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The Rise & Shine Blog

From Surviving to Thriving: How You Can Shift Out of Fight or Flight

Overcoming Childhood Trauma Often Starts with Escaping the Fight or Flight Response George and Betty’s doors were buttoned up tightly the day I stood on the side of my house metamorphosing into a twelve-year-old hustler. But smoke billowed from my neighbors’ chimney, so I knew they were home. They were my best option for getting…

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French Women Really Don’t Get Fat

“Everything in moderation…even moderation.” ~ Julia Child Maybe you’ve heard of the little book from 2005 that became an international best seller, French Women Don’t Get Fat. Well, I devoured it (pun intended) and couldn’t wait to get to France and myth bust the entire premise. Surely with all that bread, thought this carb-fearing girl,…

My Midnight in Paris

“America is my country and Paris is my hometown.” ~ Gertrude Stein My childhood dream was to move to Paris and become a writer. As I got older and learned about the great writers who honed their craft on the Left Bank of the Seine, I longed to do the same. Thomas Paine, James Joyce,…

Forever Young – Storming Omaha Beach

“You were young the day you took these cliffs; some of you were hardly more than boys, with the deepest joys of life before you. Yet, you risked everything here.” ~ Ronald Reagan, at the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1984. On a recent trip to France, my husband and I explored the World War…

Butter ~ My French Love Affair

“If you’re afraid of butter, use cream.” ~ Julia Child I’m having a love affair…with butter. Since arriving in Paris, my healthy, butter-free style of eating has gone by the wayside. Instead, buttery croissants are melting in my mouth. Back home I always ask for the sauce on the side, a little something I adopted from When…

Afternoon Tea at 20,000 Feet

After an eight hour flight to London we arrived a bit sleepy but happy. We spent two hours in the First Class Club trying to adjust to the time difference. My body felt like it was breakfast time but the local clocks insisted it was lunchtime. Before long, we settled into our British Airways seats…

Packing for Two Weeks in France in 50 Pounds or Less

Two people are traveling for two weeks through the fashion capital of the world at the onset of winter. How do we pack everything we need to be hip and stylish yet stay warm and dry all under 50 pounds? David and I will begin our journey in Paris then travel by train to Avignon…

Chicago – My Kind of Town

This is my kind of town, Chicago is my kind of town, Chicago is my kind of people too, people who smile at you. – Frank Sinatra I grew up in the Midwest but didn’t always appreciate it. I took it for granted — the well mannered people, the change of seasons, the corn fields….

Burt’s Closet

It’s easy to see why Burt Mulford did a little modeling for Ralph Lauren back in the day. But even his lean physique and chiseled features don’t tell us everything about his impeccable sense of style. For that, you must spend a little time in his closet. Which, is exactly what my friend Kaisa and…

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