Non-apologetic. Completely necessary. Do it once, then repeat as needed. I’m learning that the best skill for navigating any holiday isn’t planting a fake veneer of cheer on your face. It’s doing what you actually want and fully enjoying it in the moment, and again when you look back once it’s all over. So before the chaos hits, here’s the 48-hour reset that I praying will keep me sane, hydrated, and unbothered like a champ. Feel free to steal all or some of mine, or create your own, and then protect your peace like it’s the fragile sliver of calm before the internet gifts you more political clownery with a generous helping…
-
-
How to Survive December When You Absolutely Hate the Cold
Let me be clear from jump: I am not a cold-weather loving girly. I do not flourish in frost. I do not awaken joyfully to the dank darkness. And I have never, nor will I ever, romanticize a numb bum, fingers or toes.I miss the beach. I miss sand. I miss sun. And when I’m on the Maryland side, that delicious summer heat hugs instead of attacks – 99-degree boob-sweat days aside, clearly. Every year, my brain has to formally come to terms with the fact that for the next three months, I will be waking up in darkness and also ending my days in darkness. At some point in the…
-
Why the End of the Year Triggers Nasty Self-Doubt
Year after year, there’s something about the colder months that really jack up the volume on everything inside me. It’s not just the weather, though the dark mornings and darker evenings don’t help. It’s the year winding down, the calendar screaming “four weeks left!”, “shit, no, three weeks left!” or whatever it is. Then Suddenly, everything feels like it’s on an express countdown clock. And then my brain decides to choose chaos As my brain dodges the reflective positive laps, and everything I wanted, everything I promised, and every passion project I committed to finishing, loops louder. And all those “this year I’ll…’” moments play on repeat—when I never asked it to. I just…
-
Happy Thanksgiving 2025: Gratitude, Laughter, and Time with Loved Ones
A little hello from me… serving GOOD VIBES only ✨ Drop a 🧡 if you’re serving GOOD VIBES only today, and tell someone “I’m grateful for you”, because it matters.
-
Your Quick, Fun Escape From Thanksgiving Chaos: Bingo Time!
Happy Tuesday! Thanksgiving is creeping up… next week, in fact. And if you’re fortunate enough to be able to fully enjoy Thanksgiving, just know it doesn’t have to be filled with chaos and stressful-arse to-dos. Who says gratitude can’t come with a playful side of fun (and a pause or ten)? Not me! Remember! Take all the pauses you need, sneak in some laughs, and sprinkle a ton of gratitude into your week (and life), starting with this fun Bingo game. Let’s keep it light this holiday season so we all get to rest and recharge. And who knows, we might see how much we love it, and it might…
-
Need a Quick De-Stress From The Thanksgiving Crazy?
Pause the pre-Thanksgiving Day madness for a few minutes. Grab a pen and play: Jump right to the SincerelyIreneB Thanksgiving word search, if you need to! I get it! Squat, Diddly, Me For some years now, Thanksgiving has been a little (read: a lot) more nontraditional in my world. I went from doing the whole feast, to a few side dishes, to doing squat — as in diddly-squat, or squat-diddly, you choose. I don’t cook a single thing. Not a turkey leg, not a pie (because I don’t bake, but luckily my girls do), not even a wee pot of vegetables passes my hands. For me, Thanksgiving felt far too…
-
Finding Gratitude in the Little Things This November
Anyone who knows me knows Christmas is absolute fave global holiday. I kind of enjoy the goofy, sweet-toothed ghouli-delicious-ness of Halloween, and by then it’s on to the countdown to Christmas. Thanksgiving is a nice couple of days off work to eat, ease up off the stress, and just enjoy too. But since I didn’t grow up celebrating Thanksgiving — I’ll admit, even after all these years stateside — it’s still not a major holiday for me. Not shade, not hate to all who do. None. And in 2025, with the way the world is acting (aka stank), I’ve decided to take the spirit of the word, at least, and…
-
When It’s Not Your Turn
(A short story by Irene B.) “Yes, yes, yes… okay, girl! I’m going to lock up as soon as you get off my line, crazy!” she said, half-laughing into the phone.Then she paused.“Mmm-hmm. Bedroom’s already locked.” Another pause, then a soft giggle. “You and your single-girl fortress routine.”Silence lingered on the other end, until more laughter broke through.“And you know I appreciate you, so thank you.”Her voice dropped just slightly, as if still listening.The call ended, and the room went still. Tisha liked to measure her mornings by sound. The hum of the refrigerator intermittently followed the grinding of the ice machine. And now, with it being summer, the rush…
-
When Your Perception Can Let You Down
We all think we know what we see. But do we really? Consider the last time you misjudged someone, or they misjudged you. Maybe because of your bubbly, loud, and silly personality, they assumed you were a “go-along-to-get-along” person and not someone with deeper thoughts or stronger beliefs. Or perhaps you misread them, thinking you understood their intentions. These moments remind us that our perceptions are not always accurate—or that, with time and knowing more, they’ve adjusted. It’s easy to get lulled into believing we have a clear view of the world around us. Our eyes are open, our ears alert. But perception isn’t just about what we see or…
-
How to Redefine “Enough” in the Holiday Season
Lately, I’ve been hearing the collective exhale from people everywhere—friends, strangers online, across the globe, all saying some version of: “You know what? I don’t need anything this year.” “I’m so over all this unnecessary spending, going broke, and for what?” The mass consensus: Let’s cancel all the holidays! Woah Nelly! Hold up! Slow down! Christmas is LITERRALLY my FAVE holiday. It was the time in my childhood that my mum (RIP❤️) was the least nuts, and in fact, full of cheer – brimming over if you will! Me and my sister could damn near do no wrong, and cancelling?… That ‘aint happening! Nope! #IWillFightYou. OK fine. Calm down, cause…
