Today is International Women’s Day and I’ve been thinking about how women have had to step up and compete. I personally am uncomfortable with competition. When I’m playing tennis, for instance, I just want to have fun and get exercise; I like to win,… read more

Today, I’m welcoming a post by Jason Lewis of StrongWell. Jason is the primary caretaker for his mom and a personal trainer specializing in helping the senior population. He says “I spend a lot of time thinking about senior health. Naturally, as a pe… read more

Today marks the first anniversary of my dog Zoey’s death—and, ironically, the sixth anniversary of my mother’s death. While I miss my mom (she was an unforgettable character), I am a wreck over my dog. Dying well is one of the Global Wellness Institu… read more

As a health coach and a lifetime Weight Watchers
member (although perpetually 10 lbs. over my goal weight), I was interested to see how their rebranding as “WW: Wellness that Works” was playing out. The goal is to continue to help people lose weight,… read more

One of the highlights of my year as a health and nutrition journalist is attending the Global Wellness Summit Press Event in New York City in January. It’s sponsored by the Global Wellness Institute, which is the leading research and educational reso… read more

I was gratified to find recently that my book Craft to Heal was selected as one of the five craft therapy books to read on Psychcentral.com. It appears on the Crafting to Heal with Kathryn Vercillo blog. It’s great to see the message of the therapeuti… read more

Winter is coming (and I don’t just mean on Game of Thrones!). Check out this guest post by writer Harper Reid from Auckland, New Zealand for tips on how to stay cold-free. Winter – the season of watching the snow fall from your cozy position on the co… read more

The Zentangle® Drawing Method is a structured drawing technique that is relaxing and fun—it’s so absorbing, it pushes away your anxieties and worries! It doesn’t require artistic experience, so it is accessible to all. The technique looks complicated… read more

The holiday season has everyone in gift-mode, and with that, many tend to consider surprising their loved ones with a pet. The idea might be brilliant in theory, but it’s important to take several factors into consideration to prepare the recipient f… read more

GUEST POST BY Paul Moore, Woodworkboss.com The art of woodworking has been around for decades. This pastime can produce beautiful results if the person is skilled, and more and more people are getting interested again. You can make a variety of project… read more

I recently came across Scrapbook.com, a website dedicated to the benefits and joys of making and crafting. According to Sarah Richards, a member of their content team, “We help empower people to create with their hands by providing inspiration, resea… read more

For most of my life, I was no fan of Pablo Picasso’s. I just didn’t get what he was trying to do with his art. But then I took an art history class at Gateway Community College in New Haven, Connecticut run by a sometime Yale professor who loved art… read more

I recently visited the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It’s always a pleasure to view its collection of van Goghs (including his very, very famous “The Starry Night”), Monets, Cezannes and Picassos. I also enjoy the more contemporary Andy Warh… read more

A visit to New York City always conjures up visions of shows on Broadway, the Empire State Building, Battery Park and Rockefeller Center. But New York is home to some beautiful gardens, too, and I’m not just talking about Central Park in Manhattan an… read more

I was lucky enough this spring to go on a Viking River Cruise of the Rhine with a group of other journalists. What a convenient and relaxing way to see Europe! Read my guest post on Irene Levine’s More Time to Travel website. read more

I LOVE cheese, so I was happy to read the following well-researched blog post from writer Jen Miller: 15 Health Benefits of Cheese, According to Science. For the full article, including links to the references she cites below and 8 recipes, go to Jen… read more

Forget wine and food pairings (or even beer and food). That’s old school. The newest trend is pairing delectable foods with aromatic tea blends, which deliver both taste and health benefits. For instance, if you’re a diehard coffee drinker, Dr. Frank… read more

Tea is growing in popularity in the United States—from the warming teas we love in winter, to the refreshing ice teas we crave in summer and the blended concoctions in between. So it’s time we all learned more about tea and its health benefits, which… read more

What happens when you try on a new life and realize it’s a mistake? It is the first day of graduate school in the Fiber Arts Department at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and I am having a panic attack. I feel sick to my stomach, dizzy, wa… read more

Yale researchers have found that reading a book for 30 minutes a day can add about 2 years to your life. In a study published in Social Science & Medicine last year, they surveyed 3,635 people over the age of 50 from a variety of socioeconomic and ed… read more

I’m a health and nutrition writer, but I’ve never enjoyed exercise. Oh sure, I walk with my dog and I play doubles tennis, both of which help me break the occasional sweat. And I sign up for gyms and never go to them just like most everyone else. But… read more

For all of us crafters, makers, artists—whatever we call ourselves!—March is a happy time. It’s officially recognized as National Craft Month, giving us permission to go wild with our creative pursuits. (Plus, spring is coming…which also makes us hap… read more

