Knowing what to take to heart and sharing the world with strangers can, if not balanced with wisdom, affect us all in varying degrees. As a mom, I find these things are all connected, and when I [unfortunately?] put 100% into everything . . . I tell ya, it’s so hard to be an adult...

Deciding what to receive

The other day, I was listening to a speaker. The things he said sounded very nice, and he even got vulnerable for a moment, sharing a struggle of his own. But for the reason I was present alongside what he was trying to get across, actionably, was just not clear. I walked away thinking about how typical it is that individuals place so much stock in one sentence, but don’t take the extra step to help you visualize how you can experience it with them, too. An advantage is knowing these people really well to know what was intended. But if you don’t, all you have to go on is your actual experiences and how far removed they may seem.

I take this personally because as a communicator myself I want to make sure that I am understood. So if I say something that is meant to inspire and motivate you, you will be able to say “Me, too!” and “I want to be a part of this.” This is a work in progress. I have not arrived yet, so I am in no place to judge.

Deciding what to release

Another really challenging aspect of being an adult in this wild world is realizing that people will decide what they will think of me, and most likely, I will not be able to change their perception.

This hits a bit close to home, as I often cross paths with some of these individuals, and boy, is it awkward. I will speak up and cut the tension with a knife when the time is right. But I am relying on the Holy Spirit to do that. This one needs that by far.

Deciding what to forgive

Here is another. Driving is a great example of covetousness. Ugh. The longer I drive, the more of a defensive driver I feel like I have to be. For one main reason: I have precious cargo in my vehicle, so I need to stand my ground. Driving gets way too stressful, and now more so since school just started up. Lord, help me.

I heard a definition of covetousness that I will never forget. I heard it during a book study. (Hmm, those were good. But as a mom, it’s so hard to leave my family behind on a weeknight.) Anyway, covetousness is not the same as envy, where you may want what someone else has--but it goes further in that you may not even want what the other person has, and something inside just makes you want to keep them from having it, that thing, whatever it may be. That’s covetousness.

The hurt cuts deeper when it’s the little things that may have bothered one person on their bad day, and perhaps you’ve been asking for some tools to enhance what you do, and someone admits to slowing down the process, and for no reason at all. (I finally got what I needed, but I could not celebrate because of how rough that journey was.)

Adulting is hard. But surely there is a way.

As a woman, all my roles in life intertwine. So if I have experienced any of the above, and it’s usually multiple of these things, in a day, when I come home, I feel like an utter failure in all the things: mom, wife, friend, daughter, employee, believer, you name it.

So how do we survive?

Life is too short to waste it being discouraged by nonsense because I “wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Here are some other verses the Lord laid on my heart as I considered this topic.

This verse has sustained me through some tough days. He even showed Himself in one instance, and it was such a nod to His promise in this verse.

Exodus 14:4

“The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

The Lord knows what my heart longs for. In this season there is waiting and the “meantime” has presented challenges that I keep reminding myself will be understood one day.

1 John 5:14-15

“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”

I may not know why I had to experience all that I had to, but the Lord already does.

2 Corinthians 2:3-4

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

From day to day I need this reminder, that God can get me through anything. He already knows what happens tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, and beyond. I can do whatever I need to do today. I have Him for my strength.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Thank you for reading along!

When it was just my husband and me living in South Florida, I began going to his grandmother’s hairdresser. Eventually, I sat in another lady’s chair and loved the ‘do I would leave with. These ladies knew what they were doing. Let me tell you. So, naturally, the cut and style would cost a pretty penny.

It’s South Florida, okay? So 98% of the year it’s summer weather with surprise afternoon rain showers. Warm weather. Sweat. You name it. For literal years, I experimented with many different kinds of products, hoping I’d find something that would fight frizz in my naturally wavy but religiously straightened hair.

I’d get recommendations, I’d try name-brand stuff that we found on clearance. But nothing consistent.

Then one day, it must have been after one of my salon appointments, my husband realized if we’re going to invest this much into a cut, we may as well pay a little something to keep the style looking decent between visits. Amiright?

With this reality, we committed to a brand that I still like to this day and footed the bill for it. (The salon actually sold that line). I’ve been using these products for about 10 years, maybe? And really have had no complaints apart from the inner cringe whenever it was time to put money into new bottles.

Then.

Last year, early in the fall, I saw a post that a dear friend of mine had joined a business to share shampoo with her friends, family, and whatnot. I was intrigued and sat down with her one afternoon.

I already knew I wanted to support her--but what did it mean for me? Literally no idea.

My first box came in sometime in October, and I have been using these products for almost a year now. And get this: I’m only on my second shampoo bottle. Second in a year. And they’re only 8 ounces. So 16 ounces of shampoo has lasted me a year, while previously a liter would have lasted me a year, and for at least twice the cost.

That is so wild. What I’ve been witnessing first-hand is that these other brands have much more water in the bottle than actual product. Most people don’t realize there is a better way to wash their hair. And it’s such a game-changer.

Just recently, my friend, whom I call my upline, has just reached a four-figure month. And for the first time, I realized that maybe I can actually do that, too. What could an extra $1000 a month mean for my family and me? A lot, actually.

No, I cannot stand messaging people and asking if they’re interested. No one has been inherently mean or anything, but the anticipation of yet another “no” just leaves me feeling icky. But turns out there may be other noninvasive ways to accomplish this goal. And I am willing to try it out. Because you never know what might work? And literally everyone--hopefully--washes their hair.

I don’t have the most groundbreaking before and after, but I can see and feel the difference in my hair from September til August. I tell ya, it works.

My silver hair is no longer brassy--or purple--and is growing in full, and overall feels so healthy and clean.

Thanks for reading along!

It is my hope and prayer that any time you spend here at my site you are encouraged to embrace grace--whether to yourself or others. I wouldn’t have anything to share if I was not seeking to build up my soul in the right things, the reasons I am here today.

1. Spend time with God and reading the Bible. If you’re not sure where to start, I highly recommend Francie Taylor’s podcast that walks you through every chapter in Proverbs. Listen here.

2. Take care of your body. I used to have a workout subscription but have found a free app that has all my favorite things (Pilates, strength, etc.) and a reasonably priced program called PowerAbs. It’s 10 minute workouts for moms that actually work. I paid no more than $30 for the program and I have lifetime access to it.

3. Nourish the whole person with good books, music, food, and relationships.

4. Share what lights up your soul. This is why I am here sharing my story through this blog. And I am eagerly working on ways to create an income doing this. I’ve been daydreaming about having a blog and am finally devoting time and heart into it. And my goal is to help other moms in my position.

Can I tell you a story? I’m currently a part time worker but I used to be full-time. I was being tough after I had my first baby, acknowledging that I could not go back to the 8-5 grind anymore (that took guts, I’m not going to lie). So by God’s grace after my maternity leave with my daughter I became a part-time employee and now only do the 8-3 thing. It may not seem like much, but those two hours truly do make a difference.

And now, I am looking to amp things up a bit and turns out I don’t have to do it alone. I’ve been invited into a beautiful community of women seeking to support each other because we all want the same things: more freedom, more time with our babies, more cash to support real life, you name it--we’re here for it.

Friends don’t keep amazing opportunities from each other. So I’m here reaching out to you because a friend sat down and shared an amazing opportunity with me--and I want to do the same for you.

Are you ready for more??

Summer is drawing to a close, and I am not ready. I’ve made a host of precious memories with my family so far, and I am not quite ready to move on to the next calendar season. Just not yet.

This time of year comes around every 360+ some days. Once our family’s vacation has been enjoyed, then it’s everything school and fall, and you may as well start greeting everyone with a Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.

