Ever since attending The Art of The Modern Cocktail a year ago, I've been looking to make a cocktail with farm fresh ingredients. When Pantone announced its 2016 color of the year, I knew I had a simple drink for ringing in the new year: Rose Quartz Mimosas.     How are you closing out 2015?  

There are few kids who don't love Mac and Cheese. When Gates heard there was a Mac and Cheese cook off she was in. That the challenge was typically answered by adults didn't phase her. At almost three and a half she became the youngest entrant. Here's her award-winning Bunny Foo Foo Mac and Cheese. Just one of the dishes Dawn of Not Just A Mommy and I served at our party. More of our menu and details soon!     What cheeses do you put in your Mac and Cheese?  

I love cooking. This love came from my mom who had us helping in the kitchen as soon as we were able to stand. And that was deepened with my first cooking class when I was six.     My challenge as a parent is how to offer this same experience to my daughter without getting stressed out. By talking with my mom and cooking with Gates for almost two years, I've come up with these tips to ensure we have fun when we're in the kitchen together.   What tips do you have for cooking with kids? What are your favorite recipes to make with kids?  

Every year I pause to reflect on what I've accomplished. And this holiday break is no different. Here are my top ten posts from 2015--all focused on appreciating the haves in your life and embracing life's unpredictability.     Before I pull together the top ten posts of each year, I put together my top ten. Sometimes the posts between the two lists are pretty much the same. And sometimes, like this year, the lists differ greatly (only two posts in common this year).   What was your 2015 like?  

In California, you can get lemons almost year round. The variety of lemon changes as does the sweetness of the lemon. This variation makes lemonade the perfect vehicle for teaching young cooks about using a recipe as a guide and letting ingredients speak for themselves.     How do you like your lemonade? Sweet? Or Sour?  

Is there ever a time you should stop focusing on growing your social media platforms? If you're not regularly monitoring how your social media efforts are mapping to your business goals, you'll never know. For me, December is that time and here's how I know.     How are you measuring the success of your blogging efforts?  

Everyone jokes about kids being germ factories. But with cold and flu season upon us, getting sick is no laughing matter.   To reduce our risk as parents of getting sick and alternating who in the house is sick for the season, I've gathered ten tips that will help us and others stay healthy.     What are your tips for staying healthy?  

Stories of Thanksgiving fails. Experiences eating tasteless, dried out turkey. Enough to strike terror in the heart of anyone about to embark on a Thanksgiving dinner in their home. My solution? A smoked turkey that you simply reheat.     What's your secret to low stress holiday celebrations?