After years as Editor in Chief and Content Director at various magazines and websites, I write about a variety of topics, from parenting and health to design, real estate career, travel, and more.
What is homeowners insurance, and should you get it?
CNN Underscored reviews financial products such as credit cards and bank accounts based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through Bankrate if you apply and are approved for a policy, but our reporting is always independent and objective.
The steady rising cost of homeowners insurance can make some homeowners wonder if it’s still worth the investment, but according to experts, the short answer is yes.
Simply put, homeowners insurance protects you from paying for costly damage...
Meet the Dynamic Duos Behind 11 of Oprah’s Favorite Things
If starting your own business sounds like a massive challenge, imagine launching one with your life partner, sibling, or best friend. These entrepreneur pairs, whose products have been handpicked as some of Oprah’s Favorite Things, have found a way to sidestep common pitfalls such as communication breakdowns or power struggles, and instead have thrived as a team. The secrets to their success differ as much as their brands, styles, and backgrounds, but there is one thing these 11 pairs have in...
7 Ways to Care for Your Feet (and Why It Matters)
Most people take an average of 8,000-10,000 steps per day according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. It’s important to take care of those hard-working limbs to avoid injuries as well as foot, knee, hip, and back pain—and to keep them looking good and feeling good, too. With so much riding on your feet, every step you take makes an impact on your overall comfort, productivity, and quality of life. Podiatrist Jacqueline Sutera, DPM, owner of City Podiatry in New York City, offers ...
Meet the Women Working to Ban Menthol Cigarettes
Tasha Turner can’t remember a time in her life when her mother didn’t smoke. Once her mother’s work colleagues had introduced her to menthol cigarettes, she was hooked. “It took everything from her and us,” Turner says, recalling the effect that smoking had on her and her siblings. “She spent so much money on them, often smoking two to three packs a day.”
When Turner's mom was only 49 years old, she collapsed and spent several months on life support. “They had to bring her back a few times,” ...
Erick Millan’s Exuberant Designs Are a Testament to His Abuela’s Love for Plants and Devotion to Ritual
Growing up in Mexico, interior designer Erick Millan often visited his grandmother’s house, where the decor consisted mostly of two things: plants and handmade crafts. “My abuela, Adelina Gutierrez Salazar, loved plants so much that she called each one by a different name—Florentino, Teresita—as if they were people,” says Millan, who is known for the exuberant, pattern-friendly style he creates from his Guadalajara studio, dubbed Alma Verde (Plant Sanctuary). From guava trees to aloe vera pla...
A Seat At The Table: Latina Business Leaders Push For Diversity, Inclusion, And Representation
We talked to five corporate trailblazers who have boldly pushed for inclusion. All five have taken chances — switching industries, helming startups, and pushing their businesses to embrace new markets — to create new opportunities for themselves, their companies, and all Latinas.
Boss Ladies: Women Are Leading The Charge Towards Diversity And Inclusion
From the #MeToo movement to the social justice protests that
followed the murder of George Floyd, recent events across the
country have once again ushered in reckoning on equality that’s
giving the words “diversity and inclusion” tons of airtime. What’s
different this time is that companies are facing public pressure to
address inequalities — with a younger generation of Americans
demanding it. The following eight women of color are politicians,
CEOs, big-business executives, and activists leading the way for
inclusion, diversity, social justice, and racial equity.
“How I Finally Found A Way To Manage My Anxiety”
Now 34, Anna* has been on and off anti-anxiety medications since she was 21. By the time she met with a new physician three years ago, she felt like she had tried everything. “Every medication I took gave me terrible side effects,” she says. Headaches, nausea, sleep disturbances, low sex drive, and even full-blown panic attacks were part of Anna’s daily life. After a while, she succumbed to the idea that she had to deal with side effects if she didn’t want to have anxiety. “But as I got older...
First Lady Michelle Obama on Raising Healthy Kids
Parenting‘s Editorial Director Ana Connery sits down with First Lady Michelle Obama for a once-in-a-lifetime interview.
What if you scored an invitation to the White House? Not to tour the halls and ooh and aah at the paintings, but to sit down with the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, smart woman to smart woman? What would you ask? How would you feel? What would you wear? Take the ride with Parenting Editoria...
“My Father's Diagnosis Solved My Own Health Puzzle”
Giselle was always a daddy’s girl. An only child, she took after her father in every way. When he reached his senior years and started having serious health issues, she became his primary caregiver (they are pictured together above).
One day, the 56-year-old Chicago native noticed that her father’s feet were severely swollen. When he admitted they’d been that way for over a year, Giselle was baffled. “I immediately took him to the cardiologist who ordered multiple tests, but it took another t...
I Never Missed My Son the Way I Miss Office Life
I Never Missed My Son the Way I Miss Office Life
These Top Pet-Friendly Hotels Welcome Furry Guests With Gusto
For many pet owners, traveling without Fido is simply out of the question. Pets are part of the family, and what’s a family vacay without one of your own? But when you’re planning a pet-friendly vacation, finding the right pet-friendly hotel — one that’s comfortable, convenient and has the right vibe — is key.
Before you book, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the hotel features to look for to ensure your stay is as comfy for you as it is for your pet. Here’s a look at five features of ho...
Landscape Architect—and Beloved Abuela of 4—Mia Lehrer Is Building a Legacy That Spans Generations
Not many grandmothers can take their grandchildren to a park that they designed and named after their native homeland, but this is the reality for Los Angeles-based landscape architect Mia Lehrer, founder of Studio-MLA. Growing up in El Salvador, Lehrer’s family frequented a promontory point overlooking the ocean called Vista Hermosa, or Beautiful View, that was surrounded by a unique landscape. “We also visited Puerta del Diablo with all these impressive rocks around,” Lehrer recalls. Memori...
15 great family vacation spots where everyone can spread out and stay safe
CNN —
The past 18 months have kept many of us apart — 6 feet at a minimum, to be exact. But when it comes to our immediate families, we’ve seen plenty of them — up close and perhaps a little too personal.
But the pandemic isn’t over, so if you’re considering traveling again this year, chances are you’ll want to stay somewhere where everyone in your pod can spread out and perhaps even do their own thing from time to time. After all, a change of scenery is good for the mind and the soul, but do...
Road Trip Hacks That Will Keep You From Losing It
Not sure how you're gonna get through a 12-hour drive with your crew? We are. Keep reading.
Road trips make great vacations, especially if you’ve got kids. The feeling of being on the open road, knowing that cool things to see and do may be around every bend, is all part of the fun. But road trips also can be, shall we say, challenging. Everyone usually starts out excited, with their patience tank full and their attitude chipper. But as the miles drag on, it’s easy for everyone to get cranky,...