Hello!

Welcome to my blog. I have long hesitated to write a blog because: (a) I am really shy even though you would never believe that if you met me in person, (b) I am not convinced that the world needs any more thoughts, opinions, food pictures, or fashion recommendations. That said, a friend I met on vacation a few years ago and haven't said another word to in person until the other day suggested that I start doing this. I will probably get into that more later, but I'll keep their identity private so that if this is a massive failure I won't feel like I let them down. Set your expectations low and you can't help but exceed them, right? That's actually not at all how I live my life, but I also don't often put my personal life and preferences out into the world other than through various misguided attempts at manifestation. I'm 50% woo woo and 50% painfully pragmatic, but it works for me.

Who am I? I am a 42 year old small business owner. I have two daughters with my husband of 15 years. We usually live in DC but have spent the last year roaming from one place to another while we attempt to not kill each other during the pandemic. We've spent at least a month in: a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in a town we only somewhat jokingly called "White Power, VA"; Sandwich, MA, East Sandwich, MA, and Falmouth, MA; and most recently and currently, Miami, FL, where I grew up and where my parents still live.

That seems really clinical though. I am also a lover of fashion, cannabis, fitness, and fiction. I never fully take off my eyeliner and I have a large collection of beauty products and no skincare regimen. I tried Botox a few times but it made me look like a wax figure and gave me three-day blinding headaches every time I did it, so I stopped. My goal is to look awesome at whatever age I am currently at, but never to try to reclaim some fictional visage from 10 years ago. I am currently the hottest I have ever been, which almost certainly has more to do with how I feel about myself than how I actually look. For many, many years I gave all the fucks about what other people thought of me and now my field of fucks is barren. The fuck bucket, it is empty. I very much care about how nice I can be to others though and work to be the kindest, most generous version of myself while maintaining a little bit of the petty bitch I sometimes fear I am.

I can't stand fake people. I hate being around anyone who was born into privilege and thinks they had anything to do with their good look. I myself was born into incredible privilege and thank the universe for that every day, but I don't think having wealthy parents makes me a good person. I respect people who acknowledge the advantages they have received and use those advantages to help other people. I have extremely expensive tastes, but I am actually very frugal.

I work incredibly hard at running a top-notch business, being a good parent and partner, and maintaining strong friendships with people who I respect and who make me laugh. I have been told I have an excellent sense of humor, but mostly I think people confuse an acerbic with with actually being funny. I read a lot and almost never watch tv of any kind. I pay too much attention to social media and would love to break that habit. I think jealousy will eat you up inside and coveting other people's things makes you miserable, so I try not to do it. I have more than I need and pretty much everything that I want in this world, which is an awesome place to be.

I am reliable and give pretty good advice. I have witchy qualities but don't think I am a full-fledged witch. Some people think I can read minds, but I actually think I can read emotions. Most people do a terrible job of concealing what they are feeling if you know what to look for. I believe in the power of moving your body every single day and listening more than you talk. I gave up dieting a long time ago because I was bad at it. I don't eat any fake sugar or anything low-fat or low-calorie.

I have generalized anxiety disorder with a depression rider. I also have ADHD and think that if I had been diagnosed earlier I could have had an easier time, but I also credit some of the struggles I had with giving me the personality traits I most like about myself. I am medicated and thank the universe every day for the fact that I get to wake up without the sinking sense that everything is wrong. I don't think that extreme measures of any kind are smart. I will neither give up my medicine nor stop looking for other ways to improve myself and my mood. I think drugs are great as long as they don't take over your life.

I do most things because they make me happy. Doing things that make other people happy has never led to a fulfilling life for me. I try to act in good faith to all other people. I joke that I have one feeling and that it's buried pretty deep so it's hard to hurt it, but what I really mean is that I don't care if you hate the fact that I have blue hair or that I wear sequins to lunch sometimes.

I make friends with people on vacations (hence the origin of this blog), in yoga classes, at restaurants, and in line at the grocery store, mostly because I love talking to people and find their lives fascinating. It bothers me when people say that Kourtney Kardashian is different in season 10 than she was in season 2, because fucking duh, that's what happens when you grow up. I have only watched like 5 total episodes of the show but loved when they lived in Miami.

I am writing this blog somewhat on a dare, and somewhat because I love to share the things that make me happy with other people.

The title of this blog is Outer Peace, because I get tons of joy out of choosing clothes and accessories. I have been told I have great style but don't think I am more worthy of imitation than any other human on this earth. I think a great outfit can make you feel good and I always look for things that make me happy. I know better than anyone that no material thing will bring you any amount of contentment if you are not already content.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog and that you find something from it that adds to your outer peace.