Life with a Smile

Here’s a fun fact you might not know about me. I like to fight. Not physical fights, mind you. Let’s be clear about that. I’ve never thrown a punch in my life and you absolutely do not want me on your team when the zombie apocalypse comes because I will definitely be among the first… Continue reading Itching for a Fight

Four years ago, I wrote a column titled “No You Can’t Wear Shorts in the Winter.” Today I am here to say, with equal parts humility and exasperation, “I Surrender.” I battled with my son for years on the topic of proper clothing choices for chilly weather. I bribed, cajoled, bartered, and growled. And then,… Continue reading Why Aren’t You Freezing?

I didn’t watch the Superbowl. It wasn’t just that my feelings about football can best be summarized as “mild disinterest” or that my desire to argue about which ads were superior and whether the halftime show was appropriate was nil. That’s all true, but the bigger issue was that I had unplugged for the weekend.… Continue reading Unplugging for the Weekend

Lately I’ve been reveling in the experience of parenting elementary-age kids. My kids are genuinely fun to hang out with – as tiny humans and not just as children under my care. They lead these exuberant, complicated lives that they are still cheerfully willing to share with me. I get play-by-play accounts of games on… Continue reading The Joy of the Elementary Years

With one notable exception, the public response to my new hairstyle has been overwhelmingly positive. The exception was my eleven-year-old daughter. She doesn’t like change. At all. Not even in the form of her mother’s funky new haircut. She cried when I showed her my inspiration picture. When I arrived home from the salon, she… Continue reading Some Thoughts on Looking Younger

Have you ever made a decision that, once made, was so obviously the right one that you wonder how it took you so long to arrive at it? That happened to me recently. Before you get your hopes up that this is a really profound article, full of deep meaning and existential considerations, let me… Continue reading Hair Cut of Destiny

It’s an exhilarating experience, stumbling across a new passion. There you are, going about your business, living your life with cheerful enthusiasm and maybe even a bit of sparkle, when – wham – out of the blue you encounter something that lights a new flame. This intro could be the start of a romance novel.… Continue reading Seeking Beauty in the Year to Come

I didn’t make the frosting for my son’s cookie decorating party. And I have no regrets. In my desire to make holidays magical for my kids, I can sometimes set the bar too high for myself. (Please refer to previous articles discussing my hang-up about store-bought valentines for reference.) But this year, I made a… Continue reading Spending Your Magic Wisely

I used to secretly laugh at people who put sweaters on their dogs. I would now like to formally apologize to those people, having recently bought a lovely reversible plaid jacket for my dog. He looks quite dashing. It turns out that my big, strong dog is a total wimp when it comes to the… Continue reading Adapting to Life with a Wimpy Dog

It was somewhere just past the halfway point of the sugar cookie baking spree that ultimately produced nine dozen cutout cookie shapes that I realized I may have over-committed to Christmas cheer this year. I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I love the lights and the colors. I love the waiting and anticipation.… Continue reading How to Handle Too Much Christmas