Calorie counts make food — and life — less enjoyable

May 2, 2026

There was a time when I thought putting calorie counts front and center on menus was a great idea. Transparency, awareness, informed choices — all the things we tell ourselves we want when it comes to health and wellness. And to be clear, I still understand the intention behind it. But lately, I’ve been wondering… at what cost? A couple of years ago, my husband surprised me with tickets to a baseball game. Now, I’ll be honest — I’m not there for the stats, the innings or even who wins. But please, keep including me. If you want company, I’m your person. If you want ...

Dopamine dance bridges trend gap between generations

April 25, 2026

Lately I’ve been wondering: Is there such a thing as a trend gap? Not the age gap. We’ve all accepted that one. I’m talking about the cultural space that quietly opens up between generations — the place where suddenly the things that feel brand new to our kids are things we’ve actually known about for years. But somehow… they make them feel new again. If you have children, younger colleagues or even one particularly plugged-in friend, you probably already know what I mean. They have this uncanny ability to stay in the loop of what’s trending, what’s going viral and ...

Is it finally time to start fixing the driveway?

April 18, 2026

I’ve been going on morning walks lately. Not exactly by choice, but by regulation. Post-surgery life has a way of setting boundaries for you whether you like it or not. Running, for now, is off the table. Walking is what my body allows. Ironically, it’s been fine. Actually, more than fine. Of course I miss my runs. I miss the rhythm of my feet hitting the pavement and the feeling of pushing myself a little further each time. But walking has given me something I didn’t expect. The same thing running always did — space for my mind. My mind still wanders. It still ...

Professionalism is defined by more than words

April 11, 2026

There was a strict no-swearing rule in our house growing up. Honestly, I assumed that was pretty universal — not just a “my family” thing, but a general understanding of how respectable households operated. Certain words simply weren’t said. Period. I will never forget the first time I let one slip in front of my mom. It wasn’t even one of the big offenders. I’m pretty sure it was just “dammit.” Still, the moment it left my mouth, I knew I was in trouble. I heard her reach for the wooden spoon before I even fully processed what I’d said. I don’t think I have ever ...

The curious case of April Fool’s Day

April 4, 2026

Have you ever stopped to think about the construct of April Fool’s Day? I did. And let me save you some time — it’s mostly theoretical. There’s no universally agreed-upon moment where someone stood up, declared, “Let this be the day we fool one another,” and the world nodded in approval. Historians have theories, of course. Some point to calendar changes in France in the 1500s, others to ancient Roman festivals, and still others to medieval spring celebrations where mischief was part of the fun. But none of it is definitive. And that, to me, is the fascinating ...

Spring isn’t just a season, it’s an invitation

March 21, 2026

So here we are — mid-March, just a day past the astronomical first day of spring, the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. Whether our weather decides to cooperate with what we call spring is another story entirely. Around here, spring tends to flirt more than it commits. One day it’s sunshine and open windows, the next it’s back to gloves, layers and questioning whether winter actually ever ends. We like to define spring as that perfect intersection — not too cold, not too hot. The Goldilocks version of weather. And honestly, this time of year, we all become a little ...