Category Archives: Family

Oct26

Turn The TV Off And Spend Some Time As A Family

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Turn The TV Off And Spend Some Time As A Family

TV and movie time as a family is great but getting out and being active together is even better! Here are some tips for creating some fun new memories sans the telly!

Turn The TV Off And Spend Some Time As A Family:

There’s no point shying away from the fact that technology has had a big impact on ours’ and our children’s lives. Gone are the days when kids would spend their time bike riding, climbing trees, and playing outside. Nowadays, most children prefer to spend their time watching movies or playing computer games. Of course, technology is highly beneficial and has improved our lives in a lot of ways.

However, in many ways, it has impacted family time. Making it just a little bit harder to get the quality time that as families, we need. That being said, just because technology makes it harder to have quality family time, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. It’s just a case of coming up with ideas for spending time as a family that don’t include the TV or games consoles but are still fun and appealing to the kids.

Take a Camping Trip: One of the most exciting parts of any childhood is going on a camping trip. Kids love adventure, which is why taking a family camping trip is a great idea. The kids will be excited to spend some time out in the wilderness, a campsite, or even your own backyard; and you can look forward to spending some quality time together.

It doesn’t matter whether you go for one night or several nights, all that matters is that you’re doing something as a family. You can build campfires, roast marshmallows, and play games together. If you’re not keen on sleeping under the stars, how about going glamping instead? (My kind of camping!!) To keep the good times rolling, it is a smart idea to invest in Easy install kits for your camper so you can be connected in case of an emergency during your trip.

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 Cheese!

Start a New Family Hobby: Another way to spend some time together as a family is to start a new hobby together. This doesn’t have to be anything too time-consuming, just something that you can all do and enjoy together. Think about what yours’ and your children’s likes and dislikes are and then go from there.

Say, for example; your kids love treasure hunts and you love walking. If this is the case, Geocaching could be the ideal hobby to take up. Geocaching is where you use an app to direct you to the hidden treasure – AKA little things that other people have hidden. This may not be 100 percent technology-free but the app only acts as a map and gives you clues, it’s not the main part of the hobby. The fun part is trying to find the things that have been hidden. For kids, it’s a ton of fun and encourages them to get out of the house and be active.

Or maybe, you’re pretty handy at sewing. Why not make teaching your kids to sew your family hobby? Get your children a sewing book. Look online at the best beginner sewing machine for kids to ensure that you pick the right one. Spend some time teaching them how to sew. Sewing might be a slightly outdated hobby, but it can still be a lot of fun. Whether you’re making new clothes for dolls, Halloween costumes, or just putting some fun patches on a pair of jeans, the main idea is that you’re creating something together!

Cook Together: Reserving one night a week for a family cooking night is another possibility. Each week, spend one night cooking together as a family. This could be trying something new or it could be making simple things like pizza. It’s not about what you cook but about having some fun, getting a little messy, and teaching your kids some new culinary skills. To vamp up this idea even more, you could dedicate each week to creating a meal from a different culture. This will encourage your children to try new things as well as cultivate a sense of adventure when it comes to different foods.

Live Shows: For a change of pace in your entertainment, how about seeing a live show? From plays and musicals to concerts and magicians, it is so exciting to break away from the screen and see something in real life. Whether you are enjoying Christmas tunes like those performed in this Pigeon Forge Show or laughing away at a comedian, it is sure to create lasting memories. Perhaps every few months a member of your family could pick the entertainment outing so everyone gets a say in an event.

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 Pixabay Image

What are some of your favorite TV free activities to do as a family? How about your favorite meal to cook together? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

The Golden Rules Of Keeping Your Family In Great Shape

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The Golden Rules Of Keeping Your Family In Great Shape

It seems health crises are popping up all over the place these days. It might be obesity one day; a rise in diabetes the next – it’s clear there is an ongoing concern for the state of the nation’s health. It made me think of what we should all be doing to protect our families and loved ones.

