I had a great visit with two classes at Rochester's School #45. I used my short story, "Treasure at Cave Hollow Ranch," pubished by Blooming Tree Press to illustrate how kids could get ideas from their own lives. We talked about how who you know, where you've been and what you like to do can translate into your own story to write.

The teachers were great, and the kids were receptive. I had a wonderful time bringing our RACWI Festival To Go and being part of giving students an opportunity to meet and learn from authors.Thanks to Vivian Vande Velde for organizing and to Altrusa of Rochester for providing books!

I had a great time at Lisa Wheeler's Picture Book Boot Camp in Fayetteville, NY. Lisa was knowledgeable and generous with her time and experience. Good thing she gave us handouts as she talks FAST! Thanks to Amy Emm for organizing this one-day conference.

I paid for the optional critique of a manuscript and was happy to have Lisa's comments. She also signed a couple books to my niece. All in all, it was a good learning experience and well worth the money.

I had an amazing time at the Food & Fiction Workshop in Pennsylvania. Author Rich Wallace couldn't have been more gracious, and chef Marcia Dunsmore was simply amazing.

The workshop combined kitchen demonstrations, field trips and food writing with fiction discussion, writing time and connection with other writiers. I came away with plenty of food tips to color up my food writing and the start to a brand new YA book fro my next fiction project.

If you ever have the chance to take a workshop with the Highlights Foundation, I would highly recommend you jump on it. For me it was money well spent!!

So I'm headed off to the Highlights Food and Fiction workshop in the fall, and I thought it would be a good idea to enter their short fiction contest. I wrote a short about a grandpa and grandson making baklava. I had a lot of fun with the story and the comparison to lava. Check it out here. Best part is I won "dinner in a box" AND a critique from Rich Wallace. Exciting!

I'm excited that Bowling Center Management Magazine has published my article, "Home Cookin'," all about how bowling centers can start and grow homeschool bowling leagues.

Anyone who knows us, know we nearly live in the bowling alley, so this article was a perfect fit. Always fun to interview our home alley and to meet new owners and managers. I even learned a few wthings along the way!

Two stories earned places in the "First Annual Winter Flash Fiction Contest" sponsored by The Write Helper. I wrote the "The Last Rescue" many years ago when I first thought I'd like to be a writer. I've polished it up quite a bit since that first version! "Body Rondo" continues to be a favorite of mine. I'd love for it to see publication one of these days. Thanks to Amy Harke-Moore for running the contests and her dedication to helping writers get it right.

My Chicken Soup for the Soul essay, "First Date, First Dent," was recently republished by NewsOK. The essay tells about my and Daryl's first date (in which I hit his Mustang!). This is the first time you can read the entire story online, so go check it out!

I had a wonderful time visiting with the College and Careers class at Charity LEAH. I spoke the the group of homeschoolers about how I became a writer, what and where I am published and how my education and skills are used in my work. What a great group of kids - they were attentive and asked excellent questions.

As a bonus, I ran into some old college friends while I was there!

My Chicken Soup for the Soul story, "Frist Date, First Dent," was republished in Spencer Evening World's Valentine's Day edition! The story tells how I hit my husband's classic Mustang on our first date but how he married me anyway. Nearly twenty years later, we still laugh and enjoy sharing the story. I guess that laughter is what keeps us going!

Thanks to Angela Hoy at WritersWeekly.com for publishing another of my articles. "Opening the Door to Author Visits" details how I've been building up my experience and portfolio of author visits. I'm really enjoying working with various school and adult groups, lending them a closer view of the writing and publishing life.

If you know of a school or group who would like an author visit, give me a shout to discuss possible topics, workshops and rates.

What a great group of kids! Visited with Mrs. Sanderson's class at Burger Middle School. We talked about journalism and getting the facts. Presented the information workshop style, so the kids could experience getting in all the 5 Ws and 1 H (What, Why, When, Who, Where and How) when writing a story. Peppered in stories and information about writing, newspapers and more. The kids had excellent questions for me and really seemed interested in writing. What fun!!

Had a great visit with a group of American Heritage Girls from East Bloomfield, NY. Girls listened to my author stories and had excellent questions about the publishing world. Several are writing already and talked about novels, stories and the process of writing. Hope I inspired them to keep at it and to send a few stories out into the world.

