Hey Amy!

I really have never met a diet that I liked, could stick to, wanted to participate in, found successful in the ‘post diet life’.  Knowing that, I felt very defeated before I even began my latest trek up the slimming down mountain.  I have participated in Weight Watchers, NutriSystem, Atkins, South Beach, the Grapefruit, Cabbage [...]

Spring!  Spring!  Spring! Spring has definitely arrived this weekend in Southern California.  The signs are all there–gorgeous weather, flowers blooming and a hummingbird nest in the back yard!  While out shopping, I stumbled onto a motherload of hyacinths, smelling them before viewing them.  I couldn’t resist and brought home a gorgeous purple one.  I spent [...]

Yesterday I spent the morning with a dear friend helping her ‘redecorate’ parts of her home.  After shedding 180 lbs of uselessness, it was time to make the home hers.  I walked into a lovely space that was warm and inviting but seemed empty in some areas.  She spoke of wanting to change this and [...]

I bought my very first home nine years ago and it was held together by duct tape and staples.  I knew going in it was going to be a lot of work but I was excited for the challenge and the knowledge I would gain.  After replacing 26 windows, rewiring, re-piping, re-everything (!), I got [...]

The ladies of my family all have skills in the kitchen.  From my 85 year old Nany to my mother to my sister-in-law, we can cook up a storm.  I hope to share their many recipes with you here.  Some are new discoveries, others are decades old.  As to the origin of the recipe, I [...]

Almost fifty years ago (our friend Tami brought this correction to my attention and after researching more and more, I found the original publishing date–1961.  Thank you Tami!) a man had a brilliant idea.  The former chairman of Tiffany’s (yes that Tiffany’s) determined what the rest of us have known for generations–teenagers need a guide [...]

I have tried countless recipes in search of a delicious, flavorful baked bean recipe without pork.  The other half doesn’t dine on swine and I love baked beans so the hunt was on.  Making baked beans from scratch isn’t as hard as you think and it’s worth the extra love.  Your family, loved ones, guests [...]