I’ve been writing for Diabetic Living Magazine for years. They’re a sister publication to Eating Well and I thought I’d check out writing about pets for them. Sure enough I got an assignment I pitched on tips for making the dog park experience successful. I reached out to a couple of great experts: Alexandra Gant, a canine behaviorist in Atlanta I used to know in San Diego, and Dr. Gary Weitzman, DVM, president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society. I learned a lot and got to pass it all along to readers. It’s in the September 2020 issue of the magazine. Here it is in full.
Pet-Friendly Decor
Photo by Gail Owens Photography
I have a house filled with dogs and cats. So it made perfect sense for me to write a story for Coastal San Diego Homes and Estates on pet-friendly decor. If you want to elevate the "I'm a pet owner" look, there are plenty of ways to create a beautiful, pet-friendly home. I got the experts to explain.
Family-Focused Backyard
Photo for the San Diego Union-Tribune by K.C. Alfred
If I were still a kid, I'd be thrilled to have a mom who designed a backyard perfect for her and me! This unconventional backyard is just cool beans and I had to write about it for the San Diego Union-Tribune's Home and Garden section.
Rethinking your outdoor space? Cast tradition to the wind
Darlene Halaby Photography
Here's my latest story for the San Diego Union-Tribune's Home & Garden section. Take your vacation funds and invest them in the backyard stay-cation of your dreams. Designer Laurie Stevens has great tips for creating a space that will become your true second living room.
Sugar Reduction is the New Normal
One of the great intellectual pleasures of my work life is collaborating with organizations on tricky content that can be understood by executives who don't necessarily have detailed technical knowledge of a subject. This content piece on sugar reduction I wrote for Industry Dive on behalf of their client Cargill was one of those projects. You might be surprised at how much goes into keeping a product's flavor and texture appealing to consumers when you remove sugar from the equation.
Immune Boosters Assist During Pandemic
Photo by Eduardo Contreras of the San Diego Union-Tribune
In my latest story for the San Diego Union-Tribune's food section, my friend chef Isabel Cruz of Isabel's Cantina shares her insights--and some delicious recipes--into immune-boosting foods. You'll want to make her Shrimp Bites Wrapped in Greens, Vegetable Curry, and Tomato Soup with Guajillo Chile Sauce! Thanks as always to Eduardo Contreras, photographer extraordinaire!
And, sadly, this may be my last story for the food section for quite a while. Ad revenues are down, as they are for all publications during this pandemic, and a staffer will now be providing most of the articles for the near future. It’s been my great pleasure to collaborate with San Diego chefs over these many years. They’ve taught me so much and helped me, in turn, demonstrate to readers all the marvelous things they can do in the kitchen. If you’re an editor who could use a longtime food writer, please get in touch!