I had a wonderful time at Flour City Diner tonight with Altrusa Rochester. This local group of women is accomplishing some amazing work in the areas of education, literacy and issues affecting women and children. It was my pleasure to socialize with them and to hear about their worthy projects. I spoke about organizing our lives to fulfill the values we hold dear and how in doing so we often impact and inspire others around us. I only hope my words inspired them to keep up the good work they already do!

Wow! Another win. I'm happy to announce I took third place in the 9th Annual Saturday Writers Short Story Contest with my short story, "Snapshot." Thanks to Pat Wahler and the judging panel. Though their Website is being revised, it's worth a look there and at the blog to keep up with the contests and conferences they offer.

I'm happy to announce I won first place in the 2010 Silver Quill Awards. My winning story, "Fool's Gold," will be published in the Jan/Feb/March issue of The Storyteller Magazine. Many thanks to Regina Williams for the wonderful opportunities she affords fiction writers.

What an awesome time I had volunteering at the RCBF this weekend! It started on Friday setting up books and sorting out craft tables with my boys. In between waiting for books to arrive and doing odd jobs, I got to chat with the ever friendly Laurie Calkhoven and local author Sally Valentine.

On Saturday, we arrived before my shift to take the boys around to the author tables. They first made a beeline for Linda Sue Park's table and then made their way around to pick up a new Dot-to-Dot by David Kalvitis and MJ Auch's newest book, Guitar Boy. I also snagged one of Laurie's Boys of Wartime series and my friend, Kathryn Shay's, first YA book.

Then it was all business for me, checking people's books as they attended lectures and answering a ton of questions. Later, I helped knock down the festival and managed to slice my finger open. Author Katie Davis found a bandaid that I promptly beld through, and after finding a couple more bandaids, I was off to help load the last bits and boxes into cars.

The volunteer and author dinner was fabulous. I sat with one of my critique partners, a couple of RACWI friends and MJ and Herm Auch. We had a great conversation and some tasty food. Before I left, I dropped off a Christmas coupon to de facto photographer (and author!) Vivian Vande Velde. When I went home, I was filled with inspiration and totally zonked from all the fun and interaction. Can't wait until next year!!

As part of the Book Festival to Go sponsored by RACWI (Rochester Area Children's Writers and Illustrators) and Altrusa Rochester, I was able to visit two classrooms in School #12 today. What a fun time! I presented my short story, "Treasure at Cave Hollow Ranch," published in Summer Shorts by Blooming Tree Press and do a workshop encouraging the students to use their interests to spark a story. When I left, each and every student had combined his or her interests with an imaginary "what if" and was ready to write!

Thanks go out to Vivian Vande Velde for organizing the event, Altrusa for supplying each student with a copy of Summer Shorts, Blooming Tree Press for the discount on books and the speedy shipping and the teachers and students of School 12 who made me feel welcomed and made the visit so much fun!

My article detailing my success in landing a column through Twitter was published in today's WritersWeekly. It's a great story and a wonderful example of how Twitter and other social media can advance your career. Thanks as always to Angela Hoy, a true professional and a delight to work with.

My essay, "How to Inoculate Your Children Against Advertising," was included in the college textbook, Asking the Right Questions, with Readings. The book is a Pearson Education offering, and the editors found me through a guest post I wrote for the popular blog, Get Rich Slowly. Very exciting! I can hardly wait for my author copy (and check!) to arrive.

Okay, kids. I finally joined Twitter, so now you can follow me and know what I know. Or at least 140-character blasts of what I know. And who knows, I might just follow you back! Check me out using @lisatiffin.

Guess what? I am now writing a column for the D & C! My first column is out today, and you can read my thoughts about Henrietta, Gates and Chili every Wednesday. Go check it out and then let me know what you think. You can use my contact form or e-mail using the address at the end of the column.

Enjoyed a varied and interesting conference at RIT regarding the future of reading (and hence, writing). By far the best speaker was Chris Anderson from Wired magazine. He gave a great lecture illustrating how successful publishers can be at utilizing new technologies such as the iPad.

Margaret Atwood was also a treat to listen to. She surprised me with the fact that she was involved in starting up and working with small presses in her early days of publishing and writing. Seems the more things change, the more they stay the same.

While some of the lectures were filled with abstract and theoretical ideas of reading and technology, I did come away with much to think about as I look at my own writing career plans.

Had a great time with my critique partners at our annual DIY Writer's Retreat, which we affectionately call Write-A-Palooza. I started work on a new middle grade novel and wrote nearly 4,000 words. Very exciting! Can't wait for next year's retreat. 

