When I lived in Haiti, my sister and I went to school in Port au Prince, but we ached and longed for summer vacations in Mirebalais every year. 

Ahh, summers of ripe mangos, chasing chickens in the farm, and eating all the candy before bed. Our grandparents spoiled us. We lived the good life.

Though my grandma spoiled us, she had limits. Every time I got in trouble, she wouldn't scream or shout, she would come over, get down to my level, and look at me and whisper "there's a good woman somewhere in there-- but it's gonna take some time."

Dressed in a Hogwarts t-shirt, standing in front of a room filled with eager writers and readers, most adorned in costumes, ranging from Maleficent to The Mad Hatter (me!), author Kristen Simmons explored and explained the magic of backstory. Personally, backstory is something I try and avoid whenever I can (which is never); I walked away with a sense of need to write someone's previous turmoil, love, and treason. 

Many people would travel more if only it wasn't so expensive. One of the best ways that I know of to travel on a budget is by buying or renting a timeshare resale from an existing owner. These are timeshares for sale and rent by owner, so their prices are significantly discounted from the price you’d pay through a resort directly. When I express my enthusiasm for timeshares though, people tend to look at me with suspicion. However, there are several reasons why you might be able to see the world on a budget with a timeshare.

Growing up, I learned much from watching my mom, aunts, and grandmothers cooking. Besides the camaraderie, laughter, and stories, I learned how to quickly peel an apple with no waste (and still have my gramma's paring knife), how to cook perfect scrambled eggs (and own my granny's pan), and how to move in a kitchen filled with many people, all working with sharp implements. Cooking together is a comfort. Knowing you are continuing lifetimes of kitchen and food knowledge is an extraordinary thing, full of love and taste.

Have you ever read a cookbook and had to stop at the VERY FIRST RECIPE to make it? Such is the case with Ken Haedrich's The Harvest Baker: 150 Sweet and Savory Recipes Celebrating the Fresh-Picked Falvors of Fruits, Herbs, and Vegetables. 

I love it. 

Every state has them. Those quirky locations that stick out from the others. As Gretchen Garrison learned, Nebraska is no exception. Her book entitled, Detour Nebraska, was recently published by the History Press.

Recently, Kalamazoo's historic State Theatre celebrated its 90th anniversary with a party - complete with towering cake, artists in residence, and a Yelp Kalamazoo event that included a very special backstage tour. 

Florida Culture for the Week of November 11, 2017 By Josh Garrick  

The most powerful and important book I've read this year? No question. Dawn Again: Tracking the Wisdom of the Wild, by Doniga Markegard, is eloquent, inspiring, and a must-read for any global educator. Markegard's memoir traces her beginnings from wildlife tracking to a more concerted effort of support and practical advice for wilderness education and living wisely on this planet. Through it all, her voice rings clearly for teaching about the earth, about the wildlife on it, and living responsibly and well.