Rage Against The Minivan

Okay, I'm not a fan of the Black Friday hysteria . . . waiting in long lines and tearing through the crowds on a holiday to try to get the best deals. But sitting at my computer on a Monday morning snagging the best prices on Christmas loot? That I can handle. Here are some of the sales I've been shopping from some of my favorite stores. Krochet Kids is 40% off sitewide, and their products empower women in Uganda and Peru. Tea Collection, a great, globally-minded kids clothing company, . . .

. . .

Here are some of things I read this week that made me think. (These are just snippets – click on the title to read the whole thing). MAKING SEN$E - Do you live in a bubble? A quiz from PBS NEWSHOUR "If you grew up in a working-class neighborhood, you are going to have a high score even if you are now an investment banker living on Park Avenue. Your present life may be completely encased in the bubble, but you brought a lot of experience into the bubble that will always be part of your . . .

This game is called Not Parent Approved and my kids are loving it. It's sort of like Cards Against Humanities for kids. Or Apples to Apples for tweens. Lots of giggling and hilarity. . . .

Noah Massaro lives across the street from me. He's a smart and creative 16-year-old who loves fantasy and gaming and he created a really incredible board game called Andromeda Fight League. He built the game around a great premise that avoids pitting characters against each other with the aim to kill. Instead, the backstory involves warriors coming together after a time of war, using their powers to battle each other in an exercise to maintain peace. The characters include enchanters, creatures . . .