Also, a big shout out to Dave at Co-Working Rochester for the perfect space - plenty of light, desk space and conference area for all of us.

Had a great time at the Rochester Teen Book Festival Saturday. Had lunch with friend and fellow author, Hope Marston. Also got to hear James Kennedy, Sarah Ockler and Martin Wilson read from their books. If you ever have a chance to hear James Kennedy, do it; you won't be disappointed!

My article on how to land Web copy jobs is up at Writers Weekly. Learn how to network, price and land those jobs!

Thanks to Angela Hoy for her awesome work supporting authors. If you have an idea for an article, she's a great editor and pays about the quickest in the business!

If you've stopped over from the D&C, Welcome! I hope you enjoyed reading the article about "First Date, First Dent," in Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love as much as I enjoyed writing it and presenting it to my husband. Take a look around and feel free to contact me with comments.

I'm excited to finally announce that my essay, "First Date, First Dent," was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love. The essay tells the story of our first date in which I hit Daryl's 1988 Mustang, and in which he married me anyway! I delayed the announcement as the book doubled as his Valentine's Day gift. He received it tonight and was floored!

Thanks to Hope Clark for publishing my article, "Making the Most of Critiques," in her excellent newsletter, WritingKid. The article gives pointers on how to ask for and receive critiques in such a way as to get maximum benefits from each review. Go check out the article here.

My article on running a do-it-yourself writers' retreat is in this month's WOW! Women On Writing Newsletter. The article comes from an actual retreat run with my Tuesday critique partners. We had so much fun and accomplished so much, we've decided to make it  at least an annual event, if not a biannual one! Go check out the article and consider one yourself!

My extreme short, "Sticky Note," won second place in On The Premises (OTP) Mini-Contest #10. OTP is a great newsletter filled with practical writing advice for fiction writers of all levels, great fiction and commentary. Go check them out and sign up for their free newsletter!

I'm so excited to announce that I won first place in the Saturday Writers 8th Annual Short Story Contest for my story, "To Touch the Moon." Another of my stories, "These Boots," won sixth place, too. Thanks go to WOW! Women on Writing Premium Green Markets where I learned about the contest and to The Saturday Writers organizers and guest judge, Louella Turner of High Hill Press.

The Writer Within published my article on using your reputation to win repeat assignments today. Go check out how you can increase your bottom line by being professional, prompt and polite!

My study guides, The Cay by Theodore Taylor, and, The Last of the Mohicans  by James Fenimore Cooper, are available this month at Progeny Press. I enjoyed writing both of these guides - lots of great history and themes in both! And of course, you can still purchase, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, which came out last year.

My article, "How to Promote Yourself Through Teaching," is in the August issue of WOW! Women On Writing Newsletter. The article details how teaching can not only help you increase funds, but can also help you promote your books and writing services. Go check it out! This great newsletter is a wonderful, free resource for writers!

Thanks again to Angela Hoy over at WritersWeekly.com for publishing my success story, "Write It and Forget It." The article tells the story of my recent publication of the Eagle Ridge Prep Series and how by forgetting about my submission I was able to move forward and be ready for the publication process.

My article, "It Never Hurts to Ask," was published in this WritersWeekly's Success Stories. The article details how I landed work writing literature study guides for Progeny Press. Go take a look and be inspired! Also, if you have your own success story, Angela Hoy at WritersWeekly is a great editor to work for - always positive, professional and prompt!

My article, "Consider a Class," just came out in the latest issue of WritingKid. Hope Clark of FundsForWriters puts together this awesome little newsletter geared to writers from elementary school through college. It's a great resource filled with advice and markets. If you are or know a young writer, go check it out!

I am offering three new classes for Spring's Group Lessons at GRLEAH. For 7-12 grades, History and the Writer: Jack London. This class will focus on how Jack London's real life shaped and informed his writing. For 4-6 grades, Junior Journalists. We will learn about newspaper writing and create a newsletter as a class. And finally, 2-3 grades, Paragraph Power. This class will study language through different paragraph forms.

If you're a homeschooler in the Greater Rochester Area, contact me to learn how to join these classes. But hurry, classes begin March 27!

