FEB. 7-8

Crafts at LO: Kids from 3 to 5 years old can make a heart decoration. 11 am Feb. 7 & 8. FREE. Lake Oswego LIbrary, 706 4th St. 503-697-6582. ci.oswego.or.us.

FEB. 9 & 11

Valentine Fun: Make crafts and cards. FREE. 3:30 to 5 pm Feb. 9 at Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th Ave., 503-988-5382; and Hollywood Library, 4040 NE Tillamook St., 503-988-5391. Also 2 to 4 pm Feb. 11 at Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave. 503-988-5123.

Be My Valentine: Make cards, sing songs, listen to stories. For ages 3 to 5. 10 am to noon. $27, member discount. AC Gilbert Discovery Center, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

FEB. 11

Lakeshore Learning Crafts: Kids 3 and older can make a Valentine’s mailbox. 11 am to 3 pm (drop in). FREE. 16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.

Kids’ Storytime at Powell’s: This week’s free story time features Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine. All ages. 11 am. FREE. Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W Burnside. 503-228-4651 ext. 5889. powells.com.

Family Day: Make valentines and bon bon boxes. Rick Meyers performs at 11 am & 1 pm. 10 am to 2 pm. FREE. Washington County Museum, 17677 NW Springville Rd. (PCC Rock Creek Campus). 503-645-5353. washingtoncountymuseum.org.

I Love You Valentine Party: Make valentines and enjoy treats. 1:30 to 2:30 pm. FREE. Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd. 503-684-6537. wccls.org.

Valentine’s Love Fest: Crafts, carnival games, snacks, prizes and more. 10 am to noon. FREE. Beaverton-Murray Scholls Library, 11200 SW Murray Scholls Pl. #102. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

Saturday Crafts: Kids 5 and older can make valentines. FREE. Milwaukie Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st Ave. 503-786-7580. milwaukie.lib.or.us.

Heart Creations: More valentine making activities. Grades K-5, with a grown-up. 2:30 to 3:30 pm. FREE. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy. 503-615-6500. evanced.info/hillsboro/.

FEB. 12

Kids’ Valentine Baking Class: Bake cookies and decorate a box to bring them home. Ages 6 to 12. 1 to 3 pm. $25. Bliss Bake Shop, 4708 NW Bethany Blvd. 971-344-0475. kidscentralkitchen.com.

FEB. 13

Valentine Face Painting: Get a heart-y design on your face. 11 am to 1 pm. FREE. Cafe Sip-n-Play, 3000 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver. 360-896-4446. cafesipnplay.com.

Lovey Babies: Dance and make a valentine. Ages 6 and older, with grown-up. 10:30-11:30 am. FREE. Beaverton Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

FEB. 14

$4 Zoo Tuesday & Animal Valentines: See the Oregon Zoo for $4 per person (10 am to 4 pm) and watch the animals get Valentine’s Day treats at 10:30 am, 1 pm & 2:30 pm. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SE Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.

Valentine Making Party/Parents Night Out: Parents get some date time while kids eat pizza, decorate cookies, make valentines and more. Ages 3 to 10. 5 to 8:30 pm. $40. Art ala Carte PDX, 8535 SE 13th Ave. 503-750-0522. artalacartepdx.com.

You & Me Valentine Tea: Enjoy a party and make a craft. Noon to 1 pm. $5 per family, plus admission of $7 ages 3-59, $3.50 ages 1-2, free ages 0-1. AC Gilbert Discovery Center, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Lan Su Chinese Garden hosts two full weeks of celebrations, beginning Jan. 23 this year, including lion and dragon dances, performances, crafts, story telling and much more! Check their website for a schedule of events.

You’ll also find celebratory events at local libraries, and at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem. Here’s the scoop:

Jan. 14, 19 & 28

Red Fans for Lunar New Year at Multnomah County Libraries. Decorate a fan for free. . FREE. Jan 14 from 1 to 3 pm at St. Johns Library, 7510 N Charleston Ave., 503-988-5397; Jan. 19 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm at Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th Ave., 503-988-5382; or Jan. 28 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Ave., 503-988-5234. Registration required. events.multcolib.org.

