It's Never Just a Meal

Steaming, broiling, mashing, baking. How many ways can someone who enjoys being in the kitchen, show the people in her life the love she has for them? The choices are beautifully limitless when cooking is her love language.

Time to stop apologizing about and begin sharing the joy I feel in feeding the ones I love.

Delighted to share my story of how cooking feeds me with more than just food, on Purple Clover.

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Lives of Our Own

Whether trying to appear strong and self sufficient, or out of loneliness, turning us into confidantes with a façade of stories that reflect them in the best light, we can never really know our parents. It's only when they slip unguarded and share a story that moves too fast to censor, that we witness the person who existed before they were parent.

I write of just such a story, of my mother when she was young, beautiful, and she first met my father.

I am proud to share it today on Purple Clover .

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Of Love and Liberace

Coming from a long line of storytellers, no tale ever seems too far fetched. I'm used to retellings that sound like they come from the Reader's Digest section "How I Survived and Lived To Tell This Story!" So used to a good story am I, that I easily forget what listening to a Rosas tale can do to the unschooled.

What happens when an outsider steps into the middle of a Rosas Woman telling a story?

Find out today on Purple Clover with Liberace and Liz Taylor's diamond.

*Always, I thank you for reading!

 

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A Valentine's Day Story (It's the weekend, totally counts as made it)

Here's a little story, of what makes for the sweet moments in life.

It involves food, of course.

You can read it on Purple Clover.

*Happy Valentine's Day weekend, everyone*

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Not All Hear the Call of Chocolate

Today is better than yesterday, because February 15th is the day that all the chocolate is on sale, practically given away. And that stuff can keep forever. So put as much in your dainty little shopping bag that you can, because chocolate is worth it.

Unless you don't hear the call of the chocolate, and not all do.

But for those of us powerless at its sight, then you'll understand my story here, about how chocolate belongs to the one who can resist it the least.

On purple clover today, The Dark Art of Chocolate.

*happy valentine's candy sale day!

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Parenting 101, Thanks to the Movies

Last week, I went to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with my teen son. What he saw and came away with, left my heart racing with the question, Had I done him right?

My epiphany here, via Purple Clover: What Walter Mitty Taught Me About Parenting.

*As always, I am grateful for your support of my writing elsewhere. You are my encouragement.

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Middle Age, Our Hair, and Why Do People Care?

It's such a hot button. Women, long hair, and their age. People begin to ask a woman once she turns forty, "So, you'll be getting your haircut soon, right? You really can't keep it long once you, you know, get older." Long hair on older women, it bothers a certain few. But why? My opinion, wear it the way you feel suits you. And for your own reasons.

My post on Purple Clover today, Women, their Long Hair... and why do people care?

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That Last One on the Christmas List

We all know one. Everyone who knows me, knows I'm one. I overheard my youngest try and explain to his dad in the kitchen earlier today, "She's only like that if you don't know what she wants."

I'm a Hard To Buy For. On my post today at Purple Clover , I try and give you insight as to why we HTBFs are the way we are. And I tell you what it is we really want for Christmas.

Hope to see you there. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a peaceful New Year. Thank you for reading my words, and your kind support on my blog. It means so much, and I appreciate you immensely.

 

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So, What Do We Do Now?

The holidays are a keg of dynamite, aren't they? So much riding on these days, our expectations so high, the media of the world screaming "Make this time be the most important thing of your year!" But what happens, when those that are the biggest thing in our life, aren't there to celebrate with us? Is there any source then, telling us what to do? Seems that's when the barkers disappear.

I'm looking for ideas, things that have worked for you or others, ways that you have found through being baptized by the fire, of making it through the holidays when the ones who mean the holidays to us, are gone.

My post up at Purple Clover today, "The Empty Chairs at The Table."

*Thank you for reading, I've said it before, and I think it more times than you'll ever know, but I am grateful for you.

It's Not The Way You See It

It's all in how you think about it. And in how you see it.

That's something we have to change, if we don't... what will be left for others to remember us by?

My mother did not like having pictures taken of herself as she got older. Read a FB update or listen to people as they look at pictures of themselves, and you'll hear, "I hate pictures of myself!"

Here's some reassurance from me; trust me, people don't see what you see, when they look at pictures of you.

Want to know what they do see? It's all here, in my column this week, on Purple Clover.

Spooky Stories!