Grit Magazine has published my article on Orchard Mason Bees, native American pollinators. I learned about these bees from Winnie Noyes of Boxcraft at the Common Ground Fair in Maine. Amazing little creatures that are non-aggressive early pollinators, Orchard Mason Bees are not susceptible to the diseases that are currently affecting European honey bees. Read the article or learn how to make your own bee box. Special thanks to Lisa Novich of Knox Cellars!

My article, "How to Inoculate Your Children Against Advertising," was named one of the top five guest articles for 2008. Thanks to J.D. for publishing and choosing it. I'm glad to get the word out and proud to be a part of such a great and useful site.

Congratulations go out to Jessica L., one of my private writing students. She has earned a $30,000 per year scholarship to the University of Rochester. Her speech on Ethics took second place in the Rotary competition. I am proud of her perserverance and wish her the best as she attends the U of R. Good job, Jessica!

I'm just back from SCBWI Western/Central NY's novel revision retreat. Wow! What a great experience. Amy Emm, Regional Advisor, did a great job organizing the event, ensuring each author had ample opportunity to share work and receive input from other attendees and editor, Julie Romeis.

Julie, Editor of Children's Books at Chronicle Books, wowed us with helpful tips, insightful advice and a priceless insider's view of both the publishing industry and the editor/author relationship. As a bonus, Julie came bearing door prizes! I was fortunate enough to win "The Writer's Toolbox," a very cool box of games and exercises designed to jumpstart the imagination.

In addition to gaining perspective in my own work, I learned loads, met some very talented writers and found new inspiration to push on toward publication in children's fiction.   

It's that time of year again! Starting Friday, September 12, I will be teaching three new homeschool classes. As in years past, I will teach SAT Verbal Prep for 11th and 12th graders. And this year I am adding Writing the Research Paper for two levels: 4th-6th grades and 7th-12th grades. Classes are fairly full, but if you live in the Greater Rochester (NY) area and wish to sign up, send me an e-mail. 

My first Progeny Press study guide is now available for purchase! The Call of the Wild by Jack London centers around the life of a dog named Buck who ends up as a sled dog in the Yukon during the Alaskan gold rush. This guide is designed for students in grades 8-12 and features plot studies, vocabulary, literary themes and Christian application questions. Check out this and other great guides at Progeny Press, and watch for my other guides (The Last of the Mohicans, The Cay and Little Women) coming in the future. 

After a busy summer of private tutoring in writing, I am offering three new classes at Greater Rochester LEAH's Group Lessons. September's lineup includes SAT Verbal Prep, and two levels (4th -6th and 7th-12th) of Research Paper Writing. If you're a homeschooling family in the Rochester area, contact me or LEAH to join in!

FundsforWriters, run by the talented C. Hope Clark, published my article, "Fair Game," in this week's newsletter. The article shows how writers can take advantage of tradeshows, fairs and other gatherings to glean ideas, interview sources and pictures for articles. Hop on over and take a look. And if you haven't already, why not sign up for one or more of Hope's helpful newsletters!

I entered a piece in the Student Choice Contest at Whidby Writers Workshop. Although I didn't win, one of the graduates bought me a one year subscription to shortshortshort.com as a thank you for entering. What a pleasant surprise! Now I get to enjoy three short stories by Bruch Holland Rogers each month via e-mail. Go check out his site. When you are done, check out Whidby Writers Workshop and enter the monthly contest - you never know what good things might happen!

My picture book manuscript, Riley McRooney Changes Her World, was chosen as a finalist for SCBWI's Kimberly Colen Memorial Grant. I am honored to have been considered for the top prize, and I appreciate the encouragement and wonderful comments the committee gave the manuscript.

I am teaching two new classes for homeschoolers: The Architecture of Words for younger students, and The Flexible Essay for the older students. Classes begin tomorrow and run each Friday for six weeks. If you are in the Greater Rochester area, contact me to find out how to take future classes.

J.D. Roth, the writer behind Get Rich Slowly, has published my essay on proofing your children against the many advertisements that barrage them daily. I've been reading J.D.'s site for some time now, and it's an excellent resource for anyone who desires to clean up their financial life in a sensible way.

The article originally appeared in The Polishing Stone.

Another article, Spring Cleaning Our Schedules, was published in The Polishing Stone. The spring issue looks great with articles on pasture-fed beef, soap making, urban composting and the "good enough philosophy," among others. My essay focuses on gaining a new persprective on your life, your time and your goals by trimming out your schedule. Go check it out - you can buy an individual copy or a subscription here.

