Recent Blog Posts

I love the Christmas Season. It is absolutely my favorite time of year. We finally have snow on the ground, the air is crisp and cold and Christmas is only weeks away but years, according to the kids. I haven't decorated yet but I'm close and I'm hoping to get our tree up thi...
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With about 900 Christmas tree farms in the state, you don’t have look very hard to find one near you in Michigan. One of my family’s favorite holiday traditions is picking out our Christmas tree together. We go to the same Christmas tree farm every year and cut one fresh. My boys love the wagon...
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We have all been there and attempted the Christmas card photo. Only to fail miserably - it is always so disappointing. Here are 5 tips to make sure they turn out whether you are using a professional or doing it yourself. Pick a time when the light is even - not too sunny or too dark. Everyone...
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This week marks the first major school break due to the holiday season and Thanksgiving is just days away. The school week is shortened for those needing to travel and we have the opportunity to spend some extra quality time with the kiddos. Our family doesn't usually travel for holid...
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It feels as if it's already Christmas here in Northern Michigan with all the cold and snow we have had over the last few weeks. But, it's finally Thanksgiving this week! One of my favorite holidays and a time to look back on our lives and think about what we are thankful for: family and fr...
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This week Michigan cities and towns all up and down the coast of Lake Michigan were walloped by a raging winter snow storm. We have over a foot of snow some places, wind chills below zero, schools were closed and ski resorts opened early. The thing is, it isn’t even winter yet according to the cal...
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Well Hello! My name is Alex Shorter and my sister-in-law, the queen and owner of Grandpa Shorter's Gifts, Jennifer Shorter, invited me to blog about life.  So here I am after gladly accepting. A little about me - I married Jenn's brother, Ryan, on the front porch of our Wenatchee...
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The holidays are getting so close. So close that I almost pulled out the Christmas decorations this week. Almost. I had to force myself to hold off. If you haven't been in or around Northern Michigan or watching our weather forecasts the last week or so, we have been getting hit with ...
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Bacon is a delicious, salty and savory food that many of us LOVE. It's popularity isn't surprising given the taste and it's become much more than a popular breakfast side dish. It started in the early 1990's when low carb diets were all the rage. Not only is bacon carb free, it's del...
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While the holidays are filled with lots of cheer they can also be filled with lots of stress. A full calendar of activities and budgets stretched to the limit all add up to a not so holly jolly time. A little planning will help make the holidays merrier and brighter for everyone. Managing Your Time...
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