Lisa Endlich's Blog, page 158

38 Savory and Sweet Snacks That Your Family Will Love

In my family, we are big believers in the power of a family meal  to bring us together. But as the mom, I take our snacking pretty seriously too. After all, what is more likely to bring everyone out of their own rooms than the sound of popcorn popping or the timer going off on…

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I Don’t Care What My Teens Look Like When They Are In Public

My daughter’s closet was stocked before she was born. By that I mean she had a pink fur coat, a matching hat, several pairs of shoes in every style, and a wardrobe that put mine to shame. Yes, I know it was unnecessary but it was so fun for me I couldn’t stop myself. She…

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Photo Christmas Card: When You Know It’s Time to Give Up The Tradition

Way back when my oldest daughter was a year old, we started a tradition of taking a Christmas card photo. Every year on a Sunday around Thanksgiving, my husband and I would stage our own photo shoot, attempting to get the best possible picture of our three daughters and the dog. We’d pose them holding…

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Our Gift Opening Rule Is One I Loved From Christmas Mornings as a Kid

Spoiler alert: there’s a lot of cereal in this pile of gifts from Christmas Past. We don’t follow any “gift rules” in our house. I know lots of parents love the three-presents plan, symbolizing gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the biblical Christmas story. I know other families who are fans of the rhyming four-gifts rule:…

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“Facts of Life” Stars Reunited for a Lifetime Holiday Movie

A few weeks ago on date night, while emerging from the bathroom completely primped with a head full of very bouncy hair, I did an epic hair flip for my husband. His immediate response? “Lookin’ good, BLAIR!!” And there it was-one of the many inside jokes we share referencing one of the greatest television sitcoms…

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Open International Adoption: We Found for Our Childrens’ Birth Mothers

When we began the process to adopt my daughter Olivia from Guatemala in 2002, we never considered open adoption. Why would we? No one mentioned it—not our agency, not our social worker, not our in-country facilitator. I hadn’t known it was possible. Over the course of my life, I’d been close with people who are…

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Dear Kids, You’ve Already Given Me What I Want Most For Christmas

Dear Kids, The other day, you asked me what I want from you for Christmas. I love you for asking. I could certainly produce a list. Unlike your father (Mr. “everything I need comes with an extended warranty and has to be scheduled onto our insurance”), I can come up with gift ideas commensurate with…

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How to Plan a DIY Girls’ Weekend This Winter: 7 Easy Ideas

Do you have a daughter who will be home for an extended winter break? Are you looking for a way to do something fun with your mom or your sister during the holidays or the long winter months that follow? For some families, the ongoing pandemic might mean changing travel plans or foregoing some traditional…

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Inexpensive Christmas Gifts Teens Can Give Their Friends and Family

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it is time to start looking for gifts for your family and friends. Although as a college student, most of us don’t have a lot of money to spend on gifts. Here are some inexpensive gift ideas you can get your friends! These ideas will work for birthdays and…

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How to Add Magic to the Holidays: 7 Traditions for Families With Teens

There’s nothing like the magic of the holidays with little ones. Sadly, once our kids stop believing in Santa and start sleeping in on Christmas morning, it can feel like all the magic is gone. This time of year, parents of big kids sometimes feel a little wistful and long for the days when  joy…

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