As a child, I had some of the greatest homemade Halloween costumes ever made, to the envy of most of my friends. Of course, that was because my mother was a fantastic seamstress that could whip together Raggedy Ann, angels, devils, or mermaid costumes within a few days.

Living on the edge of the Pan-Pacific plate, I’m often reminded why insurance is so important – especially home insurance – when the “big one” hits; your entire abode and belongs could possibly be damaged.

Warning: This is really not finance related today. Unless you can make a connection between your name and possible career potential. That’s a stretch, but how many lawyers have you known with the name of Candy or Roxy?

I confess, I have an obsession with mason jars. I use them for storage, glassware, and gift giving. With a little help from Pinterest, I’ve entered a world of never ending mason jar ideas.

Have you ever noticed that there are always one or two houses in every neighborhood that stand out from the rest? Somehow, they seem calm and welcoming when you see them from the street, and make you want to get to know the people who live there.