I was really craving homemade oatmeal this week. Coincidentally, the fridge was fully stocked with seasonal produce, including juicy, fresh organic cherries. When I found this Cherry Almond Baked Oatmeal recipe in the Magnola Journal, I could not resist baking it the next day. Whether served with freshly whipped cream and fresh pitted cherries, or warmed with a couple splashes of milk for 15-20 seconds, these baked oats far surpassed my warm, cozy morning oatmeal dreams.

Cherry Baked Oatmeal

INGREDIENTS

Butter for Greasing dish

• 2 cups milk

• 2 eggs

• 3/4 c packed brown sugar

• 1/4 c butter, melted

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 tsp almond extract

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 3 cups regular rolled oats

• 1 cup dried cherries

• 1/2 c chopped almonds

  Milk or sweetened whipped cream

• 2 cups fresh sweet cherries, pitted and halved

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-qt. baking dish.

2. Whisk together milk, eggs, brown sugar, melted butter, baking powder, cinnamon, almond extract, vanilla and salt in a large bowl. Add oats, dried cherries, and almonds; stir to combine.

3. Spread oat mixture in the prepared baking dish. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes.

4. To serve, cut into squares. Serve with milk or whipped cream and fresh cherries.

Staying with the cooked oats theme, This Very Best Granola Recipe is, without a doubt, one of the very best! I love to eat a bowl of this granola with milk, instead of reaching for sugary, processed cereals or on top of my favorite extra creamy Icelandic Yogurt for breakfast or a satisfying snack.

Stay tuned next week for simple ways to spruce up a basic summer lemonade

☀️ 🍋 🤤

After excitedly taste-testing several Oreo dupes, we decided Whole Foods 365 Cookies & Cream Sandwich Cookies won by a landslide. While they contain canola oil, to my utter disappointment, they were the most delicious tasting.

And so we preceded with our ice cream-making. We made our own condensed coconut cream (since condensed milk was not on hand) by stirring one can of coconut cream with 1 cup cane sugar until thickened over the stovetop. After cooling it completely, I refrigerated the consensed coconut cream for future use. I also used Trader Joe’s seasonal Hard Top Chocolate Shell Topping to create the chocolate ribbons in the ice cream. The final result was so easy and well worth making again✔️

Cookies & Cream Fudge Ribbon Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS

• Whipping Cream: 2 cups (chilled, 30–35% fat)

• Condensed Milk: 1/4 cup

• Vanilla: 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Oreos: 10–12 Oreo cookies, roughly crushed (plus extra for topping)

• Chocolate Magic Shell or Fudge Ice Cream Topping

DIRECTIONS

1. Chill: Place your mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for about 20 minutes before starting .

2. Whip: Pour the cold whipping cream into the chilled bowl and whip until soft-to-medium peaks form. Be careful not to overwhip.

3. Combine: Gently fold in the condensed milk and vanilla extract until just smooth and incorporated.

4. Mix in Oreos: Fold in the crushed Oreo cookies, making sure to leave some chunks for crunchy texture. Drizzle in chocolate magic shell or fudge ice cream topping, to taste, and gently fold into mixture until evenly incorporated.

5. Freeze: Pour the mixture into an airtight, freezer-safe container. Top with extra Oreo crumbs and another drizzle, to taste, of chocolate magic shell/fudge topping.

6. Set: Cover tightly and freeze for 6–8 hours, or ideally overnight, before scooping and serving.

On a much healthier note, I’m sharing some of my favorite Holistic swaps for the summer. You can find them easily here.

Liposomal Glutathione has been a huge contributor to my great health lately (besides a heavy dose of daily prayer), I’m almost sure of it. Yes, keeping my body moving, drinking plenty of spring water and eating 80% clean daily helps, but most of us are naturally deficient in glutathione. According to Core Med & Science, “Glutathione is essential for maintaining overall health, influencing everything from immune function to energy production. While some benefits are tied to managing chronic conditions like Lyme disease or autoimmune disorders, others focus on optimizing cellular function, detoxification, and longevity.”

This supplement is super effective in cell renewal, optimizing the body’s energy by helping to filter out heavy metals and toxins stored up in the liver and organs.

