Lisa Smith Molinari, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

The family meeting | Lisa Smith Molinari

4 days ago | santamariatimes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

“C’mon guys!” I bellowed, “You’re late!” One by one, they appeared at the kitchen table in our Naval Station Mayport base house, each carrying a heavy attitude. My husband, Francis, slumped into a chair. He’d always thought my nicey-nicey family meetings were pure nonsense, a waste of his Sunday leisure time.
Time flies when you’re having a family meeting

6 days ago | stripes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

“C’mon, guys!” I bellowed, “You’re late!” One by one, they appeared at the kitchen table in our Naval Station Mayport base house, each carrying a heavy attitude. My husband, Francis, slumped into a chair. He’d always thought my nicey-nicey family meetings were pure nonsense, a waste of his Sunday leisure time.
My hips don’t swing, but my belly does | Lisa Smith Molinari

1 week ago | hanfordsentinel.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

This week, another 8-week session of the fitness classes I’ve been taking for two years started up. I’ve already skipped the first class using a mild case of spring sniffles as my excuse. Military spouses get used to constant change, so I often get bored with my exercise routine and need to spice things up. Back when we were stationed in Florida and I was tired of power walking on the beach (ridiculous, I know), a friend convinced me to try a Zumba class at the base gym.
My hips don’t swing, but my belly does

1 week ago | stripes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

Group fitness classes can be intimidating. (iStock) This week, another eight-week session of the fitness classes I’ve been taking for two years started up. I’ve already skipped the first class using a mild case of spring sniffles as my excuse. Military spouses get used to constant change, so I often get bored with my exercise routine and need to spice things up.
Mirror, mirror, who’s the fairest milspouse? | Lisa Smith Molinari

2 weeks ago | santamariatimes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

“It’s beautiful outside today, I’ll go on a walk,” I think in a burst of seasonal motivation. Intending to soak up natural vitamin D, I don a short-sleeved shirt and cropped work-out pants, along with tennis shoes wide enough to accommodate my bunion. Heading out the front door, I inhale the fresh air deeply and stretch my arms out wide. Ahhhh! Just then, a sudden tickle in my uvula (did I inhale a gnat or pollen spore?) triggers a coughing fit, and I retreat into the house for water.
We should reflect on what doesn’t show in the mirror

2 weeks ago | stripes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

“It’s beautiful outside today. I’ll go on a walk,” I think in a burst of seasonal motivation. Intending to soak up natural vitamin D, I don a short-sleeved shirt and cropped workout pants, along with tennis shoes wide enough to accommodate my bunion. Heading out the front door, I inhale the fresh air deeply and stretch my arms out wide. Ahhhh! Just then, a sudden tickle in my uvula (did I inhale a gnat or pollen spore?) triggers a coughing fit, and I retreat into the house for water.
When the left isn’t right | Lisa Smith Molinari

3 weeks ago | santamariatimes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

I grabbed the bundle of letters in my mailbox and walked directly to the recycling can, expecting all junk. “So wasteful,” I muttered judgmentally, tossing them one by one into the blue bin. “You’ve been approved!” a credit card offer read. “Free gift inside!” two charity solicitations promised, one containing return address labels with my last name spelled wrong, and the other with a small notepad printed with cartoon butterflies.
Finally getting a leg up on driver’s license lunacy

3 weeks ago | stripes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

I grabbed the bundle of letters in my mailbox and walked directly to the recycling can, expecting all junk. “So wasteful,” I muttered judgmentally, tossing them one by one into the blue bin. “You’ve been approved!” a credit card offer read. “Free gift inside!” two charity solicitations promised, one containing return address labels with my last name spelled wrong, and the other with a small notepad printed with cartoon butterflies.
Donâ€™t mind the gap | Lisa Smith Molinari

1 month ago | syvnews.com | Lisa Smith Molinari
Don’t mind education gap, but do understand it

1 month ago | stripes.com | Lisa Smith Molinari

A million years ago, I was a litigation attorney with a bright professional future and significant earning potential. That was before I married a Navy man and began moving to U.S. states and foreign countries where my law licenses weren’t worth the paper on which they were printed. Despite these challenges, I maintained hope that one day, I’d rekindle my law career.