Peppur "The Hot One"

Each weekday morning, I have the intention to get to my laptop at 8:00 am, log into Zoom, and do my 1-hour London Writers Salon writing session with hundreds of other writers. I don’t always make it. Like all of us, there are often distractions that get in my way. Today, the way-blocker was doing the dishes, loading the dishwasher, cleaning counters and then getting myself ready and getting the…

Recently, my very cool friend Trish Lindo posted an eye-opening message on LinkedIn. She said: Read her entire post here. In this world where MANY of us are facing uncertainty in our work life — whether facing a layoff, have been laid off due to economics, technology shifts or any other variety of reasons, we have to know two things: Our journey matters. We all have earned a Bachelor’s Degree…

I’m having one of those days where I really want to tell you all something, but I can’t put my finger on what it is. When this happens, I start to feel like my inner psychic is trying to tell me something, but that I am not hearing her. Like, she’s telling me to take the headphones off…and listen. Sometimes, I can do this. Sometimes I can remove the barrier that is making being present so…

It’s 4:00 am. I cannot sleep. Welcome to Fat Tariff Tuesday. I spent at least two hours before bed last night scrolling. And scrolling. And scrolling. I told myself I wouldn’t do this. That I wouldn’t get sucked into the vortex of chaos that is swirling around us. But I did. Is anyone else wishing they still had their notes from Econ 101? Is anyone else envisioning long lines at gas pumps,…

Last Tuesday, our team launched Season 3 of our Lagralane Spirits podcast. The theme this year is all about Bourbon. And thank God, because after doing this work, you need a damn drink! Podcasting is no joke. Everyone says, “Hey, do a podcast!”… but very few people talk about how much gosh darn work it takes to do a podcast! It is insane! One would think that you could just hook up a mic to…

A few weeks ago, I attended a leadership coaching session with my friend, Kibi Anderson. She is a tour-de-force and I was encouraged to not only support her business, but to be in the presence of her greatness and the other leaders who were on the call to learn how to be their best. You see, this year, my plan is to re-arrange myself. To still be a writer, of course, but to be a better…

Yesterday, I had the privilege to share my writer journey at an ASU Authorpreneur event. While recounting the story of getting a rejection from a London agent, I suddenly burst into tears. I quickly learned the emotion from that rejection was still living in me — eight years later. A few things. You guys know I’m basically ‘okay’ with being vulnerable. There were about 20 wonderful women in the…

Recently, a high school friend, Michelle Kohel, announced on Facebook that she was opening her own trucking and brokering company, Southport Trucking Services, LLC in Wisconsin. I was so incredibly encouraged to hear this news for her. What an endeavor! After working years in the field, she shared that she was taking a leap of faith and going out on her own. I love when entrepreneurs follow…

Now that October is upon us, many of us are looking at these last few days of 2023 with a goal-oriented mindset. In my writer’s group, we have a “100 Days of Writing” challenge going on. We’re hitting these last 100 days hard with completion projects like finishing a manuscript, starting a manuscript, stock piling blog posts — all in the name of focusing on getting something done and feeling…

I bought a pair of shoes on September 5th. Here’s what happened next: Actually, let me start with how I bought the shoes in the first place. September 5th was a Tuesday; this shoe-buying event occurred around 2p that afternoon. From what I can remember, my day started late. I may have gotten distracted by something or was weirded out about something to the point where I couldn’t concentrate on…

I often mention that I didn’t grow up with sisters. There is something within me that seeks the safety of sisterly bonding and it usually manifests in how I collaborate creatively and within my friendships. If you have a sister, you may understand what I mean. This past week, my ‘sister’ Tanya arrived in Arizona. She didn’t come bearing gifts; she came with a whip ready to crack over our…

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Matt and I just completed a 14-day detox cleanse where we had to drink a special protein shake and also eliminated certain dietary meanies like dairy, caffeine, and alcohol, and gluten goblins like bread, pasta and cereal. I didn’t want to do the thing. I fought him on it. Until I didn’t. And it turned out to be an amazing thing that I am still doing. As outwardly adventurous as I may appear, I…

Have any of you spent time thinking about the opportunities you’ve been given versus what your parents or grandparents were afforded? I’m super blessed to still have a grandma alive. Her name is Alberta (Grammy) and she is in her 90s. I’ve written about her before. Sometimes I sit with her and she tells me stories of how she had to yell at her kids (my three aunts and mom) to make sure they used…

I wrote this on February 22nd and F O R G O T about it! So, posting it now. Still relevant!Let me just say that I am super excited to be in this season of FINALLY launching my book, Harlem’s Last Dance. I don’t remember what I’ve already shared about it in past blog posts, but I want to start by saying this has been a nine year (ten year) journey. Sometimes, I really can’t believe it myself. When…