The TCW Archives

by Courtney Allen My journey started 36 years ago when I took my first breath outside of the womb. This journey, much like others, would take me through the ups, downs, heartaches, pains, wins, loses, and everything that no one can seem to get around in life. ​ Courtney Allen Every year marked a new journey for me, but there was something about part #35 (35 years old). By this time in my life, I had already had my heart broken to no end, graduated college, had my first child, lost my grandmother and a week later lost my mom to an all too aggressive stomach cancer. But 35? Oh - 35 was full of proud moments.  It started off extremely scary for me. I had major anxiety about turning 35 and felt that life had come so fast. I thought I was going through a mid-life crisis (funny right?). I needed a change, so I decided to dye my hair - but that wasn’t enough for me. I tried new dating apps, because I had been single for what seemed like forever (when...

by Felicia Hodges We all know someone who knows someone who has been through a divorce. Add to that the number of people who lose a spouse to illness or accidents and it’s no surprise that there are an awful lot of folks out there who used to be some other person's spouse. If your Mr. Right had another Mrs. before you came along, some studies estimate that the divorce rates for your union are 70 percent or higher. What can you do to reduce your chances of being on the wrong side of that statistic? Barbara Kidney, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in New Windsor who specializes in family issues, says that although there are so many different reasons why a person is no longer with his or her former spouse, much of the relationship with the new partner will depend on how well s/he has come to terms with the end of the first marriage.      “It is an emotionally complex issue,” she says, “whether he was divorced or widowed or the relationship ended a ...

Calling Kingston home, Charise Isis is an artist who specializes in portrait, boudoir and pin-up photography. Her work challenges our culture's standards of beauty by allowing women of all different ages, body types, ethnicities and in varying transitional phases of life to be able to express courage, strength, sensuality, depth, individual and unique beauty. Her work has been exhibitied widely both nationally and internationally in solo exhibits and public and private collections at galleries such as the Michael Mazzeo Gallery in New York City; The Griffin Museum of Photography in Massachusetts; The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas, the Photographers Network Collection in Seigen, Germany; the Center for Photography at Woodstock; and CPW’s Permanent Print Collection at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art (New Paltz). She is also the genius behind  The Grace Project , a photographic exhibition series that aims to reveal the courage, beauty and grace of women who...

by Kimberly Hodges Recently named top Vacation Spot for Celebrities by Expedia.com and an island best known for its family-oriented resorts, Barbados has a little secret: it’s a great place for a Girlfriend Getaway! Pop into one of the island’s trendy restaurants or take a stroll along the many beautiful beaches and you will see clusters of happy-go-lucky female friends planning their next island adventure. There is so much to do and see – whether you and your girlfriends pre-planned for a year or decided to dash on a last-second whim.  Getting There from Here One-piece swimsuit or bikini? That depends. But on the question of whether to splurge or not on your big island escapade, here’s a list of things you must do and see even if you can’t or don’t plan to dig deep in your purse: 1. Start the day with a massage. ​ To go the frugal route, try: Mobile Massage Service A London-trained massage therapist comes to you, so you don’t even have to leave the co...

by Felicia Hodges You've dreamed about having a child for what seems like your whole life - or maybe your pregnancy comes as a complete surprise to you and your partner. Either way, there's a nurse to furnish, baby stuff to buy and people to tell the good news to - including your boss. How do you juggle all the new things in your life with the old? Whether you stay away six weeks or six months, there are things you can do to help prepare yourself for the return now including: Planning to Start Gradually - Ideally, it might be better for mom, baby and boss if you can arrange to phase in your come back instead of jumping full-force into your old routine. Would your employer be agreeable to you coming in for two days a week for a while, then three or allowing you to work from home for part of the day? It doesn't hurt to ask. Adjusting Your Expectations - You might still be glowing with excitement about the incredibly beautiful bundle of joy you left at the ...