Valentine’s Day is a commercialized holiday in the U.S. It has a rich history that begins with Christian martyrs and includes many folk traditions and legends. In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer associated Valentine's Day with romantic love (source). Since this time, individuals have written love letters and exchanged tokens of their … [Read more...] about 10 Frugal Ways to Make Valentine’s Day Special
holidays
New Year, New Hope
Very little actually changes between December 31st and January 1st, yet many of us feel a sense of hope on January 1st that we didn’t feel on the previous night. We have a brand new year in front of us. This is a blank slate of sorts. We can change. Our situations can change. This sense of hope is particularly apropos because we celebrate … [Read more...] about New Year, New Hope
The Most Wonderful Things About Winter
As always seems to be the case, fall sped by so quickly that it is hard to believe we accomplished as much as we did during the last few months. Now we’re about to welcome winter. My 5-year-old keeps asking each family member to identify his or her favorite season. Though I have told her that fall is my favorite, I’ve also reminded her … [Read more...] about The Most Wonderful Things About Winter
How to Keep Unbelieving Kids from Ruining Santa for Kids Who Believe
My kids know who Santa is, but they don’t believe he is a real person. They enjoy him as a fictional character, just as they do fairy tale princesses and superheroes. This isn’t the case for most of our friends and family members. The children in these families believe that Santa is real, and this is an important part of their Christmas … [Read more...] about How to Keep Unbelieving Kids from Ruining Santa for Kids Who Believe
8 Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions
Since the very first year we were married, my husband and I have set aside time to set goals before the start of each New Year. This has worked well for us in general, but it has become difficult to find time for this—and we’ve had a more difficult time achieving our goals—as our family has grown. In an attempt to make sure we … [Read more...] about 8 Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions
30 Questions to Ask Around the Christmas Dinner Table
Our everyday lives are so busy that I find it increasingly important that we use the time we have with our families strategically. Holidays are times that we can really slow down and enjoy being with each other. However, on Christmas, it’s not unusual for things like presents and baking to commandeer our focus away from family and … [Read more...] about 30 Questions to Ask Around the Christmas Dinner Table
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
One of the things my kids really enjoyed doing this past fall was going on a scavenger hunt. We used a printable that I created a couple of years ago (find it here). They had so much fun walking through our neighborhood in search of the items pictured on the printable. I’ve made a similar printable for a Christmas light scavenger hunt! … [Read more...] about Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
Why to Eat Pie the Night Before Thanksgiving
Pie is the traditional dessert to eat after Thanksgiving dinner, but the best time to eat pie may actually be the night before Thanksgiving. I don’t know what it’s like in your house, but we tend to be pretty full after Thanksgiving dinner. It’s common for us to not even be hungry for dessert after eating turkey, sweet potatoes, … [Read more...] about Why to Eat Pie the Night Before Thanksgiving
