There’s no better way to say “Be Mine” than with a collection of Valentine’s Day cupcakes – a great surprise for anyone you’re sweet on this February 14. Cupid’s arrow hits the mark with moist and delicious Red Velvet with Love Cupcakes. The vibrant red goodies are fun for kids and adults alike...

We ran a survey asking our visitors how well they do when it comes to setting and meeting their goals. What better time to do this than when everyone’s making (or breaking!) New Year’s resolutions? Gabby, 14, made a resolution to change “everything” this year, asking “Why live...

The holidays are a season of sharing – sharing memories, sharing recipes and sharing the holiday spirit by making and giving homemade cookies. This year, the baking pros at McCormick are collaborating with cookie-sharing expert Kim Ima, owner of New York City’s The Treats Truck and author of the new...

Traditions help keep people connected over years and generations, and we love the experience of the holidays. But what happens when those traditions no longer work? Circumstances, budgets or tastes change, and sometimes you need a little help finding a new way to celebrate. The good news is, you don’t...

by: Kim Green-Spangler Life with a tween/teenager around can be completely unbalancing. Though they are often unwilling to admit it, tweens/teenagers are simply bigger children with raging hormones, larger appetites and the seemingly ever-present know-it-all attitude. The attitude is one parents have seen...

I was 3 years old and living life pretty close to the floor when I discovered a mysterious cord. It came out of the wall near the baseboard and extended way up out of my line of sight, onto a kitchen countertop. Sitting on the Linoleum, I reached up, grabbed the cord and gave it a few exploratory yanks. Yes,...

Children today seem to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, or at least they seem to think they do. It’s not uncommon to walk down the street and see them dressed in black clothing from head to toe, hear them voicing their frustrations loudly to whomever will listen, or simply see them scowl at...

In response to the “Raising Girls” Article in Oregon Family Newspaper, as a counselor, professor, woman, wife, and mother of a young girl, I just wanted to add some thoughts on the topic of Raising Girls in Today’s Society.  Our hope is that we raise our girls to have confidence and positive self...

Back when our kids were little, after dinner we’d load them into a red wagon and stroll downtown along a riverside path, and buy ice-cream cones. I wouldn’t mind if my kids grew up thinking that all life is as idyllic as this, but sometimes seamy stuff intrudes and must be dealt with. One evening, when...

They’re called “digital natives” – the teens, tweens (and younger) who were born into a world rich with technology. Their formative years have included surfing the web, playing video games with friends halfway around the world, navigating smart phones and tablets and being able to connect...