Essence Blog

This week, I’m sharing some of my favorite things with extra items in the product section since so much is on sale this week. I'm sending lots of love your way this week.

This Poem: 

These Podcast Episodes: 

Unlocking Us: Brené Brown with Dr. Mary Claire Haver on the New Menopause

For the Love: Jen Hatmaker interviews Tim Shriver on Building Bridges

This Recipe: 

Thai Red Curry Chicken: I also make this with red lentils!

This Holiday Tradition...

I had an amazing weekend celebrating my friend Linda’s 50th birthday! We’ve been friends for almost 20 years despite living miles apart—she’s in Massachusetts, and I’m in Florida. I was reminded once again about the power of something I’d taught about for many years and had felt disconnected from lately. The power of play and our inner magical child. 

Despite what has been going on in my world and in my life lately, hanging out with seven other women...

The season has officially shifted. Depending on where you are in the world, you are either in Autumn or Spring for the last quarter of the year. 

I led a Fall Equinox ritual on Monday, and during that time, we looked at what we wanted to do, accomplish, shift, or complete before the end of 2024. And while thinking about that is important, what is more critical is identifying your real priorities for the season. This cannot be a list of 15 things because then they...

It's a throwback Thursday email. I found this writing as a journal entry from many years ago, and I don’t remember if it ever became an email or a blog on my old website. 

Regardless, I thought the wisdom was still applicable and hope you will, too. 

I made a video.

Actually, I made about 22, but that’s what it took to get my first video up on my website. I thought the best way for you to understand how passionate I feel about my new course would be for me to talk...

Who remembers Susanna Hoffs singing Manic Monday with the Bangles? BTW she’s rocking it on Instagram!  

I used to dread Mondays.  The weekend fun was over, and Monday symbolized the week's long to-do list of work. It often felt heavy and looming as it was overscheduled, trying to both catch-up and get a head start on the week. 

But as I began architecting my life, creating more flexibility in my schedule, I decided to make Monday more...

As a “Thursday Thoughts” reader, I imagine you understand the power of our language and mindset and know that we can rewire our brains. So today, let's practice a quick tool you can use when feeling annoyed, grumpy, or self-critical. 

Think of something in your life that you want to shift or change, especially if you feel somewhat resistant.

 For example-  

I’m scrolling on my phonetoo much. I don’t want my phone to be the first thing I wake up to...

We are headed into Labor Day weekend here in the US. I count this holiday as the unofficial end of summer and back-to-school weekend that will lead us into fall, which is my favorite season.  

If you don't know, September 1st is when I make pumpkin waffles , start putting cinnamon in everything, and attend my first Halloween event .  

Yes, I’m one of those people.  

I LOVE this season. With all the unsettled anger, fear, and division in our world, I like...

One night, Matt was painting his new office space upstairs while I went downstairs to start dinner. While cooking and listening to my latest Audible book, I heard a bang followed by profanity. Concerned for my carpet (and my husband ), I ran upstairs.

The paint had gotten knocked off the ladder and onto a part of the carpet that wasn't covered in plastic. It was not a lot, but enough to send us both scrambling to clean it up as fast as possible before it dried.

After doing all we could, I...

All of the public schools around me in Orlando went back to school this week  in what feels like the middle of summer to me.  I love the back-to-school feeling and season,  but admittedly, I’m not ready.  

On Saturday, Matt and I will help Ethan move into his off-campus apartment that he's leased for a year. He's going into his third year of college, and after two years of on-campus living with a lot of challenges, he's thrilled to be living with...

I was inspired by this sign back in 2020 because it sparked ideas around the concept of energetic hygiene. 

 Energetic Hygiene refers to practices used to cleanse, protect, and restore one’s energy field. This is especially important if you are highly sensitive or empathic.  

Your energy is as impactful as your words and actions. Every time we walk into the room, we are both impacted by the energy of the space, and we are also contributing energy to the space. When...