Are you ever really ready to have a baby? I don’t think so. But babies don’t wait for you to mature to the appropriate level; they mature you. Six months after David and I got married, we found out we were going to be parents. We weren’t even used to each other yet–what were we going to do with another…
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Some of the best kinds of visits are unexpected. The friends who just happened to be passing through, a surprise visit from Aunt Judy, a neighbor dropping by. I’m always delighted by visits, either unexpected or anticipated. And sometimes I’m more prepared for last-minute guests than other times! It helps that we live five minutes away from a Walmart and can grab food…
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Wedding dresses are supposed to be the first major expense when you’re planning a wedding (unless you have to pay for the venue in advance). This is the funny but true story of how I made money on my wedding dress instead of spending it. Wedding dresses don’t have to break the bank. I found my dream wedding dress from a…
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I grew up in the South, to a dad from South Arkansas and a mom from North Minnesota. That makes me the strange mix of redneck squirrel-mulligan-eater and ja-sure-ya-betcha Scandinavian farm girl. My last name, Hartley, was solidly English. The only time it ever caused me problems was between-countries in Central America. “Ana ElisaBET!” was what I answered to when…
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Why make your home a smart home? Because you can monitor your home’s security, keep your home energy-efficient even when you are away, and perform simple tasks without leaving your toddler’s side. My husband, David, adds that it’s for “ease of use and convenience in your home.” He is all about technology; I am a reluctant semi-convert. I was not…
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