Author Archive: Ashley B
Ashley is a Writer, Stay at Home mother of 4, not to busy to take time to slow down and smell the flowers. I also teach a Mommy and Me Dance Class to share my love of dance.
Keeping Kids Entertained Over the Winter Break
Because of where Christmas and New Years Day fall during the week, many kids have over two weeks off from school this year. While summer vacation is a great time to throw open the back door and let the kids play outside all day, winter’s cold temperatures tend to keep kids cooped up inside. Children […]
Ideas for Observing the Winter Solstice
December 21 marks the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. In different places and in different families, the first day of winter might be called Yule or the Longest Night. If you are celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas, you are probably busily distracted, but if you have the chance, it might be […]
Thinking Ahead About New Year’s Resolutions
I know, New Year’s Day is still a couple of weeks away and you’re probably in the midst of celebrating other holidays at the moment. Still, this is a great time to start to think back over the previous year and decide what changes you might want to make after the ball drops, welcoming in […]
Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Holiday Tips to Stay Safe
December is bursting with festivities, and with those festivities are often alcoholic beverages. It’s fine for you to have a few drinks, of course, and drinking moderately can help set a good example for your children of appropriate and responsible alcohol usage. Of course, every year we hear of injuries and fatalities caused by drinking […]
Family Traditions: St. Nicholas Day
Our family enjoys hosting foreign exchange students, and over the years, we’ve been able to experience some of the interesting observances and celebrations that other cultures participate in. One of our family favorites is one that a German student brought to our home several years ago: St. Nicholas Day.
In Germany, children place one or two […]
Holiday Bargains: Gift Baskets and Care Packages
The holidays are quickly approaching, but if you’re like anything like me, you spend the first half of December wishing that you’d started your holiday shopping earlier! With many of us feeling the economic pinch, you might not be in the position to spend a lot of money on Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. Homemade gifts […]
Hanukkah Traditions
I grew up with a Catholic mother and a Jewish father, so I was exposed to all sorts of holiday traditions. Although we celebrated Christmas at home, we’d go to my paternal grandmother’s house every December to observe Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights. We’d gather at some point during the celebration to light candles […]
December is Write a Friend a Letter Month
December is often seen as a time to connect with old friends and faraway family members. It’s cold in many areas of the country, and of course several holidays fall within the course of the month. Did you know that December is designated as Write-a-Friend-a-Letter Month? Since people tend to batten down the hatches and […]
Things to Buy on Sale in December
It’s here: the biggest shopping month of the year! With the winter holidays upon us almost any second, you’re being bombarded with gift ideas, sales, signs, commercials and anything else that marketing companies can come up with to make you buy, buy, buy. While you’re busy doing your holiday shopping, though, it’s a good idea […]
Making Thanksgiving Traditions
When I was little, we would always gather at my grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving. My aunt would roast the turkey at her house, and she’d make two different kinds of stuffing: one with sausage, and one without. My mother was in charge of making mashed turnips (which I disliked as a child and still don’t […]
