Posts by Christina Consolino
Stuffed Peppers Unlike the Kind Mary Made
A few years ago, my doctor told me to be careful with carbohydrates—I’m hovering at prediabetic A1C levels and have a mean sweet tooth—and with menopause almost through the door, I’ve been looking for flavorful dishes that combine vegetables with some lean proteins. After doing some recon, I combined a few recipes to make stuffed…
Read MoreEighteen: Baby No Longer
Dear Melina, I’m beginning to realize the crafting of birthday letters should begin the day after your actual birthday so it will be ready for the year that follows because here I am, writing this birthday letter—the one I knew about since last YEAR—the day before your birthday. (Thank goodness you had to work today!)…
Read MoreThe Marriage Debt Turns One
What’s a better way to celebrate The Marriage Debt‘s first birthday than with a podcast? Elissa Bass and I had a wonderful time talking with fellow authors and podcast hosts Donna Norman-Carbone and Hope Gibbs on their podcast, Authors Talking Bookish. The topic? What if Mid-life isn’t a Crisis but a Powerful Second Coming-of-age? You…
Read MoreFifty-One Days
If I include today, April 25, in the calculation, fifty-one days have passed since I last posted on this blog. I don’t remember the last time so much time elapsed between posts, and while the break was not wholly intentional, at some point, I committed to not posting. (Do I remember when that was? No, I…
Read MoreConversations in Cars
In the car on the way to school this morning, Melina had a question for me. Melina: Do you get distracted by mirrors? Me: [Thinks for two seconds.] Yes, I do. Melina: Why? Why do you get distracted? Me: Why do you? Melina: I just look at myself. Then I move on. So, what about…
Read MoreSorry to Miss You!
February 26, 2026 has been circled on my calendar for quite a while. On that date is the Tasting with Friends at Benham’s Grove, a site in Centerville that is willing to host a group of local authors and a wine tasting. My books were ready, my signs were ready, and I was ready, or…
Read MorePrompts
I used to get up early to write, and I ran after the kids left for school. Now, I run before Melina leaves the house, and I haven’t yet found a good time to write. That problem needs to be remedied, and it will, but for now, I’m forcing myself to stare writing prompts in…
Read MoreOff Screen
We’ve discussed social media here before, so I won’t rehearse the familiar arguments. But on Friday, I did something deliberate: I chose to pause. I announced that, for the foreseeable future, I’ll be stepping back from all platforms—namely Facebook and Instagram. I deleted Twitter years ago; I rarely use LinkedIn; and, in my view, Goodreads…
Read MoreBack on the Road Again
We’ve instituted a weekly family Zoom meeting, and sometimes, like tonight, we forget about it until a family member texts saying, “7:30?” Then we scramble to our respective devices and chat until someone, usually me, says they are tired. Tonight as I logged off, Aaron was yawning, so I clearly wasn’t the only tired one.…
Read MoreTwenty-Four: Standing Firmly in Adulthood
Dear Zoe and Talia. This past year has been full of so many changes for you both, and here I am, writing at Panera with my BFF across the table, wondering what I can say to you that I haven’t already. (You know what? I bet I started at least one other letter that way,…
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