The crisis of women’s confidence

April 24, 2018

I just finished reading The Confidence Code, by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay.  All women should read this book, especially mothers of girls and those who are struggling with their confidence (which, according to research, is most of us).  There is so much valuable information in this book and the authors back each of their assertions with research and expert interviews.  The Confidence Code had been on my long list…

You’re fired, part 2

April 19, 2018

*This post is a continuation of You’re fired! – if you haven’t read that yet, check it out. This post will make much more sense if you do So the first order of affairs was looking at my cash situation, which was pretty dim.  The company had given me two weeks of severance pay, which amounted to like $1200 after taxes.  I was still teaching spin classes four to…

You’re fired!!!

April 18, 2018

I was recently talking with a friend about my last job as the marketing manager for an insurance firm in St. Pete.  My last job, like so many before it, from which I was fired.  The epiphany about my propensity to get fired is one I only recently had, after over five years of self-employment.  Not everyone is meant to be an employee….including me.  And maybe you aren’t…

The struggle of dressing yourself after 30

April 15, 2018

Any woman over the age of 30 will tell you that things start to change after hitting the big 3-0.  I mean, there are lots of fabulous shifts that occur in the 30s.  A more developed sense of self.  The ability to say “no,” without guilt, to unappealing invitations and requests.  The ability to shove off things that probably would have caused panic and chaos had they happened…

Is it safe for women to travel alone?

April 8, 2018

Taking off my helmet for the final time during the transam, as I reached the Pacific Ocean. Yesterday afternoon, I was editing a couple chapters of my book on my transamerica bike ride, much of which I completed alone.  I began to think back on how often strangers expressed concern for my safety during the times I was by myself.  Here I was, a young woman on a…

RV-ing with dogs

April 4, 2018

Before I decided to purchase an RV, I scoured the internet for information on RV travel with dogs.  At the time, I had my 12-year-old cocker spaniel, Chloe, who was a bit neurotic with a pinch of separation anxiety.  Okay, that’s a lie.  She was the most neurotic little dog I had ever met.  Despite never actually being abandoned, she had major separation anxiety.  She was also older…

Nola, final thoughts

January 11, 2018

*I wrote this Monday night, as I waited to fly out – I’m a little late posting it* I am having a glass of wine, killing time at the airport.  I pulled out my iPad and was perusing the library of books in my Kindle app and opened a book of Emerson’s most famous essays, including Self-reliance.  I plunged back into Self-reliance, which felt sort of like catching…

NOLA, Part Quatre

January 8, 2018

Rainy morning in New Orleans. Well, I made it.  I fly back to Tampa tonight and I have a lot of thoughts on what’s happened over the last few days.  I’ve got a late flight, so I will likely write more while I’m waiting at the airport.  In the meantime, I’m going to share what happened yesterday and a story from a few years ago that sort of…

NOLA Part Trois: The Take-Back.

January 7, 2018

Fresh perspectives, bloodshot eyes, New Orleans, baby… After spending the last hour laying in bed in my hotel room, trying to will myself back to sleep, I made a cup of coffee so I could share about yesterday’s shenanigans.  I got 4 hours of sleep, which, when added to the 1.5 hour nap I took before I went out last night, and a couple cups of coffee, I…