The exchange of love with others is always discussed, and held to high praise. At the end of the day, loving one another is the second most important Commandment given to us. This exchange is beneficial to both parties, in whatever way God sees fit. A friendship during someone’s time of loneliness, or God walking your future spouse into your life at a grocery store on a Tuesday afternoon. There are times doors are closed with situations which seem unfair, or unresolved, but God is walking you into a new light. It is our obedience to trust His timing. Maybe an exchange of love is as simple as God’s whisper to you in the morning to slow down.

In a society where our calendars are packed, we are expected to have a stellar work/self/social balance, while also managing all that comes with being an adult. It’s hard, and it’s perfectly okay to admit that. So more than ever, we need exchange love within ourselves. Fill up first, so what spills over onto others is the Lord’s, not our own scraps.

I’ve always been someone who would pride myself on enjoying my alone time. When I was 18, I moved into my studio apartment, and from that first night of pizza on my air mattress I really enjoyed my own presence. I loved girl dinners, and finding a show I wanted to binge watch until 2AM.

There’s a difference between rot, and rest. I confuse the two more than I’d like to admit: doomscrolling, another binge, postponing what I know is actually due. I’d be guilty! But rest, the kind Genesis 2:2 talks about “he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” is intentional, reflective. Spent inviting the Lord in.

That's the alone time I mean here. Not the studio apartment kind, but the kind where it's just Him and me. The more I pour into that, the more that's revealed to me. About myself, about the people I love, about the questions I've been carrying around unanswered. We exchange our time and obedience for the gift of time with Him, and in return, live a fruitful life.

There are two times that feel sacred to me: early mornings, and late nights. When the home is lit from the dim lights, and candles. No curtains are yet open. There is a silence humming throughout the home. Suddenly, I feel like the only person on Earth who is awake. It’s just me. I get to choose this time to honor God.

In the early mornings, my silence is dedicated to intentional quiet time. Reading my devotional with sleepy eyes in bed, resisting the urge to see what emails have rolled in overnight. Taking the extra twenty minutes to allow myself the mindset of I get to steward the home I have…the dishes don’t feel as daunting.

Evenings are a lot more of a creative outlet for me. I’ll curl up next to my husband in bed, while he is sound asleep, with both dogs snoring in my lap, and pick up my Kindle, too immersed in the plot to fall asleep. Sometimes, it’s a night that the blue light glasses are put on, and I’m at my desk, writing the next great idea that popped into my head for Candidly Samantha. Oftentimes, I’m ending the night journaling. Just brain dumping, and praying. There is a lot that we carry from the day, and I think it’s cathartic to release it to the Lord.

Find your rhythms, and enjoy them. Savor them.

Maybe you’re someone who feels so overwhelmed with work that you just want to crash at the end of the day. Or you’re possibly a mother, running around doing the most important job there is, where every extra 20 minutes of sleep counts. There’s a power in bookending your days with focus on something bigger than you, something other than this world. Why fall asleep anxious, or rise with anger? Timing isn’t as important as intention, so just because you missed the time to read your devotional in the morning doesn’t mean to disregard the Lord until the day after. Jesus is happy to talk to you all day long, sis, don’t let your iCal block some prayer.

We spend the latter half of our years dating others, and finding our person. Are we even taking the time to like ourselves? Have we dated ourselves in a while? Maybe your Tuesday afternoon at the grocery store isn’t about who walks in. Maybe it’s about who you’re becoming while you wait.

The point of this post is for you to schedule that date with yourself and pull up a seat for Jesus. Invite Him into the discussions of your daily life, watch what blooms.

I love you, friend!!!!!!

Journal Prompts to Explore

• Not in an ideal world, but in your realistic day to day, when can you take time to be intentional with Jesus? Consider touchpoints throughout the day.

• When was the last time you actually scheduled out time to read, and understand the Word? My husband and I are working through a His & Hers study and schedule it as a date…highly recommend.

• What are hobbies you enjoy doing? I love writing this newsletter as my creative outlet. I enjoy reading. My silly lil’ hobby is Sims, when my husband is playing his Play Station.

• What are ways you can incorporate outside movement into your weekly schedule, put the phone on do not disturb, and have a prayer walk?

• When was the last time you had intentional down time (not just binge watching Netflix’s last great doc)?

• What do you like about yourself?

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Sweet goodness, I’d say happy Friday friends, but quite frankly I’m a bit grumpy that I cannot escape this Southern heat. While I understand it’s hot everywhere this humid Southern heat tickles me in a way that if I am not ten feet from an air conditioner, I will not go.

This past week has felt refreshing, like pressing play on a new chapter. Early morning rises, writing at my desk, intentional mornings with the dogs. With all that said, I cannot express enough that mindset can change so much in someone’s life.

I recently journaled, “Lord, I feel so scatter brained, that I pray to quiet the noise, focus on you, and all else will fall into place.” In that moment, I chose to surrender my overwhelm to the Lord, knowing He would unravel whatever I had worked up in my head.

That was in early June. Fast forward to almost a month later, I sit feeling far more figured out. What was the secret? Choosing to start the day quietly, intentional, and with Jesus rather than choosing to alarm my nervous system by checking my email after my eyes open.

I promise you not every day looks perfect, but I also promise you trying your darnedest to choose a patience, kindness, and keeping Jesus at the forefront changes a million things in your day. Your coffee tastes sweeter. Your days feel longer, and the gratitude for the air in your lungs grows by the minute.

Ice Breaker

Weekly Prompt: Write a list of ten things in your daily routine that you are grateful for.

The Starter: hbd America!

This section was always meant to be a taste of the good. Which makes sense to dip into the fun to come this weekend as us American’s do what we do best: indulge in hot dogs, and thank Jennifer Coolidge for existing. In honor of the best holiday to drink a Budweiser, and look at some awesome (or subpar) fireworks…I wanted to put some notes on such a patriotic holiday

While I totally am aware my audience spans past just the United States, you can totally skip out on this issue — but I promise you, you’ll get some giggles along the way, plus!! Just great goodies. Happy 250th, America. What’s your skincare routine?

The Main Course: Playing Mermaids in the Pool

As a child some of my sweetest memories was going to visit my cousins in Long Island. They lived in a residential suburban neighborhood, foreign to what I was use to in the Bronx. I was use to city bus noises, and they had crickets. On the fourth, we’d take our car ride out there, with hours of traffic on the LIE, and it was always a savored day. Playing mermaids in the pool with my cousin Kelly, singing Sweet Caroline far too many times, grilling, tons fireworks, s’mores. As we got older, and grew apart, we find ourselves still always reaching out on the fourth, but we’ve begun to curate our own adulthoods of the fourth, which are definitely not as fun as playing mermaids in the pool.

What are you memories of childhood holidays you feel like you could feel the sunshine from that day?

The Sweet Treat: Lately Loved

A segment of everything sweet I’m loving. Products, places, verses, and more, but with a twist of Patriotism pegged in.

• Most definitely find me with my Alexa on volume ten with this playlist blasting

• My favorite Summer nail color, but perfect for this weekend: Cajun Shrimp, by OPI

• What should you watch? Without context, but movies/shows that just feel right this holiday….The Parent Trap, Top Gun, Love Story (Hulu), The Sandlot, Independence Day, The Proposal, Secretariat

• OOTD? Too hot in Tennessee. Jean shorts + tee is what this girl will be wearing. However! Accessories are always a fun addition. Bad Day to be a Hot Dog hat, + this United States sweatshirt are chef’s kiss

The NightCap: 4th Visionboard

When I think Fourth of July, I see a grill with hotdogs, and burgers, some freshly grilled corn. A pasta salad worth asking for the recipe. The smell of a bonfire. Laughs from friends, giggles from kids. People singing in unison, American Pie becomes a crowd favorite. All watching fireworks, in awe.

Publications/Articles from the Week I’ve Loved:

• futility is a time issue, If you are feeling lukewarm in faith I pray this post finds a way to convict your heart!!! It is so well written.

• In a similar way I write my The Files, writes her own version, little sparkles…and I love it. If you like my girlypop style of writing, scroll over to hers

• My good friend Chloe, , shared a wonderful reflection on simplicity of routine in Christ, I Thought Christianity Was Complicated

• As someone who eloped out West, and love life in the mountains, I love ’s writing, and her recent personal share of There’s No Such Thing as Just a Boyfriend was something I resonated with on a different level, but it made it’s way to me. Something special about the line of…there’s just us

• I really enjoy reading ’s reviews (even if I am in a reading slump)

Recipe of the Week

If you’re looking to catch up on prior issues…..

From My Corner

Hello my sweet friends, and happiest of July!!!

In May’s report I shared tidbits on auditing the first half of the year, and being obedient to the life gifted to us. To circle back to that, I’ve spent a lot of the past month continuing to steward both of these. I accepted a job offer, which is so beyond exciting, and I cannot wait to share more on that once the offer fully comes to fruition + onboarding in finalized (and a whole new groove). With that acceptance, came a full sweep of my life before rebooting into a new position — I know I’ll be darn busy.

My June was filled to the brim with activities that filled my cup. I think my cheeks still hurt from all my smiles and laughs that carried throughout June. I couldn’t endorse surrounding yourself with people who make your calendar obligations time blocks you look forward to.

A recent post I wrote, Yes! I’m in a Writing Rut!, shares a lot about my June. But the highlight reel reads something like this: porch evenings @ mamaws, buying out half of McKay’s, dirty martinis, a crab boil, Love Island evenings, TopGolf, birthday nights in, and Sundays at church. My highlight may have been reading Goodnight Biscuit to my friend’s son (because, who doesn’t love babies). June was my fullest month yet. So with that, I cannot wait to see what July delivers.

The Monthly Round Up

Recently, the importance of meditating on Word has truly woven itself into my daily life. There are many times daily I stop to ask myself, to have the Lord be beside me, and go before me. Asking the Holy Spirit to infiltrate my mind, and words as I walk through my day. I meditate on my devotional, asking what the Lord is tugging my heart towards learning. Yet, the biggest advice I’ve heard from the Lord recently is to slow down, and let Him be Him, and us be us. If we mess up (by whatever measure we utilize that word) we must begin new each morning with Him.

• Learning: In June I was handed so many wonderful opportunities to create memories with loved ones. Very much so marinating in the right now. In a very unlike me fashion, these past few weeks have very much felt like vacation mode. Not sticking to meal planning, no iCalendar planning sessions, home cleaning sessions when I’d get around to it. We all have these seasons in life, and what a blessing it was due to joyous moments! I did however learn, that if I kept just simple routine patterns, it definitely would’ve impacted my life making it easier. So going forward, I’m trying commit to consistency for just anchor points, and just being consistent to the smaller things. Small habits = large routine…see: How I Manage My Home (and Life)

• Habit: Since I’ve been OOD (aka, out of desk, aka, unemployed) since April I have had the luxury of waking up with no alarm and puppy kisses, and doing writing from my couch. The need for desk routine is real, considering I start my new position later this month. In preparation, I’ve changed my schedule, rising at 6AM, and sitting at my desk on and off throughout the day (currently for Substack writing) to get my velcro dog use to the idea that I do not belong to him.