Well, enough of that nonsense. I speak of summer because just a few weeks ago, I got to make a popular food item from scratch. We all loved it so much that I made it twice.

The images above, I’m sure, gave it away, but they’re Oreos — homemade Oreos. If I had time today, you bet I would be making them yet again.

Enjoy a snippet of the event below.

The little man featured admitted to preferring the ones he gets at school when he goes stinky. And while I try to overlook that twisting knife to the chest, I will acknowledge that my version is a bit unweildy as I am still finessing portions . . . third time may be the charm to win him over, perhaps?

Download the free recipe card here.

The second time I made these cookies, I brought them to some friends, and, with raised eyebrows, they asked if being homemade meant there was protein or something healthy in them. The answer was no. While they’re sweet like any old treat, they are not like ultra-healthy or anything. Just made in my own kitchen. And with love.

Now for a history lesson

On March 6, 1912, residents or passersby in Hoboken, NJ, could purchase a pound of Oreos for a quarter from the National Biscuit Company (read: Na. Bis. Co.). But for 2 additional quarters, that pound would come in a metal can with a glass top.

These addictive cookies have been consumed in 100 countries for a hundred years, even surpassing the classic chocolate chip cookie. You may already know that Oreos come in a whole host of flavors: seasonal, international, some just downright creative, and others that are better left as art.

But did you know that 4 years before the Oreo’s debut, there was a very similar cookie called the Hydrox? This “King of Biscuits” of 1908 quietly ruled. But not for long. Legend has it that brothers who were also partners in the biscuit business developed a rivalry that led to a split and the eventual creation of this familiar-looking sandwich cookie.

Revenge wasn’t as swift as expected, although we enjoy the sweetness today. Oreos just did not explode in popularity right away. It took years of advertising before this century-old favorite became famous and achieved sales of 60 billion a year. There was fierce loyalty to the Hydrox cookie, especially among the grandfathers of the 60s.

What is the right way to eat an Oreo?

Creative marketing played a strong role in the Oreo’s success. Campaigns inspired consumers to eat these cookies, and affiliations aided visibility. In 1921, the twist idea was introduced, and then in 1923, the twist, lick, and dunk.

Have you ever dunked your cookies in a cool glass of milk? But why milk? Because submerging the cookie in the liquid would soften its dry texture and enhance flavor. (I can attest to that). Some say for 2 seconds, others say 3 seconds--but what would you say? And if you don’t want to get your fingers dirty, use a fork. You’re welcome.

Supposedly, there was a strict rule that the cookie-to-cream ratio was 71% to 29%. (I doubt mine even remotely compares to this). The Double Stuf Oreo was introduced in 1974. And then, in 1997, animal lard was replaced with vegetable oil. Ugh. I use all butter in mine. None of that for me, please and thank you.

Not that anyone asked… but my favorite way to eat an Oreo is homemade. I mean, look at this:

Secrets in the design

In 1952, the Oreo sported a floral pattern on both sides of the sandwich. And the following quote says it so well:

“But consider the roster of Nabisco’s fancy biscuits in 1913: Avena, Lotus, Helicon, Zephyrette, Zaytona, Anola, Ramona, and Oreo. Someone at Nabisco clearly had a thing for botany, and to understand Oreo, you don’t have to look any further than the mountain laurel on every Hydrox—Oreodaphne. It was a copycat in every way.“

What’s in a name?

There’s pure speculation on how Oreo got its name.

Some say it’s from the French word “ore” for “gold,” a nod to the golden package it was wrapped in for a time. Some think it’s related to the ancient Greek word meaning “beautiful,” “nice,” or “well done.”

Then there’s this: “Others say it stands for “orexigenic,” a medical term for substances that stimulate the appetite (including cannabis).“ Think on that for a moment, will you?

Closing thoughts

If you want more history deets, I loved this timeline.

What inspired you to write these food histories, you might ask me. Honestly, it was YouTuber Patrick Zaneili. We have been enjoying his channel for a while, and one day I realized what he does on video is what I loved doing for work a few years ago (check out these small projects in my portfolio). I just absolutely love researching and writing about food. When I realized I could write about it here, life changed, and I haven’t stopped yet.

I’ve linked Patrick’s cookie video below for funzies as well as one of Jesser’s about crazy types of Oreos--if you can stomach it.

If you see this, thank you, Patrick, for the inspiration!!

Sources:

How Oreos Got Their Name: The Rise of an American Icon

Oreo | Mondelēz International, Inc.

Thank you for reading along!

My favorite place to have an iced coffee ... is at home.

We made these incredible browned butter rice krispies. Twice. Literally so good. I will share the recipe soon!

We’ve been wanting to check out The Roadkill Cafe for a while now and finally did. I have every intention of returning. Their fried chicken, is in fact, to die for. And we got to chat with the owner who knows the names and seats of all her regulars. Ten out of ten we are going back! Oh wait, I said that already, didn’t I?

We got a kick out of this sign because it reminds us of an episode from our favorite Mickey Mouse Shorts. Mickey and Donald sure get into a bind with these regulations.

100% yes. We can attest to the “best fried chicken everrr!” Oh, and we went on a Friday and there was fish. Which was also fantastic.

Another angle.

We got one of these amazing places in our neck of the woods now!

Fourth of July celebration with some sweet friends!

We are LOVING this Bluey splash pad from Sam’s. Who knew? I’m already plotting out the next time we can play in it.

The best day with the best kids. Our yard is slanted so it was more or less a slip n slide. Better on the pavers if we want a shallow pool.

We went to one park but I had the wrong address for it. So we ended up at this super fun one!

We all loved the swings!

Church picnic day!

Stunning evening at the pool. How we kicked off our vacation week!

Daddy went on a missions trip to Colombia while we stay-cationed and lived it up.

I wanted to remember us wearing sweatshirts over our bathing suits.

My daughter’s creative station. Wanted to also document this for my heart.

Neighbors set these out for free, and we came for some! Don’t worry, we left plenty for the others.

We wore him out!

Look at that sweet little hand!!

My sourdough starter, very much alive!!

Another park we explored! Did you know that Steak n Shake has 1/2 priced milkshakes during happy hour? It’s true! And takes place between 2-4p. We arrived before 2 so we hung out at the park for a bit. And we finely rewarded.

Here are the shaky-shakes! We got three kids’ ones and it came out to only $6 and change.

So the week of our vacation was also Bible school at our church. After each service, the kids begged to swing and slide. It was honestly so fun. But the late nights, I tell ya...

Moonlight sliding.

The theme of Bible school was “Cosmic Quest” which honestly goes hand in hand with the nighttime playground time.

Since I am very outnumbed by my kids but still wanted to spend time at the beach, we went to this little beach and it was absolutely perfect.

I love this shot of them walking together.

These are homemade oreoes. So easy and so stinkin good!! I made them twice!

Care for my hair after all that chlorine. I love clean hair products.

First time at Raising Canes and it was actually pretty great!

Baseball game with our church!

Toddler unpacking my wellness box. I try to include goodies for them each month if I can. This month was bug spray. Not glamorous but he cheered!

A fun night with a sweet couple. I love how they got down on the floor to play hard with our kiddos. Does my heart so much good to see them so loved.

He wanted to pull the trash can out on his own--but man it was huge! I was not about to have him flattened. I love how helpful he strives to be.

Well, these were just some of the highlights of our amazing month. God is so good to us.

Thank you for reading along!

This summer Wednesday night services were dedicated to celebrating the 250-year milestone of our beautiful country. Topics each week were designed to remind us what the Founding Fathers envisioned for a liberated land. One of the college’s history teachers led informative--and ever so fascinating--presentations each week that even though I was beat from my day, my eyelids somehow stayed propped open by how interested I was in what he had to say. I could have literally listened to him all night. That’s how interesting it all was.

