• Big Day Books - Clever Parents Feature Story
• Visit the Big Day Books website.
• Clever Parents Feature Story: How Clever! Remembering the Details During the Baby Daze
• Baby Daze - Clever Parents Column
• Visit the Baby Daze website.
• Visit the Halo SleepSack website.

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Think it’s possible to create a thoughtful, milestone-filled, beautiful baby book for your child in less than an hour? Do you have a baby book box to store photos and scraps of paper with milestones and first words hastily scribbled on them and sitting somewhere nearby, an empty baby book? If you’re a Clever Parent who is short on time and energy, but don’t want your baby book to reflect that then Big Day Books is for you. Read the rest »

What do you get when you combine an outdoor ice-skating rink with a cup of hot chocolate, a dash of holiday music, and a pinch of festivities? The recipe for a perfect date night! Holidays on Ice returns for the second year at Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Beginning November 24 and continuing through January 7, Market Square is transformed into a winter wonderland with an outdoor ice-skating rink for children, adults, and groups to enjoy. You can rent skates or bring your own. Get some Christmas shopping done at one of the hip and trendy stores at Market Square. Enjoy dinner at one of the many eateries, ranging from Indian to Italian, and don’t forget to spend some time at the pavilion where you can enjoy the sounds of the season courtesy of the Knoxville Choral Society. Guaranteed to put even the biggest Scrooge in the holiday spirit (not to mention a second date)!

This week’s holiday mission is focused on planning. Get yourself a December Calendar (if you don’t already have one) and start planning your holiday festivities! Does your church have a banquet? Is there going to be a party at the school or daycare? Office party? etc. etc. Also, do a little research in your area for fun things for the family. Around here we plan on taking the kids to see Santa at our Community Building and then we take them to a really cool restaurant and eat dinner and have family order of smores for dessert (we’ve been doing this for the past few years). We take the kids to a big train layout that is only open during the month of December. Hershey Park has a christmas celebration and we are going to take the kids there. In addition, there is a railroad that does the Polar Express that I would like to take the kids to ride on! Obviously it is still a bit early so not all events dates & times have been planned…but this mission is to start your calendar!

In Raleigh? Stock up on Chez Ami & Chez Belle goodies from Patsy Aiken during their outlet sale now through November 9th. Save 35-75% off childrenswear, including hundreds of new styles. Girls can choose from an assortment of bright, colorful leggings, shirts and dresses. Colors of fuchsia, aqua, pink and lime in solids and prints, fill the racks. For the boys, choose from bright coordinates for the chilly fall days that are approaching and overalls and turtlenecks, corduroys and polos.

Outlet styles are designed just for our outlet customers and aren’t sold through Patsy Aiken home parties. Learn more on the Patsy Aiken site.

I believe that Thanksgiving gets the shaft in terms of holiday celebrations. My sister’s house is lit up like a runway before Halloween. I rebel against Christmas music played in Pottery Barn in October, and I refuse to try on that Christmas taffeta party dress at Ann Taylor before Thanksgiving (even though they do have my size, and it is gorgeous)…nope, not gonna do it. I want to celebrate Halloween with all the candy and costumes and Thanksgiving with family and friends. However, I have to share a must-do Christmas holiday event now, because it sells out every year before December.

The Three Rivers Rambler becomes the “Christmas Express” where children of all ages experience the magic of a holiday train ride through Knoxville. During this 90-minute, 11-mile train ride, passengers are served Christmas cookies and refreshments while a local celebrity reads a holiday story. Santa and his elves board the train at the halfway point to talk to the children and give each one a special gift. Visit their website for more information and to book your reservation online. My husband and I have taken our four-year-old daughter for the past three years, so it has become a holiday tradition for our family, and I hope it will become one of yours as well. Now start working on those pilgrim hats.

The holidays are upon us! This is such a joyous season, a time to give thanks for our beautiful families and all the abundance that we can provide for them. However, in between shopping, planning, cooking, and cleaning it can be difficult to take the time to figure out how to integrate new eaters into the holiday meal. But, with just a few quick tips, you can turn your holiday party into a festive and nutritious occasion for every member of the family!

Since tiny tummies can only accept one new flavor at a time, seasonal favorites like root vegetables and winter squashes are perfect beginner foods and an easy way to expand your baby’s palate. While steaming and roasting both retain more nutrients than boiling, roasting vegetables brings out the full flavor and provides a nice flavor change for your entire family table. Read the rest »