The power went out the other night, it was so cold. Luckily we have a wood-burning stove to keep us warm. We all camped out in the living room — we set up tents and everything. I figured since we are snowed in and under attack by the White Witch from the Chronicles of Narnia, we might as well have fun. We toasted marshmallows and made smores. We heated up some cider and sang campfire songs. This was the most fun I’d had with my family since we camped at the Grand Canyon a few years ago.

Best part though, was these cool oil lamps I picked up a few weeks ago– they really came in handy. I bought these awesome Lumen Shadow Oil Lamps. You know, it’s like when you used to hide out in the tree house and make shadow animals on the wall– but this is way cooler. Three precision cut designs, trees and birds– tiny when you’re just looking at them. Yeah, they basically look like some kinda award for environmentalism. But, when you light the odorless, clean burning oil, these stainless steel images flicker and these cool shadows are cast on the wall that move ever so slightly, like living things. My kids were captivated. The darker the room, the stronger, more detailed the shadow. Looking back, I’m glad I decided to buy all three– I made an instant forest in our living room! I totally saved the day! I mean, night. After we were full on s’mores and cider, we started telling ghost stories! Man, with those lumen shadow oils lamps burning, even I started to hear the things that go bump in the night.