Six Best US Ski Resorts for Families

When the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, it’s the perfect time to take the family on a ski vacation. But how do you choose which mountain to ski? There are dozens of resorts at mountains across the country, and with so many options, it can be tough to figure out which one is right for your family. If you’re looking for a ski resort the whole family is sure to love, here are six options that won’t steer you wrong:

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Buying High Quality Furniture at a Fraction of the Price: Getting a Deal on As-Is Furniture

I've always been cheap but I tend to gravitate towards really high-priced, high-quality items. Without fail, my favorite pair of shoes at the store will be the most expensive ones and the furniture I like at the store will be the highest priced. And they are always the items not included in any type of sale or promotion. Always. It's like a gift. However, I have found ways to purchase high-quality items at a fraction of the price because a) I'm frugal and b) I love a good deal. Sometimes you have to work for that good deal though. Especially when it comes to buying high-quality furniture pieces. As I age, I've learned that I just don't have time for buying things I don't like anymore, and sometimes it's hard to find exactly what you are looking for at the price that will fit into your budget. Which is why I'm sharing with you how you can buy high-quality furniture at a fraction of the price. It might take a little work, but in the end, it will totally be worth it to get a quality piece you love.

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Homemade Chipwich: Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream is my love language and summer is the perfect time to speak it. I also love chocolate, so what better way to combine all my loves and create these homemade Chipwich ice cream sandwich cookies I remember loving as a kid. Not only are these homemade Chipwich sandwiches easy to make, they are also pretty much everyone's favorite. Nothing beats a homemade chocolate chip cookie except maybe when it's sandwiched with some ice cream in the middle and then rolled in chocolate chips. Come check out this easy recipe.

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Our Dog Has Cancer-Starting to Say Goodbye to a Family Pet

I begged and pleaded for a family dog for the better part of three years. I'd pick up lost dogs and what I thought were strays but turned out to be coyotes too many times to count {well, I only tried to "save" a coyote once, I'm not a lunatic!}. But my husband told me that if the Obama's could wait to move into their new home to get a dog, we could too. A few days after moving in, I got a response from an inquiry I placed about a 12 week old golden retriever puppy that was for sale and two days later we brought Sophie home. And now she's dying. Sophie has cancer.

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Quick Pickle Recipe

There are so many fresh veggies growing right now that are available in your garden or at your local market. One of the best parts of summer is cool, briny pickles straight from the fridge. Canning has always intimidated me, and I'm all about being as efficient as possible so I love the idea of anything quick. Like this quick pickle recipe. Bonus, this recipe works great when adapted for a variety of vegetables. I've got a few variations just for you. Come check it out!

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Easy DIY Unicorn Notebook Back to School Craft

It's back to school time! Kind of hard to believe because I think the summer just started, but alas, we are back to another school year. I remember sending back some of my kids but not all of them and the ones left behind were always looking for school-like things to do while their siblings did their homework at the table in the afternoon. This DIY unicorn notebook would be the perfect thing for that! Or, maybe your kiddo needs a little journal to help jot down their thoughts after school. There is a lot that happens during the day, maybe they want to write it down and process it. Whatever you are using this unicorn notebook for, it's not only fun to put it together, but it's fun to use. I'm not sure I have met a kid right now who doesn't love unicorns, so give this fun little craft a try. I've got everything you need and a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it.

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Smart Ways For Your Teen To Find Volunteer Hours

There are plenty of great reasons to get your teen to volunteer. Whether they choose to volunteer their time helping out at a food bank, community park, local school or somewhere else, they’ll discover the importance of giving back to their community and helping others while learning valuable skills. As an added bonus, they may even benefit from the experience when applying for colleges or scholarships. If you’re not sure how to help your teen find ways to volunteer, I can help! Here are a few smart ways your teen can find opportunities to give back and volunteer their time.

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Best Ways to Clean your Refrigerator and Keep it Clean!

There is nothing quite as rewarding as having an organized and clean refrigerator. When a fridge is properly organized it makes it so much easier to navigate. Sometimes though, it just seems easier to ignore the chaos and the gunk. The sticky patch of syrup on the bottom shelf and the little pieces of dried up spinach in the vegetable drawer make you feel as though you might pull your hair out, but you don’t want to spend the time cleaning it. Instead, you just close the door and pretend it’s not there. I know I'm not the only one, so please don't judge my friends.

