Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth

Talk to Children Early about Consent and Sex, my editorial in the Pensacola News Journal and AL.com

July has been an excellent writing month for me.  I am once again appearing in the Pensacola News Journal for an editorial I wrote on encouraging parents to talk to children early about sex, consent and inappropriate behavior.  The story also appeared in the Alabama online news media too.  I’m thrilled that attention to this issue …

Business | Services | Social Media | Writing

Three Ways to be a Great Public Relations Professional

I attended the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Pensacola Chapter Annual Media Panel on July 16, 2015.  Six local media professionals spoke about public relations culture, evolving technology changes, social media usage and best PR practices. The panel included Andrew McKay of News Radio 1620 AM, Auriette Lindsey of WEAR TV, Brent Lane of Cat …

Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth | Writing

What to do when children say, ‘I’m Bored’ – my feature in the Northwest Florida Daily News

I was featured in the Sunday, July 12, 2015 lifestyle section of the Northwest Florida Daily newspaper for this piece I wrote on dealing with children who say they are “bored.”  This was inspired by actual events and real conversation.  Below is the full article.  I’m placing it here since the newspaper did not publish …

Personal Growth | Services | Writing

My Feature in Pensacola Today: 10 Minutes of Virtual Dementia Leaves a Lasting Impression

This is a feature (below) that I wrote about attending a virtual dementia tour on June 26, 2015.  It appeared in Pensacola Today on July 6, 2015. 10 Minutes of Virtual Dementia Leaves a Lasting Impression A colleague invited me to attend the University of West Florida Center on Aging’s “Art Across the Ages” event …

Books | Personal Growth | Writing

My Feature in the Pensacola News Journal: What it Means to be a Writer

I’m so honored that the Pensacola News Journal chose to publish my piece on what it means to be a writer.  I compare the writing process to the weather – there are no two days alike.  Enjoy the feature: Originally published in the PNJ: July 5, 2015. Being a writer means taking on the weather. …

Personal Growth | School

7 Lessons Learned from My First Graduate School Class

Over a week ago I completed my first graduate school class.  Remember how I shared how I’m going back to school after a fifteen-year break?  Well I began my class in the middle of May. June was mostly a blur thanks to this intense, half-summer session. The course really pushed me to my academic limits. Several people …

Business | Culture | Food | Home Life | Parenting

Play Local Tourist on a Budget

My family’s budget was tight in the summer of 2013.  We had no travel plans.  With my children home from school, I strove to make our days feel like a vacation even though we stayed in our community. Beach days and pool time became tiresome.  We turned our daily routines of shopping, touring, playing at parks …

Food | Parenting

Conversations with my Kids: “Butts and Toots – it’s what’s for breakfast!”

I’m going to share funny things my children say from time to time here.  Why? 1. Because they really are hilarious, and 2. So I won’t forget them and what they’re like at their current age. ———————————————————————————– Conversations with my Kids: “Butts and Toots – it’s what’s for breakfast!” Last weekend when my family all …

Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth

Messy Moments in Marriage (or Relationships)

Whether you’ve been married for thirteen years like me or you are just starting a new relationship, at some point, you are going to reach messy moments-both literally and figuratively. I thought about this recently as my husband and I were giving solicited advice to a single friend who is back in the dating pool …

Books | Personal Growth | Services | Writing

Publishing Straight Talk

As I navigate forward in my writing, I’m trying to understand this vast, complex publishing world that exists around me.  Digging into the publishing realm is overwhelming and often challenging.  I have so many questions and just want some simple, straight-forward answers. So I did what any inquisitive, determined writer should do – I began …