What to Do When Mom’s Thanksgiving Helpers Disappear
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What to Do When Mom’s Thanksgiving Helpers Disappear

November 24, 2014 My mom refused to let my dad in the kitchen except to eat. For her generation, the kitchen was a woman’s seat of power and Mom wouldn’t even delegate dish drying to any male. Of course, she had no problem ordering me around especially during the holidays when company was coming. “Unload…

Holiday Gifts for the Family That Won’t Break the Bank
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Holiday Gifts for the Family That Won’t Break the Bank

December 9, 2014 I’ll admit that I spent dozens of hours in November browsing online, forcing my kids to nail down specific items they’d like for the holidays, and shopping for the best discounts and deals! I thought Black Friday/Cyber Monday would’ve been the perfect time to finish my shopping, but sadly many of the…

Tips for Graciously Hosting Holiday Visitors
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Tips for Graciously Hosting Holiday Visitors

December 22, 2014 We’ve all been there. Inviting people over for the holidays (or reluctantly agreeing to let them come over!) sounds like a splendid idea until right before they arrive at your house. Unless you’ve really got your seasonal routine together, you probably feel stressed, anxious and maybe even a little resentful of having…

Another Dear Santa: A Grateful Mom’s Letter
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Another Dear Santa: A Grateful Mom’s Letter

December 23, 2014 Dear Santa, I’ll be honest. This year has been tough here near home and out in the world in general. Some days it feels like the world will never be at peace. There’s too much hidden underneath, too much hatred and misunderstanding, too much anger. The TV is filled with bad news,…

Follow Santa’s Travels With OnStar and NORAD this Christmas!
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Follow Santa’s Travels With OnStar and NORAD this Christmas!

December 24, 2014 Christmas Eve is spent decorating cookies, hanging out with family, and of course wondering where in the world Santa might be visiting. My children are still enthralled with the notion that during the day of December 24th, Santa is off in exotic locations, slowly making his way, home by home, to the…

Enjoy a Realistic, Happy Valentine’s Day
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Enjoy a Realistic, Happy Valentine’s Day

February 11, 2015 It’s a familiar scene – the “most romantic day of the year” ends in a fight, hurt feelings and, possibly, tears.  For whatever reason, many of us get upset because that special person in our life has failed to make us think that we are important or loved by them because (gasp) they didn’t…

Fireworks Safety Month: Be Informed!
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Fireworks Safety Month: Be Informed!

June 8, 2015 They are loud, bright and potentially dangerous but let’s face it – many people love fireworks! Whether it’s a professional display put on by your city or some smaller sparklers set off in someone’s backyard, fireworks are a huge part of the celebration of summer. For this reason, it’s great that June…