In every life, at every holiday, there are empty chairs, reserved for the people we love who are no longer with us. This year I will look for my mother. I will expect to see her smiling over the funny trinkets in the aisles at Walmart. I will expect to hear her laugh when that stuffed snowman at the plastic piano sings, "Have a holly, jolly Christmas." I will go on thinking how I need to get a gift for her, and then I will remember, she has … [Read more...] about Empty Chairs
Cranberry Squares
These should come with a warning. We nearly had a fight at the Thanksgiving table because everyone wanted to gobble all these down. Even my husband, aka The Original Picky Eater, loved them. In fact, he's talked me into making a batch for the people at his store. That's such a shocker, I still get faint thinking about it.Read it again: He wants me to cook for other people? People he likes?Seriously, these are some sort of miracle chow.CRANBERRY … [Read more...] about Cranberry Squares
No Money, No Time–No Problem! Last Minute Gifts
Here are three thrifty and simple last minute gift ideas. 1. A Holiday Recipe Book-- I used a cute holiday card from the $1 section of Michaels for this. I added the words "Recipes for a" to the front of the card. I slipped the card into a one quart sized plastic ziplock bag. I trimmed the back of the back and taped it shut (envelope style) with a sticker on the reverse side. I punched holes in the left side of the card. I added pages of … [Read more...] about No Money, No Time–No Problem! Last Minute Gifts
One Template Makes Lots of Cool Layouts
People often tell me they aren't crafty or creative. "I just can't come up with ideas!" they'll moan. Here's the truth: Every craft idea is built upon another idea you glean from somewhere else. My favorite crafting these days is to take one layout, one design, and recycle the stuffing out of it.For example, I posted this original page design from Spotted Canary back in September:And here are all the "variations" I've created on that same theme, … [Read more...] about One Template Makes Lots of Cool Layouts
Shake Your Booty–NOT
Every day I open my copy of the Washington Post to another story about Michaele and Taraq Salahi, the couple who famously (or infamously, depending on your view of these things) crashed the Obamas' first state dinner. Taraq seems to be getting his fair share of the drubbing, but his Barbie-doll wife, Michaele(aka Missy Holt) seems to be generating anger at approximately the same level as a nuclear meltdown.I don't know what the world is coming … [Read more...] about Shake Your Booty–NOT
Photos from the National Christmas Tree Ceremony 2009
Our seats were directly between the White House and the Washington Monument. From that vantage point, we could see the motorcade leave the front of the White House. At that moment, a cheer went up from the crowd.I can't imagine a bigger thrill than hearing "Hail to the Chief," and seeing our 44th President walk onto the stage. His children were darling. He introduced his wife, the girls, and his mother-in-law, whom he called "Mamma Robinson." … [Read more...] about Photos from the National Christmas Tree Ceremony 2009