We are all responsible, of course – particularly if you have children. With this in mind, I have been scouring the web and have developed my golden rules for excellent family health. Read on to find out more about my choices:

Immunize: Are you immunizing your children – or yourselves – against nasty diseases and conditions? So many parents are failing to take their responsibilities seriously by avoiding them and it’s such a shame. We could have left plenty of serious illnesses like polio and diphtheria in the past. But instead, some people’s failure to take baby immunizations seriously means that there could be a lot of problems in the future.

Diet: Head to your local park and you will see people of all shapes and sizes. Each to their own, I say – but I do take exception when I see so many overweight kids. It’s nothing short of scary – it just wasn’t like this even a decade ago. Now, kids run around – a lot. So when you see so many larger children, it’s clear there is a problem in society with diet. Too much sugary or fatty foods and an inability to teach basic nutrition are going to cost us all in the future. Great nutrition should be the building block of a healthy family. Parents – it’s time to step up the plate.

Exercise: Are you setting your kids a good example when it comes to fitness? Getting plenty of exercise will help you keep a healthy body and mind, but it also benefits your children. They will learn to enjoy exercise at an early age and will love doing things with you. Get your family more active and you will reap the rewards. I know not all children are sporty, but you don’t have to be to keep fit. Even going out for regular adventures in the woods can have a positive impact on the health of your kids.

Relationships: Keeping your relationships strong is another way to keep your family in great condition. Communication is key and it’s always a good idea to help your kids learn to speak well and let their thoughts out. Also, be careful about how you feel about your partners and children. Cultivating positive thoughts about everyone is a great way to strengthen relationships between everyone.

Challenges: Creating weekly challenges for your family is a great way to help children gain confidence in trying new things that are outside of their comfort zone. Doing challenges together as a family is also an awesome way to teach children the value of exploration. Even going to a different play park or swimming pool once in awhile can help. And, it also gives you that sense of adventure that can make your family bonds even stronger.

Are there any other golden rules of keeping your family in great shape? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct14

Kids And Pets: Teaching Your Children Responsibility The Adorable Way

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Kids And Pets: Teaching Your Children Responsibility The Adorable Way

My first pet was a guinea pig way back when in the fifth grade. He was the most precious little thing – black and white with a brown circle around his left eye. My fifth grade level of creativity settled on the name of Oreo and he was simply the best. I have always been really fond of small, furry animals and now the latest battle is getting my boyfriend to get me a bunny! So far I have been unsuccessful but that’s nothing that a little persistence can’t cure! Check out some more ideas for pets that are perfect for children in this article:

Kids And Pets: Teaching Your Children Responsibility The Adorable Way:

Any parent knows the feeling that creeps up when the kids decide that they want a pet. There is a conversation that always takes place between the parent, who is keen and reluctant at the same time, and the kids. You know that there will be early enthusiasm, followed by distraction. You will be left being the one who looks after the pet – which you won’t mind, but there are valuable lessons about responsibility here.

It doesn’t help that the most usual pets are the ones who often require the most looking after. Everyone loves a kitten or a puppy. As they grow, though, they need to be seen through some milestones. Unless you want a misbehaving adolescent dog or a litter of surprise kittens, they need to be “fixed”. And if they act out while you’re away from home, it’s carnage. So to get kids used to looking after a pet, a less high-maintenance one may be a great start.

Birds: Noisy And Full Of Character, But Not Too Much Stress: A tropical bird can be one of the most enjoyable pets for kids and adults alike. It is advisable to find one that is already habituated to humans. Find a hand raised Amazon for sale and look forward to some of the most entertaining years of your life.

Of course, they need to be fed but that’s no sweat. Even the most squeamish kid can find the fun in feeding bits of fruit to a parrot. And be careful of your children trying to teach the parrot rude words. It’s almost inevitable, but the more attention you pay, the less likely there will be “hilarious consequences.”

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Bird is the word

Tortoises: The Anti-Parrot (In Most Ways): If you’re looking for a low maintenance pet, you can’t go far wrong with a tortoise. Your kids may initially be skeptical. You can’t take a tortoise for a walk on a leash, or teach it to beg for scraps. However, they are sociable and patient animals. One major advantage that they have is that they can live to a ripe old age. Anyone who has ever consoled a child through the loss of a pet knows how much of a relief this is.

