Just For Fun

I began babysitting for my high school cheerleading coach, Toni, when I was about 14 years old. At that time, she had one boy, Carter, and was pregnant with Lauren. By the time I graduated high school she had three, beautiful children whom I loved and cared for as if they were my own little brothers and sister. Right before I went away for college, Toni asked me to go on vacation with her family and her brother’s family of four to help with the kids. I said yes, and we had a great time. However, on the very last night of our trip, something went terribly wrong… I woke up that last morning to someone nudging my shoulder and saying my

It’s finally summertime, and I want to make family memories! I can’t help but think back on all the sweet times I had as a kid during summer break. Days on end in bathing suits, melted popsicle juice running down my cheeks, and bare feet on the grass created some of my fondest memories (and I know I can’t possibly be alone in this)! Since that’s what this season is all about, I’ve created a 50-item summer bucket list. Some are free and easy, and others are more involved, but they’re all sure to leave you and your brood smiling as you mark this summer as one to go down in the books. Plus, Mama, having a little fun will help these

I’m a 46-year-old wife and mother who wears a lot of hats, and often those hats aren’t exactly straight on my head. When I was a young teen, I never wanted to be one of those women who had a purse with them all the time. I wanted to buck the trend that a woman needed a bag to perform whatever duties were expected of her when I got to that stage of life. I fought that cultural norm hard, so hard, often to the point of massive inconvenience or causing significant discomfort to those in my inner circle. Then I became an adult and realized the benefits of a purse far outweighed the negatives—my chapstick was always at the ready, tampon—check, wallet wasn’t getting lost under the

Many moments in life are great—like finding out you got a hefty pay raise or embarking on your much-anticipated summer vacation. But have you ever bought a dress and discovered it has pockets? Hardly anything else compares to that kind of joy! We have found there are few things that make all women happy. So, to offer a few, many of our writers chimed in on some of their favorite weird things that make them happy. We thought we’d compile them and share the fun with you. Here are the things for us that are totally worth celebrating and never fail to put a smile on our faces. 50 Weird things that make all women happy. 1. Pockets…pockets, pockets everywhere. 2. When

If you’re like me, puppies make you smile, kittens make you purr, and ducklings make you “awww” aloud. Pets, especially family pets, are good for the soul, and they are also proven to help your mental health and decrease depression. They make you laugh so hard you pee your pants a little. They frustrate you and teach life lessons, even when you’re 45 years old! Obviously not everyone is a pet person, and I’ve met my share of people who definitely wouldn’t pass the patience test. However, most people appreciate pets and the joy they bring to someone’s life. COVID restrictions, quarantines, and lockdowns made me and my family (well, mostly me) want more pets, more animals, more joy. Even our relatives