Recent Blog Articles
West Michigan was unseasonably warm last month. I was beginning to think sweating was my new way of life. The weather certainly seems to be symbolic of where we are as a country right now—chaotic, confused and heated. Business & Brand Activism 8THIRTYFOUR is...
A little while ago, my friends and I were gathered around a few bottles of wine as I was explaining how my mother-in-law, who's lived in the Upper Peninsula for 40 years, had spent an entire day teaching my husband and kids how to make pasties (pass-tees) from...
Did you know your level of happiness is entirely up to you? When I discovered that my happiness is my personal choice, I began researching ways I could continue to boost my own joy. I am not generally an unhappy person, but I love the idea that, ultimately, I am in...
Sometimes, when you find it difficult to schedule date night, you multitask and bring some friends with you! That's what we did this month for #forcedcouplesfun. Every year, we carve a weekend out in the summer for our friends Jason and Janet to come for a visit. They...
As the mom of three boys within three years of each other, I really do feel like I have some expertise about bringing up boys. I even wrote about it a few years ago, when I shared my favorite tips and advice for those with little ones. Back then, I felt...
Today I came home from getting groceries, hands shaking and heart pumping. Now, I know that grocery shopping isn't really anyone's idea of a good time, but for the past few weeks my favorite grocery store in Holland has been closed for remodeling. My shopping...
July is National Cellphone Courtesy Month. Why not all year long? We sure need it. July is also the 10th anniversary of the iPhone. What a phenomenon! And yet we still know folks who are enjoying the solid old flip phone. Go figure. Well, whichever phone you use,...
It was spring break this year when I first noticed just how fantastic my friend Maria was looking. Her leg and arm muscles were defined and she was quite slimmer in the mid-section. She looked ... well ... fit! Everyone in my group of friends knows Maria is an extreme...
It was a diverse culinary experience. Our quest has always been to seek out good food, great drinks and a social ambiance. What quickly comes to mind are the restaurants we've tried and the restaurants that remain on our list. What didn't come to mind was Downtown...
I grew up along West Michigan's lakeshore—less than an hour from Muskegon—yet the only time I ever laid eyes on the city and its surrounding county was when my family made the trek to Michigan's Adventure. Twenty-five years in West Michigan, and I knew...