Then just this past Wednesday, we had another guy speak, it was a video of his that was played on the big screen. And boy, was he so excellent, too. I wanted to write this post so I could remember some of the things he said. The speaker read from one of the Founding Father’s diaries who had in particular written how grateful he was that he had not fallen down the stairs.

Come again?

To anyone, that would cue the raised and scrunched eyebrows to such a anticlimactic statement. But then the speaker drove it home by pointing out how there are so many blessings around us that we don’t really even notice. Such as not falling down the stairs. Wow. That’s so true though!

We notice when we’ve been in a car accident, we notice when something is lost, we notice when we didn’t get such and such, right? But what about the positive things? Such as lightening did not strike our house, I have three healthy children and a husband, things that honestly perhaps we take for granted because it’s there and why would it not be?

The speaker used this comparison and others much more to show how exceptional America truly is.

Then he went on to talk about how he is able to spot someone who should or should not run for office, right at the get-go. He would ask them what is their stance on the value of life. Because that tells all and honestly drives beliefs in all other areas. And I wholeheartedly agree.

Here’s the video for your leisure:

Thanks for reading along!

So for a brief backstory, I kicked off my blogging journey on WordPress in 2023, the year my youngest was born. It was an incredible feat to finally commit (huge for me). Then I published my posts in the middle of the night so I wouldn’t have to know how long it took to get the first click. Ha.

Since then, I’ve discovered Substack which is an actual social platform. But better. And I have been finding it easier to grow there compared to my original platform. I am still writing in both in the meantime.

First, a minute to rave about how much I love Substack!

When I am ready to post something, I don’t even have to write a whole blog post. There’s this portion of Substack that is more social, called Notes. And that’s where short messages and links to longer posts get shared. There are even carousels of aesthetic images shared there, too.

Another helpful perk is being able to schedule publications and restacks. If I found ten posts/notes I adore, I can space it out and have it pop up on the scroll at reasonable times of day.

Since I started--only back in November 2025--I feel like I’ve been welcomed into a kind, calm, creative community that immensely fuels my own writing--professionally and personally. I kid you not but I have never been writing so consistently until I really plugged into Substack.

Since that milestone I’ve almost doubled subscribers already. Below is a graph of the past 30 days.

It’s so fascinating to see the numbers rising.

My three words of advice is: Just get started!

1. Start writing and share your posts. Honestly, just start writing. It would be good to narrow your ideas down to three key things that light you up. But do keep in mind that you can change them over time. You are allowed to change your mind. My three things are my kids, books, and baking. schedule your posts.

I try to publish a full post at least one every week but I refuse to lock myself into that. I will write when I am inspired and sometimes it comes in waves. I will disclose that I have 90-some drafts waiting to be completed so there is no shortage on topics. There is that.

2. Engage on Notes. This is not like DMs where you’re cold messaging people. (there is a whole separate chat section for that) As you scroll Notes, comment on those things that speak to you—you’ll be surprised to find that there is a lot of substance there. I’ve developed a habit of an hour engaging on notes a day and even restacking the really good stuff and scheduling those every day, I’ve focused on the afternoon. And the best part is that it all comes naturally--I love what I read and am genuinely commenting what I appreciated about it.

Feel free to post on Notes at least once a day if at all. But you can just start by commenting on others’ and restacking what you love. Only what you love though. Don’t feel pressured to do anything..

3. Finesse your page. This can happen at the beginning or once you’ve gotten into a groove and feel like you know your niche. This was so fun to design my page--I felt like such a professional. I make tweaks from time to time to make sure it is just how I like it. You can also get inspiration from other pages. There’s so much creativity out there!

Make additional pages if you like, ways to divide up your passions! I had fun with that and even have a whole page dedicated to my actual portfolio.

4. As you continue engaging genuinely, you’ll find inspiration for a lifetime. There are two great ways to engage and that’s through following and subscribing. Following someone means you like what they’re saying and you might like to hear more from them. Subscribing, on the other hand, is saying I love this page, and I want their work sent straight to my inbox. (I get too many emails so you can actually turn it off in the settings). But also their posts would be on your feed, so there’s that.

5. Keep exploring! There are other aspects I have yet to delve deeply into that I’ll have to share in a next installment of this topic.

Was this helpful? Let me know!

Thanks for reading along!

The older I get the more I value trust, respect, and communication. And have little to no patience for drama.

You know what I mean?

Without those foundational elements, it’s disconcerting to sometimes feel like someone unsuspecting could be waiting for me to trip and then at my expense and mortification will spill the piping hot “tea” in clustered whispers.

At least that’s the worst intrusive thought that comes when I’m around those I do not trust, respect, or have good communication with. Some have given reason to anticipate this, which is a shame.

But this post isn’t about me. And the battle is not between flesh and blood--but an all-out spiritual warfare. I have to remind myself from time to time.

My heart is heavy for those people whose lives are public. Because when they make a wrong choice, they’re already out in the open and recipient to unsolicited criticism and judgement. What they’ve done is not worse than the very nature of sin that is at the core of each of our hearts.

I’d say it takes humility to receive (and handle) the news as a wakeup call, a caution to remember that no one is immune to the enemy’s lies and deception. We need the Lord more than ever.

So what does the Bible say?

Galatians 6:1

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Proverbs 24:16

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: But the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Ephesians 6:18

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

The living Word of God will always have morsels of Truth to breathe into my soul. And I trust will encourage you as well.

Thanks for reading along!

A Fresh[er] POV

I adore this post I found on Substack. I find this more inspiring than the home/kitchen/room resets I often see on other platforms. No knock on those, it’s just that this one really speaks to me. Do you see what I see?

A flower-filled nervous system reset weekend: - Amy McSperitt Read on Substack

Favorite moments

Father’s Day thoughts

I am the worst gift giver, okay. I admit it. Pair that with a husband that is the hardest to buy anything for. BUT let it be known that this personalized mug was a hit. I wanted to give him something that had all our kids on it and that he could use every single day. And I believe it hit.

The box arrived a couple days after Father’s Day but it allowed me to prepare it and enclose a handwritten letter in it.

My dad. My dad is such a sweet, peaceful Italian man. I never really got to know him as a child and I am still battling with why that was. Thoughts for another day, I’m sure. But one of my most memorable moments I’ve shared with my dad was on my wedding day... before marching down the aisle, he and I stood behind the closed doors, arms looped together. I’d say my super high heels were making me a bit shaky, but I think there was more to it. But he sensed it, did not draw any attention to it besides reinforcing my arm in his a bit closer. I don’t know, but that stays with me after all these years. He’s one of the good ones.

Song

Valley of Worship by Seph Schlueter:

Listen on Apple Music

I have felt the deepest loss
I have questioned if You care
And when He led me to the cross
Only then I understood

That even in the ruthless pain
There’s a river running through
And every bend along the way
Brought me closer into You

I will build an altar here
So I don’t forget
The place where all my doubts and tears
Met Your faithfulness
Where I lifted my eyes, lifted my hands
To the only one who could turn it
From a valley of death
Into a valley of worship

Thoughtful Moment

One evening my oldest showed me a new trendy item that he was very interested in. Then the very next day I noticed one of these dumpling steamer containers on my coworker’s desk and inquired about it. She had gotten it from another friend. A while later I stepped away from my desk and came back to one on my desk! My son was thrilled to receive it after camp.

This has been only some of the beautiful things I’ve noted in June. What a lovely life we do live.

Thanks for reading along!

I don’t remember the details, but one day my faithful old Fitbit died. For almost a decade, I used it off and on. Off during maternity leave because I needed the freedom to do only what I was up to doing. And on pretty much all other days.

