In a fight for its life, Utah's inland sea inspires a new generation of lake protectors.
As namesake to Utah's capital city, the Great Salt Lake lies west of communities from Salt Lake north to Ogden, all the way to Tremonton. Whether you're seeing the lake from a hilltop home, office building or rooftop bar, it often shows up as a shimmering patch of blue on the western horizon. And no matter your vantage point, you just can't help but admire its austere beauty.
As the last remnant of Lake...
No longer a fashion desert, Salt Lake makes shopping fun with its trendy and one-of-a-kind retailers.
In truth, Salt Lake City was a bit of a shopping desert when I moved here from the East Coast 30 years ago. There were just a few department stores or one-off shops to visit back then—places like Mervyn's, ZCMI, Contempo Casuals, Chalk Garden and Nordstrom (at the original Main Street location).
Salt Lake City has since grown into a mid-size city, with high demand for new designers and out-of-state retailers. I'm happy to...
Hone your personal style at SLC's vintage and consignment stores.
What goes around comes around, and in Salt Lake City, vintage clothing and pre-loved furniture shops are popping up all over, and the prices aren't as overblown as you'd find in LA or Dallas. As the former "Shop Girl" columnist for City Weekly, I find there is nothing like the thrill of the hunt, and of finding a cast-off designer item at dopamine-inducing low prices. Not only is it environmentally prudent to reuse clothing and household goods, but the...
Music to accompany your reading: Countdown to Midnight Playlist
I’m here again. I’m writing and trying to get my words out for my blog. I notice my thoughts don’t flow as easily as they did before. I wonder if my sentences will hold meaning and resonate with my readers the way they used to. Will anyone take the time to care about what I’m writing? Sharing internet space with so many opinions is exhausting to keep pace with and since the pandemic I’ve felt it very frivolous to write...
“It is the image in the mind that links us to our lost treasures; but it is the loss that shapes the image, gathers the flowers, weaves the garland” ~ Colette
Sometimes, when I’m really listening, I hear the sound of my mom’s voice calling my name from the distant past. I picture her tilting her head back with her chin to the air, her beautiful long chestnut colored hair framing her face and letting out a breathy laugh. I see my mom wearing her red apron tied around...
Your life is a story.
Write it well.
Edit often.
It’s been so long since I’ve written that I’ve been feeling resistant about creating new material. Have you ever felt those feelings of insecurity and lack of trust in yourself, afraid to put yourself out there, to be vulnerable? To introduce yourself to a stranger, to look for a new job, to get back on skis, to leave a relationship or a friendship, to get back into the game. With so many starts and stops, 2020 has me feeling unsure of...
“Conscience is a man’s compass” ~ Vincent van Gogh
Each year on the day after Christmas my husband Steve and I go on a kid-less vacation. Our alone time is rare and so coveted that we put a lot of thought into making the most of our retreat. Thankfully, my kids have super indulgent grandparents who watch my boys at their charming house in my hometown of Philadelphia.
After over a decade of this tradition, we have exhausted our favorite destinations in the Caribbean… all the sand and surf started...
“Time tends to collapse on the internet. There are no seasons, only epochs of memes.” - New York magazine
Days turned into weeks, then months, and now it’s almost been a year since my last blog post. I've tumbled down the Instagram rabbit hole and I'm disorientated. In August 2016, Instagram cloned Snapchat's best product, stories. I remember when Instagram stories came out and I thought I would never waste my time uploading my life in 15 second increments. But now I find myself a hypocrite as I shamelessly stage...
Make it Your Own. Honoring Tradition: Family Rituals & Recipes
Is there a scent that takes you back to the sweetness of your childhood? During the holidays did your family share a traditional meal together? Is there a holiday movie you watched ritually each season, like Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, or Home Alone? Do you crave the taste of a traditional family recipe from your or someone dear to you?
Traditions are stories or rituals that are passed on from generation to generation. Traditions give us a sense of...
A Table Set With Love
Originally published in Devour Magazine, February 2018
Is the idea of sitting elbow to elbow at a restaurant with your sweetheart not what you had in mind on Valentine’s Day? Are reservations at your favorite restaurant impossible to get? Do you have young children in tow and can’t find a sitter? Well, I feel you, and that’s why I prefer to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home with takeout Thai food and a bottle of prosecco. But that’s not to say I don’t make it count—just...
