The past almost 18 years I posted online to a small community that grew with me and my family. We floated from different social media apps but we still huddled in our own community. I got to know them, their families, their pets, their trials, their triumphs and the best and worst parts of what they wanted to share of their lives.

I can tell you the positives of stepping away from social media that you have heard before but no one talks about the other parts of not scrolling. I have dealt with different types of grief in my life, but I was not prepared for this type of grief. I missed everyone even though they were technically, at my fingertips. There were a few times I had wondered if I was isolating and using this as an excuse to not connect or did I really need to step away. I went back and forth but eventually, I ripped off the bandaid and my wound was covered in validation-seeking, people-pleasing, and shortcomings. I am so grateful for IG and the people who made me feel loved at a time I felt unloved. It’s been a journey to do the work.

One unexpected revelation was the realization that not every moment needs to be documented and shared with the world. There's something oddly freeing about embracing the concept of simply living in the moment without worrying about the perfect angle or hashtag. It's a world where memories are cherished for what they truly are—personal and intimate experiences.

Another delightful consequence of my hiatus from posting was the resurgence of forgotten hobbies. I detached myself from the constant stream of updates and notifications, I stumbled upon neglected talents and finding interests in things I like. It was a reminder that my creativity and soul thrive when I make something, whether by hand or digitally. For years, I mistakenly believed I wasn't an artist because I compared myself to those with years of experience. When I create, I come alive.

But perhaps the weirdest experience of my IG sabbatical was the discovery that the world didn't stop turning just because I wasn't scrolling through endless feeds. Life continued. I raised a daughter. I raised a garden. I got stronger, emotionally and physically. My life and my joy have been kept private.

I would love to go back but for now, I am enjoying the quiet. I’m coming back to this space for now, and just like the past 18 years I have seen different versions of myself, I’m looking forward to seeing who I am now. See you soon, friends.

This is a long post overdue and I know it wasn’t always “happy”. I am so grateful to be celebrating the sometimes painful and hopefully joyous journey for my LGBTQIA+ friends and family.

One of the last times I logged on IG and looked back at my posts, I had the opportunity to speak up on immigration, racism, and anything else i felt needed attention. I am sorry I never spoke up enough about you, for you. I can make excuses and say I was raised in a strict religious household etc etc but honestly, it took a long time to deconstruct and once I did, it was like walking on eggshells. It still feels like it. Do I say the right thing? Probably not but I’m learning silence is much louder.

This is an apology to you and the courage I set aside. That cowardice that took over that voice in my heart to speak up.

And this is an apology to the things i never understood. I probably never will and that’s okay.

I’m starting to learn the world is change by examples and behavior but not by opinions. It’s painful to watch. The more I pull pieces apart, the more I have to ask, “who is this really benefiting and do I want to be a part of it?”

I am grateful for you. It took years to separate the god I was taught about to the God I know to celebrate you.

I love you, friends.

Encanto, if you haven’t watched it yet, is a movie about a family with special powers. The main character Maribel, doesn’t posses any magical powers. Most families of any culture can relate to Encanto, that’s what makes it a great story. Family is universal and having family issues is normal. However, it’s how we deal with them that can make them healthy or traumatic. Abuelita, the head of the house, is so consumed by the magical world and the powers her family possesses, she looks over what the magic can do to a person. The powers come from a magical candle who gifts the family gifts with the support and love within the family.

The story is about the family but I loved the three sisters the most. During the movie and music, you see their struggles as a member of the Madrigal Family. There’s Maribel, who doesn’t have any gifts or powers. Her sisters Luisa, the strong one, is the middle child who feels pressured to carry everything on her shoulders, literally and metaphorically. There’s Isabella, who has the power to add beauty in shapes of florals to anything. She gives me Elsa vibes- instead of ice, she has * ahem * flower power (ugh, sorry, I had to). She is pressured to be perfect because she is the oldest and the oldest usually represents the family name.

I loved how they lived in Casita, the home of the Madrigal family and the house is treated like a family member. They talk to it, they get mad at it, they love it, and just like any member of a family, it loves them back with the love it receives. I have fallen down the rabbit hole of fan theories, one being Abuelito is really Casita in spirit form. I live in a 100 year old home and I can absolutely agree homes can take on personalities as wild as that sounds.

