11.12.2025 When I bought my condo in 2012, it was clear the place had seen better days — flimsy curtains, faded carpeting, a pink bathroom sink, and wallpaper borders straight out of 1992. It had been maintained, but it hadn't been loved and cared for in a long time. Still, I saw potential. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the condo’s state mirrored my own. Recently divorced and forced to give up nearly all my possessions, I too felt faded around the edges — intact,

Some families pass down recipes. Others pass down drama. This essay is for everyone who’s ever survived the holidays by smiling through gritted teeth and counting the hours until they can take home some leftovers. 🍗 #humorwriting #holidayfamilydynamics #writingcommunity #blogessay

Every year, one tree in my neighborhood jumps the gun and starts changing color in the middle of July. And every year, it sparks something in me — not dread for the end of summer, but joy for the season ahead.

From misplaced keys to rekindled purpose, contractor no-shows to acts of kindness, this post offers a warm, witty, and very human New Year’s wish list. A reminder that it’s never too late to start again — with grace, humor, and maybe a pair of pink stilettos.

In this essay, I write about the magic and melancholy of Christmas music — from classic carols to Broadway ballads — and why one song in particular has come to mean more to me with each passing year.