My heart was racing and my legs felt a little shaky as I raised the 20-gauge shotgun to my cheek and stared down the barrel. I hollered, “pull!” and instantly a neon orange clay rocketed into the air. I aimed. I fired. I missed. While I may have missed that first, second, and third clay (fourth time’s a charm?), what I hadn’t missed was the fact that this little getaway at a place in Georgia called Barnsley Resort was unlike any other I’d experienced before. Upon stepping ont

Most of us have heard it all our lives, “You are what you eat”. Well, if what you most want to be (and feel and look) is young, here’s good news. New research shows that a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, and seafood can help you look and feel younger, and keep you living longer. Try incorporating these anti-aging foods into your diet. 1. BLUEBERRIES Because they’re filled with phytochemicals, blueberries help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress on the body, helpin

Ten years ago, Pastor Mike Ashcroft issued his church a challenge: forget the resolutions and focus on one word. The sermon caught fire, became a movement, and ultimately resulted in the book, called My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word. Ashcroft says the premise is simple: Lose the long list of resolutions- all your sweeping promises to change-and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything. Choose just one word that represents what

Most kids spend nearly 1,500 hours in school each year. As parents, there are a lot of things we can do to assure that time is well spent. GET THEM TALKING If your kids are like most, it can be hard to get them to talk about their school day. Some kids are more reluctant than others. But most can be coaxed to open up, with parenting tips like these. 1. Follow Their Lead Some kids aren’t ready to talk immediately after school, but will open up just fine once they’ve had time t

Many of the best New Year’s resolutions are never followed through on. Life offers a lot of resistance when we try to change deeply ingrained habits. We want to improve ourselves for the benefit of those we love, but it’s difficult when we don’t feel well or lack energy. That’s why the most important thing you can do in life is to take good care of yourself. That sounds awfully selfish, doesn’t it? If you’ve flown on a major commercial airline in the past half-century, you’re

CURLED LASHES ON THE GO Want to make your eyes pop with a capital P? Use the Go Curl Pocket Curler by Japonesque in the morning and anytime during the day when your lashes need a little pick-me-up. This eyelash curler is the perfect travel size, and fits snugly in the palm of your hand. You can find it online or at beauty stores such as Ulta Beauty. bath and beauty to makeup. I’ve been especially obsessed with their Coconut & Hibiscus lip balm for dry or chapped lips. Product

The sea plays a focal role in Ashley Maddox’s home in Cape Town— and not only because it features a 180-degree view of the ocean. Each of the upstairs rooms has been painted to match the spectrum of blues and greens seen in the sea. “When we bought the house, it was all white everywhere—very stark with big, white, shabby-chic couches. You can create so much personality just with color,” says Ashley. The cerulean shade in the couple’s bedroom was inspired by a studio visit to

A simple directive painted in black on a small tin background framed in wood sits on my shelf, shouting a much needed reminder. Oh, joy, you have been so elusive. Born with a melancholy personality and an over-analytical mind, true joy has never come easy for me. While some enter the world more carefree and contented, all of us struggle to remain joyful at all times. Yet we are instructed to do so. Practicing Christians often lament to know God’s will, thinking it is some eth