• Grateful For: I try to find gratitude in small things that we often take for granted. Today, in Tennessee, it is 93°, and feels like 102°. I am not someone who thrives on heat, in fact, I get grumpy. With that being said, air conditioning is my MVP every Summer, and I keep it on a crisp 69° blast.

• Reading: This month I fell into a bit of a reading slump. Which according to GoodReads is alright because I am a few books ahead of schedule. I read and listened to to Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang and enjoyed the heck out of it. It was wildly ridiculous, and I did not see the twist, but I definitely laughed. I absolutely would recommend this.

• Thinking About: As mentioned, I accepted a job offer that I am over the moon about. I cannot help but be a tiny bit nervous for this new endeavor though. I was in my prior position for 5 years….that’s a long time. I felt secure, knowledgeable, I felt like I knew the business like the back of my hand. Yet this new position, while I am skilled, I am newer. I am entry level in a new department, but moving up into corporate. It’s all so new, so fresh, and exciting. I suppose all good things give you jitters. I also did have a bird poop on my head, that’s good luck, right?

• Watching: Sad to admit, but my husband and I are both locked and loaded into Love Island USA. While this season definitely is not peak entertainment, and way more raunchy than prior seasons…you can still count on us to be tuning in nightly. As of writing this, July 1, I am putting my vote in on Bryce and Trinity to win. I’ll circle back to this on finale day.

• Drinking: My good friend Kirstin is always recommending me great local places. Knowing I’m a sucker for a good coffee, we took a trip this month. Coffee Haus. Goodness gracious, I now think about it daily. I only allow myself to indulge once weekly, though. Iced Pistachio Latte!!!!! I salivate thinking about it.

• Favorite Product: With the job offer, came the giddies to set up my new office area. I moved my desk, and set up all my goodies. My favorite addition by far: my prayer cards. I purchased this specific set at Painted Tree (☹️ which no longer exists). I keep them in my desk drawer and before beginning any work for the day will read one, and pray. It helps my mindset more than anything to put the Lord before any work within my day.

  

• Monthly Moment: My friend's partner is from Louisiana, so naturally, I suggested a seafood boil. Selfishly, of course. On Father's Day we all got together: margaritas, laughs, and LOTS of crab. The kind of evening where you look up and it's suddenly way later than you planned, all out of genuinely good company. Better than the crab, though? Reading Goodnight Biscuit to my friend's son before bed. I'm just a sucker for a cute baby.

Monthly Ten

What I enjoyed from June’s 10s:

• While not an arcade, I checked it — we went on a double date to TopGolf and had a blast. Though I definitely hit like I closed both my eyes (and definitely had the lowest score) it was a new experience that we had fun with.

• We baked our favorite cookies and filled our cookie jar!

• With the same friends we went to TopGolf with, we also both had the joint experience of trying a seafood boil together for the first time. Needless to say it will not be the last boil we do. White wine + crab legs = happy Sam.

• While I decided to skip gardening this Summer due to….well, by the time I decided I want to it was late, and I didn’t feel like up keeping. However, I did clean up our patio for the Summer, that way it looks presentable, despite us not spending too much time on it (the heat is wicked, again thank you air conditioning).

The fullest month of the year yet! I cannot wait to see what overfills into July. You know when you just have a feeling the month ahead will be stellar? A girl has an inkling. And I pray the same for you, sweet friend.

Until August!

As a reminder, I have an anonymous survey about my newsletter. It helps me know what you, as a reader, are most interested in to continue pouring writing in those topics. No pressure, but it would mean the world for guidance!

Oh! I also have an Amazon Storefront, too. A fun way to support my dog’s dental chew obsession.

ICYMI… all the posts you missed in June

It’s not out of difficulty, or because my schedule is that busy. I’ve found that the time that I plan out, and carve out is always intentional and seldom rushed.

Which, isn’t that how we want time to be?

There most certainly is a discipline about maintaining a household, and it definitely does not have to be difficult. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can just fly by the seat of our pants when it comes to home stewardship, and adulting. Life occurs, adult necessities, and without systems in place, we are sure to be out of order.

We all know it too well. You postpone your laundry to put away, so you let it sit on the chair, and you haven’t dusted in a few weeks. Have you changed your sheets recently? Time to run the dishwasher. What about mopping? I know, a lot.

This isn’t a how to, rather a peek into how I steward my household. I’m taking you through: my weekly planning routine, a peak into my iCal (+ hex codes), how I organize my Apple Reminders, and….introducing you to my best friend, Alexa.

Establishing a Home Rhythm

A home rhythm is super important, and so incredibly varied dependent on factors. How much would you like to dedicate to your home? Do you have kids, or pets (or a husband….that requires more of a pickup)? Are you someone who likes to split your time into daily cleaning, or one bigger chunk once a week?

Recently, I read The Weekly Cleaning Schedule That Changed My Life, and couldn’t agree more that it’s not nearly as complex as you think. My household also functions on a daily cleaning schedule. Each day is designated to specific tasks, along with daily tasks which prevents the home from utter chaos, and burnout for me.

Weekly Cleaning Schedule

• Monday: laundry, bedrooms, deep wet vac.

Mondays are for setting the week up. I’ll start the morning by getting a load of laundry in, before cleaning our master bedroom, followed by the guest bedroom. We love our robot vacuum, and while I run it daily, Monday’s are scheduled for a deep vacuum/mop.

• Tuesday: kitchen, and bathrooms.

Starting in the kitchen — peeking at whatever needs to be cleared from the pantry, or fridge. Stove, and counter scrubs. Refills (coffee, sugar, butter, etc). I’ll often move stuff from the deep freezer to our main freezer on these days. Secondly, I’ll do our bathroom: toilet, shower, countertops, mirrors, products, etc.

• Wednesday: living room, and dining room.

Wednesday is hard enough being the midpoint of the week, so rather than overcomplicate it, I keep it simple. In the living room, I flip couch cushions, dust surfaces, wipe down glass (and windows)

• Thursday: household admin day, and fridge clean out.

Schedule, bills, meal plans, oh my! Admin day keeps my household running, truly. Don’t worry, keep reading, the whole routine is below.

• Friday: laundry, and deep wet vac.

• Saturday: grocery shopping (we ♡ Sams + Trader Joes)

• Sunday: meal prep + rest!!!

Daily Anchors

While every day is assigned to a task, I also have daily anchors that keep my house from complete chaos in the in between. Not difficult, simple, and easy to maintain.

• Make my bed daily

• Clean the coffee bar, and prep for next day

• Pets: wash all bowls, and pick up all toys @ end of night

• Run wetvac (we have the Roborock, I love it tons. I literally never stop talking about how it has completely changed my life…here is my Amazon link)

• Wipe down all counters — dishes either unloaded from dishwasher, or into dishwasher. Zero dishes in sink (ideally, okay?)

• Clear off dining table/desk *this is personal, we use both as a darn catchall

Another tip that has come naturally but I should share, I try to clean as much as I can during the day as my day goes on. Finished with my morning coffee? Into the dish washer rather than the sink. Done in the living room? I’ll fold the blanket onto the couch. If the dogs are done with certain toys…into the basket they go!

Household Admin Day

As mentioned, Thursdays are my admin day. I make sure to take an hour in the morning or afternoon to solidly zone out to dedicate to planning, and reviewing. Think: weekly audit.

I’ll briefly discuss my systems. My ‘hub’ for almost everything is my iCal. I really enjoy Apple integration, and syncing. Then, enters Alexa. So without me trying to explain, let me genuinely walk you through how I plan.

Planning/Schedule

After a strongly brewed coffee, my phone on DND, my computer, my Alexa, and iCal.

As someone who does not like visual clutter, I don’t have recurring time blocks on my calendar, I’ll just simply move them from one week to another. So I begin with mapping out my big chunks of time: morning routine, office hours, writing blocks, social obligations, church, appointments, you get the jist.

Anything that isn’t a time block becomes a task. I have two Reminders lists: bills, which are recurring and shared with Dakota, and a master list where I keep everything else organized by section. Throughout the week I add things as they come to me, and on admin day I drag and drop them into iCal and schedule them out. Time-sensitive stuff, for example, we got our lease this past week, and I need to review, and sign this weekend, gets thrown on immediately.

Meal Planning

Now is the fun part, meal planning. This often starts with a quick fridge/freezer/pantry clean out, and inventory. If there is anything worth using for the week ahead, I’ll make note of it.

Now, cue Alexa. There are many reasons I love mine, but meal planning/grocery shopping became a lot easier when I utilized Alexa. Throughout the week, my husband and I keep an ongoing shopping list with ‘Alexa, add ____ to my shopping list,’ so that we’re never second guessing. So I’m already starting out my list with things we need to grab. I also love the Alexa cooking library — this has meals you can import, and explore. So most of our meals are input into ours, so I’ll select the meals we want for the week, which automatically adds the ingredients to our shopping list. Automations make me giddy.

Another tip? Have grocery items, and recipes that become staples.

How I Utilize my Amazon Echo Show 8

This title literally looks like a sponsored add, and I truly wish it was. But unfortunately, just a consumer of loving Amazon Alexa (ah! consumerism!).

Dakota purchased mine for my desk now that I am at it more frequently, and it truly has become my home hub. Features that definitely are worth a mention:

• Grocery shopping list! So darn simple

• The meal library — for imported home recipes, or inspiration

• Blaring playlists from Spotify while cleaning

• Picking up where I left off on my Audible

• A morning routine!! I tell Alexa good morning, and she turns lights on, tells me the date, weather, and reads my calendar

• Sticky notes for the random thoughts that show up mid task and need somewhere to go before I forget them entirely

• ‘Alexa, open [insert streaming platform]’ during desk time for entertainment, love YouTube for podcasts…

• I’ve seen Oura is being added to Alexa+, which how cool will it be to add that to my morning routine announcements??

There’s something about systems, and order that is blissful obedience to the life you are given. I get to choose the actions daily within my life, and oh what a blessing that is.

Whatever your version of this looks like, I hope you find it, and that it eases your life.

Thank you for the read, sweet friends.

ICYMI:

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Hi there, sweet friends, happy Friday. Two posts, one day…the yapper is back!

It’s very on par for me to launch a new series installment, and then totally go ghost…for not just one week, but two solid weeks. Well, it wasn’t for no reason. See: Yes! I’m in a Writing Rut!

While my posts come fashionably late, I can always promise you a full lineup of things to digest while reading.

Regardless though, I am so back baby.

Ice Breaker

Prompt: Where in your life have things shifted, and are you still pretending they haven’t?

The Starter: A Bombshell Enters the Villa

I love when I hear people say that they aren’t a television person, because I envy them. I love finding a good show. Even better when it’s crapy reality television (where are my Bravo girlies?). I’d be lying if I if I said I didn’t love curling up on the couch with a good television show. It’s only fair to spotlight the two that have my heart at the moment.

• Love Island USA. Unfortunately, I do contribute to the brain rot of watching Love Island, and I’m sure my husband hates that I’m sharing his secret of…he has been suckered in, too. There is something dumbly euphoric about a new episode five nights a week fueled on gossip. I commend the confidence on the women, but wowza. The amount of salvia swapping? Yuck. After Casa Amor, I would love to see who’s pushing through this. Producers were so messy (I loved it) this year with showing each other footage from both points of view.

