November 3, 2019
Although my car temperature gauge has been ranging in the 80s and 90s, small signs of fall still abound. I can’t help but notice the leaves changing color and the milder temperatures at night. We have also been welcoming the…
October 27, 2019
It is no secret that one of my guilty pleasures is reality television. Yes, I realize that these shows are often low-quality and staged. However, I cannot help but enjoy the mindless entertainment that they provide. Plus, as tacky as…
October 20, 2019
I have always considered myself to be a cost-saver. I browse the Target website while I shop in-store and have the cashiers match prices at checkout. When I shop online, I always check my Rakuten offers for cash back, and…
October 13, 2019
While more and more people are choosing to cut the cord and get rid of their televisions, I can’t help but notice how much I depend on mine. I would not say I’m addicted. I watch about one hour a…
October 6, 2019
October has always been one of my favorite months. Not only does it contain my favorite holiday, Halloween, but our daughter was also born in October, three years ago. It is also the month that we can see all of…
September 29, 2019
The scramble to get ready and out the door is one thing, but once the kids and I are on our way, I find that driving them around can be quite enjoyable. I can sip a hot coffee while we…
September 22, 2019
The trades have finally picked up, and my family and I are once again able to enjoy eating and playing outdoors. However, there is one family member that prefers the trades stop: our dog, Lilo. When the winds blow, she…
September 15, 2019
My family and I moved into our home about a year and a half ago. Although it’s an older home, the previous owners updated several areas before putting it on the market. Luckily for us, these updates included big things…
September 8, 2019
The past few summers have been the hottest to date, and this time around is no exception. As the heat gets hotter, we have had to get creative in finding activities that let our little ones release their energy while…
September 1, 2019
With two kids and sometimes a dog in tow, coming and going from our home can be either full of joy or full of stress. Our entry and exit take place just outside the front door. Getting home at the…
August 25, 2019
One of my nonnegotiables when it came to searching for our home last year was a fenced yard. Between our dog and our two kids, our yard acts as an extension of our home, giving them a place to run…
August 18, 2019
Our friends, Sarah and Dave, are in the process of renovating their house. It was Sarah’s family home growing up, and now the time has come for her own little ones to grow there, too. To make it their own,…
August 11, 2019
Scrolling through social media, I cannot help but feel a temptation to return to a simpler time before Facebook and Instagram. Many of my friends have already made the transition, but I find myself holding on just a little bit…
August 4, 2019
My baby boy, Joseph, is not so much of a baby anymore. As of less than a week ago, he reached 13 months, leaping from infant status to toddler. He climbs furniture, runs from one room to the next in…
July 28, 2019
This summer has seen some of the hottest temperatures in recorded history. Here in Hawaii, we have been able to enjoy the return of the trade winds. However, they will not stick around forever, and heat won’t stay at bay…
July 22, 2019
Back when I didn’t know better, I used disinfectant wipes for everything. I thought, why just clean something, when you can disinfect? I treated the wipes as if they were truly all-purpose. However these wipes are anything but. They do…
July 14, 2019
I have become a “lists” person. I have even started to think that I need a list to keep track of the innumerable lists I have going: grocery items, drug store items, things to do around the house, things to…
July 7, 2019
Earlier this week, I snuck in some ocean time before picking my daughter up from school. The water felt amazing. As I drip-dried on my towel, I decided to check the time. I glanced at the clock on my phone…
June 30, 2019
While on vacation recently, my family and I enjoyed house swapping with friends in Cleveland. They live on the lake and have outfitted their backyard for relaxation and entertainment. Both their grill and fire pit operate on natural gas and…
June 23, 2019
Fresh off of a trip home to Cleveland, I find myself missing the comforts of my hometown but also content with how far I have come since moving 12 years ago. My family has grown, and I have too. I…