Month: December 2018

Rite of passage: crawling into the play structures to find your kids

When my daughter was young, one of our favorite places to play is a local play-area at a Rec Center near us. The indoor play-structure was built with a tree house theme in mind, and all of the tunnels stretch out above the room, like the branches of a tree. It’s great because the parents can stand or sit down below and chat while their kiddos crawl through miles and miles of tubing above. There are many different compartments, most all with windows overlooking the room below. There are different slides throughout so that you can easily get down…only to run around like a crazy person on the squishy floor of the play area and climb the spiral stairs up again. Claire and I went there many times. Our Moms’ Club et there on occasion (more now, in colder weather, since meeting at a p...

2018’s most (and least) popular baby names of 2018

Did your child’s name make the list? BabyCenter recently shared their annual list of the most popular names of 2018 and the winners are Sophia, for girls, and Jackson, for boys. Both Sophia and Jackson aren’t strangers to the list, as this is the former’s ninth consecutive year being the top choice for parents and this would be Jackson’s sixth year running. Most Popular Girl Names Sophia Olivia Emma Ava Isabella Aria Riley Amelia Mia Layla Most Popular Boy Names Jackson Liam Noah Aiden Caden Grayson Lucas Mason Oliver Elijah Least Popular Girl Names Emerson Quinn Alaina Julia Jocelyn Vivian Delilah Willow Allison London Least Popular Boy Names Weston Declan Xander Jason Theodore Micah Jonathan Rowan Austin Evan

The Keto Diet: New Study Reveals Long-term Problems

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to lose weight? Here is something to consider. The ketogenic diet, commonly known simply as the keto diet, is all the rage these days, but new studies are casting doubt on its benefits. Sara Seidelmann, a cardiologist and nutrition researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, recently published a massive study surveying the eating patterns of more than 447,000 people around the world. She discovered that eliminating entire food groups may work for a while, but you could pay a big price over time. The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that forces the body into a state of ketosis — that’s when your burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Because sugar is a carb, many keto dieters drastically reduce their sugar intake but also el...

2019 Disneyland Planning Guide: New Attractions, Themes, Festivals & Eats

The Disneyland Resort will become a “must-do” travel destination in 2019, whether it’s for a celebration of 90 years of magic with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a journey to the planet Batuu to live the adventures of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a whirl on two family-friendly attractions opening at Pixar Pier, an encounter with Captain Marvel, or a chance to enjoy the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. The year will kick off in true Disney fashion with Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration, a party to celebrate Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the place where they first appeared for guests. Disney California Adventure Park will celebrate Lunar New Year and the Year of the Pig with a special appearance by the Three Little Pigs, and this spring the annual Disney...

30+ hike ideas for a ‘First Day Hike’ near you!

This Jan.1, Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites all Coloradans to welcome 2019 by heading outside to enjoy the trails in a Colorado State Park. First Day Hikes offer a chance to start the new year right by getting people out for some exercise in nature. At least 25 ​state parks are participating by hosting an organized hike. Each park offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the new year, with most parks offering guided hikes and some parks providing multiple options to choose from, allowing you to select the time and route you prefer. “Getting outside is the best way to bring in a new year and Colorado state parks showcase all the best things about the outdoors,” said Crystal Dreiling​, park manager at Trinidad Lake State Park, one of the participating parks...

Peace Big and Small

A child asked at bedtime, “Mommy why is there war? Why can’t there be peace in the world?” “Well, to have peace in the world, we need peace in our country. “To have peace in our country, we must have peace in our city. “To have peace in our city, we must have peace in our neighborhood. “To have peace in our neighborhood we must have peace in our home. “To have peace in our homes we must have peace in ourselves.” * So, my Mile High Mama friends, rather than wishing for world peace, I wish you each peace within yourselves. And I wish the same for me. *vignette paraphrased from a story told to me by a very wise woman

Denver Mom Turns Sorrow Into Support For Others

A woman from Denver has written a book about losing her husband to a massive brain hemorrhage. Now, she’s helping others who’ve suffered similar tragedies by donating all proceeds from the book to the Jamie Beck Family Foundation. Michele Morris turned her grief into support for others. It was a courageous journey that started with adversity 5,000 miles from Colorado and ended with hope at home. The couple raised three children. As empty nesters, they traveled. But a trip to Spain in October 2016 turned tragic. “When we landed in the baggage claim area of the Madrid airport, Greg collapsed of a massive brain hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm,” explained Michele. Michele is a food writer and a cookbook author. This time, she would share raw emotion.  She wrote her memoir, Poco a Poco...

