Back in 2017, when I was frustrated that my novel, Waiting at Hayden's, had not yet been published, and I felt like I’d be an “aspiring author” forever, I went out and bought a planner for 2018. In it, instead of writing down the plans that I DID have for the year ahead, I wrote down all the plans I WANTED to have. In the summer, for instance, I wanted my novel to be published. So, I picked a day in July of 2018 and wrote down, “launch party at my parents’ house”! In September, I wanted . . .
Introducing shopfiction™: a new reading experience format
This past year I’ve been busy branding a new reading experience format, shopfiction™, that will allow readers to shop their favorite characters’ clothes and home decor! In a previous post, I shared all about how this idea came to me. In this post, I’m excited to explain how shopfiction™ will work. fit and flare dresses My novel, Waiting at Hayden’s, will be published on July 10th and will be released in both print and digital formats. Digital: In the digital version of the book . . .
How to Make NEW Friends in Your Twenties & Thirties
Outfit Details Joie Skirt, Rails Top, Ash and Ky Bracelet “Do you want to go to a flapjack eating contest?” I often think about how different my life would be had I said no to this question a year and a half ago. I was living in Portland, Oregon at the time and visiting my cousins in Newport Beach, CA. They had to go to an event one afternoon so suggested I go to a flapjack eating contest with one of their friends in Laguna Beach. I had about a 0-5% interest in attending. But, I made a . . .
Nice Should Be a Given: Why We Should Stop Using Nice As a Dating Criterion
Outfit Details Anthropologie Top, BCBG Skirt, Prada Sunglasses (20% off), Mara Envelope Bag The other week I took the ferry each night from Balboa Island to a different restaurant in Newport Beach for happy hour. I went by myself—something that I really enjoy doing when I’m traveling and that I’ve been making more of a point to do when I’m home. When you meet a friend out for dinner or a drink you have a pretty accurate idea of how your night will unfold. You can even anticipate the types of . . .
Change Your Life by Changing Your Life Story
A year ago, before I moved to Orange County, I told my employers in Oregon that I was moving because I’d won a writing competition at Chapman University and was going back to school to work with a professor on my novels. The truth was I hadn’t actually won the competition yet. I’d only entered. But I believed that what I’d written was good enough to get me accepted and more importantly, I WANTED that to be the way my life unfolded. So I made the move BEFORE I knew the results, which helped me . . .
A New Perspective on Valentine’s Day and 10 Love Stories to Help You Celebrate
For the longest time I hated the smell of cigarettes—probably almost as much as most people hate Valentine’s Day. But then I went backpacking through Europe and stayed with a handful of wonderful people—all who smoked cigarettes. And almost overnight cigarette smoke became synonymous with good times and great people. I’ve found that you can change your relationship with just about anything—and anyone—by a simple shift in perspective. I, for one, have always been a sucker for Valentine’s Day. . . .