After several hours on the phone and a few distress e-mails to my webmaster, everything is up and running again. Apparently my hosting company experienced a few glitches when they moved to a new server, causing me to lose e-mail and updating capabilities. If you were trying to contact me (especially end of December-beginning of January when we were unaware of the problems!), please try again. I will look forward to hearing from you, and you can look forward to more regular updates!

The Fall issue of The Polishing Stone is out, and it carries my article, "Life's Blind Basket." This essay parallels a chef's blind basket test with the everyday trials dealt to us in life. Check it out by purchasing a single copy or a subscription at The Polishing Stone.

My article on learning and social differences in twins has been published on education.com's website. Special thanks go to Dr. Eileen Pearlman of TwInsight. A twin herself and a practicing family coach and psychologist, Dr. Pearlman lent her excellent advice and input to the article.

My article on local agribusiness was published in the October 2007 edition of Business Strategies Magazine. From wine country to Rochester's Public Market, our area has a rich agricultural history. Special thanks to Mike Gastin of Bob Wright Creative, Jim Farr of the Public Market, Kim Zuber of the Monroe County Farm Bureau, Kevin Murphy of Pro-Fac and Scott Smith of Four Chimneys Winery.

I am teaching three new classes for the Greater Rochester LEAH homeschoolers this fall: Poetry, Writing the Short Story and SAT Verbal Prep. Classes run for nine weeks on Fridays. New classes will be offered in the spring.

My article, "First Impressions: Do They Really Matter?" was published in education.com today. The article focuses on how students can make a great first impression in school and demonstrate that they are serious about learning. Stay tuned for other education articles soon to come!

My article about the Common Ground Country Fair is out in the September/October issue of Grit. The article describes this unique annual fair, which celebrates old fashioned country living and emphasizes local organic foods and green living. Read the article here and get more details about the fair at MOFGA's site here.

Polishing Stone's Fall issue is out and carries two of my articles. The first, "The Ubiquitous Modaqqa," is about my how my Great Grandmother's mortar and pestle symbolized the hospitality that was passed from generation to generation in my family. The entire article can be read here.

The other article is a review of Dr. B.C. Wolverton's book, How to Grow Fresh Air. The book is a fascinating look at the ability of common houseplants to clean and improve the quality of the air we breathe.

I am happy to say that my short story, "Eat, Drink and Be Silent," has won second place in Food Writing's annual Culinary Mystery Contest. This one was a lot of fun to write. Here's an excerpt:

    "You look smart."
    I shifted my eyes in the mirror until I could see my wife looking at me over her reading glasses. She was balancing her laptop amidst what seemed an avalanche of paper on our bed.
    "Thanks, Janie dear," I answered and pulled my tie tight against my collar. I buttoned my jacket, crossed the room and gave her a peck. "Don’t wait up. This may go long."
    "Right." She glanced at her papers. "I may be long myself. Knock ‘em dead."
    "Already been done," I answered, and we both giggled at our decades old joke as I slipped out of the apartment and headed downtown to investigate my latest case.

To read the rest, sign up for the Food Writing newsletter.

The July issue of Business Strategies Magazine is out and focuses on green business practices. The print issue carries my article, "Green Business: Sustaining Our Natural Resources," which you can also read online. In addition, a short piece called, "Zero Waste" can be found online. Special thanks to Chris Pape and Tony Harris of Monroe Litho, Dave Beinetti of SWBR Architects and Lorna Midgelow and Danelle Giannini of Rochester Green Business Network.

My follow-up essay, "Selling the Personal Food Essay," was published in the latest edition of Food Writing. To read it, sign up to receive the free e-zine here.

The Summer issue of The Polishing Stone is out and contains my articles, "To Market, To Market" and "Cultivating Community."  The first details how we've raised our children to be aware of marketing ploys and to resist the rampant consumerism we each face every day. The second article focuses on developing a community spirit through simple gardening. Check out a preview or purchase a copy of the magazine here.

My article, "Writing the Personal Food Essay," is out in the most recent issue of the Food Writing, a bi-monthly e-zine. The article includes my top tips for writing from the heart about food experiences. Sign up for the free newsletter here, and watch for my follow-up article, "Selling the Personal Food Essay," next month.

The latest issue of Homeschooling Today carries my article, "Lessons From the Alley." The article explores the often-asked-about issue of socialization for homeschoolers. The entire article can be found here. 

