• BINGO lighted up sign on black background

    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…

  • Two face one side clown and the other colored and floating away

    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…

  • Beautiful black woman sitting watching snow wrapped blanket with a hot drink

    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…

  • Angel Meets Demon cartoon kid images (2 of 2)

    How to Stay Steady: My “Good Human” Work-in-Progress List

    As promised from my Tuesday post: Why “Good Human” Energy Matters — Now More Than Ever, here’s my list. No sugarcoating. No “perfect human” checklist — just a handful of things I try (and sometimes fumble) to show up a little better each day. Maybe you’ll see yourself in some. Maybe you’ll roll your eyes at a few. Either way, it’s real, and I welcome any ones you have. 1-20… Let’s go! 1. Be Around People Who Push You To Be An Even-Better You You might not have a ton of friends — but you have the right ones. Mentors, peers, and people who call you out (lovingly) when needed.…

  • Documents in Chaos

    Messy Journaling: Your Secret Tool for Better Stress Relief

    Two Moscow Mules, a Prosecco, and a deep conversation about something we all struggle with from time to time—managing our emotions, especially when other people, situations, or life itself unintentionally trigger them. One friend shared that she’d been trying to stay calm, respond better, not let things get to her—but sometimes, it just felt impossible. Think: “I know I’m being triggered, but I can’t seem to stop reacting. I don’t have control over it.” I’ve one hundred percent been there. Many times. Maybe, like me, you don’t yell or scream out loud—it’s more internal—but either way, you feel it. You’re not overreacting, being dramatic or ‘in your feels’, it’s real…

  • Death Meets Beauty Traditional tattoo design featuring a detailed skull opposite vibrant red roses, separated by light and connected by butterflies.

    Are you Team ‘Need’ or Team ‘Want’ in a Relationship?

    Yet another slight shift in my SincerelyIreneB posts, but not by my conscious choice, but this has been all over all my feeds for months, and my friend visiting got us talking about this exact subject. Not to mention, a week or so ago, two other friends of mine touched on this topic as well. What is it? The male loneliness epidemic. I’m gonna begin right out the gate with I know many, many a good man. Not the fake, mask-wearing kind, I mean, I do know too many of those, sadly, but I’m stating this so if you want to come at me as a man-hater type, then knock…

  • Digital Divine Priestess Bathed in magenta and teal light, the divine feminine emerges as a cybernetic deity manipulating holographic lotuses in cosmic darkness.

    How to Step In and Embrace Your Villain Era?

    Villain = Evil, wicked person. Within this popular term or saying, “I’m in my villain-era”, I’m not for one second buying the evil part, but the wicked part is in fact wickedly delectable to me. Not (no longer) giving a damn about what anybody else thinks, being the bigger person, or taking the high road isn’t about you now doing wrong to others who wronged you (well, not always), but about taking back your power to choose. It’s not about resetting your personality to be stuck on cruel, but to finally be selfish—in the most positive sense of the word. It’s a return to yourself. Disclaimer: Also, never be the…

  • 18th birthday card, gold outline on frireplace mantel next to XOXO brass decor piece

    Why Birthday Milestones Aren’t Ends But New Paths Ahead

    Last week, my baby girl turned 18. Like her sister, she’s always been one of the youngest in their friend groups, so her ‘finally turning 18’ was a big deal for her—in more ways than one. And while I was right there with her, mostly, it took a little wind out of my seeing my forever baby girl officially become an adult. Ish. Just thinking about turning eighteen is that moment many of us imagine long before it comes. Imagining what this vision of “adult life” is supposed to look like for us, from the TV shows, movies and books we consumed. Well, that’s how I did it, anyway. Of…

  • butler's arm pouring wine very fancy

    Splurge or Save? What’s the Best Choice for You?

    Random chats with friends often spin into the best convos. Case in point: my last trip home to London, soaking up some back home goodness and catching up with friends and fam, an interesting topic came up out of nowhere, it seemed. One of the crew brought his new-to-me boo, over my Bestie’s place. Me and my US fam usually split our time home between my sister’s and my Bestie’s pads. The day either of them start charging Airbnb rates, I’ll personally cry buckets in court and sue for emotional distress and abuse. Roll that ‘Help me, I’m poor’ scene from Bridesmaids… now picture me, every single time I travel…