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TURTLE!!

Guinea Pigs: Full Of Fun And Easy To Handle: If you’re looking for something in the small rodent family, then the Guinea Pig is the ideal pet to get your kids used to furry friends. They’re highly sociable and don’t mind being handled. They also know when they are about to be fed, which leads to an excitable squeak that the kids will adore. And when they’re euphoric, they do something called “popcorning.” On that, we’ll let the video speak – or squeak – for itself.

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So. CUTE!

Of course, you will need to talk seriously with your kids from time to time about how to look after a pet. Naturally, their attention spans are not at the same level as yours. But as they gain the skills to care for a pet, you can think about cats and dogs too. Just watch out if you have a cat and a parrot. Cats like to chase birds, and they may see an adult parrot as the ultimate challenge!

What was your first pet? What kind of pet do you have now? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct8

Vacation Photos

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Vacation Photos

Hi everyone and happy weekend! I arrived back home in good ol’ CFalls, Ohio this past Wednesday after a wonderful week away in Asheville, North Carolina with my family. We had an amazing time hiking, horse back riding, apple picking, EATING, and shopping! My family had visited Asheville in June and we liked it so much that we just had to come back and this time our two dogs, Ollie and Gem, joined us for the festivities. 🙂 ❤

Take a look at some of my favorite photos from our fall vacation:

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^^^ So. Much. FUN!!

Fun fact for ya, the butterfly, hummingbird, and duck pictures are all made out of LEGOS! They were being featured at the North Carolina Arboretum and they were so incredible! Asheville treated the Mushenheims so well and my only regret is that I’m not there right this minute! Have a fab weekend, everyone! Much love. -Sarah

Aug25

Crocker Park Haul

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Crocker Park Haul

Hello everyone and happy Thursday! Last week my mom, sister, and I went to my favorite place in the whole wide world…Crocker Park! For those of you who aren’t familiar with this amazing, luxurious, Ohio outdoor mall – just know that it is truly the happiest place on earth. It is a little heaven manifested in Westlake where blocks upon blocks of clothing, makeup, and home goods stores reside. Stores like Urban Outfitters, H&M, Francesca’s, American Eagle, Bath & Body Works, Anthropology, Express, MAC, and Sephora…just to name a few! I made two purchases during our shopping outing and I’m seriously obsessed so take a look and let’s discuss:

The Haul:

  • Urban Outfitters Ecote brand dress
  • Francesca’s Miami brand flannel

Urban Outfitters: If I’m lucky, I make it out to Crocker Park about two times a year. Whenever I’m there, there are two stores that I always try to at least purchase something at and those are Urban Outfitters and H&M. Crocker Park is the only location with both of those stores and since it is about an hour drive away, I obviously don’t get to shop there frequently. Unfortunately, H&M had nothing that caught my eye during this shopping trip but I was so happy to find this gorgeous print dress on sale at Urban Outfitters!

Before our outing, my mom and I were chatting about what color clothing that we like to wear the best while we were walking our dogs. During which, I told her that I would love to find something gold or mustard yellow when we go to Crocker Park because I don’t mean to brag but those colors look dashing on me. 😉 I had my eyes peeled in every store we went into for something that fitted the color palette I was looking for. I struck out in almost all of them until my sister found my pretty little new number in the sale section of Urban. I had saw the dress but I skipped past it because the fit of it usually isn’t the most flattering on me. However, Kristen urged me to try it on so I did.

