The Kid Blender:  A Single Mom’s Attempt to Find Joy in an Unexpected Life
February 8, 2012 – 8:00 am | 3 Comments

In this series of blogs, the “Kid Blenders,” I will be addressing our challenges, trying to blend our two families together. The names of the children will be changed to spare the easily embarrassed. And let me be upfront about this: I’m no clinical expert. I’m just a single mom trying to figure life out as I go. But knowing that there are around 14 million single parents out there…I’m guessing that I’m not alone in this venture.

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Articles in Family Travel

Colorado Ski Country USA’s Passport Programs Get Colorado Kids Sliding on Snow
September 26, 2010 – 7:00 am | Comments Off
Colorado Ski Country USA’s Passport Programs Get Colorado Kids Sliding on Snow

The only thing better than hitting the slopes with your kids is knowing they are doing it for FREE!
Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced that its popular 5th and 6th Grade Passport programs are available for the 2010-11 ski season. The Passport programs introduce 5th and 6th Grade kids to skiing and snowboarding by making [...]

How my family literally looked into the eye of Hurricane Earl’s storm
September 6, 2010 – 6:14 am | No Comment
How my family literally looked into the eye of Hurricane Earl’s storm

Poor eyesight. Baldness. Big feet. These are all things that can be passed down from generation-to-generation.
In my family, our inherited trait is bad luck.
And also the aforementioned misfortunes.
We come up a wee bit short in the gene pool.
I hail from an uproarious, fun-loving Canadian family but if anything bad can happen, it usually does. [...]

How will you be celebrating back-to-school “Me” day?
August 23, 2010 – 3:00 pm | No Comment
How will you be celebrating back-to-school “Me” day?

It may come as a shock to anyone who knows me but I really, really like to be alone.
I also like to socialize, as my third grade teacher divulged on my report card when she said I had “verbal diarrhea.”
Though I truly love exploring with my children, the toughest adjustment to motherhood for me [...]

A bear, hail and other camping calamities
August 11, 2010 – 7:00 am | No Comment
A bear, hail and other camping calamities

This summer, my family spent two weekends camping—in a TENT—in two separate forests, with two different groups of friends. Back in January we were asked to go, and our friends made the reservations for two consecutive weekends. We feel fortunate to have good friends, and spending a weekend away “unplugged” sounded like a great idea [...]

Snooked Again: How a Reality TV Star Stole My Moment in the National Spotlight
August 2, 2010 – 8:10 am | 27 Comments
Snooked Again: How a Reality TV Star Stole My Moment in the National Spotlight

I was in New York City this weekend presenting these family travel products on the Fox Network’s morning show, Fox and Friends.
I know. I’m still shocked they would even allow The Amber Show to be broadcast nationally.
Grant, a publicist in Arizona, arranged the gig after I appeared for his clients on the Tom Martino Show. [...]

Effective August 1: Colorado’s new car seat law and how your children are impacted
August 1, 2010 – 1:00 pm | 26 Comments
Effective August 1: Colorado’s new car seat law and how your children are impacted

**This post was originally published in May after Governor Ritter signed the new car seat law SB10-110. The law went into effect today. Please keep reading to find out how your children may be impacted.
This was said as we got in the car on my daughter’s recent birthday. I countered with, “Sorry, Tessa. That’s not [...]

Top 10 things to do in Colorado before you die
July 24, 2010 – 7:21 am | 3 Comments
Top 10 things to do in Colorado before you die

Imagine, for the sake of argument, that you only had time to experience 10 adventures in this state. What would those journeys – so special to this purple-mountained mecca – be? Following are our suggestions.
CLIMB A FOURTEENER
At 14,060 feet, Mount Bierstadt (above) is one of the easiest to ascend, with a wide trail that [...]

Crested Butte Family Travel Report: Musical Mayhem in the Mountains
July 18, 2010 – 6:00 am | Comments Off
Crested Butte Family Travel Report: Musical Mayhem in the Mountains

We all have our happy places and Crested Butte is mine. With this week’s staggering triple-digit-temperatures, Crested Butte’s crisp mountain air has never sounded so good.
A world-class music festival and a bounteous recreational playground don’t sound too bad, either.
A few highlights of my family’s recent trip to this gorgeous mountain hamlet included:
Crested Butte Music [...]

Fifty Free Summer Activities, Concerts, Daytrips and Festivals in Denver!
July 12, 2010 – 6:45 am | Comments Off
Fifty Free Summer Activities, Concerts, Daytrips and Festivals in Denver!

Grab your calendars and start planning now because Visit Denver recently released a fantastic rundown on Denver happenings. During the summer months in the Mile High City, there are plenty of free things to see and do, from fun festivals and outdoor movies to scenic drives and quaint mountain towns.
FREE FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Downtown [...]

Fantastic Deal for a Family Getaway at the San Juan Marriott
July 11, 2010 – 7:41 am | Comments Off
Fantastic Deal for a Family Getaway at the San Juan Marriott

Let’s face it: Between work, carpools, homework, sports and clubs, quality family-time is limited. Many vacations augment this as kids are whisked away to a separate camp.
That’s why I love the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Marriott’s new vacation package that encourages activities and excursions the whole family can participate in together – the “BFV [...]