We're working on an upcoming special feature in The Saratogian called "Fifty Things I Love About Saratoga" (check it out on Sunday, June 26) which has been a little nerve-wracking and exciting, too. We started out asking each other "Do you think we'll be able to come up with fifty things?". Yet after crowd sourcing and brainstorming meetings, the shared sentiment became "How on earth will we narrow it down to fifty?!". That's the great thing about Saratoga. There's so much to love.

Since I've become a parent, my list of things I love about Saratoga has changed somewhat. Bars have been replaced by playgrounds, and white tablecloth restaurants are outnumbered by the kid-friendly variety. Don't get me wrong, this gal loves a romantic night out with a glass of Cabernet in hand, but the reality is that those nights are few and far between and finding a place to eat that will welcome our spirited five year old - most likely with a friend in tow - is a weekly dilemma. Although my son is pretty well-behaved at the "fancier" restaurants (he's been to most, including Prime and the Wishing Well), it's just not as relaxing for us or those diners decked out for "date night".

Just for fun, here's my 'short' list, "then" and "now":

Evening out - Evening in with D'Andrea's Pizza

Dinner at Chiati - Dinner at Forno
Sipping wine at the Wine Bar - Shirley Temples at Circus Cafe'
Gideon Brunch - Down home breakfast at Shirley's
Late night downtown on Caroline Street - Quiet morning at the Saratoga Farmers' Market
Attending a mid-week cultural event - Sitting on the bleachers at a T-ball game
Afternoons on the patio of a downtown restaurant - afternoons at the Children's Museum
Strolls in Congress Park - Strolls in Congress Park (with a little guy between us)

Although my life has changed dramatically, one thing remains the same: Saratoga is a great place to live, work, play - and grow as a family. There's no place I'd rather be.

A week ago Monday, I had planned to take a much needed personal day to decompress and get things done. The most important item on my to-do list? A 90 minute massage.

The Saturday morning prior, my son woke up with a fever. Not just your ordinary 'throw a dose of Tylenol at it' fever, this was of the full on chills-body aches-crying variety. Scary. He hadn't had a fever like this since he was a baby. With a big night ahead of me, I called my parents in as reinforcement and headed to the Children's Museum at Saratoga fundraiser at Saratoga National [I'm on the Board, otherwise I would have put on my PJ's and stayed put]. I made it through most of the evening before my folks alerted me to yet another fever spike. Poor guy. I went home to do what moms do. I cuddled, snuggled, and wiped tears and tried my hardest not to breathe in the germs. My personal day was right around the corner and it was my very first day off since the year began.

Sunday arrived with a repeat of Saturday's fever with the added pleasure of my own scratchy throat and headache. No biggie, I told myself. We'd both feel better in the morning.

Wrong.

We both felt WORSE in the morning. My dad came over so that I could go to the doctor first thing. It was official: my personal day was now a sick day. When the doctor said "you have bronchitis", I thought I'd heard him wrong. My first case ever.

My son's diagnosis came on the fourth day of fever Tuesday afternoon. By the time we made it to clinic hours at the pediatrician, they'd seen more than a dozen cases of flu. My son had it too.

The planned personal day was not to be (I didn't get my massage...wah wah), so I let it go and got back to work on Wednesday and proceeded to play a serious game of catch up that would last through the weekend.

Annoyed? Nah. If there's one thing you learn as a working mom, it's that the kids come first, then work, then massages. Even on my worst day, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm turning my "fail" to focus and planning our first ever family international trip. The Roses are going to Ireland this summer! More on that later... I'm also sure I'll get that massage at some point and it will be just what I need in that moment.

I'm a mom who's fortunate enough to have a kid who actually likes to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain pasta and other healthy foods. Each morning since my son graduated from baby food, I've been sending him off to daycare with fresh fruit. Sure it takes extra time, but I enjoy choosing which two fruits to combine for his daily "fruit cup" and feel really good about the fact that at least I know he's getting some fruit in his diet. I say this only because when I've asked my son why he doesn't eat the fruit at school he says "it's not actually fruit, mom". Well it is, but he's used to freshly cut fruit - not fruit in water, juice or syrup.

So when we received a notice from my son's pre school a week ago that the school's menu was changing (getting healthier!), I was thrilled. Today's Saratogian talks about the national Chefs Move to Schools initiative and what we're doing right here in Saratoga County to encourage new ideas and recipes, like sourcing from local farmers and producers and expanding menu options. A local daycare provider in Saratoga shared that their menu is now offering "healthier choices including yogurt, whole wheat wraps, fresh fruit and a brand new item: a turkey & rice bake". She added that the former "hamburger sliders are now chicken sliders."

I'd like to think that my son, who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall, will make healthy choices as he navigates his new school cafeteria. There's so much about him going to Kindergarten that has me feeling like a bundle of nerves. Thankfully his school lunch is no longer one of them.