• America’s Sweethearts: DCC. I never pegged myself as a girl who would’ve been interested in a cheer documentary (maybe that’s because I’m bitter my mom never let me do it in high school, but lets be real I would’ve probably quit). I am so amazed in these women though. The strength, confidence, time….I am in awe. Each have such awesome individual stories as well, Reece, like many others, is my favorite. But goodness, Kleine + Megan’s last years being this year made me tear up. I also love Judy and Kelli. If you haven’t watched, I definitely recommend it on Netflix. If you do watch…who’s your favorite?

The Main Course: Take the PTO!

It’s no surprise I’ve been unemployed since March, navigating the job market. See: Getting Laid Off Saved My Mental Health. With that has come a lot of time at home…establishing routines, and truly savoring the time I’ve carved out for myself. I’ve been blessed to take this time off to regroup.

When I got my offer, Dakota turned to me and said he wanted to take his vacation week while I was still home. No trip to Bora Bora, no big plans…just us. And honestly? The quality time was worth more than any flight.

We spent the first two days being total hermits. Then we eased back into the world. Ran errands we’d been avoiding, had lunches together with lots of giggles, watched movies late into the night, slept in with the dogs, and talked about our faith goals and what the next few months are going to look like. It was simple, and it was everything. I’m not writing this to rub it in. I’m writing it to tell you: take the darn PTO. A day, a week, whatever you can manage. We all deserve a moment to reset.

If God rested, as should we.

The Sweet Treat: Lately Loved

A segment of everything sweet I’m loving. Products, places, verses, and more.

• I know it’s late to Prime Day, and it’s almost over, but! While I still can I want to shoutout the bestest thing in my household: roborock Qrevo S Pro Vacuum and Mop. Yes, it’s an affiliate link but I seriously run this thing daily, multiple times a day. It’s half off, and I’ve shared with all my friends and family how much I recommend it, so it’s only fair to share it with my online friends.

• I’ve always been a morning routine girl, but recently I’ve honed in my evening routine. This single handedly evolved my morning routines. I love habit stacking, and believe that a solid evening routine = even better morning.

  

• If you’re in, or visiting Clarksville, Tennessee make a trip to The Vintage Warehouse. It was worth our drive, and we spent a good chunk of time browsing up and down the isles. Leaving with way more than we’d like to admit …. and a new dining room table.

• I've also been really enjoying kicking back and reading. I never thought I’d see the day where I enjoy reading mid day. But, I throw myself on an ambiance YouTube video (like this) + my Kindle = perfection. Bonus if it’s raining! My cutie Kindle case is from Friend of Mine

• In redoing my own iCal — I have loved utilizing colors from Jenna O’Brien…see

The NightCap: Hallelujah!!!

I’ve spoken about how my routines are always changing dependent on season. Some weeks I love beginning the morning with a Bible study, others I’m journaling a prayer to God. There are weeks where my Bible doesn’t reach me until evenings, when the world has settled and I am able to devour the Word from bed, with no interruptions. Yet, I have found recently a solace in listening to worship music as a part of my quiet time routine in the mornings as I go about my regular routine.

From rising, to morning coffee, skincare, and pet care I’m often listening to my Worship playlist.

“Alexa, play Hallelujah from Spotify,” is yelled within the first 15 minutes of me waking up. It’s not just background noise, it’s worship. It’s setting the tone for the day ahead.

I’m always adding to my playlist, especially because Dakota is always showing me Christian songs he finds (my husband is the best DJ). I wanted to open my playlist public, in hopes that if you’re feeling unsure of where to start in the morning: be still and start with simple.

Publications/Articles from the Week I’ve Loved:

• As a systems girl, I adore everything shares

• From one corporate girl to another, I delight in !!!

• I Spent Six Months Building My Confidence. Here’s What Worked. by my dear friend,

• how i’m spending a holy girl summer - by

• I signed up for ’s premium subscription, and really have enjoyed incorporating her Bible studies into my quiet time

• All That’s Good | Working Girl Summer, Reading For Fun, Giving Ourselves Grace, + More! by is a fun read too, I enjoy her writing

Recipe of the Week

If you’re looking to catch up on prior issues…..

I spent the past year cultivating routines, finding new recipes, laughing through date nights on the couch. I became glued to my reminders, and calendar (something I’ll always be unapologetic about loving).

Yet I fear I missed the point in life: to actually enjoy the good when it occurs. Marinate in it.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I’m too busy time blocking for Tuesdays that the moment before me fades as quick as it started.

So, let me share where I’ve been, and why writing has slipped the priorities list.

I kickstarted June feeling confident in the month ahead. I had a calendar filled with social events, and some adulting peppered in. My search for jobs had ramped up, interviews were scheduled. Rinse and repeat.

After one too many LinkedIn connects and days on Indeed, I simply reached out to an old contact buried in my rolodex of emails. A recruiter, internally, for where I had started. From that one email spun interviews, correspondence, phone calls… and a job offer.

Before the offer call, I prayed. I wanted the Spirit to speak through me, for the opportunity to be so evidently for me, and of course, for a sign. Specifically, a hawk (I really love a Coopers Hawk). If this opportunity was from Him, if I was meant to walk open this new chapter, let me see a hawk. I mean, duh? A few days later, I saw one. Yet the opportunity itself became crystal clear that this was it.

But God, being God, didn’t just answer the prayer. He answered it and multiplied (Exodus 16).

Since the offer, life has been booked and busy in the best way. Visiting D’s grandmother, sitting on the front porch for hours while the boys went fishing. A cold beer in hand, and not a care in the world. Dinner with my mother in law and mutual friends, followed by probably buying out half of McKay’s in Nashville. A birthday night in with a girlfriend, and our favorite dirty martini spot for lunch the next day. Visiting a friend from home and grabbing lunch down in Nashville (love 12/30). Double dates at TopGolf, a crab boil. Sundays at church. The kind of evenings that you end up staying longer than you planned.

Days and evenings have just been full. I’m typically the girl checking out of the social outing by 7PM. I’m a strict pajamas on the couch by 8PM. Chronically a grandmother in my late twenties.

Amongst the immense laughter, Love Island date nights with Dakota, quiet mornings, and yummy meals…I didn’t truly find it priority to pencil in time for writing. I was basking in the joy of enjoying time with my loves ones.

I know far too well that moments are whisked away, and reality sinks back in. It will not be before long until I am back to logging on to corporate America in the mornings rather than puppy kisses in bed. Until then, I’m going to soak it in.

While I do my darnedest to post regularly and sometimes slip, know I love writing for you. I love writing to yap. I’ll write you soon, friend.

All the pretty girls love dinner parties. There’s something lovely about a theme, the menu, intentional conversation, swapping all sorts of life tidbits.

Welcome to The Weekly Dish. A newsletter dinner party hosted by yours truly! Think of this as all the best parts of a dinner party, but virtual, so you can totally read it within 10 minutes from the comfort of your couch, in your most glamorous pajama set.

The Weekly Dish is a new concept thrown onto my never ending ideas for writing. TWD (for short) is conceptually a dinner party virtually, for the girls who love to yap, read, and care about everything from pop culture hot takes, current read thoughts, personal reflections, and pretty much anything you’d catch up with friends with over dinner.

What exactly should you expect? Well, I’m glad you asked.

• Starter: opinions no one asked for, pop culture hot takes, or whatever is on everyone’s lips this week

• Main Course: the weekly yap! what may be on my mind, or nerves heart

• Sweet Treat: think ‘joy of the week’ in whatever format may arise…show, photo, video, sermon, products, songs, everything is fair game, always expect something good

• Nightcap: a ‘gift’ from me to you. think recipe, ritual, or something tangible for you to take into the weekend

A tiny little backstory!

The Files, my monthly roundup, typically always performs well, and is the most engaged with. So I thought about how I could condense that on a smaller scale, connecting more on a weekly basis. While I can't invite all my Substack readers over to my house A) distance, and B) my yappy dogs are true headache inducers…virtually hosting a weekly written yap seemed next best!

Let’s dive in, shall we?

The Starter: Bravo dish down

If you know me, you know I’m a Bravo girly, so any chance to discuss some sort of Bravo pop culture is right up my alley.

Starting off hot with Housewives of Rhode Island, which I am a total fan of truly. I think Andy casted this wonderfully, this group jives all the right ways together. The whole Liz/Jo Ellen argument made me so upset because I’m a Liz girly through and through, but she was being insanely irrational to Jo Ellen, yikes.

As much as I am living for the Summer House drama, I also feel like a three part reunion is dragging the issue out a bit. I totally agree, Amanda and West? I’m yucking their yum. I just feel like the reunion has gone in circles. Needless to say, Cierra looks phenomenal. I actually feel bad for Kyle. I love Carl and Bailey.

So with my television roster quieting down with Summer, I am accepting all recommendations that friends are giving me, and would love to hear yours in the comments. My bar isn’t too high clearly, I love hearing housewives yell.

The Main Course: I’m Adulting for You…..

As you read this, I am more than likely curled up recovering on my couch…dental sedation is no joke. This is a result of postponed treatment of my back molar, which has left me with a cracked, and infected tooth. Needless to say, it only felt appropriate to take the time to give you a list of ten things to accomplish over the next week that you can totally thank your future self for (it’s like being a responsible adult and getting a root canal when you should instead of postponing).

1. Make the darn dentist appointment!! While you’re at it, schedule your physical too. Two birds, one stone…rather, two calls, two appointments.

2. Go fold the laundry on that chair that you’ve been putting off.

3. Reply to that email that has been sitting in your inbox pending a response.

4. Actually look at your bank account, and if you don’t have an established budget yet, curate one.

5. Go through the products in your bathroom, check the expiration date, and purge whatever was supposed to go back in 2021.

6. Call your family. A friend. Someone to catch up with. Fill them in on your life. More importantly, ask them about theirs.

7. Start a new hobby. Like…stop just adding books to your TBR and actually read. Or maybe you’re more creative, paint something. Get out in nature? Whatever tickles your fancy.

8. Steward to your assets. A day of deep cleaning. An oil change for the car.

9. Put together an “If sh*t hits the fan” binder, aka birth certificate, social security, insurance, medical records, marriage certificate, etc…

10. Get off your phone an hour before bed, and go to sleep before 10pm at least once this week.

While adulting is daunting, I hope this list gives you at least one thing to check off this week (and eliminates decision fatigue).

The Sweet Treat: What I’m Loving

I feel like it’s only fair in true Sam fashion to not just identify one thing that I’ve been loving this week, but a tiny little round up of things I’ve been loving…rapid style.

• Ella Langley has captured the heart of many, including me and the hubs (he’s an Ella fella). Dandelion is playing on repeat throughout the Summer, I call it!

• Purchased the Emily Scuff Slippers by Auden from Target, and let me just say…they are the softest slippers, and I totally replaced my old slips.

• I created a new vision board/wallpaper for my phone for Summer. I always encourage friends to do it every season or so. Tip? Always include actual photos of your life. There is so much to currently be grateful for!!

• Briley King’s fashion never once has disappointed. The color, personality, quirkiness! Yet, I saw this one dress on a post of hers, and I have not stopped thinking about it since….Thebe Magugu Silky Mock Denim Bohemia Dress

• I made butter last week in our Kitchen Aide, and was pretty excited with how easy the process was. Now all I can think about is starting a little herb garden and making fresh herb butter with a loaf of sourdough…yummo.

