Becoming the Best U: Christmas stress and finding a new normal

By Nancy Plummer, Columnist, The Times Question: Christmas is my least favorite holiday. My parents are divorced and both got remarried. My sister spends Christmas with her husband’s family. Me, I just want to get through the day. I hate the drama the comes with it all. Is it terrible if I just stay home and ignore the day? Jane – Berwyn Answer: You’re not alone. Although many people...

ReFirement at Any Age: Add Refirement to the dictionary

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Hundreds of words are added to the dictionary every year. Some make sense and others are downright outrageous, in my opinion. Having said that, there are some words that should absolutely be added, in order to adhere with the current state of what is happening in the world and how society is altering their lifestyle to meet it. I’m suggesting that refire...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: March, lion or lamb?

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times You know the saying about March coming in like a lion and out like a lamb, with the intended meaning that March starts off with cold winters and ends with warmer, spring weather? It’s a perfect metaphor as March straddles two seasons, ending one and starting another. Our lives are all about endings and beginnings. March reminds us of that. So now that...

Don;t Retire, ReFire: What have we learned?

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Now that we’re, for the most part, back into the swing of things and the hustle and bustle of the world has returned, do you, on some level, long for the quiet of a year ago, minus the threat of a fatal virus? Are you finding it difficult to jump back in and adjust to the hectic pace that has returned or are you sighing a sigh of relief that the quiet...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Getting back on track

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times It’s fun to step away from the usual for a while and kick your heels up, but, inherently, we are creatures of habit and feel more centered when we have a routine. What have you set aside? What do you have to take off the back burner and fire it up again? Labor Day, 2018, is behind us and although we still have two weeks remaining of the summer, our...

Super Six: Back to School

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Why should kids have all the fun with back to school shopping? I say, it is an opportunity for us to freshen up our wardrobe, too. After all, drop-offs, pick-ups, sports practice runs, incessant grocery shopping, and laundry folding deserves a fancy outfit. Correct? Well, lucky for y’all that I rounded up six of my favorite finds! Here we go…

Tasty treats await at West Chester’s Artisan Exchange

By Cathy Branciaroli, Food Correspondent, The Times Delightful made-from-scratch cheesecakes are the specialty of Anastasia & Patricia’s Hand Crafted Cheesecakes. Imagine a throng of food artisans gathered together in one convenient food hall, beckoning you to try out their many tasty creations.  That’s what Saturday mornings are like at West Chester’s Artisans Exchange. The Exchange...

Age is just a number

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Of course, as a self-proclaimed fashionista, I watched the Emmy Awards last weekend. Well, that’s not exactly true. I focused my efforts primarily on the red carpet footage (which is what matters, in my book). Honestly,  I had barely seen a quarter of the shows vying for accolades. It’s 99% about the couture for me. The dress (or tux), hair, make-up,...

Creating natural fragrances

By Kelly Hockenberry, Columnist, The Times Open any beauty magazine lately and you will find at least one article on the importance of the “green beauty” movement. The information really hits home when you read over what combination of chemicals comprise the list of ingredients in your favorite make-up. Eye opening and kind of terrifying, honestly. Take a minute and go read it. I bet you can’t...

A little patience from patients appreciated

New state laws on prescription painkillers may slow your visit By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times In order to combat the significant problem of prescription drug abuse, Pennsylvania has put into place a prescription drug monitoring program. This program will allow prescribers and dispensers to review the medications prescribed for an individual patient. This system mandates...