps, brochures, information, bike decor for the kids
• A post-ride potluck picnic at the park where we can meet other urbanFamilies and chat about our summers, bike rides, and other Portland family fun

What should you bring?

• Tricked out and decorated bikes.  Bring your bike bling!
• Your helmets
• A picnic for your family post-ride
• Bring something to share, if you wish!

Mark your calendars now:

Kidical Mass in Portland's neighborhoods
Friday, August 15th

Locations
N/NE: Peninsula Park (meet at the NE corner of the park at N. Rosa Parks and N. Kerby).  The ride will run South on N. Kerby, west on N. Ainsworth, north on Delaware to Arbor Lodge Park, then loop back to Peninsula Park for potluck picnicking.

SE: Sunnyside School (meet at the playground near 35th and Taylor; here is the route map)

SE: Sellwood Park by the pool.  The ride will head north up the Springwater Corridor then back into North Sellwood. Perfect for those pulling trailers or bringing little ones on their micro bikes. Maps will be available for folks.

NW: North Park Blocks (meet by the playground)

SW: Meeting at Capitol Hill Elemenetary and ride a total of 1.4 miles to Gabriel Park.  At Gabriel Park there will be watermelon (and possibly a watermelon drop?) and a potluck.  Bring your bikes.  Bring some food and drink.  Oh, and bring your kids to KIDICAL MASS!

Time
6:00PM gather
6:15PM Safety Talk & Ride!
7:00PM Post-Ride Potluck Picnic

Can't make it for the ride?  Bring out your family and feel free to join us for the post-ride potluck picnic.  It's open to all!  Planning to come?  RSVP in the comments for any of the rides.  We want to know how many bikey treats & swag to bring.  Want to help guide, plan, or organize a ride?  Shoot us an email at urbanMamas@gmail.com 

Working mamas, let's get together for lunch.  How about Thursday, May 22; 11:30 am - 1:00 pm at Red Star Tavern, 503 SW Alder? We hear they could use a boost due to light rail construction, plus they take reservations and have good vegetarian and non vegetarian food (not sure vegan options). Please RSVP in the comments by Tuesday May 20. We will use that to make reservations.  We had nearly twenty meet last time, so what a great way to connect and meet other working mamas.

Thanks to all who weighed in on the time and place for mayoral candidates (Sam 'n' Sho) to talk family.  Majority of responses suggested Close-in Eastside as the preferred geography for the event, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 1PM.

Now: we're scouring for ideas for an easily accessible close-in eastside location that can hold up to 100 of us mamas & papas & our kids of all ages.  Some suggestions have included Milagros, Kennedy School, Kaiser Town Hall, Multnomah Building.  We're looking for more suggestions.  Ideas, ideas?  Anyone, anyone?

So it's been a few years, but I'll never forget.  Not the labors (one excruciatingly long, the other excruciatingly fast), not the stitches (yes, the dreaded 'stage 4' tear).  And definitely not the hospital midwives, dedicated labor nurses, and OB (think forceps) who helped me vaginally deliver two children without drugs - not their norm.

I'm all for natural, but only to a point.  Drugs?  No way.  Bathtub at home?  No thanks.  Hospital?  Absolutely - plus, that's what my insurance covered, right?   But enough about me and my boring births of yesteryear.  We're ready to hear about someone else's births - namely Ricki Lake's - and the birthing "business."

Want to start out the new year by cleaning out your closet? Or, in this case, your child's closet? In the spirit of "reduce, reuse, recycle" and since you may already be considering passing along your kids outgrown clothes, come to the Naked Baby  clothing exchange.  It'll be similar to the Mamas Clothing Swap parties we've hosted in the past, except the focus is on children's clothing and it'll be hosted during the day.  We will have bins at the Milagros community room that will help the sorting.  The clothes will be separated by gender and size (by three month increments for the first year and a half and whole sizes thereafter).

When: 1.20.2008 at 3 pm
Where: Milagros Community Room
            5433 NE 30th Avenue
            Portland, OR 97211
            503-493-4141
What to bring: Your children's outgrown clothes; and something to carry away your goodies.  Presorting the clothes by gender and size will help speed up the process.  Any clothes left over will be donated.  Any suggestions for good donation possibilities?
RSVP:  Please RSVP in the comments and let us know what size(s) clothing you will be bringing so others can plan ahead.

Did ya see, did ya see?  Check out the October 2007 issue of Parents Magazine.  On page 130, you will find some of you urbanMamas featured in the "girls night out" section, as we swapped the night away at our last mamas clothing exchange party.  Thanks to everyone that emailed to let us know!

Without further ado, we cordially invite you to the next Naked Mamas Party on October 19 at 7PM at Vino Vixens.  We encourage mamas of all shapes and sizes to come; bring a pile of your formerly loved clothes and you'll be sure to walk away with a pile of fashions new-to-you just waiting to be loved.  Last time, no one left empty handed.  We still have a few piles from our last naked mamas party to add to the mix.

