If you’re still stumped on gift ideas for someone, you might consider one of my go-tos: assemble the tools they need to enjoy a special evening. This gift is easy to put together, can cost as little or as much as you want (depending on how many things you include), and is fairly universal. A …
After everyone worked from home Monday and Tuesday during the snowstorm, the past Wednesday through Friday was absolutely insane. Schedules were shifted, meetings were hurried, and we all scrambled to make deadlines. Happily, by the end of the day yesterday I had taken care of all the essentials and was ready for my holiday vacation. …
I began this blog right around Thanksgiving last year, so several of my earliest posts were related to the holiday season. For anyone who missed them, or wants to revisit, here they are gathered in one convenient spot. 🙂 Unconventional Holiday Music, in which I remind you of, or introduce you to, a collection of …
I tend to spend a lot of money at Christmastime. In addition to my family, I buy gifts for coworkers and my circle of friends. I’m always on the lookout for the perfect gift, and I rarely consider price. I mean, I’m not going to go crazy and buy things that I can’t afford, but I’ve been …
As I mentioned last week, during the holidays I plan something special for each of my three nieces. Cassidy, age 9, is developing quite a love for show tunes and musicals, and has probably become the second biggest fan in our family (the first being yours truly). So last Saturday found us at the Fox …
The ability to access work resources remotely has greatly increased over the course of my professional life, and it can be a mixed blessing. Sometimes (not often, but occasionally) I regret being so plugged in, as it can allow work issues to intrude in situations where I’d prefer they stay more distant. Generally, though, I …
As I mentioned in my Gingerbread House Day post, my plans to decorate a cookie house with my niece fell through, so I drafted my friend Mike to help me in the endeavor. Here are some highlights Mike: So I’m filling in for an eight year old? Amanda: Exactly. Mike: Good, because that’s about my …
National Cat Herders Day is actually tomorrow, but I have something else planned for tomorrow’s post, so I’m saluting chaos coordinators a day early. I’ve loved the expression “like herding cats” since the first time I heard it, and there are so many situations where it applies (my nieces’ birthday parties, my friends on a …
During the holidays, I always plan a special day or evening with each of my three nieces. This year, when I asked four year old Carly what she wanted to do, she said, “Eat spaghetti”. I suggested several more unique activities, but she was set on spaghetti (like I said, she’s four). So last night …
That’s right: National Gingerbread House Day is a real thing, and how awesome is that? Making a gingerbread house was one of my new experience goals, but I have to admit I’ve had some difficulty pulling it off. My plan was to take a class with my sister Amy and one of my nieces, but …
Amanda Cade 