A cozy overnight chia pudding I didn’t know I needed Every now and then, I create a recipe that surprises me. Not because it’s fancy or complicated — but because one bite instantly takes me somewhere familiar and comforting. This one? It tastes like Reese’s cereal — the kind I haven’t eaten since my kids were little, and definitely not something I’d choose now knowing it’s basically ultraprocessed sugar pretending to be breakfast. But this version? This version is creamy, cho

Choosing Peace, One Decision at a Time A reflection on food, love, boundaries, and the quiet wisdom of asking one simple question before we say yes—to anything. Some lessons don’t announce themselves loudly. They show up softly—again and again—until one day you realize they’ve been teaching you all along. Lately, mine arrived through food. There are things I love that don’t love me back. Bagels. Cake. Certain indulgences that look delightful in the moment and then quietly unr

A life lesson on authenticity, courage, and choosing love without permission Somewhere between choosing yourself and refusing to explain your heart, you realize this: the right life — and the right love — doesn’t ask for approval. It recognizes you when you walk into the room. The right love won’t ask you to shrink, soften, or second-guess yourself. It will meet you exactly where you stand — confident, crafted, and entirely your own. At some point, if you’re paying attention,

(A low-carb iced tea I keep on repeat) Sweet tea was never optional when I was growing up. It was just… there. Always in the fridge, always poured over ice, always chosen over water without a second thought. In the South, sweet tea wasn’t a beverage—it was a given. Somewhere along the way, adulthood nudged me toward water and hot tea instead. And honestly, I still love both. But lately, I’ve been playing again—creating what I like to think of as grown-up iced teas. The kind y

When I first started this series, I had no idea where it would lead. We began with bowel movements — what’s normal(-ish), what’s not, and why listening matters. Then we wandered into the gut microbiome, cravings, planned abstinence, boundaries, and love. Somewhere along the way, I realized this wasn’t really a series about digestion at all. It was a series about paying attention . To the body. To patterns. To what nourishes us — and what quietly doesn’t. And as I sat with the

By now, we’ve talked about bowel movements, the gut microbiome, cravings, and why some of us feel more at peace with fewer choices than constant negotiation. It may seem like a long way from digestion to love — but the body doesn’t think in silos. The same systems that govern hunger, stress, and regulation also shape how we attach, hope, wait, and let go. The gut has been teaching us about relationships all along. Loop-starters exist beyond food In earlier posts, we explored

If you’ve been following along, you know this series started in a place many of us don’t usually linger — bowel movements. Then it widened into the wonder of the gut microbiome, that vast, invisible ecosystem quietly influencing how we feel, think, crave, and move through the world. Somewhere along the way, I realized the gut wasn’t just teaching me about digestion — it was teaching me about choice . About how some of us thrive with fewer decisions, clearer boundaries, and ge

Sometimes I laugh thinking about the fact that I’m really just a walking science project — carrying my gut around the world while it quietly runs the show. Once you really sit with that idea, it’s both wildly fascinating and slightly humbling. Inside each of us lives an entire ecosystem — trillions of microbes — depending on us to feed it, care for it, and not completely ignore it. That’s a big responsibility when you think about it. And hey… if you ever feel lonely, it’s als

Before 2019, I would never have imagined myself writing a blog post about bowel movements. Not at brunch. Not at dinner. Not anywhere, really. And yet… here we are. Life has a funny way of rearranging what we’re willing to talk about — and what we realize is actually worth talking about. Because while we may whisper about it (or pretend it doesn’t exist), every single one of us does it. Daily, ideally. And sometimes… not so ideally. Poop. 💩 It’s normal. It’s human. Sometimes

Lately, I’ve been thinking about a recent blog post where I shared that I want to live a life that would make my eight-year-old self smile and my eighty-year-old self proud. Last night, though, something new—and deeper—settled into my heart. The life I truly want to live, the legacy I want to leave, is one that would make my fifty-year-old granddaughter smile… and feel proud. A life that shows her you can make mistakes—and start over. And start over again if you need to. Tha