Arnicare Gel has been so helpful for me lately. I’m always moving with my kids or finishing up important chores and rarely sit or rest these days. Maggaging this into my legs, feet and back has been a huge relief at the middle and end of each long day.

Himalaya Botanique is the toothpaste I never thought I’d stick with when I purchased it in a rush, but a year after my first purchase, it still gives my teeth such a clean, white look and feel and freshens breath like no other I tried—all without flouride or harmful ingredients.

Boka Kids toothpaste has healthy ingredients that help rebuild tooth enamel while also passing the littles’ taste test. Two of my kids love the strawberry flavor, while the middle child is more of an orange girl.

Arnica Montana pellets are easy to melt, taste pleasant, and gently alleviate body pain and discomfort naturally. Great if you’re dealing with post-workout aches and pains, bruises or swelling.

This Boom Boom stick has a funny name but is a godsend for seasonal sinus allergies and congestion. I have multiple of these in different scents. My go-to this year when I’m out and about and need to. clear my nose, especially when I’m away from access to hot shower steam or saline nasal spray. The lavender would be great for winding down at night.

What are some of your favorite natural swaps?

Happy & Healthy Summer Blessings!

1. Crème de La Crème in Naples, FL

Such a cozy cafe. The honey saffron latte, quiche and mint berry detox juice were just what I needed after a late night with friends. Definitely recommend this place if you’re in the Naples area 👇

2. Gentle Affirmations for the week.

Words have power, and the words we speak over our days hold a great deal of significance in how our days pan out, at least in our hearts and minds. We have no control over how others treat us or our circumstances, but moment by moment, day by day, my main goal is to pray and focus on “controlling the controllables”, as is emphasized by mental health expert Dr. John Deloney. I am mindful to focus my energy entirely into how I choose to think about a situation and how I am going to act in response. Morning prayer and daily affirmations before a workout or a “wake-up” shower help set me up for a win.

3. New Trader Joe’s Favorite of the Season: Turkish Cheese Bread (from the frozen section)

Strange combo perhaps, but my youngest and I enjoyed it outside with some watermelon and seasoned artichokes several times this past week.

4. Trader Joe’s Summer Limoncello Candle. Not sponsored, just love the scent!

I’ve been enjoying making my own clean burning beeswax candles with essential oils but could not resist this one in passing the Trader Joe’s seasonal section. Smells good enough to eat.

5. My Fave Body Butter Recipe

I ran out of my usual coconut body butter, and instead of purchasing more I decided to make my own. Here’s the recipe I used (and will definitely be making again):

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup Mango Butter

• 1/4 cup Shea Butter

• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil

• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil (or Sweet Almond)

• 1 tsp. Vitamin E

• 1/2 tsp arrowroot powder

• 5-10 Drops Essential Oils of Choice (Optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Melt mango butter, shea butter & coconut oil in a double boiler until melted completely

2. Remove from heat, mix in liquid oil & vitamin E

3. Mix in arrowroot powder & essential oils (I used 5 drops lavender + 5 drops of a sweet orange EO blend) until well combined

4. Chill one hour or until semi-solid

5. Whip until light, fluffy and creamy

6. Transfer into a clean jar

Got some natural recipes you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you!

1. This June collage by Slow Simple Seasonal

Doesn’t it give ya all the June inspiration you could need to make this month something truly sensational? I don’t know about you, but give me all the juicy berries, fresh squeezed lemonade, recipes cooked up with fresh herbs and a stroll through local gardens with the kids on a sunny day until the sun goes down. Let’s not forget chasing fireflies and eating ice cream—the recipe for a perfect summer day.

2. The Best Mediterranean salad

Recently, I visited a longtime friend in Naples, Florida where we celebrated her birthday at a fantastic Mediterranean restaurant called Violí. I’ve been on a savory Mediterranean food kick ever since, and meal prepping a big batch of this salad for the week ahead made a lot of sense.

The dinner setup was beautiful. What wasn’t captured in any of my photos below was all the beautiful bunches of red flowers set up throughout the restaurant, the surprise Greek dancing and the fun, lively music thumping as the night progressed.

