This morning my wife actually used the f-word (as in "fool") to describe my choice and insistence on wearing a linen shirt out-of-season. I have no doubt that my sartorial calendar is off in many regards, but rather than debate it, I pointedly recommended that she lay off. A few years ago, I wrote a popular article in Real Simple magazine about "How To Disagree Agreeably," which included sections on disagreeing with your boss, spouse, friend, etc. While neither of us followed the playbook well this morning, we generally do a good job with bridging our disagreements, knowing how important that is it to the well-being of the marriage. Question: Does anyone have a wool shirt I can borrow for the rest of the day?   

*The jolly old fellow in the bright red suit can be found at just about every street corner, but for a classic holiday experience, here are some of our favorite Santa sightings and meetings around the city--including the famous Santaland at Macy's, a breakfast with the big guy and even a multilingual man in red.  

*It's always fun to see what the creative holiday window designers dream up...and the looks on your kids' faces while viewing the beautiful department store creations. This year's big list of wonderful displays includes a combination of classic scenes--like Macy's glittery magic and interactive ornament creator--and modern artistry--see Barney's collaboration with Lady Gaga or Bergdorf's "Carnival of the Animals".

*In a city where the rich, the famous and the powerful always seem to grab the headlines, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that we have so many wonderful everyday heroes around us. Our 2011 Family Heroes continue to amaze us with their steadfast devotion (from the Director of the New York Aquarium), their selfless hearts (like the local mother who truly defines being "a good cookie") and their inspirational desire to help make NYC a better place for families (as does one man who brings children's stories to life on stage).    

*Hanukkah is here! With a rollicking musical production, an afternoon of D.I.Y. dreidels and a Chanukah on Ice celebration--we've rounded up more than 20 events to enhance your family's festival of lights this year. And with eight nights to celebrate, we bet you and yours can find more than one activity that fosters togetherness.

*As little ones outgrow their bedroom furniture you might not want to invest in pricey pieces. That's where Mykea comes in. With the tagline "Say NO to NAKED Furniture," Mykea manufactures creative kids' decals to dress up IKEA furniture with ease. Starting at $20, thisismykea.com  

*In addition to being water resistant with All Terra Traction outsoles, Jambu's VOLT boots have state-of-the-art features, including a warming system that keeps Mom's feet up to 20% toastier for up to five hours and a heated memory foam footbed. These boots help brave some serious winter weather. $329, jambu.com  

*These quirky critter ornaments from Ladies & Gentlemen Studio are made from rustic birch wood and covered with vintage wallpaper in a variety of patterns. Snap up the Forest Set and spend an evening decorating the tree. $35, ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com    

*This treasure chest of a truck from B.toys, a do-good-minded company that donates 10 cents toward youth leadership with every toy sold, makes it easy to keep everything in one place for long-lasting fun (18 months to four-years-old). The Car Go Cargo is a big six-wheeler that houses four smaller cars inside, doing double duty as a storage container. And we're giving one Car Go Cargo away! To enter, post a message on our Facebook page telling us about your child's favorite toy car or truck. Then, send us an email with the subject line "Cargo" and be sure to include your contact information and address.  

*DwellStudio brings the best of all worlds to the dinner table with Kidz Box placements. Perfect for the happy doodler, these non-porous and germ-free silicone placemats do double duty as a whiteboard for your little ones' best masterpieces. And we have five to give away! To enter, send us an email with the subject line "Kidz Box." Deadline to enter is Friday, December 23 at 12noon.  

KidMemory USA  

Little Pim