

Extraordinary People - Cherie Norton
Today I'd like to introduce you to my friend Cherie Norton, who leads one of the most fascinating lives of anyone I know, following her heart where it leads, which is often to some rather unconventional places. She has also learned some great lessons along the way, which she shares with us here. Cherie Norton In her own words, "Over my lifetime, my identity has gone through various iterations, from dirt-poor college student working three jobs, to legal secretary, stressed-out


7 Things to Look For in a Partner
The fairytale dream is to find your prince, ride off into the sunset, and live happily ever after. If it were only as easy as fitting your delicate foot into a glass slipper like Cinderella! The truth is that with the divorce rate now hovering around 70%, there are many things to take into consideration before you get married, and the ideal time to talk about these is BEFORE you get engaged. Better to find out that a relationship might be on the road to disaster before you se


Extraordinary People - Maria Rabaino
I have known Maria's family for many years, and when tragedy struck, I was amazed at how she was able to transform something that for most people would be one of the worst things that could possibly happen into something truly amazing and inspiring! Maria Rabaino 1. Tell me a little bit about your childhood and where you grew up. How would you describe your family and your town? I grew up in a small town named Orangevale (for those who don't know that's in the Sacramento area


Things My Mother Taught Me
This is the first Mothers' Day that I will not be able to call my mother and wish her well, as the angels called her home last summer. I miss our weekly phone calls on Sunday nights. She would always ask about how my boys were doing in water polo or basketball and what country my girls would be touring in next. She'd tell me how she cleaned up in playing bridge that week, that she had "played the piano for the old people" (as if she, in her early 80s, wasn't one of them), or


Extraordinary People - Ash Greyson
This week I am profiling Ash Greyson, who with his gorgeous wife Mindy has a beautiful family of 7 children whom they homeschool. Ash works in the movie industry promoting Faith and Family films. Ash Greyson—Founder and Chief Evangelist, Ribbow Media Group. 1. Tell me a little bit about your childhood and where you grew up. How would you describe your family and your town? I grew up in Tulsa, OK, for the most part. It was still booming from oil money in the 70s and 80s. I hav


Extraordinary Lives - Emily and Ernestine
I met the most fascinating woman while I was doing my laps at the pool. I saw her walk in. I could tell by her gait that she was up there in years, but she was in better shape than 95% of the elderly people that I see coming into the YMCA. She put on her cap and goggles and walked over to the lane next to me. She said, "I'm trying to get up the nerve to get in." I answered, trying to be reassuring, "It's not too cold today. It's actually really nice in here." She said, "I'm n


Super Tasty, Super Healthy Smoothie!
I love smoothies! Smoothies make the world go round. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but they're pretty awesome. Most commercial smoothies, however, have way too much sugar in them. This recipe is super tasty without killing you with sugar. The secret is in the fruit and the flavoring of the various ingredients. It's also got protein and healthy fats, making it a wonderful post-workout treat. My favorite smoothie! Here's the recipe: 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut mi


Change Your Diet, Change Your Life (and how John Elway ruined my diet!)
As they say (whoever "they" are), you are what you eat. And it's amazing how what you eat can affect your mind, your mood, your energy levels, your immune system, and basically every system in your body. As more and more research comes in, it looks like sugar is Public Enemy #1, which is unfortunate for those of us who have been addicted to it for 50 years. Yikes! Sugar causes insulin spikes and inflammation, which in turn cause diabetes, heart disease, cancer, obesity, and a