Depression didn’t show up quietly. It didn’t knock gently or ease itself in. It hit me like a storm I never saw coming.For a long time, I felt like I was trapped inside a glass case — able to see the world around me, but convinced no one could truly see me. My body ached. My spirit was exhausted. And the more I tried to hide the pain from myself and everyone around me, the worse it became. People sensed something was wrong. I could see it in their eyes. Yet we all pretended e

Understanding Midlife Glam Anything can throw you off your game—divorce, death, loss of a career, or even something as subtle as menopause, hair loss, unwanted hair, or mood swings. The list goes on, and all of these can derail your self-confidence. Self-confidence influences how you feel, how you look, and what you expect from yourself. Recently, my daughter was dramatically horrified by the return of 90s fashion. Meanwhile, I spent the 90s in maternity clothes or anything t

I knew I could do it, well, I know now! Season 2 Episode 4: Holy crap I did a photo shoot! Is That Really Me? So, there I was — 55, standing in front of a camera, wearing lingerie I hadn’t touched in years. Was it crazy? Absolutely not. Was it terrifying? Oh, yes. But also… exhilarating, empowering, and honestly, life-affirming. Sharing my photos with a few people, I realized: this experience wasn’t just about pictures. It was about reclaiming my body, my confidence, and my j

Confession Time: I’ve Ignored Affirmations Most likely, I’ve tossed affirmatives to the side — thinking, “Ugh, who has time for this fluff?” They seemed like a waste of my time. Yet, every once in a while, I jump on the bandwagon and douse myself in them. And you know what? They work. But maybe not in the way the self-help books promised. The Affirmatives I Actually Use Forget the soft, sugary lines you find in every Instagram post. My affirmatives have attitude: “You can do

Our Childhoods Shape Us We carry our childhoods with us — the good, the bad, and the messy in-between. In this episode, I get personal. I share stories from my own childhood struggles — experiences that weren’t always easy, and moments that still echo in my adult life. The truth is, those challenges helped shape the person I am today . Facing the Past to Build the Present Acknowledging your past isn’t about blame or shame. It’s about understanding: How your early experiences

What We Don’t Owe Anyone Being shamed, guilt-tripped, or emotionally manipulated does not create debt . Holding someone emotionally hostage to force them to act—or act the way you think they should—is not a thing . You and I owe nothing  when it comes to emotional currency. Not our time, not our energy, and certainly not our peace. This episode reflects on life lessons that sneaked into a current situation, reminding me (and you) that: “You do you, and I will do me.” …isn’t j

Still Wild at Heart: Owning Your Midlife Confidence As I gaze into the mirror, I can’t help but wonder— how did time fly by so fast? The woman staring back at me has a few more lines, softer skin, and a body that tells the story of years lived fully. But inside, I still feel like her—that curious, adventurous, sometimes reckless version of me who believed the world was wide open. It’s funny how the outside changes, but the inside? She’s still ready for a little trouble. The M

The Red Heel Revelation: Escaping the Trap of Self-Sabotage The answer to self-sabotage is… not to self-sabotage yourself . Sounds simple, right? Years of research, hundreds of dollars on self-help books, and countless motivational audiobooks led me to that mind-blowing revelation. I could’ve saved myself a fortune if I’d just slipped on those red heels  sooner. (Okay, I said six inches on the podcast, but let’s be real—three inches feels like six when it’s me. 😉) Recognizin

Her wheelchair didn’t fit easily between the table and the kitchen island. I finished helping her get ready for the day — the same routine we’d shared for months — brushing her hair, fixing her breakfast, and making sure the morning ran as smoothly as possible. That day, though, I was bursting with excitement. I had something to show her. The Mango. My new car.Bright. Bold. Orange. I couldn’t believe that I  — the woman who hated attention and proudly claimed the title of “in

Kindness. It’s one of those words that gets tossed around like confetti — beautiful, well-meaning, but often forgotten when it comes to the person in the mirror. You determine kindness’s meaning. It’s how you  choose to show it. Kindness can be empathy, acceptance, kind gestures, or thoughtfulness. The possibilities are endless — and entirely yours. We usually think of kindness as something we give  to others. A smile. A helping hand. A “you’ve got this” text to a friend. But