The movie reminded me of my own family, not just culturally, but also because older family members tend to overlook the people over achievements. I know I am not the only one who is trying to break generational trauma’s and that’s why I believe this movie did so well. Another fan theory is Bruno, the uncle who has the gift of seeing the future, as bleak as it may be, represents other parts of family members (mental health, LGBTQIA+, the black sheep). Just like what I’ve experienced, Abuelita is fine when Bruno hides and isn’t seen for years.

I can talk about Encanto forever, but my own theory is just because Maribel doesn’t posses gifts or powers, she isn’t at all powerless. She is the most powerful of all- she believed and supported Bruno, she got over her ego and went to make with her sister Isabella, and she stood up to Abuelta to name a few. I also believe the magical candle got dimmer as Abuelita’s love for her family’s powers got bigger than the love for her actual family. The theory is way out there but Dolores is the villain of the movie. Her gift is superhuman hearing. She heard Bruno through the walls, heard him eat alone while her family ate together, and yet she didn’t say anything. I don’t think it was about protecting him, I think she ignored him because Bruno was the one villainized. I loved Encanto, you are not alone if you find yourself crying because you can relate a little too hard to the Madrigal family.

This post is part of a series, Fandom Friday.

• Unsubscribe or delete email sale announcements without opening them. I remember this trick from ABM’s no-buy year. Gmail offers automatic filtering (Primary, Social, Promotions, etc) and all I have to do is click-all and they all go away without even bother being tempted by them.

• There’s a lot more than shopping here- When I took a break from Instagram, I was shopping more. I noticed I was swapping out one dopamine surge for another. I also took Tiktok off my phone because it feels like a huge ad for me. The FYP knows what I like and I constantly gave in. I am in the process of finding the root of the issue with a professional instead of having band-aid solutions to what’s causing this.

• Utilize a vision board- I made Pinterest boards with makeup I already own. I started doing this with clothes, too. I learned red lipstick and a polka dot dress can really be neutrals with the right look and some creativity. Other sources I’ve used for digital vision boards are Notion, and Milanote.

• Practice- Not giving in, saying no to myself, saying not today to instant gratification is new to me. Doing it once is hard but having to do it over and over from the start is harder. I’m practicing this until it’s a part of me.

• Accountability- Tell a friend or two what’s going on. I told you!

• Have your goals and why’s- Write down, on paper, why you are doing this. Not on your Notes app. if you’re physically able to, writing something down, with a pen. From mind to pen to paper is powerful and does something to you. Tell yourself why you’re doing it. Mine is to not rely on quick rushes, be aware of my consumption, and use what I have joyfully.

I’ll update it throughout the year. Thanks for following along!

I stopped wearing makeup in 2020 but it wasn’t just makeup. I completely neglected myself. I barely did the minimum for workouts but embarrassingly, grooming wasn’t a priority. The more I take care of myself and discover myself outside of being a parent, the more I realize how much I love makeup and the act of putting on makeup.

I love taking care of myself again and wanted to do a Project Pan of my own. I was hesitant to go public with it or tell anyone because going to Sephora and dropping money on stuff I don’t need is a one of my spiritual gifts. It pains me to be aware of what I’m spending on. It also means I’ll be using what I have. It’s a mindset to most people to use what they have, but I have poor habits of chasing dopamine, cheap thrills and sometimes that looks like buying more of one thing. I won’t be neglecting myself. Using up an item makes me feel responsible. It means I’m having conscious thought before blindly purchasing the same item in a different package . It means I’m also taking care of my skin and using up that skin care routine. It makes me grateful for what I have.

And honestly? I’m exhausted. I’m so tired of giving into makeup trends, I’m tired of the clutter, I’m so tired of things coming in but nothing going out. I look at what I’m spending how I could have saved the money and the counter space. 

This is my personal journey to be a better consumer, to buy with intention, to be mindful of what goes in my home. So I’ll start with the thing I struggle with the most- makeup and skincare.

I have tried decluttering and that’s a temporary solution but I end up filling things back up. I want to build habits that get to the issue. 

I’m learning how to say no to myself, one of the hardest things I’ve done. I’m saying no to the cheap thrills. Every time I say no to buying more, I’m saying yes to a future me. I’m saying no the distractions, the unnecessary spending filling an emotional void. I want future me to thank me later.

Consuming without intention.

Exhausted of buying things.

I’m done. And I’m so excited for this.

