krismulkey.com

Yesterday, someone said something kind.   "I hope you can enjoy this time off." He meant well. I know he did. But the truth? I can't. Not yet. When you're employed, it's easy to assume that if someone is laid off with severance, they've been given a chance to breathe. Maybe they can sleep in, catch up on projects around the house, take a vacation, finish writing their book (hint, hint!), fill the calendar with fun day trips and hiking adventures, or simply enjoy the summer.  I used to think that too. Now I'm living it. Here's what it actually feels like. It feels like waking up every morning with uncertainty sitting at the edge of the bed. It feels like wondering how long it will take to find the next opportunity. It feels like doing mental math about mortgage payments, insurance, and all the responsibilities that don't stop just because your job did. People ask how I'm doing. I smile. "I'm exploring new opportunities." "I...

It started with a birthday gift.  I found my husband the cutest American flag T-shirt at the J.Crew Outlet. (It was going to be the gift from the dogs to Don, lol.) It wasn't loud or flashy. The stripes of the flag were made from old wooden boat oars—a clever nod to summer, the coast, and Americana. I thought it was perfect to wear on the 4th of July. His response surprised me. "I don't know if I can wear this." Not because he didn't like it. Because he wasn't sure what people would assume about him if they saw an American flag on his shirt. That stopped me. Somewhere along the way, a symbol that was once broadly understood has become something people feel they have to explain. Whether you see that as good, bad, or inevitable isn't really my point. What fascinated me was how quickly we all start asking the same question: **What story will people tell about me before I ever get a chance to tell it myself?** That's not just a political question. It's...

Dolly Parton is opening a business to compete with Buc-ee's. I honestly didn't see that coming. Now, if you've never been to Buc-ee's, you're probably thinking, it's a gas station. A convenience store.  That's where you are wrong. Oh so wrong. This majestic retail destination sits up on a hill and beckons you to go out of your way to get there. You are pulled to it like a magnet. My first Buc-ee's experience was in Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly's hometown. I'm from Northern California and had never heard of the place. Within five minutes, I understood why people plan road trips around it. Imagine Disneyland if Disneyland sold beef jerky. Gas pumps as far as you can see. A giant sign out front telling you exactly what they pay their team — including the general manager. The wages are impressive. It has you second-guessing your career before you've even walked inside. Then you do walk inside. First stop: the bathrooms. Spacious. Spotless. Atten...

I went to an event a few weeks ago. One of the giveaways was this little crocheted duck. He came with a tiny sign that says, Waddle with purpose. Success is just around the pond. Cute. I threw him in my bag. When I got home, I set him on my desk. And that's where things got weird. Because of the angle of his face... ...he's looking up at me. Not straight ahead. Not at my computer. At me. Every morning, I sit down at my desk and there he is. Just... Looking. Waiting. Like, "Okay...what are we accomplishing today?" At first I thought it was funny. Now I catch myself looking back at him. Like I somehow owe him progress. I swear I'm trying to make the little duck proud. ps. If you want your own duck, you can order one on cheer-space.com

A funny thing happened after I reached my goal weight. I changed my mind. Back in 2021, I decided it was time to get serious about my health. Like so many people, I'd picked up the "Covid 15" (okay...more like the Covid 13 in my case), and I wasn't feeling like myself anymore. I started a health program, lost the weight, and eventually reached 121 pounds. At the time, I thought I'd made it. That was the number I'd been chasing. Mission accomplished. Or so I thought. What I discovered over the next few years surprised me. Being at my lowest weight wasn't the same as being at my healthiest weight. Or my happiest. To stay at 121 pounds, I had to think about food all the time. Every meal. Every dinner out. Every vacation. Every glass of wine. Every piece of birthday cake. And yes...every slice of Blueberry Boy Bait. That's not how I wanted to live. These days, I weigh about 135ish pounds. I'm still in a healthy BMI. I feel strong. I have energy. I slee...

I recently visited my parents in Phoenix to celebrate my dad’s birthday. He just turned 95. My mom is 88. So, as you can imagine, things are moving at a slightly different pace. We spent a few days having nice meals, visiting with their friends, and helping them get a little more organized. My sister and I were only there for four days, but we decided this would also double as a light decluttering initiative. That part did not go as planned. My parents moved into a retirement community about six years ago. They have a one-bedroom, one and a half bath apartment. It is actually perfect. Just enough space, easy to manage, everything they need. Except. As the years go on, the stuff continues to grow. More holiday décor. More books. More things. And now, a surprising amount of front door décor. Every resident takes their front door very seriously. It is how they show their personality. How they welcome friends. How they say, “This is me.” Without it, the hall would feel like a hall. With it...