Bold, Italic, & Unapologetic

I attended the CMT Awards last night for the first time in several years…only the second time I had attended since I lost my dream job at CMT in my mid-20’s. (That full story is in my second book, I’ve Never Been to Vegas But My Luggage Has, which just happens to be $1.99 on Kindle & Nook right now). Once upon a time I interviewed celebrities on the red carpet at those awards, a » Read More

The Hardness of Life. The Goodness of God.

It’s impossible to REALLY know God if you’ve only known good.

This is the phrase that keeps running through my head these days. Hard days, for more reasons than one. I’ve found myself increasingly attune lately to the hardness of life. My dear friend, probably my best friend, Caroline, has lost two friends in six months. One to disease, another to addiction. Another friend of mine is facing a huge life challenge and spiritual battle that » Read More

To the Man I Thought Was ‘The One’

To the Man I Thought Was “The One,” or my “Almost, Not Quite Love”:

This is the last time I will ever write about you. I’ve given you pages, chapters, BOOKS of my life…but now it’s time for me to write a new story now. One without you in it.

I’m ready to do that now. But to start a new chapter, you must first close the old one.

For years I asked God to bring closure to » Read More

Scary, Beautiful, Necessary Change.

Some things are going to be changing around here.

I’ve been feeling a stirring, a restlessness, in my spirit, for some time now. Like I was ready for a change. A shift. A new direction. Not just in my writing but in my LIFE. I’ve been writing about singleness for six years now. I’ve explored it from just about every angle possible. I’ve written one self-published and three published books about it. I’ve loved sharing my » Read More

One Year Ago Today

I woke up this morning with snapshots from one year ago today running through my mind.

The phone call on that fateful Monday morning. My mom’s voice, tearful and frantic, on the other end. “Kevin has been in an accident and we don’t know how bad it is. Cher and Daddy are on the way to him at Vanderbilt. Mandy…pray.”

Trying to throw on clothes while intermittently throwing myself on the floor before God to beg, to beseech, » Read More

14 Reasons to Celebrate Your Singleness This Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is upon us, and few things send single women running for the Ben & Jerry’s faster than the thought of spending another February 14th alone. From the obnoxious singling gorillas in silk boxers (I mean, c’mon…what self-respecting man (or ape) still wears silk boxers?!?) that assault our ears at Walgreens to the obnoxious “I love my hubby soooooooo much!” posts that wage war on our Facebook feeds…let’s face it: Valentine’s Day is not » Read More

From Catfights to Catwalks: How TV Gets Single Life All Wrong

 

It seems everywhere I look these days, there’s a new dating show. Always a new angle… on the same premise. Cram one man and multiple women into an enclosed space complete with a castle, a cheesy soundtrack, and contrived dates, add a heap of drama and a dash of scandal and you’ve got the formula for a hit show. Easy as that. Very little assembly required.

Our culture (myself included!) is addicted to watching gaggles of » Read More

The Top Ten Books All Single Women Should Read

I’ve wanted to write this blog for a really long time. Since I am a bookworm, the #1 way I get inspired in whatever season of life I’m in is through the written word. While there are a TON of books out there that I think send the wrong messages to singles (anything having to do with “make any man fall in love with you” or “get married in 6 months or less by reading » Read More

If An Ex Pokes You on Facebook and You Don’t Respond, Did Anything Actually Happen?

The following is an excerpt from my new book Beautiful Uncertainty, in stores now.

Those of you who are regular readers of my blog have introduced to my long-suffering, on-again, off-again ex, Mr. E. And I’m sure you likely have your own long-suffering, on-again, off-again ex, like Carrie’s “Mr. Big” in Sex & the City. This is what happened when mine reappeared in my life again after two years of silence.

Even though I hesitate to give him » Read More

Something wonderful is on the horizon
Life doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only
Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only