And why I don’t plan to leave anytime soon. — Work-life balance. It’s a phrase that’s tossed around to entice potential employees and give employers a leg-up on the competition. But work-life balance is subjective. What I really want from my employer is independence and freedom. Freedom to work when it’s best for me, in a place where I’m most…

Greedy companies don’t make GMOs. Real people do. — I spent ten years in college, earned four degrees and worked for ten years in research and development roles at two major agriculture companies. Developing new GMO corn hybrids is a bullet point on my resume. But this isn’t a story about what I did. This is a story about…

A story about leaving the place I love. — Six months ago, I moved from the midwest to south Florida. I wasn’t keen on leaving in the first place, but with an open mind, I loaded boxes and made the journey south. It’s been an exciting opportunity, but I’m counting the days until I can get back home…again. Leaving Iowa: Part 1 I…

Why I don’t document my kid’s life on social media — I grew up in the 90s when people liked things in real life instead of with a virtual thumbs up. I’ve struggled to lean into social media. When I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t post the news online. I didn’t share ultrasound pictures and never announced my son’s…

On exploring abandoned words after 25 years — Quiet kids can struggle to find their place in the world. I know because I was a painfully shy child who only found my voice when I was writing. Written words were my way to articulate feelings that were impossible to express verbally. I didn’t write for enjoyment; I wrote…

Let’s start this story by making it very clear that I’m about as extreme Type B as they come. I’m laid-back chill, not much of a worrier and mostly take a “things-will-get-done-when-they-get-done” approach to life. My priorities are not laundry, dishes or making dinner. But my fiance’s are. Here’s how…

Confessions from someone who knows. — I have a revelation to share. I’m coming out of the closet as a former mom-shamer. No, I wasn’t an offensive bully or a passive-aggressive advisor. I was a silent judger, which is equally as toxic. I was a dink. In more ways than one. Up until 19 months ago, I was a child-free 30-something with a stable career…

It’s time to call out food companies for perpetuating scientific illiteracy. — Yes, this is a bottle of water, and yes, that label says “GMO-free.” I bought this water unknowingly last summer, and I’m still barking about its wrongness a year later. What’s up with this shady marketing? Do you see the problem here? This label is perpetuating fear. It’s validating scientific illiteracy. But most of all, it’s…

Five reasons why I’m happy to be older and wiser. — Tomorrow is my 39th birthday. Yep, I’m one year closer to 40. And while I should be planning a mid-life crisis, I’m too busy celebrating another year of wisdom gained. Here’s why 39 feels so good. I no longer seek validation. I tend to be a people-pleaser by nature. I generally don’t like to rock…