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  • The year in review

    Last year at this time, I posted New Year’s Revolution, some new ideas for successful New Year’s Resolutions. Did anyone try them? If so, I’d really love to hear what you did and what your experience was. Even if you didn’t take my fabulous advice, I’d like to know if you made a resolution last…

  • Friday Favorites: Countdown to Christmas

    It’s been an eventful week at the Hawkes’ house, full of Christmas preparations and celebrations. First, I sat in the lucky chair at our company Christmas party and won this beautiful poinsettia. (Okay, technically, since the party was last week, this shouldn’t be part of this Friday Favorites, but hey, I’m still enjoying the flower this week!)…

  • These are a few of my favorite blogs

    It’s less than a week until Christmas. There are presents to wrap, stockings to stuff, cookies to frost, wine to purchase, and grocery shopping to do. But guess what? I’d rather snuggle up in front of the fire with a blanket, a cup of coffee, and some of my favorite blogs. Hungry Runner Girl by Janae….

  • Friday favorites: food, food, and more food

    We’re in that time of year where food is everywhere! There are holiday lunches, Christmas parties, and special treat deliveries. It can be a lot of fun, but also a little overwhelming if you’re trying not to pack on the holiday weight. My survival method for the season is eat only what I truly enjoy, eat…

  • It’s better to give than to receive–but receiving is pretty great too!

    There’s nothing like the feeling of finding the perfect gift for someone and few things as frustrating as trying to think of something special and coming up empty. So today I am stepping into the mindset of the receiver and thinking about those gifts I’ve received that were particularly memorable—as inspiration for giving better gifts. Personal/personalized…

  • Friday favorites: family, food, frolicking

    Happy Friday! We continue to celebrate life’s little pleasures at the Hawkes Home. I hope you are too. I thought I better show you the tree now that she’s complete with her skirt and train. Next come the presents! The same day the tree went up, I got to have lunch with these guys. That’s…

  • Heigh-ho heigh-ho: cultivating meaningful work

    Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. ~Howard Thurman It’s a new month and that means a new guidepost from Brené Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection.  This month’s focus is cultivating meaningful work—work that results…

  • Friday favorites: tis the season

    It’s December! Thanksgiving is over, Christmas music is playing, and there is snow on the ground. At our house, it is officially the Christmas season. This week’s Friday Favorites is all about season firsts. First holiday nails –Winter Wonderland! Seven-year-old Piper says the silver accent nail looks like a jingle bell in the snow. I…

  • What’s for dinner? Southern pork chops and sage rice

    When my children were young, I cooked a lot; nothing fancy, but pretty much every night. Now the kids are grown, and my husband, who works from home, is kind enough to prepare dinner most nights. This allows me to put in a full day’s work, work out, and still have dinner at a reasonable…

  • Friday favorites – Thanksgiving surprises and more

    I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving. If you are reading this, I assume you are coming out of your food coma–at least enough to work that mobile device or computer. Our Thanksgiving was not at all what we planned, but thanks to family and friends, we did get two delicious meals! Many of you…