What kind of reaction do we have when we are given a gift? A gift is usually a surprise. For me, I get that momentary pause of taking in a deep breath. I’m a sucker for a beautifully wrapped gift. Sometimes I can get so focused on the wrapping, I can lose sight of the surprise that’s inside the box. Giving a gift is also a big part of the experience. Yet, I’ve been guilty of deflating the giver’s joy by saying, “You shouldn’t have.” WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO RECEIVE? Life has

Recently, I went a preview screening of the upcoming film, POMS, starring Diane Keaton. I have to say that I laughed so hard I was crying. There are so many funny and touching moments. It’s the story of Martha, who is dying. She’s lived in the same New York apartment for 46 years and moves to a retirement community in Georgia. Of course, she wants to die in peace; but that’s challenging given Southern hospitality and the array of characters that live in the community. It’s

I often look at my life and wonder how did I get here? There have been so many twists and turns, ups and downs and flat out moments of stop the world I want to get off. Through it all, I’ve come to understand that everything has a purpose. Oftentimes, it’s hard to understand why things happen. I many never know why. As a woman of faith, I believe that “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (

Last weekend, I attended the opening for the Film Society season at the Director’s Guild in Los Angeles. The film I saw was A Star is Born starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The quality of the performances and the story moved me to my core. I literally had to stop myself from sobbing. Once I forced myself to get past the profanity, I was transported into the depth of the characters and their connection. (Spoiler Alert) One of the scenes that caused me to catch myself fro

Growing up in an Italian-American household, I was surrounded by the three Italian Mamas, my mother, my aunt and my grandmother, who were to say the least, clean freaks. There were the proverbial plastic cushion protectors on the sofa and chairs. This was especially rough in the summer, when our skin would just stick to the plastic. OUCH! The smell of bleach always permeated the air. A speck of dust didn’t even have a chance to land on the furniture. My mother was so organize

About two weeks ago, I received a residual check in the mail for a TV show I did in 2007. This time, I just laughed with the amount and decided to post it on Facebook with the quip, “There’s nothing like getting a check in the mail.” I received some funny responses; but there was one that stood out and got me thinking. “Hmmmm. I take it as an affirmation that your “two cents” are worthwhile.” THE FORMATIVE YEARS I always thought it strange growing up that, whenever an opinio

Is it just me, or does it feel like this year is flying by? When I reach the mid-year point each year, I like to assess if I’m meeting my goals or do I need to tweak a few things. This time I started to reflect on my career. Acting is my second career. It’s been my childhood dream; and I’ve been pursuing it for the last 16 years, after a successful 22-year marketing career in the beauty industry. Has it gone the way I had hoped? Not exactly! There have been a lot of twists

I’m fascinated by children. As adults, it is our responsibility to teach our children; but I find that I learn so much from them. When I used to work in the nursery at church or teach Sunday school, I enjoyed observing each child in my care. Some were loners and enjoyed playing by themselves. Some were raucous and free spirited. Some interacted so easily with other children and played effortlessly. Some just wanted to be held and wanted me to read a story. I needed be in c

There’s a well-known saying, Can’t see the forest for the trees. I think a perfect example of this is when major decisions need to be made; but it’s extremely difficult to do so. Circumstances loom so large that they can be overwhelming. Instead of seeing the full forest, we only see the trees. SEEING THE TREES Too many times, I have seen the trees. This is especially true, when something is so important to me that I can feel overwhelmed and am not sure what path to take. I

As a kid growing up in an Italian-American family, food was such a major part of our lives. Every day, my mother, my aunt and my grandmother created amazing meals in their tiny kitchens. They got such a sense of satisfaction when the family would chow down and just enjoy all their hard work. My grandmother would sit back with that look of satisfaction as she watched us eat heartily, especially her four grandchildren. She would always say, “GUSTO”. My little niece, Brenna, ce