In defense of the half-eaten chocolate

March 7, 2026

Now that Valentine’s Day is behind us, I feel like I can say this without causing a family meeting. Valentine’s Day has always been my holiday to dote on my family. Not in the dramatic, rose-petal, rom-com way — but in the way that makes sense for us. This year included teenage boys, which means the details will remain private for everyone’s well-being. But I will say this: they sucked it up and dealt with me. And whether they want to admit it or not, we had fun as a family. There were eye rolls. There were complaints. There was laughter, which, honestly, is kind of our ...

Finding a little comfort between the pages

February 28, 2026

So clearly, I have not been the only one hunkering down at some point or another this winter. If January had a cheerleading squad, it would be chanting over and over again: “Brr! It’s cold in here! I said there must be some Toros in the atmosphere!” Yes, that’s right — I just quoted a cheer from “Bring It On,” a movie I haven’t watched since at least 2005. That’s how cold it has been this winter. When your brain starts pulling out early-2000s movie quotes unprompted, you know the chill has settled in deep. A few weeks ago, I wrote about leaning into the winter ...

Becoming the next version of myself

February 21, 2026

Whelp, I lied to my editor. Back in early January, I emailed her a compilation of articles that could have filled this space until mid-February. I remember writing, “Here you go — just in case. I want to make sure we’re covered. Don’t expect to hear from me until the next article is due.” Well … here we are. One week post-op, and I’m sitting at my laptop typing away. If you all knew the number of text messages I send to myself — half-formed thoughts, strong opinions, fleeting moments, lines I swear I’ll turn into something someday — you probably wouldn’t be ...

Taking the long way around can be a good thing

February 14, 2026

So please don’t think I’m crazy — or a lot — when I tell you this. And definitely don’t think I’m some kind of badass for it either. I didn’t start running because I woke up one day disciplined, fearless or inspired by some deep inner calling. I started running because I was… influenced. When I was in my early 30s, everywhere I went — driving, walking, standing in a parking lot, heading into work — I saw people running. Always running. Any time of day. They had this carefree, almost smug ease about them. At first, my internal dialogue went something like, Oh look, a ...

When your closet is a size 6, but your life is a size 10

February 7, 2026

Here’s an embarrassing fact I’m choosing to share publicly — mostly because I know I’m not alone and partly because laughing at myself feels healthier than crying in my closet. I have two closets. Walk-in closets. Plus a dresser. All full of clothes. And yet everything is bursting at the seams. To help you visualize my problem, imagine a size 10 person trying to squeeze into a size 6 outfit. Buttoning the top? Maybe. Breathing? Questionable. Something definitely breaks in the process — physically, emotionally or structurally. That’s the relationship between my clothes and ...

When the show ends and you’re left with… yourself

January 31, 2026

I think it’s time for a small confession. I might have a problem. Not the kind that requires an intervention — unless that intervention involves someone gently taking the remote out of my hand and suggesting I go outside. I’m talking about shows. Favorite shows. Comfort shows. The ones you tell yourself you’re just going to watch “one episode” of, knowing full well you’re lying to yourself and anyone else within earshot. Is binge-watching a good thing or a bad thing? Honestly, I go back and forth. On one hand, there is something almost sacred about settling into the ...