Mediterranean Salad Recipe

By Lamees AttarBashi @Tastemade

INGREDIENTS

• 2 English Cucumbers, thinly sliced

• 1/2 red onion

• 1 Yellow Bell pepper

• 4 Roma Tomatoes, diced

• 1 cup Kalamata olives

• 1/2 cup feta, cubed

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

• 1/4 cup EVOO

• 1/2 tsp sea salt, to taste

• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Finely slice cucumbers, red onion and bell pepper and add to a large salad bowl.

2. Mix in diced fresh tomatoes, Kalamata olives and feta. Combine well and refrigerate until ready to serve.

3. Use a blender to blend fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper into a tangy dressing. Add to salad and combine well just before serving.

   
   3. Ten Ways to Love

   What is love? By the world’s definition, it often seems to be something superficial. Perhaps even something that easily fades when something or someone is no longer considered “fun” or “attractive” or “interesting”. After experiencing both a challenging and healing year, I find myself revisiting what love means to me.

As a Christian, I can read 1 Corinthians 13:4 and remember that “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” @Worshipblog has listed ten ways we can intentionally show our love, whether it be with a parent, significant other, child, friend or even a neighbor or acquaintance. What matters most is the heart

4. This is so true about letting go of distractions and purposing to become a more present and intentional parent 👇

5. My goal this week is LESS social media, more outside adventures and book reading with the kiddos.

I like to freeze overripe fruit in a single layer on a cookie sheet until firm to use in smoothies and reduce food waste. Wanna go a step further? Dip frozen fruit pieces in melted chocolate then refreeze for an irresistible treat 🤤

The recipes I use are always simple favorites, using wholesome ingredients whenever possible. Instead of “dieting”, my focus is on nourishment—feeding our bodies healthy, whole foods 80% of the time, but also leaving room for some chocolate or sweet treats about 20% of the time.

This banana bread recipe is sweetened with organic cane sugar, but you can substitute with honey or a sugar alternative, if desired. Reduce sweetener to 3/4 cup or even 1/2 cup if you prefer yours on the less sweet side. I love the added crunch and flavor of chopped pecans, but you can add chopped walnuts or forego the nuts altogether. Using room temperature dairy and eggs makes for the most desirable bake. Best served slightly warm with room temperature butter.

Our Favorite Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup cane sugar

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

• 2 large eggs

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed

• 1 Tbsp. milk

• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 tsp. baking powder

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1/4 cups chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper.

2. Cream sugar and butter for several minutes in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

3. Add mashed banana & milk, and stir gently to combine.

4. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon & salt. Add to wet ingredients until just combined.

5. Add nuts, if using, and mix until fully incorporated. Pour batter into greased loaf pan, and bake for 1 hour, 5 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

6. Set on wire rack to cool completely.

Vanilla Chia Pudding

Full of creamy goodness, this recipe is packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Making it satisfying on its own for breakfast or as a snack.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup milk

• 1/2 cup Vanilla Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• pinch sea salt

• 1/3 cup chia seeds

• Fresh berries for serving, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Whisk the milk, yogurt, syrup, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl.

2. Add in the chia seeds and whisk together. Let sit for 15 minutes, then whisk again.

3. Place the bowl in the fridge for an hour, then whisk again. Enjoy as is, or divide into bowls and top with berries or even shaved coconut or chocolate for serving.

Peach Cobbler

From Magnolia Table, Volume 2

INGREDIENTS

• 4 cups sliced peeled fresh or frozen peaches

• 1 3/4 cups sugar

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 Tbsp. baking powder

• 1 tsp. kosher salt

• 3/4 cup whole milk

• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter

• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• Vanilla ice cream, for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large sauce pan, combine the peaches and 3/4 cup of the sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring, often, until the sugar dissolves, the juice is thickened, and the peaches are softened but still firm, 8 to 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, remaining 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk and mix until combined.

3. Place the butter in an 8 x 8-inch baking dish and set it in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Take out the dish when the butter has melted, 3 to 5 minutes.

4. Pour the batter into the dish on top of the melted butter. Spoon the peaches and juice over the batter and sprinkle the cinnamon on top.

5. Bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.

Makes 6 Servings

Some other highlights of this past week: (pictured below):

1. Sharing a downtown stroll and a giant croissant at the local cafe with my girls

2. Hopping on the Swedish gummy craze. Less artificial colors & flavors yet a super fun & delicious treat.

3. Wisdom can come from something as simple as a cup of tea

What are some things you can appreciate in this moment?

