Words From a Former Addict — My name is Bonni. I am a recovered gel nail manicure addict. After several years of falling into this beauty trap, my fingernails sent me a message, loud and clear: They wanted to breathe. No doubt, the durability of the gel nail procedure is remarkable. With it, you can confidently use your nails and not feel worried about scraping the crud from the bottom of dirty pots or even slamming your nails when you reach for the car door too fast. …

A History of My Hair — It was the time of month when my gray roots began to show. Plus, I had to go to the dentist and could imagine what he would think when he looked down at the top of my head, which was practically in his face. “This babe really needs to get…

Gingerbread houses never looked this good. Forget using M&M’s, mini marshmallows, and gumdrops for the roof; Skittles for the window frames, and candy canes for the shutters. So meh. Culinary artist Melodie Dearden and her friend Brenton, an architect. …

Major case of foot in mouth: Yammering away at a cocktail party with never an obstacle in sight. I studied visual arts and communications in college and graduated early. After only 2 1/2 years, I finished my Bachelor of Arts requirements. Big deal. …

The Steady Flow of Gratitude — It was Easter Sunday morning almost five years ago. I picked up my then 86-year-old mother and was bringing her to my place for the afternoon. On the way home — while driving on an interstate highway — I had a stroke. I was fit and healthy. My face, arms, or legs didn’t suddenly feel weak or numb. I wasn’t confused, lightheaded, or dizzy. I didn’t have a headache. The truth was, I FELT NOTHING.

A Word on Good Behavior — Something memorable happened while Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway mega-star Patti LuPone was appearing at a concert at Caramoor Center for Music and The Arts. In the middle of her finale, two audience members got up to leave. Patti abruptly stopped singing and said, “I hope you get to your…