Getting Away With Your Spouse

It has been a very long time since my husband and I have gotten away together…without kids. So a few months ago we began planning for our upcoming 20th wedding anniversary. Our destination was Maine. We looked at cottages to stay in, entertainment (such as whale watching) and thought about eating our favorite food, seafood (only much fresher). We dreamed about stepping into the ocean. It was going to be a very romantic getaway. We even planned the dates we would go and my husband began looking at airfare. But then as the months began to pass by, medical bills … Continue reading

Cupcake Fun on Earth Day

Do you really need a special occasion to enjoy a cupcake? If you are a tree hugger with a sweet tooth, then your day has come. New York’s favorite bakery—Magnolia—is helping to save the planet one cupcake at a time. Beginning today and running through Thursday, April 22nd, the world-famous pastry shop is offering special Earth Day cupcakes at all four of its Big Apple locations. According to the folks at Magnolia, for every cupcake purchased, the bakery will donate $1.00 to The Nature Conservancy’s charity, Plant A Billion Trees. The sweet treats sell for $3.25, and no, they are … Continue reading

Are You Too PC to Hug?

Remember those corny old cards, bookmarks and bumper stickers that proclaimed “Hugs Are Healing”? Well, no surprises for guessing that the authors were correct. Researchers at the UK’s Manchester Metropolitan University in England have concluded what we all suspected: hugs are healing. But scientists warn we are caught in an epidemic of a non-hugging culture where we are either too time-poor to hug, or political correctness gets in the way. This is a sad but true reflection of our times. Teachers are no longer permitted to touch, much less hug, their infant charges, who might benefit from having a hug … Continue reading

Kids’ Birthday Parties—How Much Is Too Much?

Recession? What recession? The economic crisis, which has battered and bruised many Americans, is apparently a non-issue if your name is Diddy. The rapper with 1,000 names–he was born Sean Combs, but later morphed into “Puff Daddy,” then “P. Diddy,” then the artist known as “Diddy,” then “Straight up P,” and now just “Diddy”—-is showing the world that money really can buy love. And that goes double if you are a parent. Daddy Diddy recently made headlines when he threw his son an insanely expensive Sweet 16 party. The ultimate birthday bash took place at one of New York City’s … Continue reading

Is Christmas Perfection Costing You Money?

The whole “Christmas is getting too commercial” mantra has been going on for a while. everyone seems to admit that it is true, but very few do anything to change the way that they consume during the holidays. Related to the commercial issue is the perfection issue. So many of us dream of the perfect Christmas with all of the right trimmings. Instead of homemade ornaments, popcorn, cranberries, gingerbread and paper chains, we have to have glittery ornaments that are color coordinated in silver and blue or gold and burgundy. Instead of a few candles in the window or a … Continue reading

Single Parenting: Keeping the Faith When You Are Feeling Down

We all have bad days. You know, the days when you wake up and the kids do not cooperate, a co-worker says something to break your spirit, and you cannot wait until bedtime. Although rushing through my day and waiting with baited breath for the end of the day is no way to go through life, I have done it myself as well. It does not make me feel too good either, but I have been there. I usually end up feeling guilty that I wished for such a thing because life is just too short as it is. On … Continue reading

Scrapbooking Blog Month in Review – October 2008

It hardly seems plausible that October is over and we are now staring ahead into November. Before I blink again, I am afraid Christmas will be here and I won’t know where the time went. Before you get all wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, be sure to check out what happened in the scrapbooking blog last month. I’d also like to encourage you to come back and visit frequently in the upcoming weeks for great gift ideas, new products and of course plenty of project ideas and other great scrapbooking related information. Here’s what … Continue reading

Bankruptcy… Should you??

I came across a thread in our forums today about Bankruptcy Law. It got me thinking we should have a money blog discussion on whether or not bankruptcy is good or bad. Unfortunately, many individuals see bankruptcy as a quick solution to their debt ills. Sounds cool to have a magic fairy come in and wipe your problems away. This specific Families forum thread noted the changes in the laws recently. Luckily the changes try to address this magic fairy situation, basically forcing bankrupt individuals to still pay their debts through a slower managed method. “Luckily” you may ask. Shouldn’t … Continue reading

How Do You Feed a House Full of Very Big People (at a Moment’s Notice?)

I anticipate that the bulging of my little townhouse won’t last forever, so I am trying to cherish and enjoy it. I imagine that the day will come when what now seems like a rather tight fit will seem huge and like “too much” space. These days, I never know whether I will be feeding myself popcorn and orange juice in front of an old movie, or a half-dozen starving, strapping teenagers! Yesterday evening, I walked into my house to find the living room literally stuffed with teenage boys—okay, there were only three of them but when you take into … Continue reading

Tech Q&A: Submit Your Question

Starting this week, I’d like to introduce a new feature to Computing Blog — Tech Q&A. Do you have questions about your computer? Need recommendations for hardware, software, or getting rid of spyware or viruses? Whatever problems you have, the Computing Blog is here to help! Send your questions to BarbaraEB@families.com, and I’ll do my best to assist you. By submitting your question, you will be giving permission to feature your inquiry in an upcoming blog. Your name and email address will not be published. ** Q. I’ve had my computer for about a year and now it seems to … Continue reading