| Category: Columnists |
What's the Matter With Mommy?
Dear your name here, Happy Holidays!
By Kelley Cunningham
Have you ever tried to write a family newsletter at holiday time? Did you look back on the year and the only positive thing you could say about it is that you got through it?
Never fear! This Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwaanza use our helpful guide. You,...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
The IP Bookshelf
The Story of Christmas, Adapted by Mary Packard; illustrated Carolyn Croll
The Story of Christmas
Adapted by Mary Packard; illustrated Carolyn Croll
Workman Publishing, $15.95
ISBN-13: 978-0761152507
Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
In this charming storybook set and advent calendar, The Story of Christmas makes the 24...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
The IP Bookshelf
The Story of Christmas, Adapted by Mary Packard; illustrated Carolyn Croll
The Story of Christmas
Adapted by Mary Packard; illustrated Carolyn Croll
Workman Publishing, $15.95
ISBN-13: 978-0761152507
Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
In this charming storybook set and advent calendar, The Story of Christmas makes the 24...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Home/Office
Learning to Let Go of My Holiday Expectations
By Dana Tuszke
The holidays are here, and while I'm excited about spending Christmas with my family, I can't help but worry about all the stuff that needs to be done. Did you catch that part about all the stuff that needs to be done? I sometimes wonder if I put too...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
While Mom's @ Work
The Worst Christmas Ever
By Chag Holland
Seven years ago on Christmas Eve morn, Ella and I were busy packing for a visit to her parents' home when she excitedly said, "I think I'm late!" We had only started trying, so I was skeptical that we would conceive so quickly.
We dropped...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
What's the Matter With Mommy?
Caroling with Mommy
By Kelley Cunningham
"Fake Christmas Tree"
(sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum)
Fake Christmas Tree, Fake Christmas Tree!
I bought you today at Target.
Fake Christmas Tree, Fake Christmas Tree!
Just plug it in and forget it!
On sale today, I found you there,
Next...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
What's the Matter With Mommy?
Caroling with Mommy
By Kelley Cunningham
"Fake Christmas Tree"
(sung to the tune of O Tannenbaum)
Fake Christmas Tree, Fake Christmas Tree!
I bought you today at Target.
Fake Christmas Tree, Fake Christmas Tree!
Just plug it in and forget it!
On sale today, I found you there,
Next...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
The IP Bookshelf
Christmas Cookies: Bite-sized Holiday Lessons By Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Jane Dyer
Christmas Cookies: Bite-size Holiday Lessons
By Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Jane Dyer
HarperCollins; $12.99
40 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0060580247
Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
Just in time for the holiday season, Amy Krouse Rosenthal is back with...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
The IP Bookshelf
Christmas Cookies: Bite-sized Holiday Lessons By Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Jane Dyer
Christmas Cookies: Bite-size Holiday Lessons
By Amy Krouse Rosenthal; illustrated by Jane Dyer
HarperCollins; $12.99
40 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0060580247
Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
Just in time for the holiday season, Amy Krouse Rosenthal is back with...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Dinner for One
Lose the E-X-P-E-C-T This Holiday Season
By Susan Courtad
With Thanksgiving behind us already, the holiday season’s in full swing. It’s not an easy time for any parent, but for single parents it often involves extra shopping carts of planning, paying and praying in an attempt to make a child’s...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Growing Pains
The Christmas House
By Elizabeth Thompson
I've been thinking, lately -- a dangerous habit, I know -- about how my husband Garth (not his real name) and I have started to downsize our family celebrations.
Not that they were HUGE, to begin with -- if you have kids, then you know -- but, our...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
The IP Bookshelf
The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket; illustrated by Lisa Brown
The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story
By Lemony Snicket; illustrated by Lisa Brown
McSweeney's; $9.95
48 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-1932416879
Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
Lemony Snicket -- yes, that Lemony Snicket, of A Series of Unfortunate...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Not Your Average Fairy Tale
Beating My Head Against a Wall; Or, Whatever Happened to the Separation of Church and State?
By Melissa Doak
At times like these all kinds of clichés run through my head. I’m definitely beating my head against the wall. Or chanting the mantra “same *%$#@ problem, different *%$#@ day.” (Fill in the blanks depending on how bad your mood...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Home/Office
To Buy or Not to Buy, Online
By Dana Tuszke
We're halfway to Christmas, and I haven't done any shopping. Okay, wait. Let me be more specific. I have purchased a few gifts for my son and my husband, but I bought them both online.
I didn't have to leave the comfort of my home, or my office...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
Red, Green and Yellowing
Pretty (reused) paper, pretty (reused) ribbons of blue...
By Christina Deanne
When I was in sixth grade, my mom decided that we should recycle Christmas wrapping. Before you say what a great environmentalist she was, my mother recycled wrapping paper only because she didn't want to buy any. I had to hand wash aluminum foil until...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
The IP Bookshelf
Olive, the Other Reindeer - Deluxe Edition, By J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh
Olive, the Other Reindeer - Deluxe Edition
By J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh
Chronicle Books, $19.95
40 pp.; ISBN-13: 978-0811857192
Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the publication of Olive, the Other Reindeer,...read more |
| Category: Parenting |
He's Making a List
Santa is more real than ever.
By Lauri Griffin
When I was in second grade, a know-it-all girl at school smugly told four or five of us that Santa Claus wasn't real -- that it was just our parents, and the tooth fairy was just our parents, too. She also filled us in on where babies come from, although...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Growing Pains
The Sanity Clause
By Elizabeth Thompson
As a stay-at-home-mom -- who happens to spend a large portion of the day in the car, just so you know -- if you're a parent...then you know...a vast majority of my time is committed going to (and from) practices, or meetings and paying for teacher gifts,...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
'Tis the Season
To receive the title, families must win the holiday trifecta.
By Kelly Miller
The children are so proud of themselves. We all stand around, enjoying this holiday moment. They have worked so hard, and are proud and pleased at what they have accomplished. We look on in awe; the lights are wrapped in a festive ring, not too tight,...read more |
| Category: Lifestyle |
'Tis the Season
To receive the title, families must win the holiday trifecta.
By Kelly Miller
The children are so proud of themselves. We all stand around, enjoying this holiday moment. They have worked so hard, and are proud and pleased at what they have accomplished. We look on in awe; the lights are wrapped in a festive ring, not too tight,...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Rugrat Reprieve
How to Enjoy Your Holidays without Going to a Home
By Rachael Brownell
Nothing says “dream on about having any time ‘off’, sucker” like the holidays. The perfect storm of in-laws, family, food preparation, alcohol, simmering resentment and lead-filled statuary, Thanksgiving and Christmas (or Xmas,...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
Growing Pains
A Christmas without Uncle Bud.
By Elizabeth Thompson
The headline read, “Hotel Blast in Baghdad Kills Two.”
I felt compelled to click on the “raw video” icon and it wasn’t due to some morbid sense of curiosity. I saw the quick flash of a face…a face of a soldier...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
What's the Matter With Mommy?
I'll have an eggnog. And make it a double.
By Kelley Cunningham
Well, the Halloween candy has been condensed down to one bowl, and all of the Fun Size Snickers have been picked out of it. You know what that means. It’s time for Christmas preparation.
Am I the only one who dreads this time of year? I make Scrooge...read more |
| Category: Columnists |
The View From Here
Waving Santa on.
By Amy Sue Nathan
Living outside of Cleveland for a year when my kids were little was no treat. It snowed on November 1st and the sun went on sabbatical. The city's bereft charm was overwhelming to me after living in Chicago and Philadelphia. But the holiday season coupled...read more |
