In November many of us reflect upon the things that we are thankful for.  Always topping my list are my children, husband, family and friends.  This year, more than ever, I am thankful for things we sometimes take for granted. Electricity, running water, plentiful food, my home, warm clothing and an overall sense of safety and security.  In the wake of Hurricane Sandy there are many who have lost these things.  The stories about those affected offer reminders of how lucky my family is and has provided opportunities for me to help my children understand how fortunate they are, to teach them about gratitude and to instill in them the importance of helping others.  At the young ages of 4 and 7, they were able to help  make brown bag lunches this weekend to be delivered to those in New York affected by the storm.

If you are wondering how your family can help those affected by Hurricane Sandy, many local organizations are collecting donations.  Once Upon A Child in Danbury is collecting baby items, first aid supplies and other items.  Mommy Poppins CT has organized a donation drive at Three Monkeys and Me in Kent. We are collecting diapers, non--perishable food, blankets, camping items, flashlights/batteries and coats for delivery this Sunday.  Visit the links for a complete list of items and drop off instructions.  The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations on their website and blood donations at the Fairfield County Blood Donation Center.  The Connecticut Food Bank has launched a "Hurricane Sandy Virtual Food Drive" to respond to the rapidly growing need for food donations. 

When Superstorm Sandy slammed into the East Coast and left our home virtually (and miraculously) untouched, I feel like we dodged a bullet. I look at the damage – nay, total devastation – done elsewhere, and wonder how we got so lucky. Many of the writers and their readers at our Mommy Poppins sister sites in NYC, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut lost power and sustained major damage to their homes and their neighborhoods.  My heart aches for them and all the other families who lost so much in the storm, and I feel a strong pull to help those who weren’t as fortunate as we were. If you, too, blessedly emerged from Sandy unscathed, you might feel the same way. Read on for ways you and your children can help.

Who doesn't love a deliciously sweet and beautifully decorated cupcake? Or maybe you have a young baker who wants to learn how to make fancy cakes. Cookie, cake and cupcake decorating is a surefire birthday party theme or a cool class activity. There are many NYC venues offering this type of fun, and many make special accommodations for children with gluten, nut and other allergies.

Here are some great NYC spots where kids can bake and decorate cupcakes, cookies and cakes in classes or at parties.

From parades to presidential libraries, we have a number of ways to honor Veterans Day in the Southland. Taking part in a weekend tribute to honor those who served, however, might still leave a Monday school holiday to contend with - and that's a problem for many working parents. If a vacation day camp would help, we'd like to chime in with a few ideas for a fun day off from school; for more great options check out all of these LA camps that offer school vacation day camps.

We're keeping an eye on the nor'easter, but provided that we make it through, there are a number of fun events that might just rejuvenate our spirits. Maybe you'd like Pinkalicious and her pink cupcakes, or you'd rather spend some time outdoors on a free admission day to NJ's gorgeous national parks. However you slice it, we're all trying to rebuild and enjoy, and hopefully the weather will cooperate. And remember, you can always find a full selection of activities in our Event calendar.

Can you believe it's almost time for the robocalls to stop? Soon dinnertime will proceed without interruptions from anonymous callers, your Facebook friends will go back to posting images of recently prepared meals, and politics can again be the domain of PTA meetings. But first, we have an important parenting moment; Election Day is a big opportunity to share a piece of history with kids, along with some lessons in social responsibility and how our government works (or at least how it's supposed to). We have a couple of suggestions for involving kids in Election Day activities, starting - of course - with going out to vote!

Just in time for the upcoming days off from school (Election Day for some, Veteran’s Day, the Thanksgiving holiday) we’ve found a few new places for Boston families to make really cool things with glass, wood, beads, wax, pastry, clay – you name it. This is also a great time to start making truly special, one-of-a-kind gifts for the holidays. These three finds offer fabulous birthday parties as well. So, when you have a couple of hours to fill, a need for a really special gift, or a party to plan, check out one of these crafty places.