All of you women with children, think about this for a moment. How often does someone refer to you without mentioning your children in some capacity? It just seems that, as women, the moment we have children we lose our identity as human beings. We become defined by the fact that we have kids and we are mothers first, people second.

We are all thankful for parts of our lives including family and friends, our health or our continued happiness. But, as you try to come up with 24 items to fill those 24 days, Temecula residents should look no further then around their own community, as the area has so many unique traits and opportunities for which any resident can give thanks.

Here in Temecula, there are a couple of telltale signs of autumn which are unique to our hometown and probably familiar to many of you. I’ve made up a list of a few of my favorites.

After interviewing other moms and dads I was obviously not alone in my glee about my kid going back to school. The many reasons parents are thrilled about the new school year ranged from more structure for kids during the day to less money for daycare to more wine tasting time, but one happy result of back to school season seemed to be the runaway favorite.

I’m a sarcastic person by nature and social media can be the perfect outlet for my sense of humor. So, this week I decided to join the ranks of teenagers, up-and-coming celebrities, and “The Bachelorette” enthusiasts (myself included) and join Twitter.

I conducted an informal, but still enlightening, poll on social media posing this question: Where can someone in the over 40 crowd hang out in the Temecula Valley without feeling insecure, out of place, or…for lack of a better word…old?

It’s almost May and the onset of spring can definitely be felt in the air and Temecula has a wealth of fun outdoor activities, flavors, sights and sounds that start springing up in at this time of year.

I can’t help but wonder if the addition of a national brand – Ballast Point having recently been purchased by Constellation Brands, owners of Corona and Modelo – will start to deter residents from something that makes the Inland Empire so special; the opportunity to truly drink 100% local.

I offer my highest praise to the City of Temecula Community Services Department, who will be hosting three Easter Egg Hunts on the Saturday before Easter…and are calling them “Easter Egg Hunts.”

Ah, Christmas. That yuletide time of year where strands of lights twinkle in the trees, cozy homes smell of gingerbread and pine, and the faces of children all over the world are aglow with anticipation for the arrival of the man of the hour – Santa Claus himself.