There is so much to do at the holidays. And unless you have a list and check it twice, you may find yourself scrambling in the final hour. Scrambling does not promote peace and harmony. And while Christmas is, indeed, five months away, sometimes it serves us well to plan ahead. The lazier days of…
See that little guy on the left, the one who’s not sure if he’s smiling? Well, the other day we were driving down the road and he said, “Could we paint tshirts today?” It was one of those moments when I could have said, “Not today.” But, I took a moment to think about it….
I’m not the only Southern California resident working hard at living on a budget. There are a whole lot of us striving to enjoy the Golden State without running in hock. Today’s guest post is from Rachael of Mommy Topics. Rachael shares some great frugal tips for enjoying the San Diego County fair specifically and…
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. I well remember the days of cheap white envelopes, tear-apart cardstock valentines and dusty conversation hearts. Painstakingly I would copy my class list onto the envelopes, hoping I wasn’t forgetting anyone and hoping that I wouldn’t be forgotten. I think those cheap white envelopes are still in circulation, but I’ve…
Every December 23rd without fail, my mom calls her younger brother, my Uncle Ed. She could wait until the 25th when she calls the rest of the family. But, she calls him then, too. You see, today, the 23rd, is his birthday. (Happy Birthday, Uncle Ed!) While I don’t have a sibling or child with…
My mother-in-law passed away a year ago today. Needless to say, it was a rough Christmas. And in many ways, it’s been a rough year. There are many precious memories to remember as well as many memories left unmade. The following was originally posted December 23, 2008. I offer it up as a reminder to…
Christmas time can be an exciting one for families with small children. But, it can be full of mishaps because small children are, well, small. They’re inquisitive. They want to explore their world. They want to get into stuff. And boy, is that Christmas tree an enticing thing to explore. As parents we can fight…
Getting ready for a trip? With the holiday season upon us, families find themselves packing the kids, the dogs, the food, the presents, and a partridge in a pear tree into the family mobile and heading out on the open road. Traveling with children can be a wonderful experience. But, it can also be worse…