One of my favorite things is birthday cake, especially from a box and double especially covered in frosting. I'm not a fan of all the fancy buttercream frostings and fancy cakes. I like regular old moist and fluffy chocolate or vanilla birthday cake slathered in rich, sweet frosting. But knowing that your cake is filled with hydrogenated oils and trans fats really takes the fun out of it. Especially as a mom. How can we enjoy stuffing our faces with cake when we know how bad it is for us?

Thankfully, Nora Schultz, a New Jersey mom, has solved this problem with her Naturally Nora cake and frosting mixes, made from 100 percent natural ingredients. There are not even any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. (The confetti cake is colored with things like spinach extract and turmeric!). They are also dairy and soy free. But most importantly, for me, Naturally Nora mixes contain no trans fats or hydrogenated oils.

[UPDATED: OCTOBER 16, 2012]

New York City offers a wide range of theater opportunities for kids of all ages, from shows specially tailored to preschoolers to highly sophisticated offerings that even adults will dig. Many of your favorite places, like the New Victory Theater and Tribeca Performing Arts Center, offer subscriptions that make it exceptionally affordable to get a little culture. Not only do memberships cost less per show, they give you access to the best seats in the house and make you eligible for other special offerings and discounts. Read on for our top picks and sign up now!

2012-2013 season subscription information for family-friendly theater productions in NYC:

If you want to get out of the city for Labor Day weekend but you don't have a car, don't fret. You don't have to feel left out of the weekend getaway crowd, just because you don't have a car and loads of cash. There are several fun places you can go for the day or weekend using public transportation. These inexpensive getaways are fun for the whole family. Just hop on the bus or train and you're on your way to a world of fun.

This is it, folks. The last weekend before Labor Day Weekend. And some of my favorite activities are going on: the Still Hip Bag Sale, Adventure NYC...from the brainy Metropolitan Opera outdoor HD screening to the jocky Arthur Ashe Kids Day...from a cool jazz festival to a really cool ice skating show...plus fairs, parties and more.

Note: Due to the possibility of another tropical storm heading our way this weekend, make sure to check the website or call to see if outdoor events are being canceled.

[UPDATED: September 6, 2012]

There's so much great music in this city, from down in the subway to on stage at Carnegie Hall. But when the free outdoor concerts come to an end, your musical interests can start to get a little pricey. That's why it is often worth checking out the subscriptions to various venues. Not only do subscriptions cost less (per concert), they give you access to the best seats in the house and make you eligible for other special offerings and discounts. Many subscriptions start in September, while others don't pick up until November, so be sure to check these out soon, so you aren't late or tickets sold out.

2012-2013 season subscription information for family-friendly and kid-friendly concerts:

Children under 12 ride free with a paying adult on several NY Waterway ferries through Labor Day. For schedules, prices and additional information please call 1-800-533-3779 or visit http://www.nywaterway.com

If Downtowners are sick of living in a perpetual construction zone, they are at least getting a little relief. The Downtown Alliance is commissioning artists to turn the ubiquitous scaffolding and street barriers into works of art.

KaBOOM! is dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of children. This Fall KaBOOM! is encouraging people to take to reclaim the streets and host a community play day. To help this happen, they are giving away free Play Day kits with everything you need to host a playday in your community. Register to get yours.

I can't believe that the Corn Refinery Association is running ads trying to convince people that High Fructose Corn Syrup is not bad for you. Really? Haven't we been down this road before?

At least some companies are taking the hint graciously. I went to an event for DelMonte Fruit Chillers this week (they're like frozen go-gurts, but made out of juice and fruit puree) and was pleasantly surprised to see just fruit and a little bit of food color in the ingredients list. It's heartening to see that the big guys are getting on the band wagon. No wonder the Corn Refinery Association is mad.

As people have been fervently tossing their plastic water bottles and switching to aluminum, it turns out that SIGG water bottles may have BPA in their liners after all. But don't panic. Reliable third party tests verify that the SIGG bottles do not leach BPA. Z Recommends takes an in-depth look.

Does your spouse annoy you? Probably not nearly as much as the chick who dedicated her blog to it. MyHusbandisAnnoying.com chronicles the annoying misdeeds of one lucky guy's every waking moment of this newlywed couple. It now even has readers writing in with their husband's annoying personalities. IF you need a little bedtime blog surfing I recommend this site. Nothing will gratefully send you off to crawl into bed with your so much less annoying souse than reading this blog. If nothing else just be glad your sig other hasn't created a blog to how annoying you are. [via Brooklyn Heights Blog]

If you’re looking for ways to beat this (albeit, late) summer heat, you could head to one of the top 5 beaches near NYC, but hurricane Bill is predicted to make the water a bit rough, and in some cases, un-swimable. So maybe head over to one of these free and cheap city pools or water playgrounds instead, or cool off at a free dance show or music festival, or any of these true “New York Summer” events, like meeting Robinson Crusoe, or seeing generations of writers come together at the Fort Greene Park Literary Festival. 

Or maybe you want to head out of the city to some of our New Jersey Weekend Events...or Long Island. Plus don't forget to check our event calendar for even more fun stuff to do. Whatever you do, we’ve been asking for this heat, so get out and enjoy it!

If you are looking for a free and fun place to take to the water this summer, look no further than Union City, NJ.  Not only does the city boast one of New Jersey's best sprinkler parks, the newly opened Firefighter's Memorial Park is a dream come true for kids of all ages looking to keep cool during the hot summer days.