The Not Done Yet Movement
Because the plot twist is still unfolding.
If you do one thing, let it be this. Be part of our story.
A Welcome From Valerie
"This is where the conversation begins."
I’m Valerie, (also known as Valerie with the Big Hair) and I built this because there was no guidebook.
This is a Place to Be Real
You are not dramatic.
You are not broken.
You are not alone.
You are in midlife. And something new is beginning.
This Month in the Movement
Words We’re Sitting With
We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
― Maya Angelou
This Month’s Voice
Confidence Was Her First Ingredient
Some people walk into your life quietly and, before you realize it, they’ve become someone you treasure. That’s Soul.
I first met her several years ago when she was helping with one of my many ambitious food projects. We clicked immediately, but as our friendship grew, I realized there was so much more to her than the accomplished chef everyone sees on television.
Behind the smile is a woman who carries herself with a quiet confidence. She’s never the loudest person in the room, yet there’s something about her presence that makes you want to listen.
When I asked Soul where that confidence came from, her answer was beautifully simple.
“It was nurtured.”
She grew up in a home where her parents believed in her long before she learned to believe in herself. Her older brother constantly reminded her she was capable, and today her husband continues to encourage her every step of the way.
“I think one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is confidence,” she told me. “It can change lives.”
It’s a gift she’s now passing on to her son, Noah.
That confidence doesn’t mean life has been easy.
Our Pledge
I, ________ pledge that in this community, love will be my language, and lifting others will be my purpose. I will honor every woman’s story with empathy, not judgment; I will celebrate her growth with joy, not gossip. Here, we rise by uplifting each other—no exceptions. No matter where we come from or what we’ve faced, we stand together in empowerment, honesty, and compassion. This is a space where every heart is welcomed, and only uplifted hearts belong.
Begin Your Journey
Starting here means joining thousands of women who refuse to believe that midlife is the beginning of the end. It’s the beginning of something deeper, truer, and fully yours.
Come as you are,
stay as long as you need.
Come as you are, stay as long as you like.
What’s Next for the Not Done Yet Movement
Big hair.
Big heart.
Big things ahead.
The Not Done Yet Movement is only the beginning. Your honesty and lived experience are shaping what comes next.
Speaking Engagements & Keynote
Midlife deserves a microphone.
Valerie brings humor, humanity, and truth to global stages — creating space for women to feel seen, heard, and understood.
Story Circles (Virtual & In-Person)
Intimate gatherings where women can talk, listen, laugh, and breathe again — together.
No fixing.
No performing.
Just real conversation.
Corporate Programs for Midlife Women
Support for organizations ready to acknowledge what midlife actually looks like at work.
Topics include midlife well-being, menopause support, leadership, identity shifts, and retention strategies.
Community Membership (Subscription)
A deeper layer of connection for women who want ongoing support.
Includes live gatherings, humor hours, expert conversations, a growing resource library, and private community space.
Retreats — Rest, Renewal & Reinvention
Weekend retreats designed for laughter, rest, reflection, and reconnection.
Built for women who are ready to step away — and come back to themselves.
Writing Workshops
Gentle, funny, empowering writing experiences for women rediscovering their voice — whether they’ve written before or not.
The Not Done Yet Podcast
Launching soon.
Real conversations for real midlife — shaped directly by women’s stories and lived experience.
Real Women W(h)ine— A Wine Circle for Women in Their Next Chapter
Because some of the best conversations happen with a glass in hand. Real Women W(h)ine is our curated wine circle — where women come together to taste, learn, travel to vineyards, and talk about life in the most honest and enjoyable way possible. No pretension. No performance. Just women, wine, and real connection.