tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772684383251758402024-03-14T07:05:00.824-04:00The Lighter SideShop Lighter Side.com for the perfect inexpensive gift. Lighter Side offers funny T-shirts, famous brand collectibles, plus holiday decorations and personalized gifts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger157125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-32038883075214690002017-12-29T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-29T08:00:32.658-05:00A Fond Farewell (Sort Of)Today marks the last day of The Lighter Side blog.<br />
<br />
I've had so much fun digging up delightful and entertaining gifts for you over the years. Before I go, I want to say: Thank you for reading!<br />
<br />
The second thing is this: The Lighter Side will still be here for you!<br />
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That's why it's only "sort of" farewell.<br />
<br />
From now on, you'll be able to find those perfectly unique gifts for your perfectly unique friends and loved ones on social media.<br />
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I'll be posting the best-of-the-best Gift Guru advice to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thelightersideco/">Facebook</a> and other social sites.<br />
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When there's a Great Big Sale, well, I'll be posting that, too. And you - our loyal fans and followers - will be the first to know!<br />
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I hope to see you all in the new year.<br />
<br />
Thanks again for being a great audience.<br />
<br />
Your "See You There" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-57097545918415330362017-12-22T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-22T08:00:49.856-05:00Holiday WishesThe Big Day is almost here.<br />
<br />
The house is decorated, the gifts are wrapped, and family members are winging and wheeling their way to our house right now.<br />
<br />
Before I go home to start on the big feast, I just want to take a minute to say Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us here at The Lighter Side.<br />
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It's our great privilege and pleasure to close another year helping you find the perfect whimsical, amusing, and entertaining gifts for the special people in your life.<br />
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And since <i>you're </i>such a wonderful gift-giver, here's hoping you get everything <i>you</i> want for Christmas - and more.<br />
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Happy Holidays to you and yours,<br />
Linda<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-38735592183122087512017-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-15T08:00:11.869-05:00A Different December HolidayToday is <a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/learn/civic-calendar/bill-of-rights-day" target="_blank">Bill of Rights Day</a>. It's a different kind of December holiday, but it deserves our (pardon the pun) attention. So do the people who defend it.<br />
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This is a good time to pause and think about our military men and women who are stationed far from home this holiday season. They - and their families - make huge sacrifices so we can have a safe, peaceful, and free holiday season.<br />
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So I think it's only fitting that we stop in the middle of the hustle and bustle today. Just for a moment, let's put aside the holiday shopping, wrapping, decorating, and cooking to stand and salute all of the everyday heroes who make it possible.<br />
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And then we should get back to enjoying the lives that these brave men and women protect. According to my uncle who's been a Marine since I can remember, that's what they <i>want</i> us to do. Because <i>we</i> are exactly why <i>they</i> do it.<br />
<br />
Your "Salute a Soldier Today" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-6704956351533849902017-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-08T08:00:08.136-05:00Get Ugly!Are you ready for Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on December 15? In the unlikely event you don't have a garish, gory, gasp-worthy Christmas sweater in your closet, you'd better get cracking!<br />
<br />
The holiday was born out of an underground resistance to decades and decades of unbearably garish gifts. Instead of tossing the unmentionable treasures in a drawer where they would (hopefully) spontaneously disintegrate and never be seen again, these folks saw an opportunity to rebel. So they started wearing the ghastly garb.<br />
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If you decide to join in the fun, be reminded that you must: "rock your sweater all day and all night, from the time you wake up till the time you sleep. No breaks. No copouts. No excuses. The sweater must stay on."<br />
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I don't make the rules. That's from the official Ugly Christmas Sweater web site. Which means if you get kicked out of your sister's wedding, I'm not to blame.<br />
<br />
Your "Rock Your Ugly" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-10088073242562069022017-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:002017-12-01T08:00:22.089-05:00Stuff A Sock In It<a href="https://www.lighterside.com/product/knee+high+boot+socks.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=&from=Search" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/detail/p145833.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.lighterside.com/product/heat+holder+thermal+socks+purple.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=&from=Search" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/family/32747f.jpg" width="150" /></a>
