Growing up, I relied on my mother and three small sisters for everything, from food and warmth to survive the Great Famine, to the hopes and dreams that kept us going during the Cultural Revolution. Whether we sheltered ourselves in the tiny wooden hut my father built...
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms. My mother, who was a fabulous hostess, taught me so much about entertaining at home. I dedicated my book, The Book of Entertaining at Home, to her. As I began to entertain in my own home, one memorable idea that my mother taught...
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what our kids actually see when they look at us mothers.Not the obvious things. We all know they see the lunches packed, the schedules managed, the reminders, the rides,the constant doing. But beyond that, there are the quieter...
For most people, their revocable living trust is the centerpiece of their estate plan. They will also have a Will, but it is intended only as a back-up to the Trust. This back-up Will is often referred to as a “pour-over” Will because it is used to pour over to the...
Q: Ferrets are fun and mischievous pets. What are their unique health problems? A: Virtually all of the ferrets that are adopted in the U.S. come from a single breeder, Marshall Farms. They are spayed or neutered, and descented at a young age prior to adoption. This...
Becoming a safe traveler in a foreign country before boarding your flight.Comprehensive preparation involves researching the destination’s local laws, cultural norms, and current safety advisories through official resources like the U.S. Department of State Travel...
Let’s talk about serving drinks. Whatever style or size party you are hosting, from a formal sit-down dinner for six to a casual backyard party for 20, beverages will be available. For starters, here’s what not to say to your guest, “What would you like to drink?”...
For many people, car keys represent far more than transporta tion. They symbolize independence andfreedom. When age-related changes begin affecting driving ability, older adults may feel fearful or reluctant to give up the keys because it can mean a major lifestyle...
Every parent has heard the familiar message on an airplane: Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others. It’s simple advice, but when you’re raising kids, it can feel almost impossible to follow.Parents, especially moms, often run on empty. We juggle...
When I first became a student of English literature in the late 1970s in Shanghai, I was obsessed with English idioms. I considered them to be the authentic wisdom of the west, and through them I thought I could discover a different cultural perspective.Among the...
Lessons From the Fire: Insurance Actions to Protect Your Assets Before the Next Disaster One of the hardest lessons my wife Julia and I learned after the fire is that the time to understand your insurance policy is not after a disaster – it’s long before one occurs....
Celebrating the wonderful French-themed annual wine festival last month, were from left, Mike and Karin Wallerstein, Judith, with husband, Alex Parajon, who is Rotary 5280 District Governor, and Past President of the Santa Monica club Monika White. Rotary Club of...
Consider the Effects of Earth DayNotice the clouds overhead and how they affect our earth.By Michelle Li Earth Day didn’t actually start as the global “plant-a-tree” day we know it as today. Back in 1970,it was essentially a massive national...
