Unfiltered, Honest, and Loving Times of A Woman and her CRAZY, but Happy Life!!!

The past few years have been a humbling experience for me.  In my career I have reached goals that were set by me and others.  I have always been a hard worker but in today’s world that is not what it’s all about.  You have to work smarter and along with that comes kindness, mentoring, appreciation, loyalty, patience, leadership, trust, honesty, and most important, “Paying It Forward”. Last year I wrote a piece on women or one woman who I feel is a “trailblazer”.  Now, I want to be one of those women.  I want to make a difference for the next generation of women coming up in this world.  I want to give to them what has been given to me.  I want to give them that moment that turns their “no” to “yes”.  I want to give them the opportunity to shine and allow them to feel valued and empowered in their career.  All the wonderful things that have helped me I want to give that back and so much more. So to all my mentors, my mother, my grandmothe...

So, yesterday I drove up to McLean to celebrate a very special lady.  Aimee is our current director at Capital One. She has transformed our current organization from a dysfunctional to a functional unit. She has neatly laid the groundwork for the next up and coming director.   Aimee has decided, that even though Capital One is way too much fun, to take another opportunity outside the company.  I will admit that I have shed a few tears over her leaving because she has been a solid mentor to me over the past year. When you work for a company as large as Capital One sometimes it’s difficult to know who you can really trust and who really has your back.   Last year I had the opportunity to grow in my job and test my limits.  Some days were challenging, and other days made me question what I was thinking taking this on.  However, during one of those difficult days I found myself stretched beyond what I felt comfortable.  A co...

One of my best and dearest friends lost her best friend, soulmate, and husband last night.  There are no words that can comfort such a lose right now.  No amount of hugs or moments spent in silence.  Grief is a process that takes time and stops a person in their tracks.  It does not care who you are and where you are in your life. Also, tomorrow marks the anniversary of another life taken to soon.  My best friend lost her only son 16 years ago.  Holly deals everyday with her loss but in her grief she has found comfort helping other families who have experienced the same type of loss.  She is my hero and a woman I admire from the bottom of my heart. As the holidays approach remember that every one is going through something.  The holidays can be painful and unhappy for so many.  People suffer in silence because they don’t want to reach out in fear of being a burden or being ...

A fitting title I think which is the very reason I started this blog anyway.  It was about a fandom and the love of one actress who captivated the hearts of millions (as she tore them out, LOL) and showed nothing but love and gratitude for those around her. In the mix of that you meet people.  Some are still friends I talk to daily, others a couple of times a week. and others came and went like the wind.  I am sure, like all friendships starting out, it was well intentioned, but then it turns into this ugly demon called truth.  The part of the relationship where people think they are being truthful about how they are feeling but actually it comes off being arrogant instead of truthful.  Like they are doing you a favor by telling you how your life can improve if you listen to them or being their friend means acceptance into some type of elite status in life. Heres the thing, they put their pants on just like me.  There is nothing special or magical about...

Have you ever met someone that you felt you connected with but they didn't connect back with you?  I mean at first, it seemed like they did until something changed.  You never could put your finger on it but none the less it changed. Well, it happened to me.  After months of beating myself up over what I may have done wrong to change the situation, I realized I had done nothing wrong.  I was still me but somehow it didn't mesh with who they were. I guess this short blog is writing to tell the world don't change for anyone.  Unless you have a characteristic that is harmful to society, others or yourself, DON'T CHANGE!!!!!  People will come around and realize your value in their life or they won't.  It's their problem, not yours.  Just keep being awesome!!!

Social Media, don't you just love it?  Posting your entire life in a couple of sentences or a picture of your best family moments.  Never seems to be a dull moment for some people however once it's there it is there.  People half the time can't remember what they had for breakfast yesterday but post "social media"  and it is talked about for days and if you are lucky weeks.  Then there are the occasional posts that you wish you never saw.  I mean is not even about being confident (some show more then they should), but to me, it is showing lack of respect for yourself.  How is this going to get you to the next level in your life?  Women want to be viewed as strong, respected, intelligent individuals who still fight every day for equality (unfortunately, no offense to my men, it is still a man's world).  Of course not because all men think this way, but it's just the way society still views women as a whole.  So, when I a see a woman of ...

This February 14th brings many old and new emotions.  It would have been my BFF's mother's (fondly known has Grand Jan) 83rd birthday.  I remember her favorite cake was "Red Velvet" and she was celebrated in style.  Janice was one amazing lady and I was blessed to have her in my life.  Also, 20 years ago I took out an ad in the Washington Post that read, "Katrina, will you Be Our Valentine?  Welcome to your new family.  We love you."  I still have that ad tucked in my bible. (Katina is our goddaughter and the reason we have our Jeffrey.  Another story for another day). This year is a different type of love.  The love of a child you are blessed to have in your life. Alyssa is the type of young lady who smiles and fills the room with sunshine.   She appreciates the "little things" like a Valentine's Day card with kittens and a box of chocolates that has a sweet kitten on the front.  "I am going to save this", she says and smi...