I've always loved a good holiday theme. A few (or was it ten?) years ago, I came up with the idea of stuffing the kids' holiday stockings with socks.<br />
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It's the silliest sort of humor, I know. But it works every year. And the kids always need new socks!<br />
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<a href="https://www.lighterside.com/product/caturday+knee+high+socks.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=&from=Search" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/detail/p147762.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.lighterside.com/product/dental+floss+socks.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=&from=Search" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/detail/p148138.jpg" width="150" /></a>They come in so many shapes, sizes, and styles that you can <i>always</i> find an absolutely perfect pair of <a href="https://www.lighterside.com/search.do?query=socks&cx=0&sortby=newItemsDescend&page=all">socks</a> for everyone on your list.<br />
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There are warm socks for working or playing outdoors. Super fashionable boot socks. Socks for cat lovers. Dog lovers. Sports fans. Socks for patriots and crossword puzzlers and bowlers. Toe socks. Socks that remind you of summer. Even socks that remind you to floss!<br />
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And if your family doesn't find your silly sock humor all that funny? Well, at least their toes will be warm!<br />
<br />
Your "Stuff Them To the Toes" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-65827527462731765202017-11-24T08:00:00.000-05:002017-11-24T08:00:04.690-05:00Black Friday WorkoutSome people love going to the mall on the day after Thanksgiving for "Black Friday." I understand why. The festive music and atmosphere, the deep-discounts on big ticket items, and big sales on everything else. But the traffic, the parking hassles, the crowds, and the push-and-shove?<br />
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Well...let's just say it's not for everyone. Including me.<br />
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The only thing I'll miss is the exercise you get on a marathon shopping outing. But that's easily remedied. I'll just work off all those Thanksgiving calories at home - decorating the house for Christmas.
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<br />
Think about all the things you do to decorate:<br />
<ul>
<li>Climbing up and down stairs to fetch boxes of ornaments, garlands, and singing Santas. </li>
<li>Putting up the Christmas tree and holding it in place until it's level in the stand.</li>
<li>Stringing lights and garland all around the tree.</li>
<li>Putting on all the ornaments.</li>
<li>Reaching that last few inches to get the tree topper settled in place. </li>
</ul>
Climbing, bending, reaching, and stretching are all awesome ways to work every one of your muscles. And when you're working your muscles, you're burning calories. Which means when it comes time to make Santa's cookies, you can have a taste for yourself - without the guilt!<br />
<br />
Your "Working It Off on Black Friday" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-72065650335294449512017-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:002017-11-17T08:00:11.269-05:00Serenity Season67 years ago today, the 14th Dalai Lama became Tibet’s official head of state. He was 15 years old. Now he's one of the world's great leaders, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, among other humanitarian awards. At the "young old age" of 82, he travels the world talking about compassion, gratitude, harmony, and inner peace.<br />
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Not only that, he has a great laugh. It's an infectious giggle full of joy, compassion, and yes, serenity. Watch and just try not to crack a smile (or a full belly laugh!):<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="158" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XR154Pi51-w" width="280"></iframe>
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As the Dalai Lama himself has said: you don't have to be a Buddhist to embrace the idea of inner peace and you don't have to be a Christian to embrace the giving, compassionate spirit of the Christmas season. I couldn't agree more.<br />
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So if the holiday crush starts to, well, <i>crush</i> you, maybe it's time to light some incense, turn down the bright lights, and meditate (or just replay the video). It's my sure-fire R<sub>x</sub> for a serene season.<br />
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Your "Ohmmmmmm" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-42613045072711198402017-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:002017-11-10T08:00:03.033-05:00Turkey Day Made EasyWith Halloween behind us, it's time to start thinking about the next holiday - Thanksgiving! It's my favorite because it's all about food and family. And showing gratitude for those we love and all we have.<br />
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"Turkey Day" is an American holiday to us, but it's really one of many harvest festivals around the world. West Africa, Barbados, and China celebrate the end of the work season, bringing families and communities together for a few days of feasting, dancing and - most importantly - being thankful.<br />
