My Journey So Far

Exploring creativity, compassion, and the small everyday wonders that make life meaningful.

Welcome to Simply Curious Living. I’m grateful you’re here!

I’m the third of four girls and grew up in a Marine Corps family, which meant lots of moves in my early years. I was born in Aberdeen, Washington, and from there we lived in Camp Pendleton, California; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and eventually Boca Raton, Florida, where my father retired after 20 years of service. Through all those changes, my mom—who stayed home with us—created stability, comfort, and a sense of home wherever we landed. She was a wonderful mother and a grounding presence during all that moving around. We later moved to Plantation and then Longwood, settling there just as I was entering seventh grade.

After high school, I headed to the University of Florida and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I taught for a few years but quickly discovered that the day-to-day reality of teaching didn’t quite match what I had imagined. I found myself drawn instead to the world of publishing. Becoming a Math Editor at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ) felt like I had found my niche. During my five years at HBJ, I met my husband, we started our family, and welcomed two beautiful sons.

Once our boys were born, I continued freelancing for Harcourt and eventually connected with other publishers as well. Freelancing allowed me to stay home with the kids while continuing meaningful work. Not long afterward, my husband was offered an opportunity in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and when our boys were just one and three, we made the big move north. New England stole our hearts. We returned to Florida for a few years when my husband retired and my parents needed extra care, but Rhode Island pulled us back, and we’ve been here ever since.

I freelanced for many years until recently, when life shifted and I chose to step away from deadlines to be more present for my husband and to explore new creative pursuits. In July 2025, we sold our two-story home in Tiverton, Rhode Island, and moved into a small apartment in Middletown while we build a one-story home in Connecticut. A lot of moves, again, I know! But I’m hoping this will be the last one for a long while. Now in my early 60s, I’m looking forward to “aging in place,” as they say.

This season of my life has invited me to slow down, pay closer attention, and follow my curiosity wherever it quietly leads.

Our sons live fairly close by, which is comforting. My days now include caring for my husband and our sweet, aging dog, Zoey, as well as our adopted cat, Apollo. Even in this season of caregiving, I’m finding room again for the things that light me up. This blog is where I’ll share those creative, self-directed pursuits—and hopefully connect with others along the way.

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along and see where this journey leads.