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My Little Turkey

That’s my little turkey during her second Thanksgiving meal. Her first Turkey Day celebration is a blur. She was pull-your-hair-out colicky and too young for solids. However, I’m positive she got at least a hint of spice while she was nursing, given how much pumpkin pie I scarfed down that day… and the next day… and the next day. I love pumpkin pie. But not as much as I love my little turkey. Only, she’s not so little any more. Now, she’s a big turkey, and she’s got the mouth to prove it. When she was a little, she’d wobble … Continue reading →

Arguing Your Way to Divorce?

Although infidelity is probably one of the biggest reasons for couples to divorce, I did a little research on some of the other causes. One thing I found (and was a little surprised about) is that arguing is another big reason for ending a marriage. So why am I surprised? Maybe it’s my own deluded thinking, but doesn’t every couple argue? Okay…I know, I know. Arguing once-in-a-while and every single day is very different. I will give you that. But arguing in itself doesn’t seem to be a good reason to divorce. The act of disagreeing, fighting or whatever else … Continue reading →

Halloween Savings for Adults

Why should kids get all of the fun? Accodring to a recent survey by Nextdoor, a social networking site, about one-third of adults dress in costume on Halloween. According to the National Retail Federation, consumers are expected to spend $80 each on costumes, decorations and candy–each, not per family. Interesting. So, since the adults are presumably doing most of the spending, they should also be the ones who save. Here are some frugal living tips for adults, who can reap the Halloween savings just as easily as the kids. Costume Savings Adults can really save a lot on costumes, since … Continue reading →

Wedding Rings and Gender Roles, Pt. 1

The practice of wearing wedding rings has roots in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians might have believed that circles represent eternity, fitting for a marriage vow. Wearing the rings on our left hand dates to the Roman era: Romans apparently believed that the fourth finger on our left hands had a vein that went directly to the heart. While women have worn wedding (and engagement) rings for centuries, the practice of men donning the former only dates to the 20th century. Some sources speculate that it had to do with World War II: men started wearing the rings while deployed, as … Continue reading →

The Sunny Side of Summer Scrapbooking

I share a summer birthday with my dad and grandfather, so there was no shortage of greeting cards around our home during the month of August. Given our collective ages, it’s no surprise that we still treasure receiving traditional birthday cards rather than the digital ones that are sent via email. I am a tactile person. I love wrapping my fingers around handwritten well wishes, and then cutting up said well wishes and placing them in a scrapbook. I’ve been doing it for years. Why waste a perfectly good greeting card when you can add it to a scrapbook layout? … Continue reading →

The Sprout Bag

I’m on a mission. This winter, I will grow salad. Now, winter is a terrible time to grow salad. That’s why I’m doing it. I like a challenge, what can I say? Since I’m in a relatively temperate climate, it doesn’t generally drop far below freezing. That means that I can grow greens outdoors throughout the winter. This is good for the kale and chard in the garden, little hardy greens that grow well in a slightly sheltered area or just out in the garden under a very thin layer of snow. However, since my garden space is somewhat limited, … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Shindigs

Just because you don’t have a summer birthday doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate with a monster bash that people will be talking about well into winter. Summer parties typically involve barbeques, backyard bonfires and plenty of beverages. However, if you are looking to spice up your seasonal get-together why not think outside of the box with these fun themes: Go West: Ditch the beach theme and kick up your heels at a western-themed hoedown. Print up invitations on computerized wanted posters and request that guests attend the party in western duds. For those who forget their gear, hand out large, … Continue reading →

Too Cheap to Pay for a Sitter

Or too dumb. The suburban Pittsburgh dad, who’s making headlines for leaving his young kids alone at a playground while he ran errands, falls into that category–in my less than humble opinion. Listen, I don’t look kindly on people who leave their dogs alone in parked cars, so when innocent children are ditched by their parents, be it in a vehicle or at a playground, I typically have a hard time holding my tongue… or in this case, my fingers. If you missed the news flash, Govindaraj Narayanasamy has been officially charged with child endangerment after police claim he left … Continue reading →

Single Parent = Child Abuse and Neglect

Most of the time I consider myself a sane and rational human being, I would like to think that most of the time the rest of the world is sane and rational as well. Especially the people who write our laws, I want them to be intelligent and compassionate, I want them to look out for children, but I don’t want them to write laws that will point the finger at me because I am a single parent. Today I am not rational at all, as a matter of fact I am quite livid. Wisconsin State Senator Glenn Grotham has … Continue reading →

The Kitchen Saga, Part Two

Next week was supposed to be the week our kitchen renovation took place. The kitchen would be demolished, nasty cupboards with a whole lot of dry rot moved out, and lovely cupboards moved in. Ah, the bliss. Unfortunately, that is no longer next week. Now – with my fingers crossed – I’m hoping for the first full week of February. Why? Well, as per usual in renovation land, things change. What changed for us was the flooring. We would like to have flooring that is consistent across our kitchen and hallway. We’d like to stop ice skating as we slide … Continue reading →