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A lot of cultures even give thanks for the enormous amount of work it takes to create a great feast. I've taken up this custom myself.<br />
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So what if the store is crowded? Or if it's dark and cold outside? Or if the traffic is getting on my very last nerve? If I remember why I'm doing it - to celebrate the abundance I share with my friends and family - it suddenly doesn't feel like work anymore.<br />
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So, on this "turkey day", let's all just pause in the midst of our holiday duties. Let's take a moment to reflect on the reason for the harvest festival season. You'd be surprised at how being grateful - even for a short moment - really lightens the load.<br />
<br />
Your "Got Gratitude?" Gift Guru<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-43431483029055089802017-11-03T08:00:00.000-04:002017-11-03T08:00:01.830-04:00Same Cat Time. Same Cat Channel.<div style="text-align: left;">
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I don't know how much time I spend watching cat videos. I'm pretty sure I don't want to. Pretty sure I don't want my boss to know, either. (Of course, I <i>suppose</i> I could call it research for the blog.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
So...I just found a new tool for my 'research'.<br />
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It's a 24-hour online TV channel dedicated to cats and only cats. Here's the description from the website:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>All cats, all the time. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>24/7/365. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>We've got kittens too. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Meow-mazing.</i></div>
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Meow-mazing indeed! And it's purrrr-fectly priced at: FREE! That's right. Now we can watch cat videos all day and all night and it won't cost a nickel. I feel like Christmas came early this year!<br />
<br />
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There are cartoon cats. Just plain cute cats. Documentaries about cats. There are even regular shows like "Scaredy Cats", "Famous Felines" (like Grumpy Cat), "Cats Gone Viral" and (of course) "Putting Up with Humans".<br />
<br />
The streaming cats are brought to you by <a href="http://pluto.tv/#!&awesm=~oDrjj18bImhGuN&channel=Cats" target="_blank">PlutoTV</a>, a network that obviously understands what the viewing public craves: more cats!<br />
<br />
My friends, I have seen the future of television and it is cat-tivating!<br />
<br />
Your "<i>Awwwwww</i>mazed" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-62187444997690830062017-10-27T08:00:00.000-04:002017-10-27T08:00:16.662-04:00Here Come the Holiday PoundsThe house is full of Halloween candy right now. And what we give away to trick-or-treaters will be replaced by our own kids' Halloween hauls. That's why I think of Halloween - not Thanksgiving - as the beginning of the Holiday Weight Gain season.<br />
<br />
Did you know that most people don't pack on lots of extra pounds during the holiday season? Studies have shown that Americans gain about one pound between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just <i>one</i> pound.<br />
<br />
But here's the problem: we <i>never</i> take off that pound. As in, not <i>ever</i>.<br />
<br />
Gaining a pound-a-year doesn't seem like a lot. But "suddenly" we find ourselves ten pounds heavier. A lot of people try crash dieting in hopes of losing the ten pounds that took ten years to gain within just a few weeks. Studies have proven and (speaking from experience) I can tell you that crash diets don't work. Not in the long run.<br />
<br />
That's why our weight creeps up and up and up as we get older. So what are we supposed to do with the holidays right around the corner? Try not to put on that holiday pound in the first place! A few tips to help out:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Avoid the drive-thru:</b> Fast food is packed with bad fats and empty calories, but it's hard to eat right when you're busy-busy-busy with the holidays. So stock your purse or car with healthy snacks (dried fruit works great for me). If it comes down to fast food or a bad case of the Hangries (hungry + angry), grab a kids' meal instead of the SuperSize. It will hold off the Hangries until you can find something healthy to eat.</li>
<li><b>It really IS all about carbs:</b> Carbohydrates spike blood sugar levels, which releases insulin into the bloodstream. All that extra sugar converts into body fat. Stick to (a little) meat and (a lot of) vegetables if you can. </li>
<li><b>BYO</b>. Make sure there's a healthy low carb dish in the mix by bringing your own to holiday parties. The same goes for drinks. Bring a bottle (or two) of red wine to share. It has fewer calories and a lower glycemic profile than holiday fruit punch or egg nog.</li>
</ul>
Finally, don't worry so much that it takes all of the fun out of the holidays. We can still eat well and have a few treats. As long as we remember one thing: it's easier to keep off the dreaded "holiday pound" than it is to lose it later.<br />
<br />
Your "Not One Pound!" Gift Guru<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-81924355944415316552017-10-20T08:00:00.000-04:002017-10-20T08:00:00.560-04:00Nuts: Not Just for SquirrelsIf you're off your noodle for nuts, Sunday is your special day: it's National Nut Day!<br />
