Grace, Gratitude and Grit

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher It’s Turkey Day, the official kick-off to the holiday hustle.  This year, I decided to take the time to make a list, and check it twice, of the things I am most thankful for this 60th Thanksgiving of mine.  Here’s the run down of what made it to the top of my...

Frugal Fabulousness

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher The holiday hustle is already in full swing – and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! But never fear because your girl is tackling gift giving like a pro, and more importantly, on a budget. Now I am a bargain queen always up for a good deal. I will go anywhere, anytime. I...

Sparkling, Sipping and Creating a Legendary Legacy: Richmond’s Ostera Family

A staple in the Richmond, Texas business community for over 25 years, Vangie and Vince Ostera have created yet another unique venture that is providing customers with the ultimate environment to enjoy hand-crafted cocktails, fresh food and an abundance of distinct retail options – all in a comfortable,...

Selecting Shade

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Now that I am close to catching my breath due to all the comings and goings of the “Birthday Quarter,” which I sincerely doubt I can make it another seven weeks as four weeks have just about done me in, I have been reminiscing about my time in the Big Apple.  I have...

Scary Sixty

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher For several years now, folks have consistently used a singular word to describe me.  It’s happened at different times, at different places, by different folks – including my babies – and I’m pretty sure I feel a certain kind of way about it. My initial response...

“Birthday Quarter” Blues

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Four weeks into my “Birthday Quarter,” it got real.  After a raucous, rambunctious and real night of revelry, my entire body quit. Now I know what you’re thinking – hangover.  I’m not certain exactly what a hangover entails since I have not had this particular...

The “Birthday Quarter” Stats

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher This week marked the day, the actual birthday – the day the deed was done 60 years ago – associated with the official “Birthday Quarter.”  Since it is football season, and it’s all about the numbers, here are the stats for the first 15 days of the “Birthday...

Basic Birthday

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher On a recent mad dash to the airport in keeping with the “Birthday Quarter” shenanigans, I arrived just in time for my flight – thank you Shay! – only to discover that Southwest Airlines had profiled me.  They deemed me as “basic” per the boarding pass that...

The Birthday Quarter

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher In just a few short days, I’ll reach a milestone – my 60th birthday.  I can’t even fathom that I’m going to have a “six” in front of my age.  How did that happen?  I mean, I had a “two” in front of my age when I married Mr. Kaminski just last year. ...

White Woes: A Recipe for Disaster

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I understand that wearing white is in vogue.  It’s classic, crisp.  It’s a clean look.  Well, not now that’s it past Labor Day.  Mother would still fuss at me if she saw me in a white ensemble post Labor Day. I personally own white jeans.  Well, I don’t...

Critter Chaos

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Now that I’m firmly planted in Green Acres, let me just say that tending to animals that you do not own or have any responsibility for is a full-time job. My office in its bucolic setting is surrounded by windows.  That’s a great thing – natural light and all.  I...

Fast, Fireball & Frose’

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Contrary to popular belief – and math – I am not old.  At least that’s what the folks in my head say, and I tend to believe them.  However, a recent out-of-town jaunt with a quick turnaround, nighttime antics, a post adventure trip the very next day and a frose’...

The Power of Positivity

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher I personally believe the mind is a powerful tool.  Sure, I’m not the brightest bulb on the shelf, but I strongly feel that aligning your mindset with your goals aids in achieving them.  After all, if you walk around on the daily thinking negative thoughts, a cloud of...

Bless Your Heart?

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher Now that I reside in rural Texas on a permanent basis, it has been brought to my attention that apparently, I am bilingual.  Now I’ve always felt I had a significant grasp on the King’s English, but there’s an additional form of our beloved idiom that it seems I...

Top 10 Things I Absolutely Will Not Do

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher After spending nearly six decades on this planet, there are just some things I absolutely will not do.  There’s a lot of “been there, done that,” and frankly, I’m just not having it.  And, at this point, there’s really no use trying to change my mind.  It’s...