(This chapter was written in a 2017 Aspen Words Summer Workshop taught by Chinelo Okparanta, of whom I absolutely adored!) My body lay horizontally across the bed with my head hanging off the edge. The world felt so upside down at that moment, this was my feeble attempt to turn it all right side up. Glancing away from the yellow water stain on the ceiling that had … Continue reading Chapter Nine: Meeting Baddy
Hosted by CEO and Founder of Equus Private Wealth Management, Ron Speaker, our Aspen Business Connect professional social network gathered together on a beautiful June evening in the garden of the Equus building in Carbondale, Colorado. At the front door greeting guests were three lovely Aspen High School students. Supporting young adults is a true passion of ours and bringing in their vibrant energy always … Continue reading A Beautiful June Evening Spent with Aspen’s Professional Social Club
The Hurst Community Initiative is collaborating with the libraries and chambers of commerce in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, New Castle, Silt, Rifle, and Parachute to host an 8-part speaker series. Each community selects a topic and local speakers, and the Aspen Institute finds a moderator for each event. April 20th 12-1PM REGISTER HERE Continue reading Mental Wellness in a Post-Covid World
I was getting on the chair single, when an older man skied up to ride the chair with me. As always a conversation ensued. I can tell immediately if I should whip out my video camera and interview the person for their interesting and/or inspiring story, but opt first to get to know one another, create a comfort level, and in the last 10 mins … Continue reading pro ski bum
Watch this video created by BrandMaker Media and see why businesses are signing on to be included in our boutique storytelling marketing agency. Also, BrandMaker Media now has an 8-week course that begins July 7th, “Jumpstart Your Brand Online: NEW Immersive Experience”. This is what we’re talking about. Collaboration and referrals. Join in! Click here for more information and to register. Use code JILLIAN for 10% off. Continue reading How to use Social Media for Business
I have been fascinated by the concept of changing my vibration and raising my frequency. Last May, after throwing my most successful sold out event, I felt empty and had to retreat from my work of connecting others and discover what I required to continue. What fun to share the results of hours and hours of meditation, visualizations and raising my frequency as the magic … Continue reading Changing Your Frequency
A Halloween tale Continue reading A Spiritual Encounter
Usually I look at the astrological charts when my life feels flat, but not these past few months … well, this past year really. It’s as if I’ve been bound up in a crystalis, just opening myself up to the universe to transform me and tell me what’s in store for me. Then suddenly it’s as though I get lifted up and blasted through the … Continue reading If you Believe in the Magic, Than the Magic is Real
Will Nolan, Executive Chef at Viceroy Snowmass tells us of his love for Heritage Fire in Snowmass (2018) Continue reading Will Nolan Executive Chef Viceroy Snowmass at Heritage Fire
Managing Money For Teens A recent study found that 84 percent of teenagers want to learn about managing money. What’s more, your kiddos are eager to know the ins-and-outs of personal finance from you, their parent. Financial Literacy For Teens In fact, children who begin learning personal finance early on are more likely to be financially literate in later stages of life, and have a higher … Continue reading Six Simple Tips to Teach Your Teen Good Money Habits
Just living life as best as possible over the Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Stay tuned to all of our social media for fun live feeds and interviews as we seek out lobster, caviar and bubbles. Santa Margarita Brunch Chefs Club Presents Park90 Chef Tom Coohill Continue reading Uni for Breakfast and Santa Margarita at the Food & Wine Classic
Teen Mental Hygiene Through Mindful Parenting I have wanted and needed answers to my questions on what resources and programs are available in our Roaring Fork Valley and in our schools to keep the mental hygiene of teens healthy. I have needed to learn what to do when I question the behavior of my boys, their friends or other adult influencers in their lives. I … Continue reading Teen Mental Hygiene Through Mindful Parenting
Helping Teens Through Family & Community, an Aspen Connect Global Symposium Presented by AspenRealLife, took place Monday, May 20th at the Aspen District Theatre, and was filmed live on our @AspenRealLife Facebook Page. Helping Teens addressed anxiety and depression in teens, and spoke of how it can lead to substance abuse and addiction. Helping Teens held conversations about hope, and changing social norms, not just … Continue reading Helping Teens Symposium: Aspen District Theatre
Sonja Linman is the lead Prevention Specialist for Roaring Fork Schools and has worked as a youth advocate for over thirty years, beginning her career in the mid-80s as an intern at Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, and at an inpatient adolescent treatment center in Madison, Wisconsin. By 1989, she had moved to Colorado and was present at the inception of Yampah Mountain High School … Continue reading Regulate, Reset, Repair, Remap Powerpoint Presentation by Sonja Linman
Knowing that there have been many conversations occurring throughout the valley addressing the health of our teens, I felt the need to quickly produce the next Aspen Connect conversation, Helping our Teens Through Communities and Families, and bring the health professionals of the entire valley together with our local families at the Aspen District Theatre to hear the stories of teens, parents, prevention specialists, youth … Continue reading Why Helping Teens?
