Hello!

First of all, thanks for visiting my blog. If you have commented in the past–whether on Facebook or in the comments section–THANK YOU AGAIN! I love reading your comments. 

So now, I have a favor to ask of you! Now that you are here, what would you like to know? What question would you like me to answer? What is causing the most stress right now? Maybe I’ve been where you’ve been and can tell you what worked for me.

Go on! Ask me anything! Tomorrow, I will select one or two (or a few questions) and answer them for you! So, leave a comment below and ask me a question!

I can’t wait to see what you have for me! 

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I’ve never been one to stay in my comfort zone for too long. It’s a lovely place to be for a while, and enjoy the low stress, high-performance lifestyle–but eventually, I get antsy and realize it’s time for a change. And we all know where change lives, that’s right, at the end of our comfort zones.

Take something simple like my haircut. I always want to change it up. I get bored easily. I might want a new style. (Man, do I miss my short hair!) Or it could be less dramatic and more fun, like going from a blonde to a darker blonde to a brunette. Once, I went off the rails and asked my hairdresser to add a little red to the mix. I liked it for a few weeks, but in the end, it wasn’t for me.

But, generally, I’ve always enjoyed and embraced the idea of changing something about myself. Some see it is as a makeover; I see it as rebranding.

Here are a few challenges I’ve put in place to tackle over the next few months.

Because I work in the non-profit world, I tend not to volunteer as much as I should. Sure, I pack and deliver boxes at the food pantry a few times a year, and I’ve organized “dine and donate” events for the school, but I’d like to up my volunteer game. I know I’d enjoy an opportunity to serve on the board of a cause I’m passionate about, or mentor a young professional who could use a trusty compass. I need to replace my “sit on the couch and watch Netflix” comfort zone and do some good in the world.

Here’s another challenge. I’ve never considered myself to be much of an athlete, but I’ve become too comfortable in my own skin lately. So much so that I’ve put on more than a few pounds that need to come off. I’m building a new habit of spending 10-15 minutes a day doing something active. Eventually, that will build up to 30 minutes, but I’m taking it slow. And I’ll need some motivation so I’ll get back to those Weight Watchers meetings I’ve been ignoring on my calendar. Being a part of a community motivates me, whether it is one with writers or one filled with people looking for a healthier self. I need to find that community again.

Finally, I want to seek out more ways to show kindness. While someone may consider nice people to be pushovers, I see it as my superpower. If you are looking for some help with something, just ask. If you are looking for a job, I’ve been told I’m a good writer and editor of cover letters and resumes. If you are going through a tough time, I can be a good listener. If you are looking for a book recommendation for your next book club, I have a kick-ass list. Or maybe I’ll send you a card or a little gift to let you know I’m thinking of you. How can I be of help to you?

Comfort zones can be dangerous places to stay for too long. Time for me to move out of mine. If you’ve done this before, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please share!

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The problem with being an avid reader and a writer is that you tend to find plot holes and issues with stories. I’ve spent enough time participating in writing workshops to recognize what works, what went wrong, and what I would have done if I wrote the book.  And, of course, I didn’t write it – so who am I to criticize?

For fun, I’m going to critique the book anyway. 🙂

The Mother-In-Law is a murder mystery in which the woman dies, and everyone in the family is considered a possible suspect. From the children to the in-laws, everyone had a reason to do her in.

The book started off with a look at the happy couple when they first met and in present day. The timeline changes between the past and present, and the story unfolds with both the victim and her daughter-in-law engaged in a conflict and sharing different sides of the story. At first, I thought this would be difficult to follow, but it turned out to be an entertaining way to keep the story moving along at a good clip. Whatever the confrontation, the reader sees it from both sides, understands the underlying miscommunication and subsequent fallout. And, in my case, sympathizes with both main characters. I think the author wanted me to sympathize with the daughter-in-law but I found her to be oversensitive and a tad whiny. While her mother in law did some questionable things — she had her reasons.

Here’s what I didn’t like about the book. I thought it was a shame that we didn’t hear more from the other family members – aka suspects. I think the author could have spent more time and pages on each of their lives to create some fun moments of confusion and wonder as to who did the deed. Also, as murder mysteries go, usually, there is a law enforcement component. I found myself intrigued by how the detectives handled the family members and proceded with their investigation. Unfortunately, they all but disappeared from the storyline a few chapters into the novel.

If you are thinking this book is the new “Gone Girl,” far from it. However, it is a fun read, and you will be left wondering who the murderer is until the bitter end.

