photography by Mel Carll

Forget a Dog, get a Frog!
Frog Tales is an exotic pet store that specializes in reptiles and amphibians. Children can learn about nature (with the help of a responsible adult, of course) and your home can keep its classy look with high-quality furniture-grade enclosures. We think the terrarium above is the perfect way to get started; 513-6810

Are You Looking for a Pediatrician?
Facey pediatrics may be part of a large medical group, but you'd never know it. Each location feels like a small pediatric office, complete with a warm team of medical professionals who really listen to your concerns.

Facey's pediatric teams work diligently to schedule office visits, same-day urgent appointments with your child's pediatrician and appointments with specialists. Convenient urgent care centers and after-hours on-call physicians are always available to ensure that you and your child are well taken care of, no matter the hour. But it doesn't stop there. With Facey, you get the best of two worlds: a caring, comfortable setting matched with superior technology. Their state-of-the-art electronic medical record system doesn't stop at keeping your child's health information organized and easily accessible. It sends your prescriptions directly to the pharmacy of your choice, saving you time and worry. And www.facey.com provides a wealth of information on common illnesses thanks to its Healthwise Knowledgebase.

The Healthwise Knowledgebase is a comprehensive resource of decision-aiding information. This extensive library of content is evidence-based, unbiased and up to date. You can research diagnosed conditions, medical tests, anatomy, medications and treatment options. The content is organized as Topics, which cover medical issues such as Asthma in Children, Coronary Artery Disease and much more. Many topics contain multiple sections and include Learning Centers comprised of searchable documents and Flash-based interactive tools designed to educate and help you make decisions. Decision Points provide facts, treatment options and stories by people who have faced this situation before. And most of the content is printer-friendly so you can print out information you find and use it as a reference at home or when you visit your doctor.

This comprehensive approach to care is the foundation of a long-term, rewarding relationship that provides relief and comfort to both child and parent alike. And since Facey Medical Group accepts most health insurance plans, the choice is simple if you are looking for convenient and innovative health care solutions; www.facey.com/peds

Cure Winter Vacation Blues
with Wallers' Holiday Camp
Wallers' Holiday Camp offers a three-week fun-filled gymnastics training camp like no other. If your child wants to learn how to do back handsprings, perfect their round off, or just enjoy the fun of safely learning skills on a trampoline than you need to sign them up today. Wallers offers a Winter Camp program for ages 4 to 12 from December 27 to January 30; January 2 to January 6; and January 9 though January 13. This includes holiday-themed gymnastics instruction, exciting games, activities and arts and crafts. Your kids will have the time of their lives with a story-high hill of mats to sled down, skiing at the gym, holiday fun-Olympics, snowball fights and gymnastics skills that will help them move up to the next level; 251-3390 www.wallersgymjamacademy.com

Support Henry Mayo's NICU
Attend Annual Holiday Home Tour
For one day only, four fabulous estates will open their doors and welcome the community to tour a magnificent display of holiday splendor for the 31st-annual Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 3.

Every year generous homeowners throughout the Santa Clarita Valley share their homes to benefit Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), scheduled for completion in late December. Produced each year by the hospital's all-volunteer Holiday Home Tour League, the 2011 theme is "Holiday Dreams."

"We're very excited this year to have four gorgeous homes, each with its own distinct style," said Barbara Sanguinetti, Home Tour League president. "We have two outside professional designers and two designers who are the owners of the homes featured on the tour."

Gail Smith is the decorator and homeowner of a picturesque French Country Chateau in Newhall. Decorator Ruben Haynes will make his mark on a charming Victorian ranch house in Newhall, owned by Roger and Becki Basham. Freddie Gonzales is the homeowner and decorator of a Spanish Hacienda in Westridge (photographed here). Designer Nina Del Valle will showcase a cozy New England Colonial in John and Judy Hall's Stevenson Ranch home.

Sanguinetti offered a hint of what to expect during the Holiday Home Tour this year. "Collectible antique dolls and toys, a room dedicated to Winnie the Pooh, Department 56 village scenes, unique ornament collections and eye-popping lights," she shared. "People want to see over the top and this year's tour will surpass their expectations."

Special presale ticket price for the December 3 Holiday Home Tour is $25. The tour is open to guests ages 12 and over, and guests are requested to wear flat shoes.

For those who wish to view the festive homes during evening hours, when the holiday lights and decorations are most dazzling, the Home Tour Preview Gala, held on Friday, December 2, offers attendees a chance to tour the homes from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and then enjoy a delectable buffet dinner at TPC from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. It is highly recommended that attendees tour the homes before dinner to ensure they have adequate time before the homes close for the evening. Ticket prices for the preview Gala are $100.

In addition to the holiday-decorated homes, the Home Tour Boutique will delight shoppers with unique gifts from more than 40 vendors. Hart Park, adjacent to William S. Hart Park at 24151 Newhall Avenue in Newhall, will serve as a new venue for this year's free Home Tour Boutique from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3.
For more information about the Holiday Home Tour or Holiday Boutique, or to purchase tickets, please call Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital's Volunteer Services; 253-8051 www.henrymayogiving.com.

photography by Laurie Sachs

It's Time to Send Holiday Photo Cards
Book your Family's Holiday Mini Sessions Today
Laurie Sachs Photography offers Holiday Mini Sessions for $499, including the sitting fee, your choice of five full-resolution digital files and 25 double-sided five-by-seven flat holiday cards - with the option to add on additional cards, digital files, and products at a discount. Sessions will be held in studio on Saturday, December 3 and will last approximately 20 to 30 minutes. All sessions will be shot on a gorgeous grey and white background. Call for details; 305-5493