Search Results for: blog aging out no home for the holidays

We Cannot Live on Love Alone

During my first year of marriage I wasn’t as happy as I should have been. Despite the supposed “honeymoon period,” I often felt listless and depressed. It took me a while to figure out why. Jonathan has an excellent job with the government. Unfortunately it’s located in a rural area, so most of the jobs are related to the military base that his position serves. Few jobs exist outside of the technology industry. Basically, my plan to start freelance work once we had children, so I could stay at home with them, had to be bumped up a few years … Continue reading →

Homemade Wrapping Boxes

Before you throw out or recycle your food packaging, consider repurposing it into festive boxes and wraps for the holidays or containers for your wrapping things. You’ll save money and a couple of trees, too. Potato Chip Tube You know those tubes that potato chips come packaged in? They are just perfect for packing cookies. You can even mail them, too. Take a clean tube and cover it in scrapbook paper, wrapping paper or even comics or newspaper. Add a ribbon and a gift tag to complete the gift. Soup Cans Turn soup cans or coffee cans into planters. My … Continue reading →

Enjoying the Holidays One At a Time

I was shopping three weeks ago at a popular store and was a little surprised. Now maybe it happened last year, but I don’t think so or it would not have struck me so hard. Mind you, it was around the second week in October that this occurred. While I was making my way around the store shopping for various items for my household I maneuvered my cart around the corner to proceed to the next aisle. As I carefully wheeled my cart around the corner there it was, a Christmas tree. Really, mass merchant chain store? This year you … Continue reading →

Home School Blogger Spotlight: Naturally Educational

I am excited to bring to you Naturally Educational written by Candace Lindemann. Candace has a list of qualifying credentials in the world of education such as a BZ from Yale University and a M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is also a published children’s author and an educational consultant and curriculum designer for companies like Leap Frog, Kaplan, Toobeez, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association and more. Through all her qualifications she maintains that parenting is a job best learned hands on and in the trenches. Candace is humble, caring and truly focused on designing and encouraging the … Continue reading →

Home School Blogger Spotlight: Itsy Bitsy Learners

Itsy Bitsy Learners was conceived by Alison out of love for preschool education. Alison has earned a BA, with honor, in Early Childhood Studies. She is originally from the UK and previously worked at the Henry Tyndale School with Autistic Children. In addition, she worked in Nagoya, Japan at an International Early Years Program. Excelling in her job there she was granted two promotions in six months! She then married and immigrated to Texas. Whew! She certainly has a wealth of experience, exposure and energy. Alison is currently a stay at home mom with two children who undoubtedly benefit from … Continue reading →

Teach Your Kids About Giving to Others

Along with sniffles and sneezes, most kids contract a severe case of the gimmies during the month of December. My 6-year-old could easily be hospitalized for the severity of her case. The other day she whined for a good 20 minutes as she watched in utter horror as I (GASP!) wrapped a (double GASP!) Christmas present for her BFF. She recently begged Santa for the same Littlest Pet Shop set and couldn’t believe that would have the audacity to ask if she would like to help wrap the one I had purchased for her pal. Cue the drama. After the … Continue reading →

Snowed in With Kids

Christmas 2010 will be a white one for millions of parents across the upper Midwest. For me, it’ll be red and white. All the white has me seeing red. This weekend, more than a foot of snow fell on the Wisconsin city we call home. In addition to the five-foot tall snow drifts, we are dealing with wind chills in the -25 to -35 range, and subsequent school closings triggered by the inhumane conditions. For kids, a snow day is cause for celebration; for parents, not so much. Personally, I’m not a huge hater of the snow day, if it … Continue reading →

Tis the Season Not to Travel

If you don’t like crowds, being patted down by strangers or paying bizarro travel fees, then you are better off staying home rather than going over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house for the holidays. But can you really celebrate Turkey Day without grandma’s stuffing? According to AAA, most of us can’t, which is why an estimated 600,000 Americans plan to hit the highway and nearly 33,000 plan to catch a flight to spend Turkey Day with loved ones this year. If that’s not enough to make you pack some extra Pepto, consider that travel experts predict … Continue reading →

Good Home Smells

Along with the decorating and other care of your home, do you cultivate some good home smells? This can make a difference in many areas, from influencing your mood to embarrassing you when your neighbors come to call. Most of the time, we usually don’t think too much about home smells until, well, our homes smell. This morning after church when we entered our home, we were hit with an awful stinky smell. My husband had left some wet cat food out on the counter for a few hours. Ugh. Quick, get the air freshener! Another time we think about … Continue reading →

Grandparents Not Giving As Much This Christmas

Grandparent Grinches? Not in my family. A new survey says, due to the current state of the economy, grandparents won’t be buying as many gifts for their grandkids this year. This is heartbreaking news for families the world over who rely on grandparents to play Santa. Last year I asked: Who needs Santa when you’ve got generous grandparents? I wasn’t kidding. My daughter and my nephew are blessed beyond words that my parents spoil them rotten. I can’t speak for my brother’s family, but I know for a fact that my daughter’s Christmas would not be nearly as merry and … Continue reading →