2015

I’m not sure there is a more stress-provoking assignment than writing a blog about family and the holiday season. So much has been said of the topic and many of us scurry to the help-filled blogs, articles and e-news reports with the same vigor we have when searching for the perfect sweet potato-bake recipe. Some of us actually believe there is a person out there with the perfect magical recipe.

Hanukkah, a festival commemorating deliverance from religious oppression and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, is a beloved Jewish holiday. Deep- or shallow-fried dishes like jelly doughnuts and potato latkes abound, serving as a delicious reminder of the "miracle of the oil" at the heart of the Hanukkah story, when a single day's worth of oil kept the Temple flame alight for a full eight days. While every family's tradition is different, brisket is a go-to standby, often enjoyed while children spin the dreidel for gelt, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.

A recently completed study, which tracked students from their late primary years until well into adulthood, found that kids who frequently break the rules or otherwise defy their parents often go on to become educational over-achievers and high-earning adults.

The Dear Teacher By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts New Year’s Resolutions to Put Your Children on the Path to A’s and B’s             Parents: What...

Instead of fighting crowds at the store, head to the kitchen and whip up Pinterest-worthy treats and crafts.

More than one third of all American households are putting up a Christmas tree in their homes this holiday season. If families find themselves sneezing with a runny nose and itchy eyes once their tree is up, they just might be allergic to the tree! Yes, even those fake trees can trigger a reaction!

Carnegie Science Center has a new model in its Miniature Railroad & Village this year, inspiring an adult holiday celebration that takes visitors back to the 1930s with jazz, dancing, and drinks. Carnegie Science Center’s 21+ Night Holiday Party invites guests to dress in their Sunday best for a festive night on Friday, Dec. 18, from 6-10 pm.

People are taking a more active role in how they purchase and pay for health care, with consumers driving more of the decision-making process. With thousands of Pennsylvania residents purchasing health coverage on their own, and a growing number of people enrolling in consumer-directed health plans offered at work, understanding the health care system is more important than ever.

         With over 4,300 institutions of higher education in the US alone, helping your youngster choose which college or university to...

The holidays can be a stressful time of year for a lot of people and especially so for newly blended families. While holidays and family celebrations offer the potential for bonding over shared rituals, a revising of valued customs and the reliving of family memories, the blending of family traditions is more of a challenge for stepfamilies than first-married couples and their children.