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Summer Reads

My summer reads have been so much fun. Instead of buying 86 more books, I decided to revisit some old friends from my bookshelf. Once I finished my journey with Josephine Tey, I started my summer of re-reads with Tolstoy’s War and Peace. From Russia, I moved on to 19th-century Britain and the Brontë Sisters. I may or may not have thrown in a random Elizabeth Gaskell novel, too. I’m currently re-reading Wilkie Collins’ The Moonstone, which is so good.

Re-reading your favorite book is like returning home to relax with your good friend. Once I finish my current book, I’m going to reread my Jane Austen collection. It will be so fun to go back to an era in which I’d love to live. Truth be told, I want to live in the Jane Austen world with modern medicine. I have no desire to die from communicable diseases that have been largely snuffed out in the Western world.

Here is my summer reading list:

In re-reading the Brontë sisters, I find that I’m really drawn to The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. It tells the story of a woman who makes a poor choice of husband and has to live with the consequences. More than that, it told the story of what 19th-century British society allowed men to get away with and demanded their women accept. Which Brontë sisters’ book is your favorite?

Ann Brontë was ahead of her time, and this book was controversial at the time. In fact, Charlotte tried to make excuses for Ann’s and Emily’s take in Wildfell Hall and Wuthering Heights, respectively. Emily’s version of romance between Heathcliff and Catherine upset a lot of people. It should be noted that Charlotte’s take on all of their novels was given in the forward of their re-released after both Ann and Emily had died. Lastly, I really enjoyed Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. It was sweet, well-written, and ahead of its time.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: still training, signed up for a 5k on 9/20!
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: finishing 2.0 this week!
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into September and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: went to Vegas, but lots of work to do here.
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins as part of my summer of re-reads.
  • Get out of debt: in progress, but still poor
  • Financial independence: in progress, but still opt

Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.

I had to look it up, but the furthest I’ve been from home is Trondheim, Norway. At first, I thought it may have been Helsinki, but that’s only 5,200 miles from home. Trondheim, on the other hand, is 5,800 miles from Palm Beach. We drove from Oslo to Trondheim with baggage in tow the day we landed in Norway. It was so cold that I had to wear a scarf under my collar even though it was the middle July.

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Vegas

We went to Vegas for our anniversary back in July with our good friend John and his son TK. It was the first time I had been to Vegas since 1993. To say I was excited to go would be a gross understatement. First of all, I love to travel and I feel like I’ve gone nowhere this year. Secondly, I love being able to get dressed up and enjoy a night out. Lastly, I was excited to see how Vegas had changed since my last visit in the early 90s. I also packed eight dresses since I relished the opportunity to get dressed up.

As expected, the weather in Vegas was hot. Fortunately, it wasn’t terrible since we come from south Florida where it’s always hot. We also missed some severe weather that hit earlier in the week. I don’t love the dry heat. To be more accurate, my skin, lips, sinuses and hair do not love the dry heat. My lips were chapped and my hands were so dry. I opted to not blow dry my hair to avoid damaging it. So if you go and you’re not from an arid climate, make sure you bring lotion, saline nasal spray, and chapstick.

There are plenty of hotel options on the Strip. We had a beautiful suite at the Cosmopolitan with a wrap-around balcony. The room and the views were absolutely stunning. In fact, the guys really enjoyed the nice views of the pool club that was beneath our balcony. If you’re booking a room at the Cosmopolitan and like your quiet, you’ll need to ask for a room away from the day club/nightclubs. Otherwise, the sweet driving base of a club anthem will put you to sleep or keep you up.

Our friend stayed at the Palazzo so that we would walk over there in the morning. Naturally, we’d grab our Dunkin’ coffee on the way. Be aware that a Dunkin’ coffee will set you back $8 on the Strip. It was too far to walk back at night in heels so we would take a cab. Each cab ride set us back $25-$30 per ride. The cab costs definitely rack up quickly. I will say that the cab and Uber drivers in the city were consummate professionals and pleasant.