As a working mom, I can tell you life is busy. When the holidays arrive each year, "busy" anxiously welcomes its long lost pal "overwhelm". So how can you cope with stress during the season of supposed cheer?

Delegate. Are you lucky enough to have a friend or coworker who's a fabulous baker? I do. Emily Donohue, our online editor here at The Saratogian, can whip up a delectable holiday cookie tray in a flash. I just ordered two homemade (albeit not by me) cookie trays that will be ready on Christmas Eve. If you don't have your own source, feel free to borrow mine. Emily's Cookies

Schedule a sanity check. Call a girlfriend for coffee or tag team a shopping trip. I play Bunco with more than 20 great gals in Saratoga once a month and this month we're turning our "girl's night in" into a girl's night outside. Honk if you see a group of women serenading fellow Saratogians on Broadway in Saratoga this Thursday! I'm looking so forward to getting into the spirit of the season.

Sign on. I was a late adopter to online shopping. I think it's partly because I spent nearly four years as a local business owner before returning to media. I couldn't bring myself to shop at a store where I didn't know the owner (or manager, at least). You know what changed that? I had a baby and became a working mother! Now, I buy the name brand stuff the way the rest of the world does. For unique and handmade gifts, I shop local all the way. It's all about balance when you don't have the luxury of time.

Start a new tradition. I'd like to say my idea for starting a new family tradition came straight from the heart. Nope. Mine came in the form of a Bed, Bath and Beyond $5 off coupon. The flyer from the paper showcased an easy-to-assemple, fully stocked kit for making a colorful, traditional ginger bread house. For about ten bucks, I've got myself a new family tradition.

Treat yourself. You know you want to. That gorgeous scarf. The over-the-knee leather boots. A relaxing massage. My version of taming the holiday tension took the form of a much needed personal day last Friday that included a hot stone massage. The soft light, aromas, and the sensation of knots leaving my stressed out shoulders proved to be just what I needed.

Enjoy the season and feel free to share your holiday survival tips with me!

There's a lot of change brewing. At home and at work. Is it me, or does life seem to change a lot in the Fall? Of course traditionally there's the annual "back to school" rush, but it's been years since I've been involved in that and my son hasn't reached Kindergarten age. Is it the change in seasons? The cooler weather brings with it a change in wardrobe, for one. I've always welcomed change and am feeling that "change is in the air" vibe all around me.

My sister - who also happens to be my best friend - is turning 40 this weekend. I'm honored to be traveling to Atlanta (where we both lived at one point) to share some much needed quality time with her and properly ring in the next decade in her life. A milestone, for sure.

Our son recently "officially" started preschool at the daycare he's been attending since he was three months old. Although we've transitioned from room to room throughout the years, this transition feels big. Maybe it's because the next transition will be Kindergarten. I think it's more than that, though, because my son seems different. He's writing letters now, talking about his school days more, and seems a whole lot more outgoing. Our morning drop offs are (dare I say) a tad bit easier and weekends and evenings have more structure.

At work, we're launching new products, projects and programs. Our "digital first" media approach is really taking shape in the advertising department and changing the way some local businesses are viewing their marketing programs, which is exciting. We're adding a new member to our team this Wednesday, who brings with him a decade of experience and a love of Saratoga to the downtown Saratoga territory.

Positive changes, right? Most definitely. But for me, with change and a whole new to-do list brings with it what I call "monkey mind". Monkey mind is when all I have to do wakes me up in the middle of the night demanding my attention. It's futile to resist. I know, because I've tried...

For the last two weeks, I've been up before 5:00 AM. Today I welcomed my morning at 3:45. I'm not so much tired, as wired. Like clockwork, I get really creative and inspired this time of year. Summers in Saratoga are so busy you barely have time to think. So when Fall quietly arrives and the weather turns, my "wheels" also start turning. As I sign off now and go make what I'm sure will be the first of several cups of coffee I'll drink today, my official intention is to embrace this new day and all the change that comes with it. Seriously, what's the alternative?

Every summer our family looks forward to seeing friends and family who plan their vacations around "Saratoga: The Summer Place to Be". Saratoga is a terrific vacation destination and when you live here you have the good fortune (in our case) of seeing friends and family who would otherwise be traveling elsewhere if we lived in a less exciting local.

One year my husband's good friends from Ireland stayed for a week of fun and frivolity. We played tourists as well and just lounged by the pool. It was the ultimate staycation for us.

Most years, high school friends who've moved away (that used to be us) return for the traditional day at the track, trek downtown to see "who's out" and consume a myriad of food and drink choices old and new. It's always a good time.

Tonight we enjoyed a visit from friends who live in Southern California who also have a two year old. Unlike most of our friends our age, we collectively embarked on the joys of parenthood at the forty-year mark. As our children played amazingly well together tonight, we cooked steaks on the grill, steamed fresh BJ Farms corn, sampled red wine and Guinness and caught up on the last year. One of us had a job change, but most of the conversation was admittedly centered around our children. What are they eating, how are they sleeping, what milestones did they reach since we saw each other last.

