We are seriously into themed birthday parties around here. While I only have two kids under 12 now, even the older kids still get into the mix sometimes. We’ve been doing big birthday parties for over 23 years now (not coincidentally, since Jessica’s first birthday). Considering that we had two children before completing graduate school, [...]
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I love Dave Ramsey. He’s a great inspiration for those who’ve made bad financial decisions and are overwhelmed with debt. But his “beans and rice, rice and beans” mantra sounds so boring and unattractive! If you want to have a life that includes an occasional chopped steak (with a side of beans and rice, of [...]
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The past couple of weeks, my sister and I have been sorting through my parents home, preparing it to be sold. We moved to the house in 1968. My parents home was always neat and clean, but they did not throw away things that might be needed or used. 40+ years is a long to for [...]
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[Caleb sneaks up on his sister and spanks her.] Alana (17): Caleb! [Caleb laughs and runs out of arms' reach.] Alana: Caleb, why did you do that? Caleb (7): You’re just a girl who needs a spanking. Alana: Caleb, you don’t spank girls. In fact, if you spank a girl, she will probably slug you. [...]
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Last week I wrote about RSVP etiquette — a sore spot for me. As I responded to one of the comment on that post, I made a connection between my frustration and a common practice in our online world. One of my kids is hosting a spring break party on Saturday (OK, yes, we like [...]
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My head-banging, screaming at the top of my lungs, non compos mentis pet peeve? People who don’t respond to an RSVP. You know, that crazy acronym you see on just about every invitation ever printed since Gutenberg made his name. They all end with the cryptic message: RSVP. Usually followed by a phone number or [...]
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It’s finally a reality, a homeschoolers dream come true! Although I don’t really love to travel — I love my dream home! — there is nothing more educational than taking your children to see the world. No book, no unit study, no internet site beats hands-on education. After much consideration, we finally dove in and [...]
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News flash: there are products you’ve never heard of before, that you want desperately. The cool product du jour: Singing Bowls! Bowls are just bowls, until you see these. They are hand hammered metal, crystal, or ceramic bowls. And they sing! Hop over to the site and click on a given item. You’ll see a [...]
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You know I love holidays. Every one is an excuse to celebrate with traditions and family fun. But St. Patrick’s Day is near and dear to me ever-lovin’ ginger-headed heart. Not awash in Irish culture? No problem. It’s easy to make St. Patrick’s Day memorable. Here are some ideas: Wear green. I know, I know, [...]
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Nothing is better on St. Patrick’s Day than a hearty dinner of corned beef and cabbage. Serve this vegetable rich dinner with Irish soda bread, and you’ve got a full meal. Ingredients 1 onion, sliced 30 baby carrots 15 small red potatoes, quartered 2 lb corned beef brisket with spice packet 6 C water 1 [...]
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We’ve been using the Entertainment coupon books since we were married in 1985. (In Utah they are often referred to as “Happenings books.”) As struggling students the only way we could spring for a real night out on the town, was if we got a deep discount. (Seriously, if you’ve been in graduate school with [...]
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During the 10 years we lived in Boca Raton, Florida, Sam went to Hawaii numerous times on business. Each time, he invited me along. We would pay for the airfare with frequent flier miles and I could fill the other half of his hotel room for free. The only real expense would be food. But [...]
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I’m not a big television fan. In fact, for almost two decades I watched so little TV that I couldn’t even identify the day/time of a single television show. There was a show called Early Edition that I liked back in the 90s, but that’s about it. I never once saw Friends, Survivor, The Simpsons, [...]
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Valentine’s Day isn’t a major holiday — unless you’re a florist, candy maker, or greeting card company. Still holidays and their expectations can cause undue stress when the should be fun. My Valentine’s Day idea is to keep it simple. This applies to most holidays and celebrations, (although I make an exception for the annual [...]
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This post brought to you by Kenmore Live Studio. All opinions are 100% mine. I confess. I have never, ever watched the Super Bowl. I realize that makes me some kind of freak. Sorry. Most years when the Super Bowl starts, I’m at church. I don’t have some moral objection to watching a football game [...]
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As massive winter storms cover everything from Texas to New England under mounds of snow, I’m thinking about pools and beaches. A vacation in the sun would be wonderful about now. Completely disconnected from reality, in a good way. How could I write about amazing warm weather vacation spots without starting off with Honolulu or just [...]
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Last weekend when Sam and I left the movie theater to head home from our weekly date, I cringed. The cold air slapped me in the face and the legs of my pants were icy as I walked. “I wish it was spring!” I said. He agreed. Warm weather sounds mighty good this first week [...]
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A number of years ago our second daughter, Belinda, was fascinated the grown-up office stuff in our home. So, I gathered up her own little set of office things for her to play with. She called it her “mailman kit.” This is a simple, inexpensive gift that — nearly two decades later — my younger [...]
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Last year I made a Christmas neighbor gift that was a hit. That’s saying something when you’re a woman who avoids the kitchen at all costs and who refuses (on a regular basis) to contribute to the church cookbook. So the Smith neighbor gift of 2009 has officially become the Smith neighbor gift for all [...]
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Since I was a little girl, our Christmas morning tradition has been to have a breakfast Christmas wreath. But a number of years ago, we added a Christmas Evebreakfast tradition as well: Christmas French Toast. It’s quick and not too terribly bad for you. But most of all it it so fun and really tasty. [...]
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