Travel & Holidays

It’s the middle of the summer, aka peak travel season. Many airports in the U.S. are “already back to or are exceeding pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels.” As the country struggles with COVID fatigue and vaccines are readily available for...

It is sakura (cherry blossom) season, and that means a number of holidays are upon us here in Japan.  Japan has plenty of holidays that are only celebrated here. That means when things are closed or we see a lot...

Looking for a new addition to your annual holiday cookies? Cookie Butter cookies are sweet, creamy, and easy to make. Ingredients: 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract ¾ c granulated sugar ¾ c packed brown sugar 1 stick unsalted butter ½ c vegetable spread (such...

Imagine this: you are offered the chance to travel the world for 9 months. You can work remotely, thus providing an income during your travel. You can visit anywhere and in any order. You are limited only by funds...

'Twas the night of St. Valentine, and all through the house, Mama was stressing and rushing around. Dishes were dirty, the baby’s tooshie was bare, While the pre-teen screamed over gum in her hair.   The children refused to get ready for bed, “We want...

I love pie and turkey but want to learn a more accurate history of Native America people and the Thanksgiving holiday. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian states:  "We encourage you to celebrate the vibrancy of Native cultures...

Remember back in the day (and I’m talking about 1986 or so) when advent calendars were simple? You peeled back tiny pieces of cardboard to reveal pictures of a candle or a poinsettia? According to my mom, they cost a...

The older I get, the less I like gifts: holiday gifts, birthday gifts, "just because" gifts, that thing where your neighbors leave an anonymous basket of items from the dollar bin at Target with a poem about how you...

It’s October and the cusp of the holiday season. The decorative pumpkins have been sitting on your bookshelf for weeks. The wooden “thankful and grateful” plaque leans against the wall. You even changed your outdoor welcome mat to the...

A little over 5 years ago, we left Missouri and headed to Central Florida on vacation. At the last minute, we decided to spend one day at the "happiest place on Earth." We drove the kids hard through the...

The world is opening up again, and people are hitting the road and filling airplanes faster than it takes to go through a Chick-fil-A drive-thru line. If you’re ready to travel again but feeling a little rusty, you’re not alone....

When I give a gift I want there to be thought behind it. When it comes to holidays and figuring out gifts for our boys, I usually will ask advice from my other friends (especially my special needs moms), the...