While I thought the cost of breakfast was ridiculous, the cost of our fancy meals (be it dinner or lunch) was completely reasonable. By reasonable, I mean they’re in par with what you’d expect to pay at a similar restaurant in South Florida. These meals were next level in every way. My favorite was Mizumi at the Wynn. The level of service they provide was second to none, as was the food. In fact, I desperately needed a Band-Aid due to blisters that had developed on my feet. The hostess got several from security, which was so appreciated.

The next night, we ate at Cut, which is located in the Palazzo. Luke and I enjoyed a Wagyu steak, which was so good. The appetizers, including a seafood tower, were extraordinary. Again, the level of service provided was second to none. The next day, we ate at Bouchon for lunch. I cannot wait to go back for dinner. We ate a Delilah that night, which is such a cool place. When you walk into it, you feel like you’ve walked into The Great Gatsby. Again, the food and service were incredible.

The last day we had lunch at China Poblano in the Cosmopolitan. I really enjoyed it. For dinner, we ate at Sushi Samba, which is a Brazilian, Peruvian, and Japanese fusion restaurant. I really enjoyed Sushi Samba. Like Mizum,i you share the dishes, so the portions are not ridiculously huge. It was the perfect way to end our Vegas trip. Needless to say, it will take no manipulation to get me back to Vegas.

I know what you’re thinking. Your Vegas blog is all about food. It is, but it can’t be helped. You can’t miss the culinary scene in Vegas. We didn’t have one bad meal or bad service anywhere. When we weren’t eating, we were playing the slots at the casino or sleeping off the lunch mimosas in the sauna. I did quite enjoy my time at the Canyon Ranch Spa and would highly recommend you visit it if you have the chance.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: still training, signed up for a 5k on 9/20!
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: finishing 2.0 this week!
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into September and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: went to Vegas, but lots of work to do here.
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins as part of my summer of re-reads.
  • Get out of debt: in progress, but still poor
  • Financial independence: in progress, but still poor

What does your ideal home look like?

My ideal home looks like the one I live in now, only cleaner and with a pool, sauna, and all my kids home. I don’t need a lot, but I do need my family and dogs.

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End of Summer

It’s the official end of summer, so I’m back after a nice break. I had planned to take some time off after graduation, but it turned out to be a it longer than expected. Sometimes, it turns out, a girl just needs to relax. The end of school rush, the Mayor’s type 1 diabetes, and the emotions of our baby graduating took a lot out of me physically and emotionally. Nonetheless, I’m glad to be back here writing again.

As we approached graduation, the Mayor’s honeymoon period with Type 1 ended. They often refer to the first six months post-diagnosis as the honeymoon period because the patient’s blood sugar is easy to manage. Once the pancreas fiction ceases, the ish hits the proverbial fan. To be sure, the Mayor has shown incredible fortitude in facing the challenges Type 1 presents.

His Dexcom 7, a continuous monitoring device, stopped being reliable. Unfortunately, they moved manufacturing overseas and changed the wire in the device. One day, his Dexcom showed his blood sugar over 400, while the Accu-chek showed 50. This, my friends, is the difference between life and death. Thankfully, he knows to sanity check his Dexcom before making a treatment decision. Others haven’t been so lucky and died because they treated a high blood sugar that didn’t exist. He also got a huge welt when part of the monitor came off on his arm, so that was fun.

In early July, the hubby and I headed to Vegas with our best friend John and his son TK. I was really nervous to take the trip, given the instability of the Mayor’s blood sugar. Fortunately, my parents flew down to stay with him after hearing my concern. I can’t tell you how much that meant to us. If they hadn’t come to stay with him, I wouldn’t have enjoyed Vegas at all. While they were him, they even took him to check out flight schools. As for our Vegas trip, I’ll do a separate post on that later. It was a great trip and the first time I’ve been there as an adult.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: still training, signed up for a 5k on 9/20!
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: finishing 2.0 this week!
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into September and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: went to Vegas, but lots of work to do here.
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins as part of my summer of re-reads.
  • Get out of debt: in progress, but still poor
  • Financial independence: in progress, but still opt

What brings a tear of joy to your eye?

