Adult slumber parties, plus GRAND Social No. 147 link party for grandparents

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Adult slumber parties

I hope your weekend was fabulous! Mine was, thanks to a slumber party I attended Saturday night. A slumber party at a mountain lodge with lovely women with whom I've been friends for more than 35 years yet I hadn't seen all but one of them in more than a decade.

We started with lunch at a yummy Mexican food spot then headed on over to the lodge. We talked and laughed and cried and reminisced and drank lots of wine until late, late, late. Then we got up Sunday morning and started all over again—with coffee instead of wine, of course.

high school friends 

It was a truly...

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11 men I'd love to hug other than my husband

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As many of you know, about a year and a half ago I was called out of the audience at a national conference by none other than movie star Andy Garcia. He invited me to the front of the stage, in front of hundreds of conference attendees, so he could simply give me a hug. (If you missed that story—or just want to giggle about it again—you can read "On Andy Garcia and me" here.)

Now, when I met (and hugged) Mr. Garcia, I was shocked, surprised, delighted! I never, ever expected such a thing might come of my writing in a movie review of Garcia's latest film that I'd love to give the guy a hug. So if that is all it takes to get a hug from a man I admire—simply putting it down in writing for all the Internet to see—here are eleven other men I'd love to hug...and why:

men to hug

David Sedaris. He doesn't seem the hugging type, so Mr. Sedaris would likely...

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Saturday movie PREview—and giveaway: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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The last time my husband and I went to see a movie at the theater, we did as we always do: Jim headed off for the popcorn while I made my way to the theater to nab our seats. As I sought out the correct theater, a middle-aged couple walked just ahead of me. Suddenly the woman stopped in her tracks as her hubby kept walking. The woman was mesmerized by the movie poster in the hallway.

As I got closer, I realized what had caught her eye... and I joined her in front of the colorful, oversized promotion for THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.

second best exotic marigold hotel

"I can't wait to see this! Did you see the first one?" she asked in dreamy tone.

"Oh, yeah," I said in an equally smooth voice as we...

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Encourage grandkids to learn more about science and nature during playtime

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Dear readers: As I mentioned yesterday, I'm off playing in the desert with my grandsons. In light of that, I offer you here a guest post of sorts — playtime suggestions courtesy StatePoint Media.

dinosaur toys

Have any budding scientists in your family? If your grandchildren are fascinated by nature, dinosaurs, and other cool science subjects, you can help foster their interests by turbo-charging their playtime to fit their favorite topics.

"Learning is not just for the classroom or a formal setting," says Dr. Lise Eliot, early childhood...

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Salvaging content from disappointment

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When I review products, my policy is to post reviews on those products my readers will appreciate. I prefer to not bash goods from good folks with good intentions whose only downfall is wares warranting a lukewarm "meh" in my opinion; I simply don't publish reviews on such products. (Though I do promise to publish warnings to steer clear of dangerous or deceptive goods, if such come my way.)

baby tub time

With that in mind, my grandsons recently reviewed a product they — and their mom — didn't find...

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Saturday movie review: 'Nativity!' (redux)

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Dear readers: About this time last year I reviewed the comedic Christmas film NATIVITY!, which upon my first viewing of it in 2011, it became a fast favorite of mine. I think it's truly a must-see holiday family film, so I'm sharing a second serving of my review from last year, which I then titled Saturday movie review: Obscure, must-see Christmas film edition. Enjoy!

So you've gone through the classic (and not so classic) Christmas movies. You've watched it all, from White Christmas to Polar Express, A Christmas Carol from various years to A Christmas Story for sure, on to The Grinch, Love, Actually, While You Were Sleeping and possibly even Joyeux Noel, too (those last three being faves of mine). Yet you're still craving more festive film fun.

Well, my friends, have you seen NATIVITY!?

NATIVITY!

No, not that nativity. This NATIVITY! — which, if you've followed Grandma's Briefs...

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29 holiday jokes for kids

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29 holiday jokes for kids

'Tis the season of joy, and there's no more joyful sound than that of children's laughter. Share these jokes with your favorite kiddos to elicit some of that joyful noise this merry time of year.

 holiday jokes for kids

Where do snowmen keep their money?
In a snow bank.

What do you call a...

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Saturday movie review: Wild Canaries

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Unfortunately I cannot tell you when this movie will be released theatrically. I can tell you, though, that the minute you get the chance to see WILD CANARIES, you absolutely must. This funky, romantic, comedic, screwball murder mystery is in a class of its own and not to be missed.

WILD CANARIES directed by Lawrence Michael Levine stars Levine as Noah and his...

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Don't freefall backward down the slide, plus other tips learned in a bounce house

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Because my grandsons have an in-ground trampoline at their house, you wouldn't think they'd get much fun out of the Bounce-A-Round I reviewed a while back — which Bubby and Mac had not yet seen. During their visit a couple weeks ago, though, once Patrick brought his son over and the inflatable bouncing thingamajig was inflated, Bubby, Bud and Mac had a boisterous bouncing blast.

bounce a round

A couple days later, the bouncing blast was supersized when PawDad...

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