As soon as the dress was on, I knew that it was perfect. The colors were phenomenal and the fit was just right. It was flowy and fun as opposed to baggy and lifeless. When I walked out of the fitting room, my mom said that it was exactly what she was hoping I would find after our dog walking chat and my heart just melted. I love my new dress so much and I’m actually wearing it right now as I type this! ❤

Francesca’s: Of all of the seasons that Ohio experiences, fall is my all time favorite. About seventy-five percent of my wardrobe consists of fall clothing because I live for fall fashion. Therefore, when I saw my new black and white flannel from Francesca’s, I knew that I had to have it. I’m a big fan of flannels but the trick is that they have to be really unique because I feel like most flannels look exactly the same. When I saw that my new flannel had embroidered patterns in the design as well as zippers going up both of the sides, I fell in love because I knew that it would stick out.

What made the flannel even more “must have” worthy was that it looked really good with the outfit that I was already wearing – a black crop top, black shorts, and forest green wedges. That made it even harder to say no to the top which completed my outfit so nicely. I liked that it was more form fitting, too. It wasn’t tight my any means but compared to all of my baggy Gypsy Warrior flannels at home, it definitely was more fitted which was a nice change. I am looking forward to wearing this flannel around campus this fall for a laid back, college cool look.

The Crocker Park outing that I had with my mom and sister was a total success but I would have been happy even if I ended up with nothing. Us girls had so much fun wandering around the outdoor mall, looking in different stores, and chattering away that it would have been worth it to go home empty handed. BUT – I’m so glad that I didn’t! 😉

So there you have it, my Crocker Park Haul! Does anyone have an outdoor mall similar to Crocker Park in their neck of the woods? How about a favorite store to shop at that you live far away from? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug9

Sephora Surprise

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Sephora Surprise

Hey everyone and happy Tuesday! Last week, my sister and I had a wonderful shopping trip to a nearby mall to get her some cute new outfits for her weekend trip to Chicago. We spent all evening in and out of different stores trying on and modeling new clothes, shoes, and accessories. Our final stop during our shopping outing was Sephora so Kristen could pick up “one thing”. Yeah, right. We spent at least forty-five minutes in the makeup emporium swatching everything from lipsticks and blushes to eyeshadows and foundations. Kristen ended up with a great makeup haul and also surprised me with a gorgeous Clinique treat. Take a look:

Once upon a time four or so years ago, my sister and I took a trip to Chicago. During one of our outings, we went shopping at the Watergate Mall (or whatever it’s called) which is eight stories high (or however many). Our first stop in the mall was at the MAC counter where I found an absolutely beautiful lavender colored blush. I was in love and it quickly became one of my makeup favorites.

I vowed to myself that as soon as I was out of the blush, I would purchase it again. I had every intention of doing so but unfortunately, when that day came, the MAC counter at my mall did not carry the shade. I was crushed. Since then, I have searched high and low for a similar shade but nothing, NOTHING could compare to the MAC blush that I loved so very much. Lucky for me, this all changed last week at Sephora…

I’ll be honest with you guys, I’m really not a big makeup girl. I literally wear the same makeup look every day and I don’t plan on changing it any time soon. My sister, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. She could spend an entire day in Sephora if she could. This is why I answered her testimony of only needing one thing there with an eyeroll because I knew that we would be there for a while.

The beauty must have that Kristen needed was a new blush from Clinique that was called “Melon Pop”. It was a beautiful peachy pink color that was going to look fantastic on her. I wasn’t very interested in any of the high end makeup that I was surrounded by, until I decided to further inspect Clinique’s new blush collection. That’s when I locked eyes on the shade called “Pansy Pop” and a montage of all the good times that I had with my MAC blush flashed before my eyes.

Kristen urged me to have one of the makeup pros that was working apply it for me but I knew that if I were to try it, I would buy it. Normally, I would be fine with this, but I have a hefty stack of textbooks that need purchased for the upcoming fall semester and those aren’t cheap! It made the twenty-two dollar a pop price for the blush seem ridiculous. As I was having a mental debate in my mind of whether to try it on or not, Kristen basically said that if I don’t, she will.