Jan 21

Chinese New Year at the Beaverton Library. Make a craft, hear a story and celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Grades 1 to 5, with grown-up. 1:30 to 2:30 pm. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

New Year Party at Tigard Library. Celebrate Chinese and Vietnamese new year with crafts, coloring and snacks. Ages 5 and older. 1:30 to 3 pm. FREE. Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd.503-684-6537. wccls.org.

Lunar New Year Celebration at AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village. Crafts, activities, food and more. 1 to 4 pm. FREE with museum admission. (Also free with your OMSI membership card and photo ID) AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

Jan 24

More Lunar New Year Fun at Multnomah County Libraries. Celebrate with entertainment, crafts and more. FREE. Jan. 24 from 5:30 to 7 pm at Midland Library, 805 SE 122d Ave., 503-988-5392; Jan. 25 from 6 to 7:30 pm at Holgate LIbrary, 7905 SE Holgate Blvd., 503-988-5389; and Jan. 28 from 1 to 3 pm at Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd., 503-988-5386. events.multcolib.org.

… and don’t forget Mochitsuki!

For more New Year’s fun, check out Motchitsuki on Jan. 29! This annual celebration of Japanese New Year features entertainment, kids’ games and activities, mochi pounding and more. 11 am to 4 pm. $12 adult, $9 student, $5 ages 2 to 12, free ages 2 and under. Scottish Rite Center, 1512 SW Morrison St. mochipdx.org.

With that in mind, I’d like to share one of my favorite blog posts from the previous year: “The Charmed Life Challenge” from Pink of Perfection. In this mid-summer post, Pink creator Sarah McColl shares a list of small but significant gestures to make life sweeter, more beautiful and more fulfilling. I printed the list (actually a slightly edited version of the list; I don’t wear perfume or lipstick, for starters) and plan to use it to spruce up my own life in the new year. After all, happy mothers make happy families, right?

If you have time, read through the list, and “The Life Seduction Challenge” on which it’s based.

What items spark your fancy?

What items would you add to your own list?

What big or small changes have you included on your own New Year’s Resolutions list?

Here’s to living the charmed life in 2012!

Brownies are my go-to dessert for potlucks, parties and play dates (though I’m not allowed to call them “play dates” anymore!), and since the fudge recipe is available online (link above), and the Hello Dolly Bars still need some serious recipe 911 action, I figured I’d post my brownie recipe here. They’re seriously delicious, as easy as boxed mixes, and use ingredients you probably already have in the pantry:

Super Easy Super Fudgy Brownies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (baker’s squares)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour (These brownies are quite gooey. I usually scoop slightly more than half a cup to get them a bit more cakey.)

Directions:
Melt butter and chocolate over medium low heat in a pan on the stovetop.
Remove from heat.
Add vanilla and sugar. Mix well.
Add eggs. Mix well.
Add flour. Mix well.
Spread/pour batter into a greased 8×8 pan. (If you line the pan with foil, then grease the foil, you can lift the baked brownies out and cut them into neater squares.)
Bake at 325 about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool before cutting them into squares.

What’s your number one “go to” dessert recipe? If it’s simple enough to post below, or if you can share a link to the recipe online, please do so! The 2012 holiday baking season will be here before we know it!

From Trains, Boats and Planes (think Cinnamon Bear Cruise, ORHF Holiday Express, Christmas at Pearson Air Museum and the Mt. Hood Polar Express Train) to Santa’s in the House (Santa on the Bricks, Macy’s Santaland, Breakfasts with Santa and more) to Twinkle, Twinkle! (Zoolights, Christmas Ships, Winter Wonderland and all the other spectacular holiday light shows around the area), there’s something for everyone in your family to enjoy every single day of the season! For a truly special family holiday experience, check the Drama, Dancing, Music and Merriment section, with plays, concerts, ballets (Nutcracker anyone?) and more.

What’s your family’s favorite holiday activity or event around town?

Which ones haven’t you been to before that you’re hoping to catch this year?

Little Boxes & Small Business Saturday: We’re not saying you shouldn’t buy gifts for the holidays or that you shouldn’t get a jump start on your shopping this weekend. But why not support our local community and our local economy by doing your shopping at locally owned businesses? That’s what Little Boxes – a Portland-area alternative to Black Friday – and Small Business Saturday – the Saturday after Thanksgiving – are all about.

