The holiday cards have been slow to arrive this year, leaving me to wonder if everyone is as late as I am getting them out, or if some people are foregoing the tradition this year, whether to save money, time or paper — or simply to reduce their holiday stress. (Either way, I’m all for it!)

My dilemma each year is what, if anything, to write on each card. More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 22, 2010 // Leave a Comment

A few years back, we published an article exploring local families’ favorite winter holiday traditions. What we found was a wealth of diverse customs that make the holidays special for families year after year.

Not surprisingly, many of those traditions revolved around food. One father, a native of France and the owner of a local French bakery, More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 20, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Once again, you’ll find a wealth of fabulous coupons and deals in our December issue, including several great bargains on toys and gifts for the holidays! It’s a perfect opportunity to save money and support some wonderful local businesses! (To find out how shopping locally benefits the entire community, read this month’s online article, The Joys of Buying Local.)

Here’s what you’ll find, and where you’ll find it:

OMSI Science Store: Take 20 percent off your total purchase in the store or online. (Page 19)

Lakeshore Learning: More…

Category: Holidays, Metro Parent, New Issue // Posted on December 8, 2010 // Leave a Comment

What are your little ones doing during the upcoming winter break? If you work outside the home — or just need a little time to yourself — there are plenty of wonderful camps and classes scheduled to help. Whether your kids love active gymnastic fun, crazy science fun, creative arts and crafts fun, wild animal fun, outdoorsy nature fun or any other type of winter break fun, there’s sure to be a camp or class to suit them.

See Winter Break Camps and Classes for details. More…

Category: Camps, Holidays // Posted on December 6, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Halloween is coming right up and I’m getting ready for the daily post-Halloween battle. It goes something like this:

Son: “Can I have a piece of candy?”
Me: “Not until after dinner, and then only one.”
Son: “Please?”
Pause five minutes. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat ad nauseum.

I’ve asked other parents how they handle the Halloween dilemma. One mom told me More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on October 25, 2010 // Leave a Comment

It’s time for Halloween and Harvest fun, from pumpkin picking, corn mazes and hay rides to haunted houses and other spooky spectacles. While many families have a favorite pumpkin patch they return to year after year, we like to check out new harvest events every fall.

So if you’re up for a new October adventure this year, read our roundup of fall favorites, and check our Family Calendar for more harvest fun every day this month.

What’s your family’s favorite harvest or Halloween attraction or event?

Category: Events/Performances, Holidays // Posted on October 6, 2010 // Leave a Comment

What do you do on Memorial Day?

If you’re like most Americans, you spend the day relaxing with family and friends, barbequeing in the backyard and welcoming the coming of summer. But is that what Memorial Day is all about? More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on May 31, 2010 // Leave a Comment

If you’re like me, you’re cooking for the holidays this week. Rummaging through recipes looking for something new to try, I can’t help but think about holiday foods and how every family has their own set of tasty treats that make this time of year feel so festive.

Of course there are the traditional favorites – from candy canes and sugar cookies to potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly-filled Hanukah donuts) – but aside from the old standards, More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 23, 2009 // Leave a Comment

Last night my family watched Elf, starring Will Ferrell. It’s a new entry on my list of favorite Christmas movies and it marked the final installment in our 2009 Christmas movie schedule. (That’s not to say we won’t re-watch one or two this year, only that we actually made it through the entire list.)

I’m sure sharing Christmas movies is a family tradition many of you have enjoyed for years, but for us, this is the first year we’ve been able to convince our son to watch many of our old favorites. For one thing, More…

Category: Holidays // Posted on December 21, 2009 // 4 Comments