Even though it’s a big part of my business, I will admit to having a love/hate relationship with social media.  It can be impersonal, superficial, and downright ugly at times.  And, honestly, sometimes it’s just too much input from people who don’t really know you.  But, it can also be an amazing community…  A tribe of people connected through a common love or common struggle.  Connecting for support and friendship.  Joining together for a cause. This is an opportunity to make those likes and comments mean something more than a drop in the social media bucket.  This is a chance to have those likes and comments become physical dollars to support charities and non-profit organizations that support individuals who are sick, suffering, struggling, and/or in need. I have partnered with Balsam Hill and their Season of Giving campaign to raise money for a non-profit of my choosing – and I

This post is sponsored by Blue Apron.  All words and opinions are, as always, honest and my own. I do enjoy cooking, but I have a threshold.  If I am spending the better part of the day baking pies and prepping food to get ready for a holiday dinner, I don’t want to have to think about tonight’s dinner.  And it’s nice to have easy meals waiting in the wings for when the leftovers run out, too. My Blue Apron box arrived just in time to give me some meal options to work around Thanksgiving. And that box is filled with farm-fresh ingredients, carefully packed to survive transit and possibly sitting at your front door before you get home from errands or work.   I was busy helping the boys with their homework when this package arrived, so it sat for a while before I had time to unpack it. I

In case you weren’t aware, November is National Diabetes Awareness month.  Why am I dedicating an entire post to that?  My youngest son, Calvin, is a Type 1 Diabetic. I want to share more about diabetes because 1.) people have asked me for updates and 2.) T1D is sneaky and knowing the symptoms can save someone’s life.  So, even if you don’t give a hoot about diabetes, just read the symptoms and store that away in the recesses of your brain.  Not to be dramatic, but it really might save the life of someone you know.  I am convinced that Calvin was diagnosed early, before he was in real trouble, because my mom knew the symptoms. First of all a few details about T1D.  Most people are familiar with type 2 diabetes, since most people with diabetes have type 2.  Less than 10% of diabetics have type 1 and only