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The word "nut" can mean a lot of things. Like when someone is "nuts" for a thing or activity like...maybe finding the perfect gifts. "Making your nut" means putting together enough money to pay the rent, keep the lights on, etc. Your head can also be called a nut - that's where the phrase "she's off her nut" came from.<br />
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But National Nut Day isn't for celebrating your noggin, paying the bills, or giving tribute to the eccentric, wacky, or silly people in your life.<br />
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<i>This</i> holiday celebrates the humble, edible, deliciously nutritious nut.<br />
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In honor of the humble nuts we love to crack, here are five pieces of nutty trivia to enlighten and enliven your noggin:<br />
<ul>
<li><i>Arachibutyrophobia</i> is a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. </li>
<li>Pistachios are really a fruit, (but once we get cracking, who really cares?) </li>
<li>Peanuts are not nuts. They're legumes - close cousins to beans and peas. </li>
<li>It takes 300 PSI of pressure to crack open a macadamia nut (totally worth it!) </li>
<li>Cashews are always sold without their shells because the nut is closely related to poison ivy and sumac - the shell contains an oil that's toxic to humans.</li>
</ul>
There you go: all about nuts in a nutshell. Now go forth and share your nutty knowledge while you celebrate with your favorite nuts - both foods and people!<br />
<br />
Your "Wild for Walnuts" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-77504448604122505322017-10-13T08:00:00.000-04:002017-11-15T16:13:33.008-05:00No Porridge, Pizza<div style="text-align: center;">
"<i>Breaking News: The Three Bears broke into a pizza parlor in Colorado. <br />Goldilocks was not at work at the time</i>."</div>
<br />
That's the email I got from a friend along with this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/antoniosnewyork/videos/1262423203863262/">Facebook video</a> from Antonio's Real New York Pizza in Estes Park, Colorado. Of course, it wasn't THE three bears. It was just a mom and her two cubs looking to pack on the pounds before hibernating for the winter.<br />
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The family of three tore their way through the restaurant's drive through window looking for something<i> just right</i> to eat. Did you know that bears can open refrigerators and rifle through cabinets? Me either! But they can and they did...<br />
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The three bears didn't find any porridge, but they found <i>lots </i>of good stuff to eat. First they ate through 40 pounds of dough. And then they found the salami, which the cubs ate with gusto while Mom continued to search for ingredients to add to their "pizza".<br />
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Antonio DeSousa posted the surveillance video and pleaded with the authorities to show leniency to the wayward bear family even though the nighttime raid cost him about $1,000. "If bears break into our stores, please don’t shoot them," he wrote. (<i>Awwww</i>. If there's anything we here at The Lighter Side adore more than animals, it's animal lovers.)<br />
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If I ever get out to their "neck of the woods, I'm definitely going to pop in to Antonio's. The Three Bears thought it was 'just right' raw, so Antonio's pizza must be awesome when it's cooked!<br />
<br />
Your "Bears Love Pizza, Too!" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-82488147166383132722017-10-06T08:00:00.000-04:002017-10-06T08:00:04.544-04:00Halloween is for Big KidsHalloween isn't for kids anymore. Well, not <i>just</i> for kids, anyway.<br />
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Sure you have to do the trick-or-treat thing and the kiddie parties and costumes, but once all that's out of the way, it's time for the Big Kids to play!<br />
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The costumes get funnier, scarier (and sexier) every year. A lot of my friends spend months - or even the whole year! - planning their costumes. These are two of my favorite couples' costumes this year...<br />
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Making a Halloween Horror to remember takes more than fun costumes - you need lots of scary props and effects, too. Anything that lights up, swings, talks, or moves suddenly will do the <i>trick</i>. After all, what's Halloween without at least one scream?!<br />
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And before the party starts, don't forget to break out all your favorite kitchen and table accessories for that perfect petrifying touch.<br />
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You don't have to work yourself into the grave to make a spook-tacular Halloween for Big Kids. The hardest part might be getting the kids to bed first!<br />
<br />
Your "Stay Spooky" Gift Guru,<br />
LindaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-4689494047213715162017-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:002017-09-29T08:00:21.275-04:00October? Already?October seems to sneak up on me every year, which is odd since it's one of my favorite months. The air turns crisp, leaves start to turn, the nights are cooler for sleeping...and then there's Halloween, which is <i>the</i> best kids' holiday for adults.<br />
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But the <i>real</i> reason I love October? It's National Pizza Month and National Popcorn Popping Month. Don't believe me? <a href="http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/october.htm" target="_blank">Check it out</a>. As if Halloween doesn't give you <i>enough</i> reason to go off your diet!<br />