Here are four key points that really stood out to me:

1. Priorities bring peace

Having priorities set in place, in general, is a game changer to making each day go as smoothly as possible. Our days will never be perfect, but knowing what and who deserves most of our time and energy can make or break us in this simulation called life.

I remember the season of my life that involved driving two hours to and from my university. I was also working at the time, but barely surviving on a tight budget. Two hours (or longer, depending on traffic) of driving the New Jersey Garden State Parkway felt like torture when I didn’t prioritize my trip. But with a full tank of gas, an awesome music playlist, a stellar coffee drink or honey-sweetened tea and some snacks, my commute became a breeze most days. I learned to cherish those long drives despite the season or weather, often times talking to my Creator or dancing in the car to my favorite tunes while sitting in traffic.

Becoming a parent made me realize just how important it is to prioritize how I’m going to live out each day, from education and activities with the kids to daily/monthly cleaning and weekly shopping lists. I’ve had to decide which relationships come first and how to maintain them, all while keeping myself healthy so I can have the energy and sustenance to properly care for my children. Navigating all of this, as an artist who truly values peace and time to create has been the biggest challenge of my life! Especially out here thousands of miles away from family or my childhood friends on the small town where I grew up. Choosing which hobbies will have to be placed on the backburner for a season has been a key move to not getting distracted from what’s most important—right now, that’s my family’s health and wellbeing.

2. “Do the best next thing”

When life gets chaotic, it’s easy to get flustered and bottom out, feeling like a failure. When you’re at the store and all the kids are acting up at once, the best thing we parents can do is grab the essentials and dart for the cash register before more chaos ensues.

If there’s one big takeaway from I learned from working in the restaurant industry in the busy northeast, it’s to keep going amidst the chaos and just focus on doing the best next thing. When life hands us lemons, we can choose to let the rotten things wear us down or we can make lemonade, knowing that God’s got us. To persevere and keep doing the next right thing is the way to a breakthrough.

3. In 20 years, what will you look back on and think?

“I wish I had made time for being more___ and not ___.”

In my situation, I wish I had made time for being more present with my family and not worried so much about mess. It’s easy to get caught up with distractions of clutter at home, texts and phone calls and general fomo. The last thing I want to think when I look back at my younger years is, wow, I wish I had taken more time to read, snuggle, and play games with my children while they were still young. Life is a blessing and I don’t want to squander it!

4. Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—making most of the time

Ephesians 5:15-16

What does making the most of time look like for you? For me, this means not getting distracted by my phone throughout the day. Being intentional with my time, to accomplish tasks at hand while focusing on being more present morning, evenings and little pockets of time in between with my children.

I’ve also been finding more pockets of time throughout my week to create. Here are some of my recent creations & gift sets available for sale:

Hand Embellished Floral Tote

Handcrafted Stainless Steel Travel Mug

18K Gold Blue & White Enamel Floral Bow Dangle Earrings & Hair Clips Gift Box

Thanks for stopping by 👋

2. For my fellow Trader Joe’s lovers out there, these Trader Joe’s Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches are a new seasonal favorite. They only come in a two pack, but are very satisfying when your kid whacks you in the face and instead of freaking out you go to the freezer for a lil chocolate fix.

3. Charcuterie Snack Boards for the kids. I’m a fan of charcuterie lunch, snack or dinner boards for the kids lately, as I’m hoping to encourage healthy and more adventurous food choices at home and all around.

   This snack board variety is the current favorite: fresh organic strawberries & pitted cherries, Trader Joe’s Celebration pretzels & Cheddar Rocket Crackers. I often love to add a good organic chopped apple, trail mix or chopped carrots & ranch as well. Not a huge fan of serving anything processed, but the occasional treat will not be denied.

4. Biblical Self Care is basically what I’ve been doing for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I never felt at peace without some daily meditation on scripture, journaling, taking care of my body and keeping my environment clean & quiet.

   I’ve had my ups and down with this as a mother, and every time I have lacked in taking extra care for my spiritual health, it has showed up in the physical—more exhaustion or feeling inexplicably weary, less motivation and negative vibes throughout my day. I have learned that this kind of self care recenters me, and is literally the best medicine for my soul, which ultimately improves every facet of my life. Spending time with loved ones who are a safe space and who bring kind, loving energy is also so critical for our health and wellbeing.

