I think that most parent-teacher interactions are positive. Teachers generally care about students, parents generally care about students, and when there is a misunderstanding or concern, it can usually be sorted out with a little communication. But just like the world has many kinds of people, so, too, are there many kinds of teachers. And…
Basil is an easy herb to grow directly in the ground in your garden or in a small container on your patio or windowsill, but it can be hard to know what to do with the stuff besides making pesto sauce. No offense to pesto, but this Tomato Soup is a nice change of pace….
“I keep warning you. Doors and corners, kid. That’s where they get you.” — Abaddon’s Gate (The Expanse, Book 3), by James S. A. Corey Most people don’t go looking into novels for life advice … and, generally speaking, that’s probably for the best. A novel is primarily about telling a good story, and…
My husband introduced me to this chili recipe shortly after we got married. It’s based on his mother’s recipe, but he made a few tweaks to improve it, and then I made a few tweaks. This is what we ended up with. It’s simple, but everyone always enjoys it. The addition of baked beans is…
Marriage is one of the more unique and, in some ways, mysterious things humans do. For those who are religious, it is a covenant before God, a commitment until, as the officiant says, death do us part. But for the religious and non-religious alike, it also represents a great many other things: a pairing between…
I am an Aldi nerd. When I was in middle school, an Aldi opened in my hometown and my mom began shopping there for many of our grocery staples. When I grew up and got married, I began shopping at Aldi myself. I now buy about 90% to 95% of my family’s groceries at the…
There are a lot of gurus out there advertising total money makeovers and financial freedom through radical life change. There’s a place for that, but not everyone is ready for a total lifestyle change. Or, in some cases, not everyone needs a total lifestyle change. Sometimes just a few small things can start to add…
It’s a popular time of year for cleaning house, purging clutter, and generally tidying up. Small bedrooms are a unique challenge in this respect. My youngest daughter’s bedroom is 8 feet by 10 feet, or 80 square feet. The main piece of furniture in her room is a junior loft twin bed with a set of…
The following is a list that most people would say are good things. Putting your children in organized sports. Volunteering to coach organized sports. Attending PTA meetings. Volunteering to be the president of the PTA. Serving on a church committee. Volunteering to teach a church study. Volunteering to work at a church function. Volunteering to…
I generally like my house, but sometimes it gets me down. Tacked onto our refrigerator is a list of renovation and remodeling projects for the house. The stove and accompanying vent are ugly and old. Our kitchen counter tops have a sprinkling of dents and nicks. Our kitchen cabinets need to be repainted. We have…
