August is the hottest and sometimes the longest days of summer indulgences. Happy days swimming, day trips to the beach to take in the warm water and gentle waves. Children may be antsy to fall into a routine vs day trips and family picnics. Included below are some easy tricks to make the end of summer easy and memorable.

For you, a lovely musical rendition for all things Irish.

Happy St Patty's day to all. 

Saying goodbye to the holiday season and packing up the festive decor is a slow process for me. I love the warmth of the fairy lights and almost dread how empty my house feels when the holiday decor is gone. It all seems to go so fast. It seems that the festivities accelerate with each year, more than I would like.  Every January, I make promises to myself that my holiday prep will begin much earlier the following year, so I can make the most of the month of December. The extended warm weather of 2016 fooled me, and I was digging and working in my garden much later than usual. Here are my tips for undressing the house from the holidays…

Holiday gatherings with food and friends are such a treat, yet there is often stress connected with these good times.  Whether it is prepping dinner for a crowd, traveling across town or across the country, preparing for houseguests, or being a houseguest, navigating the myriad of daily must-do’s while maintaining a sparkling mood is tricky. Here are my own ways to relish the holidays…

It’s often a mad, mad rush to choose and mail the perfect card for Christmas wishes. If you do the family photo card, you know that just getting that photo can be a challenge.  And then, once you have the photo, there is a myriad of online choices that can print your card for you. (minted, shutterfly, snapfish, simply to impress, mixbook, etc) and don’t forget about the digital options. Sites like paperless post will send your personalized cards via email. But what if you didn’t have to do this anymore?

If you’ve never heard about the Feast of St. Nicholas, now is a great time to add this simple tradition to your holiday repertoire.

December 6 celebrates the feast day of this bringer of gifts. The tradition of putting a shoe outside one’s bedroom door is done by young and old alike with much anticipation of St. Nick’s visit.  The story of St. Nicholas is a timely reminder that the holiday season is a season of generosity and charity….

Ho, Ho, So- if you do just one bit of decor, I promise a tree will give you the best impact.

Without a foundation of holiday decor, a tree can be all you need and will be your centerpiece for the holiday season.

For you live tree aficionados, the hunt for a cut-your-own tree, makes for a festive annual family outing. There is plenty of excitement heading to the firehouse lot for a pre-cut tree, too…