This holiday season I got the opportunity to don the red hat and beard and play Santa himself at our local rec center pool. Instead of the usual fuzzy warm suit, I got to wear swimming trunks and a Hawaiian shirt along with a padded belly and sit out on the play feature where the kids go to use the slide and water cannons.

I have three beautiful children, who no matter what many think, still need me. I’ve been blessed to be home with my children most of their lives. I’ve had side jobs, but nothing that really kept me away—until now. Between running our family owned businesses and our hourly jobs my husband and I are time [...]

This is the perfect after school snack! This recipe was inspired by a  Better Homes and Gardens booklet I found. Ingredients: 1 1/4 cups water 1/3 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 4 eggs 3/4 cup (3oz) finely chopped pepperoni (I only had half the amount on hand and thought it still turned out [...]

Family is a major part of your happiness and the family room is where you spend time with them. Those whom you love the most (and who probably drive you crazy at times), are the same individuals you can walk around in your pj’s without your teeth brushed, no make up and crazy hair. You [...]

Sugar cookies have always seemed so bland to me unless you added lots of frosting. My mind was changed when eating a friends cookies a couple years ago. I immediately got a copy of her recipe and have been using it ever since. I was excited to pull out the recipe to make for the [...]

I’ve been making this yummy soup for years. It is especially good in a bread bowl or with warm rolls out of the oven. 6 cups diced peeled potatoes* 5 cups water 2 cups diced onions 1/2 cup diced celery 1/2 cup chopped carrots 4 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cups diced [...]

How does the basement affect your happiness? According to ,”The basement is where all your childhood hurts and torments are stowed away in cabinets and under the stairs. You would rather not revisit them, but you have to in order to understand how you think and feel today.” We all have something in our lives [...]

This is a delicious cake that my grandmother always seemed to have sitting on the dessert table at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have found it to be a great cake to feed a crowd and very inexpensive to make. Texas Sheet Cake 1 c. butter, melted 1 c. water (hot) 3 Tbsp. cocoa 2 Eggs [...]

Blogs & Websites I visit often: Balancing Beauty & Beadlam Money Saving Mom Daily Worth The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Groupon Denver Bargains What are your favorite blogs and websites? I always love finding something new.

I’m working on teaching my boys to cook. They are only 6 & 5 years old. My 5 year old was shocked to learn that when he went to college I wouldn’t be there to cook his meals. My 6 year old’s solution … to get married, but then he remembered a story he had [...]