Dear Plebes of the House of Brown, I know it has taken me a bit of time to grow into my role in your home, but I feel I am now ready to assume my place on the Throne(s) of the House of Brown. Henceforth you will refer to me as Queen Stella. While the … More Her Highness Ascends

Photo taken in Sydney Harbor, March 10, 2007 Several years ago I go to spend 10 days in Sydney, Australia, with one of my closest friends. I still marvel at how everything worked perfectly together to allow that to happen. It was a truly incredible trip. The day we arrived in Sydney we passed through … More Naked and Brave

The sun is shining. My mind is racing. And yet I sit here, cursor endlessly blinking. Taunting me really. Blink. Blink. Blink. So many possibilities and ideas, yet none of them seem to want to be committed to this blank Word document. When this happens I am eternally grateful that I love to cook and … More When All Else Fails – Cookies

Anyone that knows me knows I love coffee. It’s not a sweet and simple, puppy type of love. Instead, it’s the big, major, obsessive, possibly a little too dependent upon, kind of love. It’s the magical fluid that makes mornings tolerable. It’s the substance that jumpstarts my creativity. The elixir that can bring joy to … More The Fellowship of the (Coffee) Bean

It’s an absolutely gorgeous day. I would love nothing more than to sit in my backyard, sip on a cold beverage and revel in the gloriousness that is the last few days of spring in North Texas. Unfortunately, my sinuses and spring don’t get along, so I’m inside with Stella and Boomhauer. The pups are … More The Sunny Side of the Street

“If we will jump, we just might have a beautiful ride which stretches out in front of us.  The ride might be better and more beautiful than we could ever have imagined.” -Andrea Daggett, The Cross Eyed Blog Over the weekend I was given the opportunity to face a long held fear head on, the fear … More Joy in the Leap

Today is a very important day in our household. It’s the 20th of April. 4/20. Also known as Boomhauer’s birthday. What, you thought I meant something else? Anyhoo, it was four years ago that this little white fluff ball graced the world with his presence. Originally named Bolt, Boomhauer joined our clan a couple of … More Boomhauer, Snoop & The Devil’s Lettuce

It’s Monday. And I usually have something new to post on Mondays. Here it is 7:30 pm and I’ve got nothing. NOTHING. Today has been one of those best laid plans kind of days. You know, the one where you have all these grandiose plans, then reality strikes and things go to HE-Double-Hockey-Sticks. Maybe you … More The Best Laid Plans

It’s National Puppy Day. In celebration I have written a thank you note. Dear Stella & Boomhauer, Thank you for the joy you bring every day. Thank you for the warm snuggles on cold days. Thank you for exuberantly greeting me each time I come home. Thank you for circling back to offer thanks after … More Happy National Puppy Day

When my kids were three and five, I embarked on an adventure with my friend and her two kids, aged four and five. I had driven from Texas to California with my kids and invited my friend and her boys to join us in Cali, enjoy a couple of theme parks and then drive home … More The Touching Stone