This is my makeup haul I plan to use, as I post them when I hit “pan”, I’ll review them. One thing I absolutely refuse to hit “pan” on? Mascara. I’ve never finished one but I don’t want to risk going past a couple months of use. Pink eye isn’t part of the goal!

• Face- For a quick on the-go face, I love Amore Pacific CC cream. I’ve been using their formula for years and it’s always on refill. Sunbetter Compact is great to touch up my sunscreen when I have makeup on, and FitMe Maybelline Foundation is one my favorite foundation for dry sensitive skin for when I have a little more time.

• Primer and Base- Lawless Primer is great for my super dry skin. MAC’s Strobe Cream in Pinklite is a great base or highlight without drying out the skin. It gives me a little boost of color and glow I have yet to find from any highlighter I’ve tried.

• Cheeks- I was gifted this incredible palette from my friend Ashley, who also gave me the Han Blush. It’s glam enough for when I have time to do my face more but simple enough to give me what I want on quick out the door days. The LYS Beauty Bronzer adds subtle contour.

• Lips, Brows and Eyes- Bite Beauty Power Move creamy lipstick in Nonino (sold out at Sephora!) and the custom made lipstick I made at Bite Beauty Bar. Ecobrow Crayon , Laura Mercier Caviar Stick I dot on the corners of my eyes to fool people that I’m rested and awake, Maybelline Neutralizer as a hydrating base for the Lancome Concealer. Not pictured- Lawless The Mini One in Baby. So many romantic looks in one tiny palette!

• Skincare goals- These are my latest purchases I want to finish. The larger size Elta MD, Sunbetter Suncreen Stick, Tower28 SOS Spray, and Glow Recipe’s HA

Thanks for letting me share and reading. Most items linked are affiliated. I love this project and I’m so glad I shared it with you!

I’m so so grateful for the easy access to get something delivered- whether it’s food, school supplies, items needed to help run a business from home, especially in a time when I was anxious to leave to a crowded grocery store (pandemic really pampered my agoraphobia).

Thank you delivery drivers who are doing their jobs well in this heat, going up my steps, saying hello to my daughter in the window, and petting my dogs. I saw the snack cart trend on TikTok and wanted to try it out for them. I did have healthier snacks but nobody wanted them lol. Most of the people are lifting heavy items and are sweating, they want Gatorade and Doritos, not kale chips and La Croix, lesson learned! I did add body wipes, pads and tampons at the bottom in case anyone needed them (you never know!) When it gets cooler, I’ll put out chocolate and candy so it won’t melt but I’m really happy how it turned out.

Cart is from The Container Store and sign is from Etsy.

I had a bad habit of not getting dressed for a very long time because we weren’t going anywhere. I loved staying home but I also know myself well enough if I don’t get dressed, showered and ready even if I’m doing nothing, I will spiral. So, yeah, there was a lot of spiraling going on. I specifically chose pieces I can wear on days where I don’t feel like getting dressed but looks like I cared enough to get dressed.

Here are my favorite pieces on rotation.

Zella Rosie Sleeveless Dress- This dress reminds me of the leggings version of a dress. Comfy, goes with everything, and because the fabric is a tight woven fabric, it’s still breathable, doesn’t wrinkle and great for travel. I recently took it on a trip to San Diego and it wore so well. I would recommend sizing down.

LOFT Smocked White Dress- If I wear this alone, I look like I’m about to churn butter in a field but when I pair it with the right accessories (see below) I love how it looks. My next investment will be a leather jacket to wear with soft pieces like this. I love the juxtaposition of the textures and styles. This dress also runs large. It’s only lined in the bottom.

Madewell Lucie Polka Dot Dress- No longer available in the print but here’s a dupe. I love this dress. LOVE. L O V E. It’s a bold polka dot fabric, it’s airy and a soft white, not so much a bright white. The cut fits more modern so there is no butter churning here. The only downfall is it’s a linen fabric so any small wrinkle shows, just have your steamer handy (unless you want to wear it wrinkly, no judging here).

J.crew Perfect Fit Squareneck Tee in black and white- These are the most adult tee’s I own. There are no Mickey ears on it, no graphics, no fandom logos, no favorite faded bands, no cutesy logos inspired by a cat saying hello, but my favorite part is the square neck dresses up the tee. I feel like I’m cat fishing. It’s my cat fish shirt.

