Resolutions Check

We’re nearly a month into 2012, a time when many of us start forgetting our ambitious New Year’s Resolutions, but I’m really trying to keep up with mine this year. It helps that my goals for the year weren’t too lofty to begin with, and a few are so vague they allow for pretty broad interpretation of the word “success.” Here’s how I’m doing so far (in no particular order): 1. Give up the guilt: This is an ongoing goal for me and one I’m sure I’ll be working on for the rest of my life, but I have to say I’m feeling pretty good about my progress so far this year. 2. Don’t let fear stop me from living the life I want to live: Another broad and probably lifelong goal, this one has already come up in the form of a strange and possibly wonderful opportunity which I’m hoping my family can seize next month. (More on that if it pans out!) 3. Find more activities my pre-teen son and I can enjoy together: I bought my son a puzzle over winter break (an impulse purchase as I shopped for holiday trappings) and we had so much fun doing it we’ve started doing puzzles nearly every weekend. Our whole family enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles when my son was younger, but we hadn’t done one in at least a year. My husband cut a large piece of cardboard so we can move the puzzle off the dining room table every evening at dinnertime, and now we’re back in business. It’s a great way to spend snippets of time together throughout the week/weekend and talk about anything and everything as we hunt for the right pieces. 4. (Re)learn a foreign language: I started an Italian class at PCC a few weeks ago and although I was panicked before the first class (I hadn’t taken Italian in nearly 30 years but I signed up for the second level), it all started coming back to me as soon as the class started and I love it! In fact, when our second class was canceled because of inclement weather, I was truly disappointed! (“You’re disappointed you get a snow day?,” my son asked incredulously!) 5. Learn to make great pie crust: I haven’t started on this one yet, but there’s still time, right? 6. Travel more: I’m working on this one. (See #2, above.) That’s all I’ve got for now, but having written it all down I have to say I’m pretty proud of myself. How are you doing on your resolutions, if you made any? Please share your progress and your challenges in our comments section below -– it might help you stay on track, get back on track, or even make new resolutions for the months ahead!

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Resolutions Check

Portland Auto Show moves into the Convention Center

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Portland Auto Show moves into the Convention Center

Holiday Giving Wrap-Up

THANK YOU! Our 2011 Holiday Giving Campaign was a great success thanks to you, our generous readers! We decided to run two campaigns this past year, one through JOIN to help a local homeless family move into stable housing, and one through Mercy Corps to help alleviate the devastating, ongoing suffering in the Horn of Africa. Readers donated a total of $1,875 to our JOIN “Home for the Holidays” effort, which, when added to our match of $1,250, gave us a grand total of $3,125. Our goal was $2,500, the amount needed to move one family into housing, so thank you thank you thank you for helping us exceed that! You also donated $2,010 to the Mercy Corps effort, which we began running in August 2011. We added $2,500 to the pot for a total of $4,510, making ours the fifth-highest earning Mercy Corps Horn of Africa pledge effort. See the results at mercycorps.org . Thank you, and a very happy new year to you all!

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Holiday Giving Wrap-Up

Need a Night Out?

Parenting is the most rewarding job you’ll ever have, but let’s face it, we all need a night off every now and then. If you’re not one of the fortunate few with a steady, reliable babysitter ready to pop over at a moment’s notice, don’t despair. There are other options. In fact, this Saturday there’s a Parents’ Survival Night scheduled at the Little Gym of Lake Oswego , just one of the many Parents’ Night Out events held regularly throughout the area. These events offer kids an evening of active fun with other kids their age -– plus snacks! –- while parents get some much deserved “adults only” time. Here’s a handy list of local organizations that regularly schedule Parents’ Nights Out. (We lifted it from our own, newly updated Family Resource Guide !) In addition to those listed below, some local health clubs, preschools and daycare centers also host Parents’ Nights Out. Clark County YMCA : 11324 NE 51st Cir., Vancouver, Wash.; 360-885-9622; ymca-clarkcounty.org . The Little Gym of Lake Oswego : 17890 SW McEwan Rd.; 503-595-9702; tlglakeoswegoor.com . Oregon Gymnastics Academy : 16305 NW Bethany Ct. Suite 109, Beaverton; 503-531-3409; ogagym.org . The Play Boutique : 464 1st St., Lake Oswego; 503.675-7529; playboutique.com . The Playground Gym : 505 NE Grand Ave.; 503-235-7529; theplaygroundgym.com . Portland Parks and Recreation : 503-823-PLAY; portlandonline.com/parks . Call your local community center for occasional events. Precision Elite Gymnastics : 15507 SE For Mor Ct., Clackamas; 503-659-0095; sunburstgymnastics.com . Rose City Gymnastics Academy : 7056 NE Glisan St.; 503-281-1314; rosecitygym.com . Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy : 840 NW 10th Ave., Camas, Wash., 360-834-7424; 117th Ave., Vancouver, Wash., 360-254-7958; vegagym.com . We Village : 424 NW 11th Ave.; 503-935-5590; wevillage.com . Drop-in child care, open late on Fridays, Saturdays, First Thursdays and special events. Westside Dance and Gymnastics Academy : 11632 SW Pacific Hwy., Tigard; 503-639-5388; westsideacademy.com .