My article on intrapreneurs - business people who use entrepreneurial strategies within an established corporation - is out this month in Business Strategies Magazine. Special thanks go to Paul Wetenhall at High Tech Rochester, Paul Griswold of Ontario and Trumansburg Telephone & Fingerlakes Technology Group and Bill McKee of Xerox who all contributed their expertise to the article. You can read the entire article here.

My article on the zero waste movement is out this month in The Polishing Stone. I first heard about this concept when I visited The Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine, and have since been much more mindful of packaging, recycling and commercial waste. I want to give special thanks to Linda Christopher of the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) for her input and expertise. Check out her website and see how you can become involved.

January's issue of Business Strategies Magazine focuses on women in business and includes my article on three Rochester women who have been successful in managing high-level careers with busy family lives. The three give excellent advice on the real-world strategies and common-sense philosophies that get them through their days.

My article on gaining multiple assignments is up at WritersWeekly. Go take a look, and grab up those assignments!

Three Cheers! My essay, "S Boy," won second place in Competizione's first ever writing contest. The essay, based on a second grade art contest, is posted on their site.

My article on using natural fibers to create physical and emotional warmth in our homes came out yesterday in Natural Family Online. Thanks to both Anne C. Williams and Jan Hewitt Towsley for taking time to speak about natural fibers and how they use them in their art.

I'm offering three new classes for Greater Rochester LEAH this semester. Along with SAT Verbal Prep, I am teaching a class on Short, Flash, and Micro Fiction for older students, and a Storybook Workshop for younger students. If this sounds like fun to you, contact me here to learn how to have me as a guest speaker or teacher for your group.

My childrens story, "Treasure at Cave Hollow Ranch," has finally come out in Summer Shorts, an anthology edited by Madeline Smoot and published by Blooming Tree Press. The book has 384 pages full of great reading for children and includes exciting stories, poems, and illustrations. If you would like a copy signed by me, send me an e-mail for details.

The September issue of Business Strategies, a Rochester-based magazine focusing on business leaders, is out and carries my article, "Leaders at the Roundtable." The article explores the concept and benefits of peer groups as a way for business owners to stay educated and learn from each other in today's fast-paced marketplace. Thanks to all the people interviewed for the piece, especially John Schmits of Vistage, and Barb Osterman of Human Solutions, LLC.

The Fall issue of The Polishing Stone is out, and my article on tea is the first article after the publisher's monthly column! Many thanks go out to Judith Krall-Russo, a tea specialist and food historian, who was a great resource as well as a contributor of one of the recipes.

Today is launch day for the new website of Strawberry Hill Books. I had a great time writing the text and working again with the talented Kevin Konikowski who did all the design work.

 If you need a used or out-of-print book or you want to check out our work, click on over!

The Homeschooling Helper, the e-mail newsletter put out by Homeschooling Today, has published my article, "Mapping Out an Education," in the July issue.  The article talks about how travel can enhance our children's learning as it provides a base for knowledge, a springboard for discussion and a bevy of real life experience. If you'd like to read this article and other homeschooling thoughts, you can sign up for the free newsletter here.

Ever have one of those "twin moments" when your twins act like sharing is a foreign concept? We did, and the result is my article, "Surviving the Twin-Present Trap." You can read all about how we and other twin parents have handled gifts, sharing and individuality in the July/August 2006, issue of TWINS Magazine.

"Photographer Takes Note" was published in the July issue of Grit Magazine. The article details Kelly Lucero, a local artist, who makes notecards with exquisite photos of her gardens. You can read the entire article online.  Also, be sure to check out more of Kelly' s pictures here.

My article, "Time to Learn," came out in the July/August 2006 issue of Home Education Magazine. In it I talk about how changing my attitude, being present in my life and focusing on what I value most has given our family more time to engage in the activites we love.  I am very happy to be a part of such an excellent magazine and to be able to spotlight the idea of lifelong learning.

My article, "Star-Spangled Pride," came out in The Polishing Stone this month. The article revolves around our family tradition of watching the fireworks from our front yard and ties in my feelings of pride for our nation when it acts on its founding principles of independence, freedom and generosity towards all people.

"Lentils and Rice" came out today in The Dabbling Mum. The article illustrates my family's unique relationships through comparison with this simple yet flavorful dish. I hope you take a minute to check out the article and try the recipe for yourself.

Happy reading and hearty eating!

Lisa