Why I’m Stepping Away from Instagram for Now

For a long time, I genuinely enjoyed sharing parts of my life online.

I loved capturing beautiful moments like travel, homemaking, style, decorating, meals, holidays, and the little details that make life feel meaningful and lovely. There is creativity in that, and I will always appreciate the beauty and inspiration that can be shared through platforms like Instagram.

But over time, I began noticing something happening internally that I could no longer ignore.

Somewhere along the way, I started experiencing my life partially through the lens of how it would be perceived by others. Even when my intentions were good, I found myself becoming attached to the reflection of my life rather than simply living it. The affirmation, encouragement, admiration, and interaction became emotionally reinforcing in ways I didn’t fully recognize at first.

And while social media can absolutely be used positively, I also began to see how a carefully curated “highlight reel” even an honest one – can unintentionally create distance, comparison, envy, or disharmony in real-life relationships with people I meet.

That realization has stayed with me for a long time.

The truth is, I no longer want to feel divided between:

living a moment and presenting a moment,

being present and being perceived,

connection and performance.

As my children are growing (especially my teenager) I feel increasingly called to give my attention, emotional energy, peace, and presence more fully to the people closest to me.

I want a quieter life.

A more grounded life.

A more private life.

Not because I suddenly dislike beauty, creativity, travel, fashion, homemaking, or sharing inspiration. I still love all of those things deeply. But I am learning that not everything meaningful needs an audience.

There is something sacred about a life that is simply lived instead of displayed.

I also want to model something healthier for my daughters: that a woman’s worth is not measured by visibility, admiration, engagement, or external validation. That peace is more valuable than performance. That relationships matter more than image. And that fulfillment comes from being rooted in who you are and not in how others respond to you.

Stepping away from social media feels like a sacrifice in some ways because I am letting go of a space that has been part of my identity for years. But I believe it is a sacrifice that will create something better in the long run:

more presence,

more peace,

deeper relationships,

greater clarity,

and a stronger foundation for my family.

So for now, I am choosing to step away.

I want to spend less time curating life and more time truly inhabiting it.

Less time seeking reflection and more time building reality.

Less noise, more depth.

Less audience, more intimacy.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along, encouraged me, supported me, and shared kindness with me here. I am genuinely grateful.

This is not coming from judgment or negativity. It is simply a personal decision born out of reflection, growth, and a desire to be more intentional with the life God has given me.

For this season, I believe my heart, my home, and my family deserve my full attention.

And I think that is where I’m meant to be.

Macys Herald Square NYC at Christmas 🌲

Macy’s Herald Square in New York City is known for its stunning Christmas decorations. During the holiday season, the store transforms into a winter wonderland, delighting visitors with its festive displays. Join me as I tour this magical winter wonderland in the iconic department store

Here are some highlights of the Christmas decorations at Macy’s Herald Square:

  1. Iconic Window Displays: Macy’s Herald Square is famous for its elaborate window displays during the holiday season. Each year, the windows showcase a different theme, often featuring animated scenes, sparkling lights, and intricate decorations.
  2. Christmas Trees: The store features multiple Christmas trees adorned with beautiful ornaments and twinkling lights. The main Christmas tree, located inside the store, is usually gigantic and serves as a centerpiece for the holiday decorations.
  3. Santaland: Macy’s Herald Square is also home to Santaland, a magical Christmas village where children can visit Santa Claus. The area is beautifully decorated with festive trimmings, including trees, wreaths, and holiday lights.
  4. Holiday Decor: Throughout the store, you’ll find an abundance of holiday decorations, including wreaths, garlands, and festive lights. The entire store is transformed into a festive atmosphere, creating a magical shopping experience.
  5. Light Show: Macy’s Herald Square features a spectacular light show in its main atrium. The show combines music, lights, and projections to create a mesmerizing display that adds to the Christmas ambiance.

Visiting Macy’s Herald Square during the holiday season is a popular tradition for both locals and tourists. The Christmas decorations create a joyful and enchanting atmosphere, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. What are your favorite department stores to shop during the holiday season? Leave me a comment below!

HOW TO START A BOOKCLUB

Married in the suburbs with kids? Suddenly realize you don’t go out with your girlfriends anymore? Sure you may still meet up every few months (or six) for the odd drink, but that elusive casual meet-up is often hard fraught, preempted by a children’s crisis and other commitments that get in the way of a fun time with the girls. That’s where a book club comes into place!
A book club gives shape and meaning to an otherwise amorphous hangout session. After all, you are meeting to discuss an important book, not just to drink wine and have a few laughs. And while the latter is of the utmost importance to the joy and energy of the group, meeting around the premise of a book club gives it structure.
So where do you start? First of all you have to be at the right time within your own life. Can you commit to meeting a group once a month? Can you commit to reading and finishing a book? If the answer is no, then you may want to think of a more casual group with less commitment. I remember trying to start a book club years ago with women who all just had babies recently. Needless to say, that club never made it off the ground as the members had more pressing priorities. Which leads me to my next point — get the right members.
I brought the idea to a couple of girlfriends as we were all enjoying a beautiful sunny day together. Since both women and myself have some free time during the day, this was a perfect group to be receptive to the idea of launching a formal book club where we meet during the daytime. They invited 3-4 friends each as did I, and a group was formed.
Look for members who share a common interest and will have similar availability to you.
Once the group is set, think of a name for the club. Google is a great place to start, and perfect to inspire you with ideas. Then send out an e-vite to your prospective members with your new group name to help you keep track of acceptances and regrets. Also begin to think of how the first meeting will go and how you will get the members to talk about themselves so that everyone gets to know each other. We went around the room and introduced ourselves. Them we followed up with a game I created called “Books & Experience” where we share how we have been inspired by a book we have read and how that relates to something we have just learned from something shared by someone in the room.
It was a great ice-breaker and led us to discover which kind of book we were most interested in reading. The group selected The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. It is a powerful story of female struggle and empowerment.
As for decor to set the scene, I set our dining table with several small center pieces to create a whimsical summer theme. The small vases were purchased from Dollar Tree and were offset by beautiful sunflowers, daisies and purple hibiscus from our garden.
Our book club turned out to be a great event and loads of fun!

