I enjoyed a lunch meeting with three other ladies on Friday. We met for work purposes but the conversation later turned to personal endeavors and lastly, one of my favorite topics: creativity. I referenced how I recently read the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) to the group. That’s when I …
Today is Valentine’s day so I decided to write about love. I know, I know, what a cliche’. Maybe I should apply to work for Hallmark. (FYI, I applied there in my early twenties when I thought I wanted to be a greeting card writer…) Don’t vomit yet though. Most of what love means to …
The best compliment I ever remember receiving is when a roommate (or suite-mate like we called it) in college told me I was resourceful. Yes, resourceful. Not words like beautiful or sexy or kind or generous. But resourceful. Why was (and is) this such huge flattery? Well for one thing, this praise came sometime between …
Yesterday I served as a judge for the University of West Florida Marks Invitational which is a speech and debate (forensics) competition where students compete in a variety of categories. I volunteered to judge one or two panels. They placed me in the dramatic interpretation contest. Other events like impromptu, humorous, and other topics were taking …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
“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 …