By Jennifer Fontaine As a kid growing up in New Orleans with a tight-knit family of over 200, my life was steeped in rich traditions. Remembering the holidays conjures up thoughts of coffee and chicory, Cajun music, and warmth of an-oven-on-overdrive emanating throughout the house. In a southern home, the kitchen is its heartbeat, connecting clans to customs that have … [Read more...]
My Outdoor Family: Meet Lauren Gay
by Lauren Gay The great outdoors has been the gift that keeps on giving to my unique family of two. I am mom to a 15-year-old son. Exposing my son to outdoor activities at an early age has not only enriched him, it has also led to a very special bond. Unlike many who love outdoor activities, I grew up very much a city girl, with no exposure to outdoor activities as a child. … [Read more...]
Sharing Memories as Gifts: Treasures to Last a Lifetime
by Suzanne Solsona Without thinking too much about it: What is your most vivid, cherished memory of childhood? Your teenage years? As an adult? I would wager a significant sum of money that your favourite memories centre around something you did, rather than something you had. Or, if it does involve a thing, memories about what you did with that thing and who you were … [Read more...]
Eco-Friendly Gifting for Outdoor Families
by Kate Koch-Sundquist Ask children what's on their holiday wish lists this year and you're bound to get an earful. It runs the gamut from video games and iPads to plastic cars and dolls, and everything in between. And who can blame them? American kids are growing up in a nation of consumers where it's easier to buy something brand new than it is to repair something old or … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Secret Lives of Animals
by Erin Kirkland Any book that offers "tidbits, oddities, and amazing facts" is bound to be a winner with kids. I mean, really, who wouldn't want to learn about a salamander that shoots poison from behind its eyes? Or, maybe, the reason for horns versus antlers??The answers are surprising, enlightening, and downright incredible. Outdoor authors Stacy Tornio and Ken … [Read more...]
Utah’s Sundance Mountain Resort: Tips from a local
by Susan Strayer Looking for a family-friendly a ski vacation? Search no more - the perfect mountain getaway is Sundance Mountain Resort. Situated in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, Sundance Mountain Resort boasts grand views and beautiful scenery while providing ski and snowboard terrain for all levels. At least, I think so. I live there. My husband's job allows him to work … [Read more...]
Family Travel: Giving Kids the Gift of Experience
by Eric Stoen - Memories last forever. It's a cliche usually printed over inspirational Instagram photographs, but it's also true. As a family with three kids under age 10, we've taken it to heart. And we've done so with family travel. Unlike many friends who choose to travel the world non-stop with their kids, which I greatly respect, we've opted to keep a home base. The … [Read more...]
Family RV Camping Checklist + Budgeting RV Resort Campgrounds
By Jennifer Fontaine - Older generations fondly recall the squeaky station wagon, floor littered with snack wrappers and coloring books, trunk filled to the brim with luggage, and a constant stream of packing and unpacking as the family made its way from one hotel to the next. For this generation, family RV camping is a more relaxing way to create lifelong memories the whole … [Read more...]
An Advent of Stewardship: Adding a Twist of Gratitude in the Cup of Holiday Cheer
by Elizabeth Small There are times when my children?s capacity for empathy amazes me. Like the time my eldest daughter sat out unprompted from a much anticipated ?bounce house? simply to keep a friend with an injury from feeling left out.?Other times, I wonder what kind of future sociopath I am raising when asking the same daughter to bring me a cookie, responding by handing … [Read more...]
