You can’t look at TV or social media today without seeing the name Kobe Bryant. The death of Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others in a helicopter crash shocked the nation and brought many to tears. Yesterday, most of the posts and stories I read portrayed Kobe as a sort of angel on earth […]

Deep Thoughts, Fun

January 27, 2020

It’s Okay to Be Sad About Kobe Bryant’s Death

Kobe Bryant Death

There are many things I’m sure I’ll miss when my children are grown. I’ll miss their laughter and noise and chatter. Their companionship, their hugs and hand squeezes. There are also a few things I won’t miss — I won’t miss driving the kids to school and doctor’s appointments and practices, and friends’ houses. Or […]

Family, Fun, Humor

January 23, 2020

Panic at the Trampoline Park

Indoor Trampoline Parks Look Like This inside

2019 definitely was a year of transition for my family. This has a lot to do with where we are now in life — Our youngest two kids have reached the tween/teen years, our parents are getting older, and so are the rest of the adults in our extended family. We’ve had to handle some […]

Family, Fun

January 1, 2020

2019: The Year in Review

It was a good year for books. I read/listened to 60 this year and I’m happy to say there were very few bombs in the bunch, which is a very good thing. When I came to the end of last year, I decided I’d followed the herd and read too many new releases, so this […]

Books, Fun

December 30, 2019

My 10 Best Books of 2019

To know me is to know I have turkey troubles. The story of our Gas Station Turkey several years ago spread far and wide after I shared it on Facebook, and the end result of that snafu (along with dinner that year not taking place until nine-freaking-thirty PM) is that we never outsourced our Thanksgiving […]

Food, Fun, Holidays, Humor

December 3, 2019

And Now for Something Completely Different…

Upside Down Turkey Recipe

A few days ago, I did something I generally try to avoid — I bragged about my kid on Facebook. I hadn’t bragged in a while, mostly because my Facebook feed is already filled with other parents’ brags, and I think that stream is polluted enough already without me adding to it. Don’t get me […]

Family, Fun, Humor

November 19, 2019

The Cost of a Facebook Brag

Don't Brag on Facebook

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My opinions about these books are clearly my own.  It’s been a minute since I’ve posted a book review — My daughter returned this fall to the homeschool tutorial model she loved so much in middle school and between teaching her World Literature and Japanese (she has teachers for […]

Books, Fun

October 8, 2019

Mormons, Kidnappers, Epic Heroes and Young Lovers: Here’s What I’ve Read Lately

Suburban Turmoil Book Reviews

Last fall, Dennis and I had a lovely dinner at one of the hottest restaurants in Nashville. The experience was flawless. After sipping on handcrafted cocktails at the bar, we dined outdoors at a rustic farm table beneath ropes of twinkling lights. The night air was divine, the bread crusty, the atmosphere sparkling, and the […]

Fun, Humor

August 21, 2019

I Went to One of Nashville’s Hottest Restaurants and This Happened.

Readers forgive me, for I have sinned. Yesterday in the car rider pick up line, I did the unthinkable. I honked my horn. I swear I didn’t mean anything by it. When all the other cars in the line moved except for the one directly in front of me, I waited very patiently for the […]

Family, Fun, Humor

August 16, 2019

The Honker

The Honker

This post is written in partnership with Amazon and contains affiliate links. All recommendations here are my own and I’m pretty excited to share them with you.  It’s back-to-school time, which means I’m hitting Amazon hard right now for all the last-minute things I need before the big day arrives. Luckily, Amazon has anticipated all our […]

Family, Fun, Sponsored

August 5, 2019

11 Amazon Products You Can’t Live Without This School Year

Back to School with Amazon