The Nightcap: Things to Do On Sunday

One of my favorite apps to scroll on is of course Pinterest, and with my OCD brain it triggers tons of lists on my algorithm. Many useless, and not applicable, but I came across one that I wanted to pass along in this week’s issue. This is such a well rounded example of a Sunday reset. This list + turning your phone on DND.

Ice Breaker

Many things begin with ice breakers to get to know each other better. Classes, jobs, dinner parties, dates. Because dinner parties always end with a full stomach, and something worth thinking about.

Prompt: Write out your current daily routine. What do you feel it’s missing/what do you want more of? Also create a list of what you want less of in your routine. With that list, create a new version of your routine with those factors, and try testing it a few days this upcoming week.

Glad you came to the table. Same time next week? I’d genuinely love feedback, and to hear if this is a series that you’d like to see in your inbox weekly, or bi weekly?

Recipe of the Week

From My Corner

June!!! It’s June. The month that is a breath of fresh air, the mid point of the year. To evaluate how far we’ve come, and where we’re aiming to be for the rest of the year. Consider this your official mid year audit.

Hi sweet friends, welcome to this month’s Files. May was the perfect appetizer to a Summer I look forward to. It was a month filled with budding creative ideas, lots of time with friends, quality time with hubs, faithful mornings, and a lot of job searches.

Moments spent journaling, brain storming for Substack, lots of quality time, reading friends articles, new boards on Pinterest, diamond art, and challenging myself to branch out and “get out of my comfort zone!” ()

Before we jump in, I want to take a moment to ask for my sweet readers to briefly take a moment to fill out the following survey to help me understand what you want to see from Candidly Samantha going forward. Don’t worry, I promise to keep the yaps, but would love some guidance. If you do take the time? Thank you a million in advance.

This month was kicked off at Neyland Stadium for date night seeing Luke Combs, followed by a lovely Mother’s Day with my husband’s side. I saw Devil Wears Prada 2, and went to a Nashville Sounds game with a new friend I made on Bumble BFF, yes….Bumble. If you’re wondering about that, I vouch for it in this prior post.

The downer of the month surely wasn't the poolside 'office' I indulged in for job hunt sessions, rather more dental news. I have a dental consult scheduled with an oral surgeon on June 3rd for my back molar which got infected and yup! Is getting extracted. I totally could’ve opted for a root canal, but frankly? This tooth has had its fair share of horror stories, so, time to remove the issue. I vowed for transparency, so you get all the yaps, even tooth extraction news.

Remember how I shared my love for the book of Ruth last month? Well! I want to share a tidbit that I find so beautifully faithful to hear, and has helped guide me through the month of May: consistency and obedience.

SO, she did it. Not necessarily because she wanted to, but she did.

This verse has been the quiet undercurrent of my whole month. Just showing up. Even when I didn't feel like it. Allowing myself to understand I was woken up with air in my lungs for a purpose, so to use the day fruitfully. Show up, the Lord will carve a path. Even in the mundane.

What I can't control is how a day makes me feel. What I can control is whether I'm honoring the person I'm trying to become.

Here's what I've learned: when my routine is consistent, everything else seems to follow. Dedicated prayer time, Bible reading…it fills me in a way that spills over. I tune out the outside world, focus on what needs tending, and I come out the other side a happier person.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

In June I pray for the goodness to continue, for me to continue to look inward and upward in times of need. I want more of the good…farmers markets, and bonfires. Late night drives, with warm air pouring through the windows and a darn good song on the radio. Puppy kisses, and dances in the kitchen, and a lot more of the dopamine the sun provides.

The Monthly Round Up

• Scripture: I didn’t have a specific scripture that I was reading this month, in full transparency. Yet, I was gravitating towards the overall theme of consistency, and obedience as chatted above. In a perfect summary of this theme is Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." How beautiful is it that we have a Lord that guides us, and protects us!!! So long as we are not complacent and moving with Him, not against Him. We are blessed children.

• Learning: Homemaking is always something I loved. When it was just me, I enjoyed cleaning my studio apartment. The space, the things, and the living creatures I'm now responsible for have doubled, but there is something so satisfying about stewarding a home. So I’ve taken it upon myself to indulge in comfort home shows to hone more of that skillset. Rather than feeling swallowed by a home, I'm learning to utilize systems. Honorable mention to Martha Stewart channel.

• Habit: I’ve been chasing perfecting my routine throughout the last six months of the year. Probably similar to most of us who try tailoring routines catered to the perfect one we saw from our favorite influencer. Just when I felt like I had a good rhythm, I got laid off. Shocker…life threw a curve ball! While I’m very much a type A person who loves checking something off a to do list, or writing out my day to day plan, I’ve found myself allotting far more grace. So, sure, quiet time first thing before your phone is ideal, but some mornings I wake up and love hearing my husband’s voice, so I’ll call to yap before my feet even hit the floor. I love a clean home first thing before my day gets wild, but quite frankly some days I just need some fresh air first before the dishes are unloaded. Adaption, I suppose.

• Grateful For: I have waited over a year to be able to finally say my medical debt has been sorted, and I no longer have the impending doom of wondering what was to come from it. I went back and forth with the hospital for over a year, trying to sort out billing post miscarriage, and it was daunting. Both time wise and mentally. I was relieving a trauma every time I had to explain why I went into the hospital to begin with. Yet, this month, after an appeal to financial aid, and by the grace of God, a charity grant, with approval for over 81% of the overall balance, leaving a much more manageable balance with a favorable payment plan for our current situation. The Lord provides, and goodness!!! This was good. Very good this month.

• Reading: So I read a few books this month, and as always you can connect with me on Goodreads to follow along with all books throughout the month. Yet the book I wanted to highlight was the book I ended the month with (and honorably a check off my May 10) Strangers, by Belle Burden. It was such a gripping read (okay, I listened on Audible, guilty), and something I found myself constantly wanting to learn more about as the web kept expanding. I am extremely happy I stepped out of my thriller bubble.

• Thinking About: Candidly Samantha. Truly. I started this as a smorgasbord of whatever was on my heart, and honestly? That will never fully go away, it suits me. But my type A brain has been craving more structure lately. A consistent weekly series, peppered in standalone posts, and of course The Files continuing on the first of every month. I want this little corner to feel intentional, not just for you, but for me too. If you have thoughts on what you’d love to see more of, the survey above is the place. Either way, I’m grateful you’re here.

• Watching: Nurse Jackie. I’ve been looking for a show to rewatch whilst purging/cleaning our home. I needed something low maintence/not too serious/comical. I landed back on Nurse Jackie. I haven’t watched it in years, but goodness, it’s gold. Aside from Nurse Jackie, a lot of what I’ve been watching is on YouTube…guilty!

• Drinking: Ginger Ale. Nothing fancy to this. Typically my midday treat…crisp, over ice.

• Favorite Product: Eye patches, by a long shot. First off, allergy season has left my eyes feeling like a weight is on them almost every morning, but aside from that, it feels so utterly refreshing to have cold, and hydration under your eyes first thing in the morning. Here’s my preferred eye patches (thanks Amazon affiliate)

  I also should mention, I finally set up my Amazon Storefront, which is exciting because I loved putting curations together of what I genuinely love/use. So I’ll link it here if you’re interested.

• Monthly Moment: In no specific pinned down moment, but rather back in routine of daily walks. For awhile, in my funk, I justified not getting steps in. When in reality, once I get myself outside with a good audiobook + nature…it takes me a few laps around our pond before coming back home. My head is always clearer, often whatever I went in with worry about eases, sometimes melting all together. With warmer weather, available time, and an able body, walks have worked themselves in to be a staple of my mornings again. Nothing beats a morning coffee, audiobook, and sights like above.

Monthly Ten.

If you missed my introduction of Monthly Ten, take a look back at April’s Files. Each month forward, I’ll include a screenshot of what I was able to accomplish on my list from the prior month, and what is on it for the month to come. I’ll recap what each “checkmark” truly sparked joy within me, and hold myself accountable, with some cool stories along the way.

What I enjoyed about May’s 10s:

• I stayed after church, asking a member of our prayer team to pray over my job searches, and for me during this season. Opening any doors that Jesus sees fit, and ensuring what isn’t for me stays closed

• Me and Dakota enjoyed some evening pool nights, along with evening walks…definitely more to come once Tennessee simmers down with all this rain

• Digital purge and inventory!!! I want to make a post about this if people are interested, but clearing digital clutter is just as essential as physical. The less noise digitally, the more intentional we are with our time. This included contacts, photos, files, etc.

• Many times this month had coffee on FaceTime, and it was always a joy to my mornings

• Reading Strangers was something that seemed way out of my wheelhouse, but by far was my favorite read of the month. Proving, popping out of your comfort zone every once in a blue moon does pan out

• While I didn’t go to a cleaning, I did schedule the appointment for my extraction consult, which is more pressing due to the infection. So I’ll consider it a win I scheduled something dental related

• I indeed finished my diamond magnet geese, my favorite silly nervous system calming hobby

As I pen the end to May, I’m wrapping up knowing I spent it joyfully. Circling back to my introduction however, if May was the appetizer, I cannot wait to see what June’s main course is.

See you then my sweet friends.

ICYMI… all the posts you missed in May

Quite frankly, whenever I thought of getting laid off, I pictured myself a wreck. Unsure of my next steps. I didn’t always love my job, but I enjoyed working. I enjoyed sales. I had navigated a career switch, from makeup and esthetics to a more corporate setting — working as an insurance agent, and? I enjoyed it.

Until I didn’t.

Read more

My evenings now look much more my speed. Curled up on the left side of the couch, watching some sort of YouTuber post dinner with my husband and our pups. When my husband’s hand reaches for the Play Station controller, I know, it’s Kindle time.

The couch routine came later. First, I had to actually become someone who reads.

High school surely didn’t pique my reading interest. If anything, it probably turned me off. I wasn’t a lover of Hamlet or Animal Farm. In fact, for years after high school, you’d find books gathering dust wherever they resided within my reach.

It started as a challenge in 2025. Read 15 books. What seemed simple enough proved to be difficult off the bat.

I began with reading at night. 10 pages. In the beginning, those 10 pages felt like a stretch. Yet nightly I stuck to the ritual. Sometimes more pages (not often), and some less. I made the ritual special.

Pajamas on, skincare done, tea brewed, home ‘cleaned and closed’ for the night. Into bed I went, lit my yummy smelling vanilla candle, and cracked my book.

Eventually, I finished the book. All whopping 256 pages. The book? Home Is Where the Bodies Are, by Jeneva Rose — honestly, pretty good book.

In sticking with this habit I learned a few things. First, I was darn proud of finishing it. Reading became a relaxing way to unwind without any screen time. And maybe most importantly, it opened my eyes to the thriller genre. As someone who loved true crime forever and a day, I realized I don’t always have to be chasing faith based books or self help reads. The ‘should be’ books could wait. It was time to stop shelving DNFs and actually add some finished books to my Goodreads. In my preferred genres, on my own terms.

