Sip, Shop, and Storytime: A Sparkling Author Afternoon

Do you need to remove your shades or do you simply need to open your eyes to certain things? Maybe you need to open your eyes to the beauty that is around you. But maybe you need to open your eyes to how someone may be treating you. Maybe you need to take the glasses aka blinders off. I think sometimes we choose to keep our eyes hidden for fear that we will see something that we suspected all along. A natural trauma response to avoid dealing with certain things is to simply act as though it doesn’t exist. If it doesn’t exist, it won’t be real and maybe the pain won’t be there. In order to get past the pain, sometimes we need to take the blinders off and face reality. Facing our situations head on, although likely uncomfortable, will allow us to move on past the trauma or thing you are hiding from. What do you need to open your eyes to today?

Every woman needs a “Hype Girl”! Someone that doesn’t compete with you. Someone that supports you. Someone that is genuinely excited when you win! Someone that sings your praises to others even when you are not around. We all NEED this type of person in our lives. Are you your own Hype Girl? Are you someone else’s Hype Girl? It doesn’t take much to support someone, sing their praises, compliment them or let them know they are awesome! Try it! I dare you! Be a Hype Girl!

It’s been a while.

I hadn’t planned to step away for so long, but as life often reminds us, sometimes we need to go quiet for a while to truly listen—both to the world around us and the one within. I’ve missed this space, and I’ve missed you.

The past months have been a mix of introspection, stillness, and yes—writing. Not the kind of writing that ends up neatly formatted in a blog post, but the raw, messy, soul-deep kind that slowly becomes a book. Or maybe more than one….

There’s something sacred about stepping away from the noise, away from constant updates and quick captions, to create something that asks more of me. Something that requires time, heart, and a lot of patience. Writing a book is less like building a house and more like growing a garden—you plant seeds, wait, prune, water, doubt, replant—and eventually, you begin to see what it’s becoming.

So, where have I been? In short: I’ve been writing. And wrestling. And rewriting. I’ve been letting stories stretch and settle. I’ve been exploring themes that scare me, excite me, and leave me with more questions than answers. I’ve been learning how to trust the slow process of creating something meaningful.

I won’t pretend it’s been easy. But it’s been necessary.

And now, I’m slowly returning—with new words to share, new lessons learned, and a deeper gratitude for the time it takes to make something honest.

If you’re still here, thank you. Truly. Your presence means more than I can say. I look forward to opening this space back up—sharing parts of this journey, inviting your thoughts, and reconnecting over the things that move us.

You might witness me facing numerous struggles, but rest assured, you will never witness me giving up! With each challenge, we not only grow but also gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Through these trials, we discover our inner strength and resilience. We learn to rely on ourselves and realize that we have what it takes to rise again after being knocked down.

Don’t lament over the hardships and trials in life. Instead, see them as opportunities for personal growth. No matter what you are going through, remember to never give up!

Do you ever feel sad or down because of something someone else has said about you or done to you? Do you allow that to hang around and affect your mood for the day or even longer? If so, then you are allowing someone else to hold the key to your happiness. Of course it is hurtful when you hear someone talking about you in a negative light. And it is sometimes heartbreaking when you go through trauma where someone has done something to you that you didn’t ask for. But, if we stay there in that pain and allow it to affect the way we view or treat others, then we have relinquished control of our happiness to someone or something other than ourselves. It is really easy to do, I have done it a million times. Being in control of your own happiness is easier said than done when you are hurting. It is a daily struggle that I found takes daily, conscious effort to get in the right mindset. The mindset that no matter what comes my way I am going to find good in it. The mindset that I am worthy and I am loved no matter what anyone else may say about me. Start today, fresh, renewing your mindset and taking control of your own happiness. You’ve got this!