Holidays

We want our gatherings to be picture perfect, but then reality steps in and slaps us with terrible weather, bad roads, sick kids or cranky parents. Or all of the above.

A friend and I loaded up our kids to do a Fox Valley light show tour recently, and it was a hit for all of us! Each kid (ages 6-11) put on their pajamas and brought something to snuggle in...

In order to feel the love on Mother’s Day, I think we need to lower our expectations a bit. If your grand plan (or even not so extravagant plan) isn’t fully met, it can be disappointing or feel as if the day is “just any other day.”

Mother's Day is a celebration of Motherhood!  We are here to help you make it the best day possible!  In our Ultimate Mother's Day Guide, you will find brunches, gift ideas, & events for the Green Bay and Appleton...

I know there are a ton of lists out there of candy-free Valentines. I was very intentional with my list - I purposely tried to pick ones that were easy to make, had a free printable attached and didn't require 4 trips to the craft store and special tools or supplies. Because honestly, who has time for that. And if you do, you probably have your own amazing creations that aren't on this list! So without further ado....

I️ have so many special childhood memories of making Christmas cookies with my mom. She always hosted a big Christmas Day celebration for our family, and would make a huge variety of cookies and candy to share. Her Christmas platter was a thing of beauty and I always admired it. She graciously let me take over the family cookie making when I got married and had my own home. This year however, I am finding with three young children that I may have hit my limit! I have decided to pick our favorites and let the rest of it go for now. There will be plenty of time again when the littles are older and I'm missing the chaos of cooking with three young children. Here are a couple of recipes that made the cut for this year.

We should do more than a homemade ornament for their teacher. Hmm if I was a teacher I would want… wine. All the wine. But perhaps that’s an inappropriate gift from a 4-year-old. What would the other mom’s think? What about cookies? Ugh. They probably get so many cookies.

I knew that marrying someone with children and becoming a step-mom would add an interesting twist to the holidays. I grew up in a blended family and had the typical Christmas Eve with my dad, Christmas day with my...

Finding joy is about understanding that there is always a silver lining, even when we cannot see one.

I sat in church on Mother’s Day, with tears streaming down my face. Our church was sensitive to the fact that Mother’s Day isn’t always a happy holiday, saying “Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wishing to be mothers, all those who have lost their mothers…” I heard them, but I didn’t feel the words. In my heart, I felt I would never be a mother, and it was devastating.