We're sharing spooky stories on Purple Clover this week.

This one is from my husband's file, because the man is on the most opposite color wheel side of personality traits than me: he's not one for hyperbole nor embellishments, and if this story scared the beejeebus out of him, you know it's a good one.


On Purple Clover today: Furnished 1-Bedroom, Complete with Raven.

*thank you for your support on PC. I appreciate it.

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America! You're Doing Sweetest Day All Wrong!

Go ahead, poke fun at me, the world does.

I'm over at Purple Clover today, defending Sweetest Day. Everyone hates on Sweetest Day, calling it a fake Valentine's Day and the insecure sibling to the true sweatheart celebration in February.

So. Wrong.

Come hear the right way to celebrate Sweetest Day, the way it was meant to be, and it won't cost you a trip to any store or online floral orders.

America, get Sweetest Day right.

Enjoy your day, with the people you appreciate, in your life.

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Leap of Faith

Have you ever done something, that is so out of character for you, but you do it anyway, heart thumping and knees knocking, because it's your dream?

I have, and I tell my story, on Purple Clover today.

Have a great weekend, everyone. I appreciate you coming here, so much.

Getting Older? Here's What I Like About It

My personality type fits getting older. I always was somewhat not part of the flow, or the crowd, or whatever it is that's pegged as 'fitting in,' so this older thing is right up my alley.

What I'm saying is the older I get, the more I feel like I'm in the skin I was meant to be.

For a quick look at my Top Ten Things I Love About Getting Older, pop over to Purple Clover today. I'm sure there's a lot more out there, like me.

Thanks, internet, for bringing so many people I really like, my way.

Hope to see you here.

xo

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What Happens When You Don't Listen To Oprah

Lessons learned the hard way, like not listening to Oprah, when I should have.

I should have listened to Oprah and then I wouldn't now be icing my shins (would be/would not be?). Either way, I've got bags of frozen corn on these timber sticks of mine, and not even close to stopping them from screaming.

All because I didn't listen to you know who.

On Purple Clover today, what I should have done, and didn't -- don't let this happen to you.

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Through the Eyes of Autumn

Autumn makes me wish I were a poet, so I could put into words how this sudden switch in my life, going from full force bursting at the seams summer to the tree baring pause of fall, fills me with the need to stop, and examine.

The space between summer and winter is more like a new year than December 31. Something gives way, something new arrives. The green of summer that slowly becomes burning blazes of autumn here in Wisconsin, is like a farewell bonfire to the days of sun, no schedules, and days that go on forever.

It's a bittersweet season, but I work through it.

I hope you join me, at Purple Clover today, as I think of the promises ahead, after all the leaves have fallen.

xo

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Listening and Learning, Life Lessons From The Dying

I've been writing almost solely of my mother since she passed away four weeks ago. There is so much to write, so much to tell, about how the death of someone as entwined to you as a mother, leaves you still, stopped in your tracks and jumping off to get on a different line.

I tell about it here today, on Purple Clover, with a post, "What the Dying Want Us To Know."

Thank you for reading. You've been my community, and I appreciate your support so much.

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Back From BlogHer: It's Always Good To Be Home

I'm back from BlogHer, the world's largest social media conference for women, which was held in the great city of Chicago this year. It was a thrill to present a session with Erin Margolin, and meet amazing women I've long admired like Cheryl Contee, co-founder of Jack and Jill Politics.

It was the best BlogHer conference yet BUT as wonderful and full of laughter and friends as it was, I'm counting my lucky stars that I get to return to a place that makes me say It's so good to be home.

It is. And I'm grateful for the little one that missed me to the point of tears, and the bigger ones that missed me right back, giving me a lump in my throat every morning when I called home and heard their voices that suddenly sounded deeper than I remember them.

I am a lucky woman, indeed.

**Returned home from BlogHer to a few unsettling items like a meat thermometer on the kitchen counter and a stapler in the bathroom. Figuring 'tis better to not even ask... the children were alive, only a few pounds lighter, and semi-clean. What else could a mother ask for.

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Looking to read just a little bit more? I'm proud to be featured today on mommy.com tips, with the results of my well documented day via cyber surveillance of how I spend my time. Captivating, to say the least. 

Still dying for more? How about "My First Love," on Purple Clover, a new site I'm head over heels over. Come check it out and see what I mean.
 
