Gloss & Grit - Polished thoughts. Real talk.

How Does a Pro-Choicer Feel About Pro-Life? A Case for BOTH Planned Parenthood and Precious Life Over the July 4th holiday, I returned to my hometown of Altoona, Pennsylvania—partly to escape the oppressive heat of New York City, and more so to reconnect with friends and family who remain deeply rooted in my heart. One afternoon, a longtime best friend invited me on a river float with her family. If you’ve never been on one, it’s just as serene as it sounds: floating down a quiet river in inner tubes and kayaks, surrounded by nature and the rhythm of good conversation. [minus my consistent failure of sunscreen #burnt]  She’s now the CEO/Executive Director of a local organization that supports women who have chosen to carry their pregnancies to term. The mission is faith-based and proudly pro-life. What struck me most about our time together wasn’t any debate or disagreement—it was our deep mutual respect. We didn’t need to argue or “agree.” Instead, we honored the work we each care...

Midlife Crisis? More Like a Midlife Calibration I’m well past my 40th birthday, and with the big 4-5 coming this August ( ACK!! ), I’ve started feeling like I’m due for a midlife crisis—or at least a midlife reflection. I don’t need a red convertible or a spontaneous tattoo (yet), but I do find myself looking back, looking forward, and trying to make sense of this wildly beautiful in-between place. Personal Reflection Yes, I probably could’ve been healthier. But you know what? [Cliche Alert] I did it MY WAY . I’ve cried often, loved hard, and found the space that defines me. And that, in itself, feels like a major win. Things I'd Always Recommend for a Life Well Earned 1. Keep experimenting. Make the big leaps. I was nearly paralyzed before committing to Vanderbilt for B-school . It felt like if I picked a door, the other would close.  And that's not wrong - I'd say it's quite spot on.   The best choice though?  Following my gut.  I got into “better” schools a...

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time hiring for my franchise, Blo Blow Dry Bar  in NYC's Financial District . And in every interview, I share a little backstory: ✨ How long we’ve been around: coming up on 5 years! 📍 Who I am: a little about where I live & what I do 💻 How I work: mostly virtual, thanks to my other career in marketing 🧠 What I’m looking for: be responsible, act like an adult, and leave the drama at the door Naturally, the next question is: "Why this business?" It’s a great question — and like any good blowout, the answer has layers: personal, practical, and a little idealistic. 1️⃣ A Long-Held Dream 🌸 (Minus the Pollen) Back in my corporate days, we’d do visualization exercises at team retreats. Every single time, I’d picture the same thing: me, closing the door to my own shop at the end of the day. For a while, I thought that shop might be a flower store. I love the joy and beauty flowers bring… but my allergies had other plans. ...

Love Bombed at Work: When Boundaries Blur and Affection Becomes Manipulation “Love bombing” is a term that gets thrown around a lot in dating—lavish praise, intense attention, emotional overwhelm. But what happens when it shows up somewhere it absolutely shouldn’t? I was love bombed at work—and it took every ounce of self-awareness and strength not to let the manipulative dynamics change who I am. Let me be clear: I’m not anti-social at work. Some of my closest, most meaningful friendships began in the workplace. I’ve joined (and led) social committees, thrown team happy hours, and genuinely believe in the power of human connection on the job. The difference? Those connections grew organically. What I experienced in this particular environment wasn’t about cultivating relationships—it was about mandating them. There’s a difference between enabling connection and enforcing closeness . And when an organization starts expecting personal intimacy as a prerequisite for professional belong...

Card-Carrying and Loudly Proud: My Library Evangelism Era While sitting in Central Park recently, I did something I'm both proud of and slightly ashamed to admit: I set up my best friend Jenny’s library card. On her phone. While also shaming her (gently!) for not already using this city resource. I’m a library champion who occasionally teeters on bully — but it’s only because I care. And because the public library is, quite honestly, one of the greatest resources we already pay for with our taxes. Why not take advantage? Maybe my obsession started at the Altoona Public Library . I was young, curious, and enchanted by the surroundings. So enchanted, in fact, that while my mom returned a book, I borrowed her car keys and inserted them into an electrical socket. For science, of course. “Put Key In 🔑, Fire Comes Out 🔥” is now a favorite story of Mama Jane — though we tend to gloss over the part where I melted the keys to my dad’s car and stranded us at the library. To be fair, I was ...

One of the best ways to spend a rainy Sunday in New York City? Good friends, good food, and something a little unexpected. Bonus points if there’s art and culture mixed in. On a recent gray afternoon, we hit the jackpot at Genesis House — a beautifully designed space in the Meatpacking District that manages to merge luxury, calm, and creativity under one roof. We went down initially to catch the Forest exhibit, a buzzed-about installation that promised to awaken the senses. But to our delight, we discovered there was a stunning restaurant upstairs, and we decided to turn the outing into a true New York experience: an indulgent, multi-course tasting menu with beverage pairings, the kind of lunch that turns into an afternoon. The meal was a standout — every course thoughtfully crafted and beautifully plated. My favorite? The first course, a delicate and refreshing mulhwe, which set the tone for the rest of the experience. Dessert was equally memorable: a pear shaved ice served in a gorge...

A More Honest Look at Trade, Tariffs, and the Global Economy In a recent opinion piece, a fellow contributor to the Altoona Mirror suggest that for nearly 80 years, the United States has "subsidized" other nations through trade, and praises President Trump's proposal to impose a 10% across-the-board tariff on imports. While this narrative has a certain surface appeal -- rooted in patriotic nostalgia and perceived economic justice -- it collapses under the weight of history, economic, and reality. Link here to the Altoona Mirror Opinions Page. Let me offer a different lens—one from someone living it. I’m a small business owner in the United States. I’ve poured my time, energy, and money into trying to build something meaningful and sustainable. And I can tell you: it’s never been harder to keep the lights on. The cost of goods is rising sharply. My vendors—like most in today’s supply chain—rely on international sourcing. That means when tariffs go up, my prices go up. ...