Does the Bennigan’s Monte Cristo sandwich ring a bell for anyone? For me, this chain restaurant (no longer in business) meant one thing (well, actually 2 things):  Monte Cristo Sandwiches served with Raspberry Jam.  2 am closings that accommodated late night cravings.  Granted, I relished both of these things in the late 90s and early 2000s--a girl can’t eat fried sandwiches forever, but I soon discovered that my son, Jack, has the same affinity for this hybrid sandwich that is somewhere between a morning pastry and a hearty sandwich.  I admit, I’ve never made them at home until I found...

Hello! As promised, I’m switching gears this season and focusing on Fair Trade,Food & Fashion. I want to inspire you to implement small lifestyle changes that make a BIG impact on people and planet!    So follow me fellow foodies and fashionistas---let’s get cooking!         Entry #1    Have you ever heard of the Middle Eastern spice blend Zaa’tar? No--it’s not the magical machine that turned Tom Hanks from kid to “Big” overnight. That would be the Zoltar. What I’m talking about is a potent blend of spices that taste amazingly vibrant and woodsy. The first time I tried...

Each year, I bestow a new theme for HandUp Ministry. Last year, the chosen theme for 2019 was “VICTORY.” We were hoping for a banner year with a rebrand and a refocused online marketing approach. I’d find myself daydreaming about what the rebrand would do for our jewelry sales and, in turn, do for our Teen in Transition program. The hope of it all fanned my desire to make it all work. It HAD to work.  However, Haiti did not get my Victory memo as the entire country failed to get in line with my proposed theme. The irony is...

  I’m thankful for Balance and Rest in my life.    This year, I said “good-bye” to the hustle and dove deeper into finding rest in Jesus even though, as an ambitious DOER, everything in my body tells me to “go, go, go.”    God whispers to me, “Stay a while. Be still and know that I am God.”    I’m thankful for the amazing women He’s brought into my life to teach me the beauty of self-care, exercise and who have shown me how to open up my arms to grace--heaping loads of it.    I’m thankful for the...