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New Krusteaz Cookie Mixes Make Clean Up a Breeze
I don’t know where in the world you are, but in Southern California it’s been hot. Thanks to the heat, I haven’t been turning my oven on to do much baking, but I recently got a package full of really good reasons to bake cookies. Krusteaz sent me a package full of cookie mixes to try, complete with one apron for myself and an apron for one of the kids, a potholder, a set of measuring spoons and a super-fun set of cookie cutters. Despite the heat, we’ve baked a few batches and we are really enjoying the deliciousness of the soft, chewy cookies. The box came full of different…
- Awareness, Culture, Dads, Family Travel, Laugh, Lifestyle, Love, Musings, Parenting, Play, Reflections, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel
The Art of Letting Go
Yesterday I was reminded of what a tough job parents have and knowing when to hold our kids tight and knowing when to let them try new things. On the way back from visiting my brother in San Clemente we drove up the coast and stopped off at a beach that we use to spend a lot of time at when my husband and I were dating. My parents had rented a gorgeous home along the coast in Laguna Beach years ago and when I came back from living in Japan I stayed with them for a couple months. My husband and I have been good friends since high school…
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Tips for Parents During and After an Emergency
Living in Southern California you can’t help but wonder when the next big earthquake might come along. It is a scary feeling when you don’t have any control over the forces that be. A few years back there was a large one that kept shaking the house so we ran into our daughter’s room and started running down the stairs with her in our arms. In hindsight, I realize this might not be the best strategy as you don’t want to be caught on stairs in a big earthquake. September is National Preparedness Month and PBS Kids has come up with some tips for parents to help them in the case of an emergency. …
- Awareness, Culture, Family Travel, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel
The Art of Simplicity – Life in Venice, Italy
Wouldn’t it be nice to step back in time to when life was simple? Where people would enjoy walking every evening to the main square and chatting with their neighbors and friends? Where moms and dads could relax at a cafe while their kids run and play away from their parents’ gaze? Where teens could meet up all over town without worrying about a car, a bus, or the subway? Where local markets and shops sold freshly grown foods and handmade goods and strip malls didn’t exist? Well, we don’t have to go back in time to find this simple life. If there is one place where time stands still and…
- Awareness, Creativity, Culture, Family Travel, Kids, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel, Writing
How a Travel Journal Became My Daughter’s Greatest Treasure
Have you ever bought a journal and promised yourself to write in it EVERYDAY, only to have days, weeks, and months go by without even opening it? Are you one of those people who has a library of partly filled beautiful journals gathering dust on a shelf? If so, then like you, I have always had a fascination with journals – especially ones I bring on a trip with great intentions to fill it with vivid details of a fabulous adventure. Yet, after the first few days of beautifully written journal entries, I begin to lose interest and think, “Oh, I’ll just write in it later.” I write in the…
- Awareness, Culture, Dads, Fitness, Kids, Laugh, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Wellness
Summer Fun :: Learning How to Surf
My husband has been waiting patiently for our daughter to be a strong enough swimmer to teach her how to surf. He has been dreaming of one day heading to the beach with her and surfing the waves together since she first started to walk! But he had to wait to teach her how to surf and make sure she was a strong swimmer. Strong enough to take a couple tumbles in the surf. I would advise the same if you are looking to teach your kids how to surf or have them try out a surf day camp. If you are on the coast – check into local surf camps and see if…