Family Travel: First Look at the Gaylord Rockies Resort

A city-within-a-city has risen on a hilltop overlooking the Rockies. The Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora is officially open after two years of construction. The size and scale of this ambitious project are well-known locally. The completed resort is the largest in Colorado and striking in size and scope. It’s one of the most ambitious projects in Colorado’s history and now you and your family can be their guests. What can you expect to see, do, and eat at this 486,000 square feet of rustic Rockies charm? The first thing you will notice as you drive up to either self-park or use the valet service is how utterly overwhelming it looks. You might think you’d be a bit lost in such a place. But, every employee we encountered was warm and friendly, which somehow made it fee...

How to keep learning alive (and fun) this winter

As a mom and an educator for the past 17 years, I know that students might not be very interested in schoolwork when they are not in school. The key is to find ways to enjoy your time off as a family and continue learning at the same time. At Colorado Connections Academy online public schools we take a personalized approach to learning for all students, evaluating each student’s learning style, skills, and interests and developing an academic road map for success. You can take this same approach to winter learning, tailoring activities to your individual child’s interests and finding any opportunity to bring learning experiences to life. Here are some of my tried-and-true activities to reinforce learning this winter while spending some quality family time together: Family tree time As fami...

How to create lasting happiness for your family

“Dear Stranger, You don’t know me but I hear you are going through a tough time, and I would like to help you. I want to be open and honest with you, and let you know that happiness isn’t something just afforded to a special few. It can be yours, if you take the time to let it grow. It’s OK to be stressed, scared and sad, I certainly have been throughout my 66 years. I’ve confronted my biggest fears time and time again. I’ve cheated death on many adventures, seen loved ones pass away, failed in business, minced my words in front of tough audiences, and had my heart broken. I know I’m fortunate to live an extraordinary life, and that most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it, have brought me happiness. But they haven’t; in fact it’s the reverse. I...

55 family-friendly events in Denver this week

This week, don’t miss the SnowDome: Holiday Spectacular,  Las Posadas nativity reenactment at The Fort Courtyard, Bunk with the Beasts at the Denver Zoo and finish your last-minute shopping at Horseshoe Market. See our event calendar for full listings. Cirque Éloize Hotel at Buell Theatre in the Denver Performing Arts Complex Dec 19 – 23 Acrobatics, theatre, dance and live music, will draw spectators into a colorful, timeless world. All that remains is to enter through the lobby door and get swept away by the grandeur and poetry of Hotel. Colorado Avalanche vs. Montreal Canadiens at the Pepsi Center Dec 19, 7:30 – 9:00 pm Colorado Avalanche vs. Montreal Canadiens at Pepsi Center! 4th Annual Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins Brewery and Tour Center Dec 20 – 22; 27-29 ...

Last Chance to Shop Horseshoe Holidays at Belmar!

Everyone: Christmas is NEXT WEEK. Are you feeling overwhelmed because you forgot to grab someone a gift? Or maybe you’re thinking of finding a few extra stocking stuffers for a special loved one? We’ve got you covered! Our final weekend of Horseshoe Holiday Markets at Belmar is this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 22 & 23. Come browse our final group of over 70 local vendors, or grab items from the Horseshoe Retail Shop and be on your way. The Horseshoe Holiday Market at Belmar is cozy and indoors, low-stress shopping, plus coffee, hot cocoa, or mulled wine and cocktails while you shop. We have some extra special activities going on for kids. Which means moms can actually bring the kids, but have a little peace and shop alone. Little Red Hen Creative Studio will be at the market offering kid...