My grandmother used to wish and wish for “the good ole days”, and at the time, I could not understand what made her hindsight view of “the good ole days” so rose colored. I know from stories my father has shared that those times were not, by any stretch of the imagination, always so “good”, and in fact, at times, were quite horrible. I smile now remembering what my grandfather, a much wiser man in my opinion, would say.  “The good ole days? Why we’re living ‘em, Ivy. We’re living …

Perhaps you can tell from my sunburned cheeks and my wind-blown, pony-tailed hair.  Perhaps you can tell from the sunflower seeds spilled in the bottom of my purse,  or maybe it’s the empty gatorade bottles strewn throughout my car.  Or it could be the fast food bags and boxes filling up my trash cans.  Maybe it’s  the sound of my washer and dryer humming away at odd hours of the night  in futile  attempts at removing red dirt out of stained white pants.  You see, it’s state baseball tournament time, …

This is truly an experience that, had it not been for my desire to purchase a Star Wars-themed tablecloth for my son’s birthday, would never have occurred.
I’m really not a tablecloth girl. Primarily because the ones I’m willing to pay for are usually vinyl, and I’m not industrious enough to make my own. Rarely (Christmas would likely be the exception) do I find a premade table covering made of real, uh, cloth, that I like.
And I wouldn’t have been searching for a Star Wars tablecloth had I not been desperate …

Harry Potter fans have been waiting for 2 long years and 4 days for the release of the next Harry Potter movie installment…Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It opens at 12:01 July 15, 2009. Some crazies (and I use that term affectionately) in my neighborhood, my family and myself included, had a pre-pre Harry Potter premier party…because we just couldn’t wait one more night. Click to see photos and party ideas for you own Potter Party!

Do people choose not to read signs? Do they read them, then choose to ignore them? Or, as I suspect may be the case after my latest trip to the grocery store, are people just rude, inconsiderate BOOBS?!?
Here’s the thing: I had seven items in my little basket. That’s right – I was there to get so little that I didn’t need a full-sized cart. Just a little plastic basket, thank you.
As I approached the U-Scan aisles, the first thing that caught my attention was the line. Four self-check-outs, all …

Disneyland is my favorite place in the world. I go at least once every year, and then spend the rest of the year counting down the days until I can go back again. Whenever I hear of anyone else planning a trip, especially if they have never been to Disneyland before, I get nearly as excited as I would if I were going myself. I love to offer advice on what shows to see, what attractions to visit, and how to reduce time spent waiting in lines. After they come …

When I was at the store yesterday, the price of a seedless watermelon was 59 cents per pound and the price of a seeded watermelon was 19 cents a pound…a 40 cent per pound difference.Here is my quick and easy step by step method of turning a seeded watermelon into a delicious SEEDLESS snack for you and your family. Click to read the rest of the story for step-by-step instructions with photos.

A friend of mine recently entered the world of foster parenting. For years (and years) her greatest desire has been to have children. Alas it was not to be.
She and her other half recently jumped through the hoops, cut through the red tape, and otherwise did everything in their power to be foster parents.
A few weeks ago, they welcomed a girl into their home. Last night, they were approached about another child as well – a boy.
It seemed in its romantic state to be the perfect family in the making.
But …

Ever feel like if you have to remember one more thing, your brain will go into overload status and explode?
Like when you’re going to the grocery store to pick up a few things.  It’s just a few things.  No need to write them down on paper.  You can remember them.   You go through the items on the mental list in various orders to see how they will best flow, so that hopefully you won’t forget something.  You set the order, and you start running the list through your mind: milk, ranch dressing, bread, …

When I was a little girl, dinnertime was considered a sacred event.
For that matter, much was considered sacred: answering the phone by stating the name of our residence, as well as our names,
asking to be excused (please) before leaving the table. You get the point. Above all, phone calls were off limits – especially disconcerting when waiting on a phone call from the object of a puppy love crush.
“She’s having her metrochow,” my dad would say.
Flash to Fourth of July, when we were all invited for dinner at Mom and …