About Me

Hi, I’m Diane.

My story began over 60 years ago in the wide open spaces of Iowa, where I grew up on a farm surrounded by cornfields, animals, and endless sky. I was adopted into a family that taught me the value of love, curiosity, and appreciating simple things—sunrises over the fields, the rhythm of the seasons, and the feeling of being connected to the land.

I learned early on that if you wanted something to grow, you had to tend to it—crops, animals, relationships, yourself.

From there, life unfolded in ways I never quite planned.

Dance was my first passion. I studied it in college and eventually opened my own dance studio. But life has a quiet way of nudging us in new directions when we’re ready.

That nudge took me from the Iowa farmlands to the desert of Phoenix, Arizona.

The desert has its own kind of beauty—the sunsets, the quiet strength of the landscape, and the feeling that anything is possible under the wide desert sky. While living there, I explored many different paths. I worked in retail, selling jewelry, skincare, clothing, and lifestyle products. I studied massage therapy, and later energy work, hypnosis, Reiki, and Life Coaching.

I started businesses. I closed businesses. And along the way, I learned a great deal about people, wellness, personal growth, and what it means to follow your curiosity.

Looking back, I realize I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit—trying things, learning from them, and growing along the way.

One path that stayed constant is my career as a flight attendant. What I thought would be just a job for a few years turned into a career that has allowed me to travel the world, experience different cultures, and meet incredible people along the way.

Eventually, another place captured my heart—Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I fell in love with the city’s energy. Philadelphia isn’t polished and perfect. It’s gritty, historic, creative, and full of character. It has heart.

So after nearly 30 years in Arizona, I made the leap and moved.

Now I live in Center City, Philadelphia, in a teeny home with my two little companions, Fuzz and Furrgie. They keep life interesting, curious, and just the right amount of unpredictable. Sharing a small space with two opinionated cats means there’s always a little mischief, a little laughter, a little love—and plenty of reminders to slow down, enjoy the moment, or take a nap.

When I step outside my front door, the city becomes my playground—cobblestone streets, neighborhood cafés, and the rhythm of city life greeting me each day.

Just like the sky that stretches wide over the Iowa cornfields and glows above the Arizona desert, the sky above Philadelphia reminds me to look up—and to keep rising.

Somewhere between the cornfields, the cacti, and the cobblestone streets, I’ve created a life I genuinely love.

I’m learning new skills, and creating something that feels deeply aligned with who I am now.

Rooted & Rising with Diane grew from that place.

It’s a space for reflection, personal growth, and intentional living for women rediscovering themselves and embracing what's next.  A place where we can honor where we’ve been, love who we are, and step forward with intention into who we’re becoming.

Because if there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s this:

We are always evolving.

I’m so glad you’re here.