As the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes to an end, it is almost as if you can hear the collective deep breath from everyone. The completely immersive exhale of finally having everything done and attended to never quite feels like it lasts long enough. The world ramps up again with resolutions and normality, […]

As the holidays loom and the end of 2018 draws near, this period of time seems like an especially good one to reflect upon the year gone by and the wonderful books that I read. Since this time is filled with “best of” book lists, or the option to vote in the Goodreads Choice Awards, I […]

For me, as the night grows longer, the sky mimics it and imbues rich hues of indigo, celestial and midnight blue over our heads. The painted shades seem to be added one stroke at a time, furthering the transition into the deep dark night. The darkness inspires our dreams, and, in turn, allows us to […]

After writing about my deep love of art in my publisher’s note, I want to take this opportunity to share some wonderful art related books in my monthly column. Art is such a broad topic. It continues to fascinate me, and there seems to be something to suit every taste. Whether describing a famous artist […]

Growing up, the wonders of Kansas City seemed normal. It was just the place where I lived, with no history or preconceived notions to color my thoughts and experiences. The moment that changed was while I was watching the 1955 movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. I remember hearing the song, “Kansas City,” and […]

For me, August has always been the pinnacle of summer. The month where, instead of the climbing balmy winds of June and July, the heat of August sits still before the drop into the crisp chill of fall. August makes me want to eke out the last pleasures that summer has to offer and often […]

Making The Perfect Plan  As the shock and wonder of the perfect proposal starts to wear off, the panic of planning the wedding begins to set in. With all of the literature out there on the headache that planning a wedding can be, it seems difficult to almost impossible to figure out where to start. […]

Summer always seems to hit me like a freight train. The heavy, hot air condenses around me and knocks the wind from my lungs. The stickiness infuses a sense of lethargy and I’m suddenly brought back to a line from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, “the air was oppressive even in the early morning […]

It’s that time of year again. Between Mother’s Day, Graduation and Father’s Day, the need for meaningful gifts seems to crop up every couple of weeks. Since books make the best gifts, here is a gift guide complete with recommendations for the mom, dad, or grad in your life.  Mother’s Day Mothers: An Essay on […]