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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 Plan Food and Drinks Menus Choose & buy pumpkins that are medium-large. Too large of ones can be difficult to carve. If you wait too long, pumpkins get sold out! Go together as a family to pick out pumpkins for your fall carving party and start a tradition. The local pumpkin patch Several days before party , buy inexpensive Trophies with

Karen Hand Allen
Oct 4, 20252 min read


The Heartwarming Legacy of Virgie's Texas Sheet Cake
This Texas Chocolate-Cinnamon Sheet Cake is the ultimate crowd-pleaser—rich, moist, and full of warm cinnamon flavor, topped with a gooey chocolate frosting studded with toasted pecans. Perfect for family gatherings, parties, or a cozy evening treat, it’s a slice of Southern comfort in every bite.

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 25, 20255 min read


The Best Christmas Punch Recipe (with Fresh Orange Slices!)
This delightful, carbonated punch is for any holiday or event, not just Christmas! Its fizzy, refreshing and gets oohs and aahs from far and wide. You’ll be glad you made it, and do have some extra ready, it’s good to the last drop!

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 19, 20253 min read


The Gardener Who Inspired Me: Otto’s Legacy and a Fresh Mustard Greens Recipe
Looking for a fresh mustard greens recipe? Learn how my friend Otto inspired my gardening journey and try this flavorful dish straight from the garden.

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 13, 20257 min read


Simple Penny Soup Recipe | Southern Tomato Hot Dog Soup with Rice
This hardy tomato-based soup is surprisingly delicious and simple to make. The onions, bell peppers and garlic add depth and richness to this buttery chicken flavored broth that satisfies in a most delightful way!

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 9, 20256 min read


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 5, 20254 min read


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 other than ever before. John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth, Pope John Paul XXlll was Time Man of the Year and the first Walmart opened in Rogers, Arkansas, just months after the first Target store opened in Roseville, Minnesota. My world was changing too, expanding from being an orphan at The Galveston Orphan’s Home , t

Karen Hand Allen
Sep 3, 20257 min read


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 31, 20256 min read
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