Melody Akhavan Abbey
A Love Letter to Myself (and You)
What's your love language? Do you know? Every time I take a quiz, I rank highest on "words of affirmation." Anyone who knows me can tell you. I'm so effusive that it can even...
Highly Achievable Goals for Summer 2021
If you're looking for in-depth tips on how to live an aspirational Instagram-worthy life, this isn't the post for you. However, if you are looking to incorporate some highly achievable goals this summer to...
The Best Podcasts Getting Me Through 2021
We are well into 2021 and yet there's still a strong 2020 vibe in my universe. I've been missing my friends and family and have tried to keep myself feeling connected to the outside...
{microblog} Why Our Most Low-Key Travel Experience Was Also Our Favorite
I never expected that my favorite travel experience with my family would be something so low-key, but I guess that's how life surprises you.
For the first time since becoming a family of four over...
Confession :: I Don’t Mind the Mom the Pandemic Has Made Me
March 11, 2020 was my last normal day. It's been nearly a year of this pandemic (even longer for some), and it seems like a good time for reflection. A few weeks ago, I...
{Microblog} The Magic of Snow Days
I don't know if you caught this heartwarming letter from a West Virginian Superintendent canceling classes in honor of the first snow day of the year, but it brought tears to my eyes. Growing...
The Five Simple Rituals Bringing Me Joy This Season
While I bask in the glory of my favorite season, I'm keenly aware that we are facing a winter the likes of which we haven't experienced before. Accordingly, I've started thinking about ways to...
The North Dallas Tornado :: Reflections From The Other Side
October 20th marks one year since a violent EF-3 tornado ripped through a densely populated part of North Dallas and upended the realities of countless families and businesses. As I shared with you last December, the magnitude of...
Eleven Things to Be Excited About This Fall!
Autumn is coming, and my excitement is off the charts! Ever since some of us were robbed of our fall season last year and since the pandemic began in March, I've tried my best to...
The Little Things Getting Me Through the Pandemic Summer
Nothing screams summer in Texas during a pandemic like blazing temps and nowhere to go. To say that we're all over this would be the understatement of the millennium. And honestly, sometimes it feels like...
A Letter to My Pre-Pandemic Self: Here’s What I Want You to Know
Dear Pre-Pandemic Self,
I know you think that 2020 is going to be your year, especially after the nightmare of a year you just had. You have dreams of sending your older son happily off...
The Case for Hope in 2020
As some of you reading may know, my 2019 was less than ideal. I came up with some ways to care for myself, with the full expectation that 2020 would be drastically better. At...