By Derek Topper I recently took a road trip to Seattle, and I have to say, the city is full of gems. From quirky parks to world-class food, you can find something for everyone here. Here are my top five things to do and see in Seattle: 1. Explore Pike...
#Cousinlove
We go through life self-absorbed. Some of us schedule activities every weekend. While others enjoy staying at home, relaxing while watching TV or reading a book on our Kindles. But, when things happen, you start looking at life differently. Realizing that we are here for a very short time and...
How to Deal with Dementia
How to deal with dementia - Comment below to win a free eye mask! Is your mother, father, grandmother or grandfather repeating him/herself a lot? If so, he/she has a form of dementia. What is Dementia? According to the Alzheimer's Association, "dementia is not a specific disease. It's an overall...
When Your Son/Daughter Graduates
Six years after my daughter graduated from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University with a degree in public relations, my son has reached his milestone, graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in data science. This past weekend brought up a whirlwind of emotions and reflections, emotions many parents experience...
Dressbarn Going Out of Business?
Dressbarn going out of business? About a year ago, my cousin, Mindy, turned me onto Dressbarn. Before that, I had never stepped foot into the place. I thought it was for older women. I didn't think I would like anything there, and besides, the clothes were inexpensive. How good could...
Best Meal in Berkeley, CA
Berkeley, CA has such a wide assortment of restaurants from Burmese food to Korean cuisine. On our most recent visit, we went to Chez Panisse and, I will attest, this was the best meal in Berkeley, CA. Interestingly, once you book your reservation at Chez Panisse, you have no idea...
Like Listening to Podcasts?
If you like listening to podcasts, then you will love the following podcasts that appeared on Hilary Topper on Air in March and April. New trends in Jewelry Mother's Day is every day and if you're looking for a gift for your mother or your significant other, then you should...
A Road Trip to Big Sur, Monterey and Santa Cruz
By Derek Topper As graduation approaches, I made a concerted effort to check out areas around the California coast. Recently, I went to Big Sur, Monterey and Santa Cruz on a road trip through the central coast of California for a long weekend. Big Sur I started the road trip...
On Charities and Solicitation
The Jane Goodall Institute was the charity that my daughter raised money for when she had her Bat Mitzvah nearly 15 years ago. At a Bat or Bar Mitzvah, a 13-year-old has the opportunity to give "tzedakah," or to make a charitable donation to a worthy cause. At that time,...
Vina Matela Crljenak Kastelanski Zinfandel Review
The Vina Matela Crljenak Kastelanski Zinfandel 2015 showed up at my door this afternoon. I was expecting it because the vineyards' public relations practitioner reached out to me to see if I would consider reviewing. She knew that I had reviewed wines in the past on my blog and when...