I chuckle, recalling how I used to do step competitions with some friends who were connected through the app. (Of course, there was an app for that.) I was a secretary at the time with lots of filing to do, a couple of floors above my desk. I remember the thrill of seeing how many trips I could make from a stack of folders. But if I’m being truly honest, exercise is a very personal thing for me. Because I’m super competitive, as in: I fight to be better than I was yesterday. So when other people get into the mix. It just gets awkward.

Lately, during the longest parts of my days, I have been keeping my eye on the clock--but not for the reason you may think. It’s to remember to go for a walk. And I do this a few times a day. These short, regular bursts of energy help me not nod off too readily as the clock ticks by.

The only “challenge” I’ve come across in this experience is staying fresh. I’ve learned that going up flights of stairs should be limited to two times per walk, else I’m pretty much drenched in sweat. I’d so much rather take a lap around the outside of the building, but with the unpredictable weather and the unnecessarily intense humidity, I’ve opted indoors. The stairs have been a great adventure. And it only takes about 10 minutes--which is what ye ole Fitbit would suggest moving at the top of each hour.

I’ve been postpartum for at least eight years now and pretty self-conscious about odors. Haha. Took me a while, but I found a deodorant that is natural and keeps me smelling like heaven—avec said walks.

Some time between the passing of my Fitbit and now, I inherited my husband’s Apple Watch that he had set aside. I wore it religiously and then realized how unwise it was to always have it on, like when I’m sleeping. And it had rough edges that I didn’t want to hurt my child’s head when nursing them or even when they were just asleep in my arms.

Once in a while, though, it’s neat to know how many steps I’m actually taking in a day and how many calories get scorched. So, in a while, I’ll set this aside again unless I’m actively (ha, see what I did there?) keeping track of new goals. I don’t want to be obsessed, but that’s where we are this week as I am measuring my activity. I will say the biggest perk so far is the energy I get that keeps me from dozing off at my desk. The struggle is real!

What was I saying about exercise being personal . . . ?

Oh yeah, the Lord saw it, knows the details, and meant it for my good, but I foolishly brought my personal goals (more like survival) into a more public space and made some people uncomfortable and a bit catty. One uninformed choice after another was made, resulting in the loss of this opportunity. I feel like I’m speaking in code because if I share all the details, individuals will be cast in a poor light--and that is not the point of my writing, like, at all. It was an unfortunate experience, causing me to lose a bit more faith in humanity--but I know that God is teaching me something and making me even stronger because of it. At the moment, I don’t know what I am learning just yet because I get reminders of the silly situation every single day. And I am oh so sick of it. But I determined to take back what was lost and this time keep it close to my chest.

As I’ve been enjoying these little escapades that get me through the days, I was reminded of how so many of us got up in unison when our Fitbits buzzed on our wrists. It was a past era that I am reliving this summer. And I’m okay that it’s just for me right now.

Thanks for reading along!

Some of the shoes I’ve loved:

Here is my second stack of books that we love!!

I’ve read some children’s Bibles and have been put-off by the oversimplified, borderline inaccurate retelling of the stories. This one, although extremely abbreviated, doesn’t misrepresent the original account. For example, those tough and maybe not age-appropriate stories are simply not included instead of distorting it. I’m thinking of those challenging ones to explain, like Cain and Abel, etc.

Apart from some redundancy and lack of sentence variety, I really like this Bible.

This book about garbage day carries a bunch of memories. I hosted a Facebook Usborne book party for a friend and ended up with some cash to choose some for my oldest. He was the only one I had at the time. Boy was it hard to choose just so many so I wouldn’t have to pay out too much out of pocket. Of the stack, I’m still glad I chose this one.

It was about 2020 when all this had gone down and I was home with my little man and I believe expecting my daughter at the time. And while living the dream at home we got to enjoy trash day every week. This book only added to the whole experience.

Here’s a throwback to those trash truck mornings. They were on Fridays in our neighborhood those days.

Christmas 2020 (I believe) I wrapped up 24 books with holiday paper and each night of the month opened a new book with my oldest. Naturally (and intentionally) we ended up with The Night Before Christmas on the 24th. My son and I enjoyed this so much but it took a lot of paper and books to do this so I haven’t done it again. Yet.

Chin Up Chinchilla is so precious! My BIL and SIL brought it for Caeden and even had it signed by the author and illustrator. It’s a really sweet story that teaches young ones about empathy. Definitely a keeper.

Hop Hooray Hippo is another by the same creatives. It’s so sweet! It reminds me of the verse that says to rejoice when others rejoice.

I teared up when I received this book on behalf of my kiddos. The kids’ uncle had picked it up when Ken Ham was in town, knowing that Caeden especially would enjoy it since he’d been learning a ton about animals. He has been loving this one for sure. (As have I!) The pictures are stunning and I love knowing that the facts included there are accurate and believable. We all have enjoyed this book.

Okay, this is a super fun one! A bookstore/cafe downtown has a kids’ hour on Saturday mornings. I know right? So cool. During this time an author (or an employee) will read some stories to the kids and there are snacks, coloring sheets, and toys to play with. All three of my kids have gotten to enjoy this but we don’t do it very often... I prefer Saturday mornings to be slow and at home rather than rushing and stressing to get everyone up and out on time. But that’s just me in this season. Not to mention the downtown holiday 5k’s shifting the traffic pattern. And construction haha.

Ah, Blippi. Greyson got this amazing Blippi book this past Christmas and for the past two months or so has requested bedtime stories to start with this one. His favorite stories are the last three, the one about a park, then the bakery, and finally going night-night. I love it. It’s so cute how specific he is. I love those 5-minute collections like this! (We have a Peter Rabbit and a Charlie Brown one of this kind).

Greyson was given this book for his second birthday and I’ve read it through at least twice since. It’s so precious! And classic.

Look how beatiful it looks without the dust jacket!

A sweet family gave this book to my kiddos. (Their other favorite book options includes The Seven Silly Eaters). I read this book as a child myself and LOVE the illustrations. It’s such a cute story!

Well, this is our second stack! What will you be adding to yours??

Thanks for reading along!

I could have still had broccoli in between my middle front teeth. (There was when I last checked my phone’s reflection). I hadn’t reapplied my lipstick. And I know I was a bit wind blown (there’s an area tornado watch until 5p).

But before I could get myself put together in front of a mirror, this sweet, lovely blond girl stopped me on the stairway to tell me she thinks I’m one of the most beautiful women she has ever seen and went on to point out some of the details. (Who, me?)

It wasn’t weird at all or anything. And she even apologized for taking me off guard (but honestly positive comments are so rare they’re almost shocking as it is!).

I’ve come away a bit overtaken. A bit breathless because I was going up the stairs but also due to a lump growing in my throat.

She didn’t have to say anything, you know? No one would have been the wiser … or dumber (wat?). But she chose to step out of her comfort zone and speak kindness into another soul. And I’m so touched.

To be honest compliments like that one don’t come my way much these days. Not because I’m longing for them … but I do at times recall those days (wondering if they were even real) when I’ve been called a Disney princess and such like and what have you by people of all ages. I mean, I did use to look pretty good back when I had time to invest an hour or so into personal fitness.

This stage of life is just different.

As you can imagine, I’ll be replaying this interaction in my head probably for the rest of today (and I have to write about it). It truly moves me that someone I only pass in the hallway from time to time actually noticed something good about me.

This is not at all the same—but a little while ago I made an effort to tell a mom how much I loved her dress. She even had a matching purse! I had seen her earlier that morning but didn’t take the opportunity until I saw her again later. But I need to do that more.

While, yes, I may already be recognizing the loveliness around me, how about the next step: vocalizing it. Saying it loud for all to hear. (That’s from a Christmas song, isn’t it? A seasonal spirit that is ever so contagious).