Good Legs Skinny Jeans- I came from the era of fashion where I’m conditioned to wear more “flattering” cuts and colors. Gen Z really has it easy in terms of wearing whatever they want, however they look. I’m still learning to get that mindset. I felt pretty bold wearing a light wash in a skinny jean (or as the kids call it, “geriatric cut”) GA jeans were the first pair of jeans where it fit my body type comfortable and I felt good wearing them. No tugging, pulling up, riding up, everything fits well and they wash really well. I also will be wearing the black pair in a high waist rise.

The Drop Caralyn Mirand Long Sleeve Knit Moto Jacket- Amazon is truly the last place I would look for fashion that is considered quality or even last a few washes but their clothing line, The Drop, has been impressive (sorry??). They team up with influencers and make clothes as they are ordered so there is no textile waste. I love this olive color knit jacket.

Birkenstocks Siena- I love the new style from Birkenstock. I was thinking if the leather or suede ever wear out on these, I would love to grab the light rose pair, too.

Rothy’s in Spotted and Ecru- I have had my Spotted pair from Rothy’s since 2018. They have been washed on delicate and air dried many many times. They have been bit my dogs, they have been worn to Disneyland many many times, they even wore a few times on the treadmill when I didn’t feel like finding my running shoes (idk, depression is weird). These hold up great and have walked many many miles in them. I’m a size 8 and wear a size 8.5 in Rothy’s.

the accessories I’m wearing all summer are simple and functional.

I have my Coach Patricial saddle bag (no longer available, sorry!) it’s really small but I only need my Ridge wallet, my phone and keys. If I’m wearing jewelry, I noticed I go for my Disney Cristlu necklace and Bauble Bar Dainty earrings. They still add a touch of Disney I love but also keep it less annoying like dressing up a day at the park. The backpack is from Day Owl in lavender but I have been eyeing the Slim backpack in Dawn Gray.

Honorable mentions!

Bike shorts in cotton- I’m not going to get into detail of what happens when it’s hot, thighs rub together and sweat enters the chat. I won’t but if you’re familiar with chub rub, these are incredibly comfortable. I have the nude and black pair. Plus they are cotton! Let yourself breathe.

The New Blak Kate Dress- This does get an honorable mention even though it deserves it’s own blog post (working on that!) I love this dress so much, it was on constant rotation before pandemic but I still grab it when I need something extra or want to feel good.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. I had a lot of fun small talking about clothes I love. I should blog more often! If you click on most of these links, they are commissionable links. Thanks!

I loved you because you were a mean drunk who yelled at others 

But I think I loved you because those were my fathers.

You were all I knew 

And once I gave into the idea I deserved better, i miraculously grew.

I loved Bukowski and he taught me to love the dark parts of me like my depression, my anger, my pain. I’ve outgrown that part of my life. Misery loves company and I don’t want to be miserable anymore.

When Mordecai died, it was so many bad things at once. Losing him, but losing my idea of motherhood, my future family, alongside a traumatic birth. I will never get past it, but I will be able to heal from it.

What I do regret more than anything is being so public about it. There's a part of me that is so so SO grateful for the love and joy I have found in grief, a sentence I thought I would never consider. I have endless gratitude to a beautiful community who gave me a big digital hug when I was in so much pain. But there is such a gross, ugly side of me the internet saw, I didn’t protect my grief and I dragged the internet with me on my emotional labor.

I took it one step further and made the trauma my personality.

Everyone watched me fall apart. I used the most public, most vulnerable space to recover and heal. It ended up damaging even more. You may have watched me fall apart, but I also got back up. I was embarrassed I didn’t protect my feelings. I’m not embarrassed at my grief, what I learned and how I’m healing. I’m not ashamed at my tears for my son. I didn’t realize how sacred that part of my grief was and I exposed it all.

How can I regain my integrity, dignity, and grace after such a hard fall?

Now that I've taken time to heal, I had to step away for more healing. I am slowly learning who I am again without the trauma. Something horrible happened to me; something horrible didn't become me.

I've been here for 20 years, and I have lost myself, and I don't want the trauma to define me anymore.

I had the most challenging time not comparing myself to other parents who lost children. When I went to grief groups, they seemed so normal. Losing a child is not normal but I knew something was still out of step.

We saw the same therapists.

We went to the same grief groups.

We read the same self help books.

Our stories were similar. I watched them grow and thrive. I was stuck and couldn’t get out of my victim thinking corner.

