Christmas and how the empty nest gets harder after college

Christmas and how the empty nest gets harder after college

I used to be one of those moms whose child — or children, plural — recently left for college. You know... the moms walking around with a dazed, how-the-heck-did-this-happen-so-fast look in their eyes, virtually visible cracks in their hearts as they miss the once little ones who have flown their nest. They're the moms who live for holiday breaks, spring breaks, summer breaks, for that's when their loved ones return home, back to the safety of the nest where mom can hold each one in her arms and savor the sweet scents and sounds of her babies all around.

family christmas stockings

I was one of those moms. That first year my daughters were scattered afar for schooling and such was rough. It got easier, though, as it does for all moms (and dads) whose kiddos have gone off for enrichment and enlightenment on the road to becoming full-fledged adults. I found new...

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Last of the last-minute gift ideas, plus GRAND Social No. 136 link party

Last of the last-minute gift ideas

With Christmas just days away, I bet a few of us still have a couple gifts left to get. In recognition of that, I managed to get in two more full reviews of last-minute gift ideas you may want to consider.

First, there's Just Dance 2015. I love this game/workout fun. Perhaps you have someone who would love it as much as I do. Perhaps that's you that would love it is much as I do.

just dance 2015

Click here to read my review of Just Dance 2015.

Next up is one I mentioned last...

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Saturday movie review: 'The Sapphires'

My husband and I scanned Netflix streaming the other night, in search of something uplifting and fun yet unrelated to the holidays. We happened upon THE SAPPHIRES, a 2012 film I had heard great things about but that we never had the opportunity to see in theaters here in Colorado, where the mountains are high, the skies are blue... and the independent film scene is dismal. 

Thank heavens for streaming movies, for THE SAPPHIRES turned out to be one serendipitous and soulful find.

The Sapphires

The film is an Australian musical dramedy loosely...

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