The Not-so-glamorous Side of the Holidays: READ THIS IF YOU SHOP ONLINE!

It happened so fast! ... Keep Reading...

Favorite Ideas for Gift-Giving

Three weeks until Christmas, and your time is precious, so here are a few quick-and-easy (very random!) ideas for you this morning. These are NOT affiliate links.   Two Christmases ago, Renaissance Man surprised me with a set of sheets from BOLL & BRANCH. I love their company story—and was "wowed" by their detailed packaging—but let's be honest:  It's the verdict two years later that matters.   This is the only set of sheets I now use . . . and they get softer with every wash!  A+     A long-time family favorite both to give and receive:  PENZEYS SPICES. If you like to cook (or eat!), these high-quality spices are a "must".     RIDGID POWER TOOLS have been "must ... Keep Reading...

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT COLLECTIONS: Oh, the stories they tell!

December 1   Are you in countdown mode?   It's hard for me to believe that, for the second year in a row, there will be precious little Christmas decorating going on at our house. One year ago today we sold the big ol' house we restored in town and began a year of fifth wheel living at the farm . . . waiting to build our Finally Farmhouse. We're still waiting—but we *think* we'll be able to move forward in January.   Can you believe Renaissance Man asked me the other day how may trees I want to put up for our open house next Christmas? :-) Seriously? We don't even have a house! How can I possibly think about having an OPEN house?   But in this season of missing my pretties, I had a special treat. If ... Keep Reading...