Who I Am
Welcome to Once Upon A Midlife Crisis, a smart, slightly rebellious lifestyle blog where epic fiction meets real life plot twists, road trips double as therapy, and midlife women take center stage (not the sidelines).
I’m Alischa O’Harrow Rogillio, but you can call me Ali. Book blogger, chaos wrangler, unapologetic Leo, autism Mama, wife to an ironworker, and queen of the overpacked suitcase. I live on a small riverside homestead in Louisiana with my husband Stephen, our blended brood of six kids, some rabbits, a cat who thinks he’s royalty, and a rooster named Thor who’s always in charge.
By day, I’m either running my business, Rogillio Homestead, or chasing after chickens, rabbits, and whatever animal got loose this time. By night, I’m curled up with a romantasy book, whispering sweet nothings to my Kindle and ignoring the laundry pile that might be sentient at this point.
This site started as a book blog but grew the same way I did, louder, wiser, and a little less interested in always playing nice. Today, Once Upon A Midlife Crisis is your go to spot for all things bookish, travel worthy, and beautifully unfiltered.
What You’ll Find Here:
Book Reviews & Features:
Home of honest reviews with a fierce love for Romantasy, Fantasy, Dark Romance, Historical Spice, and anything involving morally gray men or magical chaos. If a book wrecked me, thrilled me, or flat out lied about being “like ACOTAR,” you’ll read about it here, no fluff, no BS.
Booked & Boarding
A down to earth travel section built for real people, real families, and real life chaos. From cliff diving in the wild, to sticky stinky nights in Times Square, we cover road trips, hotel reviews, family chaos, hidden gems, and bookish travel experiences across the map, with or without kids in tow.
Life Between Chapters
Because not everything fits neatly into genres. This is where we talk midlife identity, relationships, beauty, wellness, family, personal growth, and whatever else we’re navigating between the pages. Think of it as the footnotes to the story you’re living, and writing.
Who I Am, Off the Blog:
- I’m 44, a Midwesterner (CO) by birth and Southern (LA) by way of humidity.
- I have a blended family that spans from high schoolers to grown kids, and we road trip like a band of gypsies with snacks.
- I’m a singer, and I love Broadway musicals, Tudor history, strong tea, and strong opinions.
- I’ve lived a few lifetimes already, and I’m just getting warmed up.
- I still swoon over AJ McLean like it’s 1999. Some obsessions age like fine wine.
- Our family bleeds purple and gold. We’re ride-or-die LSU Tigers fans, Saturdays are sacred.#GeauxTigers #STTDB
- I’m Irish/Norwegian (with a dab of Sicilian in there for good measure). I’m loud, proud, fierce, loyal, and just the right amount of extra.
- Im obsessed with dragons… Period
Why This Blog Exists:
Because the idea of a “midlife crisis” deserves a rebrand. It’s not all about falling apart, it’s about falling in love with life again, harder and on your own terms.
So whether you’re here for the next book rec, your next weekend escape, or some much needed real talk about living midlife with poise, purpose, grace, guts and gloriously untamed, I’ve got a seat at the table for you.
This is Once Upon A Midlife Crisis…
Older. Bolder. Bookish. Unbothered.
🫶🏼 – Ali
