The History of Mother’s Day in the United States

Many families celebrate Mother’s Day every year. Have you ever wondered how Mother’s Day got started? Who thought of it? How did it get declared a holiday? Was it always celebrated the way we celebrate it today in the United States? The official Mother’s Day holiday, as we know it today, was started by Anna Jarvis. In 1905, her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died. Daughter Anna Jarvis wanted there to be a way to honor the sacrifices that mothers made for their children. It took financial backing before that dream was realized. John Wanamaker was a department store owner in … Continue reading

When is Mother’s Day Celebrated?

What day do you celebrate Mother’s Day? The answer to that question depends upon where in the world you live. Or, it could be based on where your mother is currently living. Many countries celebrate Mother’s Day but not all of them do it on the same day. This presents a dilemma for families who have relatives in more than one country. How do you know which Mother’s Day to celebrate? Do you use the one that matches with the country your mother lives in? What if that date isn’t the same one where you live? Mother’s Day is celebrated … Continue reading

Fun and Affordable Dad’s Day Gifts

He may say that all he wants for Father’s Day is a long nap, but if you have young children at home, they’ll want to give Dad more than some quiet time on Sunday. Put your kids’ energy and enthusiasm to good use by having them assist you make the following easy, affordable and fun Father’s Day gifts: POTATO STAMP SHIRT Materials: One white t-shirt Large piece of cardboard Bag of large potatoes Cookie cutters (use shapes that will match dad’s interests, including dogs, trains, stars, sailboats, hearts, balls, or letters that spell out special words, such as “love” or … Continue reading

Save on St. Patrick’s Day Travel

The luck of the Irish is on the side of frugal travelers this month. Several hotels are offering money-saving deals on St. Patrick’s Day themed packages.  Meanwhile, some cities are featuring holiday fun for the entire family for free, including: California:  Go green in sunny San Diego this year.  On Saturday, March 16th the city will be hosting an Irish bash like no other beginning with a massive St. Patrick’s Day parade.  It features more than 120 marching bands, towering floats, dancers, bagpipe contingents, singers, drill teams, clowns and a variety of other entries.  The parade kicks off at 10:30 … Continue reading

Family Fun on Super Bowl Sunday

The big game is less than four days away.  On Sunday, millions of families will be gathering around their televisions to watch the Baltimore Ravens take on the San Francisco 49ers… or at least to watch the uber-hyped Super Bowl commercials. It would be great if the entire family thought watching a 4-hour game was the epitome of fun.  However, if you have young kids, they may want a bit more to do than just sit on the couch and cheer on men wearing tight pants. If you are looking for super fun ideas that will score big with little … Continue reading

Today was a Great Day

Some days, I am so exhausted by the time that the boys go to bed that it is a wonder that I have any brain power left to write blog posts, do dishes, or do any of the other things that I do in between the time that they go to bed and my own bed time. Parenting small children requires a great deal of physical and mental energy, and some days require more than others. For the past few days it felt like it took enormous amounts of energy just to get through the day with everyone being fed, … Continue reading

Holiday Travel: Are You Taking Off?

Despite growing economic woes and threats of fiscal cliff diving, it appears that a good deal of Americans will be spending money to travel this holiday season. According to TripAdvisor, 45% of people living in the United States plan to travel away from home between now and the first of the year; that’s an increase of three percent from 2011. TripAdvisor’s survey results also found that 63% of travels will be on the road for Christmas and 31% for New Year’s, with 61% seeing family and 23% visiting friends.  In addition, 48% of survey respondents noted that they plan to … Continue reading

Where to View Magical Holiday Scenes

“Just 14 shopping days left until Christmas!” If I had a dime for every time I heard someone say that yesterday, I would have enough money to finish my Christmas shopping. It’s hard to escape the holiday hoopla now that we’re nearly halfway through December.  The sales, the crowds, the craziness in the mall parking lot don’t do much to get me into the Christmas spirit.  However, there are places you can visit to immerse yourself in the season, minus the commercial madness.  For example: Wisconsin:  The city of Green Bay is not only home to the world-famous Packers; it’s … Continue reading

Don’t Miss These Holiday Deals and Freebies!

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are filled with plenty of deals and tons of sales. It is the time of year when even people who dislike shopping will be doing it anyway, alongside the people who consider shopping to be their favorite activity. It’s no wonder that there are so many holiday deals, sales, and freebies right now! Here’s a few you won’t want to miss. Hallmark is having a “Keepsake Ornament Gift of Memories Weekend”. It will take place from December 7, 2012 through December 9, 2012. Buy 1 or more Keepsake Ornaments at the event and you … Continue reading

Float Your Holiday Boat

Tis the season to set sail or at least view a flotilla of festive lights parading on the water. Holiday boat parades are extremely popular this time of year in communities that feature large bodies of water.  The parade of lights is truly a sight to see.  Vessels of all shapes and sizes get decked out in twinkling illuminations and strut their stuff near shorelines crammed with excited onlookers. Among the most popular holiday light boat parades are: December 3rd:  Downtown Hampton Lighted Boat Parade in Hampton, Virginia and Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla in Carolina Beach. December 10th:  Chanel … Continue reading