Anyone who knows me knows that I have a passion for writing and reading. I have an extensive personal library. About six weeks ago, I decided to go back to the university and finish my MFA in Writing. I left the university in 2018 half-way through the MFA program. I had finished a Ph.D. a few years earlier and I was exhausted. As time passed, I regretted it. For those of you who are not familiar with MFA writing programs, they are very competitive and unlike other areas of study, you have to be a good writer just to be accepted into one of these programs. They only accept a…

Dear readers, I am finally back, after spending the last 6 or so months moving and getting settled. Sorry that in the process the rose petals wilted and the cream curdled. It was not my intention to be gone for so long. The move was overwhelming and my back and shoulder suffered in the process. I am looking forward to connecting with you once again with articles and stories that will inspire and bring a smile or two to you. I hope you are all having a great summer. I’ve missed you. (Featured top image credit: Photo by Hans Braxmeier is available under the Creative Commons CCO 1.0 license on…

I created Rose Petals and Cream to share my thoughts on wellness, self-improvement, travel, bits of elegance, simple nothings, engaging stories from the web, and book reviews.  I hope these posts appeal to you. It is 93 degrees here in Southern California as I am writing this. I am sitting here looking at the heat rising off the pavement and wishing I was on a sandy beach somewhere with my toes in the sand, drinking a nice tall glass of lemonade. I was born and raised here in Southern California and this has to be the hottest summer I have ever experienced. Bring on the Fall. Fall is my very…