Let Your Love Show Through

Aaron and I are not afraid of a little PDA: we hold hands all of the time, walk with arms locked firmly together or sneak an occasional kiss here and there. It is very rare to be out on a weekend and see one of us without the other. This is just second nature to me and I never really give it a second thought. Someone said something to me this weekend that made me feel really good about Aaron and I, so I wanted to share.

11 Rules Your Kids Will NOT Learn In School

We have somehow, in our quest to raise confident children, created a world in where all kids are wrapped in bubble wrap: instead of confidence we have given them a warped sense of reality. "Everyone wins", "I'll drive you, it's not safe to walk or ride your bike anywhere", "If you go to college you will make $100K plus in life"..... this certainly wasn't how I was raised. I rode my bike EVERYWHERE, my parents couldn't be bothered with taking me places. I NEVER got a trophy or an award unless I earned it and I certainly didn't think I was going to be making that kind of money unless I worked my ass off and worked my way up in the world.

Snow Art

We have all heard the saying before: "If life gives you lemons, then make lemonade". This time of year though, with the snow and ice storms and freezing temperatures, lemonade seems the farthest from my mind... give me a steaming hot cup of tea or hot chocolate and I'd be a happy camper, cold and I DO NOT get a long. However, I could do cold if it were to see these amazing works of art. So, I coin today "If life gives you snow and ice, then make art!" Enjoy!

The Man Cave: Learning to Occupy the Back Seat

I am the ultimate authority figure in our home. Kathy has given me permission to sit in the driver's seat whenever she says it's OK. When you become accustomed to sitting in the driver's seat as I have it can be a challenge to watch others take the wheel.

And I'm not talking about teaching kids to drive (that's a whole 'nother post.)

Indoor S'mores

I love s'mores. Not really eating them per'say - I don't particularly like chocolate, and I'm not a marshmallow fan - but I love the act of making them. There is something magical about sitting around a fire with your peeps roasting those little balls of sugar until golden brown. Why should you have to wait until summer months to enjoy this simple act?

Giant Hershey Kiss

I remember when these use to be the big thing to make when I was in Jr. High. Who would want just a little kiss when they could have an entire make out?! With Valentines Day just around the corner, these could be the perfect thing to make for that someone special.

Snow Fort Fun

Snow days can be such a drag. It's cold outside, you can't go anywhere and the kids are home from school bored: but with the right mind set they can be a blast.

Last week I did a post 10 Snow Day Ideas to get your creative juices flowing. One of our readers really went to town with one of the ideas and had a blast all day with her girls.

Winter Photography

We've had a very interesting few days around here. Snow, followed by an ice storm and then completed with another heavy douse of snow. Remember, I live in Seattle, so this is unusual weather for us. Aaron has only been into work a few hours in the last couple days (thank heavens for four wheel drive!) and since we have been out of power for a big chunk of the time I have been unable to work. What to do?

Grab the camera, head out with a friend, and have a photography walk. Even the littlest of people can have fun looking at the world through the eyes of a camera.

10 Snow Day Ideas

It's snowing outside and the kids are home from school bored and wanting something to do. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing - just take the day for what it is and have some fun!

Coconut-Ice Cream Snowman

I am in a snowy mood. We have had snow off and on for a few days now, and woke up this morning to a few new inches. They are predicting another 6-20 inches tonight. If I still had kids at home attending school, they would be home today wanting something to do.

I am waiting for things to warm up just a bit before I head out on my run, so I have been wasting some time hoping on some of my favorite sites. I found this on good ol' Martha Stewart and had to share! I LOVE snowmen, and since I'm in that snowy mood it was perfect!

It's Our Birthday!!

Yup! I can't believe that I have been at this for one full year now! One year is always my marker to decided if I need to stay with something. I figure, after a year of giving something all you got, it is going to either work or it's not. A year is long enough to truly give something a chance but not so long that you are wasting your life away on something that isn't going to amount to anything. I am very excited to say, I have lasted a year and am still going strong!

Pet Benefits

by Amy Hamblin

I come from a long line of pet haters.  If you told any of my family members that they were pet haters they would deny it:  we all know, however, that they would be lying.  They would give excuses like, “as long as they are outside pets” or “if I didn’t have to feed them or pet them”.  Yeah, my family is full of pet haters.  I have to admit that I am one myself BUT a few years ago read about the benefits for kids of having pets. After that we went to the Humane Society and bought our cat Tiger.

Write Your Family History

I read an old African saying yesterday that really hit home with me: "the death of an old person is like the burning of a library". The importance of this saying has hit home with me personally in the past with the death of my father. I realized that all of the sudden, all the things that he felt, knew and experienced were just gone..... gone forever. It's important to get these things written down before it's too late! 

Bohnanza - The Bean Game

This simple game was introduced to us by the Hamblins (Aaron's little sister Amy, who is a regular guest writer here on FS). It's really easy, fun and can incorporate a wide age range - ages 8 and up - so everyone feels included.

It's a game of trading, planting and harvesting beans: and the more you get the more money you earn to win the game. Sounds kind of corny I know, we thought the same thing at first, but it is really a mindlessly fun game!

A Progressive Dinner

Progressive dinners are a great way to take the pressure off of you for cooking an entire meal, and involve other families in your festivities. If you haven't tried one before, now is a great time! This is typically done with three to five different families, so pick a few of your friends to join in the fun.

January Holidays

It just now dawned on me that we are at January 6th already and I haven't put up the January Holidays. Oops! With being on vacation, and then trying to play catch up all week, it totally got away from me.

So, here ya go, January's Wacky Holidays.

Have some fun this month!!

The Man Cave: Living Without Regret

It has been said that life is a journey. It is an apt metaphor. We all travel different roads and make our own choices at life's various intersections. Some of those stoplights are wide open, and others are on blind corners. Sometimes we can't see where a turn will lead us until we're looking at it in the rear view mirror. Navigating life's highways can be a scary process full of self-doubts and second-guesses.

But what if someone at that end of their life gave you a road map?

Talk Like You Just Met

As I was waiting for a client to show up yesterday I was reading through one of my magazines. I came across an article that peaked my interest ""10 secrets of super happy couples". Most of the things on there were not very awe inspiring for me, but one did stand out: I wanted to share it today because I thought it was a great idea.

Be A Kid Again

Last night was Jess's last night home before heading back to school and she wanted to have a little party. Sunday night her cousin, age 20, was over along with her boyfriend, also age 20: Jess is 19.

What did they do? They built a fort and spent the night in it.

My New Years Resolution

I am not a new years resolution type gal. I have always figured, if you want to do something why wait until new years to start it? I have, however, decided to start something this year and January first was as good as any other day to start it. I'm going to do a running streak this year.