A lot of things bring tears of joy to my eyes. I love seeing my kids living their best lives and the relationships they’ve built. One of my favorite things is to see how much the relationships they’ve built with their aunts and uncles mean to them. Fortunately, I was reminded of this yesterday when the Mayor spent the day boating with Uncle Jon, Aunt Brandi, and Uncle Richard. These folks mean everything to him, and he means a lot to them.

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Spring Bakes

While we didn’t go anywhere for spring break this year, there were plenty of spring bakes in the house. Since the Mayor’s diagnosis, I’ve been baking sourdough bread several times a week. I started with a sourdough boule recipe, but switched to a sandwich bread that the guys like better. It’s also easier to slice. The recipe is quite simple and doesn’t include a lot of active time, which allows me to multitask.

When everyone was here for graduation, I made the sourdough star with Biscoff instead of Nutella. I loved it with Nutella, but both my dad and Melly are deathly allergic to hazelnuts. Consequently, I don’t keep anything with hazelnuts in the house when they’re in town. It went much better than the previous times I made it, thanks to the assistance of my mom and hubby. I would make it again with Bischoff, but I would use a lot more of it next time. The flavor isn’t as strong as Nutella, so it needs more cookie butter for the flavor to come through.

I love cheese, but everyone already knows that. To go with chili, I made Brazilian cheese bread. This bread is perfect for the Mayor as it has 10 grams of carbohydrates and protein. Two of my favorite baked goods with cheese from this spring are the focaccia with sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella, and the brioche with Brie. Both of these breads are delicious and store well in the fridge.

Now I wouldn’t be my mother’s daughter if I didn’t include cookies in this blog. Some of my most treasured memories from childhood are baking cookies with my mom and grandma. The nice thing about baking my cookies is that I don’t have to fight my brothers for the bowl. This spring, I’ve been making chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies with Reese’s Pieces. When I bake the cookies, I weigh each one so they’re all the same weight. This way, I can give the Mayor precise carbohydrate counts by cookie. So let me ask you, what’s your favorite bake?

Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

There are several things I practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle. One, I practice yoga every morning before work. Secondly, I read every day before bed. I also try to get to bed every day at the same time, with no electronics allowed once I’m in my room for the night.

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Week Off

I took the week off after graduation so that I could spend the time with the boys, Melly, and my folks. My parents had been in town for a month, but with their work commitments, it was hard to see them as often as I would have liked. Tuesday morning, Melly picked me up to go visit my folks in Deerfield Beach. Unfortunately, Jake was unable to join us as he had to work.

My brother was staying out east near the water while his house was being renovated. Fortunately, this meant a quick walk to the water for my folks. Honestly, the location could not have been any better. To be able to walk to Deerfield Beach and all the shops and restaurants there is priceless. For my folks from Minny, it was a perfect place to enjoy the paradise they deserve.

Melly, my mom, and I walked to a cute coffee shop a block from the beach. I got their caramel roll latte, which was delicious. After we got our coffees, we walked down the beach to the pavilion. It was the perfect location to enjoy our coffees and the beautiful beach views. The facilities are super nice, and the bathrooms are perfectly clean. We had a beautiful morning enjoying each other’s company and our coffee.

Thursday, Jake and Melly picked me up and we headed to the cutest cafe in Delray Beach. Glimmer Cafe is beautifully decorated, and the food is just as gorgeous. I enjoyed a strawberry goat cheese salad with a strawberry latte. Melly had a Caesar salad, while Jake had a sandwich and an iced latte. It wasn’t a cheap meal, but it’s worth the experience. We’ll be back! Hopefully, next time we can bring Terri (Melly’s mom) and my mom.

