Almost heart-stopping in its beauty, "Spirited Away" is a film you can watch over and over. It's so intricately layered, so full of detail, and so full of heart that it never wears.
Chihiro is an average modern child. She's slightly spoiled, a little petulant, and sad/angry/frightened that she's having to move to a new town and leave her friends behind. Her impetuous father leads them by accident into the spirit world, where her parents' bad choices turn them into pigs and Chihiro into the servant of an evil witch who steals her name. Chihiro must find a way to regain her name, save her parents and return to the human world--all on her own. Is she strong enough and brave enough to do it?
Like all Miyazaki films featuring young heroines, Chihiro is a completely believable girl. The bad guys are never completely bad, and the good guys are never completely good. The world is a mysterious place to Miyazaki-san, and aren't we lucky to have him guide us through the spirit worlds!
Highly, highly recommended.
edding brunch for 80? Family reunion for 150? It's the perfect season to celebrate life's special events. And because keeping costs down is on top of everyone's party to-do list, we asked the most fun-loving frugalistas we could find to share their secrets. It turns out a big budget isn't nearly as important as big ideas. "Creativity and personal touches definitely outweigh the money you'd spend to do something chic and memorable," says Erika Lenkert, author of 
(Contemporary Books 2003). "The more personal it is, the more impact is leaves."
ear EarthTalk: Dear EarthTalk: Can you recommend some sources for toys and other holiday gifts that are both safe and not harmful to the environment?
here's no need to just hope for the best when you can plan for the worst. Don't wait until disaster strikes to figure out how to respond. Here's how to prep today so your family will be ready for tomorrow. 
ere's one way to get your kids to eat vegetables: Make it fun by serving meals on whacky and colorful lunch plates. They'll barely notice the green beans they're consuming because they'll be dazzled by the zany characters underneath. Designed by Jackie Shapiro, these plates are plastic -- or in mom language, unbreakable -- and dishwasher safe.
new generation of parents is bringing the family scrapbook into the 21st century with a fresh, decidedly modern twist: The photo blog. These wildly popular online journals allow parents to record and share their everyday lives through images instead of words.
one are the days of whipping out a bent, outdated wallet photo of your kids when you get that oh-so-familiar "do you have a picture?" request. We found a digital picture pendant that holds up to 56 photos!
f you're like most people today, a typical day consists of juggling more responsibilities than any one person can be expected to manage. You are pulled in so many directions that you end up having precious little time to spend with the people you cherish the most in your life -- your family and friends. 
. If you're reading these books by J. K. Rowlings aloud to your children, you know about Harry's adventures at the Hogwarts School, World Quidditch matches, and all the magic in the stories. Bring some of the magic into your own home with a Harry Potter party--a perfect way to bring the books to life.
The creators of Little Miss Matched children's socks are counting on the fact that most kids lose socks...one at a time. With this in mind, they have created sock sets in funky bright-colored designs that can be mixed and matched when one is lost. No two socks are ever alike and kids love it! And isn't it nice to know someone out there is helping us stay organized? To mix and match your own sock combinations, visit: littlemissmatched.com
Even the best drivers can miscalculate driving distance when parking, and bump into a bike, a rake, or whatever else may be lying around in the driveway. We know your family's safety is top priority -- and so is an undamaged car. Here's a product that protects both! Check out this customized stoplight -- it tells you when you've parked in the perfect spot.
id you know that research has found that doing simple rituals enhances our feelings of togetherness and family belonging by almost 20 percent? Whats more, those home traditions and customs also increase our kids social skills and development. Here are nine simple, no-cost secrets moms are using to create happy memories. What are you doing to preserve memories of your times together?
Written in 1832, "The American Frugal Housewife" is remarkably current. While you probably won't be needing to restore kid gloves to their former whiteness, there is still much to be gained from reading the advice Lydia Maria Francis Child gave her readers, including a great number of recipes that I intend to sift through and update in a later publication. Her ideas on thrift, "keeping up with the Joneses," and profiting from the misery of others are as necessary today as they were more than 150 years ago, and probably 150 years hence.
