Wellness Words
Clean beauty,
nourishing routines, and
everyday wellness.
New Year, New Boundaries: How Illness Forced Me to Slow Down
I didn’t start the new year with a vision board or a burst of motivation. I started it with a cough. A relentless, rib-rattling cough that forced me to stop, listen, and finally honor what my body had been trying to say for weeks. This wasn’t the reset I planned, but maybe it’s the one I needed. Rest, hydration, boundaries, and the quiet courage to choose healing over hustle. This year, I’m listening. Not perfectly, but faithfully.
The Fast That Rose From Fever
I didn’t plan to start the year with a fast. RSV had me coughing through Christmas, and by the time a fever hit, my body quietly opted out of food. What followed was a 26-hour fast I didn’t choose, but deeply needed. No cravings, no drama. Just hydration, rest, and a surprising sense of clarity. As the fever broke and my symptoms softened, I realized this was more than a sick day. It was a reset. A soft beginning. A reminder to listen inward.
Fasting Forward
After a year that tested me deeply, I’m stepping into 2026 with a 90-day intermittent fasting commitment as a purposeful reset. This isn’t my first time fasting, but it’s the first time I’m doing it gently, sustainably, and with full support. Bone broth, butter, salt, coffee, and tea will carry me through fasting days. Movement, hydration, and emotional awareness will guide the rest. If your body’s asking for a rhythm, a reset, or a fresh start, this blog is your invitation to begin again with clarity, strength, and intention.
A New Year, A New Bloom: My 90‑Day Reset
A New Year’s Journey Toward My Final 25 Pounds
This past year has taught me more about my body and my strength than any season before it. When cancer entered my life last winter, everything I thought I could count on shifted. My routines, my plans, even my sense of control dissolved overnight. The only thing I knew I could do was nourish myself with intention, so I turned to a whole‑food, high‑fat way of eating and held on.
Since then, I’ve lost 65 pounds and for the first time in my life, kept it off for more than a year. I didn’t chase thinness; I chased energy, clarity, and the version of myself who could run after my kids and look in the mirror and see a woman rising, not a patient.
But after six steady months on a plateau, I’m ready for the next chapter.
I’m ready to finish what I started.
For the first 90 days of 2026, I’m committing to a clean, consistent ketogenic lifestyle, layered with intermittent fasting, gentle movement, and emotional honesty.
This isn’t about vanity. It’s about health, longevity, and reclaiming the body that carried me through cancer and motherhood. It’s about honoring the woman who fought so hard to stay alive. It’s about showing my children what it looks like to rise.
This is my next bloom: a season of discipline, clarity, and hope.
And at the end of these 90 days, I’ll share the transformation: the lessons, the shifts, and the quiet strength that comes from choosing to rise again.
I Didn’t Moisturize. I Didn’t Exfoliate. And My KP Vanished.
I didn’t expect keto to change my skin. A year into the diet, I was running my hands over my arms to admire the new muscles from strength training when I realized something astonishing—my lifelong keratosis pilaris was gone. No scrubs, no lotions, no elaborate routines. Just smooth skin for the first time since I was a teenager. My blood work shows lower inflammation than ever before, and somehow, that quiet shift seems to have rewritten the story of my skin. It feels like walking through ashes and finding wildflowers—an unexpected bloom where irritation used to live.
Coffee, Ashes, and Wildflowers
There’s a particular kind of quiet that arrives with the first sip of coffee—a small ceremony to begin the day. For survivors, this ritual carries extra meaning: warmth in the hands, steadiness in the body, and a return to what feels familiar.
Rituals don’t demand drama; they invite presence. The kettle’s whisper, the bloom of grounds, the inhale of steam—each motion signals that you are here, and the day is beginning.
On the back porch, sunlight meets the warmth of the mug. This isn’t multitasking—it’s a pause. A sanctuary. A rhythm that honors both healing and hope.
Let this moment welcome the day.
My Cozy Keto PSL Ritual
There’s a quiet kind of joy in rewriting old rituals. For years, the Pumpkin Spice Latte marked the start of fall for me—a sweet, spiced signal that the season had arrived. But as my health journey deepened, I realized that the traditional PSL, with its sugar-heavy swirl, no longer fit the rhythms I was trying to honor. So I crafted a gentler version. One that still carries the scent of cinnamon and clove, but leaves behind the sugar crash.
Is it as indulgent as the original? Not quite. But it’s enough. Enough to feel cozy, intentional, and aligned with the life I’m building—one sip at a time.
Room to Bloom: Clearing Space for Healing
During the three weeks I waited to learn whether I had kidney cancer, I spent nearly all my free time decluttering. It was December, and the house smelled like cinnamon and pine. I remember sitting in the boys’ closet, boxing up toys they’d outgrown—feeling a mix of sadness and relief. Letting go of what no longer served us gave me something I needed: peace, clarity, and a sense of control when everything else felt uncertain.
Decluttering wasn’t just a coping mechanism—it became a form of healing. And it’s a rhythm I continue to follow, not through strict rules, but through gentle steps that support our family’s wellbeing. One drawer. One corner. One breath at a time.
8 Non-Toxic Skincare Products for Autumn
As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to fall, my skincare routine gets a little cozier — and a lot cleaner. This season, I’m reaching for non-toxic favorites that hydrate, soothe, and smell like autumn in a bottle. From velvety creams to lavender lotions, these EWG picks are gentle on my skin and kind to the planet.
Relaxation Rituals: Evening Routines for Healing
Evening isn’t just a time of day—it’s a threshold. A quiet invitation to return to yourself. In this post, I’m sharing a gentle guide to crafting non-toxic nighttime rituals that soothe the body, calm the mind, and cradle the spirit. Whether you’re a parent seeking peace after bedtime or simply someone longing for deeper sleep, these practices are designed to help you exhale and feel held.
Steeped in Plastic: Hidden Microplastics in Your Tea Bags
There’s a kind of hush that falls when tea is poured—but what if that sacred pause carried something unseen? This post explores the hidden microplastics in tea bags and coffee pods, their impact on our bodies, and how to reclaim your ritual with clean, plastic-free alternatives. From loose-leaf blends to trusted brands, let this be your guide to brewing with intention and care.
5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients That Love You Back
Healing isn’t a destination—it’s a rhythm of care. In this post, I share five anti-inflammatory ingredients that support your body with softness and intention. From turmeric to berries, these everyday tools invite nourishment, not perfection—one meal, one moment, one choice at a time.
Exercising After Cancer Recovery: My Journey Back to Strength
After cancer treatment, even simple daily tasks felt impossible—but slowly, I discovered the power of movement in healing. In this post, I share how exercise became a lifeline in my recovery, from gentle walks to strength training, and why rebuilding fitness is about more than muscles—it’s about hope, resilience, and investing in future health.
7 Best Non-Toxic Cleaning Products for Every Room in Your Home for Fall 2025
These non-toxic essentials blend safety, sustainability, and style. They’re a gentle reminder that your home can be both beautiful and chemical-free.
Let fall be the season of mindful refresh.