a professional fashion designer and stylist, exotic travel junkie, and sharer of life lessons. I’m a 2X entrepreneur, explorer of 5 continents and counting, creator of Olympic Ski Uniforms, and lover of martinis, fur-kids, and fancy cheese (not necessarily in that order). While I have accepted that I’ll never be Martha, Kim, or Coco Chanel, I do have some knowledge of the way the world works, what it takes to win at jobs, fashion, friendships, and relationships…and what it feels like to lose.
Not that long ago, I went through a years-long, soul-crushing low on life’s little rollercoaster, which culminated with my finally facing some truths about myself, and making a very brave decision to shut down my second business – even though it wasn’t failing – which then necessitated that I file for bankruptcy. I spent a lot of time reading stereotypical “self-help” blogs and books about how to pick yourself up and “start over”. I read uplifting stories about how all these so-called “experts” came back and made gadjillions of dollars after being in the figurative cesspool of life, and how success is all about perseverance and being true to yourself.
I had to call b*llshit on all that noise. At one point, I wondered why in the world there wasn’t a resource out there that didn’t feel the need for women [because let’s face it, we put more pressure on ourselves than on our husbands, brothers, and male friends] to put some fairytale spin on all of life’s small and large struggles. What the heck is wrong with just having a bad day or year…and loving yourself as you are in that moment? Why do we feel the need to tell each other to check every box and make it ‘grammable at all times, from motherhood, to the career ladder, to wearing the “right” outfit? So, I started writing about my experiences as an outlet for my frustration and my rage at everything that had gone wrong in my life in the decade leading up to 2019. At a certain point I realized maybe I was meant to create that resource, so I set out to do just that.
At this point on my personal rollercoaster, I’m just reveling in my ability to be as sarcastic and informative as possible. I enjoy shooting my mouth off about creative pursuits, making messes, seeing things, and being true to myself. Above all that, I am about helping other women like me love ourselves in spite of ourselves. Empanadas, vacations, yoga, avocados, martinis, and fur kids are good too. If I can entice you to stop taking yourself and your life overly seriously for just one moment, and just enjoy it, then I’ve shared my experiences in a way I can be proud of.
Come, wander these studded sidewalks with me. Maybe we’ll all learn together how to love our own skin…and everything beneath it.
XOXO,
But guess what, you had to click some things to get here. What if you did away with all that exhaustive clicking and just got all things A.F.A.R. delivered right to your inbox??