Easy Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie for Birthdays or Parties - Better Than Cake!

This no-fail giant chocolate chip cookie cake recipe is always a hit! It's easy to make, mostly with ingredients you already have on hand. It's a great alternative to birthday cake and perfect for a picnic or potluck dinner.

Uninvited: Dealing with Social Exclusion as an Adult

Can I tell you a secret?

I'm an adult, but rejection still hurts, just as much as it did when I was a child.

Blogging has been quite an adventure. When I sat down at my computer over 11 years ago to start this little website, I had no idea what I was doing. I took advice from the late, great Carrie Fisher who said, 'Stay afraid, but do it anyway,' a sort of, 'fake it till you make it' kind of mentality. There have been ups and downs, of course, but so many amazing opportunities and experiences that I never could have imagined. I'm proud to say that I'm not faking it anymore. I worked hard to get where I am. But rejection still stings. It stings like a hornet!!

10 Ways to Help Your Kids Beat the Winter Blues

Sometimes it feels like Winter is eternal. As soon as the holidays end, January can seem very long and boring, especially when you're a kid. So I've come up with a list of 10 ways you (and your kids) can beat the winter blues.

Tri-County Wrestling Champion Takes Center Stage as Elle Woods in SKIT's Legally Blonde

Fresh from making history as North Hunterdon Lions Wrestling Team’s first female Tri-County Champion, Riley Conaty now takes center stage in ShowKids Invitational Theatre (SKIT)'s production of Legally Blonde: The Musical. Read on for more info about the show and see how to get tickets!

Momma's EASY Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli

I love hearty soups any time of year, especially if they're easy to make. This pasta fagioli recipe is SO simple and the ingredients are not over-the-top hard to find. This is similar to Olive Garden's famous pasta fagioli recipe, but dareIsay...better? It was also a family favorite, which surprised me because there are vegetables and beans in it, so you never know. But I can safely say that everyone loved it. Read on for the easy recipe.

Winter Day Trips and Activities in New Jersey and Beyond: Indoor/Outdoor Winter Fun in NJ

Winter day trip ideas are a big topic of a discussion on message boards and in Facebook groups. It's hard to figure out where to take the kids when the weather is bad. Finding fun indoor play ideas is hard enough, but entertaining kids on the weekend or during a vacation when it's too cold to do anything else, well, that ain't easy! So here's a list of over 45 fun things to do in and around The Garden State during the winter months. From play mazes to museums, I've got ya covered!

* Freshly updated for 2025!*

Winter Boredom Busters for Kids

Winter can be so much fun for kids, but it can also get boring pretty quickly, especially on sub-zero days when you literally can't go outside. So I've compiled some ideas for indoor winter fun (that don't take too much planning or effort).  Think Spring!

Top Tips for Prepping Your Home for a Snowstorm

If you're living in an area that is prone to winter storms between January and March, or you're getting freak snowstorms this year, then you probably already know the basics. You know how to buy snow shovels, stock up on non-perishable food, and you know you need a generator in the event of a power outage. There's every chance that you've even upgraded this year to a battery powered snow blower. However, even if you're well fed, toasty, and you have the snow shoveled, it can still wreak havoc on your home. From plumbing issues to safety risks, you need to know how to prepare your home for a snowstorm so that you are ready in any eventuality. Let's take a look at our top tips for prepping your house for a snowstorm.

Salon du Chocolat Returns to Javits Center in New York City

Chocolate lovers, rejoice! The highly anticipated Salon du Chocolat New York is back from 

March 21-23, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. This show offers a decadent experience for all ages. Tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite, and with timed entry plus 2-day ticket options, this is a chocolate adventure you won’t want to miss! Read on for more details.

Easy Overnight Stuffed French Toast

If you're looking for an easy stuffed french toast recipe, look no further! This is a recipe that I make every Christmas Eve to enjoy Christmas morning, but it's good any time of year and tastes amazing. Plus it's easy, easy, easy! You know I'm all about the ease.

A Review of ABCmouse - Is It Worth It?

ABCmouse's Black Friday Sale is live! 

Before I tell you about ABCmouse.com, let me just point out that this is my honest review from a mom's point of view.  I was not  asked by ABCmouse to review their service and I paid for their service just like anyone else!! This post has become very popular, so I try to keep it updated with accurate information and suggestions.

*Added note: Be sure to read the comments left by my readers at the bottom of this post. Their experience and advice is just as helpful as mine! And feel free to add your own comments about successes (or failures) with ABCmouse. I update this post often and try to answer all questions. 

**Note that I do not approve comments regarding billing or credit card issues. I do not feel this is a safe forum to discuss those matters. Thanks for your understanding! 

** I always try to update this post with the most recent sales - usually around the holidays. Their latest sale is their New Year's Sale! Save 74% on monthly subscription pricing to ABCmouse ($45/ yr. until canceled). Includes 1 FREE year of ReadingIQ! For the sale link click here or scroll through for more info. 

12 Cool Stocking Stuffers for Teens and Tweens: Great Gifts for Ages 10 and Up

Teens and tweens can be so hard to shop for, can't they? Ask them what they want for the holidays and they usually tell you 'I don't know' or 'a new phone.' It's either everything or nothing! So I've whipped up a quick list of twelve cool items that I think teens and tweens will love. They're perfect for stocking stuffers, too!

4 Wellness Gifts to Brighten Your Aging Loved One’s Day

Shopping for an aging loved one is tough, isn’t it? They’ve already collected a lifetime of stuff, and big, flashy gifts don’t always make sense. Plus, if they’re in a nursing home or have limited mobility, some of the usual ideas, like tickets to a concert or a weekend getaway, just don’t work anymore. They might be the man in your life like your dad or grandpa, or the woman in your life like your mom or grandma, and it can be challenging to shop for them. So, what’s the trick? Well, it’s best to focus on the here and now. What will make them feel cared for, comfortable, and a little bit spoiled? Well, you can never go wrong with wellness gifts!

Red One: Is it Good for Kids? One Mom's Honest Review (Spoiler-Free!)

I just returned from the New York City premiere of Red One starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. If you're wondering if this action-packed Christmas movie is for you, read on for my spoiler-free review! Red One is in theaters nationwide on November 15th.