About

Tastee Pudding is a blog that celebrates creative living.

What’s creative living? Being true to yourself, even if it means disappointing those around you. Helping others in ways – artistic or otherwise – that express who you are, and that feed your soul. Cultivating beauty, and fun. Treating your life as a work of art.

Yes, this woman's hat is a bowl of chocolate pudding.

If this sounds la-de-da to you, well – I understand. I’ve been where you are, or somewhere like it. For years, I thought “finding yourself” was a luxury, an elitist indulgence. Responsibility first – used to be, I couldn’t see another way. But I was miserable.  I hated my daily life -  hated my job, but had no idea what I wanted to do instead; hated “getting into character” when I went to work every day; hated how exhausted I was when I got home at night. Most of all, I hated how the years were passing, the restlessness inside me growing, and still, outwardly: no change. Just a lot of thinking, worrying, wanting.

Those days aren’t so far behind me, but they feel like another lifetime. I spent my 20s searching for another way, and I found it – finally – thanks to yoga, improv, and a little international bestseller called The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.  I realized: living a life of “supposed tos” and “shoulds” was no good for anybody; if I was miserable, any talent I had was crippled, and so was any effort I made to be of service. Following my bliss, it turned out, was no indulgence; it was the only way to live a meaningful life.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” –Howard Thurman

What People are Saying About Tastee Pudding

“Just a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate Tastee Pudding. I’m in the midst of a very challenging time and your posts remind me to not only value the things I truly love to do but they give me a kick in the pants to get them out there, already!” – A reader who requested anonymity

More About the Author

Hey, that's me!

I’m a writer and performer. A freelancer, and I earn a living helping independent media companies and nonprofits increase the reach, impact and quality of their online content. I recently moved to New York after a decade in our nation’s capital, where I wrote a popular blog about creative living called Creative DC (yes, there is creative life in DC). I also performed with JINX, a Washington Improv Theater ensemble, and last summer I was part of the Neutrino Video Project, which improvises a movie in the time it takes to watch it (probably the most fun I’ve ever had).

Professionally, my clients include NPR, PBS and the Paley Center for Media. I also write about documentary storytelling and the web in a column for P.O.V., the award-winning indie film series. Prior to making the leap into freelancing in 2006, I worked in both creative and management capacities for leading media websites such as PBS.org and washingtonpost.com.  I’ve developed and presented workshops on digital storytelling for the Sundance Institute, the National Film Board of Canada, the American Press Institute, the Online News Association, the PBS/CPB Producers Academy and the PBS/NPR Interactive Summit. I’ve also spoken at the National Press Club regarding best practices for promoting yourself as a freelance writer online.

I graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned a B.A. in English. I live in the East Village with my husband, Jordan, our dog, Cosmo, and the occasional cockroach.

Related Links

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• More about my writing, performing and consulting