Beauty and The Condiment — When you hear the name “Raquel Welch,” you probably think of her in that famously babacious publicity shot. She’s standing on the beach in a busty, fur bikini. The earth is parting. Mountains are falling. Volcanos are going off all over the place. It’s from the 1966 action thriller “One Million Years BC.” But when I say “Raquel Welch,” I think of something entirely different. …

Eavesdropping at the hair salon — It was an ordinary Saturday at the hair salon. Sounds of scissors snipping and the scent of shampoos and hair sprays filled the air. The overhead track lighting cast downward shadows, making my nose look huge and the circles around my eyes dark. …

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…

When it’s late afternoon and the white, uncooked pallor of the turkey mocks you — Why am I so panicked about hosting Thanksgiving at my house? Because one year I didn’t put the bird in the oven long enough. It was after 6:00 p.m., and the bird still wasn’t finished. …

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.