5. Vitamin Sea

   I understand not everyone has the opportunity this time of year for a beach day. Visiting a “blue space" whenever possible has so many benefits, ranging from better mood, stress relief, better sleep and even Cognitive Restoration. According to National Geographic, spending time at the coast aids in “attention restoration”, a relaxing of the mind Yes, this means a random beach day isn’t just fun, but it helps clear mental fatigue and improves focus.

Summer is almost here! Don’t forget to put to rest anything weighing you down today, whether it the year not quite going as you’d planned, unforgiveness, or maybe letting go of things that cannot be changed at this time. Grateful for the fact that every day is a blank page, fresh and new ☀️ Be blessed!

I’m so grateful that it’s Mother’s Day weekend. I was back at the gym for the first time in weeks. Blessed to enjoy another Mother’s Day Weekend with sunny weather and good health. Besides really missing my own mama, some outside time at the pool with my family was all I could wish for most. My recent injury is just about healed, so I got the clear to progress from daily light stretching to light cardio and workouts again, in addition. Hoping to fire up my workout routine to a few times a week again next week.

Good to clear the mind and keep the body moving. Joining a new Bible study group this upcoming week too, all positive changes 🔥

1. I came across this Spring Flu Bomb recipe by Herbalist @jkb.journal. It is potent and will put some pep in your step—TRUST ME. A perfect preventative (besides the controversial Ivermectin) with the next wave of sickness going around.

2. DA B O M B Bath Bombs 💣

   Speaking of bombs—coincidentally, my favorite sandwich this month (from a local joint called Lingonberry) is also called the “bomb” BLT—I’m a firm believer that a nice bath can heal a variety of problems. Got anxiety or sadness? You bored or coming down with some weird sickness or just overall stress? A bath is just what you need ✔️

   My children and I are big fans of bath bombs, but I prefer not to buy the expensive, chemical-laden ones. I tried several bath bomb recipes that were somewhat unsuccessful, as the final result turned out crumbly and more like a chunky powder. While they were effective in making the bath smell great, they were not as fun or appealing-looking as I’d hoped.

   But, as with many things, sometimes you need to keep attempting until something turns out just right. Practice makes progress, as I often tell the kids. Aaaaand finally, all my efforts have paid off. I added some drops of natural food coloring to the recipe below and a blend of “clearing” and sweet orange naturals essential oils. I also spray some generous layers of witch hazel onto the bath bomb concoction while filling and pressing the combined ingredients firmly into bath bomb molds before allowing them a full day to completely dry. This ensures that the bath bombs will dry solid and not result in a powdery or crumbly mess.

   

   

3. Eucalyptus in the shower

Highly recommend doing this if you have not yet tried it! Trader Joe’s sells fresh Eucalyptus at an affordable price. This seemingly bougie yet inexpensive life hack has an array of health benefits. Aromatic compounds called eucalyptol are released into the shower steam, which promotes relaxation. The eucalyptus steam acts as a diffuser, aiding in clearing up congestion and reducing stress. I use a shower filter as well, which has been beneficial for hair and skin and that full spa at home vibe.

4. Charcuterie in the Bath

Short on time or budget for a spa experience? No worries. Why not bring the spa to you? 🤭

Whether you’re a parent running around and cleaning up messes all day like me or just someone needing a little recovery from a long week (or just life lol), a good book or relaxing music and a bath will do wonders. I’m a big fan of the “mom dinner” or “girl meal” in the bath. May sound crazy, but true. I just set up a nice charcuterie board and a mocktail or glass of wine, put on my evening unwind playlist, pray and journal, and stress becomes a thing of the past. At least for the night. Try it yourself if ya don’t believe me!

5. Sell, Donate & Let Things Go to Create More Space for What Matters

With another move close on the horizon, I’ve been busy putting together items to sell, donate or give away to others. I’ve always had a minimalist mindset, but one with a family might understand that clearing out a whole house of belongings, with memories often attached, can become an obstacle. The biggest thing for me to remember here is that “things” do not matter in the long run. It’s the people we love and the memories we make with those around us that matter most. Focusing on letting things go to make space for even greater things!