Occasionally, it is nice to give your whole refrigerator a good scrub down to get all the yucky stuff off. While emptying the entire fridge can seem overwhelming, it is sometimes a necessary evil. The temporary stress you will feel is far more than worth it once you can marvel at your clean fridge. Make that time spent worthwhile and keep your fridge clean longer with these easy tips.

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5 Places to Travel with Kids Before They Turn 18

You know what they say about parenting...the days are long but the years are short. Well, we experienced just that about seven years ago, when we realized it wouldn't be long until our family of five was scattered. The kids grow up and adult responsibilities start to dictate your kids schedules. College spring breaks don't align with your school-aged kids spring breaks, summers are for working to pay off student loans and expenses. Internships, jobs and girlfriends start taking priority over family time. It's normal and good but before you know it travel with your family just changes. We created a family travel bucket list. We sat down with the kids and created a list of the places we wanted to visit as a family. We got all of the places checked off the list just after my oldest graduated from high school. Maybe you want to create a family travel bucket list too. Or you just want to find somewhere fun to travel with your kids before they turn 18. Either way, I've got some ideas for you.

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5 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Fix

Every home will need an occasional repair, no matter how old or new it is.  You can either hire someone to fix the issue or figure out how to take care of the problem yourself. Luckily, with a little patience and some basic home repair knowledge, you can fix a variety of problems on your own without calling the handyman. Here are five common home issues that every homeowner should know how to fix {and instructions on how to fix them}. 

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No Bake Healthy Lemon Bar Coconut Balls

I don't know many people who don't love the refreshing flavor of a lemon. It makes me think of summer even in the dead of winter. Why not try these healthy lemon bar coconut balls for an easy-to-make snack. The lemon flavor pops while the coconut takes a backseat to let the flavor take over. I do love a sweet treat that seems like an indulgence but really, it's low in sugar and cures the craving. Give them a try, I bet you are going to love them!

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Shrimp Avocado Wonton Cup Appetizer Recipe

I love that summer is here! I'm totally ready for summer BBQ's and pot lucks and of course, signing up or bringing dishes to share. Seriously, a the easiest way to get me to come to any event is to tell me that it's a pot luck and that you will be serving punch. I'm a sucker for having a variety of foods to choose from. It's why I love a good buffet. All that aside, here's a great summer appetizer that's easy to make and easy to eat. Which is important when you lap is your table or your standing up chatting at a party. I know everyone is going to love these shrimp avocado wonton appetizers. Come get the recipe!

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Back to School Kleenex Teacher Gift with Free Printable Gift Tag

This post is brought to you by Kleenex­® Facial Tissue. All opinions are 100% my own. 

It's hard to believe that the summer is coming to an end, but I've started seeing the aisles at the store fill with school supplies and back-to-school-themed everything, so I know it's coming. Maybe you've already started digging into your kids' school supply list or perhaps you are dragging your feet soaking up every last second of summer. Whatever camp you fall in, it's happening, so let's get you prepared. 

Several years ago, with college expenses looming and a school system in desperate need of emergency substitute teachers, I signed up to be in the classroom. I got a totally new outlook on how classrooms are run from a teacher's perspective and was shocked that many of the supplies kids brought in on the first day of school were depleted from the shelves by mid-year. I stopped complaining about the 26 glue sticks we were asked to send in and started sending in extra supplies. I'm not going to say I became the classroom hero but...ya know.

I will say, it sure made for some grateful teachers who were very thankful for my support. I'm sharing a simple way you can help this year as your kids head back to the classroom. You'll be a hero in the eyes of the teachers-I promise you that.

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Make Weeknight Dinner Easy!

This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. All comments and opinions are my own.
Meal times can be hard. Between our kids' activities, carpooling, bath time, and prepping for the next day, life can get in the way of any well-intentioned sit-down family meals. It doesn't mean they are any less important. We make family meal time a priority at our home, and in the twenty years since I've become a mom, there have been some successes and some struggles surrounding family dinner. Regardless, the people in my home all need to eat. So we figure it out. The key is to not complicate it. Find easy meal solutions your whole family loves. This Tyson® Fully Cooked Dinner Kit - Crispy Chicken Pomodoro is our current favorite. You can make weeknight dinner easy. I'm telling you how!

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