Val's Voice

Can you believe June is almost over? The year is sure flying by. That means that Independence Day, one of my favorite holidays, is just around the corner! I love the history of the holiday as well as the festivities that come with it. Each year, we have a big cookout for all of our family and friends and then walk to the neighborhood park to see fireworks. As I am sure you know by now I enjoy DIYing a lot of things and Independence Day decorations are no exception! ...read more

I love a good snack. In fact, I have a special drawer dedicated to them at my desk. Recently, I have been trying to eat a little better, which means my normal snacks had to go. I started searching the Internet for healthy snacks I can eat at my desk. ...read more

One of the best things about camping is the food! While writing the previous post on camping, I got to thinking about camping recipes. When I was looking for recipes from the family’s last camp outing I was surprised at the wide variety of items we could make over the fire. We only used our stove once. The nice thing about all of these recipes is you can choose to make them while you are at camp, or you can prep them beforehand. This way you can have more than just hotdogs and s’mores all weekend. Let’s dig in! ...read more

We love camping; it is a great escape from the stresses of everyday life and a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy the great outdoors with your family. I must confess, though, I am still fairly new to camping. My husband is a pro; he grew up camping and spent most of his youth in the Boy Scouts for America. Last fall, after 10 years of coaxing, he finally wore me down to go camping – with our toddler no less. ...read more

Going on vacation is a wonderful experience for the entire family. It is a great way to explore new places and spend quality time with those important to you. Vacation can be expensive, though, and if you are looking for a lower-cost alternative to vacationing away, consider a staycation! ...read more

Can you believe Father’s Day is this Sunday? Comparatively speaking, Father’s Day is a relatively young holiday for the United States. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. It wasn’t a national holiday until President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972. It’s only been an official holiday for 46 years! ...read more