We are all looking forward to our next meeting and are all super excited!

If you would like to start a book club and have any questions or if you already have one going leave me a comment on how you got it started!

Until Next Time!

HOW TO PREPARE FOR BLOGHER17 – MY THOUGHTS

 

It’s sooo exciting to have the opportunity to attend the annual #BlogHer conference this year. It’s all going to go down tomorrow. Thursday – Saturday June 23-25 where hundreds of female influencers and thought-leaders in the blog community will converge in one venue. Oh and did I mention Chelsea Clinton,  Serena Williams and dozens of inspirational women will be in attendance as well? 

I have to make sure my personal presentation is on point, i.e  hair and nails done and cute outfit. I need to also make sure all my logistics are arranged and make sure to bring my A game. Here is a list of how I have prepared  for the event.

Before You Go:

Book your conference pass online.

You can take advantage of The BlogHer early bird sale that runs in February when you save almost $100 off the admission price which includes access to all events.

Choose to stay at the hotel:

The Hilton Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando had an amazing conference rate that I was able to use to secure a deluxe room under the special BlogHer discount rate.

What To Bring:

When I think conference I think blazer and Business cards, but since this is BlogHer the stuffy blazer idea is cute but not crucial. BlogHer bring thousands of female online media content creators together in one venue, plus with it being held in Orlando this year I doubt anyone will be wearing a blazer!  I’m carrying  a nice cocktail dress and yes of course my business cards!

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Speaking of business cards I think they are really imperative to networking  and helping other bloggers and brands to remember who they’ve met.  I know there are new digital apps that offer online business cards,  but I’m old-school and I really love a hardcopy card to hand out.  Since I was in a rush this year with organizing my cards, I ordered some same-day cards  with Staples online and picked them up locally before I left for the conference. They will do.

A big problem I struggle with is phone storage!  I  am always running out of room so make sure to upgrade your phone storage or check that you have enough iPhone storage because you’ll be taking lots of videos and photos.  Also carry a camera because you will want to take pictures and maybe vlog  content. Don’t forget your laptop, battery and headphones for video editing on the go! And of course a great tote bag to carry all your gear around.

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Outfits:

For the conference I think a nice dress or cute top and pants are perfect. Then you might want to have another change of clothes for the evening events. Also make sure you carry a pretty comfortable pair of shoes as there will be a lot of standing around. You will also want to allow for any downtime with some swimwear and flip-flops.

What To Do:

Network Network Network. Get to know a few people before the event. Download the BlogHer app from the Apple Store.

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It’s pretty convenient to know exactly which speakers are speaking on which days and where they will be speaking.  You can also create a profile so that other bloggers can connect with you and plenty more! There’s also another app called Muses where you can meet other bloggers and collaborate there as well.

It is such an exciting time for content creators to meet. develop and grow from each other and also expand our horizons and views of what’s possible!  I am so excited to be here and I look forward to making the most of it. I will see you soon with my margarita from BlogHer!

Until Next time!

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Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts He Will LOVE!❤️

Father’s Day is tomorrow June 18th. Ditch the boring ties this year and offer the gift of an amazing experience. The special man in your life is bound to appreciate and remember it even more, and your gift won’t end up in the bottom draw (again)!

For the sports enthusiast, tickets to his favorite sporting event will be a treat. Ticketmaster has some pretty good deals to take your guy to any number of tournaments, from the NFL to the US Open (tennis and golf) there is bound to be an event available that will make him smile.

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For the hardworking dad who needs to de-stress, how about booking him a spa experience to relax and unwind. The Woodhouse Day Spa offers a range of services designed to help your man relax and unwind in style.

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Lastly, for the dad who needs a little TLC on a daily basis, you can offer him bliss at home with the Bliss Triple Oxygen Energizing Vitamin C day cream.

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This  lightweight gel cream will instantly brighten and hydrate Dad’s tired skin from the damaging effects of the environment, stress, and aging.  This daily dose of self care in a cream will improve his skin’s clarity and smooth fine lines and wrinkles while intensely hydrating and protecting for a smooth complexion. Your fellow will be glowing! Maybe you might want to get a bottle of this stuff for yourself too.

Enjoy the special day!

Until Next Time,

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Thanksgiving Favorites!

I can’t believe Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I love this time of year as it is a time to be with family and friends and eat lots of delicious food. We are having a pretty large Thanksgiving celebration this year, and I picked up a few pieces to make this year’s  festivities a great occasion for gratitude!

Continue reading “Thanksgiving Favorites!”

October Lifestyle Favorites! 

This month has completely flown by! I remember thinking it was still a bit too warm to feel much like fall, with the endless summery days lasting well up into the earlier part of this month. Now that the temperatures are finally a bit cooler, I am really enjoying the change in the air and all the favorites that come with the season. Continue reading “October Lifestyle Favorites! “

The Power of Pilates – Inspiration for Mindful Breathing 

How often do you take a deep breath in a day? I mean a really deep mindful breath? I’m talking about the sort of breath that expands your entire rib cage and fills your whole body with crisp and clean oxygen? I know I don’t practice this form of breathing enough until I was fortunate to discover the importance of mindful breath through a wonderful Pilates class led by my friend Barbara.  Continue reading “The Power of Pilates – Inspiration for Mindful Breathing “