Sign up for these birthday clubs and get specials and discounts! Some are good for kids and some for kids and adults.

Here is a bonus recipe from our Let's Eat Recipes writer, Michelle Ann Anderson. Moist and flavorful, this bread freezes well.

More advice from Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts, our "Dear Teacher" columnists.

Through our ULTIMATE Birthday Party Giveaway contest, readers are sharing ideas from their most memorable kid's birthday party. Great ideas here! Keep them coming; we'll add them to the list. Also, feel free to send your favorite birthday picture to whitney@metrofamilymagazine.com. In the email, include the child's name, age and city, and add a story if you'd like. We'll post them on our Facebook page and start a gallery on our website.

Pumpkin patches, corn maizes, Halloween activities, and much more make up this comprehensive list of Fall Fun around Central Oklahoma. Have fun!

Introducing MetroFamily's first ever Birthday Party Guide. With the following listings to help you, birthday planning in the Oklahoma City area has never been easier. When you contact these businesses, be sure to tell them you found them in your number one source for local families, MetroFamily Magazine.

“Be kind to others. You never know what they’re going through.” This is how Diana Sweet signs her email messages, and she knows what she’s talking about. For the past 10 months, Diana’s been battling breast cancer.

Recently, I read about parents who spend thousands of dollars on their children’s birthday parties. Llamas, helicopter rides, visits from sports celebrities, or other extreme celebrations are things that neither I (nor my bank account) can muster. With five kids, we’d be in the poor house pretty quickly. And then, what would they expect for graduations and weddings?!

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and it’s estimated that 192,370 women will be diagnosed this year with invasive breast cancer in the U.S. (according to the American Cancer Society’s Facts & Figures 2009).

There is so much pressure on parents today to present the perfect party for kids. While watching a television show about a famous bakery recently, I saw one of the employees mention that their bakery had made a cake for each of this boy’s birthdays, six in all. A quick perusal of the bakery’s website uncovered a base price for cakes of $1000. Ouch. I don’t know about you, but that’s a bit outside of my birthday party budget!

Here are a few ideas for keeping your kid’s birthday creative without breaking the bank. Each idea is listed with basic tips for the theme, but you can make it as creative as you choose, for a variety of price points.

Happy BOOthday, Casper!  This fall, Casper the Friendly Ghost turns 60!  Since 1949 millions of moms and kids have come to recognize Casper as The Official Ambassador of Halloween.   To celebrate, Casper wants to make sure kids have a fun, “friendly” and safe Halloween!