Fresh Air and a Fresh Take

March 20, 2018

Oh my, it’s been awhile. Hello again. I was on such a roll and then, then I just stopped writing. No, it wasn’t you. It was me. I started hibernating and couldn’t stop. Today I popped up for some fresh…

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January is Not My New Year

January 18, 2018

After reading post after post, year after year, about goals and resolutions and starting fresh in the new year, I have had a much needed realization. January is a terrible time for me to start anything and I am doing…

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My Anxiety Confessions

January 11, 2018

One of the first posts I wrote for my blog was about anxiety. It was written as a way for me to practice both free writing and vulnerability. It’s a fairly popular post people visit when perusing my blog, so…

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The Day I Stopped Eating Potatoes

January 8, 2018

I grew up primarily in southwestern Pennsylvania and like many families in the area, potatoes were a big part of family meals, especially dinners. I never particularly cared for potatoes but in my house you ate what you were served.…

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Marry Someone Resourceful

January 4, 2018

I have been married for just over a year and I think it’s time I offer some marriage advice to my readers. Marry someone resourceful, someone who is more resourceful than you.   This piece of advice comes after a…

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My Year of Fire

January 1, 2018

Hello 2018. It’s nice to see you. The bar has been set pretty low for you. Try not to disappoint, okay? More love, less hate. Ultimately that’s all I want out of 2018.   2017 was the first time I…

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Ringing Out 2017

December 31, 2017

It’s time to ring in the new year again, after we get past the shock that it is in fact a new year, again. Tonight we are ringing in the new year but today I am ringing out the old…

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The Truth About Santa

December 24, 2017

When did you find out the truth about Santa? Do you remember where you were and how you felt? Were you the older sibling who had to keep pretending you believed in Santa while you were around your younger brothers…

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Please Don’t Stash Me Just Anywhere: Why Being Single is Hard

December 21, 2017

I feel great compassion for everyone who is single and struggling this time of year. It can be hard. Really hard. For many years I traveled “home” for the holidays alone and if I’m honest, it was always hard.  …

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Where Exactly Is Yesteryear and How Do I Get There?

December 18, 2017

Raise your hand if you went to a holiday party this weekend. Now raise your other hand if you wish you had stayed home on your couch watching Netflix instead.   Me too!   Oh, except that’s exactly what I…

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When Women Help Women

December 15, 2017

When women help women, what happens? Two things. One, we save the world. Two, we create stories to tell, like you’ll find here.   When I wrote my post about women being morbid sometimes, I didn’t anticipate the comments section…

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How Strangers from the Internet Changed My Life

December 13, 2017

The other day I walked past a mirror and caught a glimpse of myself. I turned around, stared into my reflection, and thought, I’ve changed. How have I changed? When did this happen? And why?   For one, I have…

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What Does Vulnerability Feel Like?

What Does Vulnerability Feel Like?

December 10, 2017

Until this weekend I thought I understood what vulnerability feels like. I didn’t. I didn’t have a clue.   I noticed a lot of new readers coming to my site over the past few days, thanks to the lovely blog…

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Missing Holiday Joy

December 7, 2017

Have you ever written something or said something, stepped back from it, and asked yourself, “Is that what I really think? Is that actually how I feel?”   I just did that with this post and I had to start…

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Breaking up with Football

December 5, 2017

Five years ago was the first time I equated football with the Gladiator. Before then I thought of it the same way I thought of any sport. It had rules and risks. Players occasionally got hurt but overall, it was…

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Why Women Are Morbid Sometimes

December 1, 2017

I haven’t participated in the #MeToo movement but that doesn’t mean I’m not part of it. From “dick pics” to inappropriate workplace comments to being followed, I’ve been there. I’ve felt unsafe, unvalued, violated, and vulnerable.   I didn’t realize…

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The Pink Eyed Monster

November 29, 2017

About a week ago I noticed my eye bothering me. It didn’t seem too serious so I did what I usually do – I went to bed and hoped it would go away.   It didn’t.   The next morning…

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How I Blew My Four Day Weekend

November 27, 2017

If you’re anything like me you are in denial that it’s Monday already. I’m staring at my computer screen feeling a combination of sadness, anger, confusion, and fatigue. I feel betrayed. Betrayed by the weekend for ending. I don’t have…

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Thanksgrieving is Real

November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Or does it feel like more Thanksgrieving to you? If so, I’m thinking about you.   I read through a lot of blog posts this morning and most were filled with happy thoughts and pictures about how…

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Advice to My Younger Self

November 20, 2017

I’m a previous chapter reader and re-reader. I often revisit my past in my head, sometimes for nostalgia, sometimes to ache, and sometimes to see if I can will my way back to give advice to my younger self. Overall…

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Our Fall Getaway

November 15, 2017

Last week my husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary with a fall getaway to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Our wedding was the weekend before the Presidential election and rather than honeymoon we stayed home to vote and then get…

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