Roses & Chocolates

All you really need in life are your girls. A Galentine’s party is the perfect way to celebrate the friendships that mean the most to you. It’s about laughing over inside jokes, dancing around the room, and just enjoying being together. If you love pink, hearts, and anything sparkly, this is your sign — it’s time to start planning a Galentine’s night with your favorite people. Send out those invitations! The first thing on the to-do list is to make a guest list. You can have

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and it's a great time to focus on your family and friends and let them know how much you appreciate them! There are many ways to show your appreciation, and one of the most classic ways is to throw a Valentine’s Day Party. Below are some fun and simple ideas to help you get started! Send out Invitations!  Write a simple and sweet invitation or a creative Evite to let them know the details of the party. There are many crafty ideas available online

Image: https://grandmahoneyshouse.com/2023/12/winter-wonderland-snack-board/ The stretch between Christmas and Valentine's Day never seems to bring out the best in you, which is ironic considering the popular New Year’s resolutions out there. From the sweet and sour packages erupting from your stocking to the box of chocolates you get from (or give to) that special person in your life, having a toothache and feeling sluggish can be frustratingly frequent. Don’t worry; I’m her

Every parent has said it, every kid has heard it: “You don’t need more candy; if you’re hungry, you can have a fruit or a vegetable.” And believe me, I have heard that quite a lot, but what if you actually are having a vegetable when you eat chocolate? Let’s start with some stats. Every year, 373 million Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars are sold. Every day, the Hershey Company produces 80 million Hershey Kisses. In the US, 2.5 billion pounds of chocolate are sold each year. And,

Many people know the basic facts of Valentine’s Day. But, while doing some research, I found some random facts about Valentine’s that I didn’t know before, and I have decided to share these facts with you in this short article! The first Valentine was sent from prison! In the early 15th century, the Duke of Orleans was imprisoned in the Tower of London. During this time, he wrote a poem (the first Valentine) to his wife, Bonne of Armagnac. You can check out the first Valentin

We all saw the Stranger Things logo on our TVs and felt the beating of our hearts as the music played in the background for the last time on December 31st. It was a truly monumental series for our generation. I haven’t been watching it for many years like some superfans have, but I did binge-watch it all before the last episode came out. No matter if you liked how the show ended or not, I think most of us can agree it's still a great show! One element that makes it amazing i

On December 5 and 6, I took part in the first annual “Best Christmas Pageant Ever” musical in Commerce. (The new movie is also another great holiday flick, as well as tear-jerking!). Recently, I interviewed a few of my fellow cast members! Here’s what they had to say: What did you like most about your character? Keo (Helen Armstrong) - “She was bossy and controlling at first, but after witnessing the blessing of Jesus through the very kids she judged, she experienced a change

There are many great Christmas movies that people love watching every year. Check out these classic Christmas movies below and see if you find a new favorite! A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) Snuggle up with your family for this delightful classic and see how Charlie Brown figures out the true meaning of Christmas with help from Snoopy, Linus, and the Peanuts gang.  White Christmas (1954) Enjoy this classic musical with legendary stars of old as they team up together to pull

The classic story of The Nutcracker is loved by many. Here is the story of how it came to be.

IT’S TIIIIIIIIMMMEEEE!!! The Christmas season is finally here, and along with that come all the festive treats! Snacks are always the best, but they are even more fun when a little flair is added to them.  Here are some festive treats to incorporate into your Christmas parties this season! Pinecone Oreo Balls To make them, you only need Oreo cookies, cream cheese, cocoa cereal, and powdered sugar (optional).  You crush the Oreos and mix them with cream cheese, and then poke t

One of the best things about the Christmas season is the beautiful Christmas lights hanging from people’s homes. For as long as I can remember, I have loved driving or walking through neighborhoods during December. Some houses have twinkling white lights perfectly lined up on their roofs, leaving me in awe of their beauty. On the contrary, some houses have bright, multicolored, flashing lights that fill me with the “Christmas spirit” even more, and make me a little blind (som

We all have favorite holiday traditions, and for a lot of us, decorating a Christmas tree is one of them. That being said, here are some times the classic tree decorating got a little wild.  #5: The Cookie Monster Tree.   Starting off strong, this one is fun, but crazier than I would actually want in my house. #4: The Dinosaur.  While this is very fun, I just can’t imagine having a T. rex as my Christmas tree. #3: Pineapple  I am entirely in a love-hate relationship with thi

During the holiday season, giving gifts can show friends and family members how much you care. Burr baskets are festive gift baskets that can be given during the chilly season of winter. Following the steps below, you can whip up your own special burr basket for someone, to show them how grateful you are for them during the holidays.  Step 1 : Pick a basket! This basket can be any shape, size, and material and can even  be used afterwards for storage.   Step 2 : Pick a cozy i

Every year since we moved to Jefferson, my little sisters have performed in Pointe of Grace Dance’s Christian take on The Nutcracker , called The Story. This opportunity has brought not just the dancers, but our entire family, several close friends… a few of whom attend SGA alongside us!  This month, Molly Greene played the well-known part of Sugar Plum. Macy Greene is a Level 3 dancer who was part of several ballet routines, as well as a hip-hop routine that my mom, SGA cro

CHRISTMAS TIMEEEE!!! With the holidays quickly approaching, it is time to do the traditional last-minute Christmas shopping! Christmas is by far my favorite holiday, but thinking about and buying presents for everyone can be a bit overwhelming at times. Here are a few easy gifts you can get for anyone (or for a gift exchange) when you can’t think of anything else! Christmas Blankets: Personally, I am a huge fan of blankets, and there is nothing more fun than a themed blanket.

The Christmas season is here, and that means Christmas parties, treats, lights, fun, AND Jesus! It can be hard to remember to take time to celebrate Jesus when the Christmas break is less like a break and feels more rushed. The season of Advent, leading up to Christmas, is the four weeks before Christmas. This season helps you take time to remember four key aspects about Jesus: hope, peace, joy, and love!  Hope: Jesus gives us hope for a restart and a second chance! Genesis 6

One of my favorite Thanksgiving Day traditions is watching the Thanksgiving Day Macy's parade! The first one was in 1924, and instead of having giant balloons, they had animals from the Central Park Zoo. Now they have giant balloons and floats. Here are some of my favorite floats from past years: Snoopy is a classic parade balloon, and he is dressed up in a different costume every year!  Next is Bluey! The kids show we all love to watch!  Lastly, the classic Christmas tree fl

Have you ever hurried to get dressed for school, grabbed your books, and rushed out the door, only to realize you forgot to eat breakfast? This happens to everyone! We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, because it is the one that gets your body going, and it’s not something to skip, especially on a busy school day. So here are a few quick and easy breakfast ideas to start your day off strong!  Fruit and Nut Salad - The night before, chop up two cup

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it is time to start thinking about some fun, delicious treats that you can set out for your friends and family! Here is a quick article with some suggestions on what you can do.  The first option is super simple! All you need are some Oreos, some sort of icing (preferably brown or black), candy corn, candy eyes, some orange M&Ms, and mini peanut butter cups! The instructions are really simple, and this could be a fun thing to make wi

Every November, baseball greats from across the country come together to accept specific awards for their outstanding performances throughout the season. You might be wondering which players the Braves are sending to Las Vegas this month. Drake Baldwin- Rookie of the Year??? Over the course of the 2025 campaign, it’s easy to assume that all of Braves Country has grown a strong liking to the rookie catcher. I know I have. Though originally meant to be a backup to Sean Murphy,