Guest post written by Deborah Cook I love to always have a plethora of holiday cookies in our home for whenever we just want some cookies or when we have a guest in our home to offer to them. Maybe it’s just the inner hostess in me to do that. But that also means that [...]
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I shouldn’t be writing about eyeglasses. Really. I told you I finally went to the eye doctor — for the first time since we moved back to Utah (in 2001). And, yes, I ordered my prescription reading glasses. But I still haven’t picked them up. And now the eye doctor is starting to do the [...]
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With Christmas quickly approaching, I wanted to point you to some fun, family things you can do this month that I’ve written about in the past. Enjoy! Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant Yes, we’ll be doing this again on Christmas Eve. Although we’re considering a variation for the first time ever. If they kids are interested, [...]
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This post brought to you by Zenni Optical. All opinions are 100% mine. I’ve told you before about the selection of cheap eyeglasses offered by Zennin Optical. I’m all for great products at great prices, so this is right up my alley. But I didn’t realize they offer holiday-themed eyeglass frames. Hello? As much as [...]
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If you’re anything like me, you’ve been spending a lot more the past few weeks than you usually do. More toys, more clothes, more gadgets, more books, more travel, more food and treats — more of just about anything. If you’re anything like most Americans, you’re using a credit card to fund a good chunk [...]
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Black Friday has come and gone. (We slept in, decorated the house, and went to a movie.) Cyber Monday is history. (I spent a couple of hours using some of my very best online deals.) But if you think the bargains are gone, you’re wrong. They’ve just begun! I’ve gathered some of the very best, [...]
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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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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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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 Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine. Every wedding anniversary, Sam and I go on a romantic getaway together. With six children and a home business, being alone is a rare occurrence. More than just being alone, the complete isolation that being away from home brings is a [...]
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Who needs to set goals every year? Just get out last year’s list, cross out 2010, and replace it with 2011. Easy. I call them “roll-over goals.” They’re kind of like the roll-over minutes on some cell phone plans. We set goals, we don’t achieve them, and so we just dump them into the next [...]
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The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. This quote makes my kids crazy. When they are incredulous because I think I know what they are going to do in a given situation, that is my response. When you’ve known someone from the exact moment of birth, it doesn’t take psychic powers to anticipate [...]
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Need to warm up on a cold  night. This wassail is absolutely delicious. Sweet and tasty with just a little tang. Yum! Ingredients 2 quarts apple cider 2 cups orange juice 1/2 cup lemon juice 12 whole cloves 4 cinnamon sticks 8 whole allspice berries 1 pinch ground ginger 1 pinch ground nutmeg
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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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Cynicism about spirituality is all the rage in Hollywood and academia, and it filters into the culture at large. What these finger-pointing folks don’t seem to realize is that they already have their own religions: global warming, money, fame, sex, indulgence, excess, self-promotion. They’re all value systems and pursuits ascribed supreme importance. They just avoid [...]
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Gift baskets for kids are fun and easy to make. Kids love personalized gift baskets for Christmas, birthdays, or any special occasion. And they are gifts that are remembered long after the tree comes down or the cake is gone. Last year I told you about my college finals survival kits (a great gift basket [...]
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As a child I was always fascinated by advent calendars. The first one I ever say was a standup cardboard calendar that my dad bought from a door-to-door salesman. It had little paper windows to open each day to reveal a picture behind. Over the past few days I’ve posted seven Christmas advent calendars that [...]
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