What A Difference 100 Years Make

This week I'm celebrating a birthday.  Well actually, I celebrate birthdays in small ways with treats all month long. Already my Mom sent me a lovely card, a thoughtful gift and a fascinating clip from a neighborhood newspaper about what it was like living many years ago. The caption is, “What a difference a century makes.”  I have to admit it's a fun read, but what exactly is my Mother trying to say by sending it to me on my birthday,...

Read More

Moving Towards The Sun

Summer is here. It officially arrived on June 21, the summer solstice, a turning point in the earth's journey towards the sun. So unless you live Down Under {Hello Australia!!} let the longest days and warmest time of the year begin! I love the easy, breezy days of summer when the great outdoors can be enjoyed like no other time of the year. And isn't a summer wardrobe cheaper, easier … skimpier and more fun to put together? Even at swanky affairs...

Read More

Celebrating Father's Day

Photo by Natalie KimballMy Father … perhaps like yours … had many attributes. He was smart, funny, creative, patient, a gentleman; the list goes on and on. But the quality I remember most was his reliability. He was there for you. You could count on him ... and his good judgment. Even during spats as a teenager, I was secure in the knowledge that he was totally on my side. I was lucky to have a caretaker dad. The summer I turned seven my two front...

Read More

Ever Cooked With A Culinary Treasure?

"Nestled" in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee sits a company that's been making cast iron cookware since William McKinley was president. Established in 1896, Lodge Cast Iron has been owned and operated by four generations of the Lodge family. Amazingly, some of those first skillets, griddles and Dutch ovens are still in use today. That's 113 years of use!There are many reasons why cast iron pans get handed down from one generation to the...

Read More

High Fashion Runway Meets Mass Market Retail

Like many woman, I try to buy beautifully designed dresses, skirts and pants that are well made and last many seasons – unless that is, I'm looking to add a trendy piece to my wardrobe. In that case, I don't mind if the dress or top only lasts a season or two, and I don't usually pay a lot of money for it. Sorry Tommy Hilfiger – but in general you can get away with spending less than $30 for fun (and summer articles) like tanks, shorts, tees and...

Read More