I grew up at The Jersey Shore and each summer I have watched as Asbury Park has been brought back to its 'glory days.' As a child, I remember passing through Asbury Park and looking out my window at abandoned buildings and many unsavory characters. Asbury Park had fallen on difficult times in the late 1970's due to a riot which was fueled by racial tensions. Sadly, the city never recovered. Keep Reading >>
Flat Cousins On Vacation
When we moved from Los Angeles to Dallas we had a hard time leaving so many beloved friends. Harder still, it meant saying goodbye to cousins. My brother in law and his family lived only six miles from us. We were devastated to move several time zones away from them. My kids had been near their cousin-friends all their lives. Before we left town I printed off five Flat Stanley cutouts. (I Keep Reading >>
Great American Fun at Gaylord National
Enjoy Summerfest from now until September 3rd, 2018! One of my family's favorite places to visit is Gaylord National, the Capital Region's premier waterfront resort. In celebration of its 10 year anniversary, Gaylord National is offering Summerfest. Summerfest features fun American-themed summertime activities and an All-American Celebration. This past weekend my children and I were able Keep Reading >>
The Conche, A Chocolatey Culinary Experience
You could say my husband and I are foodies. We keep mental lists of our top five favorite culinary experiences and are extremely picky when praising any food establishment. We read a few reviews about The Conche, a chocolate theme boutique restaurant that opened in Leesburg, Virginia a year ago today, and added it to our list of 'must visits'. The restaurant is owned and operated by Keep Reading >>
Explore History with Arlington National Cemetery Tours
We have lived in the Northern Virginia Area for 5 years so friends were shocked when they found out we hadn't taken our children to visit Arlington National Cemetery. It has always been a dream of mine to take my children to the cemetery however past experiences have made me not want to visit. You see, when I was in both middle and high school I visited Arlington National Cemetery. I excitedly Keep Reading >>
Luau Kalamaku Kauai
I moved around a lot when I was a kid. I went to 4 different elementary schools and it was hard to adjust as a little person. The one thing that was always constant in my life was Kauai. We spent every summer of my life there when I was growing up. I did get to spend all of Junior High at one school but then we moved to Kauai full time when I was in high school. I never know what to say when Keep Reading >>
Top Five Spring Activities for Families in Washington, DC
Spring is almost here and I can't wait. On the agenda? Picnics, visits to Georgetown and more. When you live so close to Washington, DC there is always a wealth of activities to choose from year-round. With the help of my family, I have narrowed down our top five favorite family activities for Spring in Washington, DC. 1. Take a walk along the Tidal Basin-Pack up your picnic Keep Reading >>
Visit Kauai-The Garden Isle
The swaying palm trees, warm tropical breeze, lush green foliage and the scent of plumeria... There is just something so magical, so enchanting about Kaua'i. However, you don't have to take my word for it. It is a favorite of celebrities and many films have used Kaua'i as a backdrop: Jurrasic Park, South Pacific, Blue Hawaii and the Descendants to name a few. Since traveling to Kaua'i in Keep Reading >>
Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas with a Giveaway to get you started
It's party time! We have so many reasons to celebrate as we close out this year. One of the best ways to show appreciation to the gracious hosts and hostesses is to arrive with a gift. It is a lot of work to plan and execute a dinner or a party! You can show your gratitude by not arriving empty-handed. Start now by collecting hostess gifts so that even if you get a last minute invite you are Keep Reading >>
Keep Your Loved Ones Safe with Revolar Instinct
Did you know that every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted? While getting gas in my car a few weeks ago I was approached by a stranger asking for money. I knew he was just down on his luck and wasn't dangerous but I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little uncomfortable. How many times has this happened to you? Being approached by a stranger can be unnerving but what about Keep Reading >>