Lots of people do their goal-setting at the end of the year, or the beginning of the year, or near the end or the beginning of their financial year. I just realized I do mine while on summer vacation. That makes sense, right? After all, I've always lived by the school calendar, … [Read more...]
Makeup Files
It all started with this lip color. Nyx Liquid Suede cream lipstick in Cherry Skies. Not for every day. It's a long and boring story, but the point is that I pulled all my makeup out from under the sink and realized that it's not very much makeup at all. I have a minimalist … [Read more...]
The Bar is Low for Mother’s Day with Teens
What do you when Mother's Day sucks? I don't have high expectations for gifts or favors on special occasions. My husband isn't much of a planner or a big-gesture kind of guy, and try as I might to set the example for my kids, when it comes around to my birthday or Mother's … [Read more...]
The Pallbearer
It snowed on the day of my grandmother's funeral. Big fat flakes. I wore the full-length wool coat I left behind when I moved to Los Angeles in 1995. The boxy shoulders dated its style, but it kept my legs warm, and besides, my Nana was dead, so who cared? I insisted on being … [Read more...]
Bloom
In reviewing my first draft of my (first?) novel, I have found the word "bloom" used as a verb several times. You might wonder why I don't remember writing it so often, but other writers might tell you that they, too, review their words as if reading a work penned by someone … [Read more...]
Merciful Home
It's been a busy weekend, with sports, an epic sleepover, and at last a long lovely hike for me. It's been raining or overbooked for me the last few weekends, and I started getting itchy to get back out on the trail. (I still haven't tackled The Lady yet, but as soon as I do I … [Read more...]