I am exceptionally excited that tomorrow (!) I’ll have the opportunity to attend an event hosted by P. Allen Smith (the Arkansas-based television host, designer, gardening and lifestyle expert) and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. A handful of bloggers from throughout the state have been invited to this event, known as Bean2Blog, which is an … Continue reading »
See the bottom of this post for a rather grown-up giveaway! You know what’s difficult? Being a grown-up. There are all of these demands that nobody bothers to prepare you for in all of those college prep classes and high school assemblies about career choices. Sure, your resume gradually evolves and you eventually learn how … Continue reading »
I tend to rave pretty regularly here (and even more over at The Food Adventuress) as well as in person about my friend Lyndi, aka nwaFoodie. If you’re not reading her blog, you need to get over to nwaFoodie.com right away and subscribe. Over the past several years, Lyndi has become one of my closest … Continue reading »
Apologies if you came here looking for something a little juicier than I have planned. That should have read bookcase stalker. While I’m not a particularly nosy person (I generally don’t care what is in your medicine cabinet, what you paid for your house or who said what about so and so), I’m definitely a … Continue reading »
Did any of you catch this post over on Arkansas Women Bloggers last week related to the theme making the world a better place to be (and blog)? I’m curious about whether the notions of living kindly, living happily and living lightly are ideas that you subscribe to, or whether life is just too frenetic … Continue reading »
A friend and I had an interesting revelation the other day while visiting over coffee. The visiting over coffee part itself has become a really rewarding part of my life lately. I’ve been taking some breaks from consuming social media – I’ll still post “outbound” (i.e. taking a photo on my phone and posting it) … Continue reading »
Our family recently teamed up with Colgate and Champions for Kids to help deliver Bright Smiles, Bright Futures to kids in our community. We love the campaign concept, because dental care really is key to a healthy life. Growing up, visiting the dentist regularly was just part of life (along with the torturous braces and … Continue reading »
I used to walk (ok, hustle) to school in Wenatchee, Washington. First, down Orchard Street to Orchard Middle School after we first moved to the U.S. (and after the kids recovered from their shock that I was the new girl from Jamaica and yet my skin didn’t match their mental pictures). Then, from Utah Court … Continue reading »
I love to write, to reflect, and process the life I don’t deserve by just stabbing at it – throwing words up like those creepy, plastic, stretchy cereal toys to see if they stick to the wall and start to migrate. Reality sets in between the exuberant moment when the spider-like creature sticks at the … Continue reading »
When I was in elementary school, we lived in Kingston, Jamaica. We moved back to the United States shortly after my dad was attacked in our garage on the way to work one morning by two men – one wielding a heavy metal pipe and the other a machete. In that impoverished country, it’s pretty … Continue reading »
Read on for a chance to win a $75 home/baby-proofing kit from Safety 1st and Healthy Families! I think I’ve turned into a bit of a preparedness nerd… not a doomsday prepper by any means, but prone to doing things like stocking emergency kits and asking for second floor fire escape ladders for our playroom … Continue reading »
The nine year old is always after me to paint her nails. That moment, where she asks me to do that with her, is going to pass all too soon. We rush and rush through life, with me the consummate mom rushing her, like so: “Well, yes, we can paint your nails. But first, please … Continue reading »
In early 2012, I was fortunate through some of life’s unusual circumstances to meet Ed Cooley, a nationally-renowned photographer living in Rogers, Arkansas. His stunning, more vivid than life photography is displayed at his own White River Gallery in historic downtown Rogers and is also currently exhibited at Tavola Trattoria in Bentonville. Ed and I … Continue reading »
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day: Walgreens has won my heart. Well, along with these two: There is a Walgreens located approximately 14 blocks from my house at the corner of Happy and Healthy (which happens to coincide with Walnut and Dixieland), and you have no idea how relieved I was when this became reality. … Continue reading »
On girls’ weekends, taking tea and soaking up the good things in life. I love reading references to the Boston Tea Party of 1773 as one of, if not the pivotal event that paved the way for the American Revolution. For a group to storm a ship in Boston Harbor and throw tea overboard as … Continue reading »
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~ Edith Sitwell ~ Why Monday Muse? We have a massive magnetic chalkboard (see that affliction here) wall in our kitchen that serves as … Continue reading »
There is a post up today over on Magpie Marketing about customer service, and why I will be a lifelong fan of David Sibley’s birding guides, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers and Andrew Stewart Publishers. I’m sure they will be delighted to know they will be my first pick when it is time for me to … Continue reading »
Over the past few weeks, I’ve received some phenomenal customer service. It seems as though so often we’re willing to rant about the people who treat us poorly, but we often forget to speak up about the companies that are doing it right. Better yet, we can learn some great things from the individuals who … Continue reading »
I had a fun opportunity recently to check out a business and share a little bit about my experience with you. I have to admit, before participating in this project I was not familiar with CookiesKids.com, but I’m certainly a new fan. CookiesKids.com is an online kids’ clothing and accessory department store. The site offers … Continue reading »
Happy new year! Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~ Benjamin Franklin 2013 is going to be a fantastic year. I love the quote above because it speaks to the idea that we are ever-evolving and always improving. So, … Continue reading »