I speak for myself that I often get stuck in my head only aware of what is wrong with me. And I’m sure I’m not the only one … so I will wait for the Holy Spirit’s nudge to say something kind to the next person whose heart needs to hear it.

Thanks for reading along!

Snack time is life. And not just for the kids. Grownups enjoy a good snack just as much. I know I sure do. Just last night, I had a hankering for something salty, so I had a little blend of the Parmesan flavor with extra-extra crunchy. Hit. The. Spot. Amid the noise about what’s healthy today and what isn’t, boxed cheese crackers have gotten a bad rap.

But that’s not at all how it started …

Concocted for Health

The early cheese cracker was introduced by a doctor to aid his patients’ digestion, and it was quite different from what it is today. Homeopathic Dr. William W. Wolf in the 1840s believed in the healing power of food--there is great truth in that!--and he “concocted the Wolf Cracker, a curious hard-butter snack made for medicinal purposes.” He was then named Dayton, Ohio’s “Cracker King.” His invention began to interest those who were not ill, as well.

Then along came Sylvester Graham, who shared Wolf’s ambitions but also pointed out that foods were “too exciting.” (Can you believe that?) “Christian physiologists of the day were concerned that a modern diet contained too many stimulating substances and Graham also dubiously believed his crackers could cure licentiousness,” hence his much plainer version. Graham introduced the world to the graham cracker (but much plainer and more unpleasant from the ones we enjoy with our s’mores, of course).

“They believed there was too much nourishment per food unit in modern bread, too much excitement. So they recommended grain products made from coarse flour, which, they believed, contained a more natural ratio of nourishing and non-nourishing parts. Crackers were considered health food.”

I tell you, it’s concerning when food gets mixed up with morality. I personally believe the two should not be confused.

From rarebit to Cheez-It

Before May 23, 1921, “Cheez-It” didn’t mean anything to anyone—yet. The known delicacy of the time was the “baked rarebit” brought to the world by the Green & Green cracker company. These guys also marketed varieties of grahams, gingersnaps, and other types of crackers. Well, the rarebit was originally (and still is today) baked over an open hearth at the Carillon Brewing Company in Dayton, Ohio. Today, you’ll find experts in costumes baking them in the fire like they used to. The brewery is one of the attractions enjoyed at the Carillon Historical Park.

This open-air historical museum sounds like a super interesting detour if you’re ever passing through that part of Ohio. My toddler would especially love the train portion!

Even the historic Edgemont neighborhood looks so inviting, like a small town America.

“On May 23, 1921, when Green & Green decided to trademark the tasty treat’s unique name, the Cheez-It was born.”

“Get your own box” of Cheez-Its

Since its inception over the open flames in Ohio, cheese crackers have been under these company names:

• Green and Green Company 1921

• Sunshine Biscuit Company 1931

• Keebler 1996

• Kellogg’s 2001

The cheese cracker isn’t quite the perfect square share at all. It’s more like a rectangle, and the orange color comes from annatto and paprika. And the cheese content is fairly low in comparison to the other ingredients.

And I love this quote:

“People were familiar with the rarebit, a sort of melted butter beer cheese (remember the brewery?) cheese spread over toast. Cheez-It offered the same great taste, only baked down into a cracker that will last.”

Closing Thoughts

While I don’t prefer to take my meals with a side of morality, I do prefer to choose the best foods for my family to enjoy. So we will crack open a box of store bought Cheez-Its, sure, but my all time favorite kinds are the ones I make from scratch…

Now you know the back story of the cheese cracker that we love so much, remember there is a load of history behind its invention and there are still people baking them over an open fire somewhere in Dayton, Ohio.

Continue as you will at snack time. But I can guarantee you will never regret trying it homemade.

Homemade sourdough cheese crackers

(My absolute favorite!!)

I made some last week, and they lasted only that day. This is the good stuff. I kid you not. They’re perfect to prepare for pool days, beach days, or any day, really. And paired with a homemade iced latte (what I’m craving right now while writing this).

Download recipe card!

Online references:

• The Many Layers of Cheez-It – Dayton Magazine

• Graham Crackers Were Supposed To Be a Sex Drive–Suppressing Diet Food

• The Untold Truth Of Cheez-It Crackers

• A Brief History of the Cheez-It — Bunk History

• Brief History of the Cheez-It

Thanks for reading along!!

When I think of easing in, I think of stepping into a swimming pool slowly, and gradually acclimating to the temperature. Sometimes it’s easier (and faster of course) to just cannonball in. But what if you’re trying to keep your hair dry? What if you are also holding onto your younger kiddos? Also, what’s the rush?

Easing in can look different (and I’d expect it to) for everyone. When my alarm goes off, everyone is still asleep. Just the way I like it. Unfortunately I can’t get up much earlier than I do these days because life is so full and pretty much wipes me out. That’s okay, mostly.

So I get in the shower, get ready, then sit on their rug and crack open my Bible. Lately it’s been a mix of absorbing the words as if after a fast, wiping away tears, or resting in an attitude of prayer. I’m so thankful the Holy Spirit always knows what to pray for because I don’t always know what to say.

After these solo quiet moments, I emerge to have coffee and breakfast, and my husband is usually out there on the couch. We’ll sit in comfortable silence and watch the sun rise gloriously. Then the kids wake up one at a time.

And all at once it’s go time.

The next stop finds me in a professional setting, and I ease into those responsibilities slowly, too. It’s what my friend advised, and she’s not wrong. As long as there’s nothing pressing and what’s needed to be done is out of the way, it’s a great time to absorb some rich writing and even jot some down on my own.

Like I said, easing in looks different for everyone – even from day-to-day. But however it plays out I hope makes your day the most productive and blessed can be.

Thanks for reading along!

Last night, the kids and I piled on the couch and watched David. It’s been available on Netflix (but also on Angel and to purchase on Amazon and Apple) since about last Wednesday. It was originally released in 2025, so I was especially thrilled that my daughter said “Yes!” to my suggestion.

I’m telling you, you’re going to love it, too, if you haven’t seen it yet.

Don’t know about you, but I’m always so moved whenever I get to witness Scripture that I’ve known since a child come to life on a screen. And when they do a pretty great job, too? Even better. It didn’t matter how much I swallow, the lump in my throat was slow to go away.

If you saw any of the trailers for it, you were not ready to see Goliath! We all know how the story ends--he falls flat to the ground--but when the children of Israel let out their collective sigh, oh goodness. That’s my God that did that!! Nothing beats that feeling.

The music was exceptional. Phil Wickham plays the voice for the older David, so of course, there’s singing. And it’s incredible. I have to admit: I’ve been listening to the movie soundtrack all morning like a nerd.

I loved how the creatives depicted David, Jonathan, and Saul. And especially the touches added of David’s mother and younger sister.

Overall, what a good movie. A movie you can confidently show your family and come away singing praises to the True King. Can I get an amen?

Thanks for reading along.

Some days are harder than others. But what helps me is focusing on the positive, starting with what I thank God for. Just the other day, I listened to this song on repeat 1. It was just one of those days...

https://music.apple.com/us/album/grateful/1602016840?i=1602016986

A Couple Books

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6589708

I’ve had this book for years and had even read it in the past. While I don’t recall what stood out to me then, this time around I was underlining so many things. I finished it last week and one of the biggest takeaways was this portion on page 207:

Praying audaciously for selfish wants and pleasures won’t yield miraculous results, but praying the prayers that are on our King’s heart always will.