They were healing and living their lives for their children, honoring their babies and I was taking steps back.

I made my pain bigger than him. I made my pain my God, my life, and it was destroying me slowly. Grief isn't linear, but losing Mordecai triggered parts of my life I wanted to forget. While everyone was recovering, I was hurdled back to survival mode in childhood. It took a few years to realize why I wasn't moving forward. Instead of getting into that part, I’ll just learn from my feelings and say you’re not alone if you’ve suffered and are learning to re-parent yourself like I am.

I honestly don’t know what I’m talking about and I feel like I’m just learning how to express myself again in this space without giving too much of my energy away or giving my own feelings boundaries from the internet. I have rewritten this so many times (and if you are on RSS, I am so sorry but thank for coming along with wild ride lol) but all I know is when quarantine hit and the world stood still, I had no choice to look hard at who I really am. No distractions, no soothing with apps or whatever dopamine hit my mind so desperately searched for in my phone, in my addictions. Everything was out in the open. Especially the grieving. I know it was something I would feel a certain degree of for the rest of my life but I never thought there was so much more to uncover.

I just don't know where to start exactly, so I'll start here.

The healthier I'm becoming, the more I've begun to attract people who will love me for who I am, rather than how I've suffered.

I'm so so glad you are here. I’m grateful I’m alive, I’m grateful I’m here to share it. I hope to look back with lessons learned, a full heart and gratitude.

I’m losing being busy and stressed and gaining boundaries and rest.

I’m losing shame, generational trauma for loving myself and being open to good things.

I’m losing doubting my inner voice for trusting in my intuition.

I’m losing apathy for gratitude.

I’m losing distraction and the next dopamine hit for painful but healing moments.

I’m losing being influenced by the others and doing to what’s right for my lifestyle.

I’m losing fear for being at peace.

I’m losing being miserable for celebrating pockets of joy and happiness and trying to make more of those.

I’m losing old behaviors for new responsibilities.

I’m ready to let go to get what I really want.

I’m still trying to find that balance where I can live my life when the rest of the world is on fire.

I’m still trying to find the balance of sharing something “aesthetic” but also be aware that is far removed from reality most of the time.

How do I find balance of sharing my life online while still speaking up for the people and causes that need it more?

I’m still trying to find the balance of sharing something without elevating myself and stop virtue signaling.

I’m trying to balance the separation of optimism and toxic positivity.

I’m still trying to find the balance to glorify God while questioning my faith, the church, etc. 

I’m trying to find that balance where I can share what my family is up to while keeping it somewhat anonymous (did you notice I deleted most of my personal photos on IG?)

I’m glad you’re here and finding the balance with me.

Don’t let the pretty cover florals fool you. The 52 Lists for Bravery is small but mighty. Each of Moorea Seal’s book in the past have always brought growth but maybe because we’re in pandemic, a national protest, or because life feels heavy, this book feels challenging but also like a big hug I need right now.

I’ve followed Moorea for years and was heartbroken to see the big changes of her personal and professional life, like closing up her retail store. Moorea has an admirable success story, she has been a long time supporter of mental health, self-care, and people. This book comes from big changes and big changes call for bravery. I’ve known Moorea long enough to know when something tugs at her heart, she doesn’t stop until the story is told. This book feels more personal than her others and I’m honored to have some of that rub off on me.

The book follows the familiar layout of her other books, with inspiring quotes, beautiful art work, and journal prompts to get you started. Whether new to journaling or have boxes and years filled with journals, this will feel right at home. This book challenges to take personal inventory of bravery, and even if you think it’s not there, it will pop up by surprise. I’m not even halfway in and I’ve discovered of my fear of capability.

• I am capable of being a good mother despite my harsh upbringing.

• I am capable of being a good and honest partner despite my dishonest past.

• I am capable of being loved by a partner who isn’t abusive.

• I am worth it and brave enough to see it.

My favorite part of this book is the advocacy for mental health. There’s even a page dedicated to helping you find the right therapist.

I wasn’t expecting this book to be such a tool in my personal recovery for wellness, but I’m surprised and as usual, impressed with the candor and vulnerability on speaking on matters of the heart. Thank you, Moorea for your bravery.

