During the post holiday winter months meal prep can be a real drag. The New Year has me searching for something different to do with all those root vegetables, and desperate for a way to make winter salads palatable. And with my resolution energy I'm looking for better ideas for my kid's school lunches. There are tons of great food blogs that provide exotic ideas and great desserts, but I need something inspired and also practical for my family. Luckily, there's help out there. Here are some of our top picks for desperate parents and their hungry, sometimes picky, children.

The new year is a time of reflecting. Looking back on 2010 there are so many great discoveries we made that we'd like to share. This week, in addition to our regular posts, we'll be sharing some of our favorite websites and other stuff that we've enjoyed this year, starting with some of the great websites about living in New York City. These sites are great resources that often inspire me (when I have time to read them). You may want to book mark this post to check back with these cool blogs often.

It's New Year's and time for reflecting on all things as we put the blur of the Holiday's behind us and move on to a fresh start. I have Lady Gaga’s “Christmas Tree” song stuck in my head, I’m suffering from three wrapping paper-cuts and don’t get me started on the constant search for new spots to place our Elf on the Shelf. Why am I so behind on my To Do list? You know it – I’ve been surfing around, discovering some interesting tidbits to pass along to you. Kick back with some left over egg nog, turn on anything but holiday tunes, and enjoy these finds.

Have you made your New Year’s Resolutions yet? What’s on your list? Eating healthier? Getting to the gym three times a week? Paring down the reality TV shows you watch from nine, to say, three? All of these are great goals, but what about adding a few you can do as a family? The start of a new year is a perfect way to start a good family “habit.” We’ve listed a few for you to kick off in January.

We've had a great week of giveaways this week and made some very happy Holidays for a few folks. While there's still time to enter our giveaway for a $100 Best Buy Gift card (closing Thursday, December 23 at 10PM), today we're giving away 4 tickets to Cirque de Soleil's Wintuk.

Do you like to connect to the internet from wherever you are? Browse Facebook while waiting for the kids at Karate? Watch streaming video between meetings? New WiMAX-enabled laptops mean you can connect wherever you are at 4G speeds. To celebrate, Intel asked us to give away a $100 Best Buy gift cards and let you know how you can get another one too.

How does the New Victory Theater manage to have so many amazing shows that are sophisticated, entertaining, and yet, great for young audiences? I don't know, but I love it. Their latest feat is MOMENTUM a feisty interactive dance performance that kids and adults will both love. We're giving away four tickets to this fun show that will certainly make your Holidays a splash.

To show our appreciation for our readers (you) and add a little excitement into your Holiday celebrations, we are doing a week of giveaways this week. Starting today, we will be giving away one big ticket item each day this week. Each giveaway will only last one or two days, so don't blink. We're kicking this event off with tickets to the Big Apple Circus! And we've got other great prizes coming too: more great tickets and prizes, including a Best Buy gift card.