Over the years, I’ve discovered most creatives feel like a round peg in a world of square holes. We’re the ones that chase rabbits in meetings trying to improve systems that have been in place for years. We’re the outliers who are challenged by the idea of a “status quo.” We’d rather fail trying to be extraordinary than succeed in … Read More
Being a Recovering People-Pleaser
A memory popped up in my Facebook feed the other day about Asteria receiving honorable mention in The New York Book Festival. It seems like only yesterday, and yet a lifetime ago. The world has changed so much … as have I. For one thing, I no longer struggle with the disease to please, thank God. Being a people-pleaser is … Read More
In a Forgotten World
It’s suicide prevention week. I know, it’s a tough subject. One that most people would rather not discuss. But it’s becoming an epidemic in this country. As a teacher, my heart breaks when I hear that a former student has taken their life. And it’s happening more often. The question is, why? Numerous studies correlate excess social media exposure and … Read More
WWW- Black Plate Quiche
I love quiche. It’s an easy meal that can be eaten any time, and it freezes easily, so on harried days, it’s a great home-cooked-frozen dinner. 🙂 They are super easy to make, and the possible varieties are endless. Most smart-carb recipes call for crustless quiche, but honestly, the crust is one of my favorite parts. I’ve tried almond flour … Read More
The Power of Purging
If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed a post or two about my newsletter trials and tribulations. Long story short, I didn’t send newsletters during the pandemic, and because of that, most of my followers had become “inactive.” When I overrode those protocols to reach out to readers on the original list, my mail service sent … Read More
Easy Peasy Raspberry Jam
One of the things I love about summer is all the fresh fruits and veggies. Of course, I try to eat more veggies than fruit (because too much sugar turns me into a gremlin, where I eat everything in sight), but one fruit I can’t pass up is raspberries. Only 5 grams of sugar per cup, these little gems are … Read More
Recovering from the Pandemic
This past year has been one for the record books, especially for teachers. Scrambling to create virtual classrooms on the fly while dealing with food and technology disparities for our low socio-economic kiddos was, at times, overwhelming. Prolonged stress had left me burned out and bone-weary. Nothing, not even writing, could pull me from that infernal sense of detachment. My … Read More
Black Plate–Moussaka
Welcome to the Wilder Way Wednesday posts. I haven’t posted one of these in a while, and so we’ll need to review. About five or six years ago, I was at my heaviest weight … at least, I’m pretty sure it was my heaviest. I have no idea how much I actually weighed because I hadn’t been on a scale … Read More
Healing Wounds of the Past
When I make bone-headed decisions, or, in the case of this past cortisol-infested pandemic year, lash out because of stress or fear, I remember the wise words of Maya Angelou. The saying is steeped in grace, isn’t it? It allows us to acknowledge our shortcomings, and yet, it gives us hope that maybe we can grow past them and become … Read More
Understanding Accountability
The dark events of this past week were so horrific that most people I know shy away from even discussing it. But I can’t ignore what happened–it feels disingenuous and wrong. Like most Americans, my heart broke as I watched an animalistic mob invade the seat of our democracy, the very symbol that countless brave men and women have died … Read More