Big Blessings this Week,

2. Our Healing Era

I had to put a pause on my daily exercising routine due to a very humorous accident at the trampoline park with my kids. I wish I could tell you all about it, but I’ll just sum it up quickly and say I did an inverted split and heard a cracking sound while jumping across the foam pit. The rest can be left to your imagination, but I walked out that night like a champ, with a slight limp, regardless. Still, though I kept my head held high, I felt like a contestant who lost miserably at Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.

Eating 80% clean and getting my daily dose of Bible time, prayer and sunlight has been key to getting me through the toughest days. Still working on that “thing” called sleep.

3. Finding Time for Creativity

Somehow, little by little, I’m back on the creativity train. For a while, I found little time for my own enjoyment in painting or art—besides making homeschool crafts with my children. Lately, I have found great peace in getting up extra early to pray, read a Psalm or Proverb and carve an hour out here and there throughout the week to be able to create something again. Whether it be jewelry, assembling gift baskets to sell or creating my own art, this returning creative energy is like an old friend I didn’t realize I desperately missed.

Excited to see how these painted mugs for the new home turn out after they’ve been glazed and fired in the kiln.

4. Favorite Trader Joe’s Items

Any Trader Joe’s lover may be subject to his or her specific favorites. Some of mine range from the Trader Joe’s Almond Chocolate Spread to the Olive Oil Chips; seasonal favorites include the Mini “Hold the Cone” Ice Cream Cones to the North Carolina Barbeque Chips. But this Spicy Honey Sauce by Trader Joe’s is a recent favorite that really amps up a plain old chicken and rice dish. I have a love for sweet, savory and spicy foods and this condiment (a Mike’s Hot Honey dupe) will remain a staple in my home.

5. A reminder that actions speak louder than words.

Ouch, this reality can hurt! Realizing our shortcomings can be blatantly painful and humiliating. Admitting we are human can sometimes feel like a dagger to the heart, but this humbling is necessary for expansion. Oh, how our loved ones, children, friends, coworkers, and acquaintances watch everything we say and do. We are all human and make mistakes, and it’s good to recognize that fact and give ourselves grace as Jesus does at the end of the day. His mercies are new every morning. Accountability for our shortcomings, understanding of our need for inner healing, and striving to overcome those mistakes is also very important in order to grow and become the people we were destined to be.

I pray you have a blessed week!

Almost three years after having my third child, I can conclude, it took two years each time after giving birth for me to notice “my pink” just starting to come back. With all the nursing and giving of myself physically and emotionally, I found myself full of love (and the best baby snuggles) each day, but completely deprived of energy and the creativity I once had.

My youngest is almost three now, and I think my pink is here to stay. Funny but true! My youthful energy has returned. Creativity is creeping in again, and my heart is full of adventurous spirit. Weekly hikes will not suffice. I am in the full-on adventure kind of mood.

Here are 5 things I found most intriguing this week:

1. Happy Girl Starter Pack

Just about everything a girls needs to be her full joyful self.

2. Inlet Sunrise cocktail with a Tajín salted rim, enjoyed overlooking the lighthouse with a dozen oysters. The drink itself included pineapple, passion fruit, orange, lemon, and peach. That sweet and spicy combo is taking me to new levels these days.

3. Playing Jenga at the downtown outdoor mall with my kiddos. It’s a game we can all play together with uncomplicated rules. Bonus was the sunshine, yet the breeze made it a slight challenge to keep the Jenga tower standing.

4. Peaceful Mom Morning routine I found on Pinterest, by gathergrowministries.com. I like to make new goals before the new month begins. May hasn’t yet begun, but I’ve already started implementing this checklist. I already find reading a Psalm and Proverb each morning, before anything else, begins my day with such peace.

5. Weekly Flowers.

   Yes, I went from the woman who never needed flowers to feel loved and inspired, to that lady who just wants something pretty on the counter to look at (or take a moment, or two or three to smell deeply) at the start and end of each day. I used to love picking wild flowers out in the country where I grew up, but Trader Joe’s bouquets are enough to brighten up any week, at an amazing price point.

Here’s to hoping you feel inspired,