This month marks the six-year anniversary of The Family Groove. And a what whirlwind it is has been—3,000+ pages of original content, awards, accolades, hitting the 200,000-visitors-a-month mark, connecting with inspiring people from around the world, working with scores of amazing charities and helping families find their very own grooves with life in the parenthood has indeed been brilliant. What it's also been is a ton of work, especially for the first four or so years. Not complaining here, just stating. Fortunately, since 2010, we've gotten the business to a place where it runs smoothly and easily (dare I say it out loud!) and just kind of go-go-goes. God bless. The last two years were a time of decompression for me as I learned how to re-enter into the land of the living—living as in not working all the time. It was a huge adjustment  but I committed to it. I committed to learning how to be in the present and I recommitted to be a mom—mom sans computer in front of her, that is. For 2012, my goal is to really live it up with the kids and be present-and-accounted-for every step of the way. Last weekend, we took the kids to the newly revamped Mountain Creek, located in Vernon, NJ (new Red Tail Lodge pictured to the left)—and it was some living indeed.   First of all, Mountain Creek has just emerged from a serious makeover—serious as in $20 million in renovations. It's state-of-the-art all the way, from the immaculate snow-topped (they make their own) grounds to the customer service to the activities the ultra-hip Red Tail Lodge, complete with family-friendly (read: organic and wholesome) food and snacks. Just an hour and a half from my home in South Jersey, the centrally located resort is winter-wonderland-done-right for the tri-state area. Mountain Creek is the only resort to offer the Experience Snowboarding & Go Skiing program, that gives beginners of all ages a unique and intuitive terrain on which they are taught via new methods that foster and expedite learning. The intelligently designed ski and snowboard learning center, created in conjunction with Burton and Snow Park Technologies, the leader in terrain development, takes the place of the ol' bunny slope (aka slope of sheer and total terror, if you ask me). The beginner-friendly snow banks, small rolling bumps and mini half pipe aid novice skiers and snowboarders to learn proper body positioning and progress faster than they would on a traditional slope. Genius. My kids could not get enough of it. No fear here, just a good time from the word go. I am sure a lot of their loving it had to do with their ace instructors, Chuck and Robin, who made them feel like superstars from the minute they met them. Watching my wee ones ski (forget learn to ski—I mean, they were actually doing it by the end of their lessons) was truly one of my proudest moments. It was just truly special to be able to stand back and watch them learn something that will bring them joy for their entire lives. I will cherish those memories forever and I think they will too. My little man is too young for the tubing but the brand new tubing park looked like so much fun and I fantasized that I'd be able to sneak away and give it a try on my own. (Wow—have my fantasies changed since I became a parent!).  Seriously though: Parents, you will want to do the tubing and so will your kids, as long as they are at least 5 years old. Cap off our little local vacation/staycation with an overnight at the gorgeous and perfectly staged Grand Cascades Lodge, part of the Crystal Springs Resort (our fabulously luxurious but still kid-friendly suite had a fireplace and a balcony overlooking the mountains and oozed cozy-chic through and through) and a five-star dinner at the Crystal Tavern and I'd say we had 24 of our best hours we've had in a long, long time. Amazing what you can do with your life when you're not on the computer. It is indeed a wonderful world, dear parents, so get out there and live a little! Don't wait! Your good times are calling! For more on Mountain Creek, go to www.mountaincreek.com.    

A big shout at to Versy, the latest and greatest bit o' sanity-saving baby gear on the market. This insanely cute baby positioner provides full head and neck support to infants ages 0 to 12 months old and does double duty as a feeding (breast and bottle) and playtime essential. The Versy is made in the USA with TDCPP and PBDE-free foam inserts that are covered in plush, cozy, machine washable cotton chenille and available in four fun colors. From feeding to diapering to playing, the versatile Versy adjusts to seated and lying positions and is super light for easy, breezy transportation. (Ah, if only that were true of all the other baby gear you have to haul.) At just $24.95, you'd be crazy not to add Versy to your registry or give one to your best gal pal who's about to pop. Check out more about The Versy here. Get 25% off with code thegroove25.

The TBIG (an acronym for This Bag is Great) from Branded J Collections could not be more accurately named. Available in color ways that are light, medium and dark, the get-gorgeous carryall comes complete with six lipsticks, oil free foundation powder, blush, three eye shadows, three brow shades, one eye shimmer, lip pencil, eye pencil, foundation/concealer and more. But what good is fabulous makeup if you don't have the proper tools to apply it? Nothing! Indeed, good brushes make the look, which is why TBIG also comes with four makeup brushes for a flawless application every time. Beauty booty bonus: Get 20% off with code Jnews. For the best in all-natural, cruelty-free beauty, go to www.BrandedJCollections.com.  

