Life Stories & Sisterhood

A special treat that was always anticipated made Saturday nights the most exciting time of the week in our household! My great aunt and uncle would come to our house every Saturday night to play cards with my parents. They would always come with bags of goodies and snacks for their poker games. There would always be cantaloupe, and honeydew, alongside a magnificent smorgasbord of savory bites, cheeses, and crackers. My mother would cut everything up and prepare their snack

I read my sister’s roller-skating story and I laughed so hard, tears were rolling down my face. I can remember that day, like it was yesterday, but in reality, it was over 45 years ago. There were bits and pieces of that story I had forgotten. Like that we got those roller-skates for Christmas. I didn’t remember that part. Or that my grandmother had come to the house to help my sister. I didn’t remember that either. I do remember my sister falling and grabbing her arm. I rem

Christmas morning is so exciting when you are a child. The magic that fills the air and the anticipation of that jolly guy coming down a chimney—even when you don’t have one—bringing gifts of all kinds, hoping you get that one present you wrote on your list. This one Christmas when I was 11 years old, I did receive that gift: my brand-new roller skates. I was in awe. My sister also received roller skates and she was just as excited as me. We had dreams of being roller-skating

Daydreaming has always been a hobby for me. I could spend endless hours deep in my own thoughts. Something as simple as a butterfly, bouncing around the backyard. It could have me miles away, watching it through the kitchen window while I'm washing dishes. I could be driving to work, wandering away in my own mind and before I know it, I’m parking my car in my work parking lot, not even remembering the drive and how I got there. Someone could be having a full conversation with

Last week, my son brought over a sewing machine I’d given him—a gift from my grandmother years ago that I’d never touched because sewing and I just don't mix. My grandmother was always so sweet and tried to please us, so she bought it for me even though I didn't know the first thing about it. He wanted me to help him thread it, and I couldn't help thinking, Did you try YouTubing it? So I turned to YouTube, trying to keep pace with a lady zooming through the steps. Then she dr

Can you believe it has already been a whole month since we officially launched Life Unpaused Sisterhood? That is four whole weeks of publishing our unfiltered thoughts, recounting our awkward teenage memories, and airing out every single midlife quirk for the entire internet to see. When my sister and I first started this collective diary, we figured maybe a handful of people would read it—mostly out of familial obligation or sheer morbid curiosity. Instead, you all showed up

There was a night, about 13 years ago, I came home from work, got in the shower, and barely had enough energy to wash my hair. I remember thinking to myself that it was a good thing my kids were old enough to fend for themselves for dinner. At that time, my daughter was 20, my oldest son was 18, and my youngest son, was 13. All were completely capable of making grilled cheese. I was so glad they were at a stage in their lives where they needed me less and less for daily ritua

1987 was a defining year: I turned 16, met the boy who would become my husband, and somehow let my family talk me into stepping completely out of my comfort zone by entering the Miss American Coed Pageant. To say I didn't want to do it would be an understatement. But with a little gentle nudging from home, I rationalized that if nothing else, at least it wasn't a traditional beauty pageant—meaning maybe, just maybe, an awkward, self-conscious sixteen-year-old like me actually

Living in Florida when the kids were little, our vacations consisted of heading to Orlando to spend a few days with the mouse—fun for the kids, but for the adults, not so much. Between the long lines, overpriced food, and sweltering heat, it was exhausting. We rarely traveled out of state, and when we did, it was just to visit family on Long Island, New York. I wanted to be adventurous. I wanted a vacation of a lifetime. I was discussing this with my sister and we both start

There are certain things I must do in the morning before I can get my day started. I must have my coffee; I must sit in my favorite chair to drink my coffee. And I must win at least one game of Yahtzee on my phone, or else I won’t feel like a winner throughout the day. After I win my game, I check my emails, and my messages, see what the forecast is for the day, and I always, always, always, check my bank account. This is something I do every morning since the day I checked m

