Dude, Where’s My Writing Motivation?
My writing motivation has been off and my creative juices haven’t been flowing. But it’s a fresh month and I’m going to get stuff done anyway. Below is day 1 of stream of conscious daily writing. It will be the only day I copy and paste here because I just actually opened up The Artist […]
My Daughter Attempted Suicide Two Years Ago Today
Trigger warnings. I’m going to talk about mental health, suicide, hospitals and a whole lot of emotionally heavy stuff. My daughter has given her permission for me to post this. If you or someone you know needs help call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. My daughter attempted suicide two years ago today. She’d […]
Tybee Island Gerald’s Pig & Shrimp
I’ve visited Tybee Island, Georgia a half dozen or so times over the last decade. I’m spending the first quarter of 2020 on the island. I have driven by Gerald’s Pig & Shrimp many times and thought, “I should stop in one day.” Well, I finally did! Gerald’s Pig & Shrimp is an open-air establishment […]
Best Latte Ever: Drift Tybee Island Review
I had the best latte of my life at Drift Tybee Island last week. I’ve been lurking in a couple Tybee Island Facebook groups since my arrival for a three-month stay on January 1. Drift was mentioned several times. It’s been a few years since I last visited the island and it’s a new name […]
Paula Deen’s Creek House Restaurant Review
I’m spending a few months at Tybee Island, Georgia. I noticed a big restaurant while driving over a bridge in between Tybee Island and Savannah: Paula Deen’s Creek House. When I realized it was owned by Paula Deen, I wanted to try it. I’ve been to the Tybee Island/Savannah area several times. I’ve had multiple […]
Goodbye Great Rental Home
I moved out of my rental home January 1. It was a great home for fifteen months. I moved in with my daughter and our pets in September 2018. It’s where we recovered after living in crisis mode for years. After years of chaos, stress and conflict, everything came to a head early in 2018. […]
Best Things to Buy at Aldi
Let’s talk about the best things to buy at Aldi. I am slightly obsessed with this chain, driving half an hour each way to shop at the closest one. Pro tip: I keep my quarters to rent a grocery cart in the little compartment on my driver’s side door. I even ventured out to see […]
Aldi Advent Calendars Craziness
So my Facebook feed BLEW UP yesterday with people going crazy because it was Aldi Advent Calendars Release Day. Yup, I put that in all caps like a holiday. Because people are SERIOUS about it! What is Aldi? Aldi is a grocery store chain known for lower prices and unique offerings. Borrowing a cart costs […]
Instant Pot Curry Vegetable Soup
I wanted some comforting the other day. I’ve been getting headaches and I wanted a warm bowl of goodness with minimal effort that didn’t require leaving the house for ingredients. And so my Instant Pot curry vegetable soup was born! I just looked in my fridge, freezer and pantry piling ingredients I wanted to […]
7 Ways to Celebrate Friendship This Holiday Season
This is a sponsored post from Basic Invite, but all thoughts are my own. I love to celebrate friendship. My friends have helped me get through some really tough times while I’ve been on this healing journey following my divorce. Life gets hectic during the holiday season, but here are some easy and meaningful […]
Filling My Empty Nest (A Few of My Favorite Things)
I’ve had an empty nest for a full month now. I’m still adjusting after sending two teenage girls off to their freshman year of college – one in another state. My house is so quiet. I’m all alone. It’s still weird. But these are some of the things filling my time and sparking joy. Pool […]
My Tiny Crystal Penis: A Tale of Lost Dick
There are two dicks lost in my house. Or maybe my car. This is the tale of the missing crystal penis. Actually, lost penises. Multiple. I bought them in Atlanta. My friend Brit lives there and told me her teenager encountered a bin of crystal dicks at a shop in Ponce City Market. I told […]
What to Do When You Hate Football And Everyone Else Watches
I hate football. Sports are not my thing. I’m not into watching them live or on TV. Or playing sports myself. But I know lots of people are very into sports – especially football. I can’t keep track of all of the team names – NFL or college? And I can’t match teams to the […]
Embracing the Danish Hygge Coziness While Waiting for Hurricane Dorian
Have you heard of the Danish coziness method called Hygge? I read about it a while back and thought it sounded great. I live on the East coast of Florida. With Hurricane Dorian approaching I tried to lure people to my house to stay with me. I’m a Florida native, but this was my first […]
Hurricane Prep Tips from a Florida Native
I’m a Florida native. Family lure has it I slept through Hurricane David as an infant. However, Dorian was my first time doing hurrican prep on my own. I got divorced last year and Hurricane Dorian kicked off my solo storm experience. These tips are for if you decide to STAY for the […]
Urban Bricks Pizza Review, Vero Beach, FL
I’m a pizza junkie. It’s my “if you could only eat one food for the rest of your life” pick every single time. So when I heard Urban Bricks opened up in my town, Vero Beach, Florida, I had to try it right away. What is Urban Bricks I took my daughter (who is now […]
11 Ways to Ease Into the Empty Nest
I officially have an empty nest. I’m only 41. That seems too young. My home was filled with teenagers just two short weeks ago. Two lived with me, but there were always extra. I always wanted to be *that* house, the one everyone gathers. It was a safe, happy, accepting nest. And now they’ve […]
Solo Date Night in Vero Beach, Florida
I forced myself to go on a solo date night last week, hopping around Vero Beach, Florida. There’s a lot going on in my world. I’m parenting 2.5 teenage girls (yup, two and a HALF). The two who live with me full time are both getting ready to go to college, one across the […]
Lessons learned after teen ran a red light
Last month I was in the car when the teen driver ran a red light. It was my lovely bonus daughter who has been living with us full time for the past six months or so. She was 17 with her learner’s permit. I was in the passenger seat while she drove herself to […]
Pulse Nightclub Remembrance
Three years ago today I woke up to the news of the horrific Pulse Nightclub shooting. I was vacationing at Tybee Island, Georgia with my teenage daughter. I followed the news sobbing as details emerged. I was terrified waiting to hear from my dear friend who lives in Orlando. I knew there was a possibility […]
Realizing I had anxiety attacks not a personality flaw at 40
I just recently learned, at age 40, I’ve been having anxiety attacks since I was a little girl. I’ve always known when my daughter was having one right away. I quickly learned to recognize the overwhelming (and sometimes irrational) fear, the strong desire to flee the situation, the crying, sweating, shaking and shortness of breath. […]