Origami Frog

Today is a rare day indeed. Leap Year Day! I wonder what it would be like to have been born on this day? I would only be 10 years old instead of 41!..... Well, I don't know if I would want to be 10 again, but the thought is interesting.

While you are having your Leap Year Day party with all those wonderful cupcakes you made, why not whip up some of these awesome origami frogs and have frog races with them!

Leap Year Cupcakes

Tomorrow is leap year day: a fun little holiday that only comes around about every four years, so why not make it a little special? Here are a few ideas for you to make some cute little Froggy cupcakes to celebrate.

Aaron's Mistress

I feel like I have been running this blog long enough, and gotten to know most of you adequately, to feel comfortable admitting that my husband has a mistress. It has been going on since the day I met him and usually I just turn my back and ignore the two of them. However, there are times when their relationship takes too much time away from me, and that's when I get a little upset.

Indoor Picnic

The days are starting to get longer but they are still cold and dreary. Getting outside to do anything is difficult but, if you are like me,  you are starting to get antsy: all I want to do is be outside in the sunshine. There are a few ways to make being inside fun however, until the day finally arises that we can get to the outdoors again.

Homemade Granola Bars

I have been trying to clean up my diet lately and not eat any processed foods at all. As part of that, I have started making my own granola bars, and I am completely hooked on these things. They don't stay around long after I make them! Everyone gobbles them down and I end up having to make them every week or two. Good thing they are easy to make!

Be A Kid And Play!

When my kids were young enough that going to the park to play on the toys all day was the bomb, we did that a lot. It was free, gave them good exercise and best of all it would wear them out for bed that night. We'd pack a picnic lunch and head out for the afternoon. There were a handful of parks to choose from a short distance from our house, including the local grade schools, and we utilized them all.

Don't You Dare Do It! But, Let's Talk.

Don't stay out past midnight! Don't drink! Don't take drugs! Don't hang out with that crowd! Don't color your hair blue! Don't get a tattoo or body piercings! And, for God's sake, don't have sex!!!

This is what many teens face with their parents: I did. Not open for discussion. Period.

I raised my kids a little differently than this.

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

By Amy Hamblin
 

Do you ever have those days where you try and try but your kids just kept getting the best of you?  I have one child who just always challenges everything I say.  It is completely exhausting.  Sometimes when this child walks into the room I tell myself, “be patient, be patient.”  Sometimes it works but sometimes…not so much.

The Man Cave: More Calling Grandpa Out

As regular Man Cave readers know, I enjoy debunking many of the pseudo-manly things grandpas reputedly say, like "anything worth doing is worth doing right." This week it is my intention to explain why "I will never expect anything of you that I wouldn't be willing to do myself" is a hollow precept of leadership.

Take Time For Yourself.... It's Important

Taking care of kids - taking care of husband - taking care of the house, the dog and the shopping, on top of whatever job you may have. We take care of everyone else in the world and it's very important ladies, that we take care of ourselves too!

Today I'm going to do just that!

Valentine's Party Care Package

Jess has been having a hard time at school lately due to a few hitches in her classes. I wanted to do something to cheer her up and make her smile. What two better ways to make someone happy than getting something fun in the mail and having a party? So, that's just what I did: I sent her a party care package in the mail.

Visit A Neighboring City

Aaron and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary this weekend. Time sure does go by quickly! I was fortunate enough, however, to meet my guy so early in life that we have been together for most of that time: We met when I was 14 years old, dated for 4 years and married the rest so we have pretty much been together for two-thirds of my life. The amazing thing is, we still LOVE to be together.

We had so much fun this weekend, that I wanted to share. Maybe you could find something fun to do in our trip, and want to do it yourself ;o) We took a three hour drive down to Portland.

Crayon Heart Valentine's

I am being stealth like a ninja this morning. Amy didn't send me anything to post this week, but little does she know I am posting something for her ;o). She made the cutest Valentine's with her kids last year to hand out in class: I loved them so much I saved it so that I could share it this year.

The amazing, and useful, Crayon Heart Valentine's, by Amy Hamblin!

The Man Cave: The 7 Habits of Highly Married People

I am not a marriage expert. I have no formal training. I have, however, achieved something many marriage counselors have not: I have been blissfully married for 23 years. Well...23 years this Saturday. In observation of my and Kathy's upcoming anniversary, I present to you this amateur's 7 Habits of Highly Married People.

Enjoy.

Flower Tootsie Pops

I found these awesome sucker flowers this morning on Skip To My Lou and had to share. They are simple and inexpensive to make and would be perfect for something different to hand out for your Valentines - they'd also make a great Mother's Day bouquet. Check out the site, there are a lot of great ideas on there!

Here's how to make the Flower Tootsie Pops.

Rice Crispy Hearts

These are pretty simple and self explanatory, but so perfect for Valentines Day!

Rice Crispy treats cut into hearts, ends dipped into chocolate and then sprinkled with red. Put on a sucker stick and tie it with a bow - whala, insta party treat!

picture taken by Alli

Superbowl Cookies

We get together with friends for the Superbowl every year - they may be different friends from year to year, but we are always partying with someone. I love to make fun foods for this event: I mean, let's face it, half the fun of Superbowl is the commercials and food!

This year I made football sugar cookies.

We Need a Vacation

by Amy Hamblin

I came across an article the other day about what you can do to keep romance in your marriage.  I always love to read those articles just to see how many of the things they list are things that my husband and I already do.  One of the things listed was to take a vacation without your kids.

The Man Cave: Being Self-Complete

A few months ago I heard a guy giving a speech to a bunch of incoming college freshmen. (I don't remember his name, or I would give credit.) Most of his talk was about relationships. A lot of it was good stuff, and a lot of it was the incoming-Freshan-type-blather, but there was one thing that stuck in my mind.

Check it out.

Heart Garland

Simple. Easy. Inexpensive. These are all words that I love to have in my vocabulary, but I also love holidays and making my house festive. Making this simple heart garland fits the bill all around! Who could ask for more?