I’ve always walked into rooms like a storm. Not a destructive one — more like a well-planned hurricane. Organized. Purposeful. Ready to command and care for everything and everyone all at once. It’s how I led teams, raised children, built a life. I still carry that fire. But somewhere along the way, I found myself craving calm. As I’ve aged (hopefully gracefully), I’ve softened in places I didn’t expect to. I listen more than I speak now; not because I have less to say, but b

Let’s be real—military housing doesn’t exactly scream “HGTV dream home.” Whether you're living on base or renting off-post, you're often working with beige walls, limited square footage, and outdated fixtures you can't change. But that doesn't mean your home office has to feel bland or basic. As a military spouse, remote worker, and multi-tasking mama, I know the value of a space that feels both inspiring and efficient. Whether you're balancing Teams meetings between laundry

I am the type of mom that might *appear* to have it all together. I work full time at a high-level position. I run a not-for-profit advocacy program and a part-time PR company. I have an obsession with keeping my house clean. My oldest is attending a wonderful college in Utah. My youngest is smarter than I am to the point that I rely on Khan Academy to help him with math homework. And I'm Mrs. California America 2021. But come on, we all KNOW I don't have it all together. I'm

At the start of each new year, I try to focus on what I need to learn or what I want to focus on for the next 365 days. I write down my goals for the year, my hopes and dreams, and what I can do in the upcoming year to get closer to fulfilling my five-year and 10-year goals. But today as I look forward to 2022, I'm stuck. I keep thinking about 2021, and if I'm honest, shaking my head a little. You see in 2020, I realized I had slowly allowed people to treat me differently. I

You’ve probably heard the phrase “If mom isn’t happy, no one’s happy.” But an unhappy husband is just as difficult to handle. You've probably heard the phrase "If mom isn't happy, no one's happy." But an unhappy husband is just as difficult to handle. As it turns out, there are things we wives can avoid saying that get under his skin. 1. "We need to talk." Carter Bailey, a 27-year-old husband from Texas, said unless you want to trigger your husband's "fight or flight" respons

A friend of mine sent me a Yahoo article where a mom opens up about all the reasons she regrets being a mother. The title alone will send some shockwaves through you, or, perhaps you are like the author and you will be privately or publicly agreeing with the mom before you even read it. For those of you who haven't read it, you can do so here . But a quick summary is that this mother thinks if there is a God, but she doesn't believe there is, she imagines He gave her an autis

If you're anything like me, the littlest things can make you suddenly look 5 months pregnant! This was a huge issue for me before I start my health and fitness journey. Here are 7 tips that worked for me, and a couple links to more ideas that worked for others. Don’t skip working out Your body NEEDS exercise. I use a hybrid schedule that gives me the right amount of cardio, weights and ab workouts. While doing workouts, I contract my stomach. According to Autumn Calabrese, I’

The proverb “silence is golden” may be wise advice before making a judgment about another person; but experts agree that it can be a costly mistake in relationships. According to Kerry Patterson, co-author of the New York Times best-seller Crucial Conversations, “couples who argue effectively are 10 times more likely to have a happy relationship than those who sweep difficult issues under the rug.” In his research, Patterson discovered that four out of five people believed p

I'm scrolling my Facebook newsfeed this morning, delaying getting out of bed, when I see a headline that makes my blood boil: As a mom who is worried about inclusion, tolerance and respect, I can immediately empathize with the idea of not wanting children to be left out of foursquare on the playground. As someone who was teased, picked on and called horrible names all through elementary schools, I know how much it hurts to be on the outside of the popular kids club. I remem