LET'S BE FRIENDS ON GOODREADS

Over the next few days, Goodreads became my social media platform of choice, adding all the books possible that seemed my taste so that come Friday, when me and my husband went to Barnes and Nobles, I could snag a few and get to reading.

I did just that. I read another book, and soon after, in hopes to listen while multitasking, I quickly became an Audible subscriber as well. I finished 2025 with 20 books. Enjoying the accomplishment, and the stories of all the pages.

There was something cool about tracking stats on apps, and seeing all of what I had run through that year. My Christmas present was a Kindle even, which was something that “I didn’t need because I loved the feeling of a real book,” but in all honesty? It ended up being cheaper in the long run (thank you goodness, Kindle Unlimited + discounts), and the ease is unmatched.

What Actually Helped Me Reach Reading Goals:

• Bring your book/Kindle everywhere. Yes, everywhere. This has included me being someone who when my husband is pumping gas? I’m squeezing in whatever paragraphs I can. Reading > scrolling (this rule has cut down my screen time majorly)

• Be quick to add a book to your DNF (do not finish) list. I use to feel so guilty. If I was even as long as 20 pages in, I had this odd obligation to finish, so it would drag on forever. Now? If I don’t enjoy a book within the first chapter or two, it’s done

• Acquire allotted reading slots. My favorites? Habit stacking in the morning and evening. In the morning, when reading my coffee, I’ll typically get through a chapter or two, book dependent. Of course the evening is when I thrive — see above routine

• Immersive reading!! Honestly one of my biggest tips. I absolutely adore pairing a read with an audiobook — extra points if you pair the book with situational (ie, if it’s going to be a stormy weekend, I love finding a book that matches the vibe)

• Create a routine around reading if it’s not your beloved habit yet. Reward yourself!! Make your favorite cozy drink. Wear the best pajamas. Do a face mask. Make reading your version of sexy!!

• I love the nightstand theory too. This is just a me thing. I love the aesthetic of a nightstand. All your essentials by where you start your mornings, and end your nights — a book, or Kindle there always is a great reminder to always begin and end with a few pages

Looking for some good recs to shop? On my Amazon storefront I have my favorites easily linkable to buy — take a peek!

Walking into 2026, I didn't want this hobby to die. In fact, I became the friend who began giving old books to friends and family, swapping recommendations with my mother in law, and loving Barnes and Nobles dates. I’ve slowed down in moments of my day to read, rather than scroll. I find myself getting lost in books. Some only 2/5, but others loved beyond measures.

My family is always joking about how they envy me for “being able to read” or my husband talks about wanting to pick it up the way I find it relaxing. In reflection, I wondered what was the key to making me a reader.

I was seeking an inner peace, away from the world. Not to disconnect from it, but just to bring me inward enough within my four walls to turn the light off for the night.

So I’ll happily curl up, with a good blanket, my Kindle, and some rowdy male banter via Play Station in the background. So long as I am off my phone, and presently adding towards my 2026 reads….I’m a happy girl.

Yet, our God did not make us to be fine. Our God made a promise for our life to be fulfilling according to His plan, and God’s plan is never just fine. It’s extraordinary.

My first time to my now home church with my then boyfriend, now husband, was an experience far from what this Roman Catholic girl was use to. For the first 20 minutes, everyone stood, hands in surrender, sways, voices carrying through the sanctuary as worship music poured from their lips. This was worlds different from the hymns I had grown up with, and the kneeling my back had gotten so use to.

I’ll be honest, at first? I felt so completely out of place. I didn’t feel it was odd, I just, didn't know how to yet surrender myself. I didn’t understand this…concept? I felt guilty for not carrying out traditions I was use to in a “traditional Roman Catholic way” … silly, isn’t it? God doesn’t meet a Roman Catholic — he meets the one who knows He is the truth. Yet, I digress.

I left the service feeling more connected to Christ than I had in years. This spoke volumes coming from a girl who attended a Catholic school from K-12. I did however, remember two standout events from high school in which felt like that is when I was closest to God: singing in the auditorium. Specifically — Oceans, and Awesome God, which to this day remain my favorite worship songs.

Though I wasn’t sure where my walk would lead, I knew I belonged. I knew the Word was meant to be heard by my ears, and I was searching for what I knew needed to be known, or maybe my soul did.

My first visit to my now home church was in March of 2023, and I have continued to go since then, and not because I was ticking off some box that was an obligation, because I felt like I began understanding the love of Jesus.

It wasn’t just one moment, it was multiple chain events, and realizations that even when I had felt strayed, His fingerprints were all over my life.

• Allowing me to connect with doctors early in life to diagnose my endometriosis — allowing my body a fighting chance to conceive

  • Piggy backing off this, though it ended in a miscarriage this prayer did come to fruition when Jesus delivered a pregnancy to me in April of 2025, a blessing in it’s own to have had my body hold a baby, even for a moment

• Recognition of a heard prayer in the ability to leave my home state that had become a vapid nightmare I was drowning in, and someone I was not proud of

• I met the love of my life, by only God’s grace. A God fearing man, who led me bravely back home to Christ, in a way I could’ve never anticipated, naturally

• Getting me through grief, and loneliness in times where I felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. When moments of “I can’t do this,” turned into the mercy of a new morning

I actually sat down one evening, journaling on this topic. All the events in which I could clearly see an intervention in my life from what could have only been explained by Jesus stepping in.

Maybe miracles aren’t as obvious as multiplying fish, but they are there every single day, it’s just up to us to look for them.

A common writing theme of mine over the last year, as many regular newsletter subscribers of mine know, is grief — loss, miscarriage, moving, life changes. I am someone who prides myself on ‘holding it together well,’ you know, the one who has it semi figured out.

Circling back to the beginning of this post, God’s plan is never just fine. It’s extraordinary.

Recently, in one of many of my hazy mornings with no plan in sight, I was cleaning my kitchen. In all truth? Feeling a bit down, and a lot bit lost. I hadn’t been feeling good, both physically and emotionally. My husband was working, my friend was out of town, obviously my family lives states away, but it dawned on me.

I was far from alone. “Alexa, play my worship playlist,” my shout echoed the kitchen, and like that volume 10 was helping me alongside my dishes tasks. After about ten minutes, and feeling far more centered, and together, I filled with immense gratitude.

Phil Wickham’s ‘What An Awesome God’ came on, and with a childlike joyful faith, I burst out into tears, both in laughter, grief, and happiness. My personal God had met me where I was at, in my kitchen, cleaning the mess I had allowed to accumulate, but helping me to get through it. Reminding me of a version of the song I cheered through high school with old friends of mine, that now was meeting me in a whole new season in life.

When I say, this post is being written with tears of gratitude, because I am at the point of my life where I am realizing that life is far too precious to not hit your knees in gratitude for the grace that has been afforded without you ever asking, just for pure love. For not just you, but those around you in life.

So what’s the point or takeaway from this post? I’m not sure. I felt called to write it, and did. There is someone, somewhere, that may need to read this one day. He met me in my kitchen. I have a feeling He knows where to find you too.

I want to begin this post by saying happy Mother’s Day! To the mom of three working her butt off and still putting meals on the table. To the mother who had the unthinkable of burying her sweet child, or the loss of never meeting them. The moms. All of them.

Last year, a few weeks before Mother’s Day, I was ear to ear with a smile, certain that when the day came around, I’d be celebrating. Bright eyed about everything the years ahead would bring.

Yet on Mother’s Day I woke up instead looking at the ceiling. Laying in bed far longer than I should have. With every thought imaginable of, “what if…”

In case you’re new here — hi, I’m Samantha, and last year I dealt with the unfortunate reality many women face: a miscarriage.

In all my years, up until then, I had never truly realized that Mother’s Day looks different for so many women. I could only see it now, in hindsight, as I was sitting inside my own loss.

You also will never truly understand the love of the people around you until they show up in the moments you are so void you don’t even know what you need. Text messages from loved ones, wishing me a happy Mother’s Day, because my loss did not diminish my motherhood. My husband flooding the house with flowers, and extra tlc.

Despite the immense amount of love I felt, I found myself thinking about the only ones who could truly understand. The women who had become mothers themselves, or taken on motherhood in their own way.

Rolling through the Rolodex of women in my life, I kept landing on the same ones. My mother, my best friend, who suffered through New Year’s in a hospital, failed epidural and all, to bring (fabulous) me into this world. My aunt, who while she could not conceive, ended up becoming far more than an aunt to me. My confidant. The one who sometimes knows me better than I know myself. My grandmother, who just turned 93. Who birthed three children and started a lineage of some kickass females.

I found some odd version of motherhood myself this past year, even post miscarriage. I got a puppy at eight weeks old. I surely didn't birth him, and bottle feeding is out the window, but the little sleep, the chaos, the partner disagreements, the firsts, the tantrums? They’ve woven their way into our lives since September.

In some silly, sideways way, raising this pup has healed a part of what I lost. The void will never fully fill. But it has been a beautiful reminder to search for God’s graces in what He provides, and trust what He has in store for my family.

I may not be an earthly mother yet. My kids have four legs and fur. But today I’ll take every puppy kiss, every weed they drag in from the yard thinking it’s a wildflower.

In loss, comes reflection which provides some joy in hindsight. So whether you’re missing your mom, loving your motherhood journey, or yearning for your family one day: you are seen. Today may be hard, but there are other’s that share this grief, and joy intertwined.

Today, whatever motherhood looks like for you, I pray you find grace within yourself for everything you’re carrying.

While I know there are many women who praise that time for alone time, enjoying a podcast, show, or book while they get pampered to — I am someone who would prefer that from the comfort of my couch.

So in saving some dollars, and inducing a ton of comfort I became my own manicurist. Also, would love to note that switching up colors, or fixing a quick chip has never been easier.

As always one of my favorite pre activity steps is setting up the environment around you. Indulging in a home mani/pedi means I can really gather the troops (aka all my essentials) onto the coffee table before the session has begun!

Television show of choice (typically housewives), beverage of choice, comfy spot, and of course all the nail essentials.

The Process

1. Start with clean, fresh hands. No polish, freshly washed, and dried.

2. Begin by applying cuticle remover, allowing to sit for roughly 30 seconds before using a nail tool to push back cuticles. Then, carefully, using a cuticle cutter remove any excess cuticle.

3. Next, cut your nails, following by filing, and buffing to your preferred shape, and length.

4. Buff your nail, but be careful not to file too thin. You want to ensure that you’re not leaving any part of the nailed appearing ‘shiny’

5. Dehydrate the nail! This helps majorly with a lasting manicure. Apply nail dehydrator, and allow 30 seconds to fully saturate nail beds.

6. Once the nails have been fully prepped, and dehydrated, begin by starting with a thin layer of a gel base coat, curing in between each

7. After finalizing a base on both hands, follow with your first coat (curing after each layer). I typically always do two layers of a color.

8. Finish by topping with your top coat, again, curing after each. I’ll typically double cure the top coat (I suppose for safe measure?).

9. Wash hands, using no soap, just water, and lightly pat dry. Apply cuticle oil, and hand cream, voilà!

For a pedicure, it’s essentially the exact same tips, just repeat for the toes.

