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Lifestyle
Hobbies, routines, and everyday moments that make life meaningful.


Get Back to Kroger: A Funny Art Class Misadventure and the Rice Krispy Treat Recipe That Saved the Day
You know Marilyn , my friend from nursing school and fellow ER nurse that worked with me. Yes, that Marilyn, that totally insanely crazy friend of mine had somehow talked me into taking an art class, convincing me that we could hang our pictures proudly in our homes, people would admire  them when they came to visit, stare  at them fondly. Marilyn thought she had real promise as an up-and-coming artist, as for me, neither of us held out a glimmer of hope. I couldn’t draw if

Karen Hand Allen
4 days ago5 min read
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Start a Tradition Series: 10 Quick Tips for Holiday Friends or Unexpected Stopover Guests for Fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving Parties
Holidays or unexpected popover guests don’t need to be stressful, anxiety-provoking, or expensive. Even if it’s an impromptu Halloween party, a cozy fall evening with friends, or Thanksgiving company that pops by, a few simple touches can make your home feel warm and welcoming. With just a few quick tips and ideas, see what works for your group or family. Keep a few items in a box or area of your home for quick access season to season, and let the good times roll! Holidays o

Karen Hand Allen
Oct 173 min read
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Thanks for Nothing, Marilyn: A Wild Friendship and the Texas Trash Chex Mix Recipe That Survived It All
Marilyn is an original, I’ll give her that. More than outspoken, more than verbose. She is one of a kind, when they made her, they threw away the key. When she was around, if you heard laughter, it was coming from somewhere in her vicinity. She was funny, but I liked to tell her she was funny looking. I hurried across campus, taking the stairs two at a time to Old Red, also known as the Ashbel Smith Building, on the University of Texas Medical Branch Campus in Galveston, Texa

Karen Hand Allen
Oct 1510 min read
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Start A Tradition Series: 10 Quick Tips For Fall Vegetable Garden
Getting your garden ready for fall planting needn’t be a headache or overwhelming. A few simple tips and techniques can help you start a...

Karen Hand Allen
Oct 103 min read
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The Best Stovetop Pot Roast Recipe That Tastes Like Childhood Memories
The drive to Aunt Ruby’s wasn’t far, just about forty-five minutes or so to Baytown Texas, from our home In Alta Loma, Texas, but it...

Karen Hand Allen
Oct 86 min read
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Start a Tradition Series: 10 Easy Tips for Hosting the Ultimate Pumpkin Carving Fall Party
Three weeks before the Halloween party or event, send out invitations via mail or text or email: Let guests know if costumes are required...

Karen Hand Allen
Oct 42 min read
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Paul, Babe, and Me: A Tale of Imaginary Friends
Karen Hand Allen has always had an active imagination. When she lived in the orphanage, her only companions seemed to be Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox!

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 54 min read
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How Growing Up at a Fishing Camp Shaped My Life
It was 1962, the world was expanding, everything from retail to outer space was growing, people were going places, more connected to each...

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 37 min read
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When the Bryan Wasn’t a Museum…It Was My Home
Life at the Galveston Children’s Home wasn’t easy for Karen Hand Allen, but it was full of imagination and small joys. From quiet moments of reflection to adventures sparked by her vivid imagination, this is the story of a childhood shaped by resilience and wonder.

Karen Hand Allen
Aug 316 min read
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