I have been a dad for 15 months. I won’t sugar coat anything – it’s a marathon. Sometimes you hit a stride and it’s smooth sailing, but at other times (3am, running on no sleep, the night before a big meeting at work) you hit the wall! Sleep deprivation, lack of patience, and a yearning …

It’s cold, it’s the holidays, no-one’s dieting for another week, so just grab your kids and loved ones, and let’s start baking! Because who doesn’t love cookies? Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookies- Joy Of Baking. Please tell me you’ve all tried some kind of version of these cookies before?! Mini Reese’s peanut butter cups pushed …

Welcome to our dining room! To be honest, we don’t get a ton of visitors who stay to eat a fancy meal, but if we did, the dining room is ready. At least, almost ready. Located at the front of the house right by the front door, this is the one of the rooms that …

We’ve all been there.  You receive an invitation to a dinner / party / fiesta and you eagerly respond yes.  The sitter’s all lined up, and you can’t wait for your night out! Out of courtesy, you ask the host if there’s anything you can bring (of course there’s not, she always has these sorts of …

Around here Christmas isn’t complete without a batch of molasses cookies. They’ve got that sharp, distinct flavor that pairs perfectly with a cup of eggnog and when pressed in sugar, they glisten a bit like snow regardless of whether or not you’re experiencing a real white Christmas. Although, don’t you always hope that you’ll wake …

Let me start off by saying I truly hope that this post does not come off as “preachy.”  Talking about personal financial situations can be a touchy subject. My husband and I are not even close to “experts” on the subject, but I wanted to share some money-saving tips that work well for our family. …

The last thing I needed on the day before Christmas school break and while I’m trying to finish holiday shopping online AND pack for our trip to see family is to find blue crayon in my dryer ALL OVER MY KIDS’ CLOTHES. Lucky me, that is exactly what I got this morning! Ugh. Yep, a …

Each year our family buys a share of a cow. Once delivered we have a variety of cuts and the one we all get most excited about is the rib eye roast that turns into prime rib. It stays tucked safely in the freezer until Christmas week and then becomes the star of our holiday …

If you’ve traveled with kids before, you know that you have to be prepared. The waiting, the sitting in your seats, the confined space, it’s all a bit pretty much a parent’s worst nightmare. What we want to bring and what our kids want to bring are two very different things. Add that to what …

1) Participate in a Polar Express inspired train ride. 2) Make ornaments! These are my favorite, of course, but Pinterest is booming with kid-friendly ornament ideas. Just search “DIY ornaments” and you’ll be feeling crafty for days. 3) Visit Santa … and not just the mall ones. My favorite Santas to visit seem to be the …

First comes love, then comes marriage, then come the melding of a million traditions! Oh, traditions! And then comes the baby in the baby carriage … and, of course, another round of traditions! Since my husband and I wed in 2007 we’ve evaluated a lot of the traditions we grew up with, the ones we want to keep …

Giving a gift to a new dad can be quite the challenge, especially considering they just received the greatest gift of all! While a dad might say he’s got everything he needs, every guy deserves a new toy along with their bundle of joy. Here’s a list of awesome presents for a new or soon-to-be …