Products Mentioned

• Olive & June Gel Mani System Set (I personally don’t have this kit, I have a small individual lamp from Walmart, but I surely have this on my wish list)1

• Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover

• essie Nail Care, Apricot Cuticle Oil

• Lanolips Hand Cream, Hand Cream for Dry Cracked Hands

• Olive & June colors I’m loving: BP, The Queen Takes Her Tea with Milk, Rodeo Queen

  ---

  If you were looking for a sign to book an at home appointment with yourself, this is it. Turn on your feel good show, grab some of the above essentials, and try to enjoy it. I promise, once you’re in the rhythm, it’s so much better than the hassle of a salon (imo)!

  

  A cozy corner of the internet, delivered to your inbox weekly. No pressure, just comfort. From your internet best friend.

From My Corner

Well hello there sweet friends, and happy May! I have the absolute luxury of sitting down, late evening of April 30 after a very adulting April and reflect on the past month that has quite literally been every emotion on a child’s feeling chart. So, let’s dive in?

I’m a bit biased for the month of April, because as it happens, it is my husband and I’s wedding anniversary, so it will forever be a month engrained into perfectness in my mind, and heart.

Yet, April also marks our anniversary of our miscarriage. Ironic, how two complete opposite memories — with two polar opposite feelings — stamp one month in completeness. Our anniversary on the sixth, our angel baby going home on the thirtieth, what a sandwiched month!

Comically enough though, as if the balance of happiness and grief weren’t enough, April also brought more showers. Deliverance of being laid off, from a position I dedicated five years to. A slew of dental issues that quite frankly couldn’t have come at a worse time. Unemployment, and the job hunt.

Yet in it all, I know He provides.

In believing in what Jesus provides — I believe not only financially he paves in tough seasons, but providing exactly what you need. This past month, my soul needed connection more than I probably ever knew. My family, FaceTiming more times I can count with several jokes, and check ins. My local friends and in laws, ensuring quality time for good food, and laughs. More than anything, my husband, in full support of every emotion that has plummeted me. Even on days where I wasn’t sure what emotion exactly it was, he cradled whatever emotion he could.

In all, what was April in a nutshell? The above quote that I found on Pinterest: An inch of movement is better than a mile of intentions — making me feel better about my inches. I began journaling daily again, allowing my emotions to flow. I scheduled a dental appointment, after three years, a cracked tooth, and terrible dental anxiety — and I went. I’ve thrown myself into more social situations, gaining more friendships and connections that have filled my cup than imaginable.

If you’re feeling like your inches aren’t accounting towards your mile, take a moment to give yourself grace, as our Father does each morning.

The Monthly Round Up

• Scripture: as you can see in the graphic, the book of Ruth has recaptured my heart this month, and it took two little Godwinks to get me there. The first: a video on Facebook, a little cheesy but genuinely thought provoking, suggesting that somewhere in the Bible there is a woman who mirrors your story. That history repeats itself, and God has blueprints. I found an online quiz, matched with Ruth, and decided it was time to reread her four chapters with the kind of depth I hadn't given them before. The second Godwink is simpler, and maybe the truest reason of all: I just love the moral of Ruth. When you are obedient to God, He provides…in abundance, in ways you couldn't have scripted yourself.

• Learning: ooooff! This wicked job market. As someone who hasn’t had to look for a job in five years, reentering the workforce has been...interesting. The qualifications are there, but the volume of applicants is staggering. Job hunting is a full time job in itself. I have my daily checklist of things to check the corporate box: LinkedIn, two applications, a networking reach out. Yet, I know there is a remote admin/ops job out there just waiting for me, and the Lord will deliver it.

• Habit: habit stacking isn’t new to me by any means, but leaning on it during a funk? That’s been a game changer. I actually have a draft queued up for later this month on the nitty gritty of it…pinky promise it’s close. But without gatekeeping: it’s a science backed technique that strings small behaviors together to build an overall routine. Example? While I brew my morning coffee, I listen to worship music and clean the kitchen. Three tasks, one window of time: coffee, kitchen, worship.

• Grateful For: birds. I know how that sounds, but hear me out. When I moved down South, never did I imagine I’d become the patio bird watching girl, and yet here I am, wearing it with complete pride. I have over 40 species logged in my Merlin app, a Downy Woodpecker easily being my favorite little feeder regular. What I’ve loved discovering on Substack is that I am far from alone in this retirement hobby I’ve developed in my late twenties. This month I even dug out my grandfather’s old binoculars. Next all I need is a journal.

Thank you, for being validating Merlin is the perfect cherry on top of a morning routine.

• Reading: since the last Files, I’ve added Evidence of the Affair (amazing), Sadie, Want to Know a Secret, and Bad Date to my 2026 completed list. But my current rotation is honestly odder than anything I finished this month. I’m mid-Clusterf*ck by Brian O’Sullivan and loving it, devouring Soft Core by Brittany Newell on audiobook (never a book I’d have picked based on the description, and yet here we are), and savoring How to Love Your Morning by Jennifer Dukes Lee as my morning read. Two did get shelved into the DNF pile though: Tell Me What You Did and Dinner Party, which was genuinely the most confusing book I’ve encountered.

AS ALWAYS FOLLOW ALONG ON GOODREADS

• Thinking About: health insurance. I truly cannot. Navigating health and dental coverage as an adult feels like no matter which way you turn, you’re either paying hand over fist or genuinely have no idea what you’re even paying for. The logistics alone make my head spin. If anyone would like to educate me, my messages are fully open.

• Watching: as a huge Bravo girly, Real Housewives of Rhode Island has had my whole heart, I am a Liz girly. But aside from my reality tv guilty pleasure, Dakota and I have fallen down a rabbit hole I did not see coming: police investigation body cam YouTube videos. I promised you the behind the scenes of our lives, even the odd corners, and that is a very odd corner.

• Drinking: electrolytes! Specifically LMNT, watermelon flavor. Dakota got me onto these while he was training for the marathon, and I found I loved them just as much as he did. A kickstart to morning hydration that I have zero plans of giving up anytime soon.

• Favorite Product: at this point, no surprise. I’ve mentioned it enough. But beyond just making reading easier, the thing that keeps winning me over? It has saved me a genuinely embarrassing amount of money.

• Monthly Moment: I could write a whole post in awe of this, but I’ll let his words capture it best, . What I will say is that as his wife, watching Dakota cross that finish line after a ton of dedication? There are no words. Ten million times over, the highlight of my month. My best friend, doing something so insanely significant, by God’s grace!!!

Oh…and some housekeeping!

Can I be honest? Four months of Files in, and this little series has become one of my favorite things I make. The writing has settled, the roundup got a little deeper, and along the way it started to feel like what I always wanted it to be, a genuine love for sharing with readers who are connecting. With this, came perfecting a format in a way that felt honest to my month, and in a way that felt enjoyable to share.

So...housekeeping update? A few things are shifting, nothing disappears, it just finds a better home.

The monthly favorites spotlight is getting sunset, and honestly, it felt like the right call. I found myself being a bit of an outfit repeater (cue every 2000s Disney Channel movie ever), rounding up the same things I’d already gushed about in the report. You’re not losing the recs, they’ll just live where they belong: organically, inside the writing itself.

The entertainment menu isn’t going anywhere, it’s just moving. From here on, you’ll find it exclusively in my Notes, so make sure you’re following along there so nothing slips past you.

So where does that leave us?

Let’s talk monthly ten.

If you’re scrolling on Substack, I am sure you have stumbled across, ’s monthly 10 lists, or some variation or inspiration derived from it.

Bringing big, small, silly, fun, daring, and scary moments into my daily life over the next month. As Julianna says, ‘10 things you’d like to do this month with absolutely no consequences if you don’t.’ Read her article below, it includes some wonderful ideas to springboard off of.

So without just saying goodbye, I introduce: my monthly ten. The last newest segment, the cherry on top, of the files. Half to keep myself accountable, half because if you’ve read this far, you deserve something to walk away with.

keepsake

you need to be making monthly 10 lists

It is not groundbreaking to make little lists of things. People have been doing it for centuries. There are so many iconic variations on the form: pro and con lists, grocery lists, the classic ‘to do’. What makes a 10 list so special though, is that it isn’t something you…

Read more

3 months ago · 1710 likes · 44 comments · Julianna Salguero

Chapter four of twelve, written. See you in June, sweet friends.

I’ve had this post queued up for awhile, but was waiting on when to publish. Well, this morning I awoke at 3AM to power cutting, thunder so loud the dogs couldn’t help but howl, and my husband and I giggling like kids because we know and loved Tennessee storm season.

Many people would circle ‘warm and sunny’ as their favorite type of weather. Maybe I’m a certain sort person to be the one to opt for ‘dark and stormy.’ Now, there is a caveat…I must be home. Who wants to be stuck out during a thunderstorm?

More often than not, my spot is already decided: the left side of our sectional, living room slider wipe open to be able to listen to the rain hitting the patio, and our wind chimes creating the most wondrous tune.

Is there a specific way to choose how to enjoy a storm? No. Actually, trick answer, yes. The proper answer is to be on a tin covered porch, on a rocking chair with a really good book. Unfortunately, I do not have a rocking chair, or a tin roof, but I do have a good book.

Thunderstorm Must Haves (other than a rocking chair and tin roof):

• Before the storm hits, an everything shower is highly recommended. To properly veg out and enjoy a storm, having fresh blowout and lotioned skin pairs perfectly.

• It’s a non negotiable to have dim lighting during storm evenings (even storm days). Light the candles, set the colored bulbs to a soft pink or blue. Heck, I even love a dim orange. Just never turn on the overhead.

• If you’re a bit like me, crack the windows and let the sound of the rain trickle in. Just be careful: no ruined windowsills, just be safe.

• Throw something comforting on the stove, or even better, the crockpot. I almost always recommend a soup. My favorite is in a post here

• If we don’t have a specific comfort show on, you can almost always bet we’re tracking the storm from Ryan Hall, we love his coverage (it’s oddly therapeutic)

• Bricking my phone. Yes, I’m almost 100% sure people are tired of hearing me talk about it, but seriously, hang it up. Enjoy the veg sesh.

• Pick a book, movie, or entertainment of choice that fuels the gloomy energy. Who doesn’t love a thriller in a stormy night book?

• Set up your spot. As mentioned, mine is the couch. I’ll grab the necessities: a pillow, cozy throw, Kindle, iPad, crossword, charger, a good beverage (love a crisp Dr Pepper), and of course, the dogs within reach.

There are few times in life where it feels like nothing but stillness is required of you. Airports, early mornings, late evenings, and thunderstorms. Maybe that’s why I love them so much. There’s something special about that kind of intentional nothingness.

Consider this your sign to meet the next storm with an intentional welcome. Slow down, and enjoy it with every fiber in you. Much like the thunder rolling just outside.

Some prior posts of mine that pair perfectly to read on a stormy day? Of course.

My church, does line by line through books of the Bible, and we are currently in Acts. I may be biased, but I adore my Pastor’s perspectives, and maybe it’s because often, I feel it sticking with me. Making me genuinely question whether the life I'm living actually reflects the one I want to be known for.

My Pastor in earnest will express things we should be aiming to work on, while also taking the accountability for understanding he himself has yet to perfect it. I think that is a perfect example of living a life worthwhile — knowing where your path needs to be, but understanding you need more alignment to get there.