Last year, Tony Fuentes of Milagros Boutique wrote a wonderful online article explaining the importance of keeping our dollars as close to home as possible. We hope you’ll take a moment to read Tony’s article again this year, before you start your holiday shopping.

And as added incentive to shop locally this weekend, Supportland, Portland’s own local business rewards program, is offering triple points this Friday and Saturday (Black Friday and Small Business Saturday)!

For more information about Little Boxes, including a list of participating local retailers, incentives and prizes, visit littleboxespdx.com.

For more info on Small Business Saturday, visit smallbusinesssaturday.com.

National Day of Listening: Of course, there’s more to life than shopping. How about spending some time on the day after Thanksgiving to thank a teacher who had a positive impact on your life? That’s the theme for this year’s StoryCorps National Day of Listening, which began in 2008 as an alternative to “Black Friday.” In previous years, StoryCorps has encouraged people to interview loved ones and record their personal histories on National Day of Listening. This year, they’re asking us to take some time to honor a favorite teacher.

As explained on the National Day of Listening website: “Whether posting a memory to Facebook (StoryCorps), thanking them on Twitter (@storycorps, #thankateacher), taping a tribute on YouTube or sending a ‘thank you’ card, the 2011 National Day of Listening will send a powerful and necessary message to teachers across the nation: they matter, and we as a nation are grateful for the impact they have on our lives.”

The organization has also provided tools on their site to “help you record a face-to-face interview with a teacher – or anyone else you’d like to honor for the National Day of Listening,” and they encourage you to spread the love further by recording interviews in veterans’ hospitals, senior centers, homeless shelters and other community gathering places.

For more information, visit nationaldayoflistening.org.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Cinnamon Bear still is a holiday tradition for families in the Portland metro area, with a special two-hour, family-friendly Portland Spirit “Cinnamon Bear” cruise inspired by the classic holiday story. Passengers enjoy holiday treats while the fanciful cast of characters entertain with storytelling, music and magic. Families can get their pictures taken with the Cinnamon Bear himself atop his festive throne.

This year, we’re thrilled to be giving away a family four-pack of tickets to the Cinnamon Bear cruise, which runs Dec. 3 through Dec. 27. Here’s how to enter:

1. “Like” Metro Parent (Portland, OR) on Facebook, follow @Metro_Parent on Twitter, and/or subscribe to our e-newsletter. (You’ll be entered once for each of these actions, so do them all for three chances to win!)

2. Send an email to contest@metro-parent.com with your name, mailing address, phone number and email address. Tell us which of the actions in number one you did (if you were already a Facebook fan, Twitter follower, or newsletter subscriber, we’ll count it!) so we know how many entries to allot you.

Contest ends at noon on Nov. 23.

For more information about the Cinnamon Bear Cruise or to purchase tickets, visit cinnamonbearcruise.com.

Tickets are $28 adults, $20 children ages 1 to 12, free for children under 1, and that includes one picture with the Cinnamon Bear for each child! Group rates are available for 15 or more.

1. Help children choose fire retardant costumes that can be seen in the dark. Add reflective tape or strips to costumes and treat bags.
2. Wear shoes that fit properly (even if they don’t “go” with the costume) to avoid trips and falls.
3. Rather than wearing a mask, which may restrict a child’s vision, paint their face instead. (If a child wears a mask, make sure it does not interfere with their breathing or hearing and be sure the eyeholes are wide enough that it does not interfere with their eyesight.)
4. Carry a flash light or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers.
5. Trick or treat in groups, adults should accompany children as escorts to doors and carefully inspect all treats collected prior to children eating it.
6. Talk to your children about walking safety, including the following:
. – When crossing the street, cross at a corner using traffic signals and crosswalks.
. – Always walk, never run out into the street or cross between two cars.
. – Look left, then right, and left again when crossing the street.
. – Make eye contact with drivers; make sure the driver sees you before you cross the street.

And to make the holiday happier for children everyone, consider having your trick or treaters bring a little orange UNICEF box with them to collect donations for the world’s neediest kids, too. This year, UNICEF is also introducing a “Party for a Purpose” program, with great ideas for hosting a FUNdraising fete of your own. Get details at unicefusa.org/trickortreat.

