Holiday
Spring Break 2009: Staycationing
April/06/2009 10:01 AM
Staycationing
By GG
It is a glorious, yet rare spring day: 78º in Southern California. The kind of day that makes residents remember why we live here...the kind that makes tourists decide to move here...the kind of day with no sports or activities for my very active family. That is what makes it rare. So rare that it hasn't happened in our always on the go home since November 2008.
When it happened in last fall, we went away on vacation. But this spring, we’re taking the ever-popular “staycation” and today we all slept in--waking up to TV instead of alarm clocks. We marveled at the idea of freedom: there was no need to search for cleats and uniforms, no ice chest to pack, no presents to purchase or wrap. This freedom allowed time to make breakfast in bed for the kids, served on trays filled with French toast, strawberries, bacon and love. (Ok, really they were cookie sheets designed to avoid powdered sugar & syrup landing on their beds, but it was still done with love!) Read More...
Counter Gifts
April/01/2009 01:18 PM
By Nicole Hanratty
Gifts often appear on my kitchen counter quite fortuitously. Within the last few days I have come home to find a lovely wine bottle holder hand carved from Hawaii with a sweet "Thank You" note from an employee and an electric wine opener from my in-laws. My husband brought both of these gifts home with the pride of a hunter displaying his game and placed them in my domain--the kitchen--as if presenting them to his master. Sweet isn't it?
Except, I'm not sure my hubby is so much honoring me with these counter gifts as he is passing along their inherent formalities. How so, you ask? Properly receiving gifts is not an effortless task. I should know. No matter what the occasion or for which member of the family any gifts are intended, they all wind up on my kitchen counter for de-boxing, assembling, package recycling, washing--you do wash new clothing before wearing I hope--acknowledging, and permanent placing in such a manner that when the gift giver visits our home he or she sees that their present has been duly appreciated. Read More...
Kettle One is for the Dogs
January/13/2009 12:42 PM
Kettle One is for the Dogs
by Nicole Hanratty
I’m so done. The holidays are over, I can leave my house without worrying about whether or not I need a gift for anyone I’m about to see and I’ve jumped off of the Fall Holiday Wheel of Events that belongs in my nephews’ hamster cage purchased for their birthdays which they promptly returned after realizing hamsters poop.
January brings sanity, a return to my favorite routines and normalcy. We reclaim our weekends from family commitments and holiday cheer; they are once again free for us to use them as we choose. Read More...
New Years 2009
January/01/2009 05:55 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
I could babble on about how bad last year was and how hopeful this year looks but I’m going to dare to be different. The truth is, as bad as last year was--and it was bad--it was also a year full of funny. You have to laugh when you look back to reflect upon the previous twelve months of your life and you are thinking about little more than the ironic, the bewildering and the pitiful. If I could sum up the year in two words it would be Shakespearean Comedy. Read More...
Winter Where?
December/04/2008 05:45 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
November means winter for Nebraska and global warming or not, my Midwest cousins’ teeth begin chattering. The poor boys couldn’t even stay in their seats at Cornhusker Stadium through the end of a football game they attended, but instead had to take shelter in a local bar to get out of the winds that took the 30 degree weather down to what felt like below zero. (Don’t feel too badly for them though, those crazy kids know how to have fun...)
Unfriendly Signs: Crunch Zone
December/04/2008 05:41 PM
Crunch Zone
by Nicole Hanratty
Just a little holiday cheer for all of you who need a smile while you’re meeting the demands of your over-committed calendar this month... Read More...
Thanksgiving Disasters
November/11/2008 05:25 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Thanksgiving is coming and so are the relatives, all of which brings up memories of Thanksgiving Disasters Past.
We’ve had knock down drag outs in Mammoth, flues that cleared tables, been lost on roads that seemed to go in circles on our way to Big Bear, and had arguments that made moving to Syberia seem like a completely plausible solution. Read More...
Valentine's Day
February/14/2008 05:00 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Oh yes! It’s Lovey Dovey Buggy Month and you know I can’t resist sharing my two arrows.
Are you a member of the Lonely Hearts Club Band, the I Just Can’t Get Enough Infatuation Club, or the We Just Disagree Debate Team? LifeofaRockStar.net wants to know... Me? I wear my team colors with pride! Read More...