Leave your babes at home (Vino Vixens is a wine bar where no minors are allowed), there will lots of clothes to try on, wine to drink, food to nosh, and merriment to be had.  Please RSVP in the comments so we can be sure to have enough vino on hand!

Mamas Clothing Exchange Party
October 19, 2007, 7PM
2929 SE Powell Blvd., Portland. (503) 231-8466

Inspired by a recent post seeking a Chinook Book Coupon Swap, Milagros has graciously offered to host a Swaparoo for the urbanMamas.

Bring your extra Chinook Book coupons and trade away!  Meet some other uMamas & uPapas  & uKidlets while you're at it!  Coffee & tea provided by Milagros.  Coupons provided by you!

Chinook Book Coupon Swap
Saturday, September 29
11AM to 1PM
Milagros Boutique, 5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 9721
503-493-4141

It feels like it's been a while since urbanMamas got together for a coffee playdate!  Bring the babes & tots, if you have 'em.  Enjoy some coffee with other mamas if they're in school.  Let's share stories of fun summers and giddy first days of school:

Back-to-School Coffee Playdate
Sept 7 / 10:30 AM
Sydney's
1800 NW 16th Ave
Portland, OR

Hope you can all make today's Activistas Happy Hour.  (Click over for more info!)

It's been a while since the working mamas got together for lunch.  With a bit of a push from one of our lovely readers and mamas, Courtney, we are planning our next get together in a few weeks.  How about we support one of the businesses that seems to be suffering from the construction downtown?   Please RSVP in the comments and we'll make a reservation. Hope to see you at Pasha Mediterranean Grill, 19 NW Fifth Ave
Portland, OR 97209 on Wednesday August 15th, 12 noon.

We’ve whined, and that’s good, but now let’s DO something about it

If you’ve been checking out our Activistas forum with interest and felt as crestfallen as we did about the failure of the paid family leave bill, join us for our very first Activista Coffee Hour  - a chance to meet other active-minded mamas and papas, discuss policy issues that affect Portland families, strategize to create change locally and beyond, and whine a little, of course!  Many of us have watched or read The Motherhood Manifesto and are plugged into Moms Rising, and now we’re ready to act – together!  What's important to you and your family?  What would you love to see changed on our local and state level? 

There is power in numbers and there are a lot of us.  Our hope is to create a coordinated network within our community of families to proactively work for change – and to be ready to act fast and successfully when an issue comes to the surface.  Meet us next Thursday, July 19th from 10:30-11:30 AM to get this ball rolling.  If this time and location isn’t ideal for you, let us know so we can accommodate more people at future meetings.

Activista Coffee Hour
Thursday, July 19th
10:30AM to 11:30AM
Stumptown Coffee, Downtown Portland, 128 SW 3rd Ave, way in the back on the couchy area

RSVP here!

It's been too long since our last W[h]ine night gathering.  So to remedy that, we've scheduled another one!  Please join us for a little wine, beer, tea, snacks, and of course, some fun conversations with other mamas!  RSVP in the comments and let us know if you can be there!

When:  Friday June 8 at 7pm
Where:  Why Not Wine - 7907 SE Stark Street

We hope to see some old friends again and make some new ones too!

Black Wagon and urbanMamas team up to create a new twist on an old favorite, the naked lady party!  This event is for mamas only! 

Be prepared for clothing flying through the air, the ultimate friendly fire, while women beg, borrow and steal new favorites from friends new and old to spruce up their wardrobe.

Don’t expect well-worn maternity bras, or granny panties!  These mamas are swapping their pre-loved garb in an evening of fun, recycling, and bonding.  Low-rise boot cut jeans don’t fit like they used to?  Cute camis too snug for your post-baby boobs?  Your previously favorite purse not big enough for wipes and dipes?  Don’t fret!  Barter ‘em away in exchange for your hot new mamalicious gear.  One mama’s trash is another mama’s treasure!

Sip wine, enjoy nibbles, and meet new friends for the evening,.  All items at Black Wagon will be 20% off during the Naked Mamas Party.  Great gifts from N. Mississippi boutiques like Flutter and Gypsy Chic will be up for grabs, too!  And - for those who have yet to meet up with other urbanMamas - come on down and get to know this fine community at the Naked Mamas Party!

Portland’s urbanMamas.com is a community of like-minded mamas and papas, facilitating connections on-line and in -person with resources for everything from breastfeeding support to childcare references and a guide for fun activities for children.

As a community based store for babies, kids and their style conscious parents, Black Wagon is excited to focus on Portland mamas for this evening of fun with other mamas!

Friday, May 4th

6:30 - 9:00 PM

3964 N. Mississippi Ave

Please RSVP in the comments!