This past Sunday, there was a moment where I realized something that just had yet to click to me before. I am going to paraphrase my Pastor’s analogy:

Later in the service, he went on to say, “I really hope someone is hearing me today,” and Pastor Corey, I promise you — I did.

I walked out of church, hopping into our truck for our ‘post church debrief’ aka, everything my husband and I felt were personal takeaways. Both of us agreed on our Pastor’s light switch analogy because I think we, and many others, can relate to feeling like something has just clicked, and you know how to begin working on repairing it.

So what was my light switch, and how did I work through it? Navigating grief, where I swore I was okay until it hit me a year later and I completely shut down. Not showing up as the best version of a wife, daughter, and friend, though I was robotic into thinking I was. I could absolutely acknowledge where my faults had lain over the past year. However one thing I also realized: I am a people pleaser, and it is hurting me way more than I believe it to be helping me.

Read more

To paint you a picture. I woke up this morning, kissed my husband goodbye as he left for work, brewed a pot of coffee, sat down, and read, with a lovely ambiance YouTube ambiance playing in the background. As I often say, there is something magical about being up in the early hours, before the world rises.

If you read my last newsletter, you know I got laid off a bit over a month ago, and if you haven’t, I linked it below. It’s on par for figuring it out as a gal in her 20s, nothing groundbreakingly new. The honest version of the last few weeks has been a lot of adulting, a lot of figuring it out, and if I’m being real, more couch time than I’d like to admit.

An Introduction to My Blue Mornings

With everything feeling a little unsteady, I kept coming back to the same thing: a day without a foundation just spins. And for me, lately, that foundation has had to start in the morning. Not a perfect morning. Not a productive one, necessarily. Just one with enough structure to remind me who I am before the rest of the day has a chance to tell me otherwise.

I’m a checklist and to do list girl. If it isn’t in my iCal and just pops up, I am immediately driven with anxiety. But in the past few weeks, having a slower morning to actually reflect has brought me back to one recurring thought: taking the time to slow down, and be intentional with every act, provides real happiness. Unemployment, as uncomfortable as it is, has gifted me mornings. And I’ve been trying to use them well.

So these are the things that have been helping me — from one girl who doesn’t always want to get out of bed, to another.

The Habits Anchoring My Mornings

• Waking up anyways!! Continuing to wake up early, despite the no agenda, agenda, has kept my sense of normalcy intact. I’m a nap girl…you can always bet on one somewhere in my day, and I make no apologies. But keeping a consistent morning time has been my quiet anchor. Windows open, candles lit, morning light coming in. Pure joy!

• Pets first, then me. Our less dramatic orange kitty gets tended to first, then we’re off to the races. Potty walk, breakfast, refilling all the bowls. Full time pet mom hours. Only after is when I take care of myself in whatever way feels right for that morning. Ice rolling, an eye mask, throwing on something I can actually walk in later. Quick skincare, teeth brushed, low bun. It’s small. But it’s better than pajamas all day…though some days I cannot say that I am not in a moomoo happy as can be!

• Phone stays away. Charged in another room, untouched in the AM. Emails? Nope. News? Hard pass. Texts? They can wait. I have enough in my head already, and checking my phone first thing only adds to it. I’ll call D once I’m fully up. He leaves earlier than I do, and some mornings I’m back asleep until 7. Other mornings I’m up before that, just me, my coffee, and my Kindle before the dogs wake up and the chaos begins

My current morning read which has been an absolute delight: How to Love Your Morning1: Faith Filled Habits to Build a Life of Joy and Purpose One Day at a Time, by Jennifer Dukes Lee

Another non phone activity I love to slow down in the morning: analog activity of choice! Mine is typically a word search, or NYT crosswords, quite literally anything to not get my eyes on my phone

• A quick tidy before I sit down. I thrive when my home is clear. Not spotless, just clear. So I set a timer on Alexa for 30 minutes, throw on an audiobook, and knock out the key tasks before I let myself sit. It means my evenings can be quality time with D instead of endless to do’s. I want turndown service at night, not a chore list — loved the insight from the below publication,

The Working Homemaker

Home Management for Tired, Unmotivated Women

Today we are talking about home management specifically for the tired, unmotivated, and dare I say comfort-seeking woman…

Read more

4 months ago · 68 likes · 6 comments · Intentional Allie

• Quiet time — the cornerstone. This is what the whole morning is actually building toward. It is the moment I sit down on my couch, with nothing on my mind but to connect with Jesus. My Bible, a devotional, and my journal are my musts. The rotation often changes, in whatever I feel called to read. I am currently rereading the book of Ruth, and going through Acts with our church, but often deviate my reading depending on what I feel called to daily. Honestly, not every day is spent with as much time as I would like, but if I can have uninterrupted time with Jesus for 30 minutes, I feel wholly content for the day ahead

My current morning rotation: my Bible, Christian women Q&A daily (3y) journal, Hosana 5y prayer journal, my regular journal for my morning pages, + current devotional: Knowing Who You Are Because of Who God Is, Demi Tebow*

By this time it’s rolling close to 9AM, and I’ve had the luxury of a slow morning, geared to set me up for a successful day ahead.

It’s time to review the agenda, check in with loved ones, and begin the rest of my unplanned planned day.

I’m writing this post because I feel like as someone who loves reading about routines, and checklists I’m in a season where I’m lucky to change out of the pajamas I’ve been in for a few days too long. Yet, I am clinging to the Truth I know, which is Jesus has, and will provide, and it is up to me to continue to listen, obey, and act. So here I am, writing about my morning blues in hopes that whoever reading feels seen, and the white picket fence isn’t always a perfect shade (in fact, it’s probably way off white than you can even see, ha…get it?)

And until next time, I’d love to hear what something that is a part of your morning routine that is a necessity before your day begins?

As I’ve gotten older, I find myself realizing not much has changed. I’m still playing dolls, but I’m the Barbie now. Daily dress up adventures. Hair swaps, and chops. The seasonal rebrand — a midnight Pinterest scroll of ‘life to be’ alongside a new life manifesto written out in the notes app.

In lots of one sided prayer requests I’ve begged God to show me exactly who I was meant to be, put me on the right path. Make it undeniable when something is aligned with Him.

But God is funny (you cannot convince me otherwise). He is always talking. Caveat? You have to actually want to hear Him, and you have to open the door to the table for two of you and Christ. Open your Bible!!

A month ago, I got laid off from my job. Let me state, I have been at this job for five years. I actually pivoted my prior career path to go into corporate. There was a deep part of me that knew this job was not going to be a long road to ride much longer due to the fact I had relocated and went remote. Yet, it was a blindside.

So, reasonably so, it shook me. I went into a funk, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t. I felt insanely replaceable, guilty for now not contributing towards our home income, and I felt lost. What were my days going to look like? Dreading the impending, ‘So tell me about yourself!’ on soon to be interviews.

But after allowing myself to sit in the sulk for about two weeks (in full honesty), I woke up…happier, lighter. I realized I was no longer aligned with that position, and it had been a blessing to be redirected, yet in an unexpected way. That’s typically how God works. I learned a lot in my years there, and can carry my experience on.

Refinement isn’t random. It’s intentional, and so is our God. When silver is refined, the process requires extreme heat1 to burn away everything that doesn’t belong. God does the same with us. Not to break us, but to get us back to who He always intended us to be.

If you’re in a season of feeling a bit lost, it’s okay. We have a good and faithful Shepherd who does not stop until His flock is safe. But I wanted to share some things, some silly, that have helped me throughout these past few weeks.

• Consistent quiet time with Jesus, daily. Bible, prayer, a devotional, church consistently. Worship music and faith audiobooks have been a warm hug on the hardest mornings

• Journaling. I fell back in love with it this year. One sleepy page in the morning, thoughts dumped into the abyss before the day starts. It works

• Sleeping in — or trying to. Honest disclaimer: I haven’t slept past 8:30 in months. An eight month old pup will do that. But the slower mornings have been a gift

• Not letting myself rot too long. I love a good couch session, truly. But I keep my iCal scheduled — morning routine, job search block, household admin, a walk. Keeping busy is good for the soul

• Loved ones, and friends have been cornerstones during a weird transitional time. My quality time with my husband. FaceTiming my long distance family and friends, writing my penpal (which I’m still learning to have a forgiving heart for the post office loosing my outbound letter), and intentional time spent with those in my life. That’s rich :)

• Hobbies. I’m a grandma hobby girlie and I’m not apologizing. Diamond art, a good TV show, even better — a great book

• Reading. I never had the luxury of curling up mid-afternoon with a few chapters. Lately? I darn sure do. Silver linings

• Pinterest. Absolutely love a good Pinterest board

So, continue playing dolls with themselves, but make Jesus your partner. Change your hair. Try something new in your wardrobe. Start a new career. Move states. But, pray on decisions. Keep in mind the little girl that you want to make proud.

One thing that has proven tried and true is Matthew 6:33. When your eyes are focused on God, it’s a lot harder to lose sight of the moments in life worth celebrating. Gratitude flows, and something like losing a job? Is just a sweet redirection.

ps, like the new signature?

I woke up. Air filled my lungs. My legs carried me to the patio door, opening it wide to feel the breeze on my skin. The Chickadee that lands on my bird feeder every morning is a small reminder that all creatures live and breathe through Him alone.

I’ve shared a bit of my testimony in a prior post, which I’ll link below if you’re interested. But I wanted to sit here for a moment and write something reflective — about the gratitude we seldom show, even when we think we’re showing up. Are we showing up authentically?

Gratitude begins and ends in our actions. Our actions are a direct reflection of how we are processing what we believe. I’ll be the first to admit I am far from perfect, and I find myself slowing down more intentionally to realign as a Daughter of the Creator. We are called to act. But how we act is the defining factor.

It’s hard to say you wholeheartedly love God without loving your neighbor, even when that’s difficult. You cannot say you are walking with Jesus if you are not in His Word and in prayer daily. My pastor makes a great analogy: you cannot say you have a good marriage if you do not speak to your spouse daily. That same sentiment goes for our marriage to Christ.

As I got older, and before my relationship with Jesus was as deeply rooted as it is today, I used to wonder what makes people want to share so much about their faith. I always felt like if someone wanted to come to Christ, they’d find their way on their own. But now I feel a roaring obligation to share my gratitude with anyone with ears to listen, or in this case, eyes to read. I want the people around me, and those far, to develop the same love I have for my faith. The love that overflows and allows you to live a meaningful, intentional life.

Every Easter during Holy Week, I find myself reading through the crucifixion through the lens of each Gospel. I wanted to share the passages that have been sitting on my heart this year.

Jesus was the bridge between the Old Testament covenant and the new one. This moment…we were given direct access to the Lord. With forgiveness, boldness, the ability to come before Him and feel righteous not because of anything we did, but because of who He is.

We are not forced or restrained to choose the path of Christ. We have a gracious Creator who blessed us with freewill. But choosing to walk as a Christian allows you to bear fruit you would never bloom otherwise. When we invite Jesus into our home, our heart, our finances, our friendships, we are overflowed with abundance. He knocks. We must answer.

We do this in daily actions. Before jumping into the world each morning, rise with intention and fill your mind with prayer. Think before you speak. Represent Christ in your words. Pray for your friends, and even for someone you may not see eye to eye with.

