ArchivesCategory: Gifts & Flowers

Did you give--or get--any "Goldfish gifts" this holiday season? One of my Facebook friends introduced me to this phrase, explaining that it means "a present whose lifespan is about equal to that of the goldfish you win at carnivals by tossing a ping-pong ball into their bowls." My "Goldfish gift" didn't turn out to be Continue Reading

From the time I was in high school, I was wrapping my own Christmas presents.  Mom would set me up with tape, wrapping paper and stacks of boxes in the living room, in front of a Christmas movie on TV, and instruct me to get busy wrapping. "Don't open the boxes in that pile.  Those Continue Reading

When you're chatting with an 8-year-old, you never know what you're going to get.  Here's what we discussed yesterday on the way to pick up his sister after track practice. "Mom, you know what I want for my Sweet 16?" "Boys don't get a sweet 16." "What do they get?" "Nothing!" "Oh...Well, want to know Continue Reading

Do you have a wish list for this Christmas?   If you're a parent, your kids probably have wish lists running to several pages.  Kids are always happy to address wish lists to Santa, and they're not shy about asking for what they want. Last week when I was helping out at the school library, we Continue Reading

Dec. 6 is Coats & Toys for Kids Day! Did you just discover that your little one has outgrown last year's jacket?  Now's the time to score a great deal on winter outerwear! 40% off your order at Justice Enter coupon code 723. Valid through: December 13, 2010 See other Justice coupons! Dec. 12 is Continue Reading

It was my privilege to be a guest at a 50th anniversary celebration last weekend.  The party was for a couple whom I have known for over ten years, and their daughter did an amazing job planning this surprise event. They were definitely surprised, and definitely happy to see so many family members, friends and Continue Reading

No, my spellcheck isn't on the fritz.  I'm borrowing that deliberate misspelling so I can take this opportunity to conGRADulate my older son, who graduates high school this evening. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was buying his freshman-year uniform shoes ($80!) and trying to find his summer-reading books on sale? Tonight, he and his Continue Reading

Yesterday I went around the house hiding all the rubber bands, the Saran Wrap, and the masking tape--because today is April Fool's Day and I have children. My daughter mentioned as far back as late September that she can't wait for this day, and she had to start planning ahead. And while there might be Continue Reading

Valentine's Day is almost here, and the pressure is on to plan the perfect date. If you don't like crowds, you might want to avoid restaurants on February 14.  Everyone goes out to dinner on Valentine's Day.  It might be a good time to get creative and prepare a romantic dinner at home.  Bring out Continue Reading

Valentine's Day is coming up, and you know what that means:  it's time to think about getting some flowers for your sweetheart. It's also time to realize that flowers go way up in price at this time of year, and it's not like most of us can just go pick some roses out of our Continue Reading