Samantha
Samantha is a native of small-town Southern Indiana who loves exploring the Circle City with her husband and their daughters, Kate (October 2011) and Isla (December 2015). After finishing a degree in Professional Writing at Purdue, Sam made her way to the greater Indianapolis area where she learned to embrace the lack of hills and abundance of interstate. After an 8-year career in business development and marketing, she’s taken a step back from the corporate world to focus on her own business – GrayGirl Designs – where she designs invitations, stationary, and business materials and offers marketing services, graphic design, and résumé writing. When she’s not trying to balance family and her business, she enjoys (in no particular order): Jazzercize, yoga, crafting, horseback riding, way too much coffee, and hiking. Sam is also a melanoma survivor and a passionate advocate of skin cancer and sun safety education and awareness.
Halloween Movie Round-Up
IT’S FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok. Phew. I’m done. Fall is my favorite time of year. The cool weather. The scarves & boots & sweaters & tights. Pumpkin pie, apple crisp, hot soups, and spiced wine. Walks through...
Social Media 101 :: What the App?
Trying to navigate the murky waters of social media can be tricky – luckily, I’m here to help! I’ve been on some form of social media or another for 18-ish years.
Remember the GeoCities pages?...
It’s Not You. It’s Me. I Have Anxiety.
I have anxiety.
Not the ‘I’m a little anxious about public speaking’ type of anxiety. More along the lines of ‘How Badly Do I Really Need a Full Paycheck This Week Because I Don’t Think...
Sometimes, My Truth is an Ugly-Cry
Here's my current truth: I’m sitting here in my empty house having a really good ugly-cry because I’ve had one of those days. I’m exhausted and recovering after an unexpected trip. My kids have...
I Am Beautiful, and So Are You:: There’s Space Here for All of Us
Confidence and self-esteem and a little vanity are traits admired in men. Not often will you hear, "WOW. He's really stuck on himself!" when talking about a confident, smart, well-dressed, good-looking man who knows...
27 Things You Must Do {to stay sane in motherhood}
In response to Lauren’s inspiring 27 Things You Don’t Have to Do post back in January, here are 27 things you must do as a mother to keep some of that sanity:
Take the nap. You’re...
Thoughtful Citizens Change the World
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
-Margaret Mead
I am white. Upper middle class. Educated. A professional. All of these...
The Physicality of Motherhood | A Great Contradiction
My entire body hurts tonight. Aches deep down to the bones. I am tired. I am sore. Even my skin hurts. I have just reminded my five-year-old daughter again to please not jump on...
In The Trenches of Life :: Overly Overwhelmed
I am overly overwhelmed with life right now. I feel like I’m in the middle of the most crowded pool you could imagine, struggling to keep my head afloat, and literally no one notices....
Stop Right There: Keeping Political Arguments off Facebook
We’re on the countdown to the 2016 presidential election, and so far, I’ve pretty much managed to keep myself out of the online political debates.
It’s not that I don’t find it important or interesting...
Breastfeeding Take 2: Breastfeeding the Second Baby
When I decided to breastfeed my first child, I was pretty go-with-the-flow about it. I was going to give it a go and be ok with whatever happened. Fortunately, (but not without its struggles)...
Vacation Haters Club: Why I Hate Traveling
The summer is winding down. We just wrapped up a vacation. My biggest little kid is officially back in school. The weather is getting cooler.
Haha. Just kidding. It’s still hotter than the devil himself...
Girls of the World: Let There Be No Room for Doubt
I struck out on my own in terms of business earlier this year. I had always done some design work on the side, but relocating cities and leaving my out-of-home job to work from...
Of Playthings & Babyhood
My oldest daughter discovered a little yellow duck lovey somewhere around five months old. She carried that thing around with her for months – mostly in her mouth like a dog. Wherever Kate was,...