In addition to being a wife, mother and grandmother, I am an educator. I began as a home economics teacher, which is something of an oddity since I don’t really like to talk. But at the time, I saw that I had three options for a career: secretary, nurse or teacher. Well, I didn’t want a career in which I answered to a boss all day (i.e. secretary). And since I feel faint at the sight of blood, nursing was out. Therefore, I became a teacher. And since I loved my high school home economics teacher, I became a home economics teacher.

But I wanted to do more. I accepted the position of local career and technical education director, which means I was in charge of all career and technical education for my county, not just home economics..

Then, as I approached my fifties, I decided to get my doctorate. So, at 49, I started on my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. And now, I have a 232-page dissertation (and a diploma) to prove it.

My doctorate opened the door to my dream job –  a regional career and technical education coordinator for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Through it, I provided service to all career and education teachers in my region of 22 counties in the northeast part of the state, assisting with curriculum, teaching methods and management of allotted funds.

When I decided it was time to retire, the transition into retirement was not easy for me. It took me about two years to stop playing games on my iPad, putting together jigsaw puzzles and playing sudoku. I really needed a project – something I would enjoy, but that also allowed me to be creative and productive.

So, my husband and I began creating furniture and home décor with reclaimed wood. We both grew up on farms with lots of old barns, which were beginning to decay. We started tearing them down board by board and turning those boards into tables, picture frames, and other home décor items.

I framed a lot of jigsaw puzzles with old barn wood and labeled them with plaques designating the origin and probable age of the wood. I gave some to family members and hung others in my home. My home is full of repurposed and upcycled furniture and décor from my Southern roots.

I created HER Life Hacks because I knew I had expertise and knowledge about all things home related that could be valuable to others.

Eventually, I narrowed the focus of HER Life Hacks to serve women in similar situations to mine.

I have too much stuff. Often, I can’t find what I’m looking for! So, I’m decluttering my home, organizing my spaces, vital legal documents, and digital files and photos. Along the way, I’m creating and sharing the legacy I want to leave my children and grandchildren.

Now I help women of retirement age who also want to live simpler lives without so much stuff and to share their life story with family.