The Lotion Hoard: Finding Joy in Using What You Have I think I’ve always had a stockpile of lotions tucked away in a cabinet somewhere, but lately… it’s borderline obscene. Every time I open a drawer or peek into a shelf, I see rows upon rows of bottles—body lotions, face creams, and specialty potions for every conceivable part of me. The funny thing? It takes forever to finish a single container. And yes, if I tried to gift this collection to someone else, one person couldn’

Why Do Women Need to Feel Beautiful? Every day, we’re bombarded with images of women that set unrealistic standards for beauty. From magazines and billboards to social media feeds, we’re constantly told what sexy looks like. Professional models, filters, and Photoshop have created ideals so polished they’re nearly impossible to match—and yet we try. It’s no wonder many women question their bodies: “Am I enough?” “Do I measure up?” The beauty and cosmetic industries make it wo

Can You Ever Be Ready? Interviews. Boudoir. Sharing your inner thoughts with the world. Can you ever truly feel ready for these things? Totally… maybe. But for me? Not so much. If I over-prepare or plan, my anxiety sneaks in, and suddenly the idea of stepping into the spotlight feels like running a marathon in flip-flops. At that point, Netflix looks a lot  more appealing. Sometimes, though, bravery shows up unannounced. You feel it in your gut, a rush that says, “Just do it.

People Are Not Flawed Products have flaws. They are made by humans and sometimes the design isn’t perfect. But people? People are not broken. We aren’t put together by others. We are made from our experiences, our learning, and the world around us.  Our feelings—joy, sadness, confusion, hurt—are all part of being human. They don’t make us flawed; they make us whole. Put Yourself Together You are physical, mental, and spiritual. Every moment, every emotion, every reaction buil

How many times have you heard "Life got in the way" ? How about "That is way out of my comfort zone!"? Can I do this? Feeling Stuck Before 50 As I approached my fifties, I felt trapped in an “it is what it is”  mindset. Somehow, I had learned to let my age define me and what I was “supposed” to do. Looking back, I realize how much I had been stuck on a predefined path—one I didn’t consciously choose. After my mom’s funeral, leaving her house was surreal. The world felt closed

Depression is one of those topics that’s difficult to put into words. It’s easier to stay at a distance, to nod along to the conversation without fully engaging. Awareness is the first step, but how do we make it personal? How do we talk about our own depression ? Recording my latest podcast episode was surprisingly easy. Speaking into a microphone about my experiences felt natural. But publishing it? That’s when the real anxiety hit. Sharing your inner world invites opinions

Be Yourself When the sadness starts to take over, the phobias start to win. Feelings of being powerless in my surroundings begin to take over. The walls grow thicker in my head, and the heaviness makes me feel weak. Usually, people with anxiety disorders hide it well — though in their minds, they think everyone can tell. Social anxiety  is a very self-centered condition. Your mind tells you that everyone is looking at you and judging you. This is where you lose yourself — whe

Self-image. Sounds simple, right? Ha.  Wrong. I thought this was going to be a deep but manageable conversation. Instead, it turned into a bottomless pit  of questions, confusion, and head-swirl moments. Self-image isn’t just how we see ourselves—it bleeds into identity, self-awareness, and the relentless pressure to be the “perfect” version of ourselves that self-help books, podcasts, and Instagram quotes promise. 🪞 What is Self-Image Anyway? Self-image:  The idea one has o

Mental illness is tough to talk about. Really tough. And yet, it’s something we need to talk about —not in passing, not with a shrug, but deeply, honestly, and without judgment. On Episode 2 of the Sex’n’Fries Podcast , I dive into the messiness of mental health: the fears, the stigma, and what it really means to live with a mind that sometimes doesn’t behave the way society expects. 🎙 Episode Takeaways Mental illness is complex . Environmental stress, genetics, and biochemi

Comfort zone bliss Have you ever wondered if your comfort zone is secretly holding you back? That cozy little bubble where everything feels safe, familiar, and blissful—could it also be stalling your emotional growth ? I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and here’s the truth: comfort zones feel good because fear feels bad . Fear is a natural, evolutionarily programmed response that keeps us safe. But it can also become a convincing excuse —a justification to avoid dis