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If the kids had their way, we'd have pizza and popcorn for dinner every night next month. That's a bit too much for a nutrition-conscious mom, but I am willing to meet them a little less than halfway - by having pizza and popcorn night once a week.<br />
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Being a mom, I have my own motives for making pizza and popcorn nights for the kids: pretty soon we'll all be too busy to get everyone together - even once a week - for a family dinner. The kids will be studying for exams and writing papers. Their Dear Parents will be busier and busier planning for the upcoming holidays. Between early November and Christmas break, there are precious few moments when the entire family will be able to sit down and share a meal.<br />
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That's good enough reason to celebrate junk food nights for any mom!<br />
<br />
Your "Hooray for Pizza & Popcorn!" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-85388639867925457192017-09-22T08:00:00.000-04:002017-09-22T08:00:02.350-04:00Bake Sale BonanzaI've loved bake sales for as long as I can remember. Whether they're part of a garage sale, a country fair, or stand alone, bakes sales bring friends and neighbors together to sample lots of homemade goodies while supporting the community.<br />
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When the school year heats up, so does bake sale season. Parents and kids pitch in with teachers and coaches to raise money for extracurricular activities. It's a long-standing tradition I hope never goes out of style because there's more to the humble bake sale than meets the eye.<br />
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Along with teaching kids the true value of a dollar (like how long it <i>really</i> takes to earn one) bake sales show them real life business skills. Our kids negotiate with their supplier (me) and chief baker (also me) to make sure they'll have inventory. Then they must negotiate with their distributor (my dear husband) who will transport both them and their goods safely to market. Then they put in a long day's work at the sale. Finally, the kids get together to see how much they've raised toward their goal.<br />
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It's good for them, but I'll let you in on a little secret: it's <i>awesome</i> for me. I <i>love</i> baking at this time of year. Teaching the kids something along the way...well, that's just a little bonus!<br />
<br />
Your "Let's Get Baking!" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-3480748588770156052017-09-15T08:00:00.000-04:002017-09-15T08:00:07.265-04:00Beyond the SeaAs many of you know, Hurricane Irma hit Florida <i>twice</i> a few days ago. I'm not one bit ashamed to admit that I was pretty scared at times. After all, Irma was a Monster Storm that impacted the entire state. We were spared the worst of the damage in this area, but some of our neighbors weren't as fortunate.<br />
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Here at The Lighter Side, we want to send a thank-you to all the First Responders, many of whom are still working hard to set things upright in places like Miami, Orlando, and the Florida Keys. We <i>literally</i> couldn't make it without you.<br />
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I also want to share a sweet story about one First Responder who went above and beyond the call of duty to help an old woman in distress. While floodwaters raged outside, Deputy Froelich was stationed at a shelter where he watched over dozens of frightened people, one of whom was an elderly lady who sat by herself in a corner.<br />
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She looked terrified.<br />
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The Deputy approached her and asked if there was anything he could do to help.<br />
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"Dance?" the woman said.<br />
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So Deputy Froelich took the woman's hand and started singing "Beyond the Sea". And they danced...<br />
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This Florida Deputy proved that it doesn't always take a grand gesture to be a hero. Sometimes it just takes a little song and dance.</div>
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Your "Well Done, Deputy!" Gift Guru,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Linda</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-61224689282878890022017-09-08T08:00:00.000-04:002017-09-08T08:00:16.112-04:00Candle in the Wind<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Goodbye England's rose</i><br />
<i>May you ever grow in our hearts</i><br />
<i>You were the grace that placed itself</i><br />
<i>Where lives were torn apart</i><br />
<i>You called out to our country</i><br />
<i>And you whispered to those in pain</i><br />
<i>Now you belong to heaven</i><br />
<i>And the stars spell out your name... </i><br />
<br /></div>
20 years ago, Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind" - the song he wrote for Marilyn Monroe - at Princess Diana's funeral. His long time musical partner Bernie Taupin rewrote the lyrics to suit the most famous princess of our time. It was a stunning and heartbreaking tribute to Diana Princess of Wales.<br />
