If you’re lucky enough to still have a grandmother (or if you’re Greek–a yaya) don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the first annual Make Your Grandmother Smile Day with her on September 11! So many of my most cherished memories growing up revolve around my yaya, who was also an important source of […]

The vital role of grandmothers is more important than ever in today’s busy families. These wise, wonderful women who play an essential role in the care, safety, and education of our families, hold a special place in our hearts. In honor of all the Awesome Abuelas, Outrageous Omas, No-Nonsense Nonnas, and Young-at-Heart Yayas, Mayor Sylvester […]

Yaya’s Big Black Purse is featured in Voyage Houston Magazine this month! I’m happy and honored to be included in their Houston’s Most Inspiring Stories section. (Yaya would be proud.) I love how this publication supports and showcases local businesses and artists. Click on the link below to learn what inspired the idea for my […]

Yaya’s Big Black Purse made its big debut on the Pinch of Basile Show! A huge thank you to the hilarious and talented comedian, Basile, and his co-hosts for allowing me to share my story. It was such a fun night! Click on this link to watch the interview, and follow Basile at Basile TheComedian […]

A huge thank you to Shout Out HTX Magazine for allowing me to share my story! I love what this publication does to recognize and promote small local businesses and independent creatives. Read the feature they did on Tassie Types to find out where I get my inspiration. And thank you to my family and […]

“Suddenly, I was more than a middle-aged mom with a Mac. I wasn’t just full of wit. I was a writer. What a novel idea!” I’m so excited to be included in the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul book, Age is Just a Number! My story, “Erma and the Bag Lady,” is about an […]

“It occurred to me we’d never had the Santa talk. But if we had, I’d have told him that Santa was love. And you should never stop believing in love.” Christmas came early this year! I’m so excited to have my story, “You Better Believe It,” published in the ‘Tis the Season: A Holiday Anthology […]

All you disco queens and kings will be happy to know my short story, “Taking the Lead,” made it to the finals in the Writer’s Digest Your Story Contest. Out of 120 entries, my little tale about taking disco dance lessons in junior high was one of the top five chosen by the editors. Now […]

The Thanksgiving after my grandmother passed away, my family was too chicken to tackle a turkey. Yaya barely weighed more than a Butterball herself, yet she spent days preparing feasts for us, which we would gobble up before she even had time to sit down. In our Greek family, food was love, and Yaya loved […]

Summer officially arrived the day my daughter, Kristina, came home from college dragging a semester’s worth of dirty clothes behind her. She wanted home cooked meals and movie marathons on the sofa, soul searching conversations and the chance to sleep late in her childhood room. It was also the same day my husband went out […]