Kids know how to party! Check out the latest festive celebrations from the Apartment Therapy's Family channel, which posts kids' parties every day. We'll be bringing you a roundup of these inspiring parties every week.

• Owen's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Party
• Ruby's Pink Backyard Party
• Raj's Nature Party
• Hazel's Princess Party
• Finley's Lion Party

Last week when we asked readers to share their favorite ways to pack food for a trip, one reader tip stuck out:

A rainy afternoon in Montmartre.

I'm in Paris this week, and I've been looking forward to bringing you some tips and fresh ideas from the streets of the city. But as I sat down to think about what to share with you, I found my thoughts going in a bit different direction than I expected. 

Here are five lessons I've been learning, big and small, in the last five years of travel, and especially from Paris. 

Have you ever noticed that certain cookbooks and their signature dishes can define a decade and become the go-to source for dinner party menus? In the 80s everyone was serving Chicken Marbella from The Silver Palate (chicken marinated in garlic, oregano, prunes, green olives and capers, in case you weren't born yet).  In the aughts, it was the Zuni's Roast Chicken which sat, heavily salted, in the refrigerator for three days before being roasted to juicy perfection and served over a bread salad. What do you think is the 'IT' cookbook and dish is for today?

I think that we can all agree that a cookie is a glorious and wonderful thing to behold. And a slice-and-bake cookie — one that you make ahead, keep in your freezer, and literally slice-and-bake whenever the mood strikes — well, that just makes the deal even sweeter, doesn't it? In her latest book, the aptly titled Slice & Bake Cookies, Elinor Klivans rounds up all the freezer cookies she can think of and hands them to us in one very tempting package.

The smartest idea came across my desk today: a tool to help give parents peace of mind when taking kids on vacation or packing them off to a field trip with supervising adults who may not be aware of allergies. These temporary tattos are a cheery little tool for making sure the right info stays with the right kid. 

From the equipment to the grounds, hotel room coffee can leave much to be desired. Some travelers opt to bring their own coffee beans, an Aeropress, or other brewing supplies. Here a simple solution that doesn't require you to pack anything — but still gives you a much better tasting cup of joe.

Do you have a travel limit — the number of days you can be on vacation before you start feeling that slight tug to return back home? My personal limit is somewhere around six or seven days. That's about the time I start to think about how much I've spent, worry about how much I've eaten out, and generally just miss the routine of life at home. There is however, a way to extend this limit. It all starts with taking time to cook a meal while on vacation. Are you doing this yet?

We've talked about visiting local farmers' markets to get a flavor for a city, and a similar argument can be made for local grocery stores as well. Even the most suburban, fluorescent-lit supermarket can give an interesting look into everyday life in another town and its people.

Mexico City is my second home. I lived there for four years up until January, and I fell in love with its wild, chaotic energy. I fell even harder for the food — so much so that I went to Mexican cooking school and started my own culinary tourism business there.

In a few weeks I’ll make my third trip back so far this year. I pack lightly as a rule, but when traveling to DF, I always take a second fold-up bag to fit all my purchases. (They’re almost always food-related.)