It had been a rough day and I needed a pick me up. One step inside Compare Foods and I lit up like a Christmas tree.  There’s something about an international market that makes my heart go pitter-patter . . . one third of the large store comprised of fresh fruits… Read full post »

 Hello, my name is Paula . . . I am unemployed.  Admitting you’re one of the non-working Americans is not the beginning of recovery. It’s the beginning of a spiral, spinning you down, then further down, and when you feel you have hit the earth in a hard, crashing thump, you… Read full post »

 I feel like Christopher Columbus, setting sail for the unknown but with the exuberance, fears, and excitement knotting in my stomach.  It doesn’t matter what we’ll stumble upon, we’ll garner knowledge, learn lessons, and become better, open-minded people with full bellies… Read full post »

 Our sojourn is about to begin, how’d this day get here so soon?  Rhetorical of course . . . It seems my mind has been all consumed about this gastric journey; animatedly talking to friends as my enthusiasm bubbles over with excitement, my brain on non-stop thinking, planning, absorbi… Read full post »

Growing up a chubby, freckle faced strawberry blond in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in western New York State on the boarder of Pennsylvania and southeast of Buffalo, winter was the longest season of the year.  You always knew spring was in the air and Easter was right around the… Read full post »

I can’t remember the last time I made a grilled cheese sandwich.  Not normally something that is in my ‘comfort food’ pantry.  Although, I like them . . . when I’m trying to watch the fat and calories I’m consuming I shy away from them.  After reading the… Read full post »

My heart was palpitating, my palms were sweaty, I was so nervous . . . the day of our second date had arrived.  It was mid-July.  I hadn’t had a second date in years!  We’d talked endlessly about food and wine when we’d first met; it was a big passion for… Read full post »

My affinity for crustaceans started very early in life; I remember it like it was yesterday. I was five.  My Aunt, who I’ve always secretly wished was my Mom, was single and spoiled me rotten.  She was dating an attorney who had a son my age and we all went out… Read full post »