I made a pumpkin pie with my 12-year old son and his two little girl friends last week. The experience was less about the baking and more about the joys of pre-adolescent hormones. There was nonstop giggling the whole time.  It is the first sign that my little boy is growing-up – that he now enjoys the presence of girls!

During breaks within the flirtations, we made Paula Deen’s pumpkin pie recipe.   This turned out really well. The secret weapon here is ginger.

I am so grateful for family and friends during this time of year, and it makes me want to loved ones from miles away.  I send Thanksgiving emails to grandparents, cousins, college friends, etc.  Doozycards’s  free thanksgiving ecards are great for  those taking advantage of our special free ecard trial offer.  This year we have lots of new Thanksgiving ecards in production.  My favorite Thanksgiving ecard is Thanksgiving Golden Retrievers.

Aren’t they so cute!! This has been a popular Thanksgivng ecard on our site.  Bennett and I love golden retrievers.  We hope your pets will be invited to your Thanksgiving dinner table!  In the meantime, have fun baking your pumpkin pies and sending Thanksgiving ecards.

This year, the new summer vacation happens at home. Here are some ideas how to make your money saving stay-cation as fun as a trip to Aruba. Tap into your inner vacationer and enjoy the trip.

1. Put a lei on yourself and the dog.

2. Set up a Buffet table in the living room: use a white table cloth and then set out pastries, fresh fruit served in half a carved out watermelon. Have coffee, mimosas and a newspaper (subscribe for the “Aruba Today” newspaper to be delivered to your home).

3. Play Calypso steel drum music and open the doors for a breeze (or just blast the air conditioner).

4. Put colorful drink umbrellas in blended drinks, your hair, the kids’ sandwiches. Also an excellent choice for poking anyone who isn’t taking the stay-cation seriously.

5. Create an outdoor bar with a bowl of nuts and iced drinks in a blender. Remember to set out a tip jar (more savings for you!)

6. Visit your newly created in-home spa: put Eucalyptus oil on a warm, wet hand towel, recline in a dark room and put place the towel on your face for deep breathing.

7. Grab a blended drink (you see the emphasis on tropical blended drinks here; it helps the illusion) and recline on a chaise lounge with a good, non-serious book. If you’re looking for an easy read with a witty female narrator I suggest Any Place I Hang My Hat by Susan Isaacs.

8. Take a yoga class in your living room. Order yoga videos from Netflix or video store.

9. Place gourmet chocolates and fresh cut flowers on your pillows (then put the box under the pillow so you can eat them all)

10. Send summer e-cards to local friends and family letting them know how much you are enjoying your stay-cation. “Wish you were here!”

Bon Voyage!

Not too long ago, I was doin’ some window shoppin’. I’m talkin about the kind where you stare at a pair of Ferragamo peep toe sling-backs and slip into fantasy imagining them on your feet. Then, my eyes bulged out at the $700 price tag! My mamma was right when she said shoes can be like friends with little souls but they only bring temporary happiness.

Then, my friend Sylvia flashed before my eyes. I think when a friend just pops into your head, it’s an angel telling you to contact that person. And Sylvia always makes me happier than a new pair of shoes. Sylvia always looks fierce and she laughs at all my jokes. She rolls her eyes every time I tell her about some man who was actin a fool.  I have a sweet kind of missin’ for my friend, the kind that makes my heart smile. I know the very next time I talk to her it will be just like absolutely no time has passed at all and there aren’t thousands of miles separatin’ us.

Who pops into your head unannounced? Connect with them instantly with my I’m Missin You Card:

Latsha’s I Miss You

Chances are they’ve been missin’ you just as much as you have been missin’ them.

Or if you want to send Gratitude to someone far away send Across the Miles for Mothers:

And Finally I leave you with:

Top Ten Movies That Remind Me of Parenting Three Boys:
Platoon
Planet of the Apes
Return from Planet of the Apes
Altered States
Lost in Space
Conan the Barbarian
The Clash of the Titans
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
The Blob
March of the Penguins

Last month, one of my best girlfriends celebrated a landmark birthday. I won’t say which one (You’re welcome, Cindy!) but suffice it to say that diva was absolutely losin’ her mind over the whole aging thing! We ended up having to keep her knee deep in Long Islands just to keep her calm enough to open her gifts. And it really got me thinking…

Some now-dead white guy once said, “Another year older, another year wiser,” but we all know there comes a birthday where it’s just another year older, another year older and there’s not a single thing we can do about it. Sure, with age comes maturity and wisdom and the wonderful years of experience and knowledge, but wisdom ain’t all it’s cracked up to be when your butt’s flat and the twins are making friends with your knees.

Plus it’s a perfect excuse to go shopping. You should see the new shoes I am staring at. They are gorgeous.. It’s not my birthday but, like I told Cindy as she hyperventilated into a gift bag, it’s your birthday! And no matter how old you get, it is still a day of celebration dedicated to you.

Why on Earth are we all so afraid of that?
Celebrate your friend’s birth with my birthday card. To spread all my wisdom check out my eCard collection.