Last week, in the Seattle area, we had snow, unusual for Western Washington. Fortunately, the power didn’t go out so we got by with little trouble. While I was dealing with weather issues, here’s what my blogger friends were writing about: Read more →

Recently, I wrote about where to donate clothes you no longer want to wear, including those that are worn out. I listed the usual locations – Goodwill and the Salvation Army – and donating to retailers such as H&M. I also reported on what environmentalists have to say about the huge amount of clothing that ends up in landfills here and overseas. Read more →

My memories of Thanksgiving include family trips to Cashmere, Washington, to my great aunt Mable Kenyon’s home for a fabulous meal, how to go to both parents’ homes for the celebration after I was married, and my mom enjoying the Thanksgiving dinners I cooked after she was no longer able to make them. Read more →

It’s Halloween, time to get the treats ready, and maybe a costume for you and the kids, too. I got a kick out of reading an article from my blog coach, J. Money at Budgets Are Sexy, on some good – and frugal costumes. Among them is static cling, wear normal clothes and safety pin socks and lint to it. Read more →

Americans are returning to Halloween fun this year, with total spending expected to reach a record $10.6 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.1 billion. Usually, it’s easy to write about the most popular Halloween costumes. You read about a dozen lists and get an idea of what’s being purchased. Read more →

Are you planning to dress up for Halloween this year? Have a party? Hand out candy? When I worked in an office and had co-workers, I dressed up often for Halloween. See the photo to the left. I was “Miss Orondo,” Orondo being the rural center where I grew up in Central Washington. Read more →

Babies are among the most precious things in the world. I was fortunate to have two wonderful daughters, and luckily, they survived childhood although not as much was known back then on child safety. Here are 10 top tips that parents, grandparents, and caregivers need to follow to keep babies safe: Read more →

The Super Bowl ads for 2022 were mostly disappointing. Although a few had a good message, the overall feel of the game show was dystopian. A QR code drifting across the screen, ads for apps and betting websites I’d never heard of, and supposedly clever ads featuring stars from TV series I’ve never seen. Read more →

Before we know it, Halloween will be here. It’s a fun time, but safety also needs to be considered. Nearly 4,000 Halloween-related injuries occur yearly in the United States. Common Halloween mishaps are slips, trips, and falls; lacerations, burns, and eye injuries; food poisoning; costume related injuries; and pedestrian accidents. Read more →

Consumer spending on Halloween-related items is expected to reach an all-time high of $10.14 billion, up from $8.05 billion in 2020. About 65 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, up from 58 percent in 2020 and compared to 68 percent in 2019 before the covid-19 pandemic. Read more →