A little evil eye in restaurants can work wonders

A restaurant in North Carolina recently banned children under the age of five. They were forced to make the decision after parents refused to lower the volume of their son’s ipad game even though surrounding diners complained it was intrusive. Both supporters and detractors have jumped in to comment, but I think my vote would…

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Mayor Tarabella in Seravezza

  Our last name is very rare, so I always have to spell it, and then everyone says, “Oh, just like it sounds!” We did some research, and found that “Tarabella” is even a rare name in Italy. In fact, most Tarabellas in Italy live in a 3 kilometer area in and around the beautiful…

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More unique family time at the Firehouse

I’m just now getting around to sorting through the pictures from Thanksgiving at my brother’s house in Smyrna, GA and have decided there are so many new things he’s added over the last year, if I shared them all with you in one post, your computer would start smoking, so I’ll save his new outdoor…

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The nursery isn’t my gift

Once they grow up, we long to hold a little baby again, or do we? I just wanted to hold a baby. I wanted to snuggle my face into its chubby neck and smell baby powder and lotion. My two boys are giant teenagers and in no way resemble anything I could hold or rock…

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On the Mobile Delta

As children grow older, it’s harder to impress them, but I was determined before Harrison returned for his Junior year in college, I’d spend a memorable, fun day with both boys. My husband does lots of he-man things with them, but I wanted a “Mom/boys” day that didn’t involve a trip to Dillard’s. I finally…

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A Norman Rockwell kind of morning

The year my son started Kindergarten, I would set the alarm for 5:45am and get completely dressed with full make-up and hair done with big hot rollers. I would dress in the outfit I’d carefully chosen the night before, then wake the precious lamb and prepare whole-wheat, made-from-scratch pancakes, shaped like teddy bears, with a…

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Summer photos and video from Harrison

Oh, how I love summer! August weather is a bit miserable here, but overall, I love having the boys home with us and the more relaxed schedules. They’ve both had summer jobs and taken a few classes, and it’s been so nice spending time together before my eldest son Harrison returns to college at the…

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The Gulf Shores & Orange Beach project

Several weeks ago I told you I was working on a big project with a deadline. I’m happy to say I’ve completed the assignment and enjoyed every minute of it. My task was to write the copy for the 2017 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Convention and Visitor’s Official Vacation Guide.   At around 100…

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Pretty (big) ‘ole blueberry pie

What to do with all these lovely blueberries from Robertsdale? Hmmm. I think I’ll make PIE! The recipe itself isn’t important. You can find any blueberry pie recipe on the internet. (There’s a link to the version I based this on at the end). I wanted to do something really pretty for my family’s 75th…

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To be 16 in the summer

Summer in the South for a 16 year-old consists of parents who bother him more than the heat, and days filled with friends, food and future adventures waiting just around the corner. Too old to stay home with his mama, but not yet old enough to be set totally free, it’s a summer for finding…

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