My courtship with my ex was far from smooth, after our incredibly brief first date I was showered with flowers and invited to drive down for another date. (The idea that he could drive up and see me was clearly not an option for him.) That trip ended in a nearly fatal motorcycle accident that ultimately landed me in the hospital for 9 days. Although the surgeon wanted to admit me to the hospital immediately, I delayed the surgery until after we went on a trip to Washington D.

Tequila Lime Cupcakes with Margarita Buttercream Frosting These terrifying tequila cupcakes are scary... They’re so tasty you might eat a few too many! The extra bit of tequila after they’re baked makes them moist and flavorful and the margarita buttercream is light and fluffy. The nice part about these is they are fairly easy to make and always a crowd pleaser. And...if you eat a few too many, just remember the tequila made me do it! Cupcake ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose

I remember thinking that the pumpkin had to be carved just right – my vision was that it would be perfect and therefore everything else would be ok. I labored over the template for hours, making tiny cuts into the flesh of the pumpkin, doing my best to make sure it was an exact match. The more I focused on this project, the less I could think about the last few months. The bruises on my neck had faded; it no longer hurt to turn my head. My children were happy. These were the

Family means the world to me, and I learned that from my mom. Growing up in the south, almost every holiday involved food in some way. We sat down for dinner almost every night, whether it was fancy and complicated, or a simple meal. My mom was an amazing cook, unfortunately not something that I inherited:( Much of what she made was either too difficult or too messy for me to ever attempt! Simply put, if it had more than a handful of ingredients, I was out. I have collected

While you’re living with a partner who abuses you, be it verbally or physically – it becomes a daily challenge to rise above their behavior and to function in life. As a mother this challenge is sometimes beyond difficult. The instinct to protect and preserve your child’s happiness is as strong as any a mother has. So it was the year that my best mom friend and I decided we wanted to take our kids to a pumpkin patch. As women of means, living in beautiful coastal Southern Ca

Loving Yourself Breast Cancer is a cause close to our hearts, not just as women with breasts, but also as people who have seen too many friends stricken down by this dreaded disease. We lost two amazing women, teachers who had a profound impact on our children, so we dedicate this section to their memories. Terry and Sandy gone far too soon, your legacy lives on in the lives of the children you inspired. Know what is normal for you The signs of breast cancer are not the same

I am probably one of the world’s worst travelers. I am terrible at packing, I am a germaphobe & hate crowds – add to that I am always running late - even to catch a flight! My saving grace is my Global Entry pass. This is a pass that as long as there is a TSA pre-check line, gives you immediate TSA pre-check for all flights when you enter your Global Entry number when making your reservation. There are other options like Clear, or standard TSA Pre-check. Both of these optio