One of my favorite holiday pasttimes is baking. Well, that and candymaking. If only I had a little elf to follow me around and clean up after me. Actually, I could use that all of the time, not just during the holidays. Sigh...

Regardless, December marks the time of year when I pull out all the stops on my baking and candymaking. The aromas in our home this time of year are so tempting that sometimes, my neighbors even… Read More

Have you ever had the desire to have your own holiday cookie exchange but just aren't sure where to start? Well, today's your lucky day. 2007 will mark the 15th anniversary of my very first cookie exchange. That first year, we were still in our first house, our now-16-year-old had just turned one, and I was still grieving over the loss of my mother to cancer from the year before. I needed something to boost my spirits -- big time.… Read More

My friends throw rocks at me every chance they get. Here's a typical scenario:

I walk into their homes for a holiday event with a fabulous looking dessert. Everyone starts "oohing" and "ahhing". They ask me how I possibly had time to prepare this beautiful platter of cookies/brownie trifle/tray of baklava when I just got off work. I reply smugly, "Don't you know about my indentured servant? Teen in Line?"

Let the rock slinging begin!

Of course, since I didn't even purchase my goodies at… Read More

" MOM, Dad, what's for breakfast?"

Who hasn't found themselves in this situation? The kids are starving, and you haven't a clue as to what to put in their little tanks to fill them up for the day ahead.

Whether it's 7 am or 7 pm, it's the age old question. "What are we having for _______?" Breakfast? Dinner? You can fill in the blank. Sometimes, I have as much trouble coming up with something unique for breakfast as… Read More

I had to sum up my turkey day for my readers in a nutshell. Each year, like so many others across our great nation, our family gets together with extended family for the Big Turkey holiday. We give thanks by coming together as a family in one house in a country where we are free to practice the religion of our choice (or not, as the case may be...) and in a climate that is generally willing to comply with… Read More

This is my final post on Girl Scouts and planning a trip. My eighth grade troop and two other leaders recently hit the road for our Big Trip! Click here for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th posts.

Friday night, we swam in the hotel pool (and the girls took a Jacuzzi break) and stayed up late watching

… Read More