I’m typically a pretty positive person – some might even say too positive. That’s why you may be shocked to hear that I feel like I’m being tested like Job right now. Somehow, our darling daughter managed to contract a case of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). She then promptly passed it along to me. It is sheer misery! We all managed to avoid getting HFMD during Z’s infancy and toddlerhood. I remember it going through our daycare like wildfire and the babies crying inconsolably. Now that I’ve experienced HFMD as an adult, I can understand why they cry. It’s a pain and discomfort like no o ..read more

I like swimming in lakes. I haven’t always. I used to think lakes were creepy, leech-filled and dirty compared to the big, beautiful and salty ocean I grew up swimming in. Granted, parts of the ocean can be creepy and dirty too, depending upon the tide. We used to get an occasional red tide on the Long Island beach where I grew up; when that happened, it meant no one could swim for a while until it cleared up. It’s funny – there are probably more people who are afraid of swimming in the ocean than there are who avoid lakes. I guess we all like what we’re used to – and since I wasn’t used to s ..read more

I’m a seasonal ice cream person. That means that I don’t eat the cold stuff year-round. In the middle of winter, ice cream is the last thing on my mind – I prefer warm desserts. But as soon as the warm weather months come around, I start enjoying ice cream again. And these days, Lewis Center has more options than ever for local ice cream lovers! Some of these establishments have been around for a while, others are new – but all serve up delicious cold treats. Best of all, we can ride our bikes to all but one of them. There’s nothing better than a bike ride to get ice cream on a summer afterno ..read more

I try to live my life without regrets, but it’s not always possible – especially as a parent. We simply don’t know what we don’t know. I’m learning all the time! And, in the immortal words of Maya Angelou, when we know better, we do better. So if there’s one thing I could go back and change, and that I’m changing now that I know, it’s a particular aspect of how we’ve parented our girl. You see, when she first exhibited anxiety around age 10 – far more than the usual childhood worries – we became overprotective. I hated seeing her in fear and pain so much that I wanted to bubble-wrap the wor ..read more

I’ve always been a fan of close encounters with nesting birds – but not ones that could potentially damage our own nest. The summer we found out we were pregnant with Zoe, a mama mourning dove made her nest in one of our hanging baskets. It was close enough that we could peek at the eggs/babies once in a while, but not close enough to cause any problems for the birds, our house or us people. It was honestly a perfect location and magical experience! Then, when Z was in her early grade-school years, we had a robin build her nest under our deck. We could hear loud cheeping so we peeked through ..read more

If you’re an Ari fan like us, you’ve probably heard “Yes, And” – a highly dance-able tune from her latest album. I already had this song running through my head when I stumbled upon a business article about the power of the words “Yes, And.” It turns out that “Yes, And” is a method from improvisational theatre said to improve the effectiveness of brainstorming, foster effective communication and encourage the free sharing of ideas. It’s also a handy business communication tool – almost a life hack. Upon further reflection, I realized that I’ve used “Yes, And” in my own life to great success w ..read more

I love awe-inspiring natural phenomena. Waterfalls, sunrises, sunsets and the ocean are some of my favorite things. The 2024 solar eclipse blew my mind. I have childhood memories of salt-water phosphorescence that will be with me forever and always. New close encounters with animals fill me with awe and inspiration. So yeah, it was a pretty big deal that a wild space storm recently sent rainbow colors swirling through the sky above our heads right here in Lewis Center (a Northern suburb of Columbus), Ohio. My hubby and I saw the Aurora Borealis in Ohio once before, when we lived in Dayton. On ..read more

I love good food, beautiful surroundings and afternoon tea. I also adore Beatrix Potter‘s children’s books and have since childhood. I was thrilled when those four things converged in one exquisite experience during a recent business trip to the Big Apple. We had a few hours to spare before our flight home, so my colleagues and I looked for an interesting spot nearby for a late lunch. That’s how we discovered the delightful café inside the magnificent and marvelous Morgan Library & Museum just a short walk from the Empire State Building in midtown Manhattan. The bright, spacious Morgan Ca ..read more

When I started this blog, I had a Friday Favorites series where I’d regularly write about five things I love, such as movies, books, cookies, places to shop or clothing brands. It’s been a while since I’ve done a Friday Favorites post, but it just so happens that five recent finds have been rocking my world lately. Looks like it’s time to dust off the series! Here’s the scoop on my current Friday Favorites: 1. I recently discovered a new brand of jeans to obsess over. Judy Blue‘s size-inclusive denim is sold through online boutiques that do a great job with their ad targeting on Facebook and ..read more

I haven’t blogged about anything spooky or odd lately, so I think it’s time. I just read a fascinating article about young kids who can remember past lives and it blew my mind! You might think I read this in a trashy supermarket rag like the National Enquirer, but no. Rather, it was an extensive article in the well-regarded Washington Post in which several credentialed scientists were quoted. Apparently, an academic and scientific research group at the University of Virginia was founded in 1967 to rigorously study “empirical evidence for extraordinary human experiences and capacities.” The Di ..read more