Is Valentine’s Day a time for validation?

Don’t we all need a little validation, just to know that we make a difference in someone’s lives?

Confession – I’ve been married for years. Valentine’s Day was never a big deal for my husband, who just isn’t a gift-giver. It’s OK – he makes up for it in so many other ways, I don’t mind (most days). He validates me with…

Is Valentine’s Day becoming a thing of the past? I hope not. When I was in junior high, a boy I hardly knew gave me a huge, ruffled, sparkly box of chocolates – in the middle of a bustling, loud hallway filled with 13 year olds, most of whom stopped to gawk at the exchange. I was mortified and thrilled at the same time, and I kept that box for a decade.

My family is…

Does fall make you channel Martha Stewart?

I don’t know what it is about fall that makes me crave apples and cinnamon. Maybe it is those huge Honey Crisp apples that I see in the grocery store this time of year. I can’t resist picking up a few, even though they are too big for one just person to eat.



Halloween brought cool…

Baked Bucatini Casserole

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Heat olive oil in a large skillet

Add garlic, sauté finely chopped onion, green bell pepper and red bell pepper

I’m kidding here – I just added a bag of onion/pepper mix from my freezer.

Add one package of sweet Italian sausage

Make homemade Italian meatballs by hand (kidding again, I threw in a handful of the frozen ones, also from my freezer stash)

After meat browns, add fresh…