June 16, 2019
My husband, Scott, and I are high school sweethearts. I have always known that he would make a great father one day, and I have come to see him surpass those expectations. Not only does he work to support us,…
June 9, 2019
One of the best things about being a writer is being able to write from nearly anywhere. As I type this, I am sitting on the back porch of a friend’s home in Cleveland, looking over the pond and bird…
June 2, 2019
Every year around this time, we become more acutely aware of our vulnerability during hurricane season, which runs from approximately June through November in Hawaii. We check our hurricane kits and restock what’s necessary. After some increased activity in 2018,…
May 26, 2019
Summer is almost here. Although the offi cial fi rst day is not until June 21, many consider the season to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This time of year comes with higher temperatures, longer daylight hours, fewer…
May 19, 2019
Before we decided to purchase our home, one of the biggest drawbacks we considered was the trek up and down the 23 steps leading from the front door to the driveway. At the time, our daughter, Lina, was just 1…
May 12, 2019
It takes one to know one. Never before has a saying rang so true as when I became a mom. I never truly understood the sacrifices my mom made for me (and still does) until I joined the club as…
May 5, 2019
My mother-in-law once said to me, “I can’t wait to be bored.” She was in her Florida home, entertaining a carousel of out-of-town visitors for eight weeks straight. I have to say, I fully understood what she meant. I have…
April 28, 2019
My friend Jenny, a certified nutritionist, has always been my go-to source for anything and everything when it comes to food and nutrition. When thinking about food as I often do, I recall some of the tidbits she has given…
April 21, 2019
I am not a tall person. I range from 4 feet, 11 inches to 5 feet depending on the day and the person measuring me. Naturally, I have come up with ways to access otherwise out-of-reach items in the home.…
April 14, 2019
Every now and then, my husband, Scott, and I decide to host a dinner party. For us, it is the best way to get together with friends that allows us to eat some good food and let the kids run…
April 7, 2019
Baby brain is something we have come to accept as a part of motherhood. It is associated with forgetfulness and a struggle to think clearly. Some scholars argue that it is not the biological act of pregnancy or child delivery…
March 31, 2019
I hate to admit it, but I might be a nosy person. I don’t think that I am intrusive by any means, but if someone is having a “juicy” conversation next to me, my ears might perk up a little…
March 24, 2019
While I have plenty of respect for those who keep their houses neat and tidy, I have never been the type to do so. There is a never-ending pile of unfolded (but clean) laundry on our couch, and toys strewn…
March 10, 2019
The other night, as I was watching a movie with my daughter, Lina, we went over objects as they appeared on the screen. “What’s that?” I would say. Then, she would reply, “That’s a dog … That’s a brush ……
March 3, 2019
I have a 2-year-old daughter, an 8-month-old son and an 8-year-old dog. All move quickly and all are growing up a little too fast. There are so many moments I want to freeze in time, and often the picture-perfect angles…
February 24, 2019
The cold, windy and rainy weather we have been experiencing lately has been a welcome contrast to the uncomfortable heat we experienced for much of last year. Maybe it is because I am often cooped up indoors, either working or…
February 18, 2019
While driving home last weekend, grief struck upon seeing the uprooted, 100-year-old trees in Kapiolani Park. It continued as I drove through my neighborhood and saw my neighbor’s face — frustrated and a bit panic-stricken as he collected roof shingles…
February 11, 2019
I have officially become a bag lady. On any given day, I leave my house with a minimum of four relatively large bags hanging from my shoulders, usually with a baby strapped to me as well. Then, I have to…
February 5, 2019
My husband, Scott, and I have been married for just under five years, but we have been together for much longer. High school sweethearts who started as best friends, we grew up together in many ways. Our families became each…
January 27, 2019
I am a creature of habit, and I find myself going into autopilot for many of my daily activities. When I get in the car, for example, I pull out of our driveway and immediately hit the speed dial button…