If you’re looking for some unique presents, I’ve got a couple of ideas that might be of help: Cross Pens. These classic pens are making a comeback with Star Wars and Marvel (Captain America, Avengers!) lines that appeal to Millennials, a line of pens… read more

If you’re looking for a way to break out of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner celebration, consider a visit to the site of the first Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. (“Plimoth” was the most commonly used spelling in th… read more

My piece “Celestial Flower” was accepted into the juried show SPUN, an innovative all-fiber exhibit, at the Nest Arts Factory in Bridgeport, CT. Show dates are September 10-October 3, 2016. The juror for the show is Dr. Linda Wolk-Simon, director and… read more

7 Reasons Why You Deserve a Spa Vacation Today Most people love being pampered, and where better to indulge than at a spa? And take note: A recent study from Thomas Jefferson University concludes that a one-week stay at a spa can launch a whole new he… read more

…to meet new clients who need a content provider (and to see Mark Hamill speak!). Here’s an infographic I’ve designed to highlight my skills. read more

I just finished up my post-baccalaureate certificate in fiber art at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. It was a magical year. Check out Fiber Art Now magazine for my article on the experience! read more

I have two articles in the Spring/Summer 2016 issue of USA Today’s Pet Life—one on crate training and the other on top puppy breeds. Plus there’s a picture of my beloved Zoey on page 8. It’s a nice publication, and this year they’re focusing exclusiv… read more

“I am [s]he and you are [s]he and we are all together.” ─Adapted from “I Am the Walrus” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney Cotton, silk, felted mulberry paper (Joomchi), silk yarn, bark, seed beads I’ve recently finished a year in the Artisanry Depar… read more

New York City beckons many of us to enjoy its sights, but it’s so vast that it’s often hard to home in on the perfect pastimes. Here are two days of ideas for the hottest things to do this summer that both kids and adults will enjoy—though be prepare… read more

A survey by 3milliondogs.com reveals that 66% of American workers would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for being allowed to bring their dog to work. Ninety-five percent of the 500+ people surveyed said they would be less stressed and 94% sa… read more

A new AT&T survey has found that 70% of smartphone users are not only texting—they’re also surfing the web, tweeting, emailing, and doing other cell-phone related things while driving. That’s pretty scary, isn’t it? It’s illegal in most states to dri… read more

The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently announced new colon cancer screening guidelines. Basically, the ACP says colonoscopy isn’t your only choice if you’re not at high risk for the disease. (Colonoscopy is required, however, if you have s… read more

Vacations are good for your health (although many of us forego them for work far too often) and spa vacations are even better: A recent study from Thomas Jefferson University concludes that a one-week stay at a spa can be a whole new health start for… read more

The latest news from Cornell Food and Brand Lab, home of innovative food psychologist Dr. Brian Wansink, is that eating an apple before grocery shopping can lead us to purchase 25% more fruits and vegetables than we normally would. According to the l… read more

Looking for a content provider? Check out my infographic resume below or via this link: infographic resume. read more

Read my latest article on alternatives to colonoscopy (yes, there are some, though you’ll still need the invasive test if anything suspicious is found on the screening test). read more

When I tell people that I went to Iceland in January, I get one of two reactions: “For God’s sake, why?” or “How cool!” So why did I seek out one of the northern-most countries at the height of winter? The Aurora Borealis, that’s why. Iceland is one o… read more

I love oatmeal cookies and have been experimenting with different additives and recipes…until my experiments yielded this delicious, semi-healthy cookie. Perfect for a winter’s day! (NOTE: If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, reduce sugar amounts a… read more

This article came through my in-box today and I thought it made some great points (especially for those of us who fret about having enough money to retire!). I’m posting it on the blog today—with permission of course. Conventional Wisdom Has Its Flaws… read more

The odds are against us: Our lives are too busy, the temptation too great and our willpower too weak to try to eat mindfully, says Brain Wansink, Ph.D., a Cornell University food psychologist and mastermind of the 100-calorie snack pack. Not only do… read more

About 300,000 books were published in the United States last year, but most of us had no time to read more than a few of them. A Huffington Post poll of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 40% had read between one and ten books in 2013, and 28% hadn’t read… read more

Great news today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is going to force food manufacturers to eliminate unhealthy trans fats from processed foods over the next few years. These fats, typically signaled by the designation “partially hydrogen… read more

We’ve all heard that our metabolisms slow with age, making it harder to lose and maintain your weight. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible: There are lots of women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are successful at managing their weight. When I used t… read more

I’m going to be teaching a class called Collaging with Intention this fall for Westport Adult Education here in Connecticut. This 2-hour workshop is designed to help you visualize your goals and express hidden emotions by accessing your creativity, w… read more

Personally, I’m not one of those people who loves to sweat. In fact, if I’m really honest, when I get my heart rate up, I just want it to go down again. I hate the gym and walking on a treadmill or taking a spinning class. I know I need to do more ca… read more