Amy Barnes

When our two kids were getting ready to choose their colleges, our family's schedule seemed to get busier than ever.
For months, our school breaks and weekends were filled with the same monotonous routine: Drive several hours to a college, take a tour of the campus, and head back home.
Not only were these visits pretty rushed and stressful, but they were also monopolizing our free time as a family of four.

As empty nesters who both work from home, my husband and I try our best to choose nutritious food options while keeping our grocery costs low.
Luckily, shopping at Aldi helps us achieve both of these goals. Here are some of our favorite products to buy.
My husband recently stopped buying Clif Bars and replaced them with the more budget-friendly Elevation energy bars from Aldi.

Sending two kids to college meant months of driving to and touring campuses as a family. So, I started turning our campus visits into "tour-cations" with day trips and fun local activities. While learning about schools, we spent time together visiting local restaurants and attractions. When our two kids were getting ready to choose their colleges, our family's schedule seemed to get busier than ever.

The fabric evokes memories of blooming flowers and warm days, but it's no lightweight in the fashion world.
It's springtime in the South. The weather is warming, the sweet tea is cold, and the proverbial frogs are jumping. There's deviled eggs, glazed ham, and biscuits on the table. Men are strolling in blue-and-white striped suits, while toddlers are in jon jons and dainty dresses with smocked bunnies.
What are their garments made of? It’s a lightweight fabric that makes warm temperatures fe...

There’s something special about a twirly, floral dress. Decorating a home with fresh flowers or accessories is a fun option, and decorating yourself as well can make you feel ready for spring!

In spite of being 36 years old, Pac-Man’s popularity shows no sign of decline. Well over 90% of Americans recognize Pac-Man, giving this character greater brand awareness than Super Mario. Pac-Man was designed to be non-violent and to appeal to children and females. Here are 12 ways to use Pac-Man principles to up your principal game:
1| Navigate the Maze
Pac-Man needed humans to guide him through his maze. As you navigate your school, use Pac-Man principal principles to help teachers and stu...

There are figurative lightbulb moments in education, like when kids learn to read or master a math skill. But recently, Gary Anderson, assistant superintendent of operations for Murfreesboro City Schools (MCS) had a literal lightbulb moment that changed the way students in his district learn.
Simple Beginnings for Big Ideas
Part of Anderson’s job is to find ways to save his district money. So in 2010, he upgraded MCS buildings from T-12 fluorescent lightbulbs to a quieter and more efficient b...

My teenager asked me for a Dubai chocolate bar in 2023. She told me it was expensive and only shipped from Dubai. It turns out she wasn’t the only one hunting for the elusive, exotic candy bar. Dubai chocolate bars were officially a trend, grown out of a chocolatier’s pregnancy craving and a viral ASMR Tik Tok.

Served up warm from the oven, this nostalgic cake makes its own pudding-like sauce to warm souls and bellies, just like grandma intended.
My grandmother always burned the biscuits. Even canned ones. Money was tight, so burned biscuits it was. It just wasn't a holiday meal without slightly blackened biscuits and ham studded with pineapples and cloves. We always managed to struggle through the burnt bits because there was something special waiting on the other side: pudding cake.

When the egg hunts are done, don't toss the shells.
There are many ways to use the boiled and dyed eggshells after Easter egg hunts. Instead of wasting shells by simply throwing them in the trash, these more sustainable options allow you to save money and experience fun family activities. You may not be able to eat eggshells, but you still can use them in arts and crafts or in the garden. Read on for more great ideas.

At the holidays, I always think of my great-grandmother's hands rolling pasta and baking anise crescents. They looked like powdered sugar-coated Italian wedding cookies, but with a secret: anise extract. I've found versions in bakeries and packaged shelf-stable options, but they aren't quite right; they're missing the hands rolling them, family history, and love-infused nostalgic flavor.

The time has come for you to resurrect your Twitter account, update your Facebook profile, or dust off your Instagram feed. Social media is the most powerful tool that most principals are not using to its full potential. From communicating with the community to bragging about your students, there are so many reasons to stretch your thumbs and get ready to make these platforms work for your school this year. So here’s what you, as the leader of your school, should and should not do with social...

The winter holidays are a time for gift-giving and celebrations. Southern hospitality is at its best with homemade goodies and personalized gifts. While you’re buying for friends and family, you might wonder about giving or exchanging gifts at work.
To keep workplace gift-giving easier and clearer, we’ve taken a look at some things to check on and questions to ask before making purchases. Gift-giving at work during the holidays doesn’t have to become expensive or stressful.