Reading those words really challenged me to consider how I’m approaching my requests. I have one so dear my heart and I’ve been evaluating where it falls. God knows and He will show me how to be more specific.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30753704

Britt-Marie is so relatable. I mean, like wow. She’s a character that is easily misunderstood because of her extreme quirks. If we know anyone like her in real life, it’s easy to ignore or write them off as crazy. But Fredrik Backman takes his readers deep into the heart of these relatable characters and you cannot help but feel for them. Britt-Marie simply desired to be seen, wanted someone to know that she “was here” and it just hit in a way that was so real to me. There’s so much depth in this book I could go on and on. But I will just say I give this one five stars and leave you with my recommendation.

[Beware of language so exercise discernment.]

A Sermon

A timely message by Pastor Redlin. He has so many good ones.

The Road To Emmaus | Pastor Jeff Redlin | SUN PM 5.17.26

Watch Here

A New, Favorite Product

Back in April I mentioned using this for the first time on my birthday. Butter soft hair that did not frizz was the result. And I’m still using it. Where I live it’s starting to get real humid and gross but it’s working! 10/10 recommend!

Food or Drink:

This amazing magnesium mixed in with a can of Fresca. So refreshing and with all the benefits that come with magnesium.

Gallery of lovely moments:

Thank you for reading along!!

I don’t know about you, but banana bread has become something I bake just about every week. And I didn’t use to care about this bread at all--until I had a bunch of overripe bananas on my counter and the feminine urge to bake something from scratch.

Surely I’m not the only one.

What do we know about the humble yet delectable banana bread? Quite a lot, in fact. Supposedly (and understandably) banana bread developed popularity during the Great Depression. If you’re thinking that it’s because homemakers hated to waste uneaten, overripe bananas--you’re correct.

That’s just part of the story that traces a little further back with the growing accessibility of the banana. Original to Southeast Asia, bananas were a luxurious treat also enjoyed in Africa, Europe, and then thanks to Captain John Smith, introduced to Hawaii. In the 1920s, refrigeration made importation practical and Chiquita Banana was one of the leading brands at the time.

About that Great Depression, though. While, yes, bananas were not so readily scrapped, King Arthur Baking was a rising company (pun absolutely not intended but fitting!) that introduced “chemical leaveners” to grocery shelves. Think: baking soda and powder, which, get this, paired with overripe bananas (or a similar ingredient) did not require yeast in order to rise.

Pillsbury published the first recipe for banana bread in 1933. But, as many things do, shifting trends influence the variety of ingredients, flavors, and presentations. In the 40s, World War II brought egg and butter rationing, and sour cream and buttermilk were used instead of whole milk. In the 60s, wheat flour, brown sugar, and spices made bread more nutrient-dense.

Do you remember the Pandemic in 2020? According to CNBC, banana bread was the no. 1 searched recipe online. And for good reason. While the whole world was told to stay home, people were bored and had food aging on their counters. Also, Instagram and TikTok helped show the world what we were doing at home.

Bananas are available year-round, and they’re one of the cheapest fruits (ahem, berries--did you know?) you could buy. They’re full of potassium, fiber, and vitamins A and C, and when baked into a fragrant loaf and enjoyed alone or with friends, they’re a comforting, satisfying food. A key to underscoring that flavor, you might already know, is to use those overripe and speckled ‘nanas so the starch converts to sugar and makes each warm bite skyrocket you to flavor heaven. I’d say enjoyment and comfort together are as good as medicine.

In My Home

My mom would often make a banana snack cake. I’ve since found the recipe and made it several times. So yum.

Download recipe card!

I also regularly do a banana bundt cake that I’ve been baking in loaf pans lately because a smaller dish = less oven time.

Download recipe card!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I tried my hand at a tropical version, which could have been a true win if I had lime juice instead of lemon on hand and had simply left off the glaze altogether. The coconut flakes and crushed pineapple were the additions I’d be willing to repeat. (I was inspired down this route after finishing Elin Hilderbrand’s Paradise series. In her story, set in the Virgin Islands, there are several mentions of some incredible tropical banana bread.)

Download recipe card!

Another banana bread variation I found (and baked just the other day “for research”) was the Moosewood Restaurant’s recipe. It’s pretty great and differs from the others, since it calls for nutmeg, cinnamon, almond extract, both baking soda and powder, and soaking the banana puree in a cup of black coffee beforehand. [I wish I had brought a chunk to go just so I could taste it again, while I’m thinking about it. But it’s okay, breakfast will revisit in just several hours.]

If you know me, my bucket list includes visiting the tropics somewhere, and I think this place is where that trip needs to start: in Maui, HI, for “arguably” The Best Banana Bread on Maui - HAWAIʻI Magazine.

Closing Thoughts

Banana bread, prepared to be sweet like a cake or more savory like a bread, has come a long way and is appreciated for multiple reasons. I will leave you with a heartwarming closing thought:

While to bake something with love is a common saying in households, there are linguistic roots for the association between bread and love. The word companion can be traced back to the Latin word panis which originally meant bread with the word’s use to indicate someone to share a meal with. The word for friend in French has similar origins. The French word for friend (“copain”) mashes up the prefix “co” (often translated to together or shared) and the word “pain” (meaning bread). To have a friend is to have someone to share the bread with. (emphasis mine)

Inside the Popularity of the Comforting Treat Banana Bread - Study Breaks

Let me know the next time you make banana bread! Maybe it’s a variety I’ve yet to try!

Thanks for reading along!

Sources used in research:

• Why Banana Bread Became So Popular During The Great Depression

• A short history of banana bread | King Arthur Baking

• The History Behind Banana Bread

• Where Did Banana Bread Originally Come From? - The Cooking Facts

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Besides diapers in a variety of sizes, bringing your favorite children’s book to a baby shower is such a brilliant idea. It all started for me with a baby shower for my oldest--who is eight today and reading on his own. Because we were expecting him, my children’s books collection began to grow! And I’m going to enjoy sharing our beloved ones with you and why we love them.

The Shower

Way back in 2017, some sweet, sweet friends opened up their home to us to stay in and host a whole baby shower party. When we came to town (we had moved away a few months beforehand) the house was all decorated, stocked, and simply magical.

At the time, since I honestly never dreamed that I would actually have a child, let alone get married, I never had vision boards for these events--but I knew I liked Peter Rabbit, and my friend ran with it.

Thus began our children’s book collection.

Full Shelves = Full Hearts

In my kids’ room, there are four square shelves full of books. And I’m going to share just one small stack of them with you today. These are the most loved ones, the ones that I was “required” to read every night. And they are so precious to me. Sniff. Sniff. I began reading the majority with my oldest, but as the others came along, we’ve branched out a bit and have fallen into other sweet rhythms.

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site is precious. And yes, be warned, it will put you to sleep, too--especially if you dramatize every yawn and sigh in the storyline. I always yawn with this one. I learned from a education student, at the time, that this book was intentionally written to calm a child and whatnot. Genius.

The kids’ aunt gave that to my oldest when he was about 2 or 3 with a bulldozer toy. So fun. I love the illustrations and how each truck has its own personality.

This one is a classic. Not only have we read this nightly, but we’ve even gotten to enjoy different versions of this one, such as the Christmas and Valentine’s editions and the one about a traffic jam.

In my copy of the book, the inside back cover suggests a website to get info on throwing a Little Blue Truck-themed party. I just love that idea. I’m just not creative in that way at all to pull it off, alas.

I LOVE this one. First, because the stories are incredible. I’d read it cover to cover and even really enjoy the ones that make my tongue go into “slips and back flips.” And second, this book was given to my oldest at nine months old from the hospital where he was admitted for a few days. I read the book all the way through as I sat next to his monstrous crib. He and I bonded deeply during our stay. While I am so glad that time is behind us, I am thankful for the sweet time we shared. And this book is our “souvenir,” if you will.

