Real Talk

I met Chad 14 years ago. I lost him in July. I am still in disbelief, unable to process, this can’t really be happening. The painful void is so great that it feels like all the air is escaping from a hole burning in my chest. It feels almost unthinkable to be able to move forward from such a loss. Our friendship was instant and effortless. He quickly became part of my family. If you saw me and my husband out somewhere, Chad was sure to be right there with us. The three of us were a packaged deal. We were the Three Amigos.          Chad was snarky, quick witted, and fiercely loyal. He was sarcastic and stubborn. He loved...

To the moms that tiptoe across the house in hopes they can get their first sip of coffee in before seeing a kid, I see you. To the ones who set their alarms earlier and earlier each day as the list of morning to-do’s grows, I see you. I see you. This is the first year I started school with a child of my own at home. I wear a new hat - MOM. I am a wife, a teacher, and a mom. All three jobs requiring an outpouring of love, understanding, patience, lots of energy, and constant smiles. To say all went well would be a lie. There were a lot tears from me, from my son, and from students. There were...

Full-coverage, demi, sports, balconette, deep plunge, push-up, bralette ... Love them or hate them, bras are a wardrobe staple. Bras are foundational pieces in many senses, yet so many women despise them. We're doing ourselves a disservice when we spend a lot on fabulous clothes and then pair them with a less than fabulously fitting bra. I’m here to give you a little something to think about and help the humble bra earn a little more respect.  A long time ago, in what feels like another life, I worked as a fitter in a bra store. It was actually a pretty rewarding, fun job and I learned a lot! Basics Bras are sized by a number and a letter, the number is...

“I’ll message you later.” It’s more commonplace than “I’ll see you later” or even “I’ll call you later.”  It’s easier. It’s more convenient. It’s more efficient. But are all these different methods of communication cutting us off from one another a little too much? Texting, emailing, audio messaging, and social media are becoming the go-to for reaching out and connecting to people. This applies not just to acquaintances but even to family and close friends. But confusion occurs when the line between our 762 Facebook friends and our handful of ride-or-die people is blurred. Unfortunately, the line continues to fade with time by our reluctance to drop by and visit or simply pick up the phone to check in every now...

How do you grieve, cry, get through personal challenges while ‘the show must go on’… being a mom? Mom is supposed to be the fearless emotional backbone of the family, the one our babies come to when they fall down and the one they want a hug from when their heart gets broken, but what happens when mom ‘breaks’? Mom will physically keep going even when she is emotionally falling apart. As a mother of three boys who has been through harder days than easier, childhood trauma and situational instability, the one thing I have learned through it all is just that… ‘the show must go.’ The important thing I have learned is emotionally sharing that journey with my children and being open....