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Tips to Avoid Insurance Claims on New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is often celebrated with a party, lots of drinks, and a countdown to the New Year. The point is to have fun with your friends and loved ones. No one wants to have their fun spoiled by something that involves the filing of an insurance claim. Here are some safety tips for New Year’s Eve. Last year, a poll was done by Met Life Auto and Home Safety Pulse. It included questions about safety issues that can arise during a holiday party that takes place in one’s home. The results showed that many hosts ignore important safety … Continue reading →

My High School Graduate

I am now officially the mother of a high school graduate. It is hard to describe that feeling of watching your son walk across the stage to accept their diploma. A chapter in his life has closed and a new one begins. The past few days I have been doing a lot of reminiscing in my mind. I can still clearly remember the day we brought him home from the hospital. My husband and I couldn’t get enough of him. We took hundreds of pictures and videos. Try to explain to your third child why there are so few of … Continue reading →

Underappreciated Disney Films: Robin Hood

I’ve been talking a lot lately about Disney’s fairy-tale based films. They’re my favorite of Disney’s offerings because they appeal to the part of me that’s always loved fantasy stories. But I’ve decided to highlight some of Disney’s lesser-known but equally excellent films. Every few months I will profile one of what I call Disney’s underappreciated movies. This month I’ve chosen one of my favorite non-fairy-tale Disney films, and one that gets a bit more attention than the others due to its legendary subject: Robin Hood. The playfully anthropomorphic Robin Hood, released in 1973, is the perfect family film because … Continue reading →

Easy New Year’s Eve Appetizers

Last December I went to a New Year’s Eve party at a friend’s house, but instead of serving traditional prime rib, she went all out making dozens (yes, dozens) of unique appetizers. She had a few hearty ones that were rich and delicious, but she also made sure to put out a few lighter options too. I loved them all, and the best part was that I didn’t feel guilty trying a little of everything. Creating a New Year’s Eve buffet with an array of appetizers gives your guests the chance to sample a variety of dishes, like these: SHRIMP … Continue reading →

Get Started on the Appreciation Box for Valentine’s Day

Happy New Year! In 2009 you can vow to better appreciate your spouse. Here is one idea that I adapted from a parenting discipline method. it works wonderfully for married couples, too. I call it the appreciation box. As you are cleaning up from the holidays, packing away the decorations and gathering up all of the wrapping for the recycling pile, pick out a small box to save. It could be a shoe box or even a square tissue box. Take this box and decorate it for Valentine’s Day. Label it “The Appreciation Box.” Yes, I know we have another … Continue reading →

Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party at Home

Here it is New Year’s Eve and you decide at the last moment to have a few friends over for a get together. But, you didn’t plan well (how could you at the last moment?) and you are wondering what to do. Here are some last moment suggestions for hosting a New Year’s Eve party in your home. Fortunately, one of great things about New Year’s eve is that unlike other holidays, it doesn’t usually require a huge feast. Instead, a few appetizers will do just fine. If you don’t have the time to make them yourself, pick up some … Continue reading →

Reflections on a Weekend

From Left to Right: Beth Terrell, Chester Campbell, J.B. Thompson, me, Bente Gallagher How was your weekend? Did you and your spouse do anything interesting? Was it the same old routine? Or did you spend a nice, simple weekend together? Wayne and I had sort of had a combo weekend. One the one hand it was sort of just nice and simple. But there was some excitement too. Southern Festival of Books This past weekend was the Southern Festival of Books, which is put on by Humanities Tennessee. It draws over 200 authors from around the U.S. who participate in … Continue reading →

Are You Ready for Some Football… FOOD?

The National Football League officially kicked off its 89th season on Thursday night, but today is the day millions of pigskin fans having been waiting all summer for—the first full Sunday of non-stop bone-crunching, heart-stopping, hard-hitting on-the-field action. Given that I live in Wisconsin (not far from legendary Lambeau Field—home of the Green Bay Packers), which was ground zero for the whole Brett Favre saga (the famed quarterback came out of retirement to play for the Packers but ended up getting traded to the New York Jets) needless to say, today is a big day around here. (By the way, … Continue reading →

Stars Branching Out (And it Ain’t Pretty)

Not again… Victoria Beckham went from being a model to a singer to the subject of a reality TV series to earning a bit part on a popular network series and now the 34-year-old Spice Girl is headed to the big screen. UGH! Hold on a minute and you might understand why David Beckham’s wife is set to make her movie debut in “Hardy Men.” According to reports, she was personally hired by the film’s star Tom Cruise. Which just goes to show you that it’s not what you know, but who you know in Hollywood that guarantees work. According … Continue reading →

Three-Cheese Cheese Puffs and Cranberry Cracker Spread

Potlucks provide the perfect opportunity to try foods you wouldn’t ordinarily make for your own family. And if you have children a potluck is the perfect place for you to discover new ways to incorporate your kids’ favorite ingredients into daily dishes. In a previous blog I wrote about a football potluck I attended over the weekend. My daughter didn’t come, but she devoured the goodies I brought home for her. Her favorite was a simple cheesy biscuit. I make plain biscuits at home all the time and she eats them without complaint, but I have never seen her inhale … Continue reading →