Substance Use and Addiction Hello, My name is Ashley Adams and I am a freshman at Glenwood Springs High School. I am reaching out to you to bring up an important and necessary topic where we all need to have a conversation, and this is substance use and addiction in teens and how it affects the family. On May 20th myself along with mom and … Continue reading A Letter From A 15 Year Old About How Substance use and Addiction in Teens Affects the Family
Thanks for joining me! Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton Continue reading The Journey Begins
A Mother Gives Thanks If we could, would we raise our children any differently knowing then what we know now? The woman who submitted her story for me to publish to my readers listened carefully as I trepidatiously asked her for more details. I appreciated her wanting to tell her story, and I knew that I was venturing toward raw territory when I asked her … Continue reading A Mother Gives Thanks
The problem was that I was on my own island. I needed a team. My head was becoming very cloudy with the not knowing where I was heading with all of this that I had felt driven to build. Nine incredible conversations in 12 months. And I was spent. And still broke. The community loves my events, but I was not receiving what I required … Continue reading Jillian’s Real Life
After my ninth sold out Aspen Connect conversation held at a venue that I had set my sights on from the inception, rather than feeling as though I had arrived, I felt so very lost. If I could define what it was to drive me to produce eight back to back events in 9 months, I would say that it was the disconnect between business … Continue reading Finding Clarity – surfing salidadas
“All traffic is shut down at the El Jebel light due to a structure fire,” I read in the text, but I didn’t think twice about it, I was heading down to a thank you barbecue for the Lake Christine Firefighters at Jill Soffer’s house, and nothing was going to deter me. Thus far, I have been covering the fire from afar and I needed … Continue reading Firefighter Stories of The Lake Christine Fire
It is with bittersweet emotions that I post these pictures taken by Michele Cardamone on prom night 2018. With our boys growing up so quickly before our eyes, I meditate religiously and do yoga to do my best to slow down and soak in every moment in time that I am with them, even if it is spent getting reprimanded for lingering too long in … Continue reading Letting Go Of Our Children
Waking up to Highland’s Peak, bathed in the deepest soothing pastel pinks and reds, I rose out of bed and packed up my road bike. I was heading down to Basalt to get the air conditioning fixed in my Hÿûndaī. My plan was to stay down there all day; coffee at Confluence; road bike ride up the Frying Pan River with a good friend; stop … Continue reading Singing a Huge Hallelujah in Basalt
It is always difficult to read or watch movies about the Holocaust but as I listened to my Aunt Tutti tell me of her experience as an eight year old in a concentration camp I was able to hear the truth and envision myself and my family in the same nightmare that occurred only thirty years before I was born. Continue reading Surviving a Concentration Camp
Parenting Teens in a Legalized Marijuana Resort Town When people think of life in Aspen, some may sneer at thoughts of kids being dropped off at the high school in cars that cost more than thir homes. They may feel envy for families with private jets who fly off on a whim on exotic adventure trips for the weekend, or for the year if their … Continue reading Parenting Teens in a Legalized Marijuana Resort Town
Getting My Palm Read with Cynthia Clark As many of you know, I’ve been working with experts to help me to stay on my creative path. In this podcast Cynthia Clark, Author, Teacher, Hand Analyst Expert and Intuitive Life Coach, reads my palm and helps steer me along. With a desire to help people to understand how people can grow and progress, Cynthia has written the book, … Continue reading Getting My Palm Read with Cynthia Clark
Chapter Six: Protecting Our Innocence The mornings in my bedroom were the antithesis of the nights; warm, safe and my own haven, where I’d spend oodles of time alone letting my imagination go, dancing wildly to my 45 records, spending time on my CB radio, or playing with the barbie dolls I so wanted to look like. The superficial messages of how to look began early, with barbie dolls. … Continue reading Chapter Six: Protecting Our Innocence
Cruising Around Aspen Below Photo Credit: Gus Goldman [su_carousel source=”media: 44234,44233,44232,44231,44230,44229,44228,44227″ limit=”50″ height=”380″ items=”1″]Bikes lined up outside of the Aspen Brewing Company on Hopkins Ave. People stuffed six packs of Brew Co.’s delicious blondes and IPA’s into baskets on the front of their bikes. String Cheese Incident, Grateful Dead, and Justin Bieber permeated from different speakers rigged any way they could be to people’s bikes. … Continue reading Cruising Around Aspen
