☔I’m Rani, pronounced like the weather. You know:

I live in Dallas where I do yoga in the driveway and grow plants in the bathtub. I’m a middle-age dog mom and do some of my best shopping in the middle of the night. Don’t you? I can't stand the gray hairs sprouting around my head like I'm a chia plant that seems impossible to tame, and I’m down with the Botox keeping my chin in place.

🛍️So Why Retail Therapy?

I’m writing Retail Therapy because I’m tired. I’m tired of trying to follow the rules. I’m tired of feeling bad for not becoming the person I thought I’d be; for refusing to do it the way others insist is right; and for just trying to not be me. Now I just want to make my own rules.

Which means I need to tell the stories I want. Like:

• Why fashion hates middle-age women

• How music is the best way to study history

• Why independent watch brands are having a moment

I’ve been going down the traditional path — the newspapers, magazines and mainstream websites. But that’s not writing and telling stories. That’s pitching, hoping and waiting. I’m done with that.

Here you can expect a quirky take on how we spend our time & money. Along the way, we’ll take a sideways look at life. Hopefully by turning things around, something will finally make sense.

🛍️Retail Therapy is all of this, blended together in a Vitamix that refuses to look clean. Seriously, what is it about that thing and its cloudy demeanor?

Free 7-day trial

I’m living the Retail Therapy dream, or something like that. I “grew up” as an old-school newspaper reporter and got paid (pennies) to ask questions. I won some awards and broke lots of stories, covering business and politics. Which means I know a little about a lot. It was a good fit — until I decided I no longer wanted to write about what was happening because I wanted a seat at the table.

Moving into corporate was interesting. The coffee was much better. Intentionally, I set out to not “do writing” and relied on my reporter instincts to develop new skills. I kept my writing on the side, for me — on my terms. My most recent work is in The Wall Street Journal.

Welcome, I’m thrilled that you’re here! Seriously. I invite you to look around, take your shoes off and get cozy.

• You’ll receive all free posts in your Inbox.

• Be on the lookout for posts where comments are open to everyone. They’re tons of fun, so jump in & enjoy.

• As a subscriber, you’ll get a welcome email that shares how to get in touch. Please reach out. The world can be lonely, so I’d love to connect.

I wish that all of the content on Retail Therapy could be free, but my bougie dog still hasn’t gotten a job and I need to pay for his acupuncture. You’ll start to notice that Retail Therapy is a bit different. There aren’t affiliate links and sponsorships, which are the traditional ways writers get paid.

Instead, you’ll find Retail Therapy is fully unfiltered. You know, in a way we’d never drink water.

Who doesn't love free?

Please know your Paid subscription matters! You may notice Retail Therapy is a bit different. There are no affiliate links or product placements footing the bills. That means Retail Therapy is fully unfiltered. You know, in a way we’d never drink water.

Now what?

• Everything magically shows up in your Inbox & you get access to everything

• Once you’re locked in, your price never goes up. Ever. Talk about Retail Therapy!

• I want to hear your thoughts. Tell me what you love and hate, where I should spend more time and what to avoid.

• Jump in and join the conversation: that’s the best part of being a paid subscriber. We get to engage with each other, learning and laughing.

Thank you for supporting Retail Therapy! You make this site possible, along with my dog’s visits to his Eastern Medicine Practitioner.

Cheers to spending our time and money well!