A year to remember!

I cannot believe it has been a whole year since we launched Out to Sea: A Parents’ Survival Guide to the Freshman Voyage. Thank you so much for joining me on this journey. I’m overwhelmed by your positive feedback and cannot thank you enough for taking the time to share your stories with me. I’m so grateful for your support and

‘Twas the night before move-in day…

‘Tis the season! You know…the one where parents of first time college students are both excited and terrified at the same time. Where we are thrilled they have the opportunity to grow their minds and attend institutions of higher learning, yet worry that they won’t know how to do their own laundry. Where we fuss about coordinating comforters and twin

Bringing home the GOLD!

When I clicked open my email, one subject line immediately caught my eye. It said YOU ARE A FINALIST! Those four words meant I was heading to St. Paul for the 27th Annual Midwest Book awards. I’d be joining other hard-working, passionate, word-loving authors to celebrate independent book publishing and vie for some bling. The celebration was last weekend and I’m thrilled to tell

Sun, Sand and Spring Break Realities

“Hi Mom! Hi Daddy! Guess what? I’m sooooo excited! My roommate’s brother got us a sweet deal on a hotel in Mexico for spring break. It’s super-cheap! Can I go?” Cancun. Aruba. Jamaica. Daytona Beach. In the midst of a long, cold winter, these warm-weather destinations sound like the perfect cure to the winter blahs, especially to stressed-out college students.

2016 Uninhibited — A Year to Fly!

My friend Frankie got a new toy from Santa this year. A pogo stick. Now this is not just any pogo stick. It’s the Lamborghini of pogo sticks. Forget bouncing around the driveway. This thing flies! Literally. Instead of traditional springs, this one is pumped up with air and can bounce 8-10 feet high. The company website shows videos of folks

The Hats of Christmas Future

’Twas the week before Christmas and I found myself sitting on the concrete floor of our storage room with a fuzzy Santa hat in my hand and a lump in my throat. As I rummaged through the tote of Christmas decorations, each item I touched triggered memories of Christmas past. The handmade train ornament gave me a glimpse of my

5 ways to conquer your fear of public speaking

Does the thought of giving a presentation give you hives? Do you freeze when someone hands you a microphone? Instead of butterflies in your stomach, do you have a blender? You’re not alone. Glossophobia, or speech anxiety, is a real thing. The word stems from the Greek glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, meaning fear or dread. It’s estimated that 75%

Someday Starts Today

Do you have a dream? An idea you hope will SOMEDAY come to fruition? You know…SOMEDAY I’ll have the time to write a book. SOMEDAY I’ll start my own business. Well, my SOMEDAY has begun. I woke up and realized that SOMEDAY is today.