After lunch, we headed to one of my favorite places: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. We took the kids there often when they were young. They loved seeing the sea turtles, sharks, and other sea life. Unfortunately, the aquariums were closed due to construction that day. We were still able, however, to enjoy the boardwalk, the tower, and the butterfly garden. It’s a magical place that I love returning to year after year.

After our nature walk, we went back to Melly’s family home to bake some bread. Our plan to bake bread was almost unraveled when we couldn’t find the mixer. Eventually, we found it and were able to bake the sourdough bread. I also brought her a jar with some of my starter, so she can have her own sourdough starter. We were going to bake garlic knots, but we ran out of time. She did an amazing job baking the bread! Also, as a bonus, I was able to hang out with the grand birds while the bread rose.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: in training
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress.
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into June and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: working on it
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
  • Get out of debt: in progress
  • Financial independence: in progress

What’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever eaten?

Oh, where do I even start? First of all, I love food. Second of all, I have enjoyed a lot of really good food. It is impossible to pick the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. One dessert I had in France that I still think about is Kouign-Amann. My friend Emilie bought it for us in Brittany to try while we were staying at an Airbnb in Normandy.

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Graduation

Graduation has come and gone, but I needed to sit with my emotions for a bit before writing about it. The last of the lasts are bittersweet. While not as jarring as the first of the “lasts”, it does mark the end of an era. After twenty-one plus years of schooling for our boys, our school days are officially over. Honestly, I’m not going to miss the nastygrams over missing homework or other shenanigans. I will, however, miss the teachers who made a difference in their lives.

This year was a rough one for the Mayor, so graduation was quite the victory. The original goal was for him to finish up virtually, but that didn’t work out. We reenrolled him in physical school last fall. At first, he wasn’t happy about it, but it turned out to be a godsend. Last fall, doctors diagnosed him with Type 1 diabetes, and it hit us like a ton of bricks. Nurse Stephanie was and still is his angel on earth. As a fellow diabetic, she was able to help him navigate his diagnosis. I don’t think I can repay her for the help she has given us.

There was a lot of drama around tickets, which sucked. Each family was only given six tickets as the graduating class was nearly 800 strong. Six tickets weren’t enough for our family. In the end, the Mayor was able to obtain some extra tickets, so our family, including my parents and brother, was able to attend. After the 8:00 am graduation, we were all hungry. In the end, we ended up getting the pizzas at Cucina Moderne for lunch. The wait for brunch at First Watch was over an hour.

After lunch, we chilled at home with puppies and watched some television. The graduation dinner for the Mayor was at Saito’s. My boys are very different people, but they share a love of hibachi. In addition to our family, my folks, Jon and Brandi, and Richard and Suelen were able to join us. I don’t think the Mayor would have let us celebrate his graduation without his favorite uncles being there. The food was amazing and we had a great time.

Celebrating our youngest’s graduation without our family, including our oldest son’s wife, was surreal. It felt like the end of one chapter of our family life and the beginning of a new chapter. While we were the chief authors of the last chapter, the chapter will largely be written by their generation. I have to say, I’m not here for it. This and perimenopause make me feel old, and I’m not okay with it. Obviously, I’ll come to terms with it as every generation of mothers has done before me, but it’s tough. Anyway, enough about my emotional baggage.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: in training
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress.
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into June and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: working on it
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
  • Get out of debt: in progress
  • Financial independence: in progress

If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?

My go to outfit is my new Fabletics onesie paired with a colorful sports bra and my hair up in a pony tail. You wouldn’t even have to force me to wear it over and over again.

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Countdown is On

The countdown is on! Only six more days until the Mayor’s graduation officially ends our family’s school days. It’s been a long and winding road that started at a preschool in Minnesota in 2003. I still remember the orientation like it was yesterday. The teachers largely ignored me and talked to my mom. To be fair, I looked like a kid and she still doesn’t look her age. From next Monday forward, I will be but a passenger in the next generation’s school journey.

