By Carolyn Woodruff, North Carolina Family Law Specialist It is cause to pause for a sober moment over the apparent suicide death of fellow North Carolina lawyer Cheslie Kryst. She was the director of diversity for Poyner Spruill LLP law firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. At age 30, she had…
Creating a new family tradition can be a way to bring cheer to the holidays for both children and adults, especially when the family structure is changing due to divorce. One way to bond in a new family dynamic is to incorporate ‘matching outfits’, such as holiday themed pajamas or…
This week, we take a collective breath to honor the passing of a great American, Colin Powell. Some of us remember him best as a four-star General who led our military to a victory in the Gulf War era; some of us remember best his role as Secretary of State…
Self-care can make it to the bottom of the list some days, especially during a divorce. Between the demands of work and home and possibly caring for children, other family members, or even pets, it can be difficult to make time for yourself. Mental health is just as…
For 2 Vegetables: Two slices of red onion diced Two slices of yellow onion diced Two slices of ripe tomato diced 6 mushrooms without the stem sliced 1/8 red bell pepper diced 1/8 green bell pepper diced 10-12 leaves of spinach without stems (chopped) Pepper to taste Sautee on the…
I love chocolate, and COVID-19 has not changed my chocolate fetish. But, it has given me more time to cook, out of both necessity and a need for a creative outlet. Plus, no restaurants are open, so here I am in my kitchen. Being healthy is a goal, and…
The Seven Nights of Santa traveled to Lithuania for the first time this July, thanks to our friend Andrew Mastecas’s excellent work in translating the book. My husband Dwight Ensley and I first published The Seven Nights of Santa in 2013. In my work as a family law attorney, I…
What better way to beat the heat this July than with patriotic popsicles? If you want to really knock the socks off your neighbors though, you can’t settle for store bought. But of course, that’s why you’re here. Don’t let the title mislead you – today I’m bringing you not…
There’s not an uneventful day at Woodruff Family Law Group. Usually, surprises come in the form of laughter – witty comments in the back office, or a story about one of our lawyers that I haven’t heard yet. Sometimes they’re bigger things, like the water main bursting and turning the…
I made these crispy slow cooker carnitas recently, and they are incredible! Carnitas weren’t something I’ve made before, but I’m proud of how they turned out! The biggest challenge of the carnitas was maneuvering the hefty pork shoulder. I trimmed quite a lot of fat off of it, which I…