Travel: Paris with Kids
When I told a family member we’d be visiting Paris, she said, “That sounds so romantic!” To which I replied, “Did I forget to mention we’re visiting Paris WITH our kids?” So, no romance this trip, but lots of family fun. It’s a good trade-off. Right?!?! While I would love to see Paris in the spring, it was pretty special to be able to ring in the New Year (from our hotel room, of course) in this beautiful city. Here are my impressions of Paris, things we did and my tips for visiting with kids. (Our kids were 7 and 10 at the time of our visit.) GETTING AROUND The…
Would I Make It Again? Chile Lime Almonds
Some girls get flowers and chocolate from their significant other. I get almonds. No, really. I did. It was a sweet and thoughtful gesture from Handy Husband. And I say that with the utmost degree of sincerity, not sarcasm. Sometimes I need to clarify these things. However, I kind of ruined the moment when I said, “You got me UNSALTED almonds?” And he said, “What? No. Why would they be unsalted? Check the label.” This isn’t my first almond rodeo. I know a package of healthy unsalted almonds when I see one. I humored Handy Husband though (there’s a marriage tip for you!) and turned the bag over to find…
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Happy List: #62
Hello, hello! How’s life treating you? I hope exceptionally well. This week I talked about “surviving” a snowstorm in Ireland, a place that doesn’t get snowstorms. A full week after the storm started and 4 days after the stores reopened, my grocery store was STILL not fully stocked with the basics that it usually sells. It’s back to normal now and it sure does make me thankful. On Wednesday, I shared four of my most favorite St. Patrick’s Day ideas! This year St. Patrick’s Day is on a Saturday, so I’m wondering how crazy is it going to get here in Dublin? Here is what is on the Happy List this…
St. Patrick’s Day Ideas
I’ve been so wrapped up in snowstorms that I forgot spring is on its way. Or, rather, spring is SUPPOSED to be on its way. She sure is taking her sweet time! I’m ready for warmer temperatures and pretty flowers, but as it turns out, Mother Nature cares nothing about my opinion. How rude! Father Time, on the other hand, keeps marching forward so in 10 days it will be St. Patrick’s Day! There is no better place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than in Ireland, but if you can’t be here with me, perhaps these St. Patrick’s Day ideas will get you in a festive mood. St. Patrick’s Day Ideas:…
Living in Ireland: Surviving a Snowstorm
Surviving a snowstorm. Yes, that’s a bit melodramatic. However, snow is not something I thought I’d be writing about while living in Ireland. This island is supposed to have a temperate climate, after all. But every decade or so conditions are just right to deliver a weather wollup to the country. In this case (March 2018), it was in the form of Storm Emma colliding with “The Beast from the East,” which was a disruption to the stratospheric polar vortex that normally stays right where it belongs – up above the Arctic Circle. (And, yes. I had to google that.) When these two meteorological forces combined over the country of Ireland,…
Happy List: #61
March? Already? I’m afraid I’m going to say something similar at the start of every month, folks. 2018 needs to slow the heck down. Except for that hour every evening when we do homework. That can accelerate at light speed, thank you very much. This week I shared the weird thing I pack when I travel. It’s probably not actually weird, but I write my own sensational headlines. On Wednesday I tapped into my inner resourceful self and created a leather map out of a pair of old boots. Still not over losing my favorite pair of boots though. Here’s what’s on the Happy List this week! SNOW IN IRELAND…
Leather Map From Old Boots
There are a great number of things to be sad about in this world. Your favorite pair of boots falling apart at the seams is not one of the things that should make you sad. Don’t worry. If it did devastate make me sad I wouldn’t do anything immature like text my bestie a million crying face emojis when I realized the boots were not repairable. Of course not. Instead, I decided my heart would go on to save the leather from the boots. Perhaps I could use it for a crafty project in the future. That’s where the idea for a leather map from my old boots originated. Here’s how…
Travel: The Weird Thing I Always Pack
Let’s face it, there’s probably more than ONE weird thing I pack when I travel. Although, compared to what airport security sees on the regular, I’m guessing my stuff is pretty bland. For instance, I have never tried to pack 240 live fish in my suitcases. Have you? So what is the weird thing I pack when I travel? A tennis ball. Why do I pack it? Do I have a love for tennis? For playing catch? Nope. I pack it because I’m not a spring chicken. I pack it because traveling with Handy Husband means oodles of miles on my feet. He’s not a fan of taxis. I pack…
Happy List: #60
Hello, everyone! Thanks for bearing with me on the website changes this week. I can’t think of a good way to segue out of that, so I’ll just use my jazz hands move on. Many people have asked me what it is like to live in Ireland without a car. I think they might really be asking if we are crazy, but that’s fair. On Monday, I shared our experience on this topic. The second question I ALWAYS receive about not having a car is if I’ve forgotten how to drive! In my experience, it’s more or less like riding a bike. So, get out your helmets! Ha! On Wednesday…
Personalized Wood Hangers
Hangers are that one useful tool in my house that no one wants to use. This is particularly true when it comes to our coat closet. Coats will find their way to a hook, the back of the chair, on a bench, on the floor, and my least favorite place, hanging on the closet door knobs. But not ON a hanger IN the closet. I’m living with a house full of rebels. I tell you this so there’s no doubt that this crafty project – personalized wood hangers – was just for my pleasure. In this house, it seems, I’m the only one who thinks hangers are useful AND can…