Last but not least, if you’d like to avoid the ongoing sugar craze in the days following Halloween, encourage your kids to participate in a Candy Exchange like the one at World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry (11790 SW Barnes Rd., Suite 280). Dr. Michelle Stafford welcomes kids -– patients or not! -– to turn in their unopened Halloween loot for fun prizes on weekdays from Nov. 1-7. (The more you bring in, the more you earn!) For details visit visitworldofsmiles.com or call 503-626-9700.

SATURDAY:

Make a Gift: If the kids haven’t made a gift for dad yet, head over to Lakeshore Learning Crafts on Saturday, June 18, between 11 am and 3 pm, where children 3 and older can make a Father’s Day wallet for FREE! (16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.)

Pick Some Berries: Show dad how sweet you think he is by celebrating at French Prairie Gardens’ Strawberry Festival or Kruger’s Berry Jam. The French Prairie event is open from 9 am to 6 pm June 16 & 17, 9 am to 5 pm June 18, and 10 am to 5 pm June 19. $4 admission, with an extra charge for some activities and berries. (17673 French Prairie Rd., St. Paul. 503-633-8445. frenchprairiegardens.com). Kruger’s Berry Jam is open from 11 am to 4 pm June 18 & 19. Free admission; purchase berries. (17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-621-3489. krugersfarm.com.)

Have a Date Night: How about an evening out for the parents to celebrate Father’s Day? The Little Gym of Lake Oswego is hosting a Parents’ Survival Night from 6 to 9:30 pm on Saturday, June 18, for kids from 3 to 12. Call for details. (503-595-9702. tlglakeoswegoor.com.)

Sleep with the Sharks: If a road trip is Dad’s idea fun, how about driving out to the coast for a Father’s Day Family Sleepover at the Oregon Coast Aquarium? The event, for families with kids 4 and older, runs from 6 pm on Saturday, June 18, through 9 am on Sunday, June 19. You’ll sleep with the sharks and enjoy dinner, a scavenger hunt and breakfast in the morning. ($55; pre-registration required. Oregon Coast Aquarium, 2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, Newport. 541-867-3474 xt 5301. aquarium.org.)

Check Out Cool Cars on the Coast: While you’re in the area, dad might also enjoy the Oregon Coast Exotic Car Show on Saturday, June 18, which not only features cool cars but music, exotic animals, kid’s crafts and more. Runs from 10 am to 4 pm. $5; free for ages 12 and under. Proceeds benefit the Oregon Coast Aquarium. (Salishan Spa and Golf REsort, 7760 Hwy. 101 N, Gleneden Beach. oregoncoastexoticcarshow.com.)

THE BIG DAY (SUNDAY):

A Spectacular Car Exhibit … and Pancakes, too! The Portland Art Museum is hosting a Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast, featuring the new exhibit The Allure of the Automobile. The event runs from 9 am to noon and includes a special pancake breakfast, admission to a Tribute to Cambellini, featuring a built-from scratch 2006 Cambellini, plus “The Allure of the Automobile” exhibit. And all for $10 members and children, $20 non-members (plus handling fee). (1219 SW Park Ave. 503-226-2811. portlandartmuseum.org.)

Zen and the Art of Father’s Day: The Japanese Garden also is hosting a special Father’s Day event, with a treasure map activity for the whole family plus a prize drawing and the garden’s incomparable peace and beauty. They’re open from 10 am to 7 pm. (611 SW Kingston Ave. 503-223-1321. japanesegarden.com.)

Did Someone Say Free Admission? The Portland Children’s Museum and A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem are offering free admission for dads to celebrate the day, too. (Portland Children’s Museum, 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org; AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.)

Make Time for a Brewsky: And for that special Dads’ Day dinner, we recommend one of the area’s many family-friendly brew pubs. Read our review of The Lucky Labrador Brewing Company in our June Family Fare column. The column also includes a list of many other fabulous local brew pubs for families.

Happy Father’s Day!

THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT:

Lan Su New Year. Celebrate the new year at the Lan Su Chinese Garden with two weeks of dancing, story telling, crafts, demonstrations and more. Feb. 3 through 17; see website for complete schedule. Check out the lion dances at 3 or 4 pm on Feb. 3, or at 1, 2 or 3 pm on Feb. 5, 6, 12 or 13. Most activities are free with garden admission of $8.50 adults; $6.50 students; free 5 and under. 239 NW Everett St. 503-228-8131. lansugarden.org.

