Portable North Pole allows you to create highly personalized videos in which Santa appears to talk directly to a child in the run-up to Christmas day. Read More
I recently found a Star Wars Holiday Special bauble on sale in a local shop, and it has raised a lot of questions. Read More
Happy New Year! This week we talk about Captain Owen’s Christmas presents which consisted mostly of ‘Star Wars’ Galactic Heroes with a little ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Avengers’ Hero Mashers thrown in. Read More
This furry, red-tongued, chain and/or switch-wielding character has been St. Nicholas’ companion in Alpine regions for millennia, and may even pre-date the jolly old elf. Read More
I married a nice Catholic boy a decade ago. For ten or so years now, we’ve been doing both Christmas and Chanukah. Read More
I have seen more improvement in Sinister’s trumpet playing from one month of busking than a year of lessons. And all because of the boost to his confidence. Read More
The only thing left now is your Christmas travel. Oh, I feel your pain! But I have the App for that: Tripit Pro. Read More
Shopping? Cleaning? Baking? Take a break and peruse these truly ugly Christmas sweaters with geeky pop art. Read More
The darkness will pass, it whispers. Keep your candle lit. Read More
The re-release of A Pony Kind of Christmas is full of holiday cheer. Read More
Who actually eats gingerbread, anyway?! Read More
Jingle along with a brand new episode of Radio Free Hipster: now with 100% more David Hasselhoff. Read More
Be creative with your kids and write a holiday song parody based on a fandom character. Here’s a step by step guide to songwriting that will bring some laughter to your family this season. Read More
Was there anything better than the California Raisins’ version of “We Three Kings”? Read More
Here is a collection of the best non-traditional holiday music not played on your regular radio stations. It’s a blend of parodies (remixes of traditional songs, either new lyrics applied to Christmas carol music or the Christmasification of a familiar popular song(s)) or original music. Read More
Santa’s Village is the perfect holiday theme park. Read More
It’s December, so it’s time to break out the Christmas books while you decorate the tree and hang up the stockings! Here are some new stories and some new takes on old stories—plus an old family favorite. Read More
Hogwarts in the Snow is a Christmas/winter overlay applied each year to the Studio Tour. Last week, I was invited to take a look at this year’s event along with my husband and father-in-law. Read More
I’m sharing some of our family’s favorite EDUCATIONAL stocking stuffers. I promise these items will be fun for your children and inspire learning. Read More
Did December sneak up on you? It’s OK. You can still make your Advent calendar happen. Read More
Many years ago, we tried the Elf on the Shelf. It was a desperate parenting move; I had a newborn, a toddler, and a brazen 3-year-old. In our case, the Elf on the Shelf backfired. That scoundrel caused far more trouble than he was worth.
If you are in a similar boat, or if you are just in need of an alternative, I have three fantastic options for you. Read More
Fruitcake! Have you even tried it? Take a few minutes to peruse the lore and lure of the fruitcake–with music! Read More
If the toys had an Oscars, the Toy of the Year Awards would be it. Enter our exclusive giveaway to win some of the toys being nominated! Read More
Today: a big stack of books about winter. Many of them are just about winter or snow, but there are a few about Christmas and one about Hanukkah, too. Read More
The Disney Wonder has been totally refurbished and upgraded. Technology is everywhere, and so is that patented Disney magic. New additions include Marvel, Frozen, jazz, and beer, to name a few! Read More
Caspar Babypants has just released his holiday album today–‘Winter Party!’ Read More
For Christmas this year, take advantage of a last-minute opportunity to invest in a bespoke watch for yourself or the gentleman who deserves a gift of the highest caliber. Read More
Christmas might not be “just around the corner,” but it is on the horizon. In preparation, No Starch Press is thrilling readers with it’s new release, The LEGO Christmas Ornaments Book. Read More
My 7-year-old son is really into an open-ended 2D sandbox game on his iPhone called Terraria. In fact, he is so into it that this Christmas season on the top of his list to Santa was “the best items in the game”. I honestly expressed to him my doubt that Santa could deliver, since most presents are made in the elves’ workshop, and that Terraria on the iPhone has no “creative mode” to add items at will. “No, daddy,” was the reply, “Santa can hack!” Oh yes, this was going to be interesting. Read More
Sure, Christmas shouldn’t be about consumerism, but heck, I grew up in the ’80s, when our entire Saturday mornings were nothing but continuous sets of commercials! Read More
