• Tips for flying with a baby

    flying with baby

    The first time we flew with Arabella, she was only 3 months old, and I had no idea what to expect. I probably Googled every possible version of “flying with a baby,” “flying with an infant” and “traveling with baby,” and I read a ridiculous amount of tips and suggestions. I did similar searches again […]

  • Yam spice superhero muffins and a giveaway!

    yam spice superhero muffins

    Today I have an awesome, healthy recipe for you AND a cookbook giveaway! The recipe is for yam spice superhero muffins, and it’s from the brand-new cookbook: Rise & Run. (As you can probably guess, that’s the cookbook I’m giving away.) Those of you who have been around for a while probably know that 1. […]

  • Oh Twodles birthday party

    Oh Twodles birthday party

    Long before Arabella turned two, a Disney-loving friend of mine posted photos of her son’s “Oh Twodles” Mickey Mouse-themed birthday party, and I thought it was genius. (For those who don’t know, Mickey and friends all say “Oh Toodles” several times per episode on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, summoning a magical helper thingy). And since Arabella […]

  • What it’s like to do an OCONUS PCS during a pandemic

    OCONUS PCS during a pandemic

    Moving halfway across the globe is never easy. But add in a global pandemic, a stop movement order, local travel restrictions, and children, and a permanent change of station move outside the continental United States becomes pretty overwhelming. In 13 years as a Marine Corps spouse, I’ve been through more than my share of moves; […]

  • Valentine tea

    Valentine tea | Marshmallows & Margaritas

    It’s almost Valentine’s Day! And most of us are still stuck at home. So why not celebrate the day of love with a Valentine tea? I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I always have a planned menu for various parties or events… and I almost always end up not making at least […]

  • Mad for Plaid

    mad for plaid

    Maybe it’s because I was a teenager in the 90s, but I’ve always been a sucker for plaid. So when I was looking for matching family outfits for our Christmas card photos, I gravitated toward all the tartans. I meant to share these sooner, but the cards themselves didn’t even show up in my mailbox […]

  • Christmas tea at home

    Christmas tea menu

    How long do you leave your Christmas decorations up? I always like to leave mine up past New Year’s anyway, but this year in particular I think we need as much cheer as we can get, so we may not take everything down until mid-January. If you’re still in a celebratory mood, but don’t want […]

  • Gingerbread scones

    gingerbread scones

    Christmas may be over, but peppermint and gingerbread season is still in full swing, and that means it’s time for some gingerbread scones! I started working on this scone recipe just after Thanksgiving, when I planned a Christmas tea/birthday party for my mother-in-law, Jane. The overall tea was great and we liked the scones, but […]

  • Festive Christmas clothes

    festive Christmas clothes for women

    Christmas this year is going to look a lot different for many of us, and as someone who has spent a lot of holidays away from my family (even before I became a military spouse), I know that can be hard. It’s especially challenging if you can’t get together with friends who feel like family. […]

  • Winnie the Pooh tea party

    Winnie the Pooh tea party for children

    We’re having a Winnie the Pooh tea party at home, and you’re invited! When I canceled Arabella’s first birthday party in March, I thought I was just postponing it. But as restrictions increased and our time in Okinawa got shorter and shorter, I realized we weren’t going to be able to have her party there. […]