Why 2026 Is the Year Men Lean Into Style, Strength & a Little Chest Hair Somewhere along the way, men were told they needed to choose: rugged or  refined, masculine or  stylish, laid-back or  well dressed. Thankfully, that era is over. Lately, I’ve been noticing a delicious shift—one that feels confident, grown, and quietly intoxicating. And yes, I’m going to give credit where credit is due: Brad Pitt  seems to have single-handedly reminded the world that a man can be relaxed

There are days that feel full in the very best way—full of laughter, movement, fresh air, curiosity, and love. These past few days visiting my granddaughter have been exactly that. Yesterday, when my daughter and son-in-law stepped out for a night alone, I had my girl all to myself. We went on a long walk through Brookhaven, wandering into a greenspace where families gather and children run freely. We played, explored, and soaked up that easy joy that only comes from being ou

The night before Christmas brought one of those moments I know I’ll carry forever. A visit with Santa, a giggly little girl tucked close, and then off we went—riding around on a golf cart, bundled up and wide-eyed, taking in the loveliest Christmas lights. There was laughter, dancing in our seats, tiny squeals of delight, and that magical feeling that only comes when the world slows down just enough to let joy lead. She was silly and curious and her wonderfully crazy little s

The sweetest things sometimes are just that—the sweetest things. This time of year, it feels nearly impossible for a day to pass without candies and cookies and all the delicious desserts tempting us from every direction. And I’ll be honest… I give in. I indulge. I always do this time of year. December isn’t when I try to be strict—it’s when I let myself enjoy. But lately, I’ve been reminded that not all sweetness comes from sugar. Some of the sweetest things don’t come from

One of my favorite gifts to myself during the holidays is a meal that feels special without feeling stressful. Over the years, I’ve learned that the most meaningful holiday moments don’t come from perfection—they come from presence. From laughter drifting in from the living room, from little hands helping (or sneaking bites), from food that brings everyone to the table without pulling the cook away from it. Our Christmas traditions have gently found their rhythm. Christmas Ev

For years, estrogen was treated like something dangerous — something to fear, avoid, or whisper about. But estrogen is not the villain of women’s health. It is foundational. Understanding estrogen — how it works, how it’s delivered, and how it can be used thoughtfully — gives women agency over how they feel in their bodies as we age. And agency changes everything. This post is about estrogen specifically: the hormone, the forms, the dosing realities, and the quiet ways it sup

And finally having the confidence to ask for it. A modern, honest look at hormones, health, and feeling good in your body For decades, women were quietly taught to endure. Endure hot flashes. Endure vaginal dryness. Endure loss of libido. Endure poor sleep, mood changes, brain fog, and the slow feeling of disappearing from our own bodies. And for many years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was unfairly cast as dangerous — particularly after early interpretations of the Wome

During this season, when so many stories are told and traditions are honored, I find myself thinking about Jesus simply as a good man who once walked the earth—someone who taught love, kindness, compassion, and care for one another. Regardless of belief, those lessons feel timeless and deeply human. The holidays have a way of inviting reflection. They remind us of people we have loved and lost, of memories that still shape us, and of the quiet lessons those lives left behind.

There are some foods that don’t try to be trendy, don’t pretend to be something else, and don’t come with a long list of ingredients you can’t pronounce. Halloumi is one of them. If you’ve never met halloumi before, let me introduce you properly—because this cheese deserves a warm welcome and a place on your plate. So… what is  halloumi? Halloumi is a traditional cheese from Cyprus , historically made from sheep’s and goat’s milk (sometimes with a little cow’s milk). What mak

Sometimes growth doesn’t arrive with fireworks or passion or grand declarations. Sometimes it arrives as peace. As early mornings. As choosing a life that feels calm, intentional, and quietly full—without needing anything or anyone to complete it. I haven’t written here in a couple of weeks, not because I had nothing to say, but perhaps because I’ve been living in a season that feels quietly complete. I’ve been traveling. I’ve been home. I’ve been spending precious, grounding