To be honest, I am not sure I recall who gave us this book. But I have it memorized in my heart. Caeden loved it, and even Evvy. I don’t think I have brought it into our rotation with Greyson--so maybe I should remedy that tonight.

The lines are so easy to read and memorize—even the kiddos pretend to recite them.

Oh my goodness... the first time I read this was in our first house here, the one we had built. My son had the sweetest little room. He had a spot for the crib, a comfy chair, toys, and room to play with them, and I experimented with how to display his books. We used to have a tiny bench of sorts that held our whole collection. And it worked!

But I was in that very room, I believe Daddy was there, too, when I started reading this book for the first time. Until my throat closed up with emotion. It got me real good in the feels. While I closed it quickly and reshelved it then, I’ve read it many times since, and it still hits.

This one is just so brightly colored and wholesome. All three of my kids have enjoyed the clear pictures and especially love the alligator brushing all this teeth.

Okay, this one is from my childhood, if you can believe it. It was my favorite. When I was a kid, I’d spend hours staring at the pictures, and I even remember tracing them or trying to sight-draw them. Many times I was lost in those pages, and I was thrilled to find it packed away and hand it over to my very own kids.

Remember the shower I mentioned in the beginning? This was one of the treasures from that very day. A sweet lady from our church, she’s a mother to two grown boys, gave this book, with a note saying it was a favorite of theirs. The pictures are bold and if I was any younger I’d be tracing and whatnot those pictures, too. The back cover suggests a couple others in the collection but I have yet to hunt them down at the local library.

This was one of the ones Daddy picked up on a Sam’s grocery run, and it was such a hit. I love how much my kids love books. There’s a couple favorite ones in there, like the one where they unexpectedly brought home a puppy, the road trip one, and more. Classics.

Oh my stars. This one is precious. A sweet friend who taught kindergarten for a while brought this for my oldest--or my second? I can’t remember that so well now. But as you can see, it has been loved. A couple pages have torn--but I taped them back together! Because I am not getting rid of this book! The illustrations are stellar and the poetry so sweet. It’s a keeper all right.

All right, this one gets long since you’re practically reading the whole story twice--first when he is disagreeable and then again when he realizes he does like it simply because he tried it. But it’s still so fun. I remember reading to my oldest and skipping to the positive half--mainly because I had a whole stack to get through before I fell asleep myself!

My daughter was so precious with this book! For a while she was so into watching the Netflix show, Green Eggs and Ham (I recommend!). Whenever it was on, she would sit there on the couch or the floor with her snackie and water, and there the book would be placed gently beside her, facing the tv. So adorable.

One my sweetest friends gave me this book in a big gift bag full of thoughtful momentos. I still read this book practically every night, and the kids refer to it as “Eaters.” I love this book so much, it’s not even funny how much I do! It’s so relatable and I feel so seen as the poem and the images reflect a sweet little mother gradually growing unhinged with the addition of each. But she loves them dearly. The story is done so well and ends so beautifully. Her devotion to them came back to bless her in the end. This one gets five stars although I wasn’t rating any of the other ones.

This is my all-time favorite version of The Night Before Christmas. The illustrations are top-tier and the poem itself is just music to my ears. For some reason it gets me emotional at one spot but I can’t quite recall which. (Maybe I need to add it to the stack tonight!)

Guys, these are my top kid-lit recommendations for now! Which of these books do you also love? What else would you add to the list??

Believe you me, there are so many more books to share with you about--so stay tuned for part two!

Oh, and in case you were wondering why I called it “The Kids’ Night Library”? It’s because we do all our reading at night before bed. It’s our favorite.

Thanks for reading along!

A couple weeks ago, my husband and I went on a rare overnight trip, just the two of us. We were attending an event several hours away and entrusted our kiddos to a dear couple. I believe this was only the second time to do that in eight years. (And okay with me.)

It was unreal being able to complete a conversation and sit in comfortable silence. There were no interruptions or requests for snacks and things. Bitter and sweet, nonetheless.

You guys, I went crazy and ordered an iced coffee with my sandwich at Chick-fil-A. Whoa. Who am I even? My reasoning was that without the kids’ meals and such, I could perhaps splurge a bit. So silly. But literally how my brain works.

So while I was enjoying my classic CFA sandwich dripping with honey with my Honey, sitting nonchalantly at a 4-seater, Chris and I had the sweetest interactions with two precious dining room hostesses.

Miss Erline

We stopped for lunch in Opelika, Alabama, walked across the drive-through lanes (oh, I so dislike that unsafe setup...), and when we entered, the cutest little elderly lady in her red and grey hostess uniform was resting in a chair and greeting everyone walking in. Oh my stars, was she adorable. Every white hair of her bob was in place; she even had red lipstick on.

This was Miss Erline.

A little later, she greeted us at our table (remember the honeys and iced coffee splurge? I even think Chris got himself some sort of passionfruit beverage, too) and visited with us for a few minutes. She was simply precious.

At 94, she had been serving in that dining room for the past 20 years, she told us. (Are you doing the math?) I told her, “Hope I look as good as you when I am 94,” to which she responded, “Oh, you’ve already got me beat there.” [Um, not even close].

As we continued to chat, we discovered that her husband had passed 26 years ago, and she had started working after that. I was so curious what drives her to keep working--especially at her age. And as expected, she was one to keep busy.

Miss Erline shared how many kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great-grandchildren she had. She has a whole bunch of family, and while spread out, there were some staying nearby to look out for her.

With only a hint of bothered emotion, Miss Erline mentioned having her license revoked just recently. I could sense she was still battling the hurt about it, and honestly, I respect that. I appreciated that she wasn’t sugar-coating anything or playing Pollyanna. Also, I imagine I’d feel the same if I ever reached her age.

Losing the freedom to drive her car, she said, “Feels like a death.” And although she’s had many high offers for her marquis, she refuses to sell it. Her logic was that anyone coming to see her would just drive her car instead of hiring a ride. Makes sense to me. She consoled herself with the thought that, instead of driving her own car, she could still “ride” in it. And she’s not wrong!

Miss Erline explained that her operator picks her up and brings her in each day. That speaks so highly of this operator to value this lovely woman, doesn’t it? After a few more moments of kind conversation, Miss Erline went on her way, greeting other customers warmly.

Miss Diane

Another beautiful character we met shortly after was Miss Diane. She came up to our table, calling me a “pretty lady” and declaring that Chris was “pleasing to the eyes.” To that, Chris said, “Oh! Well, we’ll definitely be back to this CFA!” Silly man.

But honestly, these meaningful interactions here were such a breath of fresh air.

At 75, Miss Diane joked about her children needing to go back to first grade and relearn math because they were unable to do addition or even multiplication--it was her way of objecting to a lack of more than a couple grandkids. The way she said it was hilarious. Then she shared that working at CFA allows her to buy gas and eggs. “And I like my eggs,” she said. (Honestly, same. Yum)

Maybe they didn’t, or maybe these little ladies did twist our arms to see pictures of our kiddos, but when looking at our three, Miss Diane said that Evvy is the “cream” to the cookie, sitting between two boys. How precious. Because yes. And as is typical in this stage and age of life she tactfully asked if there was another little sister to the right of our youngest. Hah. Maybe one day.

Is it a lost art?

Is it just us, or are Chick-fil-A’s--or food service in general--not what they used to be? In our area, we had a favorite restaurant that we frequented mainly because of its sweet hostess. The interactions like we had with these sweet ladies are what keep us going back.

But these days, courtesy, quality service, and going the extra mile feels like a dying art. And it makes me so sad. I used to be on the other side, with the ones striving to give the best. But the best we are experiencing these days is just not the same. I do acknowledge that 2020 largely changed what those kinds of interactions look like. It’s a fact that I have to accept, I guess. I want my kids growing up witnessing, being a part of, and sharing warm interactions like these.

