Holiday revelers in the Portland area can worry a bit less about how they’ll get back home this New Year’s Eve, as TriMet is offering free service from 8 p.m. until about 3 a.m.
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New Year’s Eve TriMet service free after 8 p.m.
Heavy snow has ended, but recent storms left behind more than a foot of snow on Mt. Hood Saturday morning.
As the new year approaches, many of us have resolutions on the brain. What changes do we want to make in the coming year? How many of our resolutions will we actually be able to keep? My family just completed our annual list making – a Solstice tradition in our house – where we write down what we enjoyed most in the year that’s ending and what we hope to do/accomplish in the year ahead. It’s fun to look back on the current year and remember how much happened, and it’s nice to look ahead with optimism. And while New Year’s Resolutions lists often contain grand goals, it’s helpful to remember that the smallest gestures, when added up, often make the most difference. With that in mind, I’d like to share one of my favorite blog posts from the previous year: “ The Charmed Life Challenge ” from Pink of Perfection. In this mid-summer post, Pink creator Sarah McColl shares a list of small but significant gestures to make life sweeter, more beautiful and more fulfilling. I printed the list (actually a slightly edited version of the list; I don’t wear perfume or lipstick, for starters) and plan to use it to spruce up my own life in the new year. After all, happy mothers make happy families, right? If you have time, read through the list, and “ The Life Seduction Challenge ” on which it’s based. What items spark your fancy? What items would you add to your own list? What big or small changes have you included on your own New Year’s Resolutions list? Here’s to living the charmed life in 2012!
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Resolutions for a Charmed Life
This past weekend was a flurry of holiday baking activity at my house, and I know I’m not alone. I made three different sweets to eat and to share, two of my easiest/tastiest standards and one recipe that was new for me: Peanut Butter Fudge (titled online as “ Easiest Peanut Butter Fudge “); Brownies (six ingredients, one pan); and Hello Dolly Bars (which reminded me why I should always test out new recipes before planning to give them as gifts!). Brownies are my go-to dessert for potlucks, parties and play dates (though I’m not allowed to call them “play dates” anymore!), and since the fudge recipe is available online (link above), and the Hello Dolly Bars still need some serious recipe 911 action, I figured I’d post my brownie recipe here. They’re seriously delicious, as easy as boxed mixes, and use ingredients you probably already have in the pantry: Super Easy Super Fudgy Brownies Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate (baker’s squares) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup flour (These brownies are quite gooey. I usually scoop slightly more than half a cup to get them a bit more cakey.) Directions: Melt butter and chocolate over medium low heat in a pan on the stovetop. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and sugar. Mix well. Add eggs. Mix well. Add flour. Mix well. Spread/pour batter into a greased 8
Officially, the recession might be over, but many local families are still feeling the effects. In fact, according to Regan Gray, policy director at Children First for Oregon : “Today, 21.6 percent of Oregon children — over one in five — are living in poverty, the highest rate of poverty since 1993. …Almost twice that many are in ‘low income’ households, households that are just one paycheck or one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. More than ever before, children in poverty are the children of the college-educated, the former middle-class worker, the suburbanite and the homeowner.” In this month’s online Viewpoint , Gray discusses the ongoing effects of poverty on our neighbors, the government cutbacks that are exacerbating the problem, and what we can do to help.
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Local Children Are Living in Poverty
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De-stress for the holidays
The dazzling displays are lit and ready for revelers on Peacock Lane, which calls itself “Portland’s Christmas Street.”
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SE Portland’s Peacock Lane lights up
Sometimes I feel like hibernating during the northwest’s long, cold, wet winter months, but spending time outdoors is important year round, especially for kids. If you find your family avoiding the great outdoors these days, check out these links for tips on getting kids outdoors -– and spending quality family time outdoors -– even when it’s cold and wet out! The Impossibly-Busy Parents’ Guide To Getting Kids Outdoors : The National Wildlife Federation knows it can be difficult for busy families to make time for outdoor play, especially when the sun sets before dinner time! Here they offer some quick and easy ways to encourage your kids to spend time outdoors. Be Out There : Also from the National Wildlife Federation, this entire site is dedicated to encouraging families to explore the great outdoors year round. If you’re looking for new places to explore nature with your kids, try the Forest Finder at Finding My Forest. The site also includes ideas for outdoor activities to help kids learn about nature. And if you need some incentive to pry your family away from the fireplace this winter, here are a few studies to remind you how important it is for kids to spend time outdoors: Kids sleep better when they spend time outdoors. Read the report if you don’t believe us! Health Benefits of Outdoor Time . Fast Facts About Outdoor Time . Now go outside and play!
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It’s Not Too Cold to Play Outside!
