The Gift Exchange

Blog by Kirian McClure I can’t be the only one that always picked Christmas as my favorite holiday as a child. As much as I loved the abundance of chocolatey goodness that was Halloween (but detested the inevitable trip to the dentist soon after), there was something about the combination of wintery weather, jingling bells and [...]

The holiday season is upon us and around each day presents a new temptation for the taste buds. From the smells of pumpkin pie and gingerbread that seem to be wafting out of every oven to the beautifully photographed entrees that grace the cover of every magazine in the checkout line, this season is heaven [...]

Blog by Kirian McClure Usually, if you ask the average person what their favorite time of year is they tend to say summer. Summer certainly has its appeal but for the more body conscious among us, its obvious drawbacks as well.  Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for fall and all the amazing things that [...]

Blog by Linda Wallace A Yule log is a large and extremely hard log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in several European cultures. The Yule log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony with the purpose [...]

Blog by Linda Wallace Every year. EVERY YEAR. I find myself in the middle of December, thinking about all the Christmas shopping I have left to do, dreading the stores, dreading the expense, dreading the stress! We all know the way to avoid this, so why don’t we make an effort to try to get our holiday [...]

Blog by Kirian McClure Theres something to be said for preparation.  As those on the east coast dealing with the effects of Hurricane/Super-storm Sandy know full well, proper preparation can mean the difference between life or death.  While its likely your holiday season isn’t so fatalistic-oriented, taking the time to prepare now will save you all [...]

Blog by Tracey Graham With Thanksgiving coming up, I’ve decided to be thankful for a new way of thinking instead of stressing over all I have to do. My Thanksgiving thanks goes like this: I am so thankful that my kitchen is large. I am so thankful that my mom and grandma taught me how to cook. I am [...]

Blog by Kirian McClure Folks will usually answer Halloween or Christmas when you inquire as to what their most favorite holiday is and don’t get me wrong, those two certainly have their appeal.  Costumes are fun and candy is scrumptious, and who doesn’t love giving and receiving presents? However, there’s also a pervasive element of stress [...]

Blog by Linda Wallace Fun Facts about the First Thanksgiving: The Plymouth Pilgrims were the first to celebrate the first Thanksgiving Day at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. The Wampanoag Indians were the people who taught the Pilgrims how to cultivate the land. The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three days. It was not a feast, but rather a time when [...]

Blog by Robin Crocker When I think of Thanksgiving I think of pilgrims, cornucopia, and, most importantly, FOOD AND FAMILY! Banquet tables full of yummy food and happy people I love all squeezed together. One of my oldest and best memories is of my grandmother’s country home at Thanksgiving – sweet potatoes, apple crisp, cranberry sauce, [...]