Within seconds, there was an employee, applying the blush… my blush to the apples of my sister’s cheeks. I caved instantly, and asked the worker to do mine next. The blush was divine. It layered perfectly on top of the pink blush that I was already wearing and created the most lovely field of flowers color on top of my pride and joy…my pasty pale skin. 😉

Of course, I wanted the blush badly, but I told my sister and the worker that I would think about it. All the while, I knew darn well that I should not be buying a twenty-two dollar blush at this time. I then made the solemn swear to myself that when I receive my next paycheck, I would come back for it and treat myself. The blush was not brought up for the rest of our Sephora excursion and I was glad because it hurt too much to think about it.

We finished our browsing around the store just at closing time and as far as I knew, Kristen left with two new lipsticks and the “Melon Pop” blush. As we began our walk through the mall to get to my car, Kristen told me, “by the way, I got that blush for you” and my jaw dropped. Instantly, “you really didn’t need to do that” came out of my mouth. She then answered with, “well, I knew you weren’t going to buy it for yourself” and left it at that.

Kristen seriously knows me so well because she was right. Even though I promised myself that I would get the blush soon, the chances of me following through with that were slim to none. I was so blown away by her generosity to her little sister and it just confirmed what I already know – that she is truly the best sister on the planet. Our trip to Sephora felt like I was reliving our time at the MAC counter in Chicago all of those years ago and it was so special to me to reminisce on those memories as well as make a new one.

We are still talking about how much fun we had during our most recent outing and it makes me feel good that she enjoys her time with me just as much as I do with her. Here’s to a great time and the best sisterhood a gal could ask for. I love you, Kristen! Thanks again! ❤

So there you have it, my Sephora Surprise compliments of my fabulous sister! What is your favorite item to splurge on at Sephora? What is one of your most loved makeup products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

PS: For lots of fun beauty posts, check out my MyLikes page! 🙂

Jun13

Monday Update: Vacation Pictures Edition

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Monday Update: Vacation Pictures Edition

Hi everyone and happy Monday! I have returned home from my beautiful Asheville, North Carolina family vacation and am ready to bring you the latest and greatest in my world. I have to admit, I’m not thrilled to be home since Asheville was so gorgeous! It was such a nice change to be surrounded by all of the art and nature that NC had to offer as opposed to the flat and boring Ohio. But before we begin this post, a round of applause is in order for all of my fantastic vacation guest bloggers! Thank you so much for all of your help in maintaining lifewithlilred while I was away. Great job! Now, let’s take a look at some vacation pics, shall we?

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^^^ Can I go back now, or?

My family had the best time exploring Asheville and we left with so many great memories. One of my favorites was going horseback riding for the morning through a ranch that provides trail rides on their vast 550 acre property. My horse was named Sassy and we were obviously a perfect match! Despite getting super sun burned thanks to our three hour trek, it was definitely a lot of fun!

You might notice some random pictures in the slide show like the snap of a flashlight in its packaging. That happens to be a birthday gift given to me from the Blue Mountain Pizza Company. Lol, I got a glass of wine and when they asked for my ID my dad mentioned that it was my birthday on that very day. The meal was delicious and at the end, our waiter came back with a super special birthday flashlight for yours truly because the restaurant gives presents to those who are celebrating. I can’t say that I’ll make very good use out of the flashlight so I regifted it to my dad who can at least do something with it!

One of our days was spent exploring all of the downtown shops in Asheville so make sure you check back for a post on my vaca purchases. As you can see, my mom and I proudly posed in front of a sign for Appalachian Naturals – the most amazing little homemade soap store that Asheville has to offer. We must have spent close to an hour browsing the store, selecting soaps, and chatting with the knowledgeable and helpful employees.

We left with an enormous selection of handcrafted soap, chapstick, shampoo, dog soap, bath bombs, and…a meatball? Haha, yes. One of the products that the store had to offer was a one pound ball of soap that was made from the excess shavings from the soap making process. It’s admittedly the most ridiculous thing ever but we couldn’t not get it. One of the employees told us a story about how a husband had startled his wife while she was in the shower and she ended up throwing the soap ball at him which resulted in two black eyes and a broken nose. Yikes!