What’s to Love: Located 12 miles SE of Sandy, Oregon on the flanks of Mt. Hood, Windells is a training camp for kids (and adults!) interested in skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, BMX, and… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Windells – Off Season Access
Every week we post our What’s On this Weekend! (WOW!) blog, with listings of family-friendly events and activities around the area. That gets especially challenging during the winter holidays, when every day is packed with enticing opportunities for family fun, so we compiled a list of our favorite holiday happenings for the entire month and listed them all in one place: Holiday Highlights ! From Trains, Boats and Planes (think Cinnamon Bear Cruise, ORHF Holiday Express, Christmas at Pearson Air Museum and the Mt. Hood Polar Express Train) to Santa’s in the House (Santa on the Bricks, Macy’s Santaland, Breakfasts with Santa and more) to Twinkle, Twinkle! (Zoolights, Christmas Ships, Winter Wonderland and all the other spectacular holiday light shows around the area), there’s something for everyone in your family to enjoy every single day of the season! For a truly special family holiday experience, check the Drama, Dancing, Music and Merriment section, with plays, concerts, ballets ( Nutcracker anyone?) and more. What’s your family’s favorite holiday activity or event around town? Which ones haven’t you been to before that you’re hoping to catch this year?
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Holiday Highlights
Our holiday giving campaign is in full swing, with two wonderful ways to contribute, and to sweeten the deal we’re giving away five $20 gift cards to John’s Incredible Pizza to the first five readers who donate $25 or more to one (or both!) of them. Here’s the 411 on the giving campaigns: JOIN’s “Home for the Holidays” Program: Since 2008, Metro Parent and our readers have been partnering with JOIN , a local nonprofit that helps homeless people move into permanent housing, to help families down on their luck transition into stable environments – and keep them there. The cost to get a homeless family into permanent housing through JOIN is $2,500. During November and December, Metro Parent will match our readers’ donations up to a combined reader contribution of $1,250, bringing the total to $2,500. To contribute to our “Home for the Holidays” effort, visit JOIN’s website and click on the Metro Parent logo on the home page, then choose “Metro Parent Magazine Home for the Holidays” from the donation category drop-down menu. Mercy Corps/Metro Parent Match Campaign: The famine in the Horn of Africa has taken the lives of thousands -– but the suffering is far from over. The United Nations predicts that 750,000 people could starve to death over the next few months in Somalia alone. Metro Parent has been matching our readers’ donations to Mercy Corps since September. At press time, we had matched $1,410 in reader donations and our readers had donated $1,910 (for a total of $3,320). We will continue to match donations up to a total Metro Parent match of $2,500 (for a total reader/Metro Parent donation of $5,000). To donate to Mercy Corps, visit our donation page . Here’s the 411 on how to enter: (1) Donate a minimum of $25 to one of the campaigns above. (2) Send an email to marie@metro-parent.com letting us know you donated. Be sure to include your address so we can mail you your gift card! The first five readers to donate and email Marie (our editor-in-chief) will receive a $20 gift card to John’s Incredible Pizza. You’ll be making the world a better place and having a fabulous time with your family! What could be better?
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Donate & Receive a $20 John’s Incredible Pizza Gift Card!
Our friends at “Life is Good” sent us a couple products for review. I warned them that our kids would destroy anything they sent us within a matter of days. They decided to take the… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Life is Good – PFA Recommendation
Check out the super savings in our December issue : Thinker Toys: Get 20 percent off any one item. (Page 17) OMSI: Take 20 percent off any membership. (Page 21) Piccolo Mondo Toys: Get $10 off any purchase over $50 at the new Progress Ridge store. (Page 23) IKEA: For every soft toy you buy, they donate $1 to help educate kids. (Page 19) Eco Baby Gear: Get 20 percent off (up to $15). (Page 17) Eco Maids: Take 10 percent off gift certificates. (Page 21) Dancing Brooms: Schedule two cleanings and receive $50 off your third cleaning. (Page 20) Bob’s Red Mill: Buy two products at the Mill Store, get one free. (Page 21) Play Boutique: Get $25 off any birthday party, 20 percent off any Beeztro food order, and/or unlimited Stay & Play for $395 annually. (Page 23) Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: Free initial exam for children under 3. (Page 5) World of Smiles Pediatric Dentistry: Complimentary exam for children under 2. (Page 15) Learning Palace: Take 15 percent off science kits, toddler toys, homework books and teaching materials. (Page 24) Tidee Didee: Get one free week of diaper service with four prepaid weeks. (Page 38) … and a Bonus Deal, too! (This one isn’t in the issue, but we wanted to share it with you anyway.) North Clackamas Aquatic Park Wipeout Deal: Get four Big Surf swim admissions, four rock climbs on the 29’ Steel Mountain wall, four slices of pizza, four fountain drinks and one locker all for $40, now through Jan. 31, 2012. Visit North Clackamas Aquatic Park , 7300 SE Harmony Rd., Milwaukie, or call 503-557-SURF (7873). Mention “Metro News Dec” when purchasing. Here’s a PDF version of the issue , too, perfect for printing and clipping coupons!
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December Coupons & Deals
Monday, May 21
Mostly Cloudy
Currently: 57˚F
Feels Like: 57˚ F
Hi: N/A˚, Lo: 52˚
Tuesday, May 22
Hi: 57˚, Lo: 50˚
weather feed courtesy of weather.com - thanks!