_melissazpd

I have always considered myself a reader. As a kid, I would prefer trips to the bookstore or the library over going to the park. I remember picking up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and not putting it down until I finished it that same day. It’s part of my identity, the same way ‘dog person’ and ‘night owl’ are. Just don’t ask me how many books I’ve read in recent years. Please. For…

I don’t even think I took myself seriously when I first said, “Hey guys, I’m going to run a mile a day in April.” It wasn’t something I fully thought through, but it seemed like a good idea. Doable even. If I’m being honest, once I started, I wasn’t sure I would make it to April 30th. If you know me, you know I have a complicated history with daily challenges. I convince myself that ‘this time…

There’s no confetti. There’s no dramatic music. No moment where the universe taps you on the shoulder and goes, okay, now. This is your fresh start. You just wake up, and you decide to do the thing differently. And then you do it. And then you do it again the next day, badly, because you’re still new at it. I’ve started over more times than I can count. New fitness routines that lasted two weeks.…

Prime Day is here! If you’re anything like me, your cart probably has like five “maybe” items sitting in it. Not all of my Amazon purchases have been all-stars, but there are many that ended up being useful. These are the Amazon purchases I’ve actually liked. The ones I reach for again and again, recommend to people, and would buy all over if I had to. If you’re browsing Prime Day or just…

For the past couple of years, I’ve casually explored different side hustles to see if I can make some extra money online. I love a good project and having a few extra bucks a month doesn’t hurt, especially as everything gets more expensive. But I do get self-conscious very easily, so I draw the line at anything that makes me feel like I need to perform on a digital stage. That rules out dancing…

Three months ago, I bit the bullet and walked away from Meta and X. No more Facebook scrolling. No more tweeting into the void. No more Insta posts. My motivation was equal parts needing space and wanting to stop using products from companies that don’t care about their users. What struck me most was this: I wasn’t really using social media to connect anymore. Not in the way it was originally…

Like many, I challenged myself to read more in 2025. Last year I read 6 books and a lot of fanfiction. My goal for this year is simple: read one book a month. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the level of those who read hundreds of books a year. I do have to balance reading with a full time job, two pups, and a deep love of sleep. For me, one book a month is realistic and just the right amount of…

A little over a month ago, I embarked on a blogging challenge to kick start my habit of writing. I’ve always wanted to have a blog, so this is the time to take it – and myself! – seriously. I thought I had to follow a set path. Find the challenge. Post every day. Stick to the prompts. Push through for consistency’s sake. But a week into my 30-day blogging challenge, I realized these rules…

I’m framing my answer in the context of “what do you currently not do because of time or money.” If I start thinking of what I would do if I had unlimited funds, the answer would be drastically different. Travel Curate a library Travel Baby Melissa would dream of growing up and landing a job that would take her all over the world. I imagined myself as a diplomat, a flight attendant, a…

My biggest dream has evolved over time, but I’ve noticed a common theme: being able to build a life around something I create. No matter the scenario, I am financially stable enough to pay my bills, pursue my passions, and support my family. Most importantly, I want the freedom to do the work I love, not a job I dread. Scenarios For a long time, I dreamed of opening a bookstore café—a cozy…

It's only been 1 week

I’ve been trying to get into the habit of writing. I challenged myself to work through 30 days of blogging prompts that felt meaningful at the time. But right now, it’s hard to focus. My thoughts feel tangled, and my emotions are everywhere. Every time I open my phone, I’m hit with a new reminder of the current state of the United States, and it leaves my heart in pieces. My heart breaks for…

Day 4- music 🎼

When I read this prompt, I take it to mean a singular subject I would like to learn more about. Not necessarily ‘be good at’ but just know more about it. Dude, music. Like yes, I understand the concept of music and how things can sound beautiful because people put certain notes together. But my brain is definitely not that of a musician. Because how can you learn all those notes and then put…

Day 3 is short and sweet.

I only vaguely remember meeting my best friend for the first time. But I definitely remember when we became best friends. It was one of those chance encounters where if she had taken a different turn or I had taken five more minutes getting ready, it probably wouldn’t have happened at all. It was fate. Fall 2012, I was cutting through OSU’s Oval. I could only assume I was walking toward class.…