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Florida may be a vacation destination hotspot , but I have a confession to make.

I am ready to go home.

Not in a dramatic airport-meltdown way. Not in a “this trip was terrible” way. More in a “why is everyone pretending Florida has something New York City does not?” way.

Because honestly?

It is all in the imagination.

People sell Florida like it is some magical escape from real life. Palm trees. Sunshine. Beaches. Outdoor bars. Warm nights. Vacation energy.

Cute.

New York has sunshine too. We...

There are moments in life when the algorithm minds its business.

This was not one of those moments.

I was casually scrolling Facebook, hydrated, unbothered, and allegedly at peace, when suddenly a post from Michael Davis popped into my feed.

Now, mind you, I was not following him from that account.

I did not search him.

I did not summon him.

I did not light a candle, play soft music, or whisper his name into the digital void.

Facebook just woke up and chose mess.

And there he was.

Michael Davis.

In my...

There are days when New York tests every last nerve God gave you.

The rent is rude. The subway has a personality disorder. Someone is yelling into the sky before you have even finished your coffee. A sidewalk shed has been up so long it should be paying property taxes. And somehow, despite all of this, the city still has the nerve to offer free music, free parks programming, free walking events, free cultural happenings, free people-watching, and the kind of street theater no streaming service...

Utah has a food culture all its own.

It is part pioneer pantry, part church potluck, part family reunion, part holiday table, and part “someone’s aunt definitely brought this in a glass casserole dish with foil over the top.”

It is sweet, creamy, salty, nostalgic, practical, and occasionally alarming to outsiders who are not emotionally prepared for marshmallows to appear in places they did not expect.

But that is the charm.

Utah holiday food is not trying to be sleek, coastal, or pretentious....

Memorial Day weekend arrives every year with a very specific kind of energy.

Suddenly, everyone is acting like summer has officially been sworn into office. The grills come out. The white jeans appear. The beach bags emerge from storage. Grocery stores become combat zones for hamburger buns, watermelon, sunscreen, and last-minute bags of ice.

In New York, the holiday weekend is especially chaotic. Half the city tries to leave. The other half stays behind and pretends the city is suddenly...

I haven’t written a blog post in a while, but tonight felt like the right time.

Sometimes the most healing things are not complicated. They do not require a perfect schedule, a perfect family, a perfect home, or everyone living under the same roof.

Sometimes healing looks like everyone logging into a video call on a Monday night, someone’s dog barking in the background, grandkids popping in and out of the screen, and everyone laughing because, for once, we are all together.

That is what Family...

Navigating the Shifting Tides & Embracing the Evolution of Love!

We often use the phrases "in love" and "loving someone" interchangeably, but there's a subtle yet profound distinction between the two. As I explore in my novel Woman’s Heart, the characters grapple with this very distinction, navigating the complexities of a love that has evolved beyond the initial spark of infatuation. Understanding this difference can be crucial in navigating the complexities of long-term relationships and...

The Unofficial Guide to Digital Passive-Aggression Games.

In the grand theater of social media, the act of blocking and unblocking has become a tragicomic performance, full of sound and fury, signifying... well, mostly just our own confusion. We navigate this digital landscape with the finesse of a toddler learning to walk, stumbling over our own emotions and tripping over the tangled wires of our relationships.

One minute, we're declaring undying love for our bestie on Instagram, the next...

Beyond 'I Love You': The Language of True Affection

Setting boundaries is crucial for healthy relationships, and one boundary I've recently established is demanding empathy from those in my life. It hasn't been easy to use the word "demand," as it can feel forceful or even confrontational. However, sometimes it's necessary to convey the importance of a particular boundary.

In my case, I've experienced situations where people have invalidated my feelings and experiences. They've questioned my...

Tonight, I have a date.

It's a simple statement, yet it carries a weight threatening to crush me. A date. A chance encounter, a flicker of hope, a possibility for a new beginning. But my heart, stubborn and steadfast, refuses to fully embrace the prospect. It clings to the echoes of a love that refuses to fade, a love that, despite its complexities and challenges, still holds a powerful grip on my soul.

For some of us, moving on is not a simple flick of a switch. The sting of feeling discarded...

Embracing the Shadows, Embracing the Light: A Journey of Self-Discovery

The celestial stage is set for a rare and potent spectacle: a Super Blue Sturgeon Moon graces our skies, its luminous presence both awe-inspiring and unsettling. This trifecta of lunar events — a second full moon in a single month, the moon at its closest point to Earth, and coinciding with the traditional Sturgeon Moon — heralds a time of heightened energy, emotional intensity, and profound transformation. A Super Blue...

Love is a battlefield, they say. But sometimes, it feels more like a rollercoaster!

A relentless ride of soaring highs and plunging lows leaves you breathless, disoriented, and utterly exhausted. A gator grip of emotional turbulence, a silent war waged within the confines of our minds.

The constant push and pull, the mixed signals, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air – it's enough to drain even the most resilient spirit. The sleepless nights spent analyzing messages, social media...

Never Surrender

The chilling image you see above is not just art; it's the embodiment of despair, loss, and the relentless fight for survival within Rikers Island's unforgiving walls.

The dove, a symbol of peace and freedom, flies. This stark juxtaposition alongside a skull captures the harrowing reality faced by countless souls trapped within this notorious institution.

My book, "Rikers Island," is a raw and unflinching account of experiences within that hellish place.

It's dedicated to ...

The Art of the Capricorn Full Moon

Today, the Capricorn Full Moon, a celestial spectacle, graces our skies and finds us in a moment of profound significance for emotional release, self-reflection, and setting intentions for the future. In astrology, the full moon is associated with culmination, illumination, and the surfacing of hidden emotions. In the grounded and practical sign of Capricorn, this lunar energy takes on a unique flavor, emphasizing themes of responsibility, discipline, and...

There's a saying that goes, "Art is pain made beautiful." For me, it's pain made purposeful.

Trauma leaves scars – some visible, some hidden deep within. My own journey through the fire of domestic violence and the harrowing experience of incarceration at Rikers Island has been one of survival, resilience, and ultimately, an unexpected creative awakening.

The path of healing from domestic violence and the trauma of incarceration is a winding one, fraught with setbacks and emotional triggers....

Rikers Public Memory Project Launches Inaugural Fellowship to Amplify Directly-Impacted Voices

Four fellows will embark on creative projects that shed light on the often-unheard stories and perspectives surrounding Rikers Island.

The Rikers Narrative Change Community Fellowship is more than just funding; it's about providing a platform for these artists to share their truths, challenge dominant narratives, and ignite meaningful conversations. Each project will include a public engagement...