How do parents put up with year after year of the same Halloween costume ideas? Just the thought of a rack of princess-in-a-bag ensembles makes me want to gouge my brain out. Sure, Szaba will probably come to me one day (as soon as next year?) wanting to look like everyone else, but until then, … More Women in History Costumes
When my 10-year-old nephew found out we were expecting Szaba, he was so excited. He wanted to be the godfather. There was only one problem: We’re not religious. Wait! Don’t click away. I’m not trying to convert (or un-convert) anyone. I simply regard spirituality as a very personal undertaking. You do it your way, I do … More The Game Father
Need something to keep you busy during the “nesting” stage? A baby shower idea? Just something cute for your kid’s room, so you can say, “Your mom made that!” How about this DIY baby mobile? I myself was in the nesting stage when I conceptualized it, thanks to some pricey inspiration pieces on Etsy. Except … More Baby Mobile
Yesterday was Grandparents’ Day. If you forgot or were too busy enjoying the last hurrah of summer or simply didn’t know, now’s your chance to remedy that. Stop what you’re doing, call that special someone right now, and say thank you. Never underestimate what an incredible treasure it is to know them and to know … More Grandparents’ Day
Ever wanted to do some genealogy detective work, but didn’t know where to start? If you’re like me, you’ve probably toyed with the idea of doing some family tree research … that is, until you ended up on Ancestry.com and saw the subscription fee. But then this amazing book came into my life (left) and … More 8 Beginner Genealogy Tips
My friend Amber gave me this idea. She made a personalized frame for my daughter last year for Christmas. Admit it: It’s freaking adorable. All you need is:
When you’re a mom, you don’t have much time or money to put into a party. Yet like any good hostess, you want to do something special for your guests and, especially, your guest of honor. Here are 5 easy party decoration ideas I picked up from planning my daughter’s “Red, White, and Two” party. … More 5 Easy Party Decoration Ideas
I’m not going to lie to you, friends. As fun as Szaba’s 2-year birthday was, it was also … hard. At year 1, we didn’t have Sue. At year 2, we didn’t have Shirley. Perhaps unwisely, I hadn’t accounted for an appearance by Grief, my uninvited guest. I guess I was so deep in planning … More Grief: My Uninvited Guest
My birthday is the day before Christmas, and my daughter’s is the day before the 4th of July. I mention it because holiday birthdays can make a person a little birthday crazy. (Just ask my husband.) To me, birthdays are a BIG DEAL. Because they have to be. Because you need to wave your arms a lot to … More Birthday Wishes for My Daughter
Somewhat by accident, I recently re-discovered the pleasures of cookie decorating. I was going to visit my sister and her family and came up with the idea for a host gift. (Yes, I still do those. Here are some ideas.) I thought this would be something my 7-year-old niece would enjoy, but I was surprised … More Cookie Decorating
My Castle Heart Publications 