Girls and Guys Night Outs

We tend to think of girl's and guy's nights as something we do with our friends, but why not plan a night with your kids. We have both boys and girls in our family, so my husband and son pair up while I take our two daughters. It provides a great opportunity for bonding.

Our latest outing took me with our two daughter to the "So You Think You Can Dance" concert. It was a very special treat for us. We grabbed dinner at a local mall and went to the concert. It was a great show and the dancers were so nice, signing autographs and posing for photos after the show.

On the way home we had a flat tire (time for more bonding) which we were able to air up and ride home on. We will always remember the concert, pics and flat tire!

I also highly recommend "dates" with your children. They need some one-on-one time, especially when there are multiple children. I find that I have less problems/squabbles with the children following a special outing. It helps your reconnect and find out what is going on in their lives in a way the day-to-day routine can't provide.

Make it a date!

Fast and Fabulous

This is one of my favorite, fast fix sweet desserts. You can make it generally with whatever you have on hand at the last minute.

Fast and Fabulous Fruit
1 pkg. (4-serving) Jello instant pudding (any flavor – Vanilla is my preference)
1 can crushed pineapple in juice (or 1 can sliced peaches, fruit cocktail or pitted dark sweet cherries 16-17 oz. size)
1 cup Cool Whip (thawed) or sour cream or whipped cream cheese or plain yogurt

Combine pudding mix with fruit and juice. Blend in cream or whipped topping. Spoon into dessert dishes. Garnish with fresh mint or maraschino cherry.

Makes 6 servings

Travel Tips

I recently made a horrifying trip through the Atlanta airport. My flight (to Chicago) was on time and I had an hour layover to make my connection. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed as another plane was in our gate when we arrived in Atlanta. One hour turned into a 25 layover as we sat on the tarmac.

When I finally arrived at my flight, the plane was in the gate but they wouldn't let me board. I wound up getting the last room in the last hotel that Delta had prearranged room reservations with. I got the little emergency kit from the airline and went to bed.

My alarm failed and I woke up 9 min. before the 6 a.m. shuttle was supposed to leave the next morning. I got to the shuttle on time, but the shuttle was 25 min. late. I arrived 30 min. before my departure time. The checkin personnel said that I could still make the flight as they hadn't begun boarding. This time I arrived 10 min. before departure, the plane was still at the gate, but they wouldn't let me board. I spent two more hours in Atlanta before catching the next (delayed) flight to Chicago. All told, had I driven to Chicago I would have arrived earlier than if I had flown from Virginia.

Lessons learned

1. Plan a minimum 2 hour layover if you're flying through Atlanta.

2. Be nice--I only got a room because I was really nice to the Delta attendants. It's not their fault your flight was messed up.

3. Hotel shuttles don't run on schedule. Plan to catch an earlier rather than later shuttle.

4. Flights can always be rescheduled by the airline, even if they initially say they can't do it. I was slated to return on a very early flight Sunday, but I was able to talk the airline into giving me a later return flight since I was delayed on the way there.

5. Carry the necessities (change of underwear, socks, toiletries, medicines) in carry on luggage. I used to do this but got lazy. I won't make that mistake again. Carry on sizes are very small in today's small commuter planes. You will likely have to check your carry on at the plane. Only a small backpack or thin briefcase will stow in the microscopic overhead bins.

6. Don't trust hotel alarm clocks. Get a wakeup call, take your own travel alarm or use the alarm clock on your cell phone or other electronic device.

7. Don't fly through Atlanta or O'Hare if you can help it. These two airports are really nightmarish.

8. If you have two or more people and are traveling under 800-1000 miles, it is cheaper and probably faster to drive. The time it takes to get through security and to check baggages makes flight time several hours longer. Flying just isn't as fast or fun as it used to be.

Valentine Treat

Here's a very quick, inexpensive Valentine gift that's sure to please. In about 10 min. you can have a one-of-a-kind gift that doesn't look homemade. Here's what you need.


1 small plush/stuffed toy, preferably one that sits up
1 plastic message heart candy favor
1/4-1/3 cup of your choice of Valentine Candy
Glue gun and glue sticks

Plush toys are available inexpensively at the Dollar Tree. The plastic message hearts can be purchased at Walgreen's, Michaels, and Wal-Mart. Sometimes Dollar Tree carries them.

Preheat glue gun to high setting. Glue paws, and belly of bear to plastic message heart. Allow to dry. Fill a small bag (lollipop bags work well and are available at Wal-Mart and Michaels) with your candy or simply put pre-wrapped candy in favor cup. Add a gift card if you like and you're finished.

OK--maybe you could do it in less than 10 minutes. Of course, I have to add time for bandaging my fingers that always get burned on the hot glue!

Happy Valentine's Day!

No Stick Solution

I hate to admit the source of this tip, but it really works so I'm sharing it with the source. Have you ever used a napkin for a coaster? If you have then you know what comes next. When you pick up your glass, the condensation causes the napkin to stick to the bottom of your glass. For the rest of your beverage, you have the constant sticking napkin issue.

Here's the easy solution. Sprinkle a little salt on the napkin before putting the drink on it. The salt keeps the napkin from sticking. It works like a charm.

Oh, and the source for this information -- Hooters. (I had a free meal, the wings are great and my husband has supervised oogling).