Encountering Wildlife, and Pain When I read the text, “Let’s go for a walk today???” I had to pull the phone closer to my face to confirm that the message came from Pam, my long-legged, golden-hair She-Ra of a friend (think Amazon Goddess meets Tarzan, Scrat and Sacagawea). With all of those traits packed into one, Pam is not the type to take walks, preferring to push her physical … Continue reading Encountering Wildlife, and Pain
Healing with Horses There are many incredible organizations helping children in our valley, WindWalkers is one of them. Located on a beautiful ranch in Missouri Heights where sage brush infuses the Colorado air, Windwalkers is an equine assisted learning and therapy center where individuals with challenges, be they physical, neurological, emotional, behavioral or psychological, partake in therapeutic activities with horses to achieve goals they never thought were … Continue reading Healing with Horses
Guest Writer: Matt Fisher Matt is a yoga teacher, college student, and most importantly a student of life. He likes to think he has interesting and unique thoughts to share about life. Read more of Matt’s thoughts here. Finding Strength and Compassion Through Struggle My friend I recently had a conversation. He is a Reiki healer and has helped me through a lot. He told me that he … Continue reading Finding Strength and Compassion Through Struggle
Welcome to Our New AspenRealLife Podcast on RadioCMC Well … our media kit has been designed, thanks to the amazing Max Inc, and our new Marketing and Sales Rep is hitting the streets getting the word out about all of our incredible multi-media platforms to help spread the word of local and national businesses. And as the other mountain media outlets catch on that social … Continue reading Welcome to Our New AspenRealLife Podcast on RadioCMC
Written by Guest Blogger: Isabella Reynolds Turning 18 in Aspen “Dad, I want to go to Aspen for my birthday.” The facial expression I received in response was essentially what you’d expect from the father of a seventeen-year-old daughter that had never been west of New York. It was August, and I had just come home to Connecticut after living with my grandmother in Cape … Continue reading Turning 18 in Aspen
Chapter Five: Three Sisters It is when I am in nature where suddenly a feeling of total elation passes over my being and I recognize what that feeling represents, memories from times in my chidhood where I was completely one with nature as it beckoned me in to play and get lost in my imagination. The memories are of times spent with my sisters, Melanie and Michele, playing in the woods … Continue reading Chapter Five: Three Sisters
Chapter Four: All About Harold My father, Harold Melvin Wernick, was born in 1917 and lived through two wars, as well as the great depression. A tall and sporty man with a shark grin and a mischievous twinkle in his baby blues, he was single into his forties and had a treasure chest filled with photographs telling tales of his bachelor life. From skiing in Switzerland with one gorgeous woman, and sailing in the … Continue reading Chapter Four: All About Harold
Chapter Three: Living in a Fairy Tale My childhood was its own fairytale. Yes, it’s true, I grew up in a fairytale within a fairytale. My two sisters and I grew up in Massachusetts in a white house set up high on a hill. A white picket fence enclosing our mother’s wonderfully British bright and cheery hand-planted gardens. She was always in the garden with … Continue reading Chapter Three: Living in a Fairy Tale
I had to sheepishly apologize to the crew for moving in before they were ready for us. I couldn’t stand to live in our tiny condo anymore. Two years was enough. I agree that living in small areas keeps the family closer together but Im not convinced this was healthy for our particular family. Continue reading Chapter Two: Our Dream House
The first Chapter – Looking Back on AspenRealLife It was summer of 2010 when my eyes opened, slowly focussing in on black storm clouds rolling in, threatening well needed rain. As the shadows were cast over Goldie & Kurt’s ranch land and the elk and packs of coyotes who frequently grazed and played in our backyard, I slid down deeper under our down-filled comforter and rolled on top of my very own electric furnace, digging my nose into his … Continue reading The First Chapter – Looking Back on AspenRealLife
The Forgotten Season To live in a mountain town is to be bound to the change of the seasons. November snows invigorate the powder hounds as the sound of clicking ski boots return, and May thaws once again fills the rivers with rushing water and the trees with bright, green leaves. Each season complements one another in the duality of Aspen’s Ying and Yang. The … Continue reading The Forgotten Season
Wait…What Day is It???? TGIF Well we may be expecting a little rain through Sunday but since when does that ever stop us? According to Weather.Com the future looks pretty bright with sun and temps in the 50’s for most of the week (of course…we all know that can change in a second). So wrap up in layers, grab your friends, grab your kids and get … Continue reading Wait…What Day is It????
