It’s August. Schools are gearing up for the return of students, and mothers everywhere are exhaling a huge sigh of exhaustion. Finally, a few hours in the day free from “I’m bored,” “I’m hungry,” and “He hit me.” Now you can focus on you.

With summer temperatures sizzling right now, many of us like to get away to the high country for a day or two. Prescott is my favorite place to cool off, and, being a foodie, I enjoy finding places where I can try out different ingredients or purchase kitchen stuff.

It may surprise many of you to hear that there is at least one winery in all 50 states — even Alaska and Hawaii — and Arizona is no exception. Not only are there many wineries in Arizona, but they are making some really good wine, too!

It’s the Fourth of July. Independence Day. The holiday always brings to mind summer, playing in the pool, grilling, homemade ice cream and fireworks (My brother had a love-affair with bottle rockets; I’m jumpy to this day.).

We’ve all gotten the finger-wagging lecture about protein from fitness trainers. Their demands for more of it leave us picturing a Henry VIII turkey leg in one hand and a dumbbell in the other. Many of us already eat meat, so what are they talking about?

Grilling season is upon us. Stores are bursting at the seams with gadgets you can purchase to use with your grill. I am definitely a gadget girl and have purchased more than my share of grilling gadgets. There are quite a few that I just cannot live without.

Commitment. It’s a word we hear often in many contexts — relationships, war efforts, diets and even insane asylums (we all know a couple of people we think ought to be committed). According to Dictionary.com, “commit” comes from the Latin “com + mittere,” meaning “to send, give over.”

Ordering wine in a restaurant can be an intimidating and potentially embarrassing situation. It can be one of those instances when you are put on the spot, like being picked last for kickball as a kid. For years, I’ve said that it shouldn’t be. But sometimes the unknown can seem a little scary.

The weather is beautiful this time of year, and many of us want to spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can before summer arrives. I love to go up to the high country for a walk in the pines and end the day with a picnic.

There’s one universally loathed exercise: the pull-up.