The good eggs at Personal Baby Products by Randesign are sharing their tips for keeping your wee ones warm during the winter: Bundle Up in Loose Layers 1. Several thinner layers are better than one thick layer?. 2. Loose layers hold warm air better. 3. For outer layers: Go for waterproof, thick and fuzzy, fiber-filled and/or wool. Think: Puffy fabrics like quilted fiberfill 4. For inner layers: Synthetic fibers don’t hold water the way that cotton will. Synthetic fibers hold a warm layer of insulated air close to the skin and will greatly exceed the performance of cotton. A few key items to pick up: Hat Scarf Waterproof boots Mittens with warm lining inside and a water-repellent exterior Waterproof coat And, of course, a warm blanket for when they come in from the cold. Our personalized blankets are perfect for babies and little ones. For more tips and top baby must-haves, go to www.PersonalizedBabyProducts.com.

Stacey Canfield, founder of Blended Beauty, the get-gorgeous go-to for black, biracial and curly hair, gives you her good-looking tip of the month: "Many people with very thick or curly hair have more scalp issues in winter—issues meaning more flakes and scabs with red flesh beneath it. This can be confused with dry scalp, and the first reaction is to moisturize the scalp to stop the flaking. But this type of flaking is not dry scalp. It is actually due to more moisture in the air and there is less air flow to the scalp with thick hair. The trapped moisture causes this dandruff because micro organisms have the perfect place to grow. This scalp should not be moisturized. The best thing to do is to use a dandruff shampoo, but mostly to make sure to use a blow drier at the scalp twice a day. Do a 5 minute hot air massage on the scalp to make sure the scalp is not hospitable to micro organisms. Do this even on days you don’t wet the hair. The scalp creates its own moisture. This is the best treatment for irritated and inflamed scalp. And it feels good!" For more hot hair tips and the best botanical products for girls with curls (or waves or kinks), go to www.BlendedBeauty.com. Get 10% off with code curly.

When it comes to getting pregnant, you just gotta believe. Not sure where to start? Fairhaven Health, the go-to for fertility, pregnancy and nursing products, has a helpful fertility product finder, complete with answers to all of your questions on what you need to TTC. From fertility supplements to ovulation prediction to products for your man and more, Fairhaven Health makes it much easier to conceive of believing that your big day is coming soon. For all of your TTC, pregnancy and breastfeeding support needs, go to www.FairhavenHealth.com. Plus, get 15% off with code TFG.  

Picture this: A gift that warms your heart and your body. The Memories Place, makers of keepsake personalized woven, fleece and knit photo blankets, is the go-to for gifts to remember. Whatever the theme (military, baby, pet, collage, sports), a photo blanket wraps you up in the love of the special occasions, people, places and things you hold dear. Looking for another way to way to capture the good times? Don't miss the other customizable gifts, including pillows, totes, canvas prints, frames and more. Plus, just in time for Valentine's Day, you can snuggle with your sweetie under a blanket made just for you two. Note the new discount code: Get 10% off with code tfg2012 + free shipping!    

Recovered from Christmas yet? Good—because Valentine's Day is hot on its heels. Skip the sugar and the plastic throw-aways and give your darling daughter something she'll love like a Planet Pixie doll from Lullaby Organics Shop. Made from 100 percent organic cotton and non-toxic water based dyes, Maia, a tree pixie from the Amazon Rainforest, Kayla, a marsh pixie from the Florida Everglades, and Anyu, an ice pixie from the North Pole, inspire fun while delivering an eco-cool message of love for our very own Mother Earth.

Everyone asks me what I recommend for baby shower gifts. It's an overwhelming question for me because there are so many cool things out there for mama and her bebe. One idea I often suggest is the gift of music. It's a gift for both mother and child—well, when it's good music, that is. A word of caution: There's a lot of schlocky/sappy/creepy kids' music out there and it will 100-percent drive you crazy. Want some sound advice? Check out the groovy tunes from Baby Blanket Music, makers of soothing lullaby versions of songs you already know you like, including your fave hits from Madonna, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Michael Jackson and more. Seriously, as a new parent, you don't have the time (or sanity) to waste on finding new music you and your little one both like. Stick with what you know. For more of what sounds good, go to www.BabyBlanketMusic.com. Get 20% off with code TFG1011.

My house is overrun with toys. The amount of gifts my kids got from family, friends and us this holiday season is just staggering—and those gifts were on top of all that they already had. I try to banish the toys to the den and the kids' rooms (a place for everything and everything in its place—in theory) but those lil suckers find their way into every nook and cranny of this here house, from my office to my bedroom to the dining room to drawers, cabinets, shelves and even the shower. Oh, toys are just everywhere. We stashed a whole pile in the basement for rainy day rescuing and I go through them daily (usually it's monthly but since the holidays, it's been daily—and go through means chuck as many as possibe) to wrangle them back into their proper places but, still, they get out. The little plastic boxes I bought to house individual categories of toys just aren't cutting it. I need (eh, I mean my kids need) a big toy box—one each, in fact—so every last little thing can just be picked up and thrown into it at the end of the day.  Oh, just the thought of the toy boxes makes my shoulders relax. Wonderful Wooden Toys has great ones—safe, sturdy, high quality, built to last—made in the USA from natural wood. Plus, they're offering 10% off with code groove10. A wood toy box from Wonderful Wooden Toys might just be the best gift you (eh, we mean your kids) have ever gotten. For more imagination-moving wooden toys, go to www.WonderfulWoodenToys.com.