Getting Fixed in Aspen In an effort to find a whole body wellness program, I found Denise Searle, Owner of The Fix and The Art of Fitness, and have committed to working with her twice a week in both her Pilates Studio and her Body Therapy studio to “Repair, Restore and Revive” my body which is a bit of a mess at the moment from a few … Continue reading Pilates and Cryotherapy in Aspen
This afternoon I received a FB msg, as I often do, asking if I would spread the word about Dietrich Minor, a native to Carbondale who was robbed and shot Monday evening in downtown Nashville while on his way to a friend’s house. You can read the news article here in The Tennessean. Please keep Dietrich in your thoughts, he has had a few surgeries and there have … Continue reading Dietrich Minor: A Shooting Where We Can Help
Tibetan Monks in Aspen It is an incredible site to see when the Tibetan Monks come to Aspen and blend in with our culture, visiting our schools and holding personal and business blessing sessions. The Gaden Shartse Dokhang Monastery [su_box title=”The Monks of Gaden Shartse Monastery”]The Monks of the Gaden Shartse Dokhang Monastery come to the U.S. with the blessing of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to share their culture, … Continue reading Tibetan Monks in Aspen
“When I think about the things that we’ve been through, I know just one thing is true, life is better with you!”. Happy 15th Anniversary to my hubbie. Continue reading Happy BIG Birthday Baddy!
Finding Our Locals at the Labor Day Jazz Aspen Experience Whenever we work an event, it is always our goal to zero in on the locals that have managed to get away from the rigmarole of their lives to enjoy a little play time (yes, we mountain folk also need our escapes). It’s not always easy though, capturing these elusive locals. Most of them prefer to be incognito, … Continue reading Finding Our Locals at the Labor Day Jazz Aspen Experience
BLK MKT in Aspen For we locals, it’s not cheap shopping in Aspen, but when we do decide to spend our hard-earned money we make sure to support our locally owned boutique stores. Another new concept that we keep on the look out for are the pop-up stores that appear, and disappear, usually leaving us want for more. When contributing writer, Rob Hollis, discovered that Sammy Steen and Mike Delaney of … Continue reading BLK MKT in Aspen
Affordable Yoga & Meditation Classes Every year at this time we are fortunate to receive the teachings, healings, and blessings of visiting Tibetan monks. This year, since I now live in Aspen, I was determined to attend the daily morning meditations at the Aspen Chapel with the Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery brought here by Lexie Potamkin, a human rights activist and former vice president of the International League … Continue reading Affordable Yoga & Meditation Classes
Carbondale, Aspen’s Real World Relative The choice to live in a place as unrepentantly gorgeous as the Roaring Fork Valley likely seems to be a rather straightforward one for anyone who has been lucky enough to visit. Gorgeous, slanting mountains set an epic scene for skiers, mountain bikers, fishers, drinkers, all like minded in their desire to spend more time outside than in. Yet, what … Continue reading Carbondale, Aspen’s Real World Relative
[su_heading]Delving Deeper into Meditation with Thomas Droge[/su_heading] Taking Taoist Insight and Five Element meditation classes with Thomas Droge and interviewing him live on our Facebook feed afterwards helped me to delve deeper into the intellectualization of meditation during Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016. As our conversation unfolded it was apparent that Thomas Droge has a very intellectual mind that breaks down meditation both scientifically and physically. A practitioner of Qi Gong, Tai Ji … Continue reading Delving Deeper into Meditation with Thomas Droge
[su_heading]An Interview with MC YOGI[/su_heading] I had heard MC YOGI’s music before and downloaded it to my yoga practice playlist. His voice was soft and soothing and his music made you feel light-hearted and happy, so it really was a pleasure to practice yoga in the first row of his yoga class with Amanda Giacomini and DJ Drez in “The Nest by Yoganonymous” and hear him sing during Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass … Continue reading An Interview with MC YOGI
An Interview with Eoin Finn at Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass I’d like to thank Eoin Finn for helping to dissolve my shyness and willingness to stay insular while in yoga practice, and insight me to throw all inhibitions to the wind in his blacklight “Yogi Rockstar Classic Rock Vinyasa Flow” class during Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016. In 1999 Eoin founded Blissology, a yoga system that mines for the source of love inside of all … Continue reading An Interview with Eoin Finn at Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass
A Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016 Recap Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass always looked intriguing to me but as someone who is more partial to practicing yoga and meditation in my own space – without having to get touchy feely with strangers (sorry, it’s my East Coast/British genetic structure), I have always been a bit reluctant to purchase that ticket. This year though, master teacher, Rod Stryker, was going to be there. This … Continue reading A Wanderlust Aspen-Snowmass 2016 Recap
An Interview with Rod Stryker If you have been reading AspenRealLife you will know that I left my blog after nine years to work for a digital marketing firm, at a time when my analytics were strong with over 14K unique visits a month. Having never marketed the site before, as passionate as I was about writing inspirational stories I had absolutely no desire to become an advertiser, I was all about … Continue reading An Interview with Rod Stryker
[su_heading]How to Make Money While Retaining Freedom[/su_heading] An interview with local Aspenite, Dr. Ryan Moriarty, PhD, CEO and Founder of LOLSpots, an audience development network and quality traffic source for pop culture, humor, and entertainment sites, brought insight to my burning question of how to make money while retaining freedom. And now, with AspenRealLife blowing up “for reals” because I am sticking to my dream of working on … Continue reading How to Make Money While Retaining Freedom
[su_heading size=”28″]Youngest Certified Female Yoga Instructor[/su_heading] Jaysea DeVoe, a Manduka® Ambassador, is the youngest certified female yoga instructor in the U.S. and she is also a Manduka Ambassador. I happened to meet her while in Mexico and I interviewed her so that she could help me with my Manduka product review and tell me why we love Manduka Yoga Mats. She strolled in, her sun-bleached hair … Continue reading Youngest Certified Female Yoga Instructor
How do parents get release? It is a real psychological dilemma. Continue reading Are All Mothers Superheroes?
[su_heading size=”28″]Imagining Life Without Children[/su_heading] When people ask me if I love having children my answer is always conflicted. Honestly, I love having children. It is my vocation, my life, it is what I signed up for. There would be no magic for me without my children showing me the world through their eyes and helping me to understand the value of nature to a … Continue reading Imagining Life Without Children
How often do we find that connection with another person that happens out of nowhere and lasts forever? This happened to me on the corner of 61st and Madison while in New York City. Continue reading Finding Talent on the Streets of New York City
[su_heading]Living Life to the Fullest[/su_heading] As many of you know, these past nine months have been devoted to being true to myself and my dreams of sharing the local’s perspective on living in Aspen. In order to do this, I have tried my best to stay committed and live each moment as honestly and completely as possible. Over the weekend I attended a memorial service for Ryan Jennings in Carbondale, … Continue reading Living Life to the Fullest
[su_heading] Living and Breathing Freestyle Skiing [/su_heading] With the Winter X-Games rapidly approaching, January 28-31, 2016, we are going to be introducing to you our local badasses of whom we respect and admire, beginning with our beloved local teenagers who have been living and breathing freestyle skiing all of their short 16+ years. Meet Joey Lang, Cassidy Jarrell and Keenan McIntyre, three boys who by … Continue reading Living and Breathing Freestyle Skiing
Bringing spirituality and meaning to our childrens lives can be stressful over the holidays with our mixed marriage. Continue reading Living in Paradise in a Mixed Marriage
[su_heading size=”18″]Seeing Aspen Through a Teenager’s Eyes [/su_heading] It has been a long time since I have actually written about the children of Aspen Real Life, as soon as the older ones turned 14, all bets were off. They went from take me, film me, let me see, to MOOOOOMMMMMMMM! Now they get soooo pissed off if they are remotely aware that I am writing about them … Continue reading Seeing Aspen Through a Teenager’s Eyes
What you have no time for sex with your spouse? Time to change the scene and add some spice into your life. Life is to short for drudgery. Continue reading Have Sex With Your Spouse
If you haven’t been living this way already, it’s time to start letting go and live for the moment…even if the consequences may make you blush. Continue reading A Funny Story About Wanting Sex
There is a quiet buzz of concern one can hear if one listens carefully enough to the conversations of many parents in our valley regarding the health of our youth. Last year, while on the board for the Valley Partnership for Drug Prevention I tried to start a movement along with the Executive Director, Michael Connolly. We began a Parent to Parent Alliance to … Continue reading Top Ten Ways to Help Keep Your Teen Safe
As I sat at the bar I imagined what it would be like to still be single and living in New York City. When an attractive young man sat down alone right next to me I thought about…. Continue reading Fantasies of a Mother
