As I left the pharmacy and walked back to my car, I noticed something strange. My purse felt light, almost empty. Then, I remembered. I had cleaned it out and there was nothing extraneous in it. Every item had a purpose. Every item had a place. Somehow, that small feat felt symbolic of a much bigger theme in my life. I’ve spent the last three days clearing out my studio and preparing both my house and studio apartment for Airbnb rentals. It’s amazing how many boxes of clothe

Growing up, my parents were very encouraging of my sister’s and my talents. Early on, they saw what we did in our free time or on the sly at church. Soon, we were overhearing them say proudly, “Elida is the artist and Danielle is the writer.” We took those labels to heart and, in a sense, they were true. I do like to paint and she likes to write and so, naturally, I became an artist and she became a writer. But little did we know that those labels could be restrictive.      D

Happy New Year! As the New Year begins, many of us enter a season of New Year reflection, thinking about our goals, our bodies, and what we want this next chapter to look like—especially when it comes to health after 50. You might be shopping for the latest exercise equipment or thinking about joining a gym. I hear you. I usually gain weight each winter—especially after the holidays—and then frantically try to lose it before summer. But over the past few years, I’ve shift

Turning fifty feels like I’m stepping into a new era and, to be honest, it hasn’t been that exciting. The truth is I don’t feel young anymore. I’ve moved from being called “miss” to being referred to as “ma’am.”  As I was walking down the street in Paros, a car drove by and I heard a whistle. A li’l grin spread over my face and I thought, “I’ve still got it.”  Then, I caught a glimpse of the girl across the street, much younger, sporting a crop top, and dangling a cigarette

(after taking the advice of a little shop gallery owner who we visited instead of going to the Picasso museum) The Uber driver dropped us off at the beginning of the street, which at a glance seemed like a quaint, quiet town. We browsed through some shops, wishing we had larger suitcases or a way to carry more things home. All the while, we were searching for the restaurant that Elizabet had told us about (see the post about her here) .  Eventually, we rounded a corner and

It was my birthday— the  actual day that I turned fifty. We planned to visit Antibes to shop at the open market and then peruse the Picasso Museum.  We were trying to be thrifty by using the train, but, after a fire alarm went off and a large French security guard yelled in his thick accent, “Lad-iessss, get out! Firrre! Get out!” we called an Uber. It was my birthday, after all, and we didn’t need to die before the day even started. The driver dropped us off at the market

Sometimes travel stops time. It’s like life hits pause just for you. Sometimes travel stops time. It’s like life hits pause just for you. That’s what happened to me my first night in Spain somewhere between jet lag, tapas, and the rhythmic stomping of a flamenco dancer’s feet. The Flamenco Dancer I arrived in Spain on a Friday morning, having not slept for almost two days. I decided to grab a coffee and breakfast at a corner café. The girl behind the counter had long sun-

There are two types of travelers…those who talk on planes, and those who don’t !  I was running late- big shocker, I know. I’d...

What:  Elida’s 50th Birthday Celebration Theme:   Passports & Adventures  – Celebrating Elida’s milestone birthday as she prepares to...

The blackberries are ripening — and that always means one thing: summer is on its way out. NOOOOOOO! I love summer. Saying goodbye to...