We’re nearly a month into 2012, a time when many of us start forgetting our ambitious New Year’s Resolutions, but I’m really trying to keep up with mine this year. It helps that my goals for the year weren’t too lofty to begin with, and a few are so vague they allow for pretty broad interpretation of the word “success.” More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on January 25, 2012 // Leave a Comment

I’m so glad the City of Portland rolled out their Portland Composts curbside composting program citywide beginning Oct. 31. I’ve felt guilty about throwing away food scraps for years, but with one small compost bin in the backyard I’ve never been able to get into a composting groove. Now the city is helping me out, and I’m loving it! Of course, it does take some getting used to. How’s it going for you? More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on November 28, 2011 // Leave a Comment

In my editor’s note for our December issue, I wrote about finding a treasure trove of hand-written letters in my basement from friends and relatives. They were decades old and full of wonderful memories. Nostalgic for the days of receiving letters in the mail, letters I could save and revisit for years to come, I resolved to write some letters of my own.

As these things often go, it was only a few weeks into December when I saw a post on Twitter from Katy Wolk-Stanley, Portland’s very own Nonconsumer Advocate, announcing a challenge she was posing on her blog: 52 Weeks, 52 Letters. More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on January 5, 2011 // 3 Comments

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, October 12, is the last day to register to vote in Oregon for the upcoming November 2 election. If you’re not yet registered, REGISTER ONLINE today.

The deadline for paper and online registration in Washington State was October 4, but if you live in Washington and are not registered in the state you can register in person at your County Elections Office until the Monday one week before Election Day (Oct. 25). More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on October 11, 2010 // Leave a Comment

My son went back to school yesterday – fifth grade – and although our neighbors started school last week, I know this week marks the beginning of a new school year for many area families. As I sit at my desk in my unusually quiet house, sipping my second cup of coffee, I can’t help but reflect on the summer that’s just ended and the new year ahead. More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on September 8, 2010 // Leave a Comment

If you haven’t voted in our annual “Family Favorites” contest yet, DO IT TODAY! Sunday, August 15, is the last day to voice your opinion – and be entered to win a fabulous Family Fun Package! More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on August 11, 2010 // 1 Comment

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

My little boy turns 10 tomorrow, and while I’ve never been one to lament the passing of each developmental stage (I didn’t cry when he started kindergarten and not once have I looked back longingly to his colicky beginnings!), I have to admit this double-digit milestone is affecting me. Maybe it’s because he’s started doing that thing where he rolls his eyes in exasperation every time I speak. Or maybe it’s because “Mom” has become a three syllable word (as in “Oh Mo – o – om!” … cue eye roll).

And so I have to ask: What’s a mother to do? Is 10 officially pre-teen? And if so, what can I do to remain “in parental control” while at the same time keeping the lines of communication – and the lines of affection – in tact? More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on July 21, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Let’s face it, summer fun can get costly. That’s why we’re so pleased to let you know about these great summer deals and special coupons our advertisers are offering in our July issue.

North Clackamas Aquatic Center: Buy 1 Big Surf Swim admission, get 1 free. (page 33)
Bob’s Red Mill: Buy any 2 Bob’s Red Mill products, get a third of equal or lesser value free. (page 32 … they’re also our Family Fare feature this month!)
Old Spaghetti Factory: Free kid’s meal with a paid adult meal. (page 31)
Play Boutique: Free drink, 30 percent off a class, and $25 off camps! (page 30) More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on July 7, 2010 // 1 Comment

Earlier this year we introduced Family Fare, a monthly column featuring our favorite family-friendly restaurants in the Portland metro area. For our August issue, we’re thinking outside the box to bring you a roundup of some of our favorite ice cream, frozen yogurt and gelato shops around town. But guess what? We need your help! (We’re offering a $20 gift certificate to Ben & Jerry’s to one lucky helper! Read on to find out how to enter.)

Sure we have our own favorites, but we want to know where your family goes for sweet frozen treats. The top three “Family Favorites” from our reader survey last year were Cold Stone Creamery, Ben & Jerry’s, and Staccato Gelato, but we know there are many, many more local places serving delicious ice cream, fro yo and gelato. So this week, we’re asking our readers to share their own favorites. More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on June 28, 2010 // 1 Comment

The following first appeared as an Editor’s Note in the June 2005 issue of Metro Parent. My sweet father got a big kick out of it. Dad passed away on May 17, 2008, leaving a permanent hole in our family – and in our hearts. I’m posting this today to honor him, and all of the loving, funny fathers out there.

My dad’s a funny guy – and I mean funny as in “ha ha” not funny as in odd. All of his life he’s enjoyed laughter, his own and that of others, whether it was over one of life’s countless spontaneous moments of mirth or a good solid joke.

Here’s an example: Dad and three friends (all fathers) went fishing one weekend when he was in his 30s. The fish weren’t exactly biting so he and his buddies decided to stop at a roadside stand and buy several large salmon.

One of the group – my dad can’t remember whom – came up with the idea of telling the wives that they caught the fish. This group of jokers then went a step further and had a local photographer take several shots of them with their “catch.” One of the proud wives brought a photo over to the local newspaper (you can see where this is going …). They published it in the next edition with the headline “Local Men Get Lucky.” More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on June 20, 2010 // 1 Comment

As we close out the month of May – our “focus on Moms month” here at Metro Parent – we’re taking a look at two recently released studies related to motherhood in the United States.

The fist is a Pew Research Center study that looked at the changing demographics of women who gave birth in 1990 versus those who gave birth in 2008. Turns out, new moms today are older, more likely to be unmarried, and slightly better educated. More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on May 24, 2010 // Leave a Comment

Summer’s just around the corner and we’ve got traveling on our minds! We’re hoping you do, too, because we also have a copy of Lora Shinn’s Northwest Kid Trips (ParentMap Books, 2010) to give away.

This handy guide offers tips for traveling with kids to Portland, Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver, BC. From navigating around each town to finding the best places to eat and sleep to keeping kids of all ages (and their parents) entertained, Shinn’s got you covered.

If you’d like to win a free copy of the book, More…

Category: Uncategorized // Posted on May 17, 2010 // 34 Comments