There’s a meme I saw recently about homeschooling in the pandemic. Something about being so boring and how do homeschool kids do it all day. It was funny but also not?? We’ve homeschooled Miko before we enrolled her in a pre-school and we were rarely home. Between the co-ops, the meet ups, the conferences, the outdoor community classes, home was the last place to learn at the end of the day.

We signed her up for a preschool in January but we pulled her out because of the pandemic, and like most preschools, it doesn’t offer the online learning platform she needs. I can’t remember how I found about Outschool but it has been one of the best ways to keep her busy during this time. She thrives on routine and discipline, which I’ll admit I’m not always on top of and Outschool has been a great help. I can teach her at home and find other print outs but I signed her up to talk to other kids. It’s the only time she gets an opportunity to talk to kids. I’m worried about the long term effect this will have on her. She’s the only child and we’re still social distancing, she needs her peers, even through a screen.

There are hundreds of classes offered and any theme you can think of for kids, most likely they will have it. Right now, Miko is enrolled in Disney themed pre-school ( posted a couple photos on examples on what she’s currently working on), princess themed Spanish classes, space themed alphabet classes, Frozen Sing Alongs, show and tell and others. The classes range from $6 for a single class and more for a full course. They can be as short as 25 minutes or an hour. They can run for one time or a few weeks. She’s currently enrolled in classes until October.

What we don’t like about it is it’s through Zoom and every now and then like any conference meeting, there’s technical difficulties but so far nothing really major (I’m really reaching here to find something negative about the program but we love it). As for the teachers, we haven’t had any issues. Outschool lets you review teachers, give them feedback and request more classes from them if you like them. They know they are working with 3 year olds and they have been so patient and engaging.

You can sign up here if you’re a parent for a credit to class or if you’re a teacher and want to apply, there’s a larger credit involved. If you don’t want to sign up without a referral link, you can sign up here.

After everything that happened with the last election, I was disappointed I didn’t speak up more out of fear I would lose sponsors and followers. I didn’t want it to get political but when you live as a POC, life is political whether we like or not.

I was so worried about offending people they would unfollow. I had to let all of this go in order to find true authenticity and not fight who I was anymore. It’s kind of funny because being on the “influencer” side of things, I had to ask myself the real question- who was really doing the influencing? Me or the followers? 

Please vote! If you haven’t registered, you can register here.

• a clean kitchen

• prepped frozen meals for a quick meal

• baking (and it comes out right the first time)

• Youtube tutorials

• Daily Remain devotional from All Good Things Co (RIP) Thanks Ashlee for telling me about this!

• making cloth napkins from Disney fabric leftovers

• fancy baking ingredients like the Maldon salt and clear vanilla (going to attempt this recipe)

Funny story- I didn’t use my planner as much last year because I was busy. It sounds counterproductive, but I rarely had the time to sit down and write out my day and I let time take over instead of me taking over time and that’s how my days became so stressful. Now that life has slowed down, I’m using my Get To Work Planner more than ever. Along with Cloth + Paper accessories, it’s my most used item besides my books and phone. I’m starting to learn peace of mind beats face masks and Sephora hauls (although those help!)

Stay safe, well and well-read friends!

Here is my new (to me!) iphone. I’m on a Beauty and The Beast kick (funny story- MIko has never watched the movie! I still think she’s too young for the story. She knows the characters from the books, the music and the meet and greets at Disneyland).

When quarantine began, I had to think about saving as many leftovers as I could. I ordered a set of Souper Cubes, a one cup serving for soups and sauces. I’ve tried other silicone freezing trays but they tend to attract whatever I freeze in them (if I want to freeze apple pie filling, I don’t want it to smell like soup or marinara sauce from previous use). Ziploc bags are messy and I have to thaw overnight, and sometimes I forget or they’ve leaked. Basically, it’s a mess. I can also take the frozen cubes and put them in a ziploc or silicone large bag and they can be easier to store.

This was a veggie soup with garlic, butter, olive oil, carrot, potato cooked until soft then added kale, spinach, celery, bay leaves, basil, and pepper and broth for 45 min on medium heat after (and more garlic). It looks weird frozen but the fat will rise to the top and the dark spots are the spices and leafy greens.

When it was frozen, I just added two cups to the saucepan. I added canned chicken from Costco, heated up biscuits and it took longer to eat it than to cook it. Amen to that.