Twenty-two years of homework, last-minute science projects, angry emails, and angry calls are coming to an end. Fortunately, the Mayor hit his stride at Park Vista and made the A honor roll each quarter this year. This last year of school for our family has been a godsend. Happenstance put us in that school with the people best suited to help him handle and manage his diabetes diagnosis. I could pinch myself at how blessed we’ve been with his school nurse, teachers, and administrators.

One of my favorite school day stories featuring the Mayor happened when he was in first grade. A couple of things to keep in mind. At this point, he was living in hockey locker rooms. Two, LMFAO and “Party Rock” were everywhere at this time. At lunch, his friend dared him to stand on the table, drop his pants, and “wiggle it” as the song lyrics suggested. With no compunction, he accepted and executed the dare. Consequently, I received an urgent call for a meeting with the teacher.

When I met with the teacher and she told me what happened, it was all I could do not to laugh. After all, he did this little dance on the cafeteria table wearing Thomas the Tank Engine underwear. Horrified, I explained to the teacher that he lives in his older brother’s hockey locker room and is a hockey player himself. His teacher gave me a knowing look and said, “I grew up in Michigan and dated hockey players all my life. This makes complete sense. I will take care of it with the administration, so it doesn’t become an issue.”

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: in training
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress. I completed High Intensity 1.0 last week and started 2.0 yesterday!
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into May and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: working on it
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading A Knight and a Spy 1415 (The Road to Agincourt – King’s Spy), by Simon Fairfax
  • Get out of debt: in progress
  • Financial independence: in progress

What’s one small improvement you can make in your life?

I’ve made a lot of changes for the better this year. One thing I’d like to do is grow more fruits and vegetables in my yard. Florida is the perfect place for year round agriculture, so there’s really no excuse. This fall I’m going to plant some herbs and vegetables that we can harvest throughout the winter. It’s too hot in summer for a lot of these vegetables.

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Mother’s Day

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day yesterday. My weekend was quick, productive, and restful. The best part of the weekend came courtesy of the Florida Panthers, who beat Toronto Friday night and again last night. It was a perfect way to both start and end the weekend. Now we have to wait until Wednesday for game 5. I hope the Panthers continue to play as strongly as last night.

Of course, it was made better by the fact that I got to talk to all three kids yesterday. The Mayor is still at home, so he graced me with his presence. We bought him a nice acoustic guitar for his birthday, so he serenaded us with some songs he learned. Jake and Melly called on their way to an open house and then showed us the property, which is super cute. Last night on his way home from work, Goalielocks called me, so I was able to talk with him for a good thirty minutes. It was the perfect way to end my Mother’s day after an emphatic Panthers’ performance.

Saturday, I did a lot of chores and baking. It was all about sourdough Saturday. I prepared two loaves of sourdough sandwich bread to be baked on Sunday. Afterwards, I mixed up a sourdough brioche Biscoff wreath for dessert. I would usually bake it with Nutella, but my dad is allergic to hazelnuts. Afterwards, I made Brazilian cheese bread to go with dinner. It’s a great option for the Mayor as it’s low carb (10 grams of carbs with 4 grams of protein.)

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

In honor of Mother’s Day, my mom and my grandma have had a hugely positive impact on my life. First of all, they taught me what it means to be a mother. They also taught me what it is to be a strong and independent woman.

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Last of the Lasts

Today, we experienced one of the last of the lasts. Our youngest, the Mayor, had his last day of school today. Getting here has been a long road, but we’ve finally crossed the finish line. Our oldest started school in 2004 in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. After he finished kindergarten, we moved to Florida.

The first of the lasts are quite difficult as your brain learns to process the moment’s emotions. I remember feeling lost as I navigated Jake’s move from elementary to middle school, middle school to high school, and his senior year. Each milestone I experienced with Jake prepared me to experience it fully with Goalielocks and The Mayor.