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My daughter and I watched Elton John's performance live back then. We watched it again on the 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Diana's funeral. (If you have box of tissues and five minutes to spare, you can watch it <a href="https://youtu.be/dg_MIysNGIU">here</a>.) Taupin's lyrics described the princess perfectly - a giving spirit who never let titles or station come between her and the people who needed her. She gave solace to the sick, food to the hungry, and showed compassion to everyone she met.<br />
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Princess Diana inspired a generation of young girls, including my daughter. As we watched the video together, she said, "I don't think I'd want to be a <i>real</i> princess." Not knowing what to say to that, I kept quiet. After the video was over, my beautiful young daughter asked, "But I could be <i>like</i> Princess Diana, couldn't I?"<br />
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Sometimes she makes me so proud I could just burst.<br />
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Of course she can be like Diana. You don't have to be Royal to be empathetic and kind, compassionate and caring. My daughter is all of those things and more. I'd like to take all the credit, but I know better. At least part of the credit goes to Diana, who showed a generation of young girls what it means to be a princess - in your heart.<br />
<br />
Your "Proud Mom of a Princess" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-34327913442882596182017-09-01T08:00:00.000-04:002017-09-01T08:00:27.404-04:00The Nanas and the PapasEvery year on the Sunday after Labor Day, we celebrate National Grandparents Day. Marian McQuade, mother of 15, grandmother of 40 (!) and great-grandmother to eight, dreamed up the holiday herself. But not so she and her husband Joe could collect 48 cards and gifts - she started the campaign to ease the loneliness of elderly people who are confined to nursing homes. She also thought it was important to expose children to the "wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide."<br />
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Grandparent's Day is a bona-fide holiday at our house. Not only do the kids get to spend the entire day with their "Nanas" and "Papas", but we usually have a big party. We send the kids and our parents off to do something for the day and then we put up some decorations, wrap up a few gifts, and cook a big a family meal. Then we hide until they get back so we can jump out and yell, "Surprise!"<br />
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No one is really surprised but it's still fun.<br />
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Mrs. McQuade achieved at least one of her goals: the kids listen to their grandparents talk about the days before the technological wonders they take for granted became a routine part of modern life. They ask questions like, "What did play with before video games?" "What's a telephone book?" And finally, the one they ask every year, "How did you <i>live</i> without the <i>Internet</i>!?"<br />
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With three generations of our family seated at the table, I admit I get a little misty sometimes. Though we've never met, I'll always be grateful to Mrs. McQuade. If not for her, all of us might have missed out on one of our favorite family holidays.<br />
<br />
Your "Celebrate the Grandparents" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-17185106058825173012017-08-25T08:00:00.000-04:002017-08-25T08:00:20.331-04:00Over the Rainbow<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>"The Greatest Picture in the History of Entertainment!" </b></i></div>
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That was the tagline when <i>The Wizard of Oz</i> was released on this day in 1939. It's hard to argue that it wasn't true. Even today it remains one of the best loved American movies of all time.<br />
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Rightly so, in my humble opinion.<br />
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<a href="https://s15-us2.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http:%2F%2Fimages2.fanpop.com%2Fimages%2Fphotos%2F4900000%2FThe-Wicked-Witch-of-the-West-the-wizard-of-oz-4985205-305-423.jpg&sp=3ba5cc36732b94030ed327408239013f" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="305" height="200" src="https://s15-us2.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http:%2F%2Fimages2.fanpop.com%2Fimages%2Fphotos%2F4900000%2FThe-Wicked-Witch-of-the-West-the-wizard-of-oz-4985205-305-423.jpg&sp=3ba5cc36732b94030ed327408239013f" width="143" /></a>The special effects were breathtaking for their day. Where else could you see a whole house lifted into a massive tornado? A talking scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion who was afraid of his own tail? Where else would you find a horse of a different color? Or flying monkeys? Or a warty wicked witch and a wizard with his <i>own</i> special effects? <br />
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<a href="https://s15-us2.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http:%2F%2Famericacomesalive.com%2Fi%2Ftoto-wizard-of-oz-color.jpg&sp=e4298a8d4be979398544e47349a189a3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="100" src="https://s15-us2.ixquick.com/cgi-bin/serveimage?url=http:%2F%2Famericacomesalive.com%2Fi%2Ftoto-wizard-of-oz-color.jpg&sp=e4298a8d4be979398544e47349a189a3" width="150" /></a>
Toto was my favorite character, of course. Because...well...Toto was a <i>dog</i>. And like a lot of dogs his size: Toto was not scared of any<i>one</i> or any<i>thing</i>. Even if they were a lot bigger and definitely a lot badder than him.<br />
