Life's feeling more like a circus than usual these days, thanks to the holiday rush. So we thought we'd give you a break by (for the most part) shying away from seasonal links in our latest biweekly news roundup.

Stories that piqued our interest this time around include a handy way to track your kids' school bus via iPad (yes, there really is an app for that), the return of a popular downtown indoor park and a kids' fave at the Whitney, the scoop on how to help your children's school find unclaimed funds and a funky display of menorahs curated by beloved children's author Maurice Sendak. His picks aren't as wild as you might think.

The malls are packed with holiday shoppers, decorations are up, and Santa is ringing his bell at every store entrance. With Christmas less than three weeks away the festivities are commencing and what better way to celebrate than to enjoy a holiday themed event with your family. With a variety of activities like classic theater shows to holiday lights it will surely feel more like Christmas with these great events!

[UPDATED: NOVEMBER 12, 2012]

I was born and bred across the pond, as you Americans say. I try to expose my child to bits of British culture year-round, but when the holidays roll around, I really find myself longing for good old-fashioned Victorian Christmas celebrations, like the ones I used to enjoy growing up.

The Victorian period covers the reign of England's Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901—and that’s where this history lesson ends. I'm more interested in sharing fun ways for families to enjoy vintage holiday fun that evokes this era. So don't be a Scrooge: From Christmas caroling to Charles Dickens to enjoying high tea, here are six ways to have yourself a merry Victorian Christmas in New York City.

It may not feel much like December, but it's sure beginning to look a lot like the holiday season. Department stores have unveiled their magical holiday windows, Santa has set up shop at lots of NYC spots and various productions of The Nutcracker are dancing around town.

This week we officially launched our 2011 Holiday Fun and Holiday Gift Guides. While we've already updated many of our annual posts, we'll continue to add new info throughout December, so check back regularly for more seasonal fun. Also, please consider supporting Mommy Poppins holiday food drive. We launched it last week and the response has been really heartwarming. As our founder Anna explains in the post, our appeal is very personal.

This week we also wrapped up our series of posts about the Upper West Side. Even if you live there, we think you may find out about a great toy store, restaurant or play spot you didn't know of.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, as well as selected stories from our sites in Boston and Los Angeles.

Waiting and preparing for Christmas can be almost as magical and fun as the holiday itself. The Advent period or the season of preparation which was originally observed in many Western Christian churches emphasizes this tradition - even without the religious content. One of the sweetest - sometimes in the literal sense of the word, too - prop of the season is the Advent calendar. Counting down the days with suspense for the big holiday rewards you with a little surprise for each day of patience in the long, cold month of December. There are many types of advent calendars and you can read more for our break down.

They're here. In honor of the first day of December, we're officially launching our 2011 Holiday Activity Guide. Unlike some other holiday guides out there, we primarily focus on inexpensive but unforgettable seasonal experiences, including family volunteering opportunities, so you can give your kids the best present of all: happy holiday memories.

We also launched our first-ever Holiday Gift Guide, but instead of filling it with toys and games you can buy off amazon, we concentrate on shopping local, and supporting our community stores and artisans.

Read on for a closer look at what you'll find in our Holiday Guides and a peek at cool Christmas and Hanukkah posts yet to come.

The holiday season is in full effect, and there are celebrations all over the Island: Christmas tree lightings, festivals, a LEGO-menorah-building event, shows--even a weekend-long Charles Dickens festival, complete with period costumes, horse-and-carriage rides, and, of course, productions of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. And if you are ready for an outing to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree, we've got you covered. There are also some fun and educational non-holiday-oriented shows at the Long Island Children's Museum. And Saturday's National Cookie Day, don't you know? So cut the kids some slack this weekend, and while you're at it, take them to the Whaling Museum in Cold Spring Harbor for a Sea Cookie Workshop!

We've rounded up a list of the top events happening around the Island to suit whatever you're looking for--holiday themed or not.

And if you have a moment, check out the wonderful food drive that Mommy Poppins herself has spearheaded and Help Us Feed 10,000 NYC Children This Holiday Season. It's an easy process, and may be the start of an important discussion with your kids.