Thank you!! 

xo

BlogHer Announcements and Catching Up Around These Parts

Summer, more than any other season, passes by at lightning speed. Whereas January feels eight weeks long, three months of summer seem more like we just get started, and it's half way over.

We try to do as much as we can to take advantage of school being out and the weather being beautiful. Summer fills up fast, and this month high up on the happenings is a conference I've gone to for the last three years. BlogHer, the world's largest conference for women in social media. It happens in only one week and is in Chicago this year, which is beautifully close for me and for the first time, I won't have to fly. How I love that.

The number of those attending BlogHer was over 5,000 last year when it was held in NYC. This year, higher attendance is predicted. Going to your first BlogHer convention can be intimidating, and the BlogHer team wants everyone to feel welcome, wanted, and eager to return next year. With that goal in mind, BlogHer has assembled a "BlogHer Newbie" conference mentorship team, conference veterans who will be available starting at the opening day breakfast to answer questions, reassure, and then be visible during the Friday through Saturday conference. I'm proud to have been invited to be among the welcoming crew of the BlogHer Newbie mentors that will be there to remind you that we're all excited and happy to be here... so take a deep breath and smile.

If you are at BlogHer, please smile and wave if you see me. I'd love to say hello. If you want to find me easily, come to Erin Margolin and my "Room of Your Own" talk, "Shedding the Facade: blogging vulnerably." It's an open forum on Friday from 10:30 to 11:15, and we'd love to hear your voice on the topic of writing your truth, the risks, the benefits, why some of us choose to do it. We'd love to see you Friday morning.

I'm also very proud, and humbled, that BlogHer has selected my post written for my mother, "I Wish You Could Have Known Her," as a Voice of The Year/Heart category. Thank you, BlogHer. 

Other than busy getting ready for the conference next week, I've also kept up with some sites I write for. I'd love to see you there:

--You can find me at Purple Clover asking Dustin Hoffman to marry me because of this...

--If you click over to Aiming Low, you'll see this post on supervillains that features my middle son's debut of his first published artwork on a website. Thank you to the founder of AL, Anissa, for this honor.

--I talk about the undeniable signs of aging, and even give you a handy quiz so you know just how far along you are into this process. Feels good to know you're not alone, doesn't it? Go on, answer the questions, on FunnynotSlutty.

--Teens, the joy of raising teens can be yours if you remember to feed them/listen to them/love on them. This week's post on milwaukeemoms . com, "It's only hard if you do it right."

--I'm being featured on Canadian humor blogger Leanne Shirtliffe of Ironic Mom. She's gone on vacation and those friendly Canadians just left the front door wide open. I snuck a post in, "Kids don't fold like wallets." Thanks for having me, Leanne. **Leanne is the author of the newly published "Don't Lick the Minivan: and other things I'd never thought I'd say to my kids."

We are caught up. Almost.

Tell me, what's new with you? If you say just swinging in my hammock, I'll be so jealous.

Have a great summer, and thank you for reading. Having you spend your time here with me has encouraged me and made me feel pretty happy. Joy comes from community and belonging, you've given me that so many times over. Thank you.

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What You Missed the First Time

Single, dating, and the movies.

What else do you do when you live for Friday and Saturday nights and don't yet have anyone in your life to poke their fingers in your eyes at 5:15 AM with the good morning call of  "mama.mama.mama."

I married late in life, at an age where let's just say I saw every A movie B movie there was to see in the 80's and 90's. Without a care in the world other than making sure I got my nails done and had my legs shaved, a lot of the worth in these movies was lost on me. I didn't have the depth to pick up on Al Pacino's Scarface character's "Say hello to my little friend," or Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man with "Hot water. Hot water. Hot water too hot. Hot water."

I missed it, because I was too young to really read between the lines of the dialogue. Or see beyond the curve of Johny Depp's cheek.

"It's Better the Second Time Around," is my post up on Purple Clover today, where I publish a list of scientifically determined must see again movies -- films chosen carefully by me due to the heavily researched enlightenment factor as seen from this side of life now.

I hope my Demands a Re-Watch choices spark an interest for you to check out what we missed the first time around, the higher thinking understanding of the left unsaid that we've matured into, versus the message that went right over our heads in 1983. Like, finally feeling it when Peggy Sue Got Married.

I'd be grateful to see you here.

xo

Photo http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a2/Tootsie_imp.jpg