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Like a lot of kids, I lacked Toto's fearlessness. So, like a lot of kids, the film scared me half to death the first time I saw it. And the second. And probably the third, too. I never told my parents how scary it was because I wanted to see it again and again. I knew if <i>they</i> knew, they wouldn't let me go. Like most parents, they wouldn't have understood. Even when we were petrified to pieces, we loved <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>.<br />
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I still do. Every time I see it. And even when it still scares me a little.<br />
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Your "Off to See the Wizard Again" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-51913022468173006642017-08-18T08:00:00.000-04:002017-08-18T08:00:21.264-04:00We 'Otter' Remember National Dog Day After This!Every year here at the Lighter Side, we celebrate <a href="http://www.nationaldogday.com/" target="_blank">National Dog Day</a> on August 26<sup>th</sup>. Last year I showed you lots of <a href="http://lightersidecatalog.blogspot.com/2016/08/5-ways-to-celebrate-national-dog-day.html" target="_blank">ways</a> to honor man's (and woman's) best friend on their special day. This year I was planning to come up with some new ways to celebrate our canine companions, but then I saw this video and went 'barking mad' with laughter. (I'm not kidding - my boss actually came into my office and asked if I was okay!)<br />
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Watch and you'll see why:<br />
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Curiosity is just one of the characteristics we love about our dogs. But who knew a river otter could be just as curious as a canine?<br />
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My dogs have played with lots of unlikely friends - a turtle, a rabbit, and even a mouse (ew!) - but never a river otter. The narrator says, "I've never seen nothing in my life like that!"<br />
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Me either.<br />
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But thanks to their quick work with the the video camera we all get to see it - just in time for National Dog Day!<br />
<br />
Your "Cracking Up for Canine Cuteness" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-30133104353205630072017-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:002017-08-11T08:00:03.044-04:00Gifts for BookwormsRemember your neighborhood Bookmobile? Ours turned me into a full-fledged bookworm. I'd read anything they had on board from short stories to comic books to biographies. My daughter, whose birthday is just around the corner, inherited my bookish ways so I never have trouble finding just the right gift for her.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lighterside.com/product/tree+of+life+led+mini+lamp.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=&from=Search" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/detail/p139835.jpg" width="150" /></a>If there's anything a bookworm loves, it's a new lamp. Even if it's not a reading lamp, a little mood lighting goes a long way toward setting the stage for a long summer's night with a good book. Since my daughter is also a self-avowed tree-hugger, this Tree of Life Lamp is perfect.<br />
<a href="http://www.lighterside.com/product/you+are+my+sunshine+two+sided+pillow.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=&from=Search" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/detail/p141010.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
Pillows run a close second. Especially when your favorite bookworm likes to find cozy out-of-the-way spots to read. It doesn't have to be a giant body pillow or one of those ergonomically correct reading cushions. A comfy pillow that supports the lower back will do. All the better if you can find one with a lovely sentiment to remind them of you as they read.<br />
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<a href="http://www.lighterside.com/product/jewelry+book+safe.do?sortby=newArrivals&refType=" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="150" src="https://www.lighterside.com/images/products/en_us/detail/p142340.jpg" width="150" /></a>And for when they're not reading, how about something that reminds them of their favorite pastime? A jewelry box disguised as a book hides valuables and fits nicely on any shelf, nightstand, or dresser. It has compartments for rings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, and other little keepsakes. My daughter brought some some fallen leaves from William Faulkner's estate on a field trip last year. I have a feeling this will be the perfect place to store them.<br />
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I'm grateful for all the bookworms in my life. Not only do they share their latest "great reads" with me, it's easy to pick out their perfect gift. Even if all else fails, there's always a good book!<br />
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Your "Reading is Fun!" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-53076677389667315162017-08-04T08:00:00.000-04:002017-08-04T08:00:26.291-04:00The Last Leg of the Dog DaysWhew! We're on the last leg. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days" target="_blank">Dog Days of Summer</a> come to an end (officially if not literally) on August 15<sup>th</sup>. Or on August 11<sup>th</sup>, depending on who's doing the calculating. Either way, we still have at least one more week to go which calls for a celebration. Or two. Or seven. Or ten.<br />
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My favorite way to celebrate starts with shutting down the kitchen. From now until it's over there will be no cooking indoors. I'll order a pizza. Make a giant salad. Throw some dogs on the grill. Anything to avoid firing up that hot stove.<br />
