Favorite Blog Posts #1

Posted on December 16, 2014 by blogqueendiane

My Favorite Blog Posts #1Reading other people’s blogs is one of my favorite pastimes. (So many blogs, so little time…)

Here are some posts I really enjoyed. Check ’em out!

Continue reading →

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Traveling Solo: Why I Love Princess Cruise Lines

Posted on December 15, 2014 by blogqueendiane

Traveling Solo: Why I Love Princess Cruise LinesI’ve gone on about 15 week-long cruises to date — and absolutely love them. There’s no more carefree way to travel.

In fact, I just returned from a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean on the new Regal Princess a few hours ago!

Went on a number of cruises with my parents, my sister and my son; a former boyfriend; and with several girlfriends — and they were great.

But lately I’ve enjoyed traveling solo — having a relaxing week reading books, sleeping late, going on shore excursions and doing whatever I want. Continue reading →

Posted in cruising, cruising solo, princess cruise lines, single travel, solo travel, travel, traveling solo, vacation, why i love princess cruise lines' | Tagged , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Singing Christmas Trees: Sappy but Mesmerizing

Posted on December 12, 2014 by blogqueendiane

Singing Christmas TreesHave you ever seen Singing Christmas Trees by local churches or choral groups?

I’m from a small town up north (where there was no such thing) and saw invitations to these events for years after we moved to the Charleston, South Carolina, area. Just couldn’t imagine what they were. How could trees sing? Continue reading →

Posted in Chrisitmas, Christmas, Christmas trees, holiday activities, singing Christmas trees | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

The Joy of Blinging Out with Christmas Jewelry

Posted on December 11, 2014 by blogqueendiane

The Joy of Blinging Out with Christmas JewelryJust can’t resist buying cute Christmas jewelry to wear every year.

Normally a conservative dresser, I break out the bling December 1. Continue reading →

Posted in bling, Christmas earrings, Christmas jewelry, holiday earrings, holiday jewelry | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

How to Host a Fun Girlfriends Wreath Making Party

Posted on December 10, 2014 by blogqueendiane

How to Host a Fun Girlfriends Wreathmaking party Nearly every year for the last 15 or so, I’ve held a wreath making party for my girlfriends. Some years, I have two parties with two different groups of women because they’re so much fun. Everyone always seem to enjoy them, too.

Making a pine Christmas wreath is super simple (see my recent blog post for directions), takes only 45 minutes and it’s something that even the craft-challenged can do after a few instructions. Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas party idea, Christmas wreath, holiday party idea, pine Christmas wreath, wreath making party | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Super Simple: How to Make a Pine Christmas Wreath in 45 Minutes

Posted on December 9, 2014 by blogqueendiane

Super Simple How to Make a Pine Christmas WreathIf you’d asked me years ago, I would’ve told you making a pine Christmas wreath must be really hard, and I could never do that.

But then I bought a Martha Stewart wreath-making book, read how to do it and everything changed. (See the blog post later this week about my annual wreath-making parties.) Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas greenery, Christmas wreath, do it yourself Christmas wreath, pine Christmas wreath, pine wreath, wreaths | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Record Child’s Holiday Experiences in a Christmas Memories Book

Posted on December 8, 2014 by blogqueendiane

How to Document Your Child's Holiday Experiences in a Christmas Memories BookChristmas is for children — and it’s a time when memories are made that are treasured for a lifetime.

And there’s an easy way to document your child’s holiday experiences with gifts, grandparents, good food and more. Continue reading →

Posted in childhood Christmas memories, Christmas memories book, documenting childhood Christmas memories, recording childhood Christmas memories, thoughts tips and tales | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Fitbit Charge Review (New Fitbit Product to Replace Fitbit Force)

Posted on December 5, 2014 by blogqueendiane

Fitbit Charge Review New Fitbit Product to Replace Fitbit ForceI’m a die-hard Fitbit enthusiast, and used the original Fitbit Force for ten months until it fell apart and I regretfully returned it under the company’s product recall. However, after getting in the groove of tracking steps every day and finally reaching the point where I’d average 10,000 steps a day, I couldn’t stand not wearing a fitness tracker! Was going to wait and order the Fitbit Charge HR next year to get a more secure wristband that worked like a watchband, but couldn’t hold out that long… I ordered the Fitbit Charge ($129), a new product that essentially replaces the Fitbit Force, from the Fitbit site. It arrived in less than a week and is working fine. Continue reading →

Posted in fitbit, fitbit charge, fitbit charge review, fitness, fitness tracker | Tagged , , , , , | 36 Comments

Awesome Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Clothes and Accessories

Posted on December 4, 2014 by blogqueendiane

Awesome Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Clothes and AccessoriesIf you’re going to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party this year (and they’re becoming more and more popular – for both sexes), a good idea to save money is to start with a basic red or green sweater and add lots of bling and jingle bells to it yourself. A tutorial on “how to make an ugly Christmas sweater” might help if you don’t have the innate ability to make clothing look tacky. Continue reading →

Posted in tacky Christmas sweater, tacky Christmas sweater party, thoughts tips and tales, ugly Christmas sweater | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Memories of Holiday Mishaps

Posted on December 3, 2014 by blogqueendiane

Memories of Holiday MishapsMerry mayhem!

Seems like every Christmas, there’s a little snafu … and usually you can laugh about it later.  Here are a few of my holiday adventures.

1) Years ago, a cylindrical, glass deodorant container rolled off a nearby shelf and was flushed down the toilet in the single bathroom of our small apartment on Dec. 24, where one child and five adults were gathered for Christmas. Thank God we found a plumber willing to come on Christmas Eve (maybe he heard the panic in my voice when I called, as everyone stood by with crossed legs). He had to completely remove the toilet fixture, take it out in the yard to retrieve the container inside and reinstall it. We were all extremely grateful to be able to flush for the rest of the holiday! Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Christmas mishaps, holiday mishaps, thoughts tips and tales | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments