All it takes is the loss of a loved one to make you remember how short and precious life really is. It makes you realize what's really important in life and what isn't. On the afternoon of May 25th, I received that wake-up call when I heard the news that my grandfather died. Although his health significantly declined in the last few years, it was still somewhat sudden. You're never prepared for loss, of course. In my 33 years, I have experienced a number of losses, but none h

A year ago I wrote about wanting to lose weight. I began Pilates class and ate better ... for a while. I stuck with Pilates, but slowly slipped back into bad eating habits. Besides Pilates, I didn't really exercise. I went for walks, but when I began experiencing severe foot pain in the fall, I stopped doing that too. Instead of losing the 15 pounds I wanted to, I gained 5 more! It wasn't until I stepped on the scale at urgent care last month that I was slapped in the face wi

On June 24th my husband, Joe, and I will celebrate our fifth wedding anniversary. To those who have been married for decades, five years seems like a drop in the bucket, but to me it’s a sign of strength and success. Many people say that marriage isn’t work if you are with the right person. I totally disagree. No matter how much you love a person, there is always a certain amount of “work” or effort needed to maintain the happiness of the marriage. This is particularly true w

"Sometimes when I need a miracle, I look into my son's eyes and realize I already created one." For as long as I can remember, I have always been trying to stay strong; trying to hold it together. As a mom with a mental illness, it can be very challenging at times. I am 32, a mom to an amazing two-year-old boy, a marketing consultant and I have bipolar II and anxiety. Nobody would know by looking at me that I deal with internal struggles that consume me at times. There is no