There is nothing more heartwarming than hearing your small child say he is most thankful for his family. It was part of his homework last week to send in a photo or draw a picture of something he’s grateful for. He could have said his video games, or school friends, or ice cream sundaes. But he said “my family” without hesitation, and so we sent in a family photo. I’m so glad the spirit of Thanksgiving has rubbed off on him.

It’s true that Thanksgiving is my personal favorite holiday. For once, it’s a holiday with no strings attached. It’s probably also the least commercialized (if you ignore the marketing promos during the Macy’s parade or the endless specials on The Food Network, that is). What I mean is there are no gifts to wrap, no goodie bags to make, no costumes to wear, no turkey trees to decorate. It’s just family gathering together over some good food and family traditions. Continue reading…

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is this week? I feel like that’s all I have been saying lately, but it’s true. Thanksgiving just came out of nowhere this year. Seriously!

Whether you are planning a shindig at your home or heading out to a loved one’s, this recipe is easy, fast and can even be made ahead of time. What more could you ask for on a day when many of us spend hours and hours cooking?

Just be sure that you purchase mini sweet peppers (as opposed to hot peppers), available in bulk at stores like Costco.

And as for giving thanks, I am thankful to have this forum and my family food blog to share dishes like this with you. I am also thankful for my adorable children, who bring joy into my life everyday, a wonderful husband and a supportive family.

What are you thankful for? Continue reading…

Head on over to our Facebook page to share some of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes for a chance to win an awesome prize!

Grand Prize: $500 Target gift card and $50 Mott’s products
Contest ends November 30th.

Wine can be so confusing. Whether you spend $8 or $80, you could get a good or a bad bottle if you aren’t sure what you are looking for.

Don’t worry! Real Mom’s Guide to the rescue on this one with advice from a reknowned wine expert. Click here to find what bottles are great for under $20.

So it’s getting colder out and you’re itching for a balmy beach getaway, but a trip to the tropics just isn’t in the budget, right? Since our first family trip to Wisconsin Dells (“waterpark capital of the world”) almost ten years ago, I’ve become a bit of a waterpark evangelist. Since then we’ve visited over a dozen parks within a few hours’ radius of our Michigan home.

Over the last five years or so, indoor waterparks have started popping up all over the country, so you no longer have to live in the Midwest to be within driving distance of one. Here are a few of the reasons why indoor waterpark resorts are one of my family’s favorite weekend getaways:

Something for everyone. Most of the indoor waterparks I’ve been to offer a nice mix of attractions for big kids and little kids. For instance, during a recent trip to Key Lime Cove in Gurnee, IL (north of Chicago), I spent most of my time in a warm, zero-entry toddler pool with a series of small slides. Clara, our baby, splashed in the shallowest water while Owen, 3, and William, 6, went down the slides. The big boys opted for the thrill slides, going down again and again, which emptied into a wave pool right next to the toddler pool. Of course, we had to take a few trips down the lazy river, too (my favorite part!). Continue reading…

It’s something many kids go through — nearly half, according to a new study. Many of you probably dealt with it when you were younger. Now as parents, the idea of it happening to your child just makes you fearful and sad. It’s becoming the victim of a school bully.

The study, presented recently at the American Public Health Association‘s annual meeting in Philadelphia, is based on survey results from more than 10,000 middle-school students who anonymously answered questions online.

Here’s the frightening part…

Bullies did much of their intimidating in the classroom, lunchroom and school hallways, the researchers found. Those who were bullied in the classroom felt more threatened and unsafe on campus than other students.

You’d think that being under the supervision of teachers and other adults would at the very least keep your child protected in and around the classroom. But contrary to the idea that most bullying takes place in the schoolyard, kids feel just as intimidated in class. That’s why it’s important to teach your child about standing up for him or herself, and speaking up to you to let you know what’s going on in school. We often hear about these situations when they’ve already been going on for too long. Continue reading…

With the holidays around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving … and especially desserts for Thanksgiving. In our house, we typically have two pies — a pumpkin and an apple. Honestly, I could eat the entire pumpkin pie by myself, though I am not sure that the family would approve.

For the apple, my favorite is a homemade version that I’ve been making for several years. It has a delightful sweet and crumbly top that goes so well with the sweet-tart apples inside.

It’s always a hit with kids and adults around my Thanksgiving table.

What pies are traditional in your house for Thanksgiving? Share in the comments below! Continue reading…

The cool weather of late Autumn is finally settling in and nothing says Autumn like delicious recipes to warm your house and your stomach. Eat up!

Our own Sarah Cucina Bella’s – Easy Roasted Acorn Squash Mash

Smitten Kitchen – Swiss Chard and Sweet Potato Gratin

Kalyn’s Kitchen – Roasted Carrots and Mushrooms with Thyme

Cooking with Amy- Parmesan Flatbread

Real Simple – Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower

City Mama – Penne with Sweet Onion Sauce

Parents buy products for their kids, wanting the best for them. They purchase them in good faith that the products are manufactured well … but sadly, that just isn’t always the case.

Even the adage of getting what you pay for doesn’t always apply to situations like this. Frankly, spending more for something doesn’t make it infallible, unfortunately. Even pricey, so-called top-of-the-line things can go wrong. The massive recall of Maclaran strollers this week proves that.

If you own a Maclaran stroller, then you should read this over at Real Mom’s Guide. It’s a comprehensive look at what the recall is about and what to do if you are effected.

So the weather is getting a bit colder outside, and it’s taking more than the promise of a warm day at the beach or park to get your kids to go outside?

Times like these call for special adventures that will get the whole family itching to put on that coat and hat and get out into the fresh air—even if that air is decidedly frigid. And what else gets kids as excited as the promise of a treasure hunt? From low-prep to high-tech, here are three ideas for adventurous family fun that will get kids (and grown-ups) of all ages rushing out the door:

Scavenger Hunts. You don’t need any special equipment or much planning to pull off a scavenger hunt. You don’t even have to leave your yard! Read this clever tutorial for creating a toddler scavenger hunt (could be easily modified for bigger kids) at United Teaching, and check out the awesom glow-in-the-dark scavenger hunt this mom blogger created for her daughter’s birthday party! Continue reading…