Personalized gifts are so whimsical and fun; especially if you have a unique name. This holiday season, nab the special children in your life a personalized gift, such as a water bottle, hat, step stool, or even a toy chest. Below is a list of really fun shops that can help you select a name-adorned item kids will cherish. And don't forget to view our family-friendly 25 Best Things to Do in New Jersey for the Holidays list as you prep for end of year festivities.

It's the first full weekend in December and the holidays are in full swing. Predictably, houses are decorated with twinkling lights, Christmas music seems to be on every radio station and children are on their best behavior as Santa's elves are ready to send reports back to the North Pole.

Just as predictable, many families partake in holiday rituals like cutting down the Christmas tree or eating Brunch with Santa. Perhaps this year, consider incorporating a new tradition. Go to a holiday parade, see a Live Nativity, attend the Dickens Festival, sample potato pancakes at Latkepalooza or watch reenactors at the Washington Crossing the Delaware Dress Rehearsal.

Traditions make the holiday feel special but trying something new can be exciting and fun... and could even help create a new tradition making memories for years to come.

For a complete list of things to do, see the Mommy Poppins Events Calendar.

Santa is hearing wish lists, Christmas trees are lighting up, Nutcrackers are twirling and holiday department store windows are attracting crowds. Yup, the holiday season is in full swing in NYC!

This weekend brings some of our favorite annual tree illuminations, the New York Public Library's Holiday Open House and two of our top event picks for the entire month: Cirque Ziva at the New Victory Theater and the family opera Puss in Boots at El Museo del Barrio.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Holiday Fun Guide. If you're looking to plan ahead, our December GOList highlights the absolute best things to do with kids throughout the month.

Cyber Monday’s single-day travel bargains have come and gone and the December holiday season typically presents slim pickings for price conscious vacationers. In high season, thinking out of the box may help you find legitimate deals. Cape May and Grand Canyon in winter may not immediately jump to mind, but they offer fine savings. Cities like Philly and NYC are savvy budget options. If small town charm is in your forecast, consider quaint Cooperstown or frosty Vermont. Sun-seekers should note that the Grand Lucayan resort in the Bahamas has a great deal. 
Several large hotel chains are offering property-wide discounts.  Consider family-perfect First Night celebrations and ring in the New Year in Boston or Burlington. Start planning an exotic trip to Bangkok and you’ll score a bargain at a luxury hotel. When the holidays are finished, head to Telluride where kids ski and stay free. Or leave the kids and rejuvenate at Red Rocks Resort in Utah, perfect for a girlfriend or couples getaway.

December is here, and the holidays are coming quick. With just a few short weeks until Christmas, and even less until Hanukkah, New Jersey is bursting with holiday festivities for everyone to enjoy. Grab some breakfast with Santa at the Camden Children’s Garden or the Dickens of a Holiday in Mays Landing. Enjoy tree and menorah lighting ceremonies at Trailside Nature Center’s Holiday Craft Show and the NJ Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation Holiday Tree Lighting. Take the family to the theater for holiday-themed performances of The Hip Hop Nutcracker and The Brave Little Tailor. And for little ones, stop by the free Milk and Cookies Storytelling Series. For even more weekend fun, check out the full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

'Tis the season. Christmas is officially a fall holiday these days, and Black Friday was really Thanksgiving Thursday. The madness has begun. I say mom deserves a break in the form of a Monday Morning Mommy Movie. If you cooked last week and start shopping this week, give yourself a break on Monday. 

For those of you who love holiday cheer but refuse to celebrate on the merchants’ accelerated schedule, your patience has been rewarded. Though much of the Southland started lighting up in November, there are still a few tree lighting events for those of us who prefer to celebrate Christmas in December. Sherman Oaks, Culver City, Hermosa Beach, Burbank and Long Beach all illuminate this week. What else is on the calendar? Read on for our picks.

There's a lot going on this holiday weekend in NYC beyond Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our Thanksgiving and Holiday Guides are packed with plenty of ways to celebrate the season, including the best places to see Santa like Macy's Santaland, festive Christmas tree illuminations and the kickoff weekend for the jaw-dropping Dyker Lights displays in Dyker Heights.

There's lots of holiday fun in New Jersey, Westchester, Long Island and Connecticut, too. You can cut your own Christmas trees on LI and in NJ, take a train ride with Santa in NJ or gawk at amazing holiday displays in Philly.

If you happen to be traveling up I-95, our Connecticut site has a list of fun family pit stops if you need a break along the way. And if you're in the market for a virtual vacation, our Travel site has a slide show about the best family activities in Jamaica's Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week. We hope you and your family have a happy Thanksgiving!

On this long Thanksgiving weekend, there are tons of ways to get out and burn off all that turkey! Starting on Thanksgiving Day, get the family moving at one of the Turkey Trots in the area. For a more leisurely activity, the kids will love walking around Franklin Park or Stone Zoo for Half-Price Zoo Admission on Friday. Everyone can get out and enjoy Giving Thanks to Nature event on the trails at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, and even the smallest family members can get active on Sunday's Tykes Walk in Framingham. Holiday events to brighten the day include the Festival of Trees in Wellesley, the Macy's Holiday Tree Lighting in Boston on Friday, and the Roslindale Tree Lighting on Saturday.

Four picks from our November GO list are happening this weekend, too! Check out Family Trees at the Concord Museum in Concord, Magpie - Season of Light at the JFK Museum in Boston, F.A.T. Chain Reaction at MIT in Cambridge, or Play Date - Family Concert at the ICA in Boston.

Performance offerings include The Little Prince for older children and The Yankee Peddler at the Puppet Showplace Theatre for the younger crowd. Entire families can join in on the fun at the Sing-A-Long Mary Poppins in Arlington or enjoy one of the many Nutcracker performances in the Boston area.

Also on Mommy Poppins this week:

• Get the whole family in the holiday spirit by heading to one of these local farms to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree.
• These 8 Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks are great spots to glide around the ice in the fresh air.
• Teach your kids to give thanks to others by making and handing out Thanksgiving Gratitude Cookies with them.
• For a thrilling ride, bundle everyone up for a ride on one of the Winter Coasters and Zip Lines in New England.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out the full events calendar!