My mother glanced at the colorful dishcloth hanging from the handle of her oven door.
As she noticed the cloth was slightly disheveled, she asked, “Did somebody wipe their hands on that dishcloth?”

Fully expecting for me to rat out one of my kids, I confidently admitted that I was the culprit,
“I wiped my hands on that dishcloth. Why?” Of course I knew the answer. I learned a long time
ago not to ask questions I don’t know the answer to.

So, I braced myself for what was coming.

Well, sisters, November is a time for harvest, gratitude and self-evaluation.
OK, I know that harvest and gratitude are not really conducive to self-evaluation,
but now is as good a time as any, especially with all of the yummy food
coming our way as Thanksgiving approaches.

My mommy had breast cancer and she survived. I guess that sounds kind of funny coming from an adult, but it’s just the way I felt when my mom was diagnosed. She was only 37 years old; I was 12. Each year as October rolls around and Breast Cancer Awareness Month shines the spotlight on this devastating disease, my family is reminded how lucky we are to still have our family in tact.

My mommy had breast cancer and she survived. I guess that sounds kind of funny coming from an adult, but it’s just the way I felt when my mom was diagnosed. She was only 37 years old; I was 12. Each year as October rolls around and Breast Cancer Awareness Month shines the spotlight on this devastating disease, my family is reminded how lucky we are to still have our family in tact.

Halloween (or Hallowe’en ... also known as Samhain, Summer’s End, All Hallow’s Eve, and Witches Night) is a holiday celebrated annually on the night of October 31. It originated in Ireland and is said to be among the world’s oldest holidays. It has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture). The essential elements of Halloween—bonfires, costuming, trick-or-treating, telling ghost stories and attending parties—can all be traced back to as early as 2000 years ago.

We have heard for years “mother knows best.” Unfortunately, I’m not sure that still rings true. The rising generation of children have been called the laziest, rudest and most entitled kids in history. How did they get this way? Let’s ask Mom.

We have heard it a million times: The only way to lose weight is through diet and exercise. However, recent studies tell a slightly different story. Exercise is, in fact, not really
an essential part of a “weight loss” plan. It is not possible to exercise off excess weight without proper nutrition, nor is it possible to keep eating a poor diet and maintain
a healthy lifestyle, even if you exercise. There it is, folks, and it is true.

Encountering Faris was one of those instances where you fully realize what a small world it is and how lucky we are to be a part of it together. Faris is an irrevocably gentle, humble and genuine person. If anyone could possibly deserve a pampering day away from the grind, it’s Faris.

Encountering Faris was one of those instances where you fully realize what a small world it is and how lucky we are to be a part of it together. Faris is an irrevocably gentle, humble and genuine person. If anyone could possibly deserve a pampering day away from the grind, it’s Faris.

Even though we get it every month, we still have questions. We’re talking about periods and cramps as this month Pink Prescriptions’ topic.

Ha, Ha, just kidding, but not really. Sugar is a very serious subject and getting more so all of the time. Sugar is also very complicated—not just a complicated set molecules—but a complicated health and dietary problem, as well. I cannot go into all of the medical ups and downs of sugar and its effect on the body.

 School has started, which means most children are encouraged to read more. Whether you have a child or grandchild who loves reading or not, try the following method for added interest and perspective: Select a book that has been made into a movie. The reward for reading the book is getting to watch the movie together afterward (add popcorn for extra enthusiasm). Children may become much more interested in reading after realizing how much of the storyline is often left out of films. Here is a list of films and their book origins that might be of interest:

We have heard for years “mother knows best.” Unfortunately, I’m not sure that still rings true. The rising generation of children have been called the laziest, rudest and most entitled kids in history. How did they get this way? Let’s ask Mom.

From the moment your child wakes up in the morning he is slowly using up the benefits of the previous night's sleep. He wakes up refreshed, but as the hours pass, the benefits of sleep time are used up, and an urge to return to sleep builds. When we provide naps, we allow a child a "fresh start" after each sleep period.

My cell phone rang and I answered it. In the midst of my conversation, I hear my home telephone line ringing. I ignore it. I have caller ID; I will call them back. As soon as the telephone stops ringing, a call waiting beep comes through on my cell. I ignore it. I hear the home phone ring again. Although distracted, again, I ignore it. My cell call waiting alerts me again. As I say goodbye to the person I was attempting to have a phone conversation with, the home phone rings for the third time in three minutes. This time I answer, “Good Lord, what?”

Nikolai Oskolkov, simply known as NikO, lives and works in Columbia, South Carolina. He has been involved in fine art since early childhood and has made painting a career since high school. In his 29 years, he has travelled far and wide from Russia to Canada and the US, and throughout Europe and the Caribbean.

Get ready for Superheros, Sequels and Wild Comedies

Is this a fabulous summer or what?
Last time, I promised to do a Q-and-A, as I get many questions about the things I write and mention in the classes I teach. I hope one of these questions is something you wanted to know.

Courage, kindness, and inspiration are the words that come to mind when you first encounter Catherine.  She is one of those women who make you realize that beauty is much more than skin deep. 

The National Osteoporosis Foundation quotes, “A woman’s risk of breaking a hip secondary to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer combined.”  Ladies…pay attention to your bones, your hips and spine will thank you and keep you standing tall!

Is this a fabulous summer or what?
Last time, I promised to do a Q-and-A, as I get many questions about the things I write and mention in the classes I teach. I hope one of these questions is something you wanted to know.

As part of my itinerary for a trip to Rome to celebrate my birthday I put the Cinecittà Studios, the hub of Italian cinema, on my list. As a film enthusiast, I could not miss the opportunity to explore memorabilia of great Italian directors, such as Fellini, or catch a film clip of my favorite Italian actress, Anna Magnani. With a convenient subway stop, Cinecittà was easy to locate and packed full of fascinating information.