Here we are, the 8th day in a row where North Carolina temperatures are topping the 90s. While my coworkers are sporting cute, little summer dresses and flouncy floral skirts, I'm sweating in pants. Why? Because my legs are covered in unsightly mosquito bites! Ugh...

Well, I've done a little research and, if you're like me, you may want to take heed:

1. Wear light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes appear to be attracted to darker clothes, which trap body heat and increase your appeal.

2. Check your feet. Believe it or not, they also seem to like the smell of dirty socks. ...

Read more...

Remember my tomatoes? Well, they've totally bit the dust. When I first brought them home they were flourishing in their pot on my patio. I thought my "black thumb" had greened and was looking forward to the triumphant moment when I could enjoy the fruits of my labor. It wasn't meant to be...

I first noticed the problem a few weeks after planting; we'd had a lot of rain so my best guess was that my plant was over-watered. I'd also been a little overzealous with the Miracle-Gro so that could have contributed to the problem. I took a ...

Read more...

I recently received big news.  Life changing news.  I’m going to be a grandmother.  When my son called me to tell me, I was silent for about 30 seconds.  But my head was spinning, so it could have been more like 30 minutes because I came to with him saying in a concerned voice, "Mom?  MOM?  MOOOOM?!? Are you okay?"  I regained my composure, responded in soothing tones and told him that babies are never bad news.  Of course they’re not.  Unless his/her grandmother lives in a house with almost 250 pounds worth of dogs and two very spoiled cats.  ...

Read more...

Back-to-school is in full-swing at the Eller household, which puts Mom a little on edge. Some may make a comparison to a former dictator, but I wouldn’t go that far. In fact, I’ve been making a concerted effort this year to keep all the anxieties that correlate with working full time and having two kids in school at bay.

I even left work with a new attitude one random day. No driving home in my typical clenched-fisted manner; mentally assigning a task to each and every one of those precious minutes between 5:30 (mom gets home) and 8:30 (kids’ ...

Read more...

Now that there is nip in the air, it's starting to feel "winterish". And, with that feeling, I can hear the sounds of ladders being dragged out all across the neighborhood.  I know what happens next. The hypnotic hum of fans from the giant inflatables and surreal glow of colored lights are just around the corner.

So begins the neighborhood "decoratingfest" for the holidays.

I'm all about the season, celebrations and all of the festivities. Granted our decorations are not traditional: Our Elvis bust gets a festive collar, our refrigerator zombie gets a Santa hat and the ...

Read more...

July is National Ice Cream Month - thanks to President Reagan's declaration in 1984! Visit your favorite neighborhood ice cream shop, or celebrate with a primo countertop ice-cream maker (Cuisinart, Model ICE-30BC, Special Order) that can whip up treats in just 25 minutes. Experiment with your favorite flavors, or search for tried-and-true confections at MyRecipes.com.

My favorite? Summertime Peach Ice Cream from Southern Living. With only six ingredients, this homemade treat is sure to please. If it's not yet peach season in your area, try this recipe for Cookies-and-Cream. Oreos are always in season!

Read more...