The hills are alive!  The Von Trapp family descends on NE Portland as we gather our friends and watch the entirety of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, the Sound of Music.  Brush up on those lyrics and don your lederhosen!  What better way to enjoy time together than to sing along to one of the best movies of all time?  Hope you all can join us at this next urbanMamas gathering.  Please RSVP in the comments!  Thank you to Milagros for sponsoring the event.

a gathering for the urbanMamas community:
Sound of Music Sing Along
Friday, April 27, 2007 at 4:30 PM
Milagros Boutique
5433 NE 30th Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
503-493-4141

Even if you don't want to sing along, be sure to drop by and say "hello"!  We promise to have treats!

Have you noticed? I love taking photos, and sharing them with y'all. I love taking photos of you, and your adorable children, and (naturally) my adorable children. And I want to see your photos, too!

Long long ago, we started the urbanMamas flickr pool. And, though a few have been added by some of my compatriots, it's mostly populated by me! Can you help make our photo story richer? We'll be developing tags to go with many of our more popular thread (starting with 'urbanChicken') -- if you tag your photo with the appropriate buzzword and add it to the urbanMamas pool, I'll feature selected photos in bi-weekly mosaics so those outside can see how wonderful life is in urbanMamaTown!

We hope all you urbanMamas have been able to get out - sans bebes - every now and then. It's so important and healthy for us to hang out and socialize, especially with other mamas, old friends and new. In the past, we've gotten together for happy hour, and w[h]ine nights One, Two, and Three. Do I hear a "Four"?

Come join us and grace us with your presence, humor, and mamaderie. Let's enjoy wine together. We don't even have to whine if we don't want to! RSVP in the comments.

urbanMamas w[h]ine night
Vino VIxens, 2929 SE Powell
(here's a fun li'l write up on Vino Vixens via PortlandFoodandDrink.com)
Friday, March 9
7pm

Have a great idea for a mama-owned spacious spot conducive to us floating around and chatting? Have a great big house, office, or other space you'd like to donate to the event? Be sure to let us know!

I was perusing the many active annual events with which Portlanders ring in the New Year -- I myself have participated in the very fun and surreal First Run -- and mentally checking them off my list of possibilities. The First Run is too late (at midnight New Year's Day), too much bundling and bussing with two young (and not always perfectly-behaved) boys. There's a First Day of the Year Ride sponsored by the BTA, from noon to 3 p.m. on New Year's Day. It's a nice idea but I'd rather do something in which the boys can actively participate -- we're not tagalong-ing yet, so they'd just be sitting in the trailer.

Since I'm always one for cockamamie ideas, and also, I like to save my pennies, I thought, why not make something of our own? What about an urbanMamas New Year's City Hike? It would be a lovely, active and easy-going way to start off a brand-new year -- and kids could participate in strollers, backpacks or on their own two feet.

If you'd like to join in, please let me know in the comments, and give me any feedback -- where might you like to go? Should we do a neighborhood tour and stop at some highlights, coffee shops and cute little parks (and rotate, different neighborhoods for each new year)? Should we hit some urban pedestrian pathways, like the Eastside Esplanade? How far would you like to hike? I'll post a meeting spot here sometime before Sunday.

Thank you to Tim, Amanda, Brianna and the rest of the Sydney's staff for hosting some great coffee playdates. Sydney's is coming up with new and great ideas to keep us all happy and occuppied (and us mamas caffeinated). Sydney's is hosting a drop-in Holiday Cardmaking event:

Enjoy classical and holiday music while you set down to put together holiday cards. We will reserve the large community table and set up supplies (stamps, drawing utensils, paper, stickers, and more) for moms and kids to use. Parents are encouraged to bring in their own suppies (but just make sure all the supplies don't get mixed all together!). Don't forget to get the kids some mini hot chocolates to enjoy on the couch as a break from all the craft-making.

Sounds like a great time for mamas with older children, for mamas with infants, and even for mamas whose kids are in school! See you there: Sydney's, 1800 NW 16th Ave, December 4 at 10 AM.

P.S. If you have ideas on fun events for mamas and kidlets at Sydney's, please email: sydneyscommunity@yahoo.com.

Nurse-in at the Delta ticket counter? Tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, 10 a.m.? Sounds like fun! I've been writing about Emily Gillette, the woman escorted off a Freedom Airlines flight (they run Delta Connection) for daring to breastfeed in the second-to-last row, discretely, next to her husband, after a two-hour delay (according to the law in Vermont, where Emily's plane was sitting on the tarmac, public breastfeeding is protected). GRRRrrr. I offered to take her out for coffee when I was in New York last week just to thank her for being a lightning rod. As our own Chris (the reluctant lactivist) knows, it's not an easy thing. But alas, her Good Morning America appearance was rescheduled for this week.

Anyhow. Tomorrow. 10 a.m. The Delta ticket counter at PDX. Moms, with and without breastfeeding babes, are asked to attend. I'm sure no one would turn away an uPapa, either. If you're available, go, support a mother's right to give her baby food anywhere.