April Fools’ Day

Tomorrow is April Fools’ Day, a day that I’ve often looked forward to–when I’ve had a fun prank in mind. I’m not as brave as some people are when it comes to pranks. I don’t think I could ever “announce” something tragic or life-changing on April Fools’ Day. Usually, my pranks have involved ideas like

St. Patrick’s Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May you feel joyful and blessed today! As an Irishwoman (well, a one-quarter Irishwoman), St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. There’s something about it that puts a smile on my face and a jolly Irish tune in my heart. On Saturday, Tony and I went to the local

The Tacky Hotel Experience

Choosing a hotel is one of my favorite things about planning a trip. I’ve stayed at quite a variety of places: youth hostels, fancy hotels, motels with bedbugs, beach hotels, Disney resorts, and charming bed-and-breakfasts. I have yet to experience anything quite like the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, California, though. It looks like

Stop the Beauty Madness

Week after week, I see the damage that our culture’s obsession with beauty has created. I’m a mental health counselor for women and girls who have eating disorders, and I’ve realized how easily people can become trapped by the thought, “If I don’t achieve physical perfection, I can never be good enough.” I was drawn