The Duke rides again! Movies and money mark the INSP Duke Days of Summer!

The Duke rides again! Movies and money mark the INSP Duke Days of Summer!

This post is in partnership with the INSP Network.

When I was a kid, John Wayne film reruns were a staple of early Sunday morning television. It was on those Sunday screenings (via what would now be considered a super small screen) that I came to adore the Duke. Whether starring in a western or war flick, Wayne proved every bit …

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On the third day of Christmas baking with Sweet'N Low®: Three French Hens, er, French Butter Cookies

On the third day of Christmas baking with Sweet'N Low®: Three French Hens, er, French Butter Cookies

I partnered with Sweet’N Low® to bring you this special “12 Days of Christmas” recipe.

The Christmas countdown has begun! This year, I’m singing along to “12 Days of Christmas” with Sweet’N Low® and celebrating the holiday season with a new recipe inspired by the classic song.

The makers of America's favorite pink zero-calorie sweetener selected a dozen bloggers—one for each day of the song—and tasked each with sharing a holiday recipe based on our assigned verses. My verse? The third day of Christmas, that of “Three French Hens” fame!

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Grand giveaway: Grandparent journals and Logitech webcam make connecting with grandchildren simple

Grand giveaway: Grandparent journals and Logitech webcam make connecting with grandchildren simple

Win a perfect prize for connecting with grandchildren now... and later

Both of my grandmothers lived far away from me when I was a child. My maternal grandmother—the one the longest distance from me but closest to my heart—got in the habit as I got older of writing letters a few times a year, filling me in on the simple day-to-day of her senior years.

Gramma was always intentional in staying in touch with me, up until her arthritic hands could no longer write and my return letters—typed in large, bold-face font for easier reading—were no longer easy to read at all as her vision had failed. Had webcams been around prior to her passing, I'm pretty sure Gramma would have been keen on connecting via the high-tech wonder.

Those handwritten letters from my grandmother are among my most cherished possessions. I still have every one. And though I loved reading of her ordinary everyday doings, I now long for more. I wish she would have shared her family story, her personal longings, her dreams and wishes and deeper thoughts on the virtues and values she held close and hoped to instill in her progeny.

My desire for something tangible showcasing such sentiments from my grandma is what makes me so excited to share this giveaway.

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Every dog has a tale: Mickey, IAMS, and a dog named Duck

My youngest daughter, now 30 years old, had an interesting technique for naming her pets when she was young. She would consider things she admired or loved, then name the animal after that. It made for interesting conversation, as well as curious glances from neighbors when the cat she'd named "Shannon"—after her oldest sister's friend, whom she adored—got out at night. Neighbors who didn't know us well surely wondered about the child who required our nightly shouts to return home.

When our youngest went off to college and my husband and I rescued an abandoned puppy, we wanted our daughter to still feel she had a hand in the doings at home despite being hundreds of miles away. So we allowed her to name the pup. Following her standby pet-naming technique, our daughter considered the Caramel Macchiato coffee drinks she'd been consuming between classes and how the coloring of our new dog perfectly matched the creamy, tan, and brown of her favorite caffeine kick.

pit/pointer puppy

"Caramel Macchiato!" she gleefully gave us the name.

Being unwilling to back down on our promise...

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Put meds up and away for Grandparents Day... and every day #MedsUpAway

medsupaway

I was just a wee bit older than my oldest grandson — who's currently 6 — when I discovered treasures in the bathroom. I recall checking that no siblings or parents were around, then slinking into the main floor bath, quietly closing the door and locking it, then climbing atop the vanity to stand and face the cabinet as my feet straddled the sink.

I'd then open the mirrored door and peruse the goodies inside. I'd open the makeup...

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