Get your vision checked

Recently my best friend reached out asking how long it takes to adjust to a new prescription, because she’d gotten a new one for the first time in five years and her prescription more than doubled and her depth perception through her new glasses was a big adjustment. After I (gently, nicely) scolded her for […]

Parenting the Love and Logic Way

Last week, during one of my weekly phone calls with one of my best friends, she listed off to me the issues she’s been having with her five-year-old since she had another baby, all of them normal, new-sibling behavior. And, like the best friend I am, I listened and offered her advice to the best […]

Self-publishing 101 at Brandon Township Library

I have always been of the opinion that everyone has a story to tell. That can be done in a number of ways, through music, art, passed down verbally through family history, but my preferred method is, unsurprisingly, writing. I am an open book, literally. So last year, when another local author approached me about […]

Valentine’s Day Stories

Every year when Valentine’s Day rolls around, we in the newsroom sit down and go through our phones, emails and Rolodexes to think of couples who have been married a number of years that we could talk to about the secret to a lasting marriage. All of the couples we talk to have wonderful stories […]

Shop small and local to stay out of the cold

It’s freezing outside, and everyone is bundling up in their houses, me included. I’m a homebody on a good day, but in winter, I’m practically a hermit. It can be hard to justify going out when it means I have to wear a coat. Like a surly teenager, I am averse to coats. I’ve been […]

Taxes can be taxing

Now that the new year has begun, it means one thing for my family and many others: tax season. My husband Kyle is an accountant, so until April 15, we are immersed in taxes. He’s immersed in his work six days a week, so I do our household taxes so he doesn’t have to do […]

Wreaths Across Ortonville

With the New Year right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about my un-resolutions for 2025. If you’ve read this column before, you know I’m not a fan of resolutions myself. I feel they start the new year our in a negative way, by resolving to change something about yourself or your life that you […]

Top reads for 2024

With 2024 coming to a swift close, I thought now would be a good time to talk about the top books I read this past year. As a side note, if you’re interested in these books, I always recommend getting them from your local library, second hand, or your local independent bookstore. *** “One Perfect […]

29 moments of love, laughter, joy and community

By the time you read this column, I will officially be 29 years old. Last year I talked about 28 lessons in 28 years, and while I’m sure I can come up with another 29 lessons, I thought I’d prefer to reflect on the past year and mention the 29 best moments for me in […]

Finding community through book clubs

With the holidays (and my birthday) fast approaching, I was tasked with making a wish list to give to family, and like many people, my list contained books. I love to read, and I know I’m not alone in wanting to discuss what I read with people, so I decided to look into how to […]

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