lifestyle – Aléna Orrison, Author and Editor

Writing Should Be Fun

An author friend and I recently created our own writing retreat. Neither one of us has had much time to work on our novels recently, so we spent the night at a local bed-and-breakfast and stayed up late drinking wine and writing. We both feel we got a significant amount of work done during this time. Continue reading “Writing Should Be Fun”

Avoiding Burn Out

I am an advocate for self-care. I don’t mean only bubble baths and special snacks. I’m talking about true self-care. Putting yourself first is something most people don’t do.

Be Kind

A quick and easy survival guide for dealing with stress.

Make Memories This Holiday Season

The winter holidays, regardless of what you celebrate, can be focused on spending time with family and friends and not on spending money.

Social Media Reset

I’m wondering when I’m done if I’ll even have anyone left on my “friends list.” I wonder if I’ll even care.

Busy Night Meals

My children have always been active in sports, band, and various clubs, so I’ve become a pro at sticking to our grocery budget while providing healthy meals. Fast food is a treat for our family, especially as feeding hungry athletes gets expensive.

Why You Should Prioritize Self-Care

We hear the phrase “self-care” a lot lately. There are hundreds of blogs and articles out there listing acts of self-care, but this is not one of them. Instead, let’s talk about why you should make self-care a priority. When I’m in a seminar and the presenter asks us to list the things in ourContinue reading “Why You Should Prioritize Self-Care”

Budget-Friendly Meals for the College Student

This fall, my son starts his junior year of college. For a myriad of reasons, his meal plan is smaller this year. There was a moment of anxiety when he realized he would have to feed himself and his budget is limited. He is living in the dorms so has a microwave and mini-fridge withContinue reading “Budget-Friendly Meals for the College Student”

Love One Another

The mask vs no mask debate is tearing us apart. There is a division between those who think masks are vital and those who don’t. There’s also a gray area of people who just want to be able to make their own choices, those who think masks are important to slow the disease but areContinue reading “Love One Another”

The 100 Day Challenge

The other day I made a goal to exercise every day for 100 days. I posted my goal on social media and challenged my friends to create a 100-day goal as well. Now I’m challenging all of you. What is the 100 Day Challenge? Just what is says. It’s doing something to create a newContinue reading “The 100 Day Challenge”