This is the time of the year when we adults have to/want to create magic for the children in our lives. It is hard to decide where to put the most effort when there really is so much to do and lots going on.  In addition to all the shopping, baking and decorating it takes to create this “magic” there are also lots of fun seasonal events in New York City that make you want to just chuck all that magic making and go have some fun.  This weekend there are bright Hanukah events, Winter Fest at the Central Park Zoo and Winter Family Day at the Morgan Library & Museum to choose from or pick from one of the other many activities listed in The Mommy Poppins Holiday Activity Guide. Our guide covers everything from where to get the best photos for your holiday cards to what to do with your Christmas Tree when the holidays are over.  

This is the first weekend of December and many of the city’s museums offer free admission during designated times over the weekend. (The Children’s’ Museum of Manhattan, The Queens Museum and The Brooklyn Museum are just some of the many that will let you in for free). Our picks for the weekend are below and don’t forget to check out the Mommy Poppins Event Calendar for more ideas on how to spend your weekend.

Have a happy Hanukkah and a great weekend.

Whatever it takes to get you in the holiday spirit, it is going on this weekend in NJ. There is breakfast with Santa on Battleship NJ and underwater at the Adventure Aquarium.  There are Gingerbread House making events, Holiday Festivals at Stirling Stables, a Chanukah Extravaganza, and even Family Art Day at the Montclair Museum.

And if you are looking for more holiday fun, check out our Holiday Guide.

This is the second year that I've teamed up with an eclectic group of NYC bloggers to put together a Holiday Guide, each posting a Holiday-themed post on our own blogs and then linking them all to each other. Each blog is a NYC-Centric blog with its own unique lens through which it views the city. The resulting Holiday Guide offers a wide range of gift ideas and things to do and I think you'll agree that this has to be one of the most eclectic Holiday Guides out there.

I hope this introduces you to some new blogs in the 'hood and some off the beaten track NYC holiday ideas. Check out our Holiday Guide for more great Holiday activities and gift ideas.

This is the time of year when you want to embrace your inner craft goddess and sit down with your junior craft gods and goddesses to crank out some amazing homemade gifts for family, friends, teachers and other special folks. This is also the time of year when you have less time to do this sort of stuff than you usually do and maybe, just maybe, you even wish to be the recipient of said gift.  So, what to do? Visit one of the many craft emporiums in NYC where they have everything (materials, know how, time, space, etc.) needed to make the perfect handmade gift this holiday season.  

And for more cool holiday activity and gift ideas, check out our Holiday Guide.

It’s that special time of year, when we consume about 70% more sugar and butter in one month than in the rest of the eleven months combined. Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit. But you can at least conceal your high-sweets-consumption in the guise of a family affair—there are a few nice kids/family baking classes in NJ for holiday yummies. Enjoy!

Giving gifts to New Yorkers can be  tricky. With many people living in small spaces, no one wants  more stuff -- especially families with young children. If you have a holiday party coming up and are wondering what to buy the hosts and their kids, give them something they'll really appreciate: good food. Buying local is all the rage these days, and New York City is full of top-notch artisanal treats. Adults will thank you for not showing up with yet another toy, and little ones will love digging into homemade doughnuts, hand-twisted pretzels, or a few bars of dark chocolate. Many of the foods below can be shipped around the country, so you can bring a bit of the Big Apple to Grandma in Wisconsin, too.

Holidays are here and the last thing you need are more plastic dinosaurs or toys that need batteries. Time to re-think the gifts you give. Put a new spin on gift-giving this year and try to give non-tangible items such as lessons and special outings. Experience gifts teach your children the value of making memories. Added bonus: your holidays will be “greener” (something we all can put on our list of resolutions). You can even get your kids on board with this idea by suggesting ways they can give you experience gifts like cleaning the kitchen or a nice dinner alone.

If you're looking for some good reading to gobble up after Thanksgiving, here are some interesting tidbits: a great site for children's book reviews, tips on scoring cheap tickets through Kids Night on Broadway, a peek at the upcoming hot kid flick, my latest children's music recommendation, thoughts on dealing with kids and money and more. Set up a plate of leftovers and kick back.