With that, I encourage you to notice those people who are faithfully serving from the heart. Those collecting your trays of wadded-up napkins and messy sauce have a story of their own. And a smile goes a long way.

Thanks for reading along!

Origin Stories

One fascinating version of the story involves a wealthy woman named Bertha Palmer. Kentucky-born, Bertha lived in Chicago when she got married in 1870. To give you an idea of how rich she was, get this: her new husband (Potter Palmer) built her a hotel as a wedding present. A hotel! Because of her husband’s position at the hotel, Bertha was qualified to be part of the Chicago social elite.

On any given day, she could be wearing upwards of $10k in jewelry at once or grabbing an original Renoir, Monet, or Picasso while shopping in Paris. But this little lady could get so down-to-earth--and you’ll see why. Besides her support for the women’s rights movement and, of course, inventing the brownie, Bertha made a significant difference in Florida after her husband passed away.

Bertha was a philanthropist and a brilliant businesswoman. Keep in mind, she did the following during the 8 years before she passed in her late 60’s: she led the transformation of 14,000 marshy acres into farm and ranchland — today known as Sarasota County—using canals and other genius to drain the saturation. Bertha was part of developing the region’s first farmers’ market and was an avid fisher, quail hunter, motorist, speedboater, party hostess, and so much more!

In other words? An absolute delight!

These two places in Florida, which she had helped develop, have spots on my bucket list:

• The Legacy Trail

• Myakka River State Park.

Now, jumping back a bit to her socialite days in Chicago and our main character, the brownie . . . Bertha’s involvement with the elite women of the time and the approaching 1893 World’s Fair led her to want to create a non-messy dessert for the ladies’ luncheon boxes. It wasn’t for all the women, though, just for those on the Fair’s board. Bertha collaborated with the hotel’s pastry chef, Chef Joseph Sehl, and together they introduced the world to a sweet, dense bar topped with chopped walnuts and an apricot glaze. And to this day, The Palmer House Hotel still offers this treat on its menu.

What’s so interesting is that at the same World’s Fair, Walter Baker and Company, the makers of the early chocolate bar (today known as the Kraft-owned Baker’s Chocolate brand), was showing the public how chocolate is derived from the cacao fruit and how to incorporate it into everyday cooking. But chocolate was not an ingredient in the brownie until years later.

Another narrative of the brownie’s debut dates back to 1898, when the recipe was printed in the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog. (Image below). Sidenote: I searched why there would be recipes in the publication since it was geared toward advertising products to buy. Maybe it will come to light in the near future.

In 1904, Bangor, Maine, a home economics instructor, Mildred Brown Schumpf, aka “Brownie,” [shockingly] failed to include baking powder while preparing a cake. The result was a dense dessert that had failed to rise—but was apparently still a hit, as her “Bangor Brownies” made the cookbooks! Not all was lost.

Rising Popularity

As chocolate became more affordable, and dare we say more processed, it became readily available to everyone. Companies like The Hershey Company and Mars, Incorporated were familiar labels on grocery shelves.

During that time, housewives were learning new ways to prepare meals in their kitchens, home economics classes were educating more cooks, and as science and knowledge were whisked together, bakers became more inventive with ingredients. Resources such as Fannie Farmer and (celebrity chef) Maria Parloa’s cookbooks were full of tips and tricks. Companies would advertise each other, such as Betty Crocker and Pillsbury with Hershey’s, through boxed mixes, a newly introduced convenience. As they grew more confident and creative, homemakers refined their recipes over the years.

Here’s such a fun commercial:

Duncan Hines Brownie Commercial

Oh, the Varieties!

Today, with countless ways to enjoy a brownie, it is unclear who should be credited with first adding chocolate to Bertha Palmer’s version. But we are surely appreciative recipients of the idea and its execution. (I know I sure am!)

Whether you’re a corner, center, or wherever brownie lover, did you know there are actual methods to ensure three popular and desired results? You’ve got the fudgy, cakey, and chewy.

• For fudgier the better, the key is to perfect the fat-to-flour ratio.

• A cakey crumb is lighter because of more flour and an extra egg.

• A third option is the chewy, dense, and clean. The secret? Brown sugar.

No knock on a box-mix brownie (they are absolutely classic, and I like a good one with some finesse), but about 5 years ago, I came across an incredible brownie recipe that I have not veered from since. There are three somewhat unexpected ingredients that I think make it simply exquisite. Check out my recipe card below! You can download it for free!

Sidenote: whenever I make a boxed brownie, I will use melted butter instead of vegetable oil (cuz, gross) and milk instead of water. It just elevates it, in my humble opinion.

Bonnie’s Favorite Brownies (free recipe card!)

Although it is mighty fine on its own, I have added chocolate chips (dark, milk, white, etc.) and used a homemade cream cheese icing from time to time, but it’s not at all required.

Some final thoughts related to chocolate...

Way back in 1670, in the British American colonies, Dorothy Jones and Jane Barnard, women who advocated for social rights, petitioned to keep chocolate circulating in Boston. Their efforts paid off as they were granted a license to sell chocolate and coffee. But like anything that is new and rallied for, reactions to chocolate were varied. Some individuals found it so enjoyable and decided it must be sinful. (Isn’t that so true to life? haha).

Allow me to leave you with these quotes by some Founding Fathers that you’d likely appreciate:

During the mid-1700s, Benjamin Franklin advertised chocolate for sale in his Philadelphia print shop. So enamored with what he believed to be chocolate’s abilities to improve health and spirit was Franklin that he even recommended chocolate for smallpox treatment and included “6 lbs. of chocolate” (along with sugar, tea, coffee, vinegar, cheese, Madeira, Jamaican spirits, and mustard) in the provisions shipments for each of the subaltern officers fighting in the French and Indian War. [Brownies - US History Scene]

I wholeheartedly agree that chocolate has the ability to improve health and spirit. While maybe not quite in the ways that Franklin was suggesting, it is proven. Take me as an example! Enjoying brownies during my maternity leave was quite life changing as I was embracing freedom from food insecurities.

Thomas Jefferson famously wrote to John Adams in 1785, remarking on chocolate’s growing popularity: “The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the preference over tea and coffee in America, which it has in Spain.” [Brownies - US History Scene]

Jefferson’s passion I can acknowledge and respect, but I’m sorry, I don’t think chocolate can surpass coffee in superiority. While I indulge in a dense square of fudgy brownie, I will balance the decadence with a cup of black coffee. Thank you, please.

Thanks for reading along!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a few new things about a classic dessert: the brownie (my favorite sweet treat after cheesecake). From Bertha Palmer to the Sears Roebuck catalog to a baker dubbed “Brownie,” I’d say we all have a part in the making of the brownie. It may have been first incepted in a hotel kitchen, but as we lovingly prepare the treat, whether from the instructions on the back of a box or a worn recipe card, we are sharing a timeless history of baking something delicious from the heart.

Bon Appetit,

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The following websites contributed to the facts included in this piece:

• The Confusing Origin Story Of Brownies

• The Fascinating History of Brownies | Cheryl’s Cookies

• A Brief History of Brownies

• Where Are Brownies From? (The Origin + History)

• Brownies - US History Scene

• Brownie History: Brownie Origin and Types of Brownies - Tara Teaspoon

• Bertha Honoré Palmer | Chicago socialite, businesswoman, art collector | Britannica

• Bertha Palmer: The Woman Who Tamed Wild Sarasota | Visit Sarasota County

• Baby It’s Cold Outside: A Sweet History of Chocolate in New England - Historic Deerfield