On Your Marks, Get Set.......BAKE! with Mini Pear Pies

I am completely in love with the new PBS program 'The Great British Baking Show'. Better than Downton Abbey, better than Doctor Who. It's true, this is not an exaggeration. Personally, I don't understand my fascination with this show. Except for the rare episode of Ina Garten, I do not even watch Food TV. Unlike such shows as 'Cupcake Wars' and the 'Next Food Network Star'—where the contestants are cutthroats and catty—these Brits are actually quite helpful and kind to one another. There's also no prize for the eventual winner, except bragging rights. Image that.

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas 2014 Schedule

It's that time of year again. The 2014 Holiday Season is upon us, can you believe it? The older I get the faster time flies. It seems like I just took down our 2013 Christmas decorations. 

Has anyone watched a Christmas movie or television program yet? Well, I have! The Hallmark Channel started playing Christmas movies 24/7 on October 31. Yes, on Halloween. And yes, I watched one as soon as they started running them that night.

As much as I love watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel—and will continue to do so—I have a fondness for the Christmas movies and shows that the ABC Family Channel starts running on December 1. The ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas not only schedules fun family movies but those awesome Christmas cartoons we all grew up on. Rudolph, the Grinch and Frosty, I love them all!

Get your Christmas shopping finished early and celebrate the season with some much needed downtime—sitting in front of the fire with your kids, a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of popcorn watching a family favorite Christmas movie! Enjoy the season my sweet friends!

10 Easy Tricks That Can Help Prevent The Common Cold and Flu

I have four doctor's appointments today. Yes my friends, you read that correctly. I am blessed to have good health, even though I have a very bad back. Today's visits are just preventative care. For all of you young folks out there, you most likely will think these are a waste of time. I used to think the same thing. But then you get older. One of my visits is with my OB/GYN, a wonderful man. The only man, other than my husband, that's seen me naked — I'd like to keep it that way. I was thinking how odd it is that I started seeing him a few months before I married 28 years ago. I continued seeing him through the birth of my children, then I didn't see him again until just a few years ago. Pregnancies and menopause — that poor man has seen me at my hormonal worst! Then there's my primary care physician, dermatologist, and I'm getting my yearly mammogram today as well. Have you ladies had the girls checked out this year?? It's never too early to start this yearly habit.