Delighted to meet you!

I’m a passionate rescue dog mom, martini lover, foodie, avid gardener and master baker.

I’m also a crazy Green Bay Packer fan and a New York Ranger hockey fan. I like golfing, rowing & hiking with my dog, Bella.

Most of all, I like talking to people, getting their story & helping them if possible. Sometimes just being a good listener is the best thing you can do for someone. I KNOW I’m a good listener, I was a bartender for YEARS. A captive listener without judgement. Now, it’s my CHOICE to listen, learn, provide support and offer solutions.

How I can help ….

In today’s world, I feel we all may be a little……lost. Looking to change something, our lives, our financial situation, our health……but not sure how, or where to start. The pandemic lingering in our minds. The last three years feeling more like 10,…..draining us of our savings, our time, our health.

So let’s help each other find a better way, a new way. I can help you and you can help me, by listening, sharing stories about family or travel or what we want to change. Let’s exchange martini recipes, or food recipes. Offering options for creating additional income streams, wellness, managing stress or weight and aging well. Or let’s discuss gardening tips or our happy pets!

With everything going on in the world, maybe speaking with a complete stranger is a good first step toward healing or change. I like making new friends. How about you?

I spent a little time….

….in a lot of places. I was born in Michigan but grew up in eastern Wisconsin, in a very small town on Lake Michigan. Moved to Ohio for a brief time, then back to Wisconsin. Lots of mushroom picking (never ate one until I was older) and ice fishing with Dad (never caught a fish & froze my patootie off), but all in all, a happy childhood.

In 1986, my mom was done with the Midwest winters, so she packed up our tiny orange Chevette with my little sister, myself, our Schnauzer, and all the plants and moved us to South Florida. The rest came by moving truck.

I finished high school there, tried on college for a bit, it was NOT a fit, so I did what any college dropout would do…. I partied in Miami Beach for a while.

Eventually I tired of the sunny weather (SO predictable being a beach day everyday) packed up and moved to Colorado. Love, love Colorado, miss it. Started bartending & decided to go to Pastry School. I discovered my true love of baking. It’s my happy place, my Zen. Thought a pastry chef job would be the answer, packed up again and followed a boy to NYC in 2003. Mistake, the boy, but I learned that tiny, deconstructed desserts were not my thing, went back to bartending and had many late, late, very hazy nights (and mornings) as well…

Why I want to help….

I loved NYC, still do, but that was a very challenging time in my life. I was very unhappy in my relationship, no money to move out, blah, blah.

Fortunately, the people I worked with were AMAZING, They were my therapy, became my friends, many of whom I am still friends with today. They listened to someone they barely knew at the time who was going through some shit, crying ALOT and they genuinely cared & wanted to help. If it wasn’t for them, I’m not sure I would have made it through that time in my life. I’m now happily married living in the country in the NW hills of Connecticut.

So, it’s now my turn, to pay it forward and see who I can help. By listening. Caring. Offering support or options. If I could make a difference in a positive way for someone in their life, like those people did for me, I would feel……. pure happiness. Maybe we just need someone to listen, and hear us.

Cheers!

MEET OUR FUR BABIES!

This is Bella!

We call her Bella Bean because when we first got her she was like a jumping bean, a little crazy. Now she’s more like a chubby bean. Pandemic pounds, dogs get them too! Who can relate?? Bella LOVES the healthy, homemade dog treats I make. Need a recipe? Just ask!

PUPPY LOVE!

And this is Tonka!

We rescued him from NYC through Mighty Mutts Rescue. Bella also came to us through Mighty Mutts. Great rescue doing hard work, please donate if you can. He’s a big boy at 120 lbs and loves surveying his kingdom from the upstairs deck while soaking up the sun.