Entertaining, especially holiday style, ranks way up there as one of my favorite feel-goods. I dig putting menus together, selecting festive cocktails, and planning stupid party games my husband nixes (i.e. throw random strangers together, hand them one word written on a file card, make them talk about it amongst themselves). (Every time, he says…Continue Reading
Etcetera
The Birthday Year
I turned eight on November 22, 1976. I asked for pierced ears and ballet lessons. Not normally accustomed to receiving what I wanted — my mom substituted items for what she thought would be more suitable (an encyclopedia set; a sporty Mickey Mouse watch with his tennis ball as the second hand; a bible) —…Continue Reading
PROMPTuesday #172: Laundry List
You know how such complicated things are really quite simple? Like, you want to work out? WORK OUT (San Diego Momma). Or, you want to write a book? WRITE A BOOK (San Diego Momma). Or maybe you’ve been meaning to reclaim your soul from social media saturation. STOP TWEETING SO MUCH AND WRITE YOUR BOOK…Continue Reading
Holiday Comforts
(This post is sponsored by Tempur-Pedic, the brand millions of owners trust to deliver their best night’s sleep every night. Enjoy our Buy 2, get 1 free pillow offer now and give the gift of custom comfort to someone you love.) The people I love. I’m hesitant to admit this, because I…Continue Reading
I’m Doing a Body Cleanse
Not sure if you all remember this: Or this: Or way back in the day, this: (I used to have semi-musculature!) But here’s what’s been happening: Hold on…I need to find the most apt word… The one that really sums up my healthy activities of the last…Continue Reading
Of Unicorns and Firemen
{{While I think of words to write, this is what I’ve written…}} {{Sometimes I really miss this place…}} Yesterday, the girls and I walked to the beach. We’ve discovered the most wonderful “secret” passageways leading down to Sunset Cliffs and are spending our time exploring them. There are rusty, rickety metal stairways,…Continue Reading
Shake a Hair Feather
I found myself a little swept away the other day. It was Ladies Night at one of my favorite places, and there were all kinds of girly things: Paraffin waxes, cake balls, and hair feathers. I know. I’ve seen tons of kids at the elementary school rock the feathers, with a few…Continue Reading
The Phone Call
I was driving to my dentist appointment when the phone rang. My stepsister, Karen, got the words out right after hello. “Your dad is in the hospital.” I blanked out for a moment and didn’t say a word in response. This was the moment I’d semi-prepared for and avoided thinking about since my…Continue Reading
In Honor of November
{{This is a re-post, in homage to my most favorite reverend month on high.}} I walked into Jimbo’s, armed to the gills with my new turkey knowledge, ready and confident to order a bird that would adequately feed 12 adults, four kids. “One pound of turkey per adult, one-half pound per child,”…Continue Reading
Top Five Songs That Speak to Me
At one time or another, I’ve referred to all of “my” soul songs. These tend to be my go-to songs that center my heart and brain and blood. I listen to what they tell me and everything becomes still. And then my gut buzzes in my ears. That’s how it should be, right? We…Continue Reading
Are We (Still) All Playing the Blogging Game?
{{I first posted this a year ago, and it’s still true for me today.}} ******************* I’ve often commented that I’ve been blogging since 2001. And I don’t mean it as a brag, although I also birthed both my children naturally while pushing a snow blower in a blizzard uphill both ways on…Continue Reading
Five Tips to Make Autumn More Fun (Or Less Fallow)
There’s just something to be said about this time of year. It’s quiet, reflective, gathering, closing in, nesting, souping, preparing, gray skying, fire placing. So many elements I love. The light is soft, the ground is fallow, the corn is high. I don’t know. That just sounded good. Never mind that fallow ground…Continue Reading