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Need a Night Out?

Enter the Year of the Dragon

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chuc Mung Nam Moi! The Year of the Dragon is nearly upon us, and the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year’s festivities happening around town offer an especially entertaining and engaging way to introduce your kids to different cultures. Lan Su Chinese Garden hosts two full weeks of celebrations, beginning Jan. 23 this year, including lion and dragon dances, performances, crafts, story telling and much more! Check their website for a schedule of events. You’ll also find celebratory events at local libraries, and at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem. Here’s the scoop: Jan. 14, 19 & 28 Red Fans for Lunar New Year at Multnomah County Libraries. Decorate a fan for free. . FREE. Jan 14 from 1 to 3 pm at St. Johns Library, 7510 N Charleston Ave., 503-988-5397; Jan. 19 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm at Belmont Library, 1038 SE 39th Ave., 503-988-5382; or Jan. 28 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm at Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Ave., 503-988-5234. Registration required. events.multcolib.org . Jan 21 Chinese New Year at the Beaverton Library. Make a craft, hear a story and celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Grades 1 to 5, with grown-up. 1:30 to 2:30 pm. FREE. Beaverton City Library, 12375 SW 5th St. 503-350-3600. beavertonlibrary.org . New Year Party at Tigard Library. Celebrate Chinese and Vietnamese new year with crafts, coloring and snacks. Ages 5 and older. 1:30 to 3 pm. FREE. Tigard Public Library, 13500 SW Hall Blvd.503-684-6537. wccls.org . Lunar New Year Celebration at AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village. Crafts, activities, food and more. 1 to 4 pm. FREE with museum admission. (Also free with your OMSI membership card and photo ID) AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org . Jan 24 More Lunar New Year Fun at Multnomah County Libraries. Celebrate with entertainment, crafts and more. FREE. Jan. 24 from 5:30 to 7 pm at Midland Library, 805 SE 122d Ave., 503-988-5392; Jan. 25 from 6 to 7:30 pm at Holgate LIbrary, 7905 SE Holgate Blvd., 503-988-5389; and Jan. 28 from 1 to 3 pm at Gregory Heights Library, 7921 NE Sandy Blvd., 503-988-5386. events.multcolib.org . … and don’t forget Mochitsuki! For more New Year’s fun, check out Motchitsuki on Jan. 29 ! This annual celebration of Japanese New Year features entertainment, kids’ games and activities, mochi pounding and more. 11 am to 4 pm. $12 adult, $9 student, $5 ages 2 to 12, free ages 2 and under. Scottish Rite Center, 1512 SW Morrison St. mochipdx.org .

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Enter the Year of the Dragon

Comedy’s Jeffrey Ross is coming to roast the Rose City

The Roastmaster Jeff Ross has made his name at the Friar’s Club celebrity roasts, skewering the likes of Charlie Sheen, Pam Anderson, Flavor Flav and laying waste to dozens more of his colleagues.

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Comedy’s Jeffrey Ross is coming to roast the Rose City

PFA Part of Oregonian News Network!

Hello Everyone, Great news!  Portland Family Adventures was selected to be part of the “Oregonian News Network: The best bloggers from Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” which will… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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PFA Part of Oregonian News Network!

Portland Trail Blazers 2012

A Portland Trail Blazer game is fun for the whole family! There are many packages and ticket options for families. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Portland Trail Blazers 2012

2012 Portland Auto Show focuses on economy

The Portland International Auto Show returns January 26, bringing 500 brand-new models to the Oregon Convention Center and showcasing eco-friendly and economic options.

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2012 Portland Auto Show focuses on economy

What’s In Your Medicine Cabinet?

When most of us contemplate how to educate our children about the dangers of drugs, we think about illicit and controlled substances. We rarely think about over-the-counter pain killers, prescription medications stashed in the back of our medicine cabinets, or even our daily vitamins. But how and when we use these types of medications can play a major role in our children’s lifelong attitudes about and habits related to drugs, and proper storage of medications is essential to keeping our children safe. In this month’s online article , Oregon Partnership’s director of parenting programs, Emily Moser, explores these topics and offers simple tips for parents to keep children safe and encourage healthy habits for life.

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What’s In Your Medicine Cabinet?

Elemental Fitness Lab

Sick and tired of the same old gym atmosphere? Looking for a space to work out with your partner where you’ll be supervised closely by a certified strength and conditioning coach? If so,… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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Elemental Fitness Lab

Winter Portland Farmer’s Market opens

Portland Farmer’s Market opened a new winter location at downtown Portland’s Shemanski Park Saturday.

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Winter Portland Farmer’s Market opens

Hollywood Theatre gets a facelift

It was standing room only at the Hollywood Theatre Friday after seats at the Northeast Portland landmark were ripped out, row by uncomfortable row.

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Hollywood Theatre gets a facelift