I simply adore wine. All wines, really. Wine is more than just an alcoholic beverage for me. It’s another way that I can experience the world around me. I have such a relationship with wine that it has a standing reservation every night at my dinner table. I love the way wine can balance out a meal or enhance it to add another layer of flavor on my pallet.

As we transition to fall this week, I’m already planning my garden for next year. Since moving to Missouri, I’ve learned a lot about raised container planting and discovered what I’m really good at growing. Next year, I plan on expanding my garden for a bigger harvest, so there’s much to prepare for, and since I’m beginning to plan now, I thought I’d share my processes with you.

Curtis and I are planning ahead to prep our older horses, Braveheart and Melody, for Missouri's unpredictable weather. We want to be prepared for any weather scenario, so Curtis has his trusty checklist that helps us get ready for anything that can happen in the season ahead.

Over the next couple of months, I'‘ll share the three main aspects to Curtis' checklist in maintaining Melody's and Braveheart's health and vitality, which are providing shelter, their overall health, and stocking up on necessities like food, natural supplements and bedding. Today, the focus is shelter.

Since I moved back to Southeast Missouri, I decided to really embrace a farm-to-table gardening lifestyle. There's a lot that I’ve learned about gardening throughout the process, including growing an organic garden takes a lot of work. I'm not relying on harsh pesticides to keep my plants healthy and pest free.

These gourmet puppy burgers actually started when I had had extra hamburger left over, but not enough to make anything with. I didn't want the meat to go to waste, and I didn't want to open a new package just to salvage a small amount. So, the puppy burgers became the solution and also a special moment was created when we could all sit down with our burgers and share a meal—even though the puppy burgers are devoured within two gulps.

Curtis and I are already getting prepared for our upcoming 4th of July celebration. We won’t be having any fireworks at our neighborhood party, however, they will be going off in the distance. And since we live in a rural area, we'll still hear guns being fired in the air in celebration of the holiday. When Mercedes and Zsa-Zsa hear that first BOOM of the fireworks, they seek cover. This means they dive under our feet or jump on top of us to find comfort.

So we have a couple of different treats we use to keep our dogs secure and chill for times like these, and we will start giving it to them a few days prior to the holiday weekend. CBDoggies and Doggie Num Nums help them relax so when the fireworks start, they can stay calm (or calmer).

My life with Hashimoto's disease has been a roller coaster until a few years ago. When I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease 20 years ago, there wasn't much information about this misunderstood condition that has taken so much from me. Basically, I was told that my body was attacking itself because it didn't know the difference between a healthy cell or an unhealthy cell. The main attack was on my thyroid.

Summertime means lots more time spent outdoors. Higher temps and sweltering humidity can also create the potential for more injuries to our pets. Hot pavement, heat and humidity can all take a toll on our fur babies, so I thought I’d share a few tips on how we keep Mercedes and Lady Zsa Zsa safe and cool.

Coffee—the sweet, sweet nectar of the gods. Who doesn’t love a good cup of Joe? And when the world came to a halt last year and I couldn't just run to the coffee shop, I had to search to find a super fresh, roasted and preservative-free coffee that knocks my socks off and makes me happy to be alive. I tried many familiar brands before I found Coriolus Creek Coffee Kings Canyon blend. What makes this brand unique (beyond it’s incredible flavor) is that it’s freshly roasted, ground, packed and shipped within a week of my order to insure the freshest coffee experience.

We have two different puppies with different needs when around the pool. Because Mercedes' hair is so thick, especially around her neck, combined with the humidity, it creates a breeding ground for mildew and bacteria that can cause sever dermal issues if not treated properly. So, for Mercedes, I have to have a shampoo that is natural and combats bacteria. Zsa-Zsa, on the other hand, has thin hair that grows unbelievably fast and her skin is easily exposed, so she needs a shampoo that protects her skin.

It's almost Memorial Day weekend, y'all!  And that means we can officially kick off summer and all the fun that comes with the sunny season—BBQs, pool parties, fireworks, baseball.  I've already started planning my Memorial Day menu, that if weather permits, will be served up poolside.  But, first, let's talk about how important this holiday is for our country and for me.

Happy National Rescue Dog Day, y'all! It’s one of my favorite days of the year because it gives me an opportunity to brag about my own rescue dogs and to encourage others to get one (or more) of their own. My life has been and is so much richer with my fur babies, and I’m grateful to have been able to give them all forever homes.

Last week, we had a tornado touch down about ten miles south of our home. And when we made it to the basement after hearing the tornado siren, I realized how unprepared we are for the reality of an emergency. I quickly stepped into action to gather fresh kits, and the first step is to get a basic list to make it through at least 3-5 days—water, food, cash, hygiene items, and medications.

I know Mother’s Day is meant for human baby mamas, but, I'm celebrating it as Fur Baby Mama day. Here's to all forms of motherhood! It’s sometimes a bouncy road, but the journey is always worth it.

I love nothing more than having a clean house, and this year, I'm going green with my spring cleaning. I've never been able to handle many manufactured cleaning products. Most of them have strong smells and chemicals that cause a migraine or irritate my eyes and make me itch. And since I’ve discovered essential oils, I’m making my own healthier cleaning solutions that are safe for me and my fur babies.

Greetings, my fellow pet parents. During a conversation I had with a woman in front of me in the checkout line recently got me doing a mental inventory of my pet pantry. Her cart was full of food, treats, bowls and toys to prepare her home to receive her new fur baby, Ruby. Our conversation led me to think about all the pet items I've acquired since moving to Missouri.

My hubby and I are finally finished with our remodel and are just now unpacking our boxes. We are finding all of Mercedes' dog stuff from Las Vegas that we no longer need, so I decided it's time for me to do a little spring cleaning of the pet pantry.

As you know a couple of months ago, I took on the challenge of giving up sugar in tandem with Lent. I’m happy to report I no longer feel sluggish and I’ve lost some weight. Now that I was successful with the sugar fast, I'm mentally primed for the next step, hence the spring cleaning of my personal health.

I'm liberating myself from gluten. During my journey to better health, I’ve discovered the protein, gluten, is not my friend. It's been one of the aggravating culprits to my chronic fatigue, headaches and bloat. Removing gluten may appear to be daunting because it's in nearly everything and it's also the "glue" that holds together my favorite breads, pastas, cakes and everything yummy and makes them so nice and fluffy.

Every once in a while, I see the need to do a little emotional spring cleaning, which usually happens when I start a new project and find myself emotionally stuck in someway on a perpetual merry-go-round. I'm not moving forward, not moving backward—just staying in the same place going round and round. A big part of the cleanse at the moment is letting go of what I cannot change, accepting that I don't know what I don't know and leaning into the vulnerability of making space for something new. And sometimes God uses someone else to open my eyes to these things.

Greetings, y'all! Can you believe it's already April?! I really had every intention of starting my spring cleaning in March, but, I guess life had other plans for me. I've proudly achieved the age of 52, and now, I’m realizing that I've spent so much time just rushing and not being in or enjoying the moment. So, in an effort to slow down and put myself first, I’m taking a fresh perspective on what spring cleaning looks like for me this year. I’ve chosen four areas of my life to focus on—emotional growth, personal health, pet health and green cleaning.

In honor of both March Madness and Women's History month, I felt it befitting to highlight a strong, talented woman who blazed the trail for every inspiring young lady who wanted to play basketball or any woman's sport. This bright, timeless icon who literally changed the trajectory of women's sports is Sheryl Swoopes.