By: Chrysa Smith A couple of weeks ago, within the span of a week, I had very divergent experiences. For my husband's birthday/Father's Day, I booked a trip to Ocean City, NJ for two days of sunshine and shore time. We stayed at a very nice B&B which was centrally located in the town. The Atlantis is a nice alternate to those 1950's outdated motels, renting 'seedy' houses for the week or opting [...]
By: Mary Fran Bontempo I wrote this piece a number of years ago, but I like to rerun it around Father's Day, because despite the fact that my dad has been gone for twenty years, I still miss him every day. This is for you, Dad, and Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads out there. My Father's Hands I remember my father’s hands. They were perfect “man” hands, large, rectangular, just [...]
I'm a sucker for a good romantic comedy. You might even say that I strongly avoid fantasy and sci-fi flicks. So, you might be wondering why I'm speaking about dinosaurs. Well, it's obvious. I was one of those first weekend movie-goers to see Jurassic World. Why? Well, not only do I need to be part of the greater relevant world, I actually liked the first one made two decades ago. And I think this hopeless [...]
You will not be able to watch this video without smiling, chuckling, and finally, laughing out loud. This little girl knows how to demand respect! It's RESPECT, baby, and don't you forget it! Enjoy this delightful performance and happy Friday! --Mary Fran
I know, I know. There are some people who tune right out when I talk about food and cooking. Well, cooking anyway. But what if I told you about a way to have some fun in the kitchen? (No, not that kind). The kind where you're adorned with an apron and a spoon. You're in a nice, warm place over an open fire and you're smelling some of the best possible aromas---frying onions, garlic, [...]
By: Mary Fran Bontempo [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="yes" overflow="visible"][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="no" center_content="no" min_height="none"] David sporting some of his daughter Emma's expulsions. My latest post in Women's Voices Magazine celebrates the poop, puke and boogers of childhood. More specifically, it celebrates the fact that today's dads, my son David included, deal with the above with none (okay, maybe [...]
I love jewelry. Well, I love trendy jewelry. That's not to say I wouldn't trade in my .5 carat diamond for something more roomy, but it's not on top of the list. Rather, I enjoy mixing and matching necklaces, earrings and especially bracelets. And this brings me to my grand revelation. Ready? It's all in the charms. Like a fortune teller with her leaves, one only need to look at a charm bracelet to [...]