The final picture of the slideshow is a family photo at El Poncho, a Mexican restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia when we went to visit my brother and his wife to start our vacation. The food was SO good and we had such a great time. I got serenaded by the mariachi band for my birthday and throughout the meal they continued to come back and play for us. At one point my parents got up to practice their Rumba and ChaCha while the band performed. They were a hit!

At the end of the meal we decided to take a family photo and everything looked awesome except for one thing. The man on the farthest right has no relation to our family. Lol, we got photobombed so hard by this guy sitting at the bar and none of us can get over how good of a job he did. He seriously looks like he belongs in the picture. When we caught the culprit after we took a look at the picture we invited him into our family as an adopted son and brother. He has yet to accept or decline this offer.

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update which displays some of the many Vacation Photos that were taken during our week in Asheville! Who is going on vaca soon? Where is your favorite spot to travel to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr10

DOGS

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DOGS

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend! As you guys know, our newest addition to the family was adopted on Valentine’s Day. He’s a little dog named Ollie and he’s seriously the cutest thing on the planet. Every day my family learns something new about Ollie and it has been recently discovered that he’s really afraid of storms.

The first major rainfall in Ohio happened a couple of weeks ago and Ollie was so scared that he retreated under my bed. We didn’t know this, though, and my dad ended up calling my boyfriend and I upstairs from the basement because he couldn’t find Ollie anywhere. We scoured all of the closets, cabinets, and corners and finally Kyle found him curled up under my bed. It was so scary not being able to find him for those few minutes so it was definitely a huge relief when Kyle discovered Ollie’s hiding place.

Now that we know of Ollie’s storm phobia we decided to break out the thunder coat that belonged to one of our past precious pooches. But the trick is, is that the thunder coat is five times too big for little Ollie! My mom and I managed to figure out a way to get the coat wrapped and secured on Ollie and he was then able to brave the next storm like the big boy that he is! Take a look:

^^^ Omg. SO cute.

I love how the thunder coat looks like a little cape on Ollie! He looks like a tiny super hero dog. The picture of me holding him was taken when it was raining and I couldn’t get over how adorable the way I was holding him was. He got himself like that on his own and it was like cradling a fury little toddler!

So there you have it, some cute new pictures of my brave wittle Ollie!! Has anyone welcomed a new pet into their home recently? How do you help comfort a pup that is afraid of storms? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr8

Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

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Happy Birthday, Sissy!!

Hello everyone and TGIF! In the past couple of weeks there have been a lot of birthdays in my family! Both of my parents and now my sister who turns twenty-four today! I refer to my big sister/best friend/soulmate, Kristen, frequently here on lifewithlilred so now it’s time to give her some birthday loving! Let’s do this thing:

Happy birthday to the best sister in the world…MINE. I love you so much, Kristen, and I can’t wait to celebrate with you this weekend! Thank you for all of the late night Taco Bell runs, borrowing my clothes without asking, and always providing me with a laugh or support when I need it. You are the bravest, strongest, most beautiful gal I know and I’m so happy that we share DNA with each other! I can’t wait to continue adding on to our endless list of memories and adventures now that you’re the big 2-4. You are beyond my best friend and I hope that you have the best day in the whole world! ❤

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❤ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KRISTEN!! ❤

Apr7

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

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Happy Birthday, Dad!!

Hi everyone and happy Thursday! Yesterday was a very special day because it was my handsome, fantastic, hunky father’s birthday!! My dad is not a big fan of celebrating birthdays, as he so optimistically puts, “it’s another year closer to the grave”. BUT, that isn’t going to stop me from creating a loving blog post about him anyways:

So here’s to you, dad. You are a real stand up guy and I love you so much! You plan the best vacations, you’re great at making oven pizza and spaghetti, and you always know how to make me laugh! I am the luckiest gal in the world because I get to say that you’re my dad! I hope you had fun on your special day even though you treated it just like any other one. I also hope that you enjoy the season DVDs of the TV show, Fargo, that I got for you because I know how much you liked the series and the movie and I can’t wait to watch them together. Happy birthday!! ❤

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❤ I LOVE YOU, DAD!! ❤