Victory Tips
Personal Empowerment Articles
I created this blog for women in midlife. It’s jam-packed with practical advice, challenges, inspiration, and resources to help women dealing with aging parents, empty nests, new careers, starting over and other issues we encounter in our daily lives.
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First Steps Toward Victory? How Nancy Drew Inspired My Vision of Victory
Happy Victorious Woman Month!! Everyone has a moment, or a season, in which to decide whether to stay in your same place or step out into the unknown. The decision to move forward is always followed by a stretch out of your comfort zone. The stretch requires you to do whatever thing(s) you need (take action, more education, pray,…
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Celebrate Victorious Woman Month with a Special Offer from Annmarie Kelly
🌸 May Is Victorious Woman Month — And It’s Time to Celebrate You This May, we’re celebrating International Victorious Woman Month—a time dedicated to honoring resilience, growth, and the power women have to rise through life’s challenges. To mark the occasion, Annmarie Kelly is offering a special promotion on her inspiring book:Victorious Woman! Shaping Life’s…
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Victorious Woman Month 2026 – 20th Anniversary
Greetings and Happy Victorious Woman Month! Can it really be twenty years? YES!! Victorious Woman turns twenty this year!! I’m excited and I thank you for being with me in this success! BUT, do you know any of the backstory? The idea to tell stories of women overcoming seemingly impossible odds came to me shortly after the horrible events of…
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It’s Ground Hog Day!
Ready for Ground Hog Day? Annmarie is! Listen to her fun interview with Punxsutawney Phil’s handler, AJ Dereume to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on everything Phil. Then check out her pix from last year’s visit to the land of the most famous groundhog in the world!
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Happy Victorious Woman Month!!
Women have come a long way from the days when marriage was their expected career path. A recent Pew Research survey showed that almost half of unmarried US women didn’t view marriage as an important element of a fulfilling life. They like being single and running their own life. I get that. I was those…
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Join Us for the Semi-Annual Women’s Author Panel at the Pyramid Club on May 8!
Discover an inspiring evening of literature, networking, and breathtaking city views at the Semi-Annual Women’s Author Panel on Thursday, May 8, 2025, hosted at the prestigious Pyramid Club on the 52nd floor of the Mellon Building. This exclusive event brings together talented local women authors for an unforgettable night of conversation, connection, and celebration of…
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This month is called the love month………… But is it?
Happy February! This month is called the love month. But is it? I hear the complaints all the time…”I feel like we have nothing in common anymore but the kids”, or “I’m bored”, and “I feel like we lost our spark”. Recently someone wondered to me out loud, asking if the disappearance of love in…
The Five-Year Marriage®
Relationship Advice
I created this blog to dive further into the concepts proposed in the book, The Five-Year Marriage®. Topics range from relationship resets, communication advice, setting boundaries to negotiating agreements.
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Showing up is the hinge that swings open every door
Happy April! In early March, my longtime mentor, Robbie Motter, celebrated her 90th birthday by publishing her memoir, She Showed Up: A Woman of Purpose, Power & Unstoppable Faith. Robbie sent me the manuscript last year so I could write a testimonial. However, last month. when the book got onto Amazon, I downloaded a copy to read it…
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Do the Patterns in your Marriage Need a Reset?
Happy March! Do you ever think about how the patterns of your life dictate success or failure? Patterns are repeated ways of acting, reacting, or responding to specific situations. For example, a pattern of being early or late for meetings can determine a promotion at work. A pattern of being grateful can attract more good…
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Letting Love Rest, Root, and Renew this Winter
Happy Holiday Greetings! Earlier this week I was interviewed about long-term marriage for an article to be published in a UK women’s magazine. The journalist was particularly interested in The Five-Year Marriage and how it lends itself to keeping a marriage “fresh” over time. She asked good questions and made the interview easy and fun (not…
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The Power of the Next Day
What Melinda French Gates Reminded of For Moving Forward Over the summer, I read Melinda French Gates latest book, a memoir, The Next Day. I read it a little bit for the gossipy part and a little because I was curious about how she made the decision to end her marriage. In the book, Gates describes her…
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October Reflections on Love, Marriage, and the Power of Redesigning Relationships
Love and marriage aren’t static—they evolve as we do. This October, we explored what happens when couples treat their relationship as a living, breathing partnership. From learning when to say “I love you” while you can, to understanding why love often fades gradually rather than suddenly, this month’s conversation centered around growth, collaboration, adaptability, and…
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An Anniversary, A Memorial, and a Reminder – Say It Now
Happy Fall! I had an interesting experience recently. In late September, Joseph and I celebrated the 2nd anniversary of our 8th Five-Year Marriage. We missed our usual Maine vacation this year, so we decided to take a few days away to celebrate and catch up with each other. I’ve been wanting to go to the 9-11 Flight…
The Maine Diaries
My Annual Adventures
I was captivated by the Maine Coast on my first trip there in the late 90’s. In the years since, I’ve traveled up and down the coast from Kittery to Calais but I spend most of my Maine time Downeast. I love the adventures I have and the chance to unwind from the world and reconnect with myself. I chronicle my experiences in The Maine Diaries.
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Maine – My Way
Greetings! I’m glad you found The Maine Diaries! If you want to experience the joys of New England, and specifically the coast of Maine, this is a good guide.
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2019 Epilogue
Settling back into “real life” after a relaxing couple of weeks away. I was surprised when I got an email from Ollie at Windward Cottages. The subject line said “left in cottage.” Hmmm….Joseph and I always do a “last sweep” of closets and drawers, so I thought “what could we possibly have left?” When I opened up…
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Beating Dorian
All week I watched the path of hurricane Dorian. I wondered if we would get stuck in the hurricane – or it’s aftermath – on our way home. We didn’t. Leaving yesterday was smart. We had perfect weather from Bar Harbor all the way down the coast. By today the coast of Maine, including Downeast, was engulfed in the hurricane on its way to Canada. …
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Exchanging a “Last Hike” for Popovers
Joseph and I thought about a “last hike” in the early morning but opted for Common Good, the soup kitchen in Southwest Harbor. The soup kitchen takes care of Mainers who need food, especially during the winter months. I see the same volunteers each year, and some new faces. They are dedicated, and the community…
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The Big One
Today is our last full day in Maine. That means two things: The last hike and the “special” dinner. For the hike we chose my favorite: The Jordan Pond. This one travels the entire 3.5 miles shoreline of the Jordan Pond. Joseph and I usually start on right (western) side because it’s a little tedious –…
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Green Eggs and Sam with George
We’re starting to think about home – both sad to see our vacation ending and glad to be back in our own beds. After yesterday’s long hike, we opted for a much shorter and easier trek to Compass Point. It’s the site where George Doerr’s family had a “cottage” in late 1800. The place was razed…
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Only a Few Days Left
I cannot believe it’s Tuesday of the 2nd week here. It’s going too fast! This morning I saw Ollie and asked about his openings before and after our two weeks – thinking maybe we can add another week in 2020. I think what’s happened is that Joseph and I have certain hikes we like to do…
