Hello, Santa? It's Me Again...

I'm scared to look at my phone bill this month. I've been calling the North Pole like nobody's business and I'm pretty sure that zone isn't part of my calling plan. But what am I supposed to do when my son is being naughty and he calls my bluff?

I call the big guy up north.

And... it's really not working for me. At all. My three-year-old son is totally on to me.

Check out the full article: "Hello, Santa? It's Me Again."

Kindness After the Paris Attacks

Immediately following the November 13th Paris attacks, I was contacted by a few different sites to write an article about it. Being less than two miles away from where one of the attacks happened, and living in a city where the effects of the attacks continue to be felt, it seemed I was a decent candidate to write about them.

I was flattered. But I was also at a loss for words. I couldn't really figure out what I wanted to say about it. What was different about my experience? We'd all gone through it in different ways, some much more affected than others.

Finally, I was able to put something in words, taking on the angle of a parent with small kids.

I shared my story over on TODAY Parents: "Kindness After the Paris Attacks". Give it a read and feel free to leave a comment!

What to Give Santa? What About This Tasty Cocktail...

This month, Bon Bon Break has a lovely theme: Giving. Their posts range from funny to heartwarming, from interesting reads to helpful tips. And the theme is sponsored by Water Aid, an incredibly worthy cause. (Check them out on Facebook and Twitter.)

So why am I yakking on about it? Well, besides being a big fan of Bon Bon Break AND charitable causes, I also wanted to share a post I wrote for the theme. Here's a teaser:

With two young children in my house, there’s a lot of focus on what Santa is going to give them. But what about what we are going to give Jolly Ol’ St. Nick? My kids better be careful or they’ll end up with lumps of coal in their stockings. And last I checked, that wasn’t anywhere on their lengthy wish lists.

Christmas Cookie Cocktail

Read on for the rest of the story and the recipe!