Why Candles are the PERFECT Gift for Christmas

There are certain smells that inevitably trigger wonderful memories of Christmases past. For me, the smells of Christmas are every bit as important as the sights and sounds.  For example, last week I walked past someone wearing a certain hairspray (which shall remain nameless) that immediately brought back memories of the kind that I wore in high school and I instantly felt like I had slipped back in time (scary thought, lol!).

Marriage IS Hard, DAMNIT! And that's normal...

Today I read a post by Shell over at Things I Can't Say about how, even though she and her husband will have been married for 10 years this week, they weren't always the happiest and they almost didn't make it. Once they realized that love is a decision, it requires work, and it's not something you can just give up on as if it were a craft that isn't working out, their marriage became much stronger.

Her post got me thinking about my own marriage. It's something I always want to write about but just haven't put the words on paper.

Leap into Gaming with the new LeapFrog LeapTV

Baby, it’s cold outside.  And when the weather turns cold, we like to light a fire and stay inside.  Or have a party!

This past weekend we threw a gaming party with some friends featuring our new LeapTV from LeapFrog.  LeapTV is one of the hottest toys this Christmas and after dancing and playing all day with it, I can see why!

LeapTV is a new educational, active video gaming system built specifically for kids ages 3-8 years.  Kids learn through motion as they dance, twirl, run (in place), and jump through engaging and entertaining activities that will help teach them reading, math, science, and problem solving skills.

Creating My Timeless Bathroom

We’re in the process of remodeling the master bathroom and we had no idea what we were about to get ourselves into.  It is no small undertaking!  I didn’t know there would be so many countertops to choose from, sinks to look at, or even bathroom faucets to argue over.   One thing I do know is that I want my bathroom to be timeless. I want it to be comfortable and a place where I can relax.  I do NOT want something that will be outdated within a couple of years. Or something that I just “settled on” because it was cheaper or easier to put in.

Everything is Awesome in November at LEGOLAND Kansas City

The LEGO® Movie Weekend is coming back to Kansas City this November! LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Kansas City is honored to be hosting The LEGO Movie Weekend again! Visit them this weekend, November 15-16, 2014, to meet your favorite characters from the movie and participate in a wide-range of The LEGO Movie activities.

Activities include:

•  Meet and greets with Emmet and Wyldstyle.

•  Photo ops with the Emmet and Wyldstyle LEGO models.

•  Decorate Cloud Cuckoo Land on the LEGO build table.

•  Search for the The LEGO Movie characters inside MINILAND.

Meet and Greets will take place from 11:00am - 5:00pm

{every thirty minutes, on the hour}

Free Chocolate? Yes Please. Thank you, Mrs. Cavanaugh

Y’all … I really love chocolate. It goes with everything … donuts, milk, cookies, raisins, nuts, WINE. I’m a chocoholic in the worst sense of the word. I especially love those little chocolates that are given as gifts to the people that everything – you know the kind I’m talking about – the chocolates in the box. It has every flavor you can think of!  The most famous of those chocolates are Mrs. Cavanaugh’s. Or at least it's MY favorite!

There was a time when Marie Cavanaugh spent hours in her South Dakota farmhouse each Christmas season making pecan rolls and homemade chocolates for holiday gifting.

"It started when my aunt sent her pecan-rolls recipe," Mrs. Cavanaugh recalled. "I gave the recipe my own touch and started making the yummy specialties. Then I began dipping chocolates. Our friends and neighbors loved these treats, encouraging me to start a candy business. Finally, I decided it might be a good idea.'"