Spoiler alert – if you what to know who did it without reading the entire book, the table of contents offers a dead giveaway.

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Back when I was pregnant, people would ask me whether I hoped for another girl or a boy. I didn’t care either way as long as the baby was healthy. But, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I had doubts about my own parenting skills when raising a son. It sounds ridiculous now, but I remember thinking to myself that I only know about girls, having a sister of my own. What did I know about boys?

All doubts were put aside when the doctor put Andrew in my arms at 12:13 am on October 17, 2003.
Ten fingers, ten toes. 7lbs. 1 oz. Lots of dark hair and the longest eyelashes that fashion models would kill for.
He was perfect.

And I found out quickly that there is no difference in raising boys vs. girls. (DUH!) To me, parenting is all about instilling your values in your children and share your passions with them. And then, give them the love and support they need to take these things and grow into the people they are destined to become. Sixteen years later, Andrew emulates everything we value as adults and more. Today on his birthday, we celebrate that with great pride.

A few things about Andrew:

He has a strong moral compass and an innate desire to give back to those in need.

In school, synagogue, sports, and scouts, he has a fierce drive to do his very best.

Since he was born, he has had a fantastic smile that, to this day, lights up a room. I think people are drawn to him by that smile.

His sense of humor is smart, deadpan, and hilarious.

He has the nicest group of friends. lt was no surprise to me that when we went on a cruise this past summer, he met a group of friends, and they bonded instantly. So much so, that on the last night, they gathered on the pool deck in a circle and shed some tears because they had to leave each other. Four months later, he stays in contact with them through a group chat.

Right now, the thing I love most about him is how he wears kindness on his sleeve. Honestly, in today’s crazy world, the smallest and heartfelt act of kindness goes a long way, and I know it will take him far in life.

As his mother, I could go on and on about how great he is, but I think you get it. In Judaism, we call him a mensch which is Yiddish for a good person. He is such a mensch.

Happy Birthday, Andrew. We love you.

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Yesterday, I attended a writer’s workshop alone. I walked into the room of maybe 60 people hoping to see a familiar face from other events I attended. I saw no one I knew, but I also knew I wasn’t alone.

All I needed to do was pick a side of the room to sit on, and I knew I’d find my people there. I am a part of this community of writers. We all have the same dreams of being heard, being remembered, and connecting with others through our love of words. I belonged there.

I sat down around a group of women, and sure enough, we hit it off.

Irene sat to my left. She is a magazine writer and has a home office, which makes it difficult for her to separate her work from her personal writing. While sometimes I wish I worked from home more regularly, I can see the struggle. I, too, needed a new place to write. For the past few years, I’ve written blog posts in the middle of all the action–my dining room table. There was a tv blaring in the background and kids asking me to sign permission slips. As a mom, I needed to be there. As a writer, it was hurting my creativity.

Recently, I turned my daughter’s bedroom into my writing haven. I asked her permission, of course. She is away at college now, and the room sits empty. Now, I have my favorite notebooks and pens on her desk. I moved my writing books and prompt decks onto her bookshelf. If I need a place to sit away from the blank screen, her comfy bean bag chair is in the corner–although lately, it is hard to stand up from that thing. There is no tv in the room to distract me, and most importantly, there is a door to close. It’s a perfect sanctuary for writing.

I talked to Carol during one of the breaks. She is currently writing a book about her bitter divorce that she is still picking up the pieces from. She had a lot of self-doubt that anyone would ever want to read it, and maybe the act of writing it down was just cathartic. She was searching for a writer’s group that would be open to her stories. We talked about a few groups she visited that didn’t work out for her. She said they weren’t supportive enough. So, I suggested the group I attend, which she said she would check it out. She was an intense writer with something to get off her chest. I hope she is heard. I assured her someone is out there who wants to connect with someone and hear a story like hers. They want to know they aren’t alone.

I shared with her my idea for a book, but I also wasn’t sure if it had an audience. When I described the book to her, a woman in front of us turned around and said she knew someone who would love to read my book. She commented on how she had seen nothing like it before—and she had looked. This gave me new encouragement to write the book I’ve been thinking about for so long.

Encouragement. Inspiration. Friendship. These were the three things I took away from the workshop yesterday. Yes, the speakers were terrific, but because writing is a solitary activity, I go to be with the community that continues to lift me up. We have the same dreams and the same fears. We want to be heard but are riddled with self-doubt. I left the workshop feeling inspired and determined to tackle the blank page with courage, confidence, and a new commitment to writing that shitty first draft knowing someday it will turn into something special.

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