[su_heading]A Family Stay At A Colorado Dude Ranch[/su_heading] When I was a little ten year old rag-a-muffin of a girl my parents took my two sisters and I on a trip to Colorado. Part of the trip included a stay at The C Lazy U Guest Ranch & Resort, and this is where I fell in love with Colorado and little cowboys, swearing that one day I would … Continue reading A Family Stay At A Colorado Dude Ranch
[su_heading size=”18″]Can True Love Survive Children[/su_heading] Everybody wants to know how to find that true love, but what about finding it and keeping the love while raising children? So far, Baddy and my love has endured the true test of time, from building and then losing a dream house together, to the trials and tribulations of raising boys in “Paradise”. After watching writer Mandy Len … Continue reading Can True Love Survive Children
When I think back, he was always there in my imagination, the man I would fall in love with one day. A tall, dark and handsome cowboy version of a straight Carey Grant with a chiseled jaw and smiling eyes. My search for the literal man of my dreams began well before my father, whose life was about to be extinguished by Melanoma Cancer, set … Continue reading Chapter 1: Morphine Drip
Anybody who has moved understands the emotional and physical distress it causes, and here we are possibly about to do it again! Anybody want a home on a gorgeous lot in Basalt, Colorado? Continue reading Moving From Old Snowmass to Basalt, Colorado
I’m thinking it would be far easier to live with a Buddhist philosophy if we didn’t live in Western society. So, how to live peacefully in a fast paced environment? Don’t get stuck in a rut. Continue reading Is it Possible to Live in the Moment?
Ever eat a raw meal and have dreams about being pregnant? I did. Continue reading A High Prana Food Dream
[su_heading size=”18″]College/Career Counseling for Students[/su_heading] I would like to introduce you to Marilyn Seltzer, a friend and Career Coach in the Aspen schools. Marilyn is passionate about helping to guide high school students towards a prosperous and happy future. [su_heading size=”18″]A cool new approach to introducing teens to the world of work and their potential for impact.[/su_heading] I believe in the unique power of all … Continue reading College/Career Counseling for Students
Nobody told you how difficult it would be raising children, or if they did you may feel that you missed the main message. The ultimate question is, is it all worth it? Continue reading Is Being a Parent a Thankless Job, or a Rewarding One?
As a live-in childcare provider, an Au Pair provides a unique cultural exchange experience and offers unmatched convenience for a family seeking childcare. Continue reading A Different Kind of Nanny in Aspen
So…how was your summer? Are you sad that your kids are back in school? I’m not! Continue reading Living in Basalt, Colorado
2015 results from surveys given to Aspen High School students reveal that it is time for parents to take their power back. Continue reading Talking to our Children About Drug Use
As working parents we all need to quiet the noise so that we can find the peace and happiness we need to parent better. Continue reading Connecting with My Spiritual Side
An annual summer trip to Nantucket no longer retains the innocence of days gone by. Continue reading Rid Yourself Of Fear
Another vacation spent with Grandma on the island of Nantucket, Mass has given me a chance to unwind and recharge. But I’m not ready to come home. Continue reading From Aspen to Nantucket
[su_heading size=”18″]Why Children Need Grandparents[/su_heading] It all changed a few summers ago when wanting our then 13 year old to experience the deliciousness of no plans or schedules after all the stresses that school brings, we decided to allow him to truly enjoy long languid days spent hanging with friends. BIG MISTAKE! This is when his desire to completely sever any and all parenting began … Continue reading Why Children Need Grandparents
Basalt may be sleepy but if you catch it on the right night you may find yourself listening to poetry quoted to you by a drunk cowboy. Continue reading Cowboy Poetry Slurred
An unexpected adventure happened yesterday when I went on a bike ride with a friend along the back roads of Old Snowmass. Continue reading Saved by a Cowboy
[su_heading size=”18″]Parenting As We Go Along[/su_heading] Let’s face it, as beautiful and rewarding as it can be to be a parent it can also bite so hard that it wakes you up at 3am in a cold sweat from revealed truths marred by naivety while in a waking state. First and foremost they are our children. We made them, so we think we know … Continue reading Parenting As We Go Along
Learning how to parent your child with greater ease based on ancient philosophy. Continue reading The Taoist Approach to Parenting
Since it has taken me fifteen years to get to where I am today with my three boys, I thought I might offer you short cuts to save you the time and energy. Continue reading Did Parenting Classes Work For You?
