When is Mother’s Day Celebrated?

What day do you celebrate Mother’s Day? The answer to that question depends upon where in the world you live. Or, it could be based on where your mother is currently living. Many countries celebrate Mother’s Day but not all of them do it on the same day. This presents a dilemma for families who have relatives in more than one country. How do you know which Mother’s Day to celebrate? Do you use the one that matches with the country your mother lives in? What if that date isn’t the same one where you live? Mother’s Day is celebrated … Continue reading →

Save Money by Planning Ahead

Dear overachiever mom who attached stuffed animals to the Valentine’s Day cards your kid passed out at school last week: I don’t hate you. Never mind, that all my 8-year-old Scotch-taped to her Snoopy Love Day cards were small packages of Skittles. Not six-inch plush puppies. I’m sure you never intended to make the rest of us parents feel like inadequate, uninspired, cheap losers. Listen, I considered flexing my creative muscle and having my kid attach snack-sized bags of peanuts to the cards. Get it? Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy… the Peanuts gang? Of course, sending nuts to school in this … Continue reading →

New Year’s Eve Parties With Parental Controls

New Year’s Eve celebrations don’t have to include alcohol, loud music, revealing outfits and colorful language to be fun and exciting. If you are a parent, tomorrow night’s festivities will likely be G-rated, especially if you are partying with a young crew. To ensure your last shindig of the year features good, clean fun, consider the following kid-friendly activities: New Year’s Word Scramble: This game can be tailored for kids of varying ages. All you need to do is come up with a list of words associated with New Year’s. Possible choices include: December, January, resolution, fireworks, balloons, noisemakers, confetti. … Continue reading →

New Year’s Eve Money Savers

Welcoming 2013 is cause for celebration. However, if you plan to party with a house full of parents and children, a New Year’s Eve shindig has the potential to put huge dent in your wallet. Fortunately, there are ways you can preserve your family’s budget, so that you don’t start 2013 in a financial pit: Fancy Cup Tags: Fancy doesn’t have to mean expensive. One way to reduce the amount of money you spend on cups for a New Year’s party is to attach a pretty tag to each one. Doing so will identify the cup’s owner and eliminate the … Continue reading →

Red, White and Ready for Santa

The countdown to Santa’s visit is officially on in my home. My 8-year-old has already plumped up the pillows on the recliner, so St. Nick will have a comfy spot to sit before he unloads his sack and piles her gifts under the tree. My daughter also penned a short note to Mr. Claus welcoming him to our home and inviting him to nosh on the cupcakes she is leaving out for him. Yes, cupcakes. This year we are deviating from the traditional sugar cookies because my child has deduced that it would be barbaric for Santa to chomp on … Continue reading →

Snap To It

Christmas is right around the corner, so snap to it—literally. The holidays are prime time for capturing generations of loved ones in the same place at the same time. That’s a rare event for most clans, which is why you should take advantage of the opportunity when given the chance. Don’t let the holidays pass you by without snapping family photos that you can cherish for decades to come. Gather your kids, their cousins, grandparents, even your four-legged family members, and document the good times. When you are done snapping posed shots, keep your camera on you and get in … Continue reading →

Go Green to Avoid Seeing Red

Are you seeing red after calculating the amount of money you’ve shelled out this holiday season? Christmas is still a week away and some parents are already dealing with a mountain of debt accrued since Black Friday. As devoted moms and dads we feel obligated to make all of our children’s holiday wishes come true: Big tree featuring gorgeous ornaments, life-sized animated decorations, elaborately wrapped gifts and miles of twinkling lights that would blind a buzzard. Unfortunately, all that holiday bling can put a real dent in your household budget. One way to reduce the sting of big bills racked … Continue reading →

Keep It Simple

In the wake of the senseless shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, many parents are reevaluating their priorities. With Christmas just a few days away, there’s been a shift from chaotic to calm. Whereas a week ago many parents were rushing around like decapitated chickens trying to hunt down a mountain of material items to place under the tree, today, those same parents are realizing that life’s greatest gift isn’t something that can be wrapped in pretty paper. Rather, moms and dads around the world are slowing down and savoring every minute with their kids. If the incomprehensible loss of … Continue reading →

Christmas Break Boredom Busters

Today is the last day of school for many kids in our area. Their Christmas break begins this afternoon and I’m sure they couldn’t be happier. Their parents, on the other hand, may not share the same feeling. A week from now those same kids may be climbing the walls looking for ways to keep busy. If you fear boredom will get the best of your brood before Santa flies into town, consider putting your kids to work making these simple and inexpensive holiday decorations that you can use to brighten up your home or give as gifts: Pretty Presents: … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Ways to Countdown to Christmas

My 8-year-old adores her Snoopy countdown to Christmas calendar… and her wooden Advent calendar… and her chocolate-filled Advent calendar… and well, you get the idea. My kid is obsessed with counting down to December 25th. While I enjoy seeing her excitement as she tears open the doors to her various candy-filled chronicles, Advent calendars don’t come cheap. Neither do secular versions featuring syndicated cartoon characters. Fortunately, there are ways you can celebrate the coming of Christmas without going broke. For example: Paper Chains: Kids can craft a countdown to Christmas chain to help them visualize how many days until Santa’s … Continue reading →