First and last day of school

The Mayor’s senior year has hardly gone to plan. Who could have foreseen that he’d be hospitalized in the fall and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes? Fortunately, his high school played an integral role in adjusting to diabetes. His school nurse, also a diabetic, took him under her wing immediately. The nurse ensured everyone understood what needed to be done to keep him safe at school. His English teacher helped him too, as she is also a type 1 diabetic.

Jake’s first and last day
Goaelielocks first and last day

The last of the lasts is interesting too. It’s not as hard as the first time, but the finality of it all is a bittersweet pill to swallow. Honestly, when you first have kids, you feel like you’ll be parenting them forever. In the end, active parenting is a temporary assignment. After eighteen years or so, parents are expected to send their kids out into the world. It’s like having three versions of your heart beating outside your body. Yet seeing them thrive as adults is quite rewarding. So, cheers to the next chapter as we celebrate the last of the lasts.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: in training
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into February and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: working on it
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading A Knight and a Spy 1414 (The Road to Agincourt – King’s Spy), by Simon Fairfax
  • Get out of debt: in progress
  • Financial independence: in progress

What was the last live performance you saw?

The last live performance I saw was Jerry Seinfeld. He’s only the second stand-up comedian I’ve seen live. The first was Chelsea Handler, whom we saw ages ago in Miami Beach. Seinfeld’s show was as entertaining and intelligent as I expected it to be. I’d definitely go see him again. Next week I hope to scoot up to the amphitheater to see Breaking Benjamin live. It’s been far too long since I’ve been to a concert.

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Heat Wave

There is a heat wave at my house. It’s been going on since Monday night when our downstairs A/C unit decided to stop working. At present, it’s a balmy 83 degrees in my office/bedroom. It made for an arduous run yesterday and a tough workout today. As for the yoga, it’s helpful to be a bit warm. Nevertheless, I’m not here for it. In fact, it’s the opposite of splendid. After all, I like to be comfortably cool.

Thankfully, we ended up going out for dinner last night to celebrate the Mayor’s birthday. My folks, uncle Jon, aunt Brandi, uncle Richard, and aunt Suelen joined us at Sushi Yama for the celebratory dinner. As much fun as it would have been to host a dinner at our house in the middle of an A/c outage, Sushi Yama was the perfect answer. We had an incredible dinner with lots of good appetizers and tasty entrees. At the end of the dinner, the bill was quite reasonable given how much food we ate.

Anyway, the heat wave will continue for at least a few more hours. Hopefully, the Hubby can fix the A/C tonight. I look forward to being comfortable at work and sleeping in my bed. Since we have no A/C in our room, I’ve been sleeping in my human-sized dog bed in the living room. It’s way too hot in our room. If I slept in there, my night sweats would have night sweats. Ironically, I had the best couple of nights of sleep in a long time. Nonetheless, I do miss the comfort of my own bed.

2025 Goal Tracker:

  • Run a 5K: in training
  • Complete Kayla Itsines program: in progress
  • No afternoon Starbucks (except for travel/vacations): I made it into February and haven’t buckled!
  • Top performer at work: on it!
  • Travel: working on it
  • Eat to lower inflammation: in progress
  • Read daily: in progress. I’m reading A Knight and a Spy 1414 (The Road to Agincourt – King’s Spy), by Simon Fairfax
  • Get out of debt: in progress
  • Financial independence: in progress

What do you do to be involved in the community?

I currently volunteer as the Teams Chair and leadership team for the Broward/Palm Beach Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (hereafter PanCan) affiliate. My friend Debbie introduced me to PanCan after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015. PanCan was an important part of her cancer journey. She was the keynote speaker at the 2016 PurpleStride event. Before she passed away, I promised her I’d take up the mantle and continue to advocate for pancreatic cancer patients and their families. It has turned into one of the most enriching experiences of my life. My heart is filled with gratitude for the people PanCan has brought into my life.