Amber R

Ah, the dawn of a new year! The end of the Christmas season hit me like a snowball to the face this time around. My mother would be appalled if she saw my tree still standing, but I tell myself those decorations are for the winter, not just Christmas. I'll get around to taking it down in a couple of weeks... definitely before Valentine's Day! The elves made a hasty exit on December 21—caught the flu and bailed on our cross-state journey to my hometown. They skipped their flu shots and yes, I...

Like many brave parents, I've embarked on the epic quest of delivering 24 days of elf-tastic fun with our Elf on the Shelf! This year, our elf, Cookie, brought her brother, Coconut, along for the ride! What a blast we're having. And by "we," I really mean me. My daughter giggles at the elves' shenanigans and I continue to weave the story behind their daily escapades. My son? He's blissfully unaware, just happy to watch Moana 2 on repeat. Ice Fishing with an ornament hook...for goldfish I...

It's Thanksgiving week. Schools are closed, no one is really working unless you're in grocery/department store supply chains, and onions continue to be out of stock at Walmart. I'm hosting Thanksgiving again this year. Family and friends will join my family of four. I even bought a new roaster pan to cook the turkey in. With the beginning of the holiday season, it's a time to share what we're thankful for. Mine will always be my kids. They light up places inside my soul I didn't know were...