You can get the soup trays on Amazon (aff. link)

I was embarrassed to post this originally. I am still learning things on homemaking, even being married 12 years and living on my own for a few years prior to marriage. I wasn’t taught about freezing leftovers, meal planning, and my life, like everyone else’s completely changed after quarantine. Now, take-out is a luxury. Going to the grocery store is anxiety inducing. I’m learning so much about my home, my cooking skills and learning a new way to provide for my family, I’d love to dust off this blog and write more on this.

Until next time, I hope you are safe.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. If there’s a book that could break your heart and comfort you about it, this is the book to read. It’s a drama that follows a family involving an unexpected tragic incident and follows the family and the tragedy to the next generation. It was hard to read, it has topics of stillbirth, abuse, abandonment, and all the uncomfortable things but Keane manages to give these topics grace and forgiveness. 

The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker. I loved Walker’s last novel, it was dreamy, weird and read like an apocalyptic poem. The Dreamers was just as lovely, tragic and human as I could imagine Walker to write. It’s about a town and the individuals living in it fighting off a virus that makes them sleep. Even if they are not awake, their brain activity is as active as if they were awake. The dreams are sad, joyful, but overall Walker writes another great story about survival in all the aspects humans struggle with. 

Red, White and Royal Blue by Cassie McQuiston. This book is a big swoon. It’s royal romance between a British prince and a son of the American president (who is a WOC, bonus). It’s a hate to love romance and sweet without the tooth decay. What I liked best about this was how fun McQuiston wrote the book. I normally associate romance books with cheesiness, but this is fun. I actually got a little depressed after I finished the book because I was so sad it was over. I need to remind myself to stop clinging to fictional characters. 

Big Dreams, Daily Joys by Elise Blaha Cripe. Full disclosure, I’ve been following the author on social media for a few years and I’m constantly inspired by her energy and goal setting. So when this book came out, you know I was on it.

I’m the type of person who struggles to open the Amazon package with my bare hands when the scissors are right next to me. This book has taught me how to be aware of the scissors and how to use them. It’s such a simple analogy but when I read this book, I was drowning. This book was a lifesaver. I really think this book deserves it’s own blog post, I have so much to say about this book. I was going to wait to see if this book was a novelty like most books on goal setting I’ve read. They make me feel motivated for a couple weeks but I miss the mark and it’s back to my depressive overwhelmed state. This is different. I think it’s different because it’s written from a women’s perspective. I really appreciate what I’ve learned from male authors but not one of them mentioned the daily mundane things like cleaning the bathroom while their partner takes the kids to Costco. I wanted to cry happy tears when I read this because WE DO THE SAME THING. Cripe manages to bring solidarity of doing the daily mundane things and not let that stop her, if anything she manages to allow them to flow with her instrumental process of goal setting. It feels real and I truly believe if you are feeling overwhelmed with goals, a to-do list or just need a good pick up, this is the book to get.

My goal for next year is to reach 75 books again. What book should I read that you loved so much this year?

Noodle Loaf- Dan Saks is a dad and music education specialist. Noodle Loaf is my personal favorite because it’s interactive. It’s encouraged for little listeners to dance, pretend play, and sing.

The Beanies- If your kids love The Wiggles, they will love The Beanies! It’s an Australian award wining trio answering the weird questions kids ask in the best way kids will learn- being silly and fun.

Fierce Girls is a storytelling show about real life women and girls who are inspiring. There’s everything from a professional skateboarder, scientists, sainthood, and writers. I love Miko listening to encouraging stories about independence and doing the right thing. This one could be for kids a little older but Miko does enjoy this one.

Bedtime Explorers was only 40 episodes in short 5-7 minute increments but it’s my favorite podcast to play during bath time and getting ready for bedtime. I’m not sure why this show stopped recording but the stories are sweet enough to play over and over as part of the bedtime or nap time routine.

Worth mentioning for older kiddos-

Ear Snacks! I think this show is too mature for 3 year olds or maybe Miko doesn’t like the format, but for some reason she can’t get into it. I’m hoping in a year or two, she’ll like this. It’s a husband and wife team who involve their kids and tell funny stories with lots of crazy soundeffects and silly music.

Tales From The Lilypad- I was hoping Miko would get into this one, but I think she’s too young for it right now. The stories are fun and magical (cat castles! magical gnomes! polka dots!) Maybe in a year or two!

I hope this post was helpful! Let me know if you have any favorite podcasts your kids love, we are open to discovering new ones.