Whether it’s a birthday bash for your little one or a holiday soiree at school or home, parents want to come up with the perfect party favors to send home with their guests. Through the years, I’ve spent a lot of time making homemade favors—and a small fortune buying them—until I stumbled upon these stores. These one-stop shops can save moms time, money and stress, while also offering fun and creative favors you won't find in a mainstream party store. Whether you want to buy premade or get some DIY supplies, there's sure to be something for any theme or celebration. And for more party inspiration, check out our Long Island Party Guide. 

The wonderful thing about brunch is that it embodies a sense of luxury and decadence: Waking up late, lingering over indulgent breakfast foods, and sometimes even drinking before noon! But then there’s brunch in NYC, which often includes waiting ages for a table at crowded and noisy restaurants. That may have been fine when you were childless, but now that you have kids, you're just happy if you can eat some eggs and get home without a meltdown. Hitting a trendy brunch spot and savoring a second cup of coffee is out of the question.

Personally, I’d given up on brunch long ago until a random and fortuitous thing happened. Last fall, I was forced to have breakfast in a hotel and something dawned on me. Hotels are great at breakfast, they are generally kid-friendly and, aside from a few of the famous ones, they never have lines for brunch.

To test my theory, I set out to look for the best hotel brunches with kids in NYC. Over the past six months, I’ve been brunching with my family at hotels all over Manhattan to find out if they really are the special secret I imagined them to be. After months of selfless brunch testing (see the sacrifices I make for you?), the results are in. I’ve discovered some truly off-the-radar brunch spots that you should definitely add to your list. After all, just because you have kids doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the finer things in life—you just need to find the right place to do it.

Train displays are a huge hit around the holidays. We’ve mentioned holiday train shows around Westchester and filled you in on what’s new at the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show. Now we’ve got other ideas in Westchester for train buffs of all ages to see and experience trains and railways. Read on for more details about year round exhibits and experiences, plus a train show happening this weekend in Westchester.

This edition of our biweekly links roundup has news you can use in winter, spring and even next summer! So read on for info on Brooklyn's soon-to-open rinks in Prospect Park, a pair of FREE summer camps currently accepting applications, big changes for Governors Island, some good (it will now be open seven days a week in summer), some not (the ferry is no longer free), plus other notable openings, closings and happenings on NYC's family scene.

I can't say enough good things about my neighborhood. Roslindale Village (and it really is a bit like a village) includes the square and its surrounding neighborhoods, and it is diverse, sociable, walkable, and fun. I feel more at home here than I ever did in the suburbs.

The fact that Roslindale is situated between Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury means that you've probably driven through it on your way somewhere else. Here are twenty reasons to stop and hang out for a while.

When it comes to children’s books, I love collecting vintage classics such as The Snowy Day, The Velveteen Rabbit, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Caps for Sale, and more. There are many “hidden gems” out there that may not be as popular or as mainstream as the literary classics, but are still heartwarming in their own special way. (My favorite children’s book will always be Russell Hobson’s A Bargain For Frances, which I cannot wait to read to my daughter when she’s a bit older.) This holiday season, give a great gift and read a new book to the children in your life—it’s precious bonding time they’ll cherish. Or encourage a tween to read more, for pleasure, school, or both!

Below is a list of newly-released children’s books. I hope the children in your life enjoy reading these “hidden gems” and personalized books as much as I enjoyed writing about them.

As far back as I can remember, my mother would break out a series of crafting books and allow us to choose an afternoon activity. Pipe cleaners, egg cartons, pom poms and glue littered the table (and floor!). And while our handmade treasures weren't the most pleasing to the eye, my mother always put them on display. In fact, 30-plus years later, she still has them in storage totes in the basement. 

With the holidays here, parents are thinking about what to give their children's teachers. Many of us opt for the gift card (it's definitely the easiest way to go!), but these past few years I've chosen to draw on my childhood experiences and give our gifts a more personal touch. If you'd like to give it a try, here is a roundup of ideas to get you started--and they're easy enough that the kids can help out. So break out those glue guns and glitter. And for more kid-friendly activities, be sure to check out our Holiday Guide.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had the day off every time the kids got a day off from school?  If you’re scrambling to find childcare for December vacation, take a look at these camps in and around Boston. You may not have the day off, but you can rest easy, knowing that your kids are safe, staying active and having fun (while you toil away at work).

If you're planning to be home for the holidays and need some fun things to do with the kids during those long school-free days, check out our Holiday Fun Guide for ideas aplenty.