And they'll shriek squeaks and squeals, racing 'round on their wheels.
They'll dance with jingtinglers tied onto their heels.
They'll blow their floofloovers. They'll bang their tartookas.
They'll blow their whohoopers. They'll bang their gardookas.
And then they'll make ear-splitting noises galooks
On their great big electro whocarnio flooks!
-How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Unless, you get them books for the holidays. In which case they will lay on their bellies in bed, feet swinging behind them, the only sound the soft rustle of pages turning as their imaginations soar. Right? RIGHT!

My 6th Annual Cookie Exchange party is coming up, and if I can manage to finish decorating the house, it should be its usual joyful, twinkly self. Good friends and kids making cookies and cheer and messes, and me being so happy for the love, the friendships and the baked goods. Here are six of my new favorites and check out last year's article for even more buttery goodness. Happy Holidays!

Culture. We all want it — and not just in our yogurt. We live next to one of the best museum cities in the world, but our dear NJ also has much to offer in the 'get smart' department. From the wonderfully curated Newark Museum, to lovely small spaces like Monmouth Museum, there's an array of exhibits and activities for the whole family. And NJ museums don't take all day, so get cultured up until lunchtime, then go for a hike, have a picnic, or hit another gallery. You'll be more interesting by dinnertime. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year again, when the children go back to school and everything on the menu is apple, squash, pumpkin or fig. (Yes, figs are in season now, too!) I can't say I won't miss those drifting, lazy days that sneak up on you, only to deposit a more fully grown child in September, and all that 'where did the time go'-ness and memory-making quickly turns into busy school days and early rising. Of course, as a nostalgist, I find melancholy in all seasons, so let's move along to the food. I love a good fall recipe, and despite sitting in traffic for 50 hours to get there, I also love the bounty from a day spent apple picking. If you don't feel like cooking, we've got some crafts and leafy fun for you as well. Very good for the memory-making.

It's a few weeks into summer and so far we've lost the sunscreen, wept about a snorkel, inspected bug bites visible only to the child's eye, and made a mean succotash. Basically, same as most summers. (Last year it was a mean cole slaw and weeping about a lost flip flop. We like to keep it interesting.) We're also cooking as usual. There's much to love about summer food, so I've rounded up my favorites, some for you, and some for the little people sitting in front of the TV in their swimsuits.

By now, many of you have probably organized your summer with military precision. I know I have. We have this much camp and that much vacation and this much time to annoy one another and that much time to drag ourselves around town to various sprinklers. It's all mapped out. Even still, sometimes it's nice to just get away, semi-spontaneously, for a few days of family fun without having to drive very far. New Jersey and the surrounding area offer several weekend destinations ranging from waterparks to pig farms to NJ's many beaches. Enjoy the backseat conversations and wave-jumping squeals, because my brand of nostalgia dictates that I remind you, autumn will be here before you know it. Soak up the sunshine! 

I really enjoy spring cooking. It beats spring cleaning, and the fresh flavors of ramps, asparagus, tiny potatoes and tangy rhubarb offer a nice light palate after the heavy, robust dishes that dominate winter. New Jersey has hundreds of Farmers' Markets offering everything from honey to local crafts, and loads of veggies and fruit. Now if your kids are anything like mine, the beauty of a local farmer's market is as much about the cookie selection as it is about the 'what's this' when examining the kohlrabi. These mixed feelings extend to dinners during which they laboriously extract every speck of green from their plates, but the following recipes for homemade pizzas, simple chicken dishes, and salads often help temper the finicky-ness. Of course, there's always the option of putting them to bed and making your own beautiful dinner, eaten in peace, with no dropped forks or ketchup. Now, that's a blissful spring meal!

I think it's safe to assume that most of us have watched, and rewatched, a slew of princess movies, and read our share of treatises on the impact these movies have on our daughters' young minds. In a culture where rich and pretty is becoming the ultimate goal, I understand the concern. However, my children have seen them all, and so far remain fairly logical when it comes to their chances of a royal title any time soon. Mirror Mirror, a re-imagining of Snow White, tries, and is mostly successful, to give Snow some personality and a story that is as much about finding herself, as finding her Prince.