Culture | Holidays | Home Life | Personal Growth

Dress Up Yourself and Your Creative Life

Our family spent the entire Christmas holidays/winter break from school and work at home dealing with illness.  From December 18 to 31, 2015. one or two people were sick in my household.  For two weeks I stayed inside nursing fevers, chills, aches and pains, in addition to an itchy, red eye infection of my own. …

Business | Fiction Writing | Personal Growth | Work | Writing

Small Goals add up to Big Results

Two weeks ago I was interviewed by a colleague.  This was a change for me.  As a writer, I’m typically the one questioning others. As I answered each question about a program or group I’m involved with, her face lit up with astonishment.  “I cannot believe you’ve accomplished all that in a year’s time,” she …

Personal Growth | Work | Writing

2015: The Year I Asked

Ask and ye shall receive.  Is that how the ancient saying goes?  As I look back upon 2015, I realize this past year has been remarkable.  For once my laundry list of achievements is more than simply folding and putting away loads of towels, light, and dark clothing.  My portfolio has pages of listings worth …

Culture | Writing

Dear Auto-correct (Deer Dis-connect),

Deer Dis-connect, (Dear Auto-correct) I ate ewe!  (I hate you!) Yu airways med up meye worlds.  (You always mess up my words). Eye dupe latters and your chain there aground (I type letters and you change them around). Thus happens afternoon I hot sand buttons.  (This happens after I hit send button). Wherever doctor 30th  craft …

Art | Crafts | Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth

I’m Not the Crafty Mom

As I pulled apart the now taffy-like creature from my ironing board, I once again said to myself: “Oh well, I don’t have to be the crafty mom.  I am creative in other ways.” Flash back to a few days prior: my two girls had made a beaded bird, butterfly and heart with these special …

Holidays | Home Life | Personal Growth | Work | Writing

What Happened after I Accidentally Hit a Mailbox…

On Tuesday morning, December 1, 2015, I backed into a mailbox with my van.  I was in my friend’s neighborhood, dropping off my 8-year old like I do every weekday morning before school.  I’m not proud of it.  I was distracted and not paying attention (like I should have been). This was a first-time occurrence for …

Art | Home Life | Parenting | Personal Growth

Capture the “Perfect” Moments

“Smile, not the fake toothy smile,” I said to my oldest daughter. “Smooth your dress right there,” I pointed to my youngest daughter. “Okay, 1…2…3…!”  SNAP!  I took the photo. “Wait you blinked, let’s try again!” Does this sound familiar? We strive to capture that perfect family moment, the two kids smiling while wearing their …

Business | Culture | Home Life | Personal Growth | School | Writing

Be a Better, More Successful Partner

During an employee conference break last week, I noticed I had voicemail blinking on my cell phone.  I listened to the message.  It said the following: “Thank you again for all the help you’ve given me with this project of ours.  I took your words and thoughts into account. You made my story better. You’ve …

Business | Personal Growth

How to Help Put People at Ease with More Meaningful Small Talk

  Have you ever gone to a party, office gathering or social event where no one really talked to you or acknowledged you?  Perhaps you had a person look you up and down then show no interest that you were there at all.  I’ve been in this situation.  It’s awful. One thing I pride myself on is trying …

School | Writing

My Studies (Will) Take Me Longer

I spent five hours writing and editing a 2-page critical analysis this weekend.  Prior to that, I researched material on and off during a period of four weekends.  As I type this and read my words aloud, I feel a bit ridiculous.  Yes, it really has taken me this long to do a simple homework assignment. To …