Have you ever been sitting at a dinner table and wondered why it seems so difficult for some people to eat with their mouths closed? Whether it’s loud chewing, heavy breathing, or someone slurping their spaghetti a little too enthusiastically, you quickly find yourself hoping they'll notice the polite hints you're dropping. It's enough to make you wonder when basic table manners became entirely optional. Growing up in the late 70’s early 80’s, I was taught proper dinner et

Sunday Sauce is a huge tradition in our family. I come from a long line of Italian cooks. Every woman in my family knows how to cook and take pride in their cooking. From chicken cacciatore to lasagna and baked ziti. Eggplant parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, pasta with pesto sauce, and braciole. Desserts like cannoli and biscotti, homemade struffoli and zeppole. Growing up, every Sunday was basically an Italian holiday, and every Italian dish began with the Sunday Sauce. Early i

I have always struggled with my weight, mostly because I just genuinely love food. Between the big Sunday dinners, family gatherings, and everyday weeknight meals, there was never a shortage of food. Growing up surrounded by incredible women who cooked like they were feeding a small battalion, my love language was simply eating whatever was put in front of me. But there finally comes a moment when you catch your reflection in the mirror and think, How on earth did I manage to

It is official. I am now 52. I am two years into my fifties. My inner self still feels like a teenager. My outer self feels like I am 52. I can no longer do some of the things I easily did when I was younger. I cannot hop up onto the kitchen counters to reach the high shelves. My husband purchased me a kitchen step stool. Partly because he was afraid I would break my neck climbing onto objects that were not meant for climbing, and partly because he was tired of stopping wh

I started reading blogs over a decade ago when my youngest son was a baby. I love to read but was unable to get through an entire novel with having a new baby to care for. So, I discovered the world of blogs. Short stories about life. I found them inspirational and easy reads in-between changing diapers and feeding times. I happened to come across a blog created by a country music writer, Rory Feek. He wrote about his wife, Joey, their family and their farm in Indiana. They w

Now that the kids are grown and some have flown the nest, we rarely all get together for a family dinner. On Sundays, I usually make a big dinner in hopes that all will come and eat. On those rare occasions, we reminisce, we laugh, and occasionally deal with a little drama, but it makes my heart so happy to have everyone under one roof. This morning while I was preparing my Sunday sauce, I had a sudden flashback to my grandmother. I could picture her standing at her green sto

In my dreams, a perfect bathroom exists. The glass is always spotless, the toilet seat puts itself down, and loose hair vanishes into thin air. It always smells like a spa, and towels fold themselves. It’s a beautiful, peaceful fantasy that definitely doesn't exist in my house. Saturday mornings are a ritual for me. I wake up around 7:00 AM, grab a hot cup of coffee, and scroll through Facebook, trying to get into the right frame of mind. But there’s a special kind of braver

One morning I woke up, lying in my bed, flat on my back, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling fan. I’m going to have a heart attack. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But one day, it is going to happen. There is no history in my family of heart issues, and the people in my family tend to live long, healthy lives. My grandmother passed away when she was 96. Longevity is on my side. But, staring at that ceiling fan, I was completely convinced. My heart had now been beating

Getting older isn’t just about menopause, gray hair, saggy skin, and afternoon naps. There are many positive sides to aging. There is one in particular that I have worked my whole life getting ready for. That is, retirement. I have worked the same county job for over 23 years and am getting closer to the day when I will seldom, if ever, set the alarm clock on my phone again. My husband and I will finally get the time we so desperately have been looking forward to, and we will

I was strolling through the aisles at my local supermarket when I turned a corner and landed right in front of the feminine hygiene products. It hit me like a lightning bolt: When was the last time I actually had my period? Panic set in. I frantically searched my brain for the last holiday or outing my cycle had ruined, but came up completely blank. So, there I stood, pacing in front of pads and tampons, pretending to study new products while my mind raced through the calenda