I’ve written part 2 of my article Tracing the Roots of Your Favorite American Author on Wandering Educators. Click here to read it.

I learned a great deal about the hardships of Edgar Allan Poe and the impressive list of friends Nathaniel Hawthorne had! What do you know about your favorite American writer?

I reviewed Frommer’s Bermuda and Frommer’s Bahamas for Wandering Educators. Click here for review.Just look at the book covers and you’ll want to go!

My friend, Taina from Kotka, Finland sent me these. The best way to get around here? Cross country skiing!

Dog Muffin is camouflaged by the snow!

Amazing that the branches can hold up all that snow!

House is being swallowed by snow!

Kotka is down south, to the east of Helsinki

My brother, Eric Rosen, took his kids sledding at Central Park yesterday and sent me these pics. Gorgeous snow! Thanks, Eric! And by the way, there has been more snowfall this winter in NYC than since a year in the late 1800s!

If you have traveled a lot and have considered writing a guide book, read this book first – Crafting the Travel Guidebook by Barbara Hudgins. Click here to read the review I wrote.

Here are 2 great cookbooks for kids I reviewed for Good Reads with Ronna on LA Parent’s website:

Honest Pretzels by Molly Katzen, featuring all delicious, healthy vegetarian dishes and adorable illustrations.

In the Kitchen with Kids: Every Day Recipes & Activities for Healthy Living by the Junior League, featuring everything kids love made the healthy way.

I highly recommend these two beautiful books for getting your children not only interested in cooking, but teaching them about healthy food choices.

Now on to traveling. If you are planning a trip to Germany, read Germany by Lonely Planet Books. I reviewed the book for Wandering Educators.

As we all know, Haiti is in great need after the earthquake(s). But what’s the best way to help out? Here are the best links I could find, whether you’d like to donate goods, money or volunteer. Some of these sites also have many links to other sites:

1. Embassy of Haiti in Washington DC Earthquake Information and Emergency Response.
2. Haiti Tourism’s Official Site of the Secretary Of State for Haiti – Learn what you can do to help Haiti
3. The White House Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund or William Clinton Foundation
4. USAID – Help Haiti
5. American Red Cross – Donate $
6. Habitat for Humanity Help Earthquake Victims
7. National Nurses Unites – Every $ raised will go to sending nurses to Haiti
8. Healing the Children – Haiti Relief Efforts
9. Save the Children – Racing Relief to help the children in Haiti
10. World Vision – Many ways to donate and help out

In addition to national organizations, many local businesses, places or worship and schools in your community are taking donations as well. Water, food and diapers are in great need.

There are countless other options. Before you donate, make sure you are giving to a viable, honest organization. Find out how much of the $ you give will be going directly to disaster victims rather than marketing efforts. Don’t get scammed! Despite the many selfless people out there who are doing all they can to help, there are a few thieves amongst us just waiting to take advantage of an unfortunate event such as this.

http://www.freeclipartnow.com

Talk to your children about the earthquake (and the need of the Haitian people even before this disaster.) Living in Miami, it is impossible not to know someone who is from Haiti, desperately worrying about their loved ones (or still unable to locate them.)

Watching the news and seeing the generous people who hurried to help really restores my faith in humanity.  The volunteers are sleeping on the streets and taking health risks. Have you ever thought to yourself, “Wow, look at what these people are doing to help out. I’m glad it’s them and not me?” We all need assistance in our lives at one time or another. How have you helped others in great need? Who has help you?  Now is the time to take stock, to be grateful and to lend a hand. Whether it is money, goods or your time, give today.

I have reworked a previous article I wrote about Jet Lag, and have made it a bit funnier. Check it out on Wandering Educators.

If you are visiting South Florida this winter or you live here, consider spending a day at City Place in West Palm Beach. It is a lot of fun to take the the Tri-Rail train here from any spot in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach Counties. From my home town of Hollywood, the train takes about an hour, and it is a lot of fun. It costs $5 round trip per person, and you can walk to City Place from the West Palm Beach Train Station. It’s just a few blocks from there. If you go on a weekend, note that the train schedule is limited.

City Place is small, quaint shopping area with fabulous restaurants, an I-Max Theater, an historic theater, special events and excellent shopping.  We hit all the after-Christmas sales. My favorite restaurant here is Il Bellagio. Great soups, salads, pasta and brick oven pizza. And you can sit outside next to the fountain and people watch. You’ll find most everyone to be ultra friendly here. And people come from all over the world to visit. If you do go shopping, remember that if you are taking the train, you may not want to buy heavy items to drag around. Most of the stores will ship for you if you prefer not to carry your purchases.

Center courtyard of shops and restaurants

Awesome Christmas Tree

Dancing fountain that moves in harmony with music and sprays onlookers

My daughter, Rachel with friends Molly and Anna trying on hats at the Anthropologie Store

Friends and family posing in front of the main City Place Sign

View from the bridge over the train tracks on our way home

Forest City, Iowa

All photo coutresy of Rene Arrowsmith. Thank you Rene!