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If you’ve got children between the ages of three and eight who love Eric Carle’s books, you’ll want to check out some interesting performances at the Center Of Creative Arts (COCA) this weekend.

Today is Chocolate Day*! In honor of this sacred day (at least for us chocolate lovers), I present a few of my favorite places to visit...

One of the first parenting lessons people learn? Love may be free but children cost a lot of money to feed, shelter, educate and entertain! As a result, most folks tend to change their spending habits once a kiddo comes onto the scene.

These days, many a parent has their smart phone at the ready when they’ve got their children in tow and a long wait ahead. Thanks to perusing Cool Mom Picks today, I stumbled upon a new app which may have you and the kids fighting over your phone.

The Christmas Gift Toca Boca app is brought to you by Toca Boca. The premise is simple and fun–you, or the kids, can give Santa a makeover. With the tap of a finger, you can comb his hair or trim his beard. You can even use a clippers, hair products and spray paint to give… more …

Santa Claus is here! If you’ve got little ones who are intently creating their wish lists, you’ll definitely want to plan a visit with the big man.

A number of area malls are offering kids the chance to spend a little quality time with St. Nick. Click on the names of the mall if you need location details or information about photos.

I’ve known Amy since we were babies. But it wasn’t until we’d gotten to high school that our friendship deepened.

When Amy moved out of the area to attend a different college, we stayed connected via snail mail, comparing classes and planning our get togethers during school breaks. Over time, we graduated, started careers, danced at each other’s weddings, bemoaned pesky pregnancy problems and delighted in our new roles as moms.  No matter what life has thrown my way,  I’ve always felt a little stronger with Amy in my corner.

Recently, she died.

I’m still trying to wrap my brain… more …

You don’t realize until you have a child, it’s the little luxuries you miss most.

Like sleep. Or camping out on the couch to watch mind-numbingly cheesy TV.  Or reading something other than Pat The Bunny 600 times a day.

(Side note. Have you ever seen Pat the Husband? Much more fun to read though less child-friendly.)

Bit by bit, you eventually find whole minutes of free time. And then, one day, you realize you have 10 minutes of spare time, IN A ROW. (Congratulations when you have enough time to shave both legs when you shower.)

Take those minutes where (and… more …

Summer might be over but that doesn’t mean your wee one has to bid adieu to warm weather activities like swimming.  In fact, there are plenty of reasons why you should keep your little fishes moving and grooving in the colder months.

For instance, did you know that for each month out of the pool, it takes 1-2 swimming classes to relearn those skills? And did you know kids who lack water comfort need consistent and regular exposure to overcome their fear?

“Depending on the child, this can take longer than one swim session,” says Coach Ruthie Zarren, the founder of… more …

Many peeps of the parental persuasion are taking to Facebook and Twitter to keep friends and family updated on their latest projects and happenings. Even celebs are tweeting and posting about what’s most often on their minds – their kids!

According to Celebrity Baby Scoop, “Twitter is the word on the streets of Hollywood these days with the likes of Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Tori Spelling, Victoria Beckham, Russell Crowe, Scott Baio and David Schwimmer just to name a few. …Hollywood moms and dads routinely tweet about fun family moments and even photos of their adorable children.”

I… more …

Victoria Beckham recently gave birth to Harper Seven. Singer Jewel named her son Kase Townes.

The slew of laboring celebrities brings lots of baby name ideas.  (Maybe you’re liking the moniker “Alef” now thanks to Natalie Portman?) The quest for a baby name can be a  fun challenge or a stressful endeavor.

If you’re searching for ideas, there are a number of websites that can help you. For example, BabyCenter is a great resource. And Baby Names is always fun to peruse.

If there aren’t any ideas that really grab you, head out to a place where there’s lots of… more …