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The teen and I have been watching the original Gossip Girl as preparation for our upcoming trip to NYC for her 16th birthday. It is a massive mind scramble to watch this show now as a mother, hearing my daughter react to the scandalous world of the Upper East Side. For instance, when I said […]

It’s hard not to get caught up in the consumerism of the holidays. Every commercial, advertisement, For You page, and catalog is full of wonderous items that promise to make our lives infinitely better. Part of the wisdom of middle age is recognizing that buying something just to have masses of presents under the tree […]

If you’ve ever been to the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA you know how extraordinary they are. The Huntington is set on 207 acres of spectacular land in the foothills outside Pasadena, with 16 themed gardens and 45,000 pieces of art.  It houses the collection and final resting place […]

Premium brands have their place, but there is no doubt that drugstore beauty has been killing it in the last few years. The formulas are so good now that with the proliferation of “dupes” on the shelves of your neighborhood Target or CVS there is no reason to spend more for your makeup. After much […]

If you haven’t already learned about Amazon’s Stuff Your Kindle Day, you’re about ready to get really excited. This promotion by Amazon is day when everyone gets to stock up on thousands of free e-books all in one place. There are no catches–if the book is listed on this page at Amazon it’s free! There […]

People are always surprised when I tell them that I’m a user of TikTok. It’s probably because I’m known for hating a lot of social media channels and, at first blush, Tik Tok seems to be the most frivolous and obnoxious of the mainstream options. Or, you know, it might be because I’m old. But, […]

Let’s preface this gift guide by saying that most moms are thrilled to get a handwritten card for Mother’s Day or to spend time with their loved ones. Buying a splashy or expensive gift isn’t necessary. But if you are wanting to treat mom to something special, here are some suggestions that you haven’t already […]

Happy Easter weekend for those of you who celebrate! Spring is officially doing its thing, with Southern California dipping into 80-degree weather and a family of quail taking up residence in our backyard. Hoping to get a lot of writing done and a nice long visit with family. Here’s some holiday inspiration for your perusal. […]

There are so many hair challenges that arise as we age. It can be aggravating trying to deal with the hormonal changes that cause hair to be simultaneously greasy and dry. It’s time-consuming and expensive to wage the never-ending battle against gray roots. And don’t even get me started on finding a bald spot on […]

Major Gen X moment this week: the teen and I watched Pretty in Pink together. I was happy to see that the movie still holds up and even happier when the teen said at the end: “Well, that’s disappointing. I would’ve chosen Duckie over Blane.” Drop the mom mic—my work is done. Here are some […]