Learn to Spend Less on Seasonal Gifts
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Learn to Spend Less on Seasonal Gifts

November 14, 2013 Over the last few years, people have become more interested in learning how to save money. Times have been tough and everyone seems to be reevaluating the importance of material things. Still, it’s understandable that most of us still want to be festive during the holiday season while simultaneously hoping we can…

Think Out of The (Chocolate) Box! Great Gift Ideas for Neighbors and Friends
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Think Out of The (Chocolate) Box! Great Gift Ideas for Neighbors and Friends

December 6, 2013 Last December I glanced into my daughter’s dance teacher’s room and wondered what she would do with all those chocolate holiday goodies piled high from her students. The same thing with her classroom teacher and the endless boxed chocolates and platters of homemade cookies. While desserts and treats are nice, and definitely…

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas, Treats, and Ways to Celebrate Solo
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Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas, Treats, and Ways to Celebrate Solo

February 4, 2020 It’s almost Valentine’s Day and love is certainly in the air as we continue to ease into this Roaring 20s of a decade … again! We have so much Valentine’s Day content on the site, I thought I’d make it easier on you by curating the best of the best. Gift Ideas…

A Simpler Holiday: 5 Shortcuts to Traditional Activities
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A Simpler Holiday: 5 Shortcuts to Traditional Activities

December 9, 2019 It’s the holiday season. Everywhere you look, there are snowflakes (real or decorative), red and green colors, and commercials of smiling children happily doing scenic activities. Let’s acknowledge the reality. Most parents are busy juggling a budget, end-of-the-year work, a schedule that includes more parties and school events than the rest of…

5 Eco-Friendly Tips to Keep Halloween Green This Year
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5 Eco-Friendly Tips to Keep Halloween Green This Year

September 17, 2019 As the leaves turn orange, gold, and red, it’s a signal that Halloween is on the horizon. It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by, but, I am already starting to see the Halloween merchandise displayed in the stores as I shop. While it can be tempting to pick up…

10 Random Things You Might Not Know About Thanksgiving
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10 Random Things You Might Not Know About Thanksgiving

November 17, 2014 I’m sure you already have your turkey purchased and your recipes all planned for Thanksgiving next week. But before you take the kitchen by storm, why not learn a few (or 10) random facts about the holiday?!? 1. It wasn’t just the colonists who created this holiday. Both the Pilgrims and the…

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…

A Way for Kids to Give Back This Holiday Season
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A Way for Kids to Give Back This Holiday Season

November 6, 2015 Every year, as the holidays approach, I hear people asking for a good place to let their kids volunteer. Perhaps a local soup kitchen or church. Not everyone wants to publicly help though and it can be difficult to find a good location and time that works with your schedule. It’s also good…

5 Ways to Cope with Spending the Holidays at Work
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5 Ways to Cope with Spending the Holidays at Work

December 24, 2015 If there’s one thing that people want most during the holidays, it’s time off from work. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out and some are forced to put in some hours while the rest of the world enjoys quality time at home. Rather than sink into despair, here are some tips for…

Expectations: Setting Yourself Up for a Joyful Year’s End
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Expectations: Setting Yourself Up for a Joyful Year’s End

November 3, 2015 Every year as I walk around the neighborhood on Halloween night, I think to myself, and now it begins. From this point on, time and events seem to launch themselves at me from now until the end of the year. Not only do we feel the weight of all our plans, stores…

Well, That’s Awkward: 4 Videos Show the Funnier Side of Thanksgiving
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Well, That’s Awkward: 4 Videos Show the Funnier Side of Thanksgiving

November 24, 2015 This week, it would be hard to miss SNL’s Thanksgiving spoof that includes good ol’ Aunt Kathy who pulls out every politically incorrect or rude comment you could imagine from a relative. In case you haven’t seen it, the youngest family member makes convenient and increasingly hilarious use of Adele’s newest hit….