Personal Writing Samples

Below are samples of my personal writing, which includes personal essays in outlets that include Shondaland, AARP, Huffington Post, Good Housekeeping, CafeMom, Scary Mommy, travel and tourism writing (I am a Local Expert for TripAdvisor for both Cleveland and Put-in-Bay), and Cleveland restaurant and dining-related writing:

Self-Published Books and Short Stories:

You Say It’s Your Birthday (Kindle eBook)
Rockandrollmama’s Rants: Parenting in the Rust Belt

Personal Essays:

My Bigger, Bolder Fashion Choices (AARP’s The Ethel)
My Mom’s Move to a Senior Apartment Complex… (Care.com)
Having My Baby at 40 Was Worth the Wait – Kopa
Freelancing – Not for the Faint of Heart (or Wallet)
How ‘The Golden Girls’ Revamped My Menopausal Sex Life (AARP’s The Ethel)
Ageism in Advertising: The Silvers Are Actually Gold (co-written w/Laurie Heller)
The Squatty Potty is a Game-Changer (USA Today’s Reviewed vertical)
How Binge-Watching ‘The Office’ Is Helping Me Parent (Shondaland)
What I’ve Learned About Unemployment And Being Poor After Applying For 215 Jobs (Viral article for Huffington Post. This was also posted in Spanish and French)
I’m Desperate For Money Due To Coronavirus, So I Donated Plasma. It Was Alarming. (Huffington Post)
Here’s What Most People Don’t Know About ‘Being on Food Stamps (Huffington Post)
After Disability, The Reason for the Season (Folks)
A Lifelong Runner, Sidelined by Disability (Folks)
“Normal” is a Social Construct (Medium)
My Dinner With Tony Bourdain (Medium)
I’m 48…(Good Housekeeping)
PSA: Dieting Is For the Privileged (The Financial Diet)
Filet Mignon Is Lame, Sorry (The Kitchn)
Things I’m Too Old For: Expectations, Rules and Judgments (The Reset)
Mother of One: The Fertility Choice That Changed My Life (TueNight)
It’s Time to Admit School Rules Have Gone too Far — Because I’m Still the Parent (Cafe Mom)
Why I Work So Hard To Stay Friends With My Ex (Scary Mommy)
Growing Up Poor in ’80s Mansfield

Tourism/Travel:

Documenting  Cleveland: May 12, 2020 (contributor)
Cleveland Visitors Guide 2018 (p. 28) (CLE CVB)
WKND in CLE: April 20-22 (CLE CVB)
Beer marks the spot: Mappy Hour debuts for Cleveland adventure lovers (Freshwater Cleveland)
Unofficial tour guide devises her dream weekend in Cleveland (Freshwater Cleveland)
Cleveland Visitors Guide Fall/Winter 2017/2018 (pages 17 & 18) (CLE CVB)
Cleveland Visitors Guide Spring/Summer 2017 (CLE CVB)

Food/Dining (Cleveland Scene):

At 10 Years Old, La Bodega in Tremont Still Rocks
Diner of the Day: Inn on Coventry
Meet the Makers: Kevin and Kristyn Henslee, Yellow House Cheese
Pho Nation: It’s Cold. Get Yourself a Bowl and Dive In
Market Watch: Gentile’s Bakery
Shop Like a Chef: Dean Supply
Shop Local: Cedar Green Wine & Cheese
Know Your Farmer: Brunty Farms
Where to Shop: Market at the Fig
How to: The Progressive Dinner

All Cleveland Scene articles HERE