When I was in 6th grade, I entered a writing contest along with the rest of my Language Arts class. The grand prize winner from each grade level would get a helicopter ride over the city. When I submitted my story, I knew I would win. I remember the confidence in this fact so clearly,…
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Bootcamp: What to Expect as the Spouse of a New Service Member
*Note: I use pronouns like “him” when referring to a new service member in this post. I understand that there may also be spouses of female recruits reading this, and am only defaulting to male pronouns to keep things simple and because it reflects my personal experience. You lady sailors are badass and so are…
How We Made Our Wedding Epic on a $6,000 Budget
On March 21st, 2015, Brett and I got married in Tucson on a perfect spring day. We celebrated with about 40 of our best friends and immediate family, and we loved every second of it. What follows is an excessively tedious account of how we spent all of the money required to make this thing…
Gratitude.
My hair is a mess. Yesterday’s makeup – Face a canvas. A warm mug – The one from my mother. Wrapped up in sleeves and blankets. Say “Good morning” to me, Let me stay in bed And watch the sunbeams enter the room Through bright bamboo slats. Slowly, slowly Take an inventory Of each thing…
Writing Honestly: The Balance Between Authenticity and Safety
As a (newly public) writer, something that I have struggled with in this journey is writing authentically. The practice of writing authentically is not new for me; I have been filling journals since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I know how to write freely and honestly and I have even sometimes shared…
30 Books to Read Before 30
The following is a list of what I think are some of the best books ever written. Please do yourself a favor and READ THEM ALL! The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls A Song of Ice and Fire (series, 1-5) by George R. R. Martin Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn The Great Gatsby by F….
Why You Should Be Writing Every Day
Last summer, I started a project via a book titled “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. The purpose of the experience of working through the book, one week and one chapter at a time, was to unburden the inner artist and begin to heal in order to create freely. I could write many posts about different…
Race Day Survival Kit
A few months from now, I am running in the San Francisco Marathon. I will have spent months training and preparing with quick speed workouts, big mile days, yoga, (a half-assed attempt at) nutritious meals, relaxed recovery runs, and periodic cross training. I will have overcome bad sports bra chafe (I know you feel me) and…
Pointless Things I Can’t Stop Doing: A Memoir
Pressing the button on the garage door remote opener nine million times and getting irrationally angry/smashing it on the dashboard until it works instead of replacing its battery. Throwing things in the recycling bin that I know aren’t recyclable, despite repeated frustrated sighs from my husband. Allowing my large and impressive book collection to gather…
The Perfect Travel Bucket List for Twenty-Somethings
It’s common to find bucket list posts of beautiful places to visit (and maybe I’ll eventually do one of those, too), but that’s not what this post will cover. Instead, I want to share a list of adventures that could suit many different locations around the globe. The best part is, you get to pick…