Raising a teen in the legalized marijuana state of Colorado isn’t easy, but somebody’s gotta do it! Continue reading Raising Teens in a Legalized Marijuana State
How wonderful it is to receive birthday wishes from all over the world. I am a very lucky girl and so appreciative of all of your love! Thank you for being a friend!!! Continue reading Living in a Community Extends Life
Note to self: don’t have six shots of tequila and then go to a benefit with a live and silent auction. It has trouble written all over it. What’s a girl to do? Continue reading Going Cowboy on Yeager with the Aspen Valley Land Trust
I have been asked many questions about Aspen; “What should I wear there?”, “How will we eat if it is so expensive?”, “Why would I want to visit Aspen?” and my answers to all of these questions are, “Just come as you are and you will see that Aspen is a ski town first and foremost where the fashion is predominantly jeans and workout clothes. Sure an occasional diamond ring can be a bit distracting, and stunning BTW, and the fur comes out in the wintertime, mostly when it’s freezing but is that any reason to not visit? I should say not!” Continue reading Come Visit Aspen, We Don’t Bite!
[su_heading size=”18″]What to do with your kids on a snow day[/su_heading] Yesterday I got the call at 6:00am that it was a snow day and there would be no school. Michele was away watching Devon ski race in the Junior Olympics and Nikki and India were staying with us. I was relieved that I got the call before I made all five lunches. It is … Continue reading What to Do with your Kids on a Snow Day?
[su_heading size=”18″]Trying to Survive Without Sleep[/su_heading] Last night I skinned up Buttermilk with my fellow Monday evening companions. We gathered in the parking lot as we put our skins on our skis and stuffed our packs with lights and warm clothes for the descent. The conversation immediately went to how we were all so tired and needed to gather our energy together to hike 2,030 … Continue reading Trying to Survive Without Sleep
This post is one example of what I mean on my business card when I say “twisted travel”. I never know who I am going to meet when I walk out my front door and so I am always prepared with video camera in my pocket.
And this is what happened to me the other day when I unexpectedly met a new kind of celebrity, The Aspen Snowmass kind and I can assure you that I will be back to visit them again! Continue reading The Ken Cole Show: Local Celebrities
So, here I am with a thirteen year old boy and two other’s following in his footsteps, and I can tell you that my husband and I are NOT prepared. So what to do? Continue reading Not All Mountain Kids Want to Ski Everyday
[su_heading size=”18″]A Mommy Gangsta Rapper[/su_heading] A Mother’s Rap Song Why is life so never about me? I take the burden so heavily It used to be so indispensably Only about my individuality But love can be so slippery It’s all about give me, get me, do for me How did I assume this role of a lesser degree? But I am going to change all … Continue reading A Mommy Gangsta Rapper
In this new year, let’s all pay it forward! Continue reading An Enormous Cheers to You on New Years
Aspen Real Life is four years old, gives back to the community and has put in over 10,000 hours. It’s Time! Continue reading When Your Blog Takes Off
I’m into it, really I am. I love the connection to food and cooking and family unity, but every year I have to remind myself what all the hype is about. Continue reading Why do we Celebrate Thanksgiving?
At four o’clock in the morning, I’m ready to be a bit more raw and confess that this blogging business hasn’t been easy but things are happening. Continue reading Aspen Blogger Tells Her Story
What’s it like being the mommy of a… “mommy blogger”? My mother tells all. Continue reading The Mother of a Mommy Blogger
I feel as if I’ve been run over by a truck from the stress of the move, so what do I do now? Continue reading Being Fit in Aspen
