Category: family traditions

What My Husband’s Homemade Cake Donuts Taught Me About Hospitality

When my husband, Andrew, and I first bound together our souls and wallets the year after we graduated from college and moved to a new state, we, like many who marry young, were completely broke. We moved to a tiny basement apartment in Charlottesville, Virginia, with popcorn ceilings and a musty odor. Like any other…


Why Every Home Should Have a Marmalade Day

My favorite book series as a child was “Paddington Bear.” I loved following the humorous misadventures and happenstances of the fluffy, adorable bear, but most of all I adored—and resonated with—his love of marmalade. “Paddington Bear” was the reason I began to spread my toast with the thick, orange preserves each morning, taking bites between…


New Year, Same Chili: A Comforting Family Tradition

Growing up, it was never an option for my siblings and me to miss New Year’s at home—nor did we want to. My parents, who have a house on a ski resort, loved to invite friends up to spend the holiday with us. We’d spend the afternoon on the slopes, soaking up the fresh air…