My pastor jokes that he’s heard people say they have trouble hearing God speak to them. His rebuttal: “Are you reading your Bible?” Touché. We have direct access to the Word of God. Again, we must answer.

In John, the crucifixion account returns again and again to one phrase: so that the Scripture will be fulfilled. As an all knowing God, Jesus knew His fate. He was God…the ending could have been different. He could have altered it. Yet He chose not to, so that the veil would be torn and we could come humbly in a daily, intimate relationship.

Like a loving parent, and a watchful Shepherd, He ensured the plan came to fruition before His own needs were met. Like a marriage, He chose this out of love, so that we might choose Him over the flesh of this world. For an eternity of life by His side.

In John, recurring wording of this writing of the crucification is many times it is mentioned so that the Scripture will be fulfilled. As an all knowing God, Jesus knew His fate. Heck, he was God, the finality could have had a different result, the Lord Himself could have altered the ‘ending’ of his life. Yet He chose to do so, so that the veil may be torn — allowing us direct access to the Father, and be able to come humbly before him for a daily, intimate relationship.

Like a marriage, He chose to do this out of love, so that we may choose Him over the flesh of this world for an eternity of life by His side.

This man has done nothing wrong. At 33 years old, God in flesh ‘cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.’ In the most gruesome manner, a perfect man was erased from the Earth He created.

The criminal next to Christ asks to be remembered him when He comes into His Kingdom. And Jesus says yes.

It’s funny, most of Christianity, at least for me, has been a long series of questions of why. Yet the answer is actually quite simple: because He loves us. God created us in His image. Like a parent who would give their life for their child, He gave His only Son.

I’m not a philosopher or a theologian. But I can feel in my heart that the reason we are meant to walk with Jesus is because the love He so deeply carries for us is meant to be shared with those around us in this lifetime, with a genuine desire for them to be filled with that same love, and to be alongside them when our days on Earth are no longer.

As if there aren’t a million reasons to draw closer to the Lord, I pray that your eyes are opened to the blessings that have been bestowed on you without you even realizing it. Every answered prayer you wrote off as coincidence…that was God meeting you exactly where your needs were.

I pray this Easter slows you down to recognize and reinvent the relationship you have with the Most High, and the One who wants best for you. In this lifetime, and forever.

Happy early Easter, my sweet friends. I pray you enjoyed this post.

Hi sweet friends, happy April! Time for some showers, and flowers! I am indeed a gal who loves a thunderstorm, and am excited for the season.

For some reason, I’ve always thought of March as the Wednesday of the year. May feels like Thursday, and by July we’re fully in Friday territory. So we’re almost there, but maybe in…limbo? Still, I can smell the dew in the grass and feel the warmer days somewhere on the horizon. Little by little, things are thawing. We are defrosting!

Much of this season has been spent catching up on what I lovingly call “adulting” —the sort of things that, if I’m being honest, had been procrastinated for far too long. Rotting a bit more than I’d like to admit. I can’t be the only one who, when overwhelmed, simply shuts down. The ideas keep swirling, yet actually executing them feels impossible.

In the middle of that, I realized I needed to return to the basics. I was incredibly excited to launch With Great Love, an online female Bible study group, but the truth I had to sit with was that I wouldn’t be able to give it my whole heart right now. Letting that go was difficult, but if I am not honest, I know I would’ve burnout over something that at the core, means a ton to me. It's oddly refreshing, and embarrassing to admit this.

Often times in the past, when I felt like my writings or projects didn’t align, I ‘rebranded’ or archived everything to begin anew. Yet, as I grow, I realize maybe we don’t need to rebrand. Maybe we just evolve, and allow ourselves to be honest about the season we’re in. Surrendering is not weak.

So lately I’ve been returning to the foundations I know to be true: quiet time with the Lord, church, time with my husband, playing with our dogs, caring for our home, and being present with family. And…writing about all the in between.

A recurring monthly section stamped with love. From moments to reads, products, and more worth remembering. It’s earned its place in my spotlight.

• Scripture: a few weeks ago, I found a devotional at our local Christian bookstore Letters of Paul in 30 Days, which includes a morning, afternoon, and evening devotional reading. It peaked my interest with the structure of prayer, and intentional conversation with the Lord, and started it this month. It has been an incredible way to refocus my sight on what matters in moments of chaos

• Learning: new vocabulary!! I’m a vocab freak, and grammar (spelling at least, clearly when I write you can tell it can be perfected, or chaotic). So a goal of mine this year was to learn a new word daily. Needless to say, I spent the first 2 months dilly dallying, and my husband found me a book at Barnes and Nobles that I’ve been utilizing alongside my journal daily

• Habit: if you’ve read my writings, you know I am no stranger to discussing intentional screen time. I’ve acknowledged it’s hard to completely dismiss social/tech from your life, especially dependent on your job — yet, I’ve found the if you are intentional about using it, you’re choosing a happier more intentional life. I’ve seen people creating: hang up the phone (see below photo) and while I work on crafting a little spot in my phone for this, in the meantime, I’ve utilized my Brick1 like crazy

• Grateful For: one wonderful technology curation will always be FaceTime. Moving states has of course made it that being intentional about checking in on loved ones. I love scheduling FaceTime dates, and checking in just because. My cousin often calls on her way home from work, I check in with my mom, and aunt daily. My friends in other states and I are having cocktails via phone calls, and not missing a beat. It’s something so wonderful, and I’m thankful

• Reading: I’ve read quite a bit this month, but by far my favorite has been being apart of ‘Thoughts & Prayers’ book club, reading through C.S Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Lewis’ writing has always intrigued me, but I never took a dive into his books, despite D buying me the set for Christmas. Marie’s group was perfectly aligned for me to read this

• Thinking About: with Spring around the corner, I get giddy thinking about patio season. We are fortunate to have a patio off our apartment. Last year was my first year of gardening, so I definitely learned some pros, and errors, and I’m excited to take that into this upcoming season. I also just love making it a calm little outdoor area I’m able to sit, have quiet time, read, have coffee, and of course utilize my Merlin app

• Watching: this past month I spent quite a bit of time on watches, guilty! My favorite being Love & Death on Netflix, mainly because it felt like insanity, and acting was truly stellar. It also really made me want to read The Mad Wife, by Meagan Church

• Drinking: in an effort to focus on hydration more — club soda has become my go to. Topo Chico, and La Croix specifically. Another thing my hubs + I have loved as a water additive is LMNT

• Favorite Product: I love it so much it’s discussed twice in this post…my bed/home caddy. As a pro rot spot gal, I love having all my essentials within reach, and having a tote to bring from the bedroom to living room in early hours without having to gather all the necessities is beyond convenient

I’ve started keeping all of my favorites in one place on my Beacons page if you ever want to browse — links may be affiliate, which I always appreciate

• Monthly Moment: D and I’s Barnes and Nobles dates. We absolutely love nothing more than going to Barnes and Nobles, grabbing a coffee, + a salted caramel cookie from the cafe, and wandering. I typically take photos of all the books I’m interested in, coming home later to update my Goodreads, and my Kindle accordingly. We’ll sit at the cafe, and wander the isles laughing with smiles on our faces like little kids

The top products that have made its way into my favorites, and why you need to look into them asap.

• The NYT Tuesday Crossword: on a recent Barnes and Nobles run, I was on a search to find something way more simple than Sudoku to take my time away from blue light in the mornings, and evenings. I googled what the easiest NYT crossword was, which seemingly was deemed Monday, and embarked on my new hobby — along with word searches as well

• Leather bound lobster journal: I’ve always gone back and forth on wanting to keep a physical journal, but just not finding one that suited me. Go figure my husband did, and it’s perfect. I’m enjoying doodling everything from deep dives, lists, and recipes. I cannot wait to look back on all the memories to be jotted

• Bedside Caddy: the 'caddy I have is the Floral Bedside Caddy from Barnes and Noble (B&N again, surprised?), but I could not find a photo of it, so linked a cheaper one from Amazon. Either which way, both do the trick, and I am unsure of how I lived without one. I also refer to it as my house purse. I have loaded mine: cuticle oil, hand cream, pens, highlighter, crossword, journal, Kindle, clip, recently, meds since I’ve been sick. Literally anything I need, to tote from room to room. Such a small addition to my home essentials

• 7 Brew, specifically the Banana Bread Mocha: if you’re lucky, you’ve visited 7 Brew. I say it’s the Trader Joe’s of coffee shops. Everyone is so kind, with wonderful recommendations. I have truly never had a bad experience, I also now collect all their little goodies (key chains, ornaments, etc). I just wish they made an app?! I highly recommend the Banana Bread Mocha, it’s 11/10

• Brick: as gushed above, I love the Brick, stand by it, and would recommend it. I think we lack self control. Even when we try, it’s not fully there, or maybe let me just speak for myself. I know you’ve probably been riddled with similar positive reviews through Substack, but if it means anything from me, I do truly love mine

• 1200 Words You Should Know, by Robert Bly: in my above section, I spoke about how I was looking to expand my vocabulary. Again, I swear I am not sponsored by Barnes and Nobles, but on a date night run, D found this book when pursuing the isles, knowing my desire to learn new vocab. He squeezed it in the cart — I now choose a word daily, and use it when journaling. Habit stack!

Instead of scrolling and debating on what to watch for over an hour, let me be the one to give you some recommendations.

• Age of Attraction: I’m always looking to rope D into a reality television show that he has no business watching, and this month it was Age of Attraction (aside from Love is Blind of course). These shows never fail to be relationship topic convos. I also enjoyed Nick Viall and Natalie hosting

• Love & Death: I said it above, but this was a twisted series, based on a true story in 1980. The main character, Candy Montgomery, is played by Elizabeth Olsen (who looks absolutely amazing), and the whole series is beautifully filmed? Though graphic. I am surprised I had not heard of it sooner

• The Thing About Pam: another true crime series, that was a Dateline podcast turned series. Beautifully done, and a wild ride. I love Renee Zellweger

• Her Three Lives & Tampa were two of my thriller books of the month, which were both good. Tampa was insanely dark, but it was good (way more graphic than I indulge in), and Her Three Lives I listened to — both excellent!

• Mere Christianity is part of ’s book club through her Fable group which has been such a delight to be a part of, and definitely a refresh in between my typical thriller reads (I’m excited to see where Marie takes it!)

• Kenzie Elizabeth is such a loved comfort creator of mine, along with Sophie Rissman, both radiate such whole hearted loving energy, and provide content that feels at home

• My husband and I love Luke Combs, in fact we are going to see him again on May 2 @ Neyland. So his new episode with Jay Shetty was an immediate watch in our household: LUKE COMBS on Living with OCD, His Marriage & the Moment That Changed His Life Forever

• Lastly, I’m a huge law nerd. Somewhere in another life, I am a criminal prosecutor, thriving! Until then, I follow Emily D Baker, and enjoy watching court live streams. Yes, a total oddity of mine. But then again, I’m the girl who loves Jesus and thriller novels. Both can intermingle!

Chapter three of twelve written for the year. We can only hope that our Friday, aka July comes soon enough. I can taste the bonfires, farmer’s markets, and endless patio reading sessions right around the corner.

Take care of your home. Take care of your heart. Take care of the small things.

I’ll see you in May.