Winter is a special time of year, underrated in my opinion. Here in Syracuse there's many that complain about the length of winter and the snow fall...but there's a lot of beauty if you take a look around.

Writing has been a hobby of mine for the past several years. In my previous life as a yoga studio owner, one of the things I enjoyed most was writing thoughtful, and, in my opinion, interesting emails to all of the students that attended my studio. It wasn’t all about yoga or meditation but about life, my thoughts, and stories.

So maybe a little history of myself may help with this one.  I am a lifelong Southside resident of Syracuse.  I went to elementary school at Elmwood Middle School at Clary and high school at Corcoran (Cougars for life, I bleed Maroon).  The only time that I didn’t live here was when I went to College in Albany, N.Y. (College of St. Rose, which has unfortunately closed recently).  Upon my return home from school, I was unsure what I was going to do.

Nature provides us with so many elements to craft a beautiful holiday arrangement for an entry table, mantle or dining room table. Why not try crafting your own this year by foraging in your yard, along the roadside or while on a hike.