The Great Recession has taught us there’s more to life than granite countertops.

Someone said this to me recently, and I thought of it again when my co-worker Jessica Birk told me that she and her two sons, Craig, 4, and Brandon, 2, have started baking together every weekend.  Often they give their goodies away.

I don’t know whether their cookie racks sit on granite countertops or not, but it struck me how much Jessica is teaching her sons with such ordinary playtime.  On a Saturday afternoon she’s rolling out lessons about cooperation, science, and charity, along with her cookie dough.

Vacation travel also offers an opportunity for parents to build values and develop a common history with their children.  But do we think about family trips in that way or, justifiably exhausted, just default to what’s easiest? …read more of Seeing the World through Baking and Traveling here

Unemployment numbers and 401K statements don’t put any of us in the mood for planning a great summer vacation.  But before you give up and give into a staycation, consider Mount Desert Island in Maine.

It is the third largest island on the East Coast and has such spectacular scenery that it is regularly ranked among the most beautiful islands in the world.  Yet, for families on a budget, it offers affordable places to stay, lots of dining options, and a variety of activities to appeal to different ages and interests.

What To Do
The main reason to visit – or, I would say, covet – Mount Desert Island is because it is home to Acadia National Park. …read more of An Affordable Family Vacation here