The sky reflected our moods, and we could see the white-topped peaks just out of our reach, lining the ring around our valley. I convinced my husband to go for a drive "to the top of the hill" just to get a better view. It will get us out of the house. We had been stuck inside for days because of rain. The same rain was making snow just 10 miles north of us. Why not?

Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, California is a perfect stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. It's a perfect mix of tropical and wild beach. If you want to truly appreciate how beautiful a beach can be, visit it early in the spring, after a rare Southern California dark and cloudy sky. Any beach can look appealing in bright sunshine and blue skies. For the wanderer that seeks raw and wild beauty where ocean touches the land, this is where you go.

I never thought I would be performing in New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade, especially when I was still in high school. One year ago today was my senior year band trip to New York. Not only did I march in the St.Patrick's Day parade, but I also performed at Carnegie Hall. It was an unforgettable experience that changed my life.

As many of you are already aware, I recently relocated from Chicago to Southern...

After Denmark and Paris, the next destination on M's European adventure was Germany.  Here...