Over the years the conversations may have changed, but one thing has stayed the same: Saratoga is a terrific place to live year-round, but if you don't live here you most definitely find your way back during the most thrilling six weeks of the year. Summers mean Saratoga, for us anyway.

When I asked my son what kind of party he wanted for his birthday, he looked at me in a way that could only mean "that's a dumb question, mom". He wanted a rocket party, of course. I said "sure, honey" and then asked myself the bigger question. What on earth is a "rocket" party? Without anything in mind, the planning began.

I went online and typed "rocket-themed kid party". Site after site of how to plan, buy and decorate for such a party lined up on Google for my viewing pleasure. Unfortunately, most of the instructions and suggestions I wouldn't follow. Why? What working mom has the time to plan out rocket-themed games, make homemade pinatas, and shape and decorate a four layer rocket cake? OK, there are a few moms that work out there who could pull that off, but I knew I wasn't one of them. So, here's what I did:

1. Ordered cool rocket plates, cups, napkins and a "build your own solar system with stickers" party favor on orientaltrading.com

2. Walked over to the Bread Basket bakery for help with rocket-themed cupcakes for the kid party and a two layer cake for the family party. Only a crazy over-planner like me would have two parties in the same day. With Sunday being Father's Day, what choice did I really have? That's what I told myself anyway...

3. Bought a boatload of old fashioned bomb pops for the kids. It was a pool party and I figured they'd be a hit. Not the low sugar, no food coloring kind. The yummy pops we grew up eating poolside and at picnics.

4. Went to G. Willikers for a Stomp Rocket then visited every-other-day for a week straight to stock up on rocket toys, Silly Bandz, and space books for the goodie bags (the RSVPs kept coming in...)

The preparations continued as three co-worker friends also pitched in - one helped me decide which image of a rocket I should use on the invitations, one shared her lunch hour helping me fill goodie bags and another took it upon herself to create a rocket "craft" after work one night for the party - complete with hand cut-out rockets for tracing. Folks, when you're a working mom you never say "no, thank you" to extra help (If you do, stop it right now!). I'm so fortunate to work and live in one great town with great people.

Saturday morning came and my husband, son and I got busy running errands (me), cleaning the pool (my husband) and playing with everything we put out for the party (my son - and occasionally, me). We had balloons on the mailbox and the yard was looking pretty darn good after my husband took days off to mow, blow, and weed whack since the previous weekend rained NON STOP for three days. We coaxed our son into "resting" (napping was out of the question - the kid was waaaay too excited), while we brought out snacks, filled coolers with drinks of all kinds and blew up pool floats and filled water balloons. I kid you not I hadn't been this excited since my own kid parties a million years ago.

Guests arrived (I invited all my son's school pals) and were drawn immediately to the main attraction. It was nearly 90 degrees and we had a pool! My son smiled from ear to ear as his friends arrived saying things like "Mom, did you see that GIGANTIC pool?", "Mom, Kenneth has a pooooool!". Our pool is pretty basic and frankly rather old, but to kids it's got the stuff amusement parks deliver. It's magical.

So the day was spent laughing and splashing. There were cupcakes and bomb pops in the hands of children AND adults. As my son ate his rocket cupcake and opened his gifts I could see that he was truly having the time of his life (I have the pictures to prove it).

Adding "party planning" to my already fragile attempt at work-life balance made for a crazy couple of weeks, but moments like these make it all worthwhile. My son was happy and my husband and I were thrilled to have made the moment and memory possible. It was official: this party most definitely rocked.

It's 11:10AM and I'm officially running late for my appointment down the street. I rush out of my office and less than a minute's drive down Lake Avenue, I'm greeted by the soothing scent of aromatherapy and the kind and gentle Patty letting me know that they're "ready for me now".

I dip my hands into the paraffin wax and then warm mitts, slide into the reclining massage chair as Trish adjusts my warm aromatherapy neck wrap into place. One deep breath later and I'm ready for...

A dental cleaning. Yeah, you heard me right. When you're most relaxed at your semi-annual cleanings, you know the place MUST be doing something right. What makes this place so special? It's not so much the place (although it's beautiful - in fact, a quaint little east side Saratoga home now used commercially), but the people. In the five years or so that I've been going to Saratoga Smiles, I haven't had a negative experience. The care and comfort is a real plus for someone like me who used to get really anxious about going to the dentist. The staff puts you at ease and the massage chair and neck wrap bring the whole pampering experience home. This is customer service at it's best, my friends.

As a person who's been in sales and customer service for more than twenty years, the businesses that get it right really stand out. I'm pretty picky and my expectations (for myself included) are pretty darn high. Saratoga Smiles delivers...with a - you guessed it - smile.