Melyssa Williams

Melyssa Williams has been writing since she could hold a pen (or a quill, as she was an odd little duck).

Sadly, she was born to two loving parents who fed her broccoli, taught her manners, and raised her with love and affection – this was a striking blow to someone who wanted desperately to adventure like only an orphan can.

Once she got over this terrible malady, Melyssa wrote several novels. These include The Lost Trilogy, a young adult sci-fi/fantasy saga, and Once Upon a Winter, a steampunk retelling of the The Nutcracker.

Melyssa has been on staff for magazines such as Mary Jane’s Farm and Home Educating Family, she has ghostwritten several popular books, and her work has been featured on Crosswalk, Farm Girl Sisterhood, Well Planned Gal, and more.

When she’s not writing fiction, you'll find her blogging, thrift store shopping, or annoying her children (who also wish they were orphans).

She was a professional ballerina back in the day, has taught ballet for over 30 years, and currently pours wine at the most darling tasting room in Southern Oregon.

101 Best Christmas Activities That Everyone Will Love

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The best part about the holiday season is that everyone is together! The hardest part about the holiday season is… well, everyone’s together! That’s why Christmas activities are so important.

Good, clean, wholesome Christmas activities are irreplaceable during the holidays. After all, you can only watch so many Hallmark movies, eat so many cookies, or visit Santa so many times before the family starts to get a little bit twitchy.

So plan accordingly with some fun Christmas activities that just might become a yearly tradition!

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150 Best Men’s Stocking Stuffers for Christmas

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The clock is ticking and that stocking is still looking awfully empty — it hits you and you realize you’ve completely spaced the stocking stuffers. It’s okay. We’ve all been there… 

Sometimes we get so preoccupied with the “main” gift, the big present, the brand new car with the giant bow on it (okay, no one we know has ever pulled that off), that we forget all about the stocking stuffers until zero hour. 

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150 Best Women’s Stocking Stuffers for Christmas

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Let’s face it, stocking stuffers are usually an afterthought. Most often it’s the main present, the big one, the coup de grâce, that gets all the love and attention — not to mention all the pre-planning and forethought. But honestly, we’re here to tell you that stocking stuffers are really where it’s all at! 

And let’s confront a tragic truth: women everywhere, especially moms, have been stuffing their own stockings for years because no one else remembers to! So, this year? Blow her mind with some clever, sweet, romantic, and/or silly items that she will absolutely love. 

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55 Best Stocking Stuffers for Girls This Christmas

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Today we’re taking a look at the 55 best stocking stuffers for girls.

If you ask me, the best presents come in stocking form each Christmas! There’s something about stuffing the oversized socks with the most fun little treasures that just makes the whole family happy.

And these days the average Christmas stocking is decently large, leaving plenty of room for all sorts of goodies.

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40 Best Graduation Gifts of All Time

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When it comes time to celebrate a graduation, we are so here for it! After all, it’s the culmination of some of the best and toughest years of our lives. 

So, whether it’s graduating high school, trade school, beauty school, college, or hey… even kindergarten! We believe such an occasion deserves a party and, of course, some fabulous gifts to go with it.

But what to get that grad-to-be? To keep you from doing too much head scratching, we’ve compiled a list of our 40 best graduation gifts of all time. Read on for some great graduation gift ideas to ensure you don’t arrive at the party empty-handed. 

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21 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Husbands

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Today we’re getting the jump on the best Father’s Day gift ideas for husbands.

Hard to believe, right? That it’s almost that time of year again?

It can be hard to pinpoint the right gift for your husband for Father’s Day. After all, he’s not your dad.

That doesn’t negate the fact that the father of your children deserves an awesome and thoughtful gift from you, though. You love your hubs, and each year you strive to find those unique gifts that you just know he’ll love instead of the same old hair pomade, tie, or gift card.

Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those items if that’s what he really likes!

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10 Practical Mother’s Day Gifts

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Creatively Practical Mother's Day Gifts

Let’s take a look at 10 practical Mother’s Day gifts that mom is sure to love.

Ask most people and they’ll tell you that buying a gift for their mom is hard. The truth is, moms (or mother figures) rarely verbalize their needs or wants.

They are so busy putting everyone else’s needs before their own, that they don’t even stop to think “Hey, I could really use such-n-such.”

But everyone has needs and wants, and Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show our love for Mom and try and meet those.

In that same vein, what are some practical non-gift gifts that mom might enjoy? Well, Moms spoke, and we listened. Here’s what they said:

  • Breakfast in bed
  • A nice, long nap
  • A handwritten letter of appreciation
  • A day/week without cooking, chauffeuring, cleaning, etc.
  • A trip to the aquarium, botanical garden, zoo, or other outing of sorts
  • Dinner out
  • A picnic

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100 Joyful Gift Ideas That Start With J

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Are you looking for the perfect gift for that special Jason in your life? 

How about Janet? Jeff, Julie, or Jeremiah? What if Jim and Jane get hitched and you need a wedding present? 

Never fear, we are here to help you pick out a flawless gift for your favorite J person. 

There are lots of fun reasons to theme your gifts around a letter other than name associations, too! Or, maybe you’re attending a jolly juice jamboree in July and want to bring a gift for your host?

You really never know.

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100 Incredible Gifts That Start With I

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Are you searching for the perfect gift? Something thoughtful with a sense of personal touch? I know that’s what I’m usually on the hunt for, anyway.

Then why not venture into the world of idyllic gift ideas that start with ‘I’? 

It’s more than just wordplay, we assure you. Instead, it’s an original way to let the person you’re buying for know just how much consideration you have for them!

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