I am called Aunt Brenda by some and Nurse Brenda by others...

I would love to share what I have learned about life with those who need someone to trust for advice on happiness, health and wellness.

I am a professional nurse, mother of 3 grown children, and grandmother of 4 (including triplet girls!). I was a military wife for 13 years, moving my family across the globe, all the while trying to maintain some resemblance of "normal" for my children (and myself). For example, I never really ate very much Mexican food while I was growing up, and as it turns out our first duty station was in Salinas California. I developed quite the appetite for good Mexican food while we were living there. Our very next duty station was Germany, where there was not one Mexican restaurant to be found in the entire country. Who knew?

So, my first true Adventures in Cooking Land started when my cravings for "normal" got the best of me. I also just happened to have  a neighbor from south Texas. She would spend an entire day making the most delicious tamales I've ever eaten. Another one of my neighbors would spend hours in the kitchen making homemade pizza. I always just made what I could in a hurry. I never wanted to be in my kitchen for any length of time. I guess I inherited that from my mom. She liked to cook, but her interests lay more in making pretty cupcakes for parties, not the everyday meal kind of stuff. So, meeting these women really made me re-think my entire approach to the dreaded kitchen.

I admit that I was in a very good position to make this big change. My husband and I had decided in the very beginning of our relationship that I was going to raise our children instead of focusing on any kind of career. So I had all that wonderful time to sharpen my culinary skills, learn how to run a kitchen like a professional, learn how to be an expert meal planner, and all-around Super-Housewife and Mom. (Heloise was my hero and Good Housekeeping was my Bible)

I really did consider myself a professional housewife. I learned from some of the best cleaning women in the areas I lived, while I was cleaning houses for military people who were moving. I learned how to easily remove even the most stubborn dirt and grime (from some of the wierdest places). So right now, being immersed in "family life" again, all those tricks and tips I forgot I knew are rushing back to me. And I can use that knowledge to help you make your home shine with a minimum of effort.

Yes, even while carrying around a colicky baby, or shuffling a carpool schedule, or even those days when you wonder when you will have time to wash your hair again. Yes, you can do it, and I can help. Keep checking back often. I will be sharing more recipes (oh my gosh, I have so many great recipes!), cleaning tips, and some news items I find interesting.

I am also currently working on website development projects with my husband, Bruce Shoop, founder of PlanetWebSite.

My ultimate goal is to help you improve the quality of your life through more efficient living. If you have a question, and you're not sure who to ask, just

Ask Aunt Brenda!