Library Lunar New Year Party, Option 1. Celebrate with dance, music, games, food and crafts. Feb. 8, 5 to 7 pm. FREE. Midland Library, 805 SE 122d Ave. 503-988-5392. events.multcolib.org.

Library Lunar New Year Party, Option 2. Lion dancers, crafts, treats and more. Feb. 8, 6 to 7:30 pm. FREE. Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Ave. 503-988-5399. events.multcolib.org.

Lakeshore Learning Crafts: Make a Chinese New Year Drum. Drop-in any time between 11 am and 3 pm on Feb. 5. Ages 3 and older. FREE. Lakeshore Learning Store, 16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.

Chinese New Year Celebration at A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village. Take a day trip to Salem for crafts, foods and activities from China. Feb. 5, 1 to 4 pm. FREE w/admission $6 ages 3-59, free ages 0-2. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

VALENTINE’S DAY:

Ladybug Theater: Baby Bear’s Valentine. Take the little ones out for live theater at 10:30 am on Feb. 2, 3, 9 and 10. Ages 2 1/2 and older with good theater manners. $3.50; babes in arms free. Reservations please. Smile Station. 8210 SE 13th. 503-232-2346. ladybugtheater.org.

Lakeshore Learning Crafts: Make a Valentine’s Day Bouquet. Drop-in any time between 11 am and 3 pm on Feb. 12. Ages 3 and older. FREE. Lakeshore Learning Store, 16901 SW 65th Ave., Lake Oswego. 503-620-9888. lakeshorelearning.com.

Valentine Tea. Dress up, make treats and have tea. Ages 2 to 6, with caregiver. Feb. 5, 10:30 to 11:15 am. $12/pair. Southwest Community Center, 6820 SW 45th Ave. 503-823-2840. southwestcommunitycenter.wordpress.com.

Crafts at Lake Oswego Library. Create a Valentine heart animal. Ages 3 to 5. Feb. 8 and 9, 11 am. FREE, registration required. 706 4th St. 503-697-6580. ci.oswego.or.us.

Valentine Fun. Create heart cards and crafts. Feb. 10, 3 to 4:45 pm at Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th Ave.; 503-988-5382. Feb. 11, 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Troutdale Library, 2451 SW Cherry Park Rd. 503-988-5355. Feb. 12, 2 to 4 pm at Central Library, 801 SW 10th Ave. 503-988-5123. events.multcolib.org.

Heart Creations. Make valentines for the ones you love. Ages 5 to 10. Feb. 12, 2:30 to 3:30 pm. FREE. Hillsboro Main Library, 2850 Brookwood Pkwy. 503-615-6500. evanced.info.

Valentine’s Day Tea Party. Enjoy a morning of play, felting, a puppet show, refreshments and more. Ages 2 to 6 with a parent. Feb. 12, 10 to 11:30 am. FREE. Portland Waldorf School, 2300 SE Harrison St., Milwaukie. 503-654-2200 xt 207. portlandwaldorfschool.org.

FREE Family Day. Explore the Washington County Museum for free with Valentine crafts, activities and more. Feb. 12, 10 am to 2 pm.17677 NW Springville Rd. (PCC Rock Creek Campus). 503-645-5353. washingtoncountymuseum.org.

Easy Homemade Valentines. Teen help kids make Valentines. Feb. 13, 2:30 to 4 pm. FREE. Holgate Library, 7905 SE Holgate Blvd. 503-988-5389. events.multcolib.org.

Valentine’s Day Animal Enrichment. Watch the animals get holiday treats. Feb. 14, 11 am: lorikeets; 12:30 pm: lions; 2 pm: sea otters. Bring your camera. Free with zoo admission. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org.

Lovey Babies. Make a valentine and dance your heart out. Ages 6 and under, with caregiver. Feb. 14, 10:30 to 11:30 am. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org.

Mommy & Me Valentine Tea. Enjoy a tea party and a craft activity. Feb. 14, 11 am to 1 pm. $5 per family, discount for members, pre-registration please. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org.

Happy February!