Fixin' Leaks and Leeks

Snorkeling in a “kiddie-lagoon” in Kauai is no longer mild fun when someone asks if I’ve seen the barracuda. The enthusiastic, kind-hearted stranger who really, really wants me to share this barracuda moment with her insists that barracuda don’t really hurt people. However, she also tells me that another man at her hotel made the… Continue reading Swimming With and Eating Scary Things in Kauai, Hawaii–and other Vacation Adventures/Tips

Reckless and outrageous culinary threats often spew from my mouth after my first Coke in the morning and today is no different. Nate and Alex are getting ready to go to a swim meet and I’m thinking of ways to entertain myself while they’re gone. So, just as they leave, I down another caffeinated, buzzy… Continue reading Orange Vanilla Obsession

If I want my insides to burn and brine as they float through a vermouth and pimento slurry, I’ll order a classic cocktail.  The classic cocktail always sounds like a good idea, but often, it leaves me disappointed or it just tastes like medicine to me. For this reason, over the years, I’ve settled for… Continue reading Nate’s Mai Tai Recipe

St. Patrick’s Day is a grueling test of my memory, coordination, and magical home-making skills. Green beer helps. However, most of the magical shimmering shamrock shenanigans happen before I can even get a glass of beer. When the first golden rays of the day come a shinin’ through the bedroom window on March 17th, I… Continue reading Taking the Leprechaun Ambush Down a Notch

When a particularly thick and stubborn potato blew out the motor of my electric spiralizer, I pressed every button on the device, hoping to startle it into submission because obviously, it was just confused. One potato could not possibly defeat a finely crafted hand-held appliance that turns ugly vegetables, like zucchini and turnips, into glorious… Continue reading The Death of the Spiralizer–Or Maybe It’s Just Sleeping

Sounding the craft alert while making dinner means that Nate can mix up a mai tai and dream of a Hawaiian vacation, where there are no craft alerts. “Inspiration is striking the heck out of me right now and I need to do something about it, so make some snacks. Dinner will be late!” I… Continue reading Craft Alert: Art Happens and Dinner Will Be Late

Clear tape is the “fabric of our lives.” In our household, various objects are precariously held together by fine pieces of tape—and “Krazy Glue—“ including ceramics projects, pens, and a cabinet door. I know full well that we can easily add to this list, so I’ve squirreled away adhesives, scissors, pieces of paper, markers, and… Continue reading Creating Crafting Nooks and Super Nooks for Every Floor of the House