Family: is “a blessing and a curse” too strong? Perhaps. As wonderful as it is to spend time with family during the holidays (I’m so excited to see everyone!), it can also create a lot of tension.  “Are you seeing anybody?” “When are you going to have a baby already?” and all manner of awkward [...]

It’s easy to get caught up in your own world of schedules and whirlwind this time of year. One of the most helpful things to do can be to open up to a different perspective. So much great advice has been shared in the comments lately that I wanted to highlight some of the suggestions [...]

As Billy Ocean is fond of saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This Christmas, I think that could more appropriately interpreted as, “When times get tough, the tough get smart.” If the thought of buying a carload full of indulgent gifts (don’t forget customized wrapping, of course) makes you feel queasy, [...]

I’m a big fan of making your own traditions, ones that work for your family and provide joy instead of stress or obligation. As the approach of the holiday season approaches with all the subtlety of 2 x 4 smack to the head, I realized that I had no way to mark the transition. B [...]