My Day on the World Stage

In 1993 the opportunity arrived for me to shut up or put up. There was a woman by the name, or rather using the name, of Deborah Laake. She’d written a book called “Secret Ceremonies: Diary of a Mormon Wife” – a work of pure and sad delusion. This poor woman, if she told the complete truth, was at the mercy of a father who took unrighteous dominion to new levels. Whatever the perceived truth, she became extremely disenchanted with the church and proceeded to betray every covenant she’d half-heartedly made with the Lord. Where do I come in? Well, … Continue reading

Summer Fun for Kids of All Ages

A friend of mine has eight children ranging in age from 11 months (her adorable twin boys) to 11 years (her equally adorable daughter). Needless to say, finding a single activity that will please the entire lot of them at the same time is not an easy task. You can imagine what she goes through during the summer when they’re all home together. To her credit she has come up with a few creative ways to keep them all content despite their difference in age. Here are some of her favorite sanity savers: FOR TODDLERS: Purchase some plastic bins and … Continue reading

Fitness Reminders

I don’t know about you, but I struggle to squeeze in daily exercise. Whereas I do have a fitness routine (which is punctuated with several hours per week of marathon training) I also mother a child, work, run a household, and basically try to keep my head above water on a daily basis. Needless to say, when I do have time to get to the gym I don’t have the luxury of spending hours upon hours there. I need to get in, get out, and get on with my schedule. In doing so I often forget to complete basic portions … Continue reading

Is One Really Enough?

I got into weightlifting when I was a freshman in college. I was dating a guy who was obsessed with bodybuilding. He was competing for Mr. Wisconsin… or was it Mr. Universe? In any event, A. couldn’t go a day without working out (or eating egg whites), so needless to say, much of the time we spent together was at the gym. And while our relationship may have failed (he loved his body way more than he loved me) I left with a great parting gift—-a toned body and tight grip on how to design a fitness routine that worked … Continue reading

No Barbie Dolls For Bindi

Forget about Barbie, for 8-year-old Bindi Irwin playtime is all about Blackie—-her black-headed python. Would you expect anything less from the daughter of the late crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin? In addition to Blackie, Bindi recently revealed that she spends quite a bit of time with Corny, her “lovable” corn snake (the one she sleeps with every night). Then there’s Jaffa her koala; Ocker, her favorite cockatoo; and Candy, her pet rat. The junior “Crocodile Hunter” is hoping to give her pets some serious airtime on her new TV show so the rest of the world can get to know them … Continue reading