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There are other ways to celebrate, too. Here are three of my favorites:<br />
<ol>
<li>Get yourself invited to a pool party. (Or throw one yourself!) There's nothing like floating around in the blue water with a cool beverage to beat the Dog Day heat.</li>
<li>Take up residence in a hammock with a stack of good books. Swinging in a shady breeze is like nature's fan.</li>
<li>Hit the beach. Even if you don't jump into the ocean, it can be ten degrees cooler (or more) near a large body of water. </li>
</ol>
Of course, air conditioning can also get you through, but it's not as much fun as getting out there and enjoying the last leg - before we have to start gearing up for the cold.<br />
<br />
Your "Playing it Cool" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-58699545869542401602017-07-28T08:00:00.000-04:002017-07-28T08:00:35.070-04:00Cat Eats Pets FrogWhen I saw a headline about a cat <i>petting</i> a tiny frog, I thought, "Right. This is one of those 'click-bait' links that promises a cute, cuddly story but ends with the cat <i>eating</i> the frog." After all, that's what <i>my</i> cats would probably do.<br />
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But I clicked anyway. (Don't we all? That's why they call it 'bait'!) My inner cynic had to admit defeat when I saw this:<br />
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Rin-chan is the definition of the curious cat. After petting the frog the first time, the cat even stops to smell and lick his paw a bit - as if trying to suss out what exactly this thing <i>is</i>. The frog seems relatively unperturbed, even when the cat leans in for a closer sniff.<br />
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Now Rin-chan and his little green friend are bona-fide Internet stars. As a cat parent myself, I'd make sure all that newfound fame doesn't go to their heads. I wouldn't want superstar egos to spoil what looks to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.<br />
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Your "Cats & Frogs" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-46265411217060536212017-07-21T08:00:00.000-04:002017-07-21T08:00:10.405-04:00Eating Right on National Junk Food DayJust when we're tired of dieting for swimsuit season, along comes the best holiday of the summer: today is National Junk Food Day! That means you can eat anything you want today and none of it has any calories. Just kidding. It means you don't have to make the healthy choice <i>and</i> you don't feel a shred of guilt about it. Not one iota.<br />
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<i>That's</i> how you eat right on Junk Food Day.<br />
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You don't have to overeat to enjoy the holiday. Just don't <i>worry</i> about what you eat. Treat yourself to a fast food burger or a giant sundae. Order that pizza for lunch and skip the salad. Take a box of donuts to work and share the festive spirit with everyone. Cupcakes, pies, chips, fries...nothing is off limits today!<br />
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I did a lot of digging and I can't find an origin for the unofficial holiday. Best guess? It was created by a woman. A hungry woman. A woman who hadn't eaten chocolate since Easter. Sounds plausible to me. I just wish she'd have taken credit for it. I'd like to send her a thank you card. And a box of candies!<br />
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Your "Let's Eat!" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77268438325175840.post-70455529378398761792017-07-14T08:00:00.000-04:002017-07-14T08:00:25.162-04:00The Family Photo AlbumRemember taking family photos? Photos we took with actual cameras instead of phones? Pictures on actual <i>film</i> that you had to <i>take in</i> for developing? Then you'd come home with a fat envelope full of prints? Remember how you never knew if your photos had come out the way you wanted until you held them in your hand?<br />
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Now we view our photos on a screen. We delete them if we don't like the way we look. We plug our cameras or phones into our computers, transfer the photos, and, with the exception of those we share on social media, we forget all about them.<br />
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I was cleaning the back bedroom last weekend when I came across a box of old pictures. I found my wedding photos, tons of random snapshots of the kids and our pets, and lots of goofy pictures from family vacations, baseball outings, the kids in Halloween costumes...<br />
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I had always meant to hang them - I even had the frames - but I just never got around to it. Right there on the spot, I decided our photos had been hidden away for too long. With my handful of frames and some picture hangers, I went to work. I framed and put up all those pictures up and down the walls on either side of the staircase.<br />
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I didn't get that back bedroom clean, but I did create a family gallery that stretched from a worn out photo of my parents' wedding party to a picture of my own family on vacation. And the pictures I like best? The ones where we look goofy, or tired, or someone's eyes were closed. The photos that would have been deleted from our digital devices and our memories...they turned out to be my favorites